We just returned from another wonderful Carnival cruise. We are a family of 4 with 2 boys aged 7 and 9 on this trip.
Embarkation- easy enough. From past experience, we decided to eat lunch first at Channelside and then board a bit later. This allowed us to skip the hectic Lido scene upon embarkation. We also only had to wait 20 minutes to get our room. The line to board was a bit long, but moved quickly. Once we got our sail and sign cards, the rest was a breeze. The port itself was a bit hectic as it was a small area to drop off luggage and passengers. Everyone was friendly, though.
Sea Days- there were 2 sea days. 1 at the beginning and 1 at the end. On these days, we spend our time sunning, swimming, eating, and just relaxing. The kids usually went to Camp Carnival for part of the day. More on that and the dining room service later.
Close to elevators, but not too close. Being Aft, it's close to the MDR, but far from Camp Carnival and the show lounge.