Background: We were a party of 7 consisting of two grandparents (one restricted most of the time to a wheelchair), two parents and three kids (ages 11, 9 and 8). We reserved two adjoining balcony cabins and one inside cabin on the Veranda Deck (Deck 8). My wife and I, who are both 40, have taken over a dozen cruises together with, and without, the large party on multiple cruise lines.

Embarkation: I notified Carnival approximately two weeks in advance that one person in our party would be primarily restricted to a wheelchair and faxed in the required paperwork. Consequently, when we arrived at the Port of Miami at 12:30 we were provided assistance with the final check-in (we completed most of the paperwork on-line prior to our arrival). Consequently, the time from when we entered the door to when we were on the Lido Deck eating lunch was under 30 minutes. Carnival's new terminal GREATLY reduces the stress related to boarding.

Cabin: Having cruised on the CArnival in the past, we were well prepared for the cabin / closet size. Even with three people in a cabin, there is plenty of room as compared with other cruise lines. The only complaint was that we could not open the partition separating the two balcony cabins as one or the other of the doors leading into the cabins would have been blocked (this is not the case during a prior cruise where we had the partition open the entire time). A minor inconvenience, but one that should have been noted by the travel agent from Carnival when booking through them. Read more