Taking your first cruise can be as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. Every aspect of the cruise experience is unchartered territory for first-time cruisers. However, it can unlock a new preferred way to travel.
As a result, most cruisers report they are likely to set sail again. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, 82% of those who have cruised will cruise again. Surprisingly, millennials are the most enthusiastic cruisers of the future with 81% stating they plan to sail again.
One first-time cruiser, Diana, shared her recent experience on Facebook with fellow travelers. She sailed on Carnival Glory from Port Canaveral alongside her husband. In the post, Diana shared her candid cruise experience with Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival is an excellent choice for first-time cruisers, especially those looking for an affordable vacation. They're known as one of the most popular cruise lines in North America and prides itself on a laidback, casual, and fun atmosphere onboard.
“This was our first cruise ever so we really have nothing to compare it to. We thought the price was a good deal!" Diana shared in her post.
Even with minimal expectations for her first cruise, Diana went into her Carnival cruise with an open mind. From exploring the ship’s restaurants to swimming with pigs in Nassau, Diana enjoyed her first cruise. Here’s how her first cruise went with Carnival Cruise Line, including a few surprises about her sailing onboard Carnival Glory.
Read more: I tried my first Carnival Cruise
Ship Overview
Carnival Glory is a midsize vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet of 27 ships. Built in 2003, Carnival Glory is more than 20 years old and measures 110,000 gross registered. As a Conquest Class ship, Carnival Glory can hold around 3,000 passengers at capacity.
Despite her age, Carnival Glory has been refurbished and amplified to include more modern amenities. In early 2024, she received routine maintenance during a dry dock in Spain. Carnival Glory also received upgraded staterooms during this servicing, including new carpets, mattresses, and USB-ported lamps in cabins.
Diana and her husband enjoyed Carnival Glory and found the staff to be one of the highlights of their cruise. She writes, “I thought the ship was nice and all the staff we were in contact with were very nice!”
Although some questioned why Diana would choose an older ship for her first cruise, she said, “Why not book a cruise on a ship more than 10 years old? Glory is more than 10 years old and we enjoyed it.”
Dining and Long Lines
There’s no shortage of food on a Carnival cruise ship. Many cruisers love the dining experience because of the myriad of options available onboard.
One of the most popular restaurants on Carnival is Guy’s Burger Joint, a complimentary burger joint on the pool deck. The restaurant is in partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, who wanted the eatery to have a roadside restaurant vibe. Freshly-made burgers are served up daily, and it’s quickly become a cruise staple for most Carnival cruisers.
Diana and her husband tried multiple restaurants during their cruise; however, they never ventured into Carnival Glory’s main dining room for a meal.
She writes, “We never went to dining room - ate at [the] buffet, Guy's [Burger Joint], Pizza Pirate and BBQ - and all was fairly good to us.”
Although Diana had minimal expectations about her first cruise, she anticipated long lines during their sailing. Her research on Facebook led her to believe that waiting for popular amenities onboard might be inevitable. This is a common complaint about Carnival, especially on older ships.
“Lines were nothing like I expected from hearing things on Facebook, we had to wait in line at Guy’s [Burger Joint], but that’s about the only place, besides debarking at [the] port,” stated Diana.
Read more: 11 foods you must eat on a Carnival cruise
Stateroom Experience
For her first cruise, Diana opted to book an interior cabin for her and her husband on Carnival Glory. These staterooms are windowless, although all basic amenities and necessities are provided. Inside cabins might lack the bells and whistles of higher-end staterooms, but they're are perfectly comfortable and functional.
Diana shared, “We had an interior room on [the first deck] and it was nothing spectacular, but had plenty of room for us and the bathroom was bigger than expected.”
In addition, interior cabins are normally the most affordable options when cruising. As such, they are often an excellent choice for budget travelers who want to splurge on other aspects of the cruise experience. Cruisers can save hundreds to thousands of dollars by booking a lower stateroom category while cruising.
Diana explained how they chose an interior cabin because of the price, explaining, “We just got an interior room because we wanted to spend our money on other things and not a room we wouldn’t be in much anyway!”
Read more: Cruise ship cabins: Everything you need to know
Drinks and Soda Package
Although Diana saved money on their interior cabin, she found the alcoholic drinks on Carnival Glory expensive. Most of Carnival’s drink prices range from $12.50 to $14.00 each, which can add up quickly. Because of this high price, some cruisers choose to splurge on the CHEERS! Drink Package, which provides 15 cocktails daily for a set price.
For this cruise, Diana and her husband opted to purchase the soda package, known as the Bottomless Bubbles Package. This add-on starts at $11.21 per person per day and includes unlimited soda and juice.
“We got the soda package and it worked out well,” said Diana in her post.
Surprisingly, Diana and her husband tried their first alcoholic drinks during their first cruise. With many different drinks and cocktails to try onboard, there’s no better time to splurge!
However, Diana thought the cocktails were expensive, although she clarified that she did not particularly have expectations for the price. In the comment section, Diana shared that each cocktail was about $15, and she tried a strawberry daiquiri and kiss on the lips drink.
She explained, “We had our first ever alcoholic drinks - they were high, but were good - again we have nothing to compare it to really!
Read more: What's the cost of a drink package on Carnival? (2025)
Excursions
In her post, Diana doesn’t specify the specific itinerary she sailed on. However, Carnival Glory mostly sails on 4-night itineraries to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida. These ports of call throughout the Bahamas include, such as Nassau, Bimini, Freeport, and Princess Cays.
During her cruise, Diana detailed their excursion in Nassau, Bahamas. She said, “We went swimming with the pigs in Nassau and had a wonderful time!” Although this particular excursion can be polarizing, Diana enjoyed her experience in the Bahamas and shared photos of feeding and holding the pigs.
Despite enjoying their excursion, Diana did not enjoy the straw market experience while shopping in the port. Diana said, “Straw market people were a little pushy for my liking, but I’ve heard that’s normal in cruise ports.”
Cruiser Response
Many fellow Carnival cruisers enjoyed Diana's first-time experience review on Facebook. Her review of Carnival Glory received 1.7k likes on Facebook and nearly 200 comments. One of the most common responses from users online was encouraging Diana to try the main dining room on her next cruise.
One of the top comments reads, “You definitely missed out by not eating in the dining room, just saying! When or if you go again, give it a try and understand it is also open for breakfast and sometimes lunch!”
Many Carnival cruisers agreed with this remark, as most enjoy the main dining room experience. Unfortunately, some first-time cruisers do not realize the dining room is included in the cost of your cruise fare. During dinner in the main dining room, cruisers can enjoy a multi-course meal with attentive service in an upscale restaurant.
“I agree the dining room is some of the best food on the ship plus they wait on you!” replied one commenter. Likewise, another cruiser said, “Yes!! We are fairly new to cruising but we LOVE the dining room. Once we tried it, we rarely went anywhere else.”
One cruise replied in agreement, ”I totally agree! I always recommend for guest[s] to experience the dining room. Let them wait on you and you have an assigned table.”
“100% the Dining Room for supper. The food is wonderful. If you order something and you don’t like it…..they bring you something else! They treat you like Royalty, know your name and what you drink from day one! Dance and entertain you! Appetizer, main course and dessert! 2 each if you want! Eat lunch at the others but supper in the dining room. Plus for one time the whole family dresses up!” replied another cruiser.
In addition, many commenters warned Diana that she might get addicted to cruising after having a taste of the good life. “Be careful (or don't!) cruising is addictive! Glad to hear you had a good time,” warned one commenter, jokingly.
Luckily, Diana and her husband enjoyed their first sailing and have already booked another cruise. She and her husband will be heading to Carnival Paradise in March 2025. Looks like Carnival cruiser has a new loyalty member!
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
