First, I would suggest taking a taxi from Miami airport to the terminal, not the Carnival provided Greyhound busses. With the amount of time it took for the bus driver to load and unload the luggage, we could have been to the boat in half the time by taxi. It's a couple of dollars more for the taxi, but well worth it. You will also beat the busses to the terminal and the check in lines will be shorter ?. Terminal check in was smooth. Actually, the longest line was the Carnival "pictures takers", because everyone wants their picture taken after a long flight, right?!? They are such a nuisance throughout the cruise.

Food was average for Carnival. I was very disappointed to see fellow cruisers in the formal dinning room wearing running shoes, worn shorts, very worn t-shirts and ball caps. I really feel it is up to the staff to enforce the dress code. I should NOT have felt overdressed in a simple summer dress. Our table staff was very nice. I have to give them credit. There was a very elderly couple at our table who were hard of hearing, couldn't seem to read the menu and where obviously raciest. The wife made (very loudly) some very impolite comments about our "foreign" waiter. I was mortified, but he took it in stride and gave the woman excellent service. Customer service gets an A+

Games around the pool are fun! Drink service on the deck was good; actually all the drink waiters were great. Our room was always clean and we never saw the staff going in or out of our room. They cleaned at least twice a day. Read more