What You Need to Know about Carnival Celebration, 2022
Summary
This ship is a beautiful replica of its sister ship, Mardi Gras. She has all of the same amenities and accommodations. The main differences are in two of the “zones” on the ship and some of the decor. But other than that, she is easy to navigate to be so large and still loads of fun. One thing that can be said about Carnival’s newest additions to the fleet is that you will not go hungry from all of the included food options.
Ship
Carnival Celebration is an awe-inspiring experience – the biggest of Carnival Cruise Line ships with its 182K gross tonnage and over 5,300 guests in double occupancy. It is truly remarkable and competes with some of the largest ocean liners in the world! Astonishingly, despite not being as large as Wonder of the Seas, the ship still packs a similar number of passengers.
This Thanksgiving week saw the ship set sail with a whopping 5,886 passengers, out of which 1,500 were kids! It was truly a sight to behold.
This cruise ship is a great representation of Carnival's vibe and lifestyle since they've been around for 50 years.
The dance classes were a popular hit - Thriller filled up quickly! Besides that, there were heaps of trivia and games available. It included music-related questions, sports facts, general knowledge and at least 6 sessions on each sea day.
Along with the usual activities, there were also themed games like Bingo, Majority Rules, Walk the Plank and Flip Cup. The fun took place in various spots such as Limelight Lounge, Havana Club and Summer Landing.
Even if you skipped out on the fun, it was still great just to watch everyone enjoying themselves while taking part in all the exciting activities.
Looking to show off your singing skills? The cruise had karaoke set-ups at the Limelight Lounge and Havana Club during the day or night. Even if you weren't singing, you could still have a great time watching others perform and joining in with the chorus.
To add to the fun, there was some live music around the ship. There were two amazing guitarists - Paul and Reggie - playing throughout the ship.
Oscar and Eden, the pianists onboard, were playing their tunes at the Piano 88 and Golden Jubilee places. Meanwhile, The Backyard Band was blasting out country and rock tunes over at Summer Landing. If you wanted Latin beats, the Havana Club was where all the Mambo Magic happened!
Carnival Celebration also had 5 hilarious comedians doing set at both the Punchliner Comedy Club and Limelight Lounge. Looking for a good time? Check out the adult comedy sets in the main theatre - they're there on different nights and promise to let you have a good laugh.
If you're looking for an evening of entertainment, some game shows on board can really deliver! Things like Family Feud, Deal or No Deal and Cash Bash are popular amongst cruisers as there are opportunities to win real cash prizes.
On the cruise, there was a lot to do - from pool parties and movies on the big screen to the new Evolution Dance Party featuring our friend, DJ Cue. We had such a hard time trying to cram it all into just 6 days!
Itinerary
This was a fun itinerary visiting many of our favorite ports of call. We visited Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, and Nassau, Bahamas.
We also had 2 full sea days, which I absolutely LOVED.
Highlights
The biggest highlight for us is all the casual food options available onboard the Carnival Celebration.
When it comes to casual dining, Carnival is unbeatable. Their venues offer a wide selection of food, the preparation and flavor are top-notch, and the atmosphere in each ship's "zones" is unbeatable.
Guy's Burger Joint is still the go-to for a great takeout burger. Even better, this spot now has more seating and a bigger counter to make getting your grub faster than ever.
The Lido deck of a cruise has the Blue Iguana Cantina where you can get custom-made burritos, bowls, or tacos for breakfast and lunch. I personally think the burritos they make in the morning are one of the best brekkie options available on any ship. When you're in the mood for a quick Mexican-inspired meal, this is the lunchtime spot for burritos and tacos with yummy fillings like chicken, steak and shrimp. Plus, they also have a custom salsa bar too!
On the afternoon shift, Street Eats offers a range of small bites - think loaded fries, dumplings, pad thai and chicken satays. Perfect for when you want a tasty snack but don't have time to sit down for a meal!
Shaq’s Big Chicken is still Terry’s favorite spot. This place opened on Mardi Gras and was instantly a success. It’s clear why, with their delicious crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders. We couldn't resist visiting multiple times throughout the week!
In the new 820 Biscayne zone is the Miami Slice pizzeria. Although the pizza isn't the best, there are 5 varieties you can choose from and it's open till late for those late-night snack cravings. Right next to it is the Deco Deli with 12 sandwich options.
And that's not all! Java Blue Cafe offers plenty of yummy grab-and-go snacks. From breakfast sandwiches and pastries in the morning to some of the best empanadas I've ever had in the afternoon, you won't ever go hungry onboard Carnival Celebration.
What’s Missing
We honestly can’t think of anything that is missing on this cruise ship. The Carnival Celebration cruise ship truly has it all.
It's truly a one-stop-shop for all your cruising needs. Whether you're a foodie looking to indulge in gourmet dining options, an adventure seeker looking for exciting activities, or a relaxation enthusiast looking for a tranquil retreat, the Carnival Celebration has something for everyone.
The ship boasts a wide variety of dining options, from casual buffet-style eateries to elegant fine dining restaurants.
There are also plenty of activities to keep you entertained, from thrilling water slides and a freaking roller coaster to a full-service spa and fitness center.
And let's not forget the entertainment options, from live music and stage shows to a casino and duty-free shops. You'll be hard-pressed to find something missing on this ship. It truly offers something for every type of cruiser.
Main Takeaways
Carnival Celebration is the latest addition to the Carnival fleet. It's said to embody the energy and style that Carnival has become synonymous with in its 50 years of being around.
Lee, the cruise director, (which also just happened to be named the #1 cruise director) and the Fun Squad did an outstanding job making this ship super entertaining.
Carnival Celebration totally rocked it with almost 6,000 passengers on board! They handled the huge crowds a lot better than some of their competitors' mega-ships. The entertainment team used up all the available areas to create fun activities, and they even had multiple shows to maximize the experience on this sold-out cruise.
A bit of planning and you can check off everything on your list. If you don't want to miss out, just make sure to be there 30 minutes before a signature show so you can have the best seat in the house.
There was a good variety of things to do onboard, and it was usually easy to get spots for activities like comedy, bingo, dance parties and live music - often just 15 minutes beforehand.
While we enjoyed the casual dining on Carnival Celebration, we barely ate in the main dining room and did not eat at any of the specialty dining.
The entertainment was okay compared to other cruises, nothing special or outstanding. You can’t expect Broadway-level performances but they certainly weren't boring either. We really enjoyed the shows at Celebration Central more than the ones in the main theater; however, it can be hard to locate a decent viewing spot.
We had a great time aboard the ship - there was always something to do! From active sports deck fun to game shows and comedy performances, we were never bored during our journey. In fact, we had to make sure to schedule some downtime just to chill out!
A real highlight of this cruise was the crew - they were amazing and provided us with outstanding service all week long.
