I called this the best cruise ever, mainly because of our location on the ship. We were originally booked for a Riviera deck 2-bath outside, but 1 week before departure, I called Carnival and was able to get an upgrade to a Lido deck balcony for only $200 more total. It was absolutely the best location for us and we loved it! We were with a group of 13 adult friends, most of whom have been on many Carnival cruises previously. The cruise was a busy one, with 4 ports, but since my main interest is snorkeling, it was a great itinerary. We left behind 1' of snow, so the weather was a tremendous break from the cold - smooth sailing all the way!
The good:
Steward: Ariel from the Phillipines, and he was fabulous! He introduced himself the 1st day, and was very friendly. Room was always clean & tidy, and I enjoy the use of the bathrobes.
We have only been on Carnival and one Holland America ship, so not much to compare, but we LOVED our Lido deck balcony. Our friends on this cruise were in the 2 bath outside, as well as cove balconies. There are advantages to all - do your research and decide which room fits your needs best.