The 8 Best Carnival Cruise Ships Of 2021
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Runner-Up, Best Overall: Carnival Vista
“Has a large amount of repeat Carnival cruisers and offers nonstop action onboard.”
Best New Ship: Carnival Sunrise
“Every cabin on Sunrise is remodeled with fresh new furnishings, and dining and beverage additions.”
Best Accommodations: Carnival Horizon
“Accommodations include the Family Harbor, dedicated family staterooms with their own lounge and concierge, and the Cloud 9 spa staterooms.”
Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway
This class of ship has four vessels. The newest of them is Norwegian Encore, followed by its sister ships, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Escape.
One of our favorite features of this class of ship is the Waterfront. This mid-level promenade deck features a variety of restaurants, bars and lounges, and other amenities including shopping and entertainment venues. Among some of the newer additions to this area is the specialty restaurant turned country music venue Q Texas Smokehouse. This area also features many of the other restaurants, such as the lines signature steak house Cagneys.
There is also the Princess favorite, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. One of the best parts of the Waterfront is that most venues include both indoor and outdoor areas.
The Breakaway-Plus class of ships has some of the most thrilling attractions at sea. Among them are go-kart courses, state of the art laser tag, ropes courses, as well as some of the fastest waterslides. Some of these ships also feature Spice H20, an adults only area with water features, a bar, and private space for those that are 18+.
On Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, there is the Galaxy Pavilion too. This digitally enhanced area is home to interactive attractions, ride simulators, and games that everyone in the family will enjoy.
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Additional Carnival Cruise Line Ships
The Dream-class is the next largest class of ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. These three ships feature many of the same bars, restaurants, and amenities that Carnival cruisers love. The variety of onboard offerings make these ships highly appealing to families as well.
Further, Carnival Radiance , has undergone an extensive $200 million refurbishment. Carnival Radiance will now debut in Spring of 2021 from Long Beach, California. This new ship will sail 3 and 4-day cruises to Baja Mexico visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada.
Among Carnival Radiances many offerings will be the first-ever Big Chicken at sea restaurant, created by the lines Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille ONeal.
Lets not forget the brand new Carnival Mardi Gras that is also set to debut in 2021. This first ship in the new Excel-class will feature some of the latest and greatest onboard attractions and restaurants.
This ship will be home to the new Emerils Bistro 1396, in partnership with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. Carnival Mardi Gras will also debut the first rollercoaster at sea, as well as the new and improved RedFrog Tiki Bar, a two-story poolside watering hole.
Evaluating Carnival Cruise Line
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Other Norwegian Cabins That Sleep 4 Or More
Most, but not all, of Norwegian Cruise Lines suites can sleep four or more, even if theyre not targeted at families. The Three-Bedroom Garden Villa, for example, would make an incredible family retreat with its multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, huge living area, and private sun deck with hot tub, lounge seating, and outdoor dining table.
Select standard cabins can accommodate families of four as well. Connecting rooms across categories allow for a roomier home-away-from-home, and curtail any fights about closet space and control of the limited bathroom shelves.
How Do You Choose The Best Disney Cruise Ship For Your Family What Is Important To You When Planning The Best Magical Vacation At Sea
I was invited to attend the 2018 Disney Social Media Moms Conference in exchange for this Best Disney Cruise Ship post. All magical opinions are my own. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians via Facebook, , , and for more family travel tips, delicious recipes, and kid crafts.
Love Disney cruise tips? Here are a few of the most popular ones at Raising Whasians:
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Cruise Itineraries For Family Cruising
When looking to book a cruise the cruise itinerary and destination is also important for families wishing to cruise. At certain times of the year cruise itineraries will be more catered to families such as school holidays or christmas with planners packed with activities.
Some destinations are better suited for families such as the Caribbeans beaches or destinations such as Norway for children. Perhaps flying is not your thing? You could always take a cruise from Southampton?. Cut out the hassle of the airports and go straight into holiday mode by boarding a ship. There are many cruise itineraries which sail out of Southampton where you can start your holiday the minute you board.
Additional Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
If you are concerned about the size of these massive vessels, the Freedom-class of ships offer many of the same restaurants, bars, and nightlife as its bigger sisters but are 40% smaller.
These vessels can also offer more unique itineraries, as they can dock at smaller ports. There are three ships in this class, including the newly amplified Freedom of the Seas. This ship has been enhanced with new dining and onboard activities.
For shorter cruises, the cruise line offers 3 and 4-night cruises on two recently amplified ships, Navigator of the Seas and . These vessels are perfect for a quick weekend getaway cruise. All cruises on both ships visit Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.
Finally, Royal Caribbeans Quantum-class ships are also ideal for a family cruise vacation, possibly in a cold weather destination. These ships feature an abundance of one of a kind attractions to keep cruisers of all ages entertained. The Seaplex is home to bumper cars and roller skating, as well as gaming areas. There is also the high-flying North Star and the skydiving simulator, RipCord by iFLY.
In addition to the main theater, Quantum-class ships are also home to the dynamic Two70. This entertainment venue includes original production shows enhanced with digital screens and robotics. This class of ships also contains the Music Hall, with tribute bands and live performances most nights of the cruise.
Odyssey of the Seas will be the first Quantum Ultra-class ship when she debuts in 2021.
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Best Disney Family Cabins And Suites
You could say that any cabin on a Disney cruise ship is perfect for a family, but the Deluxe Family Ocean View Staterooms, with or without balconies or Concierge-level amenities, are the best for families of five.
These cabins are slightly larger than regular outside and balcony cabins and have a single sofa bed, pull-down bunk bed, and wall pull-down bed in addition to the master bed. A curtain divides the room to give privacy.
In addition, all of Disneys Concierge-level suites sleep 5 to 7 guests. Theyre ideal for families who want to spread out, with large balconies, expansive living rooms with dining areas, separate master bedrooms, and at least two full bathrooms.
Concierge services help busy families plan an amazing vacation, and the concierge lounge and sun deck give parents a quiet place to reconnect and enjoy a drink while the kids live it up in the Oceaneer Club and Lab or the Edge and Vine tween and teen clubs.
What Is The Best Cruise Cabins For Families
We are experienced cruisers, mainly as a couple but we took Baby E as soon as she hit Royal Caribbeans 6 month minimum age limit you can read all our tips for cruising with a baby here and we have carried on cruising even now that we have a toddler! Now we all know that the different stages of childhood present different challenges which can be difficult when looking into what type of cruise cabin to book for your family. So how do you know what is the best cruise cabin for families? We are lucky enough to have experienced all of the types of cabins listed below on a variety of lines! In this guide we round all of the types of cabins and give top tips for each to help you pick the best cruise cabin for your family!
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Brand New Ships For An Even Greater Experience
As the delays the cruising industry has suffered due to the Pandemic can eventually be put behind us, the cruising industry will get back on its feet again.
We wait with anticipation and great excitement to see the ships that have undergone renovation in dry dock or new cruise ship that are waiting to launch ready for the 2022 season and beyond. What can we expect? Check out list of the ships that are coming soon to brighten our landscape and offer us more the type of vacations and cruising holidays that we love so much.
Meet the Author
Mattias has nearly 2 decades of travel industry expertise, working with tour operators, airlines, IT providers, hospitality suppliers, cruise lines and everything else in between that makes the travel industry tick. more..
The Best Alaska Cruises For Families
Nothing is as easy as finding cruise vacations that suit the needs of your family. Even so, you can never go wrong with an Alaskan cruise. Taking a family cruise to the state is something that youve undoubtedly considered.
Alaska is breathtakingly beautiful but also radiates the calmness of nature, which your whole family will love.
If youre planning a leisurely cruise to Alaska, here are 13 of the best cruises to consider.
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Best Carnival Family Cabins And Suites
The best cruise ship cabins for families on Carnival Cruise Line are its Family Harbor suites and staterooms, found on its newest ships.
Family Harbor cabins come in a variety of categories and sizes, from inside to suite. Most of the cabins can sleep four, though some only sleep two or three .
Family Harbor Deluxe Ocean View cabins sleep five and have a full bathroom plus a washroom with sink and tub. Family Harbor Suites also sleep five and offer the split bathroom set-up, plus a walk-in closet and extra-large living area.
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These Carnival cruise family rooms are tops for families because of their access to the Family Harbor Lounge and its perks. The lounge, located smack in the middle of all the Family Harbor cabins, is the place to go to play board and video games, check your email, get assistance from a concierge, and grab complimentary breakfast, snacks, and drinks. Family Harbor perks include free kids meals in specialty restaurants and a free evening of Night Owls group babysitting.
The older ships in Carnivals fleet do not offer Family Harbor cabins, but some such as Dream-class ships Carnival Dream, Magic, and Breeze feature Deluxe or Family Ocean View cabins. These rooms, like their Family Harbor counterparts, can accommodate a family of five with two twins, two pull-down bunk beds, and a single sofa bed.
Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Vista
- Number of guests: 3934
- Year: 2015
Carnival is one of the largest cruise companies in the world and is soon celebrating its 50th birthday. With a long history of being synonymous with fun, Carnival Vista offers all the family fun you could wish for on a vacation.
With playgrounds for all ages, this fun ship boasts a sky ride, a suspended pedal bike track early 50 metres above the ocean. In fact there are numerous colorful activities on board take the Imax theatre for example that keep Carnival attracting families with children coming back for more.
Family Harbour a family zone offering various room configuraions where up to 5 can stay in each cabin. Carnival are one of cruise lines which really caters to large families. With it comes access to the family lounge with movies, popcorn, self-serve icecream machines and more.
What we love about Carnival Vista is the endless choices of food venues, you will soon see that this really is a cruise ship for families and kids who may be fussy eaters. There is something for you all on board, including you adults with fantastic piano bars, comedy clubs and even an on board brewery.
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Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Encore
- Number of guests: 3998
- Year: 2019
Norwegian Encore is our favorite in the Breakaway Plus class of ships and is the sister ship to Joy and Bliss. If you find an itinerary to your dream destination, and you are lucky enough to be on one of these ships, then you will not be disappointed. These cruise ships are spectacular, and true works of arts.
Disney Fantasy And Dream Suite
Catering to the family cruise market is what Disney does best, and its cabin options reflect this commitmentsee the bath and a half inside most all staterooms. Additionally, more than 70 percent of staterooms on both the Dream and Fantasy feature outdoor verandahs and of those that dont, nearly all offer ocean views, some using the Magical Porthole. This piece of Disney innovation gives little kids and their favorite mouse-eared grown-ups a glimpse at the outside world with the appearance of a porthole in which youll see animated characters popping up to say hello!
With 500 connecting doors and connected verandah cabins, families can choose multiple rooms and still be together, or opt for one of the 21 suites on decks 11 and 12. These well-appointed upscale family cabins each have two bathrooms, one of which has a whirlpool bathtub and a TV built into the mirror for mom and dad to properly unwind after a blissfully exhausting day of doing everything or absolutely nothing. Kids may not appreciate the marble finishing, thread counts, or the finer touches of a Disney suite, but we guarantee theyll find the walk-in closets a fun play area and enjoy the 42-inch HD flat screen TV and Blu-ray player, as well as the Wave Phones to communicate with each other inside and out of the cabin. These suites are truly the most magical cabins at sea.
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Best Cruise Ship Cabins For Your Family
Cruise ship cabins look so cute and cozy for a couple. What happens when you put a family of four all in one room on a cruise ship?
First off, not all cabins can sleep that many people. Pick a room thats too small even if it has enough bunks and sofa beds for everyone — and youll be tripping all over each other, making a mess of the limited floor space, and fighting over who showers first.
Choose the right cabin or combination of connecting rooms, and youll be luxuriating in separate bedrooms and roomy balconies. You might score a room close to the kids club or a family suite with extra perks that make it easier for parents to navigate traveling with children.
Whether youre looking for cruise ships with two-bedroom suites or any cabin that accommodate a family of six, here are the best cruise ship cabins for your family on five big-ship cruise lines.
Disney Magical Moments For The Whole Family On A Disney Cruise
With Disney theres something fun to do every day on a Disney Cruise ship. The itinerary has a touch of disney magic wherever you sail. Disney are known for Deck Parties and themed days such as legendary saga in Star Wars Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea.
Disney cruise ships have Splashtacular pools, fun slides and splash zones for little ones. There theatre shows are magical and of broadway standard meaning the whole family can sit back and enjoy the magic of Disney.
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Are P& o The Best Cruises For Families
P& O offer families lots of choice when it comes to sailing from Southampton they pride themselves on entertainment. They offer Laid-back days ashore which are excursions aimed at families and stress free meals for children. Their drinks on board are cheaper than most other cruise lines too. P& O Cruises is one of the cheapest family-friendly cruise lines. Occasionally they have a kids can sail for as little as £1!
P& Os newest ship is
- The P& O Iona
Best Cruise Lines For Families
From kid-friendly ships and shows to family-favorite experiences and shore excursions, these are the best family cruises and cruise ships.
When Disney Cruise Line launched in 1998, it was a game changer for family cruises. Now in its third decade of operation, Disney Cruise Line consistently tops the list of best cruise lines for families. And with a new ship launching in 2022, parents and kids alike are already buzzing with anticipation for what will undoubtably be one of the best cruise ships for kids in years.
Of course, the best family cruises arent limited to just Disney. Carnival Cruises, Princess, Norwegian, MSC, and a host of other cruise lines have helped usher in a new era of family vacations on cruise ships with amenities like kids clubs, waterslides, age-appropriate stage shows, dining experiences, reduced fares for young children, andperhaps best of allkids sail free deals.
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All Aboard: Nine Cruise Lines To Suit The Whole Family
Rebecca Barnes
Friday May 14 2021, 20:00pm
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