Carnival Celebration - An honest review of what I loved and what I didn't!

[@decentsimon777]

The quality of this video is top notch professional. . . and the voice-over is just perfect. New subscriber joins the gang! Great work Jim :)

[@treyatl2006]

Great video as always!!! We went on the inaugural out of Miami and we had a blast!!! We agree about the buffet but there was so many offerings all over the ship that we didn’t miss it much…

[@sergiod6781]

I was anxious to see your review, this new class of mega ships will be a game changer for Carnival and I wanted to know what the experience is like on board.

[@jenniferklimas2353]

Your videos are great! I learn so much!!

[@dwayneplummer12]

Always a pleasure to watch a video from Jim. The best there is.

[@monkeyb1820]

Nice vid. We were very recently on Mardi Gras, and as you noticed: the free P&A, Cucina are NOT the same as the fee-based versions. At P&A, I filled in my sheet that I wanted salmon and brisket, then the worker came back to me saying that they couldn't do that. So I got the salmon. It was good, but not that big. And the sides were put into ketchup containers, so the entire dinner was only around 350 calories. So my only irritation was that for the sit-down, menu based dinners, you didn't have any idea how much food you would be getting. I really wish they would keep big chicken, Guy's, Blue Iguana open later into the dinner hours. So they got a lot right, and the new ships are gorgeous, but some of their obvious cost-cutting put a damper on it a bit.

[@_rubyfalls]

Always good to see your reviews, Jim. We went on the Mardi Gras earlier this year and we had a lot of the same the issues you did with Celebration. We’re also going back to the Vista class - the Havana area on those ships are worth it.

[@JimZim]

Yeah, considering that my favorite sea day activity is to just hang out by the pool, but I want it to be uncrowded and quiet... it's really hard to beat the Havana area on a Vista-class ship.

[@BrianAnother]

Glad to get another cruise video! Thanks!

[@loungelizard1975]

Great video as always Jim! I was hoping you would have stayed in a Havana Cabana but I understand why you didn’t on this trip and on this ship. There’s always a next time 😉. I especially liked your inclusion of port review and footage. Thanks for covering pool and hot tub options. The reduction in buffet selection is fleet wide on Carnival now, so I’m switching to Princess for my next 2 cruises to see the difference. But I heard there have been cutbacks on Princess as well in other areas and Princess WiFi is horrendous I have also heard.

[@lazettlee15]

I just booked a cruise on the same ship with the same ports of call for next year. So this is the perfect video.

[@PRTEEGRL]

First!!! Been waiting for your review Mr. Jim!!

[@coreygee799]

Totally agree with you regarding serenity pool temperature. Freeezing on Mardi Gras as well.

[@TerrelLism]

I loved bolt! I didn't know about Orange Thunder. I have to do that next time. Bingo was fun, played for the first time in years. I just really liked this ship. Emeril's was chef kiss!

[@derellcaldwell8653]

This was a very thorough review and tour. Thank you.

[@BlindManTravels]

I have a booking for sail away ⛵️ on this ship 🚢 on Super Bowl Sunday 🏈 Feb 9th 📅 with my dad 👨‍👦, and we are both looking forward to seeing the ship in person 👀.

[@davidbalfe6190]

Nice to meet you in the lift. Great video again.

[@JimZim]

Ah, that was you! Thank you for saying hello... you made me feel good!

[@Ryan-719]

Good video!! Any tips for solo travelers ?

[@ryankohnenkamp8946]

4:33 Looks like you sailed first week of December, which is typically THE cheapest time to cruise (in between Thanksgiving and Christmas school breaks). Probably why you got a great deal

[@chasecruises2008]

Great review! Watching this on Carnival Dream right now

[@claravincent800]

I really enjoyed my cruise on celebration in November. But the food was all something different...not good. I will go back on it not to eat. This was a great video. Keep up your good work.

[@chrisoverbey5937]

Great video Jim!

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

nice video

[@dwayneplummer12]

You should try the new vista class (Venezia). I’ll Bon on the July 17th trip

[@dwayneplummer12]

The food at Tijuana is awesomeeee. I was there in 2012

[@hainimonica8332]

alway enjoy your video. just came back from Mardi grass. it was thanks giving week and over 6ooo passages on board, according to the cruise director, it was most passages on carnival history. it was crowded. that was my only complained. my first carnival cruise. I enjoyed.

[@TerrelLism]

I was just on Celebration for my 40th Bday! I loved that ship. I'd definitely sail on the ship again. I just didn't like the sauna being co-ed and children being allowed with their parents. The sauna is small and it's a relaxing area, kids don't need to be down there.

[@lindajackson9247]

Which Balcony Cabin was the one you and your wife was In. I would definitely book this cabin. Floor and/or cabin number great video

[@JimZim]

It was 10438. Take a tour at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqO9lId_eZx1Y9U

[@ef66kenken]

👍big one🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@robertpinsky9230]

You didn't mention anything about the Havana section (I know you didn't stay in that area). Did you see it and is the pool area comparable to the Vista class ships?

[@JimZim]

It's funny that you mentioned that. I had actually written a couple of paragraphs about the Havana area on Carnival Celebration versus the Vista class... and I talked my way in to the Havana area to shoot some video of it, even though I wasn't really supposed to be in there, since I was not booked in a Havana cabin. But when I was doing the editing on this video in preparation for publishing it to KZbin... to my horror, I discovered that there was a technical problem with ALL the video I had shot in the Havana area of Carnival Celebration. Absolutely none of it was usable in my video. So, even though I had a LOT to say about the Havana area, I had absolutely zero video to go with it. So, I ended up cutting the whole thing from my script and my video. But, since you've brought the subject up... I'd like to share with you what I had written about the Havana area in my original script for this video. Here it is: The biggest thing that I truly dislike about this ship is the way they absolutely ruined the Havana area. On the Vista-class ships, the Havana area is such a paradise for folks like myself... That want to spend time at a quiet, un-crowded pool and sun deck and bar... With two hot tubs adjacent to the pool... And fantastic views of what's behind the ship. On Carnival Celebration, and on Mardi Gras... The Havana area is not at the back of the ship... It's up at the front... And only has a pool, and a bar... No hot tubs at all. It doesn't have any of the magic of the Havana area on the Vista class. But the good news is that instead of booking an expensive Havana cabin... Just book a cabin towards the back end of Carnival Celebration... And use the pool and sun deck and hot tubs on deck 8 aft... And you'll have some of the magic of the Vista-class Havana experience... At a much lower cost.

[@loungelizard1975]

@@JimZimgreat tip!

[@jimpame2]

@Jim Zim thank you! I almost booked the Havana section and am glad I didn't now.

[@cruisinwithdentures]

We got an 8 night cruise to the ABC islands this September on the Celebration in an extended balcony for $1400 for the 2 of us. Amazing deal.

[@JimZim]

Great deal! September is a good time of the year to catch low cruise prices!

[@Ryan-719]

Do you have any videos on the Mardi Gras?

[@JimZim]

No, I haven't been on that one yet.

[@TheCed5000]

Which cruise rates like you had attract new customers.

[@Aidan_Clifford]

Did Carnival develop Costa Maya? I know that they did develop Amber Cove, Grand Turk, Mahogany Bay, and Cozumel like you mentioned, but I never knew about Costa Maya.

[@JimZim]

Thanks for questioning that! It turns out that I was wrong about that. While Carnival has developed quite a few port sites, including the other ones I mentioned... after further research, I've discovered that Carnival wasn't involved in the development at Costa Maya. It's very similar to a lot of other sites that Carnival has developed... I guess that may be why I just assumed that it had been done by Carnival.

[@blackbirds4]

sounds like you still liked the Panorama Best

[@JimZim]

Yep, that's really my favorite Carnival ship. If you look up some of the videos I've done about Carnival Panorama, you'll understand why.

[@blackbirds4]

@@JimZim I've tried Vista, Horizon, Mardi Gras and Celebration. I will try Panorama. But my favorite Carnival ship remains to be the Legend out of Baltimore. I will be sailing it again for the 2023 Super Bowl.

[@nicolekrenzler2673]

Yes - I thoroughly enjoyed my cruise on the Panorama. Lovely ship, wonderful crew.

[@vkhiev]

Buffet is not good

[@JimZim]

I agree with you. The dinner buffet definitely sucks. Lunch and breakfast buffets are OK.

[@LaszloBagi]

Great video Jim!