As the largest cruise line in the world, Carnival Cruise Line is known for its innovation and for its willingness to think outside the box. Early examples of this tendency revolved around the cruise line’s successful attempt to turn cruise cuisine into something truly special, rather than a simple afterthought. Continuing its trailblazing trend, Carnival was the first major cruise line to make all of its ships smoke-free. As a concession to high demand, the cruise line has made smoking sections available in certain casinos and other special areas. Overall, Carnival has truly reinvented itself since being founded in 1972. Originally viewed as a party cruise company, today it boasts family-friendly and elegant options that are sure to please just about anyone.

What’s New

Not surprisingly, Carnival Cruise Line always has something new cooking – recently, this is quite literal. Why? Because Carnival recently unveiled a new dining program called “Your Choice Dining.” Under this plan, passengers can take their pick from traditional main or late seating. They also have the option of eating in the main dining room whenever they’d like to, between 5:45pm and 9:30pm. For families, especially, this new dining option is sure to make traveling on a Carnival Cruise that much more flexible and enjoyable.

Known For

Carnival Cruise Line enjoys a great reputation in the world of cruises. When the name “Carnival” comes up, many people think of the following key characteristics that help make this line special:

Vacation Guarantee Program

Carnival helps maintain some of the best customer service in the industry with its Vacation Guarantee program. Under the terms of this program, passengers have the option of disembarking at the first port and receiving a refund. In this way, the line keeps passengers’ options open and provides a means by which unhappy passengers can avoid wasting a great deal of money.

Short Vacations

Taking its cue from several other cruise lines – and growing trends in general – Carnival offers a wide array of short, 3 – 5 day cruises. These cruises give people the option of enjoying a cruise without having to set aside a major amount of time. Without a doubt, this can make planning a cruise much easier for people with very little free time.

Glitz and Glamor

The overall style of every Carnival Cruise ship is reminiscent of the Las Vegas strip. Indeed, glitz and pizazz are the order of the day for this line, and the result it a glittering, unforgettable experience for every passenger. Understated décor is not Carnival’s cup of tea, to be sure.

Family-Friendly

The festive atmosphere that Carnival Cruise ships are known for makes them an excellent option for families – and for those who simply want to enjoy a lighthearted, laid back time. Pomp and circumstance are not on the menu on a Carnival Cruise. Instead, a splashy good time is what this cruise line is primarily about.

Top Itineraries

Eastern Caribbean

The Caribbean is Carnival’s mainstay, and its Easter Caribbean itineraries feature stops at ports of call like St. Thomas, Tortola and Cozumel. Without question, this is one of their most popular itineraries.

Western Caribbean

Carnival offers some of the best Western Caribbean itineraries around. Ports of call include St. Maarten, Ocho Rios and Key West.

Alaska

Like many other cruise lines, Alaska has become a mainstay of Carnival’s roster of itineraries. Popular Carnival Alaska cruises include ports of call like Prince William Sound, Juneau, Glacier Bay and Skagway.

Hawaii

Carnival stretches its legs a bit by offering passengers the opportunity to explore the Hawaiian Islands. Some of the most popular ports of call on such an itinerary include Honolulu and Maui.

The Fleet

Carnival Splendor

As one of the newest additions to the Carnival fleet, the Splendor offers a slew of exciting amenities, features and characteristics. Spa cabins are just one of the ways that this ship stands apart from the rest of the fleet, giving guests the chance to truly pamper themselves in style. 22 different lounges and bars mean that there’s plenty of elbow room for everyone on board.

Carnival Legend

One of the best things about this mid-sized ship is that the vast majority of its cabins boast views, and a large percentage have balconies. With a 2,124-person capacity, the Legend falls squarely into the mid-range in terms of size, but makes up for that with incredible flair and style. With a legend-inspired theme throughout – and a nine-deck-high atrium – the Legend is a real standout.

Carnival Miracle

With its fun interior décor that celebrates and honors popular icons like Batman, the Carnival Miracle is another example of this cruise line’s willingness to go the extra mile for its passengers. The visually stunning Bacchus Dining Room serves up some of the most sumptuous dinners on the high seas, while Nick & Nora’s offers one of the most romantic dinner spots on any Carnival ship. Try your luck at the massive Mr. Lucky’s Casino if the mood strikes.

Carnival Fantasy

The Fantasy – one of Carnival’s oldest ships – recently underwent massive upgrades and is more than capable of keeping up with flashier, larger models. Compared with most of Carnival’s fleet, this ship is quite understated in terms of style and décor. Spa Carnival has also been upgraded and is now a truly world class spa.