Sailing on the Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship

Are you getting ready to set sail on the Carnival Celebration? We sailed on the Carnival Celebration and found it to be an amazing cruise ship. Sailing the Carnival Celebration was an incredible experience, and we suggest sailing on this ship. We found many things to do on this incredible cruise ship. There are numerous pools to relax in, a large spa, and lots of food to munch on, like the delicious wood-fired pizza. You can also take a chance at the casino. There are thrilling water slides, and you can even ride on a rollercoaster while at sea! Which we fully enjoyed! There is never a dull moment while sailing on the Carnival Celebration. Whether you are an avid cruiser or new to cruising, you will enjoy going on a cruise on the Carnival Celebration.

Carnival’s Excel Class Ships

The Carnival Celebration is one of the Carnival Excel Class fleet ships, along with the Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Jubilee. Carnival Cruise Lines Excel Class ships are the largest ships in Carnival’s fleet and offer more experiences on board their ships, such as enhanced entertainment and increased dining options. Whether you are looking for a relaxing vacation, family fun, or a great time with friends, there are many things to do on Carnival’s Excel Class Ships. And the Celebration is a perfect place to start. 

Carnival Celebration Port Destinations

The Carnival Celebration usually sails from its home port, the Port of Miami, and makes many port stops throughout the Caribbean. The Celebration goes on a variety of six, seven, and eight-day sailings in the Caribbean. The Celebration sails to Western Caribbean destinations such as Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay. The more popular sailings on the Celebration are to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean destinations. Eastern Caribbean destinations can include a combination of stops at Amber Cove near Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Grand Turk, Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Southern Caribbean sailings include stops at the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.

Here is what you can expect as you sail around to various Caribbean island destinations on the Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship.

Dining Options on the Carnival Celebration

Carnival is known for having many dining options on its cruise ships, and the Carnival Celebration, like other Excel class ships, does not disappoint. There are many dining options that are included with your cruise fare. You can stop by the Lido Marketplace Buffet if you want a little bit of everything. Or, head over to the Main Dining Room for a three-course meal. Food options are not limited to the buffet or the dining room. There is also Guy’s Burger Joint for a delicious burger, tacos at Blue Iguana, and so much more.

In addition to food options included in the price of your cruise, there are several specialty dining options available for an additional cost. There is Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the vibrant Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki, to name a couple. The Carnival Celebration has casual to upscale dining options to satisfy every craving. Even though some dining options are an additional cost, we recommend at least giving one a try during your cruise.

Dining Options Included in the Cost of the Cruise

You may be wondering what dining options are included in the cost of the cruise. Well, in this section we will dive into included dining options. Whether you want more of a dining experience or quick grab-and-go options, you will have several options to choose from. And the best part is that these options are included in the cost of the cruise.

Eating in the Main Dining Room

When purchasing your cruise, you will be asked if you want Early, Late, or My Time Dining. The dining time you choose corresponds to when you will have dinner in the Main Dining Room. Early dining starts at 5:00 pm, and late dining starts at 8:00 pm. If you choose My Time Dining, you are able to go to the dining room any time between 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. However, you do not have to eat in the Main Dining Room if you do not want to, but sometimes it can be a nice change. Also, if you have heard about the famous Carnival Melting Cake, it is only available in the Main Dining Room.

Having Breakfast in the Main Dining Room

Additionally, the Main Dining Room serves breakfast on sea days and port days. If you want to eat breakfast in the Main Dining Room, all you have to do is check-in for a table. You are not given a specific dining time for breakfast. The breakfast served on the ship can vary based on the day. Sea days usually have a brunch service, and port days have a standard breakfast menu. On sea days, the Main Dining Room serves brunch from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. On port days, breakfast is served from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. 

Reserving Your Table in the Main Dining Room

When eating at the Main Dining Room, you will use the Carnival Hub App to check in before getting to the dining room. We recommend keeping an eye on the wait time in the App as there are times when the wait time can be as little as 10 minutes to about 70 minutes. When your table is ready, you will be sent a notification through the App. You will then have 10 minutes to get to the dining room. We usually do My Time Dining and do not wait too long. More people tend to like dining early, so the wait time can be less around or after 7:00 pm, which works for us if we have been munching earlier in the day.  

Stop By the Lido Marketplace Buffet

The Lido Marketplace Buffet (Deck 16 Aft) on the Carnival Celebration offers a variety of food options. The buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffet has multiple sections, each serving the same items, which helps minimize the amount of time people have to stand in line. During breakfast time, you will also find an omelet bar if you do not want the egg options found in the buffet. You will also find several drink stations. The drink stations have drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate, water, iced tea, and juice. You will also find soda fountains, but in order to activate them, you will need to swipe your sign and sail card as there is an additional cost for soda.

During lunchtime at the Lido Marketplace Buffet, you will also find other fun food options. You will find Seadogs, which serves hot dogs, a Shawarma section, and a gelato area. The Schwarma was delicious, and personally, I preferred the beef shawarma over the chicken. You will find these food options across from the salad bar towards the back of the Lido Marketplace. 

Stop By Shaq’s Big Chicken

Shaq’s Big Chicken is a popular food option on many Carnival Ships. You can stop by for breakfast, lunch, or for a snack before dinner. Shaq’s Big Chicken (Deck 16 Aft) serves breakfast starting at 7:00 am to 11:00 am. If you sleep in, you can get some of the breakfast options up until 3:00 pm. From 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Shaq’s Big Chicken serves chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, and fries. I love stopping by Shaq’s Big Chicken when I am on a Carnival ship that has Shaq’s. The fries are amazing, especially when you dip them in Shaq Sauce.

Visit One of Guy Fieri’s Restaurants

Similar to other ships in Carnival’s fleet, you will find Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse on the Carnival Celebration. If you are looking for a delicious, juicy burger and fries, stop by Guy’s Burger Joint on Deck 17 Mid. Guy’s Burger Joint is open from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is located on Deck 8 Aft. The hours for Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse will vary depending on the cruise day and dining service. On embarkation day and sea days, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is open for lunch from 12 pm to 2:30 pm. For dinner, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is open every day from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Buffets at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse

Many ships in Carnival’s fleet of ships have a midnight buffet. On other Carnival ships, such as the Carnival Radiance, the midnight buffet is in the Lido Marketplace. On the Celebration, the midnight buffet is at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse. The midnight buffet is held from 11:00 pm to 12:30 am. Helpful tip, when we went, the line on the left was shorter because people did not realize there were two lines instead of one. Additionally, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse also serves a morning buffet if you want to avoid the crowded buffet on the Lido deck. Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse hosting the midnight buffet and serving breakfast make it unique in comparison to other ships in Carnival’s fleet.

Get Tacos from BlueIguana Cantina

The BlueIguana Cantina is located on Deck 16 Mid and serves breakfast and lunch. For breakfast they offer delicious breakfast burritos, arepas, and huevos rancheros. Breakfast is available from 7:00 am to 10:30 am, Lunch is served from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm on sea days and 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm on port days. During lunchtime, you can choose between tacos and burritos. 

In front of the BlueIguana Cantina, you will find a great salsa bar. The salsa bar has a variety of salsas to choose from, such as pico de gallo, salsa verde, roasted salsas, and spicy habanero salsa. In addition to salsas, you can find toppings like lettuce, onions, cilantro, and lemon. You will also find refreshing watermelon slices in the salsa bar.

Grab a Sandwich at the Deco Deli

The Deco Deli is located on Deck 8 Mid next to Miami Slice and is open from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The Deco Deli serves various types of sandwiches, such as classic turkey, grilled ham and cheese, and hot dogs. Deco Deli also serves Latin-themed sandwiches, such as a Cubano, Croqueta Sandwich, and Pan con Lechon.

Grab a Slice of Pizza at Miami Slice

Right next to Deco Deli is Miami Slice on Deck 8 Mid, which serves pizza from 9:00 am to 4:00 am. And yes, the pizza is available throughout the day and night. There are five different options to choose from: Margherita, Pepperoni, Quattro Formaggi, La Habana, and Picadillo. My personal favorites are La Habana and Pepperoni.

Stop By Street Eats

Street Eats is a food truck-style or open-air food option located on Deck 16 Mid next to the Seafood Shack. There are three food options here: Time Fries, Mad Sizzle, and Steam Dream. Each food station showcases one item, and the items change daily. During our cruise, it was always fun to stop by and see what items were being served.

On one day, Steam Dream may have a Spicy Pork Bao and, the next day, a Spiced Beef Bao, both of which are delicious. Mad Sizzle can have Pad Thai one day, and on another day, can have Mediterranean Beef Kabobs or Lomo Saltado. Time Fries can have Philly Cheesesteak Fries one day and then have Chili Cheese Fries on another day. The variety is incredible!

Fresh Creations

Fresh Creations is located on Deck 18 Forward in the adults-only Serenity Pool Deck. You can order one of the chef’s creations or a salad made to your liking. Only those 21 and over can order from Fresh Creations in the Serenity Deck as this deck is an adult-only deck.

Specialty Cruise Dining Options

There are multiple specialty dining options on board the Carnival Celebration. Specialty dining comes at an additional cost. For an additional cost, you can have seafood, sushi, Teppanyaki, Italian, Creole, Mexican, or Chinese food, or visit the Steakhouse. The amount of specialty dining available surpasses that of other Carnival ships such as the Carnival Radiance, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Magic, and other non-Excel Carnival ships.

The Seafood Shack

On Deck 16 Forward, you will find the Seafood Shack next to Street Eats. Here, you can order various types of seafood. The price of the food here varies depending on what you order. If you order lobster or crab legs, you may pay the market price compared to other items on the menu that have a set price.

Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki

You can find variations of Bonsai Sushi on many of Carnival’s fleet of ships. In comparison to other Carnival ships, such as the Magic, there are more food options offered at Bonsai Sushi on the Celebration. As the name suggests, Bonsai is the restaurant onboard where you can order sushi rolls. Right next to Bonsai Sushi, you will find Bonsai Teppanyaki. Bonsai Teppanyaki is a similar dining experience to Benihana. We highly recommend making reservations for Bonsai Teppanyaki before you embark on your cruise. We had a fun experience, and the food was worth the additional cost. You can reserve Bonsai Teppanyaki for lunch or dinner, we went for lunch. You will find Bonsai Teppanyaki on a handful of other Carnival ships like the Panorama and the other Excel class Ships. 

Emeril’s Bistro 1397

If you enjoy Creole flavors, visit Emeril’s Bistro 1397. This is chef Emeril Lagasse’s second restaurant at sea. Although Creole flavors are the heart of his restaurant, specialty items at Emeril’s Bistro change daily. Emeril’s Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with minimal additional cost.

Rudi’s Seagrill

Rudi’s Seagrill is a seafood restaurant on the Carnival Celebration.  If you love seafood, make reservations to eat at Rudi’s Seagrill. If you are traveling with someone who does not eat seafood, there are some non-seafood options.

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse

The Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse is Carnival’s signature steakhouse, found on its fleet of ships. The menu at Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse on the Celebration is the same as on the other Carnival ships. If you are interested in going to the steakhouse, we recommend making reservations before you cruise. We also recommend booking for the first night, the day you embark, because you can get a complimentary bottle of wine to go with your dinner. When we went, we got a bottle of Merlot and were able to take it with us since we did not finish the wine at dinner.

Chibang and Cucina del Capitano

There are a couple of exceptions for specialty dining that are worth noting. These exceptions could change in the future. The exceptions are specifically for Chibang and Cucina del Capitano.

Chibang

Chibang is a Mexican and Chinese restaurant on the Carnival Celebration. The menu is split between Mexican and Chinese food options. When we went, we went for dinner, and everything we had was delicious. My favorite items were the Egg Drop Soup and Cantonese Pork. The menu for lunch is different from dinner. Chibang offers noodle bowls and burrito bowls during lunchtime.

As of spring 2024, your first visit to Chibang for dinner is included in the cost of your cruise fare. Any additional visits for dinner will cost $8 per visit. However, eating lunch at Chibang is included with your cruise fare. 

Cucina del Capitano

Cucina del Capitano is Carnival’s Italian restaurant on their fleet of ships. The dinner menu offers many options and is a multi-course dinner. We recommend going to dinner at Cucina del Capitano at least once. Similarly to Chibang, your first visit to Cucina del Capitano is included in your cruise fare. Any additional visits cost $8 per person per visit. This is as of spring 2024 and could change in the future. 

Like Chibang, lunch is served at Cucina del Capitano at no additional cost. Lunch at Cucina del Capitano is a build-your-own pasta bowl.

24-Hour Room Service

When you are on a cruise, room service is available 24 hours a day. Continental breakfast is included in your cruise fare. Continental breakfast includes items such as cereal, bakery items, yogurt, and fruit, and drinks like apple and orange juice, coffee, and tea. However, there is a charge for traditional breakfast items such as eggs and pancakes. Breakfast is available between 6:00 am and 10:00 am. If you want to see the breakfast menu, you can scan the QR code in your room during breakfast time or check the menu on the Carnival Hub App during breakfast hours.

Additionally, there is an all-day menu with many food options. There is a charge for items ordered from the all-day menu. The all-day menu is available beginning at 10:00 am.

To order room service you can call from your stateroom or use the Carnival Hub App. Ordering through the Carnival Hub App is easy and convenient since you can order from just about anywhere on the ship. The Hub App guides you through setting your location on the ship so you can receive your order without a problem. To make the delivery process easier, you are able to add your photo so that the delivery attendant can easily recognize you for your order.

Included Drinks

When it comes to beverages on board, you do not need to purchase drinks if you do not want to. Drinks included in the price of the cruise are water, coffee, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea, and hot chocolate. In addition to these drinks, there are a variety of juices, milk, and chocolate milk available during breakfast hours. You will find these drinks at several drink stations on the ship. There are several drink stations in the buffet, near Big Chicken, by Deco Deli, and several other locations on the ship. If you want other beverages, such as sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails, or alcoholic drinks, they come at an additional cost.

The Drink Packages

Carnival Cruise Line offers two different drink packages, the Bottomless Bubbles package and the Cheers! Drink Package. These packages cover the cost of most beverages that are not included in your cruise fare.

The Carnival Bottomless Bubbles Package

The Bottomless Bubbles Package on Carnival Cruises includes unlimited juices and soda. The Bottomless Bubbles Package costs $6.95 for children and $9.50 for adults. The cost for the Bottomless Bubbles package is per person, per day. You can pay for the package in your cruise manager account before you sail or you can purchase the package when you get on the cruise at any of the many bars onboard. In addition to the cost of the package, you will also be charged a gratuity when you buy the package.

The Carnival Cheers! Drink Package

The Cheers! Drink Package covers all of your beverages on the cruise, non-alcoholic and alcoholic. This includes specialty coffees at Celebration’s coffee shop JavaBlue Cafe, sodas, bottled water, fruit juices, milkshakes, and alcoholic drinks priced at $20.00 or less. However, there is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period. The Cheers! Drink Package also includes discounts for cocktails priced above $20.00, champagne, and bottles of wine. A limitation to the Cheers! Drink Package is that it does not include drinks in promoted souvenir glasses. 

The cost of the Cheers! Drink Package depends on the length of your cruise and when you purchase the package. There is a discount if you purchase the package before your cruise starts. 

There are requirements that must be followed if you decide to purchase the Cheers! Drink Package. If you are wondering if the Carnival Cheers! Drink Package is worth the Price, read our blog for more insight on the cost and requirements of the Carnival Cheers! Drink Package.

Location of Bars on the Carnival Celebration 

Carnival Celebration has several bars on board where you can order both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including sodas for the Bubble Package. On Deck 6, you will find the Piano Bar, JavaBlue Cafe for specialty and spiked coffee drinks, Tropicale Bar, the Golden Jubilee, and the Latitudes Bar. The Aquaria Bar, Casino Bar, and the Alchemy Bar are located on Deck 7. On Deck 8, you will find the Havana Bar, Bar 820, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Brewhouse, and the Watering Hole. On the Lido decks, Deck 16 & 17, you will find the two-story RedFrog Tiki Bar in the mid-ship area by the main pool. At the Aft (back) of Deck 16 is the Tides Pool Bar. Finally, the Serenity Pool Bar is in the Serenity adult-only section of the ship on Deck 18.

Of all the bars on the Carnival ships, my personal favorite is the Alchemy Bar. Whether I am on the Celebration or any of the smaller ships, I always make my way over to the Alchemy Bar.

The Fun Shops on the Carnival Celebration

Unlike the smaller Carnival ships, The Fun Shops on the Celebration are spread out among three decks. You can find The Fun Shops on decks 6, 7, and 8 mid-ship. The largest of the shops can be found on deck 8 mid-ship near Bonsai Sushi. In total, there are about eight stores that make up The Fun Shops. The majority of the items for sale in the Fun Shops are duty-free and tax-free. 

The Fun Shops include a Carnival-theme merchandise store, Cherry On Top, Pixels, an Effy jewelry shop, and several other stores. Cherry On Top is the candy store on the Carnival ships that sells cookies, a variety of candies, and flowers. The Effy Jewelry store sells jewelry collections from Cabana Jewelry, Diamond International, Tanzanite International, and Marahlago Larimar. Some of the other Fun Shops onboard sell items like beauty products, watches, alcohol and tobacco, and pre-loved designer purses.

The Pixels Gallery is where you can view and purchase photos you have taken throughout your cruise. Pixels also sells items like waterproof phone cases, GoPro cameras, and GoPro equipment.

Celebration Central

Celebration Central is the main lobby section of the ship that takes up three floors and is one of the places used for big production shows. You can think of Celebration Central as one of the main gathering areas of the ship. Most of the seating is on Decks 6 and 7. On Deck 7, leading up to Deck 8, you will find a stadium-like seating area. Deck 8 has less seating than the other decks, but you have a great view of Center Stage. 

During the day, you can sit and look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows of Celebration Central and have a great view of the ocean. Celebration Central is also where Bingo cards are sold, and games are played during the day. Surrounding the Celebration Central area of the ship are Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki, a few bars, the casino, and the Fun Shops.

Entertainment on the Carnival Celebration 

There are many entertainment options on the Carnival Celebration. Whether you love to dance, sit and enjoy live music, watch shows, or play games, there is something for everyone. The Cruise Director and the Carnival Fun Squad do a great job of providing a fun and lively environment for everyone. In fact, the Cruise Director and Fun Squad host several events and parties during the cruise.

The main theme parties hosted by the Cruise Director are the Sail Away Party, White Hot Night Party, ’80s Rock-N-Glow Party, the Mega Deck Party, and the Groove for St. Jude. All of these parties typically occur outside on the Lido Deck and are a lot of fun. The parties will be listed on the front page of the FunTimes flier. Additionally, you can check the Carnival Hub App, which allows you to see the schedule of events for the entire cruise.

If you still want to dance the night away after the parties, especially those occurring in the evening, head over to the Limelight Lounge. The Limelight Lounge is on Deck 7 and becomes the nightclub on the Celebration. In addition to a nightclub hits hour, the Limelight Lounge will typically have a theme hour like ‘90s, Divas, and ‘80s hour. The theme hour will vary every night. To enter the Limelight Lounge, you need to be 18 years old. You need to be 21 and over to order alcohol. 

Enjoy the Live Music on the Carnival Celebration 

If you would rather sit and relax with a drink, listening to music instead of dancing, there are several places on the ship to do so. Throughout the day, there is live music on the Lido Deck. So, you can grab a drink and relax outside as you sail the Caribbean. Other areas on the ship begin having live music around 5:00 pm into late evening. You can find live music at the Latitudes Bar, The Golden Jubilee, and Piano Bar on Deck 6 Mid, and the Havana Bar and Guy’s Pig & Anchor on Deck 8. 

The live music at each venue can vary. If you are looking for Latin music, then the Havana Bar is where you want to go. Guy’s Pig & Anchor is where the Backyard Band plays, and it is where you are likely to find country music. If you want music with a slower pace then the Golden Jubilee, Latitudes Bar, and Piano Bar would be for you.

Variety Shows on the Celebration

Like with any other cruise, you can find many presentations and shows throughout your cruise. When you look at the FunTimes flier or schedule in the Carnival Hub App, you will see all the events happening for the day. Some of the presentations on board range from health and spa presentations to presentations about port stops, comedy shows, and theatrical performances. Main production shows will happen in one of two places, either the Grand Spectrum Theater or Celebration Central. 

Additionally, there are comedy shows on board. These comedy shows occur in the Punchliner Comedy Club. They are done multiple times a night, and there is usually a PG version earlier in the night and an 18+ R-rated version later in the evening. If there are multiple comedy shows going on around the same time, the Carnival Celebration will utilize other venues, such as the Limelight Lounge. Depending on how popular the shows get, there could be times they are done in the Grand Spectrum Theater. You can find the times and locations for all shows listed in the Carnival Hub App or FunTimes flier.

Fun and Games on the Celebration

One of my favorite things about Carnival Cruise Lines is the number of trivia games and activities on board the ships. There are a variety of trivia games to play throughout the cruise that appeal to people of all ages. The trivia games range from sports, 90s music, cartoons, Harry Potter, Friends, and general knowledge. Trivia games can happen throughout the ship in places like the Limelight Lounge, Guy’s Pig & Anchor, and the Havana Bar.

In addition to trivia, there are various types of scavenger hunts. You can do an art-themed scavenger hunt in the art gallery or a digital scavenger hunt. If you have kids, there will usually be a family-friendly scavenger hunt. There are more games that occur throughout the cruise, like bean bag tournaments, dodgeball tournaments, pickleball tournaments, and hole-in-one challenges.

One of the most popular games on board is Family Feud. If your family is interested in being contestants, there are live auditions on embarkation day. There is also a Love and Marriage show. Like with all activities, you can check the Hub App for the schedule or refer to the FunTimes flier in your stateroom. This is just a taste of the entertainment available on the Carnival Celebration.

Vegas-Style Casino on the Carnival Celebration

Similarly to other cruise ships, there is a Las Vegas-style casino on board. You can find the Empress Casino on Deck 7 forward to mid-ship. There are numerous tables and slot machines to choose from. There is a bar in the center of the casino, so there is no need to go to a bar in another area of the ship if you want to order a drink. The Empress Casino has smoking and non-smoking sections. The ventilation in the casino is pretty good, as the smoking did not bother me too much the couple of times I walked through. The casino is typically open when sailing in international waters and closed when in port. 

Relax at the Spa and Get Pampered

The Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 6 is the place to go if you want to get pampered. Cloud 9 Spa offers a range of services for both men and women, including getting your nails and hair done, haircuts, makeup, facials, and massages. The spa will do several presentations throughout the cruise to offer discounts, such as a massage taster or pamper parties. You may also come upon representatives of the spa at a table promoting the spa on the Lido deck or elsewhere on the ship. All services at the spa are an additional charge and appointments are required. If you want to set up a service, you can make an appointment in person, using the Carnival Hub App, or calling from your stateroom. You can also book a service when managing your booking online prior to boarding your cruise through My Cruise Manager on Carnival.

Workout with a View at the Cloud 9 Fitness Center on the Carnival Celebration

If you are trying to stick to your workout regimen or just want to burn off the extra calories from all the food you can enjoy, head over to the Cloud 9 Fitness Center on Deck 6. There are a variety of cardio machines, from treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals to weightlifting machines and free weights. Using the fitness center comes at no added cost. However, there are some fitness classes offered that are at an additional cost. The fitness center is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat

If you are looking to get away from the kids, visit the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat on Decks 18 forward. This retreat is only for those 21 years of age and older. Serenity has a pool and two hot tubs, a bar, Fresh Creations, which serves freshly made salads, and plenty of seating. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean views while taking in the sun.

Outdoor Fun on The Carnival Celebration 

There are many activities on the Celebration throughout the ship, but there is also a lot to do outside. Some activities happen on the Lido deck by the pool, such as the Sail Away Party and contests like the Legend of the Lido Competition. You can watch movies by the pool, grab a drink at the RedFrog Tiki Bar, or head over to Carnival’s Ultimate Playground on Deck 18.

Dive-In Movies at Sea on the Carnival Celebration

In the evenings, you can watch a movie by the pool on the Lido Deck. Depending on the schedule, at least one or two movies are shown in the evening. The movies are shown on the large jumbotron. The movies vary every day, and typically all movies shown are family-friendly movies. You can check the Carnival Hub App or FunTimes to see what movie is playing and the times the movie will be being shown.

The Ultimate Playground on the Celebration

The Ultimate Playground is on Deck 18 Aft (Back). Here, you can find the jogging track, ropes course, sports court, Carnival Waterworks, mini-golf, and Bolt. There is also an area where you can play cornhole and ping pong. The sports court is a full-sized basketball court that is also used for pickleball tournaments.

Ride Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster, Carnival’s Rollercoaster at Sea

One of the most unique things to do on the Carnival Celebration is to ride Bolt. Bolt is essentially a rollercoaster that runs around a bulk of the Ultimate Playground. The Bolt rollercoaster is only found on the Celebration, Mardi Gras, and Jubilee, the Excel class ships of Carnival’s fleet. Riding Bolt is an additional cost of $15 per ride. When you ride Bolt, you get to go around the roller coaster twice. Personally, I thought it was a lot of fun and would definitely ride Bolt again. It is a very unique experience to have at sea. To ride Bolt, you must be 52 to 77 inches and there is a weight limit of 300 pounds per person. Children are not able to ride Bolt on their own if they are younger than 12 and must be accompanied by someone 15+ in order to ride.

The Ropes Course on the Carnival Celebration

The Ropes Course is an awesome challenge, and one I do on every Carnival ship I am on that has a Ropes Course. There are two sides to the course, so you can pick which side you want to attempt and mix it up as you go. A unique feature of the ropes course on the Celebration, is that there is a zipline you can choose to do at the beginning. If you are up for the challenge of the ropes course, I highly recommend doing it. It is a lot of fun, and you get to go around as many times as you want.

If you want to go on the ropes course, wear a T-shirt and not a tank top or other shirt where your shoulders are exposed. The crew will ask you to change your top or put on a cover-up/sweater if your shoulders are exposed. Due to the harness you wear as you go through the course, they want shoulders covered so the harness is not on bare skin. 

Carnival Waterworks on the Carnival Celebration

Waterworks is where you will find waterslides and a splash pad for the kids. It is located towards the back before reaching the mini-golf area. There are five water slides, two of which are for younger children. The three larger slides have height restrictions. The three large slides on the Celebration are the Orange Thunder, Twister, and Blue Lightning.

The Blue Lightning slide is a waterslide where you use mats to slide down. The mats for the slide are located by the stairs leading up to the water slide platform. Twister is a classic tube slide. The Orange Thunder waterslide is one where you enter and stand on a trap door that opens and drops you into the slide.

The splash pad area is perfect for younger children. There are several spots with water sprayers and small slides. The small slides for young children have two sides side-by-side so kids can race each other down. Additionally, there are several small water buckets and a large water bucket that will fill up and dump water on the splash pad.

Mini-Golf on the Celebration

At the very back of the Ultimate Playground is mini-golf. There are multiple holes and the golf clubs and golf balls are by the entrance of the mini-golf area. While you play, people riding Bolt will voom above you and you also have a great view of the ocean.

Entertainment Onboard for Kids and Teens

Aside from the many activities onboard the ship, there are other entertainment options for kids and teens. Carnival has kids’ clubs on the ship for different age groups. If you have children ages 2 to 11, they will be in the Camp Ocean group, children ages 12 to 14 are in the Circle “C” group, and teenagers 15 to 17 years old can go to Club O2. There is no additional cost for kids to go to the kids’ clubs during normal business hours.

However, there are a couple of childcare options with an additional cost. There is a special kids club for children ages 6 months to 2 years old called Turtles. The Turtles program is one of the options that is an additional cost. The other program is Night Owls. Night Owls is an evening kids club for children ages 2 to 11, starting at 10:00 pm until 1:00 am. If you are a parent and want to have a night out without kids to enjoy the nightclub at the Limelight Lounge, for example, then this could be a good option for you.

Staterooms Available on the Carnival Celebration

As with other cruise ships, there are various types of staterooms to choose from. There are various types of interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite rooms to choose from. Some rooms can accommodate only 2 people, while others can accommodate 5 people. If you need two rooms for your group, you can try booking connecting rooms. Here is some information on the room types.

Interior Cabin Staterooms

Interior staterooms are typically lower cost than other room types. Depending on the room, you can have 2 to 5 people in one room. Interior rooms tend to be smaller than the other rooms and do not usually have a window. Since there is typically no window, the room can be very dark in the night so you may need to set an alarm if you want to wake up by a certain time. However, there are some interior rooms with an obstructed window view that typically looks out to a deck and lifeboats.

Ocean View Staterooms

Ocean-view staterooms have windows, and some can sleep up to 5 people. These rooms are typically larger than the interior staterooms. In addition to having a window, there is also a couch in the room for an extra sitting place. You will also have more room to spread out in comparison to an interior room.

Balcony Staterooms

Balcony rooms are roomier than ocean-view rooms, and some can sleep up to 5 guests. Typically, you will have two chairs and a small side table on the balcony. There are several types of balcony staterooms available on the Carnival Celebration. You can get a cove balcony room, which is a room on a lower level of the ship where you are closer to the water and can possibly see some flying fish. The majority of the balcony staterooms are on the higher decks of the ship. Some of them have extended balconies.

Suite Staterooms

Suites are the largest room types, have a balcony, can sleep up to 5 guests, and offer several perks. Booking a suite gives you priority check-in, as well as priority embarkation and debarkation. Additionally, you have priority access to dinner reservations and dining room time choices, among other perks.

Exclusive Stateroom Types

You have the option of booking exclusive types of staterooms: Havana, Cloud 9 Spa, and Family Harbor staterooms. What makes these locations special are the perks associated with each type. You can find interior, ocean view, and suites for all three types. Cloud 9 Spa cabins have balcony options, and Havana has cabana options.

Havana Staterooms

To book a Havana Stateroom, everyone in your party must be 12 years of age or older. The Havana rooms are located near the Havana Bar on Deck 8. In the Havana area, balcony rooms are Havana Cabanas since you do not have a traditional balcony looking directly out to the ocean. Instead, you have a cabana-like area with a porch swing seat, a lounger, a chair, and a small table. 

A big perk to the Havana stateroom area is the wrap-around deck outside the Havana Cabana and Havana Cabana Suites. If you have a room with a cabana, you will have a gate that allows you to get to the deck from the porch area to the deck. The deck is exclusive to guests staying in Havana rooms. There are loungers, a bar, and a pool available for the use of guests in Havana rooms.

Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms

Cloud 9 Spa staterooms have perks associated with the Cloud 9 Spa. In these staterooms, you will have bathrobes, slippers, and Elemis toiletries. The main perks you get from the spa for booking this type of room are free fitness classes and unlimited access to the thermal suites in the spa. You will also get priority to make reservations in the spa and discounts on services.

Family Harbor Staterooms

Family Harbor is exclusive to families. One of the perks of the Family Harbor rooms is access to the Family Harbor Lounge, Which is an area with games and movies to entertain kids. There are also snacks during the day, and breakfast served in the morning. An additional perk is a free night of Night Owls for your kids so you can have a night out and enjoy the nightlife on the ship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some questions people ask about cruising on the Carnival Celebration.

If I get seasick, what kind of stateroom should I book and where?

If you are prone to getting seasick, we recommend booking a stateroom in the middle of the ship. You will feel less movement in the middle of the ship than in the front or back. If you are unable to book a room in the middle of the ship, then the back of the ship would be better than the front as you are likely to feel more motion in the front of the ship. We also recommend having a view of the outside so you can look out to the horizon to help.

Is the Carnival Celebration the biggest Carnival cruise ship?

The Carnival Celebration is one of Carnival’s largest ships. The Jubilee and Celebration are Carnival’s two largest ships. Both have a gross tonnage of 183,521 and a guest capacity of 5,374.

How old is the Carnival Celebration?

The Carnival Celebration is the second newest ship in the fleet and the second Excel class ship. The inaugural sailing for this ship was in 2022. The original Celebration ship first sailed in the 1980s. The original ship has since been retired from Carnival’s fleet of ships.

Is the Carnival Celebration a good ship to sail on?

The Celebration is an amazing ship to sail on. We would highly recommend this ship for families because of the Ultimate Playground and many activities onboard. There is always something to do, and you will have many food options for little ones who may be picky eaters.

Does the Carnival Celebration feel crowded?

We were worried the ship would feel crowded due to the amount of people the ship can accommodate, but we never felt crowded. The ship is so big and there is so much to do that people are able to be spread out among the different zones of the ship. We hardly had issues finding places to sit and relax, whether inside or outside of the ship. The only time we felt crowded was on embarkation and debarkation day, which is usual for any cruise ship. On embarkation day, the Lido MarketPlace can be packed, as well as other areas throughout the ship with indoor seating.

Is cruising on the Carnival Celebration worth it?

Absolutely! Of all the Carnival ships I have been on, the Celebration is my favorite. There is so much to do and a lot to explore. The food options were amazing and plentiful, so we only had dinner in the dining room once. Riding Bolt and doing the Ropes Course are definite highlights from our cruise on the Celebration. There was never a dull moment on board.

Enjoy Your Cruise on the Carnival Celebration!

Cruising on the Carnival Celebration is an amazing experience. This ship is a fantastic choice for new or avid cruisers of all ages. We hope this information will help you prepare for your future cruise on the Carnival Celebration and that you enjoy your cruise as much as we did.

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