Standard approach is to join for either the port or starboard "wait" ... a circuit 0.5nm laterally from each respective side of the carrier at 200ft. If there is no fixed wing flying you'll generally either join direct to the deck or for the port wait, tend to get thrown into the stbd wait if there are FW ops in progress.
Standard circuit is at 200ft to an approach along the relative Red 165 approach (165 degrees off the port bow) at 200ft, descending to 15' above deck edge level and then as directed by Flyco/FDO in terms of landing spots.
Crossing the extended centreline at the bow or stern within 10nm requires permission I.e. on arrival/departure or moving from starboard to port wait.
The CVS had 2 starboard side spots (Zero spot, which was directly to starboard of the ramp after Sea Dart was removed, and 6 spot aft of the island). These were particularly useful for expeditious landings during FW landing and recovery.
Approaches to small decks I.e. Frigates and Destroyers is similar with a standard R165 approach to 15' above deck edge level.
Helicopter (onboard radar by Observer) or Ship controlled radar approaches vector a cab down the same R165 radial to a height of 125ft at either 0.25nm or 0.5nm depending upon instrument rating level. Having done a lot of these at minima, it does require some rapid hands and feet movement when the ship appears at the very last "look up for sight" moment. Probably the most important approach to have completely mentally prepared for the drift offset and knowing exactly where to look.
Hope that's of some use.