Carnival Cruise

Last fall, I set sail onboard Carnival Celebration for one of the ship’s first inaugural cruises.

Sailing in an inside cabin might not be the most glamorous option on a cruise ship, but these tiny staterooms are both practical and affordable. Although I love splurging on a balcony stateroom when possible, I typically reserve an interior stateroom when I cruise because of the budget-friendly price tag.

Back in August 2022, I set sail on Carnival Cruise Line for the first time in my adult life. A quick getaway from Mobile, Alabama, which is just 1.5 hours from my house, was an eye-opening experience to the cruise line, to say the least.

Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras are the newest and biggest ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. Both Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras are in the Excel class, with Carnival Jubilee joining them in December 2023.

Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras offer more fun than ever before; after all, that is part of their brand! The Excel class of ships are 40% larger than all the other Carnival ships, meaning there is a huge variety of venues, restaurants, bars, and more for guests to enjoy.

Most of the major cruise lines, like Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean, have their own private island or destination in the Caribbean. If you’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, two of the most popular cruise lines in the world, there’s a good chance that your itinerary included one of the cruise line’s private destinations.

As someone who cruises often, I normally find myself booking affordable inside cabin fares. These are often the cheapest accommodations on a cruise ship and provide the basic necessities and a comfortable stay. In fact, I usually pay for the inside cabin guarantee fare, meaning you do not choose the location of your cabin, but instead the cruise line assigns one to you.

Planning for an upcoming cruise vacation is always an exciting time! I found that a little bit of research can go a long way when you are looking to book a cruise. Choosing the best cruise ship for your travel style and budget is one of the most important considerations when planning a cruise.

When booking a cruise, your budget is mainly impacted by the type of stateroom you choose to stay in. While inside cabins are the cheapest, these staterooms only have the necessities of a bed, bathroom, vanity, closet and couch/chair (if you're lucky!). 

On the other hand, you can splurge on balconies or suites if you’re looking to have a private veranda or more spacious stateroom. 

Are you someone that believes bigger is always better when it comes to cruising?

Larger cruise ships typically feature the latest and greatest when it comes to technology, entertainment, staterooms and dining options. More space onboard allows for a cruise line to squeeze more amenities and offerings for guests.

These days, cruise lines are continuing to construct mega cruise ships that are essentially floating cities with distinct neighborhoods. You can also find multiple classes of suites available and endless things to do and eat onboard.