Carnival Caribbean Cruises

Ultimate Family Escape!

Whether you’re chasing clear blue water, kid-approved fun, or a budget-friendly getaway, Carnival Caribbean cruises make it effortless to say yes to vacation.

Here’s a clear, optimized guide to help you pick the right ship, homeport, itinerary, and deal—so you can spend more time making memories and less time researching.

Carnival Victory In Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Carnival Caribbean Cruises as

Best Family Fun

Carnival cruises are great fun! In fact, the ships are dubbed "Fun Ships".

Every member of your family will enjoy a Carnival cruise. 

Why Families Love Carnival Cruises: Their cruises bundle sun, beach days, and big-ship thrills—waterparks, pools, live shows, and kid clubs—into one easy, great-value package.

All the Choices: From quick Bahamas getaways to weeklong island-hopping adventures, there’s a pace and price point for every family.

Zero-stress Planning: Meals, entertainment, and most onboard activities are included, making budgeting simple and predictable.

Memories that Stick: Snorkeling in crystal coves, ziplining over jungle canopies, and strolling colorful ports become “remember when” moments that stick.

Carnival Caribbean Cruises
U.S. Homeports

From which U.S. port can I board a Carnival cruise?

My family has taken several Carnival cruises to date and we have sailed from three (3) different U.S. homeports: Tampa Cruise Terminal, Florida; Miami Cruise Terminal, Florida, and Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, Florida.

We have driven to all departure ports.

Sailing close to home can save time and airfare. These popular drive-to and fly-to ports power most Carnival Caribbean cruises.

My family has taken several Carnival cruises to date and we have sailed from three (3) different U.S. homeports: Tampa Cruise Terminal, Florida; Miami Cruise Terminal, Florida, and Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, Florida.

There are others... Below are samples.

Your family will find the right Carnival Caribbean cruise from a port near you. 

Tip: Ports change seasonally; always verify current offerings before booking.

Carnival Cruise Lines's Ships
to the Caribbean

Among the many inclusive Carnival cruises that my family has taken, we sailed with Carnival Sensation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Glory, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Spirit, and Carnival Victory.

Carnival Cruise Lines has many ships of varying sizes that sail to the Caribbean. In addition to those listed above, you will find many other Carnival Fun Ships with great itineraries to the Caribbean.

These include: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Dream, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic, Carnival Mardi Gras, and Carnival Vista.

All these ships fall into different categories according to size, with Paradise being among the smallest and the Celebration and Mardi Gras being among the biggest Carnival ships.

Your family will find the right size ship and desired amenities to the Caribbean! 

Tip: If “wow factor” matters, target Excel-class. If “chill and value” matter, Dream or Spirit class is a sweet spot.

Carnival Caribbean Cruises

The Itineraries

Where in the Caribbean does Carnival Cruise Lines visit?

You will be happy to know that Carnival cruise itineraries have the Caribbean covered. My family has visited the Bahamas, Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean Carnival on our family cruises.

Bahamas Getaways:

Great for first-timers and long weekends, with 3–5 night sailings to Nassau, Freeport, and private destinations like Half Moon Cay.

Eastern Caribbean:

Typically features San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Turk—calm waters, great beaches, and duty-free shopping.

Western Caribbean:

Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, and Grand Cayman—mix of reefs, Mayan ruins, jungle adventures, and family-friendly beach clubs.

Southern Caribbean:

From San Juan or longer sailings: Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Aruba, Curaçao—more diverse landscapes and culture.

New and Notable:

Celebration Key in The Bahamas brings fresh beach-day experiences, cabanas, and family amenities on select itineraries.

How to Choose Your Itinerary

Trip Length: Consider 3–5 nights for quick fun, 6–8 nights for a fuller island mix, and 9–12 nights for deep exploration.

Vibes: Eastern Caribbean for beaches and shopping, Western Caribbean for adventure and Southern for variety and scenery.

Season: Winter and spring get you peak Caribbean weathe, while late summer/fall can offer sharper pricing.

Carnival Glory departing Port Miami

Carnival Caribbean Cruises
Serve Great Cuisines

What kinds of foods are served on Carnival cruises?

Well, since you are sailing to the Caribbean, you will find that your cuisines will include West Indian or Caribbean dishes. Have you tried jerk chicken? You may find that onboard. What about pumpkin soup? That may also be available.

Additionally, Carnival Cruise Lines offers varying cuisines onboard Caribbean cruises to appeal to all kinds of appetites.

Some Included Favorites

Guy’s Burger Joint: Crowd-pleasing burgers and fries poolside

Blue Iguana Cantina: Breakfast burritos and fresh tacos

Lido Marketplace Buffet: Rotating global comfort foods

Pizzeria: Fresh pies, late-night staple

Big Chicken by Shaq: Juicy chickend tenders and various chicken sandwiches (select ships)

Specialty Restarants (fee-based)

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse: Date-night upgrade

Cucina del Capitano: Homestyle Italian

Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki: Fresh rolls and show cooking

Seafood Shack: Casual seaside favorites

Emeril’s Bistro: Signature bites and New Orleans flair (select ships)

For Picky Eaters and Foodies

Kids find something every meal; adventurous palates can graze all week. Dietary accommodations are available and it's recommended to note needs ahead of time.

Carnival Caribbean Cruises
Fun For All Ages

Whether you are 6, 16, or 60, you will find enough fun on a Carnival cruise to the Caribbean.

There are kids' programs for the little ones, fun activities for the older kids, and a variety of things to do for the oldest "kids". 

For kids

Camp Ocean: Age-based activities and themed parties.

WaterWorks: Splashtastic slides and splash zones.

For Tweens and Teens

Circle “C” (12–14) & Club O2 (15–17): Hangouts, games, and hosted events.

Outdoor action: Ropes courses, mini-golf, sports courts.

For Adults

Serenity Retreat (21+): Quiet loungers and hot tubs.

Nightlife: Live music, comedy at Punchliner, shows, and casino.

For Everyone Together

Pool parties, sailaway celebrations, island shore excursions, and family photo ops at golden hour.

If you choose not to get involved in organized activities, you may visit the fitness center, get a spa treatment, check out some great artwork, splash in a pool, warm yourself in a hot-tub, etc.

Carnival Liberty in the Southern Caribbean

Carnival Caribbean Cruises Offer
Best Family Cruise Deals

Compared to an inclusive family cruise package with Royal Caribbean or Disney Cruise Lines, Carnival cruises are always less than Royal Caribbean and much less than Disney cruises.

You will be able to give your family a great time to the Caribbean without having to break the bank, whenever you book a Carnival cruise.

Here are some helpful tips to note...

Book Smart

Early Saver Fares: Ask about the fare promotion. Lock in rates and pick cabins while selection is wide.

Third/Fourth Guest Promos: For families of three or four, start early to get a cabin for all members of your family. These are fften discounted and perfect are for families sharing a cabin.

Reduced Deposits: Watch for sale windows to secure peak dates cheaply. Note that the reduced deposit fare always comes with a nonrefundable deposit.

Special Rates: Ask about discounts, for which you may qualify. These include special rates for certain residents, military, teacher, and past guest offers.

Shoulder Season: Late summer and fall deliver the best value. This time is perfect for families with home-schooled children.

Bundle and Save:

• Drive to a homeport - Cut airfare for instant savings.
• Value adds - Look for onboard credit, free room upgrades, or Wi‑Fi/beverage package promos.
• Cabin strategy - Connecting interiors or oceanviews can beat one balcony on price. Suites buy space plus perks on family-heavy sailings.

Explore Multiple Sailings to Compare Cruise Prices: 

Visit PetesTravel.com to explore available Carnival cruise rates for families.

Carnival Caribbean Cruises
Gratuity Rates

Unlike some cruise lines, Carnival is among those Caribbean cruise lines that add "arbitrary" cruise gratuity charges to your onboard sail & sign account.

However, based on the service received you may ask that your gratuity bill be adjusted up or down.

Note that amounts paid support your dining and stateroom teams, so please leave something.

Carnival's Daily Gratuities:

Standard staterooms: $16.00 per person, per day.
Suites: $18.00 per person, per day.

You can prepay your gratuity charges or settle onboard.

Automatic Service Charges:

Bars and lounges: 18-percent is added to beverage purchases and CHEERS! package.

Specialty Dining and Spa: 18-percent typically added to checks.

Good to Know:
Rates and policies can change; review your booking confirmation and onboard folio for the latest details.

Final Word On
Carnival Cruises

Carnival Caribbean cruises are a sweet spot for families: lots of ships and sail lengths, easy-to-reach US homeports, crowd-pleasing dining, and built-in fun for every age—all at prices that usually undercut comparable vacations on land and many at-sea alternatives.

If your goal is maximum memories per dollar, consistently sunny weather, and flexible dates from ports near you, Carnival delivers a value-rich path to the best Carnival cruise Caribbean destinations without sacrificing the moments that matter.

Ask my children. They have sailed with Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean. However, when we told our kids that we were taking a family cruise this summer, they wanted to know if (you guessed it!) it was a Carnival Caribbean cruise.

You should have seen their faces when I said it was!

So, are you ready to book one of many inclusive Carnival Caribbean cruises? 

Remember to compare cruise rates at PetesTravel.com.

Have you sailed with Carnival Cruise Lines? We would love to hear about it.

Click here to submit Carnival cruise reviews. 


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