Looking through these Carnival Celebration pictures, it’s easy to see why the Excel-class ships changed so many cruisers’ perceptions of Carnival Cruise Line. While Carnival Celebration may no longer be the newest vessel in the fleet, she is still one of the most impressive ships I’ve sailed with the cruise line.
When Carnival Celebration first debuted in 2022, she represented a completely new direction for Carnival. With brighter interiors, more dining options, upgraded entertainment, and an entirely different design philosophy, the ship felt worlds apart from many of Carnival’s older vessels.
Now that Carnival Jubilee has joined the fleet as the third Excel-class ship, Carnival Celebration still feels modern, fresh, and packed with everything that makes Carnival cruising fun.
These Carnival Celebration pictures showcase what it’s really like onboard, from the ship’s public spaces and restaurants to the attractions, entertainment, and accommodations that make her one of Carnival’s most popular ships.
Carnival Celebration feels like a different version of Carnival
Before sailing aboard Carnival Celebration, most of my Carnival experiences had been on older and smaller ships.
While I always appreciated Carnival’s affordability and fun atmosphere, many of those ships felt dark, crowded, and heavily focused on the party vibe. Sometimes it felt like I was walking through a floating nightclub with neon lights around every corner!
Carnival Celebration couldn’t feel more different than my earlier Carnival experiences!
The first thing I noticed was how bright and open everything felt. The ship still has Carnival’s playful, bold, and vibrant personality, but the overall design is more modern than what you’ll find on many of the cruise line’s older vessels.
One of the biggest improvements is the overall flow of the ship. For a ship carrying more than 5,000 passengers, Carnival Celebration rarely felt as chaotic as I expected.
Restaurants, bars, and attractions are spread throughout several themed zones, which helps prevent certain areas from becoming overwhelmingly crowded. You might find lines and crowds at popular events, but it wasn’t a frequent issue on Carnival Celebration during our sailing.
The food was one of the biggest highlights of the Carnival Celebration cruise
One thing Carnival has always done well is casual dining, and Carnival Celebration takes that to another level.
In fact, we had so many dining options available that we rarely found ourselves eating in the main dining room! We had to strategically plan our lunches and dinners to make sure we could try everything.
Between Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, pizza, Street Eats, and several specialty restaurants, there simply wasn’t enough time to try everything.
Big Chicken quickly became one of my favorite venues onboard. Whether it was breakfast or lunch, the chicken sandwiches were crispy, fresh, and delicious!
I was also impressed by how many restaurants felt like specialty dining venues despite being included in the cruise fare.
For instance, both ChiBang and Cucina del Capitano offered full-service restaurant experiences that would likely carry an upcharge on many other cruise lines.
For specialty dining, Emeril’s Bistro was easily one of my favorite discoveries onboard. The breakfast offerings were fantastic and prices were reasonable. Dining here provided something different from the standard cruise ship breakfast experience.
The only dining venue that still didn’t win me over was the Lido Marketplace buffet.
While Carnival Celebration’s Lido Marketplace buffet looked bright and inviting, I found myself skipping it most of the week because it lacked variety. The space wasn’t very large, so it often felt crowded with long lines. With so many better dining options elsewhere onboard, the buffet wasn’t very memorable.
Carnival’s entertainment has improved dramatically
Historically, Carnival’s production shows were never the reason I booked a cruise. On previous sailings, I typically gravitated toward trivia, the comedy club, or the piano bar instead.
But, Carnival Celebration really changed my opinion on this.
The ship’s main entertainment venue, Celebration Central, features massive LED screens spanning multiple decks. The technology alone creates a much more immersive experience than what I’ve seen on older Carnival ships.
Shows like Celestial Strings and The Most Magnificent Circus exceeded my expectations with talented performers, impressive acrobatics, and noticeably better production quality. I was really wowed by these performances!
However, my biggest frustration from the cruise remains the same today as it was when the ship first launched: seating.
The multi-level atrium is a beautiful venue, but finding a good seat for popular shows can still be very chaotic. Depending on where you sit, your view of the stage can be partially obstructed, and arriving early is often necessary for the most popular performances. We were stuck behind the sound booth, which obstructed our view.
Even still, Carnival Celebration’s main production shows are absolutely worth seeing. I just wish the seating experience matched the quality of the entertainment or reservations would be required.
There is no shortage of things to do onboard
One thing Carnival Celebration never lacks is non-stop energy. Whether you’re traveling with kids, cruising with friends, or sailing as a couple, there is always something happening somewhere onboard.
This lively atmosphere extends to the ship’s bars and lounges. Carnival Celebration is home to more than a dozen venues, ranging from the elegant Golden Jubilee bar to the always-popular Piano Bar 88 and Alchemy bar.
Carnival Celebration’s outdoor decks are packed with attractions, including Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea, along with waterslides, a ropes course, miniature golf, pools, and plenty of places to relax.
Personally, I found myself spending most of my outdoor time in Serenity.
The adults-only retreat offered a welcome escape from the busy family areas, especially during sea days. While it can still get crowded, it was one of my favorite places onboard to grab a chair and unwind.
The rest of the pool deck embodies everything Carnival is known for: music, activities, families having fun, and a lively atmosphere from morning until evening. I also appreciated the smaller pools in Summer’s Landing with plenty of seating and a quieter atmosphere.
Even the cabins felt like an upgrade
We stayed in an interior cabin during our Carnival Celebration cruise, and it was better than we expected.
While the room wasn’t particularly large, it felt thoughtfully designed and included plenty of storage space. Between the closets, drawers, and shelving, we had no trouble unpacking for the week.
The vanity area included multiple outlets and USB ports, which seems like a small detail until you realize how many devices you’re trying to charge on vacation!
The biggest surprise was the bathroom shower. Anyone who cruises frequently knows that cruise ship showers can be tiny. Carnival Celebration’s shower felt noticeably larger than many I’ve experienced at sea, and the glass door was a huge improvement over the clingy shower curtains often found on older ships.
It’s not a luxury suite by any means, but it was a comfortable place to return to each night.
Is Carnival Celebration the best Carnival ship?
At the end of the day, Carnival Celebration exceeded my expectations.
The Excel-class ships truly represent a new era for Carnival Cruise Line. While the ship still embraces the fun, energetic atmosphere that Carnival is known for, it also feels more refined, more thoughtfully designed, and significantly more modern than many of the cruise line’s older vessels.
The food was a highlight and the entertainment impressed me far more than expected. Not to mention, the ship’s design solved many of the frustrations I had experienced on previous Carnival cruises.
No cruise ship is perfect. For instance, Carnival Celebration’s buffet remains forgettable, and finding seats for popular shows can still be frustrating. But if you’re considering a cruise on Carnival Celebration, these pictures should give you a realistic idea of what to expect onboard.
Years after her debut, Carnival Celebration is still one of the most impressive ships in Carnival’s fleet, and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to sail again!
