Tell me about New Year's on a Carnival Ship

[GeorgiaMomof4]

I will be sailing on the Pride (first time on the Pride) on Dec. 30 with 8 other people.  This is my first cruise since Feb., 2020 (pre-covid).

 

Lots has changed since that Feb., 2020 cruise - lost my husband of 29 years to Covid in February, 2021 and it's been a hard road.

 

I'm really looking forward to this cruise, especially since it's going to be New Year's.  Tell me what we should expect as far as

New Year's Eve celebrations that go on.  We board on Friday and New Year's Eve will be on Saturday.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[GeorgiaMomof4]

Anyone? 

[jetsfan58]

Welcome to the Carnival Pride. One of our most likes ships. I can't comment on a New Years Eve Cruise but we did cruise the week before Christmas and has an absolute blast. Carnival passed out Christmas hats to all guests and was really a festive time.

 

Whatever you do choose FUN!      

[darinb1345]

Sorry for your loss, Georgiamom.  I haven't cruised over any holiday and looking forward to hearing how Carnival celebrates New Years.  I hope your trip is special 🙂

 

[CarolSW]

So sorry for the loss of your husband to CoVid.

That is devastating.  
Bless you for planning a cruise.  May it help you cope with this terrible loss.  
 

I have been on 2 previous NYE cruises on Carnival, one before the pandemic, and the most recent was last year.  Our 3rd NYE cruise is planned for this year on the Breeze.  That’s how much I enjoy this holiday on a cruise!
 

Carnival will have free champagne on the lido deck available on sailaway, and on the NYE’s party on the deck.  There will be other venues hosting parties as well I think - the lobby,, where there may be a balloon drop, the Red Frog pub, piano bar, etc., and they may also have the free champagne too.  I have always been on the Lido deck for the countdown.  My experience is that you should scope out where the waiters are coming from when they bring out the trays of champagne glasses so you can place yourself strategically to get one before the tray is empty and they have to go back for more.  That works best for me because those small glasses of champagne go fast lol!  There may be one or 2 other times during the cruise when there is another opportunity for the free champagne (other than the art auctions which I avoid).  I believe they serve Wycliffe champagne which is very inexpensive at my liquor store, but I think it is quite tasty.  I learned about Wycliffe at several restaurants local to me that use that brand for their bottomless champagne brunches.  I often carryon 2 bottles of Wycliffe as our wine allowance to bring on board. 
 

The atmosphere and energy of a NYE cruise is IMHO a bit ramped up, which I enjoy, even though I am at 67 considered “elderly”.  I DO like a fun celebration on NYE, and on a Carnival cruise, I don’t have to worry about driving home afterwards!  Many people will also dress up for NYE, and it will probably be designated as elegant night, but dressing up is not mandatory. 
 

I hope you have a wonderful NYE cruise, though this first one without your spouse will be bittersweet I’m sure.  Best wishes on making it a positive celebration for more good things to come in the new year!

Edited August 21, 2022 by CarolSW

[kannm]

10 hours ago, GeorgiaMomof4 said:

I will be sailing on the Pride (first time on the Pride) on Dec. 30 with 8 other people.  This is my first cruise since Feb., 2020 (pre-covid).

 

Lots has changed since that Feb., 2020 cruise - lost my husband of 29 years to Covid in February, 2021 and it's been a hard road.

 

I'm really looking forward to this cruise, especially since it's going to be New Year's.  Tell me what we should expect as far as

New Year's Eve celebrations that go on.  We board on Friday and New Year's Eve will be on Saturday.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

We have been on 4 NYE cruises and one year we didn't go, it was very depressing. We were very spoiled by the party atmosphere and fun and no NYE party will ever live up to that experience of being on the Ocean celebrating with 4000 people!

[ninjacat123]

This is a bucket list item for me.  NYE on a Carnival ship would be a blast!  Georgiamom, please write back on this thread or post a link here so we can experience it with you!😊

[geckoaz]

Last year on radiance we had a blast. Hats and party items..free champagne in glasses..great party.

We are booked again. Cheers was 400 plus total for both of us. 

[WendyVF]

We have been on several NYE cruises on Carnival and they are the best.  You should prepare yourself for there to be a lot of family and large groups.  As a fellow widow, it can be difficult when others are celebrating, especially at midnight and there you stand alone.  I'm not saying don't go, just be prepared.

 

[hapytobehr]

First let me say so sorry for your loss.

 

The way I read your post, you will not be going alone which is always a good thing when bringing in the New Year.

 

This coming December will be our 6th NYE cruise, 5th with Carnival.  As CarolSW said, it is a blast!  They usually close down the casino 15 minutes before (and some other areas) to allow the staff to go up to the Lido deck for the countdown.  Don't worry about getting champagne as there will be plenty!

Usually you get your hats and noisemakers at dinner where you will find them at your table. They give out other stuff on deck.

 

Since the first NYE cruise, we have gone every year and look forward to it each time.  Most people do dress up and from my experience, it has always been elegant night.  I have seen many tuxedoes and party dresses!

 

This year should interesting since we are doing the Celebration ( the largest ship we will have been on) and will bring in the new year with 6000 of our closest friends🤣

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

[BallFour4]

My family have been on several, and as described in prior posts it's a blast. At dinner you will see hats on the table, noisemakers and a nicer choice of food in the MDR.

 Attire ranges from shorts and flip-flops to a more dressed up crowd. In thirty-seven cruises, seven of those being NYE I have not seen a tux in the last decade. Those were Caribbean trips and it was plenty warm on the Speedo Deck. 

 The party starts around 9:30 or 10 in the atrium with music and the cruise director and a balloon drop at 11. Then up on the Speedo for the big party. Get a spot early! At midnight the big screen will do a countdown followed by a horn serenade from the Captain.
 Go, have a great time!

Edited August 24, 2022 by BallFour4

[rondl1]

NYE cruises on Carnival are incredible.  The BIG party is on the Lido/pool deck and it is wall to wall people, great music and, if you get there early, some party favors.

 

We have been on 6 NYE cruises, 5 on Carnival and 1 on MSC (Cuba) and had one Covid cancel.

 

Highly recommend

 

 

[2Shoes2Go]

Fun, but pricey. 😂 We miss Fantasy! This year, Freedom, with friends!

[ugagal07]

Hi GeorgiaMomof4.  We'll be on this sailing too.  Pre-covid we did a NYE and it was champagne at embarkation and sail away.  We had formal/cruise elegant night on NYE with noise makers and such on the tables.  There was a party that started in the lobby and moved to the lido for midnight.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Bonus is the Christmas decorations were still up and the ships are always decorated very nicely for Christmas.  There were no Christmas shows or activities though, and the decorations came down during the cruise.

 

Only thing I'm dreading is Grand Cayman the next morning with early excursions. 

[geneparmesan]

2 hours ago, ugagal07 said:

 

 

Only thing I'm dreading is Grand Cayman the next morning with early excursions. 

Hopefully it's a smooth tender!

 

We are trying a NYE cruise this year for the first time. Thanks all for the posts describing what it's like - I'm excited for it!

[GeorgiaMomof4]

On 8/21/2022 at 3:11 PM, ninjacat123 said:

This is a bucket list item for me.  NYE on a Carnival ship would be a blast!  Georgiamom, please write back on this thread or post a link here so we can experience it with you!😊

I will surely try to do that.  I used to do very in depth reviews, but they are so time consuming!

 

[GeorgiaMomof4]

On 8/25/2022 at 10:06 AM, ugagal07 said:

Hi GeorgiaMomof4.  We'll be on this sailing too.  Pre-covid we did a NYE and it was champagne at embarkation and sail away.  We had formal/cruise elegant night on NYE with noise makers and such on the tables.  There was a party that started in the lobby and moved to the lido for midnight.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Bonus is the Christmas decorations were still up and the ships are always decorated very nicely for Christmas.  There were no Christmas shows or activities though, and the decorations came down during the cruise.

 

Only thing I'm dreading is Grand Cayman the next morning with early excursions. 

Awesome to hear you'll be on this sailing as well!  I saw that we would be in Grand Cayman very early the next morning.  I guess we can drag ourselves out of bed or maybe just celebrate all night and not go to bed.....

 

What are some of the excursions in the ports you have planned?  Having a hard time deciding this year.  

 

 

[ninjacat123]

16 minutes ago, GeorgiaMomof4 said:

I will surely try to do that.  I used to do very in depth reviews, but they are so time consuming!

 

I used to write in depth reviews as well.  Now all I do is mini reviews!😄