In October 2023, I sailed on my first-ever Carnival cruise onboard their newest ship at sea, Carnival Celebration.
I stayed in an interior room that cost $1,900 for 7 nights.
Carnival Celebration launched in 2022 and is the second ship in their Excel Class, following Mardi Gras.
Since Celebration's launch, Carnival added a third Excel Class ship to the fleet: Carnival Jubilee.
On board the 183,521 gross registered ton vessel, you'll find fun activities like a roller coaster, water park, ropes course, casino, mini-golf, and more.
It's hard to be bored with so many amenities, many of which are included in your Carnival cruise fare!
Since this was my first Carnival cruise, I was not too sure of what to expect in terms of accommodations.
I had heard mixed reviews, especially from cruisers who had sailed on older Carnival vessels.
However, I was pleasantly surprised with my stylish 158-square-foot interior room.
It was much more modern than I thought!
Although it was extremely compact, it provided everything I needed to be comfortable while in my home away from home.
Cruise ship cabins are never the most spacious rooms, though.
My inside cabin onboard Carnival Celebration was located on Deck 4 relatively close to the forward elevator bank.
However, it was far enough that I didn't hear much noise from families congregating and waiting for elevators.
Upon walking inside, I was disappointed to find that there was not a loveseat or single chair like I have had in other interior rooms.
The only seating option other than the bed was a small stool tucked underneath the vanity.
Something else I noticed as soon as I walked in was that I had to place my Sign & Sail card in a slot by the door for the lights to turn on.
This is common on a lot of new cruise ships as cruise lines strive to be more environmentally friendly.
Older ships like Carnival Elation and Carnival Conquest rely on traditional light switches.
Because of that, I find it's easier to maintain a comfortable temperature on warm-weather itineraries.
My cabin was a connecting room, and the door to the other room was located directly beside the television.
This meant that the TV could not be pulled out and rotated, which was a little disappointing. Swivel TVs make it easier to enjoy television from any angle.
My interior room also had a pullman bed that jetted out from the ceiling.
Truthfully, I cannot imagine three people cramming into this room!
While tiny with a few cons, I thought my room was modern and comfortable.
The bathroom, for instance, was one of the most updated I have seen onboard a cruise ship.
I appreciated the glass shower door instead of a curtain like what is found on older Carnival ships.
It feels much more sanitary and gives the bathroom a better look!
The shower was also one of the largest that I have seen in a standard cabin. I was able to shower without hitting my elbows as much!
Plus, the water pressure was great.
While there were no drawers in the bathroom or vanity area for storage, the provided shelves were deep and long enough to hold all of my belongings!
Both closets were large, too, with two metal drawers beneath the safe to help keep things organized.
For this 7-night cruise, I only brought one dress, so I had more than enough hangers for everything, including my tops and pants!
The shelves were great for my athleisure clothing. I can never go on a cruise without athletic shorts!
Had I been traveling with another guest, I don't think we would have struggled to comfortably organize everything.
As long as you pack reasonably, cruise cabin storage shouldn't be an issue.
Since this is one of the newest cruise ships at sea, you can expect to find numerous outlets and charging options.
At the vanity, for instance, there were three American outlets, as well as four USB ports.
Those weren't the only options, either. By each of the nightstands, there was another USB port!
The only chargers I brought were standard plugs, though, meaning that I was not able to charge my phone beside my bed.
The inside cabin also had a mini-fridge.
It did not, however, come fully stocked.
When I got to my cabin, there were two bottles of water on the vanity, each costing $4.25.
While there's complimentary water available throughout the ship, this is nice for those who wake up in the middle of the night with an unquenchable thirst.
Since Carnival Celebration is one of Carnival's newest ships, it makes sense that their accommodations are more luxurious than what you'll find on older ships in the fleet.
For example, my stateroom on Carnival Conquest felt more dated with a darker color scheme.
Since I cruised alone, I had to pay the dreaded single supplement fee.
I pretty much paid for two guests, even though I was by myself! I wish Carnival would consider adding solo cabins to their ships.
When taking that into consideration, the cost of the cruise was closer to $950 per person, rather than $1,900, which I would certainly pay again if I had someone traveling with me!
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
