Thursday, April 11, 2024

Carnival Cruise Line guide: Everything to know about ships, itineraries and more

is carnival cruise good

With 22 dining options – plus room service – Carnival Jubilee has food for any appetite. The food on Carnival Jubilee is very good, with a couple of misses but mostly hits. Even better, most of the food options are included in the price of your fare. Those that aren’t have a reasonable fee, rather than the exorbitant fees we’ve seen pop up lately on some cruise ships. Fun-focused Carnival offers a solid mix of cabins on its vessels for a range of price points.

#2: Variety of included food

We enjoyed our dinners here, especially the gala dinner, which included steak and lobster tail. On newer Carnival ships, a significant portion of cabins are balcony cabins — the rooms everyone wants these days. But the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins on Carnival's newer ships isn't nearly as high as on the newer ships of some rival lines such as Royal Caribbean.

Space Ratio

is carnival cruise good

Carnival Jubilee balcony rooms are available in multiple categories from Deck 5 on up. Even Standard Balcony Staterooms have relatively spacious verandas. We stayed in a balcony cabin on our voyage and used our balcony a lot, thanks to a little extra space and a nice-sized table – relative rarities on some cruise ships. Carnival Jubilee rooms are designed for comfort and efficiency, and they especially appeal to families and groups traveling together. Whereas other cruise lines offer over-the-top suites, Carnival Jubilee’s focus is on comfortable cabins that fit a variety of travel styles.

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Bubbles packages include unlimited soft drink, priced at A$5.50 per day for kids, A$7.25 per day for adults. Sold separately, one soft drink costs A$2.75 so you can do the maths to work out the value for your family. More formal options exist as well, including two main dining rooms (both serving the same thing each night). Carnival historically has done a good job of offering accessible favorites as well as more exotic options (think alligator, for example).

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Carnival's ships are known for their vibrant and colorful designs, which feature themes such as "Fun Ships" and "Carnivalization". The interiors of the ships are filled with bright colors, playful designs, and eye-catching art pieces, giving the vessels a lively and energetic atmosphere. But, depending on the Carnival ship you sail on, you might find that it has a somewhat outdated vibe - especially if you're been on other cruise lines that have been refreshed more recently. On many cruise ships, inside cabins are smaller than oceanview and balcony cabins.

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It's easy to join in on the fun all night long with so many activities happening around the ship. Because there is such a large fleet, there are plenty of sailings to choose from. Since Carnival primarily serves the American population, you will find the majority of sailings around North America, including Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and of course, the Caribbean. I would definitely recommend you stop by and taste some of the delicious treats while sipping on your favorite tea.

Carnival Elation Cruise Ship: Overview and Venues - Cruise Hive

Carnival Elation Cruise Ship: Overview and Venues.

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Carnival Cruise Line sails around North America mostly, but if you want to sail with them to Europe, Asia, or the South Pacific, you will have fewer options to choose from. If you love a non-stop party vibe and a casual environment, then a Carnival cruise is perfect for you. If you want a more subdued cruising experience, consider a cruise on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line. It's also one of the few vessels left in the fleet that still features jaw-dropping interiors designed by renowned architect Joe Farcus, who made Carnival synonymous with quirky patterns, bright colors and neon lights. If a cruise vacation in Europe, Asia or South America is what you're after, you probably should focus on another line. Carnival Cruise Line, one of the world's largest cruise brands, is firmly in the second category.

However, if you have work obligations or things going on back home that you simply can’t miss, then by all means, hop online. In other words, access to work that requires a reliably fast and solid connection could have issues (you are at sea, after all). On our trip we tested FaceTime calls from an iPhone with the Premium plan. We were able to talk, but there were some times where the image was blurry or froze for a few seconds. Bottom line is that yes, you can stream in at least some cases.

More about Carnival Celebration

It was enough of an issue that it affected our enjoyment of the overall cruise experience. Some people need to use a virtual private network (VPN) when working or simply use one for more privacy online. While we didn’t specifically test out a VPN while sailing, Carnival says they do not support VPNs on their ships. If you’re about to sail, you’ve likely seen mention of downloading the HUB app to use on the ship. This app is extremely useful on the cruise, and you can use it to access everything from dinner menus to ship maps to tracking your onboard spending account. Carnival allows you to login to the wi-fi from separate devices, but you can only use one device at a time.

I look at the ports of call, the space-to-guest ratio, the amenities and onboard activities, and the launch point. You'll find a huge variety of live free entertainment on board Carnival cruise ships every night at a range of various venues. There are free Dive-in Movies by the pool, Broadway-style musicals, game shows and magicians at the 1,170-seat theatres, plus comedians at the Punchliner Comedy Club. Various bands and solo entertainers perform at multiple bars and lounges, and on select nights you can sing on stage with a band at the best karaoke at sea.

That’s not to say the ship doesn’t offer suites – 181 of the ship’s 2,687 rooms are suites. But the suites aren’t as large as some offered by other big megaship cruise lines, and most cabins are designed to accommodate more than two guests. Inside, the heartbeat of the ship is the sprawling Grand Central atrium, a massive space that climbs from Deck 6 to Deck 8. With a giant LED screen, stage and plenty of seating, Grand Central offers shows, activities and entertainment at all hours. Nearby bars and eateries make it the kind of spot passengers will stop even if no activities are being offered at the time. The good news is that cruise lines — including Carnival — offer wi-fi access across their fleets.

The ship has all of the brand’s classic amenities, like the RedFrog Rum Bar and Punchliner Comedy Club, plus an array of dining options, including sushi, pizza, ice cream, and an over-the-top brunch. When I select a sailing, I book through Carnival Cruise Line’s reservation number to see if I can snag an exclusive deal not listed online. Carnival's free-to-join loyalty program, the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, offers deals like reduced deposits, onboard credit, and room upgrades. The more you book with the cruise line, the better your deals will be. My favorite Carnival ships are in the Excel Class, including Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and the brand-new Carnival Jubilee. On these mega ships, you will find nearly 20 restaurants onboard, and the majority of them are included in your cruise fare!

Carnival Dream is known for exciting entertainment and food and beverage offerings, including Alchemy Bar, a vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy." The ship sails from Galveston, Texas, on six to nine-day cruises. Carnival Mardi Gras is a nod to Carnival’s first ship, also named Mardi Gras, which was launched in 1972. The vessel has six onboard zones where families can have fun together, including the Ultimate Playground, where BOLT and the SportsSquare are located. Of course, there’s no Mardi Gras without New Orleans, so the French Quarter zone is where you’ll find Big Easy-inspired amenities like an Emeril Lagasse restaurant. Before committing to a cruise, I break down the price per person per night, particularly if I need multiple cabins because I'm traveling with a group.

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