This is my ninth cruise on Carnival. Have also been on Holland America and Celebrity. I choose Carnival for the "fun" that goes on into the wee hours as I am quite a night owl. This particular, rather brief cruise, did not disappoint. Traveled with a friend and was looking for an escape from work and home stresses. The cruise did just that.

Embarkation: A flight from Virginia to Ft. Lauderdale and brief transport by bus to Miami went smoothly and got us pierside by 1:00 PM. No lines; on Lido Deck within 20 minutes.

Stateroom: The Imagination has just undergone a complete renovation and looks wonderful. Our outside cabin was lovely but much smaller than expected. Other than twin beds (heavenly!), the only other furniture was a straight-back chair. The built in desk and closets provided plenty of storage space though. Read more