Why Everyone Hates Carnival … But I Still Cruise With Them!
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
Carnival is constantly being labeled the Walmart of the seas, uncontrolled trash, ghetto, the Jerry Springer cruise line.
Despite all the hate, I still book with Carnival and I think you should consider it too.
Carnival has the highest number of reported crimes, but you are still statistically safer on a Carnival cruise than in literally every city in the United States.
Carnival gives me the most bang for the buck, especially since I sail out of the West Coast in Long Beach and there are less options.
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Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
Why does everyone hate Carnival Cruises? From viral TikToks to Netflix documentaries, Carnival Cruise Line gets slammed online with labels like the “Walmart of the Seas,” "Jerry Springer of Cruising," or "Section 8 Cruise Line." Trashy? Unsafe? Rude staff? 🤔 I break down the biggest complaints—crime stats, cleanliness, food quality, customer service, and the new (controversial) Carnival Rewards program that replaced VIFP—and give you the real story behind the hate. But here’s the twist: I still cruise with Carnival. A lot. But why? In this video, I share why I choose Carnival despite all the negative reviews—and why YOU might want to give them a chance too. If you’re a first-time cruiser sailing out of Long Beach, California, or just trying to figure out if Carnival is worth it in 2025, this video will help you decide. 👎 Is it really “ghetto”? 🧼 Are the ships actually dirty? 🍔 Is the food mid—or underrated? Hit play to hear my honest take. No fluff. Just facts, stats, and some sarcasm. Reference articles where I got my stats from: https://thevuccilawgroup.com/dirtiest-cruise-ships-according-to-cdc/#:~:text=Silver%20Wind%20%E2%80%93%20Inspectors%20found%20dangerously,high%2Dscoring%20cruise%20lines%20below: https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2025/05/articles/crime/carnival-leads-all-cruise-lines-in-crime-for-33-consecutive-months/ https://www.thetravel.com/cleanest-cruise-line-2025/ https://cruise.blog/2024/12/cleanest-carnival-cruise-ships-2024 https://www.cdc.gov/vessel-sanitation/php/our-role/public-health-inspections.html 👉 Drop your Carnival hot takes in the comments! 👉 Subscribe for more Carnival cruise tips, reviews, and real talk. #CarnivalCruise #CruiseReview #FirstTimeCruiser #LongBeachCruise #CruiseTips #CarnivalRadiance #CarnivalVsRoyal #CarnivalRewards #Cruising2025 🦆 Oh, and… I snuck some ducks into this video. Can you find them all? Drop a comment if you do! 🕵️♂️🦆 🔔 Subscribe for more Carnival cruise content: https://www.youtube.com/@ReubensRandomSandwich?sub_confirmation=1 📸 Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes: https://www.instagram.com/reubensrandomsandwich/ 💬 Let me know what you think in the comments! Check out these videos! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V27AeDmnfUGG9xaI__p0q2VQ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V24tfv3XvTohdPNu0NVutTWi https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V26Wcyq-8in89HLZI6xhw5-C https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V25j2I5oTTsBAzd4-CZbmgmv https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V27KGz9YMfZgqpcdzsf4C9i2 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V2619ijMZnjcVh_L7w_JxZEc https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrhJ10yr8V25UycisFVWyGgUmUVD1LnOZ WANT TO KNOW WHAT I BRING ON EVERY CRUISE? Here's my list with affiliate links: Extension Cord $19.94 https://amzn.to/3IrknF6 Travel Power Adapter $19.99 https://amzn.to/3TSBT7E Fan $7.99 https://amzn.to/3TjloBw Air Freshener $2.33/item https://amzn.to/4kmovn4 Poo-Pourri $9.99 https://amzn.to/4lincHo Bounty Wrinkle Release $6 https://amzn.to/4ko240S Beach Clips $6.99 https://amzn.to/3GqMeVs Sunscreen $14.98 https://amzn.to/4ezoACS Aloe $7.99 https://amzn.to/3TkVGN5 Liquid IV $20 https://amzn.to/45Vf7na Swigg Water Bottle $14.73 https://amzn.to/40AhZC8 Thermo Flask $42.99 https://amzn.to/3TnYA3t Lanyard $8.99 https://amzn.to/4kn5tgv Quick Release Lanyard $11.99 https://amzn.to/44gNV0M Gorilla Luggage Strap $15.99 https://amzn.to/3Tp0sck Small Luggage Strap $8.99 https://amzn.to/4kobbPg TravelPro Platinum Checked Roller $529.99 https://amzn.to/4nRf823 TravelPro Platinum Carry-On $429.99 https://amzn.to/40E6vxs TravelPro Platinum Set $735.98 https://amzn.to/4kmhHWM Cruise Luggage Tags $5.99 https://amzn.to/4lGTWd6 Ziplock Bags $10 https://amzn.to/40yjIYK Belkin Wireless Charger $59.95 https://amzn.to/4kq9Do3 OLight Flashlight w/Battery Pack $94.99 https://amzn.to/402OKrx Cruise Magnetic Hooks $6.99 https://amzn.to/4kFCe93 Toiletries Bag $27.99 https://amzn.to/45TZDzI Toothpaste https://amzn.to/44quS2Y Electric Toothbrush with travel case https://amzn.to/44quS2Y Blu Atlas Shampoo https://amzn.to/46a5pNK Blu Atlas Conditioner https://amzn.to/4lDPiNs Flushable Wipes https://amzn.to/44cnY2u Travel bottles https://amzn.to/44fTjkW Spray Bottles https://amzn.to/4kn5ZLt This content is for entertainment purposes only. While I do my best to research and provide you with the best information, I've known to be wrong sometimes! PS - I received no sponsorship money for making this video. I do get some money from the YouTube partner program. But if you WANT to sponsor a video, let me know!!12 00:00 The Truth About Carnival 00:31 What People Are Saying About Carnival 01:07 My Online Haters 01:26 Why I Sail With Carnival 02:49 Crime: Walmart of the Seas? 04:52 Cleanliness 06:59 Customer Service 07:51 Food 09:04 VIFP ... RIP 10:27 So Is Carnival Worth It?