My first Carnival cruise was over two decades ago on the M.S. Holiday. Since then, much of the cruising industry has changed. Now a senior, I have changed too. While aboard my recent voyage on a Carnival Spirit Mexican Riviera cruise, I observed several senior-friendly additions.

A variety of choices in dining includes many more casual alternatives for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with the elaborate meals offered in the main dining room. Legendary midnight buffets have been updated to reflect consumers' changing palates, incorporating lighter fare. My companion and I enjoyed the casual restaurants for breakfast and lunch and the elegant dining room for dinner, where we chose a table for two. We usually ordered the spa "heart-healthy" menu and didn't feel one bit deprived. Between dinner courses I accepted my waiter's invitation to join him in some lively dancing, along with other passengers and their waiters.

Activities for Everyone

Daytime activities range from bingo to wine tastings to art auctions. Active seniors can take advantage of the spa health program, featuring the latest workout equipment and pampering treatments. My companion met with several other passengers for a daily bridge game, while I either visited the library or joined a fun "Austin Powers" dance class, taught by the Carnival Spirit dancers.

The shore excursion list has a helpful guide with accompanying symbols denoting the level of activity to expect; easy, moderate or very active, such as climbing, paddling or walking long distances. There are also a few wheelchair-accessible tours.

After a busy day in port, the Carnival Comfort Bed Sleep System fills the bill. Plush comfortable mattresses and high-quality down-like pillows pair with sheets and pillowcases made with a luxurious high thread count cotton blend. Fluffy terry robes are supplied.

Seniors can have peace of mind knowing that their cruise is backed by the line's exclusive Vacation Guarantee, the only one of its kind in the cruise industry. This program enables guests to disembark if they are not satisfied with their vacation for any reason and receive a pro-rated refund for the unused portion of their fare.

Environmentally Conscious Company

As the world's largest cruise operator, Carnival seeks to manage the environmental impact of its fleet. International law allows disposal of some waste items at sea, but Carnival chooses to recycle, incinerate or dispose of waste materials on land.

The line also involves its guests in the recycling program. Containers are placed throughout the ships for disposal of food, glass, aluminum and plastics. Cooking oil and grease are reused onboard as alternative fuel. The line is researching options for the treatment of wastewater from sinks, showers and kitchens that would make it usable for laundry and deck washing. Carnival's 22 cruise ships have received certification for its Environmental Management System from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, an accredited ship classification society.

Eco-friendly Shore Excursions

Shore excursions include ecological adventures. On my six-hour tour (Carnival advertises five, but it lasted six), "Birds, Turtles and City Overview," we stopped at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, located on a tranquil beach about 20 miles from Acapulco in the state of Guerrero. This government-sponsored program, run by a local environmentalist, was launched to improve the chances of survival for endangered sea turtles. In spite of efforts to protect them from predators of all types, many species are on the brink of extinction.

The center releases 260,000 turtles annually. Visitors help the cause by placing newly hatched babies safely onto the beach for their short scurry to the sea. If those of us on the tour had placed them directly into the water, the turtles would not know where to return as adults, when it was time to come back to lay their own eggs. I could hardly wait to get back home to share this adventure with my young grandsons, who were elated to know that their grandma helped a tiny turtle find its way safely to the ocean!

The tour also took us on a scenic ride along Acapulco Bay to Tres Palos Lagoon, where we boarded small motorboats and explored this sanctuary that is home to tropical cormorants, storks and egrets.

At the end of the tour, our guide stepped out into muddy waist-high water scooping up a handful of the black clay-like, mineral rich earth. He offered it to the ladies, praising its benefits as a beauty mask. Not wanting to return to the ship with mud on our faces, we declined. The Carnival Spirit may be taking steps to help the environment, but after such a full day of touring it was time to get back to the ship and party!