Have you ever been to a Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro? Well, friend, let me tell you, it is all about big parties, lots of music, drinks, and people just having fun. I am bringing this up because that is exactly the vibe that Carnival Cruise Line goes for. This is a company for those who love to party, are looking for a budget-friendly cruise, and want to have a lot of fun with friends and family.
Carnival calls itself the “Fun” cruise line, and that makes sense when you see what they are all about. Much like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, they offer a mega resort experience at sea, with big waterparks onboard and entertainment options that even include a roller coaster on the top deck. They are also cheaper than the competition, with prices often compared to MSC Cruises. So, if you have never cruised before or want to save money, they are a great choice for a fun and high energy cruise.
Carnival is the second largest cruise line in the world, just behind Royal Caribbean. Their newest ships are increasingly focused on families, but this is also a company that often attracts young adults looking to have fun. Think college students and anyone who wants to party in the middle of the Caribbean. They are also an excellent choice if you have never cruised before and want to see if the cruise life is for you, since you do not need to break the bank to sail with them.
If you want to learn even more about Carnival Cruise Line, be sure to check out our Planning a Cruise on Carnival Cruise Line guide. The article you are reading now will focus more on pricing, Carnival’s main features, and a quick overview of what to expect from this Fun cruise line.
Here is what we will cover:
- What Can I Expect from Carnival Cruise Line?
- How Many Ships Does Carnival Cruise Line Have?
- How Much Does a Carnival Cruise Line Vacation Cost?
- What is Included in a Carnival Cruise Line vacation?
- What is NOT Included in a Carnival Cruise Line vacation?
- The Unique Features of Carnival Cruise Line
Let's go!
What Can I Expect from Carnival Cruise Line?
That is an easy answer. Carnival is all about big parties and tons of crazy entertainment options onboard their ships. You can expect a cruise line that attracts young adults, people looking to save money, and anyone who wants to party. Their cruises are often described as loud and full of energy.
Virgin Voyages is also known for attracting guests who love to party, but they do it in a more elegant and refined way, while Carnival is more in your face. Virgin is like Van Halen or Pearl Jam, while Carnival feels more like... Green Day?
You can also expect a cruise line full of complimentary restaurants, including plenty of free tacos and burgers, as well as lots of swimming pools, waterparks, comedy clubs and even some unusual rides onboard their ships. This includes BOLT, a roller coaster on the top deck of select ships. Carnival also focuses on families with children, offering character breakfasts with Dr. Seuss characters and a pretty good kids club.
TL;DR: What can you expect? An affordable cruise that ranks among the cheapest across all cruise lines, with lots of parties, drinks, and young adults.
How Many Ships Does Carnival Cruise Line Have?
Carnival is a huge cruise line, with 29 ships in their fleet and more being added each year. They are the second largest cruise line in the world, just behind Royal Caribbean, so it makes sense that they have different ships for different types of guests and preferences, right?
Most of their ships offer the mega resort experience, meaning they are massive and packed with things to do. However, they do have two recent ships that take a slightly different approach: Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia. Both of these ships originally belonged to Costa before switching over to Carnival, and they offer a more elegant atmosphere for guests who still want an affordable cruise but prefer to tone down the craziness a bit.
Here are some of the most popular Carnival cruise ships:
- Carnival Firenze (2024)
- Carnival Jubilee (2023)
- Carnival Venezia (2023)
- Carnival Celebration (2022)
- Carnival Luminosa (2022)
- Mardi Gras (2021)
How Much Does a Carnival Cruise Line Vacation Cost?
Oh, this is where things get very interesting! Carnival offers some of the most competitive prices on the market, and it is not uncommon for guests to pay around $250 to $300 for a four-day cruise to the Caribbean. That is definitely hard to beat, especially when some companies like Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises can cost up to three times more.
Here are some starting prices per guest for Carnival:
- 4-Day Baja Mexico from Long Beach onboard Carnival Radiance: $269
- 4-Day The Bahamas from Miami onboard Carnival Conquest: $299
- 3-Day The Bahamas from Port Canaveral onboard Carnival Venezia: $519
- 7-Day Western Caribbean from Miami onboard Carnival Celebration: $675
- 7-Day Western Caribbean from Galveston onboard Carnival Jubilee: $715
Of course, newer ships like Carnival Jubilee are more expensive, but even then, they offer great value. Paying around $720 for a seven-day cruise is a great deal, especially when you consider that a seven-day cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas starts at $1,300. You are basically paying half that for a Carnival cruise, and although Icon of the Seas is bigger and offers better shows, the experience onboard Jubilee is certainly not half as good as the one on the competition.
What is Included in a Carnival Cruise Line vacation?
Carnival follows a standard procedure when it comes to what’s included in your fare. They offer a wide range of entertainment options for free (like live shows and pools), but you need to pay extra for some of the more exciting activities (like the BOLT roller coaster). Gratuities and Wi-Fi are also not included in your base fare.
Here is what is included in your base Carnival Cruise Line vacation:
- Your stateroom
- Complimentary Restaurants & Buffet Options
- Water, lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea
- Live Shows & Comedy Clubs
- Fitness Center
- Pools & Waterparks
- Continental breakfast in your room
- Kids Club
What is NOT Included in a Carnival Cruise Line vacation?
Here is what is not included in your base fare:
- Gratuities
- Wi-Fi
- Specialty restaurants
- Dr. Seuss Character Breakfast
- 24-hour room service (doesn’t include continental breakfast)
- Alcoholic Drinks and Soda
- Spa
- Arcade
- Laundry
- Some entertainment options like the BOLT roller coaster
The Unique Features of Carnival Cruise Line
Great Prices
We have said it once… and twice… and let’s say it again: Carnival is proud to offer some of the cheapest cruises you can find. Sometimes they have deals where you can go on a three-day cruise for as low as $150 per guest, and looking at their website, it is common to pay around $300 for a four-day cruise to the Caribbean. Even their newest ships are not as expensive as the competition, with a seven-day cruise on Carnival Jubilee costing less than $800 in an interior stateroom.
Parties, parties and more parties
Carnival is known as being the “Fun” cruise line, with lots of young adults and college students that love the budget cruises and chill atmosphere. If you are looking for a romantic cruise or going on a cruise with your parents, Carnival might not be a good choice.
Dress Code & Dining Times
Carnival is all about partying, but there is still a dress code onboard. During the day, you can basically wear anything you like - just no bathing suits in the dining areas. In the evening, the dress code is what they call Cruise Casual, meaning you should wear jeans, a polo shirt, or something similar.
You can also choose between early or late dining times, or go with what they call “Your Time Open Seating Dining,” where you can be seated anytime between 5:00pm and 8:30pm.
Lots of Things to do Onboard
Carnival offers a mega-resort experience, meaning their ships are packed with fun entertainment options. This includes a roller coaster on their newer ships, rope courses, waterparks, sports courts, and much more.
For more information about activities onboard Carnival Cruise Line, make sure to check out our in-depth guide.
Half Moon Cay
Carnival is known for having one of the best private islands in the world: Half Moon Cay. This island features a top-tier beach and, unlike the usual high-energy Carnival vibe, it is the perfect place to sit back and relax. In fact, Half Moon Cay is set to receive a new expansion in 2026 called RelaxAway, which will introduce new areas and entertainment options to the island.
Celebration Key
Guess what? Carnival has a new private island launching in July 2025! While Half Moon Cay is all about relaxing and enjoying a beautiful beach, Celebration Key is all about waterslides, pools, and a variety of different areas that make it feel like a theme park in the middle of the Caribbean. Now this is the island that truly screams Carnival!
Shaquille O'Neal & Guy Fieri
Did you know that Shaq and Guy Fieri have complimentary restaurants onboard Carnival Cruise Line? Yep! Shaq brings the heat with Big Chicken, while Mr. Fieri serves up flavor at Guy’s Burger Joint. Carnival fully embraces the fast food life when it comes to complimentary dining, and what’s better than fried chicken and juicy burgers in the middle of a cruise?
For more information about restaurants onboard Carnival Cruise Line, make sure to check out our in-depth guide.
