Touches of Texas accent the newest entry in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The 6,400-passenger ship offers Caribbean sailings out of Galveston all year.
Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Jubilee was recently christened in Galveston, Texas by music icon Gwen Stefani, a three-time Grammy Award winner, who serves as godmother. The first new ship to homeport in Galveston is now offering weeklong cruises to the Western Caribbean.
More About the Christening
At the christening ceremony, Galveston Mayor Craig Brown handed Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, a key to the city. The naming ceremony in the ship’s theater was followed by a cocktail reception and celebratory lunch. Then Stefani did a private concert, singing many of her hit songs.
Texas Themes Onboard
Sailing from Galveston year-round, the Carnival Jubilee features themes that tie into the Lone Star State. A giant Texas state flag chair located midship at Grand Central is perfect for photo opportunities. And a big Lone Star logo is high on the ship’s bow. Duffy declared, “Texas is her forever home; she ain’t going anywhere.”
More About the Carnival Jubilee
The Carnival Jubilee is the third ship in Carnival’s Excel Class; her sister ships are the Carnival Celebration and Carnival Mardi Gras. At 183,000 gross register tons, the Carnival Jubilee accommodates 6,400 at full capacity and has 1,750 crew members. She’s the third Carnival ship powered by a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system.
Terminal 25 at Port of Galveston, where the Carnival Jubilee is sailing from, recently underwent a $53 million investment.
On the weeklong Caribbean cruises, the ship visits Mahogany Bay in Roatan Honduras, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Carnival Kitchen
Carnival Jubilee’s New Zones
Like her sister ships, the Carnival Jubilee has six themed neighborhoods, called zones. The Ultimate Playground at the top of the ship includes a sports court, mini-golf and BOLT Ultimate Sea Coaster. Two other zones are Lido and Summer Landing.
The underwater-themed Currents zone on Decks 6 and 7 is a walk-through area complete with special lighting, LED screens and all the latest technology. The huge LED ceiling, with lighting, music and sound effects, provides guests with “Seaquest: A Fun Sub Adventure,” an immersive experience.
In the evening, Currents transforms into a music venue with colors and lights that pulse with the tunes. It’s a place to sip drinks and sing along with music. Dr. Inks, with octopus tentacles, is the main bar in Currents, and people can watch the ever- changing underwater scenes. Nearby is the upscale Golden Mermaid Bar, which has golden hues.
The other new zone is The Shores, located on Deck 8. It features boardwalks, piers, beaches and a Ferris wheel-inspired ceiling, along with casual dining options both inside and outside. The Marina Bar provides comfortable lounge seating inside and out.
Diverse Dining Onboard
Located on Decks 3 & 4, the main dining room on the Carnival Jubilee offers two options for – Set Seating and Your Time Dining. With Set Seating, guests are assigned a specific dining time at a set table and have the same waiters each evening. With Your Time Dining, guests can eat at any time in the main dining room during regular dinner hours. These do not involve additional fees.
Chibang! offers Mexican and Chinese cuisine
Other complimentary dining options include:
- BlueIguana Cantina – featuring freshly made burritos and tacos for breakfast and lunch.
- Guy’s Burger Joint – a special partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri provides one of the best hamburgers at sea
- Big Chicken – Shaquille O’Neal’s new onboard restaurant provides breakfast and lunch, with breakfast served until 3 p.m.
- Lido Marketplace – a self-service buffet restaurant
- Chibang! – offering Mexican and Chinese cuisine
Specialty restaurants involving additional fees include the following:
- The Carnival Culinary Center debuts on the Carnival Jubilee as part of the Carnival Kitchen. It features a dedicated cooking class curated by Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse. Guests learn how to prepare a three-course meal with recipes selected by Emeril, including his world renowned New-New Orleans Pasta, Strawberries Romanoff and Shrimp & Okra Gumbo with File.
- Cucina del Capitano – serving Italian favorites
- Rudi’s Seagrill – The brainchild of Master Chef Rudi Sodamin features fine seafood, including crab-stuffed lobster tail and lobster bisque.
- Bonsai Teppanyaki – featuring meat, seafood and tofu specialties prepared by a chef at your table in the teppanyaki tradition
- Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse – BBQ favorites freshly smoked on-site
- Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse – featuring choices of steak cuts, lamb, lobster and more
- Emeril’s Bistro 717 – New Orleans Creole dishes and seafood
- Chef’s Table – special chef-prepared meals
- Bonsai Sushi – a haven for sushi fans
Entertainment on This New Cruise Ship
The Jubilee Theater, the main show lounge, offers grand productions. Golden Mermaid Bar is a music-themed venue with live performances. The Limelight Lounge offers evening entertainment by a variety of performers, and the comedy club features karaoke. The piano bar has themed music nights. A Cuban cafe features live Latin music and a disco.
About Carnival Cruise Line
Since its beginning in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line has continued to revolutionize and build the cruise industry. Its fleet of 27 ships sails from 14 ports in the United States, along with two Australian homeports. Seasonal Europe sailings are available as well,
With the Carnival Jubilee sailing out of Galveston year-round, this is another great option to consider when planning your next group cruise to the Caribbean.
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By Cindy Bertram
