Videos of planes not crashing don't make the news or go viral.
But the ones that crash get so much attention that it seems like something incredibly weird happens all the time. Being afraid that your plane will crash is statistically a waste of brainpower because your odd Of those cases, approximately one occurs in 11 million.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), your chances of being struck by lightning are more than one in a million. Most people spend very little time worrying about lightning, while many are afraid to fly, at least in part, for fear of crashing.
Just because it's almost certain not to happen doesn't mean people don't care about it.
Fights on Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) Cruise ships are a similar phenomenon, except it's very rare for anyone to be seriously injured when a fight breaks out. The few times a year that a fight does break out on a Carnival ship, the video goes viral and damages the cruise line's reputation.
Yes, Carnival seems to have more fights than its rivals, but they're not common, and despite what you might think you know about the brand, it offers a compelling cruise experience as long as you go into it knowing what you're getting.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
What to expect on a Carnival cruise
Carnival calls its ships “Fun Ships,” and the cruise line aims to offer fun for all ages. Its ships have parties, as do rivals Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, but they are generally not party ships.
The level of youth, aggression and desire to get drunk of the crowds on Carnival ships varies depending on a few factors:
- When the cruise is:If you cruise during college spring break or during the summer, crowds will include more people in their 20s and 30s.
- Cruise durationA 3-day weekend cruise will often have a more festive atmosphere than a 7- or 4-day Monday-Friday cruise.
- Cost of cruise/age of cruiseCarnival's newest ships, the Excel class ships, cost more to sail than smaller, older ships. They also have more family-friendly activities, so they can be crowded with small children.
Carnival ships often have a very active pool deck with fun events like cannonball contests, volleyball, and other games. The pools are often crowded and the pool bars are active.
Cruise line ships feature adult-only areas, usually with lounge chairs, a pool, a nearby bar, and sometimes a hot tub. On board the ship, during the day, there are plenty of activities, such as trivia, song-guessing contests, live music, and more.
At night, the Carnival offers production shows (think musical reviews), headliners (from singers to jugglers, magicians or other novelty acts), a dedicated stand-up comedy slot, and plenty of live music.
Bars are a major feature, but the cruise line limits the number of alcoholic drinks each passenger can have to 15 per day. It also bars access to any passenger who appears intoxicated.
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Set your cruise expectations
Food is subjective, but I would rate Carnival's main dining room as a small step below Royal Caribbean, which is a half step below its sister company Celebrity Cruises. I haven't sailed on Carnival since it changed its dinner menus with the help of Emeril Lagasse.
You shouldn't board a Carnival ship expecting gourmet meals, at least on the MDR, but you should find dishes you really like and some favorites you'll be happy to try again. The cruise line excels at desserts, and its free casual Mexican restaurant and the included Guy Fieri's Guy's Burger Bar are arguably as good as any free casual option from any of its major rivals.
Carnival also has free pizza better than Royal Caribbean, but perhaps a bit worse than Celebrity and MSC Cruise. The Lido buffet is a bit below all of its main rivals and not offering made-to-order omelettes at the breakfast buffet is a disappointment, but there are enough options for you to find something you like.
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Entertainment options are varied and it's hard to imagine that most people can't find some music, a show, a movie or something else they enjoy doing every night.
Carnival is not a high-end cruise ship, but it was never intended to be. I have only sailed with this cruise line a couple of times, on older ships, and both cruises were full of the fun the cruise line promises, with no fights and full of families and other people just looking to have a good time.
Related: Get the best cruise tips, deals and news from our cruise experts.
