Carnival Cruise Line Announces New Enhancements to Improve Guest Experience

Carnival Cruise Line is introducing several new programs and improvements for 2024, each aimed at elevating the cruise experience for guests.

From a redesigned culinary journey with Chef’s Table and Carnival Culinary Center—curated by Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse—to new online innovations meant to make disembarkation more efficient, Carnival is rolling out a host of new enhancements for 2024.

Carnival Culinary Center will offer a cooking class designed by Emeril Lagasse

Emeril’s specially designed cooking class at the Carnival Culinary Center will debut on Carnival Jubilee as part of the ship’s Carnival Kitchen programming. During the session, cruisers will learn how to whip up a three-course meal using Emeril’s hand-picked recipes. The dishes to be taught include his famous New-New Orleans Pasta, Shrimp & Okra Gumbo with Filé, and Strawberries Romanoff.

Chef Emeril Lagasse has designed a new cooking class for Carnival featuring some of his favorite recipes (image courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Panorama also feature Carnival Kitchen, and the cruise line has hinted that the cooking class will be rolled out on these ships as well.

Chef’s Table 2.0 has been revamped with a new menu and wine list

Carnival’s popular Chef’s Table, a VIP culinary experience that includes a lavish multi-course dinner hosted by the ship’s Executive Chef, now has a new option available with Chef’s Table 2.0.

The updated experience begins with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for a small group of 14, followed by a tour to see the galley in action. The new Chef’s Table concludes with a private dinner including appetizers, entrées, and desserts.

Chef’s Table 2.0 will feature a new menu and wine list (image courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Chef’s Table 2.0—available fleetwide—offers new flavors with unique food and wine pairings on each Carnival ship.

Behind The Fun ship tours can now be booked pre-cruise

Previously only available to book onboard, the guest-favorite Behind the Fun tour will be available to be booked pre-cruise beginning January 1.

Guests will be able to book Behind The Fun before embarkation day starting in 2024 (image courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

When making a reservation, cruisers should choose the trip as a shore excursion for their ship’s homeport. During the cruise, the excursion will take place on a Fun Day at Sea.

For guests with disabilities, there is now an accessible Behind The Fun experience that is also shorter than the traditional tour.

New HUB App features will make disembarkation easier

Carnival has also updated the HUB App with new features to take some of the hassle out of preparing for disembarkation.

Guests can now use the app to specify the number of bags they’ll be leaving outside their stateroom door. Zone tags will now be delivered directly to each stateroom, saving cruisers the hassle of picking up their own tags.

Carnival’s HUB app has new features designed to make disembarkation hassle-free (image courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Additionally, self-assist cruisers (those who want to carry their own bags off the ship) can now use the new functionality to decide which time they wish to disembark.

Platinum and Diamond VIFP members and suite guests will continue to receive special tags with priority disembarkation as usual. Guests who prefer to not use the app can still obtain tags by following the usual pre-disembarkation procedure.

The new feature is available now on Carnival Conquest, Carnival Elation, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Dream, and Mardi Gras. The cruise line shared in a press release that it’s targeting a rollout to the rest of the fleet by February.

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What do you think about Carnival’s 2024 enhancements? Which update are you most looking forward to on your next cruise? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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Carrie Ann Karstunen

Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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