Cruise Reviews

A light-hearted review from a middle-aged couple about their experience on the Carnival Miracle cruise to the Western Caribbean.

A thorough review of a Carnival Legend tour to the Southern Caribbean last year. Broken down by day and activities.

The Carnival Destiny is not what many would consider a luxurious vessel; the food is nothing too fancy and the ship tends to be crowded and noisy. But budget travelers benefit from an excellent itinerary that offers a new port-of-call every day. You won't spend precious vacation days "at sea" as is the case on most other cruises. The ports are not too far apart geographically, yet offer a surprising diversity of attractions, shopping and amenities. This cruise is a solid option for budget travelers who favor value over luxury on a seven-day trip.

Six middle-aged women take on a "fun ship."

Charleston is a great cruise embarkation port, especially for those of us who live in the southeast or mid-Atlantic states. It's less than a 6-hour drive from my home near Atlanta, and Charleston is widely considered to be one of America's finest cities. For our 5-night cruise on the Carnival Fantasy, I drove to Charleston and rendezvoused with a high school friend before driving to the luxurious Charleston Place hotel, where we spent the two nights before our cruise.