This was our first cruise, and most likely our last with Carnival. The food was mostly disappointing, but there were a few exceptions that were quite good, like the melting chocolate cake in the main dining room, and the burgers at Guy's Burger Joint. The rest was subpar, esp. the chocolate buffet on the third day - I tried 9 items, and ate only one.

The entertainment was just so-so, with the comedy club and the piano bar being our favorites, but even these options were not exactly mind-blowing. We wanted to do some dancing, but the club did not open until 10:30, and by then we were pretty wiped out. The one night we did stay up and go, most of the music was rap crap, so we left. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to do some sort of "enriching" experience - painting, pottery, etc. - but no such activities were offered.

The other cruisers seemed mostly intent on drinking heavily, and so you had to be watching where you were walking, lest you step in vomit. One lunch in the Lido area we sat by the window, and I realized the gross-looking splatter down the window on the outside was where someone had vomited from the level above. Read more