While the move could be good news for North American cruisers, it also raises some questions about Carnival’s commitment to Australia and whether this announcement is really about something more.

Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure Leaving Australia in March 2028

In February, the cruise line announced that Carnival Adventure would switch to seasonal sailings in Australia, spending the Northern Hemisphere summer sailing in North America. Carnival has already announced that the ship will offer 18 seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle between May and September 2028, along with two longer Carnival Journeys sailings.

But in a press release this week, Carnival announced that in March 2028, Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will leave Australia with no plans to return. Carnival Luminosa will make its final Australian departure from Sydney on March 15, 2028, followed by Carnival Adventure on March 20.

Carnival Luminosa already splits its time between Australia and North America, but Carnival hasn’t announced where the ship will sail after leaving Australia in March 2028.

That means Carnival will go from four ships sailing in the Australian market to just two. Carnival Splendor will continue sailing year-round from Sydney, while Carnival Encounter will remain in Brisbane.

Two Ships With Non-Carnival Backgrounds

Both ships have complicated histories. Neither was originally built for Carnival Cruise Line or the North American market, meaning they have some significant differences from the rest of the Carnival fleet.

Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Luminosa transferred from sister cruise line Costa Cruises in 2022. The ship originally debuted in 2009 and is based on a design very similar to Carnival’s Spirit-class ships, including Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride, Carnival Spirit, and Carnival Legend.

Before joining Carnival’s fleet, it underwent a dry dock to bring it more in line with the rest of the ships. Carnival added several signature venues, including Cloud 9 Spa, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Alchemy Bar, Pizzeria del Capitano, RedFrog Rum Bar, and an adults-only Serenity area.

But Carnival also skipped a few upgrades.

The ship lacks Carnival’s signature whale-tail funnel, though the existing funnel is painted red. It also doesn’t have Guy’s Burger Joint, the popular included fast-casual restaurant found on almost every other Carnival ship. It’s also missing BlueIguana Cantina, mini-golf, and waterslides, features you’ll find on most other Carnival ships.

For guests used to the traditional Carnival experience, these missing features can make the ship feel a little different from the rest of the fleet.

Carnival Adventure

Carnival Adventure has an even more complicated history.

The ship originally debuted as Golden Princess for Princess Cruises in 2001 before being transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in 2020, where it was renamed Pacific Adventure.

When Carnival Corporation shut down P&O Cruises Australia, it transferred the ship to Carnival Cruise Line in March 2025 and renamed it Carnival Adventure.

Unlike Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Adventure didn’t receive nearly as many upgrades to bring it in line with the rest of Carnival’s fleet.

Besides the fact that it doesn’t have Carnival’s signature red funnel or even share the same hull color scheme as the rest of the fleet, it’s also missing several traditional Carnival staples.

That includes:

• Guy’s Burger Joint
• BlueIguana Cantina
• Alchemy Bar
• All-day included pizza
• Complimentary soft-serve ice cream

While most Carnival ships offer complimentary pizza until late at night and free soft-serve ice cream throughout the day, Carnival Adventure only offers included pizza between 11 AM and 4 PM. After that, it costs extra. Ice cream is available at New Zealand Natural, but it costs extra.

Carnival has made some improvements, though. Earlier this year, it announced the addition of Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi Express, bringing two more signature Carnival dining experiences to the ship.

The ship is also scheduled for a dry dock in 2027, but Carnival hasn’t announced whether it will receive additional upgrades specifically for its move to North America. It could be an issue. Carnival guests in North America are used to having certain restaurants, venues, and amenities included in their cruise fare, and Carnival Adventure doesn’t currently offer all of them.

Our Take: Carnival Is Putting Political Pressure on the Australian Government

Carnival is currently the only major cruise line with ships sailing year-round from Australia. And while its press release boasts about having a “larger and more direct commitment to the local market” than other cruise lines, shutting down the country’s dedicated P&O brand and then removing two ships just a few years later seems to run counter to that.

To be fair, the Australian market has been challenging for cruise lines. One of the biggest problems is the cost of operating there. Port fees, provisioning, fuel, and other expenses can be higher than in other markets.

There’s also considerable uncertainty around the country’s regulations. For years, the Australian Federal Government has allowed cruise ships to sail between Australian ports under temporary exemptions from the Coastal Trading Act.

On October 2, the government extended that exemption through December 31, 2028, but also added new labor protections that will take effect in 2027, including protections for workers’ collective bargaining rights.

Carnival has also been making headlines over allegations about working conditions onboard its ships, although inspections by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority found no deficiencies. The authority has continued reviewing the broader complaint.

From a business perspective, moving these ships out of Australia could make sense. Carnival has already pointed to more favorable market conditions elsewhere, and North American itineraries may offer opportunities for higher revenue.

But the whole press release reads much more like a political move than a typical announcement about ship deployments.

Cruise lines usually announce deployment changes alongside new itineraries, homeports, and sailings they want to sell. This announcement doesn’t provide any new sailing details for either ship, even though Carnival Adventure’s previously announced Alaska cruises are already on sale.

Instead, much of the release focuses on the Australian government and the regulatory environment.

Carnival specifically talks about the need for “long-term certainty” and “globally competitive operating conditions.” Carnival Cruise Line Country Manager Peter Little also calls the government’s recent extension an “interim step.”

That’s a lot of discussion about government regulations for a press release that’s supposedly about moving two cruise ships.

The timing is also interesting. Just 13 days after the Australian government announced its extension and new labor protections, Carnival announced that it was permanently removing two ships from the market.

To me, this looks like Carnival using its ships as leverage to influence government policy. The financial considerations are probably real, and these ships may ultimately be more profitable elsewhere. But announcing their permanent departure this far in advance, without any significant new itinerary details, feels like a calculated move to put pressure on the Australian government.

Whether that pressure works remains to be seen.

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Take a look at the different parties below and how they work. 

What is a Carnival theme party?

Several nights on a Carnival cruise, they host a party with a specific theme. The parties usually take place on the main Lido pool deck or in the ship’s Atrium area. Guests are encouraged to dress to fit the theme, but it’s not required. Unfortunately, Carnival only schedules 30 minutes for most of these events, which seems way too short for an event you go out of your way to dress up for. 

What types of theme parties are there?

There’s a variety of parties, here are some of the more popular ones.

White Hot Night Party

This is the easiest party to dress for; just wear white. The more, the better. White hats, glasses, watches, accessories, go all out. Most ships with a white party are equipped with black lights to make you pop. It’s an amazing experience to see a room full of people in glowing white dancing away. 

Mega Deck Party

This “mega” party will usually take place on the deck by the main pool if the weather allows. The music will be pumping, and Carnival’s fun squad will keep the energy up. There will be limbos, choreographed dances, and more. Carnival recommends wearing red or blue to this party, but we rarely see people dress up in theme for this one. 

80’s Rock & Glow

Get ready for lots of neon, leg warmers, and high hair. The 80’s Rock and Glow party celebrates everything 80’s. Usually taking place on the Lido Deck, the party features all your favorite music from the 80’s. It seems like one of the better attended and dressed for events on the cruise ship. 

Decades Theme Parties

Some ships will also have a theme party dedicated to a specific decade. Typically, in our experience, fewer people dress for these events, but they usually have a great turnout. 

Silent Night Disco

In a silent disco, you get a set of headphones to listen to the music. There’s a button to change between two different live streams of music on the headsets. That means you can be dancing next to someone who’s listening to a completely different song. If you really want to have fun, go without headphones and enjoy the surreal experience of seeing people dancing in a completely silent room. Well, not completely silent; you’ll have people singing along to the different tracks at the same time, which adds to the experience.  

What Theme Parties Are on Your Carnival Cruise?

John Heald provided the updated list below in November 2025. Keep in mind that these parties can change due to weather, cruise director changes, or itinerary adjustments. Carnival usually sends an email a few weeks before your cruise outlining the parties, so you can plan ahead. It’s still frustrating that Carnival doesn’t include this information in their online cruise planner, but at least you can reference the list here.

Carnival Adventure

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• 90’s Theme Party
• Decades Party
• Abba Party
• Island Party

Carnival Breeze

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• Silent Party
• Motown
• Lonestar
• Country
• Silent Party (5-day voyages only)

Carnival Celebration

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• EVOLUTION

Carnival Conquest

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Dream

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Lonestar (Texas)

Carnival Elation

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party
• Silent Party (5-day only)

Carnival Encounter

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• 90’s Theme Party
• Farewell
• Decades Party
• Island Party
• White Hot
• Silent Party (voyages longer than 4 days)

Carnival Firenze

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• Motown / Silent / White Hot (only on 5-day voyages)

Carnival Freedom

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party
• Motown & Silent Party (5-day only)

Carnival Glory

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Horizon

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Silent Party (8-day only)

Carnival Jubilee

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party

Carnival Legend

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Motown
• Motown (4-day cruise)

Carnival Liberty

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Luminosa

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Silent White Hot (7-day+ voyages only)
• Abba Party
• Backyard Bash
• Island Party
• Superhero Party

Carnival Magic

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Mardi Gras

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Miracle

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown

Carnival Panorama

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown

Carnival Paradise

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party
• White Night (6-day only)

Carnival Pride

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Radiance

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• Silent Party
• Motown

Carnival Sunrise

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party
• Farewell
• Additional: 90’s Theme Party (listed in Other)

Carnival Spirit

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Motown
• Silent Party (8-day only)

Carnival Splendor

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• Island Night Party (8-day+)
• Abba Party (8-day+)
• Superhero Party (8-day+)

Carnival Sunshine

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party
• Silent Party (8-day only)

Carnival Valor

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• 90’s Theme Party

Carnival Venezia

• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown
• 90’s Theme Party
• Festa Italiana

Carnival Vista

• 90’s Theme Party
• 80’s Rock N Glow
• White Hot Party
• Silent Party
• Motown

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What’s in the Carnival Brand?

If you ask any former Carnival cruiser to describe a ship, the first thing likely to come to mind is the signature red funnel, or whale tail. Since the Carnival Tropicale debuted in 1982, almost every ship has had this unique funnel that makes the vessels stand out from the pack, but there’s so much more to the brand than that.

In 2011, Carnival announced their Fun 2.0 upgrades, investing $500 million to bring the same basic amenities to all ships in the fleet. As part of this, nearly every Carnival ship received the very popular Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, the Alchemy Bar, a Serenity Adult-Only area, and a Splash Park. Most of these additions are very popular with guests and synonymous with the Carnival name.

Also, over the years, they’ve tried to standardize their restaurant names. In the past, each ship had unique restaurants like Nick and Nora’s, Michelangelo’s, etc. While they had similar menus, the décor and theming were completely different. For newer ships and renovations, Carnival moved towards standardized restaurants like Fahrenheit 555 and Cucina del Capitano. That way, guests knew what to expect when sailing other ships in the fleet.

Acquisitions from Sister Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Line is part of Carnival Corporation, which has nine different cruise lines across the globe. As some of the other lines have struggled since the pandemic, the parent company shifted vessels between brands. This reshuffling has led to some puzzling decisions as the company seemed to be skipping some of the expenses required to bring the full Carnival brand experience to the ships.

Carnival Luminosa

In 2022, Carnival announced they’d acquire the Costa Luminosa, a medium-sized, Spirit-Class ship. They planned to bring this ship to the West Coast of the U.S. for Alaskan sailings in the summer and then to Australia for winter sailings.

When Carnival revealed the renovation plans for this 13-year-old ship, many guests were a bit underwhelmed. The first, most obvious issue was that the ship wouldn’t get the Carnival funnel. Instead, they opted for a red, white, and blue paint job. While the lack of the funnel upgrade was in itself inoffensive, it represented some other issues.

The Luminosa wouldn’t be getting Guy’s Burger Joint, arguably one of the best burgers at sea and almost a signature Carnival experience. The ship wouldn’t get a waterslide or a mini-golf course, two other staples for the cruise line.

Thankfully, they added some venues guests have come to expect, like Piano Bar 88, Alchemy Bar, the Serenity Adult-Only area, RedFrog Rum Bar, and Pizzeria del Capitano.

Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze

The next two ships to join the fleet were the Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze. These two ships were relatively new, debuting in the China market in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic, the China cruise market softened and still hasn’t fully recovered. Costa decided to pull out of that market. With cruise demand high in the U.S., Carnival Corporation moved the two ships to Carnival.

At first, press releases made it seem temporary, with the ships being branded as “Costa by Carnival.” Over time, it became increasingly clear the ships were likely staying with Carnival, with their names officially changing to Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze.

While technically Vista-Class ships, and in theory similar to Carnival’s Vista, Horizon, and Panorama ships, these two were unlike anything in the Carnival fleet. They were themed after Italian cities—Florence and Venice—in an old-school Las Vegas style with over-the-top design. Built for the Chinese market, they had expanded casinos and shopping but much smaller pool decks.

Carnival later switched the branding of these Italian ships to “Carnival Fun Italian Style.” Like the Luminosa, the ships wouldn’t be getting a red funnel. However, in this case, they didn’t even repaint them, retaining Costa’s colors and smokestack—an odd decision given Costa’s low brand recognition in the U.S. (likely best known by most Americans for the Costa Concordia’s capsizing in 2012).

The ships forgo many of Carnival’s standards in favor of “Italian-style” versions, although it’s unclear whether it’s for cost-cutting or branding purposes. For example, you won’t find Alchemy Bar on these ships. Instead, it’s the Amari Bar which has a a few Alchemy cocktails. Carnival’s signature Italian restaurant, Cucina del Capitano, apparently wasn’t Italian enough. Instead, these ships feature a new, pricier concept, Il Viaggio. Thankfully, Guy’s Burger Joint makes an appearance, adding an Italian-inspired option featuring mozzarella. Other popular venues missing in favor of Italian options include RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Cantina, and the Carnival Deli.

Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure

The most recent change, happening in March 2025, involves Carnival adding two new ships to their fleet solely for the Australian market. This change comes as P&O Cruises Australia is shuttered, and these two former Princess ships will transition to Carnival.

With this addition, Carnival will have four different “Carnival” ships sailing out of Australia. From what has been released, there will be a markedly different experience between the ships.

• Want late-night pizza? That’ll cost you. Pizza is only included between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Craving cold soft-serve ice cream by the pool? These two ships won’t have Swirls soft-serve machines. Instead, you’ll need to pay for New Zealand Natural Ice Cream.
• Ready to brave the ropes course? That’ll cost you—unlike any other ship in the Carnival fleet.
• Fancy a delicious burger? You won’t find Guy’s Burger Joint here. Instead, Luke’s Bar & Grill and Luke’s Burgers come at an extra fee.

Carnival is adding some familiar features to these ships, including the Fun Squad, parties, and childcare for children under two (for an additional fee).

If you’re sailing on the Carnival Splendor or Luminosa, you’ll have quite a different experience compared to these two ships.

Are These New Ships Hurting Carnival?

Only Carnival truly knows if these new ships are hurting their brand image. However, reviews on Cruise Critic and TripAdvisor suggest that might be the case.

For example, on TripAdvisor, Carnival Horizon has a 3.5-star score; the Carnival Venezia, a very similar ship, has only 2.6 stars. On Cruise Critic, the Luminosa has Carnival’s lowest score at just 2.5 stars. One review stated, “This was our 4th Carnival cruise. It was very disappointing. Was this ship just having issues or is this how it is now??”

Carnival spent millions over the years, standardizing their offering and presenting a unified experience to guests. But corporate restructuring seems to be undoing that. Carnival’s Fun Squad and theme parties can only get them so far. It begs the question, what do guests really feel makes the Carnival experience.

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What Dive-in Movies Are Playing on Carnival?

The following movies will be showing on Carnival cruise ships for October 2026.

• Backrooms
• Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
• Disclosure Day
• Hocus Pocus 2
• Hoppers
• McFarland USA
• Michael
• Minions and Monsters
• Project Hail Mary
• Star Wars: Mandalorian & Grogu
• Super Girl
• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
• Toy Story 5

What movies will be showing during your sailing? Typically the movies being shown are ones that come out on-demand or on DVD that month. They’re relatively new at-home releases but are out of theaters.

How Much Do Carnival’s Dive-in Movies Cost?

Dive-in Movies are included in the cruise fare, so there’s no additional fee. Some ships will have popcorn available for purchase at $4 per box.

When Do the Movies Play?

The daily Fun Times schedule will list the movie times for each day. Typically, the first movies starts around 7 pm. A second movie usually shows between 9 pm and 10 pm. Some sea days, there might be a 4:30 pm matinee and other days there might be a midnight showing. R-rated features usually play at the later times.

Where Do the Dive-in Movies Show?

The movies take place at the Carnival Seaside Theater, which is at the main lido pool area on the cruise ship. You can’t miss it, it’s the area with the big screen where all the main activities and events occur during the day. 

How Are the Dive-in Movies Different From the Imax Movies?

Two Carnival ships, the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, also have an IMAX theater onboard. These venues show new movie releases that are currently playing in theaters onshore. It’s set up like a traditional movie theater with stadium seating and concessions. There is an additional fee for these movies. 

Which Carnival Ships Have Dive-in Movies?

• Carnival Adventure
• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Encounter
• Carnival Festivale
• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Tropicale
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Vista

You can also find pool-side movies on some Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Disney cruise ships. 

I’m going to take you through what I think you should know about Alaskan cruises based on my cruise on Ovation of the Seas. 

1) An Alaskan cruise is nothing like a Caribbean cruise

If you’ve sailed in the Caribbean before, you have certain expectations of a cruise: drinks with umbrellas by the pool, deck parties under the stars, etc. An Alaskan cruise is a noticeably different experience. It feels more like an adventure cruise than a relaxing cruise. 

Most Alaskan itineraries feature much longer times in port than you’d see on a traditional Caribbean cruise. Time ashore can easily be 10 to 12 hours. Also, during the cruise season in Alaska, the days are long, with the sun still hanging high in the sky until 10 PM. For those who have cruised before, it’ll be noticeably different. 

It also means that an Alaskan cruise might be great for people who would traditionally not enjoy a Caribbean cruise. I have friends to who I’d never recommend a warm-weather cruise, but I know they’d love an Alaskan cruise. Most ports are only accessible via cruise ship, and it’s the perfect way to see it. There’s also an excellent opportunity for adventure. 

2) Alaska is not just for senior citizens

There seems to be this perception that Alaska cruises are just for older adults who aren’t active or fun. That’s far from the truth. While the demographics will vary depending on your cruise line, ship, and the dates you sail, Alaska cruises are surprisingly well-rounded. In fact, on my sailing, it felt very similar to the demographics of a Caribbean cruise. 

Of course, that will depend on the cruise line you select. Holland America and Princess will skew to older demographics, while Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean will be more well-rounded with people of all ages. 

You can also scale the cruise to what you want to do. For example, you can make the cruise a beautiful, relaxed vacation where you enjoy the scenery and eat delicious local foods or go on thrilling adventures. The options are there; you decide. 

3) The ship matters

In the past, most cruise lines put their oldest and smallest ships in Alaska as it wasn’t the most popular of sailings. Recently though, interest in Alaska cruises has been building, and cruise lines have started putting their newer and more innovative ships here. That means you have more choices and it will drastically affect your experience. 

Because the weather in Alaska can be unpredictable, you’ll want a ship with lots of indoor spaces to keep you entertained if the top decks are inaccessible because of cold or rain.

At the same time, think about how you like to vacation. Do you want to sit and read a book, or do you want to take cooking classes, SkyDive, or go to the casino? Will you be traveling with a family? It’s important to remember not every ship is the same, and each one will cater to a slightly different demographic. 

Ships sailing to Alaska in 2024

Disney

• Disney Wonder

4) Decide what’s important to YOU for your Alaskan cruise

Reading through all the articles about Alaska cruises, you’ll see lots of tips and advice. Just remember to take it all with a grain of salt. I read so many messages saying, “You MUST book a cruise that goes to Glacier Bay.” Except when I was cruising, the only line that went to Glacier Bay was Holland America. Personally, I would have been bored out of my mind on that ship. I want things to do while on the sailing. The ship I ultimately chose, the Ovation of the Seas, had indoor sky diving, indoor pools, a climbing wall, and more. It kept me busy and was much more important to me than seeing Glacier Bay. But that could be important to you. 

Which cruise lines visit which Alaskan Ports?

 In the same vein, people say you NEED a balcony cabin. Yes, balcony cabins are nice, and if there were a cruise that you really wanted a balcony cabin for, an Alaskan cruise would be it. But they are considerably more expensive. Not everyone had to budget to afford a balcony cabin. If I had to choose between not going to Alaska because I couldn’t afford a balcony room or going in an interior cabin, I’d take an interior cabin. 

Again, take a look at your ship when deciding, though. The Ovation of the Seas had so many spaces that overlooked the Ocean, like the Solarium and Two70 lounge, it didn’t matter if you didn’t have easy balcony access. I got great views from everywhere on board. On some other ships, you might feel like you’re missing out if you had an interior cabin. 

5) Alaska excursions are going to be pricey

Alaska cruises are generally more pricey than their Caribbean counterparts, but most people don’t realize Alaska excursions are quite a bit more expensive as well. You can easily expect to pay $100 – $300 per excursion. Most of these excursions are relatively unique, though. You can hike on a glacier, white water raft down a river, zip line through a rainforest, and do other things you can’t do anywhere else. 

That being said, you don’t HAVE to spend that much money. Many of the ports visited in Alaska are easily accessible from the ship for little or no money. You can get off, walk around the little towns, and explore on your own; frequent the local restaurants, check out museums, or even rent a car. 

The high cost isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but you should be aware when budgeting for your vacation. For example, on my May 2022 cruise, excursions accounted for 20% of the entire cost of the trip. It was the third most expensive part of the trip, behind the cruise fare itself and the airfare. 

6) You’re going to overpack

One of the top questions you see when looking up Alaska cruises is what to wear. Unfortunately, it’s so hard to decide what to bring because it can be cold and rainy or 80 degrees and sunny, and the weather is hard to predict. 

On my cruise, I brought way too many winter clothes. Most of the days on my late-May cruise, it was 75 degrees and sunny. I was okay with a short sleeve shirt and a hoodie for most day activities. At night, the ship was warm, and I usually wore a polo. I ended up with a bunch of sweaters and long-sleeve shirts I never wore once. 

Everyone who’s done an Alaska cruise says it, but it’s true, bring layers. Don’t bring a super heavy sweater; bring a shirt and light jacket to put on or take off layers as needed. Also, bring a cheap, lightweight backpack on excursions to hold your layers when you’re not using them. 

7) The Alaskan views will be absolutely amazing

It’s honestly hard to describe the beauty you’ll see on an Alaskan cruise. Believe me; I’ve tried. Have you ever had a moment where you see something so picturesque and beautiful that you’re almost frozen as your brain tries to process it? When you’re just standing in awe with your mouth open? Expect a lot of that in Alaska. 

Whether it was the views from the ship sailing the inside passage, the majestic mountains in Juneau, or the quaint towns of Sitka and Skagway, there were so many times I felt like I was in a movie. In all my cruises, I hadn’t experienced anything like it before. 

You also get the opportunity to get to see lots of wildlife you haven’t seen before. Even though it’s our national bird, I’ve never had a chance to see a Bald Eagle, and in Alaska, they were all over the place. Watching them soar through the skies or casually perch on top of a totem pole was amazing. I also saw humpback whales, bears, seals, and otters. So much wildlife. The one thing you won’t see? Moose. While the moose is the State animal of Alaska, they’re much more common in the interior of the state than the coastal areas you’ll visit on a cruise. 

8) Book your Alaska Cruise and activities early

Unlike Caribbean cruises that sail year-round and have many ships, Alaska itineraries are much more limited. Only a handful of ships sail in Alaskan waters and only from May to September. That means space is limited on many sailings. For the best price and cabin availability, book as far out as possible. I booked my cruise 18 months before we sailed. If you’re uncertain if something will come up in that time, look for a refundable fare. 

Excursions also sell out fairly early, so book as early as possible, just like the cruise itself. It’s especially true if a specific excursion is a “must-do” for you; many people wait too long to book these adventures and miss out. 

Learn from other’s experiences

Alaska was amazing, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who likes nature or adventure. While brochures and fancy websites with pictures from nature photographers are great, the best thing is getting first-hand experience from someone who’s been. 

You can follow along on my 7-day cruise below to see what I did in each port and onboard the ship. 

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 1 – Seattle

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 2 – Sea Day

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 3 – Juneau

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 4 – Skagway

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 5 – Sitka

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 6 – Sea Day

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 7 – Victoria

Ovation of the Seas – Cruise Blog - Day 8 – Debarking in Seattle

6 Hits & Misses of Ovation of the Seas

You can also see how I decided on that sailing.

In the article below, I take you through all the different considerations I had to make when narrowing down my choice for the cruise. It’ll help you think through what’s important to you for your cruise. 

The Luminosa has a similar structure to Carnival’s Spirit-class ships. It even has a similar look since it was designed by Carnival designer Joe Farcus whose avant-garde (and sometimes gaudy designs) are still found on many of Carnival’s older ships. But because it was designed for a different cruise line, it’ll feel different from anything else sailing under the Carnival brand. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up to you. 

Signature features added to Carnival Luminosa

Cloud 9 Spa

The spa on the Luminosa will be rebranded to Carnival’s “Cloud 9 Spa.” The spa has thermal suites, a hydrotherapy pool, and a relaxation room. Carnival has also added interior and balcony Cloud 9 Staterooms, which come with upgraded amenities and access to the thermal suite. 

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse

Carnival’s signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555, has been added to the Luminosa. Similar to other Spirit-class ships, it’s located on the top deck. Those ships all have a red glass funnel above the steakhouse to provide lots of light (and an odd red light during the day). Since the Luminosa doesn’t have the funnel, you still get the natural light without the red hue. 

Alchemy Bar

The Alchemy Bar is Carnival’s version of a martini bar. Here, mixologists will make custom-crafted cocktails for guests. It has some of the highest-end drinks on a Carnival ship and is a favorite with many guests. Luckily, Carnival will add this bar to the Carnival Luminosa, so you can stop by and get a Cucumber Sunrise or Chipotle Pineapple Martini. 

Pizzeria del Capitano

The Luminosa will have Carnival’s signature pizza place, Pizzeria del Capitano. The venue, which used to be 24 hours, is still open late into the night for snacking options. The pizza quality differs greatly depending on the Carnival ship (some use brick ovens, others just have conveyor belt systems), so you’ll have to try the pizza here for yourself to see how good it is. 

Red Frog Rum Bar 

The Red Frog Rum Bar is found by the Lido Pool on most Carnival ships. It shouldn’t be confused with Red Frog Tiki Bar, Red Frog Pub, or Red Frog Brewery (come on Carnival, you really have to work on your naming). It’ll have tons of tropical-themed frozen and mixed drinks to grab while you’re relaxing by the pool. It has prime real estate on the Luminosa right by the covered pool, making it great to Alaskan cruises.  

Serenity Area

The Serenity Area is an adult’s only space on a Carnival ship. It can provide a much-needed reprieve from the energy and children found elsewhere on the ship. Thankfully, it’s been added to the Carnival Luminosa. Like the other Spirit-class ships, it’ll have one of the better implementations of the area. It’s on the back of the ship with both a pool and hot tubs. 

Limelight Lounge

A Limelight Lounge has also been added to the Luminosa. That’s the venue where Carnival’s popular comedians typically perform. If it’s like almost every other Carnival ship, it’s probably going to be too small (the shows are almost always completely full), but at least it provides a more intimate feeling than the main theater. 

Piano Bar 88

The Piano Bar on a Carnival cruise ship is one of the most happening venues after dinner. The bar is often standing room only and will be hopping until past midnight most nights. Looking at the deck plans, it seems like the Piano Bar here is pretty small so show up early to get a seat.

Whale Tale Funnel

The first thing you’ll notice that’s missing from the Carnival Luminosa is the signature red funnel (affectionately referred to as a “whale tale” by Carnival fans). They repainted the old yellow funnel to Carnival red, but it has the same shape as before. The marketing folks at Carnival were working hard to spin this positively by saying they “are keeping her throwback funnel design that once adorned some of our most iconic earlier vessels.” It sounds much better than saying, “we don’t have the time or money to put a whale tale on it.” 

Thankfully, they decided to update the ship with Carnival’s new red, white, and blue livery design. This change was missing in the early renders but adding the new livery design really helps the ship fit in better with the fleet. 

Guy’s Burger Joint 

Guy’s Burger Joint is a signature venue that Carnival first added to the Carnival Liberty in 2011. Since then, the popular burger restaurant has popped up on almost every Carnival ship. Created in partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Guy’s Burger Joint serves some of the best burgers at sea. 

Usually, this restaurant is found by the Lido Pool on a Carnival ship, but it’s notably absent on the Luminosa. It looks like it’ll still have a grill that serves burgers, but you won’t be able to get a burger like “The Ringer” or “Chilius Maximus” on the Luminosa. 

Blue Iguana Cantina

When Carnival added Guy’s Burgers to their ships, they also added Blue Iguana Cantina. It’s a fast-casual Mexican restaurant, similar in feeling to Chipotle. It serves excellent burritos and tacos. Unfortunately, it won’t be on the Luminosa. 

Mini-golf

Mini-golf on a cruise ship is almost a given. For a cruise line that focuses on “family fun,” it’s a great activity for kids and families to do together. But unfortunately, there is no mini-golf on the Luminosa. Instead, they have a putting green. 

Waterslides

Carnival was the first cruise line to debut a waterslide on their ship when the Festivale first set sail. Since then, most Carnival ships have sported a water slide. There are tons of versions: standard twister slides, tube slides, and slides with drop floors, depending on the ship. You won’t find any on the Luminosa, though. When the ship is sailing in the US, it’ll be leaving from Seattle to do Alaska Cruises, so a waterslide is not as important, but kids could miss it on the Australian cruises. 

Carnival Luminosa Deck Plans

Here are the deck plans so you can see how it differs from the Carnival ships you may be familiar with.

Is Carnival Luminosa right for you?

If you’ve never sailed a Carnival ship before, the Carnival Luminosa will probably have most of what you need. It has a few restaurants, bars, music, shopping, and a covered pool; you’ll be all set. 

If you’re used to a Carnival ship, though, you might be sorely disappointed. This ship is missing several key features that are typical on a Carnival cruise. 

Carnival seems to be taking a huge gamble here. In their marketing, they’re stressing that the ship will have Carnivals staff. They say “We’ll be adding some Carnival features in the upcoming dry dock and adapting some existing features to align with Carnival’s casual style, but ultimately, our crew will make everyone feel right at home as soon as they join the ship.” While Carnival has some amazing staff, after months of reported staff shortages and service cuts, it seems silly of them to lean on that. 

Eventually, the Luminosa should go through a more thorough dry dock and get many more of the Carnival features. Until then, do your research before booking this ship. There are some fantastic itineraries on this ship, and if the missing venues aren’t a deal breaker for you, it’s worth checking out.

What’s odd about the most recent announcement is that they said this is part of a new concept, “Costa by Carnival.” What does that mean? It’s not clear. In a press release, Carnival President Christine Duffy said, “Carnival will operate the ships, which will marry the great service, food and entertainment that Carnival’s guests enjoy with Costa’s Italian design features.” 

What does it sound like as a standard cruiser? It sounds like Carnival Corporation couldn’t fill the Costa ships for Italian cruisers, so they’re bringing them over to the US and are too cheap to fully rebrand them. It also sounds like they don’t want to commit to leaving them here in the US. 

About the Costa Luminosa

The Luminosa was built in 2009 using many characteristics from Carnival Spirit-class ships already sailing with Carnival; the Spirit, Pride, Legend, and Miracle. These mid-size ships have sailed with Carnival for years and often provide cruises to ports that can’t handle today’s larger ships. The Luminosa is about 5% larger than those ships and holds up to 2,826 guests. That means it’ll continue the Spirit-class’s tradition of having the best space-to-passenger ratio in the fleet. However, this ship lacks many of the staple activities of a Carnival ship like splash park, mini-golf, and water slides. This ship will be renamed Carnival Luminosa. It hasn’t been officially confirmed, but this ship will likely get the Carnival livery/colors and signature red funnel eventually. 

About the Costa Venezie and Costa Firenze

The Costa Venezie and Firenze are sister ships to the Carnival Vista, Horizon, and Panorama. They were initially built to service the Asia market, but the plans changed due to the pandemic, much like Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. 

Both ships are relatively new. The Venezie debuted in 2019. The Firenze was officially finished in December 2020 but didn’t launch on its first sailing until July 2021 due to the cruise shutdown.

Looking at some photos of the ship, you’ll notice the signature 3-story Vista-class Atrium without the signature LED funnel on the Carnival ships. These two ships have many of the activities of their sister ships, like mini-golf, a splash park, and even a ropes course, but they are missing the Carnival-exclusive SkyRide, and onboard brewery, and the Haven area. 

The Good News about the Costa Ships Coming to Carnival

Let’s look at the bright side. First, these announcements mean three more ships will be coming to North America and will be servicing ports that really don’t haven’t a lot of options currently. 

New York has only had Vista-class ships for a couple of weeks. The Venezia will bring an opportunity for those in the North East to experience more updated ships when sailing. The itineraries will be announced in the future, but typical New York sailings visit Canada, Bermuda, or the Bahamas. 

Long Beach already has a Vista-class ship, the Panorama. Still, this move shows Carnival’s continued dedication to bringing new and exciting ships and itineraries to that port (which seemed forgotten in the past). With the Firenze ported here, West Coast cruisers will have 3 relatively recent ships to choose from. 

The ships are also all decent ships. The Spirit-class ships, while older, are a favorite of many Carnival guests. Their balance of size with activities means they’re easy to get around, but there’s not too little to do. The Vista-class ships have proven especially popular over time and have provided a solid experience for millions of guests. None of these ships feel dated or second-hand even. 

Will Costa by Carnival dilute the brand?

If there’s one thing Carnival has done well over the years, it’s establishing its brand. You know the line stands for a fun vacation for the family. 

Carnival has been tight-lipped on how the ships will be rebranded and what features they’ll get. However, in the Luminosa announcement, Carnival said, “The ship will not initially have all of the Funship 2.0 branded spaces that are seen across the Carnival fleet.” Funship 2.0 refers to many venues that Carnival introduced to its entire fleet since 2011. That includes many signature Carnival features like Guy’s Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina, Red Frog Rum Bar, Alchemy Bar, and more. It also typically includes water slides and a WaterWorks aqua park. 

With their Funship 2.0 enhancements, they’ve brought consistency to the line. You know what you’re getting on a Carnival ship. You can grab a Guy’s Burger for lunch, stop by Alchemy Bar for a cocktail at dinner, or get a poolside drink at the Red Frog Rum Bar. 

By using the “Costa by Carnival” concept for the Venezia and Firenze, it seems even less likely that they’ll be upgraded with many signature Carnival features. Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald indicated that these two ships will keep the Costa name and signature yellow funnel, making it even more confusing for guests. Will a guest who boards the Carnival Panorama from Long Beach have the same experience as one who boards the Costa Firenze a day or two later? 

What makes a Carnival ship a Carnival ship anyway?

The announcement makes you wonder what you really expect from a Carnival ship. Is it the staff? The booking process? The loyalty program? With this announcement, it’s clear Carnival is really hoping that it’s those factors and not the look and feel of the ship. 

What is clear is Carnival needs to figure out their market strategy quickly if they plan to sell these cruises to anyone but their hardcore fans. It’s hard to sell a cruise ship when you don’t know what’s on board it. 

If you haven’t been on a Carnival cruise with an Alchemy Bar, it’s a bar with specialty cocktails and martinis (you can see the full Alchemy Bar menu here). Decorated like an apothecary shop of yore, the bartenders wear lab coats to look like pharmacists and mix concoctions to cure what ails you. It’s great for pre- or post-dinner drinks and usually has a good energy until 11 pm or so. The drinks are $13 and usually completely worth it.

Cruising Tip: Want to try a few of the flavors without going broke? Look in your Fun Times schedule for the “Alchemy Martini Tasting” times. There are usually at least 2 per cruise, and they let you try 4 mini versions of the drinks.

The first time I tried the Cucumber Sunrise, I was on the Carnival Pride, and I was blown away. It had a light fruity sweetness that is well balanced with the lime, and the cucumber gave it a refreshing finish. As soon as I got home, I had to look into how I could make it at home.

Some notes about the Cucumber Sunrise ingredients

Carnival’s full recipe is below, but I just wanted to make a few notes about the ingredients to help you make the best drink.

Cucumbers – the best ones to use for this are seedless or English Cucumbers; that way, you have to strain less and don’t have a cloudy, seeded drink. The easiest way to identify seedless cucumbers is that they come plastic-wrapped at the grocery store (compared to regular cucumbers which are just sold on their own). One regular-size cucumber can make between 4 and 6 drinks.

Watermelon Syrup – this is one of the key ingredients in the drink and yet I’ve tried to substitute it many times because it is hard to find in stores (here’s a link for it on Amazon). Before I bit the bullet and purchased the syrup from Amazon, I tried watermelon soda syrup, actual watermelon juice, watermelon crystal light; none of them came close. If you do need a substitute, the closest and easiest is to use watermelon flavored vodka.

Monin Watermelon Syrup for Drinks – 750 ml / 25.4 fl oz | Watermelon Syrup Flavoring for Cocktails, Mocktails, Lemonade, Iced Teas, Sodas, & More, Gluten Free, Non-GMO

• WATERMELON SYRUP: Succulent and sweet, watermelon is a summertime picnic favorite, and now you can enjoy its juicy flavor in countless drinks year-round. Features a sun-ripened watermelon aroma
• VERSATILE DRINK USE: Use our Watermelon Syrup to add a taste of summer to sodas, slushes, sparklers, lemonades, teas & cocktails/mocktails. Monin Watermelon Syrup is the perfect refreshing enhancement

Buy on Amazon

Lime Juice – Are you thinking ,”Ugh, I don’t want to juice a lime, can’t I just use this bottle of lime juice?” Well, STOP because you’re about to ruin your cocktail. The taste is way different using bottled lime juice. I’ve tried several times using it and it just made the drink taste really bad. It’s worth it to use real limes and juice them yourself. Pick up one lime for each drink you want to make (1 oz of lime juice is usually about 1 lime). If you have juicing limes, this tool makes it so easy!

Cucumber Sunrise Recipe

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Alchemy Bar’s Cucumber Sunrise Recipe

A deliciously refreshing drink from Carnival Cruise Line.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword carnival cruise, cocktail, martini

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 minute minute

Servings 1 drink

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz Monin watermelon syrup Amazon Link
• 2 english cucumber wheels
• 3/4 oz orange juice

Instructions

• Drop 2 cucumber wheels into a cocktail shaker or pint glass and muddle them. If you don't have a muddler, you can use a wooden spoon
• Add the rest of the ingredients and ice.
• Cover and shake well (about 5 seconds)
• Strain into a glass (I use the cocktail shakers strainer and then a mesh strainer to get it really clear)
• Garnish the glass with a wheel of cucumber. This is key, it gives you that fresh scent every time you take a sip

Want to try taste it yourself?

The Cucumber Sunrise is available in the Alchemy Bar on the following ships:

• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Vista