RyG's Cruise Guide
Please Follow Us Online!
  • Home
  • Cruise Tips
  • Cruise Resources
    • Cruise Schedules
    • Carnival Drydock Schedule
    • Carnival Cruise Director Schedule
    • Carnival Dive In Movies Schedule
    • Galveston Cruises
    • General Cruise Blog
    • Cruise Ship Webcams
    • Just For Fun
  • Carnival Cruise Food
  • My Cruise Reviews
  • Blog
  • Contact

Havana Cabana Patio Balcony On Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, & Mardi Gras Pros and Cons

10/30/2022

 
Picture
       The Havana Cabana staterooms on Carnival Cruise Line's Excellence (XL) class ships are a great place for guests that want a patio style balcony and access to some exclusive amenities. On the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee Deck 8 is home to the Havana staterooms. 
           The Havana staterooms on Deck 8 consist of some different type of rooms including the Havana Cabanas, Havana Interiors, Havana Cabana Suite, Havana Cabana Extended Suite, and Havana Cabana Extended. All of these rooms, including the interior Havana rooms, come with access to the Havana Pool area which is located on Deck 8. Additionally, all of these rooms require guests to be 12 and older in order to be booked in the rooms. Carnival provides wristbands that must be used to access to the Havana Pool Area. 
                     The goal of this post is to focus on the Havana Cabana staterooms and look at the pros & cons of these staterooms.  A Havana Cabana stateroom is one that has a patio outside. The patio is a fenced in area that has a gate that leads to an area of Deck 8 that can be walked around. This allows for easy access to the Havana Pool area. Typically, the Havana Cabana patios come with a swinging chair, patio chair, and table. 

Pros

1. Access To The Outside Havana Pool Area
              The Havana Cabana patios have gates that connect guests to an outside walkway. Some of the Havana Cabana staterooms have a couple of stairs that must be walked down to access the outside walkway so if you have accessibility issues you will want to check with Carnival before booking your room. The gate from your patio allows easy access to walk on the outside walkway and you can walk outside on your way to the Havana Pool area. 
2. Proximity To Chibang & Havana Bar
                   The Havana staterooms (not just the Havana Cabanas) are very close to the Havana Bar and Chibang. The Havana Bar has Latin themed dancing delivered by a DJ or Latin Trio, depending on the time. Carnival advertises the Havana bar serves Cuban sodas, cocktails, and Cuban Coffee (at regular bar prices). The Havana Bar is very close to the Havana Staterooms, but is open for all guests. Chibang is a dining area that is open at lunch & dinner and serves a combination of Chinese & Mexican food. This area is right by the Havana staterooms which allows for easy access to some food during open hours. 
3. Outside Patio Extends To The Very Front Of The Ship
                The outside patio that is accessible from your Havana Cabana wraps around the front half of Deck 8. From the very front of the Deck 8 area you can see the view from the front of the ship. Carnival's XL class ships do not have the public observation deck areas like the older ships due to the ship having balconies in these areas instead so having this area to be able to walk by & look out the front is nice. 
4. Ease Of Access To The Front Elevator/Stairwell Area
                    The Havana staterooms are at the front of Deck 8. The closest elevator/stairwell area to these rooms is the front. Guests staying in these rooms can easily travel up or down depending on where on the ship they want to go. Deck 8 is also home to Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Cucina Del Capitano, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, Rudi's Seagrill, Patio Pool, The Watering Hole, and many other features. Since these (plus more) are all on the same deck, if you are staying in a Havana stateroom you don't even have to travel up or down decks to visit some of the ship's amenities. 
Cons

1. Patios Have Reduced Privacy
              Compared to a traditional balcony stateroom, the Havana Cabana patios do not have the same level of privacy. Guests walking by on the public space can easily see you on your patio. Make sure to lock your stateroom door to prevent someone from trying to get in unauthorized. 

​2. Age Restriction - Can Be A Pro or Con Depending On Your Situation
                Guests traveling with children younger than 12 cannot stay in the Havana staterooms, including the Havana interiors. If you are looking to travel with children younger than 12 you might want to look into the Family Harbor area on these ships. 

                 Overall, there are many positives to staying in a Havana Cabana stateroom on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, or Carnival Jubilee. Before booking I recommend you do or keeping the following things in mind: 
  • Research your particular Havana Cabana stateroom to determine what the view from the balcony will consist of. The exact view you have will depend on where your room is located. 
  • Keep in mind that staying in a Havana Cabana suite (or any other type of suite room) will typically come with a higher person per day service gratuity. 
  • Look for videos on You-Tube that will show you what your particular Havana Cabana balcony will look like. Watching videos from other guests is one of my favorite ways to get familiarized with a ship's layout. 

Stateroom Locations On Carnival Cruise Ships I Always Try To Avoid

10/29/2022

 
Picture
      When I book a Carnival Cruise I take the time to carefully research my available stateroom options prior to booking. I will look at the ship's deck plans to see what is above & below my potential room to try to identify anything that could be noisy at night. I am a light sleeper and noise from music or other guests will very quickly wake me up. 
              This post is a list of the stateroom locations I personally try to avoid. All of the stateroom locations to avoid that are listed below are based on my own experiences. There could be other areas that experience noise that are not listed here. However, please keep in mind, no matter where you stay on a cruise ship you might have to deal with noise from fellow guests walking down the stateroom hallway. 

1. Near The Nightclub or Disco
                  Typically Carnival Cruise Line's nightclubs are open throughout the evening and into the early morning hours. The music in the nightclub is loud and depending on the songs played can have an extra loud beat. I try to avoid staterooms that are above or below the ship's nightclub for multiple reasons. The first reason is the direct noise of the music. If the nightclub is close to a stairwell/elevator area, depending on the insulation, the noise of the music can travel up or down to stateroom decks. The second reason I try to avoid staying close to the nightclub is people coming back from the nightclub in the early morning hours can sometimes be noisy. On my recent Carnival Breeze cruise I was one deck above the nightclub and each night experienced very noisy people coming back around the time the nightclub closed. Noise from other guests can happen anywhere and not just in rooms close to the nightclub, but being in an area with a higher likelihood of being used as a cut-through hallway after nightclub hours could result in some extra noise. 
2. Close To The Atrium
​                 Carnival Cruise ships generally have entertainment in the atrium throughout the evening that can last late. Entertainment sometimes is live music or a party in the atrium hosted by the cruise director. For Carnival ships with atriums, these atrium areas are usually several decks high. The noise from the atrium lobby can travel many decks up and enter the stateroom hallways. On my 2013 Carnival Triumph cruise I stayed close to the atrium, but on a deck that was many above the atrium lobby. The music in the atrium lobby & noise of the crowd enjoying the music traveled up to my stateroom. I could not fall asleep and was miserable for most of the night until the music stopped. For this reason I personally try to stay away from booking any stateroom on any deck that is somewhat close to the atrium area (if the Carnival ship has an atrium). 
​3. Lido Deck - Close To The Pool Area
                     The Lido Deck on a Carnival Cruise ship is probably one of the most popular decks. At night the Lido Deck is used for hosting Dive In Movies, deck parties, or other late night events. People also use the Lido Deck for going to the ship's buffet or other food eateries. Since the Lido Deck is highly visited by other guests at all hours of the day, I try to avoid staying anywhere close to the main pool or near the front/elevator stairwell area on the Lido Deck. 
4. Near Elevator/Stairwell Areas
                       My general rule of thumb is to stay at least 3 staterooms away from an elevator/stairwell area if possible. I don't want to hear the chime of the elevator throughout the night and the elevator/stairwell area can be noisy if a group of guests are talking as they get in and out of elevators.  
Other Considerations:
  • Regardless of a stateroom's location, you may have to put up with noise from other guests walking by.  
  • Besides the areas I listed above there could be some less than ideal stateroom locations I did not mention here. These 4 areas mentioned in this post are from my personal experience and are areas I will try to avoid. I highly recommend researching your potential stateroom pick while booking and try to identify any possible areas that could have noise from public spaces. 
  • Some people have ear plugs that help with noise. If you are someone who uses ear plugs to block out noise at night, make sure to add these to your packing list so you don't forget them. 

If you would like to view Carnival's ship deck plans I have compiled a listing of the deck plans. Click Here to view my list of Carnival ship deck plans. 

Carnival Conquest Received Pickleball Court During 2022 Drydock

10/29/2022

 
Carnival Conquest Docked In Cozumel
       The Carnival Conquest recently underwent a dry-dock where the ship received routine maintenance & a re-painting of the ship's hull to  add the new Carnival livery. Earlier this week Carnival announced the Carnival Conquest is the first Carnival ship to receive a dedicated pickleball court. 

Location Of Carnival Conquest's Pickleball Court
          Based on the picture Carnival provided in their press release, the pickleball court is located in front of the ship's funnel within the same netting as the half basketball court. Carnival's press release notes the Carnival Conquest is the first ship with a permanent dedicated pickleball court. 

Other Outdoor Options on Carnival Conquest:
               Carnival's website states that there is a half basketball court on the Carnival Conquest in addition to pickleball & ping-pong. The Carnival Conquest also has a jogging track and mini golf course as part of the outdoor SportsSquare amenities. 

Other Carnival Ships With Pickleball: 
             Other Carnival ships have the option for pickleball to be played onboard, but there is not a dedicated space for pickleball. Ships where pickleball can be played on multi-purpose courts in SportsSquare includes Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Pride, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Valor, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras.

For more information please check out Carnival's press release by clicking here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide). 

If you would like more Carnival dry-dock information please check out my unofficial Carnival dry-dock schedule by clicking here. 


Carnival Luminosa Sailing 30 Day Cruise In 2023 Itinerary & Basic Info

10/23/2022

 
Carnival Cruise
        The Carnival Luminosa is joining Carnival Cruise Line's fleet in November 2022. Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to sail from Brisbane, Australia through April 2023 and then the ship is scheduled to reposition to Seattle, Washington for a season of Alaska cruises. When the Carnival Luminosa's Alaska cruises end the ship is scheduled to sail a 30 day cruise from Seattle that includes stops in Alaska, Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia before the cruise ends in Brisbane, Australia. 

About The Carnival Luminosa
             Before discussing the 30 night cruise further, I think it makes sense to briefly discuss the Carnival Luminosa. There are several cruisers that are not aware of the Carnival Luminosa. The Carnival Luminosa starts sailing for Carnival Cruise Line in November 2022, but the ship is not brand new. Prior to joining Carnival's fleet, the ship sailed for sister brand Costa Cruise Lines as the Costa Luminosa. 
                 The Carnival Luminosa has similarities to Carnival's Spirit Class, but there are design differences that are notable to guests that have sailed on either Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Miracle. I'll discuss some of the design differences in another post, but Carnival does classify the ship as a Spirit Class ship despite some differences. Carnival Luminosa has a gross tonnage of 92,720 GT, length of 964 feet, full guest capacity of 2,826 guests, and 926 officers/crew working onboard. 
                   Some work has been performed to convert the ship from a Costa ship to a Carnival ship, but the scope of work includes leaving several of the ship's venues alone. The traditional Carnival funnel will not be present on the Carnival Luminosa when it first sails and may be added in a future dry-dock. Carnival is installing some Fun Ship 2.0 features to the ship, but not all will be added. For informaton regarding the dry-dock plans of the Carnival Luminosa and work anticipated to be complete prior to the ship's debut for Carnival please check out my previously written post by clicking here. 

The 30 Day Cruise Scheduled Itinerary
                    The scheduled 30 day cruise itinerary for the Carnival Luminosa departs Seattle on September 14, 2023. This cruise will start out by heading to Alaska and then the ship will begin crossing the Pacific Ocean. While crossing the Pacific Ocean the Carnival Luminosa will cross over the International Date Line. Crossing the International Date Line will be during a series of several back to back sea days. When the Carnival Luminosa reaches the other side of the Pacific Ocean several port of call days in Japan are scheduled. After leaving Japan the Carnival Luminosa will sail for a stop in the Philippines and then a port of call stop in Indonesia. Please note, there are sea days mixed throughout (see below for the scheduled itinerary). The 30 day cruise will end in Brisbane, Australia.  
Please note: The scheduled itinerary for this cruise is subject to change at any time and may not be reflected below as Carnival could make changes at any time, including during this cruise. Check Carnival's website for the latest itinerary information. Port of calls can be cancelled, swapped, or times in port can be altered due to a variety of circumstances. 
Day #
Scheduled Destination
Scheduled Arrival
Scheduled Departure
1
Seattle, Washington
N/A
6:00pm
2
Sea Day
N/A
N/A
3
Ketchikan, Alaska
7:00am
5:00pm
4
Icy Straight Point, Alaska
10:00am
7:00pm
5
Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruise Day)
N/A
N/A
6
Sea Day
N/A
N/A
7
Sea Day
​N/A
N/A
8
Sea Day
N/A
N/A
9
Sea Day
N/A
​N/A
10
Sea Day & Crossing International Date Line
​N/A
​N/A
11
Sea Day
​N/A
N/A
12
Kushiro, Japan
9:00am
6:00pm
13
Aomori, Japan
9:00am
6:00pm
14
Sea Day
​N/A
​N/A
15
Tokyo, Japan
7:00am
11:00pm
16
Sea Day
​N/A
​N/A
17
Hiroshima, Japan
7:00am
5:00pm
18
Nagasaki, Japan
9:00am
6:00pm
19
Sea Day
​N/A
N/A
20
Sea Day
​N/A
​N/A
21
Sea Day
N/A
​N/A
22
Puerto Princesa, Philippines 
9:00am
6:00pm
23
Sea Day
N/A
​N/A
24
Bitung, Indonesia
8:00am
6:00pm
25
Sea Day
​N/A
​N/A
26
​Sea Day
​N/A
N/A
27
​Sea Day
​N/A
​N/A
28
​Sea Day
​N/A
​N/A
29
​Sea Day
N/A
N/A
30
​Sea Day
N/A
​N/A
Debark
Brisbane, Australia
8:00am
N/A
Click Here To Return To RyG's Cruise Guide Homepage
​

Bringing Drinks and Snacks Onboard A Carnival Cruise - Information & Tips

10/22/2022

 
Carnival Cruise Funnel
        Can you bring alcohol or sodas on a Carnival Cruise? Does Carnival let you bring your own snacks to the ship? Questions about bringing alcoholic beverages, wine, sodas, and snacks are common. The goal of this post is to discuss Carnival's current policy.  

Can you bring liquor or alcohol onboard a Carnival Cruise?
          Carnival prohibits guests from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard except all guests 21 or older are allowed to bring a bottle of wine that is up to 750 ml. The bottle of wine must be sealed/unopened and is required to be brought onboard in carry-on luggage. This means if you have two guests traveling in the same room that are both 21 years or older you can bring two bottles of wine as long as the wine bottles meet the 750 ml requirements and are unopened. If you have three guests in a room where two guests are 21+ years and one guest is under 21 years old, you can still only bring two bottles of wine because guests under 21 cannot bring wine onboard. 
                   Other alcoholic beverages besides the wine bottle exception are not allowed. You cannot bring any other liquor or alcohol in your carry on luggage or checked luggage. If Carnival's Security team sees the alcohol through the scanner it will be confiscated and discarded. Carnival's FAQ clearly states no compensation will be given for discarded beverages. 

Can you sneak alcohol onboard a Carnival Cruise in rum runners or in a water bottle?
                        People have tried creative things over the years to smuggle alcohol onto their cruise. Some of these people have successfully posted about it on You-Tube or social media. Carnival is likely aware of many of the different things people will try to sneak alcohol or drinks onboard the ship. I recommend you don't try because if you get caught it will get confiscated and you wasted your time & money. Carnival's security team screening carry-on luggage or luggage that is checked are looking for prohibited drinks as part of their security check. 
Can you bring soda or non-alcoholic beverages onto a Carnival Cruise?
                      Carnival does allow guests to bring a limited quantity of sodas or non-alcoholic beverages onboard. Non-alcoholic beverages per Carnival's definition includes drinks such as sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk). The limit is 12 sealed (not opened) cans or cartons of the beverage and the ounces per can/carton must be 12 ounces or less. The beverages must be in carry-on luggage. 
Important Note:  The policy allows cans or cartons that are sealed. You cannot bring plastic bottles or glass bottles even if they are unopened. Bottles of drinks will likely be confiscated. 

Can you bring bottled water onto a Carnival Cruise?
                          You cannot bring bottled water onto a Carnival Cruise because Carnival's policy prohibits bottled non-alcoholic drinks from being brought onboard. If you bring sealed canned water this would be allowed. 
Does Carnival allows coolers to be brought onto the cruise ship?
                           Carnival's policy strictly prohibits large coolers. However, guests are allowed to bring coolers onboard if not larger than 12'' by 12'' by 12'' and if for the purpose of holding small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages or medication. You must bring the cooler with you as carry-on luggage. 
If I buy alcohol in my cruise port of call can I bring it back onboard?
                         Carnival's policy allows for alcoholic beverages purchased in a port of call to be brought back onto the ship, but these beverages will be confiscated and held until the last morning of the cruise. There are generally no exceptions to Carnival's policy and any alcoholic drinks bought in a port of call will be confiscated upon your arrival back onto the ship. Pick-up information for these beverages will be communicated to you at the time the drink is confiscated. On some cruises port of call purchased drinks are delivered to your room, but on most cruises (especially shorter cruises) you will have to pick up your alcoholic beverage from a designated area of the ship on the last day. Make sure you do not forget to pick-up your purchases before getting off the cruise on the last day!
Can I bring snacks or food onto a Carnival Cruise?
                             You can bring snacks or food onto a Carnival Cruise ship as long as the snacks are pre-packaged and un-opened. Carnival's prohibited items list specifically says food that is homemade or pre-cooked is not allowed. Carnival will not provide any refrigeration, storage, or food preparation for any items. 
For More Policy Information:
                             I highly encourage you to read Carnival's website before your cruise to get the latest information on what drinks or foods/snacks are allowed or not allowed prior to your cruise. The policy is subject to change at any time!
Click Here For Carnival's Policy Center - see the "Carnival's Liquor & Beverage Policy" section and "What items am I not allowed to bring" sections for more details. 
Click Here For My Unofficial Carnival Cruise Food Guide

For Galveston Cruisers: Things To Spot From Your Cruise Ship

10/22/2022

 
Galveston, Texas
           Try to spot these Galveston landmarks or things from your cruise ship while docked or sailing away from Galveston!  Galveston is a homeport for many cruise ships and a great place to begin your cruise vacation. When I cruise from Galveston, I always try to spot different buildings, landmarks, and things around the city while the ship is docked at the terminal and sailing away. I created this mini scavenger hunt to help those sailing from Galveston know of some things to look for from the deck of their ship. Some of the things on my list are able to be seen when your cruise ship is docked, but other things can only been seen once the ship is sailing out of Galveston. 

Quick About Cruising From Galveston:  Cruise Terminal 1 is now named Cruise Terminal 25, Cruise Terminal 2 is now Cruise Terminal 28, and the new Royal Caribbean cruise terminal is Cruise Terminal 10. This numbering system reflects the pier numbers. 

Thing To Spot #1: Giant Cornet
       A cornet is very similar to a trumpet and for those sailing from Galveston you have a chance to spot one from your cruise ship. For those trying to spot the cornet from their ship look for it in the Galveston Historic Strand. It is visible without using binoculars, but for a better view bring binoculars or use your camera's zoom feature. For those cruisers that don't see it from their cruise ship or miss seeing it, it is located at the intersection of 23rd Street and Strand Street in Galveston's Historic Strand.  
Cornet in Galveston
View of Galveston From Cruise Ship
Thing To Spot #2:  The Rides of Pleasure Pier
         Although the cruise terminals are located on the opposite side of the island from Galveston's Pleasure Pier, you can still see many of the rides from your cruise ship. If you miss seeing Pleasure Pier from your cruise ship it is located at 2501 Seawall Blvd. If you are interested in visiting the rides or pier of Pleasure Pier before or after your cruise here is their website link:
http://www.pleasurepier.com/

Note:  The camera I used on this cruise makes the pier look farther away than it really is. The top of the rides are much easier to spot in person! 
Thing To Spot #3: Ocean Star Drilling Museum 
(Oil Rig That Is Now A Museum)
        Depending which cruise terminal your cruise ship is docked at will determine how easy you can see this. From your ship look for the Ocean Star Drilling Museum. It is a big oil rig that is parked. This one should be easy to spot as your ship sails. For more information about this attraction:
https://www.oceanstaroec.com/

         Once you are out in the Gulf of Mexico keep your eyes out for operational oil rigs & platforms. Throughout the first evening and into the night you may be able to see the lights from the rigs in the distance. This all depends on the exact route your ship is sailing. 
Galveston Oil Rig Museum
Battleship Texas
​Things To Spot #4:  Battleship Texas
             The Battleship Texas has been in dry-dock at Gulf Copper Galveston which is located on Pelican Island. If you are cruising out of Cruise Terminal 25 or Cruise Terminal 28 you should be able to see the Battleship while docked at the cruise terminal or during sail-a-way. Just look towards Pelican Island! If you are cruising from Cruise Terminal 10 you should be able to see the Battleship while docked and looking towards Pelican Island, but will not directly pass by during sail-a-way. 
Thing To Spot #5:  A Train (Any Train Will Do)
            Near both cruise terminals you will have an opportunity to try to spot a train, whether it is moving or parked.  This will probably be easiest to spot from Cruise Terminal #2, but the cruisers that are at Cruise Terminal #1 should still be able to see the railroad tracks too.  This thing should be easy to spot!
Galveston Train Yard
Galveston Ferries
Thing To Spot #6: A Ferry
           The Galveston - Bolivar ferries are constantly traveling back and forth to transport cars and passengers from Galveston to Bolivar (and vice versa). From your cruise ship you may be able to see the ferries while the ship is docked, but when your ship is sailing away you should be able to get a good view of the ferries, whether they are docked or moving.
Thing To Spot #7:  Seawolf Park
          Seawolf Park is located on Pelican Island, which is something cruise ships pass by when sailing to/from Galveston. This should be an easy area to spot! 


Seawolf Park
Picture
Thing To Spot #8:  Shipwrecked SS Selma
          Whether you are departing Galveston on a cruise ship or on the Galveston-Bolivar Ferry you should be able to spot the SS Selma. The SS Selma is shipwrecked. The best viewing is from the ferry, but it can be spotted by the cruise ship. As you ship passes Seawolf Park look into Galveston Bay and you should be able to spot the wreckage. 


Thing To Spot #9:  Elissa 
          Shortly after departing from one of the Galveston cruise terminals you should be able to spot the tall ship Elissa. For more information on the Elissa's history and Texas Seaport Museumclick here (you will be directed away from RyG's Cruise Guide).  


Galveston Island
Pelican Island
Thing To Spot #10:  Texas A&M Galveston Campus
         If you look towards the bridge that connects Galveston Island and Pelican Island you should be able to spot some of the buildings that are a part of Texas A&M's Galveston campus. On the Pelican Island side of the bridge, right as the bridge connects to the land you should be able to see the fishing pier and some buildings that are a part of the campus. This is best able to be spotted while your ship is docked in Galveston prior to departure. 
Thing To Spot #11:  Another Cruise Ship
           Galveston is a busy cruise homeport and depending on your cruise departure day you could see another ship! Carnival Cruise Line sails from Galveston year-round and has 3 ships sailing a variety of itineraries. Royal Caribbean sails from Galveston year-round and has 2 ships sailing. Royal Caribbean ships will depart from the brand new cruise terminal 10 starting in mid-November 2022. Disney Cruise Line sails seasonally from Galveston in the winter. Princess Cruise Line will be sailing from Galveston seasonally in 2022 and 2023.  
Cruise Ships in Galveston
Galveston
Things To Spot #12:  One Moody Plaza Building
             Each time I cruise from Galveston I notice the One Moody Plaza because of its tallness. I think this building is used for office space, but I am not sure. I had trouble finding information on this building. I tried to find the building's actual name and usage and did not have good search results. You should able to spot this building while your ship is docked or during sail-a-way.
Things To Spot #13:  Pilot Boat
              The Galveston-Texas City Pilots guide vessels in and out of port, including cruise ships. Look for the pilot boat as you sail from Galveston or on the very last morning of the cruise. The pilot boat pulls up to the cruise ship to pick up or drop-off the pilot that will help guide your cruise ship in or out of port. 
Pilot Boat
Cargo Ship
Things To Spot #14: Tanker or Cargo Ship
              As you leave Galveston you could see a variety of other ships that aren't cruise ships. This could include barges, tankers, cargo ships, tug boats, etc. During your sail-a-way you may see other ships docked at the Port of Galveston. As you get a little farther out you will likely see a many ships anchored waiting to come in to Galveston, Texas City, or Houston. 
         There are many more things you can look for from your cruise ship as it departs Galveston, but this list is my favorite items to look for as my cruise departs. 

Like RyG's Cruise Guide On Facebook!
Click Here To View Our Facebook Profile
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
This article was originally written on 3/7/2015, updated in July 2016 & August 2019, and updated again in October 2022. ​

Carnival Cruise Thanksgiving 2022 Menu & Onboard Holiday Activities

10/22/2022

 
Picture
           Thanksgiving Day is quickly approaching for 2022 and Carnival Cruise Line usually does a few onboard activities to celebrate the holiday. Carnival Cruise ships typically will have a special Thanksgiving Menu available in the main dining room for evening's dinner. Additionally, there are usually special activities held that are Thanksgiving themed. 
​              

Thanksgiving Menu For 2022:
The full menu has not yet been released for Thanksgiving 2022. However, Carnival's website mentions on Thanksgiving Day guests can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal that includes roasted turkey, yams, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, giblet gravey, and pumpkin pie. For those cruising that do not like traditional Thanksgiving food and will want something different, Carnival's menu has historically had other options. The menu is normally divided into appetizers, main courses, and desserts (with Thanksgiving options mixed in). 
Want to see Thanksgiving 2021's menu? Click Here for my post regarding Thanksgiving 2021's full dining room menu. ​
Thanksgiving Events & Activities Onboard
​Carnival has several events & activities planned for Thanksgiving. Below is a list of the events & activities that Carnival advertises are offered on Thanksgiving:
  • Turkey Trot
  • Thanksgiving Trivia
  • Gratitude Box
  • Thanksgiving Day NFL Football
  • Turkey Hunt 
  • Thanksgiving Dinner
The exact scheduling of the events will depend on your cruise director and the ship's itinerary (such as if the ship is docked in a port of call, homeport day, or at sea). Although Carnival's website lists these activities they are subject to change or not be offered at all depending on your ship's cruise director. 

Will Christmas decorations already be up for a Thanksgiving cruise?
Most Carnival ships will not be decorated for Christmas at the time of the Thanksgiving cruise. To see the 2022 Carnival Cruise Christmas Decoration schedule please click here. 
​

Carnival Cruise 2022 Christmas Ship Decoration Schedule

10/20/2022

 
PictureChristmas Tree & Menorah in Carnival Breeze Atrium
         Carnival Cruise Line decorates each ship around the November or December timeframe with Christmas decorations and a menorah. Typically, each Carnival ship has a Christmas tree and Letters to Santa box in the atrium area. Other Christmas decorations are scattered throughout the ship which typically include garland in the atrium, a Christmas village made of food, and more. The exact decorations will vary by ship!
            Carnival Cruise Line has announced the 2022 Christmas decoration schedule for the ships. Typically the first date of the decorations is the start of the Christmas & holiday cruises. 

2022 Carnival Cruise Decoration Date By Ship

Carnival Breeze |  Thursday, December 1, 2022
Carnival Celebration |  Sunday, December 4, 2022
Carnival Conquest |  Friday, December 2, 2022
Carnival Dream |  Sunday, November 27, 2022
Carnival Elation |  Monday, November 28, 2022
Carnival Freedom | Thursday, December 1, 2022
Carnival Glory |  Sunday, November 27, 2022
Carnival Horizon | Saturday, November 26, 2022
Carnival Legend | Sunday, December 4, 2022
Carnival Liberty |  Friday, November 25, 2022
Carnival Luminosa | Sunday, December 4, 2022
Carnival Magic | Sunday, November 27, 2022
Mardi Gras |   Saturday, November 26, 2022
Carnival Miracle |  Sunday, November 27, 2022
Carnival Paradise |  Saturday, December 3, 2022
Carnival Panorama |  Sunday, November 27, 2022
Carnival Pride |  Sunday, December 4, 2022
Carnival Radiance |  Friday, November 25, 2022
Carnival Spirit |  Sunday, November 27, 2022
Carnival Splendor |  Monday, December 5, 2022
Carnival Sunrise | Saturday, December 3, 2022
Carnival Sunshine |  Monday, December 5, 2022
Carnival Valor |  Monday, November 28, 2022
Carnival Vista | Saturday, November 26, 2022
The listing for 2022 was posted by John Heald, Carnival's brand ambassador, on Facebook. You can also view a more updated schedule along with a list of sailings for the Holiday show on Carnival's website by clicking here. 
Please like RyG's Cruise Guide on Facebook! Click Here to view our Facebook profile. 
Picture
Christmas Food Village On Carnival Breeze (2021)

Carnival Cruise 4 Day Cruise Main Dining Room Dinner Menus & Food Pictures

10/16/2022

 
Picture
       Carnival Cruise Line's Main Dining Room dinner experience is a highlight for many guests while onboard a cruise. Most items served in the Main Dining Room are complimentary and you can generally have multiple appetizers or desserts if you would like. You can get two main courses complimentary, but any additional courses will cost $5 per main course. Any items that are an additional charge will be reflected on the menu and the charge will be made to your Sail & Sign card onboard spending account. 
             Prior to cruising I enjoy researching Carnival's dining menus and looking at others' food pictures. This post will share 4 night cruise menus from my Carnival Breeze 4 night cruise that took place in September 2022. Four night cruises may be short & go by quick, but there are many food dishes to try in the main dining room!

General Reminder Regarding Menus: Please note, menus are subject to change at any time as supplies and staffing can dictate which menu items are able to served. Additionally, please note that the exact presentation & ingredients that come with a certain dish are subject to change. If you have allergies or cannot eat a certain ingredient please consult with Carnival to determine if a dish is suitable for your consumption (it's always better to be safe than sorry so please be careful to avoid a serious allergic reaction or other issue). 

Day #1 Menus
Click Any Of The Menus Or Food Pictures To Below To Make It Larger!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Carnival Cruise Multicranberry and Baguette Bread
Multicranberry and Baguette Bread
Carnival Cruise Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer
Appetizer - Shrimp Cocktail (Two)
Carnival Cruise Quesadilla Appetizer
Appetizer - Quesadilla
Carnival Cruise Caesar Salad Appetizer
Appetizer - Caesar Salad
Carnival Cruise Grilled Salmon Dinner Meal
Main Course - Grilled Salmon
Carnival Cruise Grilled Chicken Breast
Main Course - Grilled Chicken Breast
Picture
Main Course - Pollo Parmigiana Della Cucina
Carnival Cruise Sweet & Sour Shrimp
Main Course - Sweet & Sour Shrimp
Carnival Cruise Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake (Warm Chocolate Melting Cake)
Dessert - Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake
Carnival Cruise Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Dessert - Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Picture
Dessert - Banana Split (Kid's Menu)
Carnival Cruise Tropical Fruit Plate
Dessert - Tropical Fruit Plate
Day #2 Sample Menus
​
Click Any Of The Menus Or Food Pictures To Below To Make It Larger!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Breads - Ciabatta and Petite Sourdough
Picture
Appetizer - Baby Spinach Salad
Picture
Appetizer - Shrimp Cocktail
Carnival Cruise Cream of Mushroom Soup
Appetizer - Cream of Mushroom Soup
Carnival Cruise Fried Oysters
Appetizer - Fried Oysters
Carnival Cruise Caesar Salad
Appetizer - Caesar Salad
Picture
Main Course - Broiled Striploin Steak
Picture
Main Course - Slow Cooked Prime Rib
Picture
Main Course - Grilled Salmon
Picture
Main Course - Grilled Garlic Shrimps
Picture
Main Course - Pan Fried Striped Bass
Picture
Dessert - Banana Split (From Kid's Menu)
Carnival Cruise Vanilla Creme Brulee
Dessert - Vanilla Creme Brulee
Day #3 Sample Menus
​
Click Any Of The Menus Or Food Pictures To Below To Make It Larger!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Breads - Ciabatta and Petite Sourdough
Carnival Cruise Flatbread
Appetizer - Flatbread
Picture
Appetizer - Two Shrimp Cocktails
Picture
Appetizer - Caesar Salad
Carnival Cruise French Onion Soup
Appetizer - French Onion Soup
Picture
Main Course - Supreme of Poulet Farcie
Picture
Main Course - Grilled Chicken Breast
Picture
Main Course - Grilled Salmon
Picture
Main Course - Lasagna Bologonese
Picture
Dessert - Praline Cake (with happy birthday written on plate)
Picture
Dessert - Apple Pie
Day #4 Sample Menus
​
Click Any Of The Menus Or Food Pictures To Below To Make It Larger!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Breads - Rustic French & Ciabatta
Picture
Appetizer - Marinated Chicken Tenders
Picture
Appetizer - Steak Ale and Cheddar Soup (I think)
Picture
Appetizer - Cobb Salad
Picture
Main Course - Enchiladas
Picture
Main Course - Grilled Chicken Breast
Carnival Cruise Country Fried Chicken
Main Course - Country Fried Chicken
Picture
Dessert - Baked Alaska

Farewell Carnival Ecstasy: Ship Completes Last Cruise Prior To Heading To Scrapyard

10/14/2022

 
Picture
         The Carnival Ecstasy completed its final cruise this morning. Guests debarked the ship in Mobile which not only signaled the end of a cruise for guests, but also an end of an era for the Carnival Ecstasy. 
            Built in 1991, the Carnival Ecstasy is the 2nd of what was once 8 Fantasy Class cruise ships. 5 of the 8 Fantasy Class ships were scrapped before the Carnival Ecstasy which included the Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, and Carnival Inspiration. The remaining Fantasy Class ships in Carnival's fleet are the Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise. 

             The Carnival Ecstasy was built in the Helsinki, Finland at a cost of $275 million dollars. The ship had a gross tonnage of 70,367 gross tons, a length of 855 feet, 10 passenger decks, double occupancy of 2,056 guests and a full occupancy of 2,675 guests. A total of 920 crew & officers worked onboard the Carnival Ecstasy. 

The Final Cruise:
                   
The Carnival Ecstasy's final cruise was from Mobile, Alabama and departed on Monday, September 10, 2022. This cruise sailed to Cozumel and Progreso. ​John Heald, Carnival's brand ambassador, was onboard the ship for the final cruise. An auction was held on the final sea day and included items such as one of the original wheels, the flag that flew on the ship's bow, many different plagues, a life preserver ring that had the ship's name, an elevator lobby map, and more. Also for auction was the remains of the bottle that was used in the ship's naming ceremony that Kathie Lee Gifford used to christen the ship. On Facebook, John Heald posted the auction raised approximately $39,000 and the proceeds are going to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital. 

Some Quick Homeport History & Total Guest Count:
                     Throughout the Carnival Ecstasy's 31 years of service, the ship carried approximately 5.5 million guests, according to a press release from Carnival. Homeports of the Carnival Ecstasy included Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, Galveston, Long Beach, New Orleans, Charleston, and Mobile. The ship departed from 8 of Carnival's homeports. 

What Happens Next To The Ship & Stuff Onboard:
                      The Carnival Ecstasy's plan is to sail from Mobile to Miami following the end of the final cruise. According to John Heald, while in Miami the casino machines & some other equipment will offloaded from the ship. This equipment will go to other ships. Most of the crew onboard will be either sent home due to end of contract or sent to another ship. The Carnival Ecstasy will only sail with approximately 100 crew members onboard. The normal number of crew onboard for a cruise is 920. 
                        The Carnival Ecstasy's Rolls Royce car was offloaded earlier this year. Carnival wanted to include this car on the Carnival Celebration which includes artifacts from older Carnival ships that are no longer in service. The Rolls Royce Car was a part of the Rolls Royce Cafe on the Carnival Ecstasy which served coffee and pastries/desserts. 
                        After leaving Miami, it is expected the Carnival Ecstasy will held to Turkey for beaching to begin the scrapping process. The remaining items on the ship will be removed by the scrapyard and the ship will be dismantled in a systematic way. 
                        
Other Carnival Ecstasy Posts on RyG's Cruise Guide
  • Carnival Ecstasy Farewell Trivia (Just For Fun):   Click Here To View 
  • Carnival Ecstasy's Rolls Royce Removed To Go To Carnival Celebration:  Click Here To View
  • Carnival Ecstasy's Dry-Dock History: Click Here To View
  • Galley Tour on the Carnival Ecstasy (From 2007):  Click Here To View
<<Previous

    RyG's Cruise Guide
    Blog 

    Please Connect!
    Facebook:
    Click Here For Our Profile
    ​
    Instagram:
    ​Click Here For Our Profile

    Cruise Review & Pics! 
    Now Posted!
    Carnival Breeze 5 Day 2023
    Click Here To View

    Quick Links:

    Carnival Cruise Directors
    Carnival Dry-Docks
    Carnival Cruise Food
    Carnival Bar Menus
    Carnival Movie Schedule
    My Cruise Reviews
    Galveston Cruise Guide
    Archives:
    2023 ARCHIVE
    June 2023
    ​May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    ​January 2023
    2022 ARCHIVE
    December 2022
    ​November 2022​
    ​October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    2021 ARCHIVE
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    2020 ARCHIVE
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    2019 ARCHIVE
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    2018 ARCHIVE
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    2017 ARCHIVE
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    2016 ARCHIVE
    ​December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    2015 ARCHIVE
    ​December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
Home        About Us        Contact Us        Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

www.embarkandaway.com     Thank you for visiting RyG's Cruise Guide!
RyG's Cruise Guide is not affiliated with any cruise line or travel organization. Any information is subject to change at any time as the cruise industry is always changing. I always recommend checking with your cruise line for the latest information related to onboard amenities and any relevant health or safety protocols. 

Connect With Us!

Or check out our Instagram:
@rygscruiseguide