I have a reputation for being cheap and nerdy and Carnival has a reputation for offering cruises with a wild, party atmosphere. So is either actually true?
Yes and partly. You’ll likely find me doing one of two things on a cruise. First, gorging on complimentary food and calculating how much the same meal would cost me on land in my home city of Seattle (sometimes I actually cheer when I determine I’ve reached the break even point on my cruise fare). And second, reading, walking while listening to an audiobook, or looking for wildlife on an outside deck. Cheap. Nerdy.
As for Carnival, it has somewhat embraced its reputation as the party cruise line by referring to vessels as “fun ships,” calling the daily onboard schedule of events the “Fun Times,” with its “Funderstruck” marketing campaign, and by offering onboard theme parties.
Know though that your experience on Carnival will vary depending on the specific ship, itinerary, and time of year. I once sailed with my toddler on a spring break Carnival cruise so wild I had to have the sex talk with him a decade earlier than planned. But I’ve also sailed on many Carnival cruises that have felt more peaceful and subdued (look for longer sailings and dates when school is in session). Regardless of which ship, itinerary, or time of year you sail though, you’ll find your fellow Carnival cruisers among the friendliest at sea and your ship will offer several onboard theme parties for those who like to dress up, let loose, dance, and have a good time.
While I nearly always sleep through them (see, nerd), you should definitely check out these parties if interested! So…
Usually (but not always, so check your Fun Times schedule of events for the location) held in the evening near the main lido pool or in the atrium, theme parties are short (typically lasting around 30-45 minutes) and energetic gatherings led by the cruise director and Fun Squad with music and dancing consistent with a particular theme. Guests are encouraged to dress in accordance with the theme, but it’s not required. (Everything I own is from the 90’s, so I just show up to that party in my regular gear only to feel low-key offended when I hear: “Nailed it!”)
Themes include decades parties from the 70’s through the 90’s, Mega Deck where you can wear blue or red, White Hot where you can dress in white and dance amidst black lights, 80’s Rock and Glow where the Fun Squad will pass around glow sticks, Motown, Mardi Gras (sometimes including a parade), port-themed parties featuring Hawaiian or Alaskan themes, and Backyard Bash featuring country music and line dancing. Relatively new to Carnival are “silent” parties where music is played through provided headphones.
Here’s the schedule of planned theme parties by Carnival ship for 2024 (source: John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador). Keep in mind that these parties are at the discretion of the cruise director, so always double check your schedule once onboard.
4-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
5-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
Lone Star Tailgate Party
80’s Rock and Glow
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Part
LIDO DECK
White Night Party
80’S Rock and Glow Party
CENTER STAGE EVENTS
Motown Party
Evolution Party
LIDO DECK
80’S Rock and Glow
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
70’s Music Trivia Party
Farewell Hot White Night Party
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock & Glow
Mega Deck Party
LIDO DECK
80s Rock’n’Glow
Silent Disco
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
Silent Night Party
Fiesta Italiana Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
White Night Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown party
90’s music party
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow
Silent White Night ( 5-day cruises only)
LIDO DECK
80’S Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Decade Music Party
LIDO DECK
Hot White Night Party (6 and 8-day cruises)
80’s Rock and Glow Party (6 and 8-day cruises)
Mega Deck Party (8-day cruises only)
Silent Party (6 and 8-day cruises)
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock & Glow
Mega Deck Party
Hot White Night Party
CENTER STAGE EVENT
The Evolution Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
Decades Party
LIDO DECK
EuroTour Deck Party (European themed party with line dancing)
80’s Rock N Glow Party
NIGHTCLUB
Silent White Hot Party
LIDO DECK
Mega Deck Party
80’s Rock & Glow
White Hot Night Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
LIDO DECK
70’s and Motown (Ocean Plaza)
The Great Alaskan Race
Silent Night Party
80’s Rock and Glow
Great Alaskan Bash
Decades (Ocean Plaza)
6-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock & Glow Party
Mega Deck Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
Farewell Party
8-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock & Glow Party
Mega Deck Party
Serenity Nights
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Show Down
Farewell Party
NIGHTCLUB
Silent White Party
LIDO DECK
White Hot Party
80’s R&G Party
CENTER STAGE
90’s Music Party
LIDO DECK
Alaska Deck Party
Mega Deck Party
80”s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
NOT RELEASED YET DUE TO DRY DOCK
5-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
Silent Disco
80s Rock & Glow
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
Decades Party
4-Day Cruises
LIDO DECK
80s Rock & Glow
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
Decades Party
Bermuda Cruises
LIDO DECK
Mega Deck
80s Rock and Glow Party
Silent White Night
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Showdown
Journeys Cruise
LIDO DECK
Mega Deck
Throwback Sea Day (daytime event)
80s Rock and Glow
Pirate Deck Party
Silent White Night
ATRIUM EVENTS
70s Party
Motown Showdown
50s Party
Decades Party
3-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
White Hot Night Party
4-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
White Hot Night Party
70’s and Motown Party
LIDO DECK
Sail Away Party
Island Themed Deck Party
Silent White Disco
80s Rock and Glow Party
Backyard bash
ATRIUM EVENTS
Abba Music Party
Superhero Party
90s Music Party
LIDO DECK
Alaskan Mega Deck Party
80’s Rock and Glow
ATRIUM EVENTS
70s and Motown Party
NIGHTCLUB
Silent White Night
5-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
Sail Away Party
Silent White Night
80s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Showdown
90s Music Party
4-day Cruises
LIDO DECK
Sail Away Party
80s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Showdown
90s Music Party
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
90’s Party
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
LIDO DECK
80’s Rock and Glow Party
Italian Festival Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Motown Party
LIDO DECK
Mega Deck Party
80s Rock and Glow Party
Silent Night Party
ATRIUM EVENTS
Hot White Party
Movie & TV Tunes Party
Silent Party
You don’t have to dress at all (I mean dress up at all – even Carnival has some standards), can keep it simple, or go all out. Here are a few reasonably-priced ideas available to purchase on Amazon (click on the photo to pull them up)*:
And with that…
Class Dismissed.
Homework (10 points): What’s a party without a few adult beverages? Find all the Carnival bar menus and drink prices HERE:
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*I earn a small commission on products purchased through links on my site at no extra cost to you, including through the Amazon Affiliates Program. All commissions go toward supporting the work of the website. Thank you for your support!
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