ABOUT US: This was my second cruise, both on Carnival. My last cruise, two years ago, was a 5-night cruise of the Western Caribbean on board the much smaller Sensation. I was cruising this time with a friend who had never cruised before.
CABIN: We had an oceanview cabin. We saved money by taking the OV-Guarantee option. We had a room on the Riviera Deck. On my last cruise I had an inside cabin and I HIGHLY recommend paying the extra money for a window. Even on the lowest deck, we had a nice view out the window. Heed the warnings about being certain your shower curtain is wrapped all the way around. Flooded bathrooms were common. The showers are nice, but small. Females...shaving your legs in there can be a real challenge! Pack an outlet extender. There is ONE single plug in the room. With two women packing electric hair supplies, we had to take turns. And we had to remember to plug in rechargeable items (digital camera battery) when we wouldn't need the plug for anything else. The robes were wonderful and the free sundries a nice touch. The decor is very tasteful, much more muted and modern than the horrible burnt orange decor of the old Sensation. The only time we felt cramped is when we were packing and unpacking. The closet/bathroom area is tight.
PUBLIC ROOMS: I like to dance, so I'll admit to being in the One Small Step Disco every night. Sometimes the music in there was a bit hip-hop for my taste, but then I'm not 20-something. The decor is awesome and they keep it well air conditioned. It will feel cold when you first go in, but once you start dancing... We visited the Eagle's Lounge for the '50s & '60s Motown and had a great time doing old dances like the twist. The piano bar is nice, but I only visited there briefly. We had the late dinner so bar-hopping was a late night affair. We had to keep moving or the exhaustion would have had time to catch up to us!