Carnival suite perks: Are they worth the cost?

Is splurging on a Carnival suite worth the cost?

The answer varies. With Carnival's suites often costing over double the price of a standard inside cabin, it's not just about the extra space. You need to weigh whether the perks will add to your Carnival cruise experience. Otherwise, you might be better off booking a balcony cabin and spending money on other add-ons.

Not only is the base fare of a Carnival suite more expensive but so are the daily gratuities. Those in standard cabins (i.e., interior, ocean view, and balcony rooms) pay $16 per person, per day. However, gratuities for suite guests increase to $18 per person.

I've found that Carnival suites are more akin to hotel suites where the biggest perk is the extra space. Unlike other cruise lines with expansive "ship-within-a-ship" concepts, most suites on Carnival ships lack the same benefits as, for instance, guests staying in Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven, MSC Cruises' Yacht Club, or Celebrity Cruises' The Retreat.

In other words, staying in a suite on your next Carnival cruise won't grant you access to suite-only lounges or restaurants.

Still, that doesn't mean they aren't worth the cost. Here is everything included when you book a suite on a Carnival Cruise Line ship.

Larger cabins

If you are someone who values space, you will love the spacious suites onboard Carnival ships. An Ocean Suite on Carnival Vista, for instance, has 275 square feet of interior space and a 65 square foot balcony. Standard balcony cabins only have 185 square feet of space, in addition to a 35 square foot balcony.

Similarly, a standard interior on Mardi Gras only measures 158 square feet, while a balcony is 249 square feet, and a Carnival Excel Suite is a whopping 615 square feet.

If you want to stay in the largest stateroom in the fleet, look at Excel Class ships (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee). Onboard, you will find the Presidential Suite, which measures a whopping 475 square feet, with an additional 645 square feet of balcony space.

Priority check-in, embarkation, and disembarkation

Want to be one of the first to check in for your cruise? What about one of the first to step foot on the ship? Booking a suite means that you will have priority check-in and embarkation, giving you more time to enjoy everything that the ship has to offer.

When it comes time to check in for your cruise, you will be able to select your terminal arrival 48 hours ahead of all other guests, allowing you the opportunity to select one of the earliest time slots, and on embarkation day, you will be able to use a dedicated priority lane to finish the physical check-in process.

Note, though, that this does not mean that you'll get your luggage delivered before other guests. Only those who purchased Faster to Fun and VIFP Diamond guests have express luggage delivery. You will not have access to your cabin before others, either.

All good things come to an end, even your fantastic cruise vacation. When it comes time to disembark, you will be able to be one of the first guests off the ship. Even throughout your cruise, you will be able to get off the ship before other passengers in ports of call, giving you the ability to make the most of your day ashore.

Priority dinner reservations & main dining room time assignment

Like with most cruise lines, when you book a Carnival cruise, you will have the option to select a traditional or flexible dining time. With traditional dining, you can choose the early or late option, with the early taking place somewhere around 5:30pm and the late around 7:45pm.

Anytime Dining, Carnival's flexible option, means that you can arrive at the Main Dining Room anytime you'd like between specified hours and wait to be seated like a land-based restaurant.

Guests in standard rooms can request their preference; however, nothing is guaranteed. Suite guests are guaranteed to receive their top dining choice. This is a great benefit if you have young children and want to eat as early as possible or prefer to hang out at the pool and eat later.

Two complimentary large bottles of water

When you get to your suite, you will see two bottles of water provided for free. While this benefit is nothing special, it makes having water available in your stateroom more convenient! You do not have to worry about ordering it from room service or bringing some back from the buffet.

Pillow-top mattresses

Carnival's website lists that suite guests receive pillow-top mattresses. If comfort is important to you, you will like this upgraded bedding. Of course, you can expect to sleep soundly no matter what cabin you book, so you should not decide to pay more for a suite solely based on a nicer mattress.

Bathrobes

Suite guests are also given complimentary bathrobes to wear during the cruise. This means that you can sip your morning coffee sitting on your balcony in your comfortable robe before getting ready for the day.

If you are not staying in a suite and want a bathrobe, all you have to do is ask your cabin attendant. They will provide them free of charge. The only difference for suite guests is that they do not have to ask.

Specialty suites

Select ships have specialty suites that come with additional perks. These include Havana Suites, Family Harbor Suites, Cloud 9 Spa Suites, and Excel Suites on Excel Class ships. Each category comes with its own exclusive benefits, in addition to the standard suite benefits.

Havana Suites

Those staying in a Havana Suite must be at least 12-years-old, meaning that you will not find many young children running around this area! Inside the suite, you will find upgraded decor, as well as a luxurious rain shower, while the extra-large patio features a hammock chair for you to relax in. Plus, you gain access to an exclusive pool area.

Havana Suites can be found onboard Carnival Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Panorama, and Vista.

Family Harbor Suites

Family Harbor Suites are great for larger families. In addition to a larger cabin that sports a nautical theme, you will be able to access the Family Harbor Lounge, where you will find daily breakfast, snacks, board and video games, and family movies.

Additionally, kids staying in Family Harbor Suites dine for free in most onboard specialty restaurants, and parents will love the free night of Night Owls babysitting, so they can benefit from some much-deserved adults-only time.

In terms of what these benefits save you cost-wise, Night Owls babysitting costs $7.50 per hour, plus an 18% service charge, per child, and most specialty restaurants charge under $15.00 per child.

Family Harbor Suites can be found onboard Carnival Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Panorama, and Vista.

Cloud 9 Spa Suites

Cloud 9 Spa Suites are for those seeking ultimate relaxation on their upcoming Carnival Cruise. From relaxing decor to ELEMIS bath products, upgraded bathrobes and slippers, priority spa reservations, free fitness classes, unlimited access to the thermal suites, and discounted spa treatments on port days, you are sure to disembark feeling recharged and pampered!

Cloud 9 Spa Suites are available on more ships in the fleet than Havana and Family Harbor Suites, too. You will find these suites onboard Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Dream, Horizon, Jubilee, Luminosa, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, and Vista.

Carnival Excel Suites

The newest category of Carnival suites are their Excel Suites, which are only available on Excel Class ships: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. Not only are these some of the most luxurious and largest suites in the fleet, but they also come with more perks than other categories of specialty suites:

Complimentary access to Loft 19
Priority cabana reservations at Loft 19
Dedicated concierge phone line
Guaranteed Main Dining Room time assignment
Guaranteed reservations at most specialty dining restaurants, when reserved 24 hours prior
Sparkling wine and fruit bowl upon arrival
Bottomless Bubbles drink package, the non-alcoholic soda package
Complimentary room service
Upgraded bathroom amenities
Complimentary on-demand movies
Complimentary laundry service

Loft 19, while not a suite-only enclave, is a retreat-style oasis that Excel Suite guests can access for free. Here, you will find a private infinity whirlpool, plush lounge chairs, and cabanas (available at an extra cost).

Is a Carnival suite worth the extra money?

It all depends on how you like to vacation and your budget. Maybe the perks of a traditional suite are not enough to justify the cost. If that is the case, consider sailing on a ship with specialty suites. Sometimes, the extra living space is enough for a larger family to splurge on a suite for their vacation.

Some of the perks that accompany booking a suite can be purchased with Carnival's Faster to the Fun package, which includes priority check-in, early access to your stateroom to drop off carry-on bags, expedited luggage delivery, priority tender boarding, dedicated line and phone number for faster service at Guest Services, priority Main Dining Room and specialty restaurant reservations, and priority disembarkation.

I paid $3,600 to sail in a Junior Suite on Carnival Vista. While the extra space was nice for my cousin and me, I don't think I'd be willing to shell out the same amount of money for a suite on a 5-night cruise with limited perks.

Personally, I would be interested in their specialty suites, like a Havana Cabana, as they come with more lucrative benefits, such as private pool access.

Elizabeth Wright

Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.