NIght time entertainment, Help!

I have been on the RCCL Splendour (99), Carnival Elation (02), and the Carnival Paradise (03). I have been very suprise at the lack of night time activity on board. The nightclubs seem to shut down, and no one is to be found after 11pm at night.

I am booking a cruise in Sept 05 to take along a bunch of mid-aged friends, and I am looking for the best ship to enojoy at night. Which ones have the most active bars/lounges. Which one keep the nightclubs open until 5am? Which one has people enjoying themselves, rather than saying (yawn, it is 10pm, got to get to bed).

Paradise was a non-smoking ship, and that kind of explained a lot. It was the worst I have been on. The other two we just kind of duds by themselves. Any advice, help!!!!!?

Hey Chip,
I've only been on one Cruise and that was RCCL Enchantment of the Seas. It was really fun. Alot of the nights I didnt go to bed until after I had breakfast first. that tells you how late we were up. :-) I've "heard" that RCCL was more laid back as compared to Carnival, so this summer I'm going to try the Carnival Valor. I hope it does not dissapoint. I'm going with a group of friends as I did on the Enchantment. I believe I had much more fun as I was with a group of friends who liked to have fun also.

Sept can be a time for older folks to travel so bring your own friends. On Constellation we had fun but the poor few singles were really bored to tears!