carnival cruise spirit suite

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Carnival Spirit cabins and suites

Carnival spirit staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Carnival Spirit cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Carnival Cruise Line en-suite amenities and services.

The Carnival Spirit cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Grand Suite

Layout (floor plan), ocean suite, vista suite, junior suite, premium balcony cabin, balcony cabin, oceanview cabin, obstructed-view outside cabin with french door, interior cabin.

Inside cabins (deck 4, category 4B) numbers 4101, 4102, 4103, 4104 and 4233 are sized 225 ft2 (21 m2).

Inside cabins (deck 6, category 4C) numbers 6101 and 6102 are sized 235 ft2 (22 m2).

Small Interior Single Cabin

Carnival spirit cabins review.

The Carnival cruise ship Spirit has a total of 17 wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) and no Spa cabins (with exclusive access to Spa Carnival facilities). The number of all cabin categories is 28.

Connecting rooms ("family cabins") are located on decks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The list of connecting cabins grades includes: 2 beds (VS, 4B, 4C, 4D, 7A), 2-3 beds (8A, 8D,8E, 8M), and 2-3-4 beds (8B, 8C, 8F, 8K, 8J). Handicap staterooms (17 total) are in categories GS-Grand Suie (1), Balcony (8), Oceanview (4) and Interior (4).

Follows the review of Carnival Spirit staterooms as amenities, furniture, and complimentary services:

Carnival Spirit Suites (Grand, Vista, Ocean, Junior) have 2 twin beds (convertible to king), dressing area (walk-in closet, vanity table, chair), private bathroom (WC, shower, whirlpool bathtub, bidet, double sinks). Some GS-OS suites have a single/double sofa bed and/or upper bed for 3rd/4th person. Vista Suites are all with aft location and feature larger wrap-around balconies.

All balcony accommodations feature a private balcony with sliding glass doors (table, patio chairs, sun loungers, rail with clear glass panel). Premium Vista Balcony cabins are located around the ship’s aft corners and have same suite amenities (incl a wrap-around balcony). Extended Balcony cabins are in 4 grades – 8N, 8M, 8K, and 8J. These staterooms have 50% larger balconies, 3 closets, full bathroom (shower). Some 8N-8M rooms have a sofa bed for a 3rd person. Some 8K-8J rooms have sofa and/or bunk (upper) bed for 3rd/4th person.

Oceanview cabins have large Picture Window, 2 twin beds (convertible to queen), and some have a sofa and/or upper bed (Pullman) for 3rd/4th person.

Inside cabins with windows are category 4K – with obstructed views, and feature sliding glass doors (French Doors). Some rooms have a sofa and/or upper bed (Pullman) for 3rd/4th person. Some of the standard Interior staterooms have an upper/bunk bed for 3rd person.

All Carnival Spirit staterooms offer as standard/complimentary amenities a living area (vanity, seating), smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies, bookings-reservations, Room Service ordering), direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), hairdryer, en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, shower, single sink-vanity, bathrobes, bathroom amenity basket/replenished upon request), custom-made beds (Carnival Comfort Bed System), beach towels, mini-bar/fridge, individual air-conditioning, complimentary 24-hour room service. Bibles (Gideon version) are provided upon request.

Bathroom amenities vary each time, so it’s advisable you bring your own. Samples may include toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, body lotion, razor, antiacids. There is a wall-mounted dispenser in the shower stall (for liquid soap and shampoo). Electric power outlets are located in the desk/vanity area – one 110 V outlet (3-pronged, USA grounded) and one 220 V outlet (European standard). The bathroom’s 2-pin plug can be used only for electric razors.

The Carnival’s Sail & Sign card (cashless onboard credit account) doubles as stateroom key. The S&S credit program allows charges on purchases and tips/gratuities directly to a personal account throughout the Carnival cruise. The card has a designated owner and must be utilized for all money transactions on the ship as cash is accepted as a form of payment only at the casino. These cards are provided to all passengers (incl minors) immediately upon boarding the ship. Balance updates are provided at Guest Services desk (at any time). They can also be checked via the smart TV in each stateroom.

The ship’s interactive TV system allows passengers to purchase movies on demand, to order room service and to check the Sail & Sign account’s status. The on-demand movie list has approx 25 films available for ordering at USD 5 per movie. Adult-content films cost USD 10 per movie. Depending on satellite reception (Carnival Spirit location at sea), the complimentary in-cabin TV programming includes the following channels: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN (Domestic, International, Espanol), TCM (classic movies), cartoons (Boomerang, CN), TNT, TBS. There are 2 complimentary movie channels showing a film every 3 hours (both starting at 12 noon). One shows all-time favorites (PG -13 rated) and the other shows all-time family favorites (G / PG-rated). The following TV channels are Carnival-themed and also complimentary: Fun Finds TV, Cruise Director, Fun Aboard, Park West Art, Shore Tours, Ship Position, live cam views (webcams positioned forward and on lido deck), Audible Funtimes, Photo, Music. Sporting events (ESPN, ESPN 2) are shown only on big screens – at the ship’s Sports Bar and Seaside Theatre (not in cabins/suites). All the TV’s connection ports are intentionally disabled, which makes it impossible to connect it with personal devices (cameras, DVDs, USBs, iPods, gaming consoles, etc).

The new Carnival beds are Europe-manufactured exclusively for the company. The ensemble includes custom pillows (trademarked “New Generation Pillows”, 100% cotton), duvet (100% hypoallergenic, ultra-fine, satin-striped), cover, deluxe sheets (high-quality cotton), pillowcases (ultra-fine, satin-striped), 8-inch / 20 cm spring mattresses (trademarked “Carnival Comfort”). Alternative (non-allergenic) bedding is also available. It includes 100% polyester blankets, sheets and pillowcases (60/40 cotton-polyester) and New Generation Pillows (100% cotton). Note: Trundle beds don’t have Carnival Comfort mattresses.

Carnival-logoed Beach Towels are provided in each cruise accommodation for passengers to take ashore. Beach towels are also available for purchase (at $22). Bathrobes (2) are provided in all suites. Additional bathrobes are provided upon request. For all other cruise accommodations, bathrobes are provided (upon request) during the turndown service on the first evening. Bathrobes can be purchased at $49 (adult size) and $24 (children sizes /2-4 yo and 6-8 yo).

Life jackets are used in cases of emergency only (not at the ship pools). Lifejackets are located within passenger/crew cabins (in the closet). They are available in 3 sizes – adult, child, and infant. Each of the cabins has a safe (located in the closet) with approx dimensions (inches/centimeters) – width (10/25), height (9/23) and depth (8/20). Cabin safes can be accessed by any magnetic strip card. It is advisable not to use a valid credit card (or driver’s license), but an old expired card (or some rewards card) instead. Some safes are with a keypad (personal code). Safes can be opened also by the ship’s security.

All passenger cabin and suite mini-bars are stocked with premium liquors ($6-9,25), beer ($6,25), energy drinks ($5), soft soda/beverages ($2), bottled water ($3,75). In-cabin babysitting is not available (read more at Camp Ocean below). Cribs in cruise cabins are provided complimentary (upon request). In Main Dining Rooms are provided complimentary high chairs and booster seats.

Smoking in cabins/suites and on their balconies is prohibited. On Carnival Spirit, smoking allowed areas (cigarettes /incl electronic cigarettes) are Frankenstein’s Lab Nightclub (disco /not allowed on the dance floor), Casino (designated areas), Casino Bar. Smoking (incl of cigars and tobacco pipes) is allowed on designated outdoor areas on Deck 3 starboard (midship), Deck 10 starboard (forward) and Deck 11 starboard (forward/midship/aft).

Funville@Sea is free of charge Intranet service providing information on onboard activities and events schedule, bar and restaurant menus, deck maps, Fun Times (newspaper), FunAshore (tour guides), Carnival cruise news, itinerary-related weather reports, onboard social network (tracking/messaging other passengers). The complimentary service is available via the Infotainment system (in all cabins) and also at the FunHub stations around the ship.

Current cruise ship gratuities (per day per person) are USD 12,95 (for standard cabin passengers) and USD 13,95 for suite passengers. The list of perks for all suites includes: priority embarkation/debarkation/tendering (all ports), priority main dining room reservations, complimentary bottled water in cabins, a complimentary bag of laundry (one per cruise), enhanced turndown service.

Since 2017, Carnival Cruise Line offers a new program allowing ship passengers to customize their steward service by choosing to have the cabin serviced in the morning, at night or both (twice a day). All guests can choose from a list of additional cabin amenities, among which are bathrobes, extra pillows, blankets, closet hangers. All guests can also specify how often the bed linens to be changed during the cruise. Your personal preferences can be selected from a services menu card left in each of the ship’s staterooms. By default, if you make no selections on the card, your room service steward will service the accommodation twice daily.

You can see all the furniture details on Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Spirit cabin plans in the above table.

Cruise Ship Room Service

In 2016, Carnival Cruise Lines rolled out fleetwide for-fee (chargeable) room service menu, which items can be ordered 24/7. The new menu still has free of charge items – hot and cold sandwiches, salads, desserts, beverages, Continental Breakfast selections. At extra cost (ranging between USD 1,50 and 6) are items that include shrimp, also sushi, pizza, quesadillas, cheesesteaks, chicken wings/tenders, fries. Bar drinks orders through room service are at regular bar menu prices (no extra fee added).

Complimentary room service menu

• Continental Breakfast (upon request)
• Sandwiches are served with potato salad, coleslaw, potato chips/pretzels, bread (white, whole wheat, rye, gluten-free). The list of sandwiches includes Tuna Salad, Roast Turkey, Ham & Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Reuben (corned beef, Swiss cheese).
• Salads – Garden, Caesar, Vegetable Platter (with dips)
• Desserts – cheesecake, cookies, chocolate cake
• Beverages – juices (tomato, orange, apple, grapefruit), tea (hot, iced), hot chocolate, milk, soft drinks (club soda, ginger ale, tonic water, coke, and sprite /also diet)
• Beers – domestic (Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Samuel Adams), imported (Heineken, Corona, Stella Artois), also available are beer buckets and wines by the bottle.

For-fee room service menu

The following items are available for ordering 24 hours but are at an additional charge.

• Chicken Wings ($5) – choice of Honey BBQ, Teriyaki, Garlic Parmesan, Buffalo Sauce, Caribbean Jerk
• Chicken Tenders ($5) – choice of sauce (BBQ or Honey Mustard)
• Firecracker Shrimp ($6) – fried with chili ginger, served with fries
• Chicken Quesadilla ($5)
• Philly Cheesesteak ($5) – served with fries
• Pan Pizza ($5) – handmade and baked-to-order (Cheese, Pepperoni, Ham, and Pineapple)
• French Fries ($1,50), Sweet Potato Fries ($2), Banana Split ($4).

Continental Breakfast room service menu

The following items are available for ordering free of charge.

• Cereals and Fruits –  Banana, Melon, Frosted Flakes, Special K, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Fruit Loops, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch
• Bakery –  toasts (white, wheat, gluten-free), danish pastries, muffins, croissants, bagels
• Yogurt – plain, strawberry, peach, raspberry
• Drinks – juices (orange, apple, tomato, grapefruit), hot tea, milk (also skim and chocolate), fresh coffee (regular and decaf)
• Half-and-half (milk-cream), butter, margarine, cream cheese, jelly (grape, diet, strawberry, guava), honey, orange marmalade.

Carnival Spirit cabin and suite plans are property of Carnival Cruise Line . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

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Carnival Spirit

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About Carnival Spirit

The 88,500-ton, 2,124-guest Carnival Spirit is hosting families for fun-filled memorable vacations. This mid-sized Spirit Class ship underwent a multi-million-dollar makeover in 2018. Step aboard and take advantage of exciting amenities, including chic lounges, a pool and a beautiful nine-deck atrium with lots of attractions.

Ideal for all age groups, she offers a variety of places to relax, such as the serene adults-only area for guests 18 and over. Hot rock treatments at spa, salon services for men and women and a well-equipped fitness studio help you maintain your wellness goals. While you are unwinding in this delightful spot, the kids will be having a ball in the supervised youth program with its age-specific activities.

A romantic wedding chapel is the perfect setting in which to say your "I do's" or renew your vows. The thrilling water park has an adrenaline inducing waterslide and power-drencher. Take a dip at the domed swimming pool. Play a round of mini-golf and participate in fun lip-sync competitions.

Your taste buds are also on vacation with lots of palate-pleasing dining choices . Grab a slice of hot and fresh pizza, a mouthwatering burger, grilled fare, sushi or a prime cut of steak. Special multi-course gourmet dinners are served in a private setting and you'll find venues dedicated to Mexican cuisine, seafood, ice cream and more. The dining room menu includes vegetarian options, a kids menu plus incredible buffets. Convenient room service is also available 24/7.

A variety of accommodations is available. Select from inside staterooms, those with an oceanview or private balcony and suites. Families also have great options as some of these comfortably accommodate three or four guests.

Dazzling production shows, popular poolside dive-in movies, guest participation game shows, music and more, light up the nights. Laughter is always on tap at the comedy club and sing along at the piano bar over cocktails. Challenge your luck at the casino with blackjack, roulette, poker and slots. Dance into the wee hours to live bands and DJ's in multiple hot spots.

Cruise on the fun Carnival Spirit to worldwide destinations.

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Spirit features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Vista Suite

Don’t get us wrong — a Carnival Spirit Vista Suite stateroom is a lovely room with all the suite fixings. But the thing to see here is truly the view that your balcony affords you. A Vista Suite features a wraparound balcony that provides wide, stunning views when you’re outside, and a uniquely panoramic inside view thanks to a wall of windows that brings more of that outside inside.

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Spirit suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub.

Junior Suite

As you step into a Junior Suite aboard Carnival Spirit, you can’t help but feel that you’re stepping into full-size luxury in a smaller package. Featuring a standard-size balcony, in a Carnival Spirit Junior Suite you'll find everything else there is to love about a suite, including VIP check-in, a walk-in closet… and even a whirlpool tub for relaxing.

Premium Balcony

Step into a Premium Balcony stateroom aboard Carnival Spirit and it’s easy to see exactly what you’re getting: one seriously spacious stateroom. It’s about more than just the room itself, you’ll find… step onto your oversized balcony and you’ll find that when there’s a sea breeze in your hair, there’s no limit to the relaxation you can have

Premium Balcony (Obstructed View)

Aft-view Extended Balcony

Extended Balcony

Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony with more lounge-around room, more kick-back space, and all the Carnival stateroom amenities: a full private bathroom, Carnival Comfort Collection linens and just-a-call-away 24-hour room service.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you’re looking to cruise aboard Carnival Spirit. Any time you’re in your room, you’re just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Balcony (Obstructed View)

An Obstructed View Balcony stateroom on Carnival Spirit provides all the indoor amenities of a Carnival stateroom, as well as some of the outdoor ones as well, including your own personal outdoor space that’s great for stretching out and relaxing.

Oceanview Stateroom

A picture window gives you views of scenery you won’t find anywhere on land, all from the comfort of yourstateroom.Dedicated stateroom attendant, Soft, cozy linens, Plenty of closet and drawer space, In-room safe for valuables, Television, Stateroom climate control

Interior with Window (obstructed views)

Enjoy the light streaming in through your floor-to-ceiling windows in this room with extra lounging space, featuring a sitting area with a sofa. (Note: view will be obstructed.)

Interior Stateroom

This is an affordable way to cruise without leaving out the comfort or convenience! Great for curling up after a long day of fun. Dedicated stateroom attendant, Soft, cozy linens, Plenty of closet and drawer space, In-room safe for valuables, Television, Stateroom climate control.

View Deck Plan

Empire Restaurant

Decks: Promenade Atlantic

Empire Restaurant.

Fountain Cafe

Deck: Promenade

Fountain Cafe.

La Playa Grille Lido Restaurtant

La Playa Grille Lido Restaurtant.

Nouveau Restaurant

Decks: Sun Sports

Nouveau Restaurant.

Deck: Riviera

Bonsai Sushi

Bonsai Sushi.

Seafood Corner

Seafood Corner.

Taste of the Nations

Taste of the Nations.

Blue Iguana Cantina

Blue Iguana Cantina.

Guy's Burger Joint

Guy's Burger Joint.

Guest Services

Guest Services.

The Warehouse

Deck: Atlantic

The Warehouse.

The Punchliner Versailles

Deco Foyer Lounge

Deco Foyer Lounge.

Sun Forward Pool

Sun Forward Pool.

Napoleon Room Rest Annex

Napoleon Room Rest Annex.

Pharaoh's Palace

Decks: Promenade Atlantic Main

Pharaoh's Palace.

Louis XIV Casino

Louis XIV Casino.

Monarch's Card Room

Monarch's Card Room.

Dancin' Dance Club

Decks: Riviera Promenade

Dancin' Dance Club.

Take a swim or just relax poolside at the Carnival Spirit Dome Lido Pool -- Whatever floats your boat.

The Jungle Interior Promenade

The Jungle Interior Promenade.

The Fun Shops

The Fun Shops.

One of the coolest spots on Carnival Spirit is Circle "C" and it's just for kids 12-14...Video games, dance parties, late night movies, Karaoke and more. What could be funner?

Shanghai Piano Bar

Shanghai Piano Bar.

Spirit Lobby

Spirit Lobby.

Deco Walk Upper Promenade

Deco Walk Upper Promenade.

Spirit Atrium

Decks: Promenade Atlantic Main Upper Empress Verandah Panorama Lido

Spirit Atrium.

Alchemy Bar

Alchemy Bar.

Carnival Adventures

Carnival Adventures.

Internet Cafe

Internet Cafe.

Skybox Sports Bar

Skybox Sports Bar.

Redfrog Pub

Redfrog Pub.

Art Gallery

Art Gallery.

Cherry on Top

Chery on Top.

Pixels Gallery

Pixels Gallery.

Deck: Upper

Decks: Promenade Lido

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar.

Red Frog Rum Bar

Red Frog Rum Bar.

Spa Carnival

Spa Carnival.

Beauty Salon Classique

Beauty Salon Classique.

Fitness Center

Decks: Lido Sun

Fitness Center.

Steam & Sauna

Steam & Sauna.

Carnival Seaside Theater

Sliding Sky Dome

Sliding Sky Dome.

Camp Ocean.

Carnival Waterworks

Deck: Sports

Carnival Waterworks.

Sports Court

Sports Court.

Jogging Track

Jogging Track.

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Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Picking a cabin on a Carnival Cruise Line ship isn't nearly as complicated as picking a cabin on, say, a Royal Caribbean or a Celebrity Cruises ship.

Unlike some of its biggest competitors, Carnival isn't known for a huge range of cabin categories on its vessels.

That means that when you're trying to find the best Carnival cruise ship cabin for you, you'll have an easier time than you will when booking with some other lines.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Carnival ships fall into one of three broad buckets: Windowless "inside" cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins.

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You'll find relatively few suites on Carnival ships. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista-class series, for instance, offer fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest-class ships have around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy-class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.

This is in part due to Carnival's focus on offering an affordable product. The typical Carnival customer isn't in the market for a super fancy, high-priced suite.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line

That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The line's two newest ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration , each have 180 suites — more than twice the number found on the vessels Carnival was unveiling a few years ago.

Note that Carnival's two oldest ships — those that are part of the 1990s-built Fantasy Class — have relatively few balcony cabins by today's standards. (After retrofitting, they have around 150 balcony cabins, out of a total of more than 1,000 cabins in all.) In part because of this, Carnival has been phasing Fantasy-class ships out of its fleet in recent years.

A Carnival Cruise Line cabin primer

As is typical for many cruise ships, Carnival vessels offer cabins in four broad categories: Windowless "inside" cabins, oceanview cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

On newer Carnival ships, a significant portion of cabins are balcony cabins — the rooms everyone wants these days. But the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins on Carnival's newer ships isn't nearly as high as on the newer ships of some rival lines such as Royal Caribbean.

About 44% of the 2,004 cabins on Carnival's Carnival Panorama (launched in 2019) are balcony cabins, for instance. Compare that to the 65% of cabins on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas (launched in 2018) that are balcony cabins.

As noted above, Carnival ships also have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships of some of its rival lines. By contrast, the line's newer ships have a higher percentage of inside cabins than you'll find on the newer ships of some rival lines.

Here's a breakdown of the broad cabin categories on Carnival Panorama, which is typical of the line's newer ships:

Inside cabins: 789 (39%) Oceanview cabins: 254 (13%) Balcony cabins: 891 (44%) Suites: 70 (3%)

On older Carnival ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are far fewer balcony cabins. Fewer than 10% of cabins on the line's two oldest vessels, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, are balcony cabins. The two ships date to 1998.

On both Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, inside cabins and ocean-view cabins make up the majority (nearly 90%) of accommodations, and suites account for fewer than 10% of rooms. Here is the breakdown for Carnival Paradise:

Inside cabins: 420 (40%) Oceanview cabins: 466 (44%) Balcony cabins: 98 (9%) Suites: 78 (7%)

The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one.

You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship. An old saw in the cruise industry is that "ships sell from the top and the bottom." That is, the first cabins on any vessel to sell out are the most expensive cabins, which are the suites, and the least expensive cabins, which typically are the inside cabins. The "middle" sells last.

Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels mostly have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood. Cabin bathrooms are neutral.

One exception is the new Carnival Venezia , which has a darker (faux) wood finish to furniture in cabins that ties into the ship's Italy theme.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival ship

Inside cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Inside cabins are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. On any Carnival ship, they almost always are the least-expensive option when you're booking a cabin, and you often can save considerable money by booking an inside cabin versus an ocean-view or higher-level cabin.

What you'll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world.

On many cruise ships, inside cabins are smaller than oceanview and balcony cabins. But on Carnival ships, that's not always the case. On Carnival Panorama, for instance, most inside cabins measure 185 square feet. That's the same size as the interior area of some oceanview and most balcony cabins on the ship (not including the extra square footage from the balcony).

Related: Why inside cabins aren't as bad as you think

Inside cabins on Royal Caribbean's new Wonder of the Seas , by contrast, measure just 149 square feet — quite a bit less than the inside cabins on Carnival Panorama.

Note that, in a quirk of the cabin categorization system at Carnival, there are a few inside cabins on some Carnival ships that do, indeed, have a view to the outside world. These cabins either have an obstructed view (often due to lifeboats) or a porthole, such that the view isn't all that great. For that reason, the line classifies them as inside cabins.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

With an oceanview cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Carnival's newer ships have relatively few such cabins, as generally cabins that face outwards now are built with balconies. But older Carnival ships are loaded with oceanview cabins.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships can sometimes be bigger than inside cabins and even bigger than balcony cabins (when comparing their interior space). On Carnival Panorama, some oceanview cabins measure 185 square feet — the same as inside cabins. But there also are bigger "standard" oceanview cabins that measure 220 square feet and "deluxe" oceanview cabins that measure 230 square feet.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Balcony cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Carnival is building its newest ships with far more of them than in the past. As noted above, about 44% of the cabins Carnival Panorama are balcony cabins. But that percentage jumped to 56% on the newer Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. It will be the same on Carnival Jubilee, a sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration coming out in December 2023.

The typical Carnival balcony cabin has a contemporary look, with clean lines and relatively minimalist furniture. It typically features twin beds that can be converted into a king bed, a built-in desk area and a sofa that often pulls out into an additional bed. Some rooms have pull-down bunks to create more sleeping spaces. Balcony cabins typically measure around 185 square feet, not including the veranda area, which often measures 35 square feet.

Note that on some Carnival ships, specific categories of balcony cabins have larger balconies than most. These are wonderful for sitting out and watching the waves. Often these rooms are at the back of the ships overlooking the wake.

Related: 6 reasons to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise

For instance, Carnival Panorama has "Family Harbor" and "Havana" balcony cabins with 60-square-foot balconies overlooking the wake. That's 71% more balcony space than the typical balcony cabin on the ship.

Carnival Panorama also has "Havana Cabana" balcony cabins with even bigger, 100-square-foot balconies.

Suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

As noted above, Carnival ships generally don't offer a lot of suites. For the most part, the suites they have are relatively modest in size and amenities compared to the suites at some of the line's rivals.

The biggest suites on Carnival Panorama, the ship's eight Grand Suites, have 345 square feet of interior space, plus an 85-square-foot balcony. Contrast that to the biggest suites on Royal Caribbean ships, which can measure more than 1,500 square feet.

Suites on Carnival ships also haven't traditionally come with butlers and access to private concierge lounges like the suites on many other vessels.

Related: This amazing new cruise ship suite measures more than 4,000 square feet

Still, some of that has begun to change with the debut of Carnival's new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Carnival went big with the suites on the groundbreaking, 5,282-passenger vessels — the biggest Carnival ships ever.

Unveiled in 2021 and 2022, respectively, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration each feature two sprawling Presidential Suites that measure 1,120 square feet — bigger than any other accommodations in the line's fleet.

Located at the top of each ship on Deck 17, the complexes have separate living and sleeping areas and the most expansive balconies in the Carnival fleet — all unusual-for-Carnival features. Measuring more than 600 square feet, the balconies also offer a lounging area with a large sunbed and a private outdoor hot tub and shower.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise ship

The Presidential Suites are among 180 suites you will find on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the most ever for a Carnival ship.

The two ships have 11 different categories of suites in all, four of which are part of a new premium "Excel" category of suites with extra amenities and access to a new-for-the-line, resort-style enclave at the top of the ships called Loft 19.

In addition to the two Presidential Suites, the Excel suites include a dozen 861-square-foot Excel Aft Suites that overlook the back of each ship and boast separate living rooms and bedrooms and large wraparound balconies with hot tubs.

Slightly smaller are a dozen 710-square-foot Excel Corner Suites offering separate sleeping and lounging areas and wraparound balconies. A step down are six smaller Excel Suites that measure 614 square feet.

Every one of the suites in those categories is bigger than any suite found on Carnival Panorama.

Passengers staying in all four categories of Excel suites on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have access to a dedicated concierge phone line and guaranteed dining times at the extra-charge specialty restaurants found on the ships (except for Japanese eatery Bonsai Teppanyaki and the Chef's Table). Other upgraded amenities for Excel suite passengers include complimentary Bottomless Bubbles soda packages, room service and laundry service, sparkling wine upon arrival and upgraded bathroom toiletries.

The new Loft 19 enclave found on both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration offers full bar service, a private pool surrounded by sun loungers and cabanas available for rent.

Related: A guide to Carnival's VIFP loyalty program

Bottom Line

Fun-focused Carnival offers a solid mix of cabins on its vessels for a range of price points. If you're looking for an inexpensive vacation option, the inside cabins on Carnival ships are more spacious than the inside cabins you'll find on the ships of some rival lines. Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships also can be larger than normal for the category. Balcony cabins on Carnival ships hold their own in size against most competitors. Just don't expect a huge number of suites when sailing with Carnival.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

The 8 classes of Carnival Cruise Line ships, explained

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Thinking about a cruise on a Carnival Cruise Line ship? You have a lot of options.

By the summer of 2024, Carnival will have 27 vessels in service — all currently available to book. That’s more ships than any other major cruise line except Royal Caribbean , which will have 28 vessels in service by the summer of 2024.

In general, Carnival ships are large but, aside from two exceptions, they’re not giants by today’s standards. Over the past two years, Carnival has begun operating its first two truly giant ships in years — the 181,808-ton, 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 183,521-ton Carnival Celebration .

Other than these two ships, Carnival’s biggest vessel is the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia , which measures just 135,225 tons. That’s about 40% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean .

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Six of the 27 vessels Carnival will operate by the summer of 2024 measure less than 100,000 tons, which makes them almost mid-size by today’s cruise ship standards.

This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. However, for many years, it has held back from following rivals such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in building ever-bigger ships. Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are now the only Carnival ships on the list of the world’s 50 biggest cruise vessels.

The arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration has marked a major turning point for the line. The two vessels rank 15th and 13th, respectively, on the list of the world’s largest cruise ships — the first Carnival ships to crack the Top 20 in quite a few years. They are 35% bigger than the line’s next-biggest ship. One more ship in the series — Carnival Jubilee — will arrive in late 2023.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line  

The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options within the Carnival fleet is that the line’s ships can easily be bunched into just eight groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

Each of these groups — known as “classes” in cruise industry lingo — is made up of ships that were constructed around the same time with the same basic design.

An introduction to Carnival Cruise Line ships

As mentioned above, Carnival’s ships can be broken down into eight distinct groups or classes. A key detail about Carnival ships is that there are a lot of similarities from class to class within the Carnival fleet.

Unlike Royal Caribbean and some other cruise lines, Carnival doesn’t always drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line

Instead, Carnival usually takes an incremental approach to design changes for its new classes of ships. You’ll find a lot in common between the Vista class and Dream class, for instance. These two classes aren’t all that different in feel from the earlier Splendor and Conquest classes of ships, though they are a bit bigger.

That said, Carnival is in the midst of a major change in its philosophy on ship design. Its new Excel-class vessels — which first debuted in 2021 with the arrival of Mardi Gras — are far bigger than its earlier ships. These ships also have a lot of new features and amenities (including the first-ever roller coaster on a cruise ship — and, no, we’re not making that up).

Related: The 4 new giants of the cruise world — and how to book them

For many years, Carnival steered clear of the big ship trends in the industry. Executives thought the ever-bigger vessels being deployed by such lines as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises were too big to make for an enjoyable cruise experience.

Now, Carnival is switching gears — no doubt because the giant ships unveiled by some other lines have been enormously popular with cruisers.

At Carnival, as at other lines, the biggest ships in the fleet have the most amenities, eateries, lounges, bars and deck-top attractions than the smaller ships. This can be a huge plus for travelers who like to have a lot of options when vacationing.

However, Carnival’s biggest ships also sail with more passengers, which can be a turnoff if you’re the kind of traveler who likes a more intimate experience.

In general, Carnival’s biggest and most amenity-packed ships are its newest ships. If you’re looking for a cruise experience with the most possible onboard activities and venues, you’ll want to steer toward the vessels in Carnival’s new Excel class and its relatively young Vista and Dream classes.

If cruising in a more intimate environment is your preference, you’ll want to look at some of Carnival’s older classes of ships including the Spirit and Fantasy classes.

The Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered a third Excel-class ship (Carnival Jubilee) that will be ready to sail in December 2023.

In addition, the line will begin operating a ship currently in the fleet of its sister line Costa Cruises — Costa Firenze — in May 2024. It’ll be renamed Carnival Firenze and sail from Los Angeles.

Excel class

Ships in class: Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (coming December 2023).

Size: 181,808 to 183,521 tons.

If you’re in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to cruise ships, this is the Carnival class for you.

At a bit over 180,000 tons, Carnival’s three new Excel-class vessels — one of which, Carnival Jubilee, is still under construction — are 35% bigger than the line’s next-biggest ships and offer more eateries, lounges, bars and deck-top attractions than any other ships in the Carnival fleet by far.

Designed to take Carnival’s “fun ship” shtick to a new level, the ships are so big that, as noted above, they have room for roller coasters on their top decks — a cruise industry first. They also have a far broader array of suites than earlier Carnival vessels.

Among the new dining venues on the ships are the first Emeril Lagasse restaurant at sea, as well as the first Big Chicken eatery at sea. (Big Chicken is a chain created by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, who also serves as a Carnival spokesperson.)

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival cruise

In addition to featuring a roller coaster, Mardi Gras was the first ship from a North America-based line designed to operate on liquefied natural gas. The fuel is touted as being cleaner than traditional ship fuel.

One caveat to keep in mind if you’re thinking of booking an Excel-class ship: They sail with a very large number of people. If being around crowds bothers you, these may not be the ships for you. The vessels are designed to hold a whopping 5,282 passengers at double occupancy. With every pullout sofa and pull-down bunk filled, they can hold up to 6,630 passengers.

Vista/Venezia class

Ships in class: Carnival Panorama (2019), Carnival Horizon (2018), Carnival Vista (2016), Carnival Venezia (2023) and Carnival Firenze (coming in 2024).

Size: 133,596 to 135,225 tons.

With the arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the Vista-class and Venezia-class ships (so similar that we have combined them into one entry) are no longer the biggest and most amenity-packed ships in the Carnival fleet. Still, they offer a lot of options when it comes to eateries, bars, lounges and deck-top attractions — more than you’ll find on most other Carnival vessels.

All four vessels in the Vista and Venezia classes have water parks with waterslides on their top decks, as well as miniature golf courses, ropes courses and multiple pool areas. They’re also known for their pedal-powered, suspended-in-the-air SkyRide attractions.

Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, which officially are Vista-class ships, also have Imax theaters — the first in the cruise industry. Carnival Panorama, also a Vista-class ship, instead has the first trampoline park ever put on a cruise ship , in a partnership with Sky Zone.

There’s also a smorgasbord of restaurants, bars and lounges on all of the vessels. Among the many offerings on these ships are Carnival’s first breweries at sea (on all the vessels except Carnival Venezia, which is officially known as a Venezia-class ship and has a few notable differences).

On Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse offers beer brewed on-site along with barbecue dishes designed by the Food Network’s Guy Fieri. On Carnival Vista, there’s a stand-alone brewery and a separate barbecue venue.

Other eateries on the ships include casual, Guy Fieri-designed Guy’s Burger Joint, Chipotle-like burrito spot BlueIguana Cantina (on Carnival Venezia, this is called Tomodoro and also serves a few Italian items), sushi outlets and steakhouses. Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama also feature Italian eatery Cucina Del Capitano, as well as JiJi Asian Kitchen, while Carnival Venezia has an Italian restaurant called Il Viaggio.

Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Venezia also have teppanyaki restaurants, and all four ships have dedicated chef’s tables located within their galleys.

Related: Everything to know about Carnival cabins and suites  

Both the Vista-class and Venezia-class ships were built on the same basic design platform and are roughly the same size with similar layouts. But Carnival Venezia originally was built for Carnival’s Italy-based sister brand, Costa Cruises. As a result, it has a much stronger Italy theme and a few design differences. Still, enough is the same that for all practical purposes, it is a Vista-class ship in all but name. Hence our combining the two classes into one listing.

Related: Our thoughts after sailing on Carnival Venezia

The Vista-class ships were, notably, the first ships in the Carnival fleet to boast exclusive, keycard-restricted cabin areas — a trend that has been growing at many mass-market lines. There are two such areas on the three Vista-class ships: Havana Cabanas and Family Harbor, the latter of which is specifically geared toward families. Carnival Venezia has a keycard-restricted area called Terrazza Carnevale.

The water park area on Carnival Horizon is particularly alluring if you’re a Dr. Seuss fan. Unique among the water parks in the Carnival fleet, it has a Dr. Seuss theme. The water park area on Carnival Venezia also is notable as it has one more water slide than the water parks on the Vista-class ships.

All of these ships hold about 4,000 passengers each, based on double occupancy.

Note that one more Costa Cruises ship that is similar to Carnival Venezia (Costa Firenze) will be joining the Carnival fleet in 2024. It’ll be renamed Carnival Firenze.

Dream class

Ships in class: Carnival Breeze (2012), Carnival Magic (2011) and Carnival Dream (2009).

Size: 130,000 tons.

Carnival’s Dream-class ships are roughly the same size as its Vista-class ships, and the two classes have a lot in common. Still, there are a few key differences.

For starters, the Dream-class ships don’t have Imax theaters or trampoline parks. Both were innovations that debuted with the Vista-class ships. They also lack exclusive, keycard-restricted cabin areas and some of the eateries found on Vista-class ships.

Still, for the most part, if you’ve been on a Vista-class ship, you’ll immediately feel at home on a Dream-class ship.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival’s VIFP Club loyalty program

Dream-class ships share some of the same amenities as Vista-class ships. For instance, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic both feature ropes courses on their top decks while Carnival Breeze has a 4D “thrill theater.” These innovations first debuted on Dream-class ships.

Dream-class ships also offer water parks with waterslides on their top decks, miniature golf courses, sports courts for basketball and volleyball, and multiple pools.

Interior venues on Dream-class ships include Punchliner comedy clubs, piano bars, casinos and showrooms for big production shows. The dining options are similar to what you’ll find on Vista-class ships; Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, steakhouses and the Italian eatery Cucina Del Capitano are included on all three vessels.

Two of the three ships — Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream — also have sushi eateries, while Carnival Breeze and Carnival Magic have Carnival’s Caribbean-inspired watering hole, RedFrog Pub.

The ships in this class hold 3,646 to 3,690 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Splendor class

Ships in class: Carnival Splendor (2008).

Size: 113,300 tons.

Carnival Splendor is an outlier in the Carnival fleet — a ship that makes up a class all its own. That said, it has a lot in common with the ships of Carnival’s Conquest-class ships (see below).

Originally designed and ordered for Italy-based Costa Cruises — a sister brand to Carnival — the ship is actually a sister vessel to Costa’s four Concordia-class ships. It will be familiar to anyone who knows Carnival ships because the design of Costa’s Concordia class was based upon the design of Carnival’s Conquest class, and the two classes are very similar.

The main difference between Carnival Splendor and its Conquest-class cousins is that the former has an enlarged and redesigned top deck area. The structure around the main pool of the ship is noticeably different, with a retractable, sliding glass roof that you won’t find on the Conquest-class ships, as well as a water play area for kids. The ship also has a bigger spa area.

Other than that, though, Carnival Splendor is basically a variation of the Conquest-class ships. Size-wise, it’s just a few thousand tons bigger. It holds 3,012 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Conquest class

Ships in class: Carnival Freedom (2007), Carnival Liberty (2005), Carnival Valor (2004), Carnival Glory (2003) and Carnival Conquest (2002).

Size: 110,000 tons.

At 111,000 tons, the Conquest-class ships (and Carnival Splendor, noted above) are about 20% smaller than the newer Vista-class and Dream-class ships. As a result, they have somewhat fewer amenities.

Still, you’ll find a lot of the classic Carnival “fun ship” attractions on these vessels including water play areas with waterslides, miniature golf courses and adults-only Serenity deck-top retreat areas.

You’ll also find a solid array of eateries on each of the ships including a Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina burrito outlets and steakhouses.

In addition to being smaller than Vista-class and Dream-class ships, Conquest-class ships also sail with fewer passengers. All of the Conquest-class vessels hold just shy of 3,000 passengers at double occupancy — about 1,000 fewer passengers than the Vista-class ships.

That’s a noticeable difference if you’re the kind of vacationer who doesn’t like to be around giant crowds. For some Carnival fans, the smaller size of the Conquest class and Splendor class makes these ships appealing. Others prefer the added amenities that come with the bigger ships.

Spirit class

Ships in class: Carnival Miracle (2004), Carnival Legend (2002), Carnival Pride (2002), Carnival Spirit (2001) and Carnival Luminosa (2009).

Size: 88,500 tons.

Carnival Spirit-class ships are the adventurers of the Carnival fleet.

The vessels are built for “all-weather” cruising, with pools that can be covered by retractable domes when it’s cold and stormy. These are the ships that sail in places such as Alaska, where even in the summer it can be too chilly for sunning on an open pool deck.

These are also the ships that Carnival uses for winter sailings to the Caribbean from Baltimore, which can involve a day or two of cold and stormy sailing in the Atlantic.

In some recent years, Carnival has also deployed one of its Spirit-class ships across the Pacific to Australia — the most far-flung destination that it offers on its schedule.

In addition to having a weather-proof main pool area, the Spirit-class ships are great for far-flung destinations because of their relatively small size, which allows them to access smaller ports. At just 88,500 tons, they’re among the smallest ships in the Carnival fleet — less than half the size of Carnival’s new Excel-class vessels.

The Spirit-class ships are notably lower and sleeker than most other vessels in the Carnival fleet. Passing under relatively small bridges is not a problem for them. Unlike a lot of recently built cruise vessels, they also are thin enough in the middle that they can squeeze through the old locks of the Panama Canal.

The Spirit-class vessels also boast the largest percentage of balcony cabins and oceanview cabins in the Carnival fleet, which makes them perfect for a destination such as Alaska where being able to watch the scenery from your cabin is a big plus.

They’re also relatively intimate ships, holding just 2,124 passengers at double occupancy. By modern-day cruise ship standards, that makes them “mid-size” vessels.

Still, you can expect to find many of the same fun-focused features on Spirit-class ships that you’ll find on the line’s bigger vessels, including water parks with waterslides and miniature golf courses.

Spirit-class ships also have one of the most unique features in all of the cruising industry — special date-night restaurants that are incorporated into their funnels and feature translucent glass-dome ceilings.

Note that one of the Spirit-class ships, Carnival Luminosa, was originally built for Costa Cruises, a sister line to Carnival (it originally sailed under the name Costa Luminosa). The vessel was built to the same basic specifications as the four Spirit-class vessels built for Carnival in this class, although it is a tad bigger and can hold a few more passengers. It dates to 2009.

Sunshine class

Ships in class: Carnival Radiance (2000/2021), Carnival Sunrise (1999/2019) and Carnival Sunshine (1996/2013).

Size: 102,000 tons.

The Sunshine class (once known as the Destiny class) may be the most unusual class of ships in the Carnival fleet. On paper, the ships in this class are among the oldest vessels that Carnival operates. However, you also can make an argument that they are among the newest vessels in the line.

This is because each of the ships in this series has been almost completely gutted and rebuilt from the waterline up.

The makeovers of the ships, which began in 2013, were so thorough that Carnival has given each of the vessels a new name. Carnival Sunshine is what old-time Carnival fans will remember as Carnival Destiny. Carnival Sunrise is the former Carnival Triumph. Carnival Radiance is the ship that began life as Carnival Victory.

Carnival spent $200 million alone in 2019 overhauling Carnival Sunrise. In addition to sprucing up just about every space on the ship, the money was used to add classic Carnival attractions that the ship lacked. This included a full-blown water park, which replaced a single waterslide on one of its top decks.

Carnival Sunrise also received a SportSquare area on its top deck like the ones found on newer Carnival vessels. It has a ropes course, basketball court, miniature golf course, outdoor pool and ping-pong tables. Carnival didn’t end the deck-top changes there. It also found space for another signature Carnival offering that had been lacking: an adults-only Serenity outdoor lounge area with padded loungers, daybeds, a hot tub and a full bar.

In addition, Carnival Sunrise now has half a dozen new food and beverage venues including a version of Carnival’s signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555; Carnival’s signature Italian eatery, Cucina Del Capitano; and a Bonsai Express sushi outlet.

Related: Our take on Carnival’s revamped Carnival Sunrise  

The overhaul of Carnival Sunshine, which took place in 2013, brought similar changes, as well as a complete renovation of the ship’s pool area that incorporated a multideck waterfall.

Carnival Radiance, for its part, just emerged from its long-scheduled overhaul, which was delayed in late 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note that even after the makeovers, the ships still don’t have all the bells and whistles of Carnival’s truly new ships, such as Carnival Panorama. As noted above, Carnival’s newest ships are bigger than its older ships, allowing for more attractions, restaurants and lounges.

At around 102,000 tons, the Sunshine-class ships are more than 20% smaller than Carnival Panorama and more than 40% smaller than Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.

The ships hold from 2,984 to 3,002 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Interestingly, these weren’t always considered smaller vessels. In fact, when the line first unveiled Carnival Sunshine in 1996 (back when it was called Carnival Destiny), it was the biggest cruise ship in the world. It also was the first cruise ship to surpass 100,000 tons.

Now, it doesn’t even crack the list of the 50 biggest cruise vessels.

Fantasy class

Ships in class: Carnival Paradise (1998) and Carnival Elation (1998).

Size: 70,000 tons.

Built in the 1990s, the Fantasy-class ships are Carnival’s oldest and smallest ships, and the line is in the process of phasing them out. Going into 2020, the line had eight of these vessels. It removed four of them from its fleet soon after the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this year it removed two more — Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy.

The two Fantasy-class ships that are left are mostly used in secondary ports — such as Jacksonville, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama — that might not be able to support bigger vessels.

Related: Why I’m sad to see Carnival retiree its smallest ship

While still much-beloved by Carnival fans, in part for their intimate size, these ships notably lack a large number of balcony cabins — the cabin type that everyone wants these days. Most of the cabins on these ships are ocean-view cabins that only offer a window or a porthole, or windowless inside cabins.

That said, the two remaining Fantasy-class ships have undergone renovations over the years to add more balcony cabins. Depending on the ship, there were between 98 and 150 new balconies added, including new suites.

The ships have relatively fewer amenities and venues than the newer and bigger Carnival ships. You won’t find giant water parks on these vessels as you would on newer Carnival ships. You will find multiple slides and a spray park for the kids, though. The dining options are also limited.

Still, for a lot of Carnival fans, these are fun ships.

Two vessels each hold around 2,100 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Bottom line

Carnival has quite a few different classes of ships, but the differences between many of them aren’t as big as the differences between classes at other lines.

You’ll find a lot of consistency from ship to ship in the Carnival fleet in the type of venues that you find on board. In recent years, Carnival has spent $2 billion overhauling many of its ships to create that consistency in onboard venues and amenities.

Vacationers looking for a big resort experience with a lot of options should choose one of Carnival’s newest ships, which are bigger and have more amenities. If you’re looking for more intimacy on a cruise ship, some of the older classes of ships, such as those in the Spirit class, might be just right.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

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Jouni Niskakoski/Shutterstock @thathippiedoc/Tiktok (Licensed)

‘I’m just flabbergasted’: Customer finds out her $12K cruise cabin was canceled a day before setting sail. Carnival won’t refund her

'we’ve been planning this vacation for a year.'.

Amara Thomas

Posted on May 15, 2024   Updated on May 15, 2024, 3:41 pm CDT

What would you do if your nearly $15,000 vacation was canceled the day before it started? Tiktoker Tiffany Banks (@thathippiedoc) said she had been planning her family vacation with Carnival Cruise Line for over a year, only to find out the day before that it had been canceled. 

“Yesterday morning, I got an email from Carnival saying two of our excursions had been canceled,” she stated in a recently uploaded viral video. She said she followed up the email with a phone call to get more information. “They said, ‘Your excursions were canceled because your cabin was canceled,'” she shared.  

The customer service representative she spoke with reportedly blamed the cancellation on the company’s system having a glitch. “The original person that I talked to said that the system canceled it, and then the second person … said that the online system had been logged into and [the room] had been canceled,” she said. 

She added, “We talked for almost two and half hours, and the only solution they were willing to offer was two interior rooms [in place of the] Presidential Excel Suite.” 

Why isn’t Banks happy with Carnival’s resolution?

Banks said she and her family had booked the Excel Presidential Suite. “It’s the biggest room on the Carnival Celebration ship. We had all kinds of extra perks,” she said. 

The Excel Presidential Suite is Carnival’s most prized accommodation, known for its exclusive amenities and features, including a large private balcony and spacious room. According to Carnival’s booking page , suites on the Celebration ship can run for thousands of dollars, while interior rooms, which Carnival reportedly offered Banks as an alternative, are the most affordable options on the ship.

Yet, the customer service representative reportedly stressed that this was the only option Carnival could provide. Banks was “flabbergasted” by this response. “We have nearly $15,000 tied up in this vacation, including excursions,” she said. “The room itself was 12,000 or 13,000, and then we got a few grand tied up into excursions, and almost 2,000 for flights.”

“I never even fathomed that you all wouldn’t offer me my money back,” she said. “You all canceled my cruise … You are going to give me my money back.”

The customer service representative reportedly wouldn’t budge and continued to stress that this was the only option and that they were making these interior rooms available for her. 

Viewers sympathized and speculated

The viral video has over 680,000 views and thousands of comments. Many viewers expressed their frustration on her behalf and said that Carnival would be losing their business. 

@thathippiedoc We will never book with carnival again … #carnival #celebration #carnivalcelebration ♬ original sound – Tiffany Banks

“@carnival we are planning a retirement trip of a lifetime for next year. I’m not even looking at carnival now,” one commented. 

This isn’t the first time Carnival has come under fire for its purported lack of consideration. For example, the company has previously been criticized for refusing to issue a refund to a grieving daughter whose mother couldn’t attend her cruise vacation because she had passed away. It has also been called out for skipping planned stops on a Caribbean-bound cruise.   

Other viewers of Banks’s video shared their speculations as to why her room was canceled and how she could go about getting a refund. 

“They gave your room away to someone else for whatever reason. Go to the top manager at Carnival and demand a refund! If that doesn’t work get a lawyer,” one shared. Another added, “My first thought: They canceled you to book a special guest with a huge tip for the accommodation. Call a lawyer!” Banks agreed, responding, “At this point, I think that that’s what happened.” 

What will Banks do now?

Banks recently posted a teary-eyed update video in which she shared that she is still fighting for her refund and has not heard back from Carnival.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Banks via TikTok comment and Carnival via email for more information. 

The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter  here  to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

Amara Thomas is a freelance writer and cultural worker. She has written for the FADER, the Village Voice, Gothamist, and Highsnobiety.

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Cruising aboard Carnival Spirit will elevate your holiday at sea, to that unforgettable trip you will be longing to relive. You’ll be on a ship that’s nearly the length of three footy fields and 12 decks tall of things to do, see, taste and try. Whether you’re after an action-packed holiday or just want to relax and unwind, you can create the type of cruise holiday you want. There’s heaps of fun on offer and something for everyone; little ones, big ones and the whole family. The largest waterpark at sea in Australia, mini-golf, two-deck fitness center, jogging track and sports court, Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ , day spa and pools and spas. Keep the kids entertained with three different age-appropriate youth programs, giving them plenty of choice on activities and the opportunity to make new friends. You’ll be spoilt for choice no matter what your passion. If you're a foodie, Carnival Spirit has tons of dining options - with Guy's Burger Joint ™ , Empire Restaurant, Lido Marketplace, Nouveau, where for a small cover charge you can dine in style, late night Pizza and Ice-Cream and much, much more. If it’s night-time fun that you’re looking for then you won’t be disappointed. Carnival Spirit has more than 6 bars and lounges to choose from featuring all kinds of games, shows and entertainment. If you like a flutter on the pokies there's also a casino. Quite simply, you can pick and choose to create your own memorable holiday whilst onboard.

• 88,500 Gross Tonnage
• 2,124 Guest Capacity
• 963 Length In Feet
• 930 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Interior with window (obstructed view).

Every room includes:

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• In-room safe for valuables
• Stateroom climate control

Premium Balcony

Step into a Premium Balcony stateroom aboard Carnival Spirit and it’s easy to see exactly what you’re getting: one seriously spacious stateroom. It’s about more than just the room itself, you’ll find… step onto your oversized balcony and you’ll find that when there’s a sea breeze in your hair, there’s no limit to the relaxation you can have.

Premium Balcony (Obstructed View)

Step into a Premium Balcony stateroom aboard Carnival Spirit and it’s easy to see exactly what you’re getting: one seriously spacious stateroom. It’s about more than just the room itself… step onto your oversized balcony and you’ll find that when there’s a sea breeze in your hair, there’s no limit to the relaxation you can have. (Note that rooms of this type have obstructed views.)

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space… not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon the ship's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Extended Balcony

Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony with more outdoor lounge-around room, more open-air kick-back space… and back inside the room itself, all the comfort you expect with a great view and plenty of sunlight.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you’re looking to cruise aboard Carnival Spirit. Any time you’re in your room, you’re just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Balcony (Obstructed View)

An Obstructed View Balcony stateroom on Carnival Spirit provides all the indoor amenities of a Carnival stateroom, as well as some of the outdoor ones as well, including your own personal outdoor space that’s great for stretching out and relaxing.

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Spirit features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
• Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 Am
• Two large bottles of water
• Pillow-top mattress

Plus, every room includes:

Vista Suite

Don’t get us wrong — a Carnival Spirit Vista Suite stateroom is a lovely room with all the suite fixings. But the thing to see here is truly the view that your balcony affords you. A Vista Suite features a wraparound balcony that provides wide, stunning views when you’re outside, and a uniquely panoramic inside view thanks to a wall of windows that brings more of that outside inside.

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Spirit suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub.

Junior Suite

As you step into a Junior Suite aboard Carnival Spirit, you can’t help but feel that you’re stepping into full-size luxury in a smaller package. Featuring a standard-size balcony, in a Carnival Spirit Junior Suite you'll find everything else there is to love about a suite, including VIP check-in, a walk-in closet… and even a whirlpool tub for relaxing.

ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

Onboard dining, sailings on carnival spirit.

This ship is always visiting great holiday spots. Where will your next holiday take you?

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are included.

Carnival Spirit Stateroom Cabin 6329

• 2 Promenade
• Click here for ALL
• Full Window
• Premium Balcony
• Junior Suite
• Vista Suite
• Ocean Suite
• Grand Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabin Check

Carnival Spirit Vista Suite cabin number 6329 ACTUAL videos and/or pictures, floor plans, diagrams and detailed features including a deck image of the actual location on the Carnival Spirit ship for cabin 6329. Cruisedeckplans.com has 59,650 different (staterooms) cabins that have actual cabin pictures and/or cabin videos taken by real cruisers. That is plenty of coverage to provide you with a good sampling of all the different cabins on cruise ships. Take a minute and notice the breadcrumb menu above. This is a quick easy way to navigate our website. You can also use the menu above for menu items specific to the Carnival Spirit cruise ship.

• Interactive LCD television with remote control
• Audio/Video input plate
• Climate control
• Bath with combined shower/whirlpool tub, double sink and toilet
• Sitting area with sofa, armchair and coffee table
• Twin beds that convert to king
• Large closets
• Balcony with lounge chair, patio chair and table.

Floor plans may not represent actual stateroom. Click to zoom.

Deck location

Important Info

Carnival spirit vista suite cabin 6329 pictures.

These are some actual stateroom pictures of cabin 6329 on the Carnival Spirit. Click on images below for larger image and slide show. The slide show will show the date the picture was uploaded to out website. This date is useful because Carnival Spirit typically will update its cabins every three to five years with new carpeting and decor. We will keep older pictures for you to compare the more recent photos to. The pictures are sorted by the newest ones first. Most of our cabin pictures are contributed by actual cruisers. We pay 50 cents for any that we use. You can upload your cabin photos HERE . Afer you are done looking at these photos and/or the videos below you can click here to select another cabin .

Carnival Spirit Vista Suite 6329 cabin videos

Scroll over cabin (stateroom) tiles below to click and watch actual stateroom videos of Carnival Spirit cabin 6329. You can choose to watch the videos right on this page, or click to watch them on YouTube (will open in new window). When you are done viewing these videos and/or the cabin pictures above, you can click here to select another cabin. The date shown below is the date video was published. Use this to see decor changes. Keep in mind that stateroom cabins are typically updated once every three to five years. To save you time, Cruisedeckplans.com will spend hours every week finding more actual stateroom videos on YouTube.

Additional videos below:

Looking for other vista suite cabins with pics/videos, looking for other cabins with pics/videos on empress (deck), other stateroom cabin categories on carnival spirit.

These are all the stateroom cabin categories Carnival Spirit. You can click on a stateroom category below to go to that page. Categories are simply the way that Carnival groups the different types of staterooms (cabins). You can see details and floor plans for all of the categories on Carnival Spirit on this page.

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