Carnival Cruise Line’s ship Carnival Spirit has emerged from a month-long dry dock. The renovations brought several upgrades and enhancements to the ship, including a new bar, mini golf course, and more.

Guests who embarked the vessel in Barcelona this past weekend are the first to experience the updates. Carnival Spirit is now sailing the first of two one-way back-to-back cruises, first crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Miami and then sailing through the Panama Canal to Seattle as the ship spends the summer in Alaska.

The ship has returned to service with a new Heroes Tribute Bar, which serves as a gathering place for active-duty military and veterans that sail with Carnival. The bar is now featured on 14 Carnival ships.

The ship’s Cloud 9 Spa, Fitness Center, and retail shops were refreshed, including a new Carnival Adventures Shop and a Dream Studio. A dedicated space for Chef’s Table was added, as well as a new mini golf course. The casino was updated with a new look, layout, and added gaming machines. The nightclub and youth program spaces were also refreshed.

Carnival Spirit will arrive in Miami on March 30th, then embark on a special 15-day cruise through the Panama Canal to Seattle — arriving there on April 14th. The vessel will then begin a schedule of seven-night Alaska cruises.

In September, Carnival Spirit will set off on a 15-day Carnival Journeys cruise from Seattle to Hawaii, then operate a one-way voyage from Seattle to New Orleans in October. The ship will then return to her seasonal homeport of Mobile, Alabama for the winter.

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The countdown is officially on for the opening of Carnival Cruise Line’s brand-new private destination in the Bahamas, Celebration Key. To kick off the countdown, Carnival Corporation’s CEO Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen joined Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy for a behind the scenes look at Celebration Key as construction enters its final phases.

In a nod to the maritime tradition of a keel laying for a new ship, they placed commemorative keys into Celebration Key’s signature Suncastle, the sandcastle-esque centerpiece of the sunny destination.

The Suncastle is 10 stories tall, standing near the first portal guests encounter when they arrive at Celebration Key, called Paradise Plaza. The Suncastle is home to racing waterslides which are part of the family-focused portal, Starfish Lagoon. Other portals include the adult-focused portal Calypso Lagoon, a premium beach club called Pearl Cove, and an artisan retail village called Lokono Cove.

During their tour, the Carnival leaders joined team members planting palm trees from the “Plant a Tree” community engagement program that launched last year as part of a broad preservation initiative. It has involved replanting of thousands of native trees across the property. About 1,000 sabal palms were saved and replanted across Celebration Key.

Duffy also participated in the ceremonial filling of one of two expansive freshwater lagoons that will be sustained by Celebration Key’s desalination system that converts seawater into freshwater. The lagoons span over seven acres and hold about seven million gallons of water.

“Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with The Bahamas, so seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible,” said Duffy. “We broke ground on this site less than three years ago, and now in five short months we’ll see our first guests enjoy the many experiences we created just for them to celebrate and enjoy this gorgeous place on Grand Bahama.”

About 500 workers are on site daily as construction continues to prepare Celebration Key for its summer opening. To date, 28 Bahamian companies have contributed to the project. Carnival Vista is slated to be the first ship to stop there on July 19th.

“This destination will serve as a tribute to the rich Bahamian culture and Grand Bahama’s natural environment,” said Weinstein. “It’s clear Celebration Key will be a game-changer for our flagship brand and its loyal guests, with endless options for relaxation and recreation, but it’s also truly great to see firsthand how we’re implementing our company’s robust sustainability initiatives on land.”

Celebration Key is a featured destination on hundreds of Carnival itineraries across 20 ships sailing from 10 U.S. homeports into 2027. It’s the first destination that’s exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line ships. Half Moon Cay, another private destination in the Bahamas, is shared between Carnival and her sister brand Holland America Line.

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Carnival Cruise Line has officially kicked off its new year-round season of sailings from Norfolk, Virginia.

The line’s ship Carnival Sunshine set sail from the east coast port today, transforming Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center from a seasonal cruise port to a permanent cruise hub. The port will welcome about 150,000 cruise guests annually — the highest volume in the city’s history.

Ahead of Sunshine‘s embarkation this morning, Carnival Cruise Line Vice President of Port Operations David Candib welcomed local officials, including Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander and Nauticus Executive Director Stephen Kirkland, to celebrate a new chapter for the homeport.

“Carnival’s 23-year partnership with the City of Norfolk and Nauticus has been a great success, and we’re honored to build on our relationship by making Norfolk the newest year-round cruise port on the east coast,” said Candib. “Year-round cruises mean more options for fun adventures and unforgettable vacations for our loyal guests as well as more tourism and economic impact for the Norfolk community both before and after each cruise.”

The City of Norfolk made a $12 million investment in infrastructure upgrades, enhancing both capacity and the overall guest experience. Highlights include a debarkation ramp to allow a seamless transition from the second floor to the first into the CBP Federal inspection area and luggage hall, a new seating area to accommodate more guests that will be completed this fall, and other enhancements across the terminal.

“Norfolk’s maritime legacy enters an exciting new chapter with year-round cruising,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander. “This expansion strengthens our economy, brings more visitors and creates new opportunities for our community. We’re proud to partner with Carnival and look forward to a thriving future together.”

Carnival Sunshine‘s first cruise from Norfolk coincides with its return to service following a month-long routine dry dock. The dry dock included technical maintenance along with updates to public areas and staterooms.

The ship is now on a six-day Bahamas cruise with planned stops in Freeport and Bimini, Bahamas. As part of her year-round deployment from Norfolk, Carnival Sunshine will visit popular destinations in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the eastern Caribbean.

Starting this September, Carnival Sunshine will sail to the new exclusive destination for Carnival Cruise Line on Grand Bahama, Celebration Key.

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After decades of sharing a private island (Half Moon Cay) with sister brand Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line finally has a private destination to call its own. Carnival’s Celebration Key is an exclusive port in the Bahamas that allows guests to enjoy a beach or pool day filled with fun — from water slides and games to delicious food and drinks.

If you’re looking for an overview of what you need to know about Celebration Key, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our full guide to Celebration Key, Bahamas.

Guide to Celebration Key Bahamas

What is Carnival’s Celebration Key?

Celebration Key is an upcoming private port for Carnival Cruise Line, located in the Bahamas. It can be found on the southern coast of Grand Bahama, about a 23-mile (40 minute) drive from the Freeport Cruise Port on the western side of the island.

Construction on Celebration Key officially broke ground in spring 2022, and design and construction has been underway since. The first cruise ship scheduled to visit the beach destination is Carnival Vista on July 12th during an eight-night southern Caribbean cruise.

Celebration Key will feature its own cruise pier, able to accommodate up to two of Carnival’s largest Excel-class vessels simultaneously. The destination will be split into five areas that Carnival calls “portals.” They are the Paradise Plaza welcome area, the family-focused Starfish Lagoon, the adult-centered Calypso Lagoon, the Locono Cove shopping area, and the adults-only private beach club, Pearl Cove. Starfish Lagoon will feature the largest freshwater lagoon in all of the Caribbean.

Getting to Celebration Key Bahamas

Carnival’s Celebration Key will be exclusively for Carnival cruise ships. This means that you cannot visit the destination unless you’re on a Carnival cruise. Most sailings that include a call at Celebration Key will originate in Florida, including voyages from Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, and Tampa. However, other homeports will also offer cruises to Celebration Key such as Mobile, Alabama; Galveston, Texas; and Baltimore, Maryland; among others.

The majority of the ships in Carnival’s fleet will sail to Celebration Key over the next couple of years. These include the line’s three newest and largest ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee, which offer mostly six to eight-night sailings. Shorter Bahamas and Caribbean cruises on ships like Carnival Sunrise, Horizon, Freedom, and Vista will also visit Celebration Key.

What’s Free at Celebration Key?

A number of included activities, amenities, and entertainment will be available for visitors to enjoy at Celebration Key. As guests arrive to the destination, they’ll be greeted by live music and a fountain at Paradise Plaza.

Starfish Lagoon is filled with fun for the whole family. The focal point of the entire destination is located here: the towering Suncastle, constructed to look like a sandcastle. This structure will house dual racing waterslides, which are 350-foot-long, 10-story attractions called Flash Flamingo and Mach III Marlin. The Starfish Lagoon portal is also where you’ll find a lagoon swimming pool, the family-friendly beach, and the Guppy Grotto splash pad with fun water features for the littlest visitors. A gaming pavilion also offers activities like ping-pong, foosball, and cornhole.

Calypso Lagoon will be the more adult-friendly portal, though it’s not limited to just adults like the exclusive Pearl Cove Beach Club is (more on that below). This area is located on the other half of the lagoon-style pool, offering a more laid-back atmosphere complete with DJ-spun music. This portal also offers access to the beach.

Competitive guests might want to play a few games at the pickleball, basketball, or volleyball courts, which are accessible from both the Starfish and Calypso Lagoon areas.

Food at Carnival’s Celebration Key

Island Eats

Instead of offering a full picnic-style buffet for free to guests like many private cruise destinations, Celebration Key will operate a bit differently. The destination will feature a number of both sit-down and casual walk-up dining venues that are an extra fee. Each guest will receive a dining credit called Island Eats. This entitles passengers to a complimentary meal at one of the quick casual venues, or a 25 percent discount on one entree from the full-service restaurants (excluding the Pearl Cove restaurant).

However, if you’re still looking for a buffet-style restaurant, there is one at Celebration Key that you can use your Island Eats credit for — Captain’s Galley Food Hall. Located in the Starfish Lagoon portal, the food hall will serve subs, burritos, hot dogs, pizza, burgers, salads, Mediterranean bowls, desserts, and more.

Between dining venues and bars, there will be over 30 options to choose from at Celebration Key.

Casual Venues

There will be a number of casual dining options at Celebration Key in addition to the aforementioned food hall, including food trucks and carts, snack shacks, and the fast-casual venue Mingo’s Express.

Calypso Lagoon, Starfish Lagoon, and Lokono Cove will all have food carts. Paradise Plaza will feature an ice cream shop called Yumshine Scoops.

Snack shacks can be found in both Calypso Lagoon and Starfish Lagoon, serving things like wraps, sandwiches, salads, and other grab-and-go items. Those two portals have their own food truck plazas too, offering beachside classics like burgers and chicken sandwiches as well as local Bahamian dishes like conch fritters.

Mingo’s Express, located at Calypso Lagoon, will offer hamburgers, salad, fish sandwiches, and Caribbean specialties.

Full-Service Restaurants

Celebration Key will be home to four full-service restaurants for visitors to enjoy as well.

Located in Calypso Lagoon are two sit-down restaurants: Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen and Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews. Named for the Bahamas’ national bird, Mingo’s will serve up island favorites like jerk chicken and coconut shrimp, as well as classics including tacos and burgers. Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews is exactly as it sounds — a barbecue joint. Complete with an outdoor smoker, guests can enjoy slow-cooked meats alongside sides and sauces right next to the lagoon. Bonus: guests will also be able to grab a craft beer from a local brewery at the venue’s full-service bar.

The family-friendly Starfish Lagoon will be home to Gill’s Grill, a full-service restaurant pairing land and sea with dishes like seafood baskets, steamed crab, shrimp, lobster, local fish, chicken, and burgers.

The Pearl Cove Beach Club has its own full-service venue too, aptly named Pearl Cove Beach Club Restaurant & Bar. The space will include a restaurant with an elevated menu, bar, and lounge area. It will serve dishes such as lobster, shrimp, fresh sushi, and salads.

Drinks at Celebration Key

A number of bars will be dotted around Celebration Key, ensuring that guests will never be far from a tropical cocktail or ice-cold beer. But before we get to that, we first have to talk about coffee. Many visitors will want to start their island day with a burst of energy from Suncastle Grounds Coffee, located in Locono Cove. It will serve up hot, iced, and frozen coffee beverages.

Now, onto Carnival’s Celebration Key bars. We don’t know exactly what drinks will be offered at each bar, as menus have not yet been revealed and the destination is not yet open.

Calypso Lagoon is home to three bars. Long Necks Bar in a swim-up bar in the lagoon with a whopping 100 seats. There, guests can enjoy a Bahamian cocktail, frozen drink, or beer amidst a fun atmosphere curated by an on-site DJ. Visitors may also want to swing on over to one of the 40 swings at the Sunshine Swings Bar. The last bar at Calypso Lagoon is the Lagoon Bar West.

Over at the Starfish Lagoon, guests will find Lagoon Bar West’s counterpart, Lagoon Bar East. Starfish Lagoon is also home to Parrotfish Swim Up Bar, which offers variety with both in-water and out-of-water seating. The AquaBana area will also have its own bar.

Over at the beach club is the Pearl Cove Beach Club swim-up bar, serving up its own tropical cocktails and other libations.

Remember that the full-service restaurants mentioned above include bars of their own, too.

As for standard non-alcoholic beverages that guests don’t have to pay extra for, Carnival has not revealed what will be offered at Celebration Key. However, you can expect that offerings will likely be similar to what you can find on other cruise line private islands such as ice water, lemonade, and iced tea.

Does Carnival’s Cheers drink package work at Celebration Key?

Unfortunately, Carnival’s beverage packages do not apply to the line’s private destinations, which include both Celebration Key and Carnival Corporation’s private island Half Moon Cay. So you’ll have to pay menu price for alcoholic and specialty beverages.

Things to Do at Celebration Key That Cost Extra

Shore Excursions

During a visit to Celebration Key, cruise passengers don’t have to stay in the port area. Whether exploring on their own or taking a Carnival shore excursion, guests have the option of seeing other parts of Grand Bahama Island. However, these explorations are not included in the cruise fare and will cost extra. Some of Carnival’s shore excursions available at Celebration Key include:

• ATV off-roading with visits to a garden and Taino Beach
• Pirate’s Cove ziplining and beach break
• Open-air tram city tour with a guided tour of Cooper’s Castle and a visit to the Port Lucaya Marketplace
• Jet-skiing along Millionaire’s Row and a visit to Taino Beach
• Open-air tram tour with a wine-and-paint class and visit to the Straw Market
• Disco Bus tour with rum and beer tasting along with a stop at the beach

Guests can also rent equipment for water activities within Celebration Key, including kayaks and paddleboards.

Shopping

Carnival’s Celebration Key will include a number of shops offering handmade craft items, duty-free items, jewelry, and other souvenirs. Locono Cove, the shopping portal, will also feature a Bahamian artisan market. There are also shopping opportunities on other parts of the island, and many shore excursions build in time for visitors to peruse local shops as well.

Cabana and Daybed Rentals

Cabanas

Standard cabanas will be available at several spots surrounding the lagoons as well as close to the kids’ splash pad. They can accommodate up to four guests and include armchairs, a couch, sun loungers, a cooler with chilled bottled water, and fruit and snacks upon arrival.

Over-the-lagoon cabanas, located on peninsulas over the lagoons, add a private sun shelf and ceiling fan. Large cabanas can also be found around the lagoons, accommodating groups of up to six. They include a few extras such as a dining table, soda, and lunch delivery.

AquaBanas are fun floating cabanas centered around a peninsula with its own bar at Starfish Lagoon. They offer seating for up to eight people around a table, with their feet in the water under a shady canopy.

Villas

Supervillas are the largest private cabanas at Celebration Key with the ability to accommodate up to 10 guests. They include the same things as the other cabanas, plus hammocks, swing chairs, dedicated sun shelves with water loungers, and a waterslide into the lagoon. There are two Supervillas at Calypso Lagoon, and two at Starfish Lagoon.

Four Beach Supervillas will also be available: two at the family-friendly beach and two at the adults-only beach.

Daybeds

For a slightly more premium experience at a lower cost, guests can also opt to reserve a daybed, many of which are located at both Calypso and Starfish Lagoons. The plush daybeds include pillows, a canopy for shade, and privacy curtains. Water daybeds include lounging for two on the sun shelf at Calypso Lagoon.

Pearl Cove Beach Club

If you’re looking for a more upscale and laid-back place to hang around the pool or beach, Pearl Cove Beach Club is the place to be. This exclusive portal is open only to adults 18 and older, and requires a fee for access.

The focal point of Pearl Cove is an 11,000 square-foot infinity pool complete with a sun shelf, premium loungers, and umbrellas. Villas and cabanas are available in the beach club for rent. Pearl Cove also has its own private end of the beach, which will offer food and drink service.

There will be three types of bookings available for access to Pearl Cove Beach Club. The first is basic beach club access, which includes a welcome drink of fruit or rum punch starting at $100 per person.

The second is open bar access, which consists of rum punch, draft domestic beer, house red and white wine, well drinks, frozen strawberry daiquiris, and piña coladas. This option includes up to 10 drinks and starts at $140 per person. The third option is all-inclusive access, which is the same as the open bar except it also includes lunch at the Pearl Cove full-service restaurant. This package also has a 10-drink limit, and starts at $180 per person.

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Carnival Cruise Line has announced four new Carnival Journeys Asia-Pacific sailings in 2026 and 2027. The voyages will take place aboard Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure. Guests who sail on the new cruises will visit ports across Japan, southeast Asia, and Australia — including seven that Carnival will be visiting for the first time. The announcement comes as Carnival is growing its presence in the Pacific with the integration of two P&O Australia ships into its fleet this coming March.

New Asia-Pacific Voyages on Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Luminosa in 2026:

• 14-day Tokyo to Singapore cruise: Departing October 9, 2026, this sailing features inaugural visits for Carnival to Hong Kong; Osaka (Kyoto) and Fukuoka (Hakata) in Japan; South Korea’s Seogwipo (Jeju); and Keelung (Taipei) in Taiwan. The ship will also visit Phy My (Ho Chi Minh) in Vietnam.
• 14-day journey from Singapore to Brisbane: Departing November 30, 2026, guests will visit Bali; Darwin, Cairns, and Airlie Beach, Australia.

Carnival Adventure in 2027:

• 14-day cruise from Sydney to Singapore: Departing January 27, 2027, guests will visit Airlie Beach and Darwin, Australia and Bali and Lombok, Indonesia.
• Nine-day Southeast Asia cruise, round-trip from Singapore: Departing February 27, 2027, this sailing features more first-time visits for Carnival Cruise Line, including Koh Samui and Laem Chabang (Bangkok) in Thailand, as well as Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The sailing also visits Phy My (Ho Chi Minh) in Vietnam.

“These new itineraries represent some of our most enchanting and diverse offerings in the Asia-Pacific region. With our expanded deployment in Australia, we’re able to offer our guests itineraries with more variety along with the Carnival experience they know and love – and this includes the rare experience of sailing with our ships as they mark inaugural visits to several ports and countries across the region,” said Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning for Carnival Cruise Line.

Sailings on Carnival Luminosa are booked through Carnival Cruise Line. Cruises on Carnival Adventure are currently booked through P&O Cruises Australia. They will be available on Carnival’s website starting in March.

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We recently sailed on Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship out of Galveston, Texas. During this Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Jubilee, we stayed in a balcony stateroom, our usual cruise cabin preference. How do these accommodations compare to other cruise lines? Well, we break down all the details with our Carnival Jubilee balcony room review.

Our Carnival Jubilee Balcony Room Review

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship offers a variety of room categories. When it comes to selecting your ideal cabin, you’ll need to consider several factors, like price and location.

After 80+ cruises, we have become accustomed to the standard features of balcony staterooms. Surprisingly though, a standard balcony room on Carnival Jubilee is considerably less expensive than the competition, Icon of the Seas for instance.

For our sailing, we were assigned a Deck 12 forward-located cabin, cabin 12235. This category 8D balcony is located on the starboard side of the ship forward of the forward bank of elevators. Still, it wasn’t too far of a walk to access the elevators and stairs.

The cabin location is only a few decks away from the Deck 16 Lido and a short walk or ride down to the hub of the ship on Decks 6-8.

Inside a Carnival Jubilee Balcony Room

Layout

According to the Carnival Cruise Line website, this Carnival Jubilee balcony room is 249 square feet– 205 square feet of interior space with a 44 square foot balcony.

Immediately upon entering the room, the bathroom was to the right and the closet was to the left. Continuing past the bathroom and closet, the desk was to the left and the loveseat was to the right.

The bed in our Carnival Jubilee balcony room was on the midship wall facing forward. The bed was positioned next to the balcony door, which is our preferred layout. The television was also located on the wall opposite from the bed, and there was a very small nightstand of sorts on each side of the bed.

Finally, there is the balcony, which felt roomier than balconies on some competitor cruise lines. The balcony had two upright chairs and a small table.

Overall, the cabin was on par with our expectations and very similar to Carnival Celebration which we sailed in 2022. While the finishes and décor of cabins on Carnival’s Excel Class ships are rather simplistic, they do feature more storage than similar mega-ships.

Bathroom

The bathroom in this Carnival Jubilee balcony room was pretty average sized for a cruise ship bathroom. Yet again, it is rather simplistic in terms of style and décor.

Opening the door, the stand-up shower was to our left and the toilet to the right, with the sink directly in front. There are a few shelves for storage off to one side; although, not much counter space. It always helps that we bring an over-the-door shoe organizer to store toiletries and other small items.

The square shower set-up offers a bit more space than the traditional cylinder-style shower. The innovative glass door makes it easier to get in and out as well. Further, the shower contains a shampoo and shower gel dispenser.

Closet

Across from the bathroom are the closets. The closet sizes seemed on par with other cruise lines, just more efficiently designed for extra storage. We liked the setup with a series of configurable shelves and clothes hangers in each closet. The safe is also located here, along with a few metal drawers for additional storage.

Main Cabin

Both the desk and loveseat are generously-sized. The desk had enough counter space to double as a work/charging area and a vanity area for getting ready. Above the desk off to one side are two shelves for storing electronics, bottles of water, or other accessories.

The desk also has three drawers for additional storage, along with the mini-fridge. Further, the desk is where you will find the majority of outlets in this cabin. There are 4 USB outlets and 3 power outlets.

The vanity area features a mirror and cushioned stool.

In terms of the sofa, it is plenty big for two adults to sit comfortably. It served a duel purpose as a makeshift office and a storage space for souvenirs, beach towels, and the like during our sailing on Carnival Jubilee. Although, the one drawback was that it doesn’t have any toss pillows.

The bed in this Carnival Jubilee balcony cabin is closer to the veranda with small shelves that serve as nightstands on each side of the bed. Luckily though, there are USB outlets near the bed, one on each side, which came in handy for charging phones overnight.

The bed provided adequate comfort during our trip. We had no issues falling asleep after our long days and nights on Carnival Jubilee.

Balcony

Lastly, there is the balcony which always provides a great spot for watching the ocean views. It also usually becomes our place to do some work in the afternoon.

Perhaps slightly deeper than some cruise ship balconies, this one on Carnival Jubilee is pretty typical. It features two upright chairs and a small table. Unlike some cruise lines though, the chairs do not have ottomans to go along with them.

Recap of Our Carnival Jubilee Balcony Room Review

Our Carnival Jubilee balcony room offered plenty of storage and all of the amenities you expect in a standard stateroom on a megaship. The room is outfitted with all the necessities even if it isn’t as elegantly appointed as cabins on other cruise lines.

These balcony cabins are an ideal mix of size and value when sailing on Carnival’s Excel Class ships. And compared to other newer megaships, the pricing makes them a great deal.

However, while this balcony room was functional during our week-long cruise, we think the staterooms on Carnival cruise ships lack personality overall. With light beechwood tones and nautical blue hues, there are minimal additional accents or thoughtfulness in the decor beyond that.

For cruisers looking for balcony rooms with more character and charm, the Havana Staterooms on Carnival Jubilee might be a good option to consider.

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For many, food and dining are synonymous with cruising. We agree, after all, our brand is EAT Sleep Cruise. Of course, the new Carnival Jubilee cruise ship is home to several diverse dining experiences. The ship has one of the best selections of casual dining at sea. There is also the main dining room with a rotational, three-course menu. But something unique, at least among mainstream cruise lines, is Carnival Kitchen.

We have been hesitant to try this up-charge experience in the past. But we gave one of the new classes a whirl on our last cruise. Find out if it is worth the money as we share everything you need to know about Carnival Kitchen.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Carnival Kitchen

What is Carnival Kitchen?

Carnival Kitchen is a unique offering that you will not find on the cruise line’s competitors. Essentially, Carnival Kitchen is a cooking class. However, it is so much more than simply watching the Food Network… even if we must admit that the Carnival Kitchen on Carnival Jubilee did resemble the set of a cooking show.

Carnival Kitchen is located on Deck 6 of Excel-class ships. This showcase kitchen features approximately 8 stands where cruisers and their families can learn brand-new skills and culinary techniques from one of the onboard chefs.

Each station is a complete kitchen with an oven and stovetop, along with a sink and counter space. Not to mention, all the utensils and gadgets needed to whip up whatever is on the menu for that day’s class are supplied.

With the glass walls looking out to the ship’s main walkway, onlookers can glimpse at what cruisers are cooking during a class. Honestly, it is hard not to stop for a minute when a class is in session.  

What Are the Carnival Kitchen Classes?

During our cruise, 17 classes were available, with only one class repeating twice. Besides Pasta Masters, which occurred on Day 2 and Day 7 of the cruise, all the other classes only happened once on a seven-night cruise from Galveston, TX.

Among the selections were the following:

• Pasta Masters (Day 2 & Day 7)
• Sushi 101 (Day 2)
• It’s an Ice Cream Kinda Day (Day 2)
• Cake Workshop (Day 3)
• Pit, Grill, and Smoke (Day 3)
• Tailgate Party (Day 3)
• An Elegant Affair – Spanish Dinner (Day 3)
• Pizza Master Class ( Day 4)
• El Fuego – A Latin Incident (Day 4)
• Morning Hustle (Day 5)
• Mission Masala Tiger (Day 5)
• Cupcake Academy (Day 6)
• An Elegant Affair – Italian Dinner (Day 6)
• Emeril’s Favorites (Day 7)
• Bake Shop & Pie Town (Day 7)
• Oriental Unknown (Day 7)

How Long Are the Classes?

The class length can vary depending on the topic. Many courses, such as the “Pit, Grill, and Smoke” or the “Cake Workshop”, are one hour long.

These short classes tend to focus on specific cooking or culinary techniques and tips. Some food is already pre-prepared, while cruisers learn about unique preparation methods or tricks to ensure the food tastes and looks great.

Other classes are more in-depth, running about an hour and a half to two hours, like the Elegant Affair dinner courses or Emeril’s Favorites (which is the class we participated in).

During these classes, cruisers get hands-on cooking instructions. Starting from scratch, the onboard chef takes cruisers step-by-step through all of the directions to create the dishes from raw ingredients to the final meal.

How Many Individuals Can Participate in a Class?

The classes in Carnival Kitchen are capacity-controlled. There are 8 stations in total. A family can occupy a station; although, each member of the family will be charged for the experience.

When is Carnival Kitchen Offered During a Cruise?

On our seven-night Carnival Jubilee cruise, Carnival Kitchen was offered six days. So, there were classes every day except cruise embarkation day. Yes, the classes occur on both sea days and port days.

However, what classes were available and the times did vary, with classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

On most sea days, there were 3-4 classes, with classes at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 6:00 PM (except for the first formal night). On port days, there was an 11:30 AM class and a 6:00 PM class.

Of course, the times and classes can vary depending on the sailing. But rest assured, there will be several Carnival Kitchen classes during your Carnival Jubilee cruise.  

Which Ships Have Carnival Kitchen?

Carnival Kitchen is a newer activity on Carnival Cruise Line ships, so it is not available on many vessels in the fleet. Currently, the experience is only available on four cruise ships.

The concept debuted on Carnival Panorama and has been a success since then. So, along with that ship, all three Excel-class ships also have this venue. Cruisers can find Carnival Kitchen on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

What Can You Make in Carnival Kitchen?

As mentioned above, various classes focus on appetizers, entrees, desserts, and snacks. The nighttime courses start at 6:00 PM and are the most comprehensive offerings. They often include how to prepare a themed starter, entrée, and dessert, all within the same class.

The other classes might cover a specific technique or cooking style. So, cruisers might learn about finishing the perfect meal with dessert-focused classes. Or, knead into how to make the ideal pizza.

Overall, the cooking classes in Carnival Kitchen provide the opportunity to learn how professional cooks prepare various foods on a Carnival cruise ship.

Thus, depending on the class, cruisers can learn how to make pizza, pasta, desserts, or an entire three-course meal.

How Much Does Carnival Kitchen Cost?

Prices for Carnival Kitchen vary depending on the courses. Some of the more basic classes, like the Cupcake Academy or the Tailgate Party, start at $45. Prices increase to $65 for the longer evening classes. However, these classes include the opportunity to prepare the dishes and enjoy the meals as that evening’s dinner.

During our Emeril’s Favorites class, we learned some of the famous chef’s recipes and indulged in the fruits of our labor. So, our class included all of the directions and the ability to enjoy all three courses once we were done. This was perhaps the best part: dining on the amazing food we made ourselves during this 90-minute class.

We also walked away with a commemorative spatula, which all guests receive after completing a class.

Do You Need to Know How to Cook?

No, participants do not need to know how to cook.

The onboard chefs walk everyone through each step. Further, tablet computers at each station have all the meal preparation steps. Before the class begins, the chef has prepared all ingredients in the right proportions in separate containers at each workstation.

Once the class begins, the chef takes his time reviewing all of the essential steps. Additional kitchen staff make the rounds to assist cruisers as they make their culinary masterpieces as well. Thus, cruisers can take their time and appropriately create their individual culinary masterpieces.

Everything is thoughtfully laid out, from all of the individual ingredients, along with the proper cookware, utilities, and even the wash cloths and clean-up accessories.

Is Carnival Kitchen Worth it?

For us, the ability to prepare a three-course meal and then dine on the finished product was well worth the $65-a-person upcharge. Along with the souvenirs, recipe cards, and the close-to-two-hour class, the complete experience was a fun and unique cruise activity.

For our Emeril’s Favorites class, we (by that, I mean 95% me) made some of the celebrity chef’s most famous dishes. These included his world-renowned New-New Orleans Pasta, Shrimp & Okra Gumbo, and Strawberries Romanoff.

Our chef was informative and helpful. He ensured all of the guests understood each step and made the rounds to ensure each course was progressing appropriately. Along with learning some new cooking skills, we had fun with other cruisers in a unique onboard activity that few cruisers can experience on the ship.

Overall, we think the Carnival Kitchen is a hidden gem on Carnival cruise ships. Heidi and I wouldn’t hesitate to sign up for one of the nighttime classes to learn some new recipes and dine on one of the Spanish, Italian, or Latin specialties.

We highly recommend this onboard activity, as it will be one of the most memorable aspects of your cruise and something you will tell everyone about when you return home.  

Comments

Have you sailed on Carnival Jubilee yet? Have you taken one of these Carnival Kitchen classes? Drop us an anchor below with your latest reviews of this unique onboard experience.

The post We Tested Out Carnival Kitchen on Our Last Cruise – Here’s What You Need to Know! appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

The two newest mega-ships designed explicitly for families have just set sail. In December 2023, Carnival Cruise Line launched Carnival Jubilee. This Excel-Class ship features amenities, dining venues, and entertainment for cruisers of all ages. Not to be outdone, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas set sail in January 2024. The world’s largest cruise ship includes several amenities for travelers of all ages as well. Heidi and I recently cruised on both ships and have received many questions about how they compare. So, we put together this cruise ship showdown, Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee – Which One Is Right For Your Next Cruise?

For this cruise ship comparison, we sailed on Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee within a few weeks of each other. On both cruises, we sailed a seven-night Caribbean itinerary, stayed in a similar category stateroom, and tested out all of the onboard features.

SEE HOW ICON OF THE SEAS COMPARES TO CARNIVAL JUBILEE IN OUR LATEST VIDEO

Further, each ship was sailing at a similar capacity of around 5600 passengers. So, we could see how the different public spaces functioned with roughly the same number of cruisers onboard.

We organized this showdown around categories that are important to families when comparing cruise ships and deciding on vacations. Of course, feel free to skip around to the different categories based on your family’s travel preferences.

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Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Pool Deck

Winner – Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee offer several pool areas to disperse crowds. Carnival Jubilee has 5 separate pools scattered throughout several decks. Icon of the Seas has 7 pools.  

Though, when it comes to theming and vibe, Icon of the Seas wins by miles. Each pool on Icon of the Seas offers a unique experience, with four of the main pools located on Decks 15-17.

The Cloud 17 pool is on Deck 17 and offers a more relaxed setting for all cruisers, with plenty of padded loungers and a small infinity pool. The Deck 16 Swim and Tonic is another popular spot, as it’s Royal Caribbean’s first swim-up bar at sea. On Deck 15, the record-breaking Royal Bay Pool is on the starboard side. Given its large footprint, two whirlpools, several in-pool chairs, and various other lounge options, this popular pool never felt overwhelmed by cruisers.  

There’s also the secluded Cove Pool on Deck 15 for those seeking some shade. Once again, this infinity pool is surrounded by numerous loungers. Finally, families with little kids can access the Surfside neighborhood’s Water’s Edge pool on Deck 7, along with a separate splash pad and even a water feature for babies adjacent to this pool.

Meanwhile, the main pool on Carnival Jubilee is the Beach Pool, located on Deck 16 midship. The aft Tides Pool is on the same deck, and the Patio Pool is aft on Deck 8. These pools were never overly crowded, and cruisers could usually find a lounge chair near the main pool, which offers three decks of lounge space. Yet, these pool spaces lacked the theming and unique flair of those on Icon of the Seas.

Both Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee also have pool deck areas that are exclusive to suite guests. Further, guests staying in Havana staterooms can access a private sundeck with a pool and whirlpool.

Not to mention, both ships offer adults-only spaces as well, but we rate those down below.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Casual Dining

Winner – Carnival Jubilee

It is true that Royal Caribbean vastly improved its casual dining options on Icon of the Seas. However, the casual dining on Carnival’s new ship still reigns supreme.

Guy’s Burger Joint on Deck 17 still serves up one of the best burgers at sea. Shaq’s Big Chicken cooks up irresistible sandwiches, chicken tenders, and fries most of the day, which is another big hit. Street Eats offers food cart-style snacks during the day near the Beach Pool on the Lido deck, and custom burritos, tacos, and bowls at BlueIguana Cantina are available for breakfast and lunch.

Inside, Coastal Slice serves five freshly prepared personal pizzas and is open from 9 AM to 4 AM. Despite what Heidi says, this pizza is much better than Sorrento’s on Icon of the Seas.

Next to Coastal Slice is Beach Buns, which features an expanded selection of hot dogs and fresh sandwiches. This venue is open until 10 PM most nights. Then, there is Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, where cruisers can get some barbecue from a buffet on the waterfront during sea days or enjoy table service in the evenings with similar specialties at no additional cost.

Additionally, both cruise ships boast buffets, which we would say are comparable. On both ships, we never needed to eat in the buffet with so many other options, but Icon of the Seas’ buffet is larger than that on Jubilee.

Both ships offer coffee shops with enhanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner food selections. While Java Blue on Carnival Jubilee had more selections, we did prefer the food at Pearl Café on Icon of the Seas.

In comparison, Icon of the Seas has several staple venues that cruisers who sail with the brand will know. There is the Tex-Mex El Loco Fresh and the Park Café sandwich shop. This venue also offers a new tapas menu in the evening at no additional cost. New spots include quick-service burgers and fries at Surfside Bites and Basecamp with free options like pretzel bites and tater tots.

But for cruisers who want to spend most of the week in shorts and a T-shirt, Carnival Jubilee offers a greater variety of flavorful dining options day and night.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Sports Deck

Winner – Icon of the Seas

Both Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee have a dedicated sports deck.

The Ultimate Playground on Carnival Jubilee includes a small waterpark, a mini golf course, a sports court, and a ropes course. These amenities are fun for all family members but don’t really live up to all the attractions in Icon of the Seas’ Thrill Island. 

The Thrill Island neighborhood on Icon of the Seas includes several attractions and amenities you will not find on any other cruise ship. The signature attraction is the Category 6 Waterpark. As the name implies, this attraction includes 6 waterslides.

Among the thrilling attractions are the first duo mat racing slides at sea, two family raft slides, and two body slides. There is the Pressure Drop, which is the first open freefall slide at sea. The 108-foot-long slide plummets cruisers down a near-vertical slide with a 66-degree incline. The other body slide is the Frightening Bolt. At 46 feet tall, it is the tallest drop slide at sea with gravity-swirling cruisers through a 360-degree loop.

Floating above Deck 16 on Icon of the Seas is a sports court. This full sports court is large enough to offer free-play activities, pickleball competitions, and other challenges. Additionally, Thrill Island is home to the Lost Dunes mini-golf course, which provides more challenges and intricate theming than the similar course on Carnival Jubilee.

Thrill Island is also home to a rock-climbing wall and Royal Caribbean’s signature surf simulator, the FlowRider. You won’t find either of these attractions on Carnival Jubilee’s sports deck.

However, the SkyCourse on Carnival Jubilee does offer a complimentary experience that is more thrilling and exciting than the upcharge Crown’s Edge found on Icon of the Seas. Still, when comparing all the included attractions, Icon of the Seas offers families more “wows” than Carnival Jubilee.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Signature Attraction

Winner – Carnival Jubilee

Even though the Icon of the Seas sports deck was our overall winner that wasn’t the case for all the attractions.

On Icon of the Seas, guests can pay around $39 to $49 per person to experience the Crown’s Edge. This mini ropes course includes a short zip line that glides over the ship’s side. The 90-second experience is fun but does not match the innovative BOLT rollercoaster found on Carnival Jubilee.

The Bolt rollercoaster only costs $15 per person and lasts about 45 seconds. In our opinion, this all-electric thrill ride at sea is more exciting and a better value than Crown’s Edge.

Another reason we picked BOLT over the Crown’s Edge is because of the complimentary ropes course on Carnival Jubilee. The SkyCourse on this ship includes 20 stations that offer cruisers various challenges. Along with a zip line and a plank, there’s a new challenge that hangs cruisers off the ship’s side.

So, while BOLT is better than the Crown’s Edge, we would also rate the SkyCourse as more exhilarating than its competitor. So, it is a win-win for Carnival Jubilee in this category. 

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Entertainment

Winner – Icon of the Seas

Heidi and I consider ourselves traditional cruisers, which means that our typical cruise night involves dinner and a show.

So, we checked out the signature entertainment across all of the venues in our cruise showdown of Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee.

When it comes to signature entertainment, Icon of the Seas shines with several signature shows in multiple venues. While Carnival Jubilee has exclusive Playlist Productions in the Theater and Center Stage, comparing those entertainment offerings to the Icon of the Seas’ Broadway shows and exclusive productions in the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero is tough.

In the main theater, Icon of the Seas showcases the Broadway adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. The state-of-the-art theater brings all aspects of the original film to life, from a tornado whipping through the theater to flying monkeys and strolls down the yellow brick road. This is one of the best full-scale productions at sea.

On Deck 16 in the AquaTheater, guests are amazed by AquaAction. This intense diving and aqua show attempts to replicate an action movie utilizing state-of-the-art pools, lifts, and robots. With a fantastic soundtrack and thrilling choreography, it was one of the most exhilarating shows at sea.  

Additionally, Absolute Zero is now the largest ice rink at sea and features a new circular design with better sight lines. This venue is home to two signature shows. Starburst: Elemental Beauty brings the basic elements of the universe to life through an intricate mix of ice dancing, skating, and special effects. There is also the family-friendly Once Upon a Time: The King’s Royal Ball.

In contrast, Carnival Jubilee features the line’s exclusive Family Feud game show in the main theater, which is a hit. This show is fun for cruisers of all ages. There are also Playlist Productions, like Dear Future Husband, Soulbound, and Celestial Strings. Center Stage showcases the new Rio Celebration. This show has elaborate costumes and Latin hits to replicate the energy and festival feeling of Carnival in South America.

However, these productions are more simplistic than Royal Caribbean’s signature shows and more resemble what most people think of cruise ship entertainment.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Daytime Activities

Winner – Carnival Jubilee

Both Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee offer a variety of daily activities. During the day, both ships feature trivia, game shows, dance classes, cruiser competitions, and cruise director staff-led events.

However, when comparing the number of activities offered to the size of the ships, Carnival Jubilee offers more activities per cruiser than Icon of the Seas.  

During the day, Carnival Jubilee features several trivia sessions with themes like geography, sports, Harry Potter, and Friends. There are also several daytime games for those looking to compete for a prized plastic medallion.

In the theater, the What’s Age Got to Do With It was a fun spin on a couples match game. For music enthusiasts, there were several sessions of games like Name that Tune or the Lyrical Challenge and karaoke sessions. New to Carnival Jubilee is also the Lonestar Tailgate which is essentially just organized sessions of poolside games.

As a family-focused cruise line, many onboard activities are open to cruisers of all ages, like PG-rated comedy or even a magic show on busy sea days. There are also Dr. Seuss-themed events, including parades and story time hosted by the cruise director.

While Icon of the Seas offers similar daytime activities, Carnival Jubilee beats the competition regarding engaging and energetic daytime activities and events, and they were always well-attended too.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Nightlife

Winner – Tie between Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee

When it comes to nightlife, both ships offer a variety of nighttime activities outside of the signature entertainment. We made the rounds on each ship to check out all the nighttime activities, and each ship shines for different reasons. Hence, we give the ships a tie in this category.

Both ships feature acoustic guitarists. We preferred the Point and Feather pub guitarist Kevin Philip on Icon of the Seas over Owen Stephen who often played in Dr. Inks on Carnival Jubilee. But the drinks at Dr. Inks were far better than those at the Pub.

Piano Bar 88 on Carnival Jubilee was busy every night with Ben belting out popular tunes. Likewise, the Dueling Pianos bar, featuring Tim and Sarah, was equally busy on Icon of the Seas. In fact, this was the most happening nighttime spot on the ship. Yet again, we preferred the vibe of Dueling Pianos over Piano Bar 88.

However, Carnival Jubilee shines when it comes to comedy. Carnival Jubilee featured five different comedians throughout our cruise. Each comedian had several sets, including both adults-only comedy and PG-rated comedy.

While Icon of the Seas offers comedy shows in the Attic as well, the three comedians performed the same sets all week.

Additionally, both ships feature Latin music and dancing. Icon of the Seas has Boleros with a signature menu and two Latin acts. Carnival Jubilee’s Havana Bar offers a similar style of entertainment and signature cocktail menu.

At Royal Caribbean’s Music Hall, we rocked out to the tribute band Phoenix. Their sets featured classic rock songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. On Carnival Jubilee, we sang along with the Backyard Band, which played rock, country, and even some pop songs.

Not to mention, both ships feature a variety of game shows and other nighttime events. Icon of the Seas’ signature Crazy Quest has adults searching for random items. While on Carnival Jubilee, there’s Deal or No Deal and other game shows in Center Stage. Both ships also offer classics like the Love and Marriage game show in the theater.

Both cruise ships also have parties. Royal Caribbean has its Midnight Balloon drop on the first night of the cruise. The Royal Promenade also comes alive for the One Hit Wonders party.

While similar, the deck parties on Carnival Jubilee were certainly more lively. The 80s Rock and Glow Party and the White Hot Night party were packed with cruisers dancing along with cruise director Kyndall out on the pool deck.

Overall, both ships offer diverse nighttime activities outside of the theater productions. Depending on your cruising style, there’s plenty to keep you occupied each night of your cruise on board either vessel.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Main Dining Room

Winner – Tie Between Carnival Jubilee and Icon of the Seas 

On Icon of the Seas, we had My Time Dining. Pre-cruise, we booked several dining times around 6:30 PM. The three times we dined in the main dining room, we had the same waitstaff and sat in the same section.

Overall, the food quality met our expectations for a mega-ship main dining room. My NY strip was cooked medium rare and well-seasoned. It was one of the best steaks in any main dining room. Likewise, I enjoyed the braised lamb on the final night. Further, you can’t go wrong with lobster tails, and Heidi always enjoys the turkey dinner.

The food was always delivered well-plated and at the appropriate temperatures. The service was on point as well. We were in and out of dinner in about 75 minutes each evening.

Our server and assistant server were also friendly and talkative. In fact, Lyna remembered our drink preferences after one visit. She also made sure to time everything just right, so the pacing of our dinners was superb.

On Carnival Jubilee, we had that cruise line’s version of flexible dining, Your Time Dining. Unlike Royal Caribbean, we were not able to pre-make reservations. Instead, each night, we had to enter a virtual queue through the Carnival HUB app when we wanted to dine at a complimentary restaurant. Unfortunately, the estimated wait times in the app were not very accurate, and several times, we waited close to an hour before being called for our table.

On the flipside, while Royal Caribbean has made some cutbacks to its MDR menus, Carnival just rolled out new main dining room menus with some enhancements. These include new dishes and specialties from Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse.

During our three visits to the main dining room, some of the standout dishes were the Girod Street salad, spaghetti carbonara, jambalaya, prime rib, banana cream pie, and the melting chocolate cake.

The main dining food quality on Carnival Jubilee was on par with Icon of the Seas. However, the service in the Pacific Restaurant was not as attentive. There were often long delays between ordering and receiving our courses, and the waitstaff seemed overwhelmed.

Although, one benefit of Your Time Dining on Carnival Jubilee is access to additional sit-down restaurants for dinner at no additional charge. Along with the main dining room, Your Time Dining cruisers can dine at Chibang and Cucina del Capitano.

Chibang is a mix of Asian and Mexican cuisine. It features items like spring rolls and sweet and sour shrimp, as well as margaritas, tacos, and bowls. Cucina del Capitano serves up Italian-American cuisine. Can’t-miss dishes here include fried calamari, chicken parmesan, and tiramisu.

So, Royal Caribbean offered a more standard main dining room experience with excellent service during our cruise. While Carnival Cruise Line offered more options and flexibility.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Specialty Dining

Winner – Icon of the Seas

There are several similar specialty restaurants on these two mega-ships. While we did dine at different specialty restaurants on each ship, Icon of the Seas offers better variety and food quality in our opinion.

On each ship, we dined at the signature steakhouse. Chops Grill on Icon of the Seas was my favorite when compared to Fahrenheit 555. This signature steakhouse located in Central Park did not disappoint. My crab cake had a crispy crust with a moist stuffing filled with crab meat. For an entree, I opted for one of the new iconic cuts. The wagyu filet was tender and cooked to the ideal medium rare temperature.

Carnival Jubilee’s Fahrenheit 555 did sear up a flavorful Surf and Turf. But, the starters and side dishes did not match those found at the other steakhouse.

Both vessels offer sushi and teppanyaki at dedicated restaurants. Icon of the Seas has Izumi Sushi and Hibachi. We are fans of this Asian cuisine, and the mix of fried rice, dumplings, udon noodles, and spicy crispy tuna rolls were excellent.

Carnival Jubilee has Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki, which are similar but has fewer hibachi tables.

When it comes to seafood, Carnival Jubilee boasts Rudi’s Seagrill. This seafood-centric venue delivers fresh options with Chef Rudi’s unique flair and plate presentations.

Starters like calamari and seafood bisque, along with entrees including surf and turf and the signature crab-stuffed lobster tail, will satisfy any palette. This restaurant is much better than Hooked Seafood on Icon of the Seas.

Another favorite of ours on Royal Caribbean ships is Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. The pizza here is always a safe bet, with a thin handcrafted crust and just the right combination of toppings. The stromboli and the meatball were also favorites at our table.

For entrees, Heidi went with the chicken parmesan, and I did the osso buco, which were much better than similar options at Cucina del Capitano on Carnival Jubilee.

Icon of the Seas offers other upscale options, including the $200-a-person Empire Supper Club, which boasts an 8-course menu with cocktail pairings. While different, Carnival Jubilee also hosts a unique experience, Carnival Kitchen. The classes are led by a chef who provides step-by-step directions for guests to prepare the dishes at their own cooking stations. And then, you get to enjoy the finished product afterwards.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Bars and Lounge

Winner – Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has elevated its beverage program with close to 20 bars on Icon of the Seas, 10 of which are brand new to the fleet. Still, Carnival Jubilee has nearly 15 bars and lounges on a ship that’s close to 30% smaller.

Overall though, in this showdown of Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee, we give the best bars category to Icon of the Seas for elevated decor and quality of beverages.

The 1400 Lobby Bar is the new hip watering hole on the Royal Promenade. This trendy and modern space serves signature cocktails themed after the different Royal Caribbean ships, with the Fourteen Hundred in honor of the Icon Class.

Further, the new AquaDome neighborhood is home to a few bars, too. These include the Overlook Bar, which serves the signature Overlook Spritz. The new Rye and Bean coffee bar serves espresso-infused cocktails and other coffee drinks. The espresso martinis here are a must, especially as a pre-show drink.

Signature drinks were available at several other bars too, including new selections at the Schooner Bar and Boleros, along with musically-inspired cocktails, like the Purple Rain, in several of the music venues.

On both ships, there is a well-themed pool bar. These include several Lime and Coconut bars on Icon of the Seas and new favorites like the Lemon Post. Likewise, there is the RedFrog Tiki Bar near the Beach Pool, the Watering Hole Bar near the Patio Pool, and the Tides Bar near the Tides Pool on Carnival Jubilee.

Not to mention, the adults-only Hideaway Bar on Icon of the Seas shakes up new signature cocktails. We preferred this bar’s drink menu, trendy layout, and vibe more than the Serenity Bar on Carnival Jubilee.

On Carnival Jubilee, we did like the drinks at the new Dr. Inks in the Current Zones. This Disney-like bar includes some digital elements and signature cocktails like the Seahorse Glide and the Crimson Catch.

The Golden Mermaid was also another one of our favorites on Carnival Jubilee. Light piano music accompanies signature cocktails like the Radiant Rose and the Atlantis Potion. While not new, we did like the concoctions at the Alchemy Bar as well.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Fun Factor

Winner – Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Cruise Line refers to its fleet as FUN Ships. Undoubtedly, the Fun Squad team and cruise director Kyndall on Carnival Jubilee are out to ensure everyone has the best vacation ever.

Kyndall is high-energy and can be found throughout the ship. She hosts many of the events and leans right into the role of cruise director. This Texas native is the ideal choice for a ship sailing from Galveston. She is personable, took time to talk to cruisers, and was always ready to take a selfie.

Unlike some cruiser directors who seemingly just go through the motions, Kyndall is always on. From the trivia hosts to the comedy hosts to the bingo hosts, this team is certainly more fun than their counterparts on Icon of the Seas.

This is not to say that the cruise director Mike and his staff on Icon of the Seas are bad, they just aren’t as high energy or as visible around the ship. Similarly, the Icon of the Seas’ parties were tame in comparison to those on Carnival Jubilee.

If you are looking for high energy and fun from morning till night, Carnival Jubilee delivers.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Adults Only Areas

Winner – Tie Between Icon of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee

Both mega-ships boast adult-only areas, and each space has unique attributes that won us over. So, we couldn’t pick one ship that was a clear winner for adult-only spaces.

Carnival Jubilee’s adults-only area is the larger of the two spaces. The Serenity Retreat forward on Deck 18 encompasses one-third of this outdoor deck.

The Serenity Retreat includes loungers, daybeds, and oversized sofas positioned in both the sun and shade. This area is also home to two whirlpools and a centralized pool, next to a sunken couch, daybeds, and additional tables and chairs in the shade.

On sea days, the Serenity Retreat showcases the Serenity Bar and Fresh Creations salad bar. Along with poolside classics, the bar menu features exclusive sangrias and wine-infused cocktails. Fresh Creations offers a self-service salad bar. Like many other venues on the ship though, there was often a line for this complimentary venue.

In contrast, the ideally located Hideway on Icon of the Seas is the perfect spot for an adults-only area on a mega-ship. Overlooking the wake, this venue features the first suspended infinity pool at sea.

The Hideaway also offers day beds and sun loungers on the terraced sundeck, overlooking the ship’s wake; though, the daybeds do come at a fee. The Hideaway Bar offers a signature cocktail menu that complements the beach club vibes of this aft pool deck. This lively, upbeat, adults-only area is far better than any solarium you might find on another Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

However, compared to Carnival Jubilee’s Serenity, the Hideaway on Icon of the Seas is too small and has no shaded areas. While we do prefer the location and trendy decor of the adults-only space on Icon of the Seas, Carnival Jubilee boasts a larger and more relaxed space with the Serenity Retreat.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Staterooms

Winner – Tie Between Carnival Jubilee and Icon of the Seas

For both cruises, we stayed in standard balcony staterooms.

On our Carnival Jubilee cruise, we stayed in cabin 12235, a balcony cabin located on the starboard side of the ship, forward of the forward bank of elevators.

This category 8D balcony cabin offered plenty of storage for our clothes and gear. Compared to similar mega-ships, this stateroom boasted the most closet space by far. It also had several power outlets, including 4 USB-A outlets near the desk. Cruisers could charge devices with a USB-A outlet on each side of the bed as well.

While the cabin was functional, we think the staterooms on Carnival cruise ships are rather plain. Still, it was a comfortable setup for our week-long Caribbean sailing.

We stayed in a traditional balcony cabin, cabin 14258, during our Icon of the Seas cruise. This midship stateroom was closer to the aft elevator bank on the ship’s portside. Given the enhancements and trendy design of the public venues, we were surprised that the Icon of the Seas cabins were rather basic as well.

For the most part, the cabin’s layout and function were identical to that of other vessels in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Our stateroom on Icon of the Seas did include even more power outlets than our accommodations on Carnival Jubilee, along with both USB-A and USB-C outlets. The balcony on Icon of the Seas was slightly larger too, with chairs, a table, and small ottomans to help you relax while at sea.

The bathrooms in each stateroom were similar. They offered equally-sized shower stalls with glass doors utilizing a multifaceted hinge.

While each stateroom had its unique benefits, overall, there wasn’t much difference in features and comfort between the two cabins.

Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee: Crowd Control

Winner – Icon of the Seas

As we mentioned earlier, both ships had a similar capacity of around 5600 passengers. With both ships having the same number of cruisers, we can confidently say that Icon of the Seas handled the crowds much better than Carnival Jubilee.

Icon of the Seas better dispersed crowds and maintained a more efficient flow of passengers.

Perhaps what surprised us most about Carnival Jubilee was the sheer number of lines we encountered during the trip. Complimentary restaurants, entertainment venues, or other activities usually had lines irrespective of the time of day. This is in contrast to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, where we rarely encountered lines.

We never waited for dinner, and we could find seats at all entertainment spaces with the exception of Dueling Pianos. It is true that Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas requires reservations for many shows. It also offers cruisers the ability to reserve dining times in advance. So, part of the issue could be the difference in onboard systems.

Finding a lounger on the Icon of the Seas pool decks was never an issue. And the walkways were wide open allowing passengers to transit from one end of the ship to the other with ease. All the venues and public spaces felt more open on Icon of the Seas than Carnival Jubilee too.

Further, the elevators were another instance where Icon of the Seas far surpassed Carnival Jubilee. The intelligent elevators on this mega-ship were easy to use, and we had no issues getting a lift at any time of the day. This is compared with the small and often cramped elevators on Carnival Jubilee. Getting an elevator was often difficult, with Heidi and I often waiting for several different elevators to pass before we could hop on.

Final Verdict on Carnival Jubilee vs. Icon of the Seas

Carnival Jubilee is an excellent value for families looking for a relaxing, fun-filled, casual cruise. With multiple complimentary dining options, a jam-packed list of activities, and family-focused entertainment, kids of all ages will enjoy this fun ship. With a Dr. Seuss partnership, this cruise ship is an excellent option for those with younger kids too.

On the other hand, Icon of the Seas certainly has some of the biggest wows at sea. The Category 6 waterpark rivals those on land. The ship also has terrific entertainment, with multiple unique venues boasting innovative shows. Plus, it offers more upscale eateries than its competitor. However, this larger-than-life ship comes with a hefty price tag.

When comparing cruises six months out, we find that an Icon of the Seas cruise for a family of four has a fare of around $9,800. When planning a year out, in the summer of 2025, the same 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary was selling for about $1K less.

Comparing to Carnival Jubilee, an oceanview balcony cabin for a family of 4 on a similar itinerary in August 2024 is going for around $3,300. For a booking in August 2025, cruisers can lock in the same cabin type for a tad more, around $3,450.

While prices do fluctuate, it is safe to say that an oceanview balcony stateroom on Icon of the Seas would easily cost double that on Carnival Jubilee. So, it is really up to the discerning traveler to determine if the costs are worth it for a Western Caribbean cruise.  

No matter which ship you choose, you can certainly have a great vacation. Both offer plenty of family-focused fun.

Comments

Do you agree with our look at Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee? Have you sailed on either ship? Drop us an anchor below with your latest cruise reviews.

The post Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee – Which One Is Right For Your Next Cruise? appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, is now sailing the Caribbean from Galveston, Texas. We are back from our recent sailing on this cruise ship and have put together this guide on all the Carnival Jubilee restaurants with menus so you can see what is available to eat onboard this latest Excel Class ship.

Carnival Jubilee Restaurants and Menus

Complimentary Carnival Jubilee Restaurants

There are several dining options on the list of Carnival Jubilee restaurants that are included in your cruise fare. These include the typical main dining room as well as the cruise ship buffet.

Carnival Cruise Line ships also offer several quick service options that are complimentary. From Mexican favorites at BlueIguana Cantina, to burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint, to chicken sandwiches at Shaq’s Big Chicken, there are plenty of tasty options that won’t cost you anything.

EXPLORE CARNIVAL JUBILEE WITH OUR COMPLETE SHIP TOUR

Java Blue Cafe – Deck 6

The Java Blue Cafe is your dedicated coffee shop on Carnival Jubilee. Located in the Grand Central zone, this venue opens at 6 AM most mornings for cruisers to get their caffeine fix. Serving espresso-based beverages and milk shakes that are included in the Cheers drink package, you might find yourself visiting this cafe quite a bit; we did!

Tuti, one of the baristas here, is one of the friendliest crew members on the ship.

Java Blue does also serve complimentary breakfast items like breakfast sandwiches and continental pastry items and lunch items like sandwiches, chicken pies, empanadas, and more. There are desserts available as well, but they will cost a nominal fee.

Java Blue Coffee Menu | Java Blue Food Menu | Shake Spot Menu

Atlantic Restaurant – Deck 6

The Carnival Jubilee restaurants (Main Dining Rooms) include two different dining experiences. If you are a more traditional cruiser, you can opt for Assigned Dining at either 5:30 PM (early) or 7:45 PM (late) seating times. The Deck 6 Atlantic Restaurant and the first level of the Pacific Restaurant are reserved for Assigned Dining.

The Atlantic main dining room is the smaller of the two venues and is located on the portside of Deck 6 near the Golden Mermaid Bar. This restaurant also hosts an up-charge Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast on the last sea day at 8:30 AM and 9:45 AM (times subject to change). See below for details.

Cruisers who want to try a variety of the dining options on the ship, might want to select Your Time Dining. With this option, cruisers can dine whenever they want at various locations by joining a virtual queue in the Carnival HUB app when they are ready to eat. This option is available from 5:30 to 9 PM daily.

Regardless of whether you pick Assigned Dining or Your Time Dining, the Atlantic and Pacific restaurants offer the same rotational menu. These menus do change nightly with a few always available items, like the famous chocolate melting cake.

Carnival’s MDR menus have recently been enhanced fleetwide and now also feature an “Emeril Selects” section.

MDR Cocktail Menu | MDR Wine List | Port Day Breakfast | Sea Day Brunch | Night 1 | Night 2 Feast I | Night 3 | Night 4 | Night 5 | Night 6 Feast II | Night 7

Pacific Restaurant – Decks 6 & 7

The Pacific Restaurant is the larger of Carnival Jubilee’s two main dining rooms. This 2-story main dining room is located on Decks 6 and 7. Deck 6 is reserved primarily for Assigned Dining while Deck 7 is utilized for Your Time Dining.

The Pacific Restaurant is also open for breakfast from 7 to 9 AM. On sea days, the restaurant serves a Sea Day Brunch instead from 8:30 AM to 12 PM. This Sea Day Brunch is a must-try, especially the skillet cake.

Once again, the dinner menu at this restaurant rotates each evening like most cruise lines offering a wide array of starters, entrees, and desserts including new dishes selected by the cruise line’s Chief Culinary Officer, Emeril Lagasse.

The cruise line does still serve lobster in the MDR on the second Elegant Night.

Further, across all of the Carnival Cruise Line ships, extra entrees in the main dining room are an upcharge. Guests may continue to order a second complimentary entrée if they choose; however, a third entrée will now incur a $5 charge. This is for all dishes not just lobster like some other cruise lines.

Chibang! – Deck 8

Chibang is a fairly new restaurant concept for Carnival Cruise Line featured on Excel Class ships. This restaurant serves both Mexican and Chinese dishes and is complimentary for all guests on Carnival Jubilee. Currently, this restaurant is only free for the first visit and $8 for visits after that on sister ships Mardi Gras and Celebration.

Chibang is open for lunch on sea days from 12 to 2 PM and dinner nightly from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. Your Time Dining guests wishing to dine at this venue can join the virtual queue on the Carnival HUB app and will be notified when their table is ready. Assigned Dining guests can only eat at this venue after 7:45 PM; but it is still free.

For lunch, Chibang’s menu offers noodle bowls and burrito bowls. For dinner, the menu is more expansive offering Asian items like lettuce wraps, pot stickers, Sweet & Sour shrimp, and Kung Pao chicken. Mexican menu items include loaded nachos, tacos, Pollo en Mole, and Pescado Frito.

With so many offerings, you can certainly dine at Chibang more than once during your cruise vacation.

Chibang Wine List | Chibang Lunch Menu | Chibang Dinner Menu

Cucina del Capitano – Deck 8

A specialty restaurant on other Carnival ships, Cucina del Capitano is also complimentary on Carnival Jubilee at the moment. Similar to Chibang, this restaurant is only free for the first visit on sister ships Mardi Gras and Celebration with subsequent visits costing $8 each. For comparison purposes, Cucina is $24 for adults and $11 for children on other ships in the fleet.

Once again, Your Time Dining guests can dine here as many times as they want on Carnival Jubilee for no cost by simply joining the virtual queue in the HUB app. Assigned Dining guests can only dine here after 7:45 PM but still for free.

This Italian restaurant is open for lunch from 12 to 2 PM on sea days and for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM nightly. For lunch, this venue serves a small menu of appetizers, soups, and pizza, along with a create your own pasta bowl section. At dinner, cruisers can enjoy favorites like Nonna’s meatball, chicken parm, short rib, and tiramisu. 

Lunch Menu | Dinner Menu

Coastal Slice – Deck 8

Located in the new seaside boardwalk zone, The Shores, Coastal Slice is your go-to spot for pizza. This eatery is open daily from 9 AM to 4 AM to fulfill your cravings any time of day.

This pizzeria features a walk-up counter where guests can order fresh out of the oven pizza slices or personal-sized pies. You can then enjoy your pizza in the nearby seating area or take it to-go to enjoy anywhere around the ship. There are five free options to enjoy as well as a couple up-charge variations for $6 each.

Don’t be surprised to find a line here, as Coastal Slice is quite popular, especially as a late-night snack option.

Coastal Slice Menu

Beach Buns – Deck 8

Adjacent to Coastal Slice, you will find Beach Buns. This counter-style sandwich shop serves up a menu of traditional deli sandwiches, along with hot dogs, soups, and salads. We definitely found these selections to be a step above the offerings at other cruise lines’ cafes and delis.

Beach Buns is open daily from 12 to 10 PM, and don’t be surprised to find a long line here either.

Beach Buns Menu

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse – Deck 8

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse is another one of the Carnival Jubilee restaurants. The BBQ joint is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which are all complimentary.

Guy’s serves breakfast from around 6:30/7:30 to 9/10:30 AM. This small buffet area features all the breakfast staples. The venue also serves lunch from 12 to 2:30 PM on sea days in a buffet-style setting outdoors on the waterfront area.

The venue becomes a sit-down restaurant for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. The menu features many of the same meats, along with a few entrees, some up-charge items like St. Louis ribs and prime rib, and a selection of desserts.

Further, Guy’s Pig & Anchor also offers late-night snacks from 11:30 PM to 1 AM. This is a small buffet with items like French fries, buffalo cauliflower, and more.

Bar Menu | Lunch Buffet Menu | Dinner Menu

BlueIguana Cantina – Deck 16

Located on the Lido deck, BlueIguana Cantina serves up Mexican favorites for both breakfast and lunch. You can customize your breakfast or lunch burrito any way you like as they are freshly prepared just for you. There is even a salsa bar located nearby.

If you’d prefer tacos or a salad/rice bowl, you can get those too at the BlueIguana Cantina. The best part is that everything here is complimentary.

This venue is open daily from 7/8 to 10:30 AM for breakfast and 12 to 2:30/3:30 PM for lunch.

Breakfast Menu | Lunch Menu

Street Eats – Deck 16

Street Eats is also located on the pool deck offering food truck-type selections. Here, you will find Steam Dream, Mad Sizzle, and Time Fries. Each of these venues features one selection a day, and this selection changes daily. New to us, Time Fries also now offers a menu of up-charge chicken wings.

The Street Eats hours vary with the stalls opening somewhere between 11:30 AM and 2 PM, then remaining open until 4 or 5 PM. The times are largely dependent on your port of call times, but it will likely be open from 11:30 AM to 5 PM on sea days.

Chicken Wings | Street Eats Menus

Lido Marketplace – Deck 16

The Lido Marketplace is your typical cruise ship buffet, featuring a variety of selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Honestly, with so many other offerings on Carnival Jubilee, we did not eat here at all during our cruise.

The Lido Marketplace is typically open for breakfast from around 6:30/7:30 to 11:30 AM. The venue then reopens for lunch from around 12 to 2:30/3:30 PM. Then, dinner is available from 6 to 9:30 PM nightly.

For breakfast, you’ll find typical selections of eggs, breakfast meats, pancakes, and omelet stations. For lunch, you’ll find a soup and salad station, dessert station, hot entrees section, cold cuts selection, and more. Some examples of dishes include jerk chicken, vegetable lasagna, pot roast, zucchini fritters, chicken marsala, garlic butter fish, and more.

In comparison to other cruise lines, the offerings are more limited in this buffet, but this is likely because there is so much else to eat around the ship.

Big Chicken – Deck 16

Perhaps one of my favorite additions to Carnival’s Excel Class ships is Shaq’s Big Chicken. NBA Hall of Famer and Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal, scored big with this quick service eatery located aft on the pool deck.

This venue serves up signature chicken sandwiches with Shaq’s special sauce, in addition to chicken tenders and fries. There’s also chicken and biscuits served in the morning.

Big Chicken is open for breakfast from around 7/8 to 11 AM and for lunch from 11 AM to 5 PM daily.

This is another popular spot on Carnival Jubilee, so don’t be surprised to find a line at most times during the day.

Big Chicken Menu

Guy’s Burger Joint – Deck 17

Located on Deck 17 above the Lido deck, Guy’s Burger Joint serves up some of the best burgers at sea. In partnership with Guy Fieri, this poolside shack features fresh off the grill burgers and fries with a toppings bar for you to customize your meal to perfection.

Guy’s Burger Joint is open every day from around 12 to 6 PM to satisfy all your burger cravings. How many can you eat in just one week? Don’s pick for his best burger of the week goes to The Ringer.

This is perhaps the busiest quick service eatery on Carnival Jubilee, so don’t be surprised to find Disney-style switchbacks and wait times up to 30 minutes.

Guy’s Burger Joint Menu

Fresh Creations – Deck 18

Serenity is the adult only retreat on Carnival Cruise Line ships. This private oasis offers plenty of space with comfy lounge furniture, a pool, whirlpools, a bar, and even some healthy lunch options at the Fresh Creations salad bar.

The salad bar is open from 12 to 2:30 PM on sea days so you don’t have to give up your slice of paradise when you get hungry. Though, just be prepared to wait in line, as these wait times clocked in at 20 to 30 minutes as well.

Salad Bar

Swirls – Decks 8, 16, 17

For those looking for their soft serve fix, you can rejoice that there are three locations onboard Carnival Jubilee. Choose between vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, or twist.

There is one located in the Heroes Tribute Lounge on Deck 8 aft. The second is found on Deck 16 aft near the Tides Bar and Tides Pool. Finally, the third soft serve station can be found on Deck 17 midship near Guy’s Burger Joint.

These stations open at 11 AM and close at various times, with the latest being midnight.

Specialty Restaurants on Carnival Jubilee

With so many great complimentary offerings, you certainly do not have to pay extra for dining on Carnival Jubilee (if you don’t want to). Though, this new ship also offers a few specialty restaurants that come with an up-charge.

If you plan to dine at any of these Carnival Jubilee restaurants, you should make reservations pre-cruise, as popular dining times do fill up quickly.

Emeril’s Bistro 717 – Deck 6

Chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant makes a return on Carnival Jubilee. This new and improved rendition, Emeril’s Bistro 717, is located in the new Currents zone on Deck 6.

Emeril’s Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner serving New Orleans themed cuisine at a la carte prices. For breakfast, guests can enjoy shrimp and grits, a breakfast po-boy, sweet potato waffles, and the popular beignets. For lunch and dinner, options include oysters, steamed lobster, crawfish, Natchitoches meat pies, and more.

Breakfast is available from 8 to 9:30/10:30 AM, Lunch on sea days is served from 12 to 4 PM, and Dinner is available 4 to 9/10 PM. No reservations are necessary for this restaurant.

Bistro Breakfast Menu | Bistro Dinner Menu

Carnival Kitchen – Deck 6

If you are looking for something a bit different on your next Carnival cruise, you should check out Carnival Kitchen. This intimate cooking experience is an up-charge but is well worth the costs.

The classes are led by a chef who provides step-by-step directions for guests to prepare the dishes at their own cooking stations. And then, you get to enjoy the finished product afterwards.

These Carnival Kitchen classes are available for cruisers to book for $45-$60 per person. Some of the options include Pasta Master, Sushi 101, Cake Workshop, Tailgate Party, and more. Most classes are 1-1.5 hours, with a few 2-hour elegant dinner sessions. Space is limited, so you will want to reserve your spot early.

We tested out the Emeril’s Favorites class where we prepared New-New Orleans Pasta, Shrimp & Okra Gumbo, and Strawberries Romanoff. The class was definitely a hit.

Carnival Kitchen Schedule

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse – Deck 7

Fahrenheit 555 is Carnival Cruise Line’s signature steakhouse. This American steakhouse has a warm and inviting atmosphere with an open concept kitchen, making it a great choice for an elegant night dinner.

The restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. The cover charge at this venue is $49 per person.

The menu at Fahrenheit 555 features upscale offerings like shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, risotto, and premium cuts of beef. For those who don’t eat beef, other entree selections include chicken, lobster tail, and sea bass. And you can’t forget the dessert with options like the chocolate sphere and apple tarte tatin.

Dinner Menu

Bonsai Teppanyaki – Deck 8

Bonsai Teppanyaki is another one of the Carnival Jubilee specialty restaurants. This Japanese-style hibachi restaurant offers a multi-course menu for a flat fee of $38 for lunch and $42 for dinner.

Entrée selections range from chicken, filet, lobster tail, salmon, and shrimp. All meals also include starters and dessert served in a chocolate bento box. Whenever we have dined at a teppanyaki restaurant on a cruise, the food is always as good as the culinary show!

This restaurant is open for lunch on sea days from 12 to 3 PM and nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. In comparison to other cruise lines, this dinner and a show restaurant is quite small with only three hibachi tables. So, if you do want to dine here, make your reservations as soon as possible.

Teppanyaki Menu

Bonsai Sushi – Deck 8

In contrast, Bonsai Sushi is a much larger space. This sushi lovers paradise is an a la carte venue that is open for dinner daily from 5 PM to 12 AM. The venue is also open for lunch on sea days from 12 to 2:30 PM.

Bonsai Sushi offers several sushi and sashimi selections, as well as noodle bowls and Japanese small plates. So, even if you are not a fan of sushi, there are probably other menu items for you to enjoy at this venue for reasonable prices.

Bonsai Sushi

Rudi’s Seagrill – Deck 8

Celebrity Chef Rudi Sodamin brings his creations to life on Carnival Jubilee at Rudi’s Seagrill. This specialty restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM for an upcharge of $49 per person.

As you might expect, the menu is heavy on seafood with mussels, scallops, shrimp, oysters, calamari, and lobster all on the menu. There’s even a crab-stuffed lobster tail. For non-seafood lovers, you have a choice of chicken, a pork chop, or a NY strip.

The intimate atmosphere of this restaurant makes it another great choice for an Elegant Night dinner.

Dinner Menu

Seafood Shack – Deck 16

The casual Seafood Shack is located on the Lido deck near Street Eats in a food truck-like stall. This counter service restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily for varying times, opening as early as 11 AM some days and staying open until 10 PM most nights.

The Seafood Shack offers classic New England favorites like fried clams, lobster rolls, fish & chips, clam chowder, and other fresh local catch.

All menus items at this venue are a la carte prices.

All Day Menu

Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast

On Carnival Jubilee, you can enter the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss at the special Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast. This up-charge event takes place in the Atlantic dining room on the last sea day at 8:30 and 9:45 AM. It is $15 for adults and $10 for kids.

At this character breakfast, the mischievous Thing 1 and Thing 2 are having a birthday party at sea but in typical Seuss style they’ll actually be celebrating YOU.

This special event features menu items like Grinch’s Pancakes, steak and eggs, red velvet french toast, and green eggs and ham. If you’ve sailed with Carnival before, this menu IS different than the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast. And sadly, Horton’s cereal crusted french toast is no longer on the menu.

Still, whether you are a family or just big kids at heart, this is a fun way to spend a sea day breakfast.

Thing 1 & Thing 2 Breakfast Menu

Room Service

Room service is available 24 hours a day with select complimentary items and other items that are available for an up-charge at a la carte pricing.

For breakfast (6 to 10 AM), you can choose from fruit, cereal, continental pastry items, and yogurt for no additional cost as well as breakfast sandwiches for around $5.

During the day (10 AM to 6 AM), various items are available at a la carte prices. Selections on the All Day Menu include salads, sandwiches, burgers, wings, desserts, and more. Most items cost between $5 to $8 each.

An additional 18% gratuity will be added to each order as well.

Breakfast Menu | All Day Menu

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Do you have plans to cruise on the new Carnival Jubilee from Galveston? What is your favorite from the list of Carnival Jubilee restaurants? Drop us an anchor below to share your dining preferences on Carnival Cruise Line.

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When we first stepped onboard Carnival Jubilee, we had a moment of deja vu. At first glance, Carnival Jubilee is almost identical to its sister ship, Carnival Celebration. This third ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel Class offers many of the same amenities found on the first two ships in this class. But, after a few days on board, we learned there is more to Carnival Jubilee as she has a few firsts of her own. Find out if this newest Carnival mega-ship is right for your next cruise vacation with our exclusive Carnival Jubilee cruise ship review.

FIND OUT WHAT ITS REALLY LIKE WITH OUR CRUISE REVIEW VIDEO

Our Honest Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship Review

Casual Dining

Carnival Jubilee shines in its casual dining offerings, and most of them are included in the cruise fare. Of course, we visited all the dining venues during our seven days onboard the ship in the name of cruise research.

For cruisers who want to spend most of the week in shorts and a t-shirt, there are various dining options to choose from during the day and night. Guy’s Burger Joint on Deck 17 reigns supreme with some of the best burgers at sea.

First launched on Mardi Gras, Shaq’s Big Chicken is another big hit. Freshly made fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and crispy potato thins are hard to resist. There are also grilled chicken options for those more health-conscious cruisers and chicken biscuits for breakfast.

Near the Beach Pool on the Lido deck, Street Eats offers food cart-style snacks during the day. There are also custom burritos, tacos, and bowls at BlueIguana cantina available for breakfast and lunch.

Inside, Coastal Slice serves up five different freshly prepared personal pizzas. The venue is open most days until 4 AM for those with the late night munchies. Of course, we had to sample the new Tex-Mex pizza exclusive to Carnival Jubilee, and it did not disappoint.

The ship’s deli, Beach Buns, features an expanded selection with hot dogs and fresh sandwiches on the menu. This venue is open until 10 PM most nights.

Then, there is Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse. Cruisers can get some barbecue from a buffet on the waterfront during sea days or enjoy table service in the evenings with similar specialties.

Not to mention, the Lido Market offers a wide selection of entrees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although, with so many other options, we actually did not dine here at all.

There’s also the coffee shop, Java Blue, which has an enhanced menu of breakfast sandwiches and all-day dining for even more choices. And Serenity, the adults only retreat, features a salad bar on sea days.

Thus, we never had issues finding something fresh and delicious to eat on Carnival Jubilee. If we had to pick, we’d go with Guy’s burgers and Shaq’s Big Chicken for the win.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: BOOK NOW TO GET A GREAT DEAL ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE!

Pool Deck

Our Carnival Jubilee cruise was sailing at about double occupancy, or just under 5700 passengers. For the most part, the five separate pools and eight whirlpools handled the crowds.

The Beach Pool on Deck 16 is the main pool on the lido. There are limited loungers near the pool in the sun. However, plenty of loungers on Deck 17 above offer deck space to catch some rays. This is also the liveliest of the pools with poolside games, music, and nighttime parties keeping the energy high.

The aft located Tides Pool, also on Deck 16, overlooks the ship’s wake. This pool area is home to two whirlpools as well. This desirable area of the ship did get busy rather quickly. Though, there is some additional comfy seating above the area on Deck 17. Just note that the starboard side of this aft Deck 17 sundeck is the smoking section.

Adults looking to escape the kids and families have the Serenity retreat found on Deck 18 forward. This quieter area has plenty of loungers and daybeds. This spot also has a bar, pool, two whirlpools, and a salad bar open on sea days. So, adults could relax here all day and never need to leave. In our experience, this is one of the biggest adults-only areas on a mainstream cruise line.

Down on Deck 8 is the Patio pool located in the Summer Landing zone. This fourth pool has a few loungers and is only steps away from nearby bars and restaurants. It is a family-friendly pool area for guests who want a more chill and relaxed sea day experience. On the starboard side, there are two whirlpools offering some great views of the ocean or that day’s port of call.

Finally, cruisers staying in Havana staterooms have a private Havana pool deck. Complete with a pool, outdoor bar, and additional loungers, this exclusive space is tucked away on Deck 8 forward.

So, with distinct pool areas scattered around the ship, one is bound to match your cruise vibe.

Sports Deck

The Ultimate Playground on Deck 18 aft is Carnival Jubilee’s sports deck. Of course, we made sure to test out many of the experiences for our Carnival Jubilee cruise ship review.

The 9-hole mini-golf course offers rounds of fun for families and kids of all ages. Heidi and I putted around one morning, and we don’t need to mention who won.

The Carnival Waterworks has a splash pad with water features and a slide for young kids. It also offers three slides for bigger kids or kids at heart. The line’s signature body slide, Twister, is a 260-foot-long body slide that twists and turns through the waterpark. This slide is open to cruisers 42″ or taller.

The two other slides are open to 48” or taller cruisers. The Blue Lightning is a head-first mat slide, whereas the Orange Thunder is a drop slide that plummets cruisers down over 220 feet.

There is also a ropes course suspended 150 feet above sea level. The ropes course includes a zip line and plank extending off the ship’s edge. New to Carnival Jubilee is one challenge that leaves cruisers dangling off the ship’s edge as they glide along using hand ropes. To be honest, this ropes course is better than the up-charge Crown’s Edge on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.

The jogging track also takes seven laps to equal one mile, and there’s a sports court with games like soccer, basketball, and pickleball. Not to mention, there’s table tennis, corn hole, and more.

All of the above is complimentary for cruisers to use throughout the day. But, the signature attraction is BOLT, an electric rollercoaster at sea.

At $15, this approximately 50-second ride is exhilarating. With a throttle and 15 seconds of booster, cruisers can even control their speed on this one-of-a-kind attraction. We made sure to ride BOLT, and definitely think it is worth the money.

Onboard Activities

The Fun Times daily program and the Carnival HUB app list the daily activities occurring throughout the ship, and there were many of them. Many of these activities are pretty standard offerings on Carnival Cruise Line ships. Still, it is nearly impossible to be bored on this ship.

During the day, there were several trivia sessions on various topics. There were some generic themes, like geography or sports trivia. Then, other sessions focused on television and movies like Harry Potter and Friends.

For those looking for some group competitions, there were several daytime games as well. Competitions like Identity Crisis, Hog Wild, or Fact or Fiction also ran throughout the day, challenging groups to compete for a prized plastic medallion. In the theater, the What’s Age Got to Do With It was a fun spin on a couples match game.

Additionally, there were dance classes, like the Thriller Dance class or country line dancing, for those wanting to learn some new moves. For music enthusiasts, there were several sessions of games like Name that Tune or the Lyrical Challenge and karaoke sessions. New to Carnival Jubilee is also the Lonestar Tailgate which is essentially just organized sessions of poolside games.

As a family-focused cruise line, many of these onboard activities were open to cruisers of all ages. The cruise line also offers matinee shows, like PG-rated comedy or even a magic show on busy sea days.

For the younger kids, several Dr. Seuss-inspired events occurred throughout the week as well, including parades and a story time.

Not to mention, cruisers could watch ice carving on the pool deck, towel folding demonstrations, or participate in sports competitions. There are also the Dive-In Movies on Deck 17. The giant movie screen overlooking the pool deck showed popular family-friendly movies like The Little Mermaid, The Lorax, and Barbie during our sailing.

Entertainment

As pretty traditional cruisers, our standard evening on any cruise is usually dinner and a show coupled with a few cocktails along the way. With so much nightlife on Carnival Jubilee, seeing all the entertainment does take some planning though.

While we typically get to all the shows, we couldn’t catch all of them this week since we were cruising with a group and our dinners took well over 2 hours most nights.

Nonetheless, Carnival Jubilee features two signature entertainment spaces. The main theater on Decks 6 and 7 is home to three Playlist Productions, headliner acts, and the Carnival Cruise Line exclusive Family Feud.  

The Center Stage is on Deck 6 in the Grand Central zone, with viewing areas from Decks 6, 7, and 8.

On the first night of our cruise, the new Playlist Productions show Dear Future Husband was featured in the Jubilee Theater.

Cruisers join the wedding party as they make their way around the ship celebrating their bachelor/bachelorette parties and then the actual wedding ceremony. The show has popular songs and dances you find on any cruise. The cruise line had me with the premise, but lost me when it crammed both Gangnam Style and the Macarena into the musical.

On Night 4, the theater was home to Family Feud Live. This Carnival Cruise Line exclusive entertainment offering should not be missed. The cruise director, Kyndall Fire, did a great job hosting this crowd-pleasing event with three show times, including a late night adult version.

On Night 5, we settled into Soulbound. I was more a fan of this show than Heidi as she preferred Dear Future Husband over this one. Soulbound is a supernatural journey that includes Motown and rock hits, along with lighting effects for an engaging and mystical performance.

Also new on Carnival Jubilee is Rio Celebration. This show tries to elicit the energy and flair of a Carnival celebration from Brazil. It featured a pre-show of predictable Latin hits, a parade, and a show with the same singers, musicians, and dancers. It was high energy, with fun costumes and aerial acts. Yet, it did not compare in quality to the Most Magnificent Circus that we saw on Carnival Celebration last year.

We missed the other Playlist Productions show Celestial Strings, but it’s one of our favorites. Additionally, there was a headliner magician and a second show in the Center Stage that we were unable to attend.

Main Dining Room

Carnival Jubilee offers two dining options. Traditional dining has two times, an early seating at 5:30 PM and a late seating at 7:45 PM. With traditional dining, cruisers have the same waitstaff and dine at the same table each evening.

The other option is Your Time Dining. With this option, cruisers can dine whenever they want by simply joining a virtual queue in the HUB app. However, you are not guaranteed the same waitstaff. And like a restaurant on land, you may have to wait for a table. Some nights, we waited up to an hour after joining the queue. Unlike other cruise lines with flexible dining, cruisers can not pre-make reservations.

Regardless of the dining option you choose, the two main dining rooms, Atlantic and Pacific, dish out a rotational menu that changes nightly. Carnival just rolled out new main dining room menus with some enhancements. These include new dishes and specialties from Chief Culinary Officer, Emeril Lagasse.

During our three visits to the main dining room, some of the standout dishes were the Girod Street salad, spaghetti carbonara, jambalaya, prime rib, banana cream pie, and of course, the melting chocolate cake.

Now, along with the main dining room, Your Time Dining cruisers have two additional restaurant options for dinner, Chibang and Cucina del Capitano. Assigned Dining cruisers can still eat at these venues but not until after 7:45 PM.

Chibang is a mix of Asian and Mexican cuisine. It features items like spring rolls, sweet and sour shrimp, to margaritas, tacos, and bowls. Cucina del Capitano serves up Italian-American cuisine. Can’t miss dishes here include fried calamari, chicken parmesan, and tiramisu.

Unlike the main dining room, these two restaurants’ menus are the same every night.

On Carnival Jubilee, is it complimentary for all visits to Chibang and Cucina del Capitano, but on sister ships, only the first visit is free. On Mardi Gras and Celebration, subsequent visits are $8 each. While we enjoyed our meals at each, we don’t see ourselves ever paying to dine here as the quality doesn’t compare to specialty restaurants on other cruise lines.

Specialty Dining

Along with all the complimentary venues, Carnival Jubilee offers a few specialty restaurants. While there are so many free and delicious choices available, you certainly do not have to pay extra. Yet, these upcharge venues provide an excellent alternative to the other options throughout the ship. During our cruise, we dined at the two most elegant restaurants.

We ate at the line’s signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555, on the first formal night. This open-kitchen venue serves classic starters, entrees, and desserts and is just $49 a person plus an 18% gratuity.  

Cruisers can’t go wrong with the several cuts of beef available, or you can opt for a surf and turf like I did. There is also jumbo shrimp cocktail, risotto, and the decadent chocolate sphere for dessert.

On the last night of the cruise, we dined at Rudi’s Seagrill, which also has a cover charge of $49 a person. This seafood-centric venue delivers fresh options with Chef Rudi’s unique flair and plate presentations. Starters like calamari and seafood bisque, along with entrees including a surf and turf and the signature crab stuffed lobster tail, will satisfy any palette.

Another popular upcharge venue is Bonsai Teppanyaki. This Japanese-style steakhouse is small, with only three tables. So, book this dinner and a show early—the 4-course meal is $42 a person for dinner. Lunch is slightly cheaper at $38 a person before the service charge.

Next door is Bonsai Sushi. This a la carte venues serve sushi rolls, sashimi, and other Asian delicacies for lunch on sea days and every evening for dinner. This venue is even open until midnight if you want a late night snack.

There’s also Emeril’s Bistro 717. Emeril’s Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner serving New Orleans themed cuisine at a la carte prices. For breakfast, guests can enjoy shrimp and grits, a breakfast po-boy, sweet potato waffles, and the popular beignets. For lunch and dinner, options include oysters, steamed lobster, crawfish, Natchitoches meat pies, and more.

Other more unique specialty dining experiences include Carnival Kitchen and Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast.

Carnival Kitchen cooking classes are led by a chef who provides step-by-step directions for guests to prepare the dishes at their own cooking stations. And then, you get to enjoy the finished product afterwards. These classes are available to book for prices $45 to $65 per person.

Nightlife

Similar to the daytime activities, when the sun goes down, Carnival Jubilee offers a variety of activities.

One of the biggest draws in the evenings is comedy. Carnival Jubilee has not one but two comedy venues. The Punchliner Comedy Club, forward on Deck 6, is the adult comedy venue. In Limelight Lounge, midship on Deck 7, a different comedian offers family-friendly comedy shows. There were also additional late-night comedy sets with different material in the main theater.

During our cruise, there were a total of five different comedians. On most nights, there were at least three sets in each venue, with comedians rotating between the PG and adult venues throughout the week. Among the several comedians we saw, our favorite was DJ Cooch.

Additionally, there were various live musical acts around the ship along with the main theater and Center Stage entertainment.  

Olga offered classical piano music in the early evenings and after dinner, mainly in the Golden Mermaid. A trio of violinists, Sky Breeze, offered modern and classic songs in the evening in several venues. Country music fans could enjoy the cowboy, Jeffrey Michaels, whereas fans of acoustic pub music could settle into sets by Owen Stephen.

The Havana Bar was home to a Latin Fiesta dance party that featured Mambo Magic most nights. Plus, the Backyard Band rocked out the Summer Landing for several nights, featuring rock, country, and even some pop songs with its duo of singers.

Carnival cruiser favorite Ben tickled the ivories at the Piano Bar 88 most nights of the cruise, with the first hour of his set reserved for families. Not to mention, on several nights, cruisers could belt-out their own tunes with karaoke sessions.

Grand Central was also home to popular shows like Deal or No Deal. Like other cruise lines, guests in the audience can play along, too, for the chance to win cash prizes and even a free cruise. There were not one but two sessions of the Love and Marriage game show. There was also the Guess that Groove game show. This supersized version of Finish That Lyric had everyone in the Grand Central singing along!

Carnival Jubilee had several parties as well, which were high-energy and packed with cruisers ready to party. There was the White Hot Night Party and the 80’s Rock and Glow Party led by Kyndall on the lido deck. Of course, our preference was the 80’s party complete with glow sticks and plenty of 80’s hits.

Bars and Lounges

There are over 15 bars and lounges on Carnival Jubilee. Several of these venues offer signature cocktail menus, with a few that are new to the fleet.

I particularly liked the drinks at Dr. Inks in the Currents zone on Deck 6. With interactive elements on the digital screens and a squid with a doctorate, what’s not to like? My go-to was the smoky Seahorse Glide, while Heidi enjoyed the fruity Crimson Catch.

At the Golden Mermaid, Heidi’s favorite bar which is also on Deck 6, light piano music accompanied signature cocktails like the Radiant Rose and the Atlantis potion.

Most of the other bars and lounges on the ship are familiar to Carnival cruisers. Out on the pool deck, cruisers can enjoy boat drinks and vacation libations at the RedFrog Tiki Bar. There is also the Serenity Bar on Deck 18 forward. This bar mixes up a range of custom sangrias and wine-infused cocktails, perfect for sipping in the sun while enjoying this adults-only space on Carnival Jubilee.

The Havana Bar offers drinks like a Daiquiri Clasico or the Hotel Nacional, which perfectly complements the live music or Fun Squad events in this Deck 8 Latin-inspired venue.

Aft of Deck 8, the Marina Bar serves up upgraded versions of classic cocktails, like the Marina Cape Cod and the Sailor’s Iced Tea. During the day, the Watering Hole is an outdoor bar on the Deck 8 promenade with refreshing drinks like the Watermelon Crush.

Like several other Carnival Cruise Line ships, there is a brewery onboard Carnival Jubilee. Even if you don’t opt for one of the upcharge brewery tours, you will not want to miss out on the Parched Pig brews at Guys’ Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse. This menu also features cocktails like the popular Bacon Manhattan. Nearby, there’s the Heroes Tribute Lounge as well with its own specialty menu.

Piano Bar 88 serves a specialty drink menu along with some rowdy sing-along songs. The Alchemy Bar on Deck 7 mixes up some tasty concoctions, like the off-label Strawberry Sidecar, 40 is the New 20, and the Cucumber Sunrise. And Punchliner Comedy Club has a small specialty menu as well.

Other bars and lounges serve the standard menu, like the Limelight Lounge, the Grand View Bar, the Casino Bar, Tides Pool Bar, and Center Stage Bar.

While Dr. Inks, Golden Mermaid, and Alchemy Bar were our personal favorites, there are plenty of bars and lounges on Carnival Jubilee to make good use of your Cheers drink package!

Staterooms

For this Carnival Jubilee cruise ship review, we stayed in cabin 12235. This balcony cabin was located on the starboard side of the ship, forward of the forward bank of elevators.

This category 8D balcony cabin offered plenty of storage for our clothes and gear. Compared to similar mega-ships, this stateroom boasted the most closet space by far.

Immediately entering our room, the bathroom was on the right. Like our balcony cabin on Carnival Celebration, the bathroom featured a rectangular shower with a glass door. The vanity space was on par for a cruise ship cabin, and there were two additional small shelves for storing toiletries.

Beyond the bathroom was the desk and the sofa. Past this living area was the bed. The bed was on the midship wall facing forward. Finally, beyond the bed was the balcony.

The desk had three drawers, a mini fridge, and two shelves off to one side above the desk. The extra-long desk offered a workspace for me and a makeup counter for Heidi. While there were no USB-C outlets, the desk did have three power outlets and four USBs. So, we could charge all our gear with no issues.

The sofa was a good size with plenty of room for two adults to spread out. Although, there were no toss pillows.

On each side of the bed, there were very small shelves in place of nightstands. The top shelf was just big enough for a cell phone. Above these shelves was a USB outlet for charging that phone below.

Lastly, the balcony offered adequate space with two chairs and a table. It was the ideal spot to watch sail away from ports of call or to do some work in the afternoon. Unlike some cruise lines, the chairs did not have ottomans to go along with them.

While the cabin was functional, we think the staterooms on Carnival cruise ships are rather plain. With light beechwood tones, there are minimal accents or thoughtfulness in the decor. The staterooms certainly do not exude elegance or premium finishes. Still, it was a comfortable setup for our week-long Caribbean sailing.

Overall Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship Review

With various restaurants, onboard activities, nightlife, and entertainment, there is plenty to do at all times of day on Carnival’s newest ship.

We were particularly fond of the casual dining options throughout the ship. Not to mention, we enjoyed all of the complimentary outdoor activities, various game shows, comedy shows, and pool deck parties. While we are not the biggest fans of the Playlist Productions when compared to other cruise lines, the shows are high energy and feature a cast of talented singers and dancers.

Carnival dubs its vessels “fun ships”, and we can attest that everyone onboard was having a great time. From the parties, to the competitions, to the various other activities, these events were well attended and for good reason. Kyndall and her Fun Squad staff kept everyone engaged. On the flipside, if you are looking to escape the crowds and relax, Carnival Jubilee might not be the ship for you.

Carnival Jubilee sails from Galveston, TX, offering 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries. Mixing the onboard experiences with classic ports of call like Cozumel and Costa Maya, Carnival Jubilee offers a cruise vacation that your family won’t soon forget.

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