(Note that the arcade and Bolt cost extra. Depending on where you pop open your own bottle, you might be slapped with a corkage fee of $15 or more. Related: 26 cruising secrets from an expert that will blow your mind. There is a fee for entering the Thalassotherapy pool and thermal suite on Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, Carnival Splendor, and Carnival Sunshine. It's also one of the few vessels left in the fleet that still features jaw-dropping interiors designed by renowned architect Joe Farcus, who made Carnival synonymous with quirky patterns, bright colors and neon lights. Carnival Horizon Cloud 9 Spa & Thermal Suite Video Tour The way around these fees is simple: Dont order room service. Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. They do offer it for two devices per person, which is nice since you can't switch between devices on MSC. Carnival Cruise Line Considers a First-of-Its-Kind Onboard Change Those $499-a-week rates that you see advertised include not just a room on a ship but also meals and entertainment. I tried the cheapest MSC Cruises Yacht Club suite. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. MSC Seascape truly embodies all that is great about MSC and this class of ship. Overall I was thoroughly impressed by my Yacht Club experience, and I felt like they delivered a strong value proposition. Not only is it one of Carnival's newest vessels, but it's also one of the largest, and it has tons of activities to keep families with children busy. That is less than the price for the thermal suite for two people. A subreddit dedicated to Carnival Cruise Lines. External site which may or may not meet Breakfast is offered there each morning, and snacks and drinks including free soda are provided throughout the day. Mardi Gras is full of fantastic family-friendly dining, including the line's Dr. Seuss-themed Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast (for a small fee). MSC does have a specialty dining restaurant, including a steak house, sushi, Mexican, teppanyaki, and seafood, at an extra cost. This was my initial question when I learned that MSC Cruises has inside cabins in their Yacht Club section. The Breeze and the Dream are mostly identical and have wonderful Thermal Suites. I would say the pool is like a hot tub but not miserably hot like When I used the thermal suite on Splendor the pool was much larger and conducive for several people to sit in and actually soak. I wore mine to walk through the spa front desk and took it off once inside. A growing number of cruise ships have luxurious spa complexes that go well beyond treatment rooms. They allow you to spend more time outside without the intense crowds of the pool area. It can make a sailing significantly more expensive than it initially appears. And the interior cabin option has tons of unique benefits at a lower cost than a traditional suite. All for Fun. Norwegian Encores much-ballyhooed go-cart track (its one of the only ones at sea) will set you back $15 for a single, eight-lap ride. The only ships on which you'll find larger accommodations are the line's newest: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, all of which house Presidential Suites. External site which may or may not meet By This deck area is far more spacious than what I have seen on other cruise ships like Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. Still, for the most part, cruises arent all-inclusive. Other lines that have started charging for room service include Norwegian Cruise Line, which now has a $9.95 convenience charge for room service. So, it's important to know that Carnival won't serve any passenger more than 15 alcoholic drinks in a single day. Carnival is a line that harmoniously brings people from all walks of life together. Although you can rent cabanas, I personally dont think you need to, as there is plenty of shade and chairs. Lets Sail the world the Virgin way. Check here before booking an award fare. Within the lounge area is a crystal staircase that leads up to the Yacht Club dining room, which looks out over the lounge/ outdoor patios with equally impressive views. The ships most popular staterooms are Balcony Staterooms, which also come in a wide variety of configurations and locations. And those who love both types of food can have an interesting smorgasbord of both Chinese and Mexican dishes! Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card. Panoramas is shallow and very small. Cloud 9 Spa | Carnival Cruise Line To me, $314 seems kinda steep for a balcony to balcony move and you're getting Spa access. Fun for All. First transatlantic cruise coming up on Sunday. Page will reload to reflect new bookings. cruise Longer voyages mean more time to explore but also fewer children and less of a frat party vibe. River lines and luxury lines often offer fitness classes at no extra charge, as does startup line Virgin Voyages new Scarlet Lady. Masks: not required in the thermal area. Offer ends 5/3/23. Nobody wore it while relaxing and it probably isnt possible in the steam rooms. On many vessels, though, youll face a steep charge just to set foot in one of these areas. So this alone would almost make it worth the upgrade, with $760 in benefits. So, to best answer this question, I booked an inside cabin in the Yacht Club for a price of $1,689 per person on MSC Seascape, MSCs newest ship sailing in the Caribbean. I have seen where their upsell is not really that much different in price, and one time it was even higher than buying the same room outright. Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. On many ships, youll pay $10 or more for classes in yoga, Pilates, spinning and the like. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! It can save you money if you normally would order a large number of drinks every day. Thank you ninjacat123 for that information. To give everyone an opportunity to dine in this unique venue, we are implementing a pilot project on Mardi Gras All guests are welcome to enjoy a complimentary dinner during their voyage. Water is like warm at best (even compared to other Carnival hot tubs). Page will reload to reflect new bookings. It has a fun beach club vibe with a pool, hot tub, tons of loungers, a bar, tables, and chairs, It was never hard to get a lounger, but the day beds seemed to be snapped up early on in the day, and they definitely could have used more umbrellas, as t was quite hot throughout our cruise. Carnival Cruise Line has implemented a test regarding charging for a second meal at one of the restaurants found on its Excel class ships. Norwegian has an adult lounge area called Vibe Beach Club on some of its ships that can cost a whopping $99 per person for a day pass (or $278 for two if you want a cabana). Carnival charges $59 for a two-hour class in the kitchen classroom on one of its newest ships, Carnival Panorama. Priority embarkation and disembarkation, including some ports. Note, however, that Grand Suites run only 345 square feet with 85-square-foot balconies disappointing when you consider some of Royal Caribbean's largest rooms are nearly five times that size. The lunch and dinner menu changes daily, but it also has everyday classics such as filet mignon, fish, and pasta, to name just a few. Deck 9? Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Dining on any Carnival ship is a highlight, thanks to quality ingredients, a wide variety of cuisine and the overall energetic, warm and friendly service. Carnival So, which Carnival cruise ship is the best? #2 DH absolutely LOVES hot tubs, but I have a problem with either the kids in them, or the adults who haven't gotten out in 3 hours but have been drinking the entire time, so I'm hoping that this could be a great happy medium for us. This pool is the only miss in Panoramas spa area in Related: 21 tips and tricks to make your cruise go more smoothly. It was nice that the complimentary drink package is valid everywhere on the ship, including the rooftop. Dedicated to the past, present and future of travel, the Gateway Zone on aft Decks 6 and 7 houses two of my favorite bars, the sophisticated Golden Jubilee (which is adorned with decorative elements rescued from past Carnival ships) and Latitudes, which combines air, sea and train travel themes under a double-deck ceiling and towering fiberoptic windows that broadcast changing imagery throughout the cruise. Some of the signature attractions on big cruise ships such as Norwegian Encore and Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas come with extra fees. They seem to be aware of the problem, but ship design is not within their control. The test is taking place aboard Mardi Gras, but not on Celebration. Ill answer your questions from my most recent experience. By This haven for relaxation is inspired by traditional Turkish Baths and can be a refuge for self-care or a shared experience. Small clusters of seating that can be found in various corners of the the public areas where friends and families can gather for a drink or even just sit and people watch are an especially nice touch on a ship of this size. With that in mind, one ship that offers slightly more exclusive options is Carnival Horizon the second vessel in Carnival's three-ship Vista class. Princess sometimes turns its free buffet area into a crab shack experience serving such items as snow crab, jumbo shrimp, clams and mussels for a hefty fee. Not that this always works: Norwegian charges a $15 corkage fee even if you want to drink your own wine in your own room. Guests received private transportation on the island, which is convenient given Ocean House is on the far side of the island from the ship. It also and this could really drive you nuts adds an 18% gratuity fee on top of the service charge for good measure. A bit of a hidden gem on these ships. If you want to splurge on your cruise, the Yacht Club is absolutely the way to go. That is alcoholic drinks and indeed sodas, coffee etc is unlimited. It really is up to you. Related: The best cruise ships for solo travelers. At the expansive kids club, daily programming includes scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and video games. Another major bonus, guests were treated to breakfast and lunch buffets while basking under the sun. Bottom line, the extra space, and staff made everything feel easy and relaxed, right in the middle of a cruise ship with nearly 5000 guests. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Complimentary room service used to be a standard on cruise ships, but a growing number of lines now charge extra for it. Cabins in the Family Harbor category feature a nautical theme, plenty of storage and space to sleep at least four people. On the port side of Deck 6, there is the Cloud 9 Fitness Center with its excellent LifeFitness cardio machines (most facing the sea), a weight room and stretching area. The bathroom looked to be the same size as a standard interior cabin, which has a compact shower, but everything you need, including upgraded bath products such as shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Terms and Conditions Apply. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. AlVNY, 14 hours ago in Carnival Cruise Lines. A handful of specialty restaurants on a limited basis (Cucina del Capitano, Chibang, Guy Fieri's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse). It all depends on your specific preferences. The suites it has are smaller than most other brands' high-end accommodations, and they do not include amenities like butler service. They have fruit infused water (I think it was orange, lemon, cucumber on the Dream) in large cooler jugs one of the rooms. I don't think you can br This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Find the right card for you.