We booked this cruise with Carnival because we'd heard that it was very family-friendly. Which it was for the most part. However, Royal Caribbean seems to have the market on being family friendly (with the exception of Disney, which we have not tried).

The itinerary was terrific, my favorite so far (this was our 5th cruise). We loved Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. All three ports were clean, beautiful, and, of course, had many opportunities for shopping. My 11-year-old daughter went swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel, and absolutely loved it.

The dining experience was fairly good. I did not like the dining room on the Carnival Conquest - I felt like we were crowded too closely to the other tables. The dining room was rather dark, which was probably enjoyed by some, but I would prefer more openness and light. The food was at par with other cruise lines, and the wine selection was decent. Read more