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Carnival Cruises

Dubbed "The Fun Ships", Carnival Cruises has a reputation as being the cruise line for those who like to live it up while on vacation. From the moment you step onto one of Carnival's excellent ships, you'll be bombarded with fun activities that could easily fill every second of your day, from plenty of on-board amenities to lots of interesting and exciting shore excursions.

Families especially enjoy cruising with Carnival, as there's something available for every age group and even the pre-teens and teens won't be complaining that they're bored. Children and youth age 2-14 have their own Camp Carnival, where they can meet new friends and participate in age-appropriate games and activities.

Carnival recently developed Club O2, designed especially for teens ages 15-17 and featuring activities such as karaoke jam sessions, reality game shows, board and card games, or just the opportunity to hang with others of the same age.

Adults, of course, will be treated to a myriad of wonderful activities, from BINGO to dance lessons to ice carving demonstrations to invigorating exercise classes. Mature passengers can also spend their day relaxing at the shipboard spa or tempting Lady Luck in the casino. And if you'd rather do nothing, that's okay, too. Just stake out a lounge chair on the deck, pull out a book, and order a cold drink!

Currently, Carnival has a fleet of 21 ships. The Carnival Legend, Pride, Spirit and Miracle are of particular interest to many as their sleeker design allows for faster travel, completing what was once a 10-day itinerary in just 8 days. In addition, 80% of the cabins have an ocean view and a large percentage boast a private balcony as well. The immense Carnival Valor is the largest that sails from the Port of Miami, making trips to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Carnival's older ships are often renovated and continue to offer exciting cruise experiences.

Carnival Cruises' domain is certainly the Caribbean, and you'll never be hard-pressed to find a cruise to that part of the world, no matter what time of the year. Travelers can choose the Eastern Caribbean (Bahamas, Virgin Islands), Western Caribbean (Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Jamaica), or the Southern Caribbean (Aruba, Dominica, Barbados).

Other trips include Alaska, Canada/New England, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera, a 12-day European itinerary, a 12-day Hawaiian Islands cruise that departs from Mexico and ends in Vancouver, and an excellent Panama Canal cruise. The cruise line also offers an affordable Cruise to Nowhere, sailing from New York or Norfolk, VA, for those who need a few days to unwind.