From tacos to hidden fees, here’s what I learned about what’s actually included on a Carnival cruise and what could potentially increase your final bill.
Inside look at Carnival’s newly upgraded Bahamas Island
Carnival Cruise Line’s newly upgraded Relaxaway at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas features new restaurants, a beach and a pier.
- Carnival cruises offer many complimentary food and entertainment options, but the final cost can exceed the low starting fare.
- Amenities include a main dining room, a variety of dining options, a pool, a fitness center, and a kids’ club.
- Adding options like drink packages, signature dining, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions can add up to a significantly higher total price.
When I boarded a Carnival Cruise Line ship in late May, my first stop was the master station for the mandatory safety check-in. Our second stop was the same as always: we ate tacos on the Lido deck.
The Blue Iguana Cantina is one of several venues on the cruise line’s ships that I frequent for lunch, and often breakfast, aboard Carnival. I got two chicken tacos and loaded the salsa bar with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, tomatillo salsa, and hot sauce.
This wasn’t the last taco we had during our five-night cruise (breakfast burritos are also my favorite way to start a morning on board). In fact, I ate at nearly every included venue during my trip. From Guy’s Burger Joint (created with Food Network star Guy Fieri) to the Lucky Bowl walk-up window, which offers a daily menu of rice, noodles, and vegetable-based dishes, these were some of the best free eateries at sea on the roughly 15 cruise lines I’ve visited.
Carnival has a reputation for being budget-friendly, often offering cheaper fares than its competitors without skimping on variety.
“There’s a lot of carnival in the main dining room, the food, the entertainment, the pool,” Sally French, travel expert and co-host of NerdWallet’s Smart Travel Podcast, told USA TODAY. “If you don’t drink much and don’t have to go to specialty restaurants, it’s actually hard to win in math.”
However, your guest’s final bill may end up being higher than the attractive sticker price. Here’s what you need to know:
What does a Carnival cruise include?
Like other mainstream cruise lines, Carnival offers many dining venues and activities for free, although some cruise lines charge additional fees. Carnival Sunrise, which seats just under 3,000 guests, had at least 10 dining options included in the price during my cruise.
Some had double duty. Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano, which normally costs $24 for adults and $11 for children under 11 for dinner, offered a free noodle bar for lunch. The included Pizzeria del Capitano also serves bagels in the morning. The Swirls ice cream station with soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt was a hit throughout the day.
Drinks such as water, regular coffee, tea, lemonade, and hot chocolate are also included.
At Sunrise, free entertainment included the children’s Sousapalooza Parade, in which characters like Thing 1 and Thing 2 marched down Deck 5 with kids and parents, and “Soulbound,” about the troubled love story of the Witch Queen and the Soul Collector, set to covers of Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. The cast’s voices were strong and the special effects were minimal but effective.
Other Carnival facilities include a hot tub, fitness center, Serenity adults-only retreat, and kids club.
Are Carnival Cruises cheaper than other routes?
“Carnival is actually in the highest value category of mass-market cruise ships, but in doing so it has lowered the barrier to entry into cruise,” French said. “The itineraries are skewed short, three-, four-, and five-night, and focus on drive-able ports like Galveston, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Mobile, so families don’t have to pay for airfare, either.”
However, depending on passenger preferences, these savings can be offset by add-ons. cheers! For example, drink packages start at $69.95 per person, per day, including spirits, wine, glass of beer, soda, specialty coffee and more. Additionally, if one guest in your stateroom purchases a package, all other guests of legal age must do so as well.
Carnival also offers cheap Cheers! Zero proof and bottomless bubble soda packages or drinks can be purchased a la carte. Save even more by adding signature restaurants, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions.
Most mainstream cruise lines have similar pricing structures, but French said Carnival Cruises may not be the cheapest option when you add up the total. Not using anything superfluous also requires discipline.
“Certainly, the important point is to understand that while Carnival almost always has the cheapest advertised fare of any major route, it’s rarely the total price you pay,” she said. “This is a very à la carte model, and the total cost is unlikely to be as much of a bargain fare as you think.”
“Our strategy of operating from more U.S. homeports than any other cruise line also highlights our strong value proposition, as more than half of the U.S. population can reach a Carnival cruise within a five-hour drive,” Carnival told USA TODAY in an email.
“We offer more comprehensive dining and entertainment options at no additional charge than any other cruise line,” the cruise line added.
How much does a Carnival Cruise cost?
Cruise prices vary depending on a variety of factors, including departure date and duration of the voyage. However, cruise fares to the cruise line’s newly renovated Bahamian destination, Relax Away at Half Moon Cay, now start at $216 per person, including taxes and fees, based on double occupancy, according to the cruise line’s website.
As of June 10, the cheapest fare available on any cruise was $187 per person for two people for a three-day voyage aboard Carnival Conquest round trip from Miami to the line’s exclusive destination, Celebration Cay on Grand Bahama Island.
The French likened Carnival to a basic economy ticket or low-cost airline. These are affordable, but expensive when you factor in additional fees such as seat assignments and checked baggage.
“Many people choose Carnival (or low-cost carriers for that matter) because of the low advertised prices,” French said. Do your research and find out what’s included and what’s not. ”
This article has been updated to update the headline.
The reporter for this article received access to this cruise from Carnival Cruise Lines. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
