Matt...you're awesome.

 Puddinhead...just relax and TRY to have fun for goodness sake.  You're on vacation!

Is/was Puddinhead for real?  Dunno and, really, it doesn't much matter.  These cruises, as someone else said, are what you want them to be.  Want to sit alone and read a book?  Do it.  Walk in the moonlight?  Do it.  Eat till you burst? Drink to excess? Dance until near dawn?  Well, you get the idea.

I've heard people say "you get what you pay for" as if Carnival's low prices somehow cheapen the experience.  I haven't cruised a Cunard (maybe someday) but I must say, I've always gotten more than my money's worth on Carnival.  The service has never disappointed, the entertainment is fun and the crowds are amusing.  Accept the idea that you are on the ship to have a good time and you will.  Standing in line is even a pleasure if you let it be. Is there always room for improvement?  You bet.  It's all relative... how much can one really improve on "fun" anyway. ;-)

We'll be on the Elation for the 10/29 cruise in a group of 26 friends and family celebrating our son's 21st birthday.  Each and every one of us is looking for our own idea of a good time and I have a sneaky feeling we're going to find it. On the boat or in Cabo... I'm determined either way.

Happy cruising!

Vicki

puddinhead:

We are going to Ensenada / Elation in Oct. with a group of 10 people.

OK, it's the end of the month, and you're either on the ship now or have been and returned. We are all expecting a predominantly negative review, but I know at the same time many here are interested in hearing your opinion of your voyage regardless. Care to share?

~ MattInSoCal

MattInSoCal:

puddinhead:

We are going to Ensenada / Elation in Oct. with a group of 10 people.

 

OK, it's the end of the month, and you're either on the ship now or have been and returned. We are all expecting a predominantly negative review, but I know at the same time many here are interested in hearing your opinion of your voyage regardless. Care to share?

~ MattInSoCal

We got back last week but I haven't been home yet. 

I'm working on my review, which will be complete with photos. I have to edit the photos as my camera makes huge files and no one wants to wait for a 6 meg file when a 500 k is more than adequate. i hope to have it done this weekend, Not everything was bad and I was pleasantly suprised with a couple of things...

VickiW:

I've heard people say "you get what you pay for" as if Carnival's low prices somehow cheapen the experience. 

Yes, I see this quite a bit and have never understood it except to say that it was either a poor match (person to cruise) or the people will just never be happy about anything, or a little bit of both.

Best advice...research, research, research.  If there are things that you just won't be happy without, then make sure where you are going has it.  Sounds simple huh?