Is Carnival Panorama Still the Best Carnival Ship? | Embarkation Day #CruiseLife #CarnivalCruise

We spent the night before our cruise on the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach. This gave us a super convenient way to board our next ship without dealing with parking or same-day traffic. The Queen Mary was a fun place to explore with its old engine rooms and 1930s art deco style, though the rooms got pretty warm since there’s no temperature control.

The next morning, we boarded the Carnival Panorama for a 6-day New Year’s Eve cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. We got through security and onto the ship about an hour ahead of schedule. After dropping our bags and finishing the muster drill, we grabbed some pizza and headed to our favorite spot on the aft deck to start enjoying our vacation.

Key Takeaways

• Staying on the Queen Mary the night before made boarding our cruise really easy and let us avoid parking hassles
• We boarded the Carnival Panorama early and finished all our check-in tasks within an hour
• The pizza on Carnival is some of the best we’ve had across different cruise lines this year

Departing on Our Cruise: Boarding the Carnival Panorama from Queen Mary

Staying the Night Aboard Queen Mary

We stayed on the Queen Mary in Long Beach the night before our cruise. This was our first time sleeping on this ship. We had a fun experience and would tell anyone to try it at least once. One night is probably enough.

Our room was a nice size. But the rooms don’t have any temperature control. It was December and chilly outside, but our room was hot. Our daughter’s room was hot too. They brought us a fan, but it didn’t really help. The fan helped our room a little bit, but our daughter’s room never cooled down.

Our room had two portholes that we could open all the way. There were no screens or anything. We kept them open all night. It helped some, but it wasn’t the same as having air conditioning. This is something to keep in mind. They mention it in the fine print, but it’s easy to miss. Modern hotels have AC, so you kind of take it for granted.

The food was good and the service was great. They have a little coffee shop where you can walk up and order Starbucks. You can also do a sit-down breakfast. The prices are reasonable.

Getting to the Ship and Boarding Process

You can’t beat how easy it is to get on your cruise the next day. We got dropped off at the Queen Mary and didn’t have to deal with parking. We didn’t have to deal with same-day drop-off traffic either.

The dome is where you do all your passport and boarding stuff. The gangway goes from the dome over to the ship. We dropped off our luggage around 11:30 in the morning. We were about an hour to an hour and a half ahead of schedule.

The line moved pretty quick. We went through security and boarded the ship. Exactly one hour after we got off the Queen Mary, we were through security on the Carnival Panorama. We dropped our bags off at the room, did our muster drill, and got our first drinks and pizza.

Walking Around and Exploring the Queen Mary

We walked around the Queen Mary all night. We went through all the little nooks and crannies. There’s a big engine room to see. The decor is all art deco style. It’s very original to the 1930s.

They have cool photos of the ship’s historic past. There’s a lot of history there. It’s just fun to walk around and explore. We recommend checking it out if you’re coming to Long Beach.

What We Saw:

• Engine room
• Art deco decor from the 1930s
• Historic photos
• Many small areas to explore

It was a beautiful day in Long Beach. The sky was blue. It was actually warm in the sun. There was a little chill when it was windy, but that’s expected for December. We could see the back of the Carnival Panorama from the Queen Mary. The Havana deck was right there. At the top was the aft pool, which is one of our favorite places to hang out.

Getting on the Carnival Panorama

Going Through Check-In and Security

We dropped off our bags with the porters right after leaving our room on the Queen Mary. They took four bags from us and tagged them to go to our cabin.

The security line moved pretty fast even though there were quite a few people ahead of us. We got to the gangway around 11:30 in the morning. This put us about an hour or an hour and a half ahead of schedule.

Walking across the gangway with our carry-on luggage was easy. The crew helped us get everything on board.

What We Saw When We Got On Board

We made it through the entire boarding process in just one hour. That included getting off the Queen Mary, going through security, dropping our bags at the room, finishing the muster drill, and grabbing our first drinks and food.

We picked up a Funship drink and got pepperoni pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano. That’s what they call the pizza spot now instead of Pizza Pirate.

Our favorite spot on the Panorama is the aft deck with the red chairs. We sat there looking out at Long Beach with the snowcapped San Gabriel Mountains and Big Bear in the background.

The weather was beautiful. We brought jackets thinking it would be cold in December, but we didn’t need to wear them. The sun was warm with just a little chill when the wind picked up.

Moving Into Our Room

Our bags went straight to the room after we handed them to the porters. We didn’t have to carry them through security or deal with them during boarding.

We finished the muster drill right away so we could start enjoying the ship. The aft pool was right below where we sat. The smoking section was on the starboard side, but we stayed away from that area since we don’t smoke.

One of us went to Gigi’s for lunch and got a Mongolian bowl with shrimp and noodles. The menu changed from how it used to be. You can’t pick individual ingredients anymore. Now you choose from pre-set bowls.

Gigi’s Lunch Options:

• Noodle bowl
• Stir fry
• Broth

The shrimp bowl was good but seemed a little dry. It used to be better when you could pick all your own ingredients. We also planned to try the fish tacos at Blue Iguana later.

We didn’t get the drink package for this cruise. Carnival has too many restrictions compared to other cruise lines. You can’t get two drinks at once even if one is for someone else. That rule alone made it not worth it for us.

The pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano was really good. Out of all the cruise lines we tried in 2025, Carnival has the best walk-up pizza. The only pizza we had all year that was better was Alfredo’s sit-down restaurant on Princess. Princess also has better sit-down pizza at their specialty place, but for quick grab-and-go pizza, Carnival wins.

Setting Sail from Long Beach and Taking in the Views

Departing from Long Beach Harbor

We stayed on the Queen Mary the night before our cruise. The ship is docked right next to where the Carnival Panorama boards passengers.

The dome building is where you handle your passport and boarding paperwork. A walkway connects the dome to the ship. We could see people getting off the Panorama while we got ready to board for our 6-day New Year’s Eve cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada.

The weather was beautiful that December morning in Long Beach. We had blue skies and warm sunshine. It got a bit chilly when the wind picked up, but that’s normal for this time of year.

Viewing Catalina Island and the Mountains

We had a clear view across the harbor. There’s a Wyland mural on a building across from us. The same artist created the mural on the NCL Bliss. Trees block part of it, but you can still see it.

A big storm came through the week before. We could see snow on Big Bear and the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance. The snow-capped peaks made a great backdrop for our departure.

We also spotted the Queen Mary’s top from the back deck of the Panorama. The mountains stayed visible throughout the morning.

Notable Sights and Ship Features

From our spot on the aft deck, we could see several areas of the ship:

• The Havana deck at the back of the ship
• The aft pool at the top
• The SkyRide and sports deck

The aft pool area has red chairs that became our favorite hangout spot. We sat there with our drinks and enjoyed the view of Long Beach.

The smoking section is on the starboard side of the ship. We don’t smoke, so we stayed on the outside area instead. When that section filled up, we moved to the back.

We boarded the ship at 11:30 in the morning. Within an hour, we made it through security, dropped our bags in the room, finished the muster drill, and grabbed pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano. The pizza place used to be called Pizza Pirate.

Food and Drinks on the Ship

Captain’s Pizzeria

We grabbed some pepperoni pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano on embarkation day. The pizza was really good.

In our opinion, Carnival has the best pizza compared to other cruise lines we tried in 2025. This includes Princess, NCL, and Royal Caribbean.

The only pizza we had all year that was better was Alfredo’s sit-down restaurant on Princess. Princess also has a walk-up pizza place similar to Carnival’s setup. We think the sit-down place at Princess has better pizza, but for walk-up pizza spots, Carnival wins.

Asian Dining at GG’s

We went to GG’s for dinner to see if we could get a reservation. We also stopped by for lunch.

We got a Mongolian wok bowl with shrimp and noodles. The food was good, but it felt a little dry compared to how we remembered it from before.

The setup changed from previous cruises. You used to pick all your individual ingredients. Now you choose between preset options like a steak bowl, chicken bowl, or shrimp bowl.

GG’s Lunch Options:

• Noodle bowl
• Stir fry
• Broth

You pick your protein and they prepare it for you. The portion size was filling enough for lunch.

Blue Iguana and Other Food Spots

We planned to visit Blue Iguana later in the cruise. We were saving room for fish tacos there.

Blue Iguana is one of our go-to spots on the ship. We didn’t get food there on embarkation day because we already had pizza.

Beverage Choices and Pricing

We did not get a drink package for this cruise. The Carnival drink package has restrictions that we don’t like compared to Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines.

Package Limitations:

• 15 drink limit per day
• Cannot get two drinks at once
• Cannot order a drink for someone else, even if they have the package
• Must wait between drinks

These restrictions made the package less valuable for us. We usually get drink packages on other cruise lines, but not on Carnival.

We ordered individual drinks throughout the cruise instead of purchasing the package.

Onboard Entertainment and Recreation

Aft Deck Retreat

We found our favorite spot on the ship at the aft deck. This area has comfortable red chairs where we like to spend time.

The aft pool sits right below this deck. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the view.

We can see Long Beach from here. On clear days, you can even spot the snowcapped mountains of Big Bear and the San Gabriel range in the distance.

There’s a smoking section on the starboard side for guests who need it. We usually stick to the outside seating areas since we don’t smoke.

Activity Areas and Water Features

The ship has a sky ride that goes across the back. You can see it from the aft deck along with the sports deck.

The sports deck offers different activities for guests who want to stay active during their cruise.

Water features are available for guests looking to cool off. These areas provide entertainment throughout the day.

Upper Deck Spaces and Dining

The Havana deck is located at the back of the ship. You can spot it when looking at the ship from the dock.

The aft pool sits at the top of the ship. This is one of our favorite hangout spots during the cruise.

Dining Options Near the Pool:

• Pizza Pirate (now called Pizzeria del Capitano)
• Blue Iguana for fish tacos
• Gigi’s Asian Kitchen for stir fry and noodle bowls

At Gigi’s, the lunch menu changed from how it used to be. You can now choose from preset bowls instead of picking individual ingredients.

Available bowl types:

• Noodle bowl
• Stir fry
• Broth

You can get these with steak, chicken, or shrimp. We tried the shrimp and noodles bowl from Gigi’s while sitting on the aft deck.

Entertainment and Nightlife

Live Comedy Performances

We didn’t catch any comedy shows during our embarkation day. We spent most of our time getting settled on the ship and exploring our favorite spots. We grabbed food from different venues and made our way around the Panorama. The ship has comedy club shows available, but we were too busy enjoying the sail away and getting organized to check them out on day one.

Sail Away Celebrations

We found our happy place on the aft deck of the Panorama after boarding. The red chairs in the back area near the pool became our spot to relax. We sat there with our funship drinks and pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano.

The weather was perfect for sail away. We had blue skies and warm sunshine. It was December, but we didn’t even need our jackets. The view from the aft deck was beautiful. We could see Long Beach in the background and the snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains and Big Bear in the distance.

Our Sail Away Spot:

• Aft deck near the pool
• Red chairs in the back area
• Smoking section on starboard side
• Outside seating that filled up quickly

We didn’t get the drink package for this cruise. Carnival has too many restrictions compared to other cruise lines. You can’t get two drinks at once, even if you’re getting one for someone else. That limitation alone made us skip the package. We just paid for drinks as we went.

Gaming and Prize Events

We didn’t participate in any casino games or raffles on embarkation day. We were too focused on getting through our muster drill and finding food. After we got on the ship at 11:30, we dropped our bags in the room and completed the muster drill within the first hour. We spent the rest of our time eating and relaxing on the aft deck.

Unique Experiences and Travel Tips

Touring the Historic Isolation Area and Ghost Stories

We spent the night on the Queen Mary in Long Beach before our cruise departed. This was our first time staying overnight on this ship. It was a fun experience that we’d recommend trying at least once. One night is probably enough.

The ship is full of interesting spots to explore. We walked around all evening going through the small spaces and hidden areas. There’s a large engine room you can tour. The decor is all art deco style and very original to the 1930s. You’ll find cool photos of the ship’s historic past. There’s a lot of history to discover.

It’s just fun to walk around and see everything. The ship has many nooks and crannies to check out.

Differences Between Current Ships and Older Vessels

The Queen Mary rooms are a nice size. However, they don’t have any temperature control. It was December and chilly outside. Our room and our daughter’s room were hot.

They brought us a fan, but it didn’t really help much. It helped our room a little bit, but our daughter’s room never cooled down. If you run hot like me, keep this in mind. This may not be the right choice for you in summer months. Maybe winter months are better since this is probably as chilly as it gets.

We actually had two portholes in our room that you can completely open. There are no screens or anything. It’s just open to the world. We had that open all night. It helped some but still wasn’t the same as having AC cranking. This isn’t something they really highlight in the brochure. They do mention it in the fine print on the bottom. That’s something you just take for granted in modern hotels.

Holiday Activities and Festive Decorations

We sailed on a 6-day New Year’s Eve cruise down to Cabo San Lucas. The trip included an overnight stay there and a stop in Ensenada.

It was a beautiful day in Long Beach when we boarded. We had blue skies and warm sun. There was a little chill when it was windy, but that’s expected for December. A big storm came through the week before. You could see Big Bear and the San Gabriel Mountains with snow on top.

Important Items to Bring and Staying Comfortable

The Queen Mary has good food and great service. If you like Starbucks, they have it on board. They have a small coffee shop where you walk up and place your order. There’s also a sit-down breakfast available. The prices are reasonable.

You can’t beat the convenience of getting dropped off at the Queen Mary. You don’t have to deal with parking. You don’t have to deal with the same day drop-off traffic. Check it out if you’re coming to Long Beach.

We got on board exactly 1 hour after leaving the Queen Mary. We were through security on the ship, dropped our bags at the room, did our muster drill, and got our embarkation day drinks and pizza. We were about an hour or hour and a half ahead of schedule.

We didn’t get the drink package on Carnival. The Carnival drink package has more restrictions compared to Royal Caribbean and others. It’s not just the 15 drink limit. For example, if one person goes to the bar, they can’t get a drink for someone else. You can’t get two drinks at once. That alone is frustrating. It’s not about waiting between drinks or the number of drinks per day. They just have so many restrictions. We usually don’t get the drink package on Carnival like we do on other cruise lines.

First Day Thoughts and What We’re Looking Forward To

We started our morning on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. We spent the night there before our cruise. It was our first time staying overnight on this historic ship.

The Queen Mary sits right next to where the Carnival Panorama was docked. We could see our cruise ship from where we stayed. The weather was beautiful with blue skies and sunshine. It felt warm when we stood in the sun but got a bit chilly when the wind picked up.

Our Queen Mary Experience

We walked around the Queen Mary all evening. The ship has lots of interesting spots to explore. The engine room was impressive to see. All the decorations follow an art deco style from the 1930s. Historic photos line the walls showing the ship’s past.

The rooms were a good size. We had two portholes in our room that opened completely with no screens. The main issue was the temperature. Our room and our daughter’s room got too hot. The ship doesn’t have temperature controls or air conditioning. Staff brought us a fan but it didn’t help much. Our daughter’s room never cooled down properly.

We opened the portholes at night to let in cool air. It helped a little but wasn’t the same as having AC. The fine print mentions this but most modern hotels have climate control so it’s easy to forget.

The food tasted good and the service was excellent. They have a coffee shop with Starbucks where you can order and go. There’s also a sit-down breakfast option. Prices were reasonable.

Getting On Board

Around 10:30 in the morning we packed up and wheeled our luggage to the porters. The gangway connects right from the dome building to the ship. We watched people still getting off the Panorama as we prepared to board.

We dropped off four bags with the porters. We usually meet them right by the elevator but this time they were positioned a bit farther away.

We got through security and started boarding at 11:30. We were about an hour or hour and a half ahead of schedule. Lots of other people were already in line but it moved quickly.

First Hour On The Ship

Exactly one hour after leaving the Queen Mary we were settled. We got through security, dropped bags in our room, finished our muster drill, got our first Funship drink, and grabbed pepperoni pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano.

We headed to our favorite spot on the Panorama. The red chairs in the back area near the aft pool became our happy place. Long Beach stretched out behind us with the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains and Big Bear visible in the distance.

Dining Plans

We planned to check GG’s for a dinner reservation that night. If they didn’t have availability we would go to the steakhouse instead.

For lunch we tried GG’s Mongolian Wok. The menu changed from before. You used to pick individual ingredients but now you choose between a steak bowl, chicken bowl, or shrimp bowl. The shrimp and noodles bowl was good but seemed a bit dry. It tasted different from previous cruises.

GG’s Lunch Options:

• Noodle bowl
• Stir fry
• Broth

We grabbed slices of pizza which filled us up. We saved room for Blue Iguana later because we knew we wanted fish tacos.

Ship Layout

The aft pool sat right below where we were sitting. The smoking section is on the starboard side but we don’t go over there since we don’t smoke. We usually sit on the outside area which had filled back up while we were eating.

We could see just the very top of the Queen Mary from where we sat. The jacket we brought stayed off because the weather was so nice.

Drink Package Decision

We didn’t buy the Carnival drink package. The restrictions don’t work well for us compared to Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines. The 15 drink limit isn’t the main problem.

The real issue is that one person can’t get drinks for someone else. If one of us goes to the bar we can’t get two drinks. This limitation plus other restrictions made us skip the package.

Food Opinions

The pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano tasted really good. Out of all the cruise lines we sailed on in 2025, Carnival has the best pizza. Princess, NCL, and Royal Caribbean don’t compare for walk-up pizza.

The only better pizza we had all year was Alfredo’s sit-down restaurant on Princess. Their walk-up pizza at Princess isn’t as good as Carnival’s but the sit-down place beats everything.

Our Cruise Details

We were sailing on a 6-day New Year’s Eve cruise. The itinerary included Cabo San Lucas for an overnight stay and a stop in Ensenada. The Panorama would be our home for the next several days.

We spent time on the aft deck near the pool watching Long Beach in the background. A seagull looked very happy nearby. The beautiful day and convenient boarding made everything feel perfect for starting our vacation.