Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Jubilee: Sail to the Western Caribbean on a megaship
Snapshot
Carnival Jubilee debuted in December 2023 with sailings out of Galveston, Texas. It's tied as the largest ship in the Carnival fleet, carrying 5,374 passengers at double occupancy and 6,500 guests at full capacity. (Expect more guests during peak and holiday sailings.)
The megaship offers travelers a wealth of options on board, from fun-filled activities every day to a relaxing getaway. Highlights include the ship's Bolt rollercoaster, the three-story atrium with ocean views that converts into an entertainment venue at night and a choice of 20 restaurants on board.
Carnival Jubilee is part of Carnival Cruise Line's Excel class. It shares similarities with sister ships Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, but it has some distinctive features of its own, including signature venues and two new zones that are unique to the ship and themed to celebrate the ocean.
Where Carnival Jubilee sails
Carnival Jubilee features seven-day Western Caribbean cruise vacations. A typical sailing departs from Galveston late Saturday afternoon, has a sea day, then stops at Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan Island (Mahogany Bay, Honduras) before returning to Galveston.
Zones on board
As other megaships have done in recent years, Carnival Jubilee has divided the ship into six themed zones. Four will be familiar to those who have cruised on other Excel class ships:
- Grand Central is ground zero for people watching, with a grand atrium, floor-to-ceiling windows, 14-foot LED screens, a ceiling of 1,400 color-changing lights, a Center Stage with a revolving live entertainment, the Grand View Bar and Piano Bar 88 lounges, dining spots including Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki and The Punchliner Comedy Club.
- Summer Landing is the go-to spot for chilling out. Look for a big ol' swimming pool, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse for brewskis and BBQ, the poolside bar The Watering Hole, the Heroes Tribute Lounge to honor those who've served their country, and Swirls, the free soft-serve spot.
- Lido is a laid-back poolside zone featuring the RedFrog Tiki Bar, Street Eats, Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Shaq's Big Chicken, a Swirls soft-serve venue and more.
- The Ultimate Playground starts with Bolt, the first rollercoaster at sea that's now even more amped up. Carnival WaterWorks sports three huge spiraling slides for outdoor fun. And SportSquare features a mini-golf course, full-court basketball and a ropes course.
In addition, Carnival Jubilee debuts two new ocean-themed zones:
- Currents is an underwater-themed zone of sunken cities, mermaids and sea monsters with an immersive digital undersea environment and a wave-shaped LED ceiling. Emeril’s Bistro 717, Dr.Inks, Ph.D. and the Golden Mermaid are among the bars, dining spots and live music venues here.
- The Shores is where water meets the land. Here you'll find beaches, boardwalks and piers along with the Coastal Slice pizza place, Marina Bar, Beach Buns sandwich eatery and more.
Dining options
Carnival Jubilee has 20 restaurants on board, including these complimentary options:
Dining Room
The main dining rooms are big, sprawling affairs offering a broad menu of dishes covering just about any taste.
BlueIguana Cantina
This colorful staple of the Carnival line is a real Mexican fiesta, with dishes such as homemade tortillas. BlueIguana Cantina serves breakfast and lunch.
Cucina del Capitano
Bring on the multiple courses! The Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano offers comfortable family-style dining, serving antipasti, entrées, classic pizza and pasta favorites. Open for dinner only.
Guy's Burger Joint
If you've grabbed a burger and hand-cut fries at Guy's Burger Joint, you know why it's one of the most popular dining venues on Carnival. It's all about the unfussy food.
Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse
Dig into ribs, chicken and salmon dishes at celebrity chef Guy Fieri's lively restaurant. The place has a great atmosphere and a real family feel.
Chibang
Chibang is a combo of Chinese and Mexican traditions in a single menu that lets you mix, match and share in an elegant setting. Open for lunch and dinner.
Rudi's Seagrill
Dine at Rudi’s Seagrill for classic seafood dishes presented in the chef’s signature smiley-face style.
Big Chicken
Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken restaurant offers comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Specialty restaurants
Emeril's Bistro 1396
Get a taste of cool Creole cuisine at celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s first restaurant at sea. Dishes range from fried oysters to duck and sausage gumbo.
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
A highlight of any cruise is dinner at Fahrenheit 555, a sophisticated restaurant that's a fitting venue for a special celebration meal. Lobster and steak prepared as you like it are among the specialties on the menu.
Bonsai Sushi
For something a little different, head to Bonsai Sushi for freshly prepared, delicate sushi creations along with sashimi, rolls and soups.
Bonsai Teppanyaki
This regular staple serves traditional Japanese and Asian-inspired cuisine. Open for lunch and dinner.
The Chef’s Table
Experience a multi-course dining experience at the Chef's Table, where each dish has been carefully honed by a master chef with smart wine pairings to boot.
Bars & lounges
Some of the top lounges and bars on board include the following — and note that drinks cost extra:
Atrium
The Atrium is ground central for people watching, offering ocean views by day and live entertainment and performances in the evening.
Alchemy Bar
In an adventurous mood? See talented mixologists create inventive cocktails layered with all sorts of exciting flavors.
Havana Bar
This Cuban-inspired bar boasts great ocean views, live music and authentic Cuban recipes, including café Cubano and handcrafted Cuban cocktails. Stay late to watch the sun go down in a fabulous tropical atmosphere.
Red Frog Tiki Bar
Explore a drink menu filled with South Pacific-inspired favorites at this fanciful venue.
Brass Magnolia
Taking its theme from New Orleans’s famous music scene, this lounge boasts live jazz in addition to cocktails.
Fortune Teller
Elevated cocktails such as the Abracadabra, Golden Galaxy and New Moon are the stars of the show at this swanky New Orleans bar and lounge.
Piano Bar 88
Request your favorite songs for the resident pianist to perform while you sip on a cocktail or glass of wine.
Activities & entertainment
In addition to wild rides on the roller-coaster Bolt, Carnival Jubilee offers a wealth of activities — or places to just chill. The three-deck-high atrium features a breathtaking view of the open sea thanks to a large window front. Enjoy live music here during the day with a cup of coffee or a small snack before the location becomes a stage in the evening where artists present shows developed for Carnival.
You'll find plenty of outdoor activities in the Ultimate Playground neighborhood. Highlights include the WaterWorks aquapark with waterslides, Skyride, Skycourse and Sportsquare, which has an indoor hangout, mini-bowling, mini-golf course, The Clubhouse, Ping-Pong area, jogging track, interactive sports gaming and arcade basketball.
You'll find nightly entertainment throughout the ship. The Jubilee Theater is the main show lounge and offers stage productions. The Family Harbor Lounge has 24-hour complimentary dining, movies, video games, board games and babysitting. Adults can enjoy some private time at the Loft 19, which is a VIP space that has sunbathing area with fully-stocked cabanas (for an extra fee). They also will enjoy the complimentary Serenity Retreat.
On the ship you'll find: 5 outdoor pools, 5 whirlpools, 3 waterslides, a water park, ropes course, sports court, mini-golf, jogging track, video arcade, show lounge, spa and hair salon.
You won't find: a zipline, rock climbing wall, ice rink, bowling or library.
Highlights include:
Cloud 9 Spa
Wellness lovers and tranquility seekers can experience total relaxation at the Cloud 9 Spa, where you can unwind in the Thalassotherapy Pool, or pamper yourself with a treatment.
Serenity Adult Only Retreat
Unwind in a state of bliss at the Serenity retreat, a space to reconnect with your loved one and soak up all the sun in a peaceful environment.
On stage
The Playlist Productions venue showcases musical productions with different genres of music.
Punchliner Comedy Club
In the mood for laughter? Head to Punchliner, where a range of acts will take the stage to entertain you in the evening.
Fitness Center
Take advantage of making time to use the range of state-of-the-art equipment.
Casino
Head to the casino on board, where you have a choice of slot machines, blackjack, poker and other table games.
For children
Carnival Jubilee offers family-friendly activities throughout the ship. Bolt, the Ultimate Sea Coaster, is thrilling and safe for kids. Have the kids play at WaterWorks for some splashy fun and three tall waterslides. There's also a ropes course, mini-golf, basketball courts, arts and crafts, a video arcade and Dr. Seuss Bookville. The whole family can enjoy movie nights in a big outdoor cinema.
Children and teens also have their very own dedicated clubs and lounges that offer age-appropriate activities and programs. Camp Ocean is for the little ones. Teens can hang at Club O2 (video games sports, karaoke) or Circle "C" (watch movies, play games and dance to party music).
Staterooms
Interior
Interior staterooms offer a choice of Interior, Havana Interior, Cloud 9 Spa Interior, Family Harbor Interior and Premium Interior rooms. The Havana Interior staterooms are for 12 years and above only and will offer exclusive access to the Havana pool area, while the Cloud 9 Spa Interior will provide exclusive spa perks. The Family Harbor Interior offers exclusive access to the Family Harbor Lounge as well as free babysitting. Premium Interior and Interior offer more upscale digs.
Ocean View
Ocean View staterooms include the Cloud 9 Spa Ocean View with exclusive spa perks and Ocean View staterooms with picturesque views of the ocean. The Family Harbor Ocean View comes with exclusive access to the Family Harbor Lounge, which includes breakfast, board games and snacks, and a free evening of babysitting services.
Balcony
The Balcony stateroom categories include the Havana Cabana and Havana Extended Cabana, both featuring an outdoor patio and exclusive access to the Havana Pool area. The Cloud 9 Spa Forward-View Extended Balcony rooms feature bow-facing, larger-than-standard balconies and some exclusive spa perks. Balcony choices also include the Premium-View Extended Balcony, Extended Balcony, Balcony, Junior Balcony and Cove Balcony staterooms.
Suites
The ship also features 11 Suite room categories, with the largest being the Carnival Excel Presidential Suite, which will include a separate bedroom, walk-in closet, lighted vanity, sectional sofa and dining area with wet bar.
Fun facts
- The ship is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of the cruise line's commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction.
- Carnival Jubilee is the first German-built cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line, delivered by Meyer Werft of the Meyer Group in November 2023.
- Jubilee sports a Texas star on its bow, a nod to its home port of Galveston.
Interested in a cruise on this ship?
For pricing, itinerary information and to reserve your spot on Carnival Jubilee, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant by email or by calling 1-877-322-3773.
Top highlights on this ship
Top dining options on board
