It's worth checking the deck plan for your cabin options, like the spacious Room 2474 on Carnival Splendor. By the end of our three-night cruise I’d come to a clear verdict.

Nearly 4,500 passengers, including 16 Britons, and crew on board the Carnival Splendor, low on food and without air conditioning or hot water, are having to eat canned crab meat and Spam dropped ...