This was my first cruise, a four day cruise in April 2010 from San Diego to Catalina to Baja.

I don't even know where to start, I guess I would begin with the 80.00 I was charged to pay for "gratuities". I prepaid this figuring I wouldn't have to be bothered at each and every turn. WRONG!
When I wasn't charged again for it on my bill, I was being asked several times a day by various people to not to forget to tip this person or that person.. because the money I had prepaid wasn't available to them.

The dinners ( I've had better meals at the local nursing home while visiting)... were pathetic. Our centerpiece on the table was a 1 1/2 liter plastic bottle of water. The first night, we opened it and drank it. At the end of the meal we were presented with a bill +tip for the water we drank!

The "Wine and shop" trip for 30.00 each was a total joke, they drove us to a big old abandoned warehouse that had several large wine casks, NOT a winery!!! Then to another abandoned old building and served "marguaritas" in dixie cups and lead us to a central plaza for some "good deals" on shopping, it amounted to about 10 street vendors selling beaded bracelets and some pottery. We were horrified that we got completely taken by Carnival. They had promoted all day before about their fantastic excursions.

There were children running wild all over the ship the entire time, they filled the pool so it was not possible to even use any of the services on the Lido deck. People were smoking all over the ship, it was hard to get away from the 750 children or the smokers. As for the entertainment, Steve the cruise director held a game called the "marriage game" or something along those lines... one of the question we heard before we left, went something like this:
when you husband gets out of the shower... what kind of car does his penis look like? a limo or a pink VW bug... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is Carnivals idea of entertainment?

On the morning of departure, I woke up vomiting and with diarrhea. I begged the housekeeping staff to stay in my room until we were called to leave the ship. Unfortunately, we were the last to be called, of the 25, we were 23. It would be about a 3 hour wait in the lobby filled with hundreds of people and misbehaving children. I was told I had to leave my room, so I called the infirmary to see if I could rest there near a bathroom. I was told that would not be possible, when I ask why, I was told it would be VERY expensive. At this point I went to guest services and was told to just go sit in the lobby. I told the woman, that would be fine, I would be throwing up in her lobby! She then gave me a pass to leave the ship immediately. By then I was in tears, it was the final straw. The worst vacation my husband and I have ever had, and we're in our mid 50's, so we've had many vacations.

We will never cruise again. What a pathetic vacation they offer.

We have not received a reimbursement of the fuel surcharge promised to us on Friday, Dec. 12, while on a cruise, Dec. 6 - Dec. 17. Our travel agent, after checking with Carnival, states that we will not receive the reimbursement; that it will not be given. The information provided at the pursur's desk by two separate employess was a total lie.