Ship Comparison
Carnival Adventure vs Carnival Festivale
Carnival Adventure offers a lively, established experience perfect for families, while the upcoming Carnival Festivale promises cutting-edge, family-focused innovation and sustainable Caribbean journeys.
The verdict
Choosing between Carnival Adventure and Carnival Festivale really comes down to whether you prefer a tried-and-true, value-oriented experience or are eager for the very latest in cruise innovation. Carnival Adventure, a seasoned ship from 2001, delivers a consistently fun and family-friendly atmosphere with a strong emphasis on complimentary dining and a dedicated crew. Its array of activities, from waterslides to comedy clubs, offers a classic Carnival vacation. However, some elements, particularly the standard cabins, may feel less modern. Carnival Festivale, launching in 2027, is a brand-new Excel-class ship designed with a focus on family harmony and sustainability. It will feature more interconnecting cabins than any other Excel ship, a massive new waterpark, and immersive music venues, all powered by LNG. While it represents the future of Carnival cruising with fresh aesthetics and innovative features, specific service nuances and the full breadth of its offerings are yet to be experienced. For those seeking immediate value and a vibrant, proven experience, Adventure is ready. For those who prioritize the newest, most innovative, and environmentally conscious options, Festivale is one to watch for its debut.
Choose Carnival Adventure if…
Travelers seeking a lively, value-focused family cruise with diverse complimentary dining and entertainment, and a strong emphasis on crew interaction.
Best for
- Families and groups seeking a lively and affordable cruise experience.
- Guests who appreciate a wide array of complimentary dining options.
- Travelers looking for diverse entertainment, from waterslides to comedy shows.
- Cruisers departing from Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore.
Avoid if
- You prefer ultra-modern amenities and cabin aesthetics.
- You are seeking a quieter, more intimate cruise experience.
- You require high-speed internet for working at sea.
- You dislike additional charges for certain specialty snacks and shows.
Choose Carnival Festivale if…
Families and innovation enthusiasts looking for the newest ship, state-of-the-art waterparks, flexible cabin configurations, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Best for
- Families requiring flexible cabin configurations with numerous interconnecting options.
- Guests eager to experience the newest innovations in cruise ship design and entertainment.
- Eco-conscious travelers who prefer LNG-powered ships for reduced environmental impact.
- Those specifically interested in Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral.
Avoid if
- You prefer a smaller, more intimate ship experience.
- You are looking for diverse global itineraries outside the Caribbean in its initial season.
- You prefer an established ship with fully proven operational details.
- You are sensitive to potentially larger crowds that come with mega-ships.
Overall Vibe
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure, built in 2001, offers a lively and fun atmosphere across its 17 decks. It's a ship that has seen some life, providing a classic Carnival experience focused on broad appeal. While it may not boast the newest innovations, its established features and comfortable, if sometimes dated, aesthetic create a welcoming environment for those seeking a value-packed, activity-rich vacation without the ultra-modern frills. The ship’s character leans into a tried-and-true formula, emphasizing good times and a straightforward cruise experience for all ages.
Carnival Festivale
The forthcoming Carnival Festivale, set to launch in 2027, is designed as an Excel-class mega-ship, promising a fresh, innovative, and high-energy atmosphere across its 19 decks. As a new build, it will showcase Carnival's latest concepts and a modern, vibrant aesthetic. Its design emphasizes family harmony and sustainability, being powered by LNG. This ship aims to be a cutting-edge event in itself, offering a trendsetting environment for cruisers eager for the newest experiences and a forward-thinking approach to vacationing at sea.
Atmosphere & Crowd
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure cultivates a distinctly lively and family-friendly atmosphere, welcoming a broad mix of guests across its decks. With a passenger capacity of 2,636 and a dedicated crew of 1,100, the ship maintains a comfortable guest-to-crew ratio, ensuring attentive service amidst the bustling activity. The overall vibe is one of enthusiastic fun, where guests can enjoy a variety of hosted games, live music, and diverse entertainment. It's a ship where socializing is natural, and laughter often fills the air, making it particularly appealing for groups and families seeking an energetic holiday experience.
Carnival Festivale
Carnival Festivale, with its impressive passenger capacity of 5,270 and a crew of 926, is designed to accommodate a much larger crowd while still fostering a fun-focused and high-energy environment. As an Excel-class ship, it will cater extensively to families, featuring a significant number of interconnecting cabins. The atmosphere is anticipated to be vibrant and modern, leveraging its six distinct zones to distribute guests and activities effectively. The focus on innovation and new experiences suggests a crowd eager to explore cutting-edge cruise offerings, maintaining a dynamic and engaging ambiance throughout the ship.
Dining
Carnival Adventure
Dining on Carnival Adventure offers a varied culinary journey with 21 different options, striking a balance between included and specialty venues. Guests can enjoy complimentary meals at Waterfront, Angelo’s for Italian classics, and Dragon Lady for East Asian flavors, with rotational dining ensuring variety. For those seeking elevated experiences, Luke's Bar & Grill provides fine Australian dining at an additional cost, while options like Trattoria, Seafood Shack, and Avalon Cafe offer a la carte choices. The Pantry provides a cheerful food court experience, emphasizing fresh, staff-served options, which is a thoughtful touch.
Carnival Festivale
Carnival Festivale is set to expand Carnival's culinary landscape, maintaining popular complimentary options like the Main Dining Room, Guy's Burger Joint, and Big Chicken. The ship introduces Street Eats, a tribute to global street food, providing a range of international flavors without extra charge. For specialty dining, guests can explore Bonsai Teppanyaki, Bonsai Sushi, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, all at an additional cost. The focus is on diverse, modern choices, including a new unnamed venue replacing ChiBang, ensuring a fresh and expansive dining program.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure provides a robust entertainment lineup designed to keep guests engaged from day to night. The Marquee Theatre hosts Playlist Productions, while the Black Circus offers adult-only burlesque, comedy, and circus acts. Daytime fun includes the thrilling Edge Adventure Park with ziplining and rock climbing, twin racing waterslides, and Dive-In Movies by the pool. For evening revelry, guests can enjoy live music in various venues, family-friendly or adult-only comedy at The Punchliner Comedy Club, and dance the night away at Altitude Nightclub. The casino offers adult gaming options.
Carnival Festivale
Carnival Festivale elevates entertainment with innovative, music-inspired experiences across its six zones. The highlight is Carnival Waterworks Ultra, a new waterpark with six slides, splash pads, and evening illuminations with a DJ. Guests can enjoy interactive game shows like Family Feud Live, or unwind at new immersive music venues such as The Spark, featuring live performances, and Mix, a creative cocktail bar. Traditional favorites like The Punchliner Comedy Club and Center Stage & Playlist Productions are also present, complemented by the expansive Festivale Casino, including a $1 Million Dollar Slot Progressive Jackpot.
Cabins & Suites
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure offers a range of accommodations from Interior and Ocean View staterooms to various Suites. Standard cabins, including Interior, Ocean View, and Balcony, are noted as being fairly compact, with some balcony cabins on decks 9 and 10 having limited privacy due to overhead views. Suites, such as the Byron Beach Presidential Suite and Ocean Suite, provide more space, starting at 172 sqft plus balconies, and often include perks like priority boarding and complimentary laundry. Byron Beach Suites, specifically, grant access to the exclusive Byron Beach Club, enhancing the personalized experience.
Carnival Festivale
Carnival Festivale is designed with a strong emphasis on family harmony, notably featuring 1,000 interconnecting cabins, which is 70 percent more than existing Excel-class ships. This innovative approach replaces the traditional Family Harbor staterooms, offering flexible configurations for larger groups. The ship also introduces specialized Havana Staterooms & Suites, providing unique décor and exclusive access to the Havana Bar & Pool for guests aged 12 and older. Cloud 9 Spa Stateroom & Suites cater to wellness-focused travelers with exclusive amenities and spa access, ensuring a modern and tailored lodging experience.
Service & Onboard Style
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure is praised for its excellent crew service, with a dedicated staff of 1,100 supporting its 2,636 guests, contributing to a welcoming and attentive atmosphere. The onboard style is lively and fun, aligning with Carnival's mainstream, family-oriented class. While some cabins may feel dated, the overall experience is enhanced by the crew's commitment to guest satisfaction and the ship's focus on creating an enjoyable, engaging environment. The presence of exclusive areas like the Byron Beach Club for suite guests also allows for a more personalized, upscale service touch within the broader fun-filled ambiance.
Carnival Festivale
As a new Excel-class ship launching in 2027, Carnival Festivale is expected to deliver a modern and innovative onboard style, with a crew of 926 serving 5,270 passengers. While specific service details are emerging, Carnival's Excel class typically emphasizes efficiency and technology to support its larger capacity. The ship's design incorporates six distinct zones, aiming to manage guest flow and provide diverse experiences, from high-energy entertainment to tranquil retreats like the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. The focus on sustainability with LNG power also reflects a forward-thinking operational style.
Best Itineraries
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure offers diverse regional itineraries, primarily sailing from Sydney, with select cruises also departing from Melbourne and Singapore. This positioning provides guests with opportunities to explore destinations across Australia and Southeast Asia. The varied departure ports make it accessible for travelers in different regions, catering to a range of vacation preferences, from shorter escapes to more extended explorations of captivating port cities and scenic waters. Its flexibility appeals to those looking for regional convenience.
Carnival Festivale
Carnival Festivale will homeport exclusively in Port Canaveral, primarily focusing on Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. A significant highlight for these sailings will be visits to Carnival's private destinations, including the new Celebration Key. This targeted regional focus allows guests to immerse themselves in tropical destinations, offering quintessential Caribbean cruise experiences with plenty of sun, sand, and sea. The new private island destination promises an enhanced and exclusive port experience, adding a unique draw to its Caribbean offerings.
What reviewers say
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure is a fun and affordable ship, especially for families and groups. It offers fee-free specialty dining and a lively atmosphere, though some shows and snacks cost extra, and cabins feel dated.
Carnival Festivale
As a forthcoming Excel-class ship, Carnival Festivale is poised to redefine family cruising with an unprecedented number of interconnecting cabins and an innovative new waterpark. While specific itineraries and full dining details are still emerging, it promises a fun-filled, sustainable vacation experience.
Itineraries to compare
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Carnival Adventure
Carnival Festivale
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