Cruise Day Monday Morning we drove down to the Carnival Cruise lines port of Embarkation, all seems to go well when we arrived the parking seemed safe and was a a cost of $12.00 per day which wasn't bad. the porters took our large luggage and off we went into the building to start the process of getting on the ship. The entrance was a bit congested as they only had two security screening machines but once past that the rest of it was pretty smooth no really long lines or anything as we got there about 12:45 pm. On board ship we found that we had to carry our carry on luggage up to lido deck to have lunch and wait until 1:30pm to enter our staterooms all corridors to staterooms were locked. So we lugged our carryons up to Lido deck had a unappetizing buffet luncheon, a drink of the day and then finally went to our stateroom. Our stateroom was pretty clean and seemed comfortable, although we learned very quickly that the stewards supply room was right next door and we heard slam bang slam bang all hours of the day and night through-out the cruise. 5pm muster arrived and we had to put ont eh most disgusting dirty lifejackets go to a muster station and then walk to where were would get a lifeboat. Let em tell you if the ship was sinking I would have no problem putting the jacket on but hey there is really no excuse for the life jackets to be this dirty they were about black all over the neck area and beyond YUCK! Made our skin crawl to have to put those on. We brought it to the attention of our room steward who just shrugged his shoulders and said oh well nothing he can do about it.

Thought this was a party boat but my gosh there was almost no partying to be had the day of departure neither in the afternoon or the evening. walking around this ship 9-11 at night on lido deck was like walking on a ghost ship nothing happening except for one night. Entertainment was pretty ok in the main room but nothing spectacular. Comedians were really though and did not have to use the f word every other word to amuse people. Cruise director Karl with a K was probably one of the most energetic cruise directors of all 7 cruises I have been on. Kudos to Karl and his crew but especially Karl! THe Dining room - hey this was about the best dining experience we have had on Carnival! The food was eh ok but we had a waiter by the name of Davis from India. Words cannot describe how wonderful a waiter he was! He was so totally awesome always right on top of everything and most of the time ahead of the game. He seemed to be able to read your mind and had wonderful suggestions when you did not like something . The first night I ordered a steak and it was tough . Not wanting to say anything I just thought oh well I will eat it and not make a fuss, but the could see that I was not happy and that the steak was difficult to cut much less try to chew. He immediately came to my rescue assured me I did not have to eat it and would bring me something else. He brought me a beef wellington that was just outstanding. It was so tender it melted in my mouth. Everything he did he did with great care and ease. Thousands of Kudos to Davis! Room service seemed almost nonexistent. we ordered the first night for the next morning breakfast and it never showed. When I called them to find out why they said oh well that sometimes happens. I asked when I could get some coffee delivered and they said well maybe in an hour or so we might find time. I hung up! Enough of that off we went to the buffet which was pretty bad. Every time we picked up some food and wanted to go outside on deck to eat we would encounter the horrible stench of sewer! It would go away once in a while but by then it was to late - dump the food the appetite was gone and the nauseated sick stomach was intact. Lido deck food was not appetizing at all with the exception of the burger and fries they were pretty good . But who wants to live on that? Shore excursions were pretty ok but we had a terrible time getting off ship in Catalina took a long time to get tender from the ship and once at dock in Catalina the ramp to go up was way to steep for most people to navigate comfortably. Many people had to be helped up the ramp. On the whole the Carnival people were not the most friendly people around, with few exceptions ( Karl and Davis) most had a bad case of the grumpies. This was certainly not "the cruise from hell" We had on the Valor last year. But certainly didn't hold up to the expectations we had for Carnival. As far as I am concerned this was my last Carnival cruise. I have cruised other cruise lines and have not encountered such problems as these. Sorry Carnival this was your last chance. You did not make the grade.