Chose this cruise in early December because I love a winter vacation without the kids and during this time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas . . . the price is right (as Bob Barker and Drew Carey would say). It was my 3rd Carnival cruise, my first one on the Carnival Dream, and the first one out of New Orleans. Embarkation and Disembarking has improved with each cruise I've gone on. The food was good (love Guy's burgers), overall the ship was clean and I had a good time. We very much enjoyed the Punchliner comedy club as well as the 80's music show that was put on in the main Encore lounge / theater. The cruise director Alex is one of the best. The exercise room on this ship was a little small for my expectations, they had way too many treadmills and not enough room for free weight activities. Serenity adult area is nice, quiet, and comfortable - that is unless you are there when they blow the horn leaving port - scared the you know what out of me for a moment.

Many other reviews here have complained of foul smells at different places on this ship. I will say I noticed a few areas that smelled, but nothing more than you experience in everyday life. I generally noticed it more often going by the same rooms and it didn't smell like sewage, it smelled more like people and people's clothes who don't bathe frequently enough.