Carnival Cruise Line is a great choice for families. Their diverse fleet of ships offers something for everyone, from short Bahamian getaways to nature-focused voyages through The Last Frontier.
From pools to outdoor movie screens, mini-golf courses, waterslides, and youth clubs, there are tons of activities for children to enjoy. Still, not all ships were designed equally. Plus, new innovations have redefined the offerings on family-friendly cruises.
Here are 6 of the best Carnival ships for kids, from brand-new mega-ships to affordable classics.
Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Jubilee is Carnival's newest ship. Sailing exclusively from Galveston, Texas, Jubilee offers sailings to the Western Caribbean, including stops at Cozumel, Mexico; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Mahogany Bay, Roatán.
Starting in 2026, Carnival Jubilee will also sail 8-night cruises to the Bahamas, allowing guests the opportunity to enjoy RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™ and Celebration Key™.
Additionally, Mahogany Bay is getting some great upgrades, including a stunning pool, swim-up bar, and more. In short, Carnival Jubilee is a great choice if you want to experience the Carnival brand on the ship and ashore.
Speaking of the ship, there's so much to see and do onboard. For starters, you can zoom around the ship on BOLT, the Ultimate Sea Coaster. Other activities include WaterWorks, Family Feud Live, a mini-golf course, multiple pools, Camp Ocean youth programming, and a ropes course.
Carnival Jubilee also has family-friendly accommodations, including specialty Family Harbor suites. In addition to nautical-themed cabins, those staying in a Family Harbor stateroom have access to an exclusive lounge with breakfast and snacks, board games, and video games.
Plus, children eat free in most specialty restaurants, which is helpful considering Jubilee has over five, ranging from new concepts like Rudi's Seagrill to the classic steakhouse. Of course, there's also the famous Guy's Burger Joint, Big Chicken, and BlueIguana Cantina for casual daytime bites — all of which are included!
Parents can enjoy alone time thanks to a complimentary night of Night Owls babysitting. Whether you want to grab a cocktail at Dr.Inks, Ph.D. Bar or catch a hilarious adult-only comedy show at the Punchliner Comedy Club, Night Owls make it easier for parents to unwind.
Carnival Celebration
Galveston isn't the most accessible port. As such, Carnival Celebration is another great option for families who want to sail on a newer mega-ship.
Compared to Jubilee, Carnival Celebration is generally very similar. The major differences come down to theming. For instance, while Carnival Jubilee has Dr.Inks, Ph.D. Bar and the Golden Mermaid, Carnival Celebration has Latitudes and the Golden Jubilee.
However, sailing from Miami means it's more accessible, as the airport is less than 8 miles from PortMiami. Additionally, Carnival Celebration offers more interesting itineraries, which is helpful if you've already visited the Western Caribbean and want to experience different destinations.
For instance, you can book an 8-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean or a 6-night Eastern Caribbean getaway to Celebration Key™, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.
Onboard, you'll find everything from BOLT to WaterWorks, a ropes course, Camp Ocean, an arcade, and more — there’s no shortage of fun for every age group.
Mardi Gras is another solid option for families. The original Excel Class ship sails from Port Canaveral, Florida, and like Carnival Celebration and Jubilee, the main differences come down to theming. You will find the same onboard activities.
Carnival Festivale
Launching in 2027, Carnival Festivale is upping the game for family cruising with cutting-edge features and brand new experiences, including Sunsation Point.
Replacing BOLT, Sunsation Point will be home to Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, the cruise line's largest waterpark with six slides. It will also feature a mini-golf course, outdoor gams, an arcade, and dining options.
Carnival Festivale will be joined by Carnival Tropicale in 2028. Since these ships aren't at sea yet, they are ideal for those planning future trips, rather than an upcoming summer cruise. However, they should be on every Carnival fan's radar!
Carnival Horizon
Carnival Horizon is a Vista Class cruise ship operating for Carnival Cruise Line. Measuring 133,500 gross tons, she's smaller than Excel Class ships but still offers an array of amenities for families and children.
Like Carnival Celebration, Horizon sails from Miami, Florida. Itineraries alternate between 6-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean voyages.
One unique aspect of Carnival's Vista Class ships is the SkyRide, a complimentary attraction that lets guests pedal a suspended bike around the top deck. There are also classics like WaterWorks, Family Feud Live, Camp Ocean, SportSquare, Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea, poolside Dive-In Movies, and more.
Plus, Carnival Horizon also has family-friendly accommodations, including Family Harbor cabins. These staterooms include windowless inside cabins all the way up to the Family Harbor Suite, where you'll also receive special suite perks like priority check-in and one complimentary bag of wash & fold laundry.
Carnival Vista, the original Vista Class ship, also sails out of Florida. However, she's a little older and has been plagued with propulsion issues for years.
However, while Horizon cruises to the Western Caribbean, Carnival Vista focuses on the Eastern Caribbean, which is ideal for guests who want to enjoy Carnival's private destinations, including RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™ and Celebration Key™.
Read more: 10 things I wish I had done differently on my Carnival Vista cruise
Carnival Panorama
Carnival Panorama was the last Vista Class ship built for Carnival.
However, unlike Vista and Horizon, she sails from California to the Mexican Riviera, making it an ideal option for those who may have visited the Caribbean one too many times. Itineraires depart from Long Beach, California, with some featuring an overnight stay in Cabo!
However, it's also the only ship in the fleet to feature Sky Zone® at sea. The trampoline park and challenge zone is an extra cost, but it's a big hit with families looking for indoor fun.
Onboard, there's also a WaterWorks waterpark, SkyRide, Family Feud Live, Camp Ocean, a ropes course, Seuss-a-palooza Story Time, pools, and mini-golf. Your family is sure to be kept busy in between port days!
Carnival Sunrise
There's nothing wrong with wanting to make the most out of your vacation budget. An easy way to stretch it further is to book a cruise on an older vessel.
Carnival Sunrise is a more affordable option compared to the other ships on the list. While older, she's been given a complete refit and features some of the best amenities that Carnival offers, including WaterWorks, three youth spaces, SportSquare, Seuss at Sea, and more.
There are plenty of dining options, too — think Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, BlueIguana Cantina, Guy's Burger Joint, Seafood Shack, Pizzeria del Capitano, and more.
The ship originally entered service as Carnival Triumph in 1999. However, after undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation in 2019, she was transformed into Carnival Sunrise.
Now, Carnival Sunrise sails from Miami, Florida, on 4 to 6-night cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean, though most voyages are to the Bahamas. Another advantage to sailing on shorter cruises is that add-ons, like drink packages and Wi-Fi, cost less overall compared to paying the daily rate for a week.
Carnival Radiance is part of the same Sunshine Class and is a good option if you live on the West Coast. She, too, entered service in the early 2000s and received a major $200 million renovation.
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!
