I am looking for opinions on Carnival Cruises. We have never cruised them- just Disney and once RC. RC we didn't care for but then again it was an older ship and and older age crowd (not many families with children). So...

Budget is the reason. I looked into taking another 3 day Disney Cruise but it's $1700...
I saw a 5 day cruise on Carnival departing from Jacksonville going to a private island and the bahamas and somehwere else I forget now... it was around $1200. I know the price is close but it's more days on the Carnival Cruise so a longer vacation for less $$.

Thoughts? They seem to have added lots of water slides and improvements over the last time I considered them. Anyone cruised them recently? The good, the bad? thanks~