Carnival Cruise Line offers sailings of all lengths, from classic short 3-4 night getaways to iconic weeklong 7-night cruises to Carnival Journeys of 9+ nights. But which cruise length is the most popular?
Of course, with bookings at incredible highs and nearly every ship sailing fully booked, all cruise lengths are popular. But some surprising insight has come to light about what sailing length Carnival’s biggest fans prefer – or not.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, regularly responds to questions, comments, and – no matter how crazy – complaints about a wide range of issues. One that has come up recently is cruise length.
While he does not address an individual comment directly, he did post a poll on Thursday, April 3, 2025 that included an either/or selection on cruise lengths. These poll questions are based on things he has been asked throughout the day, so it is clear that at least some inquiring cruisers are interested.
“Can you explain why there are so few three day cruises? These used to be a great way for us to take short breaks over the weekend with family,” one guest asked. “Please bring back more three day cruises.”
Surprisingly, just two percent of the more than 53,000 votes, or roughly 1,100 voters, agree with the idea that the cruise line should be offering more short sailings.
The other option stated that “Three-day cruises are too short for me,” and garnered an amazing 29 percent of votes – more than 15,400 responses.
In addition to voting, different guests posted their thoughts on shorter sailings with a variety of reasons why these brief sailings may not be as appealing.
Many guests note that they don’t live close to a popular homeport and the hassle (and expense!) of travel means they get more bang for their vacation buck on longer sailings.
“For me, a 3-day cruise is a waste of time. It costs me almost as much to get to the port as it does to cruise,” one guest explained.
Other guests feel that a shorter cruise just doesn’t give them enough time to unwind in vacation mode, especially with how stressful travel to and from a cruise homeport can be.
The reputation that shorter Carnival cruises have gotten as “booze cruises” has also soured some travelers who, while they love the fun of a Fun Ship cruise, don’t want to be in quite that raucous of an atmosphere.
Personally, I do live less than an hour from Port Canaveral, and even I don’t always care for very short weekend sailings because of that frenzied party vibe. I do, however, completely agree with one guest.
“Three day cruises may be too short sometimes, but at other times they are a good ‘quick fix’ when needed!” they quipped.
Are Longer Cruises Always Preferable?
Not all travelers can enjoy longer sailings, however.
Parents with children in school note that a 7-night cruise isn’t always the best option if they do need to travel to and from the embarkation port.
This could mean needing to take their children out of school for longer due to flights and the possibility of delays, which can have negative impact on their schoolwork, testing, and extra-curricular schedules.
Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise
Even longer sailings can also be more expensive for travelers, and while Carnival Journeys longer cruises can be amazing immersive experiences, they aren’t as frequently available for scheduling flexibility.
Some guests also note that Carnival Journeys sailings aren’t typically offered in the summer when families have more time off school to schedule a longer cruise.
What is your preferred cruise length? Share your best sailing times and options on the Cruise Hive boards!
