As the heat of Florida’s summer gives way to cooler autumn days, a new season emerges – Caribbean cruise season! While cruise lines depart year-round from Florida’s major ports, fall is when the tropical itineraries really hit their stride. This season, you’ll find added sailings from lines like Holland America, which typically sails seasonally to the Caribbean, and Princess, which bolsters its fleet here to meet the demand of eager sun-seekers.
With an exciting line-up of cruises ahead, I’ll be boarding ships across multiple cruise lines, revisiting old favorites, and setting sail on a few new adventures. First up is a journey on Carnival Celebration, the second of three Excel-class ships and a personal favorite. It’s my fifth cruise on this ship, and honestly, I owe my Platinum status with Carnival to this ship and it’s sister, Mardi Gras.
Excel class ships are a radical departure from the older Carnival ships and they’re full of amenities and new concepts that make the entire experience feel like Carnival 2.0. While Carnival’s older ships have their charms, they’re showing their age, which can make sailing on them less appealing to me. With several new ships on order, it’ll be interesting to see how Carnival balances expansion with a potential refresh or retirement of its older vessels.
Embarkation Day: Brightline to Miami
To kick off this latest adventure, I ditched the stress of driving, and took the Brightline train from Boca Raton to Miami. If you haven’t taken the Brightline yet, it’s a game changer – comfortable, fast, and so much easier than dealing with the Miami traffic gridlock. I booked a Premium seat, which grants access to the Premium lounge stocked with snacks and beverages, and it made the pre-boarding experience feel like part of the vacation itself.
The train journey to Miami took just over an hour, with brief stops in Fort Lauderdale and Aventura before arriving at Miami Central Terminal. Upon arrival at 12:22 pm, I booked an Uber using the $10 voucher that comes with the Premium fare. By 12:51 pm, I was onboard the Celebration, making it one of the smoothest and fastest embarkation processes I’ve experienced – definitely a new record for me. A much better experience than the nightmare embarkation on the Carnival Vista last month!
Settling In: Inside Cabin on Deck 9
For this week’s cruise, I’m staying in an inside connecting stateroom on Deck 9 forward – Room 9354. It’s a standard, efficient setup with all the essentials, including two twin beds that convert to a full, a large-screen TV, a cooler (not quite a refrigerator), ample closet space, a safe, and a bathroom with a glass-door shower – a nice upgrade from the typical shower curtain you’d find on older ships.
The room’s power setup is solid, with plenty of outlets to keep gadgets charged. Each side of the bed has its own USB port, and over on the vanity, there are four additional USB ports and three standard U.S. outlets. Carnival has clearly thought through the needs of modern travelers who often bring multiple devices, making it easy to charge everything without any hassle.
This particular trip came about thanks to a last-minute casino offer, which covered my cabin cost. I paid $100, which I got back as onboard credit, and paid taxes and port fees amounting to $174. Additionally, I purchased the Premium WiFi package for $148 – which allows for streaming and video calling. I also got the Cheers beverage package for $495, which covers up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day as well as soda and bottled water.
As far as port calls are concerned, we’ll visit the standard western Caribbean stops – Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, and Roatan in Honduras.
Once onboard, I dropped off my bags in the cabin and headed to my muster station for check-in. One positive change that’s come from recent years is the self-muster process, which makes this necessary safety step a breeze. All you need to do is go to your designated muster station, scan your keycard, and get a quick briefing on the life jacket. Carnival pauses all bars and service ship-wide just before sail-away to go over emergency procedures, though most passengers are too busy celebrating to pay much attention.
By around 4 pm, we were off, sailing out of Miami with Carnival Magic and Norwegian Joy ahead of us.
Carnival Celebration Stateroom 9354 Video Tour
Dining Options and First Night’s Entertainment
For embarkation day lunch, the buffet was open, and many of the casual eateries on board, like Guy’s Burger Joint, Shaq’s Big Chicken, and BlueIguana Cantina. For something lighter, options like Seafood Shack and Street Eats were serving up their specialty dishes, including, shrimp, wings and kabobs.
Carnival Celebration’s entertainment lineup features familiar acts and experiences from its debut. On the first night, Center Stage gave us a “sneak peek” at the shows scheduled for the rest of the week. “Color My World,” billed as “a unique blend of indie rock, pop, and live visual art,” headlined in the main theater. Comedy shows and karaoke were also scheduled.
Since Halloween is approaching, Carnival has planned a full lineup of spooky activities throughout the week, including trick-or-treating for kids, costume contests, and themed cocktails at various bars. I love how cruise lines embrace seasonal festivities – it adds a touch of fun and celebration that brings everyone onboard together.
Dinner at Fahrenheit 555
To kick off my first night in style, I reserved a table at the ship’s specialty steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555. For $49 per person, you get a multi-course dining experience with your choice of starter, main, and dessert. Plus, on the first night, if you dine at either the steakhouse or Rudi’s Seagrill, you’re treated to a complimentary bottle of house wine for every two people or 50% off any bottle under $100.
My meal began with the Young Lettuce Salad and Tuna Tartare, both impeccably fresh. For the main course, I opted for the Spice-Rubbed Ribeye, served perfectly at medium rare. Carnival recently started pairing entrees with specific sides, getting rid of the “sides” section of the menu, which also included baked potatoes! However, I was able to get a baked potato upon request. Dessert was an Apple Torte – a sweet finish to an excellent meal.
Main Dining Room Menu
For those who opted to have dinner in the main dining room, here’s a peek at the menu:
A Night at the Casino and Exploring Golden Jubilee Lounge
After dinner, I made my way to the casino. Since this cruise is hosting Carnival’s Elite group of top-tier gamblers, the casino was packed. Elite players enjoy perks like a private cocktail party and daily gifts. After a few laps around the floor, I finally snagged a slot machine, only to find it wasn’t exactly lucky. After losing a couple hundred bucks with no bonuses, I decided to change the scene.
The Golden Jubilee Lounge was calling my name, so I stopped by for a nightcap. This venue pays homage to Carnival’s 50 years of sailing with a nostalgic, vintage vibe. It’s filled with memorabilia from Carnival’s history, like original ship blueprints, an old ship telegraph, and vintage table designs. The cocktail menu is a mix of Carnival classics and new creations, making it a perfect stop for those who want to sip on history – literally. It’s easy to lose track of time here, soaking in the ship’s heritage while surrounded by decor that brings past and present together.
Carnival Celebration Easter Eggs
Speaking of the Golden Jubilee, this is the place to find many Easter Eggs designers scattered around the ship, check out the post below for a few of them!
Next Stop: A Day at Sea
Tomorrow’s a full day at sea as we make our way toward Cozumel, our first port of call. Stay tuned as I share more from the Celebration this week, including Halloween festivities, port adventures, and plenty of dining highlights. Thanks for following along!
FunTimes for Day 1:
The Fun Times for October 27, 2024 can also be downloaded as a PDF by clicking here.
Personal Day-By-Day Carnival Vista Cruise Review: