I'm an avid cruiser who at all times recommends Carnival for first-timers. It's barely a step down from pricier opponents — and normally cheaper.

Cruises aren’t for everybody, however they’re one in every of my favourite methods to see the world. 

All through the previous decade, I’ve taken over a dozen voyages with three totally different cruise traces: Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Worldwide, and Carnival. 

I am satisfied that Carnival is one of the best cruise line for first-time cruisers. This is why.

The Carnival cruises I’ve taken have been essentially the most economical

Megan duBois

My dad and mom and I set sail for a four-night journey from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Bahamas on the Carnival Elation, a Fantasy-class ship.

Our junior suite value lower than $950 for all three of us, which is an absolute cut price in comparison with the charges I’ve paid for related lodging on Disney and Royal Caribbean ships. 

For instance, for a single traveler to remain in an inside stateroom throughout a three-night cruise from Florida to the Bahamas in December 2023, it could value about $664 with Carnival, about $762 with Royal Caribbean, and about $2,378 with Disney. 

In fact, charges range by ship and itinerary, and every comes with totally different perks, packages, and cons. However Carnival tends to be essentially the most budget-friendly line throughout the board. 

Carnival’s eating choices are simply OK, however its ships have one in every of my favourite celebrity-chef eating places

Of the three totally different firms, Disney Cruise Traces serves my favourite meals. I can discover Mickey-shaped waffles for breakfast and gourmand meals within the eating rooms for dinner.

The Disney ships I have been on have three totally different eating rooms, and friends can go for a rotational eating plan that enables them to go to a special one every night time. Their workers and tablemates rotate with them.

The primary eating rooms I’ve seen on Carnival’s older ships can really feel somewhat outdated, and I believe the meals is simply OK. But when you realize the place to look, you could find some hidden gems.

As an example, Carnival is understood for its partnership with movie star chef Man Fieri, who has a number of burger and barbecue eating places throughout the fleet. These eating places are my favourite locations to eat on Carnival ships, and I attempt to dine there as a lot as doable because the meals is constantly good. 

The Royal Caribbean ships I’ve boarded have extra eating choices than the opposite two cruise traces — with complimentary eating in the primary eating room, café promenade, and Windjammer Café buffet together with wonderful specialty eating places. 

I can at all times discover an onboard restaurant with dishes that fulfill my cravings. The one adverse, in my eyes, is that cruisers should pay additional to eat at Royal Caribbean’s specialty eating eating places (or purchase a specialty eating package deal). So if I dine at these eating places a number of occasions throughout a cruise, my spending can skyrocket. 

Paying much less does not imply you are sacrificing service degree

Cruises are one in every of my favourite methods to trip as a result of, after embarkation, nearly all the pieces is taken care of for me. Throughout all three cruise traces, I’ve discovered that the service degree is about the identical. 

Earlier than I even get an opportunity to settle into my stateroom, a number is normally already there to introduce themselves, and generally they already know my complete get together by identify. 

Within the eating rooms, servers and hosts appear to know every household, and by the top of the cruise, it is common for everybody to crack jokes and share life tales with one another.

And once I discover my favourite bartender on a ship, they usually memorize my drink order and have it prepared earlier than I even sit down on the bar. 

Carnival’s onboard sights for youths, adults, and households are simply pretty much as good as those on pricier traces

All three cruise traces have thrilling youngsters golf equipment, the place adults can drop off their youngsters for a day of supervised enjoyable. The ships I’ve sailed on have additionally had a lot to do as a household, together with swimming pools, sports activities, and nightly exhibits. Every of the totally different cruise traces additionally hosts its personal array of film characters, which youngsters have a tendency to like. 

Many Disney ships have basic Disney characters, like Mickey Mouse and all of his buddies from the Magic Kingdom, out there for meet and greets on the ship. Some Carnival ships host Dr. Suess characters, like Cat within the Hat and Factor 1 and Factor 2. And Royal Caribbean’s DreamWork Expertise ships are house to characters like Shrek and King Julien.

Adults may also keep entertained with comedy exhibits, selection acts, and adult-centric video games. For instance. the Disney ships I’ve sailed on have adult-only districts, and on my journeys with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, the ships had adult-only casinos, bars, and nightclubs. 

The general expertise on Carnival is simply pretty much as good as it’s on dearer traces, making it the proper strategy to dip your toes into cruising

Any cruise line can provide you a great expertise — however Carnival is unquestionably my suggestion for first-time cruisers. 

If you happen to select a voyage with a dearer cruise line, you could possibly find yourself shelling out hundreds of {dollars} for a trip type that might not be for you. Plus, Carnival ships’ actions, leisure choices, and repair ranges are simply pretty much as good because the dearer cruise traces, for my part.

After crusing on Carnival, you’ll be able to determine should you like cruising after which check out different traces, like Royal Caribbean or Disney. It is higher to save cash while you’re testing one thing new as an alternative of spending so much on an expertise you may not take pleasure in.