This was my 6th cruise, but first with Carnival. I chose it because the price was right and it left from my home town NYC. If this was an example of Carnival's "Fun Ship" cruising, they need to go back and rethink the entire process.

Embarkation: This was a series of lines where basically no one had any idea what the others were doing, or didn't care. We were told to sit after registering. We were told that we would be allowed in, row after row. As soon as they opened the gates it was a mass of humanity trying to get in. But that really didn't matter because after you got in you were on another line for your security card and picture. Here we waited another 45 minutes while several Carnival staff people just sat around talking. This was the worst embarkation system I have ever seen.

The ship itself was very nice. I've read some don't like 'urns' but we all thought it was very attractive. Most of the ship's decor we liked. We thought the food was excellent and the choices were outstanding. Our waiter and assistant were terrific, but the rest of the entire Carnival staff was severely lacking in manners and the art of making passengers feel happy. Our friends asked for something different at breakfast or lunch and the waiter's standard reply was, "Only what's on the menu". Every other cruise line's staff always offered to, at least, check and see what they can do. NOT Carnival. The entire staff seemed unhappy and disinterested in making the passengers see that extra effort. I don't think we ever saw them smile. It was a job and nothing more. We had one waiter at breakfast who brought me a cup of tea. I asked him for a different tea bag and he rolled his eyes at us. The people who working in the stores and any one of the Pursers were downright rude. Read more