Caution - this will probably be a long review. :) This was a cruise with a lot of "firsts": my 1st cruise out of Galveston, 1st cruise with my husband and stepdaughter, and their 1st-ever cruise. It was also the 1st time I've been on a cruise having a delayed departure; the 1st time a ship I've been on has substituted one port for another, and the 1st time I've requested a change in room stewards.

We were notified by Carnival the day prior to cruising that, because of mechanical difficulties during the prior cruise, Triumph would be delayed in arriving in Galveston and as a result we'd be embarking and sailing in the evening instead of mid-afternoon. Because we had planned to drive to the port, the late departure didn't concern us all that much. We pre-paid parking at Park 'N Cruise, which is directly across the street from the Triumph, and got a discounted rate. We would park there again - it was very convenient.

Day 1: We found out that Platinum membership definitely has its advantages; we bypassed the lines and were up in the waiting area about 15 minutes after handing our luggage to the porter. The most time consuming activity was having our sodas inspected. Just prior to embarkation, we were given a letter from the Captain, which informed us that we'd be visiting Progreso in lieu of Cozumel. That actually turned out to be a better deal for us, since we're interested in Mayan ruins, and Progreso is a jumping off point for much more interesting archeological sites! (I know, we're Geeks.) Read more