Embarkation: Our embarkation was delayed due to heavy fog. Carnival sent emails and text messages with updates and we were told they would start boarding at 3 p.m. We arrived at our parking location, Discount Cruise Parking (booked online for $19 for the whole 5 days) at about 1:45. We arrived at the cruise terminal a little after 2 and we stood in line a long time. Wish we had waited till 3 p.m. to arrive. Once we completed check in and had our sail and sign cards, we went directly on to the ship and lunch was being served on Lido Deck.

We had cabin 9273. I don't recommend it. We had 2 adults and 2 children ages 11 and 13. The room was dated with some rust in the bathroom, and with the full length sofa made into a bed all of the time it felt cramped. Although the location was really convenient to all the fun, we were right by the forward elevators off the lido deck and people at the elevators could be really loud late at night. I'm just letting you know, because all of that was not really important to us and it didn't damper our vacation at all. One thing did have a bit of impact, the first night someone in a cabin above us was sick and it sprayed back onto our balcony. I had ordered coffee and Danish early morning to enjoy having on the balcony. So much for that idea. I reported it to our cabin steward but did not tell anyone else. They cleaned most of it that day, but when attempting to sit out on the balcony again we spotted several spots still on the deck. By Tuesday afternoon, the fourth day of our 5 day cruise, we were able to enjoy our balcony. It was a bummer because it was the first time I have stayed in a balcony cabin. I think I'll stick to inside from now on. Just a note, if you book early saver with Carnival and they offer you an upgrade, don't take it. I took an upgrade to a balcony and soon after the price dropped quite a bit on a 35 hour sale. I would have gotten the balcony upgrade for a lot less or an on board credit, but because I had taken the previously offered upgrade my early saver was no longer good. I spent more than necessary for the balcony. I won't do that again. If you book early saver just watch the price and grab the upgrade or onboard credit just before your cruise if applicable. No compensation was offered at all by Carnival for the price drop or the loss of 3 days of my balcony.

Now on to the good stuff (enough complaining, already.) Read more