This was our second Carnival Cruise, but it has been a long time so it was like being on our first cruise. We were traveling with another couple and it was their first cruise. I have always wanted to do the Mexican Riviera and am so glad I finally had a chance to go.

We boarded at noon, and it was very smooth and easy thru the Long Beach terminal and then we waited in Splendor Lounge for our rooms to be available at 1:30. Our cabins were on the Verandah Deck 8, balcony rooms. All of us were pleased with our rooms and the balcony was so fun to have. Pedro, our cabin steward kept our room very clean.

Food -- everything we had from the multi stations on the Lido deck was good. Our groups favorite was the pizza station. We could not get enough of their pizza. For nightly dining we choose anytime, which was held in the Black Pearl dining room. All of our servers were excellent except for one. The majority of the food we ate was excellent as well and we never had to wait very long for a table. The Maitre D Ganapathy invited us to meet the Sous Chef Fabian and we had a private tasting of Monday nights dining options. It was a wonderful time being able to ask him about making food for 3K plus people plus 2K staff. He explained about how he tries to make food for the staff from their homeland. Happy staff makes for happy cruisers and he must be doing a wonderful job. We also did the sea day brunch in the Gold Pearl dining room. All the options were good, but there was options on the final morning that I wish could have been available during the week. We did not do room service this time, but our friends did and were pleased with their food and service. Read more