Carnival’s biggest cruise ship ever sets sail from Miami and TPG is on board
After a music-filled christening ceremony at the Miami cruise port Sunday night, Carnival Celebration – the cruise line’s biggest cruise ship ever – will set sail Monday on its maiden voyage from U.S. shores.
The six-night Caribbean cruise will keep the inaugural celebrations going with Thanksgiving festivities as guests on holiday try out all the ship’s attractions, from the line’s second roller coaster to an Emeril Lagasse restaurant.
TPG cruise editor Erica Silverstein is on board to document all the fun.
Naming ceremony
Carnival Celebration was not the only new Carnival property debuting Sunday. The festivities began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Carnival's redesigned state-of-the-art Terminal F at PortMiami — the F stands for "fun," said Christine Duffy, president of the line known for its "Fun Ships."
The line’s third terminal at the port and its largest in South Florida, Terminal F will be among the first to be shore-power ready in 2023. Passengers will appreciate a Captain's Lounge waiting area that can seat 500, an immersive tunnel on the second level and cool digital imagery throughout.
Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line
After the ribbon-cutting, guests boarded the ship for the naming ceremony. To celebrate what is also Carnival's 50th birthday and the passing of the name Celebration from the original 1987 ship to bear that name, Carnival chose Cassidy Gifford to be the ship's godmother, taking on the role from her mother, Kathie Lee Gifford, Carnival's first spokesperson and godmother of the first Celebration. Cassidy is an actress, appearing in TV and film roles including "God's Not Dead" and "The Gallows."
In a small gathering before the official christening, she spoke about how she grew up on Carnival ships, where she loved the waterslides and the pools. She talked about the memories she had of spending time with her brother and her dad while her mom worked, emphasizing the family focus of a Carnival vacation.
Then she joined Duffy and John Heald, Carnival's brand ambassador, on stage to name the ship. She pulled a candle-shaped lever atop a Romero Britto-designed birthday cake to trigger the traditional Champagne smash against the ship's hull as confetti rained from the ceiling. The evening concluded with a concert by Kool & The Gang, known for their hit song "Celebration."
About Carnival Celebration
The second ship in Carnival’s Excel class, the 15-deck-high Carnival Celebration is a sister vessel to Carnival's 181,808-ton, 6,630-passenger, 1-year-old Mardi Gras. (Third sister Carnival Jubilee debuts in 2023.)
The two identically sized ships are a whopping 35% bigger than the next-biggest Carnival ship currently afloat, the 3-year-old Carnival Panorama; only 11 other cruise vessels in the world are bigger than these twins. For comparison, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — the world's largest cruise ship — can house 7,084 passengers.
Related: The 8 types of Carnival cruise ships, explained
Beyond size, Carnival Celebration has many similarities to Mardi Gras. Most impressively, it has a roller coaster, named Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster, on its top deck. Its vehicles will reach speeds of roughly 40 miles per hour as they careen around an 800-foot-long track.
Carnival Celebration, like its sister, will have a giant water park on its top deck. It will also feature more suite options than other Carnival ships. Restaurants such as Rudi’s Seagrill, Chibang (mixing Mexican and Chinese) and Emeril’s Bistro 1397 (Creole favorites from Emeril Lagasse) all return on Celebration.
Plus, the ship will be powered by liquefied natural gas like its twin – the only two ships in Carnival’s fleet to have this technology.
But the new vessel won’t be a complete copycat of Mardi Gras. It will have three new “zones” (themed sections of the ship): Celebration Central, The Gateway and 820 Biscayne.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival ship
Celebration Central is the area located around the central atrium, featuring several bars that pay homage to the cruise line’s history. The Aquaria Bar is decorated with an ocean-themed glass mural originally found on Carnival Victory, and the Tropicale Bar is named after the Carnival ship that debuted the line’s famous red, white and blue split funnel.
The Gateway is a two-deck area themed around the joys of travel. Its 12 high-definition multimedia virtual windows will display scenes from around the world, tailored to that evening’s theme night. Food, drinks and entertainment in the area will match the theme, which could be Mexico Lindo or Abroad in Europe. The new Latitudes bar will evoke a classic train station and will feature a special happy hour every evening.
Finally, 820 Biscayne will be Carnival Celebration’s homage to Miami. Its Bar 820 will serve martinis and other cocktails inspired by South Florida, as well as Cuban coffee. Like Miami, this area will have a variety of dining options, ranging from Deco Deli and Miami Slice (for pizza) to the Italian Cucina del Capitano and Rudi’s Seagrill.
Returning zones include Summer Landing, Lido and The Ultimate Playground.
Related: Carnival cabin and suite guide
Carnival Celebration is scheduled to sail six- to eight-day voyages to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of – where else? — Miami. Fares start at $449 per person, not including taxes and fees.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.