Quicky as this is not part of my review...I first booked this cruise last June. Thinking I needed surgery and not being able to find out for sure before I entered the %100 percent penalty phase (no insurance..that'll teach me!) I cancelled and THEN learned I didn't and - determined to go - I rebooked a few days before sailing. I had originally booked with an online agency and I was VERY happy with how they helped me thru the cancellation process but when I went to rebook I found the cabin/category available thru Carnival so I booked with them. Now for the cruise!!

We arrived about 10:30 and were able to enter the parking facility right away even thought there were still previous cruisers still leaving (I think it was Mobile where we had to wait till everyone had left before we could enter?!) It cost $80 which we paid in cash and there was an attendent there to feed our money into the machine and tell us where to head. We dropped off one suitcase and then drove up a couple of levels and parked near the elevators. All went very smooth.

Once inside it took about 30 minutes in line to get through the security check and then we were directed (after a photo) to sit and wait till we could board. What we didn't know - and weren't told! - was that someone was standing off to the side giving out #'s to board by. So we ended up with a higher # than we'd have had if we 'KNEW' right off. We probably waited an hour to board but that was fine. All in all, a good process. Read more