Having sailed exclusively with Princess, we had no knowledge of what to expect with Carnival. Having some familiarity with New Orleans, our expectations about the port were minimal to begin with. The line a quarter mile long in 90 degree weather at the port was no surprise.

Having endured the embarkation process, we then had to deal with a cabin lacking cooled air. The room was stifling. But foul odors similar to that of a sewage treatment facility were pouring out of the ceiling vent. (Be aware: the rooms do not have thermostats! Air is divided throughout the ship in four zones. One zone may be cooler than another. You control the air flow in the room by opening or closing the vent in the ceiling. Whatever the temperature is of the air coming through the vent is what you get.)

We were moved to another room, this one directly above the bandstand in the casino. The noise from the bandstand in the afternoon and evening was akin to sleeping on the bandstand itself. But they did furnish us earplugs! When's the last time your stateroom came with earplugs?? Read more