Carnival Cruise Line offers two drink packages for guests. Bottomless Bubbles is a drink package Carnival offers that serves unlimited sodas & juices. Cheers is a drink package that Carnival offers that serves a variety of alcoholic beverages, coffees, sodas, juice, & more. 
           In this post I do a comparison of Carnival's Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles drink packages. I look at the price of Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles, age restrictions of each drink package, limits Carnival places on drinks, taxes that might be assessed, and more! This 2024 drink package guide is for US Carnival Cruises! Australia guests should consult with the Carnival AU website for information.

Last Updated:​  12/14/2024
Originally Posted: 4/2/2023

Comparing Carnival Drink Package Prices:
Bottomless Bubbles Prices:
The price is typically the same regardless of whether guests pre-pay online or order on the ship. As of 12/14/2024, the prices are as follows: 

• Kids (17 and younger):  $8.20 per day (includes service charge)
• Adults (18+):  $11.21 per day (includes service charge)

Cheers: 
The pricing for Cheers does vary depending on whether guests pre-order before the cruise or purchase the package onboard.
​Important Note about Cheers: Carnival requires each adult guest 21+ in the stateroom to purchase Cheers. If one guest wants Cheers the others are forced to purchase it. There are no exceptions typically made to this rule including ones related to medical or religious reasons, but you can try to talk to Carnival and maybe you will have some luck (it is doubtful though).
The latest pricing structure below took effect in December 2023.  
Pre-Cruise Price Is $82.54 per person per day (including service charge) 
Onboard Price Is $88.44 per person per day (including service charge)

Comparing Included Items Included In Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles:
Bottomless Bubbles:  
Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles package offers a variety of sodas and juices as part of the package.

• Sodas include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Caffeine Free Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free, Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free, Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Zero Sugar, Mug Root Beer, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Bubly Lime Sparkling Water, and Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water. 
• Juice included in Bottomless Bubbles includes orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice. 
• No alcoholic beverages are included as part of the Bottomless Bubbles package. 

Cheers Package:
Carnival's Cheers Package includes the following:

• Sodas: All of the sodas listed above plus Bubly Grapefruit Sparkling Water, Gatorade Lemon Lime, and Gatorade Fruit Punch. 
• Spirits, cocktails, cognacs, whiskies, beer, wine, and champagne by the glass with a $20 menu price or below for the glass price. 
• Specialty Coffee and Hot Coffee (served through the main dining room, coffee bar, or specialty dining venue) 
• Energy Drinks
• 500 ML Bottled Water (must be served in a bar or lounge) 
• Bottled/packaged water in main dining room

Cheers also allows guests to get a discount on beverages that have a menu price above $20, discount on wine by the bottle, and a discount for a seminar or class. 

Neither package includes beverages sold in souvenir glasses, beverages sold at the gangway, purchases of beverages made in ports of call (includes private islands such as Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay), food items, room service purchases, or in-stateroom purchases. There are other restrictions for both programs so you will need to read the terms & conditions carefully if you are purchasing either package. 

When Does Carnival Activate The Drink Packages: 
Bottomless Bubbles:
Carnival activates the Bottomless Bubbles upon boarding if pre-purchased or when purchased onboard. 
Cheers: 
The point when Cheers is activated depends on your particular departure homeport due to state laws. 

• Guests From Galveston and New York - Your Cheers package will not be activated until Day 2 at 6am of the cruise. Guests from Galveston and New York who want drinks on the first day of the cruise will be charged the full menu price per drink. When Cheers is activated on Day 2 the guests will be able to use the Cheers package as normal. These restrictions are due to state laws. Please note, you are not charged for Cheers on Day 1 since it will not be able to be utilized until Day 2. 
• Guests From Other Homeports - Your Cheers package will be activated upon boarding or when purchased on the first day. 

Carnival Charging Tax on Drinks Gotten Under The Drink Packages?
Sometimes due to state & local laws & regulations, Carnival has to charge sales tax on drinks gotten when in US waters. This includes drinks received under the Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles packages. 

• The sales tax rates will vary by the particular state or local jurisdiction. 
• Even with the drink package, if Carnival has to assess tax you will be charged tax on the value of the drink based on the current menu price. This charge will be put on your Sail & Sign card. 

Are there age restrictions on Carnival's drink packages?
Yes, there are age restrictions on the Cheers package. Guests must be 21+ to purchase the Cheers package. There is no age restriction on Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles drink package. 

Where can I get more information about Carnival's drink packages? 

• ​For more information regarding Carnival's Cheers drink package:  Click Here 
• For more information regarding Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles drink package: Click Here

Both links will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Carnival's website.

Please keep in mind any of the information included here is subject to change at any time. Make sure you read the terms & conditions of any drink package program you

Appetizers / Starters
Baked Brie
cranberry - pecan crumble, fig and olive crostini 
Deviled Eggs
candied bacon, herb aioli, scallion
Shrimp Cocktail
cocktail sauce
Surf & Turf 
crab salad & beef tartare, horseradish, avoaco cream
Short Rib & Yam Croquette
pimento aioli, pear and mustard relish
Lobster & Crab Soup
rich creamy with aged brandy, sea salt puffs
Roasted Pumpkin Soup
brown butter and thyme
BLT Wedge Soup
wine ripe tomato, gorgonzola, applewood bacon, house-made blue cheese dressing
Caesar Salad
romaine lettuce, toasted bread, freshly grated parmesan cheese

Entree
Holiday Roasted Tom Turkey
sage stuffing, sweet potato casserole, giblet gravy, cranberry relish
Honey Glazed Ham
hot honey glaze, herbed potatoes, roasted carrots, asparagus, candied pineapple, raisin sauce
Cauliflower and Gruyere Cheese Souffle
asparagus and mushroom beurre blanc, Brussels sprouts, glazed pecans
Grilled Black Tiger Jumbo Shrimp
fava bean and pea stew, red skin mustard potatoes 
Oven-Baked Salmon
pecan Parmesan crust, lemon riscotto, skillet vegetables, beet and pomegranate relish, creamy butter sauce
Ricotta Ravoili
sun-dried tomato, truffle oil, aged Parmesan, spinach, mushroom jerky
Flame Grilled Striploin Steak
green beans almondine, baby carrot, roasted potatoes, peppercorn sauce
Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Honey Mustard Ranch
lettuce, green lentils, avocado, pear, cherry tomatoes, egg, cheddar
- served cold - 
Featured Indian Vegeterian
paneer butter masala, spiced mix vegetable, chickpea pulao  

Steakhouse Selection
There is a $23 fee for items in this section of the menu. 
Surf & Turf
lobster tail & grilled filet mignon
Broiled Filet Mignon
9 oz. premium aged beef
New York Strip Steak
14 oz. of the favorite cut for meat lovers
Grilled Lamb Chops
double cut, lamb au jus

Dessert
Eggnog Cheesecake
raspberry cremux, spiced cream, mint snow
Classic Bourbon Pecan Pie
creme Chantilly, whiskey caviar
Buche De Noel
chocolate log, coffee anglaise, honey cat crumble, 
- lower calories, no added sugar - 
Selection of Ice Creams and Sorbets
Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake
Fresh Tropical Fruit 
​Cheese Plate

Carnival Cruise Line has a main dining room policy where guests can order 2 entrees that are complimentary, but each additional entree results in a $5 surcharge. 

For the guests cruising during Christmas have a great cruise and Merry Christmas! 

Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating Thanksgiving on US based cruise ships today. Each ship's main dining room will be serving a special Thanksgiving Day dinner menu that offers some of the typical Carnival classic dishes, but also has several special options for the holiday. Carnival's Brand Ambassador, John Heald, posted a copy of the menu to Facebook on 11/28/2024. As the image was grainy I typed the main items on the menu to share on here. 

Carnival ships also have gluten free and vegan menus available when viewing the Carnival Hub App, but John Heald did not post these menus. Guests with dietary needs or questions should ask onboard. 

Steakhouse Selection:
$23 surcharge for each item in this section
Surf & Turf 
lobster tail & grilled filet mignon 
Broiled Filet Mignon
9 oz. premium aged beef 
New York Strip Steak
14 oz. of the favorite cut for steak lovers
Grilled Lamb Chops
double cut, lamb au jus

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

         Carnival Cruise Line recently announced a policy change that has resulted in a ban on boomboxes, speakers, and radios onboard. This includes bluetooth, portable, and wireless types. Previously guests could use these devices onboard, but the policy was to allow guests to use privately. 

Why are these being banned?
              Carnival cites safety reasons on their website as the reason boomboxes, speakers, and radios are being banned onboard. Guests need to be able to hear any announcements made and depending on the area a guest may not be able to hear an announcement if someone is playing music too loud. However, I have seen instances where guests played music loudly from their balcony or in a public area that could be considered disruptive to other guests. Although Carnival cites safety as the reason there are likely other considerations such as the atmosphere of the venue that go into their decision as well. 

What happens if a guest brings a boombox, speaker, or radio onboard and decides to use it?
                           Carnival's website states these items will be held and returned at the end of the cruise. Most likely if it is found in somebody's luggage Carnival will take the item out similar to what happens when guests are caught trying to smuggle other prohibited items. If the item somehow makes it onboard and is caught getting used Carnival will likely have security confiscate the item. Guests would be required to pick-up their confiscated item in a designated place & time onboard (if you find yourself in this situation ask guest services or security about when/where to pick-up your confiscated item before the cruise ends). 

Can guests play their own music in public areas on a Carnival ship?
                           Although Carnival has announced a ban on these items, their policy does state guests can listen to music or watch movies on their devices using earbuds while in the public spaces. This exception to the policy means you are not banned from listening to music or watching movies on your personal devices while in public, but it should not be loud enough for others to ear and Carnival's expectation is you use earbuds. 

Where can I find out more information on this policy?
                        If you are interested in reading Carnival's policy please click here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide and to Carnival's website). ​

Carnival Cruise Line offers a gluten free menu for the Sea Day Brunch. Each cruise Sea Day Brunch is typically held when the ship is having a day at sea in one of the onboard dining rooms (exact timing can vary depending on ship & itinerary). On my recent Carnival Breeze cruise in 2024 Carnival had a separate menu available that had items labeled as "GF" and "GFA". The "GF" stands for "Gluten Free" and the "GFA" stands for "Gluten Free Available Upon Request". Below are screenshots of the Sea Day Brunch gluten free and gluten free available upon request menu from my November 2024 Carnival Breeze cruise. Please keep in mind that menus are subject to change and you should discuss any dietary needs/requirements with the crew onboard to make sure what you are ordering is prepared in a way that is safe for you to eat! 

Hopefully these menu screenshots from November 2024 will give you an idea of options that might be available during your cruise. The ship's crew are typically good about answering food questions and ingredient questions so please make sure you ask if you have any questions or concerns about food. 

For more Carnival Cruise Food & Dining Tips please click here to view my Unofficial Carnival Cruise Food Dining Guide. 

          Princess Cruise Line is deploying the Majestic Princess to Galveston for the 2026-2027 cruise season. Recently Princess Cruise's website updated to show itineraries for the Majestic Princess from Galveston starting in November 2026 through March 2027. 

Majestic Princess Cruises From Galveston
               As of the time of writing, Princess Cruises has the Majestic Princess' itineraries loaded online but they are not yet available for sale. Most of the Majestic Princess' cruises from Galveston are 7 night with planned port of call stops at Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Roatan. 

Majestic Princess Repositioning Cruise
The Majestic Princess is scheduled to sail a repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Galveston, Texas. The repositioning cruise is scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale on November 19, 2026 and last 12 nights. During this repositioning cruise the Majestic Princess is scheduled to sail to Tortola, Antigua, Curacao, and Cozumel. 

Will the Regal Princess still be sailing from Galveston?
The Regal Princess has been the ship Princess has homeported for the past couple of seasons. For the 2026-2027 deployment season from Galveston it appears the Regal Princess will not be sailing from Galveston as the Majestic Princess is coming to take the Regal Princess' place. Based on looking at Princess Cruises' booking engine it appears the Regal Princess will be primarily sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the 2026-2027 deployment season. ​

About The Majestic Princess:
The Majestic Princess ​is 143,700 gross tons, has a guest capacity of 3,560, and began cruising with guests in 2017. Princess Cruise Line advertises the ship has 3 pools and 4 whirlpools available onboard. There are numerous places to dine and be entertained onboard. You can check Princess Cruises' website for the facts and amenities regarding the Majestic Princess. Click Here to view Princess Cruise Line's website. 

          Carnival Cruise Line guests on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee are able to enjoy some of Carnival's specialty dining options for free at dinner (for at least one meal depending on the venue). This includes Cucina Del Capitano, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, and Chibang. These venues are treated as an alternative to the main dining room on Carnival's XL class ships. In this post, I will take a look at the specialty dining options that are complimentary on these three ships at dinner as well as discuss who is allowed to eat in these places at dinner & when.

How Eating In These Three Venues Works For Guests
Carnival has setup Chibang, Cucina Del Capitano, and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse as alternative venues to the main dining room on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. T​he time that guests are allowed to eat in these venues for free during dinner depends on which dinner dining assignment guests have. 

• Guests with Your-Time Dining can eat dinner in one of these venues at any time during the open hours at night. These guests can easily check-in using the Carnival Hub App during the open hours at dinner. 
• Guests With Early Seating Dinner -  Guests with early seating are allowed to eat free in these 3 dining venues at dinner, but are not allowed to enter the venue until after 7:30pm. 
• Guests With Late Seating Dinner - Guests with late seating dinner are allowed to eat free in these 3 dining venues, but similar to the guests with early seating are not able to dine at the venue until after 7:30pm. 

Cucina Del Capitano
The Cucina Del Capitano venue on the Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration at dinner is complimentary for each guest for one dinner during the cruise. Each dinner after the first is $8 per meal. On the Carnival Jubilee for the inaugural season Cucina Del Capitano will be complimentary for dinner. 
Cucina Del Captiano serves a variety of Italian themed dishes. Some people have reported that the menu options available in Cucina Del Captano are a little different on these ships.

• Mardi Gras:  The Cucina Del Capitano venue is located on Deck 8 in La Piazza. The Mardi Gras' Cucina Del Capitano has some outside seating available on the Mardi Gras' Lanai. 
• Carnival Celebration: The Carnival Celebration's Cucina Del Capitano venue is located on Deck 8 in 820 Biscayne. The Carnival Celebration's Cucina Del Captiano has some outside seating available on the Lanai. 
• Carnival Jubilee: The Carnival Jubilee's Cucina Del Capitano venue is located on Deck 8. 

Carnival does have a section of the Cucina Del Capitano menu on these three ships that has a few favorite dishes from the main dining room. 

Chibang
​The Chibang venue on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee serves Mexican and Chinese food. The venue has two separate menus that feature appetizers, main courses, and desserts for each of the cuisine types. You can mix and match which cuisine type(s) you pick as an appetizer, main course, and dessert. 
Guests on the Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration can enjoy one complimentary meal at Chibang during the cruise and can pay $8 for an additional dinner. 

• The Chibang venue is located on Deck 8 near the Havana Bar area on all 3 ships.

Carnival does have a section of the Chibang dining room menu at dinner that has some of the favorite dishes from the main dining room.

Guy's Pig & Anchor: 
The Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee serves BBQ dishes at dinner. The venue is considered an alternative to the main dining room and is complimentary on these 3 ships. The Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse not on these three ships does charge extra for the food served. From what I have seen, the menu is a little different between the ships with Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse where it is not free versus the complimentary dinner menu available on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. 

• The Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is located on Deck 8 near the back of the ship. Patio Pool (outside) is located right behind the Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse area.

Dining Room Menu Items Typically Available:
The exact dining room menu items available in the alternative main dining room options can vary some, but these are the dishes I have typically seen on the menu in Chibang and Cucina Del Capitano. I do not know for sure if this menu is also available at the Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse at dinner. 

• Appetizer - Shrimp Cocktail and Caesar Salad 
• Main Courses - Grilled Salmon, Roast Chicken, and Broiled Striploin Steak
• Dessert -  Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake and Fresh Tropical Fruit

Carnival offering these three specialty dining venues on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee gives guests on the ships an opportunity to try some exciting food options! However, if guests prefer the traditional main dining room experience eating in the main dining room each night of the cruise is an option as well. 

For more Carnival Cruise food and dining tips please check out my guide:
Click Here For Carnival Cruise Food Guide!
​

       Princess Cruise Line's Regal Princess will be sailing from Galveston seasonally in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The Majestic Princess is scheduled to sail from Galveston seasonally in 2026 & 2027, but that is too far out for me to discuss parking.
​         In this post I will take a look at parking lots for Regal Princes cruisers, which cruise terminal the Princess Cruise Line ships sail from in Galveston, and share some basic Galveston check-in information that pertains to both ships. 
​               

Princess Cruise Line Ships Sailing From Galveston:​

• Regal Princess -  The Regal Princess is scheduled to sail from Galveston seasonally from October 2024 through March 2025 and then return again in October 2025 through March 2026.  
• Majestic Princess -  The Majestic Princess is scheduled to sail from Galveston seasonally from November 2026 through March 2027. 

Princess Cruise Line returned to Galveston seasonally in December 2022 after a gap of many years of not sailing from Texas. Some long time cruisers may remember Princes Cruise Line has sailed from the Houston Bayport Cruise Terminal in the past before Princess repositioned away from Texas many years ago. It is exciting seeing Princess Cruise Line back sailing from Galveston!

Which cruise terminal do Princess Cruises ships use in Galveston?
Princess Cruise Line sailings from Galveston use Cruise Terminal 25 and Cruise Terminal 28 depending on the particular sailing date. Most sailings on the Regal Princess in 2024 depart cruise terminal 28 when the ship is departing on a Sunday. 
For a full list of 2024 Galveston Cruise Terminal typical docking assignments: Click Here To View Galveston Cruise Terminal Typical Docking Assignments

Princess Cruise Ship Parking Lot Options:
Princess Cruise Line cruisers sailing out of Galveston have many parking lots to choose from. The Port of Galveston offers many different lot options close to both Cruise Terminal 25 and Cruise Terminal 28. Further, there are many privately owned parking lots located close to the cruise terminal that offer shuttle service. This section will take a look at the many parking lot options available for Princess Cruise Line's Regal Princess guests out of Galveston. 
​Please keep in mind any information included here is subject to change at any time including, but not limited to, pricing, parking lot availability, and parking lot amenities. I am not affiliated with any of the parking lots mentioned here nor responsible for the content of any linked websites. I recommend using this research as a starting point for your Galveston Princess Cruise parking research!​

Official Port of Galveston Lots For Princess Cruises:
        The Port of Galveston has multiple parking lots available for Regal Princess passengers. Some of these parking lots offer shuttle service while others involve a short walk to Cruise Terminal 25 or Cruise Terminal 28. 

• Economy Lot -  The Port of Galveston's Economy Lot A is located at 160 33rd Street and Economy Lot B is located at 224 33rd Street. The economy lots are considered self-park and come with shuttle service included. Regal Princess guests are usually able to book Economy Lot B on the Port of Galveston's website.
• Express Lot -  The Port of Galveston offers the Express Lot which is located at 2702 Harborside Drive. This lot is very close to Cruise Terminal 28 and still within very close walking distance to Cruise Terminal 25. Due to the proximity to Cruise Terminal 28 and 25, this lot does not offer shuttle service. 
• SMP Garage -  The Port of Galveston's Shearn Moody Plaza (SMP) Garage is located at 150 Rosenberg Street and pretty much across Harborside Drive from Cruise Terminal 25. Regal Princess passengers are able to book the SMP Garage which is self-park and does not include shuttle service. Guests parking in this garage can use the crosswalk at street level to cross Harborside Drive and then have a short walk to either Cruise Terminal 25 or Cruise Terminal 28. 

For the Port of Galveston's parking please visit the Port of Galveston website by clicking here. 

Private Parking Lots In Galveston For Princess Cruises:

• EZ Cruise Parking - EZ Cruise Parking is located at 2727 Santa Fe Place. Guests that wish to park at EZ Cruise Parking have the option to book parking with a shuttle or book parking without a shuttle. The lots of EZ Cruise Parking are uncovered, but car covers are able to be purchased. For more information about EZ Cruise Parking please click here to go to the EZ Cruise Parking website.
• Patriot Cruise Parking - Patriot Cruise Parking is located at 3402 Church St. Guests sailing on the Regal Princess  that park at Patriot Cruise Parking have the option of purchasing indoor parking with free shuttle or gated parking with free shuttle. For more information on Patriot Cruise Parking please click here for the Patriot Cruise Parking website.
• Galveston Park N Cruise - The Galveston Park N Cruise is located at 2514 New Strand Street. Guests sailing on the Regal Princess that use Galveston Park N Cruise can choose between indoor parking and gated outdoor parking. This parking lots website states lists the Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises ships that they service. For more information on Galveston Park N Cruise please click here to go to the Galveston Park N Cruise website. 
• Discount Cruise Parking - Discount Cruise Parking recently changed addresses and is located at 433 33rd Street. Guests sailing from Discount Cruise Parking have the option to purchase gated parking with shuttle service for their Regal Princess cruise. For more information on Discount Cruise Parking please click here to go to the Discount Cruise Parking website.
• Port Parking - Port Parking is located at 202 37th Street. Guests sailing the Regal Princess that use Port Parking have the options of purchasing indoor parking with shuttle or outdoor parking with shuttle. For more information on Port Parking please click here to go to the Port Parking website.
• VIP Cruise Parking - VIP Cruise Parking is located at 111 Rosenberg. Indoor cruise parking is available for purchase. The VIP Cruise Parking website states they serve Regal Princess cruisers, but unfortunately at the time of writing the online booking engine was not letting me view the options available to cruisers of these two ships. For more information on VIP Cruise Parking please click here to go to the VIP Cruise Parking website.

There are some hotels that offer packages to be able to park at the hotel during the cruise. I may research these for a future post, but at this point in time do not have this research done.

Some of the parking lots offer discount codes or loyalty programs. I have written a post that shares some information about these programs that I was able to find information out online. Click Here to view my post about Galveston Cruise Parking Discounts & Loyalty Programs. 

Arriving At The Cruise Terminal & Dropping Off Luggage For A Galveston Princess Cruise:
1.  Make sure you verify with Princess Cruises the terminal that your ship will be departing from. Princess uses both Cruise Terminal 25 and Cruise Terminal 28, which are both located next to each other off of Harborside Drive. The terminal can vary depending on the sailing date so make sure you confirm where you will need to go.
2.  Drop your luggage off at your ship's cruise terminal. The luggage drop-off at each of Galveston's cruise terminals is clearly marked with signage and porters wearing the official vests should be able to assist you. If you are arriving via a parking lot shuttle they will help direct you to what you need to do to get your luggage dropped off. Be careful not to not accidentally drop off your luggage at the wrong cruise terminal! 
3.  Make sure you keep your boarding pass, documentation, and anything else needed for the boarding process with you (do not accidentally let this stuff get in the checked luggage). 
4.  Follow the directions of the terminal staff and signs at your respective cruise terminal. The staff are usually friendly and able to easily point you in the right direction throughout the check-in process. 
5.  Make sure you follow any other check-in instructions sent to you from Princess Cruises and bring all of the correct items/documents needed to board. 

For more Galveston Cruise Tips please visit my Galveston Cruise Guide section of the website by clicking here. 

The 2024 Carnival Cruise Christmas decoration schedule is now released on Carnival Cruise Line's website for most ships except the Carnival Venezia, Carnival Splendor, and Carnival Sunshine. The below dates represent the scheduled date that each Carnival ship is scheduled to be decorated with the big tree in the atrium or lobby, garland, and a variety of other Christmas decorations (exact decorations vary by ship).  
Please note, since the time I originally shared this schedule the Carnival made updates to the decoration dates. This shows that dates can easily change. 

• Carnival Breeze -  Monday, December 2, 2024
• Carnival Celebration - Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Conquest - Friday, November 29, 2024 
• Carnival Dream -  Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Carnival Elation -  Thursday, December 5, 2024
• Carnival Freedom -  Monday, December 2, 2024
• Carnival Firenze - Friday, November 29, 2024
• Carnival Glory - Friday, November 29, 2024
• Carnival Horizon -  Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Jubilee - Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Carnival Legend -  Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Liberty -  Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Luminosa - Sunday, November 24, 2024
• Carnival Magic -  Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Mardi Gras - Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Carnival Miracle -  Monday, November 25, 2024
• Carnival Paradise -  Thursday, December 5, 2024
• Carnival Panorama -  Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Carnival Pride -  Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Radiance -  Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Spirit - Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Carnival Splendor - Monday, November 25, 2024
• Carnival Sunrise -  Thursday, December 5, 2024
• Carnival Sunshine - Monday, December 2, 2024
• Carnival Valor - Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Carnival Venezia - Friday, December 6, 2024
• Carnival Vista -  Saturday, November 30, 2024

The Christmas decoration schedule is subject to change. 

2024 Carnival Cruise Christmas Events & Activities:
Below is a summary of the events and activities Carnival has scheduled to take place on the Christmas cruises. Some of the events happen on longer cruises so I have tried to mark those accordingly. The exact entertainment could vary by ship depending on a variety of factors so please keep in mind any information is subject to change. 

• ​Spirit of the Season Moments - This includes a Christmas tree lighting. Typically this event is hosted in the ship's atrium lobby by the cruise director onboard. When I cruised the Carnival Breeze in 2021 the Christmas tree was in the atrium lobby throughout the cruise and the first night the tree was turned on for guests to start enjoying. 
• Caroling Event -  I saw this event on the Carnival Breeze in 2021 and guests were able to join the cruise director & Fun Squad to sing a variety of Christmas carols. 
• Ugly Sweater Contest 
• Holiday Show - The Holiday Show usually happens in the main show lounge and has the cruise director, singers, and dancers. Guests will hear a variety of Christmas songs performed with a Christmas fireplace setting background. I saw this show on the Carnival Breeze in 2021 and it was enjoyable live music that was Christmas themed. The show lasted less than 30 minutes and was only shown once on my cruise. 
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - This event is scheduled for cruises 5+ nights excluding cruises on Carnival Elation, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Sunshine. Other ships sailing on 5+ night voyages should feature this show. The Cruise Director will narrate the story "Twas The Night Before Christmas" and the string trio will be a part of the performance.
• Operation Happy Holidays - This event is where guests can drop off a card that is addressed to a Carnival Crew member. As this cards are randomly distributed guests typically just address it to crew in general and not to a specific crew member. Carnival has cards for sale at Cherry on Top onboard for guests that need Christmas cards. 
• Christmas Service -  On December 24th or December 25th the ships are scheduled to have a non-denominational service. The exact day picked will depend on the ship's itinerary & location. Carnival notes this event will have hymns and prayer. 
• Guess The Song: Holiday Music:  Only on 5+ day cruises
• Holiday Trivia 
• Holiday Bingo - Carnival's website says you wear a holiday sweater and you can get an extra card free with your Bingo purchase. 
• Arts & Crafts 
• Youth Program Activities
• Holiday Snow Friends Hunt -  Only on 5+ day cruises. Carnival notes guests will be able to look for hidden friends for a prize. 
• Holiday Movies -  Ships with Seaside Theaters will be hosting holiday themed movies. Ships that do not have Seaside Theaters will show movies in a lounge or dedicated space onboard. The Dive In Movies should be announced in the November 2024 timeframe. 

For a full description of these events and more information please click here for Carnival's website which was my info source. Link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Carnival's website. 

​All of this information is subject to change and is not designed to be comprehensive. ​

      Carnival Cruise Line VIFP Club Diamond guests receive a special event invitation from the ship's captain each cruise. Most of the time this special event will take place as a lunch that is for Diamond VIFP club members. Diamond guests have sailed 200+ days with Carnival and are at the highest tier of Carnival's VIFP loyalty program.
           According to John Heald, the lunch menu has been the same for a long time, but that is now changing. A brand new Diamond Lunch menu has been introduced and there are plans to update the menu quarterly.  Below are the food options on the VIFP Diamond Lunch Menu as released by John Heald in October 2024.

The menu is subject to change, especially once the next quarter's menu is released. I will come back to update if the updated version of the menu is released. To see John Heald's Facebook please click here (link will take you to Facebook). 

If you have a food allergy or dietary concern please consult with Carnival. This post is not intended to be comprehensive of all food ingredients. 

Just a Reminder: The special invitation Diamond event listed on Carnival's website as a benefit is subject to change at any time. ​The event could take place in a different form than a lunch or if circumstances arise could be cancelled.