When I registered for a Cruise Planners seminar at sea with Carnival Cruise Line, I knew I would be on one of their newest ships, Carnival Celebration. What I didn’t realize was how massive it would be. After the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas cruise RAS and I took in February, I didn’t really want to go on another mega-ship like that one. Celebration holds about 6,000 guests at full capacity, but as I discovered, our sailing was under that at around 5,500 or so.
The good news is that I didn’t feel there were many people on board. Carnival’s ship designers have done an excellent job in having several thousand people in a contained space, like they’re on top of one another. About the only time I felt the ship felt crowded was during programs in the atrium-like theater, Celebration Central, and in the main Lido deck pool; it didn’t otherwise. The vessel is so named because it’s a tribute to Carnival’s original sailings from Miami, celebrating its 50th year in 2022.
Having said all this, I probably won’t want to cruise on a large ship like this one anytime soon. It’s just a matter of personal preference, not because I think they’re a less-than-ideal way for me to travel. Since I’ve been on all the premium cruise lines (Celebrity, Princess, Holland America and Virgin Voyages), I’ve realized I’d rather sail with them, if I choose to cruise at all. However, since I enjoyed my time on Celebration, I’ll share my experience here. I’ll leave my thoughts about the food and drink onboard for next week.
Staterooms
Celebration offers the usual options for staterooms: interior, ocean view, balcony, and suites. We didn’t get to tour those cabins as I have on other cruise lines’ advisor trainings, likely because they were occupied. But as far as themed rooms go, you can stay in the tropical-themed Havana, the soothing spa-centric Cloud 9 or the boldly colored Family Harbor, which comes with its own lounge. The Excel suites are designed explicitly for ships in Celebration’s class and are spacious, offering priority embarkation/disembarkation, concierge service, and a private outdoor deck, Loft 19.
My balcony room was just right for me, with ample space in both the sleeping and living areas, and plenty of storage space for my clothing. A couch converted into a single bed, which essentially made my stateroom a triple. The bathroom was a bit small, but since it was only for me, I didn’t mind. The shower flow and water heat worked well, although I did have to watch out for scalding temperatures. Perhaps the only complaint I had was the limited international news coverage in the TV programming. But I’m not really supposed to be watching TV on a cruise anyway. It was fun to come back each day and see what towel animal would be waiting for me on my bed.
Entertainment
Probably because I was trying to watch sports (three football games and a handful of baseball games), I must admit that I didn’t go to many shows or events on Celebration. The venue for the football games, Summer Landing, was also home to Guy Fieri’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse and the Heroes' Lounge, a military-themed seating area. But I did enjoy a circus musical program and “Deal or No Deal” in Celebration Central, watching both from the skybridge. Others could sit at one of three other levels in an atrium-like setting, which made this venue unique. There was also a "Family Feud" show, but I didn't see that.
According to the other seminar attendees, there were other great entertainment options available on Celebration. In the more traditional Grand Spectrum Theater, several musical productions were available in the evenings. Still, I only managed to watch the last 15 minutes of one called “Amor Cubano,” which featured energetic Latin dancing. I also heard some salsa in the Havana Bar, which almost made me want to dance. We also attended a moving tribute to veterans, which is something Carnival does on every sailing. The comedy club had a rotating schedule of three comedians, and nearly a dozen venues showcased different music styles at all hours of the day.
Facilities
As I said before, Celebration is a massive ship, nearly as behemoth as Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class vessels. Yet, it doesn’t feel like you’re in a small city. The layout and spaces efficiently spread guests out. With six “zones,” everyone can find a place on board. Besides the theater, Celebration Central has several bars, two Japanese restaurants (Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki), a coffee bar and a comedy club. The Gateway features a multimedia LED show showcasing international destinations, additional bars, and Emeril Lagasse’s bistro, 1397. I mentioned Summer Landing before, but it also has an aft pool that’s just outside the Smokehouse.
820 Biscayne pays tribute to Carnival’s Miami roots and the address of its first headquarters. Besides a bar where I had the best cocktail (more about that next week), it’s home to a pizza stand, a deli and two of the ship’s specialty restaurants, Cucina del Capitano and Rudi’s Seagrill. The fifth zone, Lido, is probably the busiest, with the ship’s main pool, a two-deck bar and three quick-service eateries (Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina). Finally, there’s the Ultimate Playground, meant for kids of all ages. Here you’ll find the Bolt rollercoaster (really), mini golf, a ropes course, a waterpark and a sports court. The only thing I appreciated here was the running track, as well as the well-equipped fitness center, which was part of the spa.
