Carnival Makes Big Changes To A Key Onboard Program
- Publish date: Dec 8, 2022 11:27 AM EST
A cruise can offer the perfect mix of family togetherness and sending the kids off to the kids’ or teenagers’ clubs so they can spend time making new friends their own age . It’s a nice mix where parents get to spend time at the pool, shows, the casino, and maybe a bar or two, knowing that their children are having fun.
Both Carnival Cruise Lines – Get Free Report and Royal Caribbean – Get Free Report have popular programs for kids through age 18. While the execution varies both by the cruise line and by cruise ship, at the core, the premise is pretty similar.
Ships have dedicated space for various age groups, starting with babies and toddlers running up to rooms for teenagers decked out with video games and other activities. For younger kids, it’s organized activities mixed with babysitting . With older teens, it’s more self-serve with the kids being able to come and go as they please.
The various age groups all have adult supervision and organized activities which can range from basic games to special time on rock-climbing walls or, in the case of Royal Caribbean, dedicated time on the Flow Rider surf simulator.
Both cruise lines constantly work to tweak their kids’/teens’ programming to make it more appealing. Now, Carnival has revamped its youth program, rolling out the new version on the brand-new Carnival Celebration with plans to expand it to the entire fleet in 2023.
Carnival
What Is The Oldest Carnival Cruise Ship Still In Service
The oldest Carnival ship in service is the Carnival Sunshine which was launched in 1996. This Sunshine-class ship was known as Carnival Destiny until it was renamed in 2013 during a refit.
Carnival Sunshine was groundbreaking in the 1990s as the first-ever ship to exceed 100,000 gross tonnes in size. Modern cruise ships are now much larger, with Royal Caribbeans newest ship, Icon of the Seas set to exceed 250,000 gross tonnes.
Prior to October 2022, the oldest Carnival ship in service was the Carnival Ecstasy which was launched in 1991. This Fantasy-class ship was also one of the smallest ships in the Carnival fleet, accommodating just 2,606 guests across 10 decks.
Uncruise Adventures Age Policy
Minimum age to cruise with UnCruise Adventures: Guests must be 8 years or older at the time of sailing on UnCruise Adventures, except Safari Quest which has a minimum age of 13. Documentation of parental consent is needed when traveling with children not your own . However, exceptions could be made for children who are 7 years old or younger with the special pre-approval.
Rules for cruising alone on UnCruise: Because children are expected to be under the supervision of accompanying adults at all times, there are no specific policies regarding children in separate cabins. Most vessels do not have adjoining rooms, but adjacent rooms or rooms across the hall are recommended for families traveling with children.
Minimum age to leave an UnCruise ship on your own: There is no minimum age to leave the ship, but most disembarkation is done in activity groups, so which activity a child takes part in would be discussed and arranged with the parents and the onboard guides.
UnCruise Adventures cruise venues with age restrictions: Children are allowed use of all shipboard facilities while under the supervision of accompanying adults.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Age Policy
Minimum age to cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line: Babies must be 6 months old on embarkation day to sail on most Norwegian cruises. The exceptions are cruises with three or more consecutive days at sea, where the minimum age is 12 months.
Rules for cruising alone on Norwegian: Passengers must be 21 years old to travel on their own. Travelers under 21 must travel with an adult over the age of 21 in the same cabin or a connecting one. The one exception is made for legally married couples who are younger than 21, but they must provide proof of marriage when boarding.
Guests younger than 18 who are traveling with an adult who is not their parent or legal guardian must provide a consent release form from their parent or guardian to authorize their travel.
Minimum age to leave a Norwegian ship on your own: Passengers must be 18 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own.
Norwegian cruise venues with age restrictions: Guests must be 18 or older to use the casino and spa, and 21 or older to attend the nightclub past 11 p.m. Passengers younger than 16 cannot use the fitness center and must be accompanied by a parent or an adult in onboard hot tubs. Some ships have adults-only pools. No children in diapers are allowed in any pool.
Carnival Cruise Ships By Age And Name At A Glance And Which Have Been Refurbished
- Due 2023- Carnival Jubilee
- 2012 Carnival Breeze, Refurbished in 2017
- 2011 Carnival Magic, Dry Dock Update 2021
- 2009 Carnival Dream, Refurbished in 2017
- 2008 Carnival Splendor, Refurbished in 2019
- 2007 Carnival Freedom, 2019
- 2005 Carnival Liberty, Refurbished in 2016
- 2004 Carnival Valor, Refurbished 2021
- 2004 Carnival Miracle, Refurbished 2020
- 2003 Carnival Glory, 2010
| 855ft |
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What Is The Newest Carnival Cruise Ship In 2022
The newest and biggest Carnival cruise ship is Carnival Celebration. The second of Carnivals new Excel Class of cruise ships after Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration made her maiden voyage on 6th November 2022.
The launch of this new ship marked Carnivals 50th birthday. Carnival Celebration will sail out of Miami all year round.
Suggested read: The Newest Carnival Ships
Interestingly, Mardi Gras was named after Carnival Cruise Lines first ship, TSS Mardi Gras, which launched in 1972. For this reason, the new Mardi Gras is the only ship in Carnivals fleet not to include the word Carnival at the start of its name.
While youre here, you might also be interested in this list of Carnival Cruise Ships by Size.
Carnival Freedom Year Built & Renovated
In 2019, the Carnival Freedom was fully renovated with FunShip 2.0 upgrades. It now includes Cherry on Top, Bonsai Sushi, mini golf, and a new waterpark featuring, Waterworks.
In March of 2019 the Freedom received a FunShip 2.0 upgrade, complete with the following features: RedFrog Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, DJ IRIE, Punchliner’s Comedy Club, Hasbro Game, EA Sports Bar, Library Bar, Taste Bar, & Carnival Steakhouse. Additionally, the following was added to the Freedom Bonsai Sushi Cherry On Top Seafood Shack Waterworks Water Park.
- Ship Length: 952 feet
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Carnival Cruise Ships On Order
Carnival Cruise Line currently has one cruise ship on order, Carnival Jubilee.
Jubilee is the third Excel-class cruise ship with an identical design to her sister ships and Carnival Celebration
Carnival will also be accepting delivery of three cruise ships that formerly sailed under Costa Cruises. The three vessels will undergo extensive renovations before the cruise line takes ownership.
P& o Cruises Australia Age Policy
Minimum age to cruise with P& O Cruises Australia: For Australian domestic and New Zealand domestic cruises with P& O Cruises, guests must be at least 6 months old to cruise. For all other itineraries, infants must be 12 months old to sail.
Rules for cruising alone on P& O Cruises Australia: At least one passenger in every cabin should be 18 years or older. Children traveling with their parents may stay in a separate or interconnecting cabin, but at least one child in the cabin must be at least 16 years old.
The exception to this rule is that from Nov. 1 through Jan. 7, the minimum age to cruise on your own jumps to 19, and every cabin should have at least one passenger who is 19 or older. In addition, from Jan. 8 to 31, the age minimum goes back to 18, but there’s a limit on the number of 18-year-olds who can travel on their own. When the limit is reached, all added passengers under age 19 will need to share a cabin with someone 19 years old or older.
Minimum age to leave a P& O Australia ship on your own: Minimum age requirements on shore excursions may vary depending on the activity involved , but in general, guests must be 18 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own.
Kids under 18 years old are allowed to join shore excursions on their own provided their parent or guardian submits written consent to the Shore Tours Manager/Operator once onboard. Consent is given on a case-by-case basis by the shore excursion manager.
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Marella Cruises Age Policy
Minimum age to cruise with Marella Cruises: Babies must be at least 6 months old to sail with almost all . However, Marella Explorer 2 is exclusively for adults aged 18 and older.
Rules for cruising alone on Marella: Passengers must be 18 years old to travel on their own. Families are encouraged to book cabins next to or opposite one another. Children aged 13 or under need to share a cabin with an adult.
Minimum age to leave a Marella ship on your own: Passengers must be 18 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own. The exception is designated teen tours that are being led by trained youth staff.
Passengers must be 18 or older to use the casino or bars, and 16 or older to use the spa and gym unaccompanied by an older adult. Children must be toilet trained to use the swimming pools. Guests aged from 13 to 18 years old can use the whirlpool baths if they are accompanied by an adult.
List Of Carnival Cruise Ships Newest To Oldest
The very first Carnival cruise ship was the , she wasnt built for the cruise line but was the first ship for the newly formed Ted Arison Carnival Cruise Line at the time. The ship started sailing for Carnival in 1972 and ever since the Fun Ships have kept coming! was over 27,200 gross tons which is a huge difference from the new Excel-class vessels.
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Carnival Magic Year Built & Renovated
In 2016, new features added during the Carnival Magic renovation include Guys Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar, The Library Bar, Red Frog Rum Bar, and The Punchliner Comedy Club. The ship will be going into dry-dock again in March, 2021.
In March of 2016 the Magic received a FunShip 2.0 upgrade, complete with the following features: RedFrog Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, DJ IRIE, Punchliner’s Comedy Club, Hasbro Game, EA Sports Bar, Library Bar, Taste Bar, & Carnival Steakhouse. Additionally, the following was added to the Magic Cucina del Capitano Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ Pizzeria del Capitano SeaDogs Hot Dogs.
- Ship Length: 1,004 feet
New Deals Just Released
Carnival should also build a 4th Excel-Class ship for Long Beach to replace the Carnival Miracle, on Hawaiian and Mexican Riviera Cruises. The Miracle is even smaller than the Radiance but is used on LONGER Cruises. I know Long Beach has the Panorama, but that ship doesnt go to Hawaii. And The Radiance REPLACED Inspiration and Imagination, but I really do think that Long Beach should have ANOTHER Excel-Class cruise ship to replace the Miracle. And Id imagine if that were to happen, then the Ship could also be relocated to Alaska in the future for some seasonal cruises, and due to it likely being the LARGEST cruise ship on the west coast, it would even DWARF Norwegian Bliss and Joy by Gross Tonnage, which is ALREADY the largest cruise ships in the west coast, and sail on the same itineraries, but WHAT IF Carnival joins the competition of THE LARGEST Cruise Ship, and THE FIRST LNG POWERED Cruise Ship in the Pacific West Coast?
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Carnival Sensation Year Built & Renovated
In 2017, new features added during the Carnival Sensation renovation include Guys Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar, and Cherry On Top Ice Cream Shop, and Red Frog Rum Bar. The ship will be going into dry-dock again in January, 2020.
In February of 2017 the Sensation received a FunShip 2.0 upgrade, complete with the following features: RedFrog Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, DJ IRIE, Punchliner’s Comedy Club, Hasbro Game, EA Sports Bar, Library Bar, Taste Bar, & Carnival Steakhouse. Additionally, the following was added to the Sensation Camp Carnival Cherry On Top Waterworks Water Park.
- Ship Length: 855 feet
Age Restrictions On Board
Drinking Alcoholic Beverages / Tobacco Products:
- Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required.
- In keeping with U.S. federal law, the age for the sale of tobacco products is 21. This policy is for U.S.-based itineraries/ships only.
Casino and Bingo:
- Guests must be 18 years of age or older to play the tables and the slot machines.
- Guests under 18 years of age are not permitted in the casino.
- Guests must be 18 years of age to purchase a bingo card and play.
Serenity Adult-Only Retreat:
- Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be in the “Serenity” adults-only area.
Spa Carnival and Cloud 9 Spa:
- Fitness Center and Studio: Guests must be at least 18 years of age to use the fitness facilities on their own. Minor guests may use the facilities provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian .
- Salon: Salon services are available to guests of all ages.
- Spa Facilities: Guests must be at least 18 years of age to receive treatments or utilize spa facilities, including the sauna and steam rooms as well as use of the Thermal Suite and Thalassotherapy Pool at the Cloud 9 Spas.
- ZSPA: Teens must be accompanied by an adult when they book treatments on board. Parents or a guardian must complete and sign the spa’s consultation form acknowledging their consent before services are rendered.
Lounges, Shows and the Dance Club:
Shore Excursions:
Getting Off the Ship in Port:
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Carnival Paradise Year Built & Renovated
In 2018, new features added during the Carnival Paradise renovation include Guys Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Waterworks, and Cherry On Top Ice Cream Shop. Improvements were made to all cruise cabins during this retrofit.
In March of 2018 the Paradise received a FunShip 2.0 upgrade, complete with the following features: RedFrog Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, DJ IRIE, Punchliner’s Comedy Club, Hasbro Game, EA Sports Bar, Library Bar, Taste Bar, & Carnival Steakhouse. Additionally, the following was added to the Paradise Camp Ocean Cherry On Top Waterworks Water Park.
- Ship Length: 855 feet
Carnival Spirit Year Built & Renovated
In 2018, the following was added during the retrofit to the Carnival Spirit: The Warehouse Arcade Soul Play Studio. Improvements were made to other common areas including the art studio, shops, and photo gallery.
In May of 2018 the Spirit received a FunShip 2.0 upgrade, complete with the following features: RedFrog Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, DJ IRIE, Punchliner’s Comedy Club, Hasbro Game, EA Sports Bar, Library Bar, Taste Bar, & Carnival Steakhouse. Additionally, the following was added to the Spirit Bonsai Sushi Cherry On Top SoulPlay Kids Club Waterworks Water Park.
- Ship Length: 963 feet
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Carnival Ship Facts And Figures
And if thats not enough we have put together some lists of facts and dining options on each Carnival Ship to help you choose your next cruise vacation. We have including how many restaurant are free and how many speciality dining options there are on each Carnival ship. We didnt include ice cream bars, and breakfast and brunch offerings as felt this was part of a particular dining room offering. However did add the Green Eggs and Ham breakfast, and steak upgrade at dinner as this is an extra cost on top of free Carnival Cruise Dining.
What Will Be The Next Carnival Cruise Ship To Launch
The next Carnival cruise ship to launch will be Carnival Jubilee. A sister ship to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the new Carnival Jubilee is set to make her maiden voyage on October 30, 2022.
Carnival Jubilees maiden voyage will be a 17-night transatlantic sailing from Southampton, UK to Galveston, Texas. The ship will be based out of Galveston and offer 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries.
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Carnival Sunshine Year Built & Renovated
In 2013, the Carnival Destiny was renovated and its name changed to the Carnival Sunshine. In 2016, new features added during the Carnival Sunshine renovation include Guys Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar, The Library Bar, Red Frog Rum Bar, The Punchliner Comedy Club, Bonsai Sushi, Pizzeria del Capitano, Havana Bar, Ji Ji Kitchen, JavaBlue Cafe, Shake Spot and SeaDogs. The full renovation cost Carnival $155 Million.
In May of 2016 the Sunshine received a FunShip 2.0 upgrade, complete with the following features: RedFrog Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, DJ IRIE, Punchliner’s Comedy Club, Hasbro Game, EA Sports Bar, Library Bar, Taste Bar, & Carnival Steakhouse. Additionally, the following was added to the Sunshine Bonsai Sushi Cucina del Capitano Havana Bar JavaBlue Cafe Ji Ji Kitchen Pizzeria del Capitano SeaDogs Hot Dogs Shake Spot.
- Ship Length: 893 feet
Celebrity Cruises Age Policy
Minimum age to cruise with Celebrity Cruises: Babies must be at least 6 months old by the first day of the cruise or cruisetour on Celebrity Cruises. The exceptions are select South America cruises, ocean crossings, Hawaii and any sailing with three or more consecutive sea days, where the minimum age is 12 months.
Rules for cruising alone on Celebrity: When sailing from North America, passengers must be 21 years old as of embarkation day to travel on their own. When sailing from Europe, Asia, South America, New Zealand or Australia, the minimum age to sail on your own is 18. Anyone younger than 18 years of age must share a cabin with at least one cabin mate who is 21+ unless the couple is married.
Travelers who do not meet the minimum age requirements must travel with another adult who does, except for children staying in connecting staterooms with their parents or guardians. Exceptions are also made for legally married couples, who must show proof of marriage, and active-duty members of the U.S. or Canadian military, who must show proof of their active-duty status.
Minors do not have to be in the same cabin as their parents or guardians but must be in an adjoining cabin or in one that is directly across the hall. If adults wish to bring non-related kids onboard and have them stay in a separate cabin with no adult present, the total number of non-family members must be equal to or less than the number of the adults’ own children.
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