Carnival Cruise Line information: All the pieces to find out about ships, itineraries and extra

Seven of the road’s 25 vessels measure lower than 100,000 tons, which makes them virtually midsize by at this time’s cruise ship requirements.

Associated: Each Carnival ship ranked from greatest to smallest

This can be a notable change for the model from simply a few a long time in the past. There was a time when Carnival operated a number of the greatest cruise ships on this planet.

Nonetheless, for a few years it selected to not observe rivals equivalent to Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in constructing ever-bigger ships. Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration at the moment are the one Carnival ship on the record of the 50 greatest cruise ships.

The arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration over the previous two years has marked a serious turning level for the road. At round 180,000 tons, they rank at No. 15 and No. 13, respectively, among the many world’s largest cruise ships — the one Carnival ships to crack the Prime 20. They’re roughly 35% larger than the road’s next-biggest ship. Another ship within the collection — Carnival Jubilee — will arrive in December 2023.

The 25 Carnival ships presently in operation may be damaged down into eight courses: Fantasy, Spirit, Conquest, Splendor, Dream, Sunshine, Vista/Venezia and Excel. A lot of these courses have quite a bit in frequent. Not like Royal Caribbean, Carnival doesn’t all the time drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.

Word that the Carnival fleet is scheduled to develop over the subsequent yr with two extra new vessels. As famous above, the road has ordered one other sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration that will likely be able to sail in late 2023.

As well as, the road in 2024 will start working a ship within the fleet of its sister line Costa Cruises: Costa Firenze. It’s going to sail from Los Angeles.

Associated: The 8 courses of Carnival ships, defined

Locations and itineraries

Carnival is all about cruises from U.S. ports. You’ll discover at the very least one in all its ships crusing out of just about each main port metropolis across the nation. It’s uncommon to search out them primarily based wherever else.

The overarching thought for Carnival’s ship deployments is that a big proportion of the U.S. inhabitants can attain one of many line’s ships by automobile, saving the price of flights.

For probably the most half, Carnival ships sail comparatively quick voyages of three to eight nights.

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

Carnival additionally gives some Panama Canal voyages.

Sometimes, Carnival will deploy a ship to Europe for a couple of weeks or months. This usually takes place when a vessel must go to a European shipyard for an overhaul.

In recent times, Carnival additionally has deployed two of its vessels to Australia to function voyages from Sydney and Brisbane. In a departure from Carnival’s American-focused enterprise mannequin, the Australia sailings are aimed largely on the native Australian market, although they’re open to American vacationers.

Associated: The 5 greatest locations you’ll be able to go to on a Carnival cruise

Who sails Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is the undisputed chief amongst North America-based cruise manufacturers on the subject of affordability, which makes it widespread with vacationers on a finances.

It’s additionally widespread with a fun-seeking crowd. Carnival journeys are all about letting free and having a great time. Perhaps you’ll drink somewhat an excessive amount of, eat somewhat an excessive amount of, play somewhat an excessive amount of — however ultimately, you’ll say it was your greatest journey ever.

At one degree, Carnival can greatest be described as a working man’s or working girl’s trip. The everyday Carnival buyer is a trainer, a nurse, a firefighter, a contractor or the like, both nonetheless working or retired. This isn’t a line for Wall Avenue bankers or white-shoe attorneys.

Carnival additionally is big with households. The “enjoyable” is for all ages, from 2-year-olds to retirees.

Nonetheless, it’s simply as a lot psychographics as demographics that outline the everyday Carnival buyer. Carnival executives have usually used the phrase “spirited” to explain the people who find themselves drawn to the road, and that’s nearly as good a phrase as any.

Carnival attracts a vigorous, outgoing crowd trying to be a part of the motion. The everyday Carnival buyer is the kind of one that shoots up a hand when an entertainer asks for a volunteer to return on stage or jumps as much as dance throughout midmeal music reveals within the eating room starring the waiters (sure, on Carnival, it is a factor).

Associated: All the pieces you need to find out about cabins and suites on Carnival ships

Eating places and eating

Like different big-ship operators, Carnival packs numerous eating choices onto its vessels — some included within the worth, some at an additional cost.

Each vessel has two major eating rooms and an off-the-cuff buffet eatery the place meals are included within the fare. The buffet known as the Lido. For dinner in the primary eating room, you have to join both Your Time eating (you go everytime you need) or Conventional Eating (you will have a hard and fast desk and time for supper).

Different included-in-the-fare choices discovered on most ships embrace what often is the two greatest quick-serve poolside eating venues at sea: BlueIguana Cantina and Man’s Burger Joint.

BlueIguana is a Chipotle-style restaurant, with yummy made-to-order burritos and tacos. Created in partnership with Meals Community’s Man Fieri, Man’s Burger Joint gives burgers that beat something you’ll discover across the pool on different mass-market ships and even most luxurious vessels.

As well as, each ship has at the very least one — and normally a number of — extra-charge eateries. The most typical ones discovered throughout the fleet are Fahrenheit 555, the road’s signature steakhouse, and Italian cuisine-serving Cucina del Capitano (if you happen to’re a Carnival fan, you realize this because the place the place waiters sing and dance between programs). The 2 venues have flat charges of $48 and $18 per individual, respectively.

Different extra-charge eateries usually discovered on Carnival vessels embrace Bonsai, an a la carte sushi restaurant (now on 13 ships), and JiJi Asian Kitchen, which prices $18 per individual (now on 5 ships). The value for youths at these retailers is barely $6.

5 of Carnival’s latest ships — Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon — even have teppanyaki eateries known as Bonsai Teppanyaki (priced at a flat $38 per individual). Most of those 5 ships (all however Carnival Venezia) have an a la carte barbecue-and-beer joint known as Man’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, too.

The latter venue was created in partnership with Meals Community’s Man Fieri and serves a free lunch on embarkation and sea days, with all gadgets smoked on board.

Man’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, notably, has its very personal in-house brewery you’ll be able to see behind glass partitions — one thing nonetheless comparatively uncommon on cruise ships. It makes home beers together with Parched Pig West Coast IPA and Parched Pig Toasted Amber which you’ll discover on many Carnival vessels in kegs and cans. Carnival is the one cruise line to keg and may its personal beer.

The standard of the meals (and drink) on Carnival ships all the time surprises us, given the finances pricing of the model. Regardless of being one of many business’s lowest-cost operators, Carnival manages to drag off among the finest steakhouses at sea in Fahrenheit 555, and even the no-extra-charge major eating places get the fundamentals proper.

Normally, the meals isn’t connoisseur. For the worth level of the road, it’s fairly spectacular.

Associated: The very best meals you’ll be able to have at sea

Leisure and actions

For probably the most half, Carnival ships don’t have fairly as many options on board as Royal Caribbean or Norwegian vessels, partially as a result of they’re not as massive. They’re nonetheless full of quite a lot of points of interest, together with a number of leisure venues, casinos, spas and plenty of deck-top enjoyable zones equivalent to water parks and ropes programs.

Theaters and reveals

There’s seemingly all the time one thing taking part in on a Carnival ship, whether or not it’s a glitzy singing-and-dancing manufacturing in the primary theater, a comedy present in a secondary lounge, a magical act or a call-you-up-on-stage interactive recreation present.

Each Carnival ship has one massive theater the place you’ll usually discover flashy, fast-paced manufacturing reveals that string collectively a medley of loosely associated tunes. Designed to be fast and digestible, they usually final round half-hour and have comparatively small casts (simply eight on some ships).

Normally, the manufacturing reveals aren’t practically as subtle — or as lengthy — as what you’ll discover on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian ships. However they’re vigorous.

Carnival additionally makes use of its massive theaters for plenty of interactive reveals that contain you, the passenger, getting somewhat foolish. They embrace Lip Sync Battle Carnival — a shipboard adaptation of the Paramount Community TV collection — and Hasbro, the Recreation Present.

With the latter, you’ll be able to crew up along with your family and friends to play big variations of Join 4 Basketball or Simon Flash in entrance of a reside viewers.

Carnival can also be well-known for the Punchliner Comedy Golf equipment on its ships, which draw high quality comedians and may get somewhat raucous late at night time with adult-only performances.

With regards to raucous, although, nothing on Carnival ships fairly compares to the frequent karaoke nights on board. On Carnival, it’s a factor. Typically held in a secondary lounge or a shipboard pub, karaoke on Carnival attracts an enormous crowd. Passengers come ready with rehearsed songs and typically even their very own guitars.

Insider tip: Get to the comedy reveals early to snag a great seat — or any seat in any respect. These reveals on Carnival ships are massively widespread.

Different inside points of interest and actions

Along with leisure areas, the interiors of Carnival ships are loaded with different venues the place passengers can relax and let free day and night time, together with a variety of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Each Carnival ship has a on line casino, normally smack in the midst of the primary leisure deck.

Additionally, there are all the time a number of music venues the place you’ll discover reside performers within the afternoons and evenings, together with — on some ships — the Atrium Bar and a secondary hub space known as Ocean Plaza. There’s virtually all the time a piano bar that’s residence to vigorous singalongs.

Different widespread venues discovered on some Carnival ships embrace RedFrog Pub, which serves up Carnival’s tasty housemade beers on faucet, in addition to loads of different decisions.

On one in all Carnival’s latest ships, Carnival Panorama, there’s no RedFrog Pub, however the Smokehouse Brewhouse has a stage that’s residence to reside music nightly and a number of the ship’s karaoke periods.

Passengers can study to cook dinner all the pieces from Carnival’s basic heat chocolate melting cake to its widespread saffron risotto throughout one- to two-hour courses that value $30 to $59 per individual.

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

Close to the ship’s tween and teenage clubrooms, it has two padded trampoline areas the place you’ll be able to leap round and participate in video games like jousting on a stability beam or taking pictures baskets whereas bouncing. There’s even trampoline dodgeball and, at one finish of the room, a climbing wall augmented with interactive recreation components.

Deck-top points of interest

The highest decks of Carnival vessels are lined in family-focused points of interest – swimming pools, waterslide areas and bustling enjoyable zones with such attracts as ropes programs and miniature golf.

Waterslides, specifically, are an enormous factor. In truth, on the subject of waterslides on ships, Carnival is the cruise world’s king. The road started including them to vessels manner again in 1978. There’s now at the very least one waterslide on all however one ship within the Carnival fleet (Carnival Luminosa) — one thing no different line can say.

On the overwhelming majority of Carnival ships, there’s not only a single waterslide however an entire water park space. Dubbed WaterWorks, these areas differ in dimension and options from vessel to vessel. They usually have one or two massive waterslides (typically three!), a play zone with interactive water options and a big, repeatedly filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everyone inside vary.

On some Carnival ships, there’s additionally a SportSquare space with such gee-whiz points of interest because the high-flying, pedal-powered SkyRide (one thing that first debuted in 2016 on Carnival Vista and is now on 4 ships), a suspended-in-the-air ropes course, a basketball court docket, miniature golf, miniature bowling, ping-pong tables and different out of doors video games.

It’s a fun-at-sea focus that has gone to new ranges over the previous two years with the debut of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, every of which has — get this — a curler coaster on the highest deck. Actually. We’re not making that up. At 800 toes in size, these aren’t the most important curler coasters ever. Nonetheless, they’re actual ones — the primary ever on a cruise ship.

In the meantime, for passengers hoping for quiet time away from the children, many Carnival ships even have an adults-only Serenity retreat space on their prime decks with padded loungers, daybeds, scorching tubs and infrequently a bar.

In brief, there’s a ton to do up prime on Carnival vessels — and it’s virtually all obtainable to each passenger on board the vessels at no further cost (the curler coaster is the one exception).

Not like some traces, Carnival has resisted the development of big-ship operators carving out entire sections of deck-top areas for the unique use of passengers staying in suites or keen to pay hefty entry charges.

Associated: The 12 cruise ships with probably the most spectacular points of interest at sea

Youngsters’s applications

Carnival claims to attract extra youngsters than every other cruise line. So maybe it is smart that it has one of the in depth youngsters’s applications at sea. The road has formal youngsters’s programming and actions for youngsters as younger as 2 years previous by means of the age of 17.

The center of this system, known as Camp Ocean, brings free, supervised actions every day for youngsters aged 2 to 11. The road splits youngsters right here into three age teams — Penguins (aged 2-5 years), Stingrays (aged 6-8 years) and Sharks (aged Sept. 11 years).

Every group has its personal age-appropriate actions starting from face portray to pirate adventures. On many ships there are in depth devoted areas for the completely different teams.

Whereas the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you’ll be able to pay further to depart your children at Camp Ocean till 1 a.m. Throughout these hours, Camp Ocean transforms right into a supervised slumber party-type surroundings with video games, films, crafts and snacks, together with late-night events known as Night time Owls.

Carnival additionally gives devoted tween and teenage applications on ships for youngsters aged 12 to 17. The youthful youngsters on this age vary (12-14) are grouped into what’s often called Circle C and have their very own devoted lounge on ships. It’s a spot to get collectively to speak, watch films, play video video games and participate in different actions.

Older children (aged 15-17) are grouped into what’s often called Membership O2 and have their very own lounge for assembly up, listening to music, dancing, singing karaoke and different actions.

Wi-Fi

Carnival has been rolling out sooner Wi-Fi techniques throughout its fleet within the final couple of years, such you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing adjustments over time, however the quickest “premium” service on Carnival vessels was lately priced at $18.70 per individual, per day.

Carnival additionally gives a cheaper “social” plan that solely permits entry to key social networking websites (Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and many others.) and messaging providers equivalent to WhatsApp for $12.75 a day. A barely dearer “worth” plan, at $17 per day, provides entry to e-mail and most web sites. Passengers who pay for a plan upfront of crusing obtain a reduction.

Associated: Wi-Fi on ships actually is getting higher

Carry-on drinks coverage

Carnival permits you to convey one bottle of wine or Champagne per individual onto ships at boarding plus as much as a dozen normal cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks equivalent to sodas.

Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles usually are not allowed. Word that you simply’ll be charged a $15 corkage charge if you wish to convey the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink. Drinks introduced on board have to be carried in your carry-on baggage.

Smoking coverage

On most ships, smoking (together with digital cigarettes) is barely allowed in designated out of doors areas and in casinos and nightclubs. It’s forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. In casinos and nightclubs, solely cigarette smoking is allowed. On Carnival ships in Australia, smoking is barely allowed in designated out of doors areas.

Laundry

Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There’s a $3.25-per-load cost to make use of a washer or dryer. The launderettes even have merchandising machines that dispense small containers of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per field.

As well as, vessels supply extra-charge laundry and, on choose ships, dry cleansing providers.

Word that three of the road’s latest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia — wouldn’t have launderettes. Carnival followers are fairly peeved about this, and you need to be, too. Write the road a letter.

Electrical retailers

Most vessels have normal North American-style, 110-volt retailers in rooms, in addition to European-style, 220-volt retailers. A rising variety of vessels even have USB ports in cabins.

The exceptions are the 2 Carnival ships that historically have sailed in Australia (Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor), that are fitted with a normal Australian three-point plug or adapter offering 220/240 volt 60Hz. Adapters can be found on these ships for buy if wanted.

Forex

The foreign money used on most Carnival ships is U.S. {dollars}. The exceptions are any Carnival ship primarily based in Australia, the place pricing is listed in Australian {dollars}.

All vessels function on a “cashless system,” with any onboard purchases you make posting mechanically to your onboard account. You’ll obtain a Sail & Signal card that you should utilize to make expenses. This similar card additionally will get you into your cabin.

Ingesting age

You have to be 21 to devour alcohol on most Carnival ships. The consuming age on sailings on Carnival ships in Australia is eighteen.

Costume code

In the course of the day, there isn’t a particular gown code, and folks gown casually. If it’s a sea day in a warm-weather vacation spot, and also you’re certain for the highest deck, meaning trying such as you’re going to the seaside — T-shirts, shorts and bathing fits (with a cover-up to go inside) are simply high-quality.

In the course of the evenings, there may be an official gown code, however it’s fairly laid-back. Most nights are designated “cruise informal,” which suggests simply that — khakis or denims, polo shirts, sundresses, and many others. Tremendous informal gadgets equivalent to cutoff denims, males’s sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and fitness center shorts aren’t permitted.

One or two nights a cruise, there will likely be a extra formal “cruise elegant” night time the place males are anticipated to end up in gown slacks and a gown shirt, ideally with a sports activities coat, and even in a swimsuit. The steered apparel for ladies on such nights is cocktail clothes, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses.

Associated: What to pack to your first cruise

Carnival Cruise Line loyalty program

Carnival has a point-based frequent cruiser program, the VIFP Membership, that has 5 tiers, starting from Blue (requiring no factors) to Diamond (200 factors).

Members earn one level for each night time they sail on one of many line’s ships. To hit the second tier, Pink, takes one cruise. Reaching the third tier, Gold, requires 25 factors.

There may be one twist to the incomes construction, and it’s in your favor: Should you’re going to hit a tier cutoff throughout a voyage, you’ll obtain the advantages of that tier from the start of that cruise.

In different phrases, in case you are crusing seven-night cruises, you may be Gold degree in your fourth crusing, as you may be passing the 25-day mark on that crusing.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty applications, decrease tiers don’t convey all that a lot by way of actually beneficial advantages.

In truth, the decrease tiers of the Carnival program are among the many most stingy in your complete cruise universe. You’ll obtain issues like a single complimentary bottle of water (on the Pink tier) and a single free drink that solely may be ordered on the final night time of a cruise (on the Gold tier). Larger ranges of this system are extra attractive.

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum (75 factors), brings such perks as precedence check-in and boarding, precedence debarkation, precedence dinner reservations, precedence spa reservations and precedence water shuttle boarding. Platinums additionally get complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service (with a restrict of two to 5 baggage, relying on the size of the cruise).

The highest Diamond degree (200 factors) brings such added perks as limitless free wash-and-fold laundry service, a assured seating time in the primary restaurant, a devoted toll-free quantity for gross sales and repair and a one-time room improve.

Word that, in distinction to airline frequent flyer applications, cruise line loyalty applications don’t require you to requalify for standing yearly. So, sure, the perks with decrease tiers aren’t nice. Nonetheless, it’s not as troublesome as it would at first appear to hit the extra rewarding higher-level tiers in just some years if you happen to’re cruising quite a bit.

A Carnival passenger taking seven-night cruises will hit the Platinum degree throughout their eleventh crusing. Sail a couple of longer voyages, like a transatlantic crusing, and you can attain it even sooner.

In case you’re curious, VIFP stands for Very Vital Enjoyable Individual.

Associated: The TPG information to cruise line loyalty applications

How a lot does a Carnival cruise value?

Normally, Carnival ships are among the many most inexpensive at sea. It’s not unusual to search out Carnival voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico beginning effectively underneath $100 per individual, per night time together with all taxes and costs — at the very least within the offseason.

As of this story’s posting, six-night Japanese Caribbean sailings from Miami in 2024 had been beginning at $339 per individual, not together with taxes and costs of $170.19. That works out to only $85 per night time, per individual, with taxes and costs for a bundle that features your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you would possibly count on, pricing for ships will typically be decrease throughout offseason intervals equivalent to September, October and elements of November.

The timing of while you e book also can matter. Cruises e book up a lot additional upfront than airplanes or lodges, and plenty of cruisers will inform you that the most effective pricing for any given crusing is commonly obtainable when cruises first go on sale (which generally is a good two years earlier than a departure). Reserving far upfront provides you the most effective probability of getting your most popular cabin kind and site on a ship.

As soon as on board a Carnival ship, you’ll pay further for many drinks, extra-charge eating places, spa providers, shore excursions, web service and some different issues — except you’ve purchased a bundle for a few of these gadgets upfront. Most onboard actions equivalent to reveals and deck-top points of interest are included within the fare.

The way to e book

That stated, given the complexity of reserving a cruise — there are numerous choices to make through the reserving course of; belief us — we advocate you utilize a seasoned journey agent who makes a speciality of cruises.

An excellent journey agent will quiz you about your specific pursuits, journey model and preferences, and steer you to the right cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They will additionally allow you to if one thing goes fallacious simply earlier than, throughout or after your voyage.

Should you’re certain Carnival is your line, search for a journey agent who makes a speciality of journeys with the model. You need somebody who understands all of the little quirks which can be distinctive to Carnival’s cabin classes and, ideally, has finished ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Associated: The way to e book a cruise with factors and miles

Whether or not you utilize a journey agent or not, be sure to maximise your bank card factors when paying for the cruise by utilizing a bank card that provides further factors for journey purchases. This may very well be the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which gives 3 Final Rewards factors on journey and eating (excluding the annual $300 journey credit score). There’s additionally the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card, which brings 2 Final Rewards factors on journey and three Final Rewards factors on eating.