Best Carnival cruise ships: Here’s which ship you should sail

Choosing a Carnival cruise ship is not an easy task, especially for those new to cruising.

As the world’s largest cruise brand, carnival cruise line has a fleet of over 20 vessels, offering everything from mega-ship adventures to small-ship experiences. Many variables will influence your choice, including price, embarkation dates, companions, ship size and amenities, and destination.

So what are the best Carnival cruise ships? Here are my picks for the top options in several categories.

Mardi Gras: Family-Friendly Carnival Cruise Ships

Definitely the best Carnival cruise ship for kids mardi gras. This ship is not only one of Carnival’s newest ships, but also one of its largest, with plenty of activities to keep families with kids busy.

A spacious kids’ club offers daily programs including scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and video games. This club brings together young cruisers and gives them space to make friends and play with their peers.

As well as dedicated children’s facilities, the ship has a huge arcade and many entertainment facilities on the top deck. One of them is the “Ultimate Playground”. rope course, water slide, Bolt, the first offshore roller coaster. (Please note that separate fees apply for Arcade and Bolt.)

Related: 5 cruise lines that are perfect for families

Mardi Gras is full of great family-friendly restaurants, including the Dr. Seuss-themed Green Egg and Ham Breakfast (for a small fee). The ship’s fare also includes pizza, soft serve ice cream, Shaxx Fried Chicken, and Guy Fieri Burger. Even picky eaters will be satisfied. Kids can order from the special menu in the complimentary main dining room and join in with the waiters’ hilarious dance performances if they start getting impatient sitting still.

This vessel also accommodates families of all sizes and budgets. Many standard Mardi Gras cabins sleep at least four people, and the ship also offers connecting cabins.

daily newsletter

Get rewarded in your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG experts.

Family Harbor Cabins offer a special family lounge area with a television, sitting area and internet station. Breakfast is served every morning, and snacks and drinks are available throughout the day, including complimentary soda, so kids don’t have to go far when they need a snack. Cabins in the Family Harbor category have a nautical theme and feature ample storage space and room for at least four people.

Mardi Gras’ sister ships, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, are also great choices in this category. The two offer nearly identical experiences (with only slight changes to the names and themes of certain venues), and all three are week-long Caribbean cruises departing from home ports in Florida and Texas.

Carnival Horizon: The perfect ship for luxury lovers

To be clear, Carnival is not a luxury cruise line, nor does it offer huge suites on most of its ships. The suites are smaller than most other brands’ luxury accommodations and do not include amenities such as butler service.

With that in mind, one ship that offers a little more special option is the Carnival Horizon, the second of Carnival’s three Vista Class ships. The top floor features the adults-only Serenity Sundeck area. The ship’s Cloud 9 Spa offers an extensive menu of spa treatments, salon services, and fitness classes. There are also several luxury cabins.

If you’re interested in wellness, relaxation, and self-care, check out our spa and fitness center’s manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, teeth whitening treatments, acupuncture, anti-wrinkle treatments, state-of-the-art cycling classes, and thermal treatments . Suites, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms are available for a fee. If you’re looking for some luxury, try the Cloud 9 Spa cabin. Receive benefits such as complimentary access to the thermal suite and two complimentary yoga or Pilates classes.

Related: 9 best cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

If you’re looking for an upscale cabin enclave, you might want to book one of the ship’s Havana cabana cabins. Rooms range from 185 square feet of interior space to the Havana Suite, which has 260 square feet of interior space (with a bulkhead separating the sleeping and living areas) plus a 100 square foot patio area with loungers and loungers. , there are several types. hammock. All Havana Cabana Cruisers have access to a private lanai and pool deck. When you book a suite, you also receive priority boarding and disembarkation.

If you prefer a traditional suite, consider a Grand Suite, which includes priority boarding, disembarkation, meal times, and access to Havana’s pool area. However, the Grand Suite is 345 square feet and only has an 85 square foot balcony. That’s a shame considering some of Royal Caribbean’s largest rooms are nearly five times that size.

The only ship with larger accommodations is the line’s newest ship, Mardi Gras, carnival festival and carnival jubileeall of which have presidential suites. These accommodations offer 1,120 square feet of space with a 600 square foot balcony and separate living and sleeping areas. However, the ships that are part of the line’s Excel class are so large and attract so many families that I have ruled them out as the most luxurious.

Carnival Conquest: The perfect ship for budget travelers

If you’re on a budget and just looking for the cheapest Carnival cruise ship, Carnival Conquest is a sure bet. We offer 3-5 night trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Think of it like this: The shorter the cruiseit will be cheaper.

Plus, you’ll sail from Miami, one of the world’s largest cruise hubs. When more ships leave a particular port, competition increases and prices can fall.

Related: Description of the eight classes of Carnival ships

Carnival Conquest is one of the oldest ships on the line, but it’s also a lot of fun. Shorter routes tend to attract more lively crowds, so passengers can enjoy plenty of dancing and socializing at Anne’s Dance Club and stay late into the night. During the day, passengers enjoy spending time around the pool and eating complimentary burgers. Guy’s Burger Joint.

The ship is also one of the few remaining ships in the fleet that still features an amazing interior designed by Joe Farkas, the famed architect who made Carnival synonymous with whimsical patterns, bright colors, and neon. There is even one.

At the time of publication, prices for a three-night Bahamas cruise started at approximately $147 per person per night for in-cabin occupancy (taxes and fees included).

Carnival Sunrise: Best Carnival Cruise Ship for Singles

Unfortunately, Carnival has been slow to introduce solo cabins, meaning there are no ships in its fleet that offer accommodations for one person.

All cabins are designed for two people, so if you’re traveling alone you’ll typically have to pay for both fares. This means you pay twice as much per person as if you were sharing a room with two people.

Related: Best cruise ship for solo travelers

To make a single supplement as affordable as possible, Carnival solo cruisers must balance finding a cheap ship with choosing a ship that sails short itineraries. They’d probably want something a little more lively (something that’s not the oldest in the fleet).

A strong contender for the title of best Carnival ship for singles is Carnival Sunrise. Formerly the Carnival Triumph, the ship was completely dismantled, overhauled and renamed in 2019. Originally debuted in 1999, it looked fresh and nearly new. The line features Serenity’s adult-only sundeck, Red Frog Pub, alchemy bar Lounges, nightclubs and daily activities are also available.

Combine it with a short and affordable voyage from. miamieven solo travelers can find a fun and affordable vacation on this ship. I found a 4 or 5 night cruise to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. Rates start at $160 per night for one person. Shorter voyages tend to attract a more fun-loving and sociable crowd. So if your goal is to interact and potentially meet other solo cruisers, Carnival Sunrise has plenty of opportunities.

Carnival Pride: The perfect ship for retirees

Retired travelers can always take long-distance cruises around the world, usually allowing them to visit more remote locations. These trips can be quite pricey, which is why Carnival is such a great budget option.

Notably, the Carnival Pride voyage includes a 14-night itinerary to Greenland. Longer voyages mean more time to explore, but also fewer kids and less of a fractal party atmosphere. (Please be careful if you are considering bringing your grandchildren.)

Related: 7 Recommended Cruises for Seniors Who Love Travel

Carnival Pride is one of the oldest ships sailing for Carnival. This actually works to your advantage if you’re a retiree who enjoys small boats and vintage designs, more artwork and decorations by Farkas in this case.

In addition to a comedy club and onboard spa, the ship also features an adults-only sundeck, several bars and lounges, and plenty of dining options and daily activities to beat the boredom of a long voyage.