Carnival Dream Mini Golf Course There are many free things to do while on a Carnival Cruise ship vacation. Carnival has many things you can see or do that are included in the price of your cruise. This post will share a few ideas & suggestions that are typically offered onboard. While on your cruise use your Carnival Hub App or FunTimes activity newsletter to find out exactly what events & activities are taking place on your cruise. Not all activities or events listed on this page are on all ships though I tried to keep this more general in nature. Also may not include all free or included things on your ship so definitely be on the lookout for other things not mentioned here.
Last Updated: May 4, 2024
Last Updated: May 4, 2024
1. Punchliner Comedy Club
Carnival's Punchliner Comedy Club brings in comedians that offer both family friendly and adult only content shows. The comedians usually have multiple shows in the evening. Attending a comedy show on a Carnival Cruise is free, but the Punchliner Comedy Club does tend to fill up quickly so sometimes standing room only is available or guests are turned away due to overcapacity in the lounge.
Click Here For More Punchliner Comedy Club Information
2. Playlist Productions Shows
Playlist Productions is Carnival's onboard stage shows. Carnival has a variety of different shows on various ships so what Playlist Productions Shows are offered on your Carnival Cruise will vary. The cast onboard Carnival ships are usually talented and the singers & dancers are typically entertaining in my experience. Playlist Production shows are included in the price of your cruise and Carnival does not require reservations. Seats are first come first serve so I recommend going early if you want a particular seat.
3. The Wave Live Morning Show
The Wave Live Morning Show is a free event in the morning that is typically offered on sea days, but is not well attended. This event consists of your cruise director and usually a Fun Squad team member discussing events of the day in an informative way. What this consists of can vary by cruise director.
If you are curious to know who your cruise director is scheduled to be click here for a cruise director schedule that I share on here.
4. Towel Folding Demonstration
Carnival's housekeeping department will typically host a towel animal folding demonstration at some point during the cruise. This free class will teach you how to make towel animals. Carnival typically has books available for purchase so if you want to take a book home you can charge it to your Sail & Sign card. Attending and watching the class is free.
5. Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Story Time
Carnival's Seuss-A-Palooza parade is the pre-event for the Dr. Seuss Story Time onboard. Guests will walk down a deck and typically go to where the story time event is being held. This is a great activity for families.
Carnival's Punchliner Comedy Club brings in comedians that offer both family friendly and adult only content shows. The comedians usually have multiple shows in the evening. Attending a comedy show on a Carnival Cruise is free, but the Punchliner Comedy Club does tend to fill up quickly so sometimes standing room only is available or guests are turned away due to overcapacity in the lounge.
Click Here For More Punchliner Comedy Club Information
2. Playlist Productions Shows
Playlist Productions is Carnival's onboard stage shows. Carnival has a variety of different shows on various ships so what Playlist Productions Shows are offered on your Carnival Cruise will vary. The cast onboard Carnival ships are usually talented and the singers & dancers are typically entertaining in my experience. Playlist Production shows are included in the price of your cruise and Carnival does not require reservations. Seats are first come first serve so I recommend going early if you want a particular seat.
3. The Wave Live Morning Show
The Wave Live Morning Show is a free event in the morning that is typically offered on sea days, but is not well attended. This event consists of your cruise director and usually a Fun Squad team member discussing events of the day in an informative way. What this consists of can vary by cruise director.
If you are curious to know who your cruise director is scheduled to be click here for a cruise director schedule that I share on here.
4. Towel Folding Demonstration
Carnival's housekeeping department will typically host a towel animal folding demonstration at some point during the cruise. This free class will teach you how to make towel animals. Carnival typically has books available for purchase so if you want to take a book home you can charge it to your Sail & Sign card. Attending and watching the class is free.
5. Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Story Time
Carnival's Seuss-A-Palooza parade is the pre-event for the Dr. Seuss Story Time onboard. Guests will walk down a deck and typically go to where the story time event is being held. This is a great activity for families.
6. Trivia & FunSquad Games
There are a variety of trivia and games being held throughout the cruise, especially on a sea days. Trivia is a frequent activity and each session usually has a different theme of questions. Carnival has covered all sorts of topics in the past such as music, history, random facts & knowledge, laws, holidays, TV shows & movies, slogans, and even Carnival history. The exact trivia games will be printed in your FunTimes onboard newsletter or on the Carnival Hub App.
7. Dive In Movies On The Big Screen
Most Carnival Cruise ships have big screen theaters on the upper decks that play Dive In Movies. Different movies are played throughout the cruise on the ships with these big screens and movies rotate each month. Popcorn is no longer available for free, but is typically available for sale.
For The Dive In Movies Schedule & More Information Click Here
8. Sailaway Party
Typically the first afternoon of your cruise the cruise director & Fun Squad host a Sailaway Party on the ouside open decks (itinerary & weather dependent). This is a fun and free way to kick off your cruise and dance if you like partying.
9. Deck Parties & Themed Parties
Carnival Cruise ships have deck parties and themed parties. Some parties get scheduled for the ship's atrium and others get scheduled on the outside Lido deck. Your cruise director & onboard entertainment team pick the parties so this will vary by ship and cruise director.
Click Here For Carnival Cruise Themed Parties
10. Youth Programs
Carnival's youth programs for 2-17 year olds are included in the price of your cruise. Camp Ocean is for 2-11 year olds, Circle C for 12-14 year olds, and Club 02 for 15-17 year olds. Carnival has some options available for guests younger than 2, but these are not typically included.
Night Owls services for babysitting in the late night are not included in the price of the cruise.
There are a variety of trivia and games being held throughout the cruise, especially on a sea days. Trivia is a frequent activity and each session usually has a different theme of questions. Carnival has covered all sorts of topics in the past such as music, history, random facts & knowledge, laws, holidays, TV shows & movies, slogans, and even Carnival history. The exact trivia games will be printed in your FunTimes onboard newsletter or on the Carnival Hub App.
7. Dive In Movies On The Big Screen
Most Carnival Cruise ships have big screen theaters on the upper decks that play Dive In Movies. Different movies are played throughout the cruise on the ships with these big screens and movies rotate each month. Popcorn is no longer available for free, but is typically available for sale.
For The Dive In Movies Schedule & More Information Click Here
8. Sailaway Party
Typically the first afternoon of your cruise the cruise director & Fun Squad host a Sailaway Party on the ouside open decks (itinerary & weather dependent). This is a fun and free way to kick off your cruise and dance if you like partying.
9. Deck Parties & Themed Parties
Carnival Cruise ships have deck parties and themed parties. Some parties get scheduled for the ship's atrium and others get scheduled on the outside Lido deck. Your cruise director & onboard entertainment team pick the parties so this will vary by ship and cruise director.
Click Here For Carnival Cruise Themed Parties
10. Youth Programs
Carnival's youth programs for 2-17 year olds are included in the price of your cruise. Camp Ocean is for 2-11 year olds, Circle C for 12-14 year olds, and Club 02 for 15-17 year olds. Carnival has some options available for guests younger than 2, but these are not typically included.
Night Owls services for babysitting in the late night are not included in the price of the cruise.
11. Pools & Waterslides
Carnival ships have multiple pools and waterslide options available. Use of the pools, waterslides, and hottubs are free onboard. Occasionally, there are some things that are only included if you book a certain type of stateroom (such as the Havana Area on Vista class or Excel class ships) but there are included areas for everyone on each ship.
12. Karaoke
Carnival ships are known for hosting karaoke where people get up to sing all types of songs. Attending karaoke is a fun free way to pass time, but you can also perform if you so choose!
13. Live Music
Carnival ships have so many different live music options. The exact live music available will vary by ship, but Carnival ships usually have soloists, duets, string trios, showbands, and sometimes steel drums depending on the itinerary. Carnival Cruise ship atriums and promenades are the common places for performances to occur.
14. Piano Bar
The Piano Bar is a popular form of live music. Most evenings Carnival will have a piano bar performer play and they will offer family friendly and adult only shows. Listening at the piano bar is free. There is a tip bowl generally available if the piano player has one out so feel free to some dollars to give them, but you are not obligated.
15. Exercise
Having fun on a cruise doesn't mean there are not options to exercise. You can use Carnival's fitness center facilities during open hours for free. Most Carnival ships have jogging tracks for guests to use that are free. For ships without a jogging track you could potentially find a place to walk on the outside open decks. Just make sure to be careful if you attempt running or jogging on a moving ship and if outside watch out for slippery decking/flooring. Be careful when you excercise!
Carnival ships have multiple pools and waterslide options available. Use of the pools, waterslides, and hottubs are free onboard. Occasionally, there are some things that are only included if you book a certain type of stateroom (such as the Havana Area on Vista class or Excel class ships) but there are included areas for everyone on each ship.
12. Karaoke
Carnival ships are known for hosting karaoke where people get up to sing all types of songs. Attending karaoke is a fun free way to pass time, but you can also perform if you so choose!
13. Live Music
Carnival ships have so many different live music options. The exact live music available will vary by ship, but Carnival ships usually have soloists, duets, string trios, showbands, and sometimes steel drums depending on the itinerary. Carnival Cruise ship atriums and promenades are the common places for performances to occur.
14. Piano Bar
The Piano Bar is a popular form of live music. Most evenings Carnival will have a piano bar performer play and they will offer family friendly and adult only shows. Listening at the piano bar is free. There is a tip bowl generally available if the piano player has one out so feel free to some dollars to give them, but you are not obligated.
15. Exercise
Having fun on a cruise doesn't mean there are not options to exercise. You can use Carnival's fitness center facilities during open hours for free. Most Carnival ships have jogging tracks for guests to use that are free. For ships without a jogging track you could potentially find a place to walk on the outside open decks. Just make sure to be careful if you attempt running or jogging on a moving ship and if outside watch out for slippery decking/flooring. Be careful when you excercise!
16. Attend the Fun Ashore Fun Aboard Presentation or Shopping Show
Each cruise Carnival has presentations where you can learn about shore excursions, things to do, places to eat, or places to shop in the cruise's local ports of call. Attending these events is free and sometimes there are giveaways so make sure to arrive early incase there is a possibility to enter a raffle.
17. Mini Golf
Most Carnival Cruise ships have a mini golf course. For ships with mini golf the balls & putts are free to use and you can play as many times as you would like.
Each cruise Carnival has presentations where you can learn about shore excursions, things to do, places to eat, or places to shop in the cruise's local ports of call. Attending these events is free and sometimes there are giveaways so make sure to arrive early incase there is a possibility to enter a raffle.
17. Mini Golf
Most Carnival Cruise ships have a mini golf course. For ships with mini golf the balls & putts are free to use and you can play as many times as you would like.
Have a great Carnival Cruise vacation!