carnival celebration cruises for 2023

A Look at the Carnival Celebration’s 2023 Itineraries

• April 4, 2023

After debuting in November 2022 , the new Carnival Celebration is spending its first full year in service in 2023. Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the ship’s deployment for the year.

Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas Date: Several departures between March and December Length: Seven nights Homeport: Miami (United States) Complete Itinerary: Amber Cove (Dominican Republic); San Juan (Puerto Rico); and St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Offered regularly by the Carnival Celebration through 2023, this seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean includes visits to three ports in the region.

After leaving from its Miami homeport, the 2022-built vessel sails to Amber Cove before visiting San Juan and St. Thomas. With several departures between March and December, the cruise also features two full days at sea.

Eastern Caribbean with St. Maarten Dates: Several departures between March and December Length: Seven nights Homeport: Miami (United States) Complete Itinerary: Amber Cove (Dominican Republic); San Juan (Puerto Rico); and Philipsburg (St. Maarten)

The new Celebration is also offering a second week-long itinerary to the Eastern Caribbean throughout 2023.

Following a similar route, the cruise includes visits to Amber Cove and San Juan as well but replaces the visit to St. Thomas with a call to St. Maarten – where the Celebration spends nine hours docked at the port of Philipsburg.

Mexico and Honduras Date: Several departures between March and December Length: Six and seven nights Homeport: Miami (United States) Complete Itinerary: Mahogany Bay (Honduras); Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico)

The Carnival Celebration 2023 program includes regular sailings to the Western Caribbean too. Two different week-long itineraries are available between March and December.

At six and seven nights in length, both cruises sail to Mexico’s Costa Maya and Cozumel, as well as Honduras’ Mahogany Bay. The shorter version of the itinerary, however, includes two full days at sea, while the longer cruise features three full days cruising in the Caribbean.

Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao Dates: Five departures between May and September Length: Eight nights Homeport: Miami (United States) Complete Itinerary: Oranjestad (Aruba); Kralendijk (Bonaire); and Willemstad (Curaçao)

Between May and September, the Celebration also sails to the Southern Caribbean with a series of special eight-night cruises to the ABC islands.

After departing from PortMiami, the LNG-powered vessel spends two full days at sea before visiting Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. The Celebration then returns to its South Florida homeport following two additional days at sea.

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Carnival Celebration Overview

An incredible innovation from Carnival,  Carnival Celebration is one of the most impressive ships in Carnival's fleet, just like her sister, Mardi Gras. Divided into six unique zones, Carnival Celebration is a part of Carnival’s XL Class, with each zone designed for maximum fun during the entirety of your cruise! The first zone, Celebration Central, sets the tone for your cruise in the atrium, highlighted by floor to ceiling windows and the rotating entertainment stage, Center Stage! With five more zones, each with its own activities and “funtertaintment”, you’ll find something for the whole family! Carnival Celebration  combines so many fan favorites from Carnival for the loyal cruiser and boasts new experiences galore. For more fun information about cruises on Carnival Celebration and everything you can do onboard, keep reading or call our Carnival experts at 1-800-377-9383!

• Passenger Capacity: 5,374 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2022
• Last Refurbished: N/A

• Celebration Central Embark on Carnival Celebration and immediately, you are enthralled with lights and sights, with windows leading from the floor to the ceiling, decked out in color-changing lights. Have a drink at the bars in this zone, highlighted by the Tropicale Bar and Aquaria Bar! There’s eats here too – enjoy some of the finest teppanyaki at sea at Bonsai before ending your night sharing laughs with your family at the Punchliner Comedy club! The Celebration Zone on Carnival Celebration is a sign that the fun and relaxation has begun!  

• Summer Landing If you love fun in the sun, Summer Landing is for you! Enjoy a chill, summertime vibe by the pool, complete with BBQ favorites at Guy’s Pig & Anchor! And since you can’t have BBQ without a beer, The Watering Hole is poolside, slinging cocktails and beers for the parents while the kids get enjoy a cone at Swirls soft serve bar!  

• 820 Biscayne Named for Carnival’s original headquarters in sunny Miami, Florida, 820 Biscayne on Carnival Celebration brings the eclectic culture of the city onboard, decked out with neon art and overflowing with local favorites. Enjoy a fruity drink or Cuban coffee from the 820 Bar and grab a sandwich at the Deco Deli! No Miami-inspired zone would be complete without 5-star seafood, served up fresh at Rudi’s Seagrill on Carnival Celebration .  

• Lido Another spot for sun, the Lido zone is familiar to past Carnival cruisers and is a family-friendly pool zone with plenty of delectable dining and drinks close by. Fan favorites like Red Frog Tiki Bar and the Blue Iguana Cantina can be found in the Lido zone, but the real game-changer is the all new Street Eats, dishing out famous street foods from around the world, like bao buns and varieties of loaded French fries.  

• The Ultimate Playground Experts agree – from 9 to 90, The Ultimate Playground is bound to bring out the kid in you! Carnival Celebration is home to the largest onboard waterpark in Carnival history, capped off with 3 twisting waterslides for all ages! The eye-catcher, though, is BOLT, a rollercoaster at sea! Twisting and turning, even off the side of the ship, you won’t believe the thrills you can have on the open ocean!  

Carnival Celebration Cruise Destinations

Spanning 6 continents and countless countries ranging from Croatia to the Bahamas, Carnival Cruise Lines' list of destinations below is nothing short of inspiring. There's somewhere for the culinary enthusiast, the history buff, the beachside lounger and the rugged explorer. Destinations include, but are not limited to: the Bahamas, Northern Europe, Canada and New England, the Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera, just to name a few. You can follow the links to learn more about each particular destination.

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

Carnival Celebration Departure Ports

Carnival has ships home ported in cities across the U.S. making sure you’re never more than a car ride away from embarking on an unforgettable vacation. You can find Carnival ships in Charleston, New York, Long Beach and New Orleans. Ready to sail, call The Cruise Web to start your trip today!

In Miami, you’ll enjoy a small taste of the tropical weather many of you will experience during your cruise, and you’ll see why Miami is one of the most popular places to live in America.

Carnival Celebration Deck Plans

Carnival celebration staterooms.

Balcony (6J)

Balcony (7a), balcony (fm), balcony (fo), balcony (hl), balcony (hm).

Balcony (8A)

Balcony (8b), balcony (8c), balcony (8d), balcony (8e), balcony (8f), balcony (8g), balcony (8j), balcony (8k), balcony (8l), balcony (8m), balcony (8n), balcony (bl).

Balcony (8P)

Balcony (8s), balcony (8t), balcony (8v).

Balcony (HE)

Balcony (7C)

Balcony (9a), balcony (9b), balcony (9c).

Balcony (HG)

Balcony (hi).

Balcony (7X)

Balcony (7y).

Balcony (7S)

Inside (4J)

Inside (4k), inside (pt).

Inside (4S)

Inside (4t).

Inside (FA)

Inside (HA)

Inside (1A)

Inside (4a), inside (4b), inside (4c), inside (4d), inside (4e), inside (4f), inside (4g), inside (4h), inside (4i), inside (4n), inside (4o), inside (is).

Oceanview (6K)

Oceanview (6l), oceanview (6m), oceanview (6n).

Oceanview (6S)

Oceanview (6t).

Oceanview (FE)

Oceanview (fj).

Oceanview (6A)

Oceanview (6b), oceanview (6c), oceanview (6d), oceanview (6e), oceanview (ov).

Photo Gallery for Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship

Imagine the fun that’s waiting for you on a Carnival Cruise. The drinks, the games, the sights and the sun! Take a look at this photo gallery to help you envision your perfect vacation.

Bolt Coaster & Waterworks on Carnival Celebration

Summer's Landing Sundeck on Carnival Celebration

Lounge chairs at Summer's Landing on Celebration

Carnival Celebration's Beach Pool

The Atrium onboard Carnival Celebration

Gateway Promenade Entryway on Carnival Celebration

Carnival celebration's main dining room.

Camp Ocean Kid's Club on Carnival Celebration

Top 10 Carnival Celebration Cruises

• Carnival Celebration 7-day Western Caribbean Departing From Miami, Florida (Oct 2024 - Feb 2027)
• Carnival Celebration 6-day Eastern Caribbean Departing From Miami, Florida (May 2025 - Aug 2025)
• Carnival Celebration 8-day Southern Caribbean Departing From Miami, Florida (May 2025 - Sep 2025)

Learn More About Carnival Cruise Line

Accessibility

Learn about Carnival Cruise Lines' handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities - including special staterooms, accessible elevators, dietary accommodations and more.

Savor dining aboard Carnival cruises, including Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Cucina del Capitano, Bonsai Sushi, the Asian Kitchen, Main Dining Room, Steakhouse, Pizzeria, Coffee Bar, Seadogs, Shake Spot and more.

Entertainment

Enjoy Carnival's onboard entertainment, including stage shows, Thrill Theater, game shows, comedy clubs, live music, DJs, seaside theater, karaoke and more.

Onboard Activities

Take advantage of Carnival's onboard activities, including WaterWorks water slides, pools, sports courts, ropes course, mini-golf, video arcade, sports bars, casino, duty-free shopping, bars and lounges, art gallery and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Carnival takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services by attentive, cheerful staff. Plus, view Carnival Cruise Lines' awards.

Spa & Fitness

Relax at Carnival's Serenity Adult Retreat, Cloud 9 Spa, fitness center, jogging track, beauty salon, yoga or pilates courses. Carnivals treatments include massages, body wraps, facials, thermal suites and more.

Special Events

From weddings to parties, celebrate your special events at sea with Carnival Cruise Line.

View Carnival's cruise ship staterooms, including suites, balconies, oceanviews and interior staterooms. Plus, Cloud 9 Balconies bring health and wellness to your room.

Youth Programs

Learn about cruising with children aboard Carnival. There's Camp Carnival for ages 2 - 11, Circle C for young teens and Club O2 for ages 15 - 17. Plus, Camp Carnival Night Owls will watch kids until 3 am.

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Carnival Celebration

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Miami (Florida)

Carnival Celebration current position

Carnival Celebration current location is at Caribbean Sea (coordinates 12.01451 N / -69.28910 W) cruising at speed of 13.7 kn (25 km/h | 16 mph) en route to AWORJ>BQKRA. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Celebration

Carnival Celebration current cruise is 8 days, round-trip Southern Caribbean . The itinerary starts on 07 Sep, 2024 and ends on 15 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Celebration

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Carnival Celebration Itineraries

Carnival celebration review, review of carnival celebration.

The 2022-built Carnival Celebration cruise ship is CCL fleet 's second newest and largest liner of the Carnival XL-Class. All three units in this series are from the German shipbuilder Meyer Werft (shipyard Turku Finland ). As with all other "Fun Ships", the shipowner is Carnival Corporation - the world's largest passenger shipping company .

The vessel (IMO number 9837456) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001223) and registered in Nassau . Before its arrival in the USA, the vessel was Panama-flagged (MMSI 352898755).

The XL-Class is similar as design and facilities to HELIOS-Class ships produced for Carnival Corporation's brands Costa and AIDA (all by Meyer Werft in Papenburg Germany ). Other EXCELLENCE-Class liners (Carnival Celebration sisterships) are Carnival Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Jubilee (2023), P&O Iona (2020), P&O Arvia (2022), Costa Smeralda (2019), Costa Toscana (2021), AIDAnova (2018), AIDAcosma (2021).

Carnival XL-Class ship design features a new (red-white-navy blue) hull and was created by the NYC-based naval architecture firm "Bluarch Architecture". Among the world's largest passenger ships , the Celebration has length 1130 ft (344 m), passenger capacity 5200 (lower berths) and boasts the most advanced maritime technologies as well as various fleet-first and industry-first innovations.

Like the sisterships, Carnival Celebration has the second-at-sea roller coaster. The facility ("BOLT Ultimate Sea Coaster") was built by Maurer Rides ( Munich Germany -based company) specializing in roller coaster design and manufacturing. The race track has length 244 m (800 ft), with twists, turns, drops and speeds up to 64 kph (40 mph). Individual speeds are posted after the race. Carnival's roller coaster is all-electric and allows 2 riders to race along in motorbike-like vehicles at height 57 m (187 ft) above the sea. The experience features breathtaking top-deck 360-degree views and ends with a high-speed turn around the funnel/smokestack.

On January 25, 2019, was announced that the new Carnival XL-class vessel will have 6x themed zones/neighborhoods - Celebration Central, The Gateway ("French Quarter" on Mardi Gras), Lido-Pool, 820 Biscayne ("La Piazza" on Mardi Gras), Summer Landing, The Ultimate Playground.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Celebration staterooms (a total of 2641 passenger cabins) are divided into 22 different categories, including 2-deck apartments (duplex suites) and 80 wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers). All cabin bathrooms feature CCL fleet's first glass-door showers and in-shower shaving bar. Over 70% of all staterooms are outside, 300 pairs are connecting/family cabins.

The boat has 18 decks , of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 11 with cabins.

Cabin balconies are accessed via sliding floor-ceiling glass doors. The lounge area is furnished with new-type sofabeds (couch bed with footstools opening up for storage), under-bed storage (for suitcases), flexible reading lamps (bedside), mini-refrigerator with transparent glass door, plenty of power outlets, USB ports (on the vanity table and bedside), more shelving (for electronic devices), large wardrobe (with folding shelves, sliding shoe rack, 2 pull-out bins).

Like the Vista-class Carnival liners, Celebration has Havana staterooms with a patio (indoor-outdoor space) with direct access to an exclusive Sundeck area with loungers, Bar and swimming pool. Another Vista-class type of cabins are Family Harbor (clustered near Camp Ocean/kids club) and with direct access to the exclusive Family Harbor Lounge. Cloud 9 Spa staterooms traditionally offer exclusive amenities, including premium bathrobes and slippers and Elemis brand toiletries.

The new Carnival ship Celebration offers 180+ suites in 11 categories, including CCL's new premium category "Carnival Excel" suites (32 staterooms in 4 categories) with new VIP amenities and exclusive access to Loft 19 (resort-style, open-air sundeck). All ship suites offer a VIP amenities package including priority boarding/debarkation, bottled water upon arrival, priority MDR (main dining room) seating, plush bathrobes. Passengers in "Carnival Excel" suites receive as additional amenities:

• Dedicated concierge phone line
• Unlimited access to Loft 19
• Guaranteed specialty dining times (except Bonsai Teppanyaki, and Chef's Table)
• Complimentary room service, laundry, and Bottomless Bubbles soda package
• Fresh fruit basket and sparkling wine upon arrival
• Upgraded bathroom amenities

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The sisterships Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee have CCL fleet's largest Atriums and open-deck areas.

• The Gateway (aft on Decks 6-7) is lined with eateries and bars. This neighborhood is linked via 2-deck-high Promenade with the traditional New Orleans jazz club lounge "The Golden Jubilee" (offering hand-crafted cocktails and live music).
• 820 Biscayne (midship on Deck 8) is a Miami-themed zone housing the 24-hour complimentary Miami Slice Pizzeria, Cucina del Capitano (seafood restaurant), Bar 820 (retro-themed bar lounge, classic cocktails and live music nightly), Deco Deli (deli sandwiches).
• Summer Landing (aft on Deck 8) houses Guy's Pig and Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse (Carnival's complimentary smoked-on-board BBQ food by Guy Fieri), The Watering Hole (outdoor bar with wide selections of cocktails and beers), ParchedPig (onboard- brewed craft beers), Heroes Tribute Lounge. Also in this neighborhood are located a lunch counter (for the Smokehouse-Brewhouse), an expansive sundeck area (with two Jacuzzies/spa pools and an infinity pool/Patio Pool, stern-facing), a stage for live music, a sports bar featuring indoor and outdoor TV screens, hang-out space with trivia, dance classes, arts and crafts.
• Heroes Tribute (bar lounge via partnership with Operation Homefront/USA-based nonprofit organization that provides services and supports military families and veterans) offers comfortable seating (leather armchairs with low tables) and large TVs (for live sporting events).
• Lido (aft on Decks 16-17) houses Carnival's complimentary Pool Deck eateries Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina, and Guy's Burger Joint, plus the fleet's new venues "Street Eats" (grab-and-go eatery) and "Big Chicken by Shaq" (lunch and dinner take-away food bar)

The Ultimate Playground (aft on Decks 18-20) is a large family-friendly outdoor playground area highlighted by the fleet's largest Carnival WaterWorks (aquapark) and an expanded SportSquare (sports complex). Also here is the "BOLT - Ultimate Sea Coaster" (second at sea).

The new Carnival Celebration also has CCL's signature facilities Serenity (adults-only resort), Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

The Gateway Zone/Promenade

"The Gateway" zone (2-deck area / aft on decks 6-7) features design and decor inspired by land-based passenger terminals and transport stations, numerous dining, shopping and entertainment options (including fleet-firsts) and an indoor Promenade with 12x UHD virtual windows (each sized 9,5x5 inches / 24x13 cm) and a LED ceiling (100-inch/254 cm) complemented by an ultra-modern sound system and lighting system. The multimedia panels display relaxing scenes, unique global destinations and attractions, real-time day and night sky views.

The Gateway has a large digital map showing the current location of all CCL ships in real-time.

The Gateway (midship on deck 6) houses the Latitudes Bar fitted with travel-themed chairs and menus and featuring a mechanical split-flap display board (listing the daily menu - cocktails, wines, spirits, special tastings/samplers). At Latitudes Bar are also held the Celebration Happy Hour event (with live entertainment) as well as private parties and special occasions (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc).

The Gateway's Deck 6 is home to Latitudes Bar, Emeril’s Bistro 1397 (by chef Emeril Lagasse), The Golden Jubilee (travel-themed bar lounge), Carnivale Restaurant, Carnival Kitchen, Conference Room.

The Gateway's Deck 7 is home to Limelight Lounge, Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Dreams Studio.

Festivale Restaurant (MDR/main dining room) is aft-positioned on both decks (6-7).

Celebration Central Atrium

Celebration Central (midship location on decks 6-7-8) is an expanded Atrium concept combining a day-to-night entertainment complex with a bar lounge (overlooking the ship's starboard side) with 3-decks high floor-ceiling windows.

The Atrium's Lobby level (deck 6) has a large Center Stage (portside) for live performances and is served by the Tropicale Bar. The Atrium's mid-level (deck 7) is integrated into the Casino Louge served by the Aquaria Bar (featuring glass murals by Luciano Vistosi, from the ship Carnival Victory). From the Atrium's upper level (deck 8) are accessed the restaurants Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki.

Grand Central features 3000-ft2 (280-m2) glass panels (built into the vessel's superstructure) to provide passengers with unobstructed views as they relax in comfortable seating.

During the day, Celebration Central Atrium serves as a relaxing space for enjoying beverages, light food, live music or participating in trivia contests and leisurely pursuits. At night, the Atrium transforms into an intimate venue with live performances (stand-up comedy acts, dancing, acrobatics) and quality media as guests can interact with 16x individually controlled LED screens (sized 6x14 ft / 1,8x4,3 m each) displaying video and special effects, along with aerial feats and lasers.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Celebration's main dining rooms feature select items from the onboard steakhouse, available for an additional fee. Traditionally, shipboard dining includes a complimentary Lido Buffet Restaurant. A special venue is the New England-inspired casual eatery Seafood Shack. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating and the menu includes steamed lobster, lobster rolls, fried shrimp, fried clams, crab cakes, and other seafood surprises. Seafood Shack serves lunch and dinner and is priced a la carte starting at $4.

The ship has a Japanese specialty restaurant (named Bonsai Teppanyaki) located within the Bonsai Sushi restaurant (on Promenade-Havana Deck). The restaurant offers authentic Far East dishes and a live cooking show performance (by the chefs) at custom-built cooking stations positioned at the center of an 8-seat dining table. Due to the room's limited seating, reservations are required. Each meal at Bonsai Teppanyaki starts with a sampling of 5 appetizers (Miso Soup, Pork Belly Yakitori, Spicy Tuna on Rocks). Combo dinners are also offered. Each meal ends with the specialty desserts "Chocolate Bento Box" and "Green Tea Ice Cream". The restaurant is open for lunch (seadays only) and for dinner (every night of the voyage). Cover charge/price is per person and covers the entire meal.

Available on all Fun Ships is Chef's Table (VIP dining experience / 12-guest capacity) that includes multicourse dinner with ship's Master Chef, private cocktail reception and galley/kitchen tour. This dining option usually takes place in a non-traditional venue (a dedicated room in the galley) and can be booked onboard for USD 75 per person.

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse has a specialty restaurant (located in The Gateway/ Deck 6 portside). Lagasse is the chef and owner of 11 different restaurants, including 4 in New Orleans . He is a regular guest on Good Morning America (TV show) and has hosted 2000+ shows on Food Network (US pay-TV channel). Lagasse Restaurant offers New Orleans cuisine, including spicy creole specialties. Menu items include muffuletta sandwiches, oyster and cochon de lait po-boys, gumbo, jambalaya, side dishes (Creole potato salad with diced scallions, red beans, jazz-man rice), desserts (Bananas Foster, lemon icebox pie). For Breakfast are also offered Shrimp & Grits, and Shrimp Creole Omelet. A-la-carte menu appetizers cost US$2 each, entrees are priced at US$12.

New (currently available on XL-class Carnival ships only) drinking and dining venues are within the themed zones "Lido" (deck 16) and "Summer Landing" (Lanai/promenade deck 8 aft). These include RedFrog Tiki Bar, The Watering Hole, Street Eats, Big Chicken by Shaq.

• RedFrog Tiki Bar is a South Pacific Island-themed, 2-level bar designed as a variation of Carnival's poolside RedFrog Bar. New is the island-inspired outdoor decoration with floral patterns, vibrant colors, tiki heads. Located close to Guy's Burger Joint, RedFrog Tiki Bar offers refreshing cocktails (like Red's Rum Runner Jumper, Jungle Bird, Polynesian Punch) presented in souvenir glasses and pineapples.
• The Watering Hole (located within The Patio at Summer Landing) is a backyard-like designed outdoor bar with wide selections of cocktails and beers (including Carnival's own brands / canned and draft brews).
• Street Eats is an open-air complimentary eatery located next to Seafood Shack. It offers ready-to-eat street food via 3 themed kiosks (steamed, fried, and plancha food). The new grab-and-go dining venue has a daily rotating menu. Small plates (including falafel or empanadas) are available at the fried food station, siu mai or bao buns - at the steamed food outlet, and satay and kebabs at the plancha food kiosk.
• Bar 820 (retro-themed bar lounge/part of 820 Biscayne zone) has indoor-outdoor seating, vintage design, and serves Cuban coffee, brand coffees, frozens, cocktails.

Carnival Celebration has the fleet's third "Big Chicken" restaurant at sea (by Shaquille O'Neal). Big Chicken by Shaq is located aft on Lido Deck. Many menu items are developed by the basketball player himself, the rest are based on the celebrity's favorite food recipes.

Rudi's Seagrill is another fleet-first dining venue (seafood restaurant by Rudi Sodamin / Holland America Line 's Master Chef). Rudi's Seagrill is a specialty restaurant (at surcharge / reservation fee) located on Deck 8 (between "Summer Landing" and "820 Biscayne") with indoor (80 seats) and outdoor seating (al fresco dining on The Lanai). The Seagrill offers appetizers, entrees and desserts, with all menu items presented as food faces. Signature dishes include Bigeye Tuna, Lemon-Stuffed Grilled Branzino, Seared Scallops, Salt-Roasted Prawns, Broiled Lobster Tails, Crab Cake, Caramel Apple Cheesecake, Chocolate Truffle Cake. Non-seafood options are also on offer.

Celebration's 2-deck-high Lido zone houses the fleet's biggest "Guy's Burger Joint" (by Guy Fieri), the Mexican food bar BlueIguana Cantina, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and Lido Marketplace (ship's buffet restaurant). Other signature facilities in the area are Beach Pool (midship) and the infinity swimming pool Tides Pool (aft) with a bar, great stern views and ample seating. Lido-Pool Deck also houses deck parties and Dive-in Movies (at Carnival Seaside Theater/outdoor cinema).

Follows the complete list of Carnival Celebration restaurants and food bars.

• Festivale Restaurant (2-level Aft Dining Room)
• Carnivale Restaurant is a dinner-only Dining Room (complimentary) with sit-down waiter service.
• "Emeril's Bistro 1397" is the second-at-sea (after Mardi Gras ship's) restaurant by chef Emeril Lagasse (celebrity chef and owner of 11 different restaurants in the USA). The restaurant was named after the Celebration ship's hull/Turku shipyard number (1397). A-la-carte menu appetizers cost US$2 each, entrees are priced at US$12. The restaurant offers New Orleans cuisine, including muffuletta sandwiches, side dishes (Creole potato salad with diced scallions, red beans, jazz-man rice), desserts (Bananas Foster, lemon icebox pie). For Breakfast are also offered Shrimp & Grits, and Shrimp Creole Omelet. Signature dishes at Emeril's Bistro 1397 are chef's favorites Slow-Cooked Cochon de Lait Po'Boy (Boston butt pork roast), BBQ-Grilled Shrimp (large shrimp/peeled-deveined, tails attached), Emeril's Classic Seafood Gumbo (shrimp, fish, oysters), Cajun Jambalaya (boneless-skinless chicken thighs).
• Bonsai Sushi restaurant (including Bonsai Teppanyaki) serves Japanese cuisine specialties and drinks (a la carte priced menu).
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (indoor/outdoor seating, open between 6 - 9:30 pm) is a premium steakhouse-seafood restaurant at a surcharge (reservations recommended).
• The Chef's Table (private dining room) is a small room dedicated to the multi-course Chef's Table VIP dinner package (surcharged at $75 per person).
• Miami Slice Pizzeria (24-hour complimentary restaurant for hand-tossed pizzas by the slice) and Cucina del Capitano (seafood restaurant) are both part of Deck 8's "820 Biscayne" zone.
• Summer Landing houses Guy's Pig and Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse (Carnival's complimentary smoked-on-board BBQ food by Guy Fieri) and ParchedPig (onboard-brewed craft beers).
• Lido houses Carnival's complimentary Pool Deck eateries Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican fast food bar), and Guy's Burger Joint
• BlueIguana Cantina is a complimentary poolside (self-serve) fast-food bar with Mexican cuisine serving the Beach Pool area.
• Lido Marketplace (self-service buffet restaurant)
• Big Chicken by Shaq (restaurant by Shaquille O'Neal) is complimentary, with many menu items developed by the basketball player himself, while the rest are based on Shaq's favorite food recipes.
• Rudi's Seagrill (specialty restaurant by Rudi Sodamin)
• RedFrog Tiki Bar
• The Watering Hole
• Street Eats (grab-and-go eatery)
• Deco Deli (part of 820 Biscayne zone/deck 8) is complimentary and offers classic deli sandwiches (all with Cuban bread), as well as South Florida's favorite Cubano sandwich (pork, ham, swiss cheese), Croqueta sandwich (ham, cheese croqueta, pickles), Pan con Lechon sandwich (roasted pork, melted onion, mojo sauce).
• (deck 16/Lido) Chibang! is a new (introduced on the ship Mardi Gras) restaurant for signature Chinese and Mexican dishes (a la carte-priced), with two separate food menus plus a beverage menu (including specialty cocktails, like Chibang! Margarit, Smokey Mezcal Negroni, Green Tea Martini). The decor is marked by floor-ceiling windows (wall-to-wall), heavy red and green, with gold accents, a colorful dragon (at the entrance). Dishes include favorites like Kung Pao Chicken, Singapore Chili Shrimp/Prawn, Slow-Braised Pork Belly, Egg Drop Soup, Crispy Pork Carnitas Tacos, Steak Ranchero, Mole de Pollo Mexicano, Pork Lomito, Pescado Frito Crujiente, Camarones a la Diabla (shrimp).

In mid-January 2018, CCL announced 4 new craft beers that will be brewed onboard Carnival Horizon (and the new ships Mardi Gras and Celebration). The brews were developed by brewmaster Colin Presby. They are offered at Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse (Brewhouse), The names of the new draft beers are inspired by the BBQ offerings at the Smokehouse/Brewhouse.

• "ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale" is a lightly hopped dry finish beer.
• "ParchedPig Smoked Porter" is brewed with in-house smoked malt, hickory smoke, and molasses.
• "ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale" has rich amber color and notes of toasted caramel and biscuit.
• "ParchedPig West Coast IPA" is a traditional West Coast India Pale Ale loaded with bitterness and a distinctive aroma of pine and citrus.

The current list of draft beers brewed on the ship includes ThirstyFrog Red (clean and light), ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin' IPA (floral flavor, with passion fruit and citrus overtones), ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat (unfiltered lager with banana aroma and spices), FriskyFrog Java Stout (with hints of coffee), ParchedPig West Coast IPA (West Coast IPA/India Pale Ale, citrus and pine aroma), ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale (toasted caramel/biscuit flavored), Miami Guava (primary ingredient is pink guava), ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale (dry beer), ParchedPig Smoked Porter (in-house smoked malt, hickory smoke, molasses), ParchedPig Beach Lager (golden ale available both on tap and in cans/when served in bars/dining venues), Carnival Birthday Beer (golden ale introduced in 2022 for the company's 50th Anniversary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The outdoor activity complex on Carnival Celebration is named "The Ultimate Playground" (2-deck high) with SkyCourse, SportSquare, Carnival WaterWorks (fleet's largest aquapark with 3x spiraling waterslides, 1x 2-lane racing slide, 1x tipping bucket) and "BOLT - Ultimate Sea Coaster" (world's second rollercoaster at sea).

A signature outdoor fun facility is the ropes course SkyCourse (length 600 ft / 183 m). SkyCourse is part of the SportSquare (sports complex) with an indoor hangout, mini-bowling, mini-golf course, The Clubhouse, Ping-Pong area with tables, jogging track, interactive sports gaming, arcade basketball.

Located on top-deck ( deck 19 ), Loft 19 is a new VIP leisure concept (secluded retreat for adults) designed as a premium resort complex. Here are offered full bar service, swimming pool, sunbathing area with cabanas, deckchairs and sun loungers available for rent. The cabanas are fully-stocked with beverages, chilled towels, plush bathrobes and provide dedicated concierge service with lunch delivery and fresh fruits. Carnival Excel Suite passengers enjoy priority cabana reservations.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Celebration lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Family Harbor Lounge (a dedicated to families space with 24-hour complimentary dining, concierge and babysitting service, movies, video games, board games by Hasbro).
• Celebration Theater is the boat's main show lounge for grand-style show productions featuring live performances (tribute acts - singing and dancing) combined with sound and lighting special effects.
• Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch (Karaoke, art auctions, nightly shows).
• Piano Bar 88 (cocktail bar) offers themed music nights, a grand piano for live performances by a resident pianist, singalongs, trivia quizzes.
• JavaBlue Cafe (open between 7-10 am, and between 4 pm-12:30 midnight) is a specialty patisserie/coffee bar.
• Havana Bar is an authentic Cuban cafe (cocktail/coffee bar) with live Latin music in the evenings. After midnight, the bar transforms into a Latin disco/nightclub.
• Cherry on Top (open between 4-10:30 pm) is a Carnival signature shop selling bulk candies by the oz (mix and match, sugar-free, assortments), confections (lollipops, sweet apples, truffles, chocolate deep cheesecakes and pretzels, cupcakes, fudge, cookies /and sugar-free).
• The Fun Shops is the duty-free shopping complex of retail stores (open between 8 am - 12-midnight).
• Special Occasions shop sells Bon Voyage wines/champagnes/liquor, Carnival cruise packages, specialty items, and gifts.
• Empress Casino is a Vegas-style gambling lounge equipped with various slot machines (Coinless Fun Slot Machines) and gaming tables (Craps, Roulette, Black Jack 21, Caribbean Stud Poker, dealer-free poker tables). The Casino is served by the Aquaria Bar.
• Limelight Lounge offers live evening entertainment by vocalists, musicians, comedians, karaoke.
• Lanai promenade (with outdoor seats, served by Lanai Bar-BQ Bar).
• Alchemy Bar is a vintage-themed cocktail bar (drink pharmacy) where professional mixologists (dressed in lab coats) serve handcrafted cocktails and made-to-order drinks from unique ingredients.
• Dreams Studio (photo sessions studio)
• Pixels Photo Gallery & Shop (professional photo-video services, duty-free equipment, and accessories, photos on display available for purchasing)
• Havana Outside is the Havana complex's pool area (1x swimming pool /Havana Pool, live palm trees).
• Tides Pool (aft) has 1x swimming pool flanked by 2x Jacuzzies/spa pools and a large sunbathing area served with drinks by the Tides Bar.
• Circle C (kids club lounge), Club O2 (teens club lounge)
• Warehouse (Video Arcade)
• Camp Ocean (formerly known as "Camp Carnival" - youth activities program)
• Creative Cove (a dedicated room for kids' arts-crafts and workshops)
• Dr Seuss Bookville is a family-themed indoor playground (kids room/library) fitted with all Dr Seuss books (available for reading), fun games, themed decorations and activities (Dr Seuss characters, memorable phrases from the books, character meet-and-greets). Other themed events held on the ship include Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast (at Main Dining Rooms), Story Time (at Camp Carnival), Seuss-A-Palooza Parade (Promenade Deck show).
• Carnival Cloud 9 Spa (wellness complex)
• The Fitness Center/Gymnasium (complimentary)
• Loft 19 Retreat offers full bar service and a swimming pool surrounded by cabanas.

Serenity is the ship's adults-only retreat (complimentary/free entry for passengers 21+ yo) accessible at any time. This is a forward-location outdoor area/sundeck with 2x Jacuzzies/whirlpools (large-size outdoor hot tubs, cantilevered/infinity pool type, with glass walls), 2x massage huts, cabanas, Fresh Creations (complimentary chopped salad station for made-to-order fresh salads), Spritz Bar/Serenity Bar (waiter-served beverages), and an exclusive sundeck for relaxation, sunbathing and evening dance parties. Both bars and the whirlpools are available between 8 am - 10 pm. Hours may vary depending on cruise itinerary, portdays/seadays, weather.

Serenity Deck is furnished with hammocks, premium wicker chaise lounges and clamshell chairs (plush seating, teal cushions), shaded seating areas with double loungers and plush wicker sofas, live trees for decoration. At regular bar prices, Serenity Bar's menu offers drinks and refreshments (cocktails, beer/buckets, wine by the glass, frozens, smoothies, shakes, sodas).

On Carnival Celebration (Camp Ocean venues) debuted the "Turtles" program for toddlers/kids under two years of age. The program's activities include Turtle Playdates, Turtle Band, Baby Turtle Trek, as well as drop-off time and late-night babysitting. Another new Camp Ocean program is "Nautical Explorer" offering maritime-themed activities like designing your own cruise ship.

The Gateway's "The Golden Jubilee" is a New Orleans-themed jazz lounge offering live performances and hand-crafted cocktails and featuring memorabilia, artworks and original pieces from CCL’s earlier liners, including:

• Round (instead of square) windows, reminiscent of the classic liners' portholes
• Chairs (recreated from TSS Carnivale’s "Riverboat Lounge") and cocktail tables from Carnival Fascination ’s "Hollywood Boulevard" (Promenade & Bar Lounge)
• Original full-height etched glass-nickel-mahogany partition wall with 24 windowpanes from the Casino of TSS Mardi Gras and floor tiles from the liner's Grand Ballroom
• Original etchings of musical instruments and polished brass-and-glass nightclub doors from the ship TSS Carnivale
• Reproductions of hand-drawn sketches by architect Joe Farcus (CCL's interior ship designer) blended into mirrors
• Original bronze statue of Ted Arison (by Martin Saarikangas)
• The Golden Jubilee Bar is beneath 2-deck-high ceilings (adorned with a brass chandelier) and features an early version of the CCL’s logo, mirror inserts (integrated into the front and bottle display), a special menu with the most popular cocktails throughout the decades since the company's establishment in 1972.

The Ultimate Playground is a large (2-decks high) family-friendly outdoor playground with fleet's largest Carnival WaterWorks (aquapark), expanded SportSquare (sports complex with a basketball court, ropes course, jogging track, mini-golf) and "BOLT - Ultimate Sea Coaster" (world's 2nd rollercoaster at sea).

CCL's entertainment team partnered with celebrity directors from Los Angeles (Broadway) and London (West End) to create 3 new signature shows - part of the onboard "Playlist Productions" revues. The new shows (named "Celestial Strings", "Soulbound", "Vintage Pop") use the full capacity of the interactive LED screens. A 4th show ("Amor Cubano - A Caribbean Dance Romance") is also available on the Horizon ship. It was introduced in 2017 on Carnival Vista.

• "Celestial Strings" show is themed on classical music mixed with modern pop.
• "Soulbound" is a gothic-inspired, New Orleans-themed show featuring R&B music favorites.
• "Vintage Pop" show is themed on "Gatsby's Cotton Club", featuring modern songs recomposed into classic jazz interpretations performed live by a 6-piece jazz band.
• "Amor Cubano - A Caribbean Dance Romance" show is themed on classic Latin songs mixed with modern music hits. It is held at the Havana Bar and highlighted by a 7-piece Cuban music band.

Carnival Celebration's retail shopping options include 9x new collections, including CCL's 50th Anniversary memorabilia (50th Birthday), 305 Deco Celebration (in the "820 Biscayne" zone/Miami-themed), new brands, fashion accessories and designs (customizable apparel, Romero Britto artworks, Effy Fine Jewellery, LVMH brands' luxury goods, ICONIC London's makeup products, Ariana Grande's perfumes and colognes, Cuervo y Sobrinos' watches), a destination-themed collection (based on the cruise itinerary's regions/countries/port cities), a Carnival-logoed collection (CCL-logoed and Carnival Celebration-logoed products plus various logo items), as well as special merchandise influenced by the cruise liner's entertainment venues. Carnival Celebration's retail shops are spread across all six zones/neighborhoods. "The Carnival Store" (deck 8) features an interactive floor experience. The Luxury Vintage Retail is a boutique promoting responsible fashion.

New (fleet-first and never-before-seen) live entertainment options on Carnival Celebration feature aerialist acts, grand productions, game shows, parties, themed events and presentations. The new programming (at Playlist Productions and Atrium's Center Stage) includes:

• "Color My World - An Indie Rock and Pop Love Story" is dance music themed (street jazz, hip-hop, ballet, pop, indie rock) and features live painting.
• "Rio Carnival" is a Brazilian fiesta show with the cast performing authentic dancing (samba, bossa nova, batudada, forro, carimbo, capoeira, marchinha), in addition to popular songs performed in Portuguese and English.
• "The Most Magnificent Circus" is an extravagant aerialist show with professional wire-rigged performers flying over the audience.
• Playlist Productions also hosts the new shows "Celestial Strings", "Cuban-meets-Latin" and "Amor Cubano", while Center Stage hosts the new "We Are One" music production.

Celebration Central Atrium's Center Stage hosts the "Visual Symphony" production using the 16 moving LED screens and high-tech lasers in combination with classic rock live music. Center Stage's shows were developed by Jason Whicker (aerial director).

Together with CCL's popular game shows "Love and Marriage", "Family Feud Live" and "Deal or No Deal", on Carnival Celebration debuted the new "Cash Bash" (casino game with prizes and interactive activities), "Guess That Groove" (groovy dance competition), "What’s Age Got to Do With It" (Q&A trivia show for all ages, including family duos). A new party that debuted on the ship is "Celebration Happy Hour" (at Latitudes Bar).

Itineraries

Carnival Celebration's itinerary program is based on year-round roundtrips to the Caribbean from homeport Miami (Florida USA) , with preferential berthing at the new "Carnival Terminal 3" (CT3). The Maiden Voyage was on November 6, 2022. The itinerary was a 14-day "Carnival Journeys" (Transatlantic repositioning crossing Nov 6-20) from Southampton (England UK) to Miami via Madeira (Portugal) and Canary Islands (Spain).

CCL Celebration ship's Caribbean program (6-7-8-day roundtrips from Miami) started on November 21, 2022. The Western Caribbean itineraries visit Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Mya) and Honduras (Roatan). The Eastern Caribbean itineraries visit Dominicana (Amber Cove), Puerto Rico (San Juan), St Maarten (Philipsburg), St Thomas USVI (Charlotte Amalie). The Southern Caribbean itineraries visit the Dutch Antilles' ABC islands - Aruba (Oranjestad), Bonaire (Kralendijk), Curacao (Willemstad).

Photos of Carnival Celebration

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Other Carnival Cruise Line cruise ships

• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Vista

Carnival Celebration Wiki

The vessel's name (Carnival Celebration, IMO number 9837456) was announced on August 21, 2020. The boat's arrival in 2022 (inaugurated in November in PortMiami ) was planned to coincide with CCL's 50th anniversary. The sistership Mardi Gras was originally scheduled for inauguration on February 6, 2021, leaving out Port Canaveral . Carnival Cruise Line 's 50th Birthday was celebrated in March 2022, with a series of commemorative cruises (Sailabrations) featuring unique onboard entertainment/events and special itineraries.

CCL's President Christine Duffy commented, "The name Carnival Celebration couldn't be more perfect for a ship that will be a key component of our 50th Birthday festivities. Many thanks to our celebrity partners who helped us officially "unbox the fun" and reveal the name of a ship that promises to be a spectacular addition to our fleet. Carnival Celebration is our 50th Birthday present to our guests!"

Like most large -sized newbuilds , the new Carnival Celebration is LNG-powered , with 4x Caterpillar Marine LNG engines (model MaK 16M-46DF) generating combined output 57,2 MW. The propulsion system is based on two Azimuting thrusters with combined power output 37 MW. The ship has 3x LNG tanks (cryogenic steel) with total capacity ~3200 m3. Two of the tanks are larger (length 35 m / 115 ft, diameter 8 m / 26 ft, gas capacity 1525 m3), while the 3rd tank has length 28 m (92 ft), diameter 5 m (16 ft) and gas capacity 520 m3. The vessel's bunkering takes ~8 hours and her LNG capacity is enough for ~14 days of operation (navigation and onboard electricity production).

For its LNG-bunkering operations in Florida (at homeports PortMiami and Port Canaveral ), CCL-Carnival partnered with Royal Dutch Shell plc as fuel supplier.

The shipbuilding order (Meyer Turku yard number / hull 1397) was placed on September 6, 2016. Carnival Celebration's construction at Turku Shipyard Finland officially started on January 13, 2021, with the steel-cutting ceremony (yard/hull number 1397). The special event was attended by Ben Clement (CCL's Senior VP of Newbuilds, Refurbishments and Product Innovation) and Tim Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO).

The ship was launched/floated out from drydock on February 11, 2022. The ceremony was attended by Tim Meyer and Ben Clement. The coin-ceremony (held on June 15th at Meyer Turku) was attended by Vincenzo Alcaras (Captain), Fabien Gervaise (Chief Engineer), Pierre Camilleri (Hotel Director) as well as by members of CCL's New Build Department and Meyer Turku representatives.

The ship was officially delivered from Meyer Turku to CCL on November 2, 2022. The delivery ceremony was attended by Tim Meyer and Christine Duffy (CCL). The maiden voyage departed from Southampton on November 6th.

The liner's Senior Officers are Vincenzo Alcaras (Captain since 2006 on Carnival Miracle, with CCL since 1996), Fabien Gervaise (Chief Engineer since 2013 on Carnival Breeze, with CCL since 2000), and Pierre Camilleri (Hotel Director, with CCL since 2004).

On June 16, 2022, at Port Mobile (Alabama) from Carnival Ecstasy was offloaded a vintage car (Rolls Royce Saloon from 1934). The unique automobile (originally positioned outside Ecstasy's Rolls Royce Cafe) was later shipped to Finland and loaded onto Carnival Celebration (at Meyer Turku shipyard). In February 2022, CCL announced that Ecstasy (1991-built/31-years-old) and Sensation (1993-built/29-years-old) leave the fleet in 2022.

Sea trials started on September 5, 2022, in the Archipelago Sea (northeastern Baltic Sea's Turku Archipelago/Finnish territorial waters) during which officers, technicians and engineers thoroughly tested the new vessel's technical, mechanical and navigational systems (including maneuvering, endurance, speed, thrusters, steering) to determine its capability and performance. The boat was mastered by Captain Vincenzo Alcaras.

The new ship's name honors MS Celebration (1987-built/2021- scrapped as " Grand Celebration ") - CCL's last/3rd Holiday-class liner, with sisterships MS Jubilee (1986-built/2017-scrapped as "Henna") and MS Holiday (1985-built/2021-scrapped as " CMV Magellan ").

The ship's naming ceremony was on November 20, 2022, held in PortMiami and led by godmother Cassidy Gifford. Cassidy Erin Gifford (1993-born American model and actress) is the daughter of Frank Gifford (former NFL player/footballer and sports broadcaster) and Kathie Lee Gifford (TV host, also the godmother of MS Celebration, 1987-built/2021-scrapped ). Kathie Gifford served as Carnival's spokesperson in American TV campaigns (the industry's first network broadcasting ads) between 1984-2002. Cassidy Gifford's career started in 2005. Her best-known movies so far are "God's Not Dead" (2014, Christian drama/playing Kara) and "The Gallows" (2015, supernatural horror/playing Cassidy Spilker).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2022

In December 2020, CCL-Carnival officially announced the inaugural season's schedule of the new Celebration liner. Next tables show the Maiden Voyage (ship's first cruise) and the inaugural Caribbean itineraries with lowest prices in USD per person (with double occupancy).

(MAIDEN VOYAGE) 14-day Transatlantic crossing (RepositionCruises.com) from UK to USA (Southampton to Miami) - from $1140 pp

Inaugural 6-day Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary ($740 pp)

Inaugural 7-day Western Caribbean itinerary ($690 pp)

Inaugural 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary ($670 pp)

Inaugural 8-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary ($750 pp)

(2023) Inaugural 5-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary ($430 pp)

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Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship Review: How Does Newest & Largest Ship Compare

What’s In This Article

Carnival Celebration is one of Carnival’s newest and largest ships. While we’ve cruised many times on other cruise lines, we hadn’t tried Carnival until this year.

We’re big fans of the Oasis class ships by Royal Caribbean, and we’re interest to see how Carnivals largest class of ships compared. We decided to give the Celebration a try, on a completely full (sold out, we couldn’t even add another guest to our room) cruise, and here’s what we found in this Carnival Celebration cruise ship review.

Note: Theres already other articles that cover every detail of the ship, so we’re focusing on the top things tour family loved (or didn’t), and comparing it to the other options out there,

Key Takeaways

• We found some things we liked, but also more negatives than we were expecting on a new ship.
• If you’re set on the Carnival Cruise Line , Celebration is one of the best family options. As Carnival’s largest ship, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. We found great food, entertainment, and service on board.
• We found the ship more crowded than the large Royal Caribbean ships like Oasis of the Seas (more below on that).
• The cost of the cruise includes most things, like entertainment and many of the restaurants. Wifi, alcohol, gratuities, and specialty dining are not included.

About Carnival Celebration

As the newest addition to Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet , the Carnival Celebration offers an impressive array of deck plans, cabin options, and innovative features not found in their smaller and older ships.

Overview of the ship

The Carnival Celebration is the sister ship to the Mardi Gras. Both ships are part of Carnival’s new Excel-class series. It even has the first roller coaster at sea, Bolt® (for an extra charge). You’ll find six different areas on this ship, each one with unique features.

The Celebration sails from Miami, doing 7 night Caribbean itineraries.

First Impressions: The Biggest Negative

Our first impressions of the Celebration were mixed. While the ship is huge compared to other Carnival options and brand new, it doesn’t feel as spacious as our favorite cruise ships like Royal Carribeans Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean ’s largest ships are almost 30% larger than the Celebration but hold the same number of passengers at max capacity.

How does that work? Walking around the ship, we noticed how they did it.

Instead of tall ceilings and huge indoor areas, more staterooms are taking up space on the Celebration.

On Royal Caribbeans Oasis Class ships, there are open spaces that make you wonder if you’re even on a ship. Areas (called Neighbpurhoods) like Central Park, filled with real plants and trees, or the Promenade, where you can go for a carousel ride in the huge open-air area with a water theater.

The Celebration? There’s not any of that. Most indoor areas have low ceilings and don’t feel very spacious. There is the three story partially open area pictured below when you first board the ship, but it doesn’t have quite the same effect.

But let’s look at the rest of the ship.

Deck plan and cabin options

Forward facing balcony: a unique view.

We usually select an ocean-facing (side of the ship) balcony room, but we opted to do a forward-facing balcony on this cruise.

The Celebration offers a higher number of forward-facing balconies, placing cabins at the front of the ship where other ships may place spas, gyms, or specialty restaurants in that area.

While the forward-facing balcony gives you a different view, we wouldn’t necessarily choose one again over a side-facing balcony for a few reasons.

• Our cabin on deck 8 sat just above the crew break area in the front of the ship. So when we were outside on the cabin’s balcony we could constantly small cigarettes from the crew smoking and hear the noise from the area, making the outdoor deck not as a normal balcony.
• The outdoor balcony is pretty far away from the ship’s edge, so the views aren’t as close up as you’ll get from other areas. You also miss out a lot of the ocean noise you get sitting on an ocean facing balcony.
• The wind: Though the forward balconies have a divider to help with the wind, Cruising at 20mph still pushes a lot of air into the balcony area. We had to be careful opening the door when the kids were going in and out to prevent it slamming shut. This could be a problem if you have younger children!.

So, while it’s still a great upgrade over an interior room, we’d select a normal ocean-view balcony on the next trip.

Other than that, though, the rooms were very nice, as you might expect for a brand new ship. Wwe also had an interior room across the hall.

Balcony room bathroom. Average size for a cruise ship.

Here’s a quick breakdown of other cabin options available on the Celebration.

So Carnival Celebration has got you covered whether you’re a family seeking luxurious comfort or needing specific accommodations.

Variety of dining options

You won’t go hungry on the Celebration, even when you’re not paying extra for the specialty restaurants. Over we found the food not quite as good as on other cruises, we still rated it slightly higher than the higher-end all-inclusive resorts we’ve been to recently, such as the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in Punta Cana. Here’s some of the best restaurants on board.

How can you go wrong with combining Mexican and Chinese food? This restaurant is open for dinner and provides a nice alternative to the main dining room or the buffet.

We ended up dining here several nights. ChiBang takes reservations, so we could eat here without waiting in line for a your time dining table at the main dining room.

Main Dining Room

This is the largest restaurant, offering several dining times.

• Early or Late: Early or late dining gives you the same dining time each night, usually with the same wait staff and table. The set dining times (especially the early time of 6 pm) is usually the first to be reserved.
• Your Time Dining: On our cruise, which was booked at the last minute, the only option left was your time dining. This option lets you arrive between 5:45 PM and 9:30 PM, but there can often be a wait for a table.

We didn’t find the main dining room service or food the best, and we only ate there several nights on our 7 seven-night cruise.

Comparing the main dining room service to Royal Carribean , we noticed a few other negatives on the Celebration that didn’t give it the higher end restaurant feel.

• Servers passed by the table several times each meal selling shots, not something you’d see in a nicer restaurant and not something we’d experienced on any other cruise line.
• The Celebration tables instead of a white table cloth, featured a plastic top. Again, just a smaller detail but one that gives the restaurant a different atmosphere.

Guys Pig and Anchor

This counter-service BBQ restaurant is a great option for a quick meal and offers smoked items like pork, brisket, sausage, and chicken. We never found a long line here and ate lunch here a few times. Bonus: it’s right next to the indoor soft serve ice cream machine, which is also in a low-traffic area and never had a long line.

Lido Marketplace (Buffet)

If you’ve been on a cruise before, you know how chaotic the buffet restaurant is. Walking around the huge area several times to find a table, trying to find your family, people walking every direct and cutting in line, is all part of the experience.

Thankfully, we found the Celebration no worse (or better) than any other cruise and limited the buffet to when we were limited on time, such as before or after a shore excursion.

Just down the hall from the Pig and Anchor, another of our favorites is the pizza restaurant. Offering delicious cheese and pepperoni pizza that is made right in front of the waiting line, this was our last stop almost every night heading back to the cabin. Though it would frequently have a long line, it moved quickly and we never saw them run out of pizza!

Specialty Restaurants

Specialty restaurants on cruise ships have been expanding, offering a unique experience for an additional charge. Frankly, on the Celebration we didn’t see any specialty restaurants that made sense for us to spend the extra money.

We’ve tried them on several other cruises where the experience seemed worth it to us, such as 150 Central Park on Royal Caribbean ’s Oasis of the Seas, which is a small upscale restaurant located in a park like setting. Or Wonderland, which is a fairy tale type experience.

We’d try specialty restaurants again on a future cruise, but it’s harder to justify spending the extra money on something similar when there’s plenty of good food available that’s included in your cruise.

Other Quick Service and Snacks

There are plenty of other great choices for a quick snack on board, including Guy’s Burger Joint, which was one of our favorites for lunch. Guy’s Burger would have been a dinner favorite too if we weren’t looking to spend a lot of time eating, but unfortunately, they’re closed for dinner.

Amenities and Entertainment

During our time on the Carnival Celebration Cruise, we discovered plenty of amenities and entertainment to stay busy on the at sea days.

The pools, and water park on the top deck were a hit with our kids, and were surprisingly spacious enough for this sold out cruise.

There’s live music at Havana Bar and game shows like Family Feud in the theater, along with daily activities like scavenger hunts.

Entertainment options

There’s plenty to keep you entertained onboard, day or night. Here’s some of our favorites.

Pool and Waterpark Area

The top aft deck is one of the best areas for kids, containing a large water wark with slides, mini golf, a ropes course, and a basketball court.

Several pools are available, and we were able to find lounge chairs easier than on other cruise ships.

At night, Dive In Movies were a favorite of our kids. We spent about every night on the top deck pool watching movies once they discovered this. Note: Every night the movies were PG-13, and not appropriate for younger kids. It would have been nice for them to alternate movie nights for different age groups.

The BOLT rollercoaster, the first rollercoaster onboard a cruise ship. Our kids loved it, and they’re used to fast, full sized theme park roller coasters. There is a fee for the coaster, but this ensured there wasn’t ever along line, even on at sea days.

Entertainment Shows

We found the nightly entertainment to be much different than on Royal Carribean, which uses its main large theater for shows or broadway type plays each night.

In contrast, on our cruise the Celebration main theater was mostly used for game shows type shows involving audience participation like Family Feud, which took up several nights of our seven night cruise.

The Celebration main shows and plays were usually located in the semi open entrance area of the ship, which only has a small seating area, along with standing room only balconies overhead to view the show. Because of this it’s hard to even get a seat to watch a show, without arriving very early

Trivia and Daytime Activities

During the day there’s plenty of family friendly activities like trivia, scavenger hunts, and family friendly comedy shows happening at places like Punchliner Comedy Club, and the Havana Bar.

• Ropes course and basketball court keep us active.

Inclusions and additional expenses

When it comes to the monetary aspect of the trip, the Carnival Celebration cruise is a cost-effective vacation option for families. As part of the package, most of the amenities and services are included in the initial price. However, some additional expenses might come up during the journey. Let’s break down what is included and what might cost extra:

So whenoe the initial cost covers much of the vacation, there are additional expenses you might consider budgeting for.

Pros and Cons of Carnival Celebration

Our experience aboard the Carnival Celebration was packed with countless memorable moments for our family, and just like any vacation , it had its highs and lows.

We found this ship is perfect for active families like ours, looking for fun and adventure. So, let’s weigh up the pros and cons.

In conclusion, while there were a few minor setbacks, the pros of our trip aboard the Carnival Celebration outweighed the cons.

Compared to Royal Caribbean ? We’d return for another cruise on the Celebration in the future, but would chose Royal Caribbean over Carnival if the itinerary and price was similar.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our Celebration cruise trip was a great introduction to Carnival. While we still prefer Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, our family had a great time. We’d definitely chose it or it’s sister ship the Mardi Gras for a future vacation.

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Cruise Ship   Carnival Celebration

Cruises On Carnival Celebration

7 - Day Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL

Cruise itinerary.

Carnival Fun Italian Style

Day 1: Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Day 2: celebration key.

Day 3: Fun Day at Sea

Day 4: cozumel, day 5: mahogany bay.

Day 6 & 7: Fun Day at Sea

Day 8: port canaveral (orlando).

Get to Know Carnival Venezia

It's a long way from Venice to NYC, but Carnival Venezia thinks the two could be next-door neighbors. This ship is now sailing from its Big Apple homeport... and already has big Port Canaveral plans for the winter/spring 2025 season! What can you expect to find in this ship? Well, there’s more than a little Italy in this one — that’s why we’re calling this new type of cruising Fun Italian Style ™ . It starts with the Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco , the onboard flavor and flair continues at the three-course Marco Polo and Canal Grande Restaurants , La Strada Grill ™ and its Italian street food, plus fusion spots Tomodoro ™ (Mexican-Italian, yum!) and Guy’s Burger Joint (new burgers with Italian flavors — also yum!). And in authentic ristorante style, the elevated Italian of Il Viaggio . Sip well at bars that each specialize in their own thing: complex and sophisticated cocktails at Amari ™ , bubbly stuff (plus snacks and coffee) at Frizzante ™ , frozen everything at Rococó ™ and fine Italian wines at Carnevale Bar & Lounge ™ . There’s great entertainment at the red-velvety Teatro Rosso and its Playlist Productions ™ shows, plus Gondola Lounge was inspired by the famous canals of Venice. Terrazza staterooms are a whole new way to stay in style and comfort, all in a great location close to amenities like the exclusive Terrazza Carnevale , a private terrace deck made for lounging, sipping and fun, day or night! There’s also a lot of the classic Carnival fun that repeat cruisers ( hey there!) know and love. Deliciously familiar flavors come from spots like Bonsai Teppanyaki ™ and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse ™ , while celebration spots include Piano Bar 88 and Serenity Bar , and relaxation happens at Cloud 9 Spa ™ and Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ . For the kids, there’s spaces just right for their age like Camp Ocean ™ , Circle “C” ® and Club O2 ® . And outdoors, get ready for a very splashy WaterWorks ™ and SportSquare ™ featuring a ropes course, jogging track, mini golf and outdoor fitness center. So as we were saying… hey, we’re cruising here! Carnival Venezia and all this Fun Italian Style sailing now from NYC. Andiamo!

Onboard Activities

Onboard Dining

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Social media users get dramatic after Carnival cruise ship hits ice in Alaska: 'Titanic moment'

A Carnival Cruise Line ship struck "an errant piece of drifting ice last Thursday while sailing in Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska," the company confirmed to FOX Business on Monday.

The hull of the Carnival Spirit underwent an assessment and no damage was found, the company said. The ship continued on its current seven-day cruise that arrives back in Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday. 

Carnival said "the vessel continued on its cruise and there has been no impact to operations." Despite this, social media reactions took a turn for the dramatic.

"If we die, it was damn-well worth it," passenger Cassandra Goskie said in a video she posted in a private Carnival VIFP Club Members Facebook group and shared with FOX Business. "It's a Titanic moment."

CARNIVAL CRUISES FEATURE SPACEX STARLINK INTERNET ON ENTIRE FLEET

"Oh, we are hitting it," she said, as other passengers could be seen looking over the side of the ship. "Damn."

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

The video's caption reads, "Carnival did an AMAZING job of keeping all the passengers and staff safe and updated."

One X user shared photos with their local meteorologist that showed the iceberg and a boat, which appeared to be assessing the ship for damage.

Carnival said in a statement to FOX Business that the ship did not experience delays, and that the Spirit "arrived in Skagway on Friday as scheduled."

The Carnival Spirit was built in 2001. It can take just over 2,600 guests on voyages with 920 team members onboard, according to a ship fact sheet.

While its home port is currently Seattle, the ship has upcoming cruises from Mobile, Alabama.

CRUISES CANCELED FOLLOWING CARNIVAL FREEDOM FIRE DURING BUSY SPRING BREAK SEASON

Alaska is considering a new policy to limit the number of visitors to its capital, Juneau, amid concerns about the impact of overtourism, expanding on measures introduced last year. 

Juneau last year limited visitation to just five cruise ships per day, and in June, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian agreed to limit the number of passengers visiting the shore per day as well: 16,000 per day Sundays through Fridays and 12,000 on Saturdays starting in 2026, according to the Alaska Beacon . 

Cruise season runs from early April to late October, and the capital continues to prove a highly popular destination with several glaciers nearby , including the Mendenhall Glacier. Residents in recent years have raised concerns about the increased traffic, congested trails and noise pollution from both cruise ships and helicopter tours. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS  

The cruise industry produces around $375 million in direct investment into Juneau, mostly through passenger spending. Tourism dipped during the coronavirus pandemic, but has spiked in the past 18 months as travel resumed normal levels, with a record 1.6 million cruise passengers visiting Juneau in 2023. 

FOX Business' Peter Aitken contributed to this report. 

Original article source: Social media users get dramatic after Carnival cruise ship hits ice in Alaska: 'Titanic moment'

Carnival Cruise Line glitch showed lower drink prices for guests

The company will offer a discount code to guests who tried to get the deal that didn't actually exist, by max molski • published august 28, 2023 • updated on august 28, 2023 at 1:19 pm.

An offer that seemed too good to be true for Carnival Cruise Line customers was too good to be true.

A glitch on Carnival's website occurred late Friday night and incorrectly labeled the booking prices for its Cheers! beverage packages.

The daily price of the drink packages showed up correctly on the website, but the full price did not when a guest reached checkout. That led customers to believe they could get a whole cruise worth of drinks for a one-day price.

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Some guests were able to click "purchase" on the lower prices, but they will not actually be able to enjoy drinks that cheap.

Carnival is offering a discount to those who tried to capitalize on the bargain but will not honor the prices that were displayed as part of the glitch. Instead, customers will get a one-time code should they wish to get a Cheers! package again.

"The IT issue related to Cheers! sales on Carnival.com has been resolved," Carnival brand ambassador John Heald wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday. The price per day was correctly displayed but the calculation in the checkout cart was in error. All guests who booked this glitch will get a refund of their purchase and a one-time discount code should they wish to repurchase."

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Cheers! packages start at $59.95 per person per day.

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