This was my third cruise, and second time on Carnival. My husband and I coordinated this cruise for ourselves and twelve other friends and relatives.
We flew down the day before from Toronto. I highly recommend this, as our flight times were constantly changed, and had we been flying out the same day, we wouldn't have made the ship. Also, it made going to the ship really relaxing -- you weren't stressed from airport travel.
Embarkation was very efficient. When we arrived at 1130 am, we went to the end of a very long line and thought we'd be there forever. A Carnival rep was out there organizing the line and answering everyone's questions. The line moved extremely quick. We were on the Lido deck having lunch by 1230 pm.