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The ship has something for every type of traveler, including three kids clubs, adult-only spaces, and over a dozen different dining options. Originally debuted in 2021 as part of the Costa Cruises fleet (an Italy-based subsidiary of Carnival), the Firenze will set sail as a Carnival ship — with an Italian twist — in Spring 2024. Across Firenze, you’ll see touches of Italy; think cute cafe set-ups that look like they were picked up from a Florence sidewalk.
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Carnival has an impressive fleet of vessels and adds more every year. There are currently 24 ships with more maiden voyages scheduled later this year. Initially built in 2019 for Costa Cruises, this ship joined the Carnival fleet in 2023.
Costa Maya
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Special programs allow kids to see their favorite Dr. Seuss characters at sea, and adults can enjoy the enticing Alchemy Bar for one-of-a-kind cocktails. During my recent sailing, I found all the Carnival classics, like the Alchemy Bar and Guy’s Burger Joint, a thrilling ropes course, dive-in movies, and plenty of themed deck parties. Rent cabanas or lounge in the ocean-view whirlpools at Loft 19, where attentive staff take care of everything, like delivering you fruit and chilled towels. My favorite spot to hang out was the aft Patio Pool because it wasn't ever super crowded, and the view of the ocean was unmatched. Carnival Jubilee is the newest Excel-class ship in the fleet, sailing from Galveston, Texas.
Things to Do on a Caribbean Cruise with Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival also puts together its own live bands and musical acts — whether jazz, rock 'n' roll, show band or classical — that entertain at various bars and public areas throughout its ships. Carnival also excels at live entertainment, but its style is different from Royal Caribbean's. Instead of Broadway musicals, it offers 35- to 45-minute high-tech Playlist Productions, featuring singers and dancers performing to original compilations of familiar tunes. Carnival puts a big emphasis on comedy; the line's Punchliner Comedy Clubs host more than 27,000 live performances a year, which makes Carnival the largest employer of comics in the world. Royal Caribbean produces real Broadway shows (albeit shortened versions), such as "Grease," "Hairspray" and "Cats" on its biggest ships. Select ships feature innovative performance spaces; you'll find outdoor shows starring acrobats and high-divers at the line's AquaTheaters and ice skating shows at its ice skating rinks.
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Ships offer a variety of extra-fee restaurants, with specialties ranging from sushi to steak. A shining point in these alternative venues is Jamie's Italian, in partnership with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. You also can pay for a burger and milkshake at Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean's larger ships.
What is the best Carnival ship?
Royal Caribbean wins the battle of size, with five of the world's largest ships — including Wonder of the Seas and new Icon of the Seas, the two largest cruise ships afloat. If you’re not yet familiar with the cruise line, there’s lots to learn about the company. It has been around since 1972 and is part of the Carnival family of cruise lines that includes Princess, Holland America and Cunard. When I select a sailing, I book through Carnival Cruise Line’s reservation number to see if I can snag an exclusive deal not listed online.
SOAK IN THE VITAMIN SEA
Eastern Caribbean cruises will bring you to St. Thomas, where you can take in stunning panoramic views of the island at Government Hill or to St. Maarten, where you can dine on some of the region's best cuisine. Cruise to Caribbean and discover the cliff-diving, breeze-swaying, sand-between-your-toes, no-worries pace of island life. Hundreds of years of history have left jungle ruins from ancient times and vibrant colonial towns with brightly painted buildings reflecting a fascinating history.
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Discover the white-sand beaches and rugged cliffs of Barbados. See towering mountains like Petit Piton in St. Lucia, explore the lush rainforests of Belize, or boost your adrenaline as you zip-line through the treetops of Labadee or Honduras. If calm, contemplative nature is more your thing, spend the day admiring cascading waterfalls in Jamaica and the vivid coral reefs of Bonaire, home to manta rays and parrot fish. Since Carnival sails from many U.S. ports, you'll find that a high percentage of cruisers on board hail from nearby states and have driven to the ship — meaning different ships can have different vibes and passenger bases.
PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY
You will find your favorite Caribbean cruise ports no matter what direction you go. Travel the Southern side and wander down the colorful streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico. On the Western, dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman or explore the ruins of Tulum when arrive in Cozumel.
Terrazza staterooms access a private sun deck with whirlpools and a bar. Carnival’s fan-favorite dining options and amenities, like Guy’s Burger Joint and WaterWorks, will be on board. Both cruise lines have well-established programs to keep your kids happy, so you can get some downtime to relax and do grown-up things. The camp-like programs include age-appropriate activities like arts and crafts, movies and sports and cool clubs for tweens and teens. Royal Caribbean is a better option if you want a huge selection of cabin categories.
Browse our photo gallery of Caribbean cruising photos from Carnival Cruise Lines. Keep in mind, this is just a sample of the sights waiting for you on a Carnival Cruise Lines Caribbean cruise vacation. Norfolk is a quaint historically nautical town situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, leading to the Atlantic Ocean and many wonderful cruise destinations. Make sure to check the details of your booking to ensure you abide by current rules.
Carnival's free-to-join loyalty program, the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, offers deals like reduced deposits, onboard credit, and room upgrades. The more you book with the cruise line, the better your deals will be. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Its ships can be found in other international destinations, such as Australia, New Zealand, China and Singapore. Carnival ships mostly cruise in North America, with voyages in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada/New England and the Mexican Riviera (from California).
If you like Indian cuisine, you are in for a treat with delicious vegetarian dishes on the main dining room menu each night. On select ships, Carnival has its own New Orleans bistros by Emeril Lagasse and breweries where the drink is accompanied by Fieri's barbecue (for a fee). Carnival fans will tell you the food on board is great, and most travel writers will agree the line shines in this area — including extra-fee options, such as impressive steakhouses and JiJi for Asian cuisine. Carnival's lineup of free eats is impressive — headlined by poolside burgers by Food Network star Guy Fieri, but also including Mexican, barbecue, excellent Italian-style pizza and Shaq's fried chicken. Carnival Cruise Line offers many budget-friendly sailings, many of which are designed with families in mind. Especially if you want to cruise to and around the Caribbean, Carnival is possibly the cruise line for you.
