Like the review previous to mine, our party of 19 booked our cruise well in advance and many families ended up not sitting together. Not a big deal, but odd. You would think that since we paid for our trip so far in advance, we could have them get us seats together! Uneventful embarkation. It went downhill from dinner though. Our waiter and his assistant, just didn't know how to handle a large group. There were 10 adults and 9 kids. The first night one of our party asked if we could get more bread and our head waiter said "I can only do one think at a time". Never did get that bread. No one came by for drink orders, so we went to the bar to get our own - which seemed to annoy the maitre'd. He eventually had a server come to us but she could not keep up with our orders as well as the orders of half the Paris dining room (which looks like it has wood-grain contact paper on the walls). She was a doll but told them she could handle all the orders without help - she was wrong and missed out on a lot of tips due to it. Each night we went for at least one of our own drinks or took one in with us. They treated the children (ages 5 through 13) as though they weren't there - and we even had compliments as to how well behaved they were.

Service like that seemed to radiate throughout the ship. Kids had soda cards and tried to get sodas from the bars only to be ignored - even if they were the only ones there. Many times I had to flag them down - and then I was given the impression that it was a huge inconvenience for them.

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My friend asked a bar server on deck 5 which is the fastest / easiest way to get to the kids club. He pointed up and walked away. It is on the 11th deck. I guess up was his answer. We laugh now, but not then. The boat is laid out funny...you have to go up or down and around the dining areas to get forward to aft, etc.

During dinner a photographer asked if we wanted a picture. We said we did but one of the spouses was away from the table and would be right back and could he come back or wait? He said no and abrubtly left and never came back. The food was only so-so. I've had better. Desserts not that great either.

Excursions were great. Loved snorkling in St. Thomas and St. Martin.

The kids had a great time in the clubs although in the 9-11 age group, the counselors would not be at the assigned area to have the kids check themselves out and then the kids didn't know what to do - bring a 2-way radio to give to your child so you can keep in touch with them!

Debarkation was a nightmare....at least trying to get to the airport. We waited outside in the heat for 2 hours. When they lined up our luggage and the bus finally arrived, they ran over a piece of our luggage. My husband and a friend had to remove it from the wheel well. When we spoke to the Carnival rep about it all she said was, "So do you want to take the bag up front with you on the way to the airport?". How does that help repair snorkel equipment??? Then the driver had the nerve to ask for tips!!!! Take a taxi. Less of a headache. Or better yet, avoid the Miami port area all together.

We had a good time due to the group we were with. The piano bar with Greg was so much fun. Great service in there and in the cigar bar. The gift shop folks are wonderful as well. John Heald is the best cruise director! Although I wish he knew some of these things that were happening on that ship. He would be appalled.

Our room steward was the best. Randy knew exactly what great service was. He was so kind and helpful. Room stewards work so hard and really deserve extra tipping.

I won't do Carnival again. Will do Disney or Royal, or probably any other line.