We booked this cruise with our best friends hoping to enjoy the New Year in warm weather. It was a Premier cruise for casino VIP guests and we were supposed to have VIP treatment including all the perks of faster to the fun - embarkation was easy and smooth but our room was not ready when we got there - in fact, we did not get our luggage until an hour before sail time! So much for FTF and VIP treatment!

The muster drill was easy and comfortable in the theater (as opposed to on the Triumph where I was fighting an anxiety attack with stuffing lots and lots of people on a lower deck). We missed the NYE celebration because the casino was open and we were winning! (We're funny like that, but we did get to share a New Year's kiss nonetheless!) The casino was the best part of this cruise - the staff was extremely attentive, the waiters and waitresses were on point (extra points to Stefan!), and the games were - for the most part - paying off well!

The weather was not cooperative for our 2 days at sea, but there were, of course, always things to do (not enough trivia, though)! My biggest complaint is the buffet on the Lido deck. The quality of the food has gone down so much from the first time I cruised. I've been on four different Carnival ships - my first time on the Fantasy, the food on the Lido buffet was great - each time after, it has consistently gone downhill. Read more