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Cloud 9 Spa

• Hair cutting, coloring and styling
• Grooming for men 
• Manicures and pedicures
• Eye brow shaping
• Waxing 
• Facial treatments
• Teeth Whitening
• Medi-Spa  (non-surgical, anti-wrinkle procedures)
• Acupuncture
• Fully equipped with Life Fitness equipment
• Fitness, Wellness and Beauty seminars
• Scheduled fitness classes
• Note: A fee applies for all guests
• Guests who purchase a Cloud 9 Spa stateroom or suite are entitled to two Yoga or Pilates fitness classes per guest
• High-tech, state of the art Cycling Studio (on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras)
• Saunas (men and women)
• Locker Rooms (men and women)
• Note: a fee applies for all guests
• Laconium:  Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Vista
• Tepidarium:  Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Sunshine
• Infrared Heat Chamber:  Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras
• Oriental Steam Bath:  Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Sunshine
• Aroma Steam:  Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras
• Hammam:  Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Vista

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Before You Board

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Things to Know

Onboard experiences.

• Fun Ship Features Quick Reference
• Shore - Excursions
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• Entertainment and Activities
• For Your Convenience
• Onboard Guidelines and Policies
• Past Guest Recognition Programs

Onboard Celebrations

• The Fun Shops
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Dining and Beverages

• Dining and Snacking Options
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• Beverage Options
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• Liquor and Beverage Policy

Onboard Communication

• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
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• And more things to know....

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Carnival Sunrise (SN) Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms and Amenities

As part of Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa™ located forward on Deck 11, the Carnival Sunrise features 93 staterooms - guests have access to the spa and are eligible for exclusive spa packages and discounts. These staterooms have additional in-room, spa-related amenities and decor different than other accommodations - in harmony with the soothing and relaxing theme of the Cloud 9 Spa. Cloud 9 Spa Special Offerings Guests in Cloud 9 Spa accommodations have access to the adjacent Cloud 9 Spa and will receive a wide array of special offerings. These perks apply to the first two-adult guests in each Cloud 9 Spa stateroom only.

• Priority spa appointments for reservations made by 6:00pm on embarkation day
• Dry Heat Chamber (Tepidarium and Infrared Heat Chamber)
• Steam Chamber (Aromatic Steam)
• Unique welcome ritual
• Complimentary scrub kit to use in our Thermal Suites
• Two complimentary fitness classes (per guest)
• Complimentary body composition analysis 
• Exclusive discounts on treatments during port days
• Cloud 9 Spa bathrobes and slippers for use during the cruise
• Upgraded Elemis in-stateroom bath products (shampoo, conditioner and body wash)  

Important Notes :

• Only the first and second guests in a spa stateroom will receive the amenities; additional guests in the same stateroom are not entitled to spa access and amenities.
• Guests under the age of 18 are not entitled to spa access and amenities - 18 is the minimum age for body treatments and use of the Thermal Suites.
• Hair, nails, facial services and the fitness center can be enjoyed by guests of 13 years and older, provided they are accompanied by their parent or guardian for service and booking.
• Charges apply for the Thermal Suites for those guests in non-spa staterooms.

Cloud 9 Accommodations All spa accommodations are located on Deck 10 and Deck 11. Interior Staterooms - Category 4S

• Deck 10:  1003, 1004, 1007, 1008, 1014, 1015, 1018, 1019, 1022, 1023, 1026, 1027, 1030, 1031, 1034, 1035, 1038, 1039, 1042, 1043, 1046, 1047, 1050, 1051, 1054, 1055, 1058, 1059
• Note: 1003 and 1004 are Fully Accessible Cabins ( FAC ) 

Ocean View Staterooms with Balcony - Category 8P

• Deck 10:  1001, 1002, 1005, 1006, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1020, 1021, 1024, 1025, 1028, 1029, 1032, 1033, 1036, 1037, 1040, 1041, 1044, 1045, 1048, 1049, 1052, 1053, 1056, 1057, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1072, 1073

Ocean View Staterooms with Balcony - Cateogry 8S

• 1101, 1102, 1104, 1105, 1106, 1108, 1109, 1110, 1111, 1112, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1119, 1120, 1121, 1122,

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• Carnival Sunrise (SN) Stateroom Descriptions - Panorama Deck 10
• Carnival Magic (MC) Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms and Amenities

Carnival Sunrise Balcony

• Click here for ALL
• Small Interior
• Interior with Picture Window
• Scenic Oceanview
• Premium Balcony
• Ocean Suite
• Grand Suite
• Extended Grand Suite
• Captains Suite
• Ship info and tracking
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Carnival Sunrise Balcony cabin location, stateroom cabin videos, stateroom cabin pictures, floor plans, diagrams, stateroom features and perks. Cruisedeckplans.com also provides links to actual stateroom cabin pictures and videos on this page. You can see details and floor plans for all of Carnival Sunrise's different stateroom cabin categories on the NEW cabins page.

Stateroom Features

• Twin beds that convert to king
• Private bath with shower
• Sitting area with sofa and coffee table
• Some cabins have mini-fridges.

Sub Categories

   Cloud 9 Spa Balcony

   Aft-View Extended Balcony

   Balcony

Cloud 9 Spa staterooms feature private spa access and priority spa reservations /

Deck Locations

Deck 5  

Deck 6  

Deck 7  

Deck 8  

Deck 9  

Deck 10  

Deck 11  

Important Information

Category 8G has 60 square foot balcony.

Balcony Typical Floor Plans

Carnival Sunrise Balcony pictures

Carnival Sunrise Balcony stateroom videos

Scroll over cabin (stateroom) tiles below to click and watch videos. Cruisedeckplans.com shows up to 10 of the most recent videos added to our collection on this page. Be sure to click the link in the section below to see other cabins we have videos for. The date shown is the date video was published. Use this to see decor changes.

Looking for specific Balcony cabins with pics/videos?

Other categories on carnival sunrise.

Click on a category below to go to that page. Stateroom cabin categories are simply the way that Carnival groups the different types of staterooms (cabins). You can see details and floor plans for all of the categories on Carnival Sunrise on this page.

Carnival Sunrise Balcony Virtual Tour

Double click on image for full screen. Click and drag to pan room. Use mouse to zoom in and out.

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Complete Guide to Sailing Carnival Cruise Line (What It’s Like)

Carnival Cruise Line is one of the largest brands in North America, sailing from ports all over the United States to destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii. Put simply, if you want to take a cruise from a port near you, then there is a good chance that Carnival either sails from there or sails to there. (More recent ventures into Australia and Europe also give it global reach.)

Millions of passengers every year set sail on Carnival ships, and nearly all of them have a great vacation that they will remember for a lifetime. In total, the cruise line’s roughly two dozen ships sail thousands of trips throughout the year.

As one of the most popular cruise line in North America by number of passengers and sailings, Carnival offers a wide appeal. Whether you are a couple looking for a romantic getaway… or a family seeking to spend a vacation together… of just friends hoping to let loose for a few days on a girls’ trip, the line has something you’ll enjoy.

Still, you might be wondering if Carnival is the right cruise line for you. Or maybe you simply have never sailed the line before and want more of an idea on what you can expect. No matter the reason, below we’ve covered everything you could ever want to know about taking a cruise on Carnival.

And if we haven’t covered something you want to know? Let us know in the comments below.

In This Article...

Overview of Carnival Cruise Lines

Based out of Doral, Florida (a suburb of Miami) Carnival is what is known as a “mass-market” cruise line. While some companies try to appeal to niche audiences, Carnival tries to appeal to everyone. That means you’ll find a wide range of things to do that are for people of all ages and interests.

If you want a cruise line that caters only to people just like you, this isn’t it. From food to entertainment to activities, expect a number of things that will appeal to you… but also some that may not interest you at all.

Of course, having wide appeal means you’ll find all sorts of passengers on the ships. Ages range from 1 to 100, with families well represented. You’ll find couples getting married… couples celebrating honeymoons… couple celebrating 50th anniversaries. You’ll find those celebrating birthdays. You’ll find passengers just looking for a vacation for the family. And you’ll find everything in between. During the summers you’ll see more families sailing while longer cruises during the school year tend to draw older passengers.

Carnival’s fleet ranges the gamut from older, smaller ships to brand-new megaships that can measure the length of a city block and have roughly 20 decks. Like most cruise lines, Carnival is trending toward larger ships, with the introduction of its Vista-class (Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama) ships a few years ago and the arrival of its largest ships ever — Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee.

For more specific details on Carnival and what it’s like to sail, keep reading.

Atmosphere of a Carnival Cruise

The cruise line’s famous motto is “The Fun Ships.” In other words, if you’re expecting a stuffy, luxury-focused liner with caviar and champagne, this isn’t it.

Instead, like most cruise lines in this corner of the market, the overall atmosphere is relaxed, warm, and fun. Hang out poolside on the first day and you’ll see the energetic staff leading line dances to help people let loose a little bit. Most restaurants are casual where you can get a bite to eat without having to worry how to pronounce half the menu.

In general you’ll find the staff friendly and warm, always ready to share a smile or laugh at a joke. If you’re thinking of a rigid “maître d” type that looks down his nose at you… or a bartender who acts like you’re an annoyance instead of a guest… you won’t find it on Carnival.

The ship décor also lends to the atmosphere on board. Some cruise lines aim to outfit their ships with luxurious and elegant décor. Carnival aims to make things nice, while also being warm and inviting. For example, instead of dark wood and shiny brass, interior spots on Carnival ships often look bright, often with lots of color.

Many spots include bright colors (even neon on some ships) that liven things up. Or select a Havana room on Carnival’s newer ships and you’ll be greeting by a waving senorita painted next to your cabin door.

Meanwhile, your fellow passengers further help to make the atmosphere relaxed. You’ll see that t-shirts and shorts are the dress of the day (except for formal night). And the mix of people and ages on the ship add some youthful energy to the crowd. Contests and events — especially those held poolside — are always fun and lively.

Luxury? No. But fun? Absolutely.

Price of Cruises

Perhaps no factor has been a bigger driver of Carnival’s growth as one of the most-sailed cruise lines in America than price. Put simply, no other cruise line offers as many sailings for as low a price as Carnival.

Whether looking for a quick 3-day getaway from Miami or a 7-day cruise from Galveston (and everything in between), it’s likely that Carnival will offer one of the lowest prices around. In fact, many times you can find cruises for less than $70 a day for the per-person price for an interior cabin. Trips under $120 per day, per person are just about everywhere. You can read more about the cost of a Carnival cruise here .

That’s not to say you can’t find deals on other lines. In general, however, Carnival comes in less expensive on many cruises. The best news for passengers is that those low prices apply not only to the cruise fare, but also once you board. 

Let’s take the drink package, for instance. Carnival offers the CHEERS! package , which provides up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day for one set price. Other cruise lines have similar deals, but Carnival’s package is one of the cheapest. The per-day price for CHEERS! is $64.95 (discounts are available if bought before you sail). Other cruise lines charge up to $109 per day for this sort of offer.

You’ll find the same sort of lower prices on everything from Internet to specialty dining. Bottom line, you can be confident if you’re looking for the best deal that any sailing from Carnival will offer lower prices both on your cruise fare and once on the ship.

Ports of Departure

In the same way that Carnival has beat the market on cruise prices, it has also set the bar in ports of departure. In fact, the line sails from more departure points than any other competitor.

Carnival has worked hard to put a port of departure within driving distance of hundreds of millions of people. Underserved ports like Norfolk and Charleston put cruise ships near people who would otherwise have to travel much longer distances to go on a cruise.

Smaller cruise ports, such as Baltimore and Jacksonville typically have a single ship that sails. While this does give you an option if you live near these ports, the ships that sail are not the biggest and newest in the fleet. More recently the cruise line has added ships sailing from Australia and Europe, offering more departures.

If you’re interested in sailing on Carnival’s newest ships, then you’ll want to head to a major cruise port such as Miami, Port Canaveral, or Galveston. These larger ports give you more options. Not only are there more ships sailing, but they also offer more routes.

Here is a full list of ports where Carnival has service in the United States:

• Jacksonville
• Los Angeles
• New Orleans
• Port Canaveral
• San Francisco

The following ports also have departures outside the United States:

• Brisbane, Australia
• Sydney, Australia

Note: Carnival has taken over sister ships from Costa and now offers cruises on those ships under the Carnival name. This includes Carnival Luminosa and Venezia.

Ports of Call and Itineraries

Outside of their own private island destinations (such as Carnival’s Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay), cruise lines largely sail to the same ports. So whether you pay more to sail a different cruise line, or go with Carnival, you’ll usually see the similar ports of call.

Carnival sails all around the Caribbean, Bahamas, as well as trips to Mexico and Alaska, among others.

Trips leaving Florida ports will usually go one of two ways — either east to the Bahamas (often with stops in Nassau, Freeport, or other nearby ports) or to the southwest, which takes passengers to the Caribbean and Yucatan. Popular ports of call here include Cozumel, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.

Sailing from the Gulf Coast (Galveston, New Orleans, or Mobile)? If so, then most routes head to the Yucatan and southern Caribbean. Ports of call include Cozumel , Costa Maya , Progreso , Roatan, and Belize. In Roatan, the ship docks at Mahogany Bay , a Carnival-dedicated port area exclusive to the cruise line.

Alaskan cruises on Carnival will depart from Seattle, stopping in Canada as well as several ports in Alaska. Sailing from Los Angeles usually means shorter trips to the western Mexico ports such as Ensenada.

Don’t have much time to sail? In addition to classic 7-day journeys, Carnival is also a leader in shorter cruises. You can find many sailings aboard Carnival that are 3-5 days in length. This makes the cruise line perfect for those searching for an inexpensive getaway, without having to take too much time off of work.

Things to Do on Carnival

In recent years there has been an arms race of sorts among cruise lines pushing to have bigger and better things to do on the ship. In our opinion Carnival trails in this respect, especially what we consider the industry-leader in onboard activities, Royal Caribbean. But newer ships have made strides.

Let’s first discuss some of “built-in” activities you’d find on many ships — those things that are part of the ship’s actual structure and not part of the entertainment put on by the crew. The majority of these items are on or around the pool deck, but not all.

( See our article on things to do on a Carnival ship here .)

Pools Of course, you can’t even talk about cruising without talking about sitting poolside with a drink in your hand. Carnival ships all have pools, with the newer ships offering multiple. Note that given the weight of the water (and the location of the pools high on top of the ship), the pools are not huge given the number of people on the ship. They are still more than adequate to take a dip. Poolside is without a doubt the most popular place to be on sunny days at sea.

Serenity Adults-Only Area Each Carnival ship also has a Serenity area for adults. This private outdoor spot is away from the crowds and no kids are allowed. Inside you’ll usually find whirlpools, a bar, and plenty of private seating. This includes clamshell-type loungers perfect for cuddling up with a spouse. If you simply want a relaxing spot without all the people (or kids), this is it.

Waterslides/Waterpark Ships will often have waterslides or even waterparks. No one would confuse these spots with massive land-based parks, but they are plenty for kids on a cruise. One thing to note is that for pools and waterparks your kids need to be potty-trained before they are allowed to use the area.

Bolt Roller Coaster If sailing the newest Carnival ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee), then by far the most attention-grabbing activity is the Bolt roller coaster . The only coaster at sea, the ride takes you up to about 40 miles per hour around the top deck of the ship. It’s a short ride, but the adrenaline will be pumping long after you finish.

SportSquare The Carnival SportsSquare is an outdoor area offering a number of activities that are all game related. From mini-golf to yard games (bean-bag toss, soccer billiards, ping pong) to a ropes course and the SkyRide, there is lots to do.

It’s definitely aimed towards kids and families, but people of all ages can enjoy themselves. For instance, the SkyRide is a sit-down bike ride that goes on a hanging track around the ship, offering stunning views of the ocean.

Casino Just like a pool, every cruise ship you sail is going to have a casino. It’s located on lower decks in the heart of the ship (so that it’s never far away when you are doing some shopping or eating).

Cruise ship casinos are similar to what you’d find on land, but not exactly the same. You’ll find all your favorite games, ranging from penny slots to roulette, blackjack, craps, and more. Often there are lessons for new players offered in the mornings. Limits are low (usually $5-10), making games approachable for all players. One thing to note is that the payouts for any cruise ship casino — not just Carnival — are usually low.

Cloud 9 Spa Each ship you sail on Carnival will have a spa, with all sorts of amenities and treatments for you to enjoy. Whether you want a massage… or acupuncture… or a manicure… or any other service, you’ll be covered. You can also buy a day pass to go enjoy the sauna, thermal beds, and more. While most activities on the ship are free, you will have to pay for any spa treatments you receive. Prices are higher than what you’ll usually find on land, but that’s the price you pay for treatment on the ship.

Fitness Center Not everyone goes onto a cruise to exercise, but for many it’s a routine they like to keep or it simply makes them feel a bit better burning off some of those buffet calories. You might picture a chain hotel “gym” when you sail, but cruise ship gyms are well-stocked and usually located in one of the best places on the ship.

Traditionally built with tons of windows looking out over the water, you can take in the gorgeous views as you run on the treadmill, do some aerobics, or get a workout on one of the many weight machines.

Camp Ocean Kids Area A favorite of both kids and parents, Camp Ocean is Carnival’s kids club on their ships. In effect, it’s a place where you can drop your kids off (free of charge!) and let them have a great time while Mom and Dad enjoy their vacation too. There are separate groups within Camp Ocean, depending on the age of your kiddo. This way kids are grouped with similar ages and activities can be better suited to their age level. If you’re a parent you should definitely take advantage of this free service to allow yourself some time to relax.

Arcade Video games may not be your thing… but if you have kids they will likely love the arcade. Similar to the ship’s casino, the arcade is just like you’d find on land, only smaller. There are shooting games, air hockey, skill cranes, and more. The arcades can sometimes be hard to find as they aren’t that big and can be tucked away. Check out your specific ship’s deck plan to see exactly where it is.

IMAX/Thrill Theater Only available on a couple of newer Carnival ships, most people won’t be sailing on a vessel that has an IMAX. Still, if you are on the Vista or Horizon then you can catch a flick at the only IMAX screens at sea. The costs are similar to what you’d pay on land and the theater shows new release movies. In addition, there is also the Thrill Theater, a theater with a platform of seats that moves with the action on the screen, along with other effects like wind blowing and water splashing.

Shopping If you want to spend some money, you’ll have no shortage of things to buy on the ship. There are stores for everything from duty-free alcohol and cigarettes to expensive watches and jewelry. You can shop for souvenirs, t-shirts, art, and more. Oh, and if you forget anything at home there will also be a small shop where you can get everything from a toothbrush to over-the-counter-medicines.

Nightclubs/Bars What would a cruise ship be without bars? Carnival doesn’t lack in this respect. No matter if you want a fun poolside bar (RedFrog Rum Bar) or a fancy high-end bar with craft cocktails (Alchemy Bar), you’ll be covered. In addition there are also a number of clubs for you to hang out in the evening while you enjoy your drink.

Entertainment Put On by Staff In addition to these things to do, there is also the entertainment put on by the cruise staff. This includes games and trivia during the day, contests (dancing, free-throw shooting, ping pong), production shows, game shows, movie screenings, and even late-night comedians.

For an idea of what you might expect, check out the lineup of activities from just one afternoon of a day at sea:

Carnival Ships

All told, Carnival’s fleet of ships measures more than two dozen vessels and frankly, your vacation can vary widely with the ship that you sail.

Take the Carnival Elation. The ship was built in 1998. Coming in at about 70,000 gross tons, it is among Carnival’s oldest and smallest ships. While’s it’s been refurbished (don’t worry, you aren’t sleeping on the same bed as someone who sailed in the ’90s!), it’s still going to be smaller and not offer many of the amenities of the newer ships. 

Compare that to Carnival’s newer Vista-Class ships like the Carnival Horizon (shown above). These ships are about twice the size of the Carnival Elation… and have a lot more features. From way more restaurants to IMAX theaters to larger venues to spots like the Havana Bar, cabins, and pool area, the larger and newer ships have a lot more to offer.

And Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee — part of Carnival’s Excel class, came to the fleet starting in 2021. It takes things even bigger. These vessels reportedly cost $1 billion to build, comes in at 180,000 gross tons and can carry 6,500 passengers at full capacity. They even has the only roller-coaster ever put on a cruise ship, along with several new eateries not available on the rest of the fleet.

Personally, we like to stick with newer ships (those built around 2010 and later). To us, these ships simply offer “more” of everything to passengers.

Cabins & Accommodations

Across more than two dozen ships (each with hundreds or thousands of cabins), the cabin experience can vary widely. In most cases, however, Carnival offers a consistent experience across most of its fleet. That means while they may not be exact, the rooms are somewhat similar.

The first thing you’ll notice about most cabins is that they are small. After all, you are on a ship… no matter how large it might be. Most cabins are about 150-200 square feet. Two adults can share a room comfortably. With two adults and one kid, it’s a tighter fit, but still manageable. Any more than that, and we’d suggest getting two cabins.

Interior The least expensive cabin option, interior cabins are perfect for folks who want to save some cash while setting sail. It’s also ideal if you are the sort of passenger who likely won’t spend a ton of time in your room. Interior cabins are exactly as they are named. Located on the inner part of the ship, they don’t have any windows or access to the outside. In short, it’s a place to keep your things, take a shower, and sleep, but not much else. If you’re interested in learning more about interior cabins, see our article here .

Oceanview A step above interior cabins are oceanview rooms. These staterooms on Carnival offer one advantage over interior cabins — they have a window that lets in natural light and lets you see out. They typically cost a little more, but it’s worth it for those who want to at least have a window in their room.

Balcony Think of your cabin, and you likely picture a balcony room. While the inside part of the cabin is usually not that much different in size than an oceanview cabin, the addition of the balcony makes the room feel much larger as there is an extra space for you to enjoy. In addition to a great place to relax, the balcony offers essentially another room in the cabin so that you don’t feel like you are cramped inside of four walls.

Suites & Special Cabins If you want luxury, more space, or simply want some exclusive access to facilities, then Carnival has you covered.

First, you can get a suite. Larger and coming with perks like VIP check-in, suites are ideal for those that need more space or simply want a more luxurious experience. 

In addition, Carnival has introduced a few new room options on some ships like — Havana rooms, Cloud 9 rooms, and the Family Harbor cabins. 

Havana rooms are located in their own special area and have a Cuban-theme different from the rest of the ship. While the theme of the rooms might pique your interest, it’s the exclusivity that many enjoy about the Havana cabins.

As a guest in one of these few rooms, you have access to an exclusive pool and bar; you wear a wristband to show that you’re a guest with access. This means you have your own oasis with only a handful of other guests, away from the crowds found on the rest of the ship.

Cloud 9 Spa rooms are for those who love the spa experience. The cabins include amenities like priority spa reservations, unlimited use of the spa’s thermal suites, special robes, treatment discounts, and more.  

Family Harbor cabins are similar to Havana room in that they also offer their own theme (classic nautical, complete with lots of signal flags) and their own exclusive space. In this case instead of a pool and a bar area, it’s the Family Harbor Lounge. This lounge is a dedicated space for families — featuring TV, video games, board games, as well as snacks and breakfast. If you want a spot where you’re family can play together, this is it.

Food & Restaurants

What would a cruise be without food? In that area, Carnival is no slouch. In fact, among the mass-market cruise lines, it offers the most variety of free dining options. While it also has specialty restaurants, Carnival still keeps many of the most popular restaurants free.

Dining Included with Your Cruise Fare You won’t go hungry on your cruise, even if you don’t want to shell out more for dining. Free options abound on the ship.

Guy’s Burger Joint By far the most popular free dining on the ship among passengers is Guy’s Burger Joint . In collaboration with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Carnival offers this hamburger spot across the fleet. Burgers are freshly made, along with tons of topping options and seasoned fries. Simply line up (it’s by the pool) and get your lunch or early dinner. The only downside is that the restaurant is open only during the day.

BlueIguana Serving both breakfast and lunch, BlueIguana is in the same area as Guy’s Burger Joint — next to the pool. Here you can get free Mexican food favorites like tacos and burritos. Similar to Chipotle, you just let them know what you want in your tortilla. In the morning they also serve breakfast burritos.

Pizza del Capitano (or Pizza Pirate) Depending on the ship you sail, the pizza parlor onboard Carnival is either Pizza del Capitano or Pizza Pirate. In essence, they are the same place. And while you might not expect a joint called Pizza Pirate to serve up good pizza… it actually does. In fact, it’s some of our favorite pizza anywhere, even on land. The pies are baked fresh and come in only a few combinations: margherita, four cheese, and pepperoni. Best of all, it is free, 24 hours per day.

Buffet Many people want to know about the buffet on a Carnival cruise. To be sure, it’s the busiest place to eat during the cruise. You’ll no doubt eat many of your meals here. The buffet serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while it’s not open around the clock, it is open during the normal mealtimes. The menu changes, but it’s typical buffet fare and quality.

Mornings will have everything from omelet stations to cereal to bacon and pancakes. Lunch and dinner will have a wide variety including a salad bar, burgers, entrees (often similar to what’s in the main dining room), and desserts.

We’ll be honest, the buffet quality isn’t the greatest to us. It’s a good idea to eat here occasionally and try your other options around the ship so you don’t get tired of what you’re eating.

Big Chicken Making its debut on Mardi Gras, Big Chicken already looks to be a favorite that could spread to other ships. It’s a chicken restaurant serving chicken sandwiches, chicken strips and baskets. They also offer breakfast, including chicken biscuits.

ChiBang! Another new addition to the Carnival fleet, if sailing on Mardi Gras, Celebration, or Jubilee, then you’ll see ChiBang! It’s free to eat and is a combination Asian food and Mexican food spot. Not fusion… it’s literally two different menus based on what you want to eat. So you can get Kung Pao chicken or have some nachos.

Main Dining Room Many of your meals in the evening will likely be in the main dining room. Here you’ll get table service and white tablecloths. The menu changes each night, but keeps classic dishes in rotation no matter when you visit. Your options here are fresher than you’ll find in the buffet. As well, you have a variety of options of what to eat.

Most nights the dress code is casual — wear pants and a shirt and you’ll be fine. No swimsuits or tank tops. On elegant night, you don’t have to wear a tux, but it’s ideal if you can dress it up a little bit.

Specialty Restaurants (Extra Cost) In addition to the free dining, there are also a number of specialty restaurants where you’ll pay extra to eat. This includes places like the steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi.

Specialty restaurants offer different fare — Asian, Italian, steak, BBQ, and more — allowing you to skip the main dining room or buffet during the evening. One nice perk is that some are open for lunch for free, while charging for dinner . Head over during lunch and you can get a free meal instead of having to pay. 

For a full run-down on all your options, including profiles and costs, we have everything about Carnival specialty restaurants here .

Gratuities on Carnival

Like nearly every cruise line, you’ll have to pay gratuities when you sail aboard Carnival. These days the charges hit your bill automatically. In fact, many people pay them when they pay for the cruise and well before they set foot on the ship.

Carnival’s gratuities run $16.00 per person, per day for most cabins. So on a five-day cruise, you’ll pay an extra $80.00 per person in addition to your cruise fare. The amount for suites is $18.00 per person. All passengers — except children under 2 years old — are charged these amounts.

For more on cruise line gratuities and how they work, see our article here . You can also use our gratuity calculator to see how much you’ll spend in total over the length of your trip.

Enjoying your cruise with a drink in your hand is a popular pastime. With bars all over the ship, it’s never a far walk to get a beverage. Meanwhile, selling alcohol is a big moneymaker for the cruise lines. Prices for beer can run $6-8. It can be $10-12 for a cocktail. Having several of these a day can add up.

If you’re worried about your tab, Carnival offers the CHEERS! drink package. This package provides your drinks for one flat rate. For $59.95 per person (plus gratuity), per day you can get pretty much anything to drink on the ship. That includes everything from alcoholic drinks to soda to water to milkshakes.

One caveat is that you can only get up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day (no limit on non-alcoholic). As well, it’s $5 more per day if you purchase once on the ship instead of ahead of time.

For more on everything about the CHEERS! package, you can read our complete profile here .

What Carnival Does Well

When it comes to an affordable and fun vacation, it’s hard to beat what Carnival has created. As one of the more budget-friendly cruise lines, it’s given the ability for people to travel the Caribbean and have a great time for sometimes less than $70 per day.

The atmosphere is warm and fun, with no pretentiousness. Food is decent to good (with lots of included options), and the staff is attentive to passenger needs. In short, it’s a solid all-around enjoyable vacation.

If you’re the sort of person who wants to stay at the Four Seasons and drink nothing but the finest champagne, then Carnival might not be the cruise line for you. But if you enjoy having a burger and drinking a fruity cocktail or a beer next to the pool, then you’ll have fun.

What Carnival Could Improve

So where could Carnival do better for passengers? Keeping in mind that Carnival offers a lot of value already at the low price point, we wouldn’t suggest more luxuries or a higher-end focus. That would be hard to accomplish and still offer a great value for a cruise.

Instead, we think one of the areas where the cruise line can improve in relation to competitors are the things to do on board. In our opinion, Royal Caribbean leads the industry and everyone else is playing catch-up.

When you’re spending an entire week on a cruise ship, it takes a lot of options to keep things entertaining. Having more activities keeps things fun. Already we’re seeing Carnival do exactly this with the recent launch of the world’s first roller coaster at sea on its Excel-class ships. Still, more things to do — both big and small — would be ideal across the fleet.

Have more questions about sailing aboard Carnival… or if it’s the right line for you? Ask in the comments below.

Related Articles:

• 47 Best Carnival Cruise Line Tips & Tricks
• Worth It? 15+ Questions & Answers About the Carnival CHEERS! Package
• 38 Must-Do Things on a Carnival Cruise Ship

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Looking for any Carnival Dream secrets and/or tips you can share!

By blissfulgirl , August 29, 2017 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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blissfulgirl

We are super excited!!! Booked our first Carnival cruise on the Dream, cruising July 2018. I am interested in any secrets about the ship or any tips you are willing to share. We have booked an inside cabin and are traveling with our two teenage boys 13 & 15. Any cabin tips, deck tips/secrets, best dining, best hangout for us as well as the boys, etc. would be greatly appreciated [emoji4].

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stargate fan

Tandoor (Indian) is part of Lido buffet and is located all the way aft (back) on the starboard (right) side of the ship. So delicious! I choose Tandoor for lunch every day on our Dream, Magic, Breeze, and Splendor cruises. I wish it was available on all Carnival ships.

My teenager loved Club O2 and Guys. We used Hub App with the $5 text option to keep in touch and that worked great.

carnivalgirl51

Find the ship's coin. All of Carnival's ships have a coin welded to the frame of the ship for good luck. The coin on the Dream is located on the same deck as the entrance to the waterside. You just have to find it. (I think the Dream's is a half dollar)

I am interested in any secrets about the ship or any tips you are willing to share. We have booked an inside cabin and are traveling with our two teenage boys 13 & 15. Any cabin tips, deck tips/secrets

Sounds like you're looking for the hidden decks. On the Dream they're on decks 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11 but here's how to find and get to hidden decks on any Carnival ship without any advance research...

2Gr09l_XsnQ

Filmed on the Glory but it still works.

Also, lots of hot tubs on deck 5.

The best feature of Dream is the Ocean Plaza. The band plays here each night in a non-smoking environment.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks for the tips so far!!! Like the video of the hidden decks!!! Coin idea sounds like a plan for a family scavenger hunt one evening!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The attached pdf might be helpful....

Tips For New Cruisers.pdf

The Dream has a pasta restaurant that's free for lunch. On embarkation day most people just go to Guys Burgers/Blue Iguana by the pool or to the Lido buffet, so the pasta place is uncrowded. Just go to the Lido buffet at the back of the boat on deck 10 and go up the stairs to deck 11. You pick the pasta, your sauce, and add-ins; plus you get breadsticks and a salad. Many people never even know that it's there.

Guys Pig and Anchor is outstanding if you like BBQ. It's only open on sea days and for a few hours each day, so look at the Fun Times for the days/hours. I echo the pasta place - go during lunch because they charge if you eat there for dinner. It is delicious!

The Dream doesn't have Cucina del Capitano. It has Pasta Bella. Pasta Bella is free and is only open for lunch.

Is Pasta Bella located in the Steak restaurant? I looked for it on deck plans and couldn't find it.

The Lido restaurant has a second level. The stairs to that level are behind the dessert station. The aft elevators stop there as well. It is on the Panorama deck. It isn't labeled.

I love the Thalo whatever pool in the spa. There is an up charge to use the spa but I thought it was totally worth it. Adults only and separate showers from the regular gym.

VivaLaCruising

you can order more than 1 appetizer and entree for dinner in the main dining room :) I felt greedy doing it so I only did it twice.

Also take a dual/trio outlet box since the rooms only have 1 or 2 plug ins.

I highly recommend the Cheers! package (and Bottomless Bubbles for your teenagers). You don't need to drink like a fish to make it pay for itself -- alcoholic drinks are pretty expensive onboard, but the Cheers! package also includes coffees, juices, and sodas.

While you can go to the Lido deck buffet just about any time you want, we always enjoy breakfast in the main dining room (on port days) or the Seaday Brunch in the MDR (on sea days). Slower than the buffet, but not nearly as crowded. Plus, it's vacation and it's nice to have someone bring you your food.

lostsoulcruiser

Enjoy a late night movie under the stars, weather permitting. Grab some pizza, chairs and enjoy an at sea drive in (or dive in) movie. Hardly a secret but enjoyable.

• 3 weeks later...

I have enjoyed reading all these post!!! Thanks so much for your feedback!!

• 2 weeks later...

ScottyZkaaayk

I and my significant other will be sailing on the dream in October of 2018. Following for information myself!

Thanks for the tips! I'm cruising on her on Sunday, they'll definitely come in handy. :-)

Quilcruisers

Didn't travel the dream yet but did the behind the fun tour on breeze. My family really enjoyed it. It was pricey but the same cost as an off the ship excursion. If going to Cozumel pre book mr sanchos for a small deposit of 2.00 I believe. Catch a taxi there from the port. Whether you do all inclusive or just the water park, your sons will enjoy the toys there. There is also banana boats, jet ski and parasailing for extra charge but you won't have to go anywhere to get something for everyone. They have massages there and swimming pools too. Our teens really enjoy cruising for the past several years and mostly enjoy when we let them enjoy themselves on the ship. They just have to check in with us but can use the pools, arcades or the teen clubs. They usually meet other teens there that they hang out with or just sit around and talk and eat pizza and ice cream, both are free and 24 hours. I second getting the hub app and for 5.00 each your group can text for free. Eliminate need for Walkie talkies or even carrying around the fun times ...you can see what is going on each day, see the menus and even mark the activities you will attend. We usually eat in the main dining each evening but do not force the kids to join if they wish to do other things. It gives us alone time too and sometimes they may eat a late lunch and not be hungry for dinner. If they do come to dinner, the option to choose multiple types of dishes or even swap or share entrees or appetizers makes it more appealing. Some nights you can make your meal up of two appetizers or just have an app and dessert and it is perfectly ok and all included. The sea day brunch is fantastic, we make a point to eat in the dining room on those mornings, they serve until 1pm and the food is excellent. One final tip is that the gym has the best amenities for showering or getting dressed in the evenings especially when sharing a room with a family. The gym is open each day until 10 I believe and the showers are usually empty by 5 or 6pm and you can get dressed there, use the space. I make a point to do this every cruise, even when it's just two of us because there is so much space from the tiny shower in the cabins. Hangout space that we absolutely love is right outside of guest services on deck 3, there are chairs out there, it is shaded and a great place to read, listen to music or just watch the sea go by. A lot of people use this deck to get away from the noise and enjoy the ocean from a private spot, especially if you do not have a balcony. I love cruising and know your family will too after their first one. If I think of more I will come back.

BrittanyandBrodysMom

EmeraldCoastCruisers

We had a Spa Cabin and used the spa Thalasso pool/hot tub and other spa immunities and many times we were by ourselves. This was in July so a great place to sneak away to. You can purchase the spa package even without having the spa cabin area.

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Carnival Luminosa

Former name: costa luminosa.

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Brisbane (Queensland Australia)
• Seattle (Washington)
• Sydney (NSW Australia)

Carnival Luminosa current position

Carnival Luminosa current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 47.62891 N / -122.38396 W) cruising en route to US TRA. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Luminosa current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Alaska . The itinerary starts on 06 Jun, 2024 and ends on 13 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Luminosa

•   Itineraries
•   Review
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Carnival Luminosa Itineraries

Carnival luminosa review, review of carnival luminosa.

The 2009-built (as Costa Luminosa) cruise ship Carnival Luminosa was Costa Cruises ' first of two LUMINOSA-class liners, followed by the sistership Costa Deliziosa (2010).

Under the "COSTA by CARNIVAL" brand, the vessel (IMO number 9398905) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001201) and registered in Nassau . Before the transfer to CCL, Luminosa was briefly Portugal/Madeira-flagged (MMSI 255804260) and registered in Funchal . Initially, Costa Luminosa was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247257900) and registered in Genoa .

On June 15, 2022, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line announced that Costa Luminosa will be transferred from Costa to CCL in September and renamed "Carnival Luminosa". Luminosa's acquisition followed the shipowner Carnival Corporation 's decision for Costa to keep Costa Magica in the fleet.

Since November 2022, Carnival Luminosa operates Australia and New Zealand roundtrips from Brisbane (Queensland Australia) .

When the announcement for Luminosa's acquisition by Carnival was made (June 15, 2022), the ship's schedule listed a total of 173x future voyages (itineraries with departures between June 19, 2022, and April 16, 2024). Following the announcement, all voyages between/including Sept 4, 2022, and April 14, 2024 (151x total) were canceled. Luminosa's last cruise for Costa was on Aug 28, 2022 (7-day roundtrip from Trieste Italy). Luminosa's last drydock refurbishment by Costa was in 2017.

Note: On June 23, 2021, CCL announced plans to add two additional ships to its fleet by 2023. The vessels included an EXCEL-class newbuild 2023 ( Carnival Jubilee /originally was assigned to AIDA ) and Costa Magica.

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ).

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 2800-passenger ship Costa Luminosa is a vessel served by professional staff and crew, but also by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Luminosa staterooms (1130 total, in 27 grades) include 54x Suites, 718x Balconies, 90x Oceanviews, 268x Inside, and 56x Spa cabins. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 23. There are also 56x Spa Staterooms (including 4x Spa Suites, 38x Spa Balcony, 14x Spa Inside).

The largest accommodations are the Grand Vista Suites (570-735 ft2 / 53-68 m2) also featuring wraparound terraces with forward or aft views.

The boat has 12 passenger decks , of which 6 are with cabins.

15x elevators (passenger lifts/4x forward, 4x aft, and 7x midship/of which 3x are panoramic, with glass walls) interconnect all cabin decks. The forward lifts access all decks but Observation (deck 12).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

(deck 2) Bonsai Sushi Express (complimentary dining option at Taste Bar, open 5-8:15 pm)

(deck 2) Plaza Bar with a stage

(decks 2-3) Altair Nightclub (2-level/2-deck Disco Nightclub, with DJ programming nightly)

(deck 2) Piano Bar 88 (cocktail bar) offers themed music nights, a grand piano for live performances by a resident pianist, singalongs, trivia quizzes. The bar is among the best places for pre-dinner drinks and singing.

(decks 2-3) Archipelago Restaurant and Vela Restaurant are complimentary, waiter-served Main Dining Room restaurants for Breakfast, Brunch (seadays only), Lunch (seadays only) and Dinner. On portdays, Breakfast is served between 7:30-9:30 am (closed for lunch). Dining Room hours are subject to change due to itinerary/port of call arrival times or scheduled onboard activities. On seadays, one MDR serves Punchliner Comedy Brunch (breakfast and lunch /between 8:30 am - 1 pm) while the other MDR serves Breakfast (between 8-10 am) and Lunch (between 12-noon - 1:30 pm). Afternoon Tea service (between 3-4 pm /seadays only, complimentary) includes a selection of teas, mini sandwiches, sweets. Dinner (seadays/portdays) is with 2 fixed/pre-assigned seatings - Early (at 6 pm) and Late (at 8:15 pm), plus Anytime/Your Time Dining between 5:45-9:30 pm). Dr Seuss-themed "Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast" (cover charge pp, reservations recommended) is once per cruise (on a seaday /itinerary based) at 8:30 am and 9:30 am. The dining experience features Dr Seuss character visits, waiters in special uniforms, themed decoration, unique menu.

(deck 3) JavaBlue Cafe (open between 7-10 am, and between 4 pm - 12:30-midnight) is a specialty patisserie/coffee bar. The a la carte priced menu includes coffees (cappuccino, latte, mochaccino), espresso, Javablue Drip, chi tea latte, hot chocolate, spiked coffees (Caribbean, Mexican, Irish, Chocolate Lovers), iced coffees, milkshakes, specialty teas, bottled water, Perrier, San Pellegrino (1L), desserts (Blue Velvet Cake, cheesecakes, cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, flavored syrups, ice cream scoops).

(deck 3) Alchemy Bar is a vintage-themed cocktail bar/pharmacy where professional mixologists (dressed in lab coats) serve handcrafted cocktails and made-to-order drinks from unique ingredients.

Dining venues on Deck 9 (pool deck) include Redfrog Bar, Carnival Deli, Pizzeria del Capitano, Lido Marketplace, and Ol' Fashioned BBQ.

Redfrog Rum Bar & Grill is an outdoor poolside bar with the best Caribbean rums, bottled Caribbean beers (Presidente, Kalik, Red Stripe, Corona, Corona Light, Dos Equis), draft beers (ThirstyFrog Red brew, Presidente brew), Red's Beer Cocktail, frozens, cocktails, mojitos, margaritas, soft beverages. The bar also sells beer buckets and Carnival souvenir glasses. Draft beers are served/priced in pints (19 oz / 560 ml) and tubes (101 oz / 3 L).

Carnival Deli (complimentary, open between 11 am - 11 pm) offers hot/cold sandwiches and sides and has a draft beer dispenser (for ThirstyFrog Red and Bud Light).

Pizzeria del Capitano (complimentary, 24-hour, self-serve) is equipped with a wood-fired oven and offers fresh-baked pizzas (Margherita, Pepperoni, Napolitana, Capricciosa, Calzone), pan pizza, Caesar salad, also made-to-order pies.

Lido Marketplace is the ship's complimentary self-service buffet restaurant for open-seating Breakfast (7:30 am - 12-noon /made-to-order omelet station), Lunch (12-noon - 2:30 pm), Dinner (6-9:30 pm /Good Eats buffet) and for Late Night Snacks (11 pm - 1 am). Good Eats buffet menu is a Main Dining Room dinner alternative offering steaks, prime rib, grilled chicken, pasta, salads, desserts, daily Chef's Special. Lido Marketplace consists of various take-away food stations and themed food bars. Among those are Carnival Deli (sandwiches, draught beer dispenser), Mongolian Wok (stir-fry, made-to-order Asian food /you choose the ingredients), The Captain's Pasta Bar (choice of 3 pastas, 4 sauces, 12 toppings), Salad Bar (35 items), Pizza Pirate (24-hour Pizzeria), Chef's Choice Bar (international cuisine /different menu each day), Hot and Cold Buffet (stir-fry, pastas, carving station), Grille (ham-cheese-veggie burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken fritters/sandwiches, sauteed mushrooms/onions, sauerkraut, Chili con Carne, homemade tortillas-chips-salsa), Dessert Bar (incl sugar-free items). There are also (self-serve, complimentary, 24-hour) tea/coffee station and machines for soft ice cream and yogurt. Chocolate Extravaganza Buffet (complimentary) is on the last sea day (7-day and longer cruise itineraries) and offers chocolate smorgasbord, chocolate fountain, cakes (incl pear, orange, cheesecake, dry fruit, diet).

Ol' Fashioned BBQ is a complimentary restaurant for lunch, offering barbecue grill specialties (including braised pork butt, smoked beef, grilled chicken), sides (including mac-n-cheese, molasses baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad), sauces, and desserts.

Midship on Deck 10 is Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (open between 6-9:30 pm). This premium steakhouse-seafood restaurant is at a surcharge and reservations are recommended. The cover charge fee includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert and gratuity. Steakhouse's menu has starters (escargots, grilled mushroom, tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, crab cake, lobster bisque, onion soup), salads (Caesar, spinach/mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato), sides (Baked Potatoes, Sauteed Mushrooms, Creamed Spinach, Steamed Broccoli), entrees (prime-aged beef steaks - 14oz NY strip loin, 18oz rib and 18oz ribeye, 9oz filet mignon, lamb chops, chicken, Maine lobster, fish fillet from the market /itinerary based), desserts (cheesecake, caramelized apples, chocolate sampler, fresh fruits, selections of cheeses, sherbets and ice creams). The Steakhouse also serves beverages (bar prices apply) - fresh coffee/tea, dessert wines and after-dinner drinks. The food is wheeled on a cart to your table for examination. A cooking demonstration offers an hour-long presentation from a team of chefs. The dress code is Elegant (jeans permitted). At the steakhouse can also be made reservations (bookings) for the Chef's Table (private dinner package).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

(decks 1-2-3) Luminosa Theater (capacity of 800 seats, is the ship's 3-level/3-deck main show lounge for grand-style show productions featuring live performances (tribute acts - singing and dancing) combined with sound and lighting special effects. The evening shows are 30 minutes. The music is backed by high-definition graphics (photos and videos) projected on large-size LED screens. The evening entertainment program also offers popular family game shows (like "Love and Marriage") and guest performers (stand-up comedy acts, magicians, musicians). The ship's theater lounge also hosts the "Playlist Productions" (live stage musical revues) and "Hasbro The Game Show" (interactive board games). The daily program includes seminars, expert lectures, multimedia presentations, workshops and classes, and bingo sessions).

(deck 2) Luminosa Casino with its own Casino Bar is a Vegas-style gambling casino equipped with various slot machines (200+ Coinless Fun Slot Machines) and gaming tables (Craps, Roulette, Black Jack 21, Caribbean Stud Poker, dealer-free poker tables). The Casino also provides complimentary gambling lessons and hosts regularly gambling tournaments. Guests can pay in cash or with their S&S cards sign and sail/backed by the credit card given at check-in). Traveler's checks can be cashed at the Cashier's Window (casino cage). Table games are cash only. Slot machines are S&S cards only (coinless). The opening hours on seadays are - slots (9 am), select tables (10 am), all games (12-noon - 3 am), but may vary depending on itinerary port times. The Casino is closed when the ship is in port, and opens 30-60 min after the ship leaves port. On Carnival ships calling overnight on Nassau Bahamas, the Casino stays open. On Carnival ships in Half Moon Cay (CCL's private Bahamian island) the Casino opens at management's discretion. Smoking is allowed only on designated slot machines and gaming tables. Carnival chips are fleet-transferable and generic (logoed). MegaCash is the world's largest jackpot that can be won on a cruise ship – over USD 1 million.

(deck 2) Carnival Adventures/Shore Excursions Desk provides information on Carnival cruise tours and excursions (sponsored by the line and offered for each port on the current itinerary), also planning and booking services.

(deck 2) Guest Services (Reception/Purser Desk) provides 24-hour assistance, information, bookings/reservations, luggage and cashier services.

On Deck 2 are also located Art Gallery, Supernova Atrium's Lobby Bar (Atrium's lowest level 1 of 10). Carnival Luminosa's 10-deck-high Atrium has as a centerpiece a bronze sculpture titled "Reclining Woman 2004" The monumental artwork was specially commissioned for the transferred from Costa to Carnival liner from Fernando Botero Angulo (1932-born Colombian sculptor and figurative artist). The unique multi-million-dollar sculpture has length 11+ ft (3,5 m) and weighs ~1 ton. The ship's artworks also include a collection of 120 Murano glass light fixtures and chandeliers.

(deck 3) Limelight Lounge (the place for the Punchliner Comedy Club) offers live evening entertainment by vocalists, musicians, comedians, and karaoke.

(deck 3) The Carnival Store / The Fun Shops is the duty-free shopping arcade of stores (open between 8 am - 12 midnight) selling Carnival Cruise Lines logo merchandise (ship models, fun wear/apparel), Special Occasions (gifts, souvenirs, packages), name-brand boutique merchandise (luxury jewelry-watches, designer bags-hats-shoes-fashion-accessories-sunglasses, perfumes-cosmetics-beauty products), also liquor-tobaccos and conveniences.

(deck 3) Galleria Shops and Gift Shops (duty-free jewels, watches, perfumes, apparel, tobacco, liquor).

(deck 3) The Library is a small bar lounge offering books and board games (Hasbro-branded, chess), a large HDTV, comfortable armchairs, and high chairs by the bar. It is served by a librarian (who doubles as a bartender) and sells alcohol drinks by the glass (blended/single malt whiskeys, bourbons, cognacs, brandies, rums, cordials, liqueurs), specialty cocktails. The library also has 2 wine vending machines (self-serve enomatic machines) for wine tasting. A choice of 8 different wines is dispensed in portions of 2-4-6 oz (60-120-180 mi).

On Deck 3 are also located Pixels Photo Gallery and Shop (sells photo-video equipment and accessories, displays and sells photos made by the ship's professional photographers), Dreams Studio (for photo sessions).

Forward on decks 9-10 is the Cloud 9 SPA & Fitness Center (Luminosa's 2-velel/2-deck wellness center sized 37675 ft2 / 3500 m2). The lower level (deck 9) houses a Hydrotherapy Pool, Thermal Suites, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon & Barber Shop, Ladies'/Men's Locker Room. The Upper level (deck 10) houses the Relaxation Lounge, Fitness Studio, Saunas, Ladies'/Men's Locker Room.

The fore-located Cloud 9 Spa and Fitness Center (open between 6 am - 11 pm) is the wellness complex. It consists of Gymnasium (complimentary, floor-ceiling windows, equipped with free weights /TROY dumbbells, weight machines, treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, recumbent exercise cycles, Concept 2/indoor rowing machines, Kinesis wall), Fitness Studio (for classes), Fitness Desk (assistance), Beauty Salon (facials, manicure/pedicure, hair styling-cutting-coloring, eyebrow shaping, makeup, waxing, grooming-barbering, teeth whitening, Medi-Spa), 15x Treatment Rooms (incl for acupuncture, hot stone, Botox, body wraps), VIP and VIP Couples (massage rooms / private suites with whirlpools), Thalassotherapy pool (mineral-rich seawater, temperature 33 C / 91 F, hydrotherapy jets, covered by a glass roof), Spa Reception, separate male/female lockers (2 changing rooms, each with complimentary sauna/steam room/showers).

• The lockers' showers are glass-enclosed and multi-jet. Showerheads are massaging (1 rain head above, 4 sides).
• The Thermal Suite consists of 4 heat therapy chambers - Tepidarium (relaxation room with heated loungers /ergonomically shaped, 38 C / 100 F), Laconium (dry heat bath, 55-65 C / 131-149 F), Aroma Steam Bath (aromatic steam grotto, 40-50 C / 104-112 F), Oriental Steam Bath (aka Caldarium, high humidity heat, 40-50 C / 104-112 F).
• ZSPA (teen spa treatments for teenagers 12-17 yo) include facials, massages, scrubs, manicures/pedicures, hair styling-coloring-cutting.
• To utilize the Cloud 9 Spa facilities (treatment rooms, Thalassotherapy Pool, Thermal Suite) passengers must be at least 18 yo. They should wear bathing suits during massages and wraps. Teenagers (12-17 yo) are allowed to use the wellness facilities (fitness/spa) only when accompanied by an adult. Daily are scheduled complimentary health seminars (fitness-wellness-beauty) themed on aging, posture, detox, dieting, weight loss, skincare, pro-collagen, acne attack /teens).
• Some fitness classes are complimentary (aerobics, stretching, abs, body conditioning, Tai Chi) and some are at fee pp (Yoga, Pilates, spinning, boot camp, indoor cycling, personal training sessions). Follows the list of offered on CCL cruises fitness classes (led by professional trainers/in brackets are shown duration in minutes) - Personal Training (60 min/ up to 3 courses), Nutritional Consultation (60 min), Metabolism Test (30 min), Boot Camp (4-day body sculpturing), Tour de Cycle (45 min/indoor cycling), Pathway to Yoga (45 min), Pathway to Pilates (45 min).
• Thermal Suite facilities offer unlimited access to passengers booked in Carnival Radiance Spa rooms. Depending on the itinerary length, full-cruise Thermal Suite passes are priced differently.
• Carnival Cloud 9 Spa menu of treatments (facials and massages) includes (duration in minutes) - Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy (50-75 min), Thai Herbal Poultice Massage (75 min), Bamboo Massage (50-75 min), Elemis Absolute Spa Ritual (100 min), Elemis Face and Body Sensation (50 min), Swedish or Couples Massage (50 min), Reflexology Massage (50 min), Elemis Deep Tissue Muscle Massage (50 min), Villa Massage and Bathing Ritual (75 min), Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction (3x treatments/50 min each), Bliss fatgirlslim (75 min), Elemis Body Sculpting Cellulite and Colon Therapy (50 min), Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow (50-75 min), Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage (75-100 min), Tooth Whitening (30 min/free consultation), Elemis Pro-Collagen Grooming Treatment with Shave (55 min), Elemis Express Shave (30 min), Elemis Deep Cleanse Grooming Treatment with Shave (45 min), Elemis Skin IQ for Men Facial (50 min), Elemis Urban Cleanse for Men Facial (50 min).
• Carnival Cloud 9's Medi-Spa treatments include - Acupuncture (50-75 min), Medi-Spa Cosmetic Treatments (free doctor consultation), Dermal Filler Treatments (30 min), BOTOX Cosmetic, DYSPORT Wrinkle Treatments (30 min/FDA approved). All Medi-Spa treatments are administered on the ship by a dedicated physician (licensed medical doctor).
• Carnival Cloud 9's ZSPA treatments (for teenagers 12-17 yo) include - Fabulously Fruity Facial (50 min), Acne Attack Facial (50 min), Heavenly Massage (50 min), Paradise Massage (25-50 min/mother and daughter), Chill Out Massage (25-50 min/father and son), Surfers Scrub (25 min), Fitness Frenzy (3x boot camp classes), Magical Manicure (25 min), Sole Mate (45 min). Beauty Salon services for teens include - boys (30 min/cutting only), boys and girls (120 min/cutting and coloring), girls (60 min/cutting, 30-min hairstyling). ZSPA services are available between 8 am - 8 pm. Upon booking treatments, teens must be accompanied by an adult (parent/guardian) who completes and signs the ZSPA form.

Aft on Deck 9 is the Serenity Pool & Bar (adults-only sundeck with a swimming pool). The waiter-served bar offers drinks and refreshments - cocktails, beer/buckets, wine, frozens, smoothies, shakes, soda. The sundeck is complimentary (free entry) and accessible anytime, but Serenity Bar and the whirlpools are available between 8 am - 10 pm only. Hours may vary depending on cruise itinerary, portdays/seadays, weather.

(deck 10) Carnival Seaside Theatre is a complimentary outdoor cinema with a huge LED screen. The Cinema also has a stage (for live performances and games) and is used daily for showing funny videos, TV shows, concerts, live sporting events, and nightly for watching movies with complimentary provided popcorn. A Sliding Sky Dome covers Luminosa's Lido pool area (deck 9 below).

Aft-starboard on Deck 10 is the Putting Green (9-hole Mini-Golf Course).

On Deck 11 are the Sports Court (combined Basketball-Volleyball Court/aft) and the Power Walking/Jogging Track (midship).

Deck 12 is the top-deck/outdoor observation area (positioned aft) furnished with padded loungers and deckchairs for relaxation. The Observation Deck is accessed only via outdoor stairs.

Kids and Teens

Next are reviewed venues and activities onboard Carnival Luminosa specifically designed for kids and teenagers.

( deck 2 ) The Warehouse (video arcade /branded name) is open 24 hours for both kids and adults. The Arcade is supervised by dedicated staff and has foosball (air hockey) tables, a photo kiosk, popular merchandising games (incl skeeball) and arcade machines. All machines are coinless (payable via S&S cards only). The daily arcade play limit can be adjusted by parents/guardians upon request. Among the available for playing games are Redemption Games (E-ticket rewards are loaded to the S&S card and at any time can be redeemed for prizes /self-serve prize hub in the arcade), Self-Merchandisers (games of skill /electronic prizes at the machine), latest arcades (car-racing, dance, bike simulators, first-person shooters).

( deck 3 ) Circle C (teenagers-only/children club lounge area for 12-14 yo) provides video games, movies, parties, planned activities. The programs are supervised and complimentary.

( deck 10 ) Camp Ocean (fka Camp Carnival) is the ship's kids complex providing supervision by counselors age-appropriate activities and themed entertainment for 3 age groups - 2-5 yo (PENGUINS), 6-8 yo (STINGRAYS), 9-11 yo (SHARKS), plus NIGHT OWLS (babysitting services/kids 6 months to 11 yo). Each group has its own room and dedicated staff. Camp Ocean's themed programming on select nights offers additional parties (at surcharge per kid) including "Owl Jams" (2-11 yo, 10 pm - 12-midnight /challenges, hide and seek, music), "Fun Til One" (6-8 yo, 10 pm - 1 am /video gaming, dancing, singing) and "Fun At Sea" (9-11 yo, 10 pm - 1 am /video gaming, sports events, pizza). Snacks and beverages are included. Camp Ocean also has an Outdoor Playground for kids (on Deck 11 above).

Aft on Deck 10 is Club O2 - the teen-only club lounge for movies, video games, karaoke, themed parties, booking teen-only shore excursions.

CARNIVAL Luminosa Itineraries

Carnival Luminosa's itinerary program is based on Australia-New Zealand voyages (roundtrips from homeport Brisbane, Queensland Australia) and Alaskan voyages from Seattle (Washington USA) . Transpacific crossings on relocation between Australia and Alaska via Hawaii (RepositionCruises.com) are offered seasonally.

Out of Brisbane QLD, Carnival Luminosa visits Queensland's top travel destinations Great Barrier Reef , Airlie Beach , Cairns , Port Douglas and Willis Island , as well as New Caledonia's Noumea/Grande Terre island and Lifou Island , Vanuatu's Port Vila/Efate Island and Aneityum/Mystery Island , Fiji, PNG-Papua New Guinea.

Seasonally (during summer), Luminosa is deployed in Alaska (the inaugural Alaskan season starts in May 2023) for 7-day roundtrips from Seattle WA visiting the Alaskan destinations Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point/Hoonah, Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, as well as Victoria (BC Canada). The program also includes northbound and southbound Transpacific crossings (RepositionCruises.com) between Australia and the USA via Hawaii ( Honolulu ).

In 2023-2024, Carnival Luminosa cruises to New Zealand. The 8- to 11-night itineraries visit NZ's Wellington and Dunedin/Port Chalmers , in combination with Vanuatu and New Caledonia. New 3-4-night short breaks visit Airlie Beach.

COSTA Luminosa itineraries

Costa Luminosa's itinerary program was initially based on 10-day Caribbean roundtrips out of homeport Miami Florida USA . In the summer, Luminosa operated in Europe on Mediterranean and Baltic itineraries (leaving from Stockholm and Sankt Petersburg Russia ), with Transatlantic crossings on seasonal relocation ().

In January 2018, Costa Luminosa started a 106-night / 107-day World Cruise (itinerary January 6 - April 22) roundtrip from Venice Italy , The around-the-world voyage visited a total of 41 ports and popular travel destinations, like the Caribbean, Panama Canal (transit), Pacific Mexico, USA (California, Hawaii), South Pacific Islands, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia (Singapore / 2 overnights), Suez Canal (transit), For the full list of ports of call see in the ship's wiki section.

For winter 2020-2021 Costa planned for Luminosa a South America program based on 7-night roundtrips from Santos (Brazil) visiting Buenos Aires (Argentina), Itajai (Brazil), and Montevideo (Uruguay). However, this program was canceled and replaced with Eastern Mediterranean (Adriatic) roundtrips leaving from Italy to ports in Greece and Croatia.

Costa Luminosa's 2022-2023-2024 schedule listed mainly 7-day Mediterranean itineraries leaving from homeports in Italy ( Trieste , Venice-Marghera , Genoa ), Spain ( Barcelona ) and France ( Marseille ). The program also included a 108-day World Cruise (roundtrip from Genoa) - read more in the ship's Wiki section .

Carnival Luminosa - user reviews and comments

Photos of carnival luminosa.

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Carnival Luminosa Wiki

Luminosa is Costa's 1st of two Luminosa-Class liners (inaugural cruise on June 3, 2009), with sistership Costa Deliziosa . Both are hybrid Vista-Spirit class designed and Panamax vessels, which allows them to transit through Panama Canal 's old locks. Luminosa was christened (together with Costa Pacifica ) on June 5, 2009, in Port Genoa . This was the industry's first dual-christening ceremony and also a Guinness World Record. Another fun fact is that both liners were launched in their respective shipyards on the same day - Luminosa in Venice (Marghera yards) and Pacifica in Genoa (Sestri Ponente yards).

For summer 2016 season, Costa Cruises introduced new shore tours to Moscow (Russia) . The unique shore excursion was part of Costa Luminosa's 2016 Baltic cruise itinerary program in Northern Europe. The new tour to Moscow is during ship's overnight port stay in Sankt Petersburg and deals prices are inclusive of 8 hours high-speed train travel on the Sapsan railway.

From the SPIRIT-Class series are Cunard's liner Queen Victoria , P&O UK's Arcadia , Princess' Coral and Island , and Costa's Deliziosa and Luminosa.

On September 8, 2022, in Port Palermo (Sicily Italy) , Luminosa was officially handed over from Costa Cruises to CCL-Carnival Cruise Lines. During the special ceremony, Costa's Captain Nicolantonio Palombella handed over the vessel to Carnival's Captain Adriano Binacchi.

Following the drydocking in Italy, the repainted boat (featuring CCL'ss new livery and funnels) left Palermo on Sept 26th, en route to Dubai UAE (for crewing) and then relocated to Australia ( Brisbane QLD ). The vessel was also re-flagged/changed registry from Malta to Bahamas.

Costa Luminosa ship review

Costa Luminosa features four restaurants. Its MDR, Taurus, is a beautiful 2-deck aft venue with gorgeous views. One of its best features is the way it is designed into smaller areas, each with a different ambiance. The buffet restaurant, called Ristorante Buffet Andromeda, is open for breakfast, lunch, and tea (late-afternoon snack). Andromeda operates in a lunch counter fashion, where passengers line up to plod through the variety of offerings, which is quite uncomfortable. The quality of the food is the usual steam-table fare, though some exceptions include the omelet station at breakfast, the pasta station at lunch, and the hot and crispy pizza slices available from lunchtime through the evening. Costa Luminosa also offers complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service.

Follows the complete list of Costa Luminosa restaurants and food bars.

• Ristorante Samsara (serves healthy and low-calorie food; with a complimentary dining room for guests in Samsara Spa cabins, and a specialty restaurant for other passengers at a surcharge/reservations are required)
• Ristorante Taurus (aft Dining Room, complimentary; serves open-seating breakfast and lunch, 2 fixed dinner seatings - at 6:30 pm and 9 pm)
• Ristorante Buffet Andromeda (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary; offers breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea at 4-5 pm, and dinner; in the evening is transformed into Pizzeria, complimentary, with waiter service)
• Club Luminosa (specialty dinner restaurant; reservations-only)
• Lido Dorado Bar and Buffet (offers snacks and sandwiches, lunch buffet station).

Introduced in 2021, "Destination Dishes" are complimentary and available at the MDR's/main dining rooms fleetwide. They are based on individual recipes designed by a "celebrity chef trio" (Bruno Barbieri/Italian, Helene Darroze/French, Angel Leon/Spanish) and interpret the traditional food of the destinations to be visiting by the ship on the following day of the voyage.

Luminosa and Deliziosa are from a new for Costa Crociere (slightly smaller) ship design targeting higher-spending travelers. Costa Luminosa provides two dining rooms, casino, theater, two show lounges, library, steam room, modern wellness complex (SPA and Gym), 4 swimming pools, 5 outdoor Jacuzzies. The 3-level wellness facility (Samsara Spa) has a Fitness, a Turkish bath, a Thalassotherapy Pool, a UVA-ray Solarium, Sauna Room, several treatment rooms (for massages).

Onboard entertainment includes a 4D Cinema, a 3-level Theater, an 18-hole Championship Golf Simulator, PlayStation World area, Grand Prix Simulator. The ship carries 290 original artworks and 4730 prints.

Follows the complete list of Costa Luminosa lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Teatro Phoenix (800-seat, 3-tiered theatre, and main show lounge; hosts grand scale show productions, musicals, classical concerts, ballet performances, circus, and laser light shows)
• Cinema Mizar (4D cinema room, featuring 3D films with moving seats)
• Grand Bar Elettra (with own dance floor and stage for live performances; hosts quiz games and fashion reviews)
• Rigel Cigar Lounge and Bar (selling cigars and fine liquor)
• Sala Carte (cards room)
• Casino Vega (served by bar Vega)
• Luminosa Atrium (9-deck high "Atrio Supernova" - open-floor area with live music and entertainment, served by Atrium Lobby Bar Supernova)
• Discoteca Altair (Disco Nightclub, DJ program nightly)
• Antares Piano Bar (live music, dance floor, cabaret-style performances)
• Caffetteria Sirius (specialty coffee and chocolates bar/patisserie)
• Biblioteca Bellatrix and Internet Point (Library/computers room)
• Galleria Shops (duty and tax-free shops for brand watches, jewelry, perfumes, fashion clothes, Costa-logo merchandise, sportswear, gifts, tobacco, and liquor)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; Galleria d'Arte (Art Gallery)
• Libra Lounge and Bar; Virgo Lounge and Bar
• Bar Scuderia Costa (themed bar Formula 1 with Grand Prix simulator)
• Mondo Virtuale (Video Games Arcade)
• Cappella (Wedding Chapel, also used for religious services)
• Squok Club (kids lounge with Mini Club (3-6 yo) and Maxi Club (7-11 yo) playing rooms; with complimentary kids program and supervised activities; complimentary babysitting)
• Teen Zone (teenagers' lounge with Teen Junior (12-14 yo) and Teen Club (15-17 yo) rooms; complimentary supervised activities, themed parties, sports contests)
• Centro Banessere Samsara (2-level Spa and Wellness complex, with Fitness and separate Spinning/Aerobics Room; Venus Beauty Salon, Massages and Treatments Rooms, Japanese TeaRoom, Relaxation Room, Thermal Suites, Solarium, Tepidarium (heated loungers), Laconium (low humidity sauna), Aroma Steam Baths, Thalassotherapy pool, Turkish Bath, Solarium, Saunas, Kinesis Room. All guests in Samsara Spa staterooms have free access to most of the Spa complex)
• Lido Dorado pool area (lido pool with two Whirlpools, huge LED screen, PlayStation nights; served by Lido Dorado Bar)
• Delphinus pool area (with two Whirlpools, served by Lido Delphinus Bar)
• Lido Squok (kids' mini Aquapark)
• Balconata Dorado (outdoor movie screen)
• Area Yoga (outdoor area)
• Campo da Gioco (combined court for tennis and basketball)
• Pista da Jogging (Power Walking/Jogging Track doubled with a Roller Skating Track0
• Putting Green Area
• Virtual Golf Game

Costa Luminosa World Cruise 2023 (canceled)

Next table shows Costa Luminosa's "World Cruise 2023" itinerary. The 108-day Transoceanic voyage, along with numerous European itineraries in the Mediterranean (total 151 voyages) was canceled after the shipowner Carnival Corporation decided in June 2022 to transfer the ship to CCL-Carnival Cruise Line .

Costa's World Cruise 2023 was priced from EUR 16150 pp (USD 16810 pp).

The voyage was also offered as the following itineraries.

• 113 days from Genoa to Trieste (2023 Dec 29) US$17560
• 106 days roundtrip from Marseilles (2023 Dec 30) US$16520
• 57 days from Marseille to Buenos Aires (2023 Dec 30) US$9000
• 56 days from Barcelona to Buenos Aires (2023 Dec 31) US$8860
• 104 days roundtrip from Barcelona (2023 Dec 31) US$16220
• 100 days roundtrip from Genoa (2024 Jan 6) US$15620
• 105 days from Genoa to Trieste (2024 Jan 6) US$16370
• 50 days from Genoa to Buenos Aires (2024 Jan 6) US$7960
• 98 days roundtrip from Marseilles (2024 Jan 7) US$15320
• 49 days from Marseille to Buenos Aires (2024 Jan 7) US$7810
• 104 days from Marseille to Trieste (2024 Jan 7) US$16220
• 96 days roundtrip from Barcelona (2024 Jan 8) US$15020
• 48 days from Barcelona to Buenos Aires (2024 Jan 8) US$7660
• 48 days from Buenos Aires to Barcelona (2024 Feb 25) US$8290
• 49 days from Buenos Aires to Marseille (2024 Feb 25) US$8450
• 50 days from Buenos Aires to Genoa (2024 Feb 25) US$8610
• 51 days from Buenos Aires to Civitavecchia-Rome (2024 Feb 25) US$8770
• 55 days from Buenos Aires to Trieste (2024 Feb 25) US$9420

Next table shows Luminosa's last cruise for Costa, priced from EUR 810/USD 850 per person.

Costa Luminosa World Cruise 2018

Next, are listed all ports of call included in Costa Luminosa's World Cruise 2018 itinerary.

The 106-day roundtrip from Venice (Jan 6 - April 22) was priced from USD 17390 pp (Inside Cabin with double occupancy) and up to USD 34,890 (Suite with double occupancy).

• Day 1 Venice (Italy) embarkation
• Day 2 Bari (Italy)
• Day 4 Civitavecchia / Rome (Italy)
• Day 6 Marseille (France)
• Day 7 Barcelona (Spain)
• Day 9 Casablanca (Morocco)
• Day 11 Tenerife (Canary Islands)
• Days 12-13-14-15-16 (Transatlantic crossing)
• Day 17 St. Lucia
• Day 18 Barbados
• Day 19 Grenada
• Day 22 Cartagena (Colombia)
• Day 25 Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica)
• Day 27 Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala)
• Day 30 Puerto Vallarta (Mexico)
• Day 33 San Diego (USA)
• Days 34-35 Los Angeles (USA) overnight
• Days 37-38 San Francisco (USA) overnight
• Days 39-40-41-42 (North Pacific cruising)
• Day 43 Hilo (Hawaii)
• Days 44-45-46-47 (Transpacific crossing)
• Day 48 Pago Pago (Samoa)
• Day 52 Suva (Fiji)
• Day 54 Noumea
• Days 57-58 Sydney (Australia) overnight
• Day 60 Brisbane (Australia)
• Day 63 Cairns (Australia)
• Day 68 Komodo Island (Indonesia)
• Day 69 Lombok (Indonesia)
• Day 70 Benoa (Bali Indonesia)
• Day 72 Jakarta (Indonesia)
• Days 74-75-76 Singapore (overnights)
• Day 77 Port Klang/Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
• Day 78 Langkawi (Malaysia)
• Days 79-80 Phuket (Thailand) overnight
• Day 83 Colombo (Sri Lanka)
• Days 84-85 Cochin (India) overnight
• Day 86 Mormugao (India)
• Days 87-88 Bombay (India) overnight
• Days 91-92 Dubai (UAE) overnight
• Days 93-94 Muscat (Oman) overnight
• Day 96 Salalah (Oman)
• Days 97-98-99-100-101-102-103 (Arabian Gulf and Suez Canal transit)
• Day 104 Heraklion (Greece)
• Day 105 Katakolon (Greece)
• Day 107 Venice (disembarkation)

• Cruise Ships

CRUISE SHIPS

All Carnival cruises go to great spots — what sets each ship apart is how it gets you there. Every one of our ships features its own unique twist on Carnival-style fun.

Compare up to three ships below

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Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Firenze

Carnival Venezia

Carnival Celebration

Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Legend

Carnival Glory

Carnival Radiance

Carnival Panorama

Carnival Spirit

Carnival Horizon

Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Miracle

Carnival Vista

Carnival Magic

Carnival Breeze

Carnival Freedom

Carnival Paradise

Carnival Elation

Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Dream

Carnival Valor

Carnival Liberty

Carnival Conquest

Carnival Pride

Carnival Splendor

Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise-Which Is Better?

R oyal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise-which cruise line is better? Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are two of the most popular cruise lines in the world. They offer a wide range of amenities and activities for families to enjoy during their vacation. Deciding between the two can be challenging, but it ultimately depends on your preferences and budget. In this comparison, we will take an in-depth look at Royal Caribbean vs Carnival cruise lines and compare them based on various criteria.

Ship Size and Amenities

Royal Caribbean is known for having the largest and most modern ships in the industry. The Symphony of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, with a capacity of over 6,800 passengers. It features an impressive water park, 20 restaurants, a zip line, and a full-sized basketball court, among other amenities. On the other hand, Carnival has smaller and more budget-friendly ships. Their newest ships, the Mardi Gras and the Celebration can accommodate up to 5,282 passengers and features a roller coaster , water park, and a variety of dining options. 

Cabin Choices

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer an impressive range of cabins to choose from, catering to every budget and preference. Carnival’s standard cabins are cozy and comfortable, but the line is known for offering smaller balconies. Carnival also offers several different categories of cabins, including interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite cabins. The interior cabins are perfect for those looking for an affordable option while still enjoying the amenities offered on the ship. The ocean-view cabins offer a picturesque view of the ocean and are perfect for those who love to watch the waves. Balcony cabins are the most popular option and allow you to have your own private outdoor space to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze. Suite cabins provide an extra level of luxury and come with a range of exclusive amenities, such as concierge service, priority check-in, and access to private lounges and dining areas. 

On the other hand, Royal Caribbean offers an even wider range of cabin types, including interior, ocean view, balcony, suite, and even virtual balcony cabins. Their interior cabins are cozy and comfortable, with a range of amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Ocean-view cabins offer a stunning view of the ocean, while balcony cabins provide a private outdoor space to relax and enjoy the views. Suite cabins are available in several different categories, including Junior Suite, Grand Suite, and Royal Suite. These offer more space, extra amenities, and exclusive access to areas like the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen restaurant. The ultimate in luxury is the Royal Caribbean’s Star Class suite, which comes with its own private butler and access to the Royal Genie, who can make all your onboard wishes come true.

Royal Caribbean’s virtual balcony cabins are a unique feature that allows passengers in interior cabins to enjoy a real-time view of the ocean on an 80-inch high-definition screen that spans nearly floor-to-ceiling. This feature allows passengers to enjoy the view of the ocean without paying the premium for a balcony cabin. 

In addition to their standard cabins, Carnival offers several unique cabin categories that cater to specific types of travelers. For families looking for more space, Carnival offers Havana Family Cabins on select ships. These cabins feature a large balcony with a hammock and patio furniture, as well as access to a private Havana pool and lounge area.

For those looking for a more luxurious experience, Carnival offers Cloud 9 cabins. These cabins are located in a private spa area and include complimentary access to the ship’s thermal suite, which features heated loungers, steam rooms, and saunas. Cloud 9 cabins also include upgraded amenities such as spa bathrobes and priority spa reservations.

Royal Caribbean also offers a variety of unique cabin categories. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, Royal Caribbean offers Suite Class, which includes access to a private suite lounge, a dedicated suite concierge, and exclusive dining options.

For families or groups traveling together, Royal Caribbean offers connecting staterooms, which allow for more space and privacy while still being close to each other. They also offer virtual balconies in select interior cabins, which feature a large screen displaying live footage of the ocean outside.

Both cruise lines offer accessible cabins for passengers with disabilities or mobility issues, and both have a range of cabin categories to suit every budget and preference. Ultimately, the choice of cabin type will depend on the individual traveler’s needs and preferences.

Dining 

Onboard dining is an essential aspect of any cruise experience, and both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer a range of dining options to cater to different tastes and preferences.

Carnival Cruise Line is known for its casual, laid-back dining atmosphere. The cruise line offers a range of dining venues, from buffet-style restaurants to specialty dining options, including steakhouses and seafood restaurants. One of Carnival’s unique dining options is the “Chef’s Table,” which is a multi-course dinner hosted by the ship’s executive chef. This dining experience includes a tour of the ship’s galley and a private cocktail reception with the chef.

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, offers a more upscale dining experience. The cruise line offers a range of dining venues, including main dining rooms, buffet-style restaurants, and specialty dining options. One of the unique dining options on Royal Caribbean ships is the “Jamie’s Italian” restaurant, which was developed in partnership with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. This restaurant offers a range of Italian-inspired dishes, including pasta, seafood, and pizza.

Royal Caribbean also offers a flexible dining option called “My Time Dining,” which allows passengers to dine at their own pace and choose their preferred dining time. This option is ideal for those who want more flexibility in their dining schedule and do not want to be tied to a fixed dining time.

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer dining packages that can help passengers save money on specialty dining options. Carnival’s “Chef’s Table” and Royal Caribbean’s “Ultimate Dining Package” are examples of dining packages that provide passengers with access to specialty restaurants for a set price.

Overall, both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer a range of dining options to cater to different tastes and budgets. Whether you prefer casual dining or upscale dining, there is something for everyone on these cruise lines.

Onboard Activities

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer a wide variety of onboard entertainment and activities for passengers of all ages. Carnival is known for its high-energy and lively atmosphere, with a focus on fun and entertainment. On the other hand, Royal Caribbean offers a more upscale and sophisticated experience, with a range of activities and entertainment options to suit all tastes.

Carnival’s entertainment options include Broadway-style productions, comedy shows, magic shows, and live music performances. The cruise line is also known for its outdoor parties and deck events, such as pool parties and dance parties. In addition, Carnival offers a range of onboard activities such as water parks, mini golf, and sports facilities. There are also kids’ clubs and teen clubs available, providing a range of activities and games to keep younger passengers entertained.

Royal Caribbean offers a similarly impressive range of entertainment and activities. The cruise line is known for its West End-style productions, featuring world-class performers, singers, and dancers. Other entertainment options include ice skating shows, acrobatic performances, and live music performances. Royal Caribbean also offers a range of onboard activities such as rock climbing, zip-lining, and surfing simulators. Kids can enjoy the “Adventure Ocean” program, which offers a range of educational and interactive activities, as well as age-specific clubs and hangouts.

Both cruise lines also offer a range of parties and events onboard. Carnival is famous for its “Fun Ship” parties, which feature live music, dancing, and entertainment. There are also themed parties and events such as 80s and 90s parties, white parties, and Halloween parties. Royal Caribbean offers a range of parties and events as well, including themed parties, such as Caribbean-themed parties, and formal events such as Captain’s cocktail parties.

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer a wide range of onboard entertainment and activities to suit all tastes and preferences. Whether you’re looking for high-energy parties and shows or more sophisticated and elegant entertainment, both cruise lines have something to offer.

Kid’s Clubs

One of the most important aspects for families when it comes to choosing a cruise line is the availability of activities for children. Both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line offer a wide range of activities and clubs for kids of all ages, but they differ in their approach.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Camp Ocean is a program designed for kids aged 2-11, divided into three age groups: Penguins (ages 2-5), Stingrays (ages 6-8), and Sharks (ages 9-11). The program includes arts and crafts, games, and other fun activities, all under the supervision of experienced youth counselors. Older kids and teenagers can enjoy Circle “C” (ages 12-14) and Club O2 (ages 15-17), which offer age-appropriate activities like dance parties, video game tournaments, and sports competitions.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Adventure Ocean program offers a similar range of activities for kids, divided into Aquanauts (ages 3-5), Explorers (ages 6-8), Voyagers (ages 9-11), and Teens (ages 12-17). However, Royal Caribbean’s program includes more educational and interactive activities, such as science experiments, theater workshops, and even scavenger hunts. The cruise line also offers a Royal Babies & Tots program, which caters to children aged 6-36 months and includes interactive playgroups for parents and babies.

Both cruise lines offer babysitting services for an additional fee, so parents can enjoy some adult time during the cruise. Carnival’s Night Owls program offers babysitting services until 1 am, while Royal Caribbean’s Late Night Party Zone offers babysitting services until 2 am.

Overall, both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line provide a great experience for families with children. The choice between the two will depend on the specific needs and preferences of each family, as well as the age range of their children.

Private Islands

Private islands are a highlight of any cruise vacation, and both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer unique experiences on their respective islands.

Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, has been recently transformed into a massive water park that is a playground for both adults and children. This island boasts the tallest water slide in North America, Daredevil’s Peak, which stands at a staggering 135 feet tall, and the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. The water park is packed with exciting attractions like Splash Summit, a collection of four exhilarating slides, and the wave pool, which simulates the feeling of swimming in the ocean.

In addition to the water park, Perfect Day at CocoCay also offers a helium balloon ride that ascends 450 feet in the air, providing passengers with a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the island. Other activities on the island include snorkeling, kayaking, and beach volleyball. For those who prefer a more laid-back experience, there are plenty of cabanas and hammocks scattered throughout the island where guests can relax in the shade and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

On the other hand, Half Moon Cay, Carnival’s private island in the Bahamas, is a serene and tranquil tropical paradise that is perfect for those who want to unwind and relax. The island has pristine white sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters that are perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Guests can also enjoy a variety of water sports such as parasailing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.

Half Moon Cay also offers a range of excursions, including horseback riding, nature walks, and stingray encounters. The island has several bars and restaurants where guests can enjoy a refreshing drink or a delicious meal. There are also plenty of beach chairs and hammocks throughout the island where guests can soak up the sun and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

While Perfect Day at CocoCay offers a thrilling and exciting experience for those who love water parks and adventure, Half Moon Cay offers a more laid-back and relaxing experience in a tranquil tropical setting. Both private islands offer unique experiences that cater to different preferences, and the choice between them ultimately depends on the individual’s taste and interests.

Affordability

Carnival tends to offer more budget-friendly cruise options, making it an excellent choice for families on a tight budget. Their cruises typically last for 3-7 nights and start at around $200 per person. Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, tends to offer longer cruises and more upscale experiences. Their cruises can last for up to 14 nights and start at around $400 per person.

Itineraries

 Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer a wide range of destinations to choose from, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and more. Carnival tends to focus more on shorter, more affordable cruises, while Royal Caribbean offers longer, more luxurious itineraries. Royal Caribbean also has its own private island destinations, like CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti. These private islands offer exclusive experiences like zip-lining, snorkeling, and beachside cabanas.

In contrast, Carnival has partnerships with port destinations like Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic .

Solo Sailing Options

Solo travelers can enjoy cruising with both Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Royal Caribbean offers single-occupancy staterooms, which are designed In terms of dining options, both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer a wide variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Carnival’s dining experience tends to be more casual and laid-back, while Royal Caribbean offers a more formal and upscale experience. Both cruise lines also offer dining packages and specialty restaurants that cater to different tastes and budgets. For example, Royal Caribbean’s main dining room offers a three-course menu with multiple options for appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Carnival offers similar dining options but also offers unique features like Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, and The Steakhouse. Both cruise lines offer a variety of dietary options like vegetarian, gluten-free, and Kosher.

When it comes to solo sailing, both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer options for solo travelers, but Royal Caribbean has more options for solo travelers, including solo cabins on some of their ships. These cabins are smaller than traditional cabins, but they offer a more affordable option for solo travelers who want to avoid paying the single supplement fee. Carnival also offers solo traveler meetups and social activities.

Royal Caribbean vs Carnival-Which One Is The One For You?

Royal Caribbean vs Carnival -which is better? Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival are excellent choices for families looking for a fun and memorable vacation. Both cruise lines offer a wide range of amenities and activities but with different strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for a more luxurious and upscale experience with a wide range of onboard activities and dining options, Royal Caribbean might be the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a more laid-back and affordable cruise experience, Carnival might be the way to go. Ultimately, the best choice for your family will depend on your specific needs and preferences.