We tried Carnivak cruise line twice and every time just got worse. The ships are absolutely disgusting and the food is nasty. Bugs and hair in the buffet. Dining room tables are so dirty you don’t even want to sit down. The ships are boring and lack entertainment. We even had sewage coming from our cabin shower and the staff did the bare minimum to assist. Never again

Carnival Cruise Line is a good value to a few places on one trip. While on board o felt very safe as well as the three ports I visited. The ship was for the most part easy to get around but I do wish they had more color coded systems to help with navigation. We did have issues in out cabin with broken drawers that made it difficult to access and the bathroom drain drained slowly.

Taking a Carnival cruise as a mom is basically the closest thing to a vacation… while still doing mom things. First of all, the food situation is incredible. As someone who normally hears “Mom, what’s for dinner?” about 47 times a day, it was amazing to just point my kids toward a buffet and say, “Go find something.” Pizza, burgers, ice cream… it’s basically a kid’s dream and a mom’s break from cooking. The best part? Entertainment for the kids is everywhere. Water slides, pools, kids clubs, trivia, shows—you could honestly stay busy all day. At one point my kids disappeared into the kids club and I actually sat in a chair… in silence… by the ocean. I wasn’t packing lunches, breaking up arguments, or doing laundry. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself. The cabins are cozy (read: tiny), which means if one person wakes up early, everyone wakes up early. But honestly, you’re barely in the room anyway because there’s always something going on around the ship. Also worth noting: there are about 4,000 other kids on the ship who suddenly become your children’s best friends within five minutes. The only downside? When you get home, everyone still expects snacks, rides to activities, and clean clothes. Apparently the cruise staff doesn’t come home with you. Overall: great food, happy kids, and a few moments where mom actually gets to relax. I’d definitely do it again.