Carnival is known for:
- Late night parties
- A great place for young adults and those looking for the love of their life
- A roller coaster on their newest ships
- Awesome waterparks
- Comedy clubs!
It’s funny that, over the years, cruise ships have basically become mega-resorts that travel across the sea. You can find full water parks on top of those giants, ice rinks, bumper cars, and sometimes even... roller coasters!? Seriously, what are people going to build on top of them in the future? Whole cities? Wait, I think this is already happening.
Carnival Cruise Line is known as the company that loves fun, so it makes sense that they’d try to innovate and offer something new to their guests. How "new" are we talking about? How about Bolt, the first-ever sea roller coaster on their recent cruise ships? Or Skyride, where you ride a bike above the deck and soar above the passengers while getting a great view of the entire ship and the ocean?
While Carnival ships have your traditional casino, spa, and fitness center, don’t expect Broadway productions or anything that will blow your mind. While Disney features amazing performances aboard their cruise ships based on fan-favorite IPs like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, and Royal Caribbean has a three-hour musical based on The Wizard of Oz, Carnival prefers to keep things short and simple. Most of their shows last thirty minutes and feature small casts, usually consisting of comedy acts or magic performances.
What Carnival likes to do is make you - the passenger - a part of the entertainment so you can have fun. At Sportsquare, passengers can face off against each other in a variety of games reminiscent of classic TV shows. You can also participate in quiz competitions like Family Feud Live, so start googling those challenging questions right now.
Here are some of the things you can find aboard Carnival Cruise ships:
- BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster (on the newest ships)
- SkyRide
- SportsQuare (an oasis of friendly competition & games)
- Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
- Cloud 9 Spa
- Fitness Center
- Family Feud Live
- WaterWorks (slides, splash areas and more!)
- Kids Club
- The Thing 1 & 2 Breakfast
- Shows & Comedy Club
- Oh yeah, and a lot of parties - karaoke parties, deck parties, live music parties, party-parties and more.
Shows aboard Carnival Cruise Line
As we mentioned earlier, don’t expect Broadway-level productions aboard Carnival. Are the performances bad? No, not at all. They are usually 30-minute presentations that aren’t based on anything in particular most of the time, so you won’t see Elsa singing "Let It Go" or Dorothy exploring the magical World of Oz. What you do get are fun musical acts or comedy routines for adults, thanks to Playlist Productions and the Punchliner Comedy Club.
Here is a list of shows that took place just last year, in August 2023. Each ship tends to have its own entertainment, but the lineup can also rotate from time to time.
- 80s Pop to the Max: a musical featuring big hits from the 80s, so expect a lot of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.
- 88 Keys: a musical featuring hits from the 80s and piano performances.
- America Rocks: another musical, this time featuring hits from some of the best rock and roll bands of all time like Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen.
- Amor Cubano: Cuban love! Get ready for a lot of Cuban hits and songs from Latin America.
- The Brits: Legends from the UK like The Beatles, The Who and Elton John.
- Broadway Beats: Some of Broadway's biggest hits in a modern set that blends storytelling and music.
- Flick: Flick pays homage to music from some of the most popular movie franchises of all time, from James Bond to Star Wars.
- Carnival Rio: as someone born in Rio, I am happy to see carnaval represented aboard Carnival Jubilee in this colorful and entertaining show.
The Punchliner Comedy Club
If you love stand-up comedy, then you might enjoy the Punchliner Comedy Club. I won’t lie, comedy - alongside horror - is probably one of the hardest genres to get right, so I tip my hat to Carnival for having a comedy club onboard.
The Punchliner Comedy Club usually runs twice per day with two different presentations. The first one is family-friendly, meaning there is no cussing, and all the jokes are made for everyone to enjoy, from kids to adults. There is also a late-night show for adults only, where the jokes get more raunchy and everyone can cuss to their heart's content.
Comedy is really subjective, so you might love some performances and dislike others. Still, these are short, 30-minute shows, so you should at least visit once to check out the vibe. Just keep in mind that you might be teased a little if you sit in the first row. He-he.
BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster
Available on: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, Mardi Gras.
This is one of the craziest things I’ve seen aboard a cruise ship. Thanks, fun cruise line, for literally putting a roller coaster on top of a cruise. This is the first of its kind, by the way. As expected, this isn’t a super thrilling ride that will loop you fifty times or give you amazing air time like Islands of Adventure’s VelociCoaster, but it’s fun enough to know that you’re riding a roller coaster in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Bolt is fun purely for its novelty, but it also offers plenty of adrenaline. It's a two-person vehicle that reaches speeds of 34 mph, allowing you to control the speed by pressing a button in some sections! Bolt has a minimum height requirement of 52 inches, a maximum height requirement of 77 inches, and a weight limit of 300 pounds. The cost is $15 for two laps.
Meet & Greets aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Dr. Seuss characters
I bet you didn’t expect to see Dr. Seuss aboard Carnival cruises, huh? Well, it looks like the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 & 2 love fun and a bunch of shows, so they’ve come over to enjoy the party.
Dr. Seuss characters appear on every Carnival ship, whether in the Kids Club, participating in special parades, or even at optional, paid character breakfasts. Only the breakfast is a paid activity; all the other events featuring these characters are completely free of charge. The character breakfast isn’t expensive and can be a fun activity to try with your little ones, with adults paying $15 and children $10. The character breakfast happens nearly every day and is a great opportunity for pictures.
Pools & Waterslides aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Waterworks
Of course, the fun cruise line boasts numerous cool pools and waterslides for everyone on board. The main attraction is called Waterworks, which is not just a large pool but a full-fledged waterpark aboard your ship. It features multiple slides, splash areas, and colossal buckets of water that fill up and crash down like a tsunami.
The number of pools vary from ship to ship, but every ship will have at least one main pool and a waterslide. Let’s check what you can find in some of them
Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration & Mardi Gras
- Twister Waterslide (265' spiraling water tube slide)
- Blue Lightning (312' long tube slide with mats)
- Orange Thunder (229' drop slide)
- 150-gallon Power Drencher tipping bucket
- Splash area with varied water spray apparatus
- Mini racer slide for children
- 5 Salt Water Pools including the Havana Pool (which is for the exclusive use of guests occupying Havana accommodations and Carnival Excel Presidential Suites) and Serenity Pool (which is for guests 21 years of age and older)
- Havana Pool (3'3" deep), Summer Landings Pool (4'2" deep), Beach Pool (4'9" deep), Aft Tides Pool (4'9" deep), Serenity Pool (4'9" deep) and eight Hot Tub Spas.
Carnival Glory
- Twister Waterslide (212’ long spiraling open waterslide)
- AquaTunnel (203' long enclosed tube slide)
- 150-gallon Power Drencher tipping bucket
- Splash area with varied water spray apparatus
- Mini racer slide for children
- 2 Salt Water Pools (4'6" deep) and 6 Hot Tub Spas.
As you can see, even Carnival Glory, an older ship from 2003 that often sails from Port Canaveral, offers a lot of fun amenities. While newer ships like Carnival Jubilee may have more pools and entertainment options, this comparison highlights Carnival's longstanding commitment to investing in pools and slides over the years.
Kids Club aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Camp Ocean
The fun cruise line also caters extensively to younger guests! While Carnival's Kids Club, Camp Ocean, may not match the excellence of those aboard Disney Cruise Line, it generally receives positive reviews. Designed for children aged 2 to 11, the club divides kids into age-specific groups: Penguins (2-5 years), Stingrays (6-8 years), and Sharks (9-11 years). Additionally, there are separate hangouts tailored for youths aged 12 to 14; and 15 to 17. There is also a Turtles program that acts as a nursery, for kids from 6mo to 2yo.
Children in the Kids Camp can enjoy a variety of activities. Many are themed around Dr. Seuss, but they also have opportunities to play video games, exercise their creativity by crafting animals from paper, and simply socialize.
Carnival not only partners with Dr. Seuss but also with the Kennedy Space Center. Many activities are inspired by the wonders of the Solar System, so children can look forward to crafting robots to explore planets and learning about the sun and all the planets in our galaxy.
Camp Ocean Perks
There are many advantages to Camp Ocean. One notable feature is that it tends to be less crowded compared to Kids Clubs on Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. However, if you plan to use it, be sure to register your kids for the entire cruise duration as soon as you board the ship. You can also pre-register your children before your cruise.
Another great perk? Camp Ocean accepts children as young as 2 years old! This is a significant departure from most cruise ship Kids Clubs, which typically require children to be at least 3 years old. While one year may not seem like much, it can make a huge difference for young children. Parents are likely aware of this!
Camp Ocean Operation Hours
During Sea Days, the Kids Club typically operates from 10am to 5pm, and then again from 7pm to 10pm. On port days, it opens from the ship's arrival at the destination until 10pm, with supervised lunch provided. Each night, there's a Kids' Only Dinner supervised by staff as well.
Most children must be signed in and out of the Carnival Cruise Camp by a designated adult, although children aged 9-11 can sign themselves in and out if parents allow it.
Camp Ocean Prices
Camp Ocean is included as a complimentary activity in your cruise fare, with optional paid activities available. One such activity is Night Owls, offering late-night activities for children aged 6 months to 11 years, priced at $7.50 per child per hour plus an 18% service charge.
The Turtle (nursery) program, catering to children aged 6 months to 2 years, is also available for a fee of $7.50 per child per hour, plus an 18% service charge.
Nightlife aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Yesss, that’s it. Carnival Cruise has an amazing nightlife and atmosphere, perfect fro group of friends and those that want a bit of fun. Teens and young adults will probably have a great time here, since Carnival is known for the late night comedy shows, nightclubs, parties and much more.
Here are some of the parties you’re expect to see aboard Carnival Cruises, according to the company:
- Sail Away Party: Following the Safety Briefing and as the ship sets sail, guests gather at midship Lido Deck where the cruise staff and DJ get the party started with music, dancing and drink specials.
- Mega Deck Party: An island inspired party that celebrates the fun and spirit of RedFrog and BlueIguana - the colorful namesake characters from our poolside watering holes. This party is featured on cruises six days and longer; shorter cruises will feature the Mega Deck Party or the 80s Night Deck Party.
- 80s Night Deck Party: A high energy, fun and unique '80s themed party showcasing our exciting musical offerings. This party is featured on cruises six days and longer; shorter cruises will feature the 80s Night Deck Party or the Mega Deck Party.
- White Hot Night Party: The fun on a Carnival cruise may start at sunrise, but that doesn’t mean it comes to an end when the sun goes down. So when packing for your cruise, bring your favorite, most fun… even quirkiest white clothing and matching accessories for an amazing night of dancing, giveaways and fun. This party is featured on select sailings.
Nightclubs
If you're traveling with friends, don't miss the nightclubs on Carnival ships. They often have fun themes, like the Frankenstein-themed nightclub aboard Carnival Miracle. On Carnival Jubilee, the nightclub features a vibrant Latino atmosphere with colorful décor and electronic music playing well past 2 am. If you enjoy nightlife and partying, Carnival is sure to provide a great time.
Carnival Cruise Line Shore Excursions
Like every cruise line, Carnival offers a variety of shore excursions tailored to your destination. Whether you want to ride horses on a picturesque island or zipline through Mexico, there's likely an excursion just for you.
Shore excursions can be booked online before sailing up until the Pre-Sail cut-off time at 11:59 pm ET, the evening before departure. You can also book shore excursions during your cruise. Each Carnival ship has a dedicated Shore Excursion Desk to help you out. There are more than two thousand different excursions all over the globe. Yep, it’s a lot.
Carnival Cruise offers a unique program called the 'Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee,' the only one of its kind in the cruise industry. This program promises a 110% refund in the form of shipboard credit if passengers find a better price for a comparable excursion on the same day and under the same conditions. While obtaining the 110% refund may involve multiple email exchanges and persistence, some online reports suggest that it is achievable after contacting Carnival multiple times.
For additional info related to Shore Excursions and cancellations, you can always check out this link.
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