When you think of Carnival Cruise Line, do you envision lively party ships to the sunny Bahamas and Caribbean? If so, you aren't alone – I thought the same for a long time!
After 4 warm-weather sailings with Carnival on ships ranging from Carnival Celebration to Carnival Elation, I decided to embark on an adventure to The Last Frontier aboard Carnival Luminosa.
I was a little worried I wouldn't enjoy myself, as part of what makes Carnival appealing is its relaxed, fun, and casual atmosphere, rather than port-intensive itineraries with long days ashore.
Not only that, but Carnival Luminosa wasn't originally built for Carnival. She entered service in 2009 as Costa Luminosa. That's right — she sailed for Costa Cruises, the line known for the infamous Costa Concordia disaster of 2012, for over a decade.
Still, I kept an open mind as I boarded my flight from North Carolina to Seattle, Washington. Even if the experience wasn't what I was used to when sailing with Carnival, this particular cruise was more about the ports than the onboard activities.
Although not everything about the ship was perfect, Carnival Luminosa was a comfortable home base for my 7-night Alaska cruise.
Spacious but dated inside cabin
When I booked my Alaska cruise on Carnival Luminosa, I was supposed to sail with my partner. As such, the rate for two travelers in a standard interior cabin was $1,780, including pre-paid gratuities, taxes, and port fees. This breaks down to roughly $127 per person, per night.
Unfortunately, she fell ill the day before we were supposed to fly to Seattle, leaving me sailing solo on a cruise originally planned for two. This also meant that the per-person cost essentially doubled, making my nightly cost around $250 for my accommodations, meals, entertainment, and transportation.
Starting with the cabin, I was impressed by its size. Interior staterooms have a reputation for being tiny and cramped. However, I was surprised by how spacious mine felt.
The layout was great, with a large coffee table, oversized couch, multiple closets, and a massive vanity area. Because I was alone, I had the entire space to myself. This made it easy to keep everything organized throughout the week. Plus, I didn't have to bicker with anyone over the single American outlet.
It wasn't perfect, though. The lighting in my cabin was surprisingly dim, thanks to the soft bulbs. The dark color scheme didn't help, either. Ships like Carnival Celebration have bright wood and colorful accents that make the smallest interior cabins feel airy.
Elements like the tiny television, limited outlets, and clingy shower curtain further reminded me of the vessel's true age.
Mediocre food
One thing that surprised me on my first-ever Carnival cruise was the food. Although my dishes in the Main Dining Room consistently exceeded my expectations, the fast-casual dining options were what really impressed me.
Everything from the fresh tacos at BlueIguana Cantina to the crispy chicken tenders at Big Chicken and the juicy cheeseburgers at Guy's Burger Joint was tasty and satisfying. This trend continued on older vessels like Carnival Conquest and Elation. Even if the dining room food wasn't a hit, I knew I could rely on the poolside joints.
Unfortunately, because Carnival Luminosa is an old Costa ship, she doesn't have the same line-up of Carnival's signature restaurants. For instance, rather than BlueIguana Cantina, there was a similar yet less-tasty version called Tacos & Burritos.
Additionally, the ship lacked an actual Guy's Burger Joint. Although I thought that Off the Grill was better than the taco spot, the burgers didn’t have the same flavor that makes Guy's a must-do for so many cruisers.
Even the dining room was more disappointing than other Carnival ships. Most dishes left a lot to be desired, including the Chicken Roulade. It ended up being dry and lacking flavor.
However, the most lackluster dining venue onboard was the buffet. Not only were the majority of dishes bland, but nearly everything was cold. Furthermore, the selection was limited and repetitive throughout the week.
Read more: 11 foods you must eat on a Carnival cruise
Great comedians
Although the food didn't live up to the same hype as previous sailings, I was impressed by the comedians. The Punchliner Comedy Club arguably features the best comedians at sea.
My cruise aboard Carnival Luminosa featured four talented comedians — Murray Valeriano, Quinton Greene, Aaron Thompson, and Tom Floss — each with their own distinct style and comedic flair.
As such, the comedy shows quickly became one of my favorite activities onboard. Every comedian did a great job at keeping the audience engaged while poking fun at the quirks of the cruising community.
Aside from the comedians, I was generally impressed with the Playlist Live productions. The singers, especially, made the shows worth watching. However, the sets and choreography felt a bit minimalistic.
That said, I've rarely been blown away by Carnival's theater shows. Lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney definitely set the bar higher.
Inconsistent port times
The most frustrating part about my Alaska cruise on Carnival Luminosa was the port schedule. Having previously sailed to Alaska, I was looking forward to returning to familiar favorites and new destinations. However, the duration of our port stops made it difficult to enjoy them.
For instance, the cruise kicked off with a lengthy 12-hour stop in Skagway, which came at the expense of shorter visits in Juneau and Ketchikan. We were scheduled in Juneau from 7:00am to 3:00pm, and in Ketchikan from 7:00am to 1:00pm.
The latter was the most disappointing, as it was the only port I had never been to. With an all-aboard time of 12:30pm, the morning felt rushed with little time to fully enjoy the town.
Finally, we were scheduled to visit Victoria, British Columbia, from 8:00pm to 11:30pm on the last evening of the cruise. On my previous visit to Alaska, we docked a little earlier. As such, I had time to grab dinner in town, which was the perfect end to my trip!
Because of our late arrival, I didn't plan on waiting to eat ashore — and I'm thankful I made that call! Unfavorable weather conditions prevented the captain from being able to dock in the harbor, and our visit was canceled around 9:30pm.
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 over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
