This past summer, i went on the best vacation that i have ever experienced. This was my first cruise, and i'm so glad that i chose Carnival Cruise Line. When we first arrived at the boat, checking our luggage was easy, and hassle free. The luggage did take a while to arrive at our room but  it was OK because we were out and about exploring the ship.

When you first walk onto the ship you are greeting by a fantastic lobby with a semi-circle bar, and glass elevators that go all the way up to the top deck .The 2 floor dining room was extravagant. The waiters were charismatic, humorous, and polite. On certain nights in the dining room there were conga lines, and dancing waiters. Dress code is pretty formal for the dining room. The lounges had excellent entertainment (piano playing, karaoke, comedians) and had the best alcohol.

Me and my family stayed in a balcony stateroom. It was decent sized, with a queen bed and bunk beds. There was a fair amount of closet space and the bathroom was an ok size, the shower however was quite cramped. The maid who came to clean the room was so sweet, always smiling, and made an animal out of the towels everyday.

On the main deck the pool was pretty big. Although it was refilled every night with sea water, and was always cold. The Jacuzzis really weren't much warmer. There was always enough lounge chairs for everyone, as well as tables for those who wanted to eat. Room service was 24 hours, and so was the pizza bar. By the pool the buffet was not always open, and served the same food everyday which was disappointing.

We booked horse riding, and power snorkeling as out excursions. The horse riding was mediocre, and if you weren't truly passionate about horses i wouldn't recommend this excursion. The power snorkeling however was LOADS of fun! Even if you aren't the best swimmer, its OK because the machine you hold onto does all the work for you so you can truly take in the beautiful fish and sea life around you. The beaches were also fantastic. The ocean water was warm and crystal clear. It was easy to find your way around, and restrooms were always available.

The shopping on and off the boat was great, and best of all duty free. The boat had name brand merchandise, and the prices were very reasonable. People always were around the boat at all hours of the day and night. I met a lot of great people who i still keep in contact with. There were fun games and tournaments like ping pong, bean bag throwing, bingo, arts & crafts, guessing games. The arcade was great especially for boys ages 6-14. There were clubs for kids 12-14, and 15-17 that organized activities to keep the kids busy while the adults could relax in the adults only pool. Another great thing was that photos were taken throughout the cruise and were available for you to buy.

This was truly the best vacation i have ever taken, and would recommend this to anyone. It really is great fun for the whole family, and i already booked one for this summer.

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families