First time on the Victory. May 11-18 2008. I've been on the Glory (Good), Legend (Bad), and now the Victory (Great). I drove from Tampa to Miami Saturday, and stayed at the "extended Stay America Hotel "Port of Miami". I booked thru Priceline,($69.92 including taxes, etc) and had stayed at the airport Extended Stay before. Hotel was clean, and reasonably priced. Sunday, 11:00 A.M. I drove to the pier, dropped off my luggage, tipped the porter $5, and parked in the covered Garage across the street, and down the street a bit. There was a bus to take you to the ship. Embarkation was ok, not great, checked in, slowly, and got my sail and sign/room key. There were only 6 people checking passengers in at 11:20....although there was already hundreds of passengers. They give you a card with a number, then you had to find a place to sit till they called your number to board. Long wait! They didn't announce this on the P.A., but just a guy yelling the number. Then the real fun begins. You go up the escalator, and wait in a LONG line again to board the ship, where (right inside the ship's entrance) they take your picture for the sail, and sign card. I don't know why they don't put cameras at the check ins? They did pass out papers regarding the new additional port charge, and also saying you could drop off your carry-ons, before the rooms could be occupied, so you could go eat on the Lido deck. I went to see the Maitre D' to check on my dining table. They had a girl who was pre-screening , to see if she could convince you to "Try your table...you can change tables every night if desired". If you still wanted to see the Maitre D' it was allowed without a hassle. I dropped off my carry on at my cabin, and went to eat. The Lido buffet was mobbed, so I headed out on deck to the grill....no line, and ate a burger and fries....very good. The rooms were ready by 1:30. I had my first aft wrap-around. Deck 7...cabin 7425...2 decks up to the Lido...2 down to the Pacific dining room. The room was set up a little bit differently than the regular balconies. I liked it....a lot!! There was always shade to find, except for a few hours on the last 2 sea days back to Miami. The Balcony had 3 deck chairs, a table, and 2 chaise lounges, although the were the old type, not the plastic ones on the sundecks. I didn't have any soot problems, but some MORON/MORONS did fling a couple of butts overboard that were on the Balcony one morning. I had slept with the balcony door opened a bit.....glad the cig butts didn't make it into the cabin!! One of the plexi-glass panels had coffee(?) on the one morning..apparently thrown from above. My cabin steward was Marvin, I forget his assistant's name. Marvin was EXCELLENT. There was no Mini-Bar/Fridge in the cabin, and without being asked the first day, and every other day, he filled my small cooler with ice for me. He also anticipated that I needed a "Sharps Container" after seeing my diabetes test kit on the table while I was at dinner the first nite. He always got my cabin tidied up when I left, and I never had to worry that He would disturb me, or I, him...well worth an extra tip at the end of the cruise! My last cruise on CCL was the Legend 2 years ago, and I wasn't happy with the service, and thought the food was tasteless,and barely passable. I was more than pleased with the food in the Pacific upper level, aft, dining room (table 233). Henry was the waiter (I forgot his assistant's name too!). He did a great job. I was in-and-out of the DR in about an hour....which was my plan. I don't think I had a "bad" meal the whole week. Formal nite, few guys wore jackets, but all were neat, and presentable. I did wear a jacket, but no tie . I had mentioned to Henry that I "might" have to have 2 lobsters....before I was done with the first he had the 2nd one waiting. They were done to perfection. (On the Legend the lobster had been really dry, and rubbery) I ate breakfast in the dining room one morning. Service was good, breakfast was good, but I had asked to dine alone, and the waiters "borrowed" plates/silver/glasses, four times from my table while I was eating...without so much as an apology! I thought that was unprofessional. The Lido buffet was good, however there was ALWAYS a LONG SLOW MOVING line....always! I waited one time for fried eggs at the omelet station. They were not good....stuck to the pan, and way over cooked...had scrambled eggs after that. As usual the problem was finding a clean table while your food was still hot. Too many times there were too many uncleared dirty tables....not enough help! Entertainment was pretty good with the exception of the "welcome aboard" comedian. He was horrible, and I felt bad for him, as people were walking out in droves! The juggling act on one night was a little different, as one of the jugglers had a broken arm, but they still managed to put on a funny, and entertaining show. The second comedian on board was really funny, and did a good late nite show. The production shows were really good, but the lead female singer wasn't that good, but it appeared that she thought she was! As usual, the passenger staffed last nite show was really good. The was the "surprise guest appearance" of "Stevie Wonder"....many people thought it was really was him....there was no announcement to the contrary, that I heard. The cruise Director, Malcom "in the middle" was pretty entertaining...even with his "Woo-Hoo". The ports....San Juan, St Thomas, St Maarten....been to them a few times before....nothing new. The weather was great the whole week, and the waters pretty calm, but for leaving St Maarten...it got a little rocky. I loved being in the aft wrap....at times we got to shaking back and forth. I felt like a flea on a happy dog's tail!! OK, I was really happy with this cruise......BUT, and there's always a BUT. Disembarkation!!! This was pretty bad. If you don't "self assist", they give you luggage tags with a number. The theory being that when your number is called you leave the ship, and go to the luggage carousel, just like at the airport....pick up your luggage, go thru customs, and go home. Sounds like a good plan...in theory. I asked at the disembarkation talk if the buses would take me back to the parking garage, and a Social Host told me no, I was on my own after I go thru customs. She said it wasn't that far to walk. I explained that I was alone, so I couldn't leave my suitcase unattended. I'm also handicapped, and can't really walk too far. I explained that there was buses to get to the ship. She reiterated that I was on my own, or I could take a cab. (??). I'm not a stupid guy. I get to the CROWDED carousel area. There are billions of people waiting for their bags. There are overhead displays with numbers on them.....now a half smart person would think to go to the sign with their assigned number, however it was too crowded to get to the other overhead sign areas. I asked a CCL rep if there was just one big serpentine carousel, or three different ones. She told me just one big loop. After waiting there for 15 minutes, and not finding my bag, I weaseled my way to the overhead sign with my number, 18. After about 15 minutes there, I asked Malcom, the cruise director, if I was in the correct area for number 18. He said I think so, but if you don't find your bag here, try the other areas. After about ten minutes, it showed up. (there WERE 3 different carousels!) Then you have to grab it, and head to another LONG, SLOW, line to get to customs. So finally I get out to the side walk, and walk the 150 yards or so to my car, having to stop several times to catch my breath. I'm still not sure why they don't get you back to the garage....when I got to the parking area, the bus was there that brings you from the garage to the ship, so I don't get it, unless the Social Host was stupid, or maybe it was me!! All in all, it was a really good cruise experience, and I'm happy with Carnival once again. I paid dearly for the cat 9A wrap, with the single supplement, but glad I did....it was my birthday present to myself.