Complete Guide to the New Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship

Carnival Jubilee is Carnival Cruise Line’s third Excel-class mega ship, following Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The 182,800 gross ton ship is set to debut in Galveston, Texas in December 2023. Carnival Jubilee can hold 5,374 guests at double occupancy and 6,631 at maximum occupancy.

Here’s a guide to what the new Carnival Jubilee cruise ship has to offer guests, including cabin categories, dining options, bars and lounges, activities, entertainment, and more.

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Complete Guide to the New Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship

Carnival Jubilee Staterooms

There are 2,687 guest staterooms on Carnival Jubilee, including 82 accessible cabins. Accommodations on the ship are broken down into four main categories: interiors, oceanviews, balconies, and suites. These categories are then further broken down into specially-themed staterooms that come with exclusive interior design and privileges.

Interior

Carnival Jubilee features 811 standard interior cabins which are 158 square feet each. Interior means that they’re located in the interior of the ship and don’t feature any windows. They include two twin beds that can convert to a king, with some able to sleep up to four guests. Interior staterooms are located on decks 4-5 and 8-17.

There are 41 Premium Interior cabins on the ship, which are a bit larger at 205 square feet. They can sleep up to four guests and feature a sofa — something that standard interior cabins don’t have. They’re located on decks 4-5 and 9-15.

Ocean View

Standard oceanview cabins are 243 square feet and include a large window as well as two twin beds that can convert into a king. They feature sofa beds that allow the space to accommodate up to four people. There are 175 standard oceanview cabins, located on decks 4 and 5.

Balcony

There are several types of balcony cabins to choose from on Carnival Jubilee. A junior balcony is 216 square feet counting the balcony and can sleep up to four guests. The balcony includes two patio chairs and a small side table. There are 19 junior balcony cabins on Carnival Jubilee, and they’re located on decks 9-16.

Standard balcony cabins are 249 square feet counting the balcony and can sleep up to four guests. There are 1,042 standard balcony cabins on the ship, and they’re located on decks 9-17.

Cove Balcony cabins are lower on deck 5. They are also 249 square feet with the same size balcony as a standard, but the balcony itself is more enclosed. There are 112 Cove Balcony cabins, and they can also sleep up to four guests.

There are 104 extended balcony cabins on Carnival Jubilee. These are 267 square feet counting the balcony and are located on decks 9-15. Forward-view Extended Balcony staterooms are 276 square feet and are located on the same decks; there are 48 of those. Aft-View Extended Balconies have larger balconies at 120 square feet (vs 71 for a forward-view and 62 for an extended). There are 34 Aft-View Extended Balcony cabins on this ship.

Suites

• 131 Ocean Suites: They are 341 square feet including a large balcony and feature two twin beds that convert into a king. There’s also a sitting area with a sofa bed that’s divided from the main bed with a privacy curtain. They can sleep up to four guests.
• Six Excel Suites. These 615 square foot accommodations (including a 205 sq. ft. balcony) feature bathrooms with rain showers and double sinks, a walk-in dressing area, an indoor sitting area, and a balcony with two loungers and a dining table. They can sleep up to five.
• Twelve Excel Corner Suites: They have 398 square feet of indoor space and 312 sq. ft. of balcony space. They feature a separate bedroom and living room, a bathroom with rainfall shower, a wet bar in the living room, and a large wrap-around balcony with lounge chair, patio chairs, and a dining table for two. This accommodation can sleep up to four. Note: these balconies feature an obstructed view because the railings are steel instead of glass.
• Twelve Excel Aft Suites: The indoor space is 463 square feet and the balcony is a whopping 398 square feet. These accommodations feature a separate bedroom and living room. There’s also a split bathroom with a sink and toilet on one side and a rain shower and double sinks on the other side, indoor and outdoor dining tables, a wet bar, loungers and a daybed on the balcony, and a private hot tub. Excel Aft Suites can sleep up to five.
• Two Excel Presidential Suites: They can sleep up to five guests with 474 square feet of interior space and 646 sq. ft. of balcony space. Presidential Suites feature a separate bedroom and living room, a bathroom with a rainfall shower and double sinks, a wet bar and indoor dining table for four, and a walk-in closet. The forward-facing wrap-around balcony includes two lounge chairs, a daybed, a dining table, other additional seating areas, a color-changing “fireplace,” an outdoor shower, and a private hot tub.

Loft 19

All “Excel” suites include access to the exclusive Loft 19 sundeck located on deck 19 forward. This space has its own infinity-style whirlpool, bar service, and cushy lounge chairs. Cabanas are available for rent too, which include concierge service, lunch delivery, fresh fruit, and chilled towels.

Family Harbor Accommodations

Family Harbor is a dedicated area of the ship for families on deck 4. It includes special staterooms and access to a private lounge. There are 69 total Family Harbor staterooms with interior, oceanview, and suites — all able to sleep up to five people.

These cabins have a nautical flag motif and include one free Night Owls evening at Camp Ocean. The Family Harbor Lounge includes breakfast, snacks, movies, and games. And kids dine free off the kids’ menu at Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, and Rudi’s Seagrill.

In addition to a fun interior design, the Family Harbor oceanview cabins and suites are unique in that they feature two bathrooms. The largest includes a shower, toilet, and sink, while a separate bath has a junior tub and sink.

Havana Accommodations

Havana is a Latin-inspired part of the ship on deck 8 that includes a bar, sundeck, and staterooms. There are 98 Havana staterooms on Carnival Jubilee, including interior, cabana (similar to a balcony), extended cabana, cabana suites, and cabana corner suites.

These cabins have exclusive access to the Havana sundeck which includes its own pool. Adjacent to the sundeck is the Havana Bar. This is open to all guests and features Cuban cocktails, coffee, and soda as well as live music many evenings. At night, the bar transforms into a Latin dance club.

Havana cabins are available to all guests 12 and older. They feature Havana-branded towels and bathrobes and a tropical color scheme. Havana Cabana cabins have private outdoor patio areas that are similar to balconies but instead of having views of the ocean, they face a public walkway in front of the ocean. They feature two lounge chairs and a hanging chair.

Cloud 9 Spa Accommodations

There are 115 Cloud 9 Spa staterooms and suites, which are located on decks 5 and 17. Interior, oceanview, balcony, and suite accommodations are all available. All of which have special spa-inspired interior design.

Guests who stay in these cabins enjoy spa-branded bathrobes and slippers, Elemis bath products, and complimentary access to the spa’s thermal suite. Other perks include priority for spa appointments, a complimentary yoga or pilates class, a scrub kit to use in the thermal suite, and spa treatment discounts.

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Dining on Carnival Jubilee

Included Dining

Carnival Jubilee has two main dining rooms. There’s the smaller one-story Atlantic Restaurant on deck 6 midship and the larger two-story Pacific Restaurant on decks 6 and 7 aft. These restaurants offer set early and late dinner seatings along with Anytime Dining.

One of the main dining rooms also hosts the popular Seaday Brunch — served on sea days only. It features fun menu items like the Brunch Burger, skillet cake, fried chicken and waffles, and Huevos Rancheros.

The Carnival Jubilee cruise ship also features a massive Lido Marketplace buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It includes stations for pasta, salad, carved meats, stir-fry, sandwiches, desserts, and more. It’s just steps away from the aft Tides Pool deck area as well as the main Lido deck, meaning there’s lots of seating options both indoors and outdoors.

Additional Complimentary Options

Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to additional complimentary dining options on Carnival Jubilee. Fast-casual options include Guy’s Burger Joint serving up burgers and fries, BlueIguana Cantina offering tacos and burritos, Shaq’s Big Chicken offering chicken sandwiches and tenders, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que serving barbecued meats with classic sides. The ship also has a global street food-inspired area on the Lido deck called Street Eats. Here, three stations each serve one rotating menu item daily.

In The Shores zone, an area of the ship inspired by beachside boardwalks and piers, passengers can grab a slice of pizza at Coastal Slice or order a panini or hot dog at Beach Buns.

The ship’s Italian specialty restaurant, Cucina Del Capitano, is free on Carnival Jubilee and her fellow Excel-class ships — even though it costs extra at dinner on other ships in the fleet. The same goes for the indoor sit-down venue Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse.

Carnival’s Mexican and Asian sit-down restaurant, Chibang!, is also included in the cruise fare — with stipulations. Guests can have lunch in the venue as many times as they want throughout the cruise for no charge. But only one dinner is complimentary. Dinners beyond that incur a small flat fee per person.

Specialty Dining

In addition to the included dining options, there are a number of for-fee restaurants across Carnival Jubilee. Venues that have a set per-person charge include classic American steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Teppanyaki which provides guests with both dinner and a fun show, and the seafood restaurant Rudi’s Seagrill.

Casual venues that serve a la carte menu items include Bonsai Sushi, Seafood Shack located next to the Street Eats stations on the Lido deck (get the lobster roll!), and Emeril’s Bistro 717 serving creole-inspired dishes. There’s also the JavaBlue Café offering specialty coffees and milkshakes alongside a case of yummy treats (some of which are free!).

If you want to eat your food but learn how to make it too, check out Carnival Kitchen. In this venue, guests can take classes on how to make sushi, perfect their barbecuing skills, whip up Thai dishes, create cute and delicious cupcakes, and more.

For a true foodie experience, sign up for the Chef’s Table. During the hours-long intimate dinnertime experience, 14 guests share a table as they move through many courses of appetizers, entrees, and desserts, learning about each dish from the chefs as they’re presented.

Carnival Jubilee Bars and Lounges

Outdoor Bars

There are lots of bars and lounges throughout the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship. We’re going to cover them all starting at the top of the ship and working our way down.

Deck 18 houses the adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck. It features its own pool, hot tubs, salad bar, and the Serenity Pool Bar. This bar offers all of your standard options as well as wines, champagnes, beers, signature cocktails, and a variety of sangrias that can be purchased by the glass or by the pitcher.

Deck 17 midship is where you’ll find the second floor of the two-story RedFrog Tiki Bar, just above the Beach Pool and near Guy’s Burger Joint. The venue serves a variety of rum and rum-based cocktails, as well as a selection of Carnival’s own branded beers. On deck 16 is the first story of the RedFrog Tiki Bar as well as the aft Tides Pool Bar located just outside the Lido Marketplace buffet.

Indoor Bars

Down on deck 8 is the Cuban-inspired Havana Bar with both indoor and outdoor seating. Note that only guests staying in a Havana cabin can access the outdoor area. The Shores zone features the nautical-inspired Marina Bar. Aft on deck 8, you’ll find the indoor Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse bar as well as the patriotic Heroes Tribute Lounge which pays homage to military members and veterans. Just outside near the Patio Pool and some hot tubs is The Watering Hole bar.

Deck 7 on the second story of the Grand Central atrium just off the casino is the Grand View Bar — aptly named for its location next to the atrium’s massive floor-to-ceiling windows. The Limelight Lounge — a space that hosts various activities — has its own bar, with the popular Pharmacy-inspired Alchemy Bar also nearby.

Down on deck 6 in the underwater-inspired Currents zone is a fun octopus-themed bar called Dr. Inks Ph. D. (Get it? Drinks!). The elegant Golden Mermaid bar is nearby as well. On the bottom floor of the atrium is the Center Stage Bar with the ship’s lively Piano Bar 88 just around the corner.

Things to Do on Carnival Jubilee

There are a number of activities and amenities on Carnival Jubilee, both complimentary and for an extra cost.

Included Amenities and Activities

The ship’s Ultimate Playground zone, located on deck 18 aft, features Carnival’s WaterWorks aqua park complete with water slides, a tipping bucket, and more. The area is also home to a mini golf course, a ropes course, and a sports court where guests can play games like basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.

The ship features an uninterrupted jogging track as well as a fitness center with the usual machines and equipment you’d find in a gym on land.

There are a number of pools and hot tubs around the ship as well. These include in the adults-only Serenity Retreat on deck 18 forward, on deck 16 midship and aft, and on deck 8 aft. The exclusive Loft 19 sundeck also has its own infinity-style hot tub that overlooks the Serenity pool area.

On every Carnival cruise, the cruise director hosts a Military Appreciation Gathering for military members, veterans, and any other guests who want to attend. Every brand of the military is recognized, with special recognition going out to the longest-serving military member in the room.

A number of scheduled activities hosted by the entertainment staff can also be found around the ship throughout the day and into the late evening. These include things like trivia, karaoke, contests, dance classes, and scavenger hunts.

Extra-Fee Amenities and Activities

In addition to the included amenities on Carnival Jubilee, there are some that you’ll have to pay for. The most notable (and exciting) is the roller coaster on the top deck, BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster. It costs $15 per person for one ride, which is two laps around the track.

The large Jubilee Casino is on deck 7, spanning through and beyond the second story of the Grand Central atrium. Kids (and kids at heart) might enjoy The Warehouse arcade, which is adjacent to the tweens’ club on deck 17. BINGO, a classic game to pass time on a sea day, is also on the schedule aboard Carnival Jubilee.

At the Alchemy Bar, passengers can sign up for the Martini Tasting, where bartenders (referred to as “alchemists”) take guests through a flight of mini Martinis of their choice.

Those looking for a fun workout in a group setting can partake in fitness classes such as yoga, pilates, indoor cycling, and boot camp. Additionally, the Cloud 9 Spa offers a variety of treatments such as facials, massages, and body wraps. The adjacent thermal suite includes a whirlpool, rain showers, steam rooms, a sauna, and heated tile loungers. A salon is nearby too, where guests can get manis and pedis, haircuts and styles, and more.

Entertainment on Carnival Jubilee

High-quality entertainment is available in multiple venues across Carnival Jubilee. The Grand Central atrium stage and the Jubilee Theater host a number of shows. There’s the popular Celestial Strings, which reimagines rock and pop songs as classical compositions. There’s also We Are One which features above-the-crowd acrobatics; Soulbound featuring spooky R&B tunes; and the special effects-loaded Visual Symphony.

In the Punchliner Comedy Club, guests can enjoy both family-friendly and adults-only comedy shows. While the Limelight Lounge is used as the nightclub serving up tunes late into the evening. Not to mention, guests can settle into a lounge chair on the Lido deck for Dive-In Movies complete with popcorn.

Passengers can join in on the action with Family Feud Live and Deal or No Deal — both high-energy game shows where guests can win real prizes. Deck parties are fun and lively on Carnival Jubilee too. Don’t miss the Sailaway Party and the Groove for St. Jude party. The Love & Marriage Show, which three couples from the audience participate in, is a riot and a highlight of any Carnival cruise.

In various spots around the ship, passengers don’t have to go far to find live music from vocalists, house bands, guitarists, and more.

Kids’ Clubs and Activities on Carnival Jubilee

Camp Ocean

Carnival Jubilee has club spaces for kids, tweens, and teens. Camp Ocean, which is located on deck four, divides kids into three groups based on age. There’s Penguins (2-5 years old), Stingrays (6-8), and Sharks (9-11).

In the camp inspired-space, kids play games, participate in sing-alongs, have dance parties, do arts and crafts, play video games, and more. Parents don’t even have to worry about picking their kids up at mealtime if their littles want to stay — meals are served to kids through Camp Ocean as well.

Adjacent to Camp Ocean is Dr. Seuss Bookville. This fun Dr. Seuss-themed kids’ library space offers reading events and character appearances. The Camp Ocean space is conveniently located on the same deck as the Family Harbor staterooms and Family Harbor Lounge.

On the topic of Bookville, Carnival’s partnership with Dr. Seuss goes beyond the kids’ library. Other themed events on board include arts and crafts, a character parade, special Dr. Seuss merchandise, and the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast. This fun event costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids. It features character photo ops and menu items like cereal-crusted French toast, “Truffula Tree” pancakes, and — of course — green eggs and ham (yes, really!).

Little kids ages 2-5 can take part in a free Zumbini class — a Zumba-style class created just for kids by Zumba and BabyFirst. The 30-minute class features songs, activities, and special instruments all designed to get kids moving. On voyages six days or longer, a family Zumbini class is also available.

The Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea event allows kids to build their own stuffed animal and add clothes and accessories. There’s even a Carnival-exclusive bear and a St. Jude bear that benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Circle C and Club O2

Up on deck 17 are separate spaces for tweens (Circle C for ages 12-14) and teens (Club O2 for ages 15-17). Oder kids and teens can enjoy dance parties, games, karaoke, video games, and organized activities around the ship such as sports tournaments and movie nights.

Night Owls

Carnival Cruise Line offers a late-night babysitting service called Night Owls. For a small fee, kids 11 and under can enjoy music, activities, games, and movies at Camp Ocean until as late as 1 am. This is perfect for parents to have the opportunity for a fun night out.

Shops on Carnival Jubilee

Guests looking for sweets will find them at Cherry on Top — a candy/gift shop. Carnival Jubilee also has a number of other shops where you’ll find things like Carnival logo and ship-specific merchandise, clothing, fine jewelry and watches, cosmetics, fragrance, and bottles of liquor.

At Pixels, passengers can book professional photo sessions as well as look at and purchase their photos that were taken by Carnival’s photographers throughout the cruise.

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Carnival Jubilee Itineraries & Pricing

Starting in December 2023, Carnival Jubilee will sail year-round western Caribbean voyages from Galveston, Texas. The seven-night voyages will consist of three sea days along with calls to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatán, Honduras.

When looking at cruise costs, interior cabins currently start at around $100 per person, per night. Oceanviews start at around $125 per person, per night. Balconies start at around $135 per person, per night and suites cost over $220 per person, per night. 

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