This year, Carnival Cruise Line celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with special patriotic programming, and passengers are invited to take part in the festivities.
From Sea to Shining Sea Onboard Experiences
Embarkation on select ships will feature 40-foot patriotic inflatables on deck. All ships will have 250th birthday banners and decorations, and US YAY! Parties with balloon drops and patriotic appearances from Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat will also occur. Passengers can also expect Red, White and Blue Deck Parties, as well as festive food and drinks (including limited-edition America250 souvenir Coke cans).

© Carnival Cruise Line
Ship Meetups
On July 4, seven ships sailings from the East Coast will convene near Carnival’s Grand Bahama, Celebration Key for a special fireworks show. Three ships will also meet up for a front-row seat to the West Coast’s largest fireworks show, Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Boom, for which Carnival is the official cruise line sponsor.

© Carnival Cruise Line
Military
One military family on each sailing the week of July 4 will receive an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol. All veterans and active-duty military on those sailings will also receive a special-edition military pin.
Homeport Celebrations
Several of Carnival’s homeports will also celebrate, such as Carnival Pride in Baltimore on June 28, Carnival Radiance in Long Beach June 30, Carnival Elation on July 2 in Jacksonville, and Carnival Paradise in Tampa July 2.
Community Festivities
The cruise line also supports celebrations in Norfolk, where Carnival is the sponsor for the Virginia Sail250 Fireworks Show on June 20; San Diego, California, as the sponsor of the Port of San Diego Bay Boom July 4; and Miami-Dade County, Florida, as a sponsor of the Miami-Dade 250 Independence Day Celebration on July 4.
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Jul 9, 20265 Places to Have a European-Style Vacation Without Leaving the Country
Flying isn’t cheap, especially for a whole family. Luckily, if you want a European vacation but it just isn’t in the budget, you can get creative with your destination and have a European-style vacation without ever leaving the country.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / Latin America
Jul 9, 20268 Savannah, Georgia, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Savannah, Georgia, with us.
Hotels
Jul 9, 2026Refreshed Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Elevates Family Getaways
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, a 560-room resort in the Greater Palm Springs area, recently completed a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar renovation. With the updates come new resort experiences, a Kids Eat Free package, new pickleball courts, upgraded poolside cabanas, the debut of Seven Olive Modern Gastropub and Topgolf Swing Suites, and more.
Destinations / Europe
Jul 8, 2026A Trip to London: Exploring the South Bank
Courtesy of a night spent at London’s Sea Containers hotel, I had the opportunity to explore the South Bank neighborhood. Let’s dive into some family-friendly highlights:
Destinations / North America
Jul 8, 2026Summer Fun Awaits in New Hampshire’s Lakes
When you’re traveling in New Hampshire, you’re never far from water. Although its Atlantic coastline is short, lakes — including New England’s largest — are scattered throughout the state, so family travelers will have plenty of opportunities for swimming and water sports.
ShareThis