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Carnival Cruise

How far in advance can you book a Carnival cruise?

Just like with airlines and hotels, you can book your Carnival cruise months in advance. In fact, Carnival sometimes releases its itineraries over two years beforehand, giving travelers more opportunities to plan and budget for their vacation. 

Although you don't have to rush to make your next cruise booking this minute, there are benefits to planning in advance. For example, you'll have more cabin options than if you were to look at a last-minute Carnival cruise. 

Carnival passengers arrested after using fraudulent gift cards to pay for their cruise

Two Carnival cruisers were arrested at PortMiami on suspicion of operating an extensive retail fraud scheme targeting Winn-Dixie stores. 

Rogerio da Cunha Fernandes, 45, and Aida Parada la Paz, 43, were arrested on Monday, August 18, 2025, after disembarking their Carnival cruise ship in Miami, Florida. 

A third suspect, Beatriz Paz-Roca, 66, was detained a few hours later outside a Winn-Dixie store in Doral, Florida, where she fraudulently bought a $150 Amazon gift card. 

Carnival cruise passengers descend into chaos in the buffet, allegedly fighting over chicken tenders

Passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship were caught fighting in the ship's buffet after an argument quickly escalated.

Video of the fight, which is less than one minute long, was shared on Instagram and Facebook by Mike Terra. In the clip, a massive brawl breaks out in the Lido Marketplace buffet.

The incident supposedly took place on the last night of the cruise, when the vessel was just hours away from returning to Miami, Florida. 

New Carnival ship with the "most family-friendly water park at sea" opens for booking

Carnival Cruise Line released the first itineraries for its new cruise ship. 

Carnival Festivale, which is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, is scheduled to debut in May 2027.

Her inaugural cruise will take place on May 2, 2027. The one-way voyage will sail from Southampton, United Kingdom, to her homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida, where she will join Mardi Gras. 

Carnival expands short cruises on big ships, copying Royal Caribbean’s playbook

Carnival Cruise Line's latest deployment might shock guests. For the first time, an Excel Class ship will offer short getaways to The Bahamas. 

Starting May 22, 2027, Mardi Gras will no longer sail on weeklong Caribbean cruises. Instead, the 180,800-gross-ton ship will offer 4- and 5-night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, focusing on Carnival's private destinations. 

I spent $100 to try Carnival's new adults-only beach club. It was luxurious, but I'd do one thing differently next time

Carnival Cruise Line recently opened its newest adults-only beach club in The Bahamas. The exclusive retreat costs extra, so I spent a day there to see whether or not it's worth it.

Celebration Key is Carnival’s latest private destination, and it's exclusive to the cruise line's guests. It offers beaches, lagoons, swim-up bars, waterslides, and a whole lot more. It’s also where you’ll find Pearl Cove Beach Club, the cruise line’s brand-new adults-only getaway.

"We missed a ship, and it wasn't our fault": Passenger stranded at cruise terminal serves as a harsh travel reminder

While veteran cruisers know they shouldn't fly into their embarkation city the morning of departure, many may think that driving is safer. 

Unfortunately, one unlucky family learned that driving comes with risks when they missed their Carnival cruise out of New Orleans, Louisiana. 

John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, shared a letter on his Facebook page from a guest who missed their ship's all-aboard time in NOLA due to unexpected traffic.

Carnival's Project Ace: What to expect from the brand’s newest and largest mega ships

It's been over 20 years since Carnival held the title of having the largest cruise ship in the world. Although they're still far from reclaiming that title, they are working on their largest cruise ships ever. Dubbed "Project Ace," this upcoming class will redefine what Carnival offers at sea.

While the cruise line hasn't released many specifics, Project Ace will surpass the current Excel Class ships in size and capacity. Not only that, but the ships will feature new dining venues, entertainment options, and re-imagined outdoor decks. 

What’s free at Carnival’s Celebration Key?

Carnival's newest private destination in the Bahamas offers something for everyone, from fun water slides to adult-only beaches, lively pools, and more. Although Celebration Key has countless activities for cruisers to enjoy, not all of them are included in the cost of your Carnival cruise. 

Carnival Cruise Line Drink Menu and Prices (2025)

If you’re looking for drink prices to plan for your upcoming Carnival cruise, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your complete guide for what you can expect to spend on cocktails, wine, beer, liquor, and more during your cruise.

You can find the most updated Carnival cruise drink prices and menus in this article. Keep in mind that Carnival also charges an 18% gratuity for drinks that are purchased onboard. 

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