We had never been on a cruise, and were not sure what to expect. We had a ball. If you drink a lot (we don't) or gamble a lot (we don't) this cruise could end up being expensive. As it ended up, it was one of the most affordable vacations we have ever taken.I was very impressed with the efficiency Carnival showed in the boarding process - getting a couple thousand people on board in a short period of time, so easily, shows they have been doing this for a while!Every person on the crew that we had dealings with was helpful, courteous, and went out of their way to assist.We ate dinner at David's Steakhouse - at $30 per person - and it was well worth the cost. It takes a couple hours to dine there, with everything you order being prepared for you from scratch. The steaks were as good as any I've ever had in my 63 years. David's is definitely fine dining. Everyone was outstanding, from the young lady that seated us (and always called us by name), to the severs, and the chef, who always stopped by during the meal to ensure we were satisfied. These folks bend over backwards to please.