I've been on Carnival's cheapest and most expensive cruise lines — see how the $430-per-day difference compares
13.11.2024 - 23:13
/ insider.com
Indulging in complimentary Champagne and caviar on a Seabourn cruise might make you think, "Toto, we're not on a Carnival ship anymore."
In actuality, you are.
Carnival Corp operates nine cruise lines. Its eponymous and most recognizable brand, Carnival Cruise Line, is also its most affordable, replete with flashy amenities, large ships, and convenient itineraries.
If you'd rather trade its a-la-carte amenities for an all-inclusive option, opt for its sister company, Seabourn.
The luxury cruise line is among the highest-end brands on the market, as evidenced by its cabins' walk-in closets, Molton Brown toiletries, and attentive hosts. With these luxuries come a heftier price tag — Seabourn's cheapest weeklong 2025 voyage is seven times pricier than Carnival's.
A deep dive into the two brands' differences shows how Carnival Corp has successfully captured the wallets of older, wealthier travelers and families on a budget.
Amid soaring demand, the cruise giant recently achieved a record third-quarter revenue of $7.9 billion, up $1 billion from 2023.
Carnival Cruise Line's affordable fares and large amenity-filled ships are bait for cruising families and millennials, the latter of whom make up most of its guests.
The brand operates 27 ships that accommodate between 2,124 and 5,362 travelers. Expect activities like a roller coaster, ropes course, and waterslides on some of its newest vessels.
I spent four nights on its latest Carnival Firenze.
It's technically not a new ship — in 2022, the cruise line acquiredthen-two-year-old Firenze from its sister brand Costa Cruises. As such, some of its amenities, like the mini-golf and ropes courses, don't look as high-tech as its competitors.
At least they're complimentary, along with activities like the sports court, foosball, and ping-pong.
Nine of Firenze's 16 dining venues are complimentary, including the main dining rooms, Guy Fieri burger stall, and Italian-Mexican kiosk Tomodoro.
The rest, such as the sushi restaurant and steakhouse, have a surcharge. Expect to pay extra for chicken wings in the buffet and popcorn for movie nights, too.
The ship also has several themed bars, although you'll have to pay up to indulge. Cocktails run about $13, while beers and seltzers cost about $9.
Carnival operates cruises across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Most of its 2025 itineraries are Caribbean voyages.
Its cheapest seven-day voyage, a roundtrip Long Beach, California, to Mexico itinerary, starts at about $510 per person — about $73 per person and day. Again, expect to pay more if you want to treat yourself to a nice dinner, a few drinks, and a cabin with a window.
Ultra-luxury cruise lines have several standout characteristics: