If you’re looking for a cruise that offers plenty of entertainment and activities, then Carnival cruises are the perfect choice. These ships have everything from water slides to mini golf, casinos, nightclubs, and more.
One of the great things about cruising on a Carnival ship is that they are always adding new features. Whether you’re traveling on an older or newer ship, there’s sure to be something for everyone!
New Ships
Carnival Cruises has some new ships coming out in 2023 that will wow guests of all ages on voyages worldwide. They include the line’s first Vista class and Dream Class ships, as well as the third Excel Class ship, which will be a sister to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
The new ships will be larger and offer more amenities than previous ships. There will be a wide range of fun activities and attractions including a full-sized IMAX movie theatre, Red Frog Tiki Bar, Waterworks, SkyRide, SportSquare, the Havana Bar & Pool and much more.
Another upcoming vessel is the Costa Venezia, which will be renamed Carnival Venezia and sail under the brand’s “Carnival Fun Italian Style.” She will sail a variety of cruises from Barcelona, Spain. She will also visit the Caribbean and popular ports in Canada and New England.
New Itineraries
Carnival is known for its short cruises, but it also offers a range of longer itineraries that visit destinations not typically found on other cruise lines. It’s especially a leader in cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean from U.S. ports, as well as Mexican Riviera voyages.
Although Carnival mainly serves budget-conscious travelers who can reach its ships by car, it does offer some cruises to Europe and Asia. These cruises, called “Carnival Journeys,” usually feature longer itineraries with more ports of call.
One of these cruises is the 31-day transpacific cruise that sails from Brisbane, Australia, to Seattle in 2024. The trip is part of a series that the line has designed to give guests more unique vacations.
On the other hand, Carnival does offer some cruises to Bermuda and Canada & New England. These itineraries are often six or eight nights in length, and include visits to Bermuda as well as Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Puerto Plata.
New Ports
Carnival cruises are famous for short, easy-to-reach trips that are affordable for most Americans. They sail to destinations throughout the world from major and secondary ports around the country, including Tampa in Florida; Galveston, Texas; Long Beach, California; New Orleans; and Mobile, Alabama.
The line also operates cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from Jacksonville, Florida, and Galveston, Texas. They offer four- and five-night Caribbean itineraries that include port stops in Nassau, Bimini, and Princess Cays.
While Carnival doesn’t dominate the Alaska market, it has expanded its fleet of ships to this destination in recent years. For 2023, it will operate three ships: Carnival Luminosa, which will sail seven-night Alaska voyages round trip from Seattle; and Carnival Miracle, which will operate 10-night sailings from San Francisco.
Carnival also will deploy two vessels to Australia, with the ships offering a variety of cruises from Sydney and Brisbane. The ships typically operate a mix of three- to 10-night Australian cruises, and a few will visit New Zealand as well.
New Entertainment
Carnival has announced a series of new live entertainment options for 2023, including main production shows, aerial acts, game shows and party and events. Guests onboard the Excellence-class Carnival Celebration will enjoy new performances that are designed to be elevated and engaging.
The Most Magnificent Circus – A theatrical show about self-discovery and acceptance will unfold to popular musical hits with wire-rigged performers performing trapeze, chair, chandelier, hoop, ladder and mirror aerial performances. The show also features Color My World – An Indie Rock and Pop Love Story that blends street jazz, hip-hop, musical theater and ballet with indie rock and pop songs.
In addition, the ship will debut a high-tech visual show called Visual Symphony, with 16 massive moving LED screens choreographed to classic rock music. The Celebration will also offer the Brazilian-inspired Rio Carnival that merges acting and dancing with a cast performing authentic samba, bossa nova, marchinha, batudada, forro, carimbo and capoeira dances to famous Latin pop songs.