Whether you are cruising Alaska this year or not, you can still enjoy the spectacular views Alaska offers from the internet. Many cruise ships have webcams that update periodically and this will allow you to see the same views the people on the ship could be looking at. Looking at ship webcams is a great way to get excited about an Alaska cruise or fulfill a desire to see more of Alaska. 
           Some major cruise ships sailing Alaska this season, 2025, have a webcam that is viewable online. I have tried to compile as many links to cruise ship webcams and port of call webcams as possible. All links to webcams are on separate sites and I take no responsibility for the operations of these cameras or the content of these websites. 

Juneau, Alaska
Juneau Harbor Cam (PTZtv)  
Click Here To View This Webcam
City of Juneau's Webcams:
The City of Juneau has links to some webcams near the bottom of the page.
https://juneau.org/photos-webcams 

Ketchikan, Alaska
KPU Ketchikan Webcam's 
This website has 6 different cameras around the city and cruise docks. I am linking to each one separately. 
Click Here To View Webcam #1   
Click Here To View Webcam #2
Click Here To View Webcam #3
Click Here To View Webcam #4
Click Here To View Webcam #5
Click Here To View Webcam #6

Victoria BC, Canada 
Although Victoria is not a part of Alaska, there are many Alaska cruise itineraries that include a stop in Victoria.
​BigWaveDave's Ogden Point Webcam
Click Here To View Webcam
BigWaveDave's Dallas Road Webcam
Click Here To View Webcam

Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a homeport for many cruise ships that sail to Alaska. I have decided to include some Seattle webcams that have a view of the water as part of this webcam compilation. 
Space Needle Webcam:
Click Here To View This Webcam

I plan to add more Alaska content in the coming weeks and months! If you are cruising to Alaska, I hope you have a great time!

         Carnival Cruise Line announced a year-round return to Mobile Alabama that is scheduled to begin in spring 2027. Since the cruise restart following Covid-19, Carnival has only been sailing seasonally from Mobile with the Carnival Ecstasy sailing shorter cruises from the port until retirement in 2022 and then the Carnival Spirit seasonally sailing 6 & 8 night cruises. 
               The seasonal sailings from Mobile will become a year-round cruise presence for Carnival starting in spring 2027. Currently, the Carnival Spirit is sailing from Mobile through early spring 2027 on a seasonal basis and it is unclear if Carnival will keep the Carnival Spirit or move another ship in. Carnival has not yet announced which ship will sail the year-round cruises from Mobile. I expect the ship & itineraries for 2027-2028 will become available for sale later in 2025 so stay tuned! 
                  Additionally, is exploring adding sending a Conquest class ship to Baltimore, Maryland. The Conquest class of ships includes Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Freedom. Carnival did not specify which of the ships are under consideration for being sent to Baltimore. Sending one of the Conquest class ships to Baltimore would represent approximately a 1,000 passenger increase over the Carnival Pride, which is a Spirit class ship. 

Carnival Cruise Line's current VIFP program has been in place since 2012 and Carnival has announced enhancements to the loyalty program are scheduled to begin in summer 2026. This post will take a look at what we currently know about Carnival's new 2026 loyalty program that will be announced in 2025.

Last Updated: 4/7/2025

What has Carnival said so far about the new loyalty program?
Carnival's President Christine Duffy confirmed the new loyalty program is going into effect in summer 2026 on 4/6/2025. Carnival plans to announce the changes during summer 2025. It sounds like this will give guests and travel agents about a year to prepare & learn about the changes. 

Will Carnival start recognizing solo guests who pay double occupancy with extra points?
This is a common question, but Carnival has not yet shared the specifics of the updated loyalty program. Stay tuned!

Is Carnival taking away perks from current Diamond & Platinum guests?
Carnival has not yet announced the specifics of the new loyalty program. It is not yet clear what the updated levels or perks will be for each level. 

Is Carnival going to start giving more points to guests who spend more onboard or book a suite? 
This is also a very common question, but Carnival has not released the specifics of the new program. Stay tuned! 

There are still numerous details on the updated Carnival Cruise loyalty program that we are waiting on! 

       Carnival Cruise Line announced the Carnival Festivate will be the 4th Excel class in the fleet and the Carnival Tropicale will be in the 5th Excel class in Carnival's fleet. These two ships will join the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee which are all currently sailing as Excel Class ships for Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival Festivale
The Carnival Festivale is scheduled to debut in spring 2027 and will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Three brand new zones will debut on the Carnival Festivale. Two of the zones will celebrate music and be located in the ship's interior spaces on Deck 6, 7, and 8. Another new zone is Carnival's Sunsation Point which will include the Carnival WaterWorks Ultra. This area will be a family friendly waterpark and six slides. Of the six slides, 4 will be new to Carnival. A sports court, ropes course, jogging track, mini golf course, themed arcade space will be part of this zone. Carnival plans to have special evenings where the WaterWorks is open after dark with a DJ and activities (on other Carnival ships the WaterWorks is usually closed at night). 
              The Carnival Festivale will not feature a Family Harbor lounge like the other 3 Excel class ships, but will instead offer 1,000 connecting staterooms. This is perfect for guests traveling together that want to have easy connection to staterooms. 
                New dining options are going to be onboard the ship. Carnival is still in the process of developing menus. At this time, Carnival has confirmed Guy's Burger Joint, Big Chicken, and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse will be onboard the Carnival Festivale. A new dining outlet to replace Chibang is currently under development for the Carnival Festivale.   

Carnival Tropicale
The Carnival Tropicale is scheduled to debut in spring 2028. Many of the Carnival Festivale's features will be included on the Carnival Tropicale. At this time, Carnival has not released the homeport details for the Carnival Tropciale. 

More New Ships
There is still more to come for newbuilds. Carnival Cruise Line has Project Ace upcoming which will include 3 ships at 230,000 tons each being built. These ships are being built in Fincanteri and have scheduled deliveries in 2029, 2031, and 2033. It is planned to be over 3,000 guest staterooms on each ship and this will be the largest class of ships in Carnival Corporation's fleet upon delivery. ​

       Bonsai Sushi Express on Carnival Cruise ships is a counter space where guests on select Carnival ships can purchase grab & go sushi. This space is based on Carnival's popular Bonsai Sushi venue that serves sushi, sashimi, rolls, and more. This post will take a look at Bonsai Sushi Express's menu, prices, and location on ships.

Carnival's Bonsai Sushi Express Menu
​Below represents the Bonsai Sushi Express menu from my recent cruise as of March 2025. Prices are subject to change at any time and menu items may vary by ship. I included a picture of the menu as well as the text from the menu as the picture can be a little difficult to read. 

Ships With Bonsai Sushi Express
Carnival Cruise ships with Bonsai Sushi include the Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Miracle, and Carnival Paradise. Carnival ships with Sushi at Sea counter branding that serve similar menu items include Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Valor. 

Where is Bonsai Sushi Express located on each ship that has it?
Carnival Elation - Promenade Deck 9 near Casablanca Casino
​Carnival Freedom - Lido Deck 9 within Freedom Restaurant 
Carnival Luminosa - Deck 2 near Ocean Plaza and Casino
Carnival Miracle - Lido Deck 9 by Pizzeria
​Carnival Paradise - Promenade Deck 9 near Majestic Casino

How do I pay for Bonsai Sushi Express onboard?
You will pay for each Bonsai Sushi Express item onboard ala carte. The charge will be on your Sail & Sign card, which is connected to your onboard spending account. 

What times is Bonsai Sushi Express typically open?
The exact hours of Bonsai Sushi Express onboard can vary. Typically, the venue is open for dinner each night of the cruise and the service is grab & go style instead of sit-down. On sea days, Carnival typically will open the Bonsai Sushi Express venue and the venue is often not open for lunch on days when a ship is in a port of call. 

I'm looking for Bonsai Sushi information. Where can I find that?
If you are looking for Bonsai Sushi (the sit-down venue) please click here for my post. I include Bonsai Sushi's menu and information within that page. 

How can I get more information? 
​Please visit Carnival's website by clicking here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide and to Carnival's website). 

If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions please do not use any information on this website to make any decisions about whether this item is suitable for your consumption because this information may not include all ingredients or facts related to food dishes Consult Carnival to discuss ingredients and to make sure the food item is able to be consumed by you. Food items, menus, and the way a dish is prepared can vary greatly. Additionally, please note that onboard amenities and dining options are subject to change due to a variety of factors. ​

          The deli menus on most Carnival Cruise ships have a Turkey & Swiss sandwich. This has become one of my favorite deli sandwiches onboard. According to Carnival's Deli menu the Turkey & Swiss comes with "lettuce, tomato, mayo on pretzel bun". Of course, the turkey and swiss are on it too! This post will take a quick look at Carnival's Turkey and Swiss sandwich and discuss why I enjoy it! 
​

Overall Rating:
I used to try to rate food in the blog using a 5 star scale, but now have decided to just focus on if I liked the dish or not. I greatly enjoyed the Turkey & Swiss sandwich on my Carnival Miracle cruise in March 2025 and Carnival Breeze cruise in November 2024. Each time I have eaten Carnival's Turkey & Swiss sandwich it has been consistently good and I enjoy the pretzel bun. 

• Moderate Portion:   I found this sandwich to be a very good size, but not too large. On my sandwich I had a few slices of turkey, at least 1 tomato, lettuce, cheese, and mayo. The mayo has been more than I like, but you can request the crew to put less (or more) mayo if you would like more or less. 
• Customization Is An Option:   Carnival's deli menu is very standardized, but most crew members are willing to make small customization to sandwiches. 
• Fries and Cole Slaw:  The deli fries that I eaten at the same time as the Turkey & Swiss have consistently been served hot, crunchy, and taste good. I have not eaten Carnival's deli cole slaw, but this is another side option that is typically available to guests upon request. 
• Pretzel Bun: I really liked the pretzel bun the Turkey & Swiss is served on. The bun has a good flavor and texture. I wish Carnival served other sandwiches on the pretzel bun because I have really enjoyed it each time I have eaten it. 

​The review of this sandwich reflects my opinion. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions please do not use this review to make any decisions about whether this item is suitable for your consumption, because this information may not include all ingredients or facts related to the food dish. Consult Carnival to get a full listing of ingredients. 
​Also, food items and menus served can vary by cruise. ​

For more Carnival Cruise Food photos visit my Unofficial Carnival Cruise Food Guide by clicking here. 
​Have a nice day!

      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 March 2025.

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. 

Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating Easter Sunday onboard with a special main dining room dinner menu. In 2025 Easter Sunday will be on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Each ship's main dining room will be serving a special Easter 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 3/22/2025. 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 Selections: 
​$23 surcharge is applied per entree 
Surf & Turf 
lobster tail & filet 
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 Easter! Please keep in mind exact menu options are subject to change or vary. 

        If you will be on a Carnival Cruise during Easter your ship may hold some events & activities to celebrate Easter. This post will discuss some of the events & activities Carnival lists on their website for Easter Sunday as well as discuss Carnival's policy regarding religious clergy & services onboard.   
            Easter Sunday for 2025 is Sunday, April 20, 2025. The events & activities scheduled onboard will depend on the ship's location for the day as well as the entertainment department onboard.   

Does Carnival have Easter church services onboard for Easter Sunday?
                 According to Carnival's website a non-denominational service is listed as being planned for ships that are not in their homeport on Easter Sunday. This means ships that are undergoing debarkation & embarkation on Easter Sunday will not have any type of service held onboard. Carnival's website does not give any additional information about who will lead a non-denominational service on ships that are having services. 

What Easter themed activities & events are scheduled to take place for Easter Sunday?
      Carnival's website states that a Family Easter Hop N' Stop event and Family Easter Flower Hunt are scheduled to take place. Guests onboard during Easter should be able to learn the information from the ship's entertainment team regarding these events. Carnival also states that "Easter Egg-stravaganza" bingo is scheduled to take place. Bingo onboard typically costs extra and I'm not exactly sure how the game will be done with an Easter theme. Carnival also mentions an Easter Traditions Trivia is one of the events that will take place. The Carnival youth programs will also be hosting onboard events & activities. 
         The main dining room at dinner is scheduled to serve a special Easter menu. Click Here for my post showing the 2025 Carnival Cruise Easter 2025 main dining room menu. Ships with a steakhouse onboard and that are at sea on Easter Sunday are also scheduled to serve a special lunch menu that guests can book a reservation onboard. 

What is Carnival's policy regarding religious services and clergy?
                    Carnival's website references the religious services policy around multiple holidays (this is not Easter specific information). Carnival does not place clergy onboard their ships. Clergy that are traveling on a Carnival Cruise ship are able to volunteer to conduct a service while on the cruise. The clergy traveling should contact Guest Services and leave their name, stateroom number, and description of the services they offer. Additionally, the clergy member must leave a letter showing good standing with their religious organization with Guest Services. Per Carnival's website the final determination of approval will be based on factors such as the letter, schedule suitability, and venue availability. 

Where I can I get more information from Carnival? 
​                The FAQ section of Carnival's website has great information regarding the Easter Sunday holiday celebration as well as the religious services policy. I highly encourage you to check out both of these policies as these are the sources of my information to write this post.   
Carnival Cruise Celebrating Holidays Information:  Click Here 
Carnival Cruise Religious Services Policy Information:  Click Here

This post was updated on March 22, 2025 after being originally posted on January 16, 2023 due to some updates made on Carnival's website. ​

Carnival Cruise 2025 Faster to the Fun Price
                   Carnival Cruise Line's Faster to the Fun program in 2025 has prices a little higher compared to 2024. Prices vary based on itinerary length and some ship classes have programs that cost more. The following are the prices/cost per cabin of purchasing Faster to the Fun: 

• 2-3 day length cruises: $79.95 per cabin
• 4-5 day length cruises: $109.95
• 6-8 day length cruises: $149.95 per cabin - On Excel class ships (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee) the price will be $169.95
• 9+ day length cruises: $209.95

Please note: Prices are subject to change and may vary specific by cruise.

​Can guests with Faster to the Fun Go To Their Stateroom Upon Boarding?
                Staterooms are usually closed to guests when boarding begins. Guests with Faster to the Fun are allowed to drop their belongings by their stateroom, but cannot stay in their stateroom until the designated time that all guests can access staterooms. Stateroom stewards are usually working to clean and turn-around rooms so their process is disrupted when guests come to the stateroom early to stay.

​Should Platinum, Diamond, and Suite guests purchase Faster to the Fun? 
             If you are a VIFP Platinum & Diamond guest or a suite guest that has priority boarding benefits, you do not need to purchase Faster to the Fun for your stateroom. You should already have priority boarding that will be before Faster to the Fun guests. 
                       For embarkation day and check-in, guests with Faster to the Fun will follow posted signage at the cruise terminal to make sure they are going into the correct check-in lines and in the designated place for boarding.