Do you Love cruising, but wondering what it’s like to sail during COVID-19? Concerned that cruising won’t be fun? We’ll share our experience of cruising onboard Carnival Panorama, and our honest review so you can decide if cruising is right for you, right now. Spoiler alert. Carnival Panorama was the best cruise yet! Here’s our trip report. 7 simple reasons Carnival Panorama was the best cruise
A cruise to the Mexican Riviera offered the Gallivanting Souls a chance to see what cruising is like now, sailing aboard Carnival Panorama on its 4th cruise from Long Beach to three ports of call.
“Welcome back ” on the big screen, picture courtesy of Flo Garrison.
Cruising has finally started again, and after over 602 days of no sailing for us, we jumped at the opportunity to set sail again.
Yes! We have been counting the days since our last cruise.
Now that we are safely back, we can share with you our experiences of cruising vaccinated, as a couple, on Carnival Panorama from the Port of Long Beach near Los Angeles, California, amidst the pandemic, surrounded by regulations and COVID-related restrictions. In this Carnival Panorama trip report.
After not being able to cruise for over 602 days, we were finally able to board our first cruise since the COVID-19 Pandemic put a stop to the world and travel.
Spoiler alert: Cruising on Carnival Panorama to the Mexican Riviera from Long Beach in the fall of 2021, was one of our best cruisers ever!
No goods or services were exchanged for this review. Carnival Cruise Lines was paid the going rate for a 7-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera. All opinions are my own. Not sponsored.
Health and safety protocols
Carnival Cruise Lines takes precautions before boarding and confirms this commitment to the health and safety of their guests and crew on board with the Have Fun Be Safe Protocols.
Our cruise started and ended in the United States and visited Mexico, so we were required to follow any additional requirements of Mexico.
One of the requirements that had to be performed was pre-cruise COVID-19 testing.
Find out what tests are permitted, when to test, and how you can show your results at Carnivals Have fun. Be safe. COVID-19 Guest protocols.
Carnival’s health and safety protocols made us feel safe and assured us that they were doing everything in their power to keep us safe and healthy, and still have a great time!
Cost of testing
The cost of Pre COVID Testing will vary from place to place, test to test, and if you have health insurance or not.
For example, at CVS testing prices for COVID-19 Rapid Test as $120. CVS also offers $0 out-of-pocket tests billing Health Insurance or local programs.
If you live in Arizona, you can find testing locations at the Arizona State Department of Health
On the CVS sight, you can also learn who should be tested, what you should do after you’re tested, and more.
When to book your test
With the CDC’s latest requirements of needing to test two days before boarding a cruise, you should book the earliest test you can to get results back in the allotted time frame. Although tests are readily available for free, test turnaround time on average (per CVS, Walgreens, and Embry Health) is taking 2 to 3 days. Turnaround tie for the free tests is not guaranteed.
Please consider doing a rapid test and test early in your two days before sailing. You likely will need to budget extra for these tests if they are not covered by insurance costs.
If planning on doing one of the new at-home tests, make sure to order well in advance, that you know exactly how to perform the test, and have reliable internet to access video on your phone or computer.
Covid Testing Personal Experience
Email communication from Carnival would find its way to our inbox. It came with a checklist of important things we would need to sail.
- Be fully vaccinated and bring proof.
- Take a COVID test within 3 days before sailing.
- Fill out the health questionnaire.
Living in a large city, finding a place to take the COVID test was easy. Testing facilities were throughout the Phoenix Metro area, offering many tests that would comply with Carnival’s set protocol.
Our only worry was would we be able to get the results in time?
Per Carnival Cruise Line’s Have Fun. Be Safe. protocol, for fully vaccinated guests:
“For sailings departing through September 12, 2021, fully vaccinated guests must also present the negative results of a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within three days before embarkation. For example, if the sailing is on Saturday, the test may be taken any time from Wednesday through Friday. Guests may also take the test on the morning of embarkation so long as they are guaranteed to receive their test results before their time of check-in.
“Updated: COVID tests now must be within 48 hours of the sail date.
Effective with sailings as of September 13, 2021, the CDC requires pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests to be taken within two days before the sailing date. If the sailing is on Saturday, the test may be taken on Thursday and Friday, and as late as Saturday, if you are guaranteed to receive your results in time for check-in
For our sailing, we had three days before sailing to get our COVID tests and results.
Here is our example of how we planned for pre-cruise covid testing:
Scheduled appointments for Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, and Friday afternoon near the port of Long Beach if needed.
Our first appointment was at a nearby CVS for a rapid test.
Testing on Thursday was a normal PCR test. In hindsight, I would choose the reverse order.
Our Rapid test results from CVS came back in 15 minutes. So quickly, we got the results by phone before we got back home. We were then able to go to their website and print out the results.
At the testing location, they asked for insurance cards and ID.
It is unclear if we will receive any sort of bill, at least for rapid testing.
Food for thought: If cruising during COVID, it might make sense to just budget the cost of a rapid test and skip the stress.
Canceled backup appointment.
Boarding
Boarding was efficient. Once guests had paperwork, negative test results, and COVID Vaccine Cards checked, they complete the embarkation process as usual.
After showing our negative test results we proceeded on board. Rooms were ready by 1 PM and we found Sail and Sign Cards in our mailbox. Any purchases before 1 PM could be made with your boarding document. The Buffet, Deli, Guy’s Burger Joint, and Blue iguana were open for pre-cruise lunch.
Face coverings
You might be wondering, do I have to wear a mask everywhere?
Masks were required at embarkation and debarkation, as well as many places around the ship where physical distancing might not be possible.
Signs were in place to remind guests to wear them in the elevators, and extra personnel was stationed with masks if needed.
Upon entering the main dining room, until seated, guests wear their face coverings. While grabbing food at the Lido or other food venue, you were expected to wear your mask while in line or walking to your table.
In the Comedy Club, it was required to keep a mask on except when taking a sip of your drink. “Sip and cover” was the mantra often heard.
While in the pool, hot tubs, or lounging on deck sunbathing, no mask was needed, but make sure to have one handy if you want to pop into the Lido for a snack or get a drink from the bar.
Medical exemptions
You might be thinking: Getting vaccinated is not for me.
I’m over twelve years old. Can I just fill out a form and cruise unvaccinated?
Carnival’s deal with the CDC is to have at least 95 percent of all guests and crew vaccinated. Some exemptions were given to guests under twelve and others with medical exemptions.
Per Carnival Corp, to receive an exemption, you must first apply for it. Only a predetermined number of unvaccinated guests per cruise will receive this exemption.
Just because you apply, it does not guarantee that you will be approved. Notice of exemption will be confirmed just before sailing.
What are the requirements for sailing?
To find out the latest on what Carnival or other cruise lines’ requirements are please check the cruise line website often and check it again in the days before to see if any changes have been made.
Rules and requirements for cruising currently are changing, sometimes daily. Also, keep an eye on your email and texts if able to sign up for alerts. Check out the CDC website for more info. On this website, you can see the status of each ship out there that is sailing or trying to get ready to sail.
Editor’s Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government and cruise line restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure.
Expectations vs reality
Our expectations for this cruise came close to what the cruise was. We expected, just as we do at work, that we would be wearing face masks.
We expected that we would be encouraged to physically distance ourselves and wash our hands or use hand gel often.
One thing that surprised me was that I didn’t realize how much I would notice the reduced passenger capacity.
It was noticeable on the pool decks and at the Lido buffet. We were always able to find a seat, even a window seat close to the Lido. We were even able to get a lounger on the sun decks when activities were going on. This was a first for us where we didn’t have to circle like stalkers hoping to find just one seat.ca
Dinner in the main dining room was also much more relaxed without being at full capacity. For the first time in all of our cruise history, we even got a visit from the elusive magician.
The Magician did a fun card trick that none of us could figure out. The Maitre D even came by multiple nights just to find out if we were having a good experience and if everything was going well.
We expected that we would have a private table, after all, aren’t we doing social distancing? We were assigned a table with another couple, but they did not show up.
Our four-seat table was close enough to the next table where there was another couple with assigned table mates who also didn’t show up.
We became unofficial table mates, with a bit of social distance.
It always amazes me how well Carnival can match up table mates in the main dining room. This other couple was also from Washington state and although older, we enjoyed their company. The fun is back!
Sailing at reduced Capacity
Our sailing was only the 4th sailing back out of Los Angeles. We sailed at a reduced capacity of fewer than 1500 passengers. There was almost as many crew as passengers. This made for a very nice cruise. Not many long lines onboard, and getting off was much easier.
What’s included in the cruise fare
Perhaps this is your first cruise and you are wondering what’s included in your cruise fare. Your room, most food, some drinks, entertainment big and small. Your room stays, and transportation to each port. Pools, hot tubs, water slides, entertainment.
- A fitness center with workout equipment, some fitness classes, and transportation to awesome ports of call
- Youth programs for children ages two to 17
- Numerous places to eat breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, 24-hour pizza, soft-serve ice cream, and frozen yogurt.
- Beverages like lemon aid, iced tea, non-bottled water, juices during breakfast, hot chocolate, drip coffee, and teas, are all available at the Lido
- Included restaurants like Carnival Deli, Guy’s Burgers, and BlueIguania Cantana
What’s not included
- Food or snacks from specialty restaurants such as the steak house, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Cucina del Captain, and more.
- Delivery of pizza
- Some room service item
- Alcoholic drinks
- Casino
- Spa treatments
- Purchases in the Fun shops
- Gratuities and more. Find out on Carnival’s website
The ship
Is Carnival Panorama a new ship? Can you say new ship without new ship price? Amazingly enough, this ship still has that new ship smell. Before COVID hit, Carnival Panorama had only completed 4 sailings, and this was sailing number 4 since the pandemic. Eight sailings total for this ship.
Carnival Panorama is a Vista-class ship. Her layout is very similar to the Carnival Vista with an additional restaurant, Bonsai Teppanyaki Hibachi Restaurant. Additional cost.
The only thing we found odd about this new ship was that when you embarked onto the ship, you didn’t enter directly into the atrium as on most ships.
You found yourself on deck four, which is the casino. The ship has 15 decks of places to explore and things to do. Carnival Panorama is a beautiful, almost new ship, with so much to offer cruisers of all ages.
Bars
With over 15 bars on Carnival Panorama, finding a drink is easier than doing a pub crawl. Your favorite drink can be found somewhere on board no matter if you are a beer drinker, like cocktails, or enjoying your drink while watching the game or playing the slots.
Cheers drink package
Cheers were included in our cruise fare with the rate code we booked. We had never tried Cheers before and wondered if it would be worth it to us, but for about $27 per person, it was something that we could not pass up.
I originally thought that as long as we had one drink per day, it would pay off. After ordering a few drinks and seeing how much some of the drinks cost, I think we needed to consume 3 drinks each total, not per day.
The Cheers program paid off even if we didn’t order an alcoholic drink. Hubby likes his specialty coffees in the morning. The price of this alone would have paid off.
If you are wanting dessert and there is nothing that gets your attention at the buffet, head over to JavaBlue Coffee Shop. Here you will find large slices of cake, cheesecake, and danishes. They charge a nominal fee, but the cake was really good and they pack it to go. I tried both the chocolate cake and the New York Cheese Cake. Each was about $2.50, but so good.
Did you know that you can get adult coffee at the Java Blue Coffee shop? One day I was waiting in line with hubby while he was ordering his espresso, and I felt like ordering a Baileys and Hot Chocolate and realized this. You can also order shakes regularly or with alcohol here, and one day I just wanted a cup of ice cream. Check the HUBB App for hours of operation.
How does the Cheers program work?
For those who have purchased the Cheers Program, you will get a sticker on your sail and a signature card that tells the bar or waitstaff you have the package. You should be able to get your sticker from the first bar you stop at or from the Service Desk.
With Cheers, you are allowed up to 15 alcoholic drinks in a twenty-four-hour period. Once you get to drink 15 you are cut off.
You cannot order more drinks, even if you offer to pay for them.
I’m not sure how anyone ever gets to consuming that many alcoholic drinks and remembers anything or stays upright!
On a sea day, I think the most drinks I had was three or maybe four, and I am sure that for whatever reason, I did not drink more than a couple of sips from the drink.
Besides alcohol, with Cheers, you can get unlimited soft drinks, bottled water, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas, and milkshakes from Java Blue Cafe and Shake Spot.
Although a gratuity is auto-charged for Cheers, we went ahead and tipped an extra $1 for most drinks.
When sailing from Texas and New York, the Cheers Program begins on day two due to stay regulations. Check Carnival’s FAQ for more info.
Restaurants
Hungry? With so many activities on board, you will eventually need to eat. On Carnival Panorama, choices are plentiful. At almost any time you can choose from grab-and-go, sit-down casual, upscale fancy, and even make a different choice each night if it suits your fancy.
Each passenger is assigned to one of the restaurants in the main dining room for dinner. Choices for times when booking are Early (6 PM), Late (8 PM), or Your Time (go when you decide). Passengers are assigned but are not required to attend, but if you would like to eat in the main dining room, you must go to your assigned time and location.
Some of the restaurants we enjoyed each night were the Main Dining Room. we ate here most nights.
For Hubby’s birthday, we ate at Fahrenheit 555 SteakHouse, at $38 per person. (4 courses: starter, side, main dish, and dessert). May I recommend the Mushrooms for a starter, Filet for the main, baked potato with all the trimmings, and cheesecake for dessert?
We also dined at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen. For dinner, I had Chicken Egg Rolls, Chairman Mow’s Master Stock Pig, Wide Noodles, and Caramelized Crepes.
Whether no matter eating in the Main Dining room or specialty restaurant, if you have food allergies or intolerances, make sure to talk to your wait staff before ordering.
Carnival is trying something new that could be a game-changer for cruisers with food allergies or intolerances. This new program was available on Carnival Panorama and coming to other ships soon.
This program is called Menu Mate. Menu Mate is a kiosk that right now you can find on the Lido. A helpful employee will be standing by with questions.
At the kiosk, you can search for food that you think looks tasty and tell the app about any allergies or intolerances you have. You can decide if you want Full ingredients lists or if this is ok to consume.
Menu Mate is now available on all Carnival ShipsTablets are available to access at all food venues.
It’s still a good idea to continue to speak with your head waiter or the Maître d’hôtel about food allergies.
Menu Mate is sure to be a great tool if you have food allergies or intolerances. Photo courtesy of Adrienne, Carnival Dining staff. (thank you, Adrienne!). Once I try this feature out I will give a review of how helpful it is.
The software will then sort through all available options and display which items are allergen-free, which options can be modified to exclude the specified allergen and which selections should be avoided. If preferred, guests can also use the Menu Mate designated tablet themselves to enter in their own allergy/dietary information and then order from the options curated to meet their needs. Guests will also be able to find a Menu Mate tablet on display near the Lido buffet stations as well.
Carnival Special Needs Dept
A la carte
Sometimes you just want to grab something different to eat. For A la carte, we ate at Guy’s Burger Joint, Mongolian Wok (sea days, same location as Ji Ji’s), Blue Iguana Cantina, and The Deli.
For breakfast or lunch be sure to check out BlueIguana Cantina. At breakfast, you can get a made-to-order burrito, Arepas, or Huevos Rancheroes.
I’ve never eaten at BlueIguana. How do I order?
No matter if you want a taco or burrito, first, choose your tortilla. You have the choice of wheat or jalapeno.
Next, for burritos, pick your protein. Your choices are chicken, beef, or shrimp. For tacos, your protein choices are chicken, fish, and pork.
If having a burrito, the fillings are next. Choose your beans, black or refried. Cilantro Rice, tomato, roasted corn, roasted peppers, and lettuce.
Finally, choose your combinations of ingredients and toppings such as salsas like salsa Rojas, tomatillo, roasted tomato, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and Monterey Jack Cheese.
There are so many combinations, what will you come up with?
Location: pool deck.
Cost: Included in the cruise fare.
Hours: open breakfast and lunch.
Are buffets open on a Carnival Cruise?
The Lido Buffet is open at regular hours on all Carnival ships and you will find all sorts of foods, everything from international to American.
Continental breakfast is served for the early birds, followed by breakfast. Lunch, snacks, salad, and dessert bars. Make sure to check out the Gelato bar and special dessert offerings. Death by chocolate should not be missed! Need some ice cream or soft serve? It’s available 24 hours?
Our dining team
Let me start by saying, rarely have we had a bad dining team, but this dining team was one of our favorites. You could sense that each member was genuinely happy to be back at work and that they enjoyed their jobs.
From our Head waiter Kelvin, who was from South Africa, and our assistant waiter Adrienne, from the Philippines greeted us each time she saw us by name, even down at the Lido, to always asking if we wanted to try a new drink at dinner, to our junior waiter Anok, from Indonesia, who smiled politely and kept our bread and butter full.
We loved them all. We found our dining team less stressed with the reduced capacity. It was a nice change. Each of these crew looked like they enjoyed the dancing at dinner. They danced in the area close to our table so that we could see and take photos, unlike previous waiters, who looked like they would rather die than perform another dance for their guests.
Our room
We had booked an inside room on deck two midship. After arriving, we were surprised with a very nice balcony stateroom, midship slightly towards the aft on deck 9. Everything was in good working order. Three total closets, some with shelves and drawers.
For the first time ever, got a visit from the Upgrade Fairy!
Desk, not as many drawers as in older ships, only one small drawer with hair dryer, but still a good place to stash some ones and keep handy for those late-night room service calls. Instead of drawers, there were 3 or 4 shelves to the right of the desk. The refrigerator (not very cold) was in a cabinet to the right of the desk.
The bathroom was a typical size for Carnival ships, with three small glass shelves on each side of the sink more than large enough for our bathroom supplies to be left out.
Shower, a typical Carnival shower. To shave my legs, I had to turn the shower down to a trickle and open the curtain to bend over.
The left side of the shower faucet is on/off. The right side is the temperature up and down. Once you find the temperature you prefer, no need to mess with it again!
Our room Steward
Another first for us, having a female room steward. Sheila was a delight to have as our room steward. From our first interaction with Sheila, we knew we liked her and that she loved her job. Every time we passed her, even if it were down the hall aways, she would call us by name. She gave us recommendations of places on the ship to check out, the food we must try, and even an excursion to try in Puerto Vallarta.
Although we only asked for Evening Service, I am sure we got more than that. We always had lovely towel animals before bed.
Having a couch to sit on and chill was a bonus, and it made a great spot for my towel animal zoo to live for the entire cruise.
Sheila also made sure I had a bucket of ice each evening, which when melted, made a nice cold glass of water to wake up and drink with medicine.
The Staff
The staff was absolutely amazing. No matter what venue you went to, where on the ship you were, or what time of the day or night, the employees were helpful, friendly, and went out of their way to make sure you had a great time!
Even the Cruise Director, Lee was approachable and friendly. He is probably our 2nd favorite CD next to Mar Q Anthony, but we had an entire 13 days to get to know him.
Room Safe
A small safe is located in each stateroom. Ours was inside one of the closets. It is highly recommended that even if you don’t lock it (we never do) that you place your passports or other Identification and extra credit cards here just in case you miss the ship.
The safe is not big enough to hold items larger than a small tablet. If you are worried that you have items such as a computer that might be stolen, then just stash them somewhere out of sight. No employee would dare steal anything.
In our safe, I also keep half of any credit cards that the hubby and I have brought and only one person carries a card from the same account.
The envelope system works by diving up all the money and credit cards you have and doling it out to your traveling companions, never bringing more than you need. Bring an envelope with money for one port at a time, or one tour at a time, that way, if we are mugged or lose the money, it is not the end of our trip.
Internet
Several internet plans are available for purchase. We did not use any plans this time. Normally, if we decide we want to purchase, we only purchase the Social Plan, and we purchase ahead of time. More than one guest can use the plan as long as you log off the other first.
Carnival HUB APP
Gone are the days of everything being printed out and placed in your stateroom. Say hello to the Carnival Hub app.
You will need a smart device and the ability to scan QR codes to read menus throughout the ship.
This was problematic for those with fewer smart devices as well as those without electronic savvy. Make sure to download the HUB App from either the Google Play store or wherever you get applications for your phone before you leave on your trip. Have your cruise number handy and log in once you are onboard. You need to put your phone into airplane mode and then select the Carnival Intranet.
Next, if you are in someplace with a menu you want to view, you will notice that on most tables, it will say scan QR code. If you are unable to do this, don’t panic, there is another way, perhaps easier.
In the HUB app, go to food and drink. Scroll to the Main dining room or My time dining room. Click on the open menu. The menu for the day will open.
Helpful tip: if you can’t get menus to load, don’t have a smartphone, or just don’t want to bother, speak up. Staff can provide paper menus on request.
Swimming pools
Two swimming pools are on board Carnival Panorama. Also, a waterworks area with everything from waterslides, splash areas, and plenty of sun loungers. A lifeguard stands by during all hours that the pool is open.
Sports and wellness
From the gym to the Serenity Adults area, to the Cloud 9 Spa area with thermal suites for total relaxation. Adults will find peace and relaxation.
Over at sky zone, kids of all ages can try out the high-up ropes course or even the Sky Zone (bike in the sky, additional cost).
Multitudes of free outside activities such as miniature golf, ping pong, shuffleboard, life-size chess, and checkers. Pool games.
Onboard Activities
There are enough activities onboard Carnival Panorama to keep most cruisers occupied and out of trouble.
Trivia is played several times each day. The topics change with each session but expect themes like Harry Potter, 80s hits, a popular destination, etc. If you are lucky enough to win a round, you might earn a solid gold plastic ship on a stick.
For crafty cruisers, check out Michael’s Craft with me. Throughout the ship, you can listen to all sorts of live music. Bingo, slots, card games, and scratch-offs are available to those who enjoy gambling.
Do you have any inspiring chefs in your group? Only found on select ships is an onboard activity or paid excursion that anyone who loves to cook or watch shows like Food Network “Chopped”.
Called Carnival Kitchen, wanna-be chefs can learn to make several of Carnival’s most loved recipes. Check your cruise planner in the dining section for daily classes and class locations.
Does Carnival Panorama have a kids club?
Is It safe for my kids to go to the kids’ program?
Kids Club
Carnival Cruise Lines carries more kids than any other cruise line. It is very safe. There is gated access to the club. Young children must be signed in and out. Older children can sign themselves out.
On each Carnival Cruise Lines ship, there is a dedicated children’s program. Ages 0 to 17 will have organized by activities. They even offer night owls child care (additional cost).
The kids’ program on Carnival Panorama and other Carnival ships is well organized. There ate many scheduled activities for each age group daily. Don’t be surprised if your child brings home many pieces of art each day.
Entertainment
Although there are enough entertainment options to keep the average person going all night nonstop, we only went to comedy shows nightly, but usually go to the Piano Bar afterward, The schedule just didn’t line up for us. We did catch some live music on the deck and enjoyed it.
Groove for St Jude
Why would I just mention one particular activity? Because this one particular activity means so much to families who are fighting childhood cancer or have a loved one who has survived.
What is Groove for St Jude?
Grove for St Jude is a fundraiser that Carnival Cruises do each cruise to raise money for St Jude Research. It is a well-attended event and is not required to attend. Many cruisers such as myself look forward to this event.
Groove for St Jude is held on the last sea day outside on the deck.
This fundraising event is your opportunity to purchase a t-shirt or other items and in turn, you are donating to one of the most worthwhile charities out there, St Jude Research Center for Children’s Cancer.
It doesn’t matter if we already have the same t-shirt, we always make our donation. Originally, when Carnival began this event, it was a deck party for those who donated to the cause.
We have not seen any dance party, but we usually come donate and run on to something else. Both John Heald and Lee our Cruise Director gave updates on how generous Carnival Panorama’s guests were in donating to the St Jude charity.
Grove For St Jude Deck Party
Did you know that if you have any money under $10 left on your sail and sign account and you do not come and cash it out, it all gets donated to St Jude?
On our cruise alone in one day, over $10,000 was raised for St Jude to fund childhood cancer research.
Thank you Lee your Cruise Director and John Heald for sharing these updates on Facebook! Are you a fan of John? Maybe interested in sailing with him on an upcoming For Fun’s Sake Cruise? Find out what exactly to expect on an FFS Cruise.
Not on a cruise and want to help? Head on over to St Jude’s website and donate now, maybe even consider doing a fundraiser of your own to benefit them.
Find the info below.
Your donation helps give kids like Lucas the chance to grow up. Donate to St Jude today
What is Carnival Panorama’s home port?
The Panorama’s home port is in Long Beach, California.
What airports can I fly into for Carnival Panorama?
Long Beach, LGB, should be your airport of choice when flying in for your cruise. Long Beach is an older airport but is very easy to navigate. The distance from the airport to the Port of Long Beach is 12.5 miles. Los Angeles International Airport is 23.5 miles from the port. LAX is much larger and traffic can be a pain, as well as the airport.
What is the Carnival Panorama itinerary?
What ports does Carnival Panorama visit?
Ports
Carnival Panorama does a 7-day Mexican Riveria cruise and visits the following ports of call:
- Puerto Vallarta
- Mazatlan
- Cabo San Lucas
What did we do at each port?
In Puerto Vallarta, we purchased a Carnival excursion called Sunset Catamaran and Sail. A three-hour excursion that sailed in the Bay of Banderas with snacks and an open bar. This excursion was okay. The boat could have been in better shape with more seating. Food was minimal, cheese and crackers. There was plenty to drink. The seating was not great. Other guests were friendly and we had a good time. It was a cloudy, overcast day, but that made for a pretty sunset.
Mazatlan required that we carry our COVID Vaccine Cards off the ship and wear our masks in port. We did an independent City Tour of Mazatlán via Pulmonia with the Owner, and Operator, Freddy Bermudez, of City Tours Pulmonia.
You can book City Tours Pulmonia with Freddy for a half-day or all-day tour to see all the major sights of Mazatlán.
If you like to eat shrimp (you will love Mazatlán), Freddy can take you over to the shrimp boats and you can purchase shrimp of your choice.
Then he will take you to a restaurant where they will cook your catch. Contact City Tours Pulmonia on Facebook.
Heads up, he is very popular, so make your arrangements as soon as your sailing is confirmed. You can deposit to hold your tour spot through Paypal.
Mazatlán is one of my favorite stops. It’s a safe port full of history and culture.
Our next stop was Cabo San Lucas. We normally book our Independent tours, but again since we had onboard credit, we chose to do a Carnival Excursion called, the Top 10 Best of Cabo San Lucas.
Do not be fooled. This excursion only had three stops. The first location was the Glass Factory. A demonstration of making items by blowing glass was done. You can then choose to purchase items from the store. FYI, this factory only accepts payment in cash, so plan. If looking for hand-blown glass trinkets. Duration: One hour.
The next stop was at some sort of resort up on a cliff. Some nice overlook views for pictures. Overpriced soft drinks can be purchased. Cash only.
Duration: The stop was around 15 to 30 minutes. Would I book this tour again? Not likely. If you are in PVA and want a unique DIY tour, consider renting a sailboat. Our group of 4 adults rented a sailboat on our next visit to Puerto Vallarta.
The final stop is San Jose Del Cabo Centro area, about twenty minutes from Cabo San Lucas. A few places to buy souvenirs, art, or trinkets. Food or drink can also be purchased nearby. Duration:20 minutes.
Our tour guide gave good instructions on when and where to return to the bus and warned that we needed to be back for the last tender at 1245. One couple had no regard for the rest of us and came back to the bus at 1245.
They should be glad that I wasn’t running this tour. They would have been left behind. Although our tour guide was friendly and informative, in good conscience, I cannot recommend this tour as it is not as advertised, and what you get is not worth the price you pay. If you have a port stop in Cabo San Lucas, I’m advising you to choose another excursion.
Find out more about when you should book tours through your ship, and when to book tours independently.
The Mexican Riveria is a great itinerary for new and experienced cruisers. There are opportunities in each port where a budget-conscious cruiser could go off on its own and still have a great time.
In Cabo San Lucas you can do a whale-watching tour, take a water taxi over to Lover’s Beach and snorkel on your own, hire a parasailing tour, or just walk around the Marina. If parasailing is on your bucket list of things to do on a port day, Cabo San Lucas fits the bill.
In Mazatlan, you can hire a tour in a Pulmonia, take the ferry to Stone Island, or each the freshest shrimp you ever tasted at almost any local restaurant.
In Puerto Vallarta, you can do many tours arranged through your ship like the sunset tour we did. You can do a zipline tour in the mountains, or if your budget is hefty, take the ship tour over to see the very popular Rhythms of the night show.
If you want to snorkel and are looking for your own snorkel set, consider this one by Greatever. I have it and really like it. For some reason, I can’t use a regular snorkel. This one works well and I’ve used it for several trips now. You can find Buy on Amazon with Latest Dry Top System, Foldable 180 Degree Panoramic View Snorkeling Mask with Camera Mount, Safe Breathing, Anti-Leak&Anti-Fog. While you are snorkeling, don’t forget your rash guard. It is a much have to keep from getting sunburn and more sun damage. Rash guards are not just for snorkeling. We wore them on our Trike Tour in Cozumel and it worked out great! You can order a rash guard for women or for men. Let’s not forget the rest of the family! Toddler girls. Toddler and baby boys, girls and boys.
The ship was at about 50% capacity. It was so great not having long lines in the buffets and queues to get into the Comedy Club. Our staff were not rushed into the dining room and could spend extra time just talking and getting to know us better. I feel like we got spoiled and will never have such an experience like this again.
Message to Carnival Management
- Do keep up on cleanliness. The Carnival Panorama crew is doing a great job. The ship is in excellent condition. We saw the crew constantly cleaning and taking pride in their jobs.
- Do praise and take care of your staff.
- Watch temperatures on food in the main dining room.
- Please make more activities available during the day besides trivia.
The food was good. It wasn’t great, but there was plenty of it. Several times I could not decide between two appetizers or two main courses, so I ordered both.
Anyone who went hungry had a personal problem. Not one dish from the dining room stood out. I did enjoy the mushroom soup, unfortunately, I didn’t have it until the 2nd night. I wish I would have had it the first night too. I even looked for it on the Lido hoping to find it for lunch. That mushroom soup with some crusty bread would have made an excellent lunch.
Warm Chocolate Melting Cake: My favorite Carnival dessert!
For dessert at least two times I had the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake. This is probably my favorite dessert on Carnival Cruises and is offered every night on the menu in the Main Dining Room.
What is Warm Chocolate Melting Cake?
Warm Chocolate Melting Cake is a chocolate molten cake or chocolate souffle. Some people call it Lava Cake. It only has 5 ingredients: Chocolate, butter, eggs, and flour. It has about a million calories but is oh-so-good. Want to recreate the recipe at home? Carnival has the recipe for you as well as a video.
Pro Tip: Ask for your Warm Chocolate Melting Cake, “Mickey Mouse style”. Even better with 2 scoops of pecan praline ice cream if available.
You can blame my addiction to the WCMC on our previous dining steward, “Allan Palmer”. He taught us to order it like this.
Other modifications that you can try with your WCMC are ordered with a small dab of peanut butter. It tastes like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Also what I found great is if they have cherry compote, (like cherry pie filling) ask for some of this on the side.
Not finding anything you want to order for dessert on the menu? An assortment of ice creams, cheese plates, and fruit are also offered for dessert. You can also ask for coffee with your desserts.
Craving a Banana Split or sundae, ask your server for the kid’s menu. You can get a Banana Split with no problem!
Was this a typical cruise for us?
This cruise was different from other cruises we have been on. Let me just say this:
This was the most relaxing cruise we have been on. I did not confirm this, but I would guess the capacity was around 50%.
For the first time in the dining room, the Magician came over and performed a card trick for us. On over ten cruises, we had never even seen the magicians, just heard of them.
Conclusion Honest feedback
Although we didn’t do many scheduled activities, we took advantage of much-needed relaxation. We found ourselves marking activities in the HUB app and skipping them. We were napping in the room or spending time on our balcony. We opted to enjoy much-needed time together as a couple, the beautiful ship, and the wonderful, gracious staff.
We choose to keep our distance, but we still had fun and wore our face masks with no problems just as we do at home. Enjoyed and indulged in lots of great food and tried many new drinks. We met new friends and got reacquainted with old ones.
We felt safe with all the extra cleaning and steps to get on board. The crew was constantly cleaning and sanitizing all high touch points on the ship. Fellow cruisers for the most part we’re doing our part to help everyone stay safe. Did we end up getting sick or testing positive for COVID? No. We were able to stay healthy.
So you are wondering: Should you cruise right now?
This is going to be a personal choice and each person will need to make their own choice.
If I were a family with young children would I cruise right now? Probably not, but that’s just me.
Are you a couple or a single adult in good health? Yes, if you feel safe, come and cruise. If you have underlying health conditions or are not willing to do your part, please choose another type of vacation right now. We all have to be willing to do our part, or cruising will not be able to continue right now.
We would not hesitate to sail again on a Carnival Cruise, even during COVID. We already have several more cruises in the works. #ChooseFun!
Have you been Funderstruck yet?
Next month we will be trying out MSC Cruises to see if they are offering just as good of an experience. We had another great experience at MSC Meraviglia and stay tuned. We went back to Carnival Panorama one year later. I’ll post my review and compare our experiences as soon as I can.
Until then, stay safe, and happy cruising!
A special thank you to Flo Garetson, of the Facebook Roll Call, for several pictures shared from this cruise!
Featured Videos
Best things to do in Long Beach, CA the most beautiful city
12 Things to do in Long Beach
Los Angeles Travel Tips. Things to know before you go to LA
Top 10 Things to do in LA that are free
Exploring California’s Hidden Gems
Top Best Museums in Los Angeles
Top 10 day trips from Los Angeles
20 things to do in Los Angeles
Best things to do in Long Beach CA
Carnival Panorama review/trip report
Mexican Rivera Cruise
Cabo San Lucas
Puerto Vallarta
Mazatlán
Cruising during COVID
City Tour
City Tours Pulmonia
Phoenix Travel agent