The Destiny went to Aruba on our previous trip out of San Juan and we had vowed never to sail from there again, because of the chaos which began at our airport arrival and terminal transfer. In stark contrast, this embarkation was orderly and organized. I was exceptionally pleased with the expeditious check-in process at the terminal and the timeliness of the baggage arrival to the cabin. Carnival has worked on getting the check-in process right and they now have the right formula . . . Bravo! Sunday, June 29th, all twenty of us checked-in and had lunch at the Sun and Sea Restaurant. Afterwards, we went our separate ways, heading off the ship to catch the free trolley through old San Juan and tour the forts. My husband and I ended our tour at a local artisans market near the ferry dock. While there, we enjoyed complimentary pina coladas at the rum bar promoted by the Puerto Rican Department of Tourism. Dinner in the Universe dining room was open seating the first evening and sixteen of us arrived together and were seated as close as could reasonably be expected at two tables of eight. Since my husband and I had been to St. John and Trunk Bay on two previous visits, Magen's Bay was our "gotta go" beach in St. Thomas. It was undeniably a beautiful and very clean beach considering the crowds. The beer was ice cold, too, a winning combination for a satisfying day at the beach. On Tuesday, July 1st, we docked in Dominica, a focal point for our cruise. My husband and I are veteran snorkelers and were exceedingly impressed with our snorkeling experience at the Champagne Reef. The tour guide, Captain Kirk, and staff were very informative, pointing out varieties of fish and coral, geologic formations and explaining the science behind the champagne bubbles floating to the ocean's surface. Easily performed by beginners with the help of the knowledgeable staff, the Champagne Reef Catamaran Snorkel is a captivating adventure that should not to be missed! Our group was assigned to the Universe dining room for the 8:15 pm seating. Tuesday was the first Elegant Dining Night and although all the food met our expectations, Tuesday's menu and the preparation exceeded our expectancy. The featured lobster and shrimp with a wild mushroom risotto was the best meal of the cruise. A remarkable fig and date cake with rum raisin ice cream was a palate pleaser, too. Several in our group requested "seconds" on the lobster and shrimp entrEe and our attentive wait staff graciously presented it. Likewise, on other nights if one disliked a selection, the wait staff graciously offered alternate choices. Although cruises are "all inclusive," nonetheless we appreciate the cordial manner in which the wait staff handled each diner's unique appetite, always striving to make the dining experience comfortable and satisfying. Our previous memories of Barbados far exceed our experiences of this visit. Wednesday, we choose to visit Payne's Beach, which unfortunately lived up to its name. From the time of our arrival until we left, we were inundated by "entrepreneurs" peddling their wares and services. Vendors refused to take "no thank you" for an answer and we became anxious, tense and felt threatened. Plan on packing a sandwich lunch from Carnival's 24-hour room service menu and head to Weiser's Beach or Crane's Beach, unless you want to pay $23 USD for an inedible hamburger from the Blue Monkey Bar and Grill on Payne's Beach. We will visit Barbados again; however, our choices will be different. Exotic, fascinating, and mysterious St. Lucia—we cannot say enough about this lovely island. Cosol Tours was the host of our 10- person group on Thursday. Our guide, Yellow Bird, made our day the experience of a lifetime, filling our bellies with copious amounts of local food and drink, while filling our hearts with the warmth and love of the St. Lucian people. St. Lucia, rich in culture, is rich in geography, flora and fauna, as well. Our all day excursion in an air-conditioned bus explored the rain forest, drove through a volcano, and paused for a short stroll through the Diamond Botanical Garden and Waterfall before our final destination. The last major stop was a 90-minute swim, snorkel or nap at the picturesque Anse des Pitons beach between the Piton peaks at the beautiful Jalousie Plantation Resort. Book St. Lucia Cosol Tour at http://www.cosol-tours.com/ Never have we experienced such magnificence on one island in one tour! Fantastic value! Friday, we docked in Antigua, where we took a different group of six on their first snorkel on the Wadadli Catamaran. The crew was attentive to the reluctance of first timers by personally taking them out with a safety ring and helping them make the most of their experience. The water was crystal and the fish were plentiful over the coral formations. Sailing to a gorgeous calm beach followed rounded out with plentiful amounts rum punch made up a wonderful tour. The beach was clean with few vendors spotting the beach, but they were neither overbearing nor pushy. We swam there for a half hour before returning to the dock. A great time was had by everyone! The second and final Elegant Dining Night was Friday. Prime Rib and Cornish Hen were the winning entree selections with the featured dessert of baked Alaska among our group. On this particular cruise, the winning entrees were those other than fish, with the exception of the lobster and shrimp night. The red snapper and the salmon were overcooked and dry. The appetizers, soups, salads and desserts were all between good and excellent. One cannot judge Carnival Cruise Cuisine by one ship. Each ship's kitchen preparation varies, much like the product of a chain restaurant. Our final destination before returning to San Juan was St. Kitts. Either Carnival needs to remove it from its itinerary or St. Kitts needs to clean up its act—literally. The harbor, beaches, and downtown was filthy with rotting fish heads from cleaning fresh fish and decaying garbage. We actually gagged while walking briskly back to the ship. What more can I say . . . One of the best services ($15 USD) that we utilized onboard the ship was the airport valet service for the luggage. We disembarked by 9:30 am and our flight home was 4:30 pm. Airport valet service allows Carnival to be an agent between you and your airline. Boarding passes are part of the service. So once through customs, one hands off their luggage to the appropriate airline baggage handler. At the appropriate time one merely goes through airport security because a boarding pass has been issued. Having already been checked in and issued a boarding pass was a tremendous value on our flight since it was oversold by six seats. Two people did not voluntarily take a later flight home.