We'll be taking our 4th cruise in July. Three of them have been on Carnival. We started with Royal Caribbean, but since our second cruise (on Carnival) we've been hooked! We are most fascinated by the attention to detail in the decor and layout of each ship. Carnival Spirit (Alaska) was classy. Ecstasy had been completely refurbished: flat screen TVs, new carpet & bedding in all rooms, beautiful Camp Carnival...we'll be on Conquest next.
One thing you will notice on Carnival ships is that there are limited views of the ocean in interior public areas. You won't mind, though, if you have a balcony room. I'm not saying there aren't places to enjoy outdoor scenery, but Carnival really puts its efforts into providing interior eye candy everywhere you turn!
Another thing you will notice is that the company really invests in entertainment and activities for the whole family. Our son loved everything from scavenger hunts to trivia contests. We met so many friendly people. There will be NO shortage of kids on Carnival. Your picture will be taken many times - often with fun characters.
You'll have many TV channel choices with national network TV beamed in from Denver's affiliates. Expect the usual pitches for Bingo and art auctions and shopping talks. I wish there were more shopping options aboard, but the two or three shops are busy and fun for browsing. The staff members on our ships always worked very hard and remained friendly - always giving our 11-year-old son lessons in towel folding, etc. They always took the time to make Zach feel special. The food is like everything else: a lot of variety, with many, many choices...which means you'll find you love some of it, and some of it is just "OK". Our dining room experiences have always been excellent. Our servers were professional as well as entertaining.
I think Carnival gets bad press in the reviews. Some like to consider it the "bargain basement" of the cruising industry. We can't compare it to Celebrity, Princess, or NCL, but our experiences have led us to believe that its customers only benefit from Carnival being the leading (and biggest) cruise line of them all.
Cruising is the best way to vacation, no matter which line you voyage with. Have fun making memories with your family!
