Friday, April 12, 2024

The best Carnival Cruise Line itineraries: 5 great places its ships go

reddit carnival cruise

You can also order food delivered to your poolside lounge chair and text your friends for a nominal fee. Also, the older ships sailing from these destinations often have an abundance of affordable cabins. Most of the sailings are six nights in length and include two days in Bermuda. The line also typically offers a few shorter four- and five-night Bermuda sailings and, occasionally, a longer seven-night Bermuda sailing.

Look for breakfast venues beyond the buffet

Aimed squarely at Americans, its trips are all about cruising close to home at a reasonable price. You'll know you're getting close to a secret deck when you find a door with a porthole window at the end of a cabin corridor, instead of another hallway with doors leading to forward-facing cabins. The doors are sometimes locked at night or in high winds, so try again later if you can't get through. Stop by the pool around breakfast time and you'll be amazed to find a different towel animal on every lounge chair, plus some extra-large critters huddled around the pools and hot tubs. However, don't forget about sit-down options, many of which are free.

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Don't overpack — Carnival cruises are casual

To put that in perspective, that's more ships than exist in the entire fleet of Norwegian Cruise Line, which itself is a major player in Caribbean cruises. The overarching idea for Carnival's ship deployments is that a large percentage of the U.S. population can reach one of the line's ships by car, saving the cost of flights. For that reason, it takes a much broader approach to ship deployments around the U.S. than other lines. It’s a good idea to eat here occasionally and try your other options around the ship so you don’t get tired of what you’re eating. As a guest in one of these few rooms, you have access to an exclusive pool and bar; you wear a wristband to show that you’re a guest with access.

reddit carnival cruise

Earn more on your purchase when you pay with a rewards card

Fitness CenterNot everyone goes onto a cruise to exercise, but for many it’s a routine they like to keep or it simply makes them feel a bit better burning off some of those buffet calories. You might picture a chain hotel “gym” when you sail, but cruise ship gyms are well-stocked and usually located in one of the best places on the ship. Cruise ship casinos are similar to what you’d find on land, but not exactly the same. You’ll find all your favorite games, ranging from penny slots to roulette, blackjack, craps, and more.

When you fly or even drive to your cruise port on the day of your sailing, you're taking a risk that flight delays or traffic will cause you to miss your ship's departure. If you can, make restaurant reservations online as soon as you can after booking your cruise. If not, get on the ship as early as possible and reserve your table as soon as you get on board. The most popular tours often sell out, especially ones with limited space (such as snorkel trips on small boats). Just do so more than 24 hours prior to sailing in order to get a full refund. Cancel on board and you'll be subject to a 25% cancellation fee.

Other interior attractions and activities

Prices are higher than what you’ll usually find on land, but that’s the price you pay for treatment on the ship. Of course, having wide appeal means you’ll find all sorts of passengers on the ships. You’ll find couples getting married… couples celebrating honeymoons… couple celebrating 50th anniversaries. You’ll find passengers just looking for a vacation for the family.

What Kind of Carnival Cruise Deals Can You Expect to Find?

Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista Class series, for instance, offers fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest Class ships has around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy Class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites. Carnival trips are all about letting loose and having a good time. Maybe you'll drink a little too much, eat a little too much, play a little too much — but in the end, you'll say it was your best trip ever. In recent years, Carnival also has deployed two of its vessels to Australia to operate voyages from Sydney and Brisbane.

Ask for off-menu veggie burgers at Guy's Burger Joint

Poolside is without a doubt the most popular place to be on sunny days at sea. Carnival has worked hard to put a port of departure within driving distance of hundreds of millions of people. Underserved ports like Norfolk and Charleston put cruise ships near people who would otherwise have to travel much longer distances to go on a cruise. You’ll find the same sort of lower prices on everything from Internet to specialty dining. Bottom line, you can be confident if you’re looking for the best deal that any sailing from Carnival will offer lower prices both on your cruise fare and once on the ship. Perhaps no factor has been a bigger driver of Carnival’s growth as one of the most-sailed cruise lines in America than price.

The majority of these items are on or around the pool deck, but not all. Alaskan cruises on Carnival will depart from Seattle, stopping in Canada as well as several ports in Alaska. Sailing from Los Angeles usually means shorter trips to the western Mexico ports such as Ensenada. Some cruise lines aim to outfit their ships with luxurious and elegant décor.

The cabins include amenities like priority spa reservations, unlimited use of the spa’s thermal suites, special robes, treatment discounts, and more. BalconyThink of your cabin, and you likely picture a balcony room. While the inside part of the cabin is usually not that much different in size than an oceanview cabin, the addition of the balcony makes the room feel much larger as there is an extra space for you to enjoy. In addition to a great place to relax, the balcony offers essentially another room in the cabin so that you don’t feel like you are cramped inside of four walls. All told, Carnival’s fleet of ships measures more than two dozen vessels and frankly, your vacation can vary widely with the ship that you sail. Let’s first discuss some of “built-in” activities you’d find on many ships — those things that are part of the ship’s actual structure and not part of the entertainment put on by the crew.

reddit carnival cruise

That means you’ll find a wide range of things to do that are for people of all ages and interests. Eyewitness told KITV Island News that the relaxing Friday morning turned deadly after the shuttle bus crash. Carnival has a point-based frequent cruiser program, the VIFP Club, that has five tiers, ranging from Blue (requiring no points) to Diamond (200 points).

Don't think you can sneak into the end of the show before and stay through to the next one. Carnival staff will clear the theater before inviting the next crop of audience members in to find a seat. It's always cheaper to buy wine by the bottle than by the glass, and Carnival's restaurants are no exception to this rule.

Carnival is also well known for the Punchliner Comedy Clubs on its ships, which draw quality comedians and can get a little raucous late at night with adult-only performances. Note that the Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered another sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration that will be ready to sail in late 2023. However, with two exceptions, they're not giants by today's standards.

ArcadeVideo games may not be your thing… but if you have kids they will likely love the arcade. Similar to the ship’s casino, the arcade is just like you’d find on land, only smaller. The arcades can sometimes be hard to find as they aren’t that big and can be tucked away. Check out your specific ship’s deck plan to see exactly where it is. It’s definitely aimed towards kids and families, but people of all ages can enjoy themselves. For instance, the SkyRide is a sit-down bike ride that goes on a hanging track around the ship, offering stunning views of the ocean.

Otherwise, your phone will switch to satellite roaming, and you'll be charged an expensive fee for data and phone use while at sea. The Carnival HUB app is essential for planning your cruise both before and after you're on board. It allows you to make reservations for dinner and purchase tours, spa treatments and onboard Wi-Fi. Suite guests and high-level members of Carnival's VIFP Club loyalty program receive extra perks and priority that average cruisers do not. If you want to make a reservation for an extra-fee eatery, you will want to reserve your spot as early as possible. Do you own 100 shares of stock or more in the Carnival Corporation?

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