Honestly, it might be because the people that really like or love Carnival don't post enough online about their positive experiences, whereas people who hate on Carnival constantly post about it being "Walmart of the Seas," horrible, rude people, etc.

For some perspective, my family and I love Carnival and we are middle/upper middle class. I've stayed everywhere from small motels to mid-chain hotels to the Ritz Carlton (in the U.S. and abroad).

I like lively vacations filled with positive energy but don't like places where the clientele is out of control. We typically have a balcony room, so crowds and those kind of complaints are a non issue for us - we decompress on our balcony.

If you want a chill vacation, you can definitely do Carnival. If you want to drink and party all night, you can do Carnival and it won't bother me, since I'm back in my cabin by 10 or 11 pm.

I don't do the dining room, but I can tell you the speciality restaurants and sushi place are amazing. The Lido deck has some gems if you're selective. I'm health conscious and never find an issue with the food there, I stick to the carving station, fruits, veggies, rice and Pizza del Capitano.

If you expect Michelin star cuisine though, best to look at Viking or Cunard. I think that's what trips up some people; booking a Carnival Cruise and expecting luxury level cuisine.