I will only reflect on my experience and comment on the trends I have read from other reviews so hopefully it will be helpful for others. We could not find a cheap airfare from Detroit to Miami so we came into Ft Lauderdale a couple of days early. That worked great with a transfer service by SAS (www.ridesas.com) $15 PP. They are professional and the series of drivers have the ports down pat. The cruise itself overall I would recommend. I have done 3 Princess cruises in a row and I just don't think the experience is any better then this Carnival experience. Of course there are differences but nothing I would say is substantially different.

Embarkation was smooth but rather lengthy, I came during the rush hour of 11 AM and everything went fine but I ended up being in 4 long lines before I even got to the ship. Can I think of better system, no but it was a long process. Somehow I got on board and I am use to being directed to an elevator that first time you got on and this time there was nothing. Kinda of odd.

Our cabin number was #8449 all the way aft and I am sure it was the most square spacious cabin I have seen. Balcony cabins I have been in before have been long and narrow. I booked on the internet and Carnival said it was same size but I beg to differ. The balcony was double length as well, which would make it ideal for third person. Robes, safes, hair dryers were all there but the TV was kinda of old. #8449 is also one deck below the pool and the buffet/pizza, a tiny bit noisy but nothing that really bothered me. If you like to layout on your balcony deck 8 might not be the best choice as deck 9 has an overhang, it was good for me I liked the shade. Bring a power strip if your like me and have a bunch of stuff to charge, the cabin steward didn't seem to mind. The fridge is kinda small with all the crap from the wet bar in there. I purchased a case of h2o in FLA for $4 and pop and it worked out good on the cruise. Its nice to have water on tours and trips to the pool. Read more