carnival cruise guide book

The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries

If the United States has a national cruise line, it's Carnival .

The self-described "fun ship" line is the king of short, affordable, fun-focused cruises from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and other nearby destinations. No matter where you live in the U.S., you're probably within a few hours of a Carnival ship.

Where you won't find Carnival ships, notably, is in Asia, South America or, for the most part, Europe. Unlike other big cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises , Carnival doesn't spread its vessels around the world to draw a fly-in crowd. Aimed squarely at Americans, its trips are all about cruising close to home at a reasonable price.

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Indeed, if you're going on a Carnival cruise , the odds are you're driving to the ship, not flying, and you're probably not paying much more than you would for a trip to a local beach town.

You're also not going for anything too highbrow. Carnival ships are all about fun in a very laid-back, unpretentious, nothing-too-fancy sort of way.

Entertainment, at times, is as lowbrow as the line is low-cost. This is, after all, the brand that for many years held a Hairy Chest Contest around the pool deck on every voyage, to a standing-room-only, hooting and hollering crowd.

The fun comes in many ways, though. While Carnival's ships for the most part aren't quite as big as the giant ships operated by Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, they're packed with a wide range of fun features, from waterparks with multiple waterslides to cooking classrooms where you can learn how to make the line's signature chocolate melting cake.

Related: A beginner's guide to picking a cruise line

3 things TPG loves about Carnival

• The "fun" focus that oozes into everything.
• The food (really — see below).
• The kids' programs.

What we could do without

• The smoke in the casino.

The Carnival Cruise Line fleet

Carnival is one of the world's biggest cruise lines by passenger capacity, with 25 ships that together offer nearly 80,000 berths.

In general, these are big ships. However, with two exceptions, they're not giants by today's standards.

Carnival has just begun operating its first truly giant ships in years, the 181,808-ton, 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 183,521-ton, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration . However, the line's next-biggest vessel, the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia , measures just 135,225 tons. That's about 40% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean .

Seven of the line's 25 vessels measure less than 100,000 tons, which makes them almost midsize by today's cruise ship standards.

Related: Every Carnival ship ranked from biggest to smallest

This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

However, for many years it chose not to follow rivals such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in building ever-bigger ships . Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are now the only Carnival ship on the list of the 50 biggest cruise ships.

The arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration over the past two years has marked a major turning point for the line. At around 180,000 tons, they rank at No. 15 and No. 13, respectively, among the world's largest cruise ships — the only Carnival ships to crack the Top 20. They are roughly 35% bigger than the line's next-biggest ship. One more ship in the series — Carnival Jubilee — will arrive in December 2023.

The 25 Carnival ships currently in operation can be broken down into eight classes: Fantasy, Spirit, Conquest, Splendor, Dream, Sunshine, Vista/Venezia and Excel. Many of those classes have a lot in common. Unlike Royal Caribbean, Carnival doesn't always drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.

Note that the Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered another sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration that will be ready to sail in late 2023.

In addition, the line in 2024 will begin operating a ship in the fleet of its sister line Costa Cruises : Costa Firenze. It'll sail from Los Angeles.

Related: The 8 classes of Carnival ships, explained

Destinations and itineraries

Carnival is all about cruises from U.S. ports. You'll find at least one of its ships sailing out of pretty much every major port city around the country. It's rare to find them based anywhere else.

Carnival's biggest operations are out of PortMiami and Port Canaveral in Florida; Galveston, Texas; Long Beach, California; and New Orleans — all major cruise hubs. You'll also find Carnival ships in such secondary cruise ship ports as Baltimore; Charleston, South Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; and Jacksonville, Florida.

The overarching idea for Carnival's ship deployments is that a large percentage of the U.S. population can reach one of the line's ships by car, saving the cost of flights.

For the most part, Carnival ships sail relatively short voyages of three to eight nights.

Carnival vessels based on the East Coast and along the Gulf of Mexico mostly sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Some East Coast ships also head to Bermuda, New England and Canada. On the West Coast, sailings to Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska are the norm.

Carnival also offers some Panama Canal voyages.

Occasionally, Carnival will deploy a ship to Europe for a few weeks or months. This often takes place when a vessel needs to go to a European shipyard for an overhaul.

In recent years, Carnival also has deployed two of its vessels to Australia to operate voyages from Sydney and Brisbane. In a departure from Carnival's American-focused business model, the Australia sailings are aimed mostly at the local Australian market, though they are open to American travelers.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival cruise

Who sails Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is the undisputed leader among North America-based cruise brands when it comes to affordability, which makes it popular with vacationers on a budget.

It's also popular with a fun-seeking crowd. Carnival trips are all about letting loose and having a good time. Maybe you'll drink a little too much, eat a little too much, play a little too much — but in the end, you'll say it was your best trip ever.

At one level, Carnival can best be described as a working man's or working woman's vacation. The typical Carnival customer is a teacher, a nurse, a firefighter, a contractor or the like, either still working or retired. This isn't a line for Wall Street bankers or white-shoe lawyers.

Carnival also is huge with families. The "fun" is for all ages, from 2-year-olds to retirees.

Still, it's just as much psychographics as demographics that define the typical Carnival customer. Carnival executives have often used the word "spirited" to describe the people who are drawn to the line, and that's as good a word as any.

Carnival draws a lively, outgoing crowd looking to be part of the action. The typical Carnival customer is the sort of person who shoots up a hand when an entertainer asks for a volunteer to come on stage or jumps up to dance during midmeal music shows in the dining room starring the waiters (yes, on Carnival, this is a thing).

Cabins and suites

Unlike some of its biggest competitors, Carnival isn't known for a huge range of cabin categories on its vessels. The vast majority of the accommodations on Carnival ships fall into one of three broad buckets: windowless inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins.

You'll find relatively few suites on Carnival ships. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista Class series, for instance, offers fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest Class ships has around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy Class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.

This is in part due to Carnival's focus on affordability. The typical Carnival customer isn't in the market for a super fancy, high-priced suite.

That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration each have 180 suites — more than twice the number of Carnival's other recent ships.

Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have 11 different categories of suites in all, four of which are part of a new premium Excel category of suites that come with extra amenities and access to a new-for-the-line, resort-style enclave at the top of the ship called Loft 19.

Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood, and cabin bathrooms are neutral.

Note that Carnival's two oldest ships — those that are part of the 1990s-built Fantasy Class — have relatively few balcony cabins by today's standards. (After retrofitting, several have around 150 balcony cabins, out of a total of more than 1,000 cabins in all.) In part because of this, Carnival has been phasing these ships out of its fleet in recent years.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival ships

Restaurants and dining

Like other big-ship operators, Carnival packs a lot of dining options onto its vessels — some included in the price, some at an extra charge.

Every vessel has two main dining rooms and a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. The buffet is called the Lido. For dinner in the main dining room, you must sign up for either Your Time dining (you go whenever you want) or Traditional Dining (you have a fixed table and time for dinner).

Other included-in-the-fare options found on most ships include what may be the two best quick-serve poolside dining venues at sea: BlueIguana Cantina and Guy's Burger Joint.

Related: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that let you skip the buffet crowds

BlueIguana is a Chipotle-style restaurant, with yummy made-to-order burritos and tacos. Created in partnership with Food Network's Guy Fieri, Guy's Burger Joint offers burgers that beat anything you'll find around the pool on other mass-market ships and even most luxury vessels.

In addition, every ship has at least one — and usually several — extra-charge eateries. The most common ones found across the fleet are Fahrenheit 555, the line's signature steakhouse, and Italian cuisine-serving Cucina del Capitano (if you're a Carnival fan, you know this as the place where waiters sing and dance between courses). The two venues have flat fees of $49 and $24 per person, respectively.

Other extra-charge eateries often found on Carnival vessels include Bonsai, an a la carte sushi restaurant (now on 14 ships), and JiJi Asian Kitchen, which costs $24 per person (now on four ships).

Six of Carnival's newest ships — Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon — also have teppanyaki eateries called Bonsai Teppanyaki (priced at a flat $42 per person for dinner; $38 at lunchtime). Most of these six ships (all but Carnival Venezia) have an a la carte barbecue-and-beer joint called Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, too.

The latter venue was created in partnership with Food Network's Guy Fieri and serves a free lunch on embarkation and sea days, with all items smoked on board.

Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, notably, has its very own in-house brewery you can see behind glass walls — something still relatively rare on cruise ships. It makes house beers including Parched Pig West Coast IPA and Parched Pig Toasted Amber which you'll find on many Carnival vessels in kegs and cans. Carnival is the only cruise line to keg and can its own beer.

The quality of the food (and drink) on Carnival ships always surprises us, given the budget pricing of the brand. Despite being one of the industry's lowest-cost operators, Carnival manages to pull off one of the best steakhouses at sea in Fahrenheit 555, and even the no-extra-charge main restaurants get the basics right.

In general, the food isn't gourmet. For the price point of the line, it's quite impressive.

Related: The best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

For the most part, Carnival ships don't have quite as many features on board as Royal Caribbean or Norwegian vessels, in part because they're not as big. They're still packed with a variety of attractions, including multiple entertainment venues, casinos, spas and lots of deck-top fun zones such as water parks and ropes courses.

Theaters and shows

There's seemingly always something playing on a Carnival ship, whether it be a glitzy singing-and-dancing production in the main theater, a comedy show in a secondary lounge, a magical act or a call-you-up-on-stage interactive game show.

Every Carnival ship has one big theater where you'll often find flashy, fast-paced production shows that string together a medley of loosely related tunes. Designed to be quick and digestible, they typically last around 30 minutes and have relatively small casts (just eight on some ships).

In general, the production shows aren't nearly as sophisticated — or as long — as what you'll find on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian ships. But they're lively.

Carnival also uses its big theaters for lots of interactive shows that involve you, the passenger, getting a little silly. They include Lip Sync Battle Carnival — a shipboard adaptation of the Paramount Network TV series — and Hasbro, the Game Show.

With the latter, you can team up with your friends and family to play giant versions of Connect 4 Basketball or Simon Flash in front of a live audience.

Carnival is also well known for the Punchliner Comedy Clubs on its ships, which draw quality comedians and can get a little raucous late at night with adult-only performances.

When it comes to raucous, though, nothing on Carnival ships quite compares to the frequent karaoke nights on board. On Carnival, it's a thing. Sometimes held in a secondary lounge or a shipboard pub, karaoke on Carnival draws a big crowd. Passengers come prepared with rehearsed songs and sometimes even their own guitars.

Insider tip: Get to the comedy shows early to snag a good seat — or any seat at all. These shows on Carnival ships are hugely popular.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Carnival ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night, including a wide range of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Every Carnival ship has a casino, usually smack in the middle of the main entertainment deck.

Also, there are always several music venues where you'll find live performers in the afternoons and evenings, including — on some ships — the Atrium Bar and a secondary hub area called Ocean Plaza. There's almost always a piano bar that's home to lively singalongs.

Other popular venues found on some Carnival ships include RedFrog Pub, which serves up Carnival's tasty housemade beers on tap, as well as plenty of other choices.

On one of Carnival's newest ships, Carnival Panorama, there's no RedFrog Pub, but the Smokehouse Brewhouse has a stage that's home to live music nightly and some of the ship's karaoke sessions.

Carnival Panorama also houses Carnival's first cooking classroom. Dubbed Carnival Kitchen, it's located near the ship's main restaurants and is a seriously tricked-out venue complete with nine state-of-the-art, marbled granite cooking stations for two and a dedicated dining area.

Passengers can learn to cook everything from Carnival's classic warm chocolate melting cake to its popular saffron risotto during one- to two-hour classes that cost $30 to $59 per person.

One other new-for-Carnival attraction on Carnival Panorama is the first Sky Zone trampoline park at sea.

Near the ship's tween and teen clubrooms, it has two padded trampoline areas where you can jump around and take part in games like jousting on a balance beam or shooting baskets while bouncing. There's even trampoline dodgeball and, at one end of the room, a climbing wall augmented with interactive game elements.

Deck-top attractions

The top decks of Carnival vessels are covered in family-focused attractions – pools, waterslide areas and bustling fun zones with such draws as ropes courses and miniature golf.

Waterslides, in particular, are a big thing. In fact, when it comes to waterslides on ships, Carnival is the cruise world's king. The line began adding them to vessels way back in 1978. There's now at least one waterslide on all but one ship in the Carnival fleet (Carnival Luminosa) — something no other line can say.

On the vast majority of Carnival ships, there's not just a single waterslide but a whole water park area. Dubbed WaterWorks, these areas vary in size and features from vessel to vessel. They typically have one or two big waterslides (sometimes three!), a play zone with interactive water features and a large, continuously filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everybody within range.

On some Carnival ships, there's also a SportSquare area with such gee-whiz attractions as the high-flying, pedal-powered SkyRide (something that first debuted in 2016 on Carnival Vista and is now on four ships), a suspended-in-the-air ropes course, a basketball court, miniature golf, miniature bowling, ping-pong tables and other outdoor games.

It's a fun-at-sea focus that has gone to new levels over the past two years with the debut of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, each of which has — get this — a roller coaster on the top deck . Really. We're not making that up. At 800 feet in length, these aren't the biggest roller coasters ever. However, they're real ones — the first ever on a cruise ship.

Meanwhile, for passengers hoping for quiet time away from the kids, many Carnival ships also have an adults-only Serenity retreat area on their top decks with padded loungers, daybeds, hot tubs and often a bar.

In short, there's a ton to do up top on Carnival vessels — and it's almost all available to every passenger on board the vessels at no extra charge (the roller coaster is the only exception).

Unlike some lines, Carnival has resisted the trend of big-ship operators carving out whole sections of deck-top areas for the exclusive use of passengers staying in suites or willing to pay hefty access fees.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's programs

Carnival claims to draw more children than any other cruise line. So perhaps it makes sense that it has one of the most extensive children's programs at sea. The line has formal children's programming and activities for children as young as 2 years old through the age of 17.

The heart of the program, called Camp Ocean, brings free, supervised activities daily for children aged 2 to 11. The line splits children here into three age groups — Penguins (aged 2-5 years), Stingrays (aged 6-8 years) and Sharks (aged 9-11 years).

Each group has its own age-appropriate activities ranging from face painting to pirate adventures. On many ships there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.

While the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Camp Ocean until 1 a.m. During those hours, Camp Ocean transforms into a supervised slumber party-type environment with games, movies, crafts and snacks, along with late-night parties called Night Owls.

Carnival also offers dedicated tween and teen programs on ships for children aged 12 to 17. The younger children in this age range (12-14) are grouped into what's known as Circle C and have their own dedicated lounge on ships. It's a place to get together to talk, watch movies, play video games and take part in other activities.

Older kids (aged 15-17) are grouped into what's known as Club O2 and have their own lounge for meeting up, listening to music, dancing, singing karaoke and other activities.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen on a cruise that starts and ends in a U.S. port, you'll need a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, also are acceptable.

Passports must be valid for at least six more months. For cruises from international ports, you'll need a passport. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. All this said, we recommend checking Carnival's website before sailing for the very latest on requirements.

Carnival adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person, per day to final bills, depending on the cabin category (children under the age of 2 are exempt). If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and the cover charge of the Chef's Table.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Carnival has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in the last couple of years, such that you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Carnival vessels was recently priced at $21.25 per day when bought in advance ($25 per day when bought onboard).

Carnival also offers a less expensive "social" plan that only allows access to key social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and messaging services such as WhatsApp for $15.30 a day when bought in advance. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $19.55 per day when bought in advance, adds access to email and most websites.

The social and value plans cost $18 and $23 per day, respectively, when bought onboard a ship.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Carnival allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding plus up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. Note that you'll be charged a $15 corkage fee if you want to bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink. Drinks brought on board must be carried in your carry-on luggage.

Smoking policy

On most ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in casinos and nightclubs. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. In casinos and nightclubs, only cigarette smoking is allowed. On Carnival ships in Australia, smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor areas.

Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3.25-per-load charge to use a washer or dryer. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box.

In addition, vessels offer extra-charge laundry and, on select ships, dry cleaning services.

Note that three of the line's newest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia — do not have launderettes. Carnival fans are quite peeved about this, and you should be, too. Write the line a letter.

Electrical outlets

Most vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms, as well as European-style, 220-volt outlets. A growing number of vessels also have USB ports in cabins.

The exceptions are the two Carnival ships that traditionally have sailed in Australia (Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor), which are fitted with a standard Australian three-point plug or adapter providing 220/240 volt 60Hz. Adapters are available on these ships for purchase if needed.

The currency used on most Carnival ships is U.S. dollars. The exceptions are any Carnival ship based in Australia, where pricing is listed in Australian dollars.

All vessels operate on a "cashless system," with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a Sail & Sign card that you can use to make charges. This same card also gets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on most Carnival ships. The drinking age on sailings on Carnival ships in Australia is 18.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

During the evenings, there is an official dress code, but it's pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which means just that — khakis or jeans, polo shirts, sundresses, etc. Super casual items such as cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts aren't permitted.

One or two nights a cruise, there will be a more formal "cruise elegant" night where men are expected to turn out in dress slacks and a dress shirt, preferably with a sports coat, or even in a suit. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Carnival Cruise Line loyalty program

Carnival has a point-based frequent cruiser program, the VIFP Club, that has five tiers, ranging from Blue (requiring no points) to Diamond (200 points).

Members earn one point for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. To hit the second tier, Red, takes one cruise. Reaching the third tier, Gold, requires 25 points.

There is one twist to the earning structure, and it's in your favor: If you're going to hit a tier cutoff during a voyage, you will receive the benefits of that tier from the beginning of that cruise.

In other words, if you are sailing seven-night cruises, you will be Gold level on your fourth sailing, as you will be passing the 25-day mark on that sailing.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits.

In fact, the lower tiers of the Carnival program are among the most stingy in the entire cruise universe. You'll receive things like a single complimentary bottle of water (at the Red tier) and a single free drink that only can be ordered on the last night of a cruise (at the Gold tier). Higher levels of the program are more enticing.

Related: Everything you need to know about Carnival's loyalty program

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum (75 points), brings such perks as priority check-in and boarding, priority debarkation, priority dinner reservations, priority spa reservations and priority water shuttle boarding. Platinums also get complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service (with a limit of two to five bags, depending on the length of the cruise).

The top Diamond level (200 points) brings such added perks as unlimited free wash-and-fold laundry service, a guaranteed seating time in the main restaurant, a dedicated toll-free number for sales and service and a one-time room upgrade.

Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. However, it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher-level tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A Carnival passenger taking seven-night cruises will hit the Platinum level during their 11th sailing. Sail a few longer voyages, like a transatlantic sailing, and you could reach it even sooner.

In case you're curious, VIFP stands for Very Important Fun Person.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Carnival cruise cost?

In general, Carnival ships are among the most affordable at sea. It's not uncommon to find Carnival voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico starting well under $100 per person, per night including all taxes and fees — at least in the offseason.

As of this story's posting, six-night Eastern Caribbean sailings from Miami in 2024 were starting at $339 per person, not including taxes and fees of $170.19. That works out to just $85 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October and parts of November.

The timing of when you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels, and many cruisers will tell you that the best pricing for any given sailing is often available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance gives you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Carnival ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Most onboard activities such as shows and deck-top attractions are included in the fare.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Carnival.com to book directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process; trust us — we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure Carnival is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Carnival's cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points on dining.

Bottom line

Carnival ships are all about fun, in a lively, let's-not-take-this-too-seriously sort of way. They're also incredibly affordable. Just don't expect anything too fancy or highbrow.

This is a budget vacation, not a luxury product, and one that is sometimes a bit over the top in its keep-the-party-going formula.

If the idea of crew members dancing during your meal in dining rooms or rowdy karaoke parties makes you cringe, this isn't the line for you. However, if you're ready to let loose and be a little goofy, it may be a perfect choice.

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Home » Cruise » Carnival Cruise Line » Complete Guide to Cruising on Carnival Cruise Line

Complete Guide to Cruising on Carnival Cruise Line

This complete guide to cruising on Carnival is your handy guidebook to its ships, trips, and all the onboard fun this cruise line offers. 

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Carnival and its FUN ships have long been synonymous with cruising. The ubiquitous carefree cruise line celebrated 50 years of sailing in 2022, with no plan to slow down in sight.

If you’re considering a Carnival cruise as a first-timer, or you haven’t sailed in many years, it’s time for a refresh. Consider this complete overview of cruising on Carnival your handy guidebook to its ships, trips, and every last onboard amenity. 

Call to Book Your Next Cruise Now: 1-855-228-5584!

Who Should Cruise Carnival?

Carnival is the cruise line for anyone who wants to come as they are, let loose, and have a good time. A Carnival cruise is an ideal getaway for young couples, big groups and families of all ages, including multi-gen travelers. Adding to its convenience as a vacation option, Carnival offers departure ports across 10 states in the U.S.

Part of the Carnival appeal is also its value for money. Carnival is one of the cheapest cruise lines , without sacrificing dining or entertainment — especially when it comes to family-friendly options. Plus, its variety of homeports mean that many cruisers have the ability to drive to their ship, rather than fly.

Ship design as well as bar and restaurant concepts have gone trendier and more upscale with some newer vessels. But at the end of the day, Carnival is known for its friendly service and no-frills approach to cruising.

Carnival Cruise Ships

The Carnival Cruise Line fleet will consist of 27 ships by 2024. Our Carnival ship guide breaks down every ship by size, the date it debuted, and its ship class.

Carnival currently has nine ship classes in its portfolio: Fantasy Class, Spirit Class, Conquest Class, Splendor Class, Dream Class, Sunshine Class, Vista Class, Excel Class, and Venice Class.

Excel Class is the newest and largest class of Carnival cruise ships. It includes Mardi Gras; Carnival Celebration , launched in 2022; and Carnival Jubilee, which debuts at the end of 2023.

While there are of course differences, Carnival provides consistency in many of its onboard offerings across its fleet.

Carnival Cruise Costs

Carnival Cruise Line is generally an affordable family choice, but you might be wondering how much a Carnival cruise costs. These cruise costs can vary greatly based on itinerary, ship, and individual preferences like cabin selection and onboard extras.

Still, we share some guidelines for an idea of how much you’ll spend before your cruise and once onboard. This way you can set a realistic budget for your family vacation on a Carnival FUN ship.

Cabin Categories on Carnival Ships

Carnival has several different types of cruise rooms to cater to groups or couples. There are options for those looking to splurge on a suite and those looking to sail on a budget as well. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line now offers three different types of specialty staterooms from spa cabins intended for wellness and relaxation to family staterooms that come with kid-friendly perks. Note that specific cabin categories will vary from ship to ship.

All Carnival cabins come with 24-hour room service (free Continental breakfast), climate control, a stateroom attendant, TV, closet and drawer space, and an in-room safe. Some cabins feature connecting doors.

A list of Carnival cabin categories include:

• Interior : Affordable, inside cabins can sleep up to five and are considered roomy by industry standards.
• Ocean View : These rooms with a view feature a picture window and can sleep up to five people.
• Balcony : Balcony cabins vary in size but feature a full, outdoor balcony.
• Suite : Despite their roomier size, suites still sleep up to five people comfortably. Perks of a suite include a balcony, pillow-top mattress, two complimentary bottles of water, fuzzy bathrobes, and priority embarkation/debarkation and dinner reservations. 
• Cloud 9 Spa : These serene cabins are located on select ships near the spa. They include free, unlimited access to the thermal suite as well as free fitness classes and discounts on treatments. All Cloud 9 staterooms feature Elemis bath products as well as spa-branded robes and slippers.
• Havana : Havana cabins are like their own tropical resort. Guests in the Havana will have exclusive access to the Havana pool, adjacent to the cool Havana Bar. Havana Cabanas feature a large outdoor lanai with cozy, swinging hammock chairs in addition to Cuban-inspired décor. Guests must be 12 years or older to stay in the Havana complex, which is located onboard Carnival Panorama, Vista, Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, and Mardi Gras.
• Family Harbor : Carnival’s newest cabin category has been custom designed to give families all the perks they need for the perfect vacation at sea. Available onboard Carnival Panorama, Vista, Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, and Mardi Gras, Family Harbor rooms feature access to the exclusive Family Harbor Lounge; specialty dining access for your kids; and one free night of Night Owls babysitting.

Accessibility

Carnival offers several accessible cabin categories for cruisers with mobility issues. The brand also offers some other amenities to accommodate cruisers of all abilities.

For guests with physical limitations, fully accessible cabins (for use with wheelchairs or scooters) and ambulatory accessible cabins (for an individual using a cane or with limited mobility) are available across the fleet. Features might include grab bars, prime location near elevators, wider door dimensions, and clear floor space for maneuvering, as well as shower seats.

Guests with audiovisual needs onboard can request a visual-tactile cabin alert system, a teletypewriter, assisted listening devices, a sign language interpreter, large-print daily programs, computers with screen reading, and Braille signage.

Carnival is the first cruise line to be certified as sensory inclusive by KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to accessibility and inclusion for sensory and invisible disabilities including autism, ADHD, PTSD, or Down Syndrome. KultureCity sensory bags can be checked out free of charge for the duration of the cruise. They include fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones, and more.

Further, certified working service dogs are welcome onboard all Carnival ships.

Destinations

Carnival is known for short and sunny Caribbean or Bahamas cruises. However, the cruise line actually sails far beyond warm-weather islands to a variety of worldwide destinations.

Cruisers looking to book a Carnival sailing can choose from itineraries to Alaska , Hawaii, Europe , Bermuda , Canada/New England, Greenland, Panama Canal, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Cruisers who don’t mind a sea day can also book transatlantic or transpacific voyages.

Of course, Carnival’s bread and butter remains a variety of itineraries across the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

Departure Ports

A definite pro in favor of Carnival Cruise Line is its extensive range of departure ports within North America. Carnival currently lists 20 total departure ports, with 14 of them spread across both coasts of the U.S.

At the time of publication, Carnival ships are homeported in Mobile, Galveston , Charleston, Norfolk, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. A large number of Carnival ships are based in Florida , including the ports of Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa and Jacksonville.

International departure ports for Carnival ships currently include London, Rome, Barcelona, Brisbane, Sydney, and Singapore.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Carnival Cruises By Booking Now!

Private Islands

Not only do Carnival cruise ships visit a variety of global destinations, there are also exclusive destinations that you can only visit on a cruise ship. These locales are for cruise guests and have come a long way over the years.

Cruisers have the opportunity to visit up to five different private ports and islands , depending on their itinerary.

Carnival has preferred docking rights in Grand Turk, the capital island of the Turks & Caicos. Docked not far from historic Cockburn Town, cruisers can also enjoy the beaches, cabanas, shopping, and dining of Carnival’s 18-acre cruise center.

Half Moon Cay

Half Moon Cay is a private island in the Bahamas frequented by Carnival Cruise Line as well as a few other Carnival-owned cruise brands, like Holland America Line. This island experience is a serene one, with aquamarine waters, a lagoon, and plenty of nesting birds. Take a snorkel tour or a bike ride to learn more about Half Moon Cay’s flora and fauna.

Princess Cays

Located at the southern end of Eleuthera, a Bahamian island, is the private port of Princess Cays. This resort-style port of call offers a beach barbecue, plenty of sun loungers, and a playground for kids as well as a roped-off relaxation area for adults. This island is accessible to passengers with Carnival as well as Princess Cruises.

Along the Amber Coast of the Dominican Republic, Carnival Corporation has developed a 30-acre cruise port called Amber Cove . Here, families can spend the perfect port day lazing by a swimming pool and splash area surrounded by lush greenery or riding the zip line. Excursions are available into Puerto Plata or the waterfalls of Damajagua. Cabanas here guarantee incredible views.

Mahogany Bay

The largest Bay Island in Honduras is Roatan. It is here that cruisers can encounter Mahogany Bay, on its southern shores, where Carnival has positioned its private port near clear shores and the nature of Gumbalimba Park. West End Village is a collection of shops and restaurants, including local boutiques. Guests can ride the “Magical Flying Beach Chair” to reach Mahogany Beach from the cruise port welcome center.

Carnival Onboard Dining

Your dining experience onboard a Carnival ship might range from the crave-worthy burgers of Guy’s Burger Joint to the expertly crafted rolls of Bonsai Sushi or a fresh slice from the 24-hour Pizzeria del Capitano. Carnival’s restaurants and dining options are as varied as its cruisers.

From ample included meals at the buffet, main dining room, (and yes, those burgers!) to a special night out at an alternative restaurant, here are just a few examples of some of Carnival’s signature dining experiences. Don’t be surprised to see some famous faces behind the kitchens of Big Chicken (Shaquille O’Neal, Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer) or Emeril’s Bistro (Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer, Emeril Lagasse).

INCLUDED Dining Options on Carnival Ships

Dining Room : Carnival’s main dining rooms are open nightly for dinner, either at an early or late seating. The menu rotates each evening, including locally inspired dishes, as well as an always-available menu. Waiters will get to know returning diners, and possibly their penchant for Carnival’s famous chocolate melting cake. Your Time Dining allows cruisers to just drop in for dinner, though they will likely want to make a reservation to avoid long wait times. The MDR is open for breakfast and lunch on select sea days.

Lido Marketplace : Carnival’s buffet-style venue offers freestyling cruisers the chance to sample dishes from a variety of stations, whether it’s pizza, the Carnival Deli, or Indian staple Masala Tiger. The options are endless, the soft-serve is free flowing, and this venue is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Guy’s Burger Joint : Celebrity chef and TV personality Guy Fieri has a longstanding partnership with Carnival, from his fleetwide Lido burger joint to his finger-licking barbecue restaurant on select ships. Lovers of juicy burgers and fries must make at least one trip (if you can limit yourself) to try one of Guy’s patties smothered in secret sauce. There’s even a vegetarian option.

BlueIgunana Cantina : On the pool deck, you’ll also find the BlueIguana Cantina, serving up Mexican-style tacos and burritos made to order. Finish off your plate with a variety of salsas and a slice of fresh watermelon. Our favorite part? The lesser-known breakfast burritos available in the morning. 

Seaday Brunch : Passengers can delight in a breakfast/lunch hybrid of pancakes and sandwiches on the Seaday Brunch menu, served in the dining room. Sea days not only mean you can sleep in, but you won’t miss any of these culinary delights. Items like huevos rancheros and loaded mac ‘n’ cheese are served until the late afternoon.

SPECIALTY Restaurants on Carnival Ships

Steakhouse : Every Carnival cruise features a steakhouse, whether it’s Fahrenheit 555 or by another name. With an award-winning wine list and a plethora of cuts to choose from, each steakhouse offers diners a mouth-watering menu for a satisfying night out. Cover charges are approximately $48 per adult and $13 for children 11 and younger.

Bonsai Teppanyaki : Complementing its sushi bar, Bonsai Teppanyaki is a coveted seat at the hibachi grill. Here, chefs whip and flip delicious, Asian-style teppanyaki dishes — and a show. With limited seating, this venue is highly coveted and costs $38 for dinner with a slight discount of $35 per person for lunch.  

Cucina del Capitano : Say ciao to boring Italian food and book a dinner at Carnival’s signature Italian restaurant, found fleetwide. Inspired by the childhood recipes of Carnival’s Italian captains and officers, Cucina evokes a local trattoria with iconic red-and-white checked tablecloths and family-style portions. This specialty venue is a bargain at $18 per adult or $6 per child. On Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee, the price is even better — it’s free.

Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast : Drawing upon its partnership with the World of Dr. Seuss, Carnival offers this eye-catching dining option once per cruise. For $8 per child and $10 per adult, imaginations take flight as Thing 1 and Thing 2 (with special appearance from the Cat in the Hat) guide you through a breakfast like no other. With options like Truffula Tree pancakes and cereal-encrusted French toast, what’s not to love. Of course, there is also the namesake green eggs and ham for brave eaters.

Looking for a sneak peek at the dining options onboard the new Carnival Celebration? Check out this guide to Celebration’s restaurants with menus .

Bars & Lounges

You won’t have to go very far to find a fruity cocktail or ice-cold beer onboard a Carnival cruise. While bars can vary from ship to ship, there are some hallmark Carnival watering holes that you should be on the lookout for during your next sailing.

Alchemy Bar : Elevating the cruise line’s mixology, this modern, apothecary-style cocktail bar concocts some of the tastiest tipples at sea. Including all-new nonalcoholic versions.

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse|Brewhouse : On select ships, you can find surprisingly inventive cocktails at Guy Fieri’s barbecue haven, like a bourbon blend smoked to perfection.

RedFrog Pub & Brewery : Even if you don’t have the full venue or active brewery onboard your ship, you are likely to be able to try Carnival’s very own ThirstyFrog craft brews across the fleet.

RedFrog Rum Bar : Out on the pool deck, the good vibes are flowing and so is this menu of rum-based punches and coladas.

BlueIguana Tequila Bar : Adjacent to the rum bar is this hotspot for the margarita lovers.

Piano Bar : This bar takes requests — not just you drink order, but for the song you’d like to sing along to until the early hours.

Sports Bar : Catch the game, have a brew, and unwind at this bar where there is always some kind of competition taking place on the flatscreen TVs. 

Curious what the bars are like on an Excel-class ship? Check out the this guide to the bars on Carnival Celebration — with menus!

Beverage Packages

While some beverage options like non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate, and non-specialty coffee and tea are free, other drinks will cost you extra money. Drinks like bottled water, soda, specialty coffees, and alcoholic beverages will come at a price on a Carnival cruise.

Given all the onboard bars and lounges, Carnival Cruise Line offers beverage packages for purchase. There is the alcoholic drink package, also known as the Cheers! Beverage Program. There is also the unlimited soda program, called the Bottomless Bubbles package.

Considering whether it’s worth it to purchase a drink package? Here is everything you need to know about beverage packages on Carnival Cruise Line . We cover all the details from the drink inclusions, to prices, to FAQ’s.

Onboard Activities/Entertainment

There is a ton to do onboard a Carnival ship, whether you’re with young kids or old friends. The best part is that much of Carnival’s entertainment and activities are free.

Families can check out game shows like “Family Feud” or head to the Seuss at Sea reading room. They can also play a game of mini-golf on the SportsSquare or join a Build-A-Bear workshop (for an extra charge). The first Sky Zone at sea can also be found on select ships, including Carnival Panorama.

Each Carnival ship is equipped with pools as well as a water park. Carnival WaterWorks slides, splash areas and layouts vary by ship but are always free to guests and always guarantee a fun way to cool off. Newer vessels feature more elaborate top-deck attractions as well, such as the pedal-powered SkyRide or the Bolt Sea Coaster.

Free cooking demos will inspire, but true foodies can sign up for immersive culinary classes onboard ships with Carnival Kitchen. Adults itching for something else aside from pool time can attend an art seminar, play a round of trivia, join a martini tasting, or try their luck at Bingo.

By night, all ages can enjoy Carnival’s short but dynamic stage shows called Playlist Productions. Select ships feature IMAX movies, while all ships offer Dive-In Movies on the pool deck. Adults looking for after-hours amusement can hit the nightclub or take in an un-censored comedy show at the Punchliner Comedy Club. Live music, including a piano bar and karaoke, is abundant throughout the Carnival fleet.

A feature of all Carnival ships is the casino. Carnival casinos vary in layout and location by cruise ship, but include a variety of slot machines, table games, blackjack tables, poker and more. A Casino Bar is also conveniently located here, for refreshments while you play.

The Carnival Players Club earns you points on casino play when you use your Sail & Sign card. Guests 18 years and older can join. The more points you earn the more perks you will receive, like free drinks in the casino or invitations to special tournaments. Guests must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol onboard Carnival ships.   

Spa and Fitness

Cloud 9 is Carnival’s onboard spa and fitness center (branded differently on select ships). While features might vary by ship, guests can book a variety of treatments here, from massages to salon services.

The Cloud 9 Spa also features a thermal suite, with a variety of amenities including dry saunas, steam rooms, a relaxation room, aromatherapy showers and a thalassotherapy pool. Guests may purchase access to the thermal suite by day (about $40 each) or for the length of a cruise (approximately $139 per person, for a weeklong sailing). Those staying in Carnival’s Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms have an included pass to the thermal suite for the length of their cruise.

Guests must be 18 years or older to book a spa treatment or use the thermal suite. However, Carnival offers a range of teen-specific treatments called ZSPA. Parents or guardians can book these treatments.

The fitness center onboard Carnival ships is open from about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It comes equipped with Life Fitness machines, plus a variety of classes from Pilates to yoga. A cycling studio is featured onboard newer ships, but all classes incur an additional fee.

Carnival’s Youth Program accommodates kids from 6 months to 17 years old. Children are grouped together by age, with activities tailored to their age group. Parents should register their kids on embarkation day . The Youth Program hosts an open house for families to visit, meet the staff and learn more about the various spaces and programming. 

Camp Ocean is the kids’ program, with Penguins (age 2 to 5); Stingrays (6 to 8); and Sharks (9 to 11). Activities for these groups might include dance classes, ball games, arts and crafts, trivia, video games, and more.

Teen programming on Carnival ships consists of Circle “C” for teens 12 to 14 and Club O2 for those aged 15 through 17. There is no sign in/out policy for clubs in these age groups. They are able to come and go freely. Scavenger hunts, karaoke, and themed parties are among the planned activities for teens, though many use the space as a casual hangout with friends.

Infants under the age of 2 can join the Turtles, offering sensory activities, music, and educational games. Children do not need to be potty trained to join Camp Ocean. But, they must be in order to use any of the onboard water facilities.

Night Owls is supervised playtime for children 6 months to 11 years, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. This slumber party atmosphere allows littles to interact (or rest) while their parents enjoy an evening out. The Night Owls program is $7.50 per hour plus 18 percent gratuity per child. Carnival does not offer in-room babysitting on its ships.

BOOK NOW: Exclusive Rates on Carnival Cruises!

What’s Included and What’s Not on Carnival

When booking a cruise, it’s important to know what is rolled into the cruise fare. A Carnival cruise is considered a great value because of the many inclusions for the price. Check out everything that’s included on a Carnival cruise , from breakfast burritos to water parks.

In brief, while many things are part of your Carnival cruise fare, other items will cost you extra money. As previously mentioned, specialty dining and many beverages come at an additional fee. Spa treatments, fitness classes, and babysitting services are extra too. As are some onboard activities and attractions like the BOLT roller coaster, Carnival Kitchen cooking classes, and Bingo.

Cruisers should also budget extra money for items like shore excursions , WiFi, and gratuities .

Carnival offers three Wi-Fi internet plans for purchase. The Social plan is $12.75 per person, per day with access to social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The Value plan is $17 per person, per day for basic internet access but not streaming. The Premium plan is $18.70 per person, per day. It grants access to services such as Skype and Zoom with speeds up to three times faster.

A 15 percent discount is applied if a W-Fi package is purchased online prior to boarding.

A daily gratuity is added to each passenger’s account (over the age of 2). These tips go directly to crew members. The daily gratuity for guests booked in standard cabins is $16 per person, per day. For guests staying in suites, the gratuity is $18 per person, per day.

Guests can pre-pay tips or settle the bill at the end of the voyage. If service wasn’t up to a guest’s standards, an adjustment may be made at Guest Services while still onboard.

An 18% gratuity is added to each beverage purchase along with cover charges or a la carte fees at specialty dining venues.

Carnival’s Loyalty Program

The VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club is Carnival’s loyalty program. Every cruise earns members points. There are five VIFP loyalty tiers: Blue (first cruise); Red (second cruise, up to 24 points); Gold (25-74); Platinum (75-199); and Diamond (200 or more points).

Perks of joining the loyalty program immediately include a member e-newsletter with special offers, followed by a complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water, and then member pins and a free drink (on cruises of five days or longer) at Gold level.

At Platinum, Carnival cruisers can expect priority boarding and debarkation, as well as priority spa, shuttle, and dining reservations; a special loyalty cocktail party; arcade credits; a logo gift; priority line at Guest Services; and complimentary laundry service, among other perks.

Carnival Tips & Tricks

If you are planning a Carnival cruise or already have one booked, we have plenty of other info to help you make the most of your cruise vacation. From ship reviews, to ship-specific dining guides, and more, we cover it all on eatsleepcruise.com .

For starters, you may want to read up on all of Carnival Cruise Line’s tips and tricks . From Carnival-specific money-saving advice to the location of a secret deck, we share insider advice that only the experts know.

Did you find this guide to cruising on Carnival helpful? Do you have any other tips or advice for those planning a Carnival cruise? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences sailing with Carnival Cruise Line.

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Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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Carnival Cruise Line: The Complete Guide

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If you’re thinking of booking a Carnival cruise, be it on the new Carnival Celebration or any of Carnival's other massive ships, here’s what to expect and how to enjoy your time at sea.

If you’re not yet familiar with the cruise line, there’s lots to learn about the company. It has been around since 1972 and is part of the Carnival family of cruise lines that includes Princess, Holland America and Cunard.

About Carnival cruises

With plenty of routes from the U.S. and international destinations, countless member benefits and a wide selection of cabins to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect cruise for you.

Cabin types: There are a number of different cabin types to choose from depending on which ship you’re on, including interior rooms, ocean view rooms, balconies or suites. There are sometimes even themed or spa rooms.

Main U.S. routes: Carnival is best known for its Caribbean cruises, most of which depart from Florida, Texas or Louisiana.

Points currency and loyalty program: Carnival’s loyalty program is called VIFP Club (Very Important Fun Person). Members earn benefits like special offers, a free drink on board, priority boarding, cabin upgrades and more. Perks increase the more you sail.

» Learn more: How to leverage hotel elite status for a $100 Carnival cruise

Carnival cruise destinations

Carnival may be best known for its Caribbean cruises, but ships depart from every coast in the U.S., and Carnival ships sail to dozens of destinations all around the world, including transatlantic and transpacific routes. Expect to sail to such destinations as:

New Zealand.

Pacific Islands.

Panama Canal.

Papua New Guinea.

There are cruises as brief as two days and some as long as 31 days, depending on where you’re headed.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of cruises

Carnival cruise prices

Depending on where you’re headed, prices for cruises vary based on:

Carnival cruise rooms.

Carnival ship classes.

Destination.

Length of trip. 

A four-day trip from Miami to the Caribbean might cost under $200 for an interior cabin while a 10-day trip from Sydney, Australia to the Great Barrier Reef might start at $450 and go up from there.

The time of year you sail matters, too. For example, an off-season cruise to the Bahamas in February might cost $189 while the same cruise in June could be $684 for the same cabin on the same ship.

Likewise, the nicer the cabin, the higher the price. An interior room might cost $469 while a suite costs $1,799.

Learn more : The best ways to book a cruise

What is the best Carnival ship?

Carnival has an impressive fleet of vessels and adds more every year. There are currently 24 ships with more maiden voyages scheduled later this year. Which one is the best depends on what you’re after.

If it’s family fun you want, the Carnival Breeze or Carnival Freedom may be just the thing. For luxury, it’s the Carnival Liberty. If the ship is more important than the route, take a look at Carnival’s ship lineup and what each has to offer, plus where they sail.

What is the newest Carnival ship?

The Carnival Celebration ship, which sails to the Caribbean from Miami, is the line’s newest ship, and debatably the best carnival cruise ship.

The Excel-class ship features an on-board roller coaster, can transport 5,282 passengers, has 20 dining venues, a dozen bars and lounges and is only the second Carnival ship to use liquid natural gas as fuel — a more eco-friendly fuel source.

Learn more : Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise?

What’s included on a Carnival cruise?

On any Carnival cruise you can expect the following to be included with your booking:

A stateroom based on your booking selection.

Three meals a day. 

Free non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate and some coffees and teas.

Fitness center.

Shows and entertainment.

Pools and other water-based fun.

Youth programs.

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

Carnival loyalty program: VIFP

Carnival’s loyalty program is called VIFP which means Very Important Fun Person. Members earn benefits like special offers, a free drink on board, priority boarding, cabin upgrades and more. Perks increase with every sailing.

VIFP levels

The VIFP Club has five levels: Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

How to earn: Sail once.

Best benefit: Members-only offers.

How to earn: Two sailings for 24 points.

Best benefit: Complimentary 1.5 liter bottle of water.

How to earn: Earn 25-74 points.

Best benefit: A free drink on 5+ day cruises.

How to earn: Earn 75-199 points.

Best benefit: VIFP Party on 5+ day sailings with complimentary drinks.

How to earn: Earn 200+ points.

Best benefit: One-time free cabin upgrade OR third and fourth guests sail free.

How to earn VIFP points

Earn one point for every day you spend cruising. The more you cruise, the faster you earn.

How to redeem VIFP points

VIFP points are earned and credited to your account automatically. Some benefits are linked to your Sail & Sign account and credits or perks will be applied when the benefits are redeemed.

Carnival Credit Card

While it won’t earn you VIFP points, the Carnival World Mastercard is a way to earn FunPoints, which you can use like cash toward your next cruise booking.

Earn 20,000 FunPoints after your first purchase or balance transfer, which is worth a $200 statement credit towards your next cruise. You’ll then earn 2 points per dollar on Carnival and partner cruise lines and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

How to Redeem FunPoints

You can cash in your FunPoints by applying them as statement credits toward any Carnival purchases you make over $50, including:

Additional travel expenses.

Carnival cruise excursions.

Onboard amenities and more.

To use them, you can log into your Barclays account online or call to redeem points after you’ve made a purchase.

Point value varies depending on how much you’re spending. For example:

Carnival purchases between $50.00-$1,499.99 have a 1.00% redemption value.

Carnival purchases between $1,500-$5,000 have a 1.50% redemption value.

Purchases with other World’s Leading Cruise Lines cruises have a 1% redemption value.

Airline or hotel statement credits have a .90% redemption value.

Learn more : The best cruise lines

Wi-Fi doesn’t come free on Carnival ships. To get connected, you’ll have to purchase a Wi-Fi package, which you can do in advance of your trip or on board, which may cost more. Expect to pay from $12.75-$22 per day per device.

All Carnival ships include food and beverages, though there are speciality dining and beverage options and packages on most ships that cost extra.

There are two drink packages you can purchase on Carnival cruises: Bottomless Bubbles and Cheers!

Bottomless Bubbles offers unlimited soda during your voyage for $6.95 per day for children and $9.95 per day for adults.

Cheers! offers a flat price for alcoholic (and speciality non-alcoholic) beverages throughout your trip for $59.95 per person per day.

For cruises that last 15 days or less, neither pre-cruise COVID testing nor vaccinations are required for children or adults cruising with Carnival.

For cruises longer than 15 days, depending on the destination, guests may be required to provide proof of vaccination and/or a negative test prior to embarkation.

Make sure to check the details of your booking to ensure you abide by current rules.

What is Carnival Cruise Line known for?

Carnival Cruise Line offers many budget-friendly sailings, many of which are designed with families in mind. Especially if you want to cruise to and around the Caribbean, Carnival is possibly the cruise line for you.

(Top photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Bank of America's website

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

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47 Best Carnival Cruise Line Tips & Tricks

Looking for the best Carnival cruise tips and advice for your vacation?

Whether it’s your first cruise or you’re a Diamond level passenger (the highest tier of Carnival’s loyalty program, for those that have sailed more than 200 nights), there’s always more to know. Meanwhile, the cruise line is constantly innovating, making changes, and improving.

To help you out, we’ve rounded up dozens of our best Carnival cruise tips. The advice below can help you save money, save time, or generally just have a better trip.

Note: This article contains affiliate links. Cruzely earns a commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

1. If you’re a Carnival stockholder, you can get free onboard credit

It’s a little-known perk for investors. If you own at least 100 shares of Carnival’s stock, then you are eligible for free onboard credit . Your benefit is $50 for cruises fewer than 7 days and $100 for trips of 7 to 13 days. Take a cruise 14 days or longer, then you’ll get $250 in free onboard credit. Learn how to take advantage here .

Just know that it’s not without risk. Shares of Carnival have been all over the map following the health crisis. However, if you do own the shares, you’ll definitely want to get your onboard credit.

2. Find your room: Odd cabin numbers are on one side of the ship, even are on the other

It’s easy to get turned around on the ship. Hallways can seem to go on forever and cabin doors can all look the same. One tip is that just like a neighborhood street, odd-numbered cabins are on one side of the ship, while even-number rooms are on the other. So when you step out of the elevator to head to your cabin, you can know which side of the ship your room is located.

3. Keep an eye out for happy hour deals

Like to drink but want to save some money? Keep an eye out for the RedFrog Pub happy hour or other specials on the ship. There will be a mention in the daily schedule and also signs posted around the ship. During happy hour — which we’ve seen going on from about 2:30-4:30 in the afternoon when offered — drinks are half-priced. That can save you a ton versus the regular menu price.

4. Know That Carnival Ships Generally Have the Smallest Size Per Passenger

Don’t be surprised if on your Carnival cruise you feel a little crowded. That’s because according to our analysis, Carnival ships in general have the least amount of size per passenger . 

Taking the gross tonnage (a measure of ship size) of more than 100 ships and dividing by the total passenger count at double occupancy, Carnival’s fleet averages a ratio of around 33-35. Compare that to Royal Caribbean, which often comes in around 40 gross tons per passenger.

You can find your specific ship here and compare it to others.

5. BlueIguana Cantina serves breakfast burritos

While BlueIguana Cantina — a Mexican-themed restaurant on the ship — is known for lunch, most people don’t realize that it also serves some fantastic breakfast burritos. Fill up a tortilla with sausage, eggs, ham, and potatoes and you’ve got a hearty (and free!) breakfast that will keep you full all morning, no matter how active you are on ship or in port.

6. Free souvenir? Ask if there are game-used items in the casino

It may not be on every Carnival ship, but we recently took a cruise and got a free souvenir from the casino. We simply went to the cashier during a slow time during the day and asked if they had any used dice or cards. To our surprise, the cashier came back with a casino-used die with the Carnival logo on it… and it was absolutely free.

It’s not much, but it’s a fun little keepsake to remember our time on the ship.

7. Costco member? Try booking your next cruise through them for cash back

Truth is that every website has the same prices for cruises. However, if you buy through a third-party site (as opposed to Carnival.com), then you might get extra incentives like onboard credit.

Costco has some of the best incentives . For cruises booked through CostcoTravel.com, the store will give you a Costco Shop Card potentially worth hundreds (amounts vary by cruise). That’s much more than what other booking sites will give you. If you’re a member, it’s worth looking into before you buy your cruise.

8. The drinking age in most ports is 18 years old… but 21 on the ship

If you are sailing from the United States on Carnival, then you have to be 21 to drink alcohol on the ship. But if someone isn’t quite of age, they can drink when in most ports. Places like Mexico and The Bahamas have drinking ages of 18. That means people underage in the U.S. can still drink legally when visiting.

9. Carnival offers a 110% “Best Price Guarantee” on excursions

If you’re worried about getting the best deal on an excursion, don’t. Carnival offers a 110% guarantee . If you find the same excursion for cheaper somewhere else, then they will refund 110% of the price difference as onboard credit.

That doesn’t mean you can’t find cheaper things to do, but know that if you do buy an excursion through the cruise line, you’ll be covered.

10. Don’t forget to bring your phone to dinner

Hopefully it won’t be this way forever, but one of the changes following the health crisis? Menus and daily schedules are harder to find. Instead, you’ll see QR codes on tables to scan with your phone to bring up the menu in a restaurant. And daily schedules are available within Carnival’s app on your phone.

While we expect things will go back to normal, at least for now, bringing your phone with you to eat is a smart idea. But, if you forget, you can request a paper menu from the staff.

11. Book specialty restaurants early in the cruise for quieter dining

Specialty restaurants offer something a little different from the main dining room. Maybe that’s why later in the cruise it feels like they get more crowded as people search out more variety in meals. However, it seems like early in the cruise people aren’t as interested.

The result? On a recent cruise we were able to dine in a specialty restaurant on night two with only a handful of other passengers. It was a nice way to have a quiet dinner that felt more intimate than busier venues.

12. Trying to budget? Sodas cost $3; Beers cost $6-8

This isn’t so much a Carnival tip as just a heads up on what you’ll spend. Sodas run about three bucks. Beers will set you back about $6-8. Don’t forget to add in 18% gratuity, which is automatically included to the price.

Worried about the bill? Carnival also sells the CHEERS! drink package that gives you access to whatever you want for one daily price. These packages are convenient and can help you budget.

13. There can be a HUGE difference between ships

One thing to know is that not all cruise ships are created equal. This goes for every cruise line, and you’ll find it on Carnival. The oldest ships in the fleet were built in the 1990s while the newest — such as Carnival Celebration — are brand new.

During that span, what is expected of and can be done on cruise ships has soared. Carnival’s newest ships feature more amenities, restaurants, and activities than you can imagine compared to older ships.

In our opinion, the newer ships are better, but the quieter, smaller, and less-expensive trips on older ships also have a lot to offer.

14. Where to find the cheapest beer on the ship

Six or eight bucks for a beer can be tough to swallow. If you want the cheapest beer, then head to the buffet. Ships have self-serve beer stations. At these spots you simply swipe your card, and then you pull the handle to dispense beer. 

Brews are sold by the ounce, and a full-sized glass runs about $5. The beers on tap are limited, but if you don’t care what you drink, it’s a good way to save money.

15. Some paid restaurants offer free lunch

Specialty restaurants charge an extra amount for passengers to eat there. Prices vary depending on the spot, but it’s usually around $15-30 per person. One tip is that on Carnival places like JiJi Asian Kitchen or Cucina del Capitano offer lunch service that’s free. The menu is different than the dinner options, but there’s no charge and you can get something tasty outside of eating at the buffet. 

16. Be prepared for poor cruise payouts in the casino

It’s common sense that with a ship full of people looking to be entertained, the casino should be a popular place… and it is! But with a captive audience and no other casinos around, the onboard casinos aren’t so generous with their payouts .

Expect blackjack that pays 6-5 (instead of the usual 3-2) at the lowest limits and video poker machines that pay 6/5 instead of the optimal 9/6 payout.

17. Guy’s Burger Joint is popular. Try it for dinner for shorter lines

Haven’t heard of Guy’s Burger Joint ? That will change. The free restaurant is across Carnival ships and serves up some great burgers. It’s also extremely popular. Hours are normally 12-6 p.m. and lunch can see long lines.

If you don’t want to wait in line, check it out before it closes for the evening. Most people eat dinner elsewhere, so the lines are much shorter. If you’re an early eater, then grabbing a burger without a line is a smart move.

18. Save that deck chair… but only for 40 minutes

Chair hogs. Perhaps no one draws the ire of cruisers more than the person that goes down early in the morning and puts a towel down to reserve a prime location by the pool… only to leave it for hours.

Yes, you are allowed to save chairs on Carnival, but the official rules are for only 40 minutes — enough time to go grab a bite to eat. After that time the crew may remove your items to let someone sit in the chair.

19. The age limit to gamble on a Carnival ship is 18

While you have to be 21 to drink on the ship, gambling is a different story. Carnival allows those 18 years and older to play in the casino. So while you might not be old enough to play in Las Vegas, you can still play the slots, roulette, or blackjack on the cruise ship.

20. Formal night? Wear what you want, except these items…

What to wear on formal night can be stressful. The truth is, you can get by wearing most anything, as long as it’s not too casual . You don’t have to wear a tux or an evening gown (but some people do).

What you will want to avoid are things like sleeveless shirts, shorts, t-shirts, ball caps, flip-flips, and bathing suits. In other words, just about anything outside of what you’d wear to the beach is just fine.

Our suggestion is to try and dress up some, but don’t stress. And if you don’t want to change out of shorts and sandals, it’s your cruise. You can skip the formal night dining altogether and just eat somewhere other than the main dining room.

21. Avoid kids in the Serenity adults-only area

Some people don’t mind kids. Others want to relax without them running around. If you fall into that second group, check out the Serenity area on your Carnival ship.

This spot is for adults 21 years old and up. It features some cozy and comfy seating you won’t find elsewhere on the ship and often has its own dedicated bar area and hot tubs. 

Even if you don’t care about kids one way or the other, you’ll often find the Serenity area less crowded than the pool area and has more cozy, private spaces. 

22. Cruise insurance is important, but buy third-party

When you book your cruise, Carnival will give you the option of buying the Carnival Vacation Protection . It’s definitely worth it to have some insurance for your trip, however, we think you’re better off going with a third-party insurance policy.

These policies are usually the same or cheaper in price than Carnival’s policy and can provide more coverage. 

23. Ordering a pack of water is a smart move

Before you board, go online and order a pack of water from the Carnival FunShops. It costs about $10 for a dozen bottles, and it’s nice to have in the room. Passengers aren’t allowed to bring on bottles in their luggage (cans/cartons only), so you can’t bring on most water containers. Plus, having some water in the room is nice to keep from having to head to the dining room or buffet to get a drink. It’s always right there waiting for you.

24. Take your drinking into port to save some cash

Want to drink but not break the bank? Just head into port. While drinks on the ship can be pricey — $6-8 for a beer and $10-12 for a cocktail — the bars in port cater to thirsty cruisers with cheap drink specials.

Just taking a walk down the pier can save you tons. Beers for $2-3 are common, so you can easily save 50% in some cases, while also getting to enjoy the local scenery.

25. Don’t worry, you don’t need to learn another language for ports of call

It can be intimidating going to a foreign country. After all, most people don’t speak a foreign language. The good news is that cruise ports in The Bahamas and Caribbean are built for tourism.

Most people in ports speak English, so you don’t have to struggle through trying to speak another language. In addition, U.S. dollars are widely accepted.

26. Short on cash? Carnival offers $50 deposit sales regularly

If you’re short on cash but have plenty of time before you book your cruise, then keep an eye out for Carnival’s famous $50 deposit sales. During these sales, which usually occur a few times a year, you can book your cruise for just $50 down and then pay off the rest later. It makes it affordable to book that trip you’ve had your eye on.

27. TV channels are limited… don’t expect much

Want to watch your favorite show on your cruise? Then you’ll want to download it to your device beforehand. The stations on a cruise television are limited ( you can see the full lineup here ), and most of the big channels you get at home aren’t available.

In fact, most of the time the channels are specific to the cruise, like info about port shopping or safety information. 

28. Don’t show up to the port until you are scheduled to board

Carnival offers a method of boarding known as staggered check-in. You select a 30-minute window of when to board. This keeps things running smoothly and avoids having too many passengers show up at once, such as right when the ship opens up to passengers.

If you show up before your boarding window, you could be asked to return later. If you show up after your boarding window, they will still let you board.

29. Every Carnival ship has a coin. See if you can find it

Want to have a treasure hunt on your cruise? It’s tradition for Carnival to place a coin on the ship when under construction as a good-luck charm. It’s a fun pastime to explore the ship and see if you can find it. It’s usually located on an upper deck in a public area where anyone can access it.

30. Buy the drink package early to save money

Carnival offers passengers the option of buying the CHEERS! drink package . For one set price per day, you can have your run of just about any beverage on the ship — alcoholic or otherwise. 

Now, this drink package isn’t for everyone. You definitely want to run the numbers on how much you’ll drink before you buy and if you’ll get your money’s worth ( see our drink package calculator here ). But if you do decide to purchase it, be sure to do so before you sail.

Carnival discounts the package $5 per day — or about 8% off the onboard price — if you buy the package online before you board.

31. You can bring on some drinks, so take advantage

Carnival allows you to bring some drinks on the ship with with you. You can bring a bottle of champagne or wine (standard size), and up to 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks per person.

While a bottle of wine or a 12-pack of soda may not seem like much, it definitely makes a difference in your budget. Considering that a glass of wine can cost $8-12 and a soda costs $3 each, it’s worth it to bring what you can to keep costs down.

Plus, if you have a favorite brand, it makes sense to bring it because it might not be available on the ship. (Carnival ships serve Pepsi products.)

32. A $5 outlet adapter is worth its weight in gold

Cruise cabins are notorious for having limited outlet space, despite the fact that people travel with more devices than ever. Typically there is only one outlet per cabin in many older ships (newer ships are getting better at offer more outlets).

Bringing a cheap outlet adapter can be a lifesaver , giving you multiple plugs. Best of all, they are only a few bucks and don’t take up much space.

33. Past passenger? Try pricing without your VIFP number

Carnival’s loyalty program — VIFP — can give you special pricing on cruises. If you’ve sailed before, then you can enter your number during your search for cruises on the Carnival website for possible discounts. 

One thing we suggest is trying your search both with and without your VIFP number entered. We’ve personally found that having the number entered can sometimes actually mean you see a higher price than what’s shown without the number.

34. Book excursions online to save time

If you plan to take a shore excursion, you can book it on Carnival’s site ahead of time . If you do this you’ll get the same price you’ll find on the ship, but you have some advantages.

First, you don’t have to spend your precious vacation time waiting in line on the ship to book. Second, you get to book before everyone on the ship. If there’s limited space on an excursion, this could be the difference between getting the excursion you want or having it be sold out.

35. Bring cash, but ATMs are available on the ship

It’s better to bring all the cash you need, but don’t worry if you get an a jam. Carnival has ATMs on the ship where you can get some extra money . Be warned: The charges are high — $6-7 per transaction that we’ve seen. And that amount is before anything that your bank might charge you to access your money.

36. Look for deals on older Carnival ships

Carnival is always rolling out new ships. Mardi Gras, Celebration and Panorama have all been introduced in recent years. Rightly so, many people are eager to sail these newer ships.

But if you want a deal, look at the older ships in Carnival’s fleet. The vessels are still fantastic to sail, but don’t generate the buzz like a new ship does. Often you can find cruises for hundreds of dollars less, giving you a great vacation for less money.

37. Make sure your flip-flops have tread for walking on the ship

Do you wear a pair of old flip flops where the tread has been worn off? If so, it’s time for an upgrade.

Decks on cruise ships can get slippery. Between rain showers, splashes from the pool, or cleaning by the crew, there are lots of times you’ll find wet decks. If you don’t have sandals with grip, then it’s not just a nuisance — it’s downright dangerous. You don’t want a slip and fall ruining your vacation.

38. Even in the warm Caribbean, bring a jacket

You might not think of it, but the nights in the Caribbean can get cool, even in the summer. This is especially true when the ship is underway, which makes the breeze much stronger. Do yourself a favor and bring a light jacket to wear in the evenings. Even if you plan to stay inside on the ship, the air conditioning can get cool in many places.

39. Insert your keycard to cash out in the casino

If you like playing slot machines or video poker on a Carnival cruise, then be sure to insert your room keycard when you play. Not only is your play tracked with this card, which can lead to perks from free drinks to free cruises, but it’s needed when you cash out.

Instead of printing tickets that you can take from machine to machine or cash out at a redemption kiosk, Carnival puts the funds on your room keycard. If you don’t have it inserted, then you have to wait for an attendant to come pay you in cash by hand.

40. Carnival ships cater to families with kids. Take advantage of included childcare

If your child is over two years old, then they can be dropped off at Camp Ocean  on the ship. Not only does this give mom and dad a chance to vacation without having to watch the kids, it gives the kids some time away from parents with activities that they will enjoy. The kids clubs are broken up by age, and best of all, the service is included in your fare.

41. Babysitting is available for just $7.50 per hour

One of the best deals in cruising is that you can drop your kids off (above two years old) at Camp Ocean for no charge. But outside of normal hours or if you have a kid under two, then you can have babysitting at certain times . 

Here, the staff will keep an eye on the kids while they enjoy fun activities but there is a charge. Still, it’s only $7.50 per hour (plus 18% gratuity), so if you have a small kid and want to head to dinner and a show for a couple of hours, it’s a low price to pay.

42. Navigating the ship can be confusing. Only some floors go straight through

If you want to head from the back of the ship to the front of the ship, you might have to go up or down a floor or two to make your way the length of many Carnival ships. Things like the dining room and theater cut through multiple floors and keep you from being able to get through. Stick with the main promenade deck if you want an easy way to go back and forth.

43. Wait for people to get out of the elevator before you try to enter

Elevators are the heartbeat of the ship. They are used thousands of times daily and are typically busy as people travel around the ship. Since there are usually plenty of people on the elevator, it’s common courtesy to wait and let anyone get off at your floor before you try to get on. Otherwise there’s an easily avoidable traffic jam.

Even better, if you are traveling only a few decks, simply take the stairs. It’s faster.

44. BOLT! is worth the money… once

Carnival’s newest ships like Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee have made a big deal of having the first roller coaster on a cruise ship. The BOLT! coaster circles the top deck, taking two riders up to 40 miles per hour, with insane views of the ocean.

A ride costs $15 per person. Having done it, we can tell you that it’s a lot of fun. But considering the ride lasts a literal minute, we’d suggest trying it once but not going again and again.

45. Don’t miss the Love & Marriage game show

It’s one of the most popular shows on a Carnival cruise and one we think is a must see. The Love & Marriage game show is a take on The Newlywed Game. There are three couples who are asked some interesting personal questions to try and match their partner’s answers.

It’s definitely Rated R… or maybe more PG-13… so it’s not for kids. But it’s also one of the funniest things you’ll watch on the cruise.

46. Air freshener is a must. Cabins don’t have powered bathroom vents

Let’s get real. With two people in a small space, bathroom smells can be an issue. Cruise cabins don’t have vents in the bathroom. Foul smells, small cabins, and no ventilation are a bad combo. Pack some air freshener with you on your next cruise. Your cabin mate will thank you for it.

47. The cheapest Carnival cruise prices are when school is in session

Are you flexible with when you can sail? Then you can save a lot of money. Prices are lowest when school is in session and families have a tougher time sailing . The difference between the lowest fares and the highest fares can be hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars for the same cruise simply taken at different times of year.

Have more tips or questions about sailing on Carnival? Let us know in the comments below.

More on Cruising Carnival:

• Worth It? 15+ Questions & Answers About the Carnival CHEERS! Package
• Reviewed: Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi Service (Speed, Reliability, Cost, and More)
• Complete Guide to Sailing Carnival Cruise Line (What It’s Like)

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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A Guide to All 27 Carnival Cruise Ships

With 27 ships and hundreds of itineraries, there’s a Carnival cruise for everyone.

Courtesy of Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line offers numerous cruise options worldwide with a fleet of 27 ships. Their cruises include all the hits: celebrity chef-driven restaurants, onboard rollercoasters, dedicated kids venues, serene spa moments, adults-exclusive pool decks, and exciting destinations. Carnival has it all — and can be relatively affordable. But which ship is right for you?

After sailing on eight Carnival cruises, including voyages on its oldest ship, Carnival Elation , and the newer Carnival Celebration, I’ve learned that sailing on newer ships is generally more expensive, and older vessels are more budget-friendly. However, I often consider more than the total cost before booking a cruise. I look at the ports of call, the space-to-guest ratio, the amenities and onboard activities, and the launch point.

When I select a sailing, I book through Carnival Cruise Line’s reservation number to see if I can snag an exclusive deal not listed online. Carnival's free-to-join loyalty program, the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, offers deals like reduced deposits, onboard credit, and room upgrades. The more you book with the cruise line, the better your deals will be. 

Before committing to a cruise, I break down the price per person per night, particularly if I need multiple cabins because I'm traveling with a group. I recommend you take advantage of Carnival's convenient 24-hour reservation hold, which displays the total cost, itinerary, and a countdown timer so you know when to purchase to secure the locked-in price.

Here, find guidance on every Carnival cruise ship, from the newest to the oldest.

Related: How to Save Money on a Cruise

Carnival Firenze

Inaugural Year: 2024

Ship Class: Venice Class

Ship Capacity: 4,126 double occupancy; 5,245 total guests

Standout Amenities: Amari bar for a peritivi and digestivi ; Serenity Adult-Only Retreat when you need time away from kids; and Pizzeria Del Capitano for hand-tossed pizza made with imported Italian ingredients  

Originally debuted in 2021 as part of the Costa Cruises fleet (an Italy-based subsidiary of Carnival), the Firenze will set sail as a Carnival ship — with an Italian twist — in Spring 2024. Across Firenze , you’ll see touches of Italy; think cute cafe set-ups that look like they were picked up from a Florence sidewalk. Terrazza staterooms access a private sun deck with whirlpools and a bar. Carnival’s fan-favorite dining options and amenities, like Guy’s Burger Joint and WaterWorks, will be on board.

Carnival Jubilee

Inaugural Year: 2023

Ship Class: Excel Class

Ship Capacity: 5,374 double occupancy; 6,631 total guests

Standout Amenities: BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster rollercoaster; relaxing Cloud 9 Spa thermal suites with adjustable humidity and temperature; pickleball courts for challenging family and friends

Carnival Jubilee is the newest Excel-class ship in the fleet, sailing from Galveston, Texas. The massive ship offers Camp Ocean, the onboard kids club. Adults also have their own space at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat with swaying hammocks and a bar.

Carnival Venezia

Ship Capacity: 3,934 double occupancy; 4,977 total guests

Standout Amenities: The Gondola Lounge, themed after Venice's beautiful canals; a pool area with a retractable roof

Initially built in 2019 for Costa Cruises, this ship joined the Carnival fleet in 2023. Carnival Venezia is ideal if you’re looking for a ship that celebrates one of Italy’s most iconic cities. Venice is the inspiration behind the indoor and outdoor areas, including the atrium, modeled after Piazza San Marco, and the Carnevale Lounge, inspired by Venetian masquerades. Don't miss the Venetian Toast, where the ship’s captain greets guests and crew don Venetian masks.

Carnival Celebration

Inaugural Year: 2022

Standout Amenities: Space Cruisers, a kids camp in partnership with Kennedy Space Center; The Golden Jubilee Bar for vintage cocktails; BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster

Carnival Celebration is all about never-ending good times. During my recent sailing, I found all the Carnival classics, like the Alchemy Bar and Guy’s Burger Joint, a thrilling ropes course, dive-in movies, and plenty of themed deck parties. If you’re looking to relax, it has that, too. Rent cabanas or lounge in the ocean-view whirlpools at Loft 19, where attentive staff take care of everything, like delivering you fruit and chilled towels. My favorite spot to hang out was the aft Patio Pool because it wasn't ever super crowded, and the view of the ocean was unmatched. 

Carnival Luminosa

Ship Class: Spirit Class

Ship Capacity: 2,260 double occupancy; 2,826 total guests 

Standout Amenities: Carnival fan-favorite Alchemy Bar; Circle “C” tween club; Cloud 9 Spa hydrotherapy pool for rejuvenating soaks

Carnival Luminosa (formerly the Costa Luminosa ) is for you if you want to sail to destinations like Alaska and Australia. It also offers occasional itineraries through scenic transpacific spots like Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Japan. The ship has all of the brand’s classic amenities, like the RedFrog Rum Bar and Punchliner Comedy Club, plus an array of dining options, including sushi, pizza, ice cream, and an over-the-top brunch.

Carnival Mardi Gras

Inaugural Year: 2021

Ship Capacity: 5,282 double occupancy; 6,456 total guests

Standout Amenities: BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster for adrenaline junkies; Havana Bar for Cuban drinks and live music; Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse

Carnival Mardi Gras is a nod to Carnival’s first ship, also named Mardi Gras, which was launched in 1972. The vessel has six onboard zones where families can have fun together, including the Ultimate Playground, where BOLT and the SportsSquare are located. Of course, there’s no Mardi Gras without New Orleans, so the French Quarter zone is where you’ll find Big Easy-inspired amenities like an Emeril Lagasse restaurant.

Carnival Radiance

Inaugural Year: 2021 (formerly Carnival Victory , which set sail in 2000)

Ship Class: Sunshine Class

Ship Capacity: 2,984 double occupancy; 3,873 total guests 

Standout Amenities: BlueIguana Tequila Bar for great margaritas; ZSPA for teens who want a spa day; an outdoor gym on the ship's top deck

Carnival Radiance has culinary delights and family fun in spades. If you're a foodie, try Guy’s Burger Joint for loaded burgers straight from Flavortown or Shaq’s Big Chicken for the basketball star's incredible fried chicken sandwiches. Kids will love seeing The Cat in the Hat characters during activities like character parades, story time, and character breakfasts.

Carnival Panorama

Inaugural Year: 2019

Ship Class: Vista Class

Ship Capacity: 4,008 double occupancy; 5,146 total guests

Standout Amenities: Sky Zone trampoline park where families can bounce and play games; Skyride, a suspended bike on the top deck with great ship and ocean views; Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse featuring Carnival Cruise Line exclusive craft beers

Carnival Panorama is smaller than today's mega-ships, but it packs a ton of fun into its 15 decks. Rooms are spacious; some come with exclusive perks like access to the Havana Pool area or unlimited use of the spa’s thermal suites. Kids will also love that there’s an onboard waterpark, kids club, and a Build-a-Bear Workshop at Sea.

Carnival Sunrise

Ship Capacity: 2,984 double occupancy; 3,973 total guests

Standout Amenities: Cloud 9 Spa cabins with access to the thermal suites; Lucky Bowl restaurant, which is only on Carnival Sunrise and only open for lunch

Carnival Sunrise  (formerly Carnival Triumph ) features an exciting splash zone for kids and a piano bar where adults can sing along to their favorite songs all night. The ship sails on two to five-night and six to nine-night cruises from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas.

Carnival Horizon

Inaugural Year: 2018

Ship Capacity: 3,960 double occupancy; 4,977 total guests

Standout Amenities: IMAX movie theater for a family night out; Dr. Suess Bookville for family story time and character appearances; volleyball court where adults can test their skills or just hit the ball around

Carnival Horizon has all the makings of a fun family vacation. The kids clubs have dedicated counselors who ensure children are always having fun, and parents can slip away to an adults-only bar for a cocktail or the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat to catch some sun. Then, as night falls, you can come back together for a special meal in the main dining room or JiJi Asian Kitchen, which specializes in regional Asian cuisine.

Carnival Vista

Inaugural Year: 2016

Standout Amenities: The thrilling SkyRide suspended bike for great ship and sea views; Thrill Theater for a 3-D show with water, lighting, wind, and chair movement effects; RedFrog Pub & Brewery, the first brewery at sea in North America

Carnival Vista is perfect for new cruisers. Sailings range from two to nine days out of Port Canaveral, so you can get a taste of what a cruise is like without committing to a more traditional weeklong sailing. Expect an onboard brewery, incredible restaurants, and family-friendly fun.

Carnival Sunshine

Inaugural Year: 2013

Ship Capacity: 3,002 double occupancy; 3,758 total guests

Standout Amenities: Carnival WaterWorks with multiple slides and water features; BlueIguana Tequila Bar for poolside libations; an onboard steakhouse with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its exceptional wine list

Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny ) is 10 years old and a fan favorite. The lower guest capacity, at just over 3,000 for double occupancy, means you won’t have to fight hoards of people to get to and from activities. Families who want even more cabin space should book one of the aft-view extended balcony rooms with great wake views and ample private outdoor space.

Carnival Breeze

Inaugural Year: 2012

Ship Class: Dream Class

Ship Capacity: 3,690 double occupancy; 4,724 total guests 

Standout Amenities: Cloud 9 Spa for next-level relaxation; Mongolian Wok lunch restaurant; pickleball courts to get competitive with your family; waterslides

Carnival Breeze is ideal for a short cruise out of Galveston, Texas. The ship has plenty of activities throughout the day, including bingo, trivia, and live performances in the comedy club.

Carnival Magic

Inaugural Year: 2011

Ship Capacity: 3,690 double occupancy; 4,724 total guests

Standout Amenities: Cloud 9 Spa; a thrilling ropes course; Chef’s Table dining experience

Carnival Magic sails for a week or more from Miami, Florida. The ship debuted the restaurant Cucina del Capitano, which is now onboard multiple ships in the fleet. It’s also home to the original Guy’s Pig & Anchor. I sailed the Carnival Magic years ago, but I vividly remember spending an entire day enjoying the amenities at the Cloud 9 Spa and eating at the Mongolian Wok quick-service restaurant almost every afternoon for lunch.

Carnival Dream

Inaugural Year: 2009

Ship Capacity: 3,646 double occupancy; 4,631 total guests

Standout Amenities: Ocean Plaza, a multi-use entertainment venue that’s family-friendly during the day and a nightclub after dark; Guy’s Burger Joint for standout smash burgers; Cloud 9 Spa for adults to relax

Carnival Dream is known for exciting entertainment and food and beverage offerings, including Alchemy Bar, a vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy." The ship sails from Galveston, Texas, on six to nine-day cruises. I loved playing the onboard mini-golf course.

Carnival Splendor

Inaugural Year: 2008

Ship Class: Splendor Class

Ship Capacity: 3,012 double occupancy; 3,734 total guests

Standout Amenities: Masala Tiger Indian restaurant, which is only open for lunch and only on this ship; a mini-golf course; a pool with a retractable cover

Carnival Splendor sails the Southern Hemisphere around Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific on cruises that range from two to 10 days. The ship has Carnival’s only quick-service Indian restaurant and boasts a pool with a retractable roof, so you can swim without worrying about the weather.

Carnival Freedom

Inaugural Year: 2007

Ship Class: Conquest Class

Ship Capacity: 2,980 double occupancy; 3,754 total guests

Standout Amenities: Space Cruisers kids program in partnership with Kennedy Space Center; RedFrog Pub, with Key West-inspired food and drinks; Dr. Seuss Bookville, a kids library that's themed after the famous author’s characters

Carnival Freedom is ideal for first-time cruisers because of the lower guest capacity and the smaller ship size. But don’t let the numbers fool you; this ship is packed with high-energy activities for all ages; from the kid's clubs to the casino, there’s no lack of fun to be had.

Carnival Liberty

Inaugural Year: 2005

Ship Capacity: 2,974 double occupancy; 3,576 total guests

Standout Amenities: Punchliner Comedy Club for family-friendly laughs during the day and adults-only fun at night; SkyBox Sports Bar to keep up with the big games back home; Mongolian Wok, a prime lunch spot with custom bowls

Looking to relax? Prefer a high-energy vacation? Carnival Liberty can do it all. Head to the main theater for enchanting live performances and shows every night, enjoy tacos and burgers on the pool decks, or find a lounge chair around the pool and soak up the sun.

Carnival Valor

Inaugural Year: 2004

Ship Capacity: 2,980 double occupancy; 3,756 total guests

Standout Amenities: Dive-in movies where you can catch a family-friendly flick under the stars; BlueIguana Tequila Bar for tequila and Mexican beer-based cocktails; Scarlett’s Steakhouse, where perfect steaks and impeccable sides await

Carnival Valor is almost 20 years old and still showing cruisers a good time. The ship's home ports are New Orleans, Louisiana, and Barcelona, Spain, and it offers two to over 10-night sailings. Don’t miss the epic Seaday Brunch, where you'll find all kinds of treats like huevos rancheros, french toast, loaded burgers, and chicken and waffles.

Carnival Miracle

Ship Capacity: 2,124 double occupancy; 2,680 total guests

Standout Amenities: Serenity Adult-Only Retreat where the 21-plus crowd can enjoy a kid-free space; pickleball courts that have great views of the ocean and ports of call

Fantasy worlds and elements inspired Carnival Miracle . Around the ship, you’ll find spaces like Phantom Lounge and Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab, where you can see shows or dance the night away. When you’re ready to soak up the sun, find a lounge chair at the adults-only pool deck or splash down on one of the slides at WaterWorks.

Carnival Glory

Inaugural Year: 2003

Standout Amenities: Camp Ocean kids club for children ages two to 11; AquaTunnel waterslide; 24-hour pizza delivery to anywhere on the ship

Carnival Glory is a vibrant ship inside and out. Think nightly dance parties in White Heat Dance Club, movies under the stars on the pool deck, and tacos from BlueIguana Cantina. The ship sails around the Bahamas, Caribbean, and more on two to 10-day itineraries.

Carnival Legend

Inaugural Year: 2002

Ship Capacity: 2,124 double occupancy; 2,610 total guests 

Standout Amenities: White Hot Night Party; jogging track with panoramic ocean views; Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea where kids can make a new friend to bring home

Carnival Legend, themed around legends and lore around the world, has two pools and plenty of places to grab a bite, including the Golden Fleece Steakhouse for a stunning multi-course dinner. You're sure to return home with tales.

Carnival Conquest

Standout Amenities: Pickleball courts so you can keep up with weekly family matches; '80s Rock-In-Glow Party for an evening of throwback fun; Guy’s Burger Joint for tasty and quick meals between activities

Carnival Conquest takes cruisers to the Bahamas and the Caribbean on two to 10-day sailings. Special programs allow kids to see their favorite Dr. Seuss characters at sea, and adults can enjoy the enticing Alchemy Bar for one-of-a-kind cocktails.

Carnival Pride

Inaugural Year: 2002 

Standout Amenities: Mid-ship pool with a retractable roof; Heroes Tribute Bar, which recognizes each branch of the American military

For an extended cruise from Tampa, Florida, or Baltimore, Maryland, look to Carnival Pride . The ship has something for every type of traveler, including three kids clubs, adult-only spaces, and over a dozen different dining options.

Carnival Spirit

Inaugural Year: 2001

Ship Capacity: 2,124 double occupancy; 2,610 total guests

Standout Amenities: Domed swimming pool; two-deck fitness center; a pizza window open until 4 a.m.

Carnival Spirit sets sail from home ports around the United States to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal. The ship offers a wide range of entertainment options, including mini-golf, a jogging track, kids clubs, and adult-centric entertainment.

Carnival Paradise

Inaugural Year: 1998

Ship Class: Fantasy Class

Ship Capacity: 2,052 double occupancy; 2,606 total guests

Standout Amenities: Serenity Adult-Only Retreat when you need a place without kids; twin racing waterslides for all ages

With two to nine-day cruises from Tampa to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, Carnival Paradise literally takes cruisers to paradise islands. The ship brims with fun amenities like the WaterWorks splash zone and the relaxing Cloud 9 Spa.

Carnival Elation

Ship Capacity: 2,052 double occupancy; 2,606 total guests 

Standout Amenities: Duke’s Piano Bar for nightly sing-a-longs; Alchemy Bar for custom cocktails; BlueIguana Cantina for breakfast and lunch options with a Mexican twist

Carnival Elation is currently the fleet's oldest ship, debuting in March 1998, and the only cruise ship from any cruise line that sails from Jacksonville, Florida. Even though the ship is small, with a total guest capacity of 2,606, it’s ideal for a quick weekend away if you want a mix of relaxation and high-energy activities. I've sailed the most on Carnival Elation since the ship sails from my hometown of Jacksonville. Even though it's the oldest in the fleet, I love that the sailings are short weekend trips where I can sit outside in the sun enjoying a Guy's Burger Joint smash burger before heading inside to see a show or play bingo. And because the ship is so small, it's easy to navigate, and I always end up making friends with the delightful crew onboard.

Have Fun. Be Safe

• Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailing

Travel Documentation and Online Check-in

• Travel Documents
• Online Check-In

Getting There

• Cruise Terminal Information and Parking
• Airport and Pier Transportation
• Air Information

Before You Board

• Embarkation Day Check-In

Youth and Family

• Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)
• Teen Programs (12-17 years old)
• Carnival's Seuss at Sea
• Age Policies

Things to Know

Onboard experiences.

• Shore - Excursions
• Spa and Fitness
• Outdoor Fun

Entertainment and Activities

• For Your Convenience
• Onboard Guidelines and Policies
• Past Guest Recognition Programs

Onboard Celebrations

• The Fun Shops
• Special Occasions
• Wedding Cruises and Vow Renewals

Dining and Beverages

• Dining and Snacking Options
• Dining Rooms
• CHEERS! Beverage Program
• Liquor and Beverage Policy

Onboard Communication

• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
• Staying Connected

Money and Gratuities

• Gratuities (Tips)
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• Passenger Bill of Rights
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• Choosing Your Cruise
• Tech Support
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• Minors / Infants / Pregnancy
• Making changes to your booking
• Carnival EasyPay
• Financing Powered by Uplift
• US Department of State Travel Tips
• And more things to know....

Debarkation - After Your Cruise

• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries

Carnival's HUB App offers an at-a-glance overview of the day’s events, including activity and entertainment options, dining choices, children’s programming and more.  The following entertainment and activities are offered fleet wide, unless otherwise noted. Parties  |  Full Gambling Casino |  Shows and Entertainment |  Youth Programs |  Sports |  Spa Carnival and Cloud 9 Spa |  Fun and Games with the Cruise Director and Social Staff |  Instructive Talks, Demonstrations and Classes |  Mixers and Meetings  |  Onboard Facilities Parties

• Sail Away Party : Following the Safety Briefing and as the ship sets sail, guests gather at midship Lido Deck where the cruise staff and DJ get the party started with music, dancing and drink specials.
• Captain's Welcome:  Join us for live music and a special welcome with the Captain and Senior Officers on your cruise.  This event is featured on all cruises four days and longer; on shorter cruises, guests will have the opportunity to mingle with the Senior Officers on the elegant evening.  
• VIFP Diamond and Platinum Reunion  : An exclusive party on cruises five days and longer, for Platinum and Diamond guests, featuring fun-filled activities with an interactive, casual and exclusive feel, as well complimentary drinks and appetizers.  
• Mega Deck Party : An island inspired party that celebrates the fun and spirit of RedFrog and BlueIguana - the colorful namesake characters from our poolside watering holes. This party is featured on cruises six days and longer; shorter cruises will feature the Mega Deck Party or the 80s Night Deck Party.
• 80s Night Deck Party : A high energy, fun and unique '80s themed party showcasing our exciting musical offerings. This party is featured on cruises six days and longer; shorter cruises will feature the 80s Night Deck Party or the Mega Deck Party.  
• White Hot Night Party : The fun on a Carnival cruise may start at sunrise, but that doesn’t mean it comes to an end when the sun goes down. So when packing for your cruise, bring your favorite, most fun… even quirkiest white clothing and matching accessories for an amazing night of dancing, giveaways and fun. This party is featured on select sailings. 

Full Gambling Casino

• Gaming: Blackjack , Dice/Craps, Roulette , Texas Hold ‘Em (electronic dealer), Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker and Let it Ride ,  Slots  
• Casino Tournaments : Blackjack, slots and poker tournaments for cash prizes

Shows and Entertainment

• Welcome Aboard Show
• Playlist Productions™ stage shows  
• Punchliner Comedy Club™  featuring established comedians as well as rising stars
• Karaoke  
• Live music  for dancing
• Carnival Seaside Theater  and  Dive-in Movies  (select ships)
• Big Screen Blockbusters (select ships) 
• Bingo  sessions
• First-run movies featured daily on the in-cabin TV
• ‘On Demand’ movies  (select ships)
• Behind the Fun Tour
• Thrill Theater  (on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista)
• IMAX® Theatre  (on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista)
• Sky Zone® Trampoline Park at Sea (on Carnival Panorama)

Youth Programs

• Space Cruisers™
• Circle ‘C’® - exclusive program for teens, 12-14 years of age
• Teen's Party Time
• Teens' Digital Play
• Teens' Active Play  
• Seuss-A-Palooza Story Time
• Seuss-A-Palooza Parade
• Dr. Seuss® Bookville (select ships) 
• Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast  (all ships, excluding Carnival Jubilee)
• Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast (on Carnival Jubilee)
• Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea  
• Turtles Program - for infants, 6 months to under 2 - coming soon!
• Zumbini® Program

Sports and Outdoor Fun Please note: Some facilities may not be available on every ship - check here to see what is on your cruise!

• Ping Pong (on all ships, excluding Mardi Gras)
• Volleyball  (select ships) 
• Basketball  (select ships)
• Pickle Ball (select ships) 
• Miniature Golf   (on all ships, excluding Carnival Luminosa)
• Putting Green (on Carnival Luminosa)
• Jogging Track  (select ships) 
• Ropes Course  (select ships) 
• SkyRide®  (on Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Vista)   
• BOLT® Ultimate Sea Coaster (on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras)
• Pools  
• Waterworks  (select ships)
• Twister Waterslide™  (on all ships, excluding Carnival Luminosa)
• Serenity Adults Only Retreat™   
• SportSquare™  (select ships)

Spa Carnival / Cloud 9 Spa

• Cloud 9 Spa™  (select ships)
• Spa Carnival  (select ships)
• ZSpa  
• Beauty Seminars
• Hair & Beauty Salon   
• Facial Treatments  
• Medi-Spa and Acupuncture  (select ships) 
• Men’s services  
• Massage  
• Fitness Center  
• Body Conditioning, Stretch, Abs, Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates and Cycle Class 

Fun and Games with the Cruise Director and Social Staff Please note: Games vary and are up to the discretion of the ship’s Cruise Director and Social Staff

• Family Feud™ Live (on select ships)
• Deal or No Deal  ™ (on all ships, excluding Carnival Luminosa)
• Fun Ship Family Games
• Horseracing
• Fun Squad Trivia  
• Guess That Groove
• Love & Marriage (18+)
• What's Age Got to Do With It
• Scavenger Hunt 
• Bean Bag Toss 
• Lido Deck and Pool Games 
• Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 
• Battle of the Sexes
• Ship Building Competition
• Game Show Mania 

Instructive Talks – Demonstrations - Classes

• Fun Aboard, Fun Ashore  
• Ice Carving Demonstrations 
• Dance classes : Pick up some moves and learn to dance like a professional. 
• Carnival Kitchen : (on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Carnival Panorama): Guests can enjoy more than 15 onboard hands-on culinary experiences led by our talented chefs.
• Cooking Demonstration  (on select Carnival Journeys sailings): Learn to cook Steakhouse-style from our team of chefs as they demonstrate the tricks of the trade used to make those multi-course dinners that everyone loves. This is an hour-long presentation of kitchen skill and ingenuity - and taste tests are included. 
• Food and Wine Pairing: Learn how to match great wines with great food and enjoy as well; informative talk by our onboard Sommelier.
• Art Auction Program at Sea  (select ships) 
• ‘Groove for St. Jude’ : A fun dance activity held once each cruise that allows guests to make a $10 USD donation and groove to the music. Guests receive a ‘Care to Play’ tee shirt and wristband and the proceeds go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Medical Research Hospital.
• Creativity at Sea: Complimentary, self-lead painting and craft experience (may be offered on select itineraries, scheduling permitted)
• Coloring at Sea: An opportunity for our guests to relax and unwind with this simple and fun activity (scheduling permitted).

Mixers and Meetings

• Friends of Bill W (Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting)
• Friends of Jimmy K (Narcotics Anonymous Meeting) 
• LGBTQ Mixer
• Singles Mixer (18-20, 40+, Independent Travelers)
• Card Players meet and play
• Military Appreciation Gathering
• Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle  (select cruises)  

Onboard Facilities

• Video Arcade   
• On Board Duty-Free Shopping   
• Library  (select ships) 

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April 6, 2024

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Featured Book: Alaska By Cruise Ship

Alaska season is here with over 20 ships cruising to the Great Land. Our new 10th Edition of Alaska By Cruise Ship is packed with detail on this cruise from where to shop in ports to where to look for the whales on your cruise. Dozens of port maps and shore excursion information give cruise travelers the inside scoop on choosing their holiday activities in each port. From Victoria to Anchorage and all cruise routes in between, Alaska By Cruise Ship has been the cruise companion and bestseller for 30 years. Over 400 color photos and a giant pull-out map are included.

HX Hurtigruten Expeditions upgrades guest offerings

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), the global leaders in expedition cruising, have announced plans to further enhance their onboard guest offering. As part of a phased approach, starting with Antarctica & Galápagos expeditions departing in October … Read More...

Celebrity Infinity gets make over

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HAL opens 2025 Mexico and Pacific Coast cruises

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Carnival cruise food: The ultimate guide to restaurants and dining on board

O n a Carnival cruise, food is always one of the highlights. From Guy Fieri burgers to fancy steaks at Fahrenheit 555, you'll find endless options to satisfy your hunger in a highly enjoyable fashion. In fact, there's often more to eat and explore than you could possibly have time for in a single sailing.

If you're planning your next cruise and want to know which Carnival restaurants to expect on board, you've come to the right place. While certain dining venues remain a standard across all ships — like the much-loved Lido Deck buffet — the options keep expanding with every new ship launch. Plus, older ships are constantly being refurbished and updated with new restaurants. That's why we put together this comprehensive list of Carnival cruise restaurants and where you can find them.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Consider this your ultimate guide to Carnival cruise food, with details about every restaurant in the fleet, as well as answers to the most commonly asked questions about dining on a Carnival cruise ship.

Carnival restaurants available fleetwide

Coffee bar or javablue cafe.

A la carte pricing; snacks

Black coffee and tea are free at the buffet and in the main dining room, but you'll want to come here for specialty coffee drinks like espresso or cold brew. You can also purchase milkshakes and baked goods when you need an extra pick-me-up (or grab free Danish pastries and croissants in the morning).

Dining room

Included; breakfast and dinner

The main dining room serves a sit-down breakfast and the nightly three-course dinner that's included in your cruise fare. Even better, Carnival's chief culinary officer, Emeril Lagasse, is now behind many of the dining room's new menu items. On Carnival, the main dining room comes with less pretense than on many other cruise lines. In fact, it's not uncommon for your servers to break out in song and dance by the end of the night.

Don't miss other special dining experiences like the complimentary Seaday Brunch menu or the family-friendly Dr. Seuss-themed breakfast for an additional fee ($10 to $15 per adult; $8 to $10 per child), which includes meet-and-greets with characters.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Lido Marketplace

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

Carnival's buffet on the Lido Deck has all the staple stations to keep you fed from morning until night. Try the deli counter, barbecue spot, pasta bar or Asian noodle station. Don't miss the always-essential salad bar or pizza station. Finish up with soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt or an enormous cake slice and other goodies from the dessert station.

Included; snacks

No cruise experience is complete without on-demand soft serve. Open on the Lido Deck until midnight, the Swirls station serves up frozen yogurt and soft serve ice cream in the classic flavors of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, or you can enjoy your own combo swirl. The best part is it's self-serve, so no one can judge you for how often you come back for another cone.

The Chef's Table

Fixed price; dinner

This exclusive multicourse dining experience hosted by the ship's master executive chef takes place in untraditional spaces like the galley or library to give you a behind-the-scenes VIP feel. (Some newer ships even have a dedicated Chef's Table dining room with a window into the galley.) You'll be part of a group of only 14 to 16 guests, and the evening kicks off with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a tour of the galley. The dinner menu itself changes based on what's in season or local to the port, but it always includes wine pairings and, of course, dessert.

24-hour room service

A la carte; all-day dining

When hunger calls at odd hours of the night or you're craving a meal from the comfort of your balcony, you can access 24-hour room service on your Carnival cruise ship. Just pick up your cabin's phone and place your order. While room service is generally only available for a cost, Carnival does offer free continental breakfast delivery to your room from 6 to 10 a.m.

Pizza delivery

Fixed price; all-day dining

You can order pizza on the Carnival Hub app to wherever you are on the ship, any time of day, for a delivery fee of $5 per pie. Pro tip: Take a picture of yourself showing where you're located on board to help the pizza delivery staff find you.

Pizzeria del Capitano or Pizza Pirate

Included; lunch and dinner

The all-day pizza station is going to be your go-to option when you get back from a day at port and the lunch buffet is already closed or when you're hungry after a late night of partying. Choose from five prepared pizza options, ranging from classics like margherita and pepperoni to other delicious Italian favorites like funghi and prosciutto. Order a slice or get a whole pie delivered through the Carnival Hub app.

Related: Which line has the best cruise pizza? I tasted slices from 7 brands

Popular Carnival dining options

Blueiguana cantina.

Included; breakfast and lunch

This casual poolside spot serves up Mexican favorites like tacos and burritos with fillings including chipotle chicken, roast pork and battered fish. Order your tacos or burrito to your liking, then head to the salsa bar to add all your favorite toppings. In the morning, you can order breakfast burritos or huevos rancheros as an alternative to the typical Lido buffet breakfast.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration , Conquest, Dream, Elation, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Liberty, Magic, Mardi Gras, Miracle, Panorama, Paradise, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor and Vista

Related: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that let you skip the buffet crowds

Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Sushi Express

A la carte pricing; lunch and dinner

Carnival's sit-down sushi restaurant, Bonsai Sushi, serves sushi rolls and sashimi alongside soups, sakes and sweets. Select ships feature Bonsai Sushi Express, where you can order rolls to go.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Elation, Freedom, Horizon, Jubilee, Luminosa, Legend, Mardi Gras , Miracle, Panorama, Paradise, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Sunrise, Sunshine , Venezia and Vista

Cucina Del Capitano

Cucina Del Capitano honors the cruise line's connection to Italy (many of Carnival's captains and chief engineers have either Italian heritage or maritime training in Italy, known for its long tradition of excellence in shipbuilding). This rustic restaurant serves made-to-order pasta and other Italian comfort food favorites like risotto and chicken Parmesan.

On Carnival Jubilee , Cucina Del Capitano is free for the whole sailing. On Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, your first meal is included, with additional visits at a cost of $8 per person. The other ships with this venue currently charge a fixed price of $24 per adult.

On any of the ships, come to Cucina for a complimentary Captain's Pasta Bar at lunchtime. Just choose your pasta, sauce, meat and other mix-ins — buon appetito!

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Sunrise, Sunshine and Vista

Guy's Burger Joint

Included; lunch

Carnival's poolside burger joint was dreamt up by Food Network star Guy Fieri to feel like the kind of roadside burger shack you'd see on one of his episodes of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Don't underestimate these simple smashburgers — they pack a ton of flavor.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Elation, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Liberty, Magic, Mardi Gras, Miracle, Panorama, Paradise, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor, Venezia and Vista

Related: Which line has the best cruise burger? Here are TPG's top picks

Guy's Pig & Anchor

Included for lunch; a la carte pricing for dinner

Satisfy your barbecue cravings at sea at Guy's Pig & Anchor, which serves up a complimentary lunch of smoked meats like pork butt and andouille sausage, comfort food sides such as collard greens and macaroni and cheese, and a line of signature barbecue sauces. Select ships have a full-service Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse & Brewhouse that's also open for dinner with an a la carte menu, plus a brewery with an exclusive line of craft beers and live musical entertainment.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Dream, Horizon, Jubilee, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Sunrise and Vista

RedFrog Pub

This Key West, Florida-inspired pub is the spot for a round of trivia or foosball, brews and tunes. You can also enjoy Caribbean bites like conch fritters and coconut shrimp with your laid-back island vibes. On Carnival Vista, sailors get a full RedFrog Pub & Brewery, which became North America's first brewery at sea when it opened.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Freedom, Legend, Magic, Miracle, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor and Vista

Seafood Shack

At this New England-style seafood shack, you can order everything from buckets of fried seafood to steamed shellfish by the pound. Don't forget about everyone's favorites, clam chowder and lobster rolls.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Liberty, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Splendor, Sunrise, Valor, Venezia and Vista

The Steakhouse

When you feel like celebrating, Carnival's upscale steakhouse serves USDA Prime steak cuts alongside all of the classic steakhouse favorites, from starters like lobster bisque and shrimp cocktail to a selection of steak sauces and rich, comforting side dishes.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Liberty, Luminosa, Magic, Mardi Gras, Miracle, Panorama, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor, Venezia and Vista

Related: Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse on Carnival Cruise Line (with menu)

Carnival dining options exclusive to a few ships

Big chicken.

The crispy chicken sandwich is a food fad that isn't going away anytime soon, and Carnival's chief fun officer Shaquille O'Neal is the face behind this new chicken spot on the latest Carnival ships. Here, you can find everything chicken — chicken sandwiches, crispy chicken strips and fried chicken baskets (even chicken biscuits at breakfast!) — plus essential sides like potato salad and jalapeno slaw.

Available on : Carnival Celebration, Jubilee, Mardi Gras and Radiance

Bonsai Teppanyaki

Fixed price; lunch and dinner

This Japanese hibachi-style restaurant is part meal and part performance, as your chef prepares your lunch or dinner at the griddle-top table in front of you. The meal begins with a selection of starters and continues with a grilled meat or seafood entree of your choice (think: teriyaki salmon, lobster tail with yuzu cream or filet mignon with truffle salt) paired with fried rice, stir-fried vegetables and a sweet bento box for dessert.

Available on : Carnival Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Panorama and Venezia

A modern Chinese-Mexican fusion concept, Chibang! is a specialty restaurant without the specialty prices. That's right, dining at Chibang! is free all sailing long for guests on Carnival Jubilee; on Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, your first meal at Chibang is included and additional visits are only $8 per person. At lunchtime, you can order your own noodle bowl or burrito bowl (which makes it a great spot if your group has separate cravings), or at dinner, mix and match between cuisines and choose shareable plates for the table or order classic Mexican and Chinese mains.

Available on : Carnival Celebration, Jubilee and Mardi Gras

Emeril's Bistro

A la carte pricing; breakfast, lunch and dinner

At any of the three Emeril's Bistro restaurants at sea, you can get a taste of the world-famous New Orleans chef's take on Creole cuisine. We're talking Crescent City classics like fried oysters, barbecue shrimp, po'boys, muffuletta sandwiches and jambalaya. At breakfast, you'll even find shrimp and grits or bananas Foster crepes. Emeril's Bistro 1937 on Carnival Celebration also spotlights rotating international dishes daily in addition to these Nawlins favorites.

Related: 7 reasons you should treat yourself to a cruise ship specialty restaurant

Italian for "the voyage," this specialty restaurant on the Italian-themed Carnival Venezia ship takes guests on a trip with a menu of signature regional dishes from across Italy.

Available on : Carnival Venezia

JiJi Asian Kitchen

Explore both the exotic and the familiar at this modern Asian restaurant serving regional specialties while you're surrounded by Mongolian-inspired fabrics and Asian prayer rolls. May you enjoy good food and great fortune when you're here!

Available on : Carnival Horizon, Panorama, Sunshine and Vista

This lunch spot feels like a food cart from the Far East. It serves a rotating menu of bowls that span the gamut of Asian cuisines, from Korean bulgogi to Japanese ramen to Vietnamese pho.

Available on : Carnival Sunrise

Masala Tiger

You can't miss the aromas wafting from this Indian food station, where dishes like tandoori chicken and beef kebabs are cooked at over 1,000 degrees in a traditional clay oven.

Available on : Carnival Splendor

Rudi's Seagrill

Developed by Rudi Sodamin, the master chef for sister cruise line Holland America, this eatery celebrates the delicacies of the sea with elegant dishes like succulent shellfish starters, crab-stuffed lobster tail imperial and cioppino (a fisherman's stew).

Street Eats

An homage to casual food trucks and stalls, Street Eats is like a miniature open-air food market with three different stations serving street food favorites. Find bao buns and pot stickers at Steam Dream, kebabs and satay at Mad Sizzle and epic loaded fries at Time Fries.

Carnival cruise food: Frequently asked questions

How do seating times work in the main dining room.

Before sailing, you must choose your preferred dining format for the main dining room — either set dining times with assigned seating or a flexible option called Your Time Dining with open seating. If you prefer a preset dining time and a guaranteed table with the same server every night, you can choose early dining at 5:30 p.m. or late dining at 7:45 p.m.

With Your Time Dining, you can go to the main dining room anytime between 5:15 p.m. and 9 p.m. to be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Just alert the dining room that you're coming on the Carnival Hub app so your table will be ready sooner. You can request a specific waiter, but more likely, you'll sit at a different table with a new waiter each evening. You might have to wait for a table at peak dinner times, but Carnival says the average wait time is usually less than 20 minutes, depending on your party size.

Either way, there's no need to make a reservation for the main dining room.

Do you need reservations for specialty dining restaurants?

Reservations are highly recommended for specialty restaurants, as these locations can book up in advance. You can make reservations online up to 48 hours before your cruise by visiting the "Manage My Booking/Cruise Manager" section of Carnival.com, at which time you'll also pay the cover charge for the restaurant.

Once you get on board, look for staff set up at booths to help you make specialty dining reservations. You can also call or visit the restaurant yourself to make a reservation, but seating times might be limited. Walk-ins are allowed but will get seated based on availability. If you don't make a reservation, be prepared for a wait or the possibility of being turned away if the restaurant is booked.

Can you enjoy unlimited food on your Carnival cruise?

It depends on where you eat! There are no limits on most of the included food options, and you can pretty much find free food on your cruise from the crack of dawn to late into the night. You can always eat as much as you want at the buffet in Lido Marketplace and other included food stations across the ship during their operating hours. In the main dining room, however, guests are limited to two free entrees (which, let's be honest, is still plenty!) before having to pay for additional entrees.

Is there a fee for room service?

Room service isn't free on Carnival anymore, except during breakfast. Instead, menu items are available to order a la carte. Complimentary continental breakfast can be delivered to your room between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. For more details, check out our complete cruise ship room service guide .

Are kids menus available?

Most dining venues offer kids menus with plenty of safe options for picky eaters (think: chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and spaghetti and meatballs). If you're dining at one of the specialty restaurants with a cover charge, there's a reduced fee for kids under 11.

Does Carnival still offer a Lobster Night?

Lobster is available for dinner nightly in the main dining room for a surcharge, but on cruise sailings of six nights or longer, Carnival offers one night per sailing (typically one of the formal nights) where a lobster tail is included as a complimentary entree option on the three-course menu. But don't expect to scarf down all the lobster you can eat. In line with Carnival's two-entree limit in the main dining room, guests now have to pay for any additional lobster past the first two entrees.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Carnival Corporation’s Orderbook Could Include a Second Ship for 2028

• April 1, 2024

According to President and CEO Josh Weinstein, Carnival Corporation is maintaining its strategy of acquiring one or two new cruise ships per year.

The company recently placed orders for two ships at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in 2027, while the second is expected to enter service in 2028 .

Speaking on the company’s first quarter 2024 earnings call on Wednesday, Weinstein stated that the company doesn’t plan to order a second ship for 2027 but is still evaluating a second ship order for 2028.

“We’re talking about one to two ships a year starting in 2027. There won’t be another one in 2027. That will be what we’ve got,” he said.

“As far as 2028 goes, could there be another one? It’s not closed, but I wouldn’t necessarily bank on it either,” Weinstein continued.

Both new orders are for Excel Class ships, which are set to be operated by the Carnival Cruise Line brand.

“We are working on more things that are going to be geared toward our highest returning brands as we’ve been talking about. And when there’s something to talk about, we’ll certainly share it,” he concluded.

Carnival Corporation saw record first quarter revenues of $5.4 billion, the company announced on Wednesday .

According to Weinstein, this milestone was reached as a result of the company’s broader efforts to increase demand and expand its customer base , which included investments in its highest returning brands.

In addition to building new ships for Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Cunard, the investments also include a fleet modernization program for AIDA Cruises and the development of a new private island in the Bahamas.

Located on Grand Bahama island, Celebration Key will also be utilized by the Carnival Cruise Line brand and will be featured in the itineraries of 18 ships departing from 10 homeports.

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Culture Watch

Heading to Jamaica Carnival 2024? Here’s your go-to guide

 Maximize your experience at Jamaica Carnival with this comprehensive guide for 2024.

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In April, as spring emerges, festival season also kicks off, bringing a plethora of top music and culture festivals to enjoy. From Coachella to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the opportunities for outdoor gatherings seem endless. However, if you’re seeking an international festival experience, look no further than Jamaica Carnival.

Held in Kingston from the first to the second week of April, Jamaica Carnival remains a top cultural extravaganza attracting revelers worldwide. Featuring vibrant breakfast parties, night fetes, dawn j’ouverts, and midday road marches, it’s an annual event that continues to evolve. To navigate the plethora of activities, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Jamaica Carnival guide.

During your time in Jamaica, it’s crucial to make the most of your experience. “I would tell anybody coming to take advantage of Jamaica,” says Kibwe McGann, director of GenXs, an in-demand carnival band renowned for hosting extravagant events. GenXs curates the unforgettable road march experience on April 7, offering carnival attendees costumes, meals, beverages, entertainment, and security. Additionally, GenXs organizes an “Immortals J’ouvert” early on Saturday, April 6, as well as “XS Street,” a post-carnival road march party. Other events hosted by GenXs include “Ocean X,” the Catamaran beach fete, and “XS Sunset,“ the finale carnival fete on Monday, April 8.

“For those coming to Jamaica for carnival in Kingston, our capital city is also known as the cultural capital of the Caribbean, and for good reason,” explains Donovan White, Jamaica’s director of tourism. “Visitors can check out Devon House, which was the home of Jamaica’s first Black millionaire. Our popular Devon House I-Scream serves exotic flavors such as Devon Stout and Guava ice cream along with others. For Easter, they have created a new flavor — Bun and Cheese. Check out the street art murals by local artists along the Art Walk downtown, stop by the Bob Marley Museum to get a glimpse into the life of the legendary reggae singer in his well-preserved home, and be sure to try some of our world-famous jerk,” White adds. 

Keeping that in mind, it’s important to understand that Jamaica Carnival stands out from other carnivals due to its focus on cultural elements authentic to the region; especially its legendary music.

“Take a minute and understand why we say this is one of the ’Irie-est’ carnivals in the world— emphasis on ‘Irie,’” says McGann, referencing the fact that alongside the season’s top soca hits, Jamaica’s primary musical exports, reggae and dancehall, are also prominently featured. 

“Be open to new music because this is in Jamaica; we’re the originators of dancehall, and you’re gonna get dancehall on the road. So if you’re a soca purist, you may come to Jamaica and be like, ‘How come they’re playing dancehall?’ I want people to come and be very open to embracing the culture,” McGann continues. 

If you’re considering joining this carnival extravaganza, note that Jamaica has been categorized as “Level 3: Reconsider Travel,” by the U.S. State Department since 2022. However, it’s important to recognize that while the advisory mainly addresses local crime, the rate of crime against visitors to Jamaica remains exceptionally low at 0.01%, according to NPR . Should you make the trip, the most convenient airport to fly into is the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. There are several excellent and accessible hotels available, including The Courtleigh , The Pegasus , AC Hotel by Marriott , Rok Hotel , Spanish Court , and The R Hotel . For those seeking short- or long-term rentals, companies like Aspen Luxury Suites offer luxurious accommodations secured within complexes near major shopping areas, business districts, colleges, and recreational attractions, boasting panoramic views of the city.

Check out theGrio’s full Jamaica Carnival guide below.

Wednesday, April 3

Illuminate : In Jamaica, soca season runs from February to April, culminating in major carnival events on the second weekend of April, often following Easter weekend. Festivities typically start on Friday evening, but arriving a few days earlier offers a lineup of fetes to get you in the spirit. 

Traditionally, Wednesday was the day for the renowned “iLoveSoca” stadium fete; it’s now moved to Monday, April 1. However, this year’s “Illuminate” party is set for Wednesday, April 3, at 8 p.m. “We have always had the idea for Illuminate and saw the opportunity to introduce it last year on Carnival Wednesday, and it was well received,” explained Andrew Bellamy, director of the YardMas carnival band and iLoveSoca, which worked in partnership with Franco and Brush1 to create Illuminate. “It was a very high-energy event with thousands of people for the first staging, so for 2024, we’re doing it again!”

Thursday, April 4

Touchdown Jamaica : An exciting and fashion-forward affair, Touchdown Jamaica embodies the quintessential soca experience of the weekend, held at Jangas, Kingston’s renowned soundbar and grill, starting at 6 p.m.

Rytz featuring Kes : The iLoveSoca and Tipsy Music Festival teams collaborate to present Rytz , an exclusive all-inclusive luxury glamour party with a live performance by one of soca’s biggest artists, Kes. Join in from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Friday, April 5

SunKissed All-Inclusive Beach Cruise Party : The Sunkissed All-Inclusive Beach Cruise Party is hailed as one of the premier beach fetes and catamaran cruise events during the season. Delight in the finest soca beats from noon to 5 p.m. while cruising on the water.

Soca Starter : Renowned DJ Private Ryan releases his soca starter playlist at the start of each year, offering insight into the major tunes he predicts will dominate international carnival celebrations. Accordingly, you won’t want to miss his annual “ Soca Starter” party from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Scorch Duck Work : Scorch Duck Work is a celebrated cooler fete that has made its mark in Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica. Join the Scorch team on Carnival Friday, April 5, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. to experience the sizzling Jamaican vibes.

Bacchanal J’ouvert — Paint Rave : One of the original j’ouverts, Bacchanal J’ouvert — Paint Rave , is a vibrant paint party held at Mas Camp in Kingston, starting at 10 p.m. and continuing until morning.

Saturday, April 6

Immortals J’ouvert : GenXs, the leading “ultra-premium” carnival band, continues to dominate soca season with exceptional events, including Immortals J’ouvert. Starting early Saturday at 2 a.m., this breakfast-inclusive event promises an unforgettable experience filled with paint, powder, water, and the finest soca tunes. Don’t miss out on this epic celebration!

Sunnation Breakfast Party : If you had to choose only one event to attend for Jamaica carnival season, it should be none other than the famous all-inclusive Sunnation Sunrise Breakfast Party . Coveted for its elegance, wide array of food options, top-notch performances, and infectious atmosphere, this breakfast party draws attendees bright and early on Saturday, starting as early as 5 a.m., to revel with friends throughout the day. 

Lil Strut Jamaica : When you hear of Lil Strut Jamaica , imagine boats, bubbles, and bacchanal! As the final GenXs-approved official boat cruise before masqueraders hit the road to jump on carnival Sunday, consider this an essential cruise event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 7

Carnival Glam Hub : Swing by early Sunday morning to experience Carnival Glam Hub with a reservation and indulge in hairstyling, sweat-proof makeup application, breakfast, drinks, professional photography, assistance with your carnival costume, and shuttle service, all under one roof. It’s your one-stop destination to ensure you’re at your best before joining your carnival band members to dominate Carnival Sunday.

GenXs Road March : It’s Carnival Sunday, and the awaited moment is here. Gear up in your costume, secure your wristbands, and join GenXs on the road at 9 a.m. to parade through the streets of Kingston, cordoned off for your enjoyment. 

Yard Mas Road March : Join Yard Mas and the vibrant masqueraders for a lively day on the road, taking a different route through Kingston from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with all-inclusive food, drinks, and snacks galore. 

Xodus Road March : Renowned for its dancehall beats and vibrant atmosphere, the Xodus Road March is a spirited carnival procession where revelers clad in costumes revel freely in the streets, dancing the day away. Join this dynamic carnival band at 9 a.m. for an all-inclusive day of festivities.

XS Street : A new afterparty brought to you by the GenXs team, XS Street is pure dancehall vibes after the Carnival Sunday road march. Join the GenXs team starting at 6 p.m. 

Monday, April 8

Ocean X : Just when you think Carnival Week is over, think again. Ocean X is the GenXs catamaran cruise that docks at Maiden Cay island in Jamaica; boarding begins at 10 a.m. 

XS Sunset : The final GenXs event of the week is XS Sunset, a cooler cool-down fete, free for GenXs Masqueraders. 

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TheGrio Staff

Noel Cymone Walker is an NYC-based writer specializing in beauty, fashion, music, travel, and cultural anthropology. She has written and produced visuals for several notable publications such as The Recording Academy/The Grammys, The Fader, Billboard, OkayPlayer, Marie Claire, Glamour, Allure, Essence, Ebony, and more.

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Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Plan Your Trip

How To Book Carnival Cruise Excursions

Published: December 20, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Margaux Palmer

• Travel Guide
• Travel Tips

Introduction

A Carnival cruise offers travelers a unique opportunity to explore different destinations and experience a variety of activities both on board and on land. One of the highlights of any Carnival cruise is the chance to participate in exciting shore excursions. These guided tours and activities allow passengers to immerse themselves in the local culture, explore historic sites, embark on thrilling adventures, and create unforgettable memories.

Researching and booking the right Carnival cruise excursions can greatly enhance your vacation experience. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned veteran, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the process and make informed decisions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of researching, booking, and managing Carnival cruise excursions, as well as provide some insider tips to help you make the most of your excursion experience.

Before we delve into the details, it’s worth mentioning that Carnival offers a wide range of excursion options tailored to suit various interests, activity levels, and budgets. From sightseeing tours to water sports, cultural immersions to adrenaline-pumping adventures, there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer exploring ancient ruins in Mexico, snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, or zip-lining through rainforests in Alaska, Carnival has you covered.

So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure, let’s dive into the world of Carnival cruise excursions and find out how to make the most of your time on land.

Researching Carnival Cruise Excursions

When it comes to selecting the perfect Carnival cruise excursion, a little research can go a long way in ensuring you choose activities that align with your interests and preferences. Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision:

• Review the Itinerary: Start by reviewing the itinerary of your cruise. Identify the ports of call and the available excursion options for each destination. Consider the duration, activities included, and any special requirements or restrictions.
• Read Reviews: Take the time to read reviews and testimonials from fellow travelers who have experienced the excursions you are interested in. Websites like TripAdvisor and Cruise Critic provide valuable insights and ratings from previous participants.
• Consider Your Preferences: Think about your interests and preferences. Are you a history buff, an adventure seeker, or someone who enjoys leisurely activities? Look for excursions that align with your passions and provide opportunities to explore the aspects of a destination that interest you the most.
• Take Budget into Account: Consider your budget and the value you are getting for your money. Some excursions may be more costly than others, so weigh the benefits and experiences offered against the price.
• Check for Physical Requirements: Keep in mind any physical requirements or restrictions associated with the excursions. Some activities may have age restrictions, health considerations, or require a certain level of fitness. Make sure you choose an excursion that is suitable for you and your fellow travelers.
• Look for Unique Experiences: Consider opting for excursions that offer unique experiences not easily replicated elsewhere. Whether it’s swimming with dolphins, visiting a UNESCO World Heritage site, or embarking on a culinary tour, seek out activities that will make your vacation truly memorable.
• Consult the Carnival Website: Visit the official Carnival website for detailed information on each excursion option. You’ll find descriptions, photos, itineraries, and pricing details to help you make an informed decision.

By taking the time to research and consider these factors, you can ensure that you choose the right Carnival cruise excursions that align with your interests and expectations. Remember, the goal is to create unforgettable experiences and make the most of your time on shore.

Booking Process for Carnival Cruise Excursions

Once you’ve researched and selected the Carnival cruise excursions that interest you, it’s time to book them. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the booking process:

• Access your Carnival online account: Log in to your Carnival online account to access the booking platform. If you don’t have an account yet, you can easily create one on the Carnival website.
• Select your cruise: Choose the specific cruise you will be taking from the list of available options.
• Browse excursions: Navigate to the “Shore Excursions” or “Shore & Land Activities” section to explore the available excursions for each port of call. Use the search filters or browse through the categories to find the activities that interest you.
• Add to cart: Once you find an excursion you’d like to book, click on it to view more details. If it meets your requirements, select the desired date, time, and quantity, then click the “Add to Cart” button.
• Review and update: Review the details of your selected excursion in the shopping cart. Ensure that all the information, such as the date, time, and number of participants, is correct. Make any necessary updates or modifications before proceeding to checkout.
• Provide payment details: Enter your payment information to complete the booking. Carnival accepts major credit cards as well as gift cards.
• Confirm and receive confirmation: Once the payment is processed, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details of your booked excursion. Keep this email for reference and make note of any specific instructions provided.

It’s important to note that availability for excursions may be limited, especially for popular activities or those with limited capacity. To secure your preferred excursions, it’s advisable to book them as early as possible, ideally during the online check-in process or shortly after making your cruise reservation.

If you prefer to book your excursions in person rather than online, you can do so at the Shore Excursions desk on board. However, keep in mind that popular excursions may sell out quickly, so it’s still recommended to book in advance if possible.

By following these steps and taking advantage of early booking, you can ensure that you secure your desired Carnival cruise excursions and avoid any last-minute disappointments.

Managing Excursions on board

Once you’re on board your Carnival cruise ship, it’s important to be prepared and manage your excursions effectively. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time on shore:

• Attend the excursion briefings: Pay attention to the excursion briefings provided on board. These sessions will give you important information about the logistics, meeting points, and any specific instructions for each excursion. Make note of the time, location, and any required documents or identification needed for the excursion.
• Obtain necessary documents: Ensure that you have all the necessary documents for your excursions, such as tickets, identification, and any required medical or liability waivers. Keep them in a safe place and have them easily accessible when needed.
• Follow the meeting instructions: Familiarize yourself with the meeting instructions provided for each excursion. These instructions will indicate the specific meeting point and the time you need to be there. It’s important to be punctual to ensure a smooth and timely departure.
• Communicate with excursion staff: If you have any questions or concerns about your excursions, don’t hesitate to communicate with the excursion staff on board. They are there to assist you and provide any necessary information or support.
• Keep track of time: Be mindful of the time allotted for each excursion. Pay attention to the return time and make sure you allow enough time to get back to the ship before its departure. Carnival takes passenger safety seriously and will not wait for latecomers.
• Stay organized: Keep your belongings organized and only bring necessary items with you on excursions. Bring essentials like sunscreen, water, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. Consider using a small backpack or bag to carry your belongings. Be mindful of the space and weight restrictions set by the excursion organizers.
• Respect local customs and regulations: When participating in excursions, remember that you are a guest in the destination’s community. Respect the local customs, practices, and regulations. Follow any instructions or guidelines provided by the excursion guides to ensure a positive and responsible experience.

By managing your excursions effectively and following these tips, you can have a seamless and enjoyable experience exploring each port of call on your Carnival cruise.

Tips for Maximizing Your Excursion Experience

Excursions are an integral part of the Carnival cruise experience, providing you with the opportunity to explore and engage with the destinations you visit. To make the most of your excursion experience, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Plan in advance: Research and plan your excursions ahead of time to ensure you have the widest selection of options. Consider your interests, activity levels, and budget while choosing the most appealing activities.
• Balance relaxation and adventure: Choose a mix of relaxing and adventurous excursions to cater to different moods and preferences. This way, you can unwind on some days and push your limits on others.
• Allow for flexibility: While planning is important, also allow for some flexibility in your itinerary. Unexpected opportunities and local recommendations may arise that could enhance your experience even more.
• Bring the essentials: Pack essential items such as sunscreen, insect repellent, a water bottle, and comfortable walking shoes. Consider bringing a portable charger for your electronic devices as well.
• Stay hydrated and nourished: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. If your excursion does not include meals, pack some snacks or plan to have a meal before or after the activity.
• Immerse yourself in the local culture: Take the opportunity to learn about the local culture and traditions. Interact with the locals, try the regional cuisine, and embrace the unique experiences each destination has to offer.
• Capture memories: Bring a camera or use your smartphone to capture the beautiful moments and breathtaking views during your excursions. Create lasting memories by documenting your experiences.
• Respect the environment: Follow the principles of responsible tourism. Respect the natural surroundings, wildlife, and cultural heritage of each destination. Dispose of waste properly and leave only footprints behind.
• Listen to your body: Be mindful of your physical limitations and health conditions when choosing excursions. Select activities that align with your abilities and consult with medical professionals if needed.
• Stay informed about safety: Pay attention to safety instructions provided by the excursion guides. Follow their guidance and listen to any warnings regarding potential risks or hazards.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can maximize your excursion experience, make the most of your time on shore, and create lasting memories on your Carnival cruise.

Embarking on a Carnival cruise is an exciting adventure that offers you the chance to explore different destinations and create memorable experiences. Carnival cruise excursions play a pivotal role in enhancing your vacation, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture, embark on thrilling adventures, and make the most of your time on shore.

By researching and selecting the right excursions, you can tailor your vacation to match your interests and preferences. Consider factors such as reviews, budget, physical requirements, and unique experiences to make informed decisions. The booking process for Carnival cruise excursions is straightforward, and it’s beneficial to book your desired activities in advance to secure your spot.

Once on board, managing your excursions effectively ensures a smooth experience. Attend briefings, follow meeting instructions, and communicate with excursion staff to stay organized and keep track of time. Respecting local customs and regulations adds to the positive impact you can have in each destination you visit.

To maximize your excursion experience, strike a balance between relaxation and adventure, bring the essentials, immerse yourself in the local culture, and capture memories along the way. Remember to listen to your body, stay informed about safety measures, and practice responsible tourism to ensure a memorable and enjoyable time.

As you embark on your Carnival cruise and participate in its excursions, embrace the opportunities for discovery, adventure, and connection with the world around you. Let your excursions become the highlight of your trip as you create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Best Time to Visit Turks and Caicos: A Month-by-Month Guide for Cruisers

Many cruisers consider Turks and Caicos the ideal winter cruise destination to escape cold temperatures and gloomy skies. With its 350 days of sunshine per year and an annual temperature variance of about 10 degrees F, this Caribbean archipelago is an excellent port of call throughout the year -- except for a few short weeks during the hurricane season .

Choosing the best month or season to visit depends on personal preference regarding heat, rain, crowds, plans and even mosquitos. Turks and Caicos weather in December, for just one example, is mild and dry, but busy in terms of crowds. Meanwhile, the summer months are far quieter but chances of your travel plans being disrupted by storms are higher.

In short, although it’s hard to go wrong with your timing, there are a few things to consider before booking your cruise to Turks and Caicos.

To help you determine the best time to visit Turks and Caicos, we have created a month-to-month guide with all the details you’ll need to plan the best cruise for you . Read on for an overview of average temperatures and rainfall, the best activities by month, and everything else you’ll need to know before booking your visit to the Grand Turk cruise port and beyond.

Turks and Caicos Weather in January: As Cool and Dry as It Gets

Turks and Caicos weather in January is mild and pleasant, with average temperatures hovering around 82 degrees F during the day and 73 degrees F in the evening. You’ll need a layer or two if your cruise ship doesn’t depart until the late afternoon, but you can leave your rain jacket onboard since chances of rain are close to zero.

January offers excellent conditions for enjoying the archipelago’s beautiful Caribbean beaches , as water temperatures are around 75 degrees F and there are few waves. Swimming and snorkeling are two of the top activities this month. January is also the start of the humpback whale season, so make sure you book your diving shore excursion or arrange a boat tour with one of the local companies well in advance.

If you’re worried about mosquitos in Turks and Caicos, January is a great month to visit; the lack of rain and cooler weather keeps them at bay.

Though still considered peak season, the busy holiday period is long gone and crowds start to thin out, making January one of the best times to visit Turks and Caicos, along with February and March.

Turks and Caicos Weather in February: Mild Temperatures and No Rain

If you’re into water sports , February might just be the best time to visit Turks and Caicos. The ocean temperature rarely dips below 82 degrees F and wind speeds make for great conditions for kite and windsurfing. Similar to January, daily temperatures average around 82 degrees F, with lows of 73 degrees F and minimal rainfall throughout the month.

Although it is still considered very much the peak tourist season, it's slightly quieter compared to January and much slower than the second half of December given the lack of school vacations. All tour operators will be open, offering a plethora of shore excursion options amidst great weather conditions.

Turks and Caicos weather in February is perfect if you want to pack light for your cruise . However, don’t forget to include a thin layer for cooler evenings, as well as plenty of sunscreen for those long, sunny days at the beach or exploring Grand Turk. Kite flying is a popular activity during the breezy spring days as well.

Turks and Caicos Weather in March: Minimal Rainfall and Comfortable Temperatures

Just like the two previous months, Turks and Caicos weather in March is pleasant and mild. Average temperatures remain at around 82 degrees F and rarely drop below 73 degrees F in the evening, making for warm, sunny days and balmy late afternoons. Warm water temperatures and lack of rain make it a beach-lover’s paradise.

March tends to be bustling with visitors, especially if Easter falls at the end of this month, so expect busy beaches -- and fish respond to that by staying farther away from the shore to avoid people. Spring break crowds like those in Bahamas or Cozumel , though, are rare, as prices in Turks and Caicos tend to be higher.

Turks and Caicos Weather in April: Higher Daily Temperatures and Slightly Warmer Nights

Although daily average temperatures remain rather consistent throughout the year, Turks and Caicos weather in April does feel somewhat different. Temperatures are slightly higher than in March both during the day and at night, making the warm breeze feel less refreshing.

April is, for many cruisers, high up on the list of the best months to visit Turks and Caicos. Not only is the weather still pleasant, but after the Spring and Easter breaks, crowds lessen everywhere. You’ll still be able to swim with the Stingrays in Gibbs Cay (aka Stingray City) or join the many shore excursions available this time of year minus the crowds of the busier winter months. The constant wind also makes it a good month for water sports.

Turks and Caicos Weather in May: Temperatures Climb and Winds Die Down

Warmer days and little wind make Turks and Caicos weather in May perfect for those who don’t mind the heat and want to explore Grand Turk without fighting for a spot on an island tour or the beach. This month marks the second and final month of shoulder season in Turks and Caicos, with crowds beginning to thin out ahead of the hot summer months.

Daily temperatures hover in the mid- to high 80s, and although the rainy season is fast approaching (officially starting on June 1st), there are still minimal chances of rain. Any rain encountered will likely be in short bursts later in the evening, possibly catching you aboard your cruise ship.

May is a great month for outdoor activities such as exploring the historical sites in the archipelago’s capital, Cockburn Town and visiting landmarks like the Grand Turk Lighthouse. As temperatures climb above 85 degrees F, head to the Grand Turk cruise port for a swim, some duty-free shopping or a bite before boarding.

Turks and Caicos Weather in June: Hot Days but Still Low Chances of Rain

Although June 1st marks the beginning of the hurricane season, the peak storm season typically doesn’t occur until a few weeks later, towards the middle of August. Average high temperatures push 88 degrees F, so we recommend getting off the ship as early as possible if you want to engage in outdoor activities such as cycling or fishing . Towards noon, temperatures will be less comfortable.

Expect light showers that bring little rain in short bursts, especially towards the end of the month and in the afternoon. However, the general trend for Turks and Caicos weather in June is hot and sunny. June also marks the start of crab season, attracting locals and visitors alike to the many shaded oceanfront restaurants and shacks offering plates heaping with these crustaceans.

In June, ocean temperatures are perfect for swimming, hovering around 82 degrees F. While the wind may not be as strong for water-based activities like kitesurfing, the calmer waters provide great snorkeling opportunities. The sun will be strong, so don’t forget to bring sun protection gear .

Turks and Caicos Weather in July: Higher Temperatures and Mid-Afternoon Showers

Turks and Caicos weather in July is characterized by high temperatures, averaging around 90 degrees F. You can expect some mid- to late afternoon showers and a gentle breeze that makes mornings and evenings relatively comfortable. Mornings typically bring sunshine, with clouds gradually building up throughout the day.

The heat and the fact that it is officially hurricane season tend to deter tourists from visiting the islands. However, significant storms are extremely rare in Turks and Caicos in July, meaning cruisers arriving in the archipelago this month will benefit from fewer crowds. It’s worth noting that some businesses close during the low season, including tour operators.

Turks and Caicos are known for experiencing mosquito issues during the rainy season. Unless heavy rain persists for several hours -- something rare in July -- there’s no need to worry. Additionally, Grand Turk tends to have fewer mosquito problems compared to other islands in the archipelago.

Turks and Caicos Weather in August: As Hot and Wet as it Gets

The hurricane season is in full swing in August, so the allure of Caribbean cruises dwindles during this time. Turks and Caicos weather in August is hot and humid, with temperatures soaring up to 93 degrees F, and unpredictable rain showers can strike. The first half of the month tends to be calmer, but the chances of severe storms and flooding increase in the second half of August.

Cruisers who choose to visit in August will find few crowds. If you are lucky and the weather holds, you’ll be able to enjoy quiet days at the beach. Calm, flat seas make snorkeling and diving two of the most popular activities this month. If -- or when -- the weather turns, you can pop into a museum or a historic landmark in Cockburn Town, where you will be walking the halls with just a handful of fellow tourists and locals.

Due to the lower numbers of cruisers during these months, mid-summer deals are common, with August being one of the months when you can get the best bang for your buck . However, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with your cruise line’s cancellation policy and get travel insurance before your trip.

Turks and Caicos Weather in September: Hot and Stormy, With Chances of Hurricanes

Turks and Caicos weather in September mirrors that of August. The balmy winter and spring days are long gone, replaced by high temperatures of up to 93 degrees F and minimal wind, resulting in hot, humid conditions occasionally punctuated by downpours and localized flooding. Although severe weather in Turks and Caicos has historically been more prevalent in the first half of September, it can occur anytime between June 1st and November 30th.

Unless a major storm directly impacts the islands, you’ll probably still be able to hit the beach. The sea will be warm, and despite cloud cover, it’s a good time to go swimming, especially if you’re traveling with kids .

September marks the peak of the low season in Turks and Caicos, meaning you won’t encounter large crowds. Many businesses -- including those catering to tourists -- may close for a few weeks, making booking a cruise line-sponsored shore excursion a safer bet than arranging an independent day trip on arrival.

If the deals are too tempting and you choose to take the risk, make sure you have "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) insurance and have planned for a possible last-minute cancellation .

Turks and Caicos Weather in October: Slightly Lower Temperatures and Occasional Showers

Although October is still considered hurricane season in the Caribbean, there are fewer chances of encountering major storms this month, especially if you book a late October cruise. Daily temperatures drop ever so slightly to around 88 degrees F, and any rainfall comes in short showers often followed by clear skies.

This is an ideal time for those looking to relax at the beach. The sea is calm and the sun is out at least from time to time. Coupled with the fact that it’s the low season, you will find quiet beaches, no lines at attractions and no need for restaurant reservations. The only potential downside could be increased mosquito activity following heavy rains.

Turks and Caicos in November: More Rainy Days and Milder Temperatures

November signals a lull in visitor numbers. It's the tail end of the low (and hurricane) season, with activity on the islands picking up gradually throughout the month. Despite being the rainiest month of the year, November typically sees less rainfall than September and October, with an average of 3.7 inches of rain.

Turks and Caicos weather in November is somewhat cooler than the previous months. Daytime temperatures hover around 84 degrees F, dipping to 76 degrees F at night, making outdoor activities more pleasant. It’s a great month for those looking to go on ATV , golf cart or horseback riding island tours.

Turks and Caicos Weather in December: Cooler Days and Few Chances of Rain

December is busy in Turks and Caicos. Holiday cruises are highly popular, but even at the beginning of the month there is an increase in cruise arrivals, with as many as 10 cruise ships per week during the second half of the month.

Turks and Caicos weather in December is ideal for outdoor and water-based activities . Daytime temperatures, which hover around 82 degrees F, are much more comfortable than the 90 degrees F experienced during the summer months. The average number of rainy days are down to 2.5 from the 5.6 seen in November.

Wind picks up again in December, enticing cruisers to take up water sports such as kiteboarding and surfing. While snorkeling and diving are also great this time of year, beginners may find the larger waves daunting, and boat or catamaran tours could be a bit bumpy in the choppy waters.

Packing light for a December cruise in the Caribbean, especially if it is around the holiday season, is no easy feat. You’ll have to bring not only beach gear and light clothing for the day but also more formal attire if you want to join the onboard festivities. It’s harder to score a good deal during December, but some advanced planning will go a long way.

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Crying Myself to Sleep on the Biggest Cruise Ship Ever

Seven agonizing nights aboard the Icon of the Seas

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Updated at 2:44 p.m. ET on April 6, 2024.

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MY FIRST GLIMPSE of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, from the window of an approaching Miami cab, brings on a feeling of vertigo, nausea, amazement, and distress. I shut my eyes in defense, as my brain tells my optic nerve to try again.

The ship makes no sense, vertically or horizontally. It makes no sense on sea, or on land, or in outer space. It looks like a hodgepodge of domes and minarets, tubes and canopies, like Istanbul had it been designed by idiots. Vibrant, oversignifying colors are stacked upon other such colors, decks perched over still more decks; the only comfort is a row of lifeboats ringing its perimeter. There is no imposed order, no cogent thought, and, for those who do not harbor a totalitarian sense of gigantomania, no visual mercy. This is the biggest cruise ship ever built, and I have been tasked with witnessing its inaugural voyage.

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“Author embarks on their first cruise-ship voyage” has been a staple of American essay writing for almost three decades, beginning with David Foster Wallace’s “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again,” which was first published in 1996 under the title “Shipping Out.” Since then, many admirable writers have widened and diversified the genre. Usually the essayist commissioned to take to the sea is in their first or second flush of youth and is ready to sharpen their wit against the hull of the offending vessel. I am 51, old and tired, having seen much of the world as a former travel journalist, and mostly what I do in both life and prose is shrug while muttering to my imaginary dachshund, “This too shall pass.” But the Icon of the Seas will not countenance a shrug. The Icon of the Seas is the Linda Loman of cruise ships, exclaiming that attention must be paid. And here I am in late January with my one piece of luggage and useless gray winter jacket and passport, zipping through the Port of Miami en route to the gangway that will separate me from the bulk of North America for more than seven days, ready to pay it in full.

The aforementioned gangway opens up directly onto a thriving mall (I will soon learn it is imperiously called the “Royal Promenade”), presently filled with yapping passengers beneath a ceiling studded with balloons ready to drop. Crew members from every part of the global South, as well as a few Balkans, are shepherding us along while pressing flutes of champagne into our hands. By a humming Starbucks, I drink as many of these as I can and prepare to find my cabin. I show my blue Suite Sky SeaPass Card (more on this later, much more) to a smiling woman from the Philippines, and she tells me to go “aft.” Which is where, now? As someone who has rarely sailed on a vessel grander than the Staten Island Ferry, I am confused. It turns out that the aft is the stern of the ship, or, for those of us who don’t know what a stern or an aft are, its ass. The nose of the ship, responsible for separating the waves before it, is also called a bow, and is marked for passengers as the FWD , or forward. The part of the contemporary sailing vessel where the malls are clustered is called the midship. I trust that you have enjoyed this nautical lesson.

I ascend via elevator to my suite on Deck 11. This is where I encounter my first terrible surprise. My suite windows and balcony do not face the ocean. Instead, they look out onto another shopping mall. This mall is the one that’s called Central Park, perhaps in homage to the Olmsted-designed bit of greenery in the middle of my hometown. Although on land I would be delighted to own a suite with Central Park views, here I am deeply depressed. To sail on a ship and not wake up to a vast blue carpet of ocean? Unthinkable.

Allow me a brief preamble here. The story you are reading was commissioned at a moment when most staterooms on the Icon were sold out. In fact, so enthralled by the prospect of this voyage were hard-core mariners that the ship’s entire inventory of guest rooms (the Icon can accommodate up to 7,600 passengers, but its inaugural journey was reduced to 5,000 or so for a less crowded experience) was almost immediately sold out. Hence, this publication was faced with the shocking prospect of paying nearly $19,000 to procure for this solitary passenger an entire suite—not including drinking expenses—all for the privilege of bringing you this article. But the suite in question doesn’t even have a view of the ocean! I sit down hard on my soft bed. Nineteen thousand dollars for this .

The viewless suite does have its pluses. In addition to all the Malin+Goetz products in my dual bathrooms, I am granted use of a dedicated Suite Deck lounge; access to Coastal Kitchen, a superior restaurant for Suites passengers; complimentary VOOM SM Surf & Stream (“the fastest Internet at Sea”) “for one device per person for the whole cruise duration”; a pair of bathrobes (one of which comes prestained with what looks like a large expectoration by the greenest lizard on Earth); and use of the Grove Suite Sun, an area on Decks 18 and 19 with food and deck chairs reserved exclusively for Suite passengers. I also get reserved seating for a performance of The Wizard of Oz , an ice-skating tribute to the periodic table, and similar provocations. The very color of my Suite Sky SeaPass Card, an oceanic blue as opposed to the cloying royal purple of the standard non-Suite passenger, will soon provoke envy and admiration. But as high as my status may be, there are those on board who have much higher status still, and I will soon learn to bow before them.

In preparation for sailing, I have “priced in,” as they say on Wall Street, the possibility that I may come from a somewhat different monde than many of the other cruisers. Without falling into stereotypes or preconceptions, I prepare myself for a friendly outspokenness on the part of my fellow seafarers that may not comply with modern DEI standards. I believe in meeting people halfway, and so the day before flying down to Miami, I visited what remains of Little Italy to purchase a popular T-shirt that reads DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL across the breast in the colors of the Italian flag. My wife recommended that I bring one of my many T-shirts featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, as all Americans love the beagle and his friends. But I naively thought that my meatball T-shirt would be more suitable for conversation-starting. “Oh, and who is your ‘daddy’?” some might ask upon seeing it. “And how long have you been his ‘little meatball’?” And so on.

I put on my meatball T-shirt and head for one of the dining rooms to get a late lunch. In the elevator, I stick out my chest for all to read the funny legend upon it, but soon I realize that despite its burnished tricolor letters, no one takes note. More to the point, no one takes note of me. Despite my attempts at bridge building, the very sight of me (small, ethnic, without a cap bearing the name of a football team) elicits no reaction from other passengers. Most often, they will small-talk over me as if I don’t exist. This brings to mind the travails of David Foster Wallace , who felt so ostracized by his fellow passengers that he retreated to his cabin for much of his voyage. And Wallace was raised primarily in the Midwest and was a much larger, more American-looking meatball than I am. If he couldn’t talk to these people, how will I? What if I leave this ship without making any friends at all, despite my T-shirt? I am a social creature, and the prospect of seven days alone and apart is saddening. Wallace’s stateroom, at least, had a view of the ocean, a kind of cheap eternity.

Worse awaits me in the dining room. This is a large, multichandeliered room where I attended my safety training (I was shown how to put on a flotation vest; it is a very simple procedure). But the maître d’ politely refuses me entry in an English that seems to verge on another language. “I’m sorry, this is only for pendejos ,” he seems to be saying. I push back politely and he repeats himself. Pendejos ? Piranhas? There’s some kind of P-word to which I am not attuned. Meanwhile elderly passengers stream right past, powered by their limbs, walkers, and electric wheelchairs. “It is only pendejo dining today, sir.” “But I have a suite!” I say, already starting to catch on to the ship’s class system. He examines my card again. “But you are not a pendejo ,” he confirms. I am wearing a DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL T-shirt, I want to say to him. I am the essence of pendejo .

Eventually, I give up and head to the plebeian buffet on Deck 15, which has an aquatic-styled name I have now forgotten. Before gaining entry to this endless cornucopia of reheated food, one passes a washing station of many sinks and soap dispensers, and perhaps the most intriguing character on the entire ship. He is Mr. Washy Washy—or, according to his name tag, Nielbert of the Philippines—and he is dressed as a taco (on other occasions, I’ll see him dressed as a burger). Mr. Washy Washy performs an eponymous song in spirited, indeed flamboyant English: “Washy, washy, wash your hands, WASHY WASHY!” The dangers of norovirus and COVID on a cruise ship this size (a giant fellow ship was stricken with the former right after my voyage) makes Mr. Washy Washy an essential member of the crew. The problem lies with the food at the end of Washy’s rainbow. The buffet is groaning with what sounds like sophisticated dishes—marinated octopus, boiled egg with anchovy, chorizo, lobster claws—but every animal tastes tragically the same, as if there was only one creature available at the market, a “cruisipus” bred specifically for Royal Caribbean dining. The “vegetables” are no better. I pick up a tomato slice and look right through it. It tastes like cellophane. I sit alone, apart from the couples and parents with gaggles of children, as “We Are Family” echoes across the buffet space.

I may have failed to mention that all this time, the Icon of the Seas has not left port. As the fiery mango of the subtropical setting sun makes Miami’s condo skyline even more apocalyptic, the ship shoves off beneath a perfunctory display of fireworks. After the sun sets, in the far, dark distance, another circus-lit cruise ship ruptures the waves before us. We glance at it with pity, because it is by definition a smaller ship than our own. I am on Deck 15, outside the buffet and overlooking a bunch of pools (the Icon has seven of them), drinking a frilly drink that I got from one of the bars (the Icon has 15 of them), still too shy to speak to anyone, despite Sister Sledge’s assertion that all on the ship are somehow related.

Kim Brooks: On failing the family vacation

The ship’s passage away from Ron DeSantis’s Florida provides no frisson, no sense of developing “sea legs,” as the ship is too large to register the presence of waves unless a mighty wind adds significant chop. It is time for me to register the presence of the 5,000 passengers around me, even if they refuse to register mine. My fellow travelers have prepared for this trip with personally decorated T-shirts celebrating the importance of this voyage. The simplest ones say ICON INAUGURAL ’24 on the back and the family name on the front. Others attest to an over-the-top love of cruise ships: WARNING! MAY START TALKING ABOUT CRUISING . Still others are artisanally designed and celebrate lifetimes spent married while cruising (on ships, of course). A couple possibly in their 90s are wearing shirts whose backs feature a drawing of a cruise liner, two flamingos with ostensibly male and female characteristics, and the legend “ HUSBAND AND WIFE Cruising Partners FOR LIFE WE MAY NOT HAVE IT All Together BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE IT ALL .” (The words not in all caps have been written in cursive.) A real journalist or a more intrepid conversationalist would have gone up to the couple and asked them to explain the longevity of their marriage vis-à-vis their love of cruising. But instead I head to my mall suite, take off my meatball T-shirt, and allow the first tears of the cruise to roll down my cheeks slowly enough that I briefly fall asleep amid the moisture and salt.

I WAKE UP with a hangover. Oh God. Right. I cannot believe all of that happened last night. A name floats into my cobwebbed, nauseated brain: “Ayn Rand.” Jesus Christ.

I breakfast alone at the Coastal Kitchen. The coffee tastes fine and the eggs came out of a bird. The ship rolls slightly this morning; I can feel it in my thighs and my schlong, the parts of me that are most receptive to danger.

I had a dangerous conversation last night. After the sun set and we were at least 50 miles from shore (most modern cruise ships sail at about 23 miles an hour), I lay in bed softly hiccupping, my arms stretched out exactly like Jesus on the cross, the sound of the distant waves missing from my mall-facing suite, replaced by the hum of air-conditioning and children shouting in Spanish through the vents of my two bathrooms. I decided this passivity was unacceptable. As an immigrant, I feel duty-bound to complete the tasks I am paid for, which means reaching out and trying to understand my fellow cruisers. So I put on a normal James Perse T-shirt and headed for one of the bars on the Royal Promenade—the Schooner Bar, it was called, if memory serves correctly.

I sat at the bar for a martini and two Negronis. An old man with thick, hairy forearms drank next to me, very silent and Hemingwaylike, while a dreadlocked piano player tinkled out a series of excellent Elton John covers. To my right, a young white couple—he in floral shorts, she in a light, summery miniskirt with a fearsome diamond ring, neither of them in football regalia—chatted with an elderly couple. Do it , I commanded myself. Open your mouth. Speak! Speak without being spoken to. Initiate. A sentence fragment caught my ear from the young woman, “Cherry Hill.” This is a suburb of Philadelphia in New Jersey, and I had once been there for a reading at a synagogue. “Excuse me,” I said gently to her. “Did you just mention Cherry Hill? It’s a lovely place.”

As it turned out, the couple now lived in Fort Lauderdale (the number of Floridians on the cruise surprised me, given that Southern Florida is itself a kind of cruise ship, albeit one slowly sinking), but soon they were talking with me exclusively—the man potbellied, with a chin like a hard-boiled egg; the woman as svelte as if she were one of the many Ukrainian members of the crew—the elderly couple next to them forgotten. This felt as groundbreaking as the first time I dared to address an American in his native tongue, as a child on a bus in Queens (“On my foot you are standing, Mister”).

“I don’t want to talk politics,” the man said. “But they’re going to eighty-six Biden and put Michelle in.”

I considered the contradictions of his opening conversational gambit, but decided to play along. “People like Michelle,” I said, testing the waters. The husband sneered, but the wife charitably put forward that the former first lady was “more personable” than Joe Biden. “They’re gonna eighty-six Biden,” the husband repeated. “He can’t put a sentence together.”

After I mentioned that I was a writer—though I presented myself as a writer of teleplays instead of novels and articles such as this one—the husband told me his favorite writer was Ayn Rand. “Ayn Rand, she came here with nothing,” the husband said. “I work with a lot of Cubans, so …” I wondered if I should mention what I usually do to ingratiate myself with Republicans or libertarians: the fact that my finances improved after pass-through corporations were taxed differently under Donald Trump. Instead, I ordered another drink and the couple did the same, and I told him that Rand and I were born in the same city, St. Petersburg/Leningrad, and that my family also came here with nothing. Now the bonding and drinking began in earnest, and several more rounds appeared. Until it all fell apart.

Read: Gary Shteyngart on watching Russian television for five days straight

My new friend, whom I will refer to as Ayn, called out to a buddy of his across the bar, and suddenly a young couple, both covered in tattoos, appeared next to us. “He fucking punked me,” Ayn’s frat-boy-like friend called out as he put his arm around Ayn, while his sizable partner sizzled up to Mrs. Rand. Both of them had a look I have never seen on land—their eyes projecting absence and enmity in equal measure. In the ’90s, I drank with Russian soldiers fresh from Chechnya and wandered the streets of wartime Zagreb, but I have never seen such undisguised hostility toward both me and perhaps the universe at large. I was briefly introduced to this psychopathic pair, but neither of them wanted to have anything to do with me, and the tattooed woman would not even reveal her Christian name to me (she pretended to have the same first name as Mrs. Rand). To impress his tattooed friends, Ayn made fun of the fact that as a television writer, I’d worked on the series Succession (which, it would turn out, practically nobody on the ship had watched), instead of the far more palatable, in his eyes, zombie drama of last year. And then my new friends drifted away from me into an angry private conversation—“He punked me!”—as I ordered another drink for myself, scared of the dead-eyed arrivals whose gaze never registered in the dim wattage of the Schooner Bar, whose terrifying voices and hollow laughs grated like unoiled gears against the crooning of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

But today is a new day for me and my hangover. After breakfast, I explore the ship’s so-called neighborhoods . There’s the AquaDome, where one can find a food hall and an acrobatic sound-and-light aquatic show. Central Park has a premium steak house, a sushi joint, and a used Rolex that can be bought for $8,000 on land here proudly offered at $17,000. There’s the aforementioned Royal Promenade, where I had drunk with the Rands, and where a pair of dueling pianos duel well into the night. There’s Surfside, a kids’ neighborhood full of sugary garbage, which looks out onto the frothy trail that the behemoth leaves behind itself. Thrill Island refers to the collection of tubes that clutter the ass of the ship and offer passengers six waterslides and a surfing simulation. There’s the Hideaway, an adult zone that plays music from a vomit-slathered, Brit-filled Alicante nightclub circa 1996 and proves a big favorite with groups of young Latin American customers. And, most hurtfully, there’s the Suite Neighborhood.

I say hurtfully because as a Suite passenger I should be here, though my particular suite is far from the others. Whereas I am stuck amid the riffraff of Deck 11, this section is on the highborn Decks 16 and 17, and in passing, I peek into the spacious, tall-ceilinged staterooms from the hallway, dazzled by the glint of the waves and sun. For $75,000, one multifloor suite even comes with its own slide between floors, so that a family may enjoy this particular terror in private. There is a quiet splendor to the Suite Neighborhood. I see fewer stickers and signs and drawings than in my own neighborhood—for example, MIKE AND DIANA PROUDLY SERVED U.S. MARINE CORPS RETIRED . No one here needs to announce their branch of service or rank; they are simply Suites, and this is where they belong. Once again, despite my hard work and perseverance, I have been disallowed from the true American elite. Once again, I am “Not our class, dear.” I am reminded of watching The Love Boat on my grandmother’s Zenith, which either was given to her or we found in the trash (I get our many malfunctioning Zeniths confused) and whose tube got so hot, I would put little chunks of government cheese on a thin tissue atop it to give our welfare treat a pleasant, Reagan-era gooeyness. I could not understand English well enough then to catch the nuances of that seafaring program, but I knew that there were differences in the status of the passengers, and that sometimes those differences made them sad. Still, this ship, this plenty—every few steps, there are complimentary nachos or milkshakes or gyros on offer—was the fatty fuel of my childhood dreams. If only I had remained a child.

I walk around the outdoor decks looking for company. There is a middle-aged African American couple who always seem to be asleep in each other’s arms, probably exhausted from the late capitalism they regularly encounter on land. There is far more diversity on this ship than I expected. Many couples are a testament to Loving v. Virginia , and there is a large group of folks whose T-shirts read MELANIN AT SEA / IT’S THE MELANIN FOR ME . I smile when I see them, but then some young kids from the group makes Mr. Washy Washy do a cruel, caricatured “Burger Dance” (today he is in his burger getup), and I think, Well, so much for intersectionality .

At the infinity pool on Deck 17, I spot some elderly women who could be ethnic and from my part of the world, and so I jump in. I am proved correct! Many of them seem to be originally from Queens (“Corona was still great when it was all Italian”), though they are now spread across the tristate area. We bond over the way “Ron-kon-koma” sounds when announced in Penn Station.

“Everyone is here for a different reason,” one of them tells me. She and her ex-husband last sailed together four years ago to prove to themselves that their marriage was truly over. Her 15-year-old son lost his virginity to “an Irish young lady” while their ship was moored in Ravenna, Italy. The gaggle of old-timers competes to tell me their favorite cruising stories and tips. “A guy proposed in Central Park a couple of years ago”—many Royal Caribbean ships apparently have this ridiculous communal area—“and she ran away screaming!” “If you’re diamond-class, you get four drinks for free.” “A different kind of passenger sails out of Bayonne.” (This, perhaps, is racially coded.) “Sometimes, if you tip the bartender $5, your next drink will be free.”

“Everyone’s here for a different reason,” the woman whose marriage ended on a cruise tells me again. “Some people are here for bad reasons—the drinkers and the gamblers. Some people are here for medical reasons.” I have seen more than a few oxygen tanks and at least one woman clearly undergoing very serious chemo. Some T-shirts celebrate good news about a cancer diagnosis. This might be someone’s last cruise or week on Earth. For these women, who have spent months, if not years, at sea, cruising is a ritual as well as a life cycle: first love, last love, marriage, divorce, death.

Read: The last place on Earth any tourist should go

I have talked with these women for so long, tonight I promise myself that after a sad solitary dinner I will not try to seek out company at the bars in the mall or the adult-themed Hideaway. I have enough material to fulfill my duties to this publication. As I approach my orphaned suite, I run into the aggro young people who stole Mr. and Mrs. Rand away from me the night before. The tattooed apparitions pass me without a glance. She is singing something violent about “Stuttering Stanley” (a character in a popular horror movie, as I discover with my complimentary VOOM SM Surf & Stream Internet at Sea) and he’s loudly shouting about “all the money I’ve lost,” presumably at the casino in the bowels of the ship.

So these bent psychos out of a Cormac McCarthy novel are angrily inhabiting my deck. As I mewl myself to sleep, I envision a limited series for HBO or some other streamer, a kind of low-rent White Lotus , where several aggressive couples conspire to throw a shy intellectual interloper overboard. I type the scenario into my phone. As I fall asleep, I think of what the woman who recently divorced her husband and whose son became a man through the good offices of the Irish Republic told me while I was hoisting myself out of the infinity pool. “I’m here because I’m an explorer. I’m here because I’m trying something new.” What if I allowed myself to believe in her fantasy?

“YOU REALLY STARTED AT THE TOP,” they tell me. I’m at the Coastal Kitchen for my eggs and corned-beef hash, and the maître d’ has slotted me in between two couples. Fueled by coffee or perhaps intrigued by my relative youth, they strike up a conversation with me. As always, people are shocked that this is my first cruise. They contrast the Icon favorably with all the preceding liners in the Royal Caribbean fleet, usually commenting on the efficiency of the elevators that hurl us from deck to deck (as in many large corporate buildings, the elevators ask you to choose a floor and then direct you to one of many lifts). The couple to my right, from Palo Alto—he refers to his “porn mustache” and calls his wife “my cougar” because she is two years older—tell me they are “Pandemic Pinnacles.”

This is the day that my eyes will be opened. Pinnacles , it is explained to me over translucent cantaloupe, have sailed with Royal Caribbean for 700 ungodly nights. Pandemic Pinnacles took advantage of the two-for-one accrual rate of Pinnacle points during the pandemic, when sailing on a cruise ship was even more ill-advised, to catapult themselves into Pinnacle status.

Because of the importance of the inaugural voyage of the world’s largest cruise liner, more than 200 Pinnacles are on this ship, a startling number, it seems. Mrs. Palo Alto takes out a golden badge that I have seen affixed over many a breast, which reads CROWN AND ANCHOR SOCIETY along with her name. This is the coveted badge of the Pinnacle. “You should hear all the whining in Guest Services,” her husband tells me. Apparently, the Pinnacles who are not also Suites like us are all trying to use their status to get into Coastal Kitchen, our elite restaurant. Even a Pinnacle needs to be a Suite to access this level of corned-beef hash.

“We’re just baby Pinnacles,” Mrs. Palo Alto tells me, describing a kind of internal class struggle among the Pinnacle elite for ever higher status.

And now I understand what the maître d’ was saying to me on the first day of my cruise. He wasn’t saying “ pendejo .” He was saying “Pinnacle.” The dining room was for Pinnacles only, all those older people rolling in like the tide on their motorized scooters.

And now I understand something else: This whole thing is a cult. And like most cults, it can’t help but mirror the endless American fight for status. Like Keith Raniere’s NXIVM, where different-colored sashes were given out to connote rank among Raniere’s branded acolytes, this is an endless competition among Pinnacles, Suites, Diamond-Plusers, and facing-the-mall, no-balcony purple SeaPass Card peasants, not to mention the many distinctions within each category. The more you cruise, the higher your status. No wonder a section of the Royal Promenade is devoted to getting passengers to book their next cruise during the one they should be enjoying now. No wonder desperate Royal Caribbean offers (“FINAL HOURS”) crowded my email account weeks before I set sail. No wonder the ship’s jewelry store, the Royal Bling, is selling a $100,000 golden chalice that will entitle its owner to drink free on Royal Caribbean cruises for life. (One passenger was already gaming out whether her 28-year-old son was young enough to “just about earn out” on the chalice or if that ship had sailed.) No wonder this ship was sold out months before departure , and we had to pay $19,000 for a horrid suite away from the Suite Neighborhood. No wonder the most mythical hero of Royal Caribbean lore is someone named Super Mario, who has cruised so often, he now has his own working desk on many ships. This whole experience is part cult, part nautical pyramid scheme.

From the June 2014 issue: Ship of wonks

“The toilets are amazing,” the Palo Altos are telling me. “One flush and you’re done.” “They don’t understand how energy-efficient these ships are,” the husband of the other couple is telling me. “They got the LNG”—liquefied natural gas, which is supposed to make the Icon a boon to the environment (a concept widely disputed and sometimes ridiculed by environmentalists).

But I’m thinking along a different line of attack as I spear my last pallid slice of melon. For my streaming limited series, a Pinnacle would have to get killed by either an outright peasant or a Suite without an ocean view. I tell my breakfast companions my idea.

“Oh, for sure a Pinnacle would have to be killed,” Mr. Palo Alto, the Pandemic Pinnacle, says, touching his porn mustache thoughtfully as his wife nods.

“THAT’S RIGHT, IT’S your time, buddy!” Hubert, my fun-loving Panamanian cabin attendant, shouts as I step out of my suite in a robe. “Take it easy, buddy!”

I have come up with a new dressing strategy. Instead of trying to impress with my choice of T-shirts, I have decided to start wearing a robe, as one does at a resort property on land, with a proper spa and hammam. The response among my fellow cruisers has been ecstatic. “Look at you in the robe!” Mr. Rand cries out as we pass each other by the Thrill Island aqua park. “You’re living the cruise life! You know, you really drank me under the table that night.” I laugh as we part ways, but my soul cries out, Please spend more time with me, Mr. and Mrs. Rand; I so need the company .

In my white robe, I am a stately presence, a refugee from a better limited series, a one-man crossover episode. (Only Suites are granted these robes to begin with.) Today, I will try many of the activities these ships have on offer to provide their clientele with a sense of never-ceasing motion. Because I am already at Thrill Island, I decide to climb the staircase to what looks like a mast on an old-fashioned ship (terrified, because I am afraid of heights) to try a ride called “Storm Chasers,” which is part of the “Category 6” water park, named in honor of one of the storms that may someday do away with the Port of Miami entirely. Storm Chasers consists of falling from the “mast” down a long, twisting neon tube filled with water, like being the camera inside your own colonoscopy, as you hold on to the handles of a mat, hoping not to die. The tube then flops you down headfirst into a trough of water, a Royal Caribbean baptism. It both knocks my breath out and makes me sad.

In keeping with the aquatic theme, I attend a show at the AquaDome. To the sound of “Live and Let Die,” a man in a harness gyrates to and fro in the sultry air. I saw something very similar in the back rooms of the famed Berghain club in early-aughts Berlin. Soon another harnessed man is gyrating next to the first. Ja , I think to myself, I know how this ends. Now will come the fisting , natürlich . But the show soon devolves into the usual Marvel-film-grade nonsense, with too much light and sound signifying nichts . If any fisting is happening, it is probably in the Suite Neighborhood, inside a cabin marked with an upside-down pineapple, which I understand means a couple are ready to swing, and I will see none of it.

I go to the ice show, which is a kind of homage—if that’s possible—to the periodic table, done with the style and pomp and masterful precision that would please the likes of Kim Jong Un, if only he could afford Royal Caribbean talent. At one point, the dancers skate to the theme song of Succession . “See that!” I want to say to my fellow Suites—at “cultural” events, we have a special section reserved for us away from the commoners—“ Succession ! It’s even better than the zombie show! Open your minds!”

Finally, I visit a comedy revue in an enormous and too brightly lit version of an “intimate,” per Royal Caribbean literature, “Manhattan comedy club.” Many of the jokes are about the cruising life. “I’ve lived on ships for 20 years,” one of the middle-aged comedians says. “I can only see so many Filipino homosexuals dressed as a taco.” He pauses while the audience laughs. “I am so fired tonight,” he says. He segues into a Trump impression and then Biden falling asleep at the microphone, which gets the most laughs. “Anyone here from Fort Leonard Wood?” another comedian asks. Half the crowd seems to cheer. As I fall asleep that night, I realize another connection I have failed to make, and one that may explain some of the diversity on this vessel—many of its passengers have served in the military.

As a coddled passenger with a suite, I feel like I am starting to understand what it means to have a rank and be constantly reminded of it. There are many espresso makers , I think as I look across the expanse of my officer-grade quarters before closing my eyes, but this one is mine .

A shocking sight greets me beyond the pools of Deck 17 as I saunter over to the Coastal Kitchen for my morning intake of slightly sour Americanos. A tiny city beneath a series of perfectly pressed green mountains. Land! We have docked for a brief respite in Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis. I wolf down my egg scramble to be one of the first passengers off the ship. Once past the gangway, I barely refrain from kissing the ground. I rush into the sights and sounds of this scruffy island city, sampling incredible conch curry and buckets of non-Starbucks coffee. How wonderful it is to be where God intended humans to be: on land. After all, I am neither a fish nor a mall rat. This is my natural environment. Basseterre may not be Havana, but there are signs of human ingenuity and desire everywhere you look. The Black Table Grill Has been Relocated to Soho Village, Market Street, Directly Behind of, Gary’s Fruits and Flower Shop. Signed. THE PORK MAN reads a sign stuck to a wall. Now, that is how you write a sign. A real sign, not the come-ons for overpriced Rolexes that blink across the screens of the Royal Promenade.

“Hey, tie your shoestring!” a pair of laughing ladies shout to me across the street.

“Thank you!” I shout back. Shoestring! “Thank you very much.”

A man in Independence Square Park comes by and asks if I want to play with his monkey. I haven’t heard that pickup line since the Penn Station of the 1980s. But then he pulls a real monkey out of a bag. The monkey is wearing a diaper and looks insane. Wonderful , I think, just wonderful! There is so much life here. I email my editor asking if I can remain on St. Kitts and allow the Icon to sail off into the horizon without me. I have even priced a flight home at less than $300, and I have enough material from the first four days on the cruise to write the entire story. “It would be funny …” my editor replies. “Now get on the boat.”

As I slink back to the ship after my brief jailbreak, the locals stand under umbrellas to gaze at and photograph the boat that towers over their small capital city. The limousines of the prime minister and his lackeys are parked beside the gangway. St. Kitts, I’ve been told, is one of the few islands that would allow a ship of this size to dock.

“We hear about all the waterslides,” a sweet young server in one of the cafés told me. “We wish we could go on the ship, but we have to work.”

“I want to stay on your island,” I replied. “I love it here.”

But she didn’t understand how I could possibly mean that.

“WASHY, WASHY, so you don’t get stinky, stinky!” kids are singing outside the AquaDome, while their adult minders look on in disapproval, perhaps worried that Mr. Washy Washy is grooming them into a life of gayness. I heard a southern couple skip the buffet entirely out of fear of Mr. Washy Washy.

Meanwhile, I have found a new watering hole for myself, the Swim & Tonic, the biggest swim-up bar on any cruise ship in the world. Drinking next to full-size, nearly naked Americans takes away one’s own self-consciousness. The men have curvaceous mom bodies. The women are equally un-shy about their sprawling physiques.

Today I’ve befriended a bald man with many children who tells me that all of the little trinkets that Royal Caribbean has left us in our staterooms and suites are worth a fortune on eBay. “Eighty dollars for the water bottle, 60 for the lanyard,” the man says. “This is a cult.”

“Tell me about it,” I say. There is, however, a clientele for whom this cruise makes perfect sense. For a large middle-class family (he works in “supply chains”), seven days in a lower-tier cabin—which starts at $1,800 a person—allow the parents to drop off their children in Surfside, where I imagine many young Filipina crew members will take care of them, while the parents are free to get drunk at a swim-up bar and maybe even get intimate in their cabin. Cruise ships have become, for a certain kind of hardworking family, a form of subsidized child care.

There is another man I would like to befriend at the Swim & Tonic, a tall, bald fellow who is perpetually inebriated and who wears a necklace studded with little rubber duckies in sunglasses, which, I am told, is a sort of secret handshake for cruise aficionados. Tomorrow, I will spend more time with him, but first the ship docks at St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, is more charming in name than in presence, but I still all but jump off the ship to score a juicy oxtail and plantains at the well-known Petite Pump Room, overlooking the harbor. From one of the highest points in the small city, the Icon of the Seas appears bigger than the surrounding hills.

I usually tan very evenly, but something about the discombobulation of life at sea makes me forget the regular application of sunscreen. As I walk down the streets of Charlotte Amalie in my fluorescent Icon of the Seas cap, an old Rastafarian stares me down. “Redneck,” he hisses.

“No,” I want to tell him, as I bring a hand up to my red neck, “that’s not who I am at all. On my island, Mannahatta, as Whitman would have it, I am an interesting person living within an engaging artistic milieu. I do not wish to use the Caribbean as a dumping ground for the cruise-ship industry. I love the work of Derek Walcott. You don’t understand. I am not a redneck. And if I am, they did this to me.” They meaning Royal Caribbean? Its passengers? The Rands?

“They did this to me!”

Back on the Icon, some older matrons are muttering about a run-in with passengers from the Celebrity cruise ship docked next to us, the Celebrity Apex. Although Celebrity Cruises is also owned by Royal Caribbean, I am made to understand that there is a deep fratricidal beef between passengers of the two lines. “We met a woman from the Apex,” one matron says, “and she says it was a small ship and there was nothing to do. Her face was as tight as a 19-year-old’s, she had so much surgery.” With those words, and beneath a cloudy sky, humidity shrouding our weathered faces and red necks, we set sail once again, hopefully in the direction of home.

THERE ARE BARELY 48 HOURS LEFT to the cruise, and the Icon of the Seas’ passengers are salty. They know how to work the elevators. They know the Washy Washy song by heart. They understand that the chicken gyro at “Feta Mediterranean,” in the AquaDome Market, is the least problematic form of chicken on the ship.

The passengers have shed their INAUGURAL CRUISE T-shirts and are now starting to evince political opinions. There are caps pledging to make America great again and T-shirts that celebrate words sometimes attributed to Patrick Henry: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.” With their preponderance of FAMILY FLAG FAITH FRIENDS FIREARMS T-shirts, the tables by the crepe station sometimes resemble the Capitol Rotunda on January 6. The Real Anthony Fauci , by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears to be a popular form of literature, especially among young men with very complicated versions of the American flag on their T-shirts. Other opinions blend the personal and the political. “Someone needs to kill Washy guy, right?” a well-dressed man in the elevator tells me, his gray eyes radiating nothing. “Just beat him to death. Am I right?” I overhear the male member of a young couple whisper, “There goes that freak” as I saunter by in my white spa robe, and I decide to retire it for the rest of the cruise.

I visit the Royal Bling to see up close the $100,000 golden chalice that entitles you to free drinks on Royal Caribbean forever. The pleasant Serbian saleslady explains that the chalice is actually gold-plated and covered in white zirconia instead of diamonds, as it would otherwise cost $1 million. “If you already have everything,” she explains, “this is one more thing you can get.”

I believe that anyone who works for Royal Caribbean should be entitled to immediate American citizenship. They already speak English better than most of the passengers and, per the Serbian lady’s sales pitch above, better understand what America is as well. Crew members like my Panamanian cabin attendant seem to work 24 hours a day. A waiter from New Delhi tells me that his contract is six months and three weeks long. After a cruise ends, he says, “in a few hours, we start again for the next cruise.” At the end of the half a year at sea, he is allowed a two-to-three-month stay at home with his family. As of 2019, the median income for crew members was somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000, according to a major business publication. Royal Caribbean would not share the current median salary for its crew members, but I am certain that it amounts to a fraction of the cost of a Royal Bling gold-plated, zirconia-studded chalice.

And because most of the Icon’s hyper-sanitized spaces are just a frittata away from being a Delta lounge, one forgets that there are actual sailors on this ship, charged with the herculean task of docking it in port. “Having driven 100,000-ton aircraft carriers throughout my career,” retired Admiral James G. Stavridis, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, writes to me, “I’m not sure I would even know where to begin with trying to control a sea monster like this one nearly three times the size.” (I first met Stavridis while touring Army bases in Germany more than a decade ago.)

Today, I decide to head to the hot tub near Swim & Tonic, where some of the ship’s drunkest reprobates seem to gather (the other tubs are filled with families and couples). The talk here, like everywhere else on the ship, concerns football, a sport about which I know nothing. It is apparent that four teams have recently competed in some kind of finals for the year, and that two of them will now face off in the championship. Often when people on the Icon speak, I will try to repeat the last thing they said with a laugh or a nod of disbelief. “Yes, 20-yard line! Ha!” “Oh my God, of course, scrimmage.”

Soon we are joined in the hot tub by the late-middle-age drunk guy with the duck necklace. He is wearing a bucket hat with the legend HAWKEYES , which, I soon gather, is yet another football team. “All right, who turned me in?” Duck Necklace says as he plops into the tub beside us. “I get a call in the morning,” he says. “It’s security. Can you come down to the dining room by 10 a.m.? You need to stay away from the members of this religious family.” Apparently, the gregarious Duck Necklace had photobombed the wrong people. There are several families who present as evangelical Christians or practicing Muslims on the ship. One man, evidently, was not happy that Duck Necklace had made contact with his relatives. “It’s because of religious stuff; he was offended. I put my arm around 20 people a day.”

Everyone laughs. “They asked me three times if I needed medication,” he says of the security people who apparently interrogated him in full view of others having breakfast.

Another hot-tub denizen suggests that he should have asked for fentanyl. After a few more drinks, Duck Necklace begins to muse about what it would be like to fall off the ship. “I’m 62 and I’m ready to go,” he says. “I just don’t want a shark to eat me. I’m a huge God guy. I’m a Bible guy. There’s some Mayan theory squaring science stuff with religion. There is so much more to life on Earth.” We all nod into our Red Stripes.

“I never get off the ship when we dock,” he says. He tells us he lost $6,000 in the casino the other day. Later, I look him up, and it appears that on land, he’s a financial adviser in a crisp gray suit, probably a pillar of his North Chicago community.

THE OCEAN IS TEEMING with fascinating life, but on the surface it has little to teach us. The waves come and go. The horizon remains ever far away.

I am constantly told by my fellow passengers that “everybody here has a story.” Yes, I want to reply, but everybody everywhere has a story. You, the reader of this essay, have a story, and yet you’re not inclined to jump on a cruise ship and, like Duck Necklace, tell your story to others at great pitch and volume. Maybe what they’re saying is that everybody on this ship wants to have a bigger, more coherent, more interesting story than the one they’ve been given. Maybe that’s why there’s so much signage on the doors around me attesting to marriages spent on the sea. Maybe that’s why the Royal Caribbean newsletter slipped under my door tells me that “this isn’t a vacation day spent—it’s bragging rights earned.” Maybe that’s why I’m so lonely.

Today is a big day for Icon passengers. Today the ship docks at Royal Caribbean’s own Bahamian island, the Perfect Day at CocoCay. (This appears to be the actual name of the island.) A comedian at the nightclub opined on what his perfect day at CocoCay would look like—receiving oral sex while learning that his ex-wife had been killed in a car crash (big laughter). But the reality of the island is far less humorous than that.

One of the ethnic tristate ladies in the infinity pool told me that she loved CocoCay because it had exactly the same things that could be found on the ship itself. This proves to be correct. It is like the Icon, but with sand. The same tired burgers, the same colorful tubes conveying children and water from Point A to B. The same swim-up bar at its Hideaway ($140 for admittance, no children allowed; Royal Caribbean must be printing money off its clientele). “There was almost a fight at The Wizard of Oz ,” I overhear an elderly woman tell her companion on a chaise lounge. Apparently one of the passengers began recording Royal Caribbean’s intellectual property and “three guys came after him.”

I walk down a pathway to the center of the island, where a sign reads DO NOT ENTER: YOU HAVE REACHED THE BOUNDARY OF ADVENTURE . I hear an animal scampering in the bushes. A Royal Caribbean worker in an enormous golf cart soon chases me down and takes me back to the Hideaway, where I run into Mrs. Rand in a bikini. She becomes livid telling me about an altercation she had the other day with a woman over a towel and a deck chair. We Suites have special towel privileges; we do not have to hand over our SeaPass Card to score a towel. But the Rands are not Suites. “People are so entitled here,” Mrs. Rand says. “It’s like the airport with all its classes.” “You see,” I want to say, “this is where your husband’s love of Ayn Rand runs into the cruelties and arbitrary indignities of unbridled capitalism.” Instead we make plans to meet for a final drink in the Schooner Bar tonight (the Rands will stand me up).

Back on the ship, I try to do laps, but the pool (the largest on any cruise ship, naturally) is fully trashed with the detritus of American life: candy wrappers, a slowly dissolving tortilla chip, napkins. I take an extra-long shower in my suite, then walk around the perimeter of the ship on a kind of exercise track, past all the alluring lifeboats in their yellow-and-white livery. Maybe there is a dystopian angle to the HBO series that I will surely end up pitching, one with shades of WALL-E or Snowpiercer . In a collapsed world, a Royal Caribbean–like cruise liner sails from port to port, collecting new shipmates and supplies in exchange for the precious energy it has on board. (The actual Icon features a new technology that converts passengers’ poop into enough energy to power the waterslides . In the series, this shitty technology would be greatly expanded.) A very young woman (18? 19?), smart and lonely, who has only known life on the ship, walks along the same track as I do now, contemplating jumping off into the surf left by its wake. I picture reusing Duck Necklace’s words in the opening shot of the pilot. The girl is walking around the track, her eyes on the horizon; maybe she’s highborn—a Suite—and we hear the voice-over: “I’m 19 and I’m ready to go. I just don’t want a shark to eat me.”

Before the cruise is finished, I talk to Mr. Washy Washy, or Nielbert of the Philippines. He is a sweet, gentle man, and I thank him for the earworm of a song he has given me and for keeping us safe from the dreaded norovirus. “This is very important to me, getting people to wash their hands,” he tells me in his burger getup. He has dreams, as an artist and a performer, but they are limited in scope. One day he wants to dress up as a piece of bacon for the morning shift.

THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC (the Icon of the Seas is five times as large as that doomed vessel) at least offered its passengers an exciting ending to their cruise, but when I wake up on the eighth day, all I see are the gray ghosts that populate Miami’s condo skyline. Throughout my voyage, my writer friends wrote in to commiserate with me. Sloane Crosley, who once covered a three-day spa mini-cruise for Vogue , tells me she felt “so very alone … I found it very untethering.” Gideon Lewis-Kraus writes in an Instagram comment: “When Gary is done I think it’s time this genre was taken out back and shot.” And he is right. To badly paraphrase Adorno: After this, no more cruise stories. It is unfair to put a thinking person on a cruise ship. Writers typically have difficult childhoods, and it is cruel to remind them of the inherent loneliness that drove them to writing in the first place. It is also unseemly to write about the kind of people who go on cruises. Our country does not provide the education and upbringing that allow its citizens an interior life. For the creative class to point fingers at the large, breasty gentlemen adrift in tortilla-chip-laden pools of water is to gather a sour harvest of low-hanging fruit.

A day or two before I got off the ship, I decided to make use of my balcony, which I had avoided because I thought the view would only depress me further. What I found shocked me. My suite did not look out on Central Park after all. This entire time, I had been living in the ship’s Disneyland, Surfside, the neighborhood full of screaming toddlers consuming milkshakes and candy. And as I leaned out over my balcony, I beheld a slight vista of the sea and surf that I thought I had been missing. It had been there all along. The sea was frothy and infinite and blue-green beneath the span of a seagull’s wing. And though it had been trod hard by the world’s largest cruise ship, it remained.

This article appears in the May 2024 print edition with the headline “A Meatball at Sea.” When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

Wrap up a full day of Carnival fun… and you're gonna need a good night's sleep. Our staterooms are here to help.

ROOM TYPES FOR ALL TYPES

When it comes to staterooms, one size only fits some. That's why we've got enough variety to satisfy any type of fun seeker.

Interior Staterooms

The most affordable way to experience all the Carnival excitement, without cutting corners on comfort. Here’s the perfect spot to curl up after a long day’s fun.

Available On : All ships

Available Features

Ocean View Staterooms

These comfy rooms with a view let you sail along to beautiful destinations while gazing at the sort of vistas you simply won't find anywhere on land.

Balcony Staterooms

Any time you’re in your room, you’re steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views.

Get all the comforts of home and then some, with absolutely none of the hassles. Get comfy… stretch out, put your feet up. Or just spend time on your balcony — you’ve got one of our most spacious rooms.

Exclusive Amenities:

• VIP check-in, plus priority embarkation and debarkation
• Priority dinner reservations and main dining room time assignment
• One complimentary load of laundry service
• Two complimentary large bottles of water

Exclusive Amenities

• Priority check-in, embarkation & debarkation
• Priority dinner reservations & main dining room time assignment
• Pillow-top mattresses

Family Harbor Staterooms & Suites

The term “family room” brings to mind that comfy place where kids and parents can do the all-important work of having fun simply being together. That’s precisely why there’s Family Harbor. You’ll notice that Family Harbor staterooms sport a classically American nautical décor... but benefits don’t stop at your door. Family Harbor staterooms are located near the Family Harbor Lounge, an exclusive spot featuring breakfast in the morning, snacks throughout the day, plus activities like board games, family movies, video games and more. As you explore the rest of the ship, the Family Harbor benefits come along, with your kids eating free in most onboard specialty restaurants... plus one free evening of Night Owls babysitting service, so you can enjoy some much-deserved alone time.

Available On : Carnival Celebration ® , Carnival Horizon ® , Carnival Jubilee ™ , Mardi Gras ® , Carnival Panorama ® and Carnival Vista ®

Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms & Suites

Cloud 9 Spa ™ staterooms do things a little different than ordinary staterooms. For starters, we dare you to cross the threshold without feeling a little more relaxed. Once you're inside, you'll find pleasing decor and in-room amenities like ELEMIS bath products and spa-branded bathrobes and slippers to enhance your stay.

What’s more, your excellent stateroom choice gets you priority spa reservations, free fitness classes, unlimited access to the thermal suites, exclusive discounts on treatments during port days... and more. (And on ships with a Hydrotherapy Pool, you’re welcome to use it as much as you want!)

And the best part? We've got a full range of rooms with that Cloud 9 mojo, from cozy Interiors to stretch-out Suites, ensuring you'll never have to sacrifice comfort for value.

Available On : Carnival Breeze ® , Carnival Celebration ® , Carnival Dream ® , Carnival Horizon ® , Carnival Jubilee ™ , Carnival Luminosa ® ,Carnival Magic ® , Mardi Gras. ® , Carnival Panorama ® , Carnival Radiance ® , Carnival Splendor ® , Carnival Sunrise ® , Carnival Sunshine ® and Carnival Vista ®

Havana Staterooms & Suites

At Carnival we love to cruise as much as anyone, but when you book a Havana stateroom, it's like you're no longer on a ship... you're at an exclusive island resort. But unlike most spots on land, you're never far from the ocean... or from the Havana Bar & Pool. (You'll enjoy exclusive access to the pool area!) Inside, all Havana staterooms feature a unique décor, but step up to a Havana Cabana for an extra-large outdoor chill space featuring a lounge-ready hammock chair. Step into a Havana Cabana suite for even more space, plus a luxurious rain shower. (All Havana stateroom guests must be 12 or older.)

Terrazza Staterooms

Have you ever thought “maybe I could live like an Italian”? Well there’s a place you can kind of try out the lifestyle, at least for one vacation: Terrazza Staterooms aboard a Carnival cruise! You’ll find these aboard any of our Fun Italian Style ships, and the resort layout gives you everything you need for comfort and style in one place. For starters, all the staterooms feature a fresh style inside… and some add premium open-air benefits like a patio lounging area or balcony. And on a select few, the balcony is — how shall we put it? — grandissimo! But guess what’s included with every Terrazza stateroom? Exclusive access to a private deck featuring amenities like all-day lounging with great drinks, entertainment, whirlpools and more. (All Terrazza stateroom guests must be 12 or older.)

Available On : Carnival Firenze ™ and Carnival Venezia ™

ALL THE PERKS, IN EVERY ROOM

With all this comfort and all these standard features, you've gotta try real hard to get homesick on a Carnival cruise.

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Stateroom climate control
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• Bathrobes upon request
• In-room safe for valuables

YEP, WE THOUGHT OF THAT TOO

Beyond the basics, you’ll find rooms that take your vacation to the next level — we’re talking stuff that matters most to groups, families, folks with special needs and more!

Adding friends equals multiplying the fun. That’s why many Carnival staterooms can be configured in different ways — some sleep up to five!

Keep the group together. Some cabins have connecting rooms with a common door between them.

When it comes to bathrooms, an extra might be a good idea. Deluxe Ocean View staterooms sleep up to five and come with an extra half-bath.

Specially modified rooms are available for guests with special needs .

TOP-TO-BOTTOM, FRONT-TO-BACK FUN

Wherever on the ship you make your home base, good times aren't far.

• Lower decks
• Upper decks

For arts and entertainment, health and relaxation, stay up front. The fitness center and spa are nearby, not to mention great performances in the show lounge.