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At the large kids’ club, daily programming includes scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and video games. The club draws young cruisers and gives them a place to make friends and play with peers.

In addition to dedicated children’s facilities, the ship has a large arcade and several top-deck diversions. One of these is the Ultimate Playground – a space that includes ropes courses, waterslides and Bolt, the first-ever roller coaster at sea. (Note that arcades and bolts cost extra.)

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Mardi Gras is full of wonderful family-friendly food, including Dr. Includes a Seuss-themed green eggs and ham breakfast (for a small fee). The ship’s fare also includes pizza, soft-serve ice cream, veggie fried chicken, and a Guy Fieri burger. Even the pickiest eaters will be satisfied. Kids can order off the special menu in the complimentary main dining room and join their waiters in a rollicking dance performance while they sit quietly.

The ship also does a great job of accommodating families of all sizes and budgets. Many standard cabins on the Mardi Gras sleep at least four people, and the ship offers connecting cabins.

Its family harbor cabins offer access to a special family lounge area with TVs, seating areas and internet stations. There’s breakfast served every morning, and snacks and drinks — including free soda — throughout the day, so you never have to go far when the kids need a snack. Cabins in the Family Harbor category have a nautical theme, plenty of storage and room to sleep at least four people.

Mardi Gras’ sister ships, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee are also fantastic options in this category. Both offer nearly the same experience (with only a few changes in the names and theme of specific destinations), and all three voyages are week-long Caribbean cruises out of Florida and Texas home ports.

Carnival Horizon: The best ship for luxury lovers

Let’s be clear: Carnival is not a luxury cruise line, nor does it offer spacious suites on most ships. The suites it has are smaller than most other brands’ high-end accommodations and don’t include amenities like butler service.

With that in mind, one ship that offers a few more unique options is the Carnival Horizon – the second ship in Carnival’s three-ship Vista class. It offers a top-deck, adults-only Serenity Sundeck area; An extensive menu of spa treatments, salon services and fitness classes at the onboard Cloud 9 Spa; and a handful of upmarket cabin offerings.

If you’re into wellness, relaxation and self-care, check out the spa and fitness center’s manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, teeth whitening treatments, acupuncture, anti-wrinkle procedures, state-of-the-art cycle classes, thermals. Suite, hot tub, sauna and steam room for a fee. For digs that include pampering, try the Cloud 9 Spa Cabin with extras like complimentary thermal suite access and two free yoga or Pilates classes.

If you’re looking for exclusive cabin enclaves, you’ll want to book one of the ship’s air cabin cabins. They come in varieties ranging from 185-square-foot interiors to air suites, which offer 260 square feet of interior space (with a dividing wall to separate the sleeping and living areas), plus a 100-square-foot patio area with loungers. a hammock All Havana Cabana cruisers have access to an exclusive lanai and pool deck. With a suite booking, you will also receive priority boarding and disembarkation.

If a traditional suite is more your style, consider the Grand Suite, which includes priority travel, landing and dining times, as well as access to the outdoor pool area. Note, however, that the Grand Suites run just 345 square feet with 85-square-foot balconies — disappointing when you consider that Royal Caribbean’s largest rooms are nearly five times that size.

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 feature presidential suites. Those residences offer 1,120 square feet of space with 600-square-foot balconies and separate living and sleeping areas. However, the ships — part of the line’s Excel class — are so large and attract so many families that I’ve dismissed them as the most luxurious.

Carnival Victory: Best ship for budget travelers

Also, it sails from Miami, one of the largest cruise hubs in the world. More ships leaving a particular port means more competition, which can drive down prices.

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Carnival Victory is one of the line’s oldest ships, but it’s also a ton of fun. Because shorter trips attract a livelier crowd, passengers can expect lots of dancing, socializing, and late nights at Henry’s Dance Club. During the day, passengers enjoy spending time around the pool and getting free burgers from Guy’s Burger Joint.

It’s also one of the few ships left in the fleet that still boasts jaw-dropping interiors designed by famed architect Joe Farks, who made Carnival synonymous with whimsical patterns, bright colors and neon lights.

At the time of publication, prices for a three-night Bahamas cruise started at about $147 per person, for an inside cabin (including taxes and fees).

Carnival Sunrise: The Best Carnival Cruise Ships for Singles

Unfortunately, Carnival has been slow to adopt solo cabins, meaning no ship in its fleet offers single accommodations.

As all cabins are designed for double occupancy, it is generally the rule that a person traveling alone must pay both fares. This means they will pay twice as much per person than two people sharing a room.

To make the single supplement as affordable as possible, solo Carnival cruisers will want to balance it out by choosing a cheaper ship that sails shorter itineraries. They’ll probably also want one that’s a little livelier (read: not the oldest in the fleet).

A great contender for the title of best carnival ship for singles is the Carnival Sunrise. Formerly known as Carnival Triumph, the ship was completely gutted, rebuilt and renamed in 2019. Although it was originally launched in 1999, it looks fresh and almost new. It offers the line’s signature Serenity adults-only sundeck, RedFrog Pub, Alchemy Bar and numerous lounges, nightclubs and daily activities.

Combine that with a short, reasonably priced trip from Miami, and solos can find fun and affordable getaways on this ship. If you’re solo I’ve found four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas or the Caribbean starting at $160 a night. Even shorter trips tend to draw a more fun, social crowd. So, if your goal is to mingle and potentially meet other solo cruisers, you have a good chance on the Carnival Sunrise.

Carnival Pride: The Best Ship for Retirees

Retired travelers have all the time in the world to take longer cruises, which usually allow them to visit more distant locales. Those trips can come with a significant price tag, which is why, as a budget option, Carnival is a great choice.

Specifically, Carnival Pride’s voyages include a 14-night cruise to Greenland. A longer trip means more time to explore but less kids and less party atmosphere. (Take note if you’re planning to bring your grandchildren.)

Carnival Pride is one of the oldest ships sailing for Carnival. That actually works in its favor if you’re a retiree who enjoys small ships and vintage design—in this case, more artwork and decor by Farkas.

In addition to the comedy club and onboard spa, the ship also offers an adults-only sundeck, several bars and lounges, and plenty of dining options and daily activities to stave off boredom on long voyages.