Carnival Cruise Line Cruises

Carnival is the loud, cheerful, budget end of mainstream cruising. Fares are usually among the lowest of the big US lines, short sailings of a few nights are a big part of the schedule, and the onboard mood is casual - pool games, comedy and a lot of people on their first cruise or a family celebration.

Food is a stronger point than the price suggests. Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina are included on most ships alongside the main dining room and buffet. Soda is not: it comes through the Bottomless Bubbles package, which Carnival raised to $11.99 per adult per day plus a 20% service charge in April 2026. The same month, daily gratuities went up for the first time since 2023, to $17 per person per day in standard cabins and $19 in suites, with guests who prepaid before April 2, 2026 keeping the old rate. Unlike some rivals, Carnival lets you adjust the amount.

Carnival's dressy evenings are called Cruise Elegant: one on cruises of five days or less, two on six days or longer. Dress jeans and a collared shirt are fine for men; plenty of people go further. Kids are split into Camp Ocean for ages 2 to 11, Circle C for 12 to 14 and Club O2 for 15 to 17, and adults can retreat to Serenity, an 18-and-over deck area.

Royal Caribbean is the usual comparison: Royal's ships carry more headline attractions and its fares run higher. Against Norwegian, Carnival is cheaper before extras and does not push drinks-included fares the same way. Travelers wanting a quieter, more polished week usually step up to Princess or Celebrity.

Sources: cruisehive.com, cruiseradio.net, help.carnival.com, help.carnival.com, carnival.com