Everything is bigger in Texas, and that certainly seems to be the case with Carnival Jubilee. I recently returned from a spring break cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, and after seven nights onboard, I came away with plenty of opinions.
As the sister ship to Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, Carnival Jubilee had big shoes to fill! The 183,000-gross-ton ship is one of the biggest in Carnival’s fleet and is packed with dining, entertainment, bars, and attractions spread across six themed zones.
Overall, I had a great cruise aboard this Excel class vessel with my sister sailing to the Western Caribbean. There was a lot to love about Carnival Jubilee, but there were also a few things that I think could be improved. After all, no cruise ship is perfect!
Here is my honest Carnival Jubilee review, including 7 things I loved and 7 things I’d like to change.
I loved the food onboard Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Cruise Line has built a reputation for serving some of the best casual food at sea, and Carnival Jubilee certainly lived up to the hype.
With 21 restaurants onboard, we barely scratched the surface during our 7-night cruise. My personal favorite was Big Chicken, which served some of the best chicken tenders and sandwiches I’ve had on a cruise ship. Everything we ordered was hot, crispy, and flavorful. I couldn’t help myself from going back multiple times throughout the week.
Other favorites included Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse BBQ, Coastal Slice, and Beach Buns.
For dinner, we appreciated having so many included options. Between the main dining rooms, Chibang, and Cucina del Capitano, there was plenty of variety without spending any extra money. Needless to say, I had a hearty appetite on this cruise!
One thing I’d change: The buffet
The Lido Marketplace buffet continues to be one of my least favorite dining venues on Carnival’s Excel-class ships. Actually, it’s one of my least favorite dining venues on any Carnival ship. Although there are multiple stations throughout the buffet, many of them serve the same items. The result is a lot of food but not necessarily a lot of variety.
Breakfast was especially frustrating because the buffet was often crowded and the lines moved slowly. Thankfully, Carnival Jubilee has so many other dining options that avoiding the buffet wasn’t difficult. Check out BlueIguana Cantina for freshly made breakfast burritos or Big Chicken for egg and chicken sandwiches.
Carnival Jubilee’s entertainment really impressed me
Located in the middle of Grand Central, Carnival Jubilee’s Center Stage combines massive LED screens, live performers, and impressive special effects. The technology alone is impressive, but the performances were especially impressive and really stood out.
My favorite show of the week was Rio Carnival. The production was packed with colorful costumes, high-energy music, talented singers, dancers, and aerial performers. It was one of those shows where I found myself smiling the entire time!
One thing I’d change: More exclusive productions
After sailing aboard both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, I was excited to see what new productions Carnival Jubilee would offer.
Unfortunately, many of the Playlist Productions were repeats from the other Excel-class ships. Shows like Celestial Strings and We Are One can already be found onboard Carnival’s sister ships. Although I enjoyed the new Dear Future Husband, I was hoping to see more productions created specifically for Carnival Jubilee.
Both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have exclusive shows that help make each ship feel unique. At this point, Carnival Jubilee feels a little behind in that regard.
My Cove Balcony cabin was worth the splurge
During our cruise aboard Carnival Jubilee, we booked a Cove Balcony cabin on Deck 5.
This was my first time staying in a Cove Balcony, and I quickly understood why so many Carnival cruisers love them. Unlike traditional balconies, Cove Balconies sit closer to the water and feature a partially enclosed design that creates a more private space.
As someone who normally books the cheapest interior cabin available, spending the extra money felt like a major splurge.
In our case, the upgrade cost roughly $300 more per person compared to the cheapest interior cabin.
For a 7-night cruise, I really thought it was worth every penny. The cabin felt spacious, modern, and comfortable. We especially appreciated the large bathroom and walk-in shower, which was one of the best bathrooms I’ve seen in a standard cruise cabin.
One thing I’d change: Better temperature control
Before boarding Carnival Jubilee, I had read comments online from passengers who said their cabins never felt cool enough. I didn’t experience anything extreme, but I understood what people were talking about.
Even with the air conditioning running continuously, there were a few nights when I felt warmer than I wanted while trying to sleep. The room was comfortable most of the time, but I was surprised that it never seemed to get particularly cold.
Carnival Jubilee is fresh, modern, and uniquely Texan
One thing Carnival absolutely nailed with the Excel-class ships is design. After sailing aboard older Carnival ships such as Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Ecstasy, the difference is remarkable.
Carnival Jubilee feels modern, stylish, and thoughtfully designed. Areas like Currents are unlike anything else I’ve seen on a cruise ship, and the ship has a much more upscale feel than many people expect from Carnival.
I also loved the Texas-inspired touches throughout the ship!
Carnival Jubilee is the first ship specifically designed to sail from Texas, and the cruise line clearly embraced that identity. From the Texas-themed merchandise to the giant Texas star on the bow, reminders of the ship’s homeport can be found throughout the vessel.
The Lone Star Tailgate deck party was another fun addition that was perfectly suited for a Texas-based ship.
And then there’s cruise director Kyndall Fire. As the youngest cruise director in Carnival’s history, she brings an incredible amount of energy to the ship. Her personality fits Carnival Jubilee perfectly!
One thing I’d change: Open the Grand Central windows
Grand Central is one of my favorite spaces onboard. The venue includes beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, which I loved on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
That’s why I was surprised to see the windows covered for almost the entire cruise. Only once did I see them uncovered, and the natural light completely transformed the space. I have no idea why Carnival keeps them covered, but I wish they would open them during the day.
Carnival still knows how to throw a party
If you’re looking for a lively cruise, Carnival Jubilee is a great choice. The fun starts immediately with Carnival’s famous Sailaway Party on embarkation day. Even after dozens of cruises, I still think Carnival does sailaway parties better than almost anyone else.
The energy is truly contagious with so many people participating. In addition, The White Hot Night Party and 80s Rock-N-Glow Party were equally as impressive. Hundreds of passengers packed the pool deck, dancing and singing along late into the evening.
While giant deck parties aren’t usually my thing, it was hard not to get caught up in the excitement on Carnival Jubilee. If you like to party, you will definitely enjoy your time onboard!
One thing I’d change: Avoid spring break if possible
One thing I didn’t fully think about when booking this cruise was the timing. Our sailing fell during spring break. Most of the passengers were families traveling during school vacations, but there were also plenty of college students onboard looking to have a good time.
Nothing ever seemed out of control, but the atmosphere was definitely louder and more energetic than many cruises I’ve taken.
We noticed more security personnel onboard than usual, and the hallways could be noisy late at night. Thankfully, I packed a portable sound machine, which helped block out most of the noise.
I loved how much was included in the fare
One reason Carnival continues to appeal to so many travelers is the value. Outside of Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster and a handful of specialty restaurants, most of the ship’s attractions are included in the cruise fare.
Guests can enjoy the ropes course, miniature golf, waterslides, sports courts, entertainment, and many dining venues without paying extra. It was easy to spend very little money onboard while still enjoying so many of the ship’s amenities.
One thing I’d change: Reduce the wait times
Of course, Carnival Jubilee’s popularity comes with one obvious downside. The ship offers a lot, but patience is definitely required. Carnival Jubilee was sailing with nearly 5,900 passengers onboard, and at times it seemed like everyone wanted the same thing at the same time.
Every morning, JavaBlue Café seemed to have a line stretching halfway across the ship. Also, we often arrived 20 to 30 minutes early for shows just to find a seat. Not to mention, the popular Sea Day Brunch regularly had waits approaching 45 minutes, and we waited more than 40 minutes both times we wanted dinner at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse BBQ.
My biggest surprise was the port of Galveston
Before this cruise, I had never sailed from Galveston. What surprised me most wasn’t the terminal or embarkation process, but how far everything felt from the port.
From our hotel near Houston Hobby Airport, it took nearly an hour to reach the cruise terminal. After the cruise, it took almost another hour just to secure an Uber because of the crowds leaving the port.
For anyone planning a Carnival Jubilee cruise, I would strongly recommend flying into Houston Hobby Airport instead of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, if possible. Hobby is much closer to the cruise port, although flight options can be more limited depending on where you’re traveling from.
As someone who frequently cruises from Fort Lauderdale and Miami, I found Galveston much less convenient. Because of the timing of available flights, I didn’t get back home to the Florida Panhandle until nearly 11 p.m., making for a very long travel day.
One thing I’d change: Easier transportation from the port
This isn’t something Carnival can control, but transportation was one of the most frustrating parts of the trip. The congestion around Galveston after disembarkation was annoying, and securing a rideshare took much longer than expected.
If you’re sailing Carnival Jubilee, it’s worth building extra time into your travel plans both before and after your cruise. I would also consider pre-arranging your transportation from the port to the airport if you’re tight on time.
Final thoughts on Carnival Jubilee
Overall, I really enjoyed my week aboard Carnival Jubilee. The food was fantastic, the ship is beautiful, and there was never a shortage of things to do. I loved our comfortable Cove Balcony cabin, thought the entertainment was strong overall, and appreciated all of the Texas-inspired touches throughout the ship.
At the same time, I wish Carnival would address some of the crowding issues, improve the Lido Marketplace buffet, and introduce more exclusive entertainment for the ship. Cruising from Galveston wasn’t my favorite experience either, and I don’t see myself returning anytime soon.
Even with those complaints, Carnival Jubilee is one of the most impressive ships in Carnival’s fleet. I would absolutely sail her again — although next time, I’d probably avoid spring break.
