So you’re in the process of booking your first cruise with Carnival Cruise Line. You have an idea of what ship and itinerary you’d like to sail on, but what cabin or suite is right for you and your family? Here’s a complete guide to all of Carnival’s cabins and suites, so you can choose the best room for your needs.
In This Article:
Interior Cabins
Interior cabins are featured on all of Carnival’s ships and are exactly what they sound like: cabins in the ship’s interior, without an exterior wall.
Interior cabins are typically on the small side, with less than 200 square feet of space. While some interior cabins can technically fit up to five cruisers, they’re really most comfortable with just two cruisers (and possibly a child). There’s not a lot of floor or storage space and the bathrooms are small, too, with just a shower, no tub.
If the thought of an interior cabin makes you a bit claustrophobic, there are some special interior cabins that do have windows and that you might prefer. The windows just don’t look out over the ocean. Instead, they look out at a walkway. These cabins are sometimes classified as an “interior cabin with picture window.”
Other interior cabin options include upper/lower interior staterooms that feature a twin bed and upper pullman. There are also porthole interior cabins that provide very small windows, for technically an ocean view but without the ocean view cabin price.
All Carnival staterooms, including interior staterooms, come with amenities including an in-room safe, television, individual climate control, a dedicated room steward and bathrobes upon request.
Ocean View Cabins
Ocean view cabins are, on average, larger than interior cabins, with more floor space and storage space, as well as usually some sort of sitting area. Expect most ocean view cabins to be under 250 square feet.
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Sometimes, ocean view cabins are split into categories like deluxe and standard ocean view cabins. You get more floor space with a deluxe cabin, as well as, in some instances, an extra half-bathroom. There are also scenic ocean view rooms, which offer the best views via floor-to-ceiling windows.
Like interior cabins, ocean view cabins can hold up to five people.
Balcony Cabins
Before getting into suites, balcony cabins are your largest options on a Carnival Cruise Line ship. Like an ocean view cabin, balcony cabins have a seating area and greater floor space than an interior cabin, but there’s also a furnished balcony, usually with seating for two people.
Balcony cabins can sleep up to five guests, but do note that while you get overall more space with a balcony cabin, that doesn’t mean the interior of the room is larger.
Your balcony cabin’s interior could be the same size as that of an ocean view cabin, but you get the added space from the balcony, which is usually around 35 square feet.
Balcony cabins come in a few different variants, including aft balcony staterooms at the ship’s rear, premium vista balcony cabins with better views and wrap-around balconies, extended balcony staterooms on higher decks and cove balcony staterooms on select ships and that offer more privacy.
Suites
Carnival offers a range of suites on its ships, starting with very basic suites that merely offer more living space but no separation of spaces, up to huge suites with multiple bedrooms and separate dining and living areas.
Whatever type of suite you book, though, your stay will come with extra suite-guest-only amenities like VIP check-in, priority main dining room time assignments, bathrobes, a better mattress than what you’d get in a non-suite stateroom and priority boarding and debarkation.
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Junior and grand suites are the most basic of Carnival’s suite options, with under 350 square feet of space and overall more living space, but no separation between the bedroom and living area, like what you’d expect from a typical hotel suite.
Captain’s suites sit above the bridge for unique views.
Presidential suites offer the most space of all, with some, like those on the newest Carnival ships, exceeding a thousand square feet of space.
Other Types of Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites
Some cabins and suites fall into other categories beyond just interior, balcony, suite, etc.
Family Harbor Cabins and Suites
You can find Family Harbor cabins in variants, starting from interior cabins and going up to suites.
Whatever the size or sleeping arrangements, though, you can expect family-friendly amenities and spaces designed for traveling with kiddos.
Exclusive perks available to Family Harbor guests include access to the Family Harbor Lounge, with its free breakfast and snacks, as well as free dining for kids at specialty restaurants, and one free evening of babysitting services during your cruise.
Family Harbor cabins and suites aren’t available on every Carnival ship, however. You’ll find them on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Carnival Panoramaand Carnival Vista.
Like the idea of keeping the family all together (or as close as possible), but don’t want to spring for a Family Harbor cabin, or maybe don’t think you’ll use all the amenities? Consider booking a more affordable stateroom or suite option, but connecting rooms that share a common door.
Cloud 9 Spa Cabins and Suites
Similarly, you can find cabins of all sizes and layouts that fit within the Cloud 9 category. What sets these staterooms and suites apart are the extra amenities.
In your stateroom, you’ll enjoy upgraded toiletries, robes and slippers. You’ll also enjoy priority spa reservations, free fitness classes, unlimited access to the thermal suites and hydrotherapy pools and exclusive discounts on treatments during port days.
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Cloud 9 Spa cabins and suites are available on Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Mardi Gras, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Vista.
Havana Cabins and Suites
Many cruise lines have now begun adding specialty areas to their ships wherein a small number of guests enjoy extra amenities and private spots away from all the other cruisers, such as private restaurants and pools. Carnival’s take on this concept is the Havana area.
Havana guests enjoy exclusive access to the Havana pool and bar, and if you book a suite, you’ll enjoy extra features like a huge outdoor deck and rain showers. Havana guests must all be 12 years old or older.
The Havana space and its staterooms and suites are only available on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Vista.
Terrazza Cabins and Suites
The Terrazza space is very similar to the Havana space, but it’s only on two Carnival ships: Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia (the cruise line’s two ships that have a distinctly more European feel, due to the ships’ past lives sailing under another cruise line).
Terrazza staterooms offer larger outdoor spaces and access to a private deck with lounging, drinks and a whirlpool. Guests in these staterooms must all be age 12 or older.
Excel Suites
There are several different types of Excel suites that you can book, but whichever you choose, you can expect an excel-lant experience. A new addition to the cruise line, Excel suites are featured on some of Carnival’s newest ships, like Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
Perks of staying in these suites include access to Loft 19, an Excel suite guest-only area with its own pool, bar and cabanas; guaranteed specialty dining times; upgraded toiletries; complimentary room service; a complimentary drinks package; and more.
Accessible Cabins
Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line does outfit each ship with a handful of “accessible” cabins intended for cruisers with mobility restrictions and wheelchair users. These cabins are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if you think you need one, book it as soon as you can.
Accessible cabins come in two types: modified and fully accessible. The modified cabins have wider doors, so 29-inch doorways at the cabin entrance and then 22-inch or larger doorways for the bathroom.
Fully accessible cabins have 32-inch doorways at both the cabin entrance and the cabin bathrooms. The bathrooms feature roll-in showers with fold-down seats and there’s no bathroom lip to get up and over. There’s also greater floor space for easier maneuverability in the cabin with a wheelchair or scooter.
How Do You Pick the Right Cabin or Suite for You?
So out of all of these options, how do you pick the best cabin or suite for you, when cruising with Carnival Cruise Line? Here are a few things to consider.
The Ship’s Age
Ship age really plays into your cruising experience. While there are plenty of older ships within the Carnival fleet that will provide you with an excellent vacation, do note that the cabins can be a little lackluster. Cabins may feel dated and furnishings could be on the older side.
As such, you may find that you want to upgrade your stay on an older ship, and book a cabin that’s in a higher tier than what you might normally book. In general, the suites on Carnival’s older ships are in better condition than the interior cabins on those same ships.
However, the reverse also applies. If you’re sailing on one of Carnival’s brand-new ships, you may find that the interior and ocean view cabins are in such great shape, and feel so luxurious, that you can downgrade from the type of cabin you might normally book, and still love your stay.
Location on the Ship
Suites are generally higher up on the ship, while other cabin types are scattered throughout the ship. Where your cabin is located, though, can impact your cruise.
For example, if you have a tendency to get seasick, you’ll want a cabin toward the middle of the ship (where the ship’s movement is less noticeable) and ideally with a window or balcony, for views of the horizon (which some report helps alleviate symptoms of seasickness).
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Cabins on the lower decks are often more affordable, with lots of lower deck interior cabin options. Upper deck cabins are close to all of the action (though do note that action often comes with noise).
Who You’re Cruising With
Don’t just take into consideration the number of cruisers in your party when choosing a cruise ship cabin. Also, think about everyone’s habits and needs.
For example, you could just be cruising with two other people, but if those people tend to spend a lot of time getting ready every day, it might be worth getting a cabin with two bathrooms, so as to avoid time-consuming turn-taking in front of the vanity.
Similarly, if you have young kids, you might value having a tub in your stateroom instead of just the normal, small, stand-up shower that you’d get in an interior stateroom.
Other Things to Look Out for as You’re Booking Your Carnival Cruise Line Cabin
Have a good idea of which cabin you’d like to book for your cruise? Before you book, make sure you’re checking for a few things.
Is the View Obstructed?
If you’re paying good money for an ocean view or balcony stateroom, you don’t want an obstructed view. Typically, obstructed views come from parts of the ship or things like life rafts being positioned right in front of a window or balcony.
While these cabins can come with a lower price point, they also come with less of a view. If this will bother you, check all the cabin’s details before booking.
Where is the cabin in relation to elevators and stairwells?
These spots are notoriously noisy on cruise ships. There’s a lot of foot traffic and activity. While you might think that being next to the elevator will make your cruise experience more convenient, keep the noise factor in mind.
Is Carnival Cruise Line the best cruise line for your cabin needs?
Lastly, if you’re not finding exactly the cabin or suite you think you need for your cruise, it might just be that Carnival isn’t the best option for you.
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For example, if you want a singles stateroom, for one traveler without paying a single’s supplement, you won’t find it on Carnival — but you will find singles staterooms on cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line.
Want an even bigger suite than what you’ll get with Carnival’s Excel presidential suite (the current largest suite in the Carnival fleet)? Look to Royal Caribbean, where the suites are even bigger.
