Carnival Horizon is the newest ship in the Carnival Vista class and it’s perfect for families looking for the latest features in food and fun.
Food, Glorious Food
Carnival has always taken food seriously and this ship is no-different. With so many different restaurants—and food choices—there really is something for every palate. Whether it’s picky kids, food-connoisseur parents or health-conscious grandparents, there are plenty of choices on this 133,500-ton ship.
The Smokehouse Brewhouse is created by Food Network star Guy Fieri (he’s a longtime Carnival partner). The restaurant offers BBQ and craft beers made from the onboard brewery. Favorite menu items include: brisket custom-smoked for 12 hours, Memphis-style baby back ribs, dry-rubbed and grill-finished chicken, pulled pork, and cedar-smoked salmon. Kids will love the Dragon Chili Cheese Fries and the Cheddar Mac & Cheese.
Bonsai Teppanyaki is a highlight for many families. Two eight-seat tables showcase the chef’s food and knife skills—resulting in a high-energy performance that the kids love and made-to-order food that the adults enjoy. Shrimp, filet mignon, chicken, salmon and lobster tail are just some of the entrees. A must is the Chocolate Bento Box with Green Tea Ice Cream for dessert.
Other restaurants include Ji Ji Asian Kitchen; Guy’s Burger Joint—a favorite for just about everyone on board, with made-to-order burgers and delicious fries; Cucina del Capitano, which has amazing pastas; BlueIguana Cantina, a poolside Mexican spot which features burritos and tacos; and Pizzeria del Capitano, open 24 hours, and popular for serving up a variety of pizza. Don’t miss the popular Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse. Also, kids will love the Shake Spot, which has hand-crafted milkshakes and floats.
Water Fun
The younger kids will love the Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, which has slides designed to combine thrill and whimsy. This water zone area, located on deck 12, includes The Cat in the Hat slide which has 450 feet of twists and turns. The Fun Things slide, named after Thing 1 and Thing 2, is another kid-pleaser with 213 feet of twists, turns and special effects like lights and polka dots. There’s also a splash zone with a 300-gallon tipping bucket (always a kid favorite) and other fun water features.
Entertainment
Kids—and adults—will not easily get bored with the many activities the Horizon boasts including the bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide; an IMAX theater that showcases a number of popular movies; the SportSquare, open-air recreation complex that includes a ropes course, mini-golf course, a basketball court, jogging track, ping pong, foosball and pool tables. Nightly movies, concerts and sporting events are continuously shown at Carnival’s Seaside Theatre. There are also live after-dinner performances—a highlight for everyone on board—which features popular pop and rock songs, dancing and special effects. Another fun entertainment option is the the Punchliner Comedy Club, which has over 20 shows per week.
Watering Holes
There are plenty of places for adults to have fun on the Horizon including the many bars onboard.
The BlueIguana Tequila Bar has a variety of tequila-based frozen drinks and beers. The Alchemy Bar is a vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” with mixologists who “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients. RedFrog Rum Bar boasts a variety of Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks. For a more intimate spot for a drink, head to the Library Bar, which offers self-serve wine dispensers and full bar service. The Havana Bar turns into a Latin-inspired nightclub at night serving up Cuban cocktails, music and dancing.
Ports of Call
Carnival Horizon operates year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Port Miami. On its Miami-based schedule, six-day cruises depart Sundays, calling at Ocho Rios; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel. Two different eight-day itineraries are offered with departures on Saturdays—one featuring Grand Turk; La Romana (Dominican Republic); Curacao; and Aruba; and the other visiting Grand Turk; San Juan; St. Kitts; and St. Maarten.
