All about the Serenity Area on a Carnival Cruise ship

Last Updated on April 4, 2024

No matter how well a cruise ship is designed, it can feel crowded, especially on sea days when all passengers are on board. It’s seemingly much worse in the summer months when ships are bustling with energetic children. So finding a place to have some peace and quiet can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, it can be easy to find some solitude in the Serenity Area on a Carnival cruise ship. 

The Serenity Area, technically called “Serenity Adult-Only Retreat,” is an adults-only section of the cruise ship. Only passengers 21 and older are allowed in this area, and while an occasional kid may slip in, it’s not long before a crew member politely guides them to the main pool. 

The Serenity Area usually has a different feel from the rest of the ship; you’ll find upgraded padded loungers, lay-flat day beds, clamshells, and hammocks. The vibrant colors from the rest of the Carnival ship are replaced with rich dark brown tones and accented with teal highlights. Soft, peaceful music is piped in through music systems. The Serenity Area also usually has its own bar, and some ships even have a salad bar in it (Vista, Horizon, Panorama, Mardi Gras, and Celebration). 

The Serenity Area first debuted on the Carnival Inspiration in 2007. Carnival has long been known as a family-friendly cruise line, which meant lots of children running around. To help adults find some much-needed peace and quiet while on vacation, Carnival sectioned off a section of the ship to be adults only. The area was a hit with guests. A Serenity Area was soon added to the Inspiration’s sister ships and then rolled out to the rest of the Carnival fleet over the years. Today, every Carnival ship has a dedicated Serenity Area. 

What is in the Serenity Area of a Carnival Ship?

The size, layout, and what’s included in the Serenity Area will vary depending on the ship. Since a majority of the fleet was in service before this section area was added, most ships required a retrofit to add this section. During major retrofits, Carnival took existing space and upgraded it to the new Serenity Area. Because of that, the different Serenity Areas all have different features and layouts, but the general effect is the same. Regardless of the ship, though, the Serenity area has a dedicated bar, upgraded loungers, and a water feature (a pool, hot tub, or both). 

Which Carnival ships have adults-only pools in the Serenity Area?

The main pools on a Carnival ship can get pretty busy with children, so an adults-only pool is a perfect solution. Unfortunately, less than half of the Carnival ships have a pool in the Serenity Area. So if you love an adults-only pool during your cruise, you’re limited in your options.  

These Carnival ships have a pool in the Serenity Area:

• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunshine

Which Carnival ships have adults-only hot tubs in the Serenity Area?

Almost every Serenity Area has at least one hot tub, whirlpool, or jacuzzi. It’s a great place to relax during the day or in the evenings.

You can find adult-only hot tubs on the following Carnival ships:

•   Carnival Breeze – 2 hot tubs 
•   Carnival Celebration – 2 hot tubs 
•   Carnival Conquest – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Dream – 2 hot tubs  
•   Carnival Firenze – 2 hot tubs  
•   Carnival Freedom – 2 hot tubs  
•   Carnival Glory – 2 hot tubs  
•   Carnival Horizon – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Legend – 1 hot tub
•   Carnival Liberty – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Luminosa – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Magic – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Mardi Gras – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Miracle – 1 hot tub
•   Carnival Panorama – 2 hot tubs 
•   Carnival Paradise – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Pride – 1 hot tub
•   Carnival Radiance – 1 hot tub 
•   Carnival Spirit – 1 hot tub
•   Carnival Splendor – 2 hot tubs 
•   Carnival Sunrise – 1 hot tub
•   Carnival Sunshine – 1 hot tub
•   Carnival Valor – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Venezia – 2 hot tubs
•   Carnival Vista – 1 hot tub

Which Carnival ships have the Serenity Area in the aft (or back) of the ship?

The location of the Serenity Area can make a big difference in the experience. Often, on the ships where the adults-only deck is on the front of the ship, it can get windy, and high glass partitions are needed to make it bearable. However, the partitions take away a bit from the view.

Ships that have the Serenity Area in the back often have more calm winds. They also offer much better ocean views because they don’t need the high glass partitions and instead have standard rails. 

The following Carnival ships have a Serenity Area on the back of the ship:

• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor

How much does the Serenity Area cost?

There is no additional charge to use the Serenity Area on a Carnival ship. If you’re a passenger over 21, just head over to the deck and enjoy. 

How crowded is the Serenity Area?

Since there’s no additional fee to use the Serenity Area, it can get crowded on sea days. Especially in the morning, it can be hard to find a lounger and definitely hard to find a clamshell on sea days. Thankfully, there seems to be fewer chair hogs/savers in the Serenity Area than in other areas of the ship.  

In the afternoon, it usually opens up more as people head to lunch and for a nap. The Serenity Area is also a great place to spend time in the evening with the soft music and mood lighting. Usually, once per cruise, they’ll be a party in the Serenity Area.  

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