Carnival Cruise

Growing up as a devout Royal Caribbean cruiser, I was hesitant to sail with Carnival. Not only was I worried that I wouldn't like the party atmosphere, but I had heard mediocre reviews of the food. Cruising with Royal just felt comfortable and familiar. 

Last October, I decided to finally step out of my comfort zone and book a Carnival cruise. After 7 nights onboard, I thought I had a good understanding of what makes the cruise line so appealing; however, after two additional cruises, I found myself feeling like a first-timer on each one! 

Carnival Cruise Line is working on a brand-new port in The Bahamas called "Celebration Key." Opening in July 2025, this will be a private destination, meaning that guests onboard other cruise lines won't have the option to visit. 

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have their own private islands within The Bahamas — Perfect Day at CocoCay and Half Moon Cay — that can only be visited when sailing on one of their respective ships. 

You won't, for instance, find a cruise onboard the revolutionary Icon of the Seas to Half Moon Cay. Similarly, Carnival Conquest won't be visiting CocoCay. 

While spending four nights onboard Carnival Conquest, I noticed some common cruise mistakes that could have been easily avoided. 

Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or about to board your first-ever ship, it is important to be aware of some do's and don'ts, so you can save yourself time, money, and sanity. 

After previously cruising onboard Carnival Celebration and Carnival Vista, I was intrigued by a relatively cheap cruise onboard Carnival Conquest. 

Genuinely, I wasn't too sure of what to expect. When onboard Freedom of the Seas in late 2023, my finacée and I met a woman during sail away who said Conquest was one of her least favorite cruises ever. 

After sailing onboard Carnival Celebration and Carnival Vista in 2023, I decided to try one of Carnival's older ships on a short 4-night cruise to The Bahamas.