carnival cruise celebration news

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Carnival Celebration

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Miami (Florida)

Carnival Celebration current position

Carnival Celebration current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 20.38165 N / -72.46994 W) cruising at speed of 18.6 kn (34 km/h | 21 mph) en route to USMIA > DOPOP. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Celebration

Carnival Celebration current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Eastern Caribbean . Prices start from USD 614 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 28 Apr, 2024 and ends on 05 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Celebration

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Carnival Celebration Itineraries

Carnival celebration review, review of carnival celebration.

The 2022-built Carnival Celebration cruise ship is CCL fleet 's second newest and largest liner of the Carnival XL-Class. All three units in this series are from the German shipbuilder Meyer Werft (shipyard Turku Finland ). As with all other "Fun Ships", the shipowner is Carnival Corporation - the world's largest passenger shipping company .

The vessel (IMO number 9837456) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001223) and registered in Nassau . Before its arrival in the USA, the vessel was Panama-flagged (MMSI 352898755).

The XL-Class is similar as design and facilities to HELIOS-Class ships produced for Carnival Corporation's brands Costa and AIDA (all by Meyer Werft in Papenburg Germany ). Other EXCELLENCE-Class liners (Carnival Celebration sisterships) are Carnival Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Jubilee (2023), P&O Iona (2020), P&O Arvia (2022), Costa Smeralda (2019), Costa Toscana (2021), AIDAnova (2018), AIDAcosma (2021).

Carnival XL-Class ship design features a new (red-white-navy blue) hull and was created by the NYC-based naval architecture firm "Bluarch Architecture". Among the world's largest passenger ships , the Celebration has length 1130 ft (344 m), passenger capacity 5200 (lower berths) and boasts the most advanced maritime technologies as well as various fleet-first and industry-first innovations.

Like the sisterships, Carnival Celebration has the second-at-sea roller coaster. The facility ("BOLT Ultimate Sea Coaster") was built by Maurer Rides ( Munich Germany -based company) specializing in roller coaster design and manufacturing. The race track has length 244 m (800 ft), with twists, turns, drops and speeds up to 64 kph (40 mph). Individual speeds are posted after the race. Carnival's roller coaster is all-electric and allows 2 riders to race along in motorbike-like vehicles at height 57 m (187 ft) above the sea. The experience features breathtaking top-deck 360-degree views and ends with a high-speed turn around the funnel/smokestack.

On January 25, 2019, was announced that the new Carnival XL-class vessel will have 6x themed zones/neighborhoods - Celebration Central, The Gateway ("French Quarter" on Mardi Gras), Lido-Pool, 820 Biscayne ("La Piazza" on Mardi Gras), Summer Landing, The Ultimate Playground.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Celebration staterooms (a total of 2641 passenger cabins) are divided into 22 different categories, including 2-deck apartments (duplex suites) and 80 wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers). All cabin bathrooms feature CCL fleet's first glass-door showers and in-shower shaving bar. Over 70% of all staterooms are outside, 300 pairs are connecting/family cabins.

The boat has 18 decks , of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 11 with cabins.

Cabin balconies are accessed via sliding floor-ceiling glass doors. The lounge area is furnished with new-type sofabeds (couch bed with footstools opening up for storage), under-bed storage (for suitcases), flexible reading lamps (bedside), mini-refrigerator with transparent glass door, plenty of power outlets, USB ports (on the vanity table and bedside), more shelving (for electronic devices), large wardrobe (with folding shelves, sliding shoe rack, 2 pull-out bins).

Like the Vista-class Carnival liners, Celebration has Havana staterooms with a patio (indoor-outdoor space) with direct access to an exclusive Sundeck area with loungers, Bar and swimming pool. Another Vista-class type of cabins are Family Harbor (clustered near Camp Ocean/kids club) and with direct access to the exclusive Family Harbor Lounge. Cloud 9 Spa staterooms traditionally offer exclusive amenities, including premium bathrobes and slippers and Elemis brand toiletries.

The new Carnival ship Celebration offers 180+ suites in 11 categories, including CCL's new premium category "Carnival Excel" suites (32 staterooms in 4 categories) with new VIP amenities and exclusive access to Loft 19 (resort-style, open-air sundeck). All ship suites offer a VIP amenities package including priority boarding/debarkation, bottled water upon arrival, priority MDR (main dining room) seating, plush bathrobes. Passengers in "Carnival Excel" suites receive as additional amenities:

• Dedicated concierge phone line
• Unlimited access to Loft 19
• Guaranteed specialty dining times (except Bonsai Teppanyaki, and Chef's Table)
• Complimentary room service, laundry, and Bottomless Bubbles soda package
• Fresh fruit basket and sparkling wine upon arrival
• Upgraded bathroom amenities

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The sisterships Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee have CCL fleet's largest Atriums and open-deck areas.

• The Gateway (aft on Decks 6-7) is lined with eateries and bars. This neighborhood is linked via 2-deck-high Promenade with the traditional New Orleans jazz club lounge "The Golden Jubilee" (offering hand-crafted cocktails and live music).
• 820 Biscayne (midship on Deck 8) is a Miami-themed zone housing the 24-hour complimentary Miami Slice Pizzeria, Cucina del Capitano (seafood restaurant), Bar 820 (retro-themed bar lounge, classic cocktails and live music nightly), Deco Deli (deli sandwiches).
• Summer Landing (aft on Deck 8) houses Guy's Pig and Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse (Carnival's complimentary smoked-on-board BBQ food by Guy Fieri), The Watering Hole (outdoor bar with wide selections of cocktails and beers), ParchedPig (onboard- brewed craft beers), Heroes Tribute Lounge. Also in this neighborhood are located a lunch counter (for the Smokehouse-Brewhouse), an expansive sundeck area (with two Jacuzzies/spa pools and an infinity pool/Patio Pool, stern-facing), a stage for live music, a sports bar featuring indoor and outdoor TV screens, hang-out space with trivia, dance classes, arts and crafts.
• Heroes Tribute (bar lounge via partnership with Operation Homefront/USA-based nonprofit organization that provides services and supports military families and veterans) offers comfortable seating (leather armchairs with low tables) and large TVs (for live sporting events).
• Lido (aft on Decks 16-17) houses Carnival's complimentary Pool Deck eateries Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina, and Guy's Burger Joint, plus the fleet's new venues "Street Eats" (grab-and-go eatery) and "Big Chicken by Shaq" (lunch and dinner take-away food bar)

The Ultimate Playground (aft on Decks 18-20) is a large family-friendly outdoor playground area highlighted by the fleet's largest Carnival WaterWorks (aquapark) and an expanded SportSquare (sports complex). Also here is the "BOLT - Ultimate Sea Coaster" (second at sea).

The new Carnival Celebration also has CCL's signature facilities Serenity (adults-only resort), Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

The Gateway Zone/Promenade

"The Gateway" zone (2-deck area / aft on decks 6-7) features design and decor inspired by land-based passenger terminals and transport stations, numerous dining, shopping and entertainment options (including fleet-firsts) and an indoor Promenade with 12x UHD virtual windows (each sized 9,5x5 inches / 24x13 cm) and a LED ceiling (100-inch/254 cm) complemented by an ultra-modern sound system and lighting system. The multimedia panels display relaxing scenes, unique global destinations and attractions, real-time day and night sky views.

The Gateway has a large digital map showing the current location of all CCL ships in real-time.

The Gateway (midship on deck 6) houses the Latitudes Bar fitted with travel-themed chairs and menus and featuring a mechanical split-flap display board (listing the daily menu - cocktails, wines, spirits, special tastings/samplers). At Latitudes Bar are also held the Celebration Happy Hour event (with live entertainment) as well as private parties and special occasions (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc).

The Gateway's Deck 6 is home to Latitudes Bar, Emeril’s Bistro 1397 (by chef Emeril Lagasse), The Golden Jubilee (travel-themed bar lounge), Carnivale Restaurant, Carnival Kitchen, Conference Room.

The Gateway's Deck 7 is home to Limelight Lounge, Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Dreams Studio.

Festivale Restaurant (MDR/main dining room) is aft-positioned on both decks (6-7).

Celebration Central Atrium

Celebration Central (midship location on decks 6-7-8) is an expanded Atrium concept combining a day-to-night entertainment complex with a bar lounge (overlooking the ship's starboard side) with 3-decks high floor-ceiling windows.

The Atrium's Lobby level (deck 6) has a large Center Stage (portside) for live performances and is served by the Tropicale Bar. The Atrium's mid-level (deck 7) is integrated into the Casino Louge served by the Aquaria Bar (featuring glass murals by Luciano Vistosi, from the ship Carnival Victory). From the Atrium's upper level (deck 8) are accessed the restaurants Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki.

Grand Central features 3000-ft2 (280-m2) glass panels (built into the vessel's superstructure) to provide passengers with unobstructed views as they relax in comfortable seating.

During the day, Celebration Central Atrium serves as a relaxing space for enjoying beverages, light food, live music or participating in trivia contests and leisurely pursuits. At night, the Atrium transforms into an intimate venue with live performances (stand-up comedy acts, dancing, acrobatics) and quality media as guests can interact with 16x individually controlled LED screens (sized 6x14 ft / 1,8x4,3 m each) displaying video and special effects, along with aerial feats and lasers.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Celebration's main dining rooms feature select items from the onboard steakhouse, available for an additional fee. Traditionally, shipboard dining includes a complimentary Lido Buffet Restaurant. A special venue is the New England-inspired casual eatery Seafood Shack. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating and the menu includes steamed lobster, lobster rolls, fried shrimp, fried clams, crab cakes, and other seafood surprises. Seafood Shack serves lunch and dinner and is priced a la carte starting at $4.

The ship has a Japanese specialty restaurant (named Bonsai Teppanyaki) located within the Bonsai Sushi restaurant (on Promenade-Havana Deck). The restaurant offers authentic Far East dishes and a live cooking show performance (by the chefs) at custom-built cooking stations positioned at the center of an 8-seat dining table. Due to the room's limited seating, reservations are required. Each meal at Bonsai Teppanyaki starts with a sampling of 5 appetizers (Miso Soup, Pork Belly Yakitori, Spicy Tuna on Rocks). Combo dinners are also offered. Each meal ends with the specialty desserts "Chocolate Bento Box" and "Green Tea Ice Cream". The restaurant is open for lunch (seadays only) and for dinner (every night of the voyage). Cover charge/price is per person and covers the entire meal.

Available on all Fun Ships is Chef's Table (VIP dining experience / 12-guest capacity) that includes multicourse dinner with ship's Master Chef, private cocktail reception and galley/kitchen tour. This dining option usually takes place in a non-traditional venue (a dedicated room in the galley) and can be booked onboard for USD 75 per person.

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse has a specialty restaurant (located in The Gateway/ Deck 6 portside). Lagasse is the chef and owner of 11 different restaurants, including 4 in New Orleans . He is a regular guest on Good Morning America (TV show) and has hosted 2000+ shows on Food Network (US pay-TV channel). Lagasse Restaurant offers New Orleans cuisine, including spicy creole specialties. Menu items include muffuletta sandwiches, oyster and cochon de lait po-boys, gumbo, jambalaya, side dishes (Creole potato salad with diced scallions, red beans, jazz-man rice), desserts (Bananas Foster, lemon icebox pie). For Breakfast are also offered Shrimp & Grits, and Shrimp Creole Omelet. A-la-carte menu appetizers cost US$2 each, entrees are priced at US$12.

New (currently available on XL-class Carnival ships only) drinking and dining venues are within the themed zones "Lido" (deck 16) and "Summer Landing" (Lanai/promenade deck 8 aft). These include RedFrog Tiki Bar, The Watering Hole, Street Eats, Big Chicken by Shaq.

• RedFrog Tiki Bar is a South Pacific Island-themed, 2-level bar designed as a variation of Carnival's poolside RedFrog Bar. New is the island-inspired outdoor decoration with floral patterns, vibrant colors, tiki heads. Located close to Guy's Burger Joint, RedFrog Tiki Bar offers refreshing cocktails (like Red's Rum Runner Jumper, Jungle Bird, Polynesian Punch) presented in souvenir glasses and pineapples.
• The Watering Hole (located within The Patio at Summer Landing) is a backyard-like designed outdoor bar with wide selections of cocktails and beers (including Carnival's own brands / canned and draft brews).
• Street Eats is an open-air complimentary eatery located next to Seafood Shack. It offers ready-to-eat street food via 3 themed kiosks (steamed, fried, and plancha food). The new grab-and-go dining venue has a daily rotating menu. Small plates (including falafel or empanadas) are available at the fried food station, siu mai or bao buns - at the steamed food outlet, and satay and kebabs at the plancha food kiosk.
• Bar 820 (retro-themed bar lounge/part of 820 Biscayne zone) has indoor-outdoor seating, vintage design, and serves Cuban coffee, brand coffees, frozens, cocktails.

Carnival Celebration has the fleet's third "Big Chicken" restaurant at sea (by Shaquille O'Neal). Big Chicken by Shaq is located aft on Lido Deck. Many menu items are developed by the basketball player himself, the rest are based on the celebrity's favorite food recipes.

Rudi's Seagrill is another fleet-first dining venue (seafood restaurant by Rudi Sodamin / Holland America Line 's Master Chef). Rudi's Seagrill is a specialty restaurant (at surcharge / reservation fee) located on Deck 8 (between "Summer Landing" and "820 Biscayne") with indoor (80 seats) and outdoor seating (al fresco dining on The Lanai). The Seagrill offers appetizers, entrees and desserts, with all menu items presented as food faces. Signature dishes include Bigeye Tuna, Lemon-Stuffed Grilled Branzino, Seared Scallops, Salt-Roasted Prawns, Broiled Lobster Tails, Crab Cake, Caramel Apple Cheesecake, Chocolate Truffle Cake. Non-seafood options are also on offer.

Celebration's 2-deck-high Lido zone houses the fleet's biggest "Guy's Burger Joint" (by Guy Fieri), the Mexican food bar BlueIguana Cantina, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and Lido Marketplace (ship's buffet restaurant). Other signature facilities in the area are Beach Pool (midship) and the infinity swimming pool Tides Pool (aft) with a bar, great stern views and ample seating. Lido-Pool Deck also houses deck parties and Dive-in Movies (at Carnival Seaside Theater/outdoor cinema).

Follows the complete list of Carnival Celebration restaurants and food bars.

• Festivale Restaurant (2-level Aft Dining Room)
• Carnivale Restaurant is a dinner-only Dining Room (complimentary) with sit-down waiter service.
• "Emeril's Bistro 1397" is the second-at-sea (after Mardi Gras ship's) restaurant by chef Emeril Lagasse (celebrity chef and owner of 11 different restaurants in the USA). The restaurant was named after the Celebration ship's hull/Turku shipyard number (1397). A-la-carte menu appetizers cost US$2 each, entrees are priced at US$12. The restaurant offers New Orleans cuisine, including muffuletta sandwiches, side dishes (Creole potato salad with diced scallions, red beans, jazz-man rice), desserts (Bananas Foster, lemon icebox pie). For Breakfast are also offered Shrimp & Grits, and Shrimp Creole Omelet. Signature dishes at Emeril's Bistro 1397 are chef's favorites Slow-Cooked Cochon de Lait Po'Boy (Boston butt pork roast), BBQ-Grilled Shrimp (large shrimp/peeled-deveined, tails attached), Emeril's Classic Seafood Gumbo (shrimp, fish, oysters), Cajun Jambalaya (boneless-skinless chicken thighs).
• Bonsai Sushi restaurant (including Bonsai Teppanyaki) serves Japanese cuisine specialties and drinks (a la carte priced menu).
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (indoor/outdoor seating, open between 6 - 9:30 pm) is a premium steakhouse-seafood restaurant at a surcharge (reservations recommended).
• The Chef's Table (private dining room) is a small room dedicated to the multi-course Chef's Table VIP dinner package (surcharged at $75 per person).
• Miami Slice Pizzeria (24-hour complimentary restaurant for hand-tossed pizzas by the slice) and Cucina del Capitano (seafood restaurant) are both part of Deck 8's "820 Biscayne" zone.
• Summer Landing houses Guy's Pig and Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse (Carnival's complimentary smoked-on-board BBQ food by Guy Fieri) and ParchedPig (onboard-brewed craft beers).
• Lido houses Carnival's complimentary Pool Deck eateries Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican fast food bar), and Guy's Burger Joint
• BlueIguana Cantina is a complimentary poolside (self-serve) fast-food bar with Mexican cuisine serving the Beach Pool area.
• Lido Marketplace (self-service buffet restaurant)
• Big Chicken by Shaq (restaurant by Shaquille O'Neal) is complimentary, with many menu items developed by the basketball player himself, while the rest are based on Shaq's favorite food recipes.
• Rudi's Seagrill (specialty restaurant by Rudi Sodamin)
• RedFrog Tiki Bar
• The Watering Hole
• Street Eats (grab-and-go eatery)
• Deco Deli (part of 820 Biscayne zone/deck 8) is complimentary and offers classic deli sandwiches (all with Cuban bread), as well as the South Florida's favorites Cubano sandwich (pork, ham, swiss cheese), Croqueta sandwich (ham, cheese croqueta, pickles), Pan con Lechon sandwich (roasted pork, melted onion, mojo sauce).
• (deck 16/Lido) Chibang! is a new (introduced on the ship Mardi Gras) restaurant for signature Chinese and Mexican dishes (a la carte-priced), with two separate food menus plus a beverage menu (including specialty cocktails, like Chibang! Margarit, Smokey Mezcal Negroni, Green Tea Martini). The decor is marked by floor-ceiling windows (wall-to-wall), heavy red and green, with gold accents, a colorful dragon (at the entrance). Dishes include favorites like Kung Pao Chicken, Singapore Chili Shrimp/Prawn, Slow-Braised Pork Belly, Egg Drop Soup, Crispy Pork Carnitas Tacos, Steak Ranchero, Mole de Pollo Mexicano, Pork Lomito, Pescado Frito Crujiente, Camarones a la Diabla (shrimp).

In mid-January 2018, CCL announced 4 new craft beers that will be brewed onboard Carnival Horizon (and the new ships Mardi Gras and Celebration). The brews were developed by brewmaster Colin Presby. They are offered at Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse (Brewhouse), The names of the new draft beers are inspired by the BBQ offerings at the Smokehouse/Brewhouse.

• "ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale" is a lightly hopped dry finish beer.
• "ParchedPig Smoked Porter" is brewed with in-house smoked malt, hickory smoke, and molasses.
• "ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale" has rich amber color and notes of toasted caramel and biscuit.
• "ParchedPig West Coast IPA" is a traditional West Coast India Pale Ale loaded with bitterness and a distinctive aroma of pine and citrus.

The current list of draft beers brewed on the ship includes ThirstyFrog Red (clean and light), ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin' IPA (floral flavor, with passion fruit and citrus overtones), ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat (unfiltered lager with banana aroma and spices), FriskyFrog Java Stout (with hints of coffee), ParchedPig West Coast IPA (West Coast IPA/India Pale Ale, citrus and pine aroma), ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale (toasted caramel/biscuit flavored), Miami Guava (primary ingredient is pink guava), ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale (dry beer), ParchedPig Smoked Porter (in-house smoked malt, hickory smoke, molasses), ParchedPig Beach Lager (golden ale available both on tap and in cans/when served in bars/dining venues), Carnival Birthday Beer (golden ale introduced in 2022 for the company's 50th Anniversary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The outdoor activity complex on Carnival Celebration is named "The Ultimate Playground" (2-deck high) with SkyCourse, SportSquare, Carnival WaterWorks (fleet's largest aquapark with 3x spiraling waterslides, 1x 2-lane racing slide, 1x tipping bucket) and "BOLT - Ultimate Sea Coaster" (world's second rollercoaster at sea).

A signature outdoor fun facility is the ropes course SkyCourse (length 600 ft / 183 m). SkyCourse is part of the SportSquare (sports complex) with an indoor hangout, mini-bowling, mini-golf course, The Clubhouse, Ping-Pong area with tables, jogging track, interactive sports gaming, arcade basketball.

Located on top-deck ( deck 19 ), Loft 19 is a new VIP leisure concept (secluded retreat for adults) designed as a premium resort complex. Here are offered full bar service, swimming pool, sunbathing area with cabanas, deckchairs and sun loungers available for rent. The cabanas are fully-stocked with beverages, chilled towels, plush bathrobes and provide dedicated concierge service with lunch delivery and fresh fruits. Carnival Excel Suite passengers enjoy priority cabana reservations.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Celebration lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Family Harbor Lounge (a dedicated to families space with 24-hour complimentary dining, concierge and babysitting service, movies, video games, board games by Hasbro).
• Celebration Theater is the boat's main show lounge for grand-style show productions featuring live performances (tribute acts - singing and dancing) combined with sound and lighting special effects.
• Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch (Karaoke, art auctions, nightly shows).
• Piano Bar 88 (cocktail bar) offers themed music nights, a grand piano for live performances by a resident pianist, singalongs, trivia quizzes.
• JavaBlue Cafe (open between 7-10 am, and between 4 pm-12:30 midnight) is a specialty patisserie/coffee bar.
• Havana Bar is an authentic Cuban cafe (cocktail/coffee bar) with live Latin music in the evenings. After midnight, the bar transforms into a Latin disco/nightclub.
• Cherry on Top (open between 4-10:30 pm) is a Carnival signature shop selling bulk candies by the oz (mix and match, sugar-free, assortments), confections (lollipops, sweet apples, truffles, chocolate deep cheesecakes and pretzels, cupcakes, fudge, cookies /and sugar-free).
• The Fun Shops is the duty-free shopping complex of retail stores (open between 8 am - 12-midnight).
• Special Occasions shop sells Bon Voyage wines/champagnes/liquor, Carnival cruise packages, specialty items, and gifts.
• Empress Casino is a Vegas-style gambling lounge equipped with various slot machines (Coinless Fun Slot Machines) and gaming tables (Craps, Roulette, Black Jack 21, Caribbean Stud Poker, dealer-free poker tables). The Casino is served by the Aquaria Bar.
• Limelight Lounge offers live evening entertainment by vocalists, musicians, comedians, karaoke.
• Lanai promenade (with outdoor seats, served by Lanai Bar-BQ Bar).
• Alchemy Bar is a vintage-themed cocktail bar (drink pharmacy) where professional mixologists (dressed in lab coats) serve handcrafted cocktails and made-to-order drinks from unique ingredients.
• Dreams Studio (photo sessions studio)
• Pixels Photo Gallery & Shop (professional photo-video services, duty-free equipment, and accessories, photos on display available for purchasing)
• Havana Outside is the Havana complex's pool area (1x swimming pool /Havana Pool, live palm trees).
• Tides Pool (aft) has 1x swimming pool flanked by 2x Jacuzzies/spa pools and a large sunbathing area served with drinks by the Tides Bar.
• Circle C (kids club lounge), Club O2 (teens club lounge)
• Warehouse (Video Arcade)
• Camp Ocean (formerly known as "Camp Carnival" - youth activities program)
• Creative Cove (a dedicated room for kids' arts-crafts and workshops)
• Dr Seuss Bookville is a family-themed indoor playground (kids room/library) fitted with all Dr Seuss books (available for reading), fun games, themed decorations and activities (Dr Seuss characters, memorable phrases from the books, character meet-and-greets). Other themed events held on the ship include Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast (at Main Dining Rooms), Story Time (at Camp Carnival), Seuss-A-Palooza Parade (Promenade Deck show).
• Carnival Cloud 9 Spa (wellness complex)
• The Fitness Center/Gymnasium (complimentary)
• Serenity Retreat (adults relaxation area served by Serenity Bar, with 2x cantilevered Whirlpools and sunbathing area)
• Loft 19 Retreat offers full bar service and a swimming pool surrounded by cabanas.

On Carnival Celebration (Camp Ocean venues) debuted the "Turtles" program for toddlers/kids under two years of age. The program's activities include Turtle Playdates, Turtle Band, Baby Turtle Trek, as well as drop-off time and late-night babysitting. Another new Camp Ocean program is "Nautical Explorer" offering maritime-themed activities like designing your own cruise ship.

The Gateway's "The Golden Jubilee" is a New Orleans-themed jazz lounge offering live performances and hand-crafted cocktails and featuring memorabilia, artworks and original pieces from CCL’s earlier liners, including:

• Round (instead of square) windows, reminiscent of the classic liners' portholes
• Chairs (recreated from TSS Carnivale’s "Riverboat Lounge") and cocktail tables from Carnival Fascination ’s "Hollywood Boulevard" (Promenade & Bar Lounge)
• Original full-height etched glass-nickel-mahogany partition wall with 24 windowpanes from the Casino of TSS Mardi Gras and floor tiles from the liner's Grand Ballroom
• Original etchings of musical instruments and polished brass-and-glass nightclub doors from the ship TSS Carnivale
• Reproductions of hand-drawn sketches by architect Joe Farcus (CCL's interior ship designer) blended into mirrors
• Original bronze statue of Ted Arison (by Martin Saarikangas)
• The Golden Jubilee Bar is beneath 2-deck-high ceilings (adorned with a brass chandelier) and features an early version of the CCL’s logo, mirror inserts (integrated into the front and bottle display), a special menu with the most popular cocktails throughout the decades since the company's establishment in 1972.

The Ultimate Playground is a large (2-decks high) family-friendly outdoor playground with fleet's largest Carnival WaterWorks (aquapark), expanded SportSquare (sports complex with a basketball court, ropes course, jogging track, mini-golf) and "BOLT - Ultimate Sea Coaster" (world's 2nd rollercoaster at sea).

CCL's entertainment team partnered with celebrity directors from Los Angeles (Broadway) and London (West End) to create 3 new signature shows - part of the onboard "Playlist Productions" revues. The new shows (named "Celestial Strings", "Soulbound", "Vintage Pop") use the full capacity of the interactive LED screens. A 4th show ("Amor Cubano - A Caribbean Dance Romance") is also available on the Horizon ship. It was introduced in 2017 on Carnival Vista.

• "Celestial Strings" show is themed on classical music mixed with modern pop.
• "Soulbound" is a gothic-inspired, New Orleans-themed show featuring R&B music favorites.
• "Vintage Pop" show is themed on "Gatsby's Cotton Club", featuring modern songs recomposed into classic jazz interpretations performed live by a 6-piece jazz band.
• "Amor Cubano - A Caribbean Dance Romance" show is themed on classic Latin songs mixed with modern music hits. It is held at the Havana Bar and highlighted by a 7-piece Cuban music band.

Carnival Celebration's retail shopping options include 9x new collections, including CCL's 50th Anniversary memorabilia (50th Birthday), 305 Deco Celebration (in the "820 Biscayne" zone/Miami-themed), new brands, fashion accessories and designs (customizable apparel, Romero Britto artworks, Effy Fine Jewellery, LVMH brands' luxury goods, ICONIC London's makeup products, Ariana Grande's perfumes and colognes, Cuervo y Sobrinos' watches), a destination-themed collection (based on the cruise itinerary's regions/countries/port cities), a Carnival-logoed collection (CCL-logoed and Carnival Celebration-logoed products plus various logo items), as well as special merchandise influenced by the cruise liner's entertainment venues. Carnival Celebration's retail shops are spread across all six zones/neighborhoods. "The Carnival Store" (deck 8) features an interactive floor experience. The Luxury Vintage Retail is a boutique promoting responsible fashion.

New (fleet-first and never-before-seen) live entertainment options on Carnival Celebration feature aerialist acts, grand productions, game shows, parties, themed events and presentations. The new programming (at Playlist Productions and Atrium's Center Stage) includes:

• "Color My World - An Indie Rock and Pop Love Story" is dance music themed (street jazz, hip-hop, ballet, pop, indie rock) and features live painting.
• "Rio Carnival" is a Brazilian fiesta show with the cast performing authentic dancing (samba, bossa nova, batudada, forro, carimbo, capoeira, marchinha), in addition to popular songs performed in Portuguese and English.
• "The Most Magnificent Circus" is an extravagant aerialist show with professional wire-rigged performers flying over the audience.
• Playlist Productions also hosts the new shows "Celestial Strings", "Cuban-meets-Latin" and "Amor Cubano", while Center Stage hosts the new "We Are One" music production.

Celebration Central Atrium's Center Stage hosts the "Visual Symphony" production using the 16 moving LED screens and high-tech lasers in combination with classic rock live music. Center Stage's shows were developed by Jason Whicker (aerial director).

Together with CCL's popular game shows "Love and Marriage", "Family Feud Live" and "Deal or No Deal", on Carnival Celebration debuted the new "Cash Bash" (casino game with prizes and interactive activities), "Guess That Groove" (groovy dance competition), "What’s Age Got to Do With It" (Q&A trivia show for all ages, including family duos). A new party that debuted on the ship is "Celebration Happy Hour" (at Latitudes Bar).

Itineraries

Carnival Celebration's itinerary program is based on year-round roundtrips to the Caribbean from homeport Miami (Florida USA) , with preferential berthing at the new "Carnival Terminal 3" (CT3). The Maiden Voyage was on November 6, 2022. The itinerary was a 14-day "Carnival Journeys" (Transatlantic repositioning crossing Nov 6-20) from Southampton (England UK) to Miami via Madeira (Portugal) and Canary Islands (Spain).

CCL Celebration ship's Caribbean program (6-7-8-day roundtrips from Miami) started on November 21, 2022. The Western Caribbean itineraries visit Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Mya) and Honduras (Roatan). The Eastern Caribbean itineraries visit Dominicana (Amber Cove), Puerto Rico (San Juan), St Maarten (Philipsburg), St Thomas USVI (Charlotte Amalie). The Southern Caribbean itineraries visit the Dutch Antilles' ABC islands - Aruba (Oranjestad), Bonaire (Kralendijk), Curacao (Willemstad).

Carnival Celebration - user reviews and comments

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Carnival Celebration Wiki

The vessel's name (Carnival Celebration, IMO number 9837456) was announced on August 21, 2020. The boat's arrival in 2022 (inaugurated in November in PortMiami ) was planned to coincide with CCL's 50th anniversary. The sistership Mardi Gras was originally scheduled for inauguration on February 6, 2021, leaving out Port Canaveral . Carnival Cruise Line 's 50th Birthday was celebrated in March 2022, with a series of commemorative cruises (Sailabrations) featuring unique onboard entertainment/events and special itineraries.

CCL's President Christine Duffy commented, "The name Carnival Celebration couldn't be more perfect for a ship that will be a key component of our 50th Birthday festivities. Many thanks to our celebrity partners who helped us officially "unbox the fun" and reveal the name of a ship that promises to be a spectacular addition to our fleet. Carnival Celebration is our 50th Birthday present to our guests!"

Like most large -sized newbuilds , the new Carnival Celebration is LNG-powered , with 4x Caterpillar Marine LNG engines (model MaK 16M-46DF) generating combined output 57,2 MW. The propulsion system is based on two Azimuting thrusters with combined power output 37 MW. The ship has 3x LNG tanks (cryogenic steel) with total capacity ~3200 m3. Two of the tanks are larger (length 35 m / 115 ft, diameter 8 m / 26 ft, gas capacity 1525 m3), while the 3rd tank has length 28 m (92 ft), diameter 5 m (16 ft) and gas capacity 520 m3. The vessel's bunkering takes ~8 hours and her LNG capacity is enough for ~14 days of operation (navigation and onboard electricity production).

For its LNG-bunkering operations in Florida (at homeports PortMiami and Port Canaveral ), CCL-Carnival partnered with Royal Dutch Shell plc as fuel supplier.

The shipbuilding order (Meyer Turku yard number / hull 1397) was placed on September 6, 2016. Carnival Celebration's construction at Turku Shipyard Finland officially started on January 13, 2021, with the steel-cutting ceremony (yard/hull number 1397). The special event was attended by Ben Clement (CCL's Senior VP of Newbuilds, Refurbishments and Product Innovation) and Tim Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO).

The ship was launched/floated out from drydock on February 11, 2022. The ceremony was attended by Tim Meyer and Ben Clement. The coin-ceremony (held on June 15th at Meyer Turku) was attended by Vincenzo Alcaras (Captain), Fabien Gervaise (Chief Engineer), Pierre Camilleri (Hotel Director) as well as by members of CCL's New Build Department and Meyer Turku representatives.

The ship was officially delivered from Meyer Turku to CCL on November 2, 2022. The delivery ceremony was attended by Tim Meyer and Christine Duffy (CCL). The maiden voyage departed from Southampton on November 6th.

The liner's Senior Officers are Vincenzo Alcaras (Captain since 2006 on Carnival Miracle, with CCL since 1996), Fabien Gervaise (Chief Engineer since 2013 on Carnival Breeze, with CCL since 2000), and Pierre Camilleri (Hotel Director, with CCL since 2004).

On June 16, 2022, at Port Mobile (Alabama) from Carnival Ecstasy was offloaded a vintage car (Rolls Royce Saloon from 1934). The unique automobile (originally positioned outside Ecstasy's Rolls Royce Cafe) was later shipped to Finland and loaded onto Carnival Celebration (at Meyer Turku shipyard). In February 2022, CCL announced that Ecstasy (1991-built/31-years-old) and Sensation (1993-built/29-years-old) leave the fleet in 2022.

Sea trials started on September 5, 2022, in the Archipelago Sea (northeastern Baltic Sea's Turku Archipelago/Finnish territorial waters) during which officers, technicians and engineers thoroughly tested the new vessel's technical, mechanical and navigational systems (including maneuvering, endurance, speed, thrusters, steering) to determine its capability and performance. The boat was mastered by Captain Vincenzo Alcaras.

The new ship's name honors MS Celebration (1987-built/2021- scrapped as " Grand Celebration ") - CCL's last/3rd Holiday-class liner, with sisterships MS Jubilee (1986-built/2017-scrapped as "Henna") and MS Holiday (1985-built/2021-scrapped as " CMV Magellan ").

The ship's naming ceremony was on November 20, 2022, held in PortMiami and led by godmother Cassidy Gifford. Cassidy Erin Gifford (1993-born American model and actress) is the daughter of Frank Gifford (former NFL player/footballer and sports broadcaster) and Kathie Lee Gifford (TV host, also the godmother of MS Celebration, 1987-built/2021-scrapped ). Kathie Gifford served as Carnival's spokesperson in American TV campaigns (the industry's first network broadcasting ads) between 1984-2002. Cassidy Gifford's career started in 2005. Her best-known movies so far are "God's Not Dead" (2014, Christian drama/playing Kara) and "The Gallows" (2015, supernatural horror/playing Cassidy Spilker).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2022

In December 2020, CCL-Carnival officially announced the inaugural season's schedule of the new Celebration liner. Next tables show the Maiden Voyage (ship's first cruise) and the inaugural Caribbean itineraries with lowest prices in USD per person (with double occupancy).

(MAIDEN VOYAGE) 14-day Transatlantic crossing (RepositionCruises.com) from UK to USA (Southampton to Miami) - from $1140 pp

Inaugural 6-day Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary ($740 pp)

Inaugural 7-day Western Caribbean itinerary ($690 pp)

Inaugural 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary ($670 pp)

Inaugural 8-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary ($750 pp)

(2023) Inaugural 5-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary ($430 pp)

Carnival Celebration: What we loved and what needs work on Carnival's newest, biggest ship

For its 50th birthday, Carnival Cruise Line gave itself a celebration — specifically, the just-unveiled Carnival Celebration, the second ship in the line's Excel class. And it's clear that Celebration isn't your mother's, or grandmother's, Carnival cruise ship, taking the company into its next half-century with a more modern, updated version of Carnival's "Fun Ship" style. Carnival referenced this evolution when it chose Cassidy Gifford, daughter of Carnival's original spokeswoman Kathie Lee Gifford, as godmother of the ship, closing the books on the old era and welcoming in the new.

To be fair, most of Carnival Celebration's modern updates were debuted on sister vessel Mardi Gras , which launched in 2021. Carnival Celebration is now the second ship in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas. It's also the biggest ship Carnival has ever sailed, along with Mardi Gras, carrying 5,282 passengers at double occupancy.

Gone is the line's iconic soaring atrium, replaced by the three-deck-high Celebration Central with panoramic windows looking out to sea. Guy Fieri is no longer the only celebrity chef in town; he's joined by Shaquille O'Neal and Emeril Lagasse. Carnival's thrilling water parks now have to make room for a top-deck roller coaster, and the RedFrog Pub has been replaced by the indoor hangout in the Summer Landing zone.

The ship is also the second Carnival vessel to bear the Celebration name. The first, known simply as Celebration, set sail for the line in 1987. It left the fleet in 2008 before ending up with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line as Grand Celebration, which was scrapped during the industry's pandemic pause in 2021. Now, Carnival Celebration resurrects the name to offer more fun to more people.

TPG was on board Carnival Celebration's second sailing and the first from its Miami home port to the Caribbean. Here, I'll outline what's new, what we loved and what could use some tweaks.

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

Things to know about Carnival Celebration

Carnival Celebration is divided into six themed zones, three of which are different from the zones on Mardi Gras. Some zones feel more distinct and self-contained than others. The zones are:

Celebration Central

Celebration Central incorporates the atrium/performance area of the same name, JavaBlue Cafe, Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Piano Bar 88 and the Punchliner Comedy Club. You'll also find the new Aquaria Bar, featuring two-deck glass murals rescued from Carnival Victory, and the Tropicale Bar on Deck 6, named after former ship Tropicale, which was the first ship in Carnival's fleet to have the brand's well-known whale-tail funnel. Look for the vintage blue 1934 Rolls-Royce, brought over from Carnival Ecstasy before that ship was scrapped, and the Golden Jubilee Bar, named in honor of the line's 50th anniversary and decorated with pieces formerly found on past Carnival ships.

Related: Why I'm sad Carnival is retiring its oldest ship

820 Biscayne

A nod to the address where Carnival Cruise Line was born 50 years ago, Carnival Celebration's 820 Biscayne zone is designed with a purposeful Miami vibe. Located on Deck 8 midship, this new area is a dining mecca, featuring Rudi's Seagrill (seafood), Cucina del Capitano (Italian), Miami Slice (pizza) and Deco Deli (Latin-inspired sandwiches). The area also includes Bar 820, serving Cuban-inspired coffee drinks and cocktails.

The Gateway

The new travel-inspired neighborhood The Gateway on decks 6 and 7 midship is most noticeable for its LED "windows" that display scenes from countries around the world, depending on the evening's theme. The new train station-inspired Latitudes Bar and returning Emeril's Bistro 1397 anchor this area, with the popular pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar above. Emeril's serves Louisiana-style breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as three evening specials based on the day's international theme.

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

Also in this area are the Carnivale Restaurant and Festivale Restaurant, main dining rooms that pay homage to the second and third ships to sail for the brand, as well as the Limelight Lounge nightclub, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Carnival Kitchen (a demo kitchen for cooking classes).

Summer Landing

Aft of 820 Biscayne, Summer Landing makes a comeback on Carnival Celebration. This area is your living room and backyard. Inside, the Heroes Tribute Bar, with its comfy couches and giant TV, spills into Guy Fieri's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse; you'll find soft-serve machines in a military truck, a game room for foosball and table shuffleboard and a stage for live music. Outside, a small pool, two hot tubs and the Watering Hole provide an inviting spot to hang out on a hot day.

The Ultimate Playground

Thrill chasers will flock to the Ultimate Playground to get their hearts pounding. Here, the Bolt roller coaster , the second in the fleet, zooms over the mini-golf course and around the water park and ship's funnel. A packed basketball course and an elevated ropes course keep the fun going; foosball, ping pong and bean bag toss offer an easier form of competition. A jogging track encircles the entire Deck 18 playground.

For all other outdoor pursuits, the Lido is your go-to spot. The midship pool brings back Dive-In Movies on a giant LED screen and is surrounded by a two-deck RedFrog Tiki Bar, Street Eats, BlueIguana Cantina, Seafood Shack and, one deck up, Guy's Burger Joint. Aft of the Lido Marketplace buffet is another pool, plus Shaq's Big Chicken . All the way forward on Deck 18 is the adults-only Serenity Deck, with a pool, two hot tubs and the Fresh Creations custom salad bar. Above is the Loft 19 sun deck exclusive to suite guests.

What we loved

I've seen ships from other lines where the top-deck attractions take up so much space, the pools and lounging space get short shrift. Carnival Celebration manages to pack a lot into the Deck 18 playground, leaving plenty of real estate for the sun worshippers. The Bolt roller coaster is a worthy thrill ride — my only complaint is that for $15, it could be a bit longer. The ropes course manages to be both scary and completely manageable; you might feel like you'll fall, but the obstacles are easier than they appear. Definitely try the short zip line and "walk the plank" over the edge of the ship.

Related: The 8 types of Carnival ships, explained

The water park has three different slides to suit all tastes plus a splash park, and the mini-golf course is a fun time and actually tricky. I saw everyone from little kids to adults enjoying the basketball court, and Carnival lost the ridiculous outdoor exercise equipment from its Vista-class ships and kept only the games cruisers actually play.

Casual dining

One of my favorite things about Carnival is that the line's ships offer a diversity of casual, included dining venues. Carnival Celebration continues this tradition. New with the Excel class is Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken venue serving variations on the fried-chicken-and-biscuit theme from breakfast through the late afternoon. The slightly spicy tenders are delicious. Carnival's pizza is some of the best in the biz, and the customizable tacos and burritos at BlueIguana offer something for everyone.

However, I've been on older Carnival ships where all the casual venues are on the lido deck, and the area gets incredibly busy at lunchtime. Too many people crowd into the same spaces, lines snake around corners and bumps and spills are unavoidable.

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

The Excel-class ships solve that problem by spreading out the casual venues across multiple decks. Guy's Burger Joint is up on Deck 17 instead of by the midship pool; Big Chicken is outside the Lido Marketplace at the very back of Deck 16. Each is accompanied by a duo of soft-serve machines that get heavy use.

The deli, pizza and Guy's barbecue eateries are all on Deck 8, with a third ice cream outlet in the Heroes Tribute Bar. The only issue with this arrangement is that neither of these spots are big on vegetables; you can no longer get a salad at the pizza venue. If you want some greens with your pizza or turkey sandwich, you have to travel seven decks to the Lido Marketplace.

Sit-down dining

If you've never sailed with Carnival, you might be surprised to discover that it has some of the best sit-down dining among the big-ship lines. I have always enjoyed the main dining room, and Carnival Celebration continued the tradition of expansive breakfast menus, delicious Indian food, daring appetizers (where else can you order frog legs?) and the best molten chocolate cake on the high seas.

We sampled a few of Celebration's specialty restaurants, and they also impressed. Rudi's Seagrill delivered an enormous cioppino and a Dover sole that was soft and moist. Emeril's Bistro 1397 wowed my husband with a flavorful ceviche, while I enjoyed hot-from-the-oven beignets. We dined at Chibang! twice to try both its Asian and Mexican specialties. Both were delicious but we agreed that the Mexican menu stole the show. My kids slurped up pasta at Cucina del Capitano at lunch, and I heard others rave that the steakhouse was as good as I remember from other ships.

Carnival's Excel-class ships offer more cabin types than ever before, with family cabins, Havana cabins with patio swings, and all kinds of suites. I stayed in a standard balcony cabin with my family of four and was impressed by how well designed the room was to accommodate four people in a small space.

I'm always talking about cabin storage and Carnival nailed it. Its four-section closet had it all: tall and short hanging spaces, shelves and three pullout drawers. The desk area has two deep drawers and one shallow drawer, two shelves and an ottoman stool with storage inside. I had to ask for extra hangers (quickly delivered), but all our stuff found a home.

Related: Everything to know about Carnival cabins and suites

The bathroom was also impressive. I'm not sure two people could stand next to each other without someone stepping into the shower, but the shower itself is roomy for a bathroom that small. I never banged my elbows or kicked open the door in an attempt to pick a bottle off the floor. Plus, it has an adjustable shower head with a removable wand and a shave bar in one corner — thoughtful touches.

As a professional traveler, it's not a huge surprise that one of my favorite public areas on the ship is the travel-themed The Gateway. The Latitudes Bar called my name with its seatbacks decorated with faux passport stamps and split-flap departure board signage. My husband and I spent an enjoyable hour trying a couple of the bar-specific cocktails, inspired by countries around the world. For a photogenic and tasty tipple, order the Sakura, which comes with a surprise presentation.

And as a cruise buff, I also loved the new Golden Jubilee Bar, decorated with doors, glass, tabletops and other pieces from previous Carnival ships. It serves classic cocktails and takes up its own space, rather than spanning a public thoroughfare. It's the perfect place for a drink before a meal in the Carnivale main dining room next door.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival cruising

The Summer Landing zone on Carnival Celebration is the ship's living room, and my family found ourselves there often. My son was a big fan of the foosball and table shuffleboard, and my daughter loved the aft pool, with its loungers in the shallows. Both loved the easy-access soft-serve machine. We swung by Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse for breakfast and barbecue dinner, played trivia, sampled beers brewed right on board and watched other people watch sports at the Heroes Tribute Bar. I was bummed that I never got to hear the band that played here after-hours because the setting is perfect for kicking back with a drink and listening to live music.

The area takes the place of the RedFrog Pub, a venue I've loved on other Carnival ships. The decor here is a little darker, but the expanded size and proximity to a pool, hot tubs and outdoor seating are a definite plus.

Unlike their fleetmates, Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras both skip the soaring, multi-deck-high central atrium and replace it with a three-deck-high ocean-facing atrium along the ship's starboard (right-hand) side. The area was revamped and renamed Celebration Central area on this ship, decorated with color-changing lights designed to look like confetti. Guest services and shore excursions have been moved out of this central area to a more out-of-the-way spot on Deck 8 aft.

By day, panoramic windows offer port and ocean views to guests enjoying coffee and a snack from the JavaBlue Cafe across from Celebration Central's lower level. At night, video screens come down to serve as the high-tech animated backdrop for musical production shows featuring multiple aerialists and performers who dance in and out of passengers sitting closest to the stage.

Related: How to make the most of Carnival's loyalty program

I loved how the atrium area is now more incorporated into the daily flow of the ship, rather than an area you pass by to get somewhere else. The shows are stunning, with the action extending beyond the stage, including into the air. They make full use of the high-tech capabilities of the performance space.

However, the area lacks seating with full sightlines of both the stagebound singers and the aerialists. My family arrived at a show 40 minutes early and only by luck found close-up seats with obstructed views. At another show I attended solo, I found a lone seat in the stadium-style section of banquettes between decks 7 and 8. Even in this area clearly meant for show watching, I could not see all the action, and the noise from passengers wandering around Deck 8 and coming in and out of Bonsai Sushi was loud and distracting.

The hotel director assures me his team will find ways to schedule shows so fewer people show up, but I'm not convinced that enough seats in Celebration Central have full sight of the stage or that putting a theater in a public space is the best idea for focusing on a show.

Dining times

I appreciate what Carnival has tried to do on this ship to make flexible dining more accessible. In addition to the main dining room, passengers who have selected the Anytime Dining plan can enjoy dinner at Cucina del Capitano or Chibang! where they can choose dishes from the restaurant's menu or the always-available options from the main dining room menu.

You can request a table at a specific venue or choose the first available among all three.

The problem is that guests on the early or late assigned dining plan cannot access those restaurants before 7:45 p.m. We were assigned early dining, so the night we wanted to try Chibang! we requested a table exactly at 7:45 p.m — but there was a 50-to-60-minute wait, which led to a very late dinner for our kids.

And that wasn't the only restaurant with a wait. You can't request a table in advance for Bonsai Sushi, but when my husband and son came for dinner at 8:20 p.m., the hostess wasn't sure she could get them a table until close to 10 p.m.

It's likely that many of these dining issues are startup problems. The hotel director told me that it takes around six months for a new ship to be running like clockwork. So if you're on an early sailing, my advice is to dine early or request tables half an hour to an hour before you want to eat. If you like to try out different restaurants for dinner, choose the flexible dining option so you get earlier access to Chibang! and Cucina del Capitano for dinner.

Bottom line

Carnival Celebration, like Mardi Gras, takes the Carnival Fun Ship concept to the next level with a bigger ship and an updated layout that still hold true to the line's core values of dining variety, plentiful bars, entertainment for all interests and a focus on fun. Loyalists will find many of their favorite places and spaces and come to develop new beloved hangouts, while first-timers will be wowed by the nonstop options, livable cabins across all price points and the always-friendly and helpful crew members.

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Carnival Celebration Live Blog (Day 1): Scratching the Surface of Carnival’s Newest Ship

Note: Carnival welcomed its newest ship to the fleet earlier this month with Carnival Celebration now sailing from Miami. Cruzely was invited to sail on one of the first voyages. The seven-day cruise departs Miami headed to Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay (Roatan). I’ll be live-blogging the experience each day to share what sailing the new ship is like.

You can view other days here:

• Live Blog (Day 2): In All My Cruises, I’ve NEVER Seen This Before
• Live Blog (Day 3): Jeeps, Beach, and Grown Men on Waterslides
• Live Blog (Day 4): Cruising Costa Maya
• Live Blog (Day 5): If You Can’t Have Fun Doing This… That’s On You
• Live Blog (Days 6 & 7): What’s the Verdict on Carnival’s New Ship?

Following the pandemic, Carnival welcomed the first Excel-class ship to its fleet with Mardi Gras. That ship definitely made headlines and marked a big change in what the Carnival fleet would be like going forward.

Now, a second ship in this class — Carnival Celebration — has joined the fleet. This ship is a sister to Mardi Gras, building upon what’s been a popular and furthering Carnival’s move toward ships that are bigger and better than anything else in the fleet.

Personally, I had yet to check out this new class of ships. However, with this trip that’s all changing as I and a “plus one” head to Florida to see what exactly all the buzz is about.

But before I got the chance to experience Celebration, I had to get to the port. That meant an early morning flight (did I mention early?!) from Texas to Fort Lauderdale during one of the busiest travel days of the year. And while there were definitely plenty of people traveling, the combination of not checking bags and TSA PreCheck are lifesavers on busy days like these.

You never want an interesting flight, and thankfully the trip across the Gulf of Mexico was uneventful. From Fort Lauderdale, it was a short Lyft ride down to the Port of Miami where Celebration is docked. And yes, with it being the Sunday after Thanksgiving, it was unbelievably busy. Just getting a ride took about 20 minutes, but once the car arrived, it was an easy $50 trip down to the port.

Of course, the Fort Lauderdale airport was busy following the holiday, but then Miami proved why it is the cruise capital of the world. We arrived for boarding with a total of six ships in port, from Virgin Voyages at one end of the port all the way down to Royal Caribbean at the other end.

Even arriving before noon, people were everywhere. Thankfully, check-in at the redone Terminal F was a relative breeze for us (although admittedly it does help to be an invited guest in cases like this in navigating some of the crowds).

A quick walk through the departure hall, and then it was time to step aboard the new Carnival Celebration for the first time.

First Impressions of Celebration

Now as mentioned, this is my first time on this class of ships. And in an odd twist, the last Carnival ship I sailed was Carnival Ecstasy just weeks before it left the fleet. In other words, I’m getting an opportunity to sail the oldest ship in the fleet, followed by the newest.

I can tell you that, yes, there is a big difference! In fact, so far I’m noticing a lot of differences even between Celebration and the newer ships in the Carnival fleet.

In the days ahead I’ll definitely explain more about the differences for those that haven’t had the chance to sail on Carnival’s newest ships just yet. For the time being, however, let’s talk about first impressions.

The first thing I’m noticing is that there is just so much that’s new compared to other ships in the fleet. Yes, many of the favorite spots (Alchemy Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog) are here. But there are also so many spots that you only get on this class of ship.

Entering through Celebration Central (a large center atrium with stage), I passed through the Golden Jubilee, a bar and lounge area that’s essentially a museum dedicated to the cruise line. The details here are extremely neat, including the coins for each ship laid into the floor. (The first thing I did was find Ecstasy’s coin since it’s the last ship I sailed.)

Then there is the Latitudes Bar, complete with the rotating flipboard sign like you might see in an old train station. There’s ChiBang! (Asian and Tex-Mex), Big Chicken, and Emeril’s Bistro 1397.

And the spots come right after another. It seems like everywhere you turn there is something new that you don’t see across the rest of the fleet, while also having those familiar spots. So even if you’ve sailed Carnival but not this type of ship, there’s a lot to take in.

In fact, my first few hours were spent just trying to get a handle on what all is available. And while I know that on a 7-day cruise there won’t be anything that I don’t have time to do or see, it can feel overwhelming on the first day to feel like you have to do it all immediately.

A Busy First Day… Only Scratching the Surface

So in general I’ve really tried to get a lay of the land aboard the ship, but there’s also been some highlights of new things already. First was trying Big Chicken for a quick lunch, located aft on the ship. It’s included in the fare, and for a grab-and-go spot, it’s fantastic. Step up, order, and it’s impossible to leave hungry. If you know how popular Guy’s Burger Joint is across the fleet, I could see this spot having the same sort of popularity.

Sail away came a little later, and due to the number of people on the ship and the configuration of the pool deck, I’ve never seen this area be so crowded. It was simply shoulder-to-shoulder across all the decks and EVERYONE seemed to be having a great time. I will say that if there is some sort of major draw at the pool, it’s obvious that getting there early for a spot is ideal.

As for us, instead of fighting the crowd, we watched only for a bit but instead headed to the Serenity deck. Carnival has made this the largest Serenity deck I’ve seen on one of their ships. Even with a packed ship and tons of people out and about for leaving Miami, we were still able to find a spot to lounge (and it’s MUCH quieter than being poolside).

Following the departure from Miami (including a helicopter that buzzed the ship for seemingly half an hour filming the scene as Celebration headed to sea), it was time for a drink in the Latitudes Bar. The menu here is a bit eclectic as there are drinks from all over the world. I had a paloma, but if you want a show, order The Sakura.

It’s a drink made with sake and pomegranate liqueur, but the real draw is when the bartender creates a massive bubble that sits on top of the glass. You’re given some rose petals to sprinkle over the bubble, make a wish, and poof… the bubble pops and a mist floats over the drink. It’s something I’ve never seen before and well worth it.

From there it seemed like a mad dash to do and see everything we wanted to experience to close out the first day. We watched a show at Celebration Central (the digital background really makes the show “pop” with the bright lights), followed by a comedian in the Punchliner Comedy Club.

But the highlight might have been a late dinner in ChiBang! On other cruise lines this spot would definitely be an extra charge, but it’s included aboard Celebration, and I was impressed.

Some people may call it Tex-Mex and Asian fusion, but it’s not. It’s simply a restaurant that serves both cuisines (a little weird, honestly). One side of the menu is Mexican food, the other is Asian. Still, I had the kung pao chicken that was great. I would suggest ordering a side of rice to go with it, but I shared it with a side of stir-fried broccoli that was extremely tasty.

I’ll admit that at a late dinner following a 4:30 a.m. wakeup and an entire day of travel and exploring the ship, I hit the wall. Luckily, there are six more days to experience everything on the ship.

Day 2 is a day at sea.

Interesting Observations

• I mentioned the helicopter that filmed the ship departing Miami. I’ve seen these before and they are usually filming for marketing (commercials, etc.), so I might ‘technically’ be in a future Carnival ad! It was actually pretty neat to see as this helicopter would buzz the ship, hover in place, go back and forth, and do it all just seemingly a few hundred feet from the deck.
• One thing I’ve noticed is that the cabin bathroom might be the smallest of any ship I’ve been on. After a shower, I realized that I could barely get dressed without bumping into the counter, shower door, or toilet. Cabin bathrooms are always small, but these seem even smaller than normal.

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Celebration Key: Carnival’s Strategic $500 Million Port Investment

• December 24, 2023

Carnival’s new Celebration Key destination is a $500 million investment, according to Josh Weinstein, CEO, speaking on the company’s year-end and fourth quarter earnings call.

The company plans to send 18 Carnival ships to the private Bahamas destination, working the port into itineraries as soon as its ready in 2025.

“We began construction on Celebration Key which will be the largest and closest exclusive destination in our destination portfolio and a real game changer for Carnival Cruise Line,” Weinstein said.

“We’ll bring 18 Carnival ships departing from nine homeports to Celebration Key and while we are still about 1.5 years from going live we are already ramping up the awareness and excitement around the fantastic destination,” Weinstein said.

“We’ve also started the process for a significant upside in guest traffic at Half Moon Cay, our exclusive and beautiful pristine island destination in the Bahamas, with the creation of a pierside berth that can accommodate even our largest vessels.”

 Carnival’s Celebration Key will offer a uniquely Bahamian experience with a range of amenities, including a one-mile stretch of white-sand beach as well as retail, food and beverage options for guests to enjoy.

In addition, the adjacent cruise pier will be able to accommodate up to two of Carnival’s Excel Class ships at the same time

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• Celebration Key, The Bahamas

Celebration Key™

DISCOVER PARADISE IN OUR NEW EXCLUSIVE DESTINATION

Now — for the first time ever! — we’re building a new destination from the ground-up. And this one, nestled on the south side of Grand Bahama island, is designed exclusively for Carnival guests. It’s perfect for adults, families with kids… everybody who appreciates fun and natural beauty.

What you’ll find there is just like Carnival’s onboard vibe that folks love. When your ship pulls up, the vacation possibilities are expanded with unique island-style fun, relaxation and adventure spread across 65 acres and five “portals” for you to explore. Each portal is distinctly different, made for another side of Carnival fun… plus get ready for unforgettable experiences like a mile-long white sand beach, largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean † , local Bahamian flavors and shopping, plus excursions and more.

Celebration Key™ opens in summer 2025, but look for more details soon!

CELEBRATION KEY HAS IT ALL

1. paradise plaza, 2. calypso lagoon.

3. FAMILY-FRIENDLY PORTAL

The Family-Friendly Portal is perfect for kids and families… and that means teens too! All-together is a great way to experience activities like the lagoon and beach, splash pad with shallow pool, and sports courts, but spaces for kids and teens also let fun with new friends happen while the adults do their own thing. Beach villas and floating cabanas are just a couple of options that let families make this their home base, and of course there's family dining with plenty of cuisine choices.

4. ADULTS-ONLY PRIVATE CLUB PORTAL

Upgrade your day with access to the Adults-Only Private Club Portal, the exclusive area that takes relaxation and luxury to the next level. Membership features private access to the beach, a stunning infinity pool overlooking the best views of Bahamian waters, elevated dining to savor and more. Imagine the kind of spot where the lounge chairs are perfectly placed below the palm trees, so… ahhh, right? It's also a beautiful place to say “I do,” with an event pavilion for hosting weddings, vow renewals and other special celebrations.

5. LOKONO COVE

The Retail Portal, known as Lokono Cove, is a colorful showcase of Bahamian culture and shopping. Among the kiosks, stores and straw market, some highlights include local artist exhibitions, a mural wall, live music performances… plus artisanal goods made by Bahamian vendors, so you can bring home a piece of paradise for yourself, or a gift with a great story behind it. And if you're seeking some sparkle, get ready for duty-free jewelry and diamond shopping.

READY TO DISCOVER YOUR PARADISE?

Remember, the only way to this exclusive destination is a Carnival cruise! You’ve got some great options, including itineraries that stop in other ports along the way.

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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Carnival cruise line kicks off celebration key™ portal reveals with preview of paradise plaza and calypso lagoon.

Exclusive Destination on Grand Bahama Will Offer Guests A Day in Paradise

MIAMI , March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Cruise Line  today revealed details for Paradise Plaza and Calypso Lagoon, two of the five portals at its new Celebration Key™  cruise destination on Grand Bahama set to debut in July 2025 .

Just a short walk from the ship, Paradise Plaza  will welcome guests with a brightly colored promenade and radiant sun-shaped arch perfect for photo-taking. Guests will be immersed in the destination's beauty, as the sound of live music fills the air and the sight of the centerpiece 10-story-high Suncastle starts to build excitement for the paradise that awaits. Wayfinding and destination information will help guests choose how they want to spend their day – introducing them to options that fit any age or interest, whether that's relaxing in a cabana, playing water sports, joining shore excursions or simply taking in the gorgeous view of the ocean from a mile-long pristine beach. A Bahamian-themed fountain and ice cream shop add to the welcoming atmosphere.

As guests survey their options, the adult-friendly Calypso Lagoon  is certain to be the first choice for many.  To the west of Paradise Plaza, this portal is designed for adults seeking a lively and social atmosphere. Guests seeking athletic activity can visit the sports court, while those looking for a more laid-back vibe can take a dip in the huge freshwater lagoon, the largest in the Caribbean *, and relax on one of the many loungers, daybeds or cabanas.

On one side of the lagoon, guests will find a unique bar with nearly 50 swings for those that want to dip their toes in the cool water, enjoying great views across the lagoon as they sip on classic poolside and Bahamian cocktails. Additional bars located around Calypso Lagoon will ensure that everyone's thirst is quenched. Guests will also find two dedicated full-service restaurants, as well as a variety of casual snack shacks spread through the portal.  The breathtaking Bahamian beach is also a perfect backdrop for lounging on the warm sand, swimming in the glistening Caribbean water or enjoying fun-in-the-sun activities.

A portion of Calypso Lagoon and the adjacent beach will be designated as an adults-only area. In this section, guests will find a large swim-up bar with a DJ keeping the energy going all day. This area will also feature Bahamian food trucks, cabanas, daybeds and loungers.

"When guests see our Suncastle as they arrive at Celebration Key, they'll know immediately they're in for big FUN. Paradise Plaza will be the perfect welcome spot and will set the tone for the entire visit to this truly unique destination. These new details show the creative design that's gone into the development of each portal, with Calypso Lagoon alone offering a wide variety of options to fill the day, while honoring the beauty of Grand Bahama and celebrating Bahamian culture," said Christine Duffy , president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Three other portals have been announced, including a family-friendly portal, a private retreat and a retail area. Carnival will share further details about these portals in the coming months, as it also plans a second phase of the destination that will add new features beyond the five portals, including a waterpark.

Celebration Key's first guests will visit in July 2025 . More than 500 itineraries  currently open for sale feature visits to the new destination, with 18 ships  set to call on Celebration Key from ten U.S. homeports through spring 2026.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line  and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL , visit www.carnival.com , or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

*Based on publicly available data of surface area measurements as of Jan. 22, 2024 .

ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S., two Australian homeports and seasonally from Europe , and employs more than 48,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival's fleet of 27 ships reflects an exciting period of growth since 2021. Carnival's next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025.

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-cruise-line-kicks-off-celebration-key-portal-reveals-with-preview-of-paradise-plaza-and-calypso-lagoon-302096748.html

SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line president shares touching news and a milestone

Carnival's brand ambassador, John Heald, usually spends his day answering questions from the cruise line's customers. 

He's playful, takes criticism well, and makes a lot of people happy with his lightly irreverent tone and an insider lingo that's easy to pick up.

On special occasions, Heald visits Carnival ships, meets with crew members and passengers, and posts what he calls "walkies," videos of himself walking around the ships. 

The England-based Carnival Cruise Line ( CCL ) employee recently made his way to Long Beach, Calif., to sail on his company's newest ship, Carnival Firenze.

Related: Why Carnival, Royal Caribbean don't offer key entertainment option

Like its sister ship, Carnival Venezia, Firenze used to be a part of the company's Costa brand. 

"The 5,000-guest Carnival Fun Italian Style ship is sailing year-round from the Port of Long Beach," the company said in a news release. It builds "on the popularity of Carnival cruises by adding significant capacity and joining two Carnival ships currently sailing year-round — the 5,100-passenger Carnival Panorama and the nearly 4,000-passenger Carnival Radiance." 

Firenze has added many traditional Carnival staples, like Guy Fieri's Burger Bar, but it also has some unique features.

"Like sister Carnival Venezia, the ship features new concepts and experiences that put an Italian-style twist on Carnival staples for guests to enjoy," the cruise line said. "Carnival Firenze, however, is the first ship in the fleet to usher in new technology and harnesses artificial intelligence that creates guides for optimal, energy-saving routes on each sailing."

While he was on board, Heald spoke with Carnival President Christine Duffy, who disclosed some surprising, and uplifting, news.

Carnival has reached a milestone

Heald interviewed Duffy in the Heroes Bar on Carnival Firenze on the day of its naming ceremony. He noted at the beginning of the interview that the cruise line had reached a milestone as it once again has 27 ships.

"Well, we were at 27 ships and then covid happened. And as you know, a number of ships left the fleet," she said. "It's pretty incredible to think, here we are in 2024 back to 27 ships."

The fleet now might be back to its former number of ships, but it's actually larger because the ships it has added have more capacity than the ones it lost.

"We have many, many more cabins given that the ships that we have gotten since 2019 are much larger, including our three beautiful Excel-class ships and the ship that we're on today, Carnival Firenze, as well as her sister Venezia in New York," Duffy added. "So, we've been very, very busy."

Carnival president shares a personal story

The informal interview took a more personal turn when Heald asked Duffy: "How are you doing and what is the continuing motivation you have when you wake up every morning?"

Duffy's answer will likely warm your heart and bring a tear to your eye.

"Personally, I'm doing great, because, as you know, my husband Andrew, 43 years, which is hard to believe, received a double lung transplant at the end of September," she said. "We've had a tough journey to get there, but he is just doing amazingly well." 

The Carnival president also described how she got through this difficult time in her family life.

"To all of you that may be donors on your drivers license, remember it really does safe a life," she said. "We've been incredibly blessed, and for me when people said, 'how did you deal with all of that and do your job?' For me, my job has been never boring. And as I said at an event last week, the thing that keeps me going every day is the teams on board our ships."

Duffy delivered a heartfelt thank you to Carnival's workers.

"The teams that work so hard, who are away from their families for months at a time, who really deliver the Carnival experience and make memorable vacations that our guests love, especially all of your fans who come back again and again," she told Heald. "For me every day the decisions we make are all about how are we supporting our team."    

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Heald said he loved seeing guests and crew interact as part of the Carnival "family."

"I think it's family and a very unique experience," Duffy added. 

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Royal caribbean vs. carnival: quick comparison chart.

Decide which line is best based on costs, food, onboard entertainment and other key factors.

Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line have quite a bit in common.

Trying to choose between Royal Caribbean and Carnival for your next cruise? Check out the comparison chart below, then read on for more details.

Winner: Royal Caribbean

When it comes to fleet size as well as the features available on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean has an edge over Carnival Cruise Line. That's because Royal Caribbean already has 28 ships in operation, including its incredible Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class ships. Oasis Class vessels like Allure of the Seas , Symphony of the Seas , Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are some of the largest in the world – and Royal Caribbean Group is constantly rolling out new, even bigger cruise ships with better amenities and new features. For example, the new Icon of the Seas (scheduled to debut in 2024) plans to have the largest water park at sea, the largest swimming pool at sea, and a range of over-the-top cabins and suites for families of all sizes.

Meanwhile, Carnival currently operates 25 different vessels with a few more on the way. Newer ships like Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia aren't as large and grand as Royal Caribbean ships, nor are the brand-new vessels the company is planning for late 2023 and 2024. For example, the new Carnival Jubilee that is set to begin sailing later in 2023 will have 15 passenger decks and capacity for up to 6,631 guests, compared to 18 guest decks and 7,600 passengers on Icon of the Seas.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

SBW-Photo | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Comparing cabins across cruise lines as a whole isn't an easy feat, mostly because companies tend to offer larger suites and cabins with a better layout on their newer ships . You'll therefore likely have a nicer cabin on one of Carnival's newest vessels compared to an older ship from Royal Caribbean, and of course the opposite is also true. Cabin sizes and layouts also vary widely across the vessels of both brands, and that's true even for basic interior, ocean view and balcony cabins.

That said, Royal Caribbean still comes out ahead in this category, since the line boasts more square footage in some of the most basic cabins as well as more over-the-top luxury accommodations, especially for families.

As an example, most inside cabins on Allure of the Seas feature 172 square feet of space, whereas Carnival Celebration's inside cabins are slightly smaller at 158 square feet. Meanwhile, the largest suites on Celebration are the Carnival Excel Presidential Suite, with 1,120 square feet of space including the balcony, and the Carnival Excel Aft Suite, which has 861 square feet of interior and balcony space. Compare those options to the Sky Loft Suites on Allure of the Seas, which feature 1,132 square feet across the room and balcony, and the spacious two-bedroom AquaTheater Suites with 1,595 square feet including the balcony.

Book a cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Winner: Tie

Food options vary widely across vessels within any cruise brand, and this is especially true with Royal Caribbean and Carnival. For example, older ships from both cruise lines offer fewer specialty dining options overall along with the main dining rooms and buffet options cruisers come to expect, whereas newer ships from both lines feature a lot more unique and innovative options.

When you view the cruise dining options from both lines, you'll quickly find that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean pull out all the stops when it comes to food. For example, Carnival ships include a range of eateries from large and expansive buffets to main dining rooms to unique offerings like Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. Meanwhile, specialty dining on Carnival vessels features options like teppanyaki, Emeril's Bistros at Sea and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.

Royal Caribbean ships feature convenient buffets and main dining room experiences, as well as included options like pizza kitchens, noodle bars and casual fast food. Specialty dining on Royal Caribbean ranges from the brand's Chef's Table experience to Johnny Rockets' burgers and shakes to innovative fine dining at Wonderland.

Drink packages

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer drink packages that cruisers can purchase as part of their vacation to get a more all-inclusive feel . Then again, the value of these packages depends on how much you drink over the course of your trip. Also note that the cost of drink packages across all cruise lines can vary depending on the ship, itinerary, travel dates, length of trip and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out slightly ahead in this category because the line offers three tiers of drink packages for guests with different needs. Choose from the Classic Soda Package; the Refreshment Package, which includes soda along with coffees, juices and even milkshakes at Johnny Rockets; and the Deluxe Beverage Package, which adds in beer, cocktails and wine by the glass. Meanwhile, Carnival offers just two different drink packages: the Bottomless Bubbles package, which covers soft drinks and juice, and the Cheers! drink package, which adds in spirits and cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffee, energy drinks and more.

Read: Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line

Onboard activities

Analyzing onboard activities across cruise lines isn't always easy – you really have to break down this category by ship for a true comparison. When you do that with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, you'll find that both lines offer fun activities for all ages, from onboard water parks to hosted games, casinos and more.

That said, Royal Caribbean does take things up a notch in this category, especially on the line's newer ships. Some Royal Caribbean vessels offer escape rooms, surf simulators, zip lines, game shows and over-the-top water parks with incredible slides for thrill-seekers. For example, Freedom of the Seas boasts huge onboard waterslides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, mini-golf and more. Don't forget about Icon of the Seas with its massive water park and pool offerings in the works. Meanwhile, standout activities on Carnival ships include Family Feud Live, onboard water parks and the thrilling SkyRide.

Compare Royal Caribbean cruises on GoToSea .

Live entertainment

The quality of cruise ship entertainment varies widely based on the quality of the talent booked for individual ships. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer their share of live music and entertainment, including performances by bands and singers, karaoke, and piano bars. Meanwhile, both lines also boast their own theaters on every vessel, which often feature Broadway-style shows, singing and dancing, comedy acts, and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out ahead in this category since its vessels feature award-winning musicals like "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia!" and "Cats." The open-air AquaTheater on Oasis Class ships also wows guests with incredible diving feats, stunts and aerial acrobatics. Some Royal Caribbean ships even have onboard ice skating performances and ice games.

Explore cruise deals on  GoToSea .

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Kids programming

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Winner: Carnival

Both cruise lines have kids clubs that cater to younger guests of all ages, with each one offering supervised care so parents can drop the kids off for some alone time or a quiet dinner on the ship. However, Carnival stands out slightly in this category due to the six different clubs offered across the fleet for children and teens between 6 months and 17 years old. Carnival also offers supervised Night Owls services for kids 11 and younger, which lets parents get out and have some late-night fun for an extra charge.

Royal Caribbean offers four kids clubs for children ages six months to 12, along with a separate club for tweens and teens . Supervised child care is available for free during the day, and you can opt for paid care after hours as well.

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Adults-only offerings

Both cruise lines offer their share of adults-only spaces and things to do, from onboard casinos to luxurious spas to bars that offer cocktails and live entertainment at all hours of the day and night. Carnival and Royal Caribbean also offer adults-only areas on some of their ships.

On Carnival, for example, cruisers will find the Serenity Adults-Only Retreat for sailors 21 and older with extra space and comfortable chairs for relaxation, along with its own bar nearby. On many Royal Caribbean vessels, on the other hand, the onboard Solarium for ages 16-plus has its own pool and extra space to find peace and quiet.

Carnival's Serenity relaxation area is included for guests. While Royal Caribbean's Solarium is typically also included, on certain sailings there is restricted access by fare class.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Shore excursions

Getty Images

Shore excursions offered by cruise lines are largely operated by third-party companies and are often the same across brands. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean boast a broad selection of excursions in destinations around the world, from snorkeling and scuba tours in the Caribbean to city tours, horseback riding, cooking classes and more.

Both cruise lines offer private and custom tours you can book through your ship as well.

Compare cruises on GoToSea .

Private island experiences

Royal Caribbean and Carnival each have their own private island in the Bahamas , which is included in most itineraries to this part of the world. These private islands provide a fun beach escape for families to enjoy, whether you want to relax in the sun or take part in some of the available activities.

Royal Caribbean's private island, called Perfect Day at CocoCay, is the more impressive option due to everything it includes: a heart-thumping water park, its own wave pool, a zip line, a hot air balloon experience and overwater bungalows you can book for the day, among other offerings. Meanwhile, Carnival's Half Moon Cay has a unique beached pirate ship to explore – but fewer amenities overall.

Note that both private islands have plenty of beach space for guests to spread out and relax, as well as restaurants and bars. You can also book excursions on both private islands, which include activities like snorkeling and water sports.

Read: The Top Cruise Line Private Islands

Comparing costs across cruise lines can be tricky since fares and available sales vary throughout the year, as well as based on the vessel booked, the cruise itinerary, the number and age of travelers, and more. To get an idea of who wins on price, we looked for two similar cruises on comparable ships from Carnival and Royal Caribbean, then priced out an option for a family of four with two children ages 8 and 10. For the purpose of this comparison, we used seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises on Carnival Celebration and Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, both of which began sailing in 2022.

The Carnival Celebration itinerary from Miami stops in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico ; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands . By comparison, the Wonder of the Seas sailing leaves from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten ; San Juan; and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

The chart below shows the total cost (including taxes and fees) for a family of four in January 2024 in both an ocean view and a typical balcony cabin across both cruise lines. Note that, for the purpose of this comparison, we selected the least expensive room option in each category.

Read: How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 30 times across most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries around the world. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate this cruise line comparison.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Cruise
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans
• The Top Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
• How to Find Last-Minute Cruise Deals
• The Top Kids Sail Free Cruises

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Carnival cruise ship rescues nearly 30 people from adrift vessel

A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued nearly 30 people who were stuck at sea on Sunday.

The crew on Carnival Paradise saved 28 Cuban nationals who were signaling for help on a vessel that was adrift around 2:30 p.m. The cruise ship was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Roatan in Honduras at the time.

“The bridge team onboard spotted the vessel and turned the ship around to rescue them,” Carnival said in a news release . “All were taken aboard, given food and were seen by the medical team.” The cruise line also notified the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West and officials in Roatan.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The ship was set to visit Roatan on Monday. Carnival Paradise is on a five-day Caribbean cruise that departed from Tampa on Saturday, according to CruiseMapper .

The news comes after Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex ship rescued seven people in a small vessel adrift between Cuba and Mexico earlier this month. Another Carnival ship, Carnival Jubilee, also rescued two people stuck in a kayak off the coast of Mexico’s Isla Mujeres in January.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].