I'm just getting home from a 7-day cruise on the carnival Victory. This was my and my husbands first vacation after 5 years together. This was my first real cruise. I've cruised from The Netherlands to England and from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, but those were small trips on small ships.

The Port of Miami was hectic to say the least. The traffic and yelling taxi cabs made for an anxious embarkation. Once inside though, everything went really smooth. Doing the on-line check-in and coping it keeps you from having to fill out forms before boarding ship. There was no waiting in line. Our room had more space then I expected. The 7th story balcony view was spectacular. The glass rail was tall and we had plenty of room to sit out there and enjoy the ocean breeze. The gym is not a place that my husband and I ever visit. Our jobs and the love for for physical sports keep us fit. The view up there was amazing with a panoramic view of the ocean ahead and around. There was enough equipment and many different exercising classes to join. You can even hire your own personal trainer. I paid full price for a massage and facial at the spa only to have the same service on sale for 50% less the next day. I missed the big sale and by the end of the week, they were practically giving away time slots.

Strolling the 11 decks of ship and plenty of activities kept us active. The activity director "Big Sexy" was very boisterous and fun without being overbearing. Everyone could join or watch, and everyone enjoyed and laughed. The night life had so many different venues to choose from. We enjoyed The Carnival Dancers and The Comedy Shows. The view was great and the seating very comfortable. My only complaint was the shows were too short. The Piano Bar Singer could not sing in tune but, the Karaoke Lounge was a pleasure to listen to. We had some good singers aboard. The Casino was great. I hit big on the first day and it was enough to keep us entertained in the casino a good hour everyday. The Dance Club was hoppin every night. This was an absolute fun time to people watch. The food was remarkable. There were four areas we could choose to eat at almost anytime of the day. The Lido Deck had two buffets with a different theme for each day. If we didn't like the orient of food, we could stroll inside to another set of buffets with fresh fruit and salads with slices of roasted meats and fresh pasta with marinara or alfredo sauces. There was also a New York Style Deli, Chicago Style Pizzeria, and BBQ/Burger joint. The wait staff was constantly working to keep tables clean, keep beverage areas fully stocked, and clearing empty plates. Read more