However, I often consider more than the total cost before booking a cruise. I look at the ports of call, the space-to-guest ratio, the amenities and onboard activities, and the launch point. Carnival Conquest is the first 110,000 gross tons cruise ship in the fleet, with a guest capacity of 2,980 at double occupancy and 1,150 crew members. There are 13 passenger decks and the vessel debuted in November 2022. She wasn’t built for the cruise line but was the first ship for the newly formed Ted Arison Carnival Cruise Line at the time. The ship started sailing for Carnival in 1972, and the “Fun Ships” have kept coming ever since!
Balcony (8E)
We went looking for someone to help us grill up the best burgers at sea, and we found just the guy. Try a fresh-off-the-grill burger Guy’s way, or take it off-road to our toppings bar and truly make it your own. Carnival Freedom itinerary program is based on departures from Galveston TX with 7-day roundtrip cruises to Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Sun Deck
Carnival Valor is almost 20 years old and still showing cruisers a good time. The ship's home ports are New Orleans, Louisiana, and Barcelona, Spain, and it offers two to over 10-night sailings. Don’t miss the epic Seaday Brunch, where you'll find all kinds of treats like huevos rancheros, french toast, loaded burgers, and chicken and waffles. Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) is 10 years old and a fan favorite. The lower guest capacity, at just over 3,000 for double occupancy, means you won’t have to fight hoards of people to get to and from activities. Families who want even more cabin space should book one of the aft-view extended balcony rooms with great wake views and ample private outdoor space.
Destinations & Ports
In addition to sprucing up just about every space on the ship, the money was used to add classic Carnival attractions that the ship lacked. This included a full-blown water park, which replaced a single waterslide on one of its top decks. At 111,000 tons, the Conquest-class ships (and Carnival Splendor, noted above) are about 20% smaller than the newer Vista-class and Dream-class ships. Carnival Splendor is an outlier in the Carnival fleet — a ship that makes up a class all its own. That said, it has a lot in common with the ships of Carnival's Conquest-class ships (see below). All of these ships hold about 4,000 passengers each, based on double occupancy.
Top 10 Carnival Freedom Cruises
It will be familiar to anyone who knows Carnival ships because the design of Costa's Concordia class was based upon the design of Carnival's Conquest class, and the two classes are very similar. Both the Vista-class and Venezia-class ships were built on the same basic design platform and are roughly the same size with similar layouts. But Carnival Venezia originally was built for Carnival's Italy-based sister brand, Costa Cruises. As a result, it has a much stronger Italy theme and a few design differences. Still, enough is the same that for all practical purposes, it is a Vista-class ship in all but name. There's also a smorgasbord of restaurants, bars and lounges on all of the vessels.
Teens and tweens have their own soda bar and dance floor, while a video game arcade has air-hockey and other fun options. CCL's Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge (forward-portside/adjacent to the Casino) is the first-at-sea venue dedicated to active and retired US military personnel. A portion of each beverage sale benefits Operation Homefront (nonprofit organization). The Carnival Freedom dress code ranges from laid back during the day to dressy at night. The ship sails Caribbean (and Alaska) itineraries, and the daytime dress onboard reflects that with a casual, poolside atmosphere. Cover-ups, shirts and flip-flops are required for the indoor Freedom Restaurant on the Lido Deck, but the rule doesn't seem to be strictly enforced.
However, if even refurbishments that took place just a few years ago aren’t new enough for you, there’s good news. The 2014 refurbishments also saw the additions of some new suites, and other enhancements were made throughout the ship, giving new life to the pool areas, gym, and children’s areas. The Carnival Glory is the second ship built in the hugely popular Conquest-class. She was constructed by Fincantieri in Italy and cost $500 million. She’s the newest addition to the Carnival fleet and becomes the 27th ship.
The Carnival Freedom Deck Plan Is Well Laid Out
Here, find guidance on every Carnival cruise ship, from the newest to the oldest. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. Club 02 is for the older teens, ages 15 to 17, and allows them to hang out away from both their little siblings and mom and dad, with relative freedom, enjoying some fun with cruisers their age. There are even electronic tables if you’d prefer not to have a live dealer. With minimum bets starting at just $5, you can play on any budget. There’s also roulette, a fun experience with fellow cruisers, and more general casino tournaments.
The vessel has become completely new after previously being named Carnival Destiny, which originally entered service in 1996. Carnival Radiance was previously named Carnival Victory, but during a major transformation in Cadiz, Spain in 2021, the ship became completely new. The new-look vessel is part of the Sunshine class and from December 13, 2021, is sailing from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal in California. You could call the Carnival Venezia half new, as she was transferred from sister brand Costa Cruises in 2023 and sailed her inaugural voyage as part of the Carnival Cruise Line fleet on May 29, 2023. The ship underwent a huge multi-million-dollar transformation in Cadiz, Spain, but still kept with her Italian traditional decor. Cruising always feels good, but it doesn’t usually — ooh, right there.
You'll find a lot in common between the Vista class and Dream class, for instance. These two classes aren't all that different in feel from the earlier Splendor and Conquest classes of ships, though they are a bit bigger. Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Sunrise will likely be more expensive than on Carnival Freedom. 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.
Fire extinguished on Carnival Freedom cruise ship after witnesses reported possible lightning strike - CNN
Fire extinguished on Carnival Freedom cruise ship after witnesses reported possible lightning strike.
Posted: Sun, 24 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Think nightly dance parties in White Heat Dance Club, movies under the stars on the pool deck, and tacos from BlueIguana Cantina. The ship sails around the Bahamas, Caribbean, and more on two to 10-day itineraries. Initially built in 2019 for Costa Cruises, this ship joined the Carnival fleet in 2023. Carnival Venezia is ideal if you’re looking for a ship that celebrates one of Italy’s most iconic cities. Venice is the inspiration behind the indoor and outdoor areas, including the atrium, modeled after Piazza San Marco, and the Carnevale Lounge, inspired by Venetian masquerades.
The first/eastbound Transatlantic voyage (Sept 21-Oct 4) is a 13-night itinerary from Port Canaveral to Barcelona. The second/westbound Transatlantic voyage (Oct 23-Nov 6) is a 14-night reverse itinerary from Barcelona to Port Canaveral. During drydock refurbishment in 2023 (October) were added the Heroes Tribute Bar (deck 5/replacing the Skybox Sports Bar) and the Dreams Studio (deck 3, in the Lobby), while the Babylon Casino was expanded.
That's precisely why you'll find a course on every Carnival® ship, where you can hit the holes and take in everything you’d expect, like the sights and the sounds... These staterooms are great for a pair of cruisers on a budget, creatively maximizing space with a different layout — featuring one Twin bed, and either an upper Pullman or sofa bed. Families flock to this ship, with kids' programs with plenty of fun age-specific activities at a 4,200-square-foot playroom.
Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Freedom's gentle wake from your spacious balcony. You'll find a lot of consistency from ship to ship in the Carnival fleet in the type of venues that you find on board. In recent years, Carnival has spent $2 billion overhauling many of its ships to create that consistency in onboard venues and amenities. In fact, when the line first unveiled Carnival Sunshine in 1996 (back when it was called Carnival Destiny), it was the biggest cruise ship in the world. At around 102,000 tons, the Sunshine-class ships are more than 20% smaller than Carnival Panorama and more than 40% smaller than Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. In some recent years, Carnival has also deployed one of its Spirit-class ships across the Pacific to Australia — the most far-flung destination that it offers on its schedule.
