I will get further into an explanation regarding the first sentence in a bit.
Embarkation went very smoothly. We are residents of Florida, so we drove to the port of Miami. Be advised if you do this, the cost keeps going higher and higher to park, it was $20 a day this time...$140 total. They do take it before you ever park.
The lines were long in the Carnival terminal but they went smoothly. The staff was very friendly and within 20 minutes we arrived on the ship itself.
great balcony - I highly suggest deck 11 (or the highest available deck)