Hi Anna,
Too bad you had an unpleasant experience with your travel agent. The agent might have been an employee and was not qualified to answer all your questions. Therefore gave up.
I am a travel agent and have been on 48 cruises. My wife and I have an 8 year old and carefully scrutinize all the children's programs on all the ships.
Let's take Carnival first. You are right, the price is very reasonable. This is not the Carnival ships of 2 years ago. The line has improved 100%.
At one time I NEVER BOOKED AN OLDER PERSON on a Carnival ship, but now I book many senior groups and have very few complaints. I guess they all relive their college years.
Granted the ship is 24 hour fun and excitement ( sort of like Las Vegas, if you have ever vacationed there). There are no rated X pool parties. You will see a hairy leg contest ( and hairy chest). There is one pool that is very active and noisy on all ships. There are other pools that are very quiet (my wife likes to read and sun). Also the sides of the ship is lined with lounge chairs and is quiet. The activities are so varied, you can certainly steer clear of those that are labeled risque. Most adult shows are after 10PM. Afternoon shows that would be a little risky would be the Newlywed Game and some other assorted stage shows that are listed in your daily activity sheet. If there is a question, just call the purser's office.
Now let's take the children's program. I guarantee your kids will not want to spend ANY time with you after they find their new friends. Granted, the counselors are all college students and not professors and retired school teachers (as on Princess and Celebrity) but they do know how to keep the kids regimentated. The kids are very well controlled and you will not see them running and screaming if they are in the programs. There are some parents who could care less where their kids are or what they are doing (they think kids can't get in trouble in a confined ship). There will be a small assortment of kids like this. You will find them on ALL CRUISE LINES.
I am a louzy salesman, I state the good and bad.
Now, you mentioned "no smoking." There is a Carnival ship called the Paradise, brand new. Smoke and you walk the plank. Otherwise, Carnival does not allow smoking in any dining room, any showroom, any lounge and on only one side of the outside deck. The air filtering system is so good, non smokers say they can not smell stale cigarette smoke in their staterooms even if the passengers in the room on the previous sailing smoked.
As you can see, I LIKE Carnival. I was on three of their ships last year. Of course if you ask about my favorite line, it is Celebrity. A little more expensive, entertainment not as great . Not as many bands and orchestras, but a very classy experience. True floating resorts with white glove service. The food on Carnival is good, the food on Celebrity is better.
I find Costa to be a great reasonable cruise line that is not highly touted in the U.S. since they only sail a few short winter months in this area (summer in Europe). Not crowded with families, excellent children's program, good service and food.
Feel free to write me with all your questions, I spend many hours answering questions from my customers and as you can see by my business name, I do not wish to get rich, I am 62 yrs. old and I don't want to retire.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Paul, Affordable Cruises, CT