Disclaimer: I completely believe any experience is mostly what you make it. That being said, I've taken 1 and only one cruise: a May 2009 Carnival Ecstasy (God rest her soul) swine flu re-route from Mexico to Jamaica and Grand Cayman for my honeymoon. We loved everything about that cruise! But this was back in the days of free sushi happy hour, adequate staffing, free room service, and dress code enforcement in the MDR. Seasoned cruisers, knowing how Carnival cruising was back then vs. what it is now, do you think we'll have a vastly more negative experience?
Are there still fun things like free tea time?
Is there really a dearth of food options like I keep reading about in reviews (ie, not enough lines or restaurants open, empty coffee/ice cream/whatever dispensers)
Are there gangs of unruly kids running around the ships terrorizing 40-something people like me?
Is there anywhere to go on the ships to avoid the crowds? (For reference, we'll be sailing the Breeze over Thanksgiving --yikes!)
Thanks for any tips and reassurance you can give me. I realize it's still vacation and will be great, but I want to meter my expectations if necessary.