We had cruised with RCI several times previously, and decided to join friends for this trip on Liberty. We did not know what to expect from Carnival, fearing that we would find ourselves surrounded by people whose only expectation was an open bar and adequate flotation. Despite some areas where the ship came up short, we were pleasantly surprised.

The ship itself is great. It definitely lacked the "wow factor" that I had seen on the RCI ships. Nothing made me say to myself "I can't believe they have this at sea" like a Royal Promenade or skating rink can do. Nonetheless, all of the areas are well designed and we did not lack for things to see or do.

Our Eastern Caribbean trip took us to four stops. Half Moon Cay was a disappointment. We spent an hour waiting to get onto a tender, 20 minutes to load up and once we arrived at the island, most of the deck chairs were gone. We remained there for 3 hours before taking a tender back. St Thomas was pretty, but marred by an excursion (Barefoot Snorkel) which began right in the middle of the day-leaving us without any time beforehand or afterward to see the island. San Juan actually gives a passenger a chance to roam a city and learn about history and culture- if you can believe that. Grand Turk was a five-star beach day stop. Another good point of the cruise was the service onboard. I think I only heard two "rules" spoken all week- a notice about dress code and a mention of proper handwashing. Aside from that, it is clear Carnival instructs its employees to allow its passengers to do as they please and this attitude allows the vibe that they are seeking to take shape. Its also clear that nearly everyone working on the ship wants you to have a good vacation and enjoy the cruise. It is also clear that almost everyone does enjoy themselves; there is a party vibe that starts on the first night and extends throughout the week. Read more