The author in The Punchliner Comedy Club, which transforms into a special event venue in the daytime.įor this sailing on Carnival Radiance, I joined a dozen friends as we celebrated a vow exchange between two pals. I love Shaq's Big Chicken, which has crispy chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, chicken biscuits, and a bunch of sides like homestyle potato salad and jalapeno slaw, all at no extra charge. Other free standalone eateries are quick serve-venues and they're also some of my favorites. There, dinner is $18 per person, but the lunch menu is free. But even some specialty restaurants that charge extra for dinner are free for lunch, like Italian eatery Cucina del Capitano. ![]() Free options include the main dining room, buffet, and several standalone venues. On Carnival Radiance, there are 15 eateries, and only six of these are specialty restaurants with an evening dinner surcharge. While I've found Royal's dining selections to be excellent, I often spend a lot of extra money to try them and much prefer having as much free dining venues as possible. Some cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have only a small handful of eateries included with the cruise fare. One of my favorite things about cruising with Carnival is that they offer so many free places to eat, including specialty restaurants. On Carnival Radiance, the adult retreat has two decks of lounge space, and I always found more seating available than was necessary.Ĭarnival has so many free specialty dining options, including Shaq's Big Chicken. There's also a dedicated bar and towel service in this space. The retreat has a privacy fence where beyond that, adults can lounge on any of the plush loungers or take a dip in the oversized spa tub. Yet Carnival's Serenity Retreat is a free space for adults at all times. When comparing cruise lines with adult retreats, such a space can sometimes come with an added surcharge, like Norwegian's Vibe Beach Club, which is their upper deck retreat area for guests 18 and up that, according to Cruise Critic, averages $99 per day or $209 for unlimited use over the course of an entire cruise. ![]() I am always thrilled about this secluded space for quiet relaxation, usually located at the front of the ship on the upper decks.Īnd I'm constantly amazed there is no charge to enter. On every Carnival ship I've been on, there is an adult-only Serenity Retreat, which is free for guests who are aged 21 and up. There was no single supplement fee as a solo traveler, and in fact, this booking cost less than when I sailed with my spouse and paid $599 for the two of us in a similar interior room.Ĭarnival Radiance has decks dedicated to the Serenity Retreat for adults. I also pre-paid $43.50 for crew gratuities, so my total for this voyage was $460.36. The stateroom cost $416.86, inclusive of port fees and taxes. The best rate I found was for an interior cabin, and chose my exact room location for no added fee. ![]() I've been a VIFP member since my very first sailing on Carnival five years ago. First-timers may also sign up for Carnival's VIFP, or, Very Important Fun Person program, to start receiving deals immediately, even before their first sailing. I booked my sailing directly on Carnival's website to get the best pricing available for frequent cruisers. I planned to spend most of my time on the pool deck and socializing with friends. Since I was familiar with Carnival Radiance from a prior sailing, I knew an interior cabin would serve my needs. The author booked an interior cabin with a king-size bed. Here's a closer look at what it was like. ![]() The trip solidified the Radiance as my new favorite pick for an easy getaway on a budget. Then, last fall, I joined a dozen friends onboard the Carnival Radiance for a wedding at sea on a cruise out of Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico. I loved all the dining and activities onboard, and its Long Beach home port is a short flight from my base in Seattle, making it an affordable getaway all around. I first sailed on Radiance last spring, for a couple's getaway with my spouse. While the Panorama has been my long-standing Carnival favorite, the Carnival Radiance has more recently emerged as my go-to ship for a quick weekend trip that also happens to be super cheap. I love sailing with them any chance I get and have cruised on Carnival ships throughout the Caribbean and along the Mexican Riviera, departing from ports in California, Florida, and Louisiana. While I've spent more than 100 weeks at sea across various cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages, I'm convinced there's no better cruise at a cheaper price than Carnival. The author sailed on Carnival Radiance for a three-night cruise with friends. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |