Occurring a Carnival cruise? Let’s face it—planning a cruise may be daunting should you don’t know the place to start out. That’s the reason I wrote this information.
Whether or not you’re a seasoned traveler or a cruise novice, this complete piece is designed that can assist you navigate Carnival Cruise Line’s choices.
Crusing Carnival for over 20 years, I’ve compiled first-time data individuals typically surprise when planning a Enjoyable Ship trip.
Fast Historical past of Carnival
Carnival Cruise Line began in 1972 with only one ship, the Mardi Gras. The founder, Ted Arison, wished to create a enjoyable and reasonably priced household trip choice. Over time, Carnival grew rapidly, including extra ships just like the Tropicale, Vacation, Jubilee, and Celebration.
The cruise line has since change into one of many largest on the earth, with over two dozen ships in 2024, together with three liquified pure fuel mega-ships with extra on the way in which.
Carnival Cruise Line Fleet of Ships
Carnival’s fleet of Enjoyable Ships consists of older Fantasy-class vessels such because the older Carnival Elation and the newest mega-ship, Carnival Jubilee. It has additionally acquired some ships from sister manufacturers Costa Cruises and can obtain some vessels from P&O Cruises Australia in 2025.
Some older ships, just like the Carnival Fantasy (1990), have been retired, whereas others, like Carnival Sunshine and Dawn, have been reworked and modernized.
Carnival Cruise Line Loyalty Program Perks
Carnival’s VIFP Membership rewards repeat cruisers with varied perks and advantages. Membership is automated upon reserving your first cruise, and the extra you sail, the extra rewards you earn.
Advantages vary from members-only affords and complimentary drinks to precedence boarding and unique occasions with the captain, making every cruise more and more gratifying and rewarding.
For a deeper take a look at the specifics of every tier and its advantages, learn our detailed information: Every little thing You Have to Learn about Carnival’s VIPF Loyalty Program.
Carnival North American Homeports and Locations
Carnival sails from many ports, making it straightforward for individuals to discover a close by departure level. Listed here are a number of the principal ports:
- Florida: Port Miami, Ft. Lauderdale/Port Everglades, Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville
- Gulf and East Coast: Galveston, Cell, New Orleans, Charleston (by means of 2024), Baltimore, New York Metropolis
- West Coast: Lengthy Seaside (Los Angeles), San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver
Carnival additionally operates seasonally from choose ports within the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The cruise line additionally has a year-round operation in Australia.
What’s Included in a Carnival Cruise Fare?
While you e-book a Carnival cruise, many issues are included within the worth:
- All meals, snacks, and late-night eating in the primary eating room, buffet, and choose extra venues like Man’s Burger Joint, Man’s Smokehouse BBQ, Pizza, Deli, Massive Hen (on restricted ships), Chibang, and the BlueIguana Cantina
- Your cabin (priced by class)
- Every day cabin steward cleansing
- The ports of name and personal islands/locations (choose itineraries)
- Leisure, together with comedians, Broadway-style exhibits, dwell music, trivia, and varied actions
- Age-appropriate children’ and teenage golf equipment
- Films beneath the celebs held poolside
- Water slides and splash pads
- Health heart entry
- A each day publication known as the Enjoyable Instances, additionally out there on the Carnival HUB app
Learn Extra: Final Information to Carnival’s Foremost Eating Room
What’s Not Included on a Carnival Cruise?
Whereas many issues are included, there are some further prices to concentrate on:
- Specialty eating places like Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano, Seafood Shack, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Man’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse
- On line casino gaming (slots, tables, and lotto tickets)
- Alcohol and soda (you should purchase drink packages like CHEERS!)
- Room service (complimentary continental breakfast supply is accessible)
- Responsibility-free purchasing onboard
- Spa remedies and thermal suite passes
- Gratuities (presently $16 per individual, per day for traditional staterooms and $18 for suites.)
- Sure onboard actions like Bingo, arcade video games, liquor tastings, and mixology lessons
- Journey Insurance coverage
- Shore excursions
Learn Extra: Execs and Cons to Carnival’s CHEERS! Drink Packages
Carnival Cruise Eating Choices
Carnival Cruise Line affords many eating choices included in your cruise’s value. You may eat in the primary eating room, served in a sit-down restaurant with completely different decisions each evening, and check out the nice and cozy chocolate melting cake!
There’s additionally the Lido Market, an enormous buffet space with plenty of meals, like pizza, burgers, salads, and desserts. At evening, a lot of the meals served in the primary eating room can also be served on the Lido Market.
One other standard spot is Man’s Burger Joint, the place you will get tasty burgers with plenty of toppings created by famed celeb chef Man Fieri. Simply the alternative is the Mexican-inspired BlueIguana Cantina.
For particular events or only a nice meal, Carnival has locations the place you pay a bit further for superb meals. For instance, you may go to the steakhouse for a flowery dinner with juicy cuts of steak and scrumptious desserts.
For those who like seafood, there’s the Seafood Shack, which serves recent lobster rolls and fried shrimp. For one thing completely different, strive the Chef’s Desk, the place you get a particular meal from the ship’s prime chef. In addition they have Italian and Asian eating places like Cucina del Capitano, JiJi’s Asian Kitchen, and Bonsai Sushi, the place you may take pleasure in tasty pasta or regional Asian dishes and sushi.
Professional Tip: Reserve your meals on the Cruise Supervisor earlier than you cruise to lock in time. For those who wait till you’re onboard, there’s an opportunity they could be offered out.
Execs and Cons of a Carnival Cruise
Beginning with the professionals: Carnival’s family-friendly ambiance means plenty of youngsters onboard, which could not go well with these searching for an adult-oriented expertise. Additionally, Carnival primarily focuses on North American ports and the Caribbean, with fewer European or South American cruise choices.
Cons: Carnival is family-friendly, providing many actions for teenagers and adults, together with children and teenage golf equipment, splash pads, and water slides. It’s budget-friendly, with a spread of cabin choices and reductions for added visitors in a cabin. With quite a few homeports in the US, most vacationers can drive to a port, saving on airfare. Carnival affords varied cruise lengths, from two-day getaways to multi-week adventures.
Learn Extra: Carnival Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean — Which is best?