Carnival Jubilee Review – An Underrated Gem or Just Another Carnival Party Ship? How Good Is The Carnival Cruise In 2025
Is The Carnival Jubilee a Good Ship?
We had an amazing time on the Carnival Jubilee ship. Even for us as a group that’s usually pretty critical of cruise lines.
Honestly, the Jubilee is a hidden gem in Carnival’s lineup. It really changed our perspective on what Carnival has to offer.
Sure, there were a few things that could be improved, but the positives far outweighed any negatives.
Would I go out of my way to book another Carnival cruise, especially on the Jubilee?
Maybe! If the right deal comes along, I’d happily sail on the Jubilee again or any of the Excel class ships for that matter.
The kids had a blast, and we all enjoyed ourselves. But like I said, it really comes down to getting the right deal at the right time for us to book again.
We don’t think the Carnival Cruise Jubilee is the best option of all the cruise lines offerings.
Is Carnival Screwing Their Sailors?
Before we dive deep into the review, Carnival recently announced their new rewards program.
Lot’s of sailors are extremely upset about these changes.
Read the full program change and my thoughts on it here.
The Carnival Stigma
I remember cruising with Carnival as a kid and having the best time with my family. But as an adult, I tended to avoid Carnival because of all the stereotypes that come with it.
If you’re reading this, you might have had the same thoughts I did:
- It’s just a big party scene, which means total chaos.
- With so many families, kids are going to be everywhere.
- It’s considered “budget” cruising, so it’ll feel overcrowded.
And honestly, while a few of those things did pop up, it really wasn’t as bad as I expected.
In fact, our friends were surprised when we got back and told them, “Yeah, we actually had a great time and we’d love to sail on the Jubilee again!”
What Intrigued Us Towards The Jubilee
Here’s what really caught my attention about the Jubilee:
First off, it was an amazing deal for a ship that’s practically brand new.
When I compared all the options sailing out of Galveston, the Jubilee stood out for a few reasons:
- The price was $2,200 for all four of us (two adults and two kids under five) during the summer.
- Every similar cruise was more expensive for the same number of nights.
- We wanted at least a week long itinerary, but most Galveston cruises were shorter and would cost about the same.
- We needed plenty of kid friendly amenities, and the Jubilee delivered with a ton of options (more on that in this review).
- And yes… the roller coaster was definitely a selling point for me!
Honestly, the only other ship that came close was Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, but the dates that worked for us would’ve been over $4,000!
So that was a no go.
Upon reading the Carnival Jubilee Reviews online, It pushed me to purchase our tickets on the Jubilee.
If you don’t know about “hidden” fees Cruise lines (Including Carnival) charge, they’re called “Pre Paid Gratuities”. I wrote a detailed breakdown on this here.
Make sure to read it to see what they are AND how to potentially get them removed if you need to get them taken off your account.
Carnival Jubilee Itinerary
The Jubilee mostly does the following itinerary most of the time – 3 total nights at sea and 3 stops. The 3 stops mainly being Cozumel, Mexico/Roatan, Honduras/Costa Maya, Mexico.
Most cruises departing from Galveston usually visit a mix of these ports:
- Cozumel, Mexico
- Costa Maya, Mexico
- Roatan, Honduras
- Belize City, Belize
You won’t always get all four stops on one itinerary, but you’ll typically see a combination of two or three.
Occasionally, ships will head east to the Central Caribbean, mainly to the Bahamas.
Personally, Cozumel and Roatan are some of my favorite destinations.
There’s always plenty to do, and I have a lot of experience with the all inclusive resorts in Mexico.
I’ve actually visited the area more than 20 times in the past four years… so you could definitely say I’m a fan!
Cabin Type & Deck
Normally, I’d go for a balcony cabin, but for this trip, an interior room just made more sense.
With my son being such a bundle of energy, I knew we wouldn’t be spending much time in the cabin anyway, so paying extra for a balcony didn’t seem worth it.
We expected the interior cabin to feel pretty tight, but we actually managed just fine with the space we had.
Honestly, with an inside cabin, you’re really just there to sleep and shower. Pair that with all the activities on the Carnival Jubilee, that was totally okay with us.
We chose a mid-ship interior cabin on Deck 10, specifically because it’s tucked between “private” decks—meaning there were no public spaces like the pool or theater above or below us.
Plus, mid-ship cabins tend to feel the ship’s movement the least, while the front of the ship feels it the most.
Carnival Jubilee Deck Plans
If you need access to Carnival Jubilees Deck Plans – Click here.
5 Things We Loved About The Carnival Jubilee
1. The Food
The Jubilee truly “excelled” in several areas (pun totally intended).
Below, I’ll share what stood out and what we really enjoyed about Carnival’s flagship cruise.
Right after boarding, we were starving, so we headed straight for the buffet. To our surprise, the food was fantastic and the variety seemed endless.
Honestly, I expected the buffet to be underwhelming, but it was actually the opposite. There was a “fresh meat carving” station every day, and it quickly became a favorite… we kept coming back for more.
Now, I did have one big frustration with the buffet (which I’ll get into in the “things I hated” section), but if we’re just talking about food quality, it was excellent.
It’s honestly miles ahead of MSC’s buffet/Food
And believe it or not, the dining options didn’t stop there…
Guys Burgers
Guy’s Burgers was an absolute highlight of the food options on Carnival.
Honestly, it’s the best burger I’ve ever had at sea.
They’re made fresh right in front of you and the signature seasonings from Guy really make them stand out.
I always went for two “Ringer” burgers because I can’t resist that BBQ sauce.
The only downside? The hours.
Depending on when you go, the line can wrap around the whole deck. I didn’t mind waiting since the burgers were so good, but there were times my wife thought the line was just too much.
And closing up shop by 4 pm is a bit of a letdown. Sometimes you just crave a great smash burger later in the day!
Shaq’s Big Chicken
Shaq’s Big Chicken is a fantastic addition to Carnival’s complimentary dining options.
Every sandwich I tried was packed with flavor and always hit the spot. My personal favorites were the “Big Aristotle” and the “Shaq Attack.”
Like Guy’s Burgers, the line at Shaq’s Big Chicken can get a bit long, but I never found it as overwhelming as the lines for Guy’s.
One downside, though, is the limited hours, it closes by 3 pm, which can be frustrating if you get hungry after a busy day onboard.
What I really loved about Shaq’s Big Chicken is its location right next to the aft pools and seating area.
Whether we were cooling off with a swim or just relaxing in the sun, the vibe around the restaurant was perfect.
Blue Iguana Cantina
One day at sea, after swimming with the kids, I was seriously craving tacos.
Blue Iguana hit the spot. It’s conveniently located right by the pool, so I just strolled over and grabbed three delicious beef tacos.
The menu at BlueIguana is pretty simple—just tacos and burritos—but honestly, it’s the perfect poolside option.
My only gripe, like with some of the other spots, is the limited hours.
BlueIguana Cantina is only open for a few hours in the afternoon, so make sure you swing by before they close.
Main Dining Room
With so many food choices on the Carnival Jubilee, we only ate in the main dining room twice during our entire trip.
Both times, the food and service were excellent.
We opted for “My Time” dining, so we just checked in on the app and were seated within minutes! Super convenient.
The appetizers were decent, but the main courses really stood out.
I had the braised lamb, and my wife chose the grilled chicken. Both dishes were packed with just the right amount of flavor.
Food – Overall
I can’t help but compare Carnival to other cruise lines in a similar price range, and MSC really stands out in my mind.
Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of MSC’s food at all. I always joke with my wife, “On MSC, I ate just to survive.”
Here’s a link to my MSC review.
With the Carnival Jubilee, it was a totally different story.
I never felt like I had to spend extra just to enjoy good food. If there’s one thing Carnival truly nails, it’s their food options.
2. Shows
Production Shows
Honestly, I went into the Carnival Jubilee expecting the shows to be pretty underwhelming. Just something to fill the time.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Jubilee put on some of the best produced shows we’ve ever seen at sea, and we’ve been to a lot of cruise ship performances.
When we headed to our first show in the Grand Central Theater, I figured it was just a way to pass the evening.
But as soon as the lights came up, the talent on stage blew us away. The singing and performances were top notch.
The first show we caught was more of a high energy party, with fantastic singing and dancing from the cast. The second was a full scale Broadway style production that kept us glued to everything happening on stage.
I wish I had written down the names of the shows because the performers truly looked like they came from a top tier production company.
From impressive acrobatics to quick costume changes, they were incredible.
Game Shows
The “Deal or No Deal” game show was a blast and kept us thoroughly entertained.
“Family Feud Live” was just as much fun as watching it on TV. I’ll admit, I was shouting out answers and having a great time.
These game shows are such a great addition to the Carnival Jubilee’s lineup of activities.
Our cruise director—or as they call him, the “Fun Director”—Louie, was fantastic. He was super engaging with everyone in the audience.
Every time we bumped into him, he’d check in with us, asking, “How are you guys doing?” or “Are you having a great time?”
Louie always made a point to kneel down and fist bump my son, making sure he felt included.
That small gesture really made us feel at home on the Jubilee.
If you’re reading this, Louie, thank you for making our trip so memorable—you and the entire Fun Crew truly went above and beyond for our family.
From the production shows to the game shows, I always felt genuinely entertained on board. Nothing ever felt like it was just there to fill time.
Carnival has really nailed it when it comes to both food and entertainment options.
3. Schedule of Events
The Carnival Jubilee’s schedule of events really reminded me of Virgin Voyages but with a family friendly twist.
There was always something happening.
Whether it was catching a production show or taking a spin on the Bolt Roller Coaster, there was fun for every age group.
Honestly, it felt like being at an actual carnival.
I kept thinking, “Should I go ride the roller coaster now, or head down to watch a show after enjoying some great food?”
Every day offered a mix of production shows, game shows, kids’ activities, and party style events. And if none of those were your thing, you could always head up to the pool, ride the roller coaster, check out Sports Square, or just unwind at the spa.
If you’re someone who likes to stay busy, you’ll never get bored on the Carnival Jubilee.
If you prefer to relax, the ship is spacious enough to find your own quiet spot to kick back.
4. Kids Amenities
If you’re looking for a cruise packed with things for kids to do and a great family experience overall, the Carnival Jubilee truly delivered more for my kids than any other ship we’ve sailed.
Swimming and hitting the water slides became a daily tradition for us.
I’ll never forget the look on my son’s face as he came down those slides. It is a memory that’ll stick with me forever.
We did have a minor issue with my one year old daughter (I go into more detail about that in the “things I hated” section), but overall, the positives far outweighed the negatives.
Most evenings, we’d play mini golf, then head to the arcade for some extra fun. The Build-A-Bear event in Grand Central was a huge hit. All the kids who joined in had a blast.
Dr. Seuss events were another highlight.
My kids’ faces lit up when the characters walked around the ship for photos. It was honestly heartwarming. We even joined a parade through the ship, clapping and jumping along with the characters.
You can really tell Carnival puts a lot of effort into making these events special.
Camp Ocean offered a play area for kids under seven, and my kids wanted to go there every single day.
All in all, the Carnival Jubilee is the ultimate family cruise.
When it comes to kids’ activities and amenities, it’s right up there with (or even better than) what we’ve experienced on other cruise lines.
5. Cabin Crew
Before sailing with Carnival as an adult, I honestly didn’t expect the cabin crew to measure up to what we’ve experienced on some of the “higher end” cruise lines.
If I’d put money on it, I would’ve lost big time.
Our main cabin steward, Olvin, was truly an asset to Carnival Cruise Line.
At one point, I even turned to my wife and said, “I can’t believe we’re getting this level of service on Carnival.”
Olvin was always on top of everything.
Anytime we needed towels or anything else, he seemed to be a step ahead, anticipating our needs before we even asked.
Thanks to him, our room was always spotless and perfectly in order.
He made it a point to greet us every morning as we headed out. The moment we left and the door closed, Olvin would pop out from his station, ready to take care of our room like it was his own.
He’d always reassure us with, “I will have your room ready for you!” and he never let us down.
On embarkation day, Olvin asked my son about his favorite animals, and every time we returned to our room, my son would find a towel elephant or turtle waiting for him.
It absolutely made his day.
Carnival, if you’re reading this… Olvin is a true asset to your team and the Carnival Jubilee. “Above and beyond” doesn’t even begin to describe the level of service he provided!
5 Things We Hated About The Carnival Jubilee
By now, it’s probably clear just how much we fell in love with what Carnival had to offer.
But I’d be remiss if I said everything was perfect.
Every cruise line has its “Achilles’ heel,” and Carnival is no different.
Honestly, a few of these issues really stood out and, unfortunately, some even played into the usual Carnival stereotypes.
Here are the five things we didn’t love about our Carnival experience.
1. Lack of Crowd Control
It’s no secret that Carnival draws big crowds… after all, it’s known for being a FUN cruise line.
But sometimes, those crowds can get a bit overwhelming. One situation in particular really stood out to me…
We were taking our kids to Camp Ocean, the onboard daycare and play center. While waiting in line, we suddenly heard a huge group approaching.
Within seconds, the entire fourth floor area was swarmed by teens playing tag and running around without a care.
While I totally get that kids need to have fun, things got out of hand when they started bumping into much younger children.
All the parents in line looked worried, and the Camp Ocean staff even had to call for extra help.
A handful of teens were also knocking on random doors and then darting back into the crowd of kids. By the time ship security arrived, the group had already moved up a deck or two—and we could still hear them causing chaos above us.
That experience really made me realize Carnival could use better crowd control.
I know there’s only so much a cruise ship can do, but since this is Carnival’s flagship, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a bit more oversight in situations like this.
Especially around the toddler playing areas.
2. Food Hours of Service
As much as we loved the food onboard, there was one major downside: the restaurant hours.
The buffet, for example, closed early to prep for dinner—which is understandable. But if you get hungry after 10 pm, your options are seriously limited.
At night, the buffet only offers hot dogs and some cold food, and just one or two small sections stay open. It was honestly frustrating to see how few late night food choices there were.
Most nights, we’d end up heading to the pizza place, but the line was always at least 50 feet long.
The lack of good late-night food options was a real letdown, especially for a cruise that’s all about fun and parties. You’d expect better food availability well into the night.
Many events wrap up around 10 or 11 pm (sometimes even later), so it’s only natural to get hungry. This was a big issue for me.
On the last two nights, I actually went to the buffet around 9 pm and ate extra just because I knew I wouldn’t find anything decent to eat later.
One night, I even tried room service, but the menu was super limited. Mostly kids’ meals.
The only thing worth ordering was chicken tenders and fries, and I had to pay extra for it. I just wish there were more options.
I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. While waiting for pizza, I overheard someone at a nearby table saying he wished there was more to eat at night.
The limited hours were pretty much an issue across the board with most free food options:
- Shaq’s Big Chicken: closes at 3 pm
- Guy’s Burgers: closes at 6 pm
- BlueIguana Cantina: closes at 2 pm
- Buffet (main dinner): ends at 9:30 pm
Most days, it felt like whenever I was craving something specific, I had already missed the window.
3. “Chibang” and Guys Pig & Anchor Bbq
“Chibang”
These were honestly some of the worst restaurants I’ve ever experienced at sea on any cruise line.
Let’s start with Chibang.
Is Chibang free? Yes, justfor your first visit. After that, there’s an extra charge.
Chibang is a fusion restaurant featuring Mexican and Chinese cuisine. While the service was great, the food was a huge letdown.
We stuck to the Chinese side of the menu, starting with egg drop soup and potstickers.
I barely made it through two spoonfuls of the soup. It tasted like watery eggs and nothing else. The potstickers were just okay, but served cold.
For our mains, we tried the beef & broccoli and the kung pao chicken.
Both dishes were honestly awful. The sauces tasted old and far from fresh, and the meat was so tough it felt like chewing on rubber bands.
Dessert didn’t save the meal, either. The tres leches cake was missing any trace of “leches”—it was dry and flavorless.
We were genuinely shocked at how bad Chibang was. Carnival usually does a great job with food, but Chibang felt like it was just thrown onto the ship to fill space.
Honestly, I’d rather see an empty spot than have another meal there.
Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bbq
As a native Houstonian, I get genuinely excited about BBQ.
I was seriously pumped to try Guy’s Pig & Anchor, especially since I’m a big fan of Guy’s Burgers, so I figured the experience would at least be decent.
Let me say this upfront: the main issue with Guy’s Pig & Anchor isn’t the food itself—the food is actually pretty good. The real problem is the portion sizes.
When my tray of food came out, I honestly thought it was my son’s because the portions were so tiny. But nope, it was mine.
To give you an idea: the brisket slice was small enough to finish in a single bite, the chicken drumstick was about the size of my pinky, and the sides…. maybe two spoonfuls of mac & cheese and barely a spoonful of mashed potatoes.
I actually thought I was being pranked.
I even asked the server if those were the normal portions. The lady at the next table leaned over and said, “It’s terrible, isn’t it?” That’s when I realized it wasn’t just me.
It took three trays just to feel remotely satisfied. And if you’re thinking, “Maybe I just eat a lot”… trust me, these portions could easily fit in one hand.
Even my son asked for seconds.
Great food, but the portions were seriously disappointing.
4. Lack of Baby Swim Areas
I know that cruise ships typically don’t allow babies in diapers to swim, but I was honestly surprised there wasn’t a splash pad specifically for little ones in diapers.
When we tried to let my daughter play in the kids’ water park, the lifeguard immediately let us know she wasn’t allowed to swim anywhere on the ship.
Given how many families and young kids are on board Carnival, I really expected there to be at least one splash pad area for diapered babies.
So if you’re traveling with a little one who still wears diapers, just be aware of this policy.
It’s surprising that a cruise line so focused on families doesn’t offer a dedicated space for the youngest cruisers.
5. Central Elevators
If you have limited patience or mobility challenges, this is important to know.
The central elevators almost always had a wait time of 5–15 minutes. It was pretty rough most days.
If you booked a cabin near the central elevators thinking it would be convenient, be prepared for long waits.
During our cruise, two out of the six central elevators were out of service, and the remaining ones were constantly packed.
For anyone with mobility issues, especially if this is your first cruise, reaching a working elevator can mean a long walk.
My advice: use the aft elevators. We rarely had to wait for them, and it made getting around the ship much easier.
Overall
All in all, the Carnival Jubilee was a fantastic experience.
It completely changed my perspective on Carnival, and I’d definitely consider cruising with them again, especially with my kids.
Is Carnival the absolute best option out there? Not necessarily.
But the prices for their Excel class ships are pretty competitive compared to what other cruise lines offer. If the deal is right, you should absolutely cruise the Jubilee.
If you’re after a more upscale experience, I’d recommend checking out Royal Caribbean or some of MSC’s newer ships.
About the Author:
Kam is a passionate traveler with a decade of cruising experience, having explored the world by sea for over ten years.
He has immersed himself in the unique offerings of all the major cruise lines, from popular favorites to luxury experiences.
Kam’s journeys span Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises, Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Oceania, MSC, and many more you’re sure to recognize.
His firsthand knowledge and love for adventure bring a seasoned, insightful perspective to every travel story he shares.