Carnival Cruise Line

Who's ready to party?

If you look at a cruise and all you can think of are late night parties, good drinks, Taylor Swift playing on the speakers and chicken sandwiches made by Shaquille O’Neal, then Carnival is for you.

This is the ultimate fun-focused cruise line, offering great prices and focusing mostly on the North American market. Carnival is a huge cruise line with over 25 ships, and almost all of them are a great choice if you are traveling with friends or family. This is THE cruise line for college students and travelers who value a piña colada by the pool over luxurious staterooms and blockbuster Broadway shows.

Carnival's greatest strength is definitely how much you pay for a cruise. A 4-night Bahamas cruise starts around $350, which is great when you want to invite all your friends to a time in the Caribbean and one of them doesn't have much money after spending it all on a PS5. Carnival also operates from several U.S. ports including Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, Tampa and New Orleans, meaning that there is a good chance that there will always be a cruise near you.

Carnival mostly attracts guests in their 20s looking for parties, late-night entertainment and a way to explore the Caribbean without spending thousands of dollars. The atmosphere is casual and laid back, sort of like a nightclub on the high seas, with lots of game shows, comedy shows, dance parties and waterslides on nearly every ship. It's not because Carnival offers good prices that dinning is a letdown, oh no. There are several great complimentary dining venues, including BlueIguana Cantina (for tacos and burritos) and Guy's Burger Joint. Even Shaq has a presence onboard selling his trademarked fried chicken!

Surprisingly, Carnival is also awesome for families with children, especially when you look at their most recent ships. Their Kids Club accepts children as young as 2 years old (versus a 3 year minimum at Disney and Royal Caribbean) and offers complimentary, supervised programs and activities featuring Dr. Seuss characters and video game competitions. Their newer ships also have huge waterparks, and some even feature roller coasters onboard, meaning Carnival is not lacking at all when it comes to mega-resorts at sea and the next crazy thing you will find on a ship.

However, Carnival isn't for everyone. Those that want a peaceful cruise or a romantic vacation should look elsewhere. Their ships maintain constant high energy with numerous parties and tons of young guests basically 24/7. Older guests might be bothered by the on-board entertainment and crowds. But, if you want to ride coasters on a ship and eat fried chicken all day, then Carnival will welcome you with open arms.

Carnival also has Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key, their private islands with beaches, food and lots of snorkeling options. "Fun" is, after all, the right word when we talk about Carnival. They aren't trying to be the best, or most elegant cruise line around. But the one that makes you smile the most? Now that's a category that they always compete for the gold medal.