I’ve been on Carnival’s cheapest and most expensive cruise lines — see how the $430-per-day difference compares

Carnival Corp operates several cruise lines. Seabourn is one of its most luxurious, while Carnival Cruise Line is often one of its most affordable.

Indulging in complimentary Champagne and caviar on a Seabourn cruise might make you think, “Toto, we’re not on a Carnival ship anymore.”

In actuality, you are.

Carnival Corp operates nine cruise lines. Its eponymous and most recognizable brand, Carnival Cruise Line, is also its most affordable, replete with flashy amenities, large ships, and convenient itineraries.

If you’d rather trade its a-la-carte amenities for an all-inclusive option, opt for its sister company, Seabourn.

The luxury cruise line is among the highest-end brands on the market, as evidenced by its cabins’ walk-in closets, Molton Brown toiletries, and attentive hosts. With these luxuries come a heftier price tag — Seabourn’s cheapest weeklong 2025 voyage is seven times pricier than Carnival’s.

A deep dive into the two brands’ differences shows how Carnival Corp has successfully captured the wallets of older, wealthier travelers and families on a budget.

Amid soaring demand, the cruise giant recently achieved a record third-quarter revenue of $7.9 billion, up $1 billion from 2023.

Carnival Cruise Line: For budget-conscious families

Carnival Cruise Line is best known for its affordable fares and large, flashy ships. 

Carnival Cruise Line’s affordable fares and large amenity-filled ships are bait for cruising families and millennials, the latter of whom make up most of its guests.

The brand operates 27 ships that accommodate between 2,124 and 5,362 travelers. Expect activities like a roller coaster, ropes course, and waterslides on some of its newest vessels.

Carnival Firenze off the coast of Catalina Island.

I spent four nights on its latest Carnival Firenze.

It’s technically not a new ship — in 2022, the cruise line acquired then-two-year-old Firenze from its sister brand Costa Cruises. As such, some of its amenities, like the mini-golf and ropes courses, don’t look as high-tech as its competitors.

At least they’re complimentary, along with activities like the sports court, foosball, and ping-pong.

Carnival Firenze has amenities like a children’s water play area and waterslides.

Nine of Firenze’s 16 dining venues are complimentary, including the main dining rooms, Guy Fieri burger stall, and Italian-Mexican kiosk Tomodoro.

The rest, such as the sushi restaurant and steakhouse, have a surcharge. Expect to pay extra for chicken wings in the buffet and popcorn for movie nights, too.

Guy’s Burger Joint’s fully loaded burgers and fries were decent, as far as cruise ship burgers go. 

The ship also has several themed bars, although you’ll have to pay up to indulge. Cocktails run about $13, while beers and seltzers cost about $9.

Carnival operates cruises across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Most of its 2025 itineraries are Caribbean voyages.

Its cheapest seven-day voyage, a roundtrip Long Beach, California, to Mexico itinerary, starts at about $510 per person — about $73 per person and day. Again, expect to pay more if you want to treat yourself to a nice dinner, a few drinks, and a cabin with a window.

Seabourn: For wealthy grandparents

Seabourn invited me aboard Seabourn Quest for a few hours in late October. 

Ultra-luxury cruise lines have several standout characteristics: small ships, an all-inclusive pricing model, and diverse itineraries.

Seabourn, Carnival Corp’s most luxurious cruise brand, hits all these marks.

Instead of roller coasters and waterslides, Seabourn guests get caviar service and Antarctica itineraries. And unlike Carnival’s voracious pay-to-play strategy, almost everything on Seabourn’s ships is complimentary, save for excursions and spa treatments.

Seabourn Quest’s Colonnade is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The high-end cruise line has six ocean and expedition vessels, the latest launched in 2023. None of the ships exceed a guest capacity of 458.

The brand’s expedition and relatively small ships allow it to sail to harder-to-reach destinations, including Antarctica. As such, only a handful of Seabourn’s 2025 voyages will be in the Caribbean.

Seabourn Square is a coffee shop, library, lounge, and concierge desk.

I toured its second-oldest vessel, the 13-year-old Seabourn Quest, in October. Once onboard, you can say goodbye to cost barriers like specialty restaurants, upcharged alcohol, and WiFi.

Seabourn Quest has eight food and beverage venues. They’re all complimentary, including caviar service, sushi and cocktails in the club lounge, and lattes in the coffee shop (specialty coffee drinks cost extra on Carnival’s ships).

Guests are also guaranteed one reservation at Solis, the new Mediterranean restaurant slinging tableside-carved porterhouse steaks and whole-baked branzinos.

The Mediterranean restaurant serves options such as branzino and 32-ounce Tuscan-style porterhouse steak. 

If you want a family-friendly cruise ship, the 458-guest Seabourn Quest shouldn’t be your top pick. The only enticing amenities for children are the board games, putting green, ping pong table, and shuffleboard.

Otherwise, unless they enjoy guest lectures and taking a dip off the ship’s marina, they could be disappointed.

Seabourn Quest has amenities like a putting green and shuffleboard. 

However, many cruising adults would likely be pleased by Seabourn’s lineup of upscale suites. All have, at minimum, a window, a personalized in-suite bar, walk-in closets, and both a cabin host and attendant.

Several of Seabourn’s 2025 itineraries are sold out. The least expensive seven-day option starts at about $3,500 per person for roundtrip Miami sailing around the Caribbean — about $500 per person and day.

That’s almost seven times pricier than Carnival’s least expensive weeklong voyage.At least the Champagne is free.