We traveled on the Splendor over Labor Day. Embarkation in Los Angeles was a bit chaotic given a delay for crew change and a requirement that all crew go through Customs. Everything was orderly except for the people who seemed to think the ship was going to leave without them (at 10:30 in the morning) and pushed and maneuvered to get ahead even 6 inches. We were able to go to our room as soon as we boarded, which is unusual, but we were glad to dump off our carry ons. This is the first time they have shaken the water bottles in Los Angeles, but we have had that done in Galveston. Interestingly, they did not seem to care at all about the two wine bottles. We enjoyed our lunch and the beautiful day on the aft deck. Noticeable changes in security procedures and muster drill. They actually checked to make sure all of the kids had wristbands, which we did not experience on our last cruise.

We booked a spa balcony, mostly because the price was the same as a regular balcony. We enjoyed having access to the spa areas, but not sure we would pay extra for it. The room had some different decorations and a few travel bottles of "spa products," but nothing special or worth an additional fee. The best thing about our room was Edwin and his outstanding crew. They took great care of us and made some of the best towel creatures I have ever seen!

This is the first time we tried "my time" dining, and we actually loved it. We had absolutely no problem getting a table within three minutes of arrival at the Black Pearl. The food arrived quickly and was always hot. It's not the greatest, but having cruised on Carnival many times, we actually thought it was better than other cruises. What did surprise us, however, was the inferior food and service in the steakhouse. The steakhouse is usually a highlight of our trips, but this time we felt like the steak in the main dining room was better. Read more