Yearly, the TPG Awards honor excellence in bank cards, loyalty applications and journey. Please click on right here to learn extra about our winner choice course of and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.
If america has a nationwide cruise line, it’s Carnival.
The self-described “enjoyable ship” line, the winner of Greatest Cruise Line for Maximizing Worth within the 2024 TPG Awards, is the king of quick, reasonably priced, fun-focused cruises from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico and different close by locations. Irrespective of the place you reside within the U.S., you are in all probability inside just a few hours of a Carnival ship.
The place you will not discover Carnival ships, notably, is in Asia, South America or, for essentially the most half, Europe. Not like different large cruise manufacturers corresponding to Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, Carnival would not unfold its vessels all over the world to attract a fly-in crowd. Aimed squarely at Individuals, its journeys are all about cruising near house at an inexpensive worth.
Certainly, should you’re happening a Carnival cruise, odds are you are driving to the ship, not flying, and also you’re in all probability not paying rather more than you’ll for a visit to an area seashore city.
You are additionally not going for something too intellectual. Carnival ships are all about enjoyable in a really laid-back, unpretentious, nothing-too-fancy form of approach.
Leisure, at instances, is as lowbrow as the road is low-cost. That is, in any case, the model that for a few years held a Furry Chest Contest across the pool deck on each voyage to a standing-room-only, hooting and hollering crowd.
The enjoyable is available in some ways, although. Whereas Carnival’s ships, for essentially the most half, aren’t fairly as large as the large ships operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, they’re filled with a variety of enjoyable options, from water parks with a number of waterslides to cooking lecture rooms the place you’ll be able to discover ways to make the road’s signature chocolate melting cake.
Associated: A newcomers information to choosing a cruise line
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
3 issues TPG loves about Carnival
- The “enjoyable” focus highlighted in every thing
- The meals (actually — see beneath)
- The youngsters applications
What we may do with out
The Carnival Cruise Line fleet
Carnival is among the world’s largest cruise strains by passenger capability, with 29 ships that collectively provide round 94,000 berths.
Normally, these are large ships. Nevertheless, with a handful of exceptions, they are not giants by at the moment’s requirements.
Solely three of the road’s vessels — just lately constructed Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee — make the listing of the world’s 20 largest cruise ships. Every measures round 180,000 tons and may maintain about 5,300 passengers at double occupancy. After that, there is not a single Carnival ship on the listing of the world’s 50 largest ships.
The road’s next-biggest vessel, 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia, measures simply 135,225 tons. That is about 46% smaller than the most important ships operated by Royal Caribbean.
Seven of the road’s 29 vessels measure lower than 100,000 tons, which makes them nearly midsize by at the moment’s cruise ship requirements.
Associated: Carnival cruise ships by dimension: Listed here are the biggest Carnival cruise ships, largest to smallest, by tonnage
It is a notable change for the model from simply a few a long time in the past. There was a time when Carnival operated lots of the largest cruise ships on the planet.
Nevertheless, for a few years, Carnival selected to not comply with rivals corresponding to Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in constructing ever-bigger ships.
The arrival of Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee over the previous 4 years has marked a significant turning level for the road. At round 180,000 tons, they’re roughly 35% greater than the road’s next-biggest ship. They usually’re simply the primary of a collection of recent, greater ships coming to the model.
Two extra sister ships in the identical collection are on order for 2027 and 2028, respectively, and Carnival has ordered three even greater ships to reach between 2029 and 2033.
At round 230,000 tons, the three greater ships on order will likely be about 25% greater than any vessel at the moment within the Carnival fleet. That’ll put them among the many very largest cruise ships on the planet.
Maybe much more notably, these three new ships will have the ability to maintain practically 8,000 passengers with each berth stuffed.
The 29 Carnival ships at the moment in operation could be damaged down into 9 lessons: Fantasy, Spirit, Conquest, Splendor, Dream, Sunshine, Grand, Vista/Venezia and Excel. Lots of these lessons have so much in widespread. Not like Royal Caribbean, Carnival would not all the time drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.
Two Carnival ships that do have a considerably totally different look are the 2 Grand Class ships that Carnival just lately absorbed from a shut-down sister model, P&O Cruises Australia. Initially constructed for Princess, they’ve a superstructure and inside format that extra carefully resembles the ships of Princess than the everyday Carnival ship.
Associated: The 8 lessons of Carnival Cruise Line ships, defined
Locations and itineraries
Carnival is all about cruises from U.S. ports. You will discover at the least considered one of its ships crusing out of just about each main port metropolis across the nation. It is uncommon to search out them primarily based anyplace else.
Carnival’s largest operations are out of PortMiami and Port Canaveral in Florida; Galveston, Texas; Lengthy Seaside, California; New Orleans; and Seattle — all main cruise hubs. However you will additionally discover Carnival ships in secondary cruise ship ports corresponding to Baltimore; Cell, Alabama; Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida; and San Francisco.
The overarching concept for Carnival’s ship deployments is that a big share of the U.S. inhabitants can attain one of many line’s ships by automotive, saving the price of flights.
For essentially the most half, Carnival ships sail comparatively quick voyages of three to eight nights.
Carnival vessels primarily based on the East Coast and alongside the Gulf of Mexico largely sail to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Some East Coast ships additionally head to Bermuda, New England and Canada. On the West Coast, sailings to Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska are the norm.
Carnival additionally affords some Panama Canal voyages.
Sometimes, Carnival will deploy a ship to Europe for just a few weeks or months. This usually takes place when a vessel must go to a European shipyard for an overhaul.
Lately, Carnival additionally has deployed two of its vessels to Australia to function voyages from Sydney and Brisbane. In a departure from Carnival’s American-focused enterprise mannequin, the Australia sailings are aimed largely on the native Australian market, although they’re open to American vacationers, too.
Associated to this, Carnival has simply absorbed a small sister model, P&O Cruises Australia, that makes a speciality of cruises for Australians. Two vessels from this sister model, now referred to as Carnival Journey and Carnival Encounter, joined the Carnival fleet in March.
Associated: The 5 finest locations you’ll be able to go to on a Carnival Cruise Line ship
Who sails Carnival Cruise Line?
Carnival is the undisputed chief amongst North America-based cruise manufacturers in the case of affordability, which makes it well-liked with vacationers on a price range.
It is also well-liked with a fun-seeking crowd. Carnival journeys are all about letting unfastened and having a superb time. Possibly you will drink somewhat an excessive amount of, eat somewhat an excessive amount of, play somewhat an excessive amount of — however in the long run, you will say it was your finest journey ever.
At one degree, Carnival can finest be described as a working man’s or working lady’s trip. The standard Carnival buyer is a trainer, nurse, firefighter, contractor or the like, both nonetheless working or retired. This is not a line for Wall Avenue bankers or white-shoe attorneys.
Carnival additionally is large with households. The enjoyable is for all ages, from 2-year-olds to retirees.
Nonetheless, it is simply as a lot psychographics as demographics that outline the everyday Carnival buyer. Carnival executives have usually used the phrase “spirited” to explain the people who find themselves drawn to the road, and that is pretty much as good a time period as any.
Carnival attracts a full of life, outgoing crowd seeking to be a part of the motion. The standard Carnival buyer is the form of one who shoots up a hand when an entertainer asks for a volunteer to return on stage or jumps as much as dance throughout midmeal music exhibits within the eating room starring the servers (sure, on Carnival, this can be a factor).
Cabins and suites
Not like a few of its largest rivals, Carnival is not identified for an enormous vary of cabin classes on its vessels. The overwhelming majority of the lodging on Carnival ships fall into considered one of three broad buckets: windowless inside cabins, ocean-view cabins and balcony cabins.
You will discover comparatively few suites on Carnival ships. Every of the vessels in Carnival’s latest Vista Class collection, as an example, affords fewer than 75 suites. Every of the road’s earlier Conquest Class ships has round 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy Class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.
That is partially resulting from Carnival’s give attention to affordability. The standard Carnival buyer is not available in the market for an excellent fancy, high-priced suite.
That mentioned, Carnival has seen the success that a few of its rivals have had with a much bigger vary of upscale lodging, and it is eyeing extra suites for future vessels. The road’s new Excel Class ships, corresponding to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, every have 180 suites — greater than twice the variety of Carnival’s different latest ships.
Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee every have 11 totally different classes of suites in all, 4 of that are a part of a brand new premium Excel class of suites that include further facilities and entry to a new-for-the-line, resort-style enclave on the prime of the ship referred to as Loft 19.
Design-wise, Carnival’s cabins and suites are pretty primary and comfy, if not tremendous fashionable. Cabins on just lately unveiled or overhauled vessels have a soothing palette of lotions and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is crisp and clear fake wooden, and cabin bogs are impartial.
Notice that Carnival’s two oldest ships — these which might be a part of the Nineties-built Fantasy Class — have comparatively few balcony cabins by at the moment’s requirements. (Even after retrofitting, they solely have round 150 balcony cabins out of a complete of greater than 1,000 cabins in all.) Partially due to this, Carnival has been phasing the Fantasy Class ships out of its fleet lately.
Associated: All the pieces you need to learn about cabins and suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships
Eating places and eating
Like different big-ship operators, Carnival packs lots of eating choices onto its vessels — some included within the worth, some at an additional cost.
Each vessel has two important eating rooms and an informal buffet eatery the place meals are included within the fare. The buffet is named the Lido. For dinner in the primary eating room, you should join both Your Time Eating (you go everytime you need) or Conventional Eating (you have got a set desk and dinner time).
Different included-in-the-fare choices discovered on most ships embody what would be the two finest quick-serve poolside eating venues at sea: BlueIguana Cantina and Man’s Burger Joint.
Associated: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that allow you to skip the buffet crowds
BlueIguana is a Chipotle-style restaurant with yummy made-to-order burritos and tacos. Created in partnership with Meals Community’s Man Fieri, Man’s Burger Joint affords burgers that beat something you will discover across the pool on different mass-market ships and even most luxurious vessels.
Moreover, each ship has at the least one — and normally a number of — extra-charge eateries. The most typical ones discovered throughout the fleet are Fahrenheit 555, the road’s signature steakhouse, and Italian cuisine-serving Cucina del Capitano (should you’re a Carnival fan, you already know this because the place the place servers sing and dance between programs). The 2 venues have flat charges of $52 and $24 per individual, respectively.
Different extra-charge eateries usually discovered on Carnival vessels embody Bonsai, an a la carte sushi restaurant (now on 15 ships), and JiJi Asian Kitchen, which prices $24 per individual (now on 4 ships).
Six of Carnival’s latest ships — Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon — even have teppanyaki eateries referred to as Bonsai Teppanyaki (priced at a flat $57.82 per individual for dinner and $46.02 at lunchtime; the pricing is an odd quantity, because it displays an 18% service cost). Most of those six ships (all however Carnival Venezia) have an a la carte barbecue-and-beer joint referred to as Man’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse & Brewhouse, too.
The latter venue was created in partnership with Fieri and serves a free lunch on embarkation and sea days, with all gadgets smoked on board.
Man’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse & Brewhouse, notably, has its very personal in-house brewery you’ll be able to see behind glass partitions — one thing nonetheless comparatively uncommon on cruise ships. It makes home beers, together with Parched Pig West Coast India Pale Ale and Parched Pig Toasted Amber, which you will discover on many Carnival vessels in kegs and cans. Carnival is the one cruise line to keg and may its personal beer.
The standard of the meals (and drinks) on Carnival ships all the time surprises us given the price range pricing of the model. Regardless of being one of many business’s lowest-cost operators, Carnival manages to drag off top-of-the-line steakhouses at sea in Fahrenheit 555, and even the no-extra-charge important eating places get the fundamentals proper.
Though the meals, usually, is not connoisseur, it is fairly spectacular for the worth level of the road.
Associated: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The ten finest meals you’ll be able to have at sea
Leisure and actions
For essentially the most half, Carnival ships do not have fairly as many options on board as Royal Caribbean or Norwegian vessels, partially as a result of they are not as large. However they’re nonetheless filled with a wide range of points of interest, together with a number of leisure venues, casinos, spas and plenty of deck-top enjoyable zones corresponding to water parks and ropes programs.
Theaters and exhibits
There’s seemingly all the time one thing enjoying on a Carnival ship, whether or not it’s a glitzy singing-and-dancing manufacturing in the primary theater, a comedy present in a secondary lounge, a magic act or a call-you-up-on-stage interactive sport present.
Each Carnival ship has one large theater the place you will usually discover flashy, fast-paced manufacturing exhibits that string collectively a medley of loosely associated tunes. Designed to be fast and digestible, they sometimes final round half-hour and have comparatively small casts (simply eight on some ships).
Normally, the manufacturing exhibits aren’t practically as refined — or as lengthy — as what you will discover on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian ships, however they’re full of life.
Carnival additionally makes use of its large theaters for many interactive exhibits that contain you, the passenger, getting somewhat foolish. They embody “Lip Sync Battle Carnival” — a shipboard adaptation of the Paramount Community TV collection — and “Hasbro, the Recreation Present.”
With the latter, you’ll be able to staff up together with your family and friends to play large variations of Join 4 Basketball or Simon Flash in entrance of a stay viewers.
Carnival can also be well-known for the Punchliner Comedy Golf equipment on its ships, which draw high quality comedians and may get somewhat raucous late at evening with adults-only performances.
In terms of raucous, although, nothing on Carnival ships fairly compares to the frequent karaoke nights on board. On Carnival, it is a factor. Typically held in a secondary lounge or a shipboard pub, karaoke on Carnival attracts an enormous crowd. Passengers come ready with rehearsed songs and typically even their very own guitars.
Insider tip: Get to the comedy exhibits early to snag a superb seat — or any seat in any respect. These exhibits on Carnival ships are vastly well-liked.
Different inside points of interest and actions
Along with leisure areas, Carnival ships’ interiors are loaded with different venues the place passengers can chill and let unfastened day and evening, together with a variety of bars, lounges and nightspots.
Each Carnival ship has a on line casino, normally smack-dab in the midst of the primary leisure deck.
Additionally, there are all the time a number of music venues the place you will discover stay performers within the afternoons and evenings, together with — on some ships — the Atrium Bar and a secondary hub space referred to as Ocean Plaza. There’s nearly all the time a piano bar that is house to full of life sing-alongs.
Different well-liked venues discovered on some Carnival ships embody RedFrog Pub, which serves up Carnival’s tasty housemade beers on faucet, in addition to loads of different selections.
On considered one of Carnival’s newer ships, Carnival Panorama, there isn’t any RedFrog Pub, however the Smokehouse & Brewhouse has a stage that is house to stay music nightly and a number of the ship’s karaoke periods.
Carnival Panorama additionally homes Carnival’s first cooking classroom. Dubbed Carnival Kitchen, it is close to the ship’s important eating places and is a significantly tricked-out venue full with 9 state-of-the-art, marbled-granite cooking stations for 2 and a devoted eating space.
Passengers can study to cook dinner every thing from Carnival’s traditional heat chocolate melting cake to its well-liked saffron risotto throughout one- to two-hour lessons that price $30 to $59 per individual.
One different attraction on Carnival Panorama is the primary Sky Zone trampoline park at sea.
Close to the ship’s tween and teenage clubrooms, it has two padded trampoline areas the place you’ll be able to soar round and participate in video games like jousting on a steadiness beam or capturing baskets whereas bouncing. There’s even trampoline dodgeball and, at one finish of the room, a climbing wall augmented with interactive sport parts.
Deck-top points of interest
The highest decks of Carnival vessels are coated in family-focused points of interest, together with swimming pools, waterslide areas and bustling enjoyable zones with attracts corresponding to ropes programs and miniature golf.
Waterslides, specifically, are an enormous factor. Actually, in the case of waterslides on ships, Carnival is the cruise world’s king. The road started including them to vessels approach again in 1978. There’s now at the least one waterslide on all however one ship within the Carnival fleet (Carnival Luminosa) — one thing no different line can say.
On the overwhelming majority of Carnival ships, there’s not only a single waterslide however an entire water park space. Dubbed WaterWorks, these areas range in dimension and options from vessel to vessel. They sometimes have one or two large waterslides (typically three!), a play zone with interactive water options and a big, repeatedly filling dump bucket that periodically soaks all people inside vary.
On some Carnival ships, there’s additionally a SportSquare space with such gee-whiz points of interest because the high-flying, pedal-powered SkyRide (one thing that debuted in 2016 on Carnival Vista and is now on 4 ships), a suspended-in-the-air ropes course, a basketball court docket, miniature golf, miniature bowling, desk tennis and different outside video games.
It is a fun-at-sea focus that has gone to new ranges over the previous two years with the debut of Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, every of which has — get this — a curler coaster on the highest deck. Actually. We’re not making that up. At 800 ft in size, these aren’t the most important curler coasters ever. Nevertheless, they’re actual ones — the primary on cruise ships.
For passengers hoping for quiet time away from the youngsters, many Carnival ships even have an adults-only Serenity retreat space on their prime decks with padded loungers, daybeds, sizzling tubs and infrequently a bar.
Briefly, there is a ton to do up prime on Carnival vessels — and it is nearly all obtainable to each passenger on board the vessels at no further cost (the curler coaster is the one exception).
Not like some strains, Carnival has resisted the development of big-ship operators carving out complete sections of deck-top areas for the unique use of passengers staying in suites or keen to pay hefty entry charges.
Associated: The 17 finest cruise ships for individuals who by no means need to develop up
Youngsters’s applications
Carnival claims to attract extra kids than some other cruise line. So, maybe it is smart that it has probably the most in depth kids’s applications at sea. The road has formal kids’s programming and actions for youths as younger as 2 years previous via the age of 17.
The center of this system, referred to as Camp Ocean, brings free, supervised actions day by day for youngsters ages 2 to 11. The road splits kids right here into three age teams — Penguins (ages 2 to five years), Stingrays (ages 6 to eight years) and Sharks (ages 9 to 11 years).
Every group has its personal age-appropriate actions starting from face portray to pirate adventures. On many ships, there are in depth devoted areas for the totally different teams.
Whereas the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you’ll be able to pay further to go away your youngsters at Camp Ocean till 1 a.m. Throughout these hours, Camp Ocean transforms right into a supervised slumber party-type surroundings with video games, films, crafts and snacks, together with late-night events referred to as Evening Owls.
Carnival additionally affords devoted tween and teenage applications on ships for youngsters ages 12 to 17. The youthful kids on this age vary (12 to 14) are grouped into what’s often called Circle C and have their very own devoted lounge on ships. It is a spot to get collectively to speak, watch films, play video video games and participate in different actions.
Older youngsters (ages 15 to 17) are grouped into what’s often called Membership O2 and have their very own lounge for assembly up, listening to music, dancing, singing karaoke and different actions.
What to know earlier than you go
Required paperwork
In the event you’re a U.S. citizen on a cruise that begins and ends in a U.S. port, you will want a present passport or an official copy of your delivery certificates and a driver’s license or different government-issued photograph identification to sail. A couple of different types of identification, corresponding to a passport card, are also acceptable.
Passports have to be legitimate for at the least six extra months. For cruises from worldwide ports, you will want a passport. Notice that it’s important that the title in your reservation be precisely as it’s said in your passport or different official proof of nationality. All this mentioned, we advocate checking Carnival’s web site earlier than crusing for the very newest on necessities.
Gratuities
Carnival provides an computerized service gratuity of $16 to $18 per individual, per day to ultimate payments, relying on the cabin class (kids underneath the age of two are exempt). If you’re sad with the service you obtain, you’ll be able to regulate this quantity on the Visitor Companies desk earlier than disembarking. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar payments and the quilt cost of the chef’s desk venue.
Associated: Tipping on a cruise: What to learn about cruise ship gratuities
Wi-Fi
Carnival has been rolling out sooner Wi-Fi methods throughout its fleet over the past couple of years, such which you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing modifications over time, however the quickest “premium” service on Carnival vessels was just lately priced at $23.80 per day when purchased upfront ($28 per day when purchased on board).
Carnival additionally affords a inexpensive “social” plan that solely permits entry to key social networking websites (Fb, X, Instagram, and so forth.) and messaging companies corresponding to WhatsApp for $18.70 a day when purchased upfront. A barely dearer “worth” plan, at $22.10 per day when purchased upfront, provides entry to e mail and most web sites.
The social and worth plans price $22 and $26 per day, respectively, when purchased on board a ship.
Associated: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 issues to learn about web use on board
Carry-on drinks coverage
Carnival means that you can convey one bottle of wine or Champagne per individual onto ships at boarding, plus as much as a dozen commonplace cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks corresponding to sodas.
Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles aren’t allowed. Notice that you’re going to be charged a $15 corkage price if you wish to convey the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink. Drinks introduced on board have to be carried in your carry-on baggage.
Smoking coverage
On most ships, smoking (together with digital cigarettes) is barely allowed in designated outside areas and in casinos and nightclubs. It is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. In casinos and nightclubs, solely cigarette smoking is allowed. On Carnival ships in Australia, smoking is barely allowed in designated outside areas.
Laundry
Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There is a $3.25-per-load cost to make use of a washer or dryer. The launderettes even have merchandising machines that dispense small packing containers of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per field.
Moreover, vessels provide extra-charge laundry and, on choose ships, dry-cleaning companies.
Notice that three of the road’s latest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia — do not need launderettes. Carnival followers are fairly peeved about this, and you ought to be, too. Write the road a letter.
Electrical retailers
Most vessels have commonplace North American-style, 110-volt retailers in rooms, in addition to European-style, 220-volt retailers. A rising variety of vessels even have USB ports in cabins.
The exceptions are the 2 Carnival ships that historically have sailed in Australia (Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor), that are fitted with an ordinary Australian three-point plug or adapter offering 220/240 volts, 60 hertz. Adapters can be found on these ships for buy if wanted.
Forex
The forex used on most Carnival ships is {dollars}. The exceptions are Carnival ships primarily based in Australia, the place pricing is listed in Australian {dollars}.
All vessels function on a cashless system, with any onboard purchases you make posting routinely to your onboard account. You will obtain a Sail & Signal card that you need to use to make costs. This similar card additionally will get you into your cabin.
Consuming age
You have to be 21 to devour alcohol on most Carnival ships. The consuming age on sailings on Carnival ships in Australia is eighteen.
Costume code
Throughout the day, there is no such thing as a particular costume code, and folks costume casually. If it is a sea day in a warm-weather vacation spot and also you’re certain for the highest deck, which means wanting like you are going to the seashore — T-shirts, shorts and bathing fits (with a cover-up to go inside) are simply nice.
Throughout the evenings, there’s an official costume code, but it surely’s fairly laid-back. Most nights are designated “cruise informal,” which suggests simply that — khakis or denims, polo shirts, sundresses, and so forth. Tremendous informal gadgets corresponding to cutoff denims, males’s sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and health club shorts aren’t permitted.
One or two nights a cruise, there will likely be a extra formal “cruise elegant” evening, throughout which males are anticipated to prove in costume slacks and a costume shirt, ideally with a sport coat or perhaps a go well with. The instructed apparel for ladies on such nights is cocktail clothes, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses.
Associated: Cruise packing listing: The final word information to what to pack for a cruise
Carnival Cruise Line loyalty program
Carnival has a point-based frequent cruiser program, the VIFP Membership, that has 5 tiers, starting from Blue (requiring no factors) to Diamond (200 factors).
Members earn 1 level for each evening they sail on one of many line’s ships. To hit the second tier, Purple, you will have to take one cruise. Reaching the third tier, Gold, requires 25 factors.
There may be one twist to the incomes construction, and it is in your favor: If you are going to hit a tier cutoff throughout a voyage, you’ll obtain the advantages of that tier from the start of that cruise.
In different phrases, in case you are crusing seven-night cruises, you’ll be Gold degree in your fourth crusing, as you’ll be passing the 25-day mark on that crusing.
As is typical with cruise line loyalty applications, decrease tiers do not convey all that a lot by way of actually useful advantages.
Actually, the decrease tiers of the Carnival program are among the many stingiest in your complete cruise universe. You will obtain issues like a single complimentary bottle of water (on the Purple tier) and a single free drink that may solely be ordered on the final evening of a cruise (on the Gold tier). Greater ranges of this system are extra engaging.
Associated: Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP Membership loyalty program: All the pieces that you must know
The second-to-highest tier, Platinum (75 factors), brings such perks as precedence check-in and boarding, precedence debarkation, precedence dinner reservations, precedence spa reservations and precedence water shuttle boarding. Platinum members additionally get complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service (with a restrict of two to 5 luggage, relying on the size of the cruise).
The highest Diamond degree (200 factors) affords added perks corresponding to limitless free wash-and-fold laundry service, a assured seating time in the primary restaurant, a devoted toll-free quantity for gross sales and repair and a one-time room improve.
Notice that in distinction to airline frequent flyer applications, cruise line loyalty applications don’t require you to requalify for standing yearly. So, sure, the perks with decrease tiers aren’t nice. Nevertheless, it isn’t as troublesome as it’d at first appear to hit the extra rewarding higher-level tiers in just some years should you’re cruising so much.
A Carnival passenger taking seven-night cruises will hit the Platinum degree throughout their eleventh crusing. Sail just a few longer voyages, like a transatlantic crusing, and you could possibly attain it even sooner.
In case you are curious, VIFP stands for Very Necessary Enjoyable Particular person.
Associated: Cruise line loyalty program information: The right way to earn perks with the most important manufacturers
How a lot does a Carnival cruise price?
Normally, Carnival ships are among the many most reasonably priced at sea. It is not unusual to search out Carnival voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Mexico beginning properly underneath $100 per individual, per evening, together with all taxes and charges — at the least within the offseason.
As of this story’s posting, six-night Mexican Riviera sailings out of Lengthy Seaside, California, in 2026 had been beginning at $449 per individual, together with all taxes and charges. That works out to simply $75 per evening, per individual for a bundle that features your lodging, transportation and meals.
As you would possibly count on, pricing for ships will typically be decrease throughout offseason durations corresponding to September, October and elements of November.
The timing of once you ebook may matter. Cruises ebook up a lot additional upfront than airplanes or motels, and plenty of cruisers will inform you that one of the best pricing for any given crusing is usually obtainable when cruises first go on sale (which generally is a good two years earlier than a departure). Reserving far upfront provides you one of the best probability of getting your most popular cabin kind and placement on a ship.
As soon as on board a Carnival ship, you will pay further for many drinks, extra-charge eating places, spa companies, shore excursions, web service and some different issues — except you have purchased a bundle for a few of these gadgets upfront. Most onboard actions, corresponding to exhibits and deck-top points of interest, are included within the fare.
Associated: 15 ways in which cruising newbies waste cash on their first cruise
The right way to ebook
In the event you’re certain you already know what kind of cabin you need, on which ship, on which itinerary — and a couple of dozen different issues — you’ll be able to head over to carnival.com to ebook instantly.
That mentioned, given the complexity of reserving a cruise — there are lots of selections to make throughout the reserving course of; belief us — we advocate you employ a seasoned journey agent who focuses on cruises.
A great journey agent will quiz you about your specific pursuits, journey type and preferences, and steer you to the right cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They’ll additionally allow you to if one thing goes flawed simply earlier than, throughout or after your voyage.
In the event you’re certain Carnival is your line, search for a journey agent who focuses on journeys with the model. You need somebody who understands all of the little quirks which might be distinctive to Carnival’s cabin classes and, ideally, has executed ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.
Associated: The right way to ebook a cruise utilizing factors and miles
Whether or not you employ a journey agent or not, be certain that to maximise your bank card factors when paying for the cruise through the use of a bank card that provides further factors for journey purchases. This might be the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges), which affords 3 Chase Final Rewards factors per greenback spent on journey and eating (excluding the annual $300 journey credit score). There’s additionally the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges), which affords 2 Final Rewards factors per greenback spent on journey and three factors per greenback spent on eating.
Backside line
Carnival ships are all about enjoyable in a full of life, let’s-not-take-this-too-seriously form of approach. They’re additionally extremely reasonably priced. Simply do not count on something too fancy or intellectual.
It is a price range trip, not a luxurious product, and one that’s typically a bit excessive in its keep-the-party-going method.
If the thought of crew members dancing throughout your meal in eating rooms or rowdy karaoke events makes you cringe, this is not the road for you. Nevertheless, should you’re able to let unfastened and be somewhat goofy, it could be an ideal alternative.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
