Carnival Cruise Line Blog: What to Expect on a 4-Day Cruise

So you're considering a 4-day Carnival cruise? You're in for a treat! These shorter cruises are perfect for a quick getaway or a first-time cruise experience.

You'll have a blast on the ship, with plenty of activities to choose from, including live shows, music venues, and even a casino. Onboard amenities include a spa, fitness center, and pools.

Cruise ships typically depart from a variety of ports, such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Galveston. You can choose from a range of itineraries, including Bahamas and Caribbean cruises.

For more insights, see: Msc Cruises En Español

Amber Cove was not my favorite port, and I had relatively low expectations from the start.

The pool was overcrowded, which made me glad I had the option to stay onboard the ship.

There were no free activities available, and an umbrella by the pool was advertised for $22.

The ship's Wi-Fi didn't work ashore, and all-day access cost $8 per person.

Complimentary dining options were non-existent, and a simple Caesar salad would have cost $16.

I would have been better off staying onboard the ship to avoid the crowds and higher costs.

Both Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines offer great entertainment options at the poolside and shows. In my experience, I enjoyed the shows on Carnival more.

You can also expect to find fun activities on both ships, suitable for any age. Norwegian seemed to have more relaxing activities, but there are plenty to choose from.

The piano bar on Norwegian Escape was a highlight for me - it's a great spot to unwind and have fun.

The sailaway party was crazy as anticipated, with a packed lido deck and long lines for drinks.

I headed up to the lido deck around 3:50pm, just 10 minutes before the festivities were scheduled to begin, but it took me close to 20 minutes to get a drink from Red Frog.

To avoid the chaos, consider arriving at least 30 minutes early to get a drink and find a good viewing spot, as I plan to do on my next sailing onboard Carnival Vista.

The party was a fun experience, with everyone participating and having a good time, but I got overwhelmed after about 30 minutes and left to explore the rest of the ship.

I noticed families playing mini-golf and people riding BOLT, which was a great way to start the cruise.

You might be surprised at the variety of delicious meals available onboard Carnival Celebration. I had some fantastic meals in the Festivale Dining Room, Cucina del Capitano, Guy's Pig and Anchor Smokehouse, and ChiBang, as well as Emeril's Bistro 1397.

The bananas foster crepes at Emeril's Bistro 1397 were some of the best crepes I've ever had and were worth $6! I also loved the Kung Pao chicken at ChiBang, which definitely had some heat.

Some meals didn't quite hit the mark, like the pizza from Miami Slice or the beef roll from Steam Dream. I was also disappointed with the calamari on elegant night and the sea day brunch hash browns.

However, the variety of spicy meals onboard Carnival Celebration was a highlight for me. I have a pretty high spice tolerance and loved that I could find meals that would make me sweat a little bit during meals.

The salsa bar at BlueIguana was great, although I wish they had chips so I could snack on them by the pool!

Service is a top priority for both Norwegian and Carnival cruise lines. They're very prompt to help with any issues you have.

However, some passengers have found the service to be overly aggressive, particularly on Norwegian cruises. They may come across as "in your face" and even obnoxious at times, which can be off-putting.

It's worth noting that both cruise lines take customer service seriously, but it's essential to find a balance between being helpful and being intrusive.

The entertainment options on cruise ships are a highlight of any vacation. Both Norwegian and Carnival offer great entertainment at the poolside and shows, but the quality and variety can vary.

You can expect to find live music, activities, and competitions as part of the entertainment program on Carnival Imagination. Unfortunately, the program may not be as full as on other cruises.

The evening shows on Carnival Imagination are usually the highlight of the entertainment program, but in this case, they sounded like live music rather than a production. They also didn't take place until 10pm, which may be too late for some travelers.

On the other hand, the towel animal theatre was a lot of fun and a great surprise. It's a unique and entertaining experience that's worth checking out.

If you're looking for something more low-key, Norwegian seemed to have more relaxing activities to enjoy. However, both Norwegian and Carnival have plenty of fun things to do for all ages.

The Carnival Dream is a fantastic ship to explore. It's one of the biggest in Carnival's fleet, carrying around 3,646 passengers aboard.

One of the best things about the Carnival Dream is its recent makeover in 2017. This has ensured that the ship stays up-to-date with the latest amenities and attractions.

If you're looking for a ship with plenty of fun activities, the Carnival Dream is a great choice. It may be smaller than the Norwegian Escape, but it still packs a punch with its fun waterslides and more to do!

A 4-day cruise can be a great option, but it's definitely too short. The writer of this review wished it had been one day longer, especially to include a day at sea for the first and last days.

Sea days are tons of fun and nice and relaxing, making them a great way to start and end a cruise. A day at sea can be a wonderful way to unwind and recharge.

Catalina Island and Ensenada are nice, low-key ports that are fun to explore and offer a good contrast to each other and where you've come from.

A 4-day cruise can still be very worthwhile, but it's worth considering the length of the cruise when planning your trip.

If you're considering a Carnival cruise, you might be wondering about the ships themselves. Norwegian or Carnival: Ships, and I can tell you that I prefer dining on Carnival.

Carnival's ships offer a wide range of accommodations, including staterooms that can fit any budget. Norwegian or Carnival: Ships mentions that dining on Carnival is a pleasant experience, so you can expect a great culinary journey on their ships.

The size and amenities of Carnival's ships vary, but they all offer something unique to make your cruise special.

The Carnival Imagination has plenty of facilities to keep you entertained and active. There's a water park called "Waterworks" with water slides, a main swimming pool, and Jacuzzis.

You can also get some exercise on the walking track or play a round of mini golf outside.

The ship has a day spa and a gym for those looking to relax or get a workout.

A theatre is available for live shows, and there are shops and a casino for those who want to indulge in some retail therapy or try their luck.

There's also a night club for those who want to dance the night away.

Kids can enjoy themselves at Camp Ocean, a kids club with its own activities.

For some quiet time, you can visit the library/games room.

The teens area is another spot for young adults to hang out.

Internet access is available at the internet cafe, with WiFi packages starting at $5 per day for social media use.

If you're looking for a standard cabin, Carnival will probably be bigger, with standard cabins measuring 185 square feet or larger.

Norwegian's standard cabins are a bit smaller, coming in at 128 square feet.

If you're considering a cruise on Norwegian or Carnival, you'll want to know about their ships. Carnival Cruise Line has a fleet of 27 ships by the end of 2019, with eight of them built before 2000.

The smallest ships in Carnival's fleet are the Fantasy Class, which can accommodate 2,052 passengers. On the other hand, their largest ships are the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, both of which can carry 3,954 and 3,960 passengers, respectively.

Carnival's ships sail out of 17 ports in North America, plus Puerto Rico, offering a range of itineraries. You can choose from standard Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii itineraries, with European Cruises set to be added in 2020.

Carnival has a significant advantage when it comes to departure ports, offering more options than any other cruise line, including Norwegian. This is a huge benefit for passengers, as it allows them to take a cruise without having to fly to the ship.

With more departure ports, Carnival can reach a wider audience and appeal to more passengers looking for a quick getaway. This is especially important for those who want to save time and money on airline tickets, hotel rooms, and meals.

You'll have the freedom to choose your disembarkation group, and pick up your luggage tags between 8:00am and 6:00pm on the last day of the cruise. The earlier you go, the better your chances are of getting the group you want.

Checking in at Long Beach can be a bit of a wait, especially if you arrive early like we did. We got there before our allotted check-in time, and while it was good we didn't arrive even earlier, as it seemed like the staff didn't start checking people in until 1:30-2.

Checking in online beforehand can definitely speed up the process. We had done this, and it made a big difference.

If you're traveling with a family, including young kids, be prepared for a potentially long wait. They don't give any priority to families with babies and other young kids, which can be frustrating.

Arriving at the right time, like we did, can help minimize the wait. We got on the ship before we knew it, which was a relief.

Disembarkation was a breeze on this cruise. I opted for express disembarkation, which allowed me to carry my own luggage off the ship and skip the line.

You have the freedom to choose your disembarkation group, whether it's an early one or the latest group possible. This is a nice change from other cruise lines where you're assigned a group.

To pick up your disembarkation tag, head to one of the designated locations between 8:00am and 6:00pm on the last day of the cruise. The earlier you go, the better your chances are of getting the group you want.

Bags need to be outside your stateroom between 8:00pm and 10:00pm on the final evening. I took advantage of this flexibility to get a good spot in line.

You can get in line for express disembarkation as early as 7:25am, before your muster station is even called. I was off the ship and waiting for a Lyft by 7:35am, just ten minutes later.

If this caught your attention, see: Hamburg Amerika Line

The Norwegian Escape is a great option for those looking for a big ship experience. It's one of the newest ships in the fleet, sailing since October 2015.

This ship is massive, with 20 floors and a capacity to accommodate up to 4,266 passengers, plus crew. That's a lot of people, but don't worry, the ship is designed to handle it all.

If you're traveling with a family or just want a lively atmosphere, the Norwegian Escape is a great choice. With 28 bars and restaurants onboard, you'll have plenty of options to try something new every day.

If you're thinking of trying out everything on the ship, think again - with 28 bars and restaurants, you'll likely need multiple trips to try them all.

Departure Ports can save you time and money. With more departure ports, you don't need to fly to get to the ship, which means you'll save on airline tickets, hotel rooms, and meals.

Carnival has a huge advantage here, sailing from more ports than any other cruise line. Norwegian also sails from many ports, but not nearly as many as Carnival.

Having more departure port options can appeal to more cruise passengers looking for a quicker getaway. This is especially important for people who live close to the departure ports.

Carnival is the winner when it comes to departure port options, with more ports available than Norwegian.

The Carnival Imagination is a fantastic cruise line for families with kids. They have plenty of activities to keep your little ones entertained, such as Waterworks, which is lots of fun with kids.

Activity sheets for different age groups are also available, making it easy to keep your kids engaged and busy. There's something for every age group to enjoy.

One of the highlights of the Carnival Imagination experience is the Seuss at Sea program. This program is a must-try for families with kids who love Dr. Seuss. It features a special Green Eggs and Ham breakfast, a Seuss-a-palooza parade, and story time, among other fun activities.

The Carnival Imagination is a dream come true for kids! They'll love the Waterworks area, which is packed with fun activities.

Activity sheets are available for different age groups, making it easy for parents to keep their little ones entertained.

A Dr Seuss themed program called Seuss at Sea is a highlight of the cruise. It's perfect for kids who love the Cat in the Hat books.

The Seuss at Sea program includes a special Green Eggs and Ham breakfast, which is a great value at $5 per person.

Taking a cruise with a baby can be a fun experience, but it's essential to be aware of the costs and limitations. Babies cost the same as an extra adult in the room, despite not getting a proper bed.

Camp Ocean is available for babies, but it only operates at certain times of the day and with limited periods of drop-off service at an extra charge.

Babies are not allowed in swimming pools or water parks unless they're toilet-trained.

Get organized with the Carnival Hub app, which has all the activities and happenings on board for your cruise. You can even favourite the activities you're most interested in and get notified 15 minutes beforehand.

Taking your own luggage off the ship when you arrive back in port can save you time and hassle. We found it much easier to do this instead of waiting to be called.

Get the Carnival Hub app on your phone to stay organized and on top of your cruise activities. It's free to download once you're on board and has everything you need to know about what's happening on the ship.

You can favourite the activities you're most interested in and the app will notify you 15 minutes beforehand. This way, you'll never miss out on anything.

Taking your own luggage off the ship can save you time and hassle. You can choose when you leave the ship instead of waiting to be called.

Download the app and plan ahead to make the most of your cruise experience.

If you're new to cruises, you'll love the Carnival Imagination. It's a great way to spend quality time with your family.

The ship has a fun atmosphere, and you'll enjoy the ports and day at sea. Just be aware that the cabin can be small, especially if you're used to bigger ships.

A family with a first-time cruiser on board had a blast, so don't let concerns about trying something new hold you back. You'll have a great time, and the kids will love it too.

However, if you're traveling with a baby, be prepared for a different experience. The lack of sleep can be challenging, and you'll still need to do all the usual baby care tasks.

Cruises do get more enjoyable as kids get older, so if you're planning a family vacation, consider waiting until your little ones are a bit older.