Carnival Cruise Lines Review

Carnival Cruise Lines are the biggest cruising company in the world to date with 24 ships in their fleet, docking at 100 different ports and a running a whopping 1330 cruises each year.

They are known for their ‘fun ships’ that cater for all ages. From top deck water parks and mini golf to adult retreats, casinos and nightclubs, there is something for everyone.

On the ship, the average age range consitis of 30%  being under 35 years old, 40% between 35 and 55 years old and 30% are over 55 years old. This makes for a nice mix of young and old.

Destinations

Value

Carnival are renowned for their 7 to 14 day cruises and they do them well. With cruises for as little as $100 per night for an all-inclusive package you really can’t go wrong. Especially if you consider how much you would spend on food alone if you were to book a holiday in a hotel.

“We rank Carnival on #1 on value”You’d be hard pressed to pay full price on your fare as they are nearly always having some sort of sale.

Be it a free room upgrade, free drinks package, or my favourite, free in room credit to spend on whatever you want.

We rank Carnival cruises at #1 on value.

Food & Drink

The food on the ship is actually quite good for the price you pay. It has a bit of an American feel to it with a 24-hour Pizzeria, traditional American BBQ, sweet shops and a burger joint.

There is a full buffet where you can sample all different cuisines and finish off with an array of desserts. If you don’t feel like lining up and competing for your food, you can dine in the main dining room and order food off a menu. If leaving your room proves too much, you can also order from the in-room dining menu for a bit of a treat.

They also have specialty restaurants that  serve up some pretty spectacular food. You do have to pay a little extra for it but it’s definitely worth it. There’s the Bonsai Sushi, The Steakhouse, The Chefs Table and a spot of fine dining at The Nouveau Restaurant.

Most drinks are included like coffees, hot chocolate, tea and water. Not included in their pricing is alcohol and fizzy drinks, but you can pre purchase them in a package. For as little at $6 per day for the non-alcoholic package to $50 per day for the full bar. So depending on how much you drink, you can pay as you go or take out the packages.

Entertainment

With their lively reputation, Carnival love to keep you entertained and it all starts as soon as you leave the docks with their sail away party.

“There is entertainment for people of all ages”On Carnical, your kids are VERY well looked after. There is the Camp Carnival for kids aged 2 to 11, the Circle C for ages 12 to 14 and club O2 for ages 15 to 17.

It is very rare to see kids running the halls and causing mischief as they are all kept busy with activities.

To keep you busy at night, there is an abundance of theater shows, live music, trivia, bingo, karaoke and a Vegas style casino.  Better yet, head outside and watch a movie on the big screen.

Are theme nights and dressing up are your thing? Then get ready to party the night away with themes like Mexican Fiesta, Caribbean beach party and formal night. These parties always go off with a bang, so remember to pack your costumes!

Amenities

Every ‘fun’ ship has at least 3 to 4 swimming pools. One for the kids, two on top deck and of course the undercover adults retreat pool where you can escape from all the hustle and bustle.

Also on board every ship is the day spa and gym. Here you get everything from massages and teeth whitening to yoga classes and pilates. Be warned though, the prices in the day spa can be quite high.

Loyalty Program

Carnival have a loyalty program called VIFP CLUB, aka the Very Important Fun Person Club.

The more you sail the better the benefits are. From upgrades, free laundry service, chocolates in your room, priority check-in, the list goes.

You don’t have to sign up, your points just add up every time you sail.