Embarkation: we arrived early, checked in, and then went to spend a few hours in downtown Baltimore. This allowed us to avoid all the lines; when we returned at about 2 pm, we were able to walk right on the ship with no waiting. Our room was ready, and we were able to unpack immediately. Our cabin steward, Harry, was right there waiting for us, and was most helpful during the whole cruise.

We took an inside cabin to save money, and I was surprised that it was very efficiently planned and comfortable for 2 people, with plenty of storage space. Also very close to the Mermaid Grill and the Serenity deck, very convenient for grabbing a quick bite to eat.

After unpacking we did a walk-through of the ship. I must say I don't much care for the decor -- it's really over-the-top -- but the ship was very clean and well cared-for. I actually prefer the look of the Fantasy-class Carnival ships; the low ceilings on some of these decks made the atrium and halls feel a bit claustrophobic. However, the shops and clubs were easy to find and it didn't take long to get comfortable with the layout. Read more