Cruise Spotlight
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Carnival Freedom vs Celebrity Infinity
The Carnival Freedom was built in 2007. It was renovated in 2023. It's 6 years newer than the Infinity, which was built in 2001 and renovated in 2024.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Freedom is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 952 feet long and 116 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 2.2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the Celebrity Infinity, the Freedom is 21% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Carnival Freedom holds 37% more passengers than the Infinity based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Freedom has less space per person compared to the Infinity.
| Carnival Freedom | Celebrity Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Conquest | Millennium |
| Gross Tonnage | 110,000 | 90,940 |
| Length | 952 | 964 |
| Beam/Width | 116 | 105 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 11 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,980 | 2,170 |
| Crew | 1,150 | 1,024 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 37 | 42 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Freedom has 18 different dining options like Pizza Pirate, Guy's Burger Joint, and The Chef's Table. Of those options, 13 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 5 options have an additional fee.
The Infinity has 5 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Spa Cafe, Sushi on Five, and Tuscan Grille. 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 5 have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Freedom might be a better choice. It has 38% more dining options than the Infinity.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Freedom might be a better choice then the Infinity. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Carnival Freedom | Celebrity Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 18 | 13 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 13 | 8 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 5 |
| % of Included Options | 72% | 62% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Freedom serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Infinity serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Freedom and the Infinity below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Carnival Freedom has a total of 2 pools and 4 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
Celebrity Infinity has more pools than the Freedom and more hot tubs.
| Carnival Freedom | Celebrity Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 2 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 1 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 4 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Freedom, 73% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Infinity, only 50% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Carnival Freedom | Celebrity Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outdoor movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Carnival is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Celebrity, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Carnival Freedom | Celebrity Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.00 | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.75 See drink menus | $8.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $59.95 - $69.95 Learn more | $60 - $125 |
| Internet Plan | $15.30 to $21.25 per device per day | $20 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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