The checking and boarding process made getting on a plane look like going through a McDonald's drive through. I suggest getting there early and having a carry on bag that will get you through the first day. i.e. suntan lotion, book, ipad, etc.

I was unaware that there was a daily gratuity expense built in that was $12.00 per day, per person. They automatically charged it to my room, which cut into my spending budget for the trip. Now that I know, I will budget accordingly. In retrospect, I am sure it was in fine print somewhere, but would have hoped that the person who works for Carnival that booked my cruise, who knew it was my first time, would have prepared me better. There were things I wanted to do and couldn't because of my budget.

The cabin appeared small at first, but was smartly laid out and proved to make good use of its' space. Read more