When I boarded a Carnival Cruise Line ship in late May, my first stop was my muster station for a mandatory safety check-in. My second stop was the same as always: Grabbing tacos on the Lido Deck.
BlueIguana Cantina, one of several included venues on the cruise line’s ships, is my go-to for lunch – and often breakfast – when I sail with Carnival. I got two chicken tacos and hit the salsa bar to load them up with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, tomatillo salsa and hot sauce.
Those weren’t the last tacos I had during my five-night cruise (the breakfast burritos are my favorite way to start mornings onboard, too). In fact, I ate almost entirely at included venues during the trip. From Guy’s Burger Joint (created with Food Network star Guy Fieri) to the Lucky Bowl walk-up window with a rotating menu of rice, noodle and veggie-based dishes, they were among the best complimentary eateries I’ve visited at sea across nearly 15 cruise lines.
Carnival has a budget-friendly reputation, often listing lower fares than its competitors, without skimping on variety.
“There is a lot of Carnival that’s included, such as the food in the main dining room, the entertainment, the pools,” Sally French, travel expert and co-host of the Smart Travel Podcast for NerdWallet, told USA TODAY. “If you don’t drink much and can skip the specialty restaurants, the math is actually hard to beat.”
However, guests’ final bill could end up being higher than the attractive sticker price. Here’s what to know.
What’s Included With a Carnival Cruise?
Like other mainstream cruise lines, Carnival offers many complimentary dining venues and activities, while others come with an extra charge. Carnival Sunrise, which can accommodate just under 3,000 guests, had at least 10 eateries included with the fare during my cruise.
Some even pulled double duty: Cucina del Capitano, a specialty Italian restaurant that normally costs $24 for adults and $11 for kids 11 and under for dinner (though that varies on some ships), offered a complimentary noodle bar at lunch. Pizzeria del Capitano – which is included – also served bagels in the morning. Swirls Ice Cream stations with soft serve and frozen yogurt were popular throughout the day.
Drinks like water, regular coffee, tea, lemonade and hot chocolate are included as well.
On Sunrise, complimentary entertainment offerings included the kid-friendly Seuss-a-palooza Parade, which saw characters like Thing 1 and Thing 2 march through Deck 5 alongside children and parents, and “Soulbound,” which followed a tortured love story between the Witch Queen and Soul Collector set to Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin covers. The cast’s voices were powerful and the special effects were minimal but effective.
Other Carnival facilities like hot tubs, fitness centers, the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat and kids’ clubs are included, too.
Are Carnival Cruises Cheaper Than Other Lines?
“Carnival really sits at the value end of the mass-market cruise ships, but in doing so it’s lowered the barrier to entry into cruising,” French said. “The itineraries skew short – three, four, five nights – and lean hard on drive-to ports like Galveston, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Mobile, which can help families avoid having to cover airfare, too.”
However, those savings can be offset by add-ons, depending on passengers’ preferences. The Cheers! drink package – which includes spirits, wine and beer by the glass, sodas, specialty coffee and more – starts at $69.95 per person, per day, for example. And if one guest in a stateroom buys the package, all others of legal age must do so as well.
Carnival also offers cheaper Cheers! Zero Proof and Bottomless Bubbles soda packages, or drinks can be purchased a la carte. Specialty dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursions can add up, too.
Most mainstream cruise lines have similar pricing structures, but French said a Carnival cruise may not end up being the cheapest option once the totals are tallied. Not spending anything extra can also require discipline.
“The key note is that, sure, Carnival almost always shows the lowest advertised fares of any major line, but realize that it’s rare that’s the total price you’ll pay,” she said. “It’s a very à la carte model where it’s unlikely your total cost will be the unbeatable fare you think you got.”
Carnival told USA TODAY in an email that its “strategy to operate from more U.S. homeports than any other cruise line has also underscored our strong value proposition, as more than half of the U.S. population can drive to a Carnival cruise in less than five hours.”
“We offer more inclusive dining and entertainment options at no extra charge than any other cruise line,” the cruise line added.
How Much Do Carnival Cruises Cost?
Cruise fares vary based on a number of factors, such as departure date, voyage length and more. However, sailings that visit the cruise line’s newly revamped Bahamas destination, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, currently start at $216 per person based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees, according to its website.
As of June 10, the cheapest fare available on any cruise was $187 per person, based on double occupancy, for a three-day voyage to the line’s exclusive destination on Grand Bahama, Celebration Key, sailing round-trip from Miami aboard Carnival Conquest.
French likened Carnival to a basic economy airfare or budget airline, which can be affordable but becomes more expensive after extras like seat assignments or checked bags are factored in.
“A lot of people choose Carnival (and budget airlines, for that matter) because they’re seduced by a low advertised price,” French said. “Just realize that it’s unlikely to be that low. Do your research and find out what’s included and what’s not.”
The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Carnival Cruise Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville.
