Sunday, March 31, 2024

How to Choose a Room: Ultimate Guide to Carnival Staterooms

carnival cruise room pictures

An obstructed view balcony room might have a lifeboat or some other ship equipment blocking a portion of the view. A balcony on Carnival is more than just an outdoor space; it’s a gateway to the vast ocean and the world beyond. An Interior stateroom is the most affordable way to cruise, and Mardi Gras’ interiors don’t leave out the comfort! Suites on Carnival ships also haven't traditionally come with butlers and access to private concierge lounges like the suites on many other vessels. Inside cabins are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish.

carnival cruise room pictures

What Does a Cloud 9 Spa Balcony Include?

Plus there’s truly nice-to-haves like a dining area and two TVs — one in the sleeping area and one in the living space. Your room also features extra space for kicking back, ocean-breeze-style, on your balcony featuring lounge chairs and an al fresco dining table. The typical Carnival balcony cabin has a contemporary look, with clean lines and relatively minimalist furniture. It typically features twin beds that can be converted into a king bed, a built-in desk area and a sofa that often pulls out into an additional bed. Balcony cabins typically measure around 185 square feet, not including the veranda area, which often measures 35 square feet.

My family of 5 booked an interior cabin and an ocean-view room on a Carnival cruise. Here's how they compared.

So, if you’re someone who values the outdoor space more than a perfect view, this could be a budget-friendly option for you. Relax in your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views. Design is more than just the way things look — it’s as much about how they work. And staterooms aboard Mardi Gras are packed with innovative changes to both.

balcony

The view you get is pretty limited, especially as the portholes are quite thick – you don’t get a good viewing angle. But it’s something at least, and even though they’re small you can at least peek out to see the ocean while you’re sailing and see if it’s sunny or raining. The smaller Interior rooms don’t leave you a lot of floor space with a twin or double bed in there, but they are some of the cheapest you can book on a modern cruise line. And that is definitely the case for a lot of people who choose to sail with Carnival. Carnival ships are some of the most feature-packed on the oceans and there are loads of things to see and do.

carnival cruise room pictures

If you love spa days, then Cloud 9 Balcony rooms are ideal as they come with unlimited access to the Thermal Suite and lots of perks. Only Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend and Carnival Miracle have obstructed view Balcony rooms. These are category 7A for the standard Obstructed Balconies and 9A for the Premium Obstructed Balconies. When it comes to choosing a stateroom, it’s far from straightforward.

What is an Extended Balcony?

Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista-class series, for instance, offer fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest-class ships have around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy-class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.

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PHOTOS: Inside Junior Suite on Carnival Elation Cruise, With Balcony.

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The bathrooms in both cabins were identical.

Tailored for families, these rooms come with a nautical decor and offer access to the Family Harbor Lounge, a haven for families to enjoy breakfast, afternoon snacks, and a range of entertainment options. The exact price can vary based on several factors, including the cruise’s itinerary and the time of year. For instance, on a seven-night Caribbean cruise, you might find balcony rooms priced at $909 per person, while an Ocean View room could be around $799.

Interior Upper/Lower Rooms

This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. If you don’t plan on being in your room that much to care, then it’s not worth getting a Balcony at all. And if you have a toddler or small child, you might want to think twice. I’m not here to tell you that you should or shouldn’t book a Balcony room on a Carnival cruise, because I think it depends on what you want from your cruise, and your budget – and that’s a personal thing. They’re available on all Dream Class, Conquest Class and Sunshine Class ships, as well as the Carnival Vista – but not on the other ships in the Vista Class (Panorama and Horizon). These comfy rooms with a view let you sail along to beautiful destinations while gazing at the sort of vistas you simply won't find anywhere on land.

Carnival Cruise Balcony Room Guide (Best & Worst)

Whether you have 10 or 20 people in your group, there’s something to do and see even if everyone differs in age, abilities and interests. Any time you’re in your room, you’re steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views. Think of a Junior Balcony as a cozy version of the standard balcony room. While the balcony size remains the same, the interior is slightly smaller. These rooms are ideal for couples or solo travelers and are exclusively available on Carnival’s Excel Class ships. Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Carnival is building its newest ships with far more of them than in the past.

But there also are bigger "standard" oceanview cabins that measure 220 square feet and "deluxe" oceanview cabins that measure 230 square feet. A Carnival Excel Suite aboard Mardi Gras is the kind of room that proves that vacation and comfort go hand-in-hand. In this large room you’ll find not only a bathroom with a spacious shower and a double sink, but a good amount of room for living and lounging.

On newer Carnival ships, a significant portion of cabins are balcony cabins — the rooms everyone wants these days. But the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins on Carnival's newer ships isn't nearly as high as on the newer ships of some rival lines such as Royal Caribbean. In fact, the Mardi Gras doesn’t have any Interior rooms with an obstructed view at all. An obstructed view room on a Carnival cruise is one that has something blocking the view from the window or balcony of the room. It may be the lifeboats, or in the case of Interior cabins with a window, it may be the walkway around the edge of the ship. An Interior Upper/Lower stateroom (category 1A) is one of the smallest rooms you can book at sea that isn’t a single cabin.

When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Every one of the suites in those categories is bigger than any suite found on Carnival Panorama.

The priority bookings for the other Cloud 9 Spa services only apply on day one – you can book for any point during the cruise, but once 6 pm hits on embarkation day those slots open up to all guests. If you aren’t too bothered about having a view but would like a little more room to move than in a smaller Interior, then a Premium Interior is a good middle ground. You’ll still save money compared to a Balcony but you’ll feel less cramped. These rooms are available on all ships except for Spirit Class ships and the Mardi Gras. What’s unusual about Interior Upper/Lower rooms is that while some have portholes and some don’t, they all have the same category code of 1A. If you wanted to have a room with portholes you can request one, but it’ll depend on availability and your ship.

Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your first voyage, this article will illuminate the nuances of balcony rooms, ensuring you get the most out of your oceanic adventure. Still, some of that has begun to change with the debut of Carnival's new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Carnival went big with the suites on the groundbreaking, 5,282-passenger vessels — the biggest Carnival ships ever. That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The line's two newest ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, each have 180 suites — more than twice the number found on the vessels Carnival was unveiling a few years ago.

Expect soft, cozy linens, in-room safes, plenty of storage space, television, climate control and even bathrobes upon request. When you’re on a Carnival cruise, you have your choice of stateroom styles and locations designated as Interior, Ocean View, Balcony or Suite. So how do you select the best stateroom to ensure you’ll have a relaxing, comfortable cruise? Get all the comforts of home and then some, with absolutely none of the hassles.

They’re only available on Excel Class ships – so Mardi Gras only for now. For the cruiser that wants a peek outside without the price tag of an oceanview cabin, the porthole cabin has the same amenities as an oceanview cabin, with two twin beds, convertible to a king. From an old college friend gathering to a ladies-only birthday bash or golfing buddy getaway, cruise ships are the perfect place for group vacations.

Carnival Cruise Balcony Room Guide: Best & Worst With Photos!

carnival cruise room pictures

As noted above, about 44% of the cabins Carnival Panorama are balcony cabins. But that percentage jumped to 56% on the newer Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. It will be the same on Carnival Jubilee, a sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration coming out in December 2023.

What’s the Difference Between a Premium Interior and an Interior Room?

If you’re the adventurous type who plans to explore the ship and its amenities, an Ocean View room might be a better value. The themed staterooms, such as Cloud 9, Family Harbor, and Havana, are among the best balcony rooms on Carnival cruises. However, obstructed view rooms on certain ships might not offer the best value for everyone.

INTERIOR

So, if you’re someone who isn’t too fussed for a full view but likes the idea of sitting outside still, then they could be perfect. Both the room and the balcony are more spacious than standard balcony rooms. Next time we cruise or go on a vacation, I'll consider booking separate rooms for adults and kids so everyone has their own private retreat. A stateroom featuring the most indoor space, a balcony and some of the best perks on the ship. Slightly smaller are a dozen 710-square-foot Excel Corner Suites offering separate sleeping and lounging areas and wraparound balconies.

What’s the Difference Between a Balcony and a Premium Balcony?

Family Harbor Balcony staterooms are only available on Vista-class ships – Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. But, if you like the Family Harbor concept, some of the other ships instead have Family Harbor Interior rooms, Family Harbor Ocean View rooms or Family Harbor Suites. A Premium Vista Balcony stateroom ( category 9C) is situated at the aft of the ship, wrapping around the corner. The stateroom is still a standard size, but the balcony is larger, giving you some great views towards the aft of the ship as well as the side.

Carnival Excel Aft Suite

Carnival's newer ships have relatively few such cabins, as generally cabins that face outwards now are built with balconies. Note that, in a quirk of the cabin categorization system at Carnival, there are a few inside cabins on some Carnival ships that do, indeed, have a view to the outside world. These cabins either have an obstructed view (often due to lifeboats) or a porthole, such that the view isn't all that great. Some Interior Upper/Lower rooms actually have small porthole windows.

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Carnival Panorama Cruise Ship Review - Photos & Departure Ports.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:14:02 GMT [source]

If you think that natural light is important in your bedroom then look out for Interior rooms with portholes or obstructed views, or consider paying a little more for an Ocean View stateroom. When it comes to inside staterooms on Carnival cruise ships, there are lots of different types to choose from, each of which has a category code. While not every ship will have every category, there will still be lots of different accommodation types to consider.

carnival cruise room pictures

Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels mostly have a soothing palette of creams and blues. As noted above, Carnival ships also have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships of some of its rival lines. By contrast, the line's newer ships have a higher percentage of inside cabins than you'll find on the newer ships of some rival lines. If space is important to you, and you think you’ve got the budget to spare, then a Balcony could be a better option than a Carnival cruise interior room.

They’re the best choice if you are prone to feeling cramped because even just a small balcony in the fresh air can feel very open and relaxing. But, if you aren’t going to feel cramped, or if you plan on barely spending any awake time in your cabin at all, then an Interior Room could be a really good option. They can be pretty cheap, depending on the itinerary and ship, and because they’re a little cosier you might even sleep better. A Havana Interior stateroom (category code HA) is decorated in a more luxurious Old Havana style and allows guests to access the exclusive Havana Pool area, where you can relax in peace.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Pullman beds aren’t the biggest and so won’t be ideal for adults, though you may cope if you wanted to share a room with friends or teenage kids. If you want to save money and you think you might not make the most of a Balcony, then definitely consider an Ocean View stateroom. You’ll still get a sea view, but those extra $ you’ve saved can go towards another excursion or a couple of speciality restaurant meals. For a good balance of price and space, you can’t go wrong with a standard category 8 Balcony.

With an oceanview cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship. The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one.

But, before you go ahead and pick one, let’s just make sure that an Interior room is in fact the best room for you. Havana Interior cabins are available on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. And you also get one free evening of Night Owls babysitting at the kids club, which is great for when parents want a little bit of quiet time. Cloud 9 Spa Interior rooms are available on Excel Class, Vista Class, Dream Class and Sunshine Class ships. If you want to know what I mean, then read on to learn everything you need to know about Carnival’s Interior cabins. One of the best ways that you can save money on a cruise is by choosing an Inside or Interior room.

She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. The worst Balcony rooms on Carnival ships are the Obstructed View Balcony rooms on Carnival Miracle and Carnival Spirit. The Cove Balcony rooms aren’t loved by everyone either – as they can be a little shaded and the low deck position means you can’t always use them in rough seas. Just so you’re aware, you can’t have young kids in a Havana room – they’re for guests aged 12 or older only.

Here are the major stateroom categories offered on Carnival Cruise Line. Deluxe Ocean View staterooms sleep up to five and come with an extra half-bath. Cloud 9 Spa™ staterooms do things a little different than ordinary staterooms. For starters, we dare you to cross the threshold without feeling a little more relaxed. Once you're inside, you'll find pleasing decor and in-room amenities like ELEMIS bath products and spa-branded bathrobes and slippers to enhance your stay.

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