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One of the best and most popular bites on Carnival Cruise Line ships are food celebrity Guy Fieri burgers. On the other hand, if you do happen to purchase your drinks package onboard, you do have the option of starting the plan at a prorated rate whenever you want. For instance, if you don't want it on embarkation day, you can start it the next day.
How to earn VIFP points
Sail a few longer voyages, like a transatlantic sailing, and you could reach it even sooner. Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. 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. As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. 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. Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards.
Managing Excursions on board
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About 44% of the 2,004 cabins on Carnival's Carnival Panorama (launched in 2019) are balcony cabins, for instance. Compare that to the 65% of cabins on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas (launched in 2018) that are balcony cabins. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista-class series, for instance, offer fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest-class ships have around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy-class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites. You'll know you're getting close to a secret deck when you find a door with a porthole window at the end of a cabin corridor, instead of another hallway with doors leading to forward-facing cabins.
Other interior attractions and activities
These cabins either have an obstructed view (often due to lifeboats) or a porthole, such that the view isn't all that great. You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship. As noted above, Carnival ships also have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships of some of its rival lines. By contrast, the line's newer ships have a higher percentage of inside cabins than you'll find on the newer ships of some rival lines.
For example, an off-season cruise to the Bahamas in February might cost $189 while the same cruise in June could be $684 for the same cabin on the same ship. 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. Platinums also get complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service (with a limit of two to five bags, depending on the length of the cruise). 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. 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.
Airline Reward Programs
Contrast that to the biggest suites on Royal Caribbean ships, which can measure more than 1,500 square feet. The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one.
Carry-on drinks policy
The ship will sail out of New Orleans several times this summer for seven-day itineraries to the Eastern or Western Caribbean, according to a recent news release from Carnival. By following these steps and taking advantage of early booking, you can ensure that you secure your desired Carnival cruise excursions and avoid any last-minute disappointments. So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure, let’s dive into the world of Carnival cruise excursions and find out how to make the most of your time on land. Carnival's Future Cruise Vacation "Welcome Home" Program gives you the opportunity to book your next cruise even before you pack to go home. The new Loft 19 enclave found on both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration offers full bar service, a private pool surrounded by sun loungers and cabanas available for rent.
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If you are on a longer cruise and will drink more than that, you'll save by ordering a Bottomless Bubbles soda package. This only applies to pre-booked excursions, and if you are claiming you found a lower price (and thus asking for reimbursement) it has to be for the same tour. If, for instance, Carnival includes lunch, and you find the same tour cheaper without lunch, that doesn't count.
Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships
Check out value-priced sailings on some of the line's older ships, which are still lively, fun and offer such attractions as WaterWorks water parks -- and often at bargain prices. The Carnival Celebration ship, which sails to the Caribbean from Miami, is the line’s newest ship, and debatably the best carnival cruise ship. 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. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $19.55 per day when bought in advance, adds access to email and most websites. 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.
Keep in mind that if you do go that route, you will have to buy it for all remaining days of the cruise. Before you book your Carnival cruise, it's worth comparing prices with third-party companies such as Viator. Carnival Cruise Line has 14 homeports in the U.S., including 10 year-round ones, which is the most of any cruise line. A four-day trip from Miami to the Caribbean might cost under $200 for an interior cabin while a 10-day trip from Sydney, Australia to the Great Barrier Reef might start at $450 and go up from there. Carnival ships are all about fun, in a lively, let's-not-take-this-too-seriously sort of way.
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. 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. At 800 feet in length, these aren't the biggest roller coasters ever. 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. The biggest suites on Carnival Panorama, the ship's eight Grand Suites, have 345 square feet of interior space, plus an 85-square-foot balcony.
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. Embarking on a Carnival cruise is an exciting adventure that offers you the chance to explore different destinations and create memorable experiences. Carnival cruise excursions play a pivotal role in enhancing your vacation, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture, embark on thrilling adventures, and make the most of your time on shore. On many Carnival cruise ships, you can find small outdoor seating areas at the forward end of several of the cabin corridors. These tucked-away public verandas of sorts are not well known, so you can often have them to yourself during scenic cruising, such as sailaway or when you're approaching a port.
Once per cruise, Carnival transforms a section of one of its main dining rooms into a Dr. Seuss-themed wonderland and invites families to dine on whimsical morning fare. Bolt is Carnival's new roller coaster attraction found on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The thrill ride is tons of fun, but a maximum of four people can ride it at any one time. Reserve a spot as early as you can to make sure you get to try the attraction.
The doors are sometimes locked at night or in high winds, so try again later if you can't get through. In addition, the extra-fee Night Owls group babysitting (from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.) welcomes junior cruisers as young as 6 months. Parents can use these services to get a break or a night out away from their toddlers and tykes. However, don't forget about sit-down options, many of which are free. Offer complimentary lunches, or you can enjoy Emeril's New Orleans fare or sushi for an extra charge. The app is free, and you do not need a cruise ship internet plan to access it.
