We are repeat Carnival customers and have also been on Celebrity and Disney. Because a good time on a 6-day Panorama Christmas cruise two years ago, we took new cruisers with us for this trip. Our two families had kids ages 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The Panorama has the happy atmosphere that Carnival intends with its "Fun" focus. Carnival is campy and over-the-top and proud of it. If you are a staid personality, Carnival is not for you (especially if the cruise director is the magnificent Deon- "hey y'all")!

The ship itself has enough free/inexpensive physical activities that the herds of youth kept busy all week long entertaining themselves (SkyBike, ropes course, ping pong, putt putt golf, basketball, soccer, oversized chess, trampoline park, and of course, the teen clubs). Our friends said their son was having the "time of his life" and had rarely seen him the last couple of days on the ship. The teen clubs were busy and interactive. It was fun to hear karaoke occasionally spilling out of the clubs when we checked on the kids. The only negative was that Carnival still has not any framework to give 18-20 year olds a way to connect with their age-group --> the only thumbs down for the trip.

Us adults used the gym, the Serenity area (for adults), the library (game room), dance club, and more. We were impressed that the ship had nearly 5,000 passengers sailing, and never felt crowded. Read more