I have always avoided Carnival due to the image of a party ship. I travel zone and saw a great price for a single from Baltimore, which is great for me who lives in Philadelphia. I booked the cruise without too much expectations. I was wrong. I found the ship garishly, darkly decorated but that really is the only negative. Parking at the port was great, the boarding process was smooth.
I found the staff and crew onboard very friendly and professional. The dining room and food were fine. Less choices than other cruise lines but more than sufficient. The Lido buffets were fantastic.
The cabin was a typical cruise ship cabin. I had a balcony and it was very comfortable. The cabin steward was very good.