Carnival Cruise Line is great for:
- Those that want to party
- Passengers that want to save money
- Young adults
Carnival Cruise Line might not be good for:
- If you want peace and quiet
- If you are seeking a romantic or peaceful getaway
Do you know how Disney is the king of cruises for families with children, and Royal Caribbean is the Jack of all trades with something to offer everybody? Well, let’s just say that Carnival is the best when it comes to guests who just want to have fun. It’s in the name, folks! Carnival. I’ve been to a Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and let me tell you, it is indeed very fun and pretty chaotic. Carnival takes the idea of just having a blast with your friends and puts it on a resort that travels across the high seas.
By the way, we have some great news: Famvia can help you book your next vacation with Carnival Cruise Line! Just click that Request a Quote button and let’s chat. Contacting us is completely free, and even better, you won’t pay anything extra when you book a cruise through our services. We can help with ships, restaurants, itineraries, parties, and so much more!
Carnival Cruise Line is mostly aimed at the North American market, meaning that most cruises will take you to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. You won’t find Carnival cruises sailing to Europe or Asia, at least not too often. These cruises offer affordable, usually short trips focused on fun above all else, attracting many passengers who are cruising for the first time or celebrating a special occasion.
Carnival is also a low-cost company for those who prioritize fun above all else and are not looking for Broadway-level shows or fancy dining experiences. Want to save money? You can’t go wrong with these guys. This doesn’t mean they lack entertainment options, though. Their ships are smaller than the mega-resorts from Royal Caribbean, but you will find several pools, waterslides, and shows aboard their ships. They also offer a range of supervised programs for kids of all age groups.
Reviews of Carnival Cruise Line
The Good Stuff
Prices: Carnival Cruise Line is known for offering affordable cruises where you can save a lot of money. We checked online and crunched the numbers: a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas in January with Disney Cruise Line starts at $950. Meanwhile, a 4-night Bahamas cruise with Carnival Cruises in January starts at just $350! I’m not that great at math, but it looks like you pay less than half with Carnival. Of course, Disney is Disney - they offer amazing entertainment options, a superb Kids Club, and more - but your wallet will probably prefer Carnival.
Easy to plan: Carnival Cruises focuses primarily on the American market, which means they have a significant presence at some of the most popular ports across the country. Whether you live on the East or West Coast, chances are there's a cruise departing near you. They are particularly prominent in California, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana.
Great to have fun: Are you celebrating your new college degree? Or perhaps you're looking to find the love of your life? Or maybe you just want to have fun with your best friends? Carnival is perfect for guests who want to party, drink, and simply have a great time. This cruise line is all about celebration - it’s in the name, after all - and it's particularly ideal for young passengers aged 18-28 who are seeking a fun and affordable experience.
Great complimentary restaurants: Carnival is often considered a budget cruise line, so you might expect that the food isn’t that good, right? Oh, boy, you are wrong. Sure, the paid options are usually average, but Carnival has two of the best free restaurants across all cruise lines. We are talking about the BlueIguana Cantina and Guy's Burger Joint. The first one has some fantastic tacos and burritos, while the second features juicy burgers with flavorful sauces. Seriously, both are exceptional. Thank God that Carnival also has a fitness center aboard all their ships.
Something for everybody: Carnival is not only great for young adults but also amazing for children and whole families. They offer a very fun Kids Club, waterslides on almost all their ships, comedy shows, dance nights, appearances by Dr. Seuss characters, and a variety of cool activities for all tastes. There's always something happening somewhere aboard a Carnival cruise at any point of the day (and night!).
The Bad Stuff
Fancy stuff: Carnival isn’t a fancy company that offers expensive, romantic restaurants and three-hour-long shows that will blow your mind. It's a cruise line for the mass market, so you typically won’t find your Elon Musks or Tim Cooks here. If you're celebrating your 10-year anniversary with your significant other or seeking a more romantic and intimate experience, you'd probably have a better time with another cruise line, like Norwegian.
Peace and quiet: Carnival cruises are certainly not for those seeking a romantic getaway or a peaceful moment. Their ships are typically lively, with numerous parties and a bustling atmosphere. While you'll find many children aboard, there are also plenty of young adults looking to have a good time. If you're seeking something more upscale and intimate for a special moment with your loved one, you may have better luck with another cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Line Fleet
Carnival is mostly aimed at the American market and, as mentioned before, their ships are usually smaller than those offered by Royal Caribbean. Carnival, for example, only has three ships - Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee - ranking amongst the 50 biggest cruise ships in the world.
This doesn’t mean they have a small fleet, though. Carnival has 27 ships in total, which is actually more than Royal Caribbean! While their ships aren’t as big as something like Royal’s Icon of the Seas, midsize ships by today’s standards are, honestly, already pretty huge.
Carnival Cruise is divided into eight different tiers when it comes to their ships: Fantasy, Spirit, Conquest, Splendor, Dream, Sunshine, Vista, and Excel. There isn’t much difference among them, as most ships don’t vary greatly in size, except for the beautiful Carnival Jubilee, Celebration and Mardi Gras.
So, what have we learned so far?
- Carnival has a lot of vessels to choose from: 27 of them, in fact, and growing!
- Carnival is mostly about mid-size ships.
- There are three huge ships that rank among the top 20 in the world: the Carnival Jubilee, the Carnival Celebration, and Mardi Gras.
Setting Sail with Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line Destinations
Carnival Cruise operates on both the West and East Coasts of the United States. They have a huge presence in California and Florida. If you are near a major port, there’s a good chance that a Carnival Cruise departs from there to at least one fun destination. Carnival tends to focus on short, 3- to 8-night trips that are affordable and don’t take you on a voyage across the world.
The main destinations are:
- Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Canada
- Mexico
- Panama Canal
- Hawaii
- Alaska
Carnival also takes guests to Half Moon Cay, Carnival’s private island. Half Moon Cay is smaller than Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay but offers similar island amenities such as water parks, beaches, and snorkeling spots.
Carnival Legend currently offers a few 10-night cruises in Europe departing from Rome. Starting in June 2025, Carnival Miracle will also offer cruises in Europe, departing either from Rome or London. These cruises typically only have one date available, and I wouldn’t say they are the primary focus of the company.
Carnival Cruise Line Departure Ports
Almost every Carnival Cruise ship is based in the United States. Most cruises depart from Miami, but Port Canaveral is a close second. They also have a huge presence in Galveston, Tampa and New Orleans.
Most Carnival Cruise Line ships departure from the following locations:
- Baltimore
- Charleston
- Galveston (popular)
- Jacksonville
- Long Beach (popular)
- Miami (popular)
- Mobile
- New Orleans (popular)
- New York
- Norfolk
- Port Canaveral (popular)
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Tampa (popular)
Is Carnival Cruise Line for you?
That isn’t a very hard question to answer, honestly.
Carnival Cruise fits many archetypes. Are you in your 20s and looking to have fun with your friends? Go with Carnival. Do you want to save a lot of money on your next cruise? Go with Carnival. Are you more focused on the party experience than on shows and restaurants? Go with Carnival.
I like to say that you and your friends make the voyage unique on Carnival. It's a place to meet new people, have fun, drink, and create lasting memories. Some see it as a giant nightclub on the high seas, while others view it as an affordable way to try cruising for the first time.
Carnival attracts many young guests who seek a good party, so it might not be the best choice for those seeking a romantic getaway or a quiet, peaceful experience. But if you want to drink at your heart's content and stay up late listening to David Guetta, then you will probably have a blast aboard the fun cruises.
Carnival Cruise Line: Is it good for Kids?
I know what you are thinking. I just spent several paragraphs saying how this Cruise Line is awesome for young adults and people that want to party, so would this also be a good place to bring my family and young children?
Good news, Carnival is actually quite wonderful for young children! They have large waterslides on basically every ship and several pools. Additionally, they offer a Kids Club called Camp Ocean, and they even have partnerships with characters from Dr. Seuss and the Kennedy Space Center to provide a wide range of fun activities for the little ones.
Many guests online also give very positive reviews for the kids' programs aboard Carnival Cruises. While not as extensive as Disney's offerings, Carnival's prices are nearly three times lower. Many people compare Carnival's kids' activities to those of Royal Caribbean, both receiving high praise and sharing the silver medal. However, Disney remains the top spot for young kids.
A great perk of Carnival is their Kids Club, which accepts children as young as 2 years old, whereas Disney and Royal Caribbean require kids to be at least 3 years old. This one-year difference can make a huge impact for some families.
Why Book Carnival Cruise Line with us?
Here at Famvia, we are cruise experts. We work with dozens of different cruise lines, from popular names like Royal Caribbean to luxurious brands like Explora Journeys. We also specialize in lesser-known cruise lines like Margaritaville at Sea, and we know their ships and itineraries like the back of our hands.
Finding the right destination and stateroom for you and your family can be challenging, and that is where we come in. We have dedicated travel advisors that specialize in Carnival Cruise Line and can help you find the perfect voyage tailored to your preferences. Plus, we often have access to exclusive offers and pricing not available to the general public.
Just click the Request a Quote button to get in touch. Our personalized planning services are completely free, and we look forward to crafting an unforgettable journey just for you.
