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The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries

If the United States has a national cruise line, it's Carnival .

The self-described "fun ship" line is the king of short, affordable, fun-focused cruises from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and other nearby destinations. No matter where you live in the U.S., you're probably within a few hours of a Carnival ship.

Where you won't find Carnival ships, notably, is in Asia, South America or, for the most part, Europe. Unlike other big cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises , Carnival doesn't spread its vessels around the world to draw a fly-in crowd. Aimed squarely at Americans, its trips are all about cruising close to home at a reasonable price.

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Indeed, if you're going on a Carnival cruise , the odds are you're driving to the ship, not flying, and you're probably not paying much more than you would for a trip to a local beach town.

You're also not going for anything too highbrow. Carnival ships are all about fun in a very laid-back, unpretentious, nothing-too-fancy sort of way.

Entertainment, at times, is as lowbrow as the line is low-cost. This is, after all, the brand that for many years held a Hairy Chest Contest around the pool deck on every voyage, to a standing-room-only, hooting and hollering crowd.

The fun comes in many ways, though. While Carnival's ships for the most part aren't quite as big as the giant ships operated by Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, they're packed with a wide range of fun features, from waterparks with multiple waterslides to cooking classrooms where you can learn how to make the line's signature chocolate melting cake.

Related: A beginner's guide to picking a cruise line

3 things TPG loves about Carnival

• The "fun" focus that oozes into everything.
• The food (really — see below).
• The kids' programs.

What we could do without

• The smoke in the casino.

The Carnival Cruise Line fleet

Carnival is one of the world's biggest cruise lines by passenger capacity, with 25 ships that together offer nearly 80,000 berths.

In general, these are big ships. However, with two exceptions, they're not giants by today's standards.

Carnival has just begun operating its first truly giant ships in years, the 181,808-ton, 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 183,521-ton, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration . However, the line's next-biggest vessel, the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia , measures just 135,225 tons. That's about 40% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean .

Seven of the line's 25 vessels measure less than 100,000 tons, which makes them almost midsize by today's cruise ship standards.

Related: Every Carnival ship ranked from biggest to smallest

This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

However, for many years it chose not to follow rivals such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in building ever-bigger ships . Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are now the only Carnival ship on the list of the 50 biggest cruise ships.

The arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration over the past two years has marked a major turning point for the line. At around 180,000 tons, they rank at No. 15 and No. 13, respectively, among the world's largest cruise ships — the only Carnival ships to crack the Top 20. They are roughly 35% bigger than the line's next-biggest ship. One more ship in the series — Carnival Jubilee — will arrive in December 2023.

The 25 Carnival ships currently in operation can be broken down into eight classes: Fantasy, Spirit, Conquest, Splendor, Dream, Sunshine, Vista/Venezia and Excel. Many of those classes have a lot in common. Unlike Royal Caribbean, Carnival doesn't always drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.

Note that the Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered another sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration that will be ready to sail in late 2023.

In addition, the line in 2024 will begin operating a ship in the fleet of its sister line Costa Cruises : Costa Firenze. It'll sail from Los Angeles.

Related: The 8 classes of Carnival ships, explained

Destinations and itineraries

Carnival is all about cruises from U.S. ports. You'll find at least one of its ships sailing out of pretty much every major port city around the country. It's rare to find them based anywhere else.

Carnival's biggest operations are out of PortMiami and Port Canaveral in Florida; Galveston, Texas; Long Beach, California; and New Orleans — all major cruise hubs. You'll also find Carnival ships in such secondary cruise ship ports as Baltimore; Charleston, South Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; and Jacksonville, Florida.

The overarching idea for Carnival's ship deployments is that a large percentage of the U.S. population can reach one of the line's ships by car, saving the cost of flights.

For the most part, Carnival ships sail relatively short voyages of three to eight nights.

Carnival vessels based on the East Coast and along the Gulf of Mexico mostly sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Some East Coast ships also head to Bermuda, New England and Canada. On the West Coast, sailings to Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska are the norm.

Carnival also offers some Panama Canal voyages.

Occasionally, Carnival will deploy a ship to Europe for a few weeks or months. This often takes place when a vessel needs to go to a European shipyard for an overhaul.

In recent years, Carnival also has deployed two of its vessels to Australia to operate voyages from Sydney and Brisbane. In a departure from Carnival's American-focused business model, the Australia sailings are aimed mostly at the local Australian market, though they are open to American travelers.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival cruise

Who sails Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is the undisputed leader among North America-based cruise brands when it comes to affordability, which makes it popular with vacationers on a budget.

It's also popular with a fun-seeking crowd. Carnival trips are all about letting loose and having a good time. Maybe you'll drink a little too much, eat a little too much, play a little too much — but in the end, you'll say it was your best trip ever.

At one level, Carnival can best be described as a working man's or working woman's vacation. The typical Carnival customer is a teacher, a nurse, a firefighter, a contractor or the like, either still working or retired. This isn't a line for Wall Street bankers or white-shoe lawyers.

Carnival also is huge with families. The "fun" is for all ages, from 2-year-olds to retirees.

Still, it's just as much psychographics as demographics that define the typical Carnival customer. Carnival executives have often used the word "spirited" to describe the people who are drawn to the line, and that's as good a word as any.

Carnival draws a lively, outgoing crowd looking to be part of the action. The typical Carnival customer is the sort of person who shoots up a hand when an entertainer asks for a volunteer to come on stage or jumps up to dance during midmeal music shows in the dining room starring the waiters (yes, on Carnival, this is a thing).

Cabins and suites

Unlike some of its biggest competitors, Carnival isn't known for a huge range of cabin categories on its vessels. The vast majority of the accommodations on Carnival ships fall into one of three broad buckets: windowless inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins.

You'll find relatively few suites on Carnival ships. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista Class series, for instance, offers fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest Class ships has around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy Class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.

This is in part due to Carnival's focus on affordability. The typical Carnival customer isn't in the market for a super fancy, high-priced suite.

That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration each have 180 suites — more than twice the number of Carnival's other recent ships.

Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have 11 different categories of suites in all, four of which are part of a new premium Excel category of suites that come with extra amenities and access to a new-for-the-line, resort-style enclave at the top of the ship called Loft 19.

Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood, and cabin bathrooms are neutral.

Note that Carnival's two oldest ships — those that are part of the 1990s-built Fantasy Class — have relatively few balcony cabins by today's standards. (After retrofitting, several have around 150 balcony cabins, out of a total of more than 1,000 cabins in all.) In part because of this, Carnival has been phasing these ships out of its fleet in recent years.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival ships

Restaurants and dining

Like other big-ship operators, Carnival packs a lot of dining options onto its vessels — some included in the price, some at an extra charge.

Every vessel has two main dining rooms and a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. The buffet is called the Lido. For dinner in the main dining room, you must sign up for either Your Time dining (you go whenever you want) or Traditional Dining (you have a fixed table and time for dinner).

Other included-in-the-fare options found on most ships include what may be the two best quick-serve poolside dining venues at sea: BlueIguana Cantina and Guy's Burger Joint.

Related: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that let you skip the buffet crowds

BlueIguana is a Chipotle-style restaurant, with yummy made-to-order burritos and tacos. Created in partnership with Food Network's Guy Fieri, Guy's Burger Joint offers burgers that beat anything you'll find around the pool on other mass-market ships and even most luxury vessels.

In addition, every ship has at least one — and usually several — extra-charge eateries. The most common ones found across the fleet are Fahrenheit 555, the line's signature steakhouse, and Italian cuisine-serving Cucina del Capitano (if you're a Carnival fan, you know this as the place where waiters sing and dance between courses). The two venues have flat fees of $49 and $24 per person, respectively.

Other extra-charge eateries often found on Carnival vessels include Bonsai, an a la carte sushi restaurant (now on 14 ships), and JiJi Asian Kitchen, which costs $24 per person (now on four ships).

Six of Carnival's newest ships — Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon — also have teppanyaki eateries called Bonsai Teppanyaki (priced at a flat $42 per person for dinner; $38 at lunchtime). Most of these six ships (all but Carnival Venezia) have an a la carte barbecue-and-beer joint called Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, too.

The latter venue was created in partnership with Food Network's Guy Fieri and serves a free lunch on embarkation and sea days, with all items smoked on board.

Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, notably, has its very own in-house brewery you can see behind glass walls — something still relatively rare on cruise ships. It makes house beers including Parched Pig West Coast IPA and Parched Pig Toasted Amber which you'll find on many Carnival vessels in kegs and cans. Carnival is the only cruise line to keg and can its own beer.

The quality of the food (and drink) on Carnival ships always surprises us, given the budget pricing of the brand. Despite being one of the industry's lowest-cost operators, Carnival manages to pull off one of the best steakhouses at sea in Fahrenheit 555, and even the no-extra-charge main restaurants get the basics right.

In general, the food isn't gourmet. For the price point of the line, it's quite impressive.

Related: The best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

For the most part, Carnival ships don't have quite as many features on board as Royal Caribbean or Norwegian vessels, in part because they're not as big. They're still packed with a variety of attractions, including multiple entertainment venues, casinos, spas and lots of deck-top fun zones such as water parks and ropes courses.

Theaters and shows

There's seemingly always something playing on a Carnival ship, whether it be a glitzy singing-and-dancing production in the main theater, a comedy show in a secondary lounge, a magical act or a call-you-up-on-stage interactive game show.

Every Carnival ship has one big theater where you'll often find flashy, fast-paced production shows that string together a medley of loosely related tunes. Designed to be quick and digestible, they typically last around 30 minutes and have relatively small casts (just eight on some ships).

In general, the production shows aren't nearly as sophisticated — or as long — as what you'll find on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian ships. But they're lively.

Carnival also uses its big theaters for lots of interactive shows that involve you, the passenger, getting a little silly. They include Lip Sync Battle Carnival — a shipboard adaptation of the Paramount Network TV series — and Hasbro, the Game Show.

With the latter, you can team up with your friends and family to play giant versions of Connect 4 Basketball or Simon Flash in front of a live audience.

Carnival is also well known for the Punchliner Comedy Clubs on its ships, which draw quality comedians and can get a little raucous late at night with adult-only performances.

When it comes to raucous, though, nothing on Carnival ships quite compares to the frequent karaoke nights on board. On Carnival, it's a thing. Sometimes held in a secondary lounge or a shipboard pub, karaoke on Carnival draws a big crowd. Passengers come prepared with rehearsed songs and sometimes even their own guitars.

Insider tip: Get to the comedy shows early to snag a good seat — or any seat at all. These shows on Carnival ships are hugely popular.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Carnival ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night, including a wide range of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Every Carnival ship has a casino, usually smack in the middle of the main entertainment deck.

Also, there are always several music venues where you'll find live performers in the afternoons and evenings, including — on some ships — the Atrium Bar and a secondary hub area called Ocean Plaza. There's almost always a piano bar that's home to lively singalongs.

Other popular venues found on some Carnival ships include RedFrog Pub, which serves up Carnival's tasty housemade beers on tap, as well as plenty of other choices.

On one of Carnival's newest ships, Carnival Panorama, there's no RedFrog Pub, but the Smokehouse Brewhouse has a stage that's home to live music nightly and some of the ship's karaoke sessions.

Carnival Panorama also houses Carnival's first cooking classroom. Dubbed Carnival Kitchen, it's located near the ship's main restaurants and is a seriously tricked-out venue complete with nine state-of-the-art, marbled granite cooking stations for two and a dedicated dining area.

Passengers can learn to cook everything from Carnival's classic warm chocolate melting cake to its popular saffron risotto during one- to two-hour classes that cost $30 to $59 per person.

One other new-for-Carnival attraction on Carnival Panorama is the first Sky Zone trampoline park at sea.

Near the ship's tween and teen clubrooms, it has two padded trampoline areas where you can jump around and take part in games like jousting on a balance beam or shooting baskets while bouncing. There's even trampoline dodgeball and, at one end of the room, a climbing wall augmented with interactive game elements.

Deck-top attractions

The top decks of Carnival vessels are covered in family-focused attractions – pools, waterslide areas and bustling fun zones with such draws as ropes courses and miniature golf.

Waterslides, in particular, are a big thing. In fact, when it comes to waterslides on ships, Carnival is the cruise world's king. The line began adding them to vessels way back in 1978. There's now at least one waterslide on all but one ship in the Carnival fleet (Carnival Luminosa) — something no other line can say.

On the vast majority of Carnival ships, there's not just a single waterslide but a whole water park area. Dubbed WaterWorks, these areas vary in size and features from vessel to vessel. They typically have one or two big waterslides (sometimes three!), a play zone with interactive water features and a large, continuously filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everybody within range.

On some Carnival ships, there's also a SportSquare area with such gee-whiz attractions as the high-flying, pedal-powered SkyRide (something that first debuted in 2016 on Carnival Vista and is now on four ships), a suspended-in-the-air ropes course, a basketball court, miniature golf, miniature bowling, ping-pong tables and other outdoor games.

It's a fun-at-sea focus that has gone to new levels over the past two years with the debut of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, each of which has — get this — a roller coaster on the top deck . Really. We're not making that up. At 800 feet in length, these aren't the biggest roller coasters ever. However, they're real ones — the first ever on a cruise ship.

Meanwhile, for passengers hoping for quiet time away from the kids, many Carnival ships also have an adults-only Serenity retreat area on their top decks with padded loungers, daybeds, hot tubs and often a bar.

In short, there's a ton to do up top on Carnival vessels — and it's almost all available to every passenger on board the vessels at no extra charge (the roller coaster is the only exception).

Unlike some lines, Carnival has resisted the trend of big-ship operators carving out whole sections of deck-top areas for the exclusive use of passengers staying in suites or willing to pay hefty access fees.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's programs

Carnival claims to draw more children than any other cruise line. So perhaps it makes sense that it has one of the most extensive children's programs at sea. The line has formal children's programming and activities for children as young as 2 years old through the age of 17.

The heart of the program, called Camp Ocean, brings free, supervised activities daily for children aged 2 to 11. The line splits children here into three age groups — Penguins (aged 2-5 years), Stingrays (aged 6-8 years) and Sharks (aged 9-11 years).

Each group has its own age-appropriate activities ranging from face painting to pirate adventures. On many ships there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.

While the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Camp Ocean until 1 a.m. During those hours, Camp Ocean transforms into a supervised slumber party-type environment with games, movies, crafts and snacks, along with late-night parties called Night Owls.

Carnival also offers dedicated tween and teen programs on ships for children aged 12 to 17. The younger children in this age range (12-14) are grouped into what's known as Circle C and have their own dedicated lounge on ships. It's a place to get together to talk, watch movies, play video games and take part in other activities.

Older kids (aged 15-17) are grouped into what's known as Club O2 and have their own lounge for meeting up, listening to music, dancing, singing karaoke and other activities.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen on a cruise that starts and ends in a U.S. port, you'll need a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, also are acceptable.

Passports must be valid for at least six more months. For cruises from international ports, you'll need a passport. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. All this said, we recommend checking Carnival's website before sailing for the very latest on requirements.

Carnival adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person, per day to final bills, depending on the cabin category (children under the age of 2 are exempt). If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and the cover charge of the Chef's Table.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Carnival has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in the last couple of years, such that you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Carnival vessels was recently priced at $21.25 per day when bought in advance ($25 per day when bought onboard).

Carnival also offers a less expensive "social" plan that only allows access to key social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and messaging services such as WhatsApp for $15.30 a day when bought in advance. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $19.55 per day when bought in advance, adds access to email and most websites.

The social and value plans cost $18 and $23 per day, respectively, when bought onboard a ship.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Carnival allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding plus up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. Note that you'll be charged a $15 corkage fee if you want to bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink. Drinks brought on board must be carried in your carry-on luggage.

Smoking policy

On most ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in casinos and nightclubs. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. In casinos and nightclubs, only cigarette smoking is allowed. On Carnival ships in Australia, smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor areas.

Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3.25-per-load charge to use a washer or dryer. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box.

In addition, vessels offer extra-charge laundry and, on select ships, dry cleaning services.

Note that three of the line's newest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia — do not have launderettes. Carnival fans are quite peeved about this, and you should be, too. Write the line a letter.

Electrical outlets

Most vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms, as well as European-style, 220-volt outlets. A growing number of vessels also have USB ports in cabins.

The exceptions are the two Carnival ships that traditionally have sailed in Australia (Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor), which are fitted with a standard Australian three-point plug or adapter providing 220/240 volt 60Hz. Adapters are available on these ships for purchase if needed.

The currency used on most Carnival ships is U.S. dollars. The exceptions are any Carnival ship based in Australia, where pricing is listed in Australian dollars.

All vessels operate on a "cashless system," with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a Sail & Sign card that you can use to make charges. This same card also gets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on most Carnival ships. The drinking age on sailings on Carnival ships in Australia is 18.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

During the evenings, there is an official dress code, but it's pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which means just that — khakis or jeans, polo shirts, sundresses, etc. Super casual items such as cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts aren't permitted.

One or two nights a cruise, there will be a more formal "cruise elegant" night where men are expected to turn out in dress slacks and a dress shirt, preferably with a sports coat, or even in a suit. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Carnival Cruise Line loyalty program

Carnival has a point-based frequent cruiser program, the VIFP Club, that has five tiers, ranging from Blue (requiring no points) to Diamond (200 points).

Members earn one point for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. To hit the second tier, Red, takes one cruise. Reaching the third tier, Gold, requires 25 points.

There is one twist to the earning structure, and it's in your favor: If you're going to hit a tier cutoff during a voyage, you will receive the benefits of that tier from the beginning of that cruise.

In other words, if you are sailing seven-night cruises, you will be Gold level on your fourth sailing, as you will be passing the 25-day mark on that sailing.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits.

In fact, the lower tiers of the Carnival program are among the most stingy in the entire cruise universe. You'll receive things like a single complimentary bottle of water (at the Red tier) and a single free drink that only can be ordered on the last night of a cruise (at the Gold tier). Higher levels of the program are more enticing.

Related: Everything you need to know about Carnival's loyalty program

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum (75 points), brings such perks as priority check-in and boarding, priority debarkation, priority dinner reservations, priority spa reservations and priority water shuttle boarding. Platinums also get complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service (with a limit of two to five bags, depending on the length of the cruise).

The top Diamond level (200 points) brings such added perks as unlimited free wash-and-fold laundry service, a guaranteed seating time in the main restaurant, a dedicated toll-free number for sales and service and a one-time room upgrade.

Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. However, it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher-level tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A Carnival passenger taking seven-night cruises will hit the Platinum level during their 11th sailing. Sail a few longer voyages, like a transatlantic sailing, and you could reach it even sooner.

In case you're curious, VIFP stands for Very Important Fun Person.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Carnival cruise cost?

In general, Carnival ships are among the most affordable at sea. It's not uncommon to find Carnival voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico starting well under $100 per person, per night including all taxes and fees — at least in the offseason.

As of this story's posting, six-night Eastern Caribbean sailings from Miami in 2024 were starting at $339 per person, not including taxes and fees of $170.19. That works out to just $85 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October and parts of November.

The timing of when you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels, and many cruisers will tell you that the best pricing for any given sailing is often available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance gives you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Carnival ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Most onboard activities such as shows and deck-top attractions are included in the fare.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Carnival.com to book directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process; trust us — we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure Carnival is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Carnival's cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points on dining.

Bottom line

Carnival ships are all about fun, in a lively, let's-not-take-this-too-seriously sort of way. They're also incredibly affordable. Just don't expect anything too fancy or highbrow.

This is a budget vacation, not a luxury product, and one that is sometimes a bit over the top in its keep-the-party-going formula.

If the idea of crew members dancing during your meal in dining rooms or rowdy karaoke parties makes you cringe, this isn't the line for you. However, if you're ready to let loose and be a little goofy, it may be a perfect choice.

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Carnival Cruise Line currently has 24 cruise ships in service. Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise company in the world, based on passengers carried, and the flagship brand of Carnival Corporation & plc. Known as “America’s Cruise Line” for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other  cruise line .

The Newest Carnival Ships On Order

Carnival has made things a little confusing for Cruise Addicts by completely renaming and refurbishing some of its older vessels. If that wasn’t confusing enough, they have recently moved and renamed several ships from the Costa brand to Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival also has plans to move more Costa ships to Carnival in the future. In brief, not every new ship is brand new.

This guide will give you some insight into what is actually Carnival’s newest Carnival cruise ships. This also includes also ships that are currently under construction as well as ships that have been refurbished and renamed.

Let’s explore the upcoming additions to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.

Carnival Jubilee – 2023

Carnival Jubilee  is under construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Her delivery date is expected to be in early December 2023 .

She will be the newest ship in the  Excel class , Carnival Jubilee will share many of the same features guests love on  Mardi Gras  – including the award-winning  BOLT, The Ultimate Sea Coaster . She will also feature unique experiences and signature venues of her own.

Carnival Jubilee will begin sailing from  Galveston  in December of 2023 and will offer seven-day Western Caribbean cruise vacations with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.

Carnival Firenze – 2024

The ship will feature the cruise line’s new  Carnival Fun Italian Style  experience, which debuts with the June 2023 arrival of  Carnival Venezia  in  New York . Carnival Fun Italian Style incorporates Carnival’s signature high-energy environment, friendly team members and many familiar venues, plus several new, creative concepts – from Italian-themed restaurants, bars and entertainment .

Carnival Firenze  will join the fleet in spring 2024 after being transferred from sister brand Costa Cruise Lines. She will sail from  Long Beach, Calif.  The ship will offer a variety of cruises year-round, with sailings set for popular destinations in  Baja , California and the  Mexican Riviera . This ship sailed under the name Costa Firenze with Costa and is also a Vista Class ship and sister to the Costa Venezia which has already joined the Carnival fleet.

Previously known as Costa Firenze, this is also a Vista-class ship , and a sister ship to Costa Venezia, which will have joined the Carnival fleet a year prior. Both of these ships are retaining their Costa funnels and a will have modified hull art as a nod to their Italian roots and unique style.

The Newest Carnival Ships Sailing in 2023

Discover the latest and greatest Carnival ships that are currently out at sea. Check out the list below, starting with the newest addition.

Carnival Venezia – 2023

Carnival Venezia  was initially launched in 2019 for Costa Cruises and is 133,500 GRTs and carries 4,977 passengers. She is considered part of the  Venice Class  and was the former  Costa Venezia .

Carnival Celebration – 2022

Carnival Celebration is the second ship in the popular  Excel Class  and sister to  Mardi Gra s. She carries 5,282 passengers (based on two per cabin). The Godmother of the ship is Cassidy Gifford.

The ship takes her name from a former Carnival cruise ship,  Celebration , that was part of the  Holiday class . The name also pays homage to the companies long history as the ship was delivered during  Carnival Cruise  Line’s 50th birthday year.

Carnival Luminosa – 2022

Carnival Luminosa  was originally launched in 2008 for Costa Cruises and is 92,600 GRT’s and carries 2,826 passengers. She is considered part of the  Spirit Class  and was the former  Costa Luminosa .

Mardi Gras – 2021

The Mardi Gras is a ship belonging to Carnival’s Excellence Class, also known as Excel Class, and is the sister ship of Carnival Celebration. With a capacity of 5,282 passengers based on double occupancy, it is named after a former Carnival cruise ship that sailed for two decades. The Miss Dominican Republic , Kimberly Jiménez, is the ship’s godmother.

Mardi Gras made history by being the first ship in North America to run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Additionally, it features BOLT, the Ultimate Speed Coaster, which is the first-ever roller coaster on a ship.

Mardi Gras is also the only ship name in the current Carnival Cruise Line fleet without including the word Carnival. This honors Carnival’s original  Mardi Gras  that first sailed for the brand on March 11, 1972.

Carnival Panorama – 2019

Carnival Panorama is the third ship in the  Vista Class . She carries 4,008 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by  Godmother Vanna White . The ship debuted  Carnival  Kitchen, a first-in-fleet culinary center that offers more than 15 different interactive cooking, baking and decorating demonstrations.

Carnival Horizon – 2018

The Vista Class features the Carnival Horizon as its second ship, capable of accommodating 3,960 passengers in two-person cabins. The ship’s Godmother is the versatile Queen Latifah, who is renowned for her skills in rapping, acting, and singing.

Carnival Horizon stands out for its groundbreaking features, such as the Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse, and the first-ever Dr. Seuss-themed water park .

Renamed Carnival Ships

Carnival Cruise Line has changed the names of three of its ships over the years. In order to enhance the ships, they have undergone a thorough dry dock renovation process where they are stripped down and updated with new features and décor.

Although the renovated ships are as good as new, they are not as large or have some of the newest features available on the Excel Class ships like Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.

Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Sunshine is the first ship in the Sunshine Class and is a sister ship to Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance. It has a passenger capacity of 2,984 based on double occupancy.

This vessel was first put into service in 1996 under the name Carnival Destiny, and was the inaugural ship of the Destiny Class. In 2013, the Carnival Destiny underwent a remarkable 49-day, $155-million dollar refurbishment and was renamed and reclassified as the first Sunshine Class ship. The ship’s Godmother is Lin Arison.

Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Sunrise is the second ship of the Sunshine Class, and it is a sister ship to Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Radiance. The ship has a capacity of 2,984 passengers based on two per cabin, and its Godmother is Kelly Arison.

This ship originally entered service in 1999 as the former  Destiny Class  ship named the  Carnival Triumph . In 2019 the  Carnival Triumph  received an incredible $200 million transformation that resulted in it being renamed and also reclassified as a  Sunshine Class  ship.

Carnival Radiance

Carnival Radiance is the third ship in the Sunshine Class, along with sister ships Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Sunrise. It has a capacity of 2,984 passengers based on double occupancy.

This ship entered service in 2000 as the former  Destiny Class  ship named the  Carnival Victory . In 2021, the  Carnival Victory  received a massive transformation that resulted in it being renamed and reclassified as a  Sunshine Class  ship. The Godmother of the ship is Dr. Lucille O’Neal.

Plan Your Trip?

Need help planning a trip? Check out these helpful links:

• Cheap Flights
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• Travel Adapter  – All in one, so you don’t have to carry a bunch around

Final Thoughts

Carnival Cruise Line has had a lot of dynamic changes. They scrapped many of their older ships in order to save money and focus on newer and more profitable ships after the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown.

As you can see Carnival Cruise Line builds new ships regularly with a new ship coming out almost one per year. However, Some of the newer ships are also moved from a sister brands or could even be a refurbished older vessel like we’ve seen with the Sunshine Class ships.

I hope you have enjoyed some of the history and tidbits about the Carnival Cruise Line fleet as we explored the newest carnival ships in the fleet.

Take a look at our full list of Carnival ships, listed from  Newest to Oldest .

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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Know before you go.

What to Pack & Bring

What items am i not allowed to bring.

Carnival Cruise Line Prohibited Items, Exemptions and Other Considerations

Carnival Cruise Line prohibits  weapons, illegal drugs and certain items that could interfere with the safe operation of its ships or compromise the safety and secure environment of its guests and crew.  Carnival conducts security scanning of all luggage and reserves the right to confiscate any item, which in Carnival’s sole discretion, is deemed dangerous or can pose a risk to the vessel or its guests. Items will be removed and disposed of and no compensation will be provided.   

We suggest all luggage be unlocked before turning it over to the porters in order to avoid any inconvenience or delay in delivering the luggage to your stateroom. For additional information, please refer to the terms and conditions of the  Cruise Ticket Contract . 

Before you pack, please take the time to review the following.

Prohibited Items

• Any illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, marijuana, cannabis and cannabis derivatives such as Cannabidiol (CBD) items which may be labeled as medical marijuana. While certain CBD products used for medicinal purposes may be legal in the U.S. based on state and local laws, they are not legal under U.S. federal law and in all the ports we visit and therefore are also considered prohibited items. 
• All weapons and any item made, adapted or intended for use as an offensive weapon: firearms (including replicas, imitations and their components), spears or spear guns, crossbows, crossbow bolts and long bow arrows; blunt weapons, including knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, clubs, coshes, batons, flails or Nunchaku; sharp pointed weapons, including throwing stars; air, BB, pellet pistols or rifles, stun devices and tasers, any projectile-weapon, including paintball guns, etc.
• All items containing incapacitating substances, such as gas guns, tear gas sprays, mace, phosphorus, acid and other dangerous chemicals that could be used to maim or disable
• All ammunition
• All explosives, including imitation explosives and devices
• Fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics
• Flammable substances and hazardous chemicals (e.g., petrol, methylated spirits, paint thinners)
• Compressed gas tanks, bottles, cylinders including dive tanks, propane tanks and aerosol cans (Refer to Exemptions)
• Alcohol (hard liquor) and beer
• Wine or champagne beyond the allowable limit of one 750 ml bottle per adult (21 years of age or older). Port, Vermouth, Sherry and other fortified wines cannot be brought on board even in the allowable limit.
• Non-alcoholic beverages in containers other than a can or carton; excessive quantities per person (over 12 cans/cartons per person); excessive size per can/carton (over 12 ounces each)
• Electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element, such as irons, clothes steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines, hot plates, toasters, heating pads, humidifier, etc. (All Carnival ships offer valet laundry service for a nominal fee, and most ships (excluding Carnival Firenze, Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Venezia) also provide facilities with ironing boards and irons.)  
• Knives, scissors and open razors. (Recreational dive knives are allowed but must be held in the custody of the Guest Services Manager or Chief Security Officer and must be checked out/in by the owner for dive excursions during the cruise. Large scissors used by scrapbook and quilting enthusiasts are at times permitted with prior notification from the Security Services Department but are held on board in the same manner as dive knives.)
• Handcuffs or other restraining devices
• Self-balancing hover boards and air wheels
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), communication scanners, wideband receivers, satellite phones, transformers, lasers and laser pointers. 
• Satellite disk, routers and other internet related equipment  
• Curtains, drapes or hanging room dividers
• Boom boxes/large radios
• Candles and incense
• Helium filled balloons 
• Inflatable kiddie pool
• Any footwear with wheels, such as, Heely’s type shoes
• Kava  
• Surfboards, boats and canoes 
• Fish of any kind; if fish are caught during an excursion, they must be shipped home

Exemptions and other considerations

• Aerosol cans containing personal grooming products are allowed 
• Personal grooming devices such as hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, shavers, and other electrical devices, such as fans (no larger than 12" in diameter), power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, and extension cords (without surge protectors) are allowed when used with proper caution.  However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned on debarkation morning
• Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at reasonable sound levels and times of day. Carnival reserves the right to amend this policy for the comfort and enjoyment of our guests.  Please check your pre-cruise notifications for your specific cruise. Large speakers/radios are always prohibited on board and will be confiscated.
• Medical gas bottles/oxygen cylinders are allowed in connection with a certified medical condition,but cannot be packed in baggage. Oxygen cylinders must be delivered to Guest Services and stored in a designated safe area
• CPAP machine will need to be packed in carry-on luggage. Carnival carries distilled water, which can be purchased either pre-cruise (Carnival’s Fun Shops at 1-800-522-7648) or on board by contacting Room Service.  Guests bringing their own distilled water, must hand carry along with their CPAP machine
• Small, personal-sized coolers no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing, small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage
• Pets/live animals:  Only qualified service dogs trained to perform a specific task for a guest with a disability are allowed
• Flowers and plants:  Only permitted if ordered through Carnival.  Flowers/plants cannot be taken off the ship at any port
• Musical instruments: Are allowed, however, if a noise complaint is received, the instrument will be confiscated and returned to the guest on debarkation morning
• Ham radios/amateur radio equipment
• Google-type glasses are permitted on board in public areas, but cannot be worn at any gangway operation
• Digital Cameras/Camcorders, DVDs/VCRs, USB sticks, iPods, Nintendo/X-Box Play Units cannot be used with the TV in the guest stateroom or suite as the connection ports are disabled
• Due to concerns for food safety and contamination prevention, any food items brought on board must be pre-packaged and unopened.  Homemade items or pre-cooked foods are not allowed.  We are unable to provide food preparation, refrigeration or storage for personal food or beverage items
• Seashells may be brought on board if they appear to be clean and sanitized and do not have the odor of a living organism

Items  for Port Use Only The following items may be brought on board, but can be used off the ship, while in port only. All items must be stored in the guest’s stateroom.  

• Drone(s) are allowed, but must be held in the custody of the Chief Security Officer and must be checked out/in by the owner for PORT USE ONLY.
• Snorkel gear
• Skateboards
• Fishing rods
• Tennis rackets
• Roller blades or skates
• Metal detectors
• Beach chair
• Boogie Boards (maximum 42 inches in length)
• Portable Folding Bicycles (maximum 20 inch tires)
• Floatation devices:  For the comfort of all our guests, rafts, tubes and floatation devices other than those used as life preservers (water wings) cannot be used in the swimming pools on board
• Collapsible wagons - For the safety of our guests, the wagon cannot be rolled onto/off the ship during embarkation and debarkation and cannot be rolled off/onto the ship while in port  

Please Note : It is the responsibility of the guest to check the local laws of each port as Carnival will not be responsible for confiscated items by foreign governments. I tems  that cannot be taken off the ship in the United States The following items cannot be taken off the ship in the U.S. during the cruise or on debarkation day. U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) performs agricultural inspections to protect the U.S from potential carriers of animal and plant pests or diseases that could cause serious damage to America's crops, livestock, pets and the environment.

• Animal products 
• Unsealed food items
• Fruits and vegetables
• Agriculture and horticulture products
• Plants/cut flowers
• Ship property

Can I bring bottled water on board?

Carnival’s  Liquor and Beverage Policy states that guests are prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages on board that are packaged in bottles.

We know some of our guests are accustomed to bringing on board their own supply of bottled water, so for your convenience, bottled water can be pre-purchased prior to your cruise by visiting  www.carnival.com/funshops .  Water will be delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day. Bottled water may also be purchased on board by contacting Room Service. Once on board, your purchase is non-refundable; you may take home any unopened bottles.

$14.95 USD (plus an 18% delivery fee) for a 12-pack of bottled water (16.9-ounce bottle/500-ml bottle)

$4.50 USD (plus an 18% delivery fee) for 1 large bottled water (50.72-ounce bottle/1.5-liter bottle)

$24.95 USD (plus an 18% delivery fee) for 8-pack of bottled water (50.72-ounce bottle/1.5-liter bottle) 

Carnival carries distilled water which can be purchased either pre-cruise or once on board. For pre-purchase, please contact our Fun Shops department at 800-522-7648, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm ET. For purchase on board, please contact Room Service. Should you wish to bring your own distilled water with you, it must be hand carried along with your CPAP machine.

What travel documents do I need to bring?

Non-U.S. Citizens - click  here

Canadian Citizens - click  here

U.S. Permanent Residents - click  here

U.S. Citizens 

Proper travel documentation is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise. Even though a guest has completed registration using Online Check-in, it is still the responsibility of the guest to present the required travel documents at the time of embarkation. Guests should check with their travel agent and/or government authority to determine the travel documents necessary for each port of call. Any guest without proper documents will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of the cruise fare will be issued. Carnival assumes no responsibility for advising guests of proper travel documentation.

Except where it is a mandatory requirement, Carnival highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport book.  The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. This will enhance the debarkation experience as delays may be expected upon return to the United States for those without one. Additionally, this will enable guests to fly from the United States to meet their ship at a foreign port should they miss their scheduled port of embarkation and allow guests who must disembark the ship before their cruise ends, due to an emergency, to fly back to the United States without significant delays and complications.

U.S. Domestic Cruises

For cruises that begin and end in the same U.S port, the following WHTI-compliant documents are acceptable for cruise travel. Please note that if the cruise visits Colombia or Greenland, a passport book  (valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel) is required . A passport card with the same validity is also acceptable for cruises to Colombia.

U.S. Passport Book

• U.S. Passport Card
• State Enhanced Driver's License
• Certificate of U.S. Naturalization
• Native American Indian Card
• US-born citizens may also use a birth certificate (issued by a government agency) and accompanied by government-issued photo ID; a Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.

A passport book (valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel) is required for cruises that visit Greenland.

A passport book or passport card  (valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel)  is required for the following cruises:

• Cruises that begin and end in a different U.S. port
• Cruises that visit Colombia, provided they depart from and return to a U.S. port

Europe and Transatlantic Cruises

U.S citizens are required to carry a passport book, valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. Guests are not required to have a Schengen Visa or other visas.

Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Transpacific Cruises

U.S citizens are required to carry a passport book, valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.  Visas and/or specific travel documentation may be required for some destinations.

All persons are required to carry a valid, unexpired U.S. passport for air travel to or from the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix). 

Effective May 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require every state and territory resident to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport or enhanced driver’s license, to go through airport security and board a flight within the U.S.  If you will be flying to one of our cruise homeports within the U.S. on/after this implementation date, please ensure you have an acceptable document for your air travel. Visit   www.tsa.gov/real-id  for more information.

Note: All guests must still have WHTI-compliant travel documents (proof of citizenship and/or appropriate visas) in order to cruise.  

Names on Travel Documentation

It is important that the guest's full name (first name and last name) on the cruise and airline tickets be the same as the guest's unexpired, government-issued photo ID that will be used for travel identification. In the event of a different name on the cruise/airline ticket and the guest's photo ID because of a marriage, divorce or a legal name change, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required at embarkation, such as a marriage certificate, marriage license or legal name change court document. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denial of boarding.

Note: For guests about to or recently married, we strongly recommend that, if the unexpired government-issued photo ID is in the maiden name, the cruise booking be made in the maiden name (do not include the married name).  If the reservation was made in the married name, but the unexpired government-issued photo ID is in the maiden name, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required at embarkation, such as a marriage certificate or marriage license. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denial of boarding. 

Traveling with Minors

When traveling with a minor where one parent or both parents or legal guardians are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original, signed letter from the absent parent(s) or legal guardians authorizing the minor to travel with you. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the minor (due to sole custody, deceased, etc.) other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, death certificate, birth certificate naming only one parent, would be useful to bring in place of a signed letter. This will expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security. 

Citizens of U.S. Territories and Commonwealth

Guests will follow the same travel documentation requirements. U.S. Territories and Commonwealth include: Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John), America Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

U.S. citizens may present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book when traveling via air, land, or sea. The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.  

Guests may apply for passports at passport-acceptance facilities nationwide. For information about U.S. Passports, visit  www.travel.state.gov . 

Expedited passport services are also offered by VisaCentral. For more information, visit  www.visacentral.com/carnival  or call 877-559-4875 and identify yourself as a Carnival Cruise Line guest and mention ‘Carnival Account 75020’ for discounted rates on VisaCentral service fees. 

The U.S. Passport Card

The passport card cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

U.S. citizens may present a limited-use, wallet-size passport card. The passport card will only be valid for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.

State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)

The State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

Several states are working with the Department of Homeland Security to develop an EDL for U.S. citizens residing in their states. This document will denote both citizenship and identity and will facilitate the entry process at land and seaports of entry. The words ‘Enhanced Driver's License’ as well as the American flag will appear on the license. The following states issue this type of WHTI-compliant document: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington.  

A driver's license with a gold circle with star cutout in the right upper corner is a Real ID driver's license; it is not an Enhanced Driver's license and cannot be used as proof of citizenship but can be used as picture identification. A Mobile/Digital version of an EDL is not an acceptable form of travel documentation.

Original Certificate of U.S. Naturalization and a Government-Issued Photo ID

The Certificate of U.S. Naturalization (form N-550 or N-570) is a document issued by the U.S. government (USCIS) as proof of a foreign-born person who has obtained U.S. citizenship through naturalization (a legal process of obtaining a new nationality). Photocopies of the original document are unacceptable. A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.

Native American Indians

These cards cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

• Form I-872 American Indian Card
• Enhanced Tribal Card (when available)

Traveling with a Birth Certificate AND Photo Identification

Birth Certificate Information

The following are acceptable:

• An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics
• A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified.
• Birth Certificate Card
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Internationally adopted children (under the age of 18): If the adoptive parent was not issued a birth certificate, we will accept as proof of citizenship, a Certificate of Citizenship by the U.S. and adoption paperwork. A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized.
• Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at:  www.vitalchek.com . If the guest has laminated their birth certificate, it is acceptable.

Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010, are not valid forms of proof of citizenship and are not accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo ID with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.

Photo Identification

An unexpired government-issued photo ID is required of all guests 16 years of age and older. A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.

• Driver's License (a temporary Driver's License with photo is acceptable)
• Driver's Permit
• School/Student ID (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age)
• Government-issued identification card including a U.S. Military ID with photo (city/state/federal)
• Government-issued Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) - for photo identification use only

Unacceptable Forms of Documentation

• Copies of any WHTI-Compliant document
• Driver's License as the only proof
• A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID
• A temporary driver's license (paperwork without a photo ID)
• Voter's Registration Card
• Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) - may be used for photo identification use only
• Baptismal Papers
• U.S. Military ID as the only proof
• A Dependent Military ID that is issued to the spouse and children of military personnel is not acceptable
• U.S. Military Discharge Papers
• No Record of Birth certificate: a certificate issued by the Department of Health and Vital Statistics showing that they have no records on this person
• Hospital certificate, hospital-issued birth notice, Certificate of Live Birth, live record of birth or announcement of birth

How much luggage can I bring?

Guests who are scheduled to arrive at the terminal before 1:30 PM, usually check their bags with a porter so they can be free to enjoy lunch on Lido Deck before access to their stateroom is granted. Checked baggage service is only available until 2 hours before the ship's published sailing time (printed in the cruise documents).  Guests arriving after this time will be responsible for taking their bags on board.   Each checked suit case and carry-on suit case should not weigh more than 50 pounds, and when lying flat, bags must not exceed 16 inches high by 24 inches wide (the length of the bag is not a factor). For security screening purposes, all luggage should be unlocked. Oversized luggage and locked luggage may cause delivery delays.   Personalized luggage tags are included in the guest’s Electronic Documents (available once online check-in is completed). It is not necessary to print the tags in color. Carnival luggage tags must be affixed to your baggage prior to arriving at the terminal.  Additional tags can be obtained at curbside from the porter. Porters will re-tag any luggage tag with a TBA cabin assignment.    Curbside porters are customarily provided a $1 tip per bag.  They are not employees of Carnival and should a guest experiences any problems, they must report it to porter management on site. Since the screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security screening process, large coolers are not permitted as carry-on or checked luggage. Small, personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches, for the purpose of housing small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage. Airline Luggage Restrictions If traveling by air, guests are encouraged to contact the airlines directly to determine luggage restrictions and fees.   

What should I pack?

To help you plan, on cruises of 3-5 days, please limit your luggage to a maximum of one bag, per person. On cruises of 6 days or longer, no more than two bags, per person. Each checked bag and carry-on bag should not weigh more than 50 pounds and, when lying flat, bags must not exceed 16 inches high, by 24 inches wide (the length of the bag is not a factor). For security screening purposes, all luggage should be unlocked. Oversized luggage and locked luggage may cause delivery delays.  

You must personally carry-on any boarding documentation (passports, visas, I.D), valuables, medications and items which require special handling or that you need access to while your checked luggage is being delivered. And don't forget your personal toiletries (travel size or standard container size).

There are a number of must-pack items that we recommend every cruiser consider when preparing for a Carnival cruise.  Before you get started, check out our What to Wear section and research the weather forecast for the ports you’ll be visiting to determine exactly what you will need to bring.  In addition, here are some other recommended items: 

• Collapsible daypack or bag
• Rain jacket or poncho and/or small umbrella
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Translation and guide books
• Books and magazines
• Binoculars (to see the beautiful wildlife in Alaska)
• Phone chargers

Checked baggage service is only available until 2 hours before the ship's published sailing time (printed in the cruise documents). Guests arriving after this time will be responsible for taking their own bags on board.

What Not to Pack

In order to maintain a safe and secure environment, Carnival prohibits certain items on board, such as weapons, candles, irons, alcohol, or other dangerous goods. Carnival conducts security safety scanning of all luggage and if prohibited items are found, they will be removed and disposed of and no compensation will be given. Please review our list of Prohibited Items before shutting your suitcase.

What to wear?

Cruisers love the fact they “only have to unpack once”.  And while your destination, itinerary and personal style will dictate which outfits you bring, we want to share our guidelines and suggestions.  A Carnival ship has it all, from fine dining to casinos and shows to sunbathing, so here are some tips on how to dress to play or party.

Daytime:  Casual and Comfortable

Casual attire is the order of the day when the sun is up, which can include:

• Shorts, capris, khakis and jeans
• T-shirts, polo shirts, blouses and tops
• Summer dresses
• Exercise and athletic gear, lightweight sweater, pull-over or jacket
• Bathing suit, cover-up, hat or visor
• Comfortable rubber-sole flat shoes, sneakers, water shoes or non-slip boat shoes with traction

Please note : Select activities and shore excursions may require closed-toe shoes. Footwear with wheels is prohibited on board our ships.

Evening:  Cruise Casual to Cruise Elegant (Sharp & Chic) 

As we head into the evening, the dress code takes on multiple definitions, depending on your plans, the venue or the event.

Most nights, the dress code in the main dining room(s) for everyone is Cruise Casual:

• Men and boys: sports slacks, khakis, jeans, tailored dress shorts and collared dress, casual or polo shirts
• Women and girls: summer dresses, casual skirts, pants, capris, dress shorts, jeans, blouses and tops
• Kids:  Take a cue from the adult dress code, but at a kid-level
• Not permitted: cut-off jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, t-shirts, gym or basketball shorts, exercise and athletic gear, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire
• For itineraries 6 days or longer, bring your legwarmers, shoulder pads and neon-colored outfits for the ‘80s Rock-N-Glow Deck Party and a white outfit for our epic White Night Party.

On certain special nights, our main dining rooms celebrate our Cruise Elegant festivities and we invite guests to enjoy a special night out in a sharp and chic way.

• 5 days or shorter cruises will have one Cruise Elegant evening
• 6 days or longer cruises will have two Cruise Elegant evenings

On longer cruises, the first Cruise Elegant evening is scheduled for the second or third evening of the cruise.  Depending on itinerary, the next Cruise Elegant evening is the second or third evening prior to the end of the cruise. 

Cruise Elegant attire can include:                                      

• Men and boys: dress slacks, dress shirts, and sport coats (suggested); some men may even choose to wear a suit and tie or tuxedo
• Women and girls: dresses (party or cocktail), pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses; some women may also wear evening gowns
• Kids: Take a cue from the adult dress code, and think school dance or nice party clothes
• Not permitted: jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, shorts, t-shirts, sportswear, exercise and athletic wear, shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire 

A good rule of thumb is to dress for a special occasion.

The Steakhouse  and Rudi's Seagrill dress requirements follow the dress code specified for the main dining room(s). 

The Lido Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a more relaxed dress code than the main dining room(s); however, please respect that the Lido Restaurant is not the pool area. Shirts, bathing suit cover-ups and footwear should be worn at all times.  Please dry off completely as wet floors are a safety hazard.

Casinos, bars, retail shops, lounges and theaters are frequented by guests who dress according to daytime to nighttime standards. Basic rules still apply no matter the time of day – no swimsuits, wet clothes, or bare feet.

Please Note :

• All guests are expected to ensure their clothing and accessories are respectful to fellow guests. Specifically, items worn during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive or contain nudity, profanity, sexual innuendos/suggestions. In addition, clothing and accessories should not promote negative ethnic or racial, commentary, hatred, or violence in any form.  
• In some ports of call, it is against the law for anyone, including children, to wear army-style camouflage clothing or carry items made with camouflage material. Ports include (but not limited to) The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica and St.Lucia. Before traveling, please check local laws of each port to ensure compliance with regulations.

Carnival Journeys and Holidays

• Carnival Journeys cruises feature a Throwback Sea Day in which we go back in time to relive the ‘80s during the day and the true elegance of formal evening and the original Captain’s Celebration at night. Guidelines for elegant evening apply, and formal gowns and suits/tuxedos are encouraged.
• Carnival knows how to celebrate! Feel free to bring a special outfit for our “Ugly Sweater Contest” in December, “Frightfully Fun” Halloween cruises, or to show your team spirit when there are big sporting events. Please note that costumes with full masks are prohibited, but half masks are allowed.

Eating & Drinks

What is carnival's liquor & beverage policy.

The policy below is for cruise departures from the U.S.; for cruises sailing from Australia, click here . 

Drinking Alcohol On Board

The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. Carnival reserves the right to request ID prior to the purchase of alcohol and refuse the sale of alcohol to anyone. 

Bringing Liquor and Beverages On Board - Embarkation

Guests are prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages that are packaged in glass or plastic bottles.

On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person.

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception - at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage.* Outside this exception, all liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided. Guests sailing with us on back-to-back cruises are entitled to bring the same quantity as stated in this policy, per cruise. The additional quantities will be stored for safekeeping at the start of the first cruise and will be given to the guest as each following cruise begins.

* Port, Vermouth, Sherry and other fortified wines cannot be brought on board. 

Corkage Fee

Should guests wish to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar, a $15.00 USD corkage fee, per 750-ml bottle, will be charged. A corkage fee is a charge that is assessed, at time of service, for every bottle that is served and not bought on the premises.

Bottled Water

For convenience, guests can purchase bottled water prior to the cruise and it will be delivered to the stateroom on embarkation day. Bottled water may also be purchased on board by contacting room service. Once on board, the purchase is non-refundable and guests may take home any unopened bottles.

To ensure we have an ample supply, please visit The Fun Shops™ at  www.carnival.com/funshops  to place your order before your cruise.

Distilled Water

Carnival carries distilled water which can be purchased either pre-cruise or once on board. For pre-purchase, please contact our Fun Shops department at 800-522-7648, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm ET.  For purchase on board, please contact room service. Should you wish to bring your own distilled water with you, it must be hand carried along with your CPAP machine.

Guests are prohibited from bringing large coolers since screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security process. However, for the purpose of carrying small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications small, personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” are permitted as carry-on luggage.

Purchasing Liquor Pre-Cruise through The Fun Shops

All products sold containing alcohol have a limit of two products per stateroom. On 7 day and longer cruises, there is a limit of one bottle of hard liquor per stateroom and on shorter cruises, pre-cruise purchases are limited to wine, champagne and beer (no hard liquor). A ‘pack’ or ‘package’ is considered one product.

Alcohol purchased pre-cruise through The Fun Shops for on board consumption is designed for in-stateroom entertainment only. Guests cannot take items with them to public areas. Only wine or champagne that is ordered through The Fun Shops can be served in the dining room or Steakhouse. If the item is not consumed on board during the cruise, the guest may take it home provided the bottle has not been opened. 

Our CHEERS! Beverage Program must be purchased for each adult (21 years of age or older) assigned to the same stateroom.

Purchasing Liquor at Ports of Call and On Board at The Fun Shops All alcohol purchased ashore or in The Fun Shops will be stored for safekeeping until the end of the voyage. Items are to be collected in a designated lounge on debarkation morning. Liquor may be subject to Customs duty if it exceeds allowable amount.

While in port, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought on board. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less per person.

What is the Cheers! Beverage Program?

CHEERS! is an all-inclusive beverage program that allows guests to enjoy a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages by paying a flat daily rate. Guests must be 21 or older to purchase CHEERS! and each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program.

Our CHEERS! beverage program includes a great variety of non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a wide selection of high quality brand-name spirits and wines by the glass.  

Before your cruise:  CHEERS! can be purchased at  www.carnival.com/funshops  or by contacting The Fun Shops department at 800-522-7648, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm ET. Cut-off for pre-purchase online is 11:59pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure. Although we are not able to process the Carnival Gift Card for Fun Shop orders by telephone, you may use a Carnival Gift Card when purchasing CHEERS! online.

• Cruise Itineraries (6 days or more):  $59.95 USD, per person, per day plus 18% service charge
• Cruise Itineraries (5 days or less):  $69.95 USD per person, per day plus 18% service charge

On board your cruise:   Once on board your cruise, CHEERS! can be purchased at bar locations.

• Cruise Itineraries (6 days or more):  $64.95 USD, per person, per day plus 18% service charge
• Cruise Itineraries (5 days or less):  $74.95 USD per person, per day plus 18% service charge

Included in the price of your cruise, served in the main dining room and available 24/7 in the Lido Restaurant: non-bottled water, lemonade, unsweetened iced tea, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea.

To view a sample of beverages prices for individual drinks and CHEERS! Q&A's, click here .

CHEERS! includes:

• All spirits, including cocktails, cognacs, whiskies and other spirits, as well as beer (including self-serve beer stations - PYOB) and wine and champagne by the glass, with a $20.00 USD or lower menu price, per serving
• Sodas (including specialty sodas), zero-proof frozen cocktails (including smoothies) and juices
• Specialty coffees and hot tea served in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants and coffee bars
• Milkshakes, where available
• Energy drinks
• 500-ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages served in bars and lounges
• Packaged water in the dining rooms and specialty restaurants
• 25% discount off the menu price for any spirit, cocktail or wine by the glass, costing above $20.00 USD, per serving
• 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle
• 25% discount off beverage seminars and classes

CHEERS! excludes:

• Beverages promoted and sold in souvenir glasses
• Bottles of liquor
• Beverages offered at the gangway
• Beverages offered through room service and/or other in-stateroom beverage programs
• Beverages purchased off the ship at any port of call, including Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays
• Sharing cocktails, floaters, pitchers, tubes and buckets
• Beverages offered through enomatic wine machines
• Freshly squeezed orange juice served in the Havana Bar
• Main Dining Room freshly squeezed juice 
• All other beverage-related programs including merchandise, cigars and cigarettes

Program Restrictions:

• Guests must be 21 years or older to purchase and agree not to give to minors
• Each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program
• CHEERS! is non-transferable
• Guests must purchase the program for the entire cruise; this program is not offered on a per day basis
• If the program is purchased prior to the cruise, it is refundable up to 10:00pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure.  Otherwise, CHEERS! is non-refundable
• Price adjustments (up or down), implemented on the day of sailing, replace any previously advertised price
• Only one drink at a time may be ordered, there is a 5 minute wait time between orders and sharing is not permitted. No double shots as that is considered ordering two drinks at once
• Guests may purchase a round of drinks for themselves and friends. One drink will count towards the CHEERS! program and the remaining drinks will be charged to a guest’s Sail and Sign® account
• Program allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks, per 24-hour period (6:00am - 6:00am). Once the limit is reached, the guest will not be served ANY additional alcoholic drinks 
• Program only applies to onboard purchases
• All bottles and cans will be served opened
• Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason
• Program is inclusive of VAT, if and as applicable.
• Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to a guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5.00 USD and the tax is 10%, the  guest's Sail & Sign® card will be charged $0.50 USD for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call)
• Due to state laws, we cannot sell CHEERS! until the second day of the cruise (starting at 6:00am) for voyages departing from our Texas, New York, and Virginia home ports. Drinks purchased on the first day of the cruise will be charged to the guest's Sail & Sign® card in the usual manner. When purchased on the second day of the cruise, guests are charged for the remaining days only (cruise duration less one day)
• For guests who pre-purchase CHEERS!, it will be activated upon boarding the ship (except for ships sailing from Texas, New York, and Virginia – activation will occur at 6:00am on the second day of the cruise). Guests are instructed to proceed to the bar, once on board, to receive a sticker which will be placed on their Sail & Sign® cards
• Group bookings (consisting of a minimum of 16 adults) can purchase CHEERS! prior to the cruise by contacting Group Event Planning (all adult guests in the group must purchase the program; all minors in the group must purchase Bottomless Bubbles program)
• For pre-purchase orders, a message card will be placed in guest’s stateroom on embarkation day referring the guests to the Casino Bar to activate the program
• CHEERS! is not offered on 2-day cruises, charter cruises and beverage purchases made at Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays in The Bahamas.

Is there a beverage package for soft drinks?

Sail refreshed with Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles™ unlimited soda program! Enjoy the ease and convenience of paying one flat price for thirst-quenching fountain soda and juice all cruise long!

Pre-Cruise and Onboard Prices: 

• Kids (17 years of age and younger): $6.95 USD per person, per day plus 18% service charge
• Adults (18 years of age and older): $9.50 USD per person, per day plus 18% service charge 

Bottomless Bubbles can be purchased online at  www.carnival.com/funshops  or by contacting The Fun Shops™ Department at 800 522-7648, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm ET. Cut-off for pre-purchase online is at 11:59pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure. Bottomless Bubbles can also be purchased on board at bar locations.

Australia and Transpacific Cruises: For pricing and age restrictions, please contact our International Desk, Monday through Sunday, 7:00am-6:00pm AEST, at 1 300 385 625 (from Australia) and 0800 442 095 (from New Zealand).  If you are calling from the U.S. or Canada, please contact 'The Fun Shops' Department at 800 522-7648, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm ET.

Currently, we are not able to process the Carnival Gift Card for Fun Shop orders by telephone. If you wish to purchase Bottomless Bubbles with a Carnival Gift Card, you may do so online at www.carnival.com/funshops

Upon purchasing Bottomless Bubbles, a sticker will be placed on the guest's Sail & Sign® card. In all areas where beverage service is offered, guests may show the Bottomless Bubbles sticker and receive a glass of the carbonated soft drink of their choice. Juices may also be requested. One 16-ounce glass will be served at a time (10-ounce glass for juice) and only to the guest whose name appears on the Sail & Sign card with the Bottomless Bubbles sticker attached.

The following beverages are offered through Bottomless Bubbles ( flavors may vary ):

• Soft Drinks/Soda
• Juices: Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Tomato Juice, Pineapple Juice and Grapefruit Juice

Bottomless Bubbles excludes:

• Non-alcoholic beverages other than soda and juices listed above
• Bottled water
• Specialty coffee
• Beverages offered at gangway while debarking
• Beverages offered through room service or the interactive TV system (where applicable) or other in-stateroom beverage programs

Please note: The following beverages are included in the price of your cruise and are served in the main dining room and 24/7 in the Lido Restaurant: non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea and non-specialty coffee and tea. The following beverages are available through Room Service at no additional charge: juices (orange, tomato, apple or grapefruit), regular or decaffeinated coffee, hot tea, iced tea, hot chocolate, chocolate milk, regular and skim milk.

The following restrictions apply:

• Price adjustments (up or down) implemented on the day of sailing will replace any previously advertised price.
• Only one beverage serving, per sticker, will be served at a time. There is a 5 minute wait between ordering drinks.
• Soft drink is served by the glass (16 ounces); juice is served by the glass (10 ounces).
• No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. Guests or family members who would like to enjoy soft drinks through this program must purchase their own sticker.
• If Bottomless Bubbles is purchased prior to the cruise, it is refundable up to 10:00pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure. Otherwise, Bottomless Bubbles is non-refundable. 
• Program is only applicable for onboard purchases; program cannot be used for beverage purchases at Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays in The Bahamas.
• Applicable state and local sales taxes will be charged to the guest's folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state’s tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $2 and the tax is 10%, the guest’s Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.20 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call).
• Europe and transatlantic cruises: Program is inclusive of VAT, if and as applicable.

What are my dining options?

Guests may choose from three different dinner seating options. By popular request, all dining rooms are smoke-free.

Assigned Seating - Early Dining and Late Dining This dining option offers guests a pre-set dining time for the duration of the cruise as well as the same table assignment each evening in the Main Dining Room. Guests who choose this option will not be able to reserve 'Your Time' open seating once on board.   E arly dining may be scheduled between 5:30pm and 6:00pm and late dining , between 7:45pm and 8:15pm. *

'Your Time Dining' Open Seating 'Your Time  Dining ' is offered fleet wide.  Guests are seated on a first - come, first - served basis , depending on party  size, and  in most cases, are accommodated within 20 minutes. Advance table reservations are not accepted . Guests using Carnival's HUB App can check-in for 'Your Time Dining' ahead of time or check-in when they are ready to go. The App will alert the guests when their table is ready and show the table number. All guests must be present in order for the party to be seated. The table will be held for 10 minutes. Your Time Dining is generally offered between 5:00pm and 9:00pm.* 

Parties greater than 8 guests may need to be accommodated at several tables and the wait can sometimes be more than one hour. We highly suggest that parties of 8 or more guests choose an assigned seating to ensure sitting together at one table or several tables close together

*Actual times will vary based on ship and itinerary, and will be listed in the daily ‘Fun Times’ and Carnival HUB App.

At time of booking, guests will be able to confirm their preferred dining choice. If their preference is not available, they may confirm an alternate time and be waitlisted for their preferred choice ( there is no guarantee a waitlist will clear ) . When possible, waitlists will be cleared prior to the sailing and guests will be notified by email. T raveling parties who are waitlisted together will be cleared on the same dining time. Cross-referencing bookings does  not  guarantee parties will be seated together. They must be confirmed on the same dining time to ensure they will be able to dine together. For those guests who choose e arly or l ate dining, the assigned dining room , time and table number , will be printed on the guests' Sail & Sign® card .  

Additional Dining Options In addition, guests may opt for casual bistro dining in the Lido Deck Restaurant or a more intimate and elegant atmosphere in the Steakhouse and other specialty dining venues. Please note, specialty dining options may have an additional charge. R estaurants and dining options vary by ship. Review dining options here .  

NOTE:   Menu items (excluding Steakhouse Selections) are complimentary in the main dining room.  Guests can order a second entrée, keeping in mind they can also request half portions if something looks too enticing to pass up.  If a third entrée is ordered, a US$5 charge will be assessed.

Getting to and from Port

Does carnival provide transportation from the airport to the cruise port terminal.

Carnival Cruise Line offers ground transportation between select airports and cruise ship terminals. These services are only available on the day of the cruise and immediately after the cruise. We do not offer airport transportation for cruises sailing from the following embarkation ports: Norfolk, Virginia: Baltimore, Maryland; Jacksonville, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; Brisbane, Australia and Sydney, Australia.

Purchasing transportation can be done through Manage My Booking  on  carnival.com  or by contacting Carnival Reservations up to 2 days prior to the sail date.  You will need to provide your flight information in Online Check-in at the time of purchase. Your flight details are provided to the transportation company to assist in expediting your transportation to the pier.  It is your responsibility to update Carnival with any changes to your flight schedule to ensure you are met by the transportation company.

Transfers can be purchased in four easy steps:

> Log in to access My Cruise Manager

> Click 'Shop' located at the top of the web page, then select 'Airport Shuttle'.

> Once on the 'Transfers' page, make your selection.

> After you have made your transfer purchase, return to Online Check-In and provide flight itinerary.

For the flight guidelines (latest airport arrivals and earliest return flights) and additional information about airport transportation services, click here . 

How do I get to my cruise port terminal?

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Cruise Maryland Terminal at South Locust Point 2001 East McComas Street Baltimore, MD 21230

Website: www.cruise.maryland.gov

Parking:   www. cruise.maryland.gov/Pages/content/parking-rates.aspx

Directions:   www.cruise.maryland.gov/Pages/content/directions-location.aspx

Google Maps:   View Map

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Port of Charleston Union Pier Terminal 32 Washington Street Charleston, South Carolina 29401

Website:   www.scspa.com/locations/cruise-terminal/

Parking:   www.scspa.com/cruise-parking/

GALVESTON, TEXAS

Port of Galveston Cruise Ship Terminals 2502 Harborside Drive Galveston, Texas 77550

Website:   www.portofgalveston.com

Parking:    www.portofgalveston.com/91/Cruise-Parking--General-Information

Directions:    www.portofgalveston.com/90/From-the-North-West

Google Maps:     View Map

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

Jaxport Cruise Terminal 9810 August Drive Jacksonville, FL 32226

Website:   www.jaxport.com

Parking:   www.jaxportcruiseparking.com

Directions:   www.jaxportcruiseparking.com-directions/

Google Maps:  View Map

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Long Beach Cruise Terminal at the Queen Mary 231 Windsor Way                        Long Beach, California 90802  

Website: www.visitlongbeach.com/plan-your-trip/cruise-terminal-information/ For guests sailing on Carnival Panorama , Carnival will provide parking information via email communication the week prior to your cruise. 

MIAMI, FLORIDA

PortMiami 1015 North America Way Miami, Florida 33132

Cruise Terminal D - 1435 North Cruise Boulevard Cruise Terminal E - 1265 North Cruise Boulevard Cruise Terminal F - 1103 North Cruise Boulevard

Website:   www.miamidade.gov/portmiami/parking-transportation.asp

Parking:   www.miamidade.gov/portmiami/parking-information.asp

Directions:   www.miamidade.gov/portmiami/directions-transportation.asp#directions

MOBILE, ALABAMA

Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal 201 South Water Street Mobile, AL 36602

Website:   www.shipmobile.com

Parking:   www.shipmobile.com/parking/

Directions:   www.shipmobile.com/directions/

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Port NOLA - Port of New Orleans Erato Street Cruise Terminal 1100 Port of New Orleans Place New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Website:   www.portnola.com

Parking and Directions:   www.portnola.com/cruise/parking-directions

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

New York Manhattan Cruise Terminal 711 12th Avenue at 55th Street New York City, New York 10019

Website:   www.nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/

Parking:   www.nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/parking/

Directions:   www.nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/directions/

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

Port of Norfolk Decker Half Moone Cruise Center One Waterside Drive Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Website:  www.nauticus.org

Directions and Parking:  www.nauticus.org/cruise-parking-directions

PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA

Port Canaveral Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 A-Side North Cruise Terminal #6 – 9241 Charles Rowland Drive B-Side South Cruise Terminal #3 – 220 Christopher Columbus Drive

Website:   https://www.portcanaveral.com/Cruise/Port

Parking and Directions:   www.portcanaveral.com/Cruise/Cruise-Parking,-Directions-Rates

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Port of San Francisco The Embarcadero Pier 27 | Pier 35 San Francisco, CA 94111

Website:   www.sfport.com/

Parking:     https://sfport.com/maritime/cruise#tab-12453-pane-2

Directions:   www.sfport.com/james-r-herman-cruise-terminal-pier-27-0

Google Maps: View Map

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Port of Seattle Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91 2001 West Garfield Street Seattle, WA 98119

Website:   www.portseattle.org/places/smith-cove-cruise-terminal-pier-91

Parking:   www.cruiseseattleparking.com

TAMPA, FLORIDA

Port Tampa Bay Terminal #3 815 Channelside Drive Tampa, Florida 33602

Website:   www.porttb.com/cruise

Parking: https://www.porttb.com/parking

General Questions

What do i need to do to get on board.

All guests must complete their Online Check-in process no later than midnight (Eastern time) prior to their sailing date. During online check-in, you will be asked to select an arrival appointment. This is the time that everyone in your stateroom should be at the cruise port terminal. Please arrive promptly within your Arrival Appointment to reduce your wait time in line. At check-in, you must present your boarding pass, picture ID and citizenship documents (including any necessary visas).  Due to security protocol, last minute bookings made within 24 hours of sailing will require guests to undergo a secondary screening. 

Guests who are scheduled to arrive at the terminal before 1:30 PM, usually check their bags with a porter so they can be free to enjoy lunch on Lido Deck before access to their stateroom is granted. Checked baggage service is only available until 2 hours before the ship's published departure time. Guests arriving after this time will be responsible for taking their bags on board.  Lunch is served on Lido Deck from boarding until the commencement of the safety briefing. Final Boarding :  In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board by the Final Boarding time printed on your boarding pass or you will not be permitted to sail. 

What are Service Gratuities?

It is customary for our guests to extend gratuities to the shipboard staff in appreciation for their hard work and exceptional service. 100% of your gratuities are distributed to the crew who you interact with, such as your stateroom attendants, dining and culinary services staff, as well as other members of the onboard team who work behind the scenes to enhance your overall cruise experience. Applying this charge automatically streamlines the recognition process and ensures our crew will share in your generosity.   

To help you plan, we have provided the recommended onboard gratuities guidelines.

• Standard Staterooms: $16.00 USD per person, per day
• Suite Staterooms: $18.00 USD per person, per day

You may pay this daily gratuity in two different ways:

Gratuities can be added at the time of booking or anytime up to the sail date. Guests who booked directly with Carnival may add their pre-paid gratuities on Carnival.com. If a guest booked with a travel agent, they may contact their travel professional to add pre-paid gratuities to their booking. Prepaid gratuities are reflected in the 'Miscellaneous Charge' field on the confirmation and in the guest's E-Documents. 

Sail & Sign ®

If guests have not pre-paid their gratuities, the recommended, per person, amount will be posted to their Sail & Sign account on the second to last day of the cruise. Should a guest not be satisfied with the service they receive, they can contact the Guest Services desk while on board. This will allow us to address their concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At the discretion of the guest, gratuities may be adjusted after they have been posted on the guest's account, while on board. Gratuities, as posted on a guest's Sail & Sign account, will be considered final after a guest disembarks and no changes will be made after the cruise.

Additional Information

• Gratuities are assessed on all guests, with the exception of children under the age of 2.
• Gratuities apply regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or open seating dining.
• For beverage purchases, an 18% service charge will be added to the bill.
• An 18% service charge will be added to the cover charge for the Chef’s Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki as well as the nominal à la carte fee at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril’s Bistro, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack; additional gratuities can be added at the guest's discretion.
• A gratuity may be extended to room service staff as service is rendered.

Thank you for your generous recognition of our onboard team. Our crew works hard to provide you with a great vacation and takes pride in being part of the best team in the cruise industry.

Can I get WiFi on board?

To keep you connected while at sea, all ships provide satellite internet access at our internet cafés and through the bow-to-stern ship-wide Wi-Fi network.

What kind of plans do you have?

Social Wi-Fi Plan  

• Access the most popular social websites and applications including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat and the most popular airline sites.
• Does not include access to most websites, email, video and music streaming services (i.e., Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Pandora), iMessage, Skype, cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling and FaceTime services.

Pre-cruise:  $15.30 USD, per day   Onboard:  $18.00 USD, per day

Value Wi-Fi Plan  

• Access popular social websites, email and applications including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat and the most popular airline sites as well as news, entertainment (not including streaming sites), sports, weather, banking and finance. Post pictures of your trip and make your friends jealous (using the faster speeds of the Social Plan).
• Does not support Skype or video and music streaming (i.e., Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Pandora), cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling and FaceTime services.

Pre-cruise:  $19.55 USD, per day Onboard:  $23.00 USD, per day

  Premium Wi-Fi Plan

• Premium Wi-Fi plan provides access to all sites under the Social and Value Plans at the fastest possible connection (3 times faster than the Value Plan). Supports apps like Zoom, Skype and Team video calling, where coverage allows. Supports video and music streaming (i.e. Hulu, Spotify, Pandora). 
• Netflix can be viewed through your Netflix account/app. Cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling and FaceTime services are also not supported.

Pre-cruise:  $21.25 USD, per day Onboard:  $25.00 USD, per day

*Pricing is based on cruise-long plans and are subject to change without prior notice.

Guests can upgrade from one plan to another and use multiple devices, per plan, including their smart phone, laptop or the shipboard internet café, but only one device can be used at a time.

How to purchase a plan?

Pre-cruise:  Pre-purchase internet plans at a discounted rate online via the 'Manage My Booking' tab on carnival.com or send as a gift to family and friends through The Fun Shops™. Guests must purchase a plan that covers the entire duration of their cruise. Plans may be pre-purchased online up to 11:59pm ET, the day before embarkation. Daily plans are available for purchase on board.

On Board:  Turn on your device's Wi-Fi feature and access the Wi-Fi settings to receive instructions on how to purchase our plans.

What restrictions are there?

Please note that as our services are carried via satellite, there are a few limitations compared to your home network.

• Only one device at a time can connect to Wi-Fi
• Satellite internet speed may vary depending on location and time of day
• Access to certain sites such as mature or violent content is blocked
• VPN connections are not supported.  Discuss your VPN limitations with your company’s IT department if you are planning to work while sailing. We are not able to change your settings on board
• Pricing for plans purchased pre-cruise vary from plans purchased at time of sailing
• No refunds after plan is activated on board

What are some tips to improve the experience?

• Once on board, turn on airplane mode and connect to Carnival Wi-Fi. By using airplane mode in settings, you avoid roaming fees charged by your carrier
• To benefit from faster speeds, turn off background app data services and updates
• Wi-Fi enabled laptop and mobile devices
• Power supply for each of the devices you are bringing with you
• Data cables to transfer pictures

Do you have public computers on board?

Publicly accessible computers (Microsoft Windows based) with standard internet browsers, are available 24 hours a day. These may be used with your existing internet plan.  MS Office or other specific software is not offered and you may not install your own software.

Does Carnival have a mobile app?

To download the Carnival HUB™ App, look for the Carnival HUB App on Google Play and iTunes to download. You can also download the app from Carnival's website by clicking here .

Which ships offer the Carnival HUB App? 

All ships are Carnival HUB App capable.

Where do the features of the app work?

Some features are available before your cruise but more functionalities become available once on board.

What does the Carnival HUB App do?

The following features are available at the touch of your fingertips:

• Share your cruise countdown
• Purchase gifts, WIFI, spa services, shore excursions and more
• Make dinner reservations
• Complete Online Check-In

During Your Cruise

• Onboard Chat (fee applies)
• ‘What's Happening’ Daily Events
• Food and Drinks
• Account Management
• Kids and Teens
• Reserve select shows, spa services, shore excursions and specialty dining
• All your reservations are added to your planner to help you manage your day
• Reserve restaurants ahead of time or check-in if you’re ready to go
• View food and drink menus via QR scans
• Casino features and special events 
• Lounging by the pool? Order food for delivery
• Learn about onboard safety and navigate to your assigned muster station to check-in with a team member upon boarding
• Check into a virtual queue and skip the line! We'll simply notify you when it's your turn

And more...

What is the app name? How can I download it?

To download, look for the Carnival HUB App on Google Play and iTunes. You can also download the app from Carnival's website by clicking here .

Is the Carnival HUB App free?

The app is free to download and use on board. For $5.00 USD per user, for the voyage, the HUB App offers chat.

Do I need internet access to use the app? Do I have to pay roaming?

No internet purchase is required. The app works only with the ship’s free Wi-Fi. To access sites and services outside of the HUB App, guests will need to purchase one of the Wi-Fi plans. To avoid carrier imposed roaming charges, turn on airplane mode while on board.

How do I log into the Carnival HUB App? Where can I find my folio?

You may log in before your cruise using your Carnival.com account or your booking details. To log on, once on board, you will need your folio number (found on your Sail & Sign card) and date of birth.

Can minors use chat?

Chat access is limited to ages 13 years and older. For safety reasons, parents and guardians must give consent within the app for guests 12 years and younger to activate onboard chat.

What devices does the app work on?

IOS/Apple iPhone versions supported: IOS 12.0 and up

Android/Google versions supported: 7.0 (aka Nougat) and up

Can I use my tablet to run the Carnival HUB App?

Although the app is not optimized for tablets, it will function on both Android and Apple tablets.

What is Carnival's Tobacco and Marijuana Smoking Policy?

Smoking is a fire and safety hazard on a ship. Consequently, it is strictly limited to specific exterior deck areas.  All guests are expected to adhere to the following safety guidelines:

• All staterooms and suite accommodations, including outside balconies, are NON-SMOKING. This policy applies to all forms of smoking, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes and marijuana.
• Carnival recognizes that some state and local governments in the U.S., and in the destinations we visit, might allow marijuana use. However, Carnival Cruise Line follows U.S. federal law, which strictly prohibits possession and use of recreational/medicinal marijuana and other illegal controlled substances. 
• Any violation of this policy will result in a $500 charge, per violation, posted on the guest’s Sail & Sign® account and may also result in the disembarkation of all guests in the stateroom. 
• Guests who are disembarked for violating our policy will be responsible for all financial charges and expenses to return home, and no refund of their unused cruise fare will be provided. Additionally, they may be prohibited from sailing with Carnival Cruise Line in the future.

Casino rules: There is no smoking in the casino unless seated and playing. It is not allowed at the casino bar or in the entire area when closed.

Our smoking policy is included in Carnival's  Cruise Ticket Contract .  Follow the link for   ship specific smoking areas .

In keeping with U.S. federal law, the minimum age to purchase tobacco products is 21. This policy is for U.S.-based itineraries/ships only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a guest is caught smoking in a stateroom or balcony?

They will be assessed a $500 charge, per violation, on their Sail & Sign® account. Information on this charge is included in Section 8 of Carnival’s Cruise Ticket Contract. The assessment of this charge does not allow a guest to continue smoking in his/her stateroom. If a guest is found to be in violation of our smoking policy, all guests in the stateroom may be disembarked from the vessel and risk not being allowed to sail on Carnival in the future.  Guests will be responsible for all financial charges and expenses to return home, and no refund of unused cruise fare will be provided. 

What should guests do if they smell tobacco in areas where smoking is not allowed, or marijuana in any area?

Guests who are concerned about other guests violating our smoking policy should contact our onboard Guest Services team, so we can address the situation. This will help avoid uncomfortable situations between guests.

What if a guest has a letter from a doctor saying that they are allowed to use marijuana for medicinal and/or therapeutic purposes?  Why is that prohibited?

Illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, marijuana, cannabis and cannabis derivatives such as Cannabidiol (CBD) items which may be labeled as medical marijuana are not allowed on board. While certain CBD products used for medicinal purposes may be legal in the U.S. based on state and local laws, they are not legal under U.S. federal law and in all the ports we visit and therefore are also considered prohibited items. 

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Carnival Cruises Holiday Events Schedule 2023

by Prof. Cruise · Published November 8, 2023 · Updated November 24, 2023

A few days ago I posted the schedule for when each Carnival ship will be decorated for Christmas . Continuing our countdown to holiday cruise season, here are the special onboard activities that will be happening on all Carnival ships through the month of December. Specific days, times, and locations (unless already noted on the schedule below) will be available on your daily Fun Times or via the HUB app once you board.

Carnival Cruises Onboard Holiday Activities Schedule for December 2023

Spirit of the Season Atrium Moments

Christmas Tree Lighting

Christmas Caroling and Santa Visit

The Ugly Sweater Competition

The Christmas and Holiday Show

The Grinch Appearances

Christmas and Holiday Dive-in Movies

Christmas and Holiday Trivia

Christmas and Holiday Bingo

Christmas and Holiday Arts and Crafts

Hanukkah Service with the Menorah Lighting (nights of Dec. 7th – 14th)

Christmas Service (night of Dec. 24th or 25th)

Christmas and Holiday Snow Friends Scavenger Hunt: Hidden images of snowmen around the ship

Family Pajama Jam

Lido event before our Dive-in Movie for families to enjoy (games, treats, crafts, and a pajama parade. Families are encouraged to come in their pajamas).

Carol-oke: Karaoke with popular Christmas and Holiday songs

When Each Carnival Ship Will Be Decorated For Christmas 2023

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

If you’re on a warm weather cruise, you might consider one of these * in lieu of a sweater:

Homework (10 points): Which of these activities are you most looking forward to? Share to the comments!

And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:

Twitter  (@cruiseprof)

Instagram  (@profcruise)

TikTok  (profcruise)

*I’m a member of Amazon’s associates program and earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you purchase products through Amazon links in my posts. All funds go to support the work of the site. Thanks for your support!

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Tags: Carnival Christmas cruising

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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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• CruiseMapper
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• Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda Cruise Ports

Freeport (Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda

Local Time 2024-06-10 05:32

Port Freeport cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Freeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Freeport cruise port (Port Lucaya) is located on Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas), approx 50 mi (80 km) from USA Florida's coast (direction East). The nearest US seaport is PortMiami FL . Freeport is the second biggest Bahamian cruise port - after country's capital city Nassau (New Providence Island) .

The city has population around 270,000. It is served by Grand Bahama International Airport and also by domestic ferries with regularly scheduled itineraries to other Bahamian islands. Regular fast ferries connect to USA ( Fort Lauderdale FL ) operated by the Spanish shipping company  Balearia Eurolinias Marítimas SA .

Tourism is The Bahamas' largest industry and main source of income, with around 1 million international visitors annually. Several medium- and large-sized cruise liners call at Freeport weekly. Most hotels on Grand Bahama Island are along the southern coast. The primary tourist shopping area is the International Bazaar located near downtown Freeport. The other major shopping area is Port Lucaya Market Place.

Freeport is a major seaport since the early-1960s. It is also a free trade zone featuring numerous hotels, casinos, restaurants, Port Lucaya‘s beaches, numerous shopping and shore excursion possibilities.

Port Freeport Bahamas

Port Freeport Bahamas is operated via joint venture between Hutchison Ports FHC (Chinese privately owned company) and The Port Group (Grand Bahama's Port Authority).

FHC is one of the world's largest artificial harbours, and also the Caribbean's deepest harbour waterway. Port's entrance channel and turning basin (swinging basin) were dredged to allow vessel draft of 16 m (52 ft).

Businesses at the FHS harbor include daily scheduled ferry and cruise ship visits, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro ship) facilities (handling containerized and LTL / "less than truckload shipping" cargos), also facilities serving car transhipment, wetdocking (two 900-ft / 274-m berths) and ship repairs.

Port's facilities can accommodate simultaneously 3 cruise vessels and 5 Ro-Ro ships (cargo-passenger ferries). Vessels with max draft 9 m (30 ft) are berthed alongside. Tugboat support and pilot services are also available.

Grand Port is a Carnival Corporation -sponsored cruise terminal in Freeport. The new (exclusive) Carnival Cruise Port project was officially started in May 2022 (origanly the start was planed for 2019) and generated ~1000 construction jobs for building a modern building and a large (2-ship) berth. Labor agreement had ratio 80-20 / Bahamian-foreign workers.

Via joint ventures, Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd/aka Hutchison Ports (a Hong Kong China-based multinational) owns Freeport Container Port (51%) and Grand Bahama Airport (51%), together with Grand Bahama Port Authority.

(Royal Caribbean) Grand Lucayan Resort Bahamas

In March 2019, the joint venture company Holistica Ltd ( RCG-Royal Caribbean Group  and ITM Group / Mumbai India ) signed a letter of intent with The Bahamas government for the purchase of Grand Lucayan Resort (an all-inclusive resort complex) and redevelopment of the cruise port Freeport Harbor. The 2-year, USD 195 million project includes Grand Lucayan Resort's purchase (USD 65 million) plus USD 135 million for development works. The new (RCL-exclusive) cruise port is expected to bring to annually an additional 2 million cruisers to Grand Bahama island. The project includes the construction of a theme park and a new 5-star hotel. Grand Lucayan Resort suffered significant damages during Hurricane Matthew (October 2016) and was forced to close 2/3 of its property.

On June 24, 2019, RCCL and ITM Group established the Miami -headquartered joint venture company "Holistica" specializing in cruise port development projects worldwide. Holistica's first project was the USD 275 million Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport Bahamas. Developments by Holistica were also planned for Costa Maya (Mexico), Roatan Island (Honduras) and Kumamoto (Kyushu Island, Japan).

On March 2, 2020, Holistica Destinations officially announced the USD 300 million private cruise resort project "Lucaya Property". The investment includes redeveloping and expanding Freeport Cruise Terminal (to be renamed to "Harbour Village") and building a leisure complex with a large hotel (526 rooms), wellness facilities, shopping village, convention center (sized 40,000 ft2 / 3720 m2), theme park (with water slides, outdoor playgrounds, zip-lines).

In late-December 2021, RCG announced that the sale agreement for the resort is canceled but plans to participate in a new bidding process. The Bahamian government is still planning to sell the property but its development is to be independent of the cruise port.

Lucaya Property is approx 9 mi (15 km) west of Harbour Village (Freeport Cruise Terminal). At Harbour Village for tourists will be introduced new shopping and dining venues (bars, restaurants), live entertainment and nightlife programming, beach zones, new shore excursions, new transport infrastructure (serving ferries, buses, passenger vehicles). The Lucaya Property project is planned for completion in 2022-Q4.

Currently, Grand Lucayan is split into two resorts (Grand Lucayan, Lighthouse Pointe), of which only Lighthouse Pointe (as of 2021) is open. The all-inclusive day pass costs US$75 (adults) and US$65 (children) and includes food and beverages (at all restaurants), house wines (served by the glass), local draft beers, bottled beers, some liquors, chairs and umbrellas. To the expenses, tourists must add taxis (US$35 one way) between the cruise port and the resort.

Grand Lucayan's two most popular features are its large infinity pool, the beach, smaller lap pool, Jacuzzi, pool bar (complimentary beverages and food / burgers, wings, seafood, salads, desserts).

(new cruise port) Carnival Grand Bahama

On May 12, 2022, was held the groundbreaking ceremony for Carnival Corporation 's new cruise port destination on Grand Bahama Island. The special event was attended by Christine Duffy (CCL's President), Arnold Donald (Carnival Corporation's CEO), Philip Davis (Bahamas Prime Minister), Chester Cooper (Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister), Ginger Moxey (Grand Bahama's Minister), Sarah St. George (Grand Bahama Port Authority's Acting Chairman).

The new "Carnival Grand Bahama" cruise port (planned for opening in 2024-Q4) is being developed on the island's southern coast (121+ hectares / 300+ acres of land at Sharp Rock).

The development project includes the construction of a dedicated Cruise Pier (with capacity to berth two large EXEL-class ships simultaneously), a large white-sand beach, an Excursions Dock (embarkation point for land tours and excursions via buses), a Nature Reserve area, a leisure complex with an interior swimming pool, Bahamian-operated food and beverage venues, retail shops.

Dredging works (for deepening the waterway) were scheduled to start in 2022 (September-October) and to be completed in January 2023.

Grand Bahama Shipyard (Port Lucaya, Freeport)

Freeport Bahamas is also famous with its ship-repair yard often used by Bahamas- flagged cruise vessels for regularly scheduled repairs, maintenance and drydock refurbishment  works. 

Among the shipyard's regular customers are the cruise companies CCL-Carnival , RCI-Royal Caribbean , Princess , NCL-Norwegian , Walt Disney ,   MSC , Oceania , RSSC-Regent .

The drydock facility is owned by the GBSL company (Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd). Since 2017, Royal Caribbean has joint ownership of Freeport Shipyard (40%) together with Carnival Corporation (60%). The shipyard has three floating dry docks, as well as mechanical and steel workshops (updated in 2016 with new equipment).

• Drydock 1 has LOA length 268 m (880 ft), width 33,5 m (115 ft), max vessel draft 8 m (26 ft), lifting capacity 27,000 tons. Floating dock 1 is served by 2 cranes.
• Drydock 2 has LOA length 300 m (985 ft), width 58,5 m (192 ft), max vessel draft 9 m (30 ft), lifting capacity 82,500 tons. Floating dock 2 is served by 4 cranes.
• Drydock 3 has LOA length 310 m (1017 ft), width 54,5 m (179 ft), max vessel draft 8,5 m (27 ft), lifting capacity 50,000 tons. Floating dock 3 is served by 3 cranes.
• Finger Pier has LOA length 300 m (985 ft), max vessel draft 14 m (42 ft), max water depth 16 m (48 ft) and is served by 1 crane.
• North Beach Wharf has LOA length 300 m (985 ft), max vessel draft 14 m (42 ft), max water depth 20 m (60 ft) and is served by 3 mobile cranes.
• The on-site workshops provide the following services - steel and pipe fabrication, mechanical services (machinery and equipment overhauls), woodworking, electrical services, Clean Rooms (pumps-, valves- and thruster overhauls), separate (dedicated) repair area for cruise ship's lifeboats and tender boats.

In March 207, RCCL-Royal Caribbean signed an agreement with The Bahamas Government to increase its employment of Bahamian citizens. By this agreement, Royal Caribbean also has joint ownership of the Freeport shipyard where major drydock refurbishments and ship maintenance works on many RCCL ships take place.

For 2018, the shipyard reported a record year with a total of 29 cruise vessels scheduled for drydocks (over 2017's 23 ships). Generally, refit works include propulsion system (thrusters, azipods, stabilizers) and technical overhauls, hull treatments and repainting (hull blasting, silicone coatings), staterooms and public areas upgrades. More complex refit projects include adding new onboard facilities (like waterparks, cabin balconies), steel replacement (in areas below waterline), pipe replacements, adding new diesel generator sets, installing cyclo-converters.

The Bahamas' 2021-2022 budget included ~USD 350 million (~EUR 295M) planned investments into Grand Bahama Shipyard. The project included replacing the two damaged drydocks with larger facilities that can handle the world's largest passenger ships. After its completion, Grand Bahama will become the world's largest cruiseship-repair yard.

In October 2023 was announced a USD 600 million expansion project aiming to make the facility the world's largest cruise ship repair yard. The project includes two new floating drydocks which will enable servicing both operational and under-construction cruisers as well as other types of marine vessels. The project includes investments from the world's largest cruise shipowners - Carnival Corporation, and Royal Caribbean Group/RCG. Both China-made floating docks are currently under construction by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co Ltd/BSIC (a subsidiary of CSSC/China State Shipbuilding Corporation) and are scheduled for deliveries in 2025 and 2026.

In December 2023, it was rumored that RCG was negotiating to purchase the Xanadu Beach Hotel (in Freeport Harbour) with land area of 40-50 acres (16-20  hectares/0,16-0,2 km2). The Xanadu Beach Hotel (1968-built, capacity 215 rooms) in 1972 was purchased by Howard Robard Hughes Jr (1905-1976) and also includes an 80-berth yacht marina.

Freeport cruise terminal

Freeport Bahamas cruise terminal is in Lucaya Harbour - approx 10-min drive distance from downtonw. Port's tourist centre (Port Lucaya Marketplace) is at approx 25-min walking distance from the terminal.

Port Lucaya passenger terminal as facilities offers sheltered waiting areas (for passenger pick-up / drop-off), retail shops, craft market (including locally made merchandise), redesigned / optimized landscaping. The taxi rate to Freeport City from the terminal is around USD 15. Rates for group vans to Port Lucaya’s Bazaar is USD 5 per person.

The official language in The Bahamas is British English. Be aware to look to your left as the driving is on the road left side due to country's British heritage. The currency is Bahamian dollar, but US dollars are also accepted. ATMs can be found at all banks. Currently, around the cruise terminal, there are only a few bungalows and a gazebo where you can listen live music performances by local bands.

(NEW-2022) Royal Caribbean Lucaya Resort

In March 2019, the joint venture company Holistica Ltd ( RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd  and ITM Group /  Mumbai India ) signed a letter of intent with The Bahamas government for the purchase of Grand Lucayan Resort (an all-inclusive resort complex) and redevelopment of the cruise port Freeport Harbor. The 2-year, USD 195 million project includes Grand Lucayan Resort's purchase (USD 65 million) plus USD 135 million for development works.

The new (RCCL-exclusive) cruise port is expected to bring an additional 2 million cruisers to Grand Bahama island annually. The project includes the construction of a theme park and a new 5-star hotel. Grand Lucayan Resort suffered significant damages during Hurricane Matthew (October 2016) and was forced to close 2/3 of its property.

On June 24, 2019, RCCL and ITM Group established the  Miami -headquartered joint venture company "Holistica" that specializes in cruise port development projects worldwide. Holistica's first project was the USD 275 million Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport Bahamas. Developments by Holistica were also planned for Costa Maya (Mexico), Roatan Island (Honduras) and Kumamoto (Kyushu Island, Japan).

On March 2, 2020, Holistica Destinations officially announced the USD 300 million private cruise resort project "Lucaya Property". The investment includes redeveloping and expanding Freeport Cruise Terminal (to be renamed to "Harbour Village") and building a leisure complex with a large hotel (526 rooms), wellness facilities, shopping village, convention centre (sized 40,000 ft2 / 3720 m2), theme park (with water slides, outdoor playgrounds, zip-lines).

Port Lucaya: the top attraction is the Port Lucaya Marketplace. It is a m”must-see” for all shopaholics. Another popular place to visit is the Count Basie’s Square. There you can enjoy live music while drinking local cocktail or party with the locals.

Rand Nature Center: it is located on the East Settler’s Way in Freeport. The nature center is impressive and here is the headquarter of the Bahamas National Trust. The area spreads over 100 acres and it is a pineland sanctuary. The site is crisscrossed with nature trails and houses native flora and many tropical birds. You can visit the Rand Nature Centre /educational centre/. You can join guided tour on Tuesday or Thursday at half past ten. It takes around an hour to see the major centre sights.

Garden of the Groves: located on Midshipman Road in Freeport. The amazing botanical garden spreads over 12 acres. You can see stunning waterfalls, beautiful fountains and a lot of (over ten tousands) native plants species. There is a petting zoo, cafe and arts village. You can walk alone or join one of the guided garden walks.

Snorkeling and scuba diving: Port Lucaya offers great possibilities for snorkeling and scuba diving. The excursions take not more than three hours and visit famous sites for diving including Theo’s Wreck, the East End Paradise coral gardens, the Caves, Treasure Reef and the Wall.

Boat trips: join one of the glass-bottom boat tours and spend amazing ninety minutes discovering the beauty of the reefs.

Fishing and deep-sea fishing: the best place is the North-West Providence Channel, which is extremely deep. There are a lot of snappers and barracudas.

Next are listed the most popular Carnival Cruise Lines tours in Freeport, with USD prices per adult:

• catamaran and snorkeling ($60)
• kayaking ($60)
• jeep tour ($60)
• parasailing ($90)
• historical tours ($45)
• scuba diving tour ($130)

Freeport tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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