Carnival Cruise

Indulging in all of the delicious food is always one of the highlights of cruising, and Carnival Cruise Line is known for having some of the most popular dining options in the cruise industry.

The demand for cruising is at an all-time high, with companies such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian reporting record-breaking bookings. 

"We are hitting records on top of previous records, which clearly tells us the strength and demand we have been building is continuing into next year and beyond," said Josh Weinstein, Carnival Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer during the company's 2024 second-quarter earnings call. 

What do you do when you, unfortunately, have to cancel your upcoming Carnival cruise? As much as we want our plans to work out, life can get the better of us. Thankfully, the process for changing or canceling a Carnival cruise is straightforward. 

In general, there is no penalty to cancel if done before final payment, which is 76 days before sailing for cruises 5 nights or less and 91 days prior to sailing for cruises 6 nights or more. Some special promotions have more restrictive terms, so you must understand what each allows before booking. 

One group of passengers on a Carnival cruise ship started a large fight when an argument escalated very quickly.

After sailing primarily with Royal Caribbean, I decided to take the plunge and book a Carnival cruise last October on Carnival Celebration, the newest Excel Class ship (at the time). Since then, I've explored three other ship classes within the fleet: Vista, Conquest, and Fantasy. 

While I don't foresee myself booking another sailing on a Fantasy Class ship, the cruise experience is what you make of it, and each class offers its own unique charm and amenities. 

From all-you-can-eat pizza to endless sweet treats and gourmet meals in the Main Dining Room, there's no denying the food is one of the best parts of a cruise. 

Carnival ships don't lack variety, either. Everything from poolside burritos to soft-serve ice cream cones and delicious French toast during SeaDay brunch is available to satisfy all cravings. Truthfully, it's hard not to come back weighing a few more pounds than when you boarded! 

Though we're about halfway through the year, it's not too late to plan your 2024 Carnival cruise! Whether you're seeking a short Bahamian getaway or a sailing cruise to The Last Frontier, there are plenty of opportunities to experience unforgettable moments at sea on one of Carnival's "Fun Ships." 

Even if you're a devout Carnival cruiser, there are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind when planning your 2024 cruise to help you make the most of your time onboard and minimize pre-cruise stress. 

The buffet is a staple of the cruise experience, promising guests an all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Unlike the Main Dining Room, however, you don't have servers taking your order or bringing food to your table. You don't have to worry about clearing the table because the dedicated wait staff will remove and refresh the dishes for the next guests after you've finished. In the free-for-all buffet, however, many passengers wonder what to do with their dirty dishes. 

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two of the biggest names in the industry for mainstream cruise lines; however, the cruise lines are also major competitors for affordable, family-friendly vacations. Even still, there are many differences between the two cruise lines.