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6-day Carnival Horizon cruise from Miami

6-day Carnival Horizon Itineraries and Cruise Schedule from Miami

6-day Western Caribbean cruise from Miami onboard Carnival Horizon

Departure Date: Sunday, June 30, 2024

Line Name: Carnival Cruise Line

Ship Name: Carnival Horizon

Duration: 6-day cruise

Cruise Type: Roundtrip cruise

Ports of Call: Miami (4:00pm), Ocho Rios (9:00am-5:00pm), George Town (8:00am-4:00pm), Cozumel (10:30am-6:30pm), Miami (8:00am);

Departure Date: Sunday, July 14, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, July 28, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, August 11, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, October 20, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024

Departure Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024

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Carnival Horizon 6-Day Cruise Live Blog: Day 1 (Miami)

Last Updated on August 22, 2023

Getting to the port

Join along as we embark on a 6-day sailing on the Carnival Horizon . This 6-day cruise left out of Miami which is a great port to leave from. Miami has to be one of the easiest ports in the country; it’s a short distance from the airport and there’s a ton of hotels nearby if you fly in the day before. I flew in the night before and stayed in the Brickell district at the Fortune House Hotel Suites , which I would highly recommend. Our cruise check-in time was at 12:30, but we decided to just head over to the terminal at check out time (11am).

Getting onto the Horizon (embarkation)

We used Lyft to get to the terminal from the hotel, which took about 15 minutes and cost $12. As soon as we got out of the Lyft, a porter was there to take our large check-in bags. He made sure our room tags were on them, and for one that was a little loose, stapled it to make sure it was secure. After giving him a few bucks for a tip, we headed to the entrance to Terminal D, where the Horizon is most often docked in Miami.

Because we were there about an hour before our official check in time, we went to the “Early/Late Arrivals lines.” There were maybe 4 or 5 people in front of us. This was my first time cruising from Miami and, as I mentioned here , I was honestly SHOCKED at how streamlined the embarkation process was there. Because we had already checked in online, we just showed our boarding passes and passports, and the agents scanned them with a portable scanner. Then we put our carry on bags through the X-ray, walked through the metal detector and were on our way onto the ship. No waiting, no lines or anything. It was literally 15 minutes from when we first entered the terminal until we were on the Lanai of the ship eating free BBQ.

After a series of ramps and hallways, you board the Horizon from the Deck 3 Main Atrium. Unlike other Carnival ships, the Horizon doesn’t have a floor to ceiling atrium with glass elevators; instead it’s a 3-story central lobby with a large LED funnel. While the funnel had really cool dynamic displays on it throughout the cruise, it wasn’t as visually impressive in person as it comes out in pictures. It just felt a bit small and cramped compared to other ships I’ve been on.

Once we got through through the Lobby, we made a bee-line for Guy’s Pig and Anchor to check out the BBQ ( see the menu here ). Most people don’t know that on Carnival ships with BBQ restaurants, it’s open for lunch on Embarkation Day. Not only is it usually tasty BBQ, but there’s also much smaller lines because it’s 5 floors away from the main dining venues and people don’t know it’s there. It was a nice quiet lunch looking out on the City of Miami. I loved the pork butt? which was quite tasty.

Exploring the Carnival Horizon

Next, we did one of my favorite cruise activities…exploring the ship to see all the areas. It’s always fun to check it out before it’s filled with passengers. The ship is large but pretty spacious feeling. It had a really nice contemporary decor with modern color schemes and clean lines. We worked our way up the ship using the elevators as to avoid the insane elevator lines that were forming.

While we were waiting for Muster Drill to start, I had a “snack” at Guy’s Burgers Joint (see the menu here) . If you’ve never had a Guy’s Burger, you’re missing out. They are not only the best burger I’ve ever had on a cruise, but they’re, quite possibly, the best burgers I’ve had anywhere ever. My favorite is the Straight Up burger and then I go to the fixin’s bar and add on some dill pickles and bacon bits. Delicious!

Adventure on the ropes course and SkyRide

After the Muster Drill, we rushed to the Sports Deck so we could try the Ropes Course and the Sky Ride before long lines formed. We got up there before anyone else and it took about 10 minutes before staff arrived and started to open up the attractions. The Sky Ride, basically a suspended bicycle that loops around the Sports Deck, was pretty cool. At some points, you’re hanging over the Lanai deck which is 5 or so deck beneath you. It also has some hills and dips that make it more intense. It was cute for what it was, but I didn’t need to ride more than once.

The ropes course was more challenging. The instructor straps you in, but your pretty much on your own while you’re up there. Each section of the course has an “easy” and a “challenging” option. With the high winds, moving ship and a lot of people watching me, I opted for the “easy” way on most challenges. The whole ropes course is confined to the Sports Deck, so at no point are you hanging over the Lanai (5 stores below) of the ocean itself (10 stories below). It’s was quite fun though.

Checking Out Our Balcony Stateroom

After that, we went to our room and got our room keys (Carnival now leaves your room keys at your room, so it speeds up the embarkation process). We had a balcony room on the 9th floor. We chose the 9th floor because we heard the elevators could be a pain and this way we wouldn’t need to use them if we were going to the pools, Serenity area, Lido Buffet, etc.

The room itself was spacious for a cruise ship. Even though the Horizon is one of Carnival’s newest ships, the room didn’t feel all that much different from their other ships I’ve been on. It has the same layout of 2 twin beds or a king (the two beds pushed together) and a comfy couch. There are plenty of closets and drawers for storage as well. The ship does have built in USB ports for charging though, which is a nice addition.

Dinner and Drinks

We choose for set time dining and we were able to get the earlier 6 pm seating. I always prefer set time dining because we have the same waiter every night and you get a nice rapport with them. Set time dining is in the Reflections Restaurant and we were seating at a long table with 5 other couples. While some people prefer individual tables (you can always ask the matre’d at embarkation), I like meeting new people and getting to hear other people’s experiences on the ship.

We ended the night with a little gambling and drinking. The casino felt smaller than some of the other ships I’ve been on (although it’s actually bigger), but it was clean and well laid out. The mini-LED funnel added a cool atmosphere and made it easy to figure out where you were on the ship. Smoke in a casino is always a problem, but this was was no where near as smoky as some older ships that I’ve been on.

Follow along on our 6-day cruise on the Carnival Horizon

Carnival Horizon – Cruise Blog - Day 1 – Miami

Carnival Horizon – Cruise Blog - Day 2 – Sea Day

Carnival Horizon – Cruise Blog - Day 3 – Amber Cove

Carnival Horizon – Cruise Blog - Day 4 – Grand Turk

Carnival Horizon – Cruise Blog - Day 5 – Sea Day

Carnival Horizon – Cruise Blog - Day 6 – Nassau

5 Hits & Misses of the Carnival Horizon

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Related posts:

• Welcome to Cruise Spotlight
• Carnival Horizon 6-Day Cruise: Day 2 (Sea Day)

Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 19 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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Answered: How Much Does a Carnival Cruise Cost?

When it comes to cruising, Carnival Cruise Line is among the lowest-priced options in the industry. Whether you’re wanting a quick getaway or you want to go on a longer trip, you’ll find that the cruise line has some of the best fares you’ll find.

So how much does a Carnival cruise cost? What you’ll pay will vary widely depending on the specifics of your cruise. Cruise for a week on the newest ship in the fleet? Obviously, you should expect to pay more than a quick 3-day getaway on an older ship.

Even so, we have some data on what you can expect to pay no matter which cruise you select to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay to sail with Carnival.

What Goes Into the Cost to Cruise With Carnival

Before we get into the actual prices that you will pay, it’s helpful to understand what goes into the price of your cruise. These factors can drastically alter what you pay by hundreds of even thousands of dollars.

Of course, the type of cabin that you sail on Carnival will have a big impact on what you pay. Interior cabins — which sit on the inside of the ship and have no windows — are the least expensive rooms that you will find. From there, the prices rise for oceanview, balcony rooms, and suites. So you can pay thousands more for the exact same cruise if you sail in the nicest rooms compared to the least expensive.

But Carnival has more than four different room options. Newer ships have a number of special cabin types like Cloud 9 cabins (near the spa) and Havana staterooms. These rooms will have special décor and features like access to exclusive areas such as private pools. They will also carry a higher price tag.

Just like cabins, cruise ships will also see different costs. As a rule of thumb, the newer the ship, the higher the price you can expect to pay. However, that doesn’t mean every trip aboard that newer ship will be more expensive than every trip on an older one.

Still, in general, if you’re wanting to sail on the newest ships that also have the most to do, then expect to pay a bit more.

For example, take a July 2023 cruise aboard Carnival Celebration (the line’s newest ship) from Miami. Here, the cruise fare for a six-day trip in an interior cabin runs $759 per person. 

A trip 6-day trip aboard Carnival Horizon (a ship built in 2017), leaving the same time of year from the exact same port costs $679 per person for an interior cabin — or about $80 less.

Time of Year

Finally, the last major factor in what you’ll pay to cruise on Carnival is the time of year you sail. The same trip departing at different points of the year will have drastically different prices.

The easy rule of thumb is that Carnival’s prices are cheaper when school is in session and more expensive during breaks in the school year. As a family-oriented cruise line, more demand when school is out means higher prices.

Let’s take that same trip aboard Carnival Celebration that departs for six days. If you sail in July, then the cost for an interior cabin starts at $759 per person. But the exact same itinerary costs just $449 per person if sailing in September. That’s $310 per person less.

Other Costs to Consider

While the cost of your cruise will vary widely based on the ship, time of year, and the cabin you choose, there are also some more costs that you should keep in mind. These costs won’t vary as much from cruise to cruise, but they still impact your bottom line.

Port Fees/Taxes

One considerable expense on your cruise will be the fees and taxes that are tacked onto the cruise fare. These will vary based on the cost of your trip and also the ports you sail from and visit. However, for most cruises they run between $100-$200 per person. Unfortunately, there isn’t any way that you can avoid these fees; they are added in with your cruise fare that you pay.

Onboard Spending

One area that you do have a lot of power over what you spend is with onboard spending. This category includes everything from drinks onboard to casino gambling to spa services and more. Technically you could sail the entire cruise and not spend a dime on the ship, but that’s not realistic for most people. Still, what’s spent on the ship will vary widely from person to person. On average, Carnival Corporation (the parent of Carnival Cruise Line, Princess and others) reports that a passenger spends about $100 per person, per day on their ships.

In cruising, gratuities are a fact of life. Yes, technically they are optional in that you can go down to Guest Services and have them removed from you account if there is a problem with service. However, for the vast majority of people, the gratuity charges — which go to people like the waitstaff and your room steward — are just a fact of life. Carnival charges $14.50 per person per day for gratuities on its trips ($16.50 per person per day for suites).

Getting to Port

Finally, don’t forget to factor in the cost it takes to get to port to set sail on your cruise. If you are flying in, then you’ll have to purchase airfare, plus a hotel if flying in the night before. As well, don’t forget to factor in transportation to the cruise port. Driving in for your cruise? It’s definitely more convenient, but don’t forget that you’ll have to pay for parking while you’re gone.

With all these items in mind, what can you expect to pay to sail on Carnival? We have a cost breakdown below…

What You Can Expect to Pay to Sail Carnival

As mentioned, your cost to sail on Carnival (or any cruise line) can vary widely based on your trip specifics. That’s why we’ve broken down the cost to sail on Carnival into three different categories — a budget cruise, an average cruise, and a high-end trip. This will give you a better idea of what you’ll pay based on your specifics.

Cost of a Budget Cruise on Carnival

For a budget cruise, we assume you are taking a cruise during the off-season for 3-5 days and staying in an interior cabin on an older ship. This gets you on the ship and having a fun vacation for a more affordable price than what many will spend.

One example cruise we found a 4-day cruise aboard Carnival Radiance , departing Long Beach in late February . It offers the following pricing for an interior cabin and is a good representation of what you can expect when looking for an inexpensive cruise aboard Carnival:

Keep in mind this estimate doesn’t include your transportation to the port. But it gives you a good idea of what you’d spend to cruise on a budget. Here, the cost works out to about $140 per person, per day with all the costs included.

Cost of an Average Cruise on Carnival

While there is no such thing as an “average” cruise given all the variables, for this mid-tier vacation, we’re assuming a 7-day trip in a balcony cabin aboard a newer (but not the newest) ship in the fleet during the summer. As well, we assume that you spend a little more on board than someone would on a budget vacation.

The pricing below is for a 7-day cruise aboard Carnival Vista in a balcony cabin , sailing from Galveston in April .

Here with the upgrade to the balcony cabin, a longer cruise, and a newer ship, you can see that the cost of the cruise jumps considerably. But one thing to keep in mind is that a large portion of this estimate is onboard spending where you have the most control over what you’ll spend.

Cost of a High-End Cruise on Carnival

Finally, let’s consider what you’d pay for a high-end cruise on Carnival. Here, we are assuming a passenger staying in a suite aboard the newest ship and sailing at the peak of the summer season. As well, we assume a higher level of onboard spending on things like drinks, specialty restaurants and the spa.

The pricing below is for a 7-day cruise aboard Carnival Celebration in a suite cabin , leaving in July from Miami .

Here, the price jumps considerably with a new ship, higher-tier cabin, and sailing in the peak of the summer season. For that more luxurious experience, you end up paying about $425 per person, per day.

How Much Does a Carnival Cruise Cost?

As you can see, there is no set cost on what you can pay to cruise. Want to cruise for cheap and only spend a few hundred per person? That’s possible. Want to go all out, stay in the nicest cabins on the newest ships? It will cost considerably more.

In general, however, we think you’re best off estimating around $200-$300 per person, per day for a cruise on Carnival when all expenses are factored in.

In fact, in public investment filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Carnival Corporation (which encompasses Carnival and other cruise lines) shows an average cruise fare per day of around $150 per person and average onboard spending of around $100 per day — for a total of roughly $250 per day.

But it should be clear that what you pay can vary widely around that average depending on the sort of cruise you want to take.

What about sales on Carnival?

Head to the Carnival website, and you’ll no doubt see that they are running a special sale. That’s because these sales go year-round. And while they might be tweaked occasionally, it usually doesn’t lead to big swings in the price for the cruise. So it’s unlikely that you’ll look one day and see a price that’s drastically less (or more) than the day before.

That said, yes, occasionally there are special offers or prices — especially if you’re a VIFP member (Carnival’s loyalty program) with high status. But in general, we suggest not letting sale offers dictate when you decide to buy.

What about the cost of third or fourth passengers?

Sailing with a family? Then the pricing gets a little different. Above, we’ve accounted for two passengers in the cabin. In that case, both passengers pay the same cruise fare. Add a third or fourth person to the room and it’s slightly different.

In this case, the fare for the third person is drastically reduced — sometimes up to 70-80% the fare paid by the first two passengers. Still, they will have to pay the full share of port fees and gratuities.

Even so, sailing with a third or fourth passengers is among the best deals in travel.

More on Sailing Carnival:

• 47 Best Carnival Cruise Line Tips & Tricks
• Complete Guide to Sailing Carnival Cruise Line (What It’s Like)
• Worth It? 15+ Questions & Answers About the Carnival CHEERS! Package

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Carnival Dinner Menus for 7 and 8 Night Cruises

by Prof. Cruise · Published July 18, 2023 · Updated February 25, 2024

Current (Updated) Dinner Menus for 7 and 8-Night Carnival Cruises

Here are the newest fleet-wide dinner menus on Carnival for a 7 or 8-night cruise (you can find the menus for 3-night cruises HERE , 4-night cruises HERE , 5-night cruises HERE , 6-night cruises HERE , and 14-night cruises HERE ). All ships have now received these new menus.

While this will almost always be the order of the menus, if you’re using these to plan for speciality nights, I highly recommend stopping by the MDR on embarkation day and double checking with the maître d,’ as occasionally on certain itineraries the order will be different.

*Important note about the 2nd elegant night and lobster. On 8-night cruises, the second elegant night serving complimentary lobster will take place on night 7. On 7-night cruises, the second elegant night (serving complimentary lobster) will take place on night 6.

INDEX (skip to): Carnival 7-night dinner menus Carnival 8-night dinner menus

Here are the new menus:

CARNIVAL 7-NIGHT DINNER MENUS

Carnival’s 7-night dinner menu, night 1.

Carnival’s 7-Night Dinner Menu, Night 2 (elegant night)

Carnival’s 7-Night Dinner Menu, Night 3

Carnival’s 7-Night Dinner Menu, Night 4

Carnival’s 7-Night Dinner Menu, Night 5

Carnival’s 7-Night Dinner Menu, Night 6 (2nd elegant night)

Carnival’s 7-Night Dinner Menu, Night 7

CARNIVAL 8-NIGHT DINNER MENUS

Carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 1, carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 2 (elegant night), carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 3, carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 4, carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 5.

Carnival’s 8-Night Dinner Menu, Night 6

Carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 7 (2nd elegant night), carnival’s 8-night dinner menu, night 8, looking for additional carnival menus.

Carnival Bar Menus and Drink Prices 2024

Carnival Menus 2024

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Today’s Bonus Cruising Tip

I ALWAYS buy travel insurance (especially during these uncertain times) to cover my cruises, but I NEVER purchase it through Carnival . It costs more and usually covers less than policies you purchase on your own. I go through sites like  travelinsurance.com  to compare plans and prices and get the best deal for the coverage I want. Spend less on insurance and spend more on excursions, special onboard cruise experiences and…future cruises!

Icon of the Seas Bar Menus and Drink Prices

February 4, 2024

 by Prof. Cruise · Published February 4, 2024

Carnival Cruise Line’s Christmas Dinner Menu 2021

December 4, 2021

 by Prof. Cruise · Published December 4, 2021

Princess Bar and Drink Menus 2022

May 4, 2022

 by Prof. Cruise · Published May 4, 2022 · Last modified August 8, 2022

13 Responses

• Pingbacks 5

too much chicken–where are the fish meals. why not have beer battered fish with chips.. get rid of pasta dishes tooo many.

I can’t find escargot on any of the dinners! Is it still served?

nope was what I was told but will wait and see

Do you have a kids menu?? Would love you see it please. My grandsons can be picky and to take care of it before we board!!!

https://profcruise.com/carnival-kids-menus/

Carnival’s VP of Food Richard told John Heald to announce the the beef strip loin would be taken off these new menus and replaced with the flat iron steak they used to serve every day in the MDR. These menus still show the strip loin steak. Also, some ships have not yet begun to serve the new menus.

What would the menu lineup look like for cruises shorter than 8 nights?

Emeril additions look good! I am confused as to which menus would be served on day 6 and 7 of a 7 day cruise. Would the day 8 elegant night menu shown above be served on day 6 and then day 7 would just be day 7 as shown? (And day 6 would only be used on and 8 day cruise?)

[…] You can see the new dinner menus for a 7-night cruise posted HERE: […]

[…] Since this post was originally written, Carnival has announced new fleet-wide dinner menus that will be rolled out to all ships by 2024. To see the new menus and which ships will be getting them first, go HERE. […]

[…] Carnival’s NEW Dinner Menus! […]

[…] ***UPDATE*** A FINAL VERSION OF THE NEW CARNIVAL DINNER MENUS HAS BEEN RELEASED. SEE THE FINAL FLEET-WIDE MENUS HERE*** […]

[…] NEW Carnival Fleet-Wide Dinner Menus for 7 and 8 night cruises […]

• Next story Ten Reasons You Should NOT Remain Loyal To A Single Cruise Line (And One Reason You SHOULD)
• Previous story Carnival Begins Rollout of New Fleet-Wide Dinner Menus

About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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crazycruzer68

And why do people call it Captains night, I haven't ever saw the captain at dinner?

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10 minutes ago, crazycruzer68 said: And why do people call it Captains night, I haven't ever saw the captain at dinner?

Captains have to eat too! 😀

On the six day cruises we've been on there is only one. 😎

There are 2 elegant nights on cruises 6 nights and longer. They are typically your second day, and second to last day. It's not always a sea day.

2 hours ago, teknoge3k said: There are 2 elegant nights on cruises 6 nights and longer. They are typically your second day, and second to last day. It's not always a sea day.

I second this ^^ 

adventuredancer

how many for a 9 day cruise?

ilovesparky13

42 minutes ago, adventuredancer said: how many for a 9 day cruise?

It’s two formal nights for 6+ days. I wish they would do more for longer cruises. 

1 minute ago, ilovesparky13 said: It’s two formal nights for 6+ days. I wish they would do more for longer cruises. 

thanks. we have taken many 7 day cruises. but this upcoming one is either 9 or 10 days (i keep mixing it up). so i wondered if there would be more formal nights

7 hours ago, Jamman54 said: Captains have to eat too! 😀 On the six day cruises we've been on there is only one. 😎

I sit corrected. Looking back at our six day cruises, there were two cruise elegant nights. My bad. 😎

https://www.carnival.com/help/1093

Mutumbojimbo

19 hours ago, crazycruzer68 said: And why do people call it Captains night, I haven't ever saw the captain at dinner?

On at least one of the Cruise Elegant nights there is usually an opportunity to meet the Captain somewhere on the ship for a photo and a quick word. 

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6-Day Exotic Western Caribbean Cruise

Fun with a capital F is what you can expect on a Carnival Cruise. With the largest fleet at sea Carnival offers sailings perfect for the whole family.

Cruise to the Caribbean for tropical weather and splendid beach-side excursions.

Whether it’s a trip to the historical streets of Ybor, a day in the Florida Aquarium or a nice Cuban-infused meal, your time in Tampa will make you consider a longer stay.

• Carnival Paradise - Passenger Capacity: 2,124 (double occupancy) Year Built: 1998 Last Refurbished: 2018

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

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Royal caribbean vs. carnival: quick comparison chart.

Decide which line is best based on costs, food, onboard entertainment and other key factors.

Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line have quite a bit in common.

Trying to choose between Royal Caribbean and Carnival for your next cruise? Check out the comparison chart below, then read on for more details.

Winner: Royal Caribbean

When it comes to fleet size as well as the features available on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean has an edge over Carnival Cruise Line. That's because Royal Caribbean already has 28 ships in operation, including its incredible Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class ships. Oasis Class vessels like Allure of the Seas , Symphony of the Seas , Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are some of the largest in the world – and Royal Caribbean Group is constantly rolling out new, even bigger cruise ships with better amenities and new features. For example, the new Icon of the Seas (scheduled to debut in 2024) plans to have the largest water park at sea, the largest swimming pool at sea, and a range of over-the-top cabins and suites for families of all sizes.

Meanwhile, Carnival currently operates 25 different vessels with a few more on the way. Newer ships like Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia aren't as large and grand as Royal Caribbean ships, nor are the brand-new vessels the company is planning for late 2023 and 2024. For example, the new Carnival Jubilee that is set to begin sailing later in 2023 will have 15 passenger decks and capacity for up to 6,631 guests, compared to 18 guest decks and 7,600 passengers on Icon of the Seas.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

SBW-Photo | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Comparing cabins across cruise lines as a whole isn't an easy feat, mostly because companies tend to offer larger suites and cabins with a better layout on their newer ships . You'll therefore likely have a nicer cabin on one of Carnival's newest vessels compared to an older ship from Royal Caribbean, and of course the opposite is also true. Cabin sizes and layouts also vary widely across the vessels of both brands, and that's true even for basic interior, ocean view and balcony cabins.

That said, Royal Caribbean still comes out ahead in this category, since the line boasts more square footage in some of the most basic cabins as well as more over-the-top luxury accommodations, especially for families.

As an example, most inside cabins on Allure of the Seas feature 172 square feet of space, whereas Carnival Celebration's inside cabins are slightly smaller at 158 square feet. Meanwhile, the largest suites on Celebration are the Carnival Excel Presidential Suite, with 1,120 square feet of space including the balcony, and the Carnival Excel Aft Suite, which has 861 square feet of interior and balcony space. Compare those options to the Sky Loft Suites on Allure of the Seas, which feature 1,132 square feet across the room and balcony, and the spacious two-bedroom AquaTheater Suites with 1,595 square feet including the balcony.

Book a cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Winner: Tie

Food options vary widely across vessels within any cruise brand, and this is especially true with Royal Caribbean and Carnival. For example, older ships from both cruise lines offer fewer specialty dining options overall along with the main dining rooms and buffet options cruisers come to expect, whereas newer ships from both lines feature a lot more unique and innovative options.

When you view the cruise dining options from both lines, you'll quickly find that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean pull out all the stops when it comes to food. For example, Carnival ships include a range of eateries from large and expansive buffets to main dining rooms to unique offerings like Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. Meanwhile, specialty dining on Carnival vessels features options like teppanyaki, Emeril's Bistros at Sea and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.

Royal Caribbean ships feature convenient buffets and main dining room experiences, as well as included options like pizza kitchens, noodle bars and casual fast food. Specialty dining on Royal Caribbean ranges from the brand's Chef's Table experience to Johnny Rockets' burgers and shakes to innovative fine dining at Wonderland.

Drink packages

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer drink packages that cruisers can purchase as part of their vacation to get a more all-inclusive feel . Then again, the value of these packages depends on how much you drink over the course of your trip. Also note that the cost of drink packages across all cruise lines can vary depending on the ship, itinerary, travel dates, length of trip and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out slightly ahead in this category because the line offers three tiers of drink packages for guests with different needs. Choose from the Classic Soda Package; the Refreshment Package, which includes soda along with coffees, juices and even milkshakes at Johnny Rockets; and the Deluxe Beverage Package, which adds in beer, cocktails and wine by the glass. Meanwhile, Carnival offers just two different drink packages: the Bottomless Bubbles package, which covers soft drinks and juice, and the Cheers! drink package, which adds in spirits and cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffee, energy drinks and more.

Read: Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line

Onboard activities

Analyzing onboard activities across cruise lines isn't always easy – you really have to break down this category by ship for a true comparison. When you do that with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, you'll find that both lines offer fun activities for all ages, from onboard water parks to hosted games, casinos and more.

That said, Royal Caribbean does take things up a notch in this category, especially on the line's newer ships. Some Royal Caribbean vessels offer escape rooms, surf simulators, zip lines, game shows and over-the-top water parks with incredible slides for thrill-seekers. For example, Freedom of the Seas boasts huge onboard waterslides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, mini-golf and more. Don't forget about Icon of the Seas with its massive water park and pool offerings in the works. Meanwhile, standout activities on Carnival ships include Family Feud Live, onboard water parks and the thrilling SkyRide.

Compare Royal Caribbean cruises on GoToSea .

Live entertainment

The quality of cruise ship entertainment varies widely based on the quality of the talent booked for individual ships. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer their share of live music and entertainment, including performances by bands and singers, karaoke, and piano bars. Meanwhile, both lines also boast their own theaters on every vessel, which often feature Broadway-style shows, singing and dancing, comedy acts, and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out ahead in this category since its vessels feature award-winning musicals like "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia!" and "Cats." The open-air AquaTheater on Oasis Class ships also wows guests with incredible diving feats, stunts and aerial acrobatics. Some Royal Caribbean ships even have onboard ice skating performances and ice games.

Explore cruise deals on  GoToSea .

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Kids programming

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Winner: Carnival

Both cruise lines have kids clubs that cater to younger guests of all ages, with each one offering supervised care so parents can drop the kids off for some alone time or a quiet dinner on the ship. However, Carnival stands out slightly in this category due to the six different clubs offered across the fleet for children and teens between 6 months and 17 years old. Carnival also offers supervised Night Owls services for kids 11 and younger, which lets parents get out and have some late-night fun for an extra charge.

Royal Caribbean offers four kids clubs for children ages six months to 12, along with a separate club for tweens and teens . Supervised child care is available for free during the day, and you can opt for paid care after hours as well.

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Adults-only offerings

Both cruise lines offer their share of adults-only spaces and things to do, from onboard casinos to luxurious spas to bars that offer cocktails and live entertainment at all hours of the day and night. Carnival and Royal Caribbean also offer adults-only areas on some of their ships.

On Carnival, for example, cruisers will find the Serenity Adults-Only Retreat for sailors 21 and older with extra space and comfortable chairs for relaxation, along with its own bar nearby. On many Royal Caribbean vessels, on the other hand, the onboard Solarium for ages 16-plus has its own pool and extra space to find peace and quiet.

Carnival's Serenity relaxation area is included for guests. While Royal Caribbean's Solarium is typically also included, on certain sailings there is restricted access by fare class.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Shore excursions

Getty Images

Shore excursions offered by cruise lines are largely operated by third-party companies and are often the same across brands. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean boast a broad selection of excursions in destinations around the world, from snorkeling and scuba tours in the Caribbean to city tours, horseback riding, cooking classes and more.

Both cruise lines offer private and custom tours you can book through your ship as well.

Compare cruises on GoToSea .

Private island experiences

Royal Caribbean and Carnival each have their own private island in the Bahamas , which is included in most itineraries to this part of the world. These private islands provide a fun beach escape for families to enjoy, whether you want to relax in the sun or take part in some of the available activities.

Royal Caribbean's private island, called Perfect Day at CocoCay, is the more impressive option due to everything it includes: a heart-thumping water park, its own wave pool, a zip line, a hot air balloon experience and overwater bungalows you can book for the day, among other offerings. Meanwhile, Carnival's Half Moon Cay has a unique beached pirate ship to explore – but fewer amenities overall.

Note that both private islands have plenty of beach space for guests to spread out and relax, as well as restaurants and bars. You can also book excursions on both private islands, which include activities like snorkeling and water sports.

Read: The Top Cruise Line Private Islands

Comparing costs across cruise lines can be tricky since fares and available sales vary throughout the year, as well as based on the vessel booked, the cruise itinerary, the number and age of travelers, and more. To get an idea of who wins on price, we looked for two similar cruises on comparable ships from Carnival and Royal Caribbean, then priced out an option for a family of four with two children ages 8 and 10. For the purpose of this comparison, we used seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises on Carnival Celebration and Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, both of which began sailing in 2022.

The Carnival Celebration itinerary from Miami stops in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico ; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands . By comparison, the Wonder of the Seas sailing leaves from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten ; San Juan; and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

The chart below shows the total cost (including taxes and fees) for a family of four in January 2024 in both an ocean view and a typical balcony cabin across both cruise lines. Note that, for the purpose of this comparison, we selected the least expensive room option in each category.

Read: How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 30 times across most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries around the world. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate this cruise line comparison.

You might also be interested in:

• Icon of the Seas Review
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans
• The Top Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
• How to Find Last-Minute Cruise Deals
• The Top Kids Sail Free Cruises

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I went on my first Carnival cruise — these are the 2 reasons I might not do it again

• I spent four nights on Carnival Cruise Line's new Carnival Firenze cruise ship.
• The quality of the vacation reflects its relatively affordable fares.
• I have two major gripes about my experience: the lackluster food and incessant upselling.

People love to hate Carnival Cruise Line. After sailing on the new Carnival Firenze , I now understand why: The food was as bad as the incessant upselling.

The company's ships have a reputation for being affordable but rowdy, so much so that it had once threatened to fine unruly travelers $500.

But this sour standing doesn't seem to be negatively impacting business. Its parent company, Carnival Corp , experienced "record" deposits and high-priced bookings in the first quarter of 2024.

Despite its growing popularity, I don't think I'll willingly book another Carnival cruise, or at least Carnival Firenze, again.

And it's not for the reasons you might expect.

My four nights on Carnival Firenze weren't stellar — not because of the rambunctious crowd (shocker, I know), but because of the terrible food and annoyingly endless upselling .

Carnival certainly lives up to its reputation of having affordable cruises.

The cheapest Carnival Firenze itinerary in 2024 is a four-night sailing for $359 per person, including taxes and fees. That's less than $90 a night for a hotel room at sea, unlimited food, onboard activities, and the chance to see Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.

Not bad, considering new ships typically have a steep pricing premium (Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas mega-ship starts at more than $260 a night).

The fares can’t be beat. And the quality of the food reflects that.

Look, I'm not expecting caviar and freshly shaved truffles on every plate. I can respect a sloppy burger and simple pasta, as I expected for a Carnival cruise . And seeing complimentary dishes such as beef tartare was unexpectedly welcomed.

Unfortunately, everything I ate was mediocre.

The best word to describe most of my Carnival Firenze meals is "sweet."

The honey-mustard dressing at the buffet salad station was so sugary it could've been a dessert. But even the thick, saccharine dressing couldn't moisten up the incredibly bone-dry chicken.

Sure, sure. Honey mustard is supposed to be jam-packed with sugar, and I poured it with a heavy hand. But I think a salad dressing shouldn't send diners into a sugar rush.

Some savory dishes were overpowered by unnecessary sweetness.

My main dining room entrée of shrimp and fish cake could've been great. The shrimp was perfectly bouncy, and while the fish cake was questionably mushy, it was seasoned well with a garlicky, oniony dried spice mix.

Unfortunately, the accompanying tomato sauce, sweetened like it was meant to be a sorbet, lost the dish all of its accolades.

A good tomato sauce strikes a delicate balance between sweetness and acidity. This was just sugar — and a profound ability to make decent seafood taste bad.

The dining room's clams and linguine could've also been a win if not for some major issues.

I didn't love that it came with only four or five clams, but I do love pasta dishes with a contrasting texture!

Unfortunately, said "texture" was a hard, small piece of plastic hidden among the mound of noodles.

If the food wasn’t sweet, it was heavy.

The ship's Guy Fieri-branded burger joint accrued lines before it opened for lunch. I, drawn to hyped food places like a moth to a light, was excited by its popularity.

Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy it for long. I hit a food coma about four bites into the decadently greasy pepperoni-pizza burger, served with a thick slab of fried mozzarella.

By day two, I began dreaming of light vegetables, freshness, and fiber.

But the two complimentary dining venues that catered to these needs — the Fresh Creations salad stand and La Strada Grill with sandwiches and sides — were only open during the last day of the sailing. At that point, the lack of fiber had already done its damage.

I even tried ordering off the vegan menu for breakfast one morning. Unfortunately, I was denied my meatless dish: The waiter said vegan breakfasts had to be ordered the night before, a restriction I've yet to see on another cruise.

The mediocre food marred my experience, but it wasn't the worst part of my Carnival cruise.

That title goes to the incessant, in-your-face upselling, done with a persistent annoyance reminiscent of an annoying fly buzzing around your home.

On paper, Carnival offers some ultra-cheap cruise fares . In reality, once you board the ship, you're met with an unsavory number of pay-to-play options that could quickly double your vacation cost.

Mass-market cruise lines have been increasingly upselling onboard amenities and activities.

On Norwegian's newer ships, this includes slapping a $10 fee on the mini-golf course. On Royal Caribbean's latest vessel , this means paying $49 for a ropes course that could be completed in less than a minute.

But on Carnival , even complimentary venues had pay-to-play options.

For example, the buffet, where guests had to pay for chicken wings.

Or the free dining room, where breakfast juices — shown by a waiter at each table — could be purchased for $5.

Looking for a midday snack? You could hit complimentary venues such as Il Mercato for sausages or the pizza stand for, well, pizza. Just be prepared to pay $6 if you want a Korean barbecue steak pie instead of pepperoni.

The dreaded dollar sign followed me day to night, on and off the ship.

The nightly movie screenings were free to attend. But if you want a bag of buttery popcorn, you'll have to pay $4.

That's the same price guests had to pay if they wanted to take a shuttle from the port in Ensenada to downtown.

Even scheduled onboard activities had unnecessarily gratuitous upcharges.

Tea bags during "Tea Time" were $1.50. Unaware of the price before being approached by the server, I declined on the principle of not wanting to pay.

A few minutes later, he returned to inform me that he did, in fact, have two free options stashed behind the up-charged ones: Lipton and Bigelow green tea — the only tea bags available at the buffet.

At breakfast, a server joked that my croissant and Lipton tea would cost $20.

If I didn't know any better, I would've believed him. It seemed as if almost everything I wanted came with a sneaky price tag, as seemingly intended by Carnival's parent company.

Travelers spent more money aboard Carnival Corp's ships in the first quarter of 2024 than in the same time last year. To continue this success, Josh Weinstein, the president and CEO of Carnival Corp, told investors in March that the company would continue to "push and press" its cruise lines to "optimize and maximize both on the ticket and onboard spending."

In truth, the ship does have some redeeming qualities.

The mini-golf course, waterslides, board games, and elevated ropes course were complimentary and a great way for families to pass sea days.

I arrogantly found the whole Italy-themed decor (it is called Firenze, after all) a bit tacky. But if you love the idea of a garish Las Vegas-ified Italy — think, the Walmart version of the Venetian — you could find some joy in the kitsch.

But these amenities weren’t enough to overlook the mediocre food and difficult-to-resist upselling.

Cruises are meant to be relaxing and fun. There's nothing relaxing about having to think about your finances whenever you're met with a pay-to-play option, which felt constant on Carnival Firenze. Nor is there anything fun about chewing into a piece of hidden plastic.

If you want the vacation of your dreams on Carnival's new ship, be prepared to pay up. But at that point, you may as well save that money for another ship — or cruise line.

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Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta

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Granth reports on the North American Consumer and Retail sector, covering a broad range of companies from consumer packaged goods and restaurants to department stores and apparel retailers. Granth's work on the website usually appears on the Retail & Consumer page of Reuters Business section. He holds a post-graduate degree in international relations and area studies and has previously worked as a research analyst.

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Global stock indexes mostly climbed on Tuesday, with shares of AI chipmaker Nvidia bouncing after a three-day sell-off, while the dollar gained slightly against the Japanese yen.

Carnival Rallies Over 8% On 2024's Best Day After Strong Earnings: Cruise Line 'Hit The Key Marks That Investors Were Looking For'

Goldman Sachs analyst Lizzie Dove highlighted that the cruise line’s Q2 beat and the Q3 guidance "hit the key marks that investors were looking for," driving the positive market reaction.

The investment bank maintained a ‘Buy’ rating on Carnival, setting a 12-month price target of $22 per share, implying a robust 34% surge from current levels.

Chart: Carnival Eyes Strongest Session Since November 2023

Carnival Q2 Earnings: Key Highlights

Carnival reported an adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion, far surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion and its guidance of $1.05 billion. Revenue came in at $5.78 billion, above the expected $5.7 billion.

Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.11, well above the consensus estimate of a $0.02 loss.

Dove noted several key metrics that contributed to the strong quarterly performance.

• Ticket revenue per Passenger Cruise Days (PCD) was $154.49 beating Goldman Sachs’ estimates and increasing 7.2% year-over-year.
• Onboard revenue per PCD grew by 2.9%, an improvement from the previous quarter's decline, indicating strong consumer spending.
• Occupancy rates reached 104%, surpassing the estimate of 103.3%; net yields of $186.55 exceeded expectations, marking a 12.2% year-over-year increase.
• Carnival also improved its efficiency from a cost perspective, as net cruise costs ex fuel fell 0.3% year-over-year compared to a 3% rise according to previous guidance.

Carnival Raises Q3 2024 Guidance

Carnival also raised the full-year outlook, indicate Carnival's effective management and strategic growth.

The company now expects adjusted EBITDA of $5.83 billion, up from $5.63 billion, and adjusted EPS of $1.18, up from $0.98.

For the third quarter, Carnival forecasts an EBITDA of $2.66 billion and net yield growth of 8% year-on-year.

Now Read: Chipmakers, Cruise Lines, Crypto Rally, Nvidia Reclaims $3 Trillion; Blue Chips, Small Caps Dip: What’s Driving Markets Tuesday?

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