If you’re here because you love Carnival Cruise Line, or you’re curious to find out more about life onboard, keep reading; you won’t be disappointed. I’ve recently returned from the 6-Day Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard Carnival Celebration with a cheeky stop-off at the brand-new private island, Celebration Key.
I didn’t know what to expect from this trip as I wasn’t very familiar with the Carnival Cruise Line brand. I truly believe there’s a cruise ship for everyone — and I didn’t think this one would be for me. But boy, was I proved wrong.
Here are my key takeaways from my time onboard.
Carnival Celebration
You’ll find throughout this blog that I continuously reference how surprised I was by different aspects of my experience with Carnival Cruise Line, and the ship was one of them. Launched in 2022, Carnival Celebration is one of the newer Excel-class ships in the fleet, sister ship to Mardi Gras with similar features to the brand-new Carnival Jubilee.
If you’re like me, ship matters! I love a new and modern ship, and this one is up there with one of my favourites. Although Carnival caters to the masses looking for a low-cost cruise, its interiors were deluxe and spacious. The Balcony cabins had far more storage than other ships I’ve sailed on, which was a big win.
The gym facilities were great, and the spa had both a large sauna and steam room, something older and smaller ships don’t tend to have. Restaurants and bars were around every corner (more on the food further down). One of my favourites was Emeril’s Bistro 1397, an old-worldly bistro and bar serving divine American-diner breakfasts. I also loved Latitudes Bar next door, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a theatrical drinks menu.
There were also quirky little touches like the Atrium, which transformed from a chilled social hub by day into a full-blown theatre setting by night. There was even a cooking class space where you could make pizza and a sports bar named Pig & Anchor, which had its very own onboard brewery serving Carnival Cruise Line’s own beer at sea. Pretty cool, right?
The Ultimate Activities and Entertainment
It’s safe to say Carnival Cruise Line is up there with the best when it comes to onboard activities. Outside of the usual pub quizzes, bingo, Broadway-style shows, and live music dotted around the ship, there are so many unique things to do.
At the top of the ship you’ll find The Ultimate Playground. Starting with a proper 10-hole mini golf course (not just a net and a ball), then WaterWorks with a variety of slides and splash attractions for kids, teens and even big kids like me. There’s also a basketball court above a huge arcade on Deck 17 and above that a ropes course where you can walk high above the ship. And then there’s BOLT – the first rollercoaster at sea. 40mph, 187 feet above sea level, in the open air? Absolutely exhilarating.
Watch me ride BOLT here
On the opposite end of the ship is Serenity, an adults-only retreat with plush loungers and its own pool. I was honestly blown away by this because it felt as premium as some premium cruise liners I’ve sailed with, yet it came at no additional cost.
At night, you can watch movies under the stars on the Lido Deck, laugh your way through Family Feud or a comedy show, or head straight to the nightclub – which is an experience in itself. You genuinely forget you’re on a ship with so many ways to enjoy fun, your way.
Carnival is A Foodies Dream
Now, if there’s one thing Americans do right, it’s food. As you’ll find on many cruise ships, the options are endless. Standouts for me included Shaq’s Big Chicken and Guy’s Burger Joint – serving exactly what you’d expect, unreal chicken and burgers.
I’m more of a sit-down dinner person than a buffet grazer (though Carnival’s buffet pancakes and syrup at breakfast deserve a mention) so I loved the evening venues included in the fare. The main dining room and themed restaurants including Mexican, Chinese and Italian all offered plenty of variety. I also loved the sweet shop, coffee shop and pizzeria onboard. And one of the quirkiest parts of the main dining room? The staff put on a mid-meal show, dancing on podiums – so typically Carnival and so much fun.
The real highlight for me was the speciality dining. It’s not something Carnival is famous for, but honestly, it was some of the best food I’ve had at sea across both mainstream and luxury lines. Rudi’s Seagrill (seafood lovers rejoice) and Fahrenheit 555 were standouts.
For around £38pp Fahrenheit 555 offered the full steakhouse menu. Premium cuts cooked at 555 degrees (hence the name), an elegant ambience and an experience that’s more event than meal. Think oysters, Surf n Turf, a chocolate sphere (great for videos) and steaks from 6oz to 18oz. I can confidently say it was the best steak I’ve ever had at sea. The service was excellent too, though honestly that was true across the whole ship from cabin stewards to restaurant staff.
Watch my reel of Fahrenheit 555 here
The Private Island of Celebration Key
Located in the Bahamas, Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line’s brand-new private island, and she’s nothing short of wow. Sailing into port was magical, and the short five-minute walk from the pier to the entrance was even more so.
The island is huge, you could easily spend a few days here, and it has something for everyone. Don’t worry, shuttle buses are on hand to get you around.
I started at Paradise Plaza, with stalls selling authentic souvenirs, jewellery and local rums before heading to the pool. When I say pool I mean the largest freshwater lagoon in the Caribbean. On one side you have Calypso Lagoon the adults-only area with swim-up bars serving frozen Piña Coladas and a DJ island where the pool becomes the dance floor. On the other Starfish Lagoon a family friendly area with a giant sandcastle, splash park, waterslides and even a slush puppy bar (my younger self would’ve been in heaven).
Scattered around the island were so many food vendors and themed bars (yes, we did a bar crawl). A meal on the island was free of charge – the Caribbean chicken was a highlight. Everything was cashless, charged straight to your cruise account. Convenient but dangerously easy to overindulge!
For relaxation, you’ve got white-sand beaches with crystal-clear views of the ship, private cabanas and even the ultra-exclusive Pearl Cove for an extra touch of luxury. Add in basketball courts, jet skiing and the Carnival parade with local music and dancers, and the island really does deliver a key to paradise the Carnival way.
I’ll never forget this day, it was hands down the highlight of the itinerary.
Watch my reel of Celebration Key here
Final Thoughts
I can absolutely see why Carnival Cruise Line is one of the world’s most loved and largest cruise brands. I’ve learnt so much about the brand itself, but more importantly, I’ve realised it’s a holiday I’d happily book for myself.
I hope this blog inspires you to consider a Carnival cruise too!
You can view all our fabulous deals here, which include flights and a free hotel stay (a lifesaver if you’re flying long-haul like me). Plus, who wouldn’t want a night in Miami before setting sail across the Caribbean?
If you’d like to find out more about Carnival, I’m more than happy to answer any questions – just drop me an email at jade.mcassey@cruisenation.com.
