cruise theme nights carnival

Carnival Theme Nights 2024: Schedule for Every Ship!

August 1, 2024

Carnival offers some of the most entertaining themed nights and parties at sea .

Since most theme nights require specific attire , many passengers like to know the schedule in advance.

Therefore, I’ve made this article with a description of them and the complete schedule for all ships for 2024 .

Table of Contents

’70s ’80s or ’90s Night

On almost every Carnival Cruise there’s a decade-themed night that celebrates the music, culture, and fashion of the ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s .

You can expect to hear hit songs from each era and have fun while dancing to them.

What to wear? It depends on the decade but generally:

For the ’70s : bell-bottom jeans, psychedelic or floral shirts and dresses, platform shoes. Think disco glam with lots of sparkles.

For the ’80s : bright neon shirts or skirts, off-the-shoulder tops, parachute pants, bandanas, leg warmers, and headbands.

On many ships the the ’80s night is called ’80s Rock n Glow Night, remember to bring with you some neon pieces of clothing.

For the ’90s : grunge or hip-hop-inspired looks with baggy jeans, plaid mini skirts, band T-shirts, flannel shirts, and snapback caps.

• White Night

White Night is one of the most famous on Carnival ships, it can be found on almost every ship and it is very easy to dress up in theme.

My advice is: open your closet and pick every white piece of clothing that you have , it’s as simple as that.

For its total white look, a man can wear white dress shirts, pants, and shoes. For a more chic version, a white blazer over a light-colored shirt can also work well.

Women can opt for white dresses, ranging from elegant gowns to casual summer dresses. For the accessories pearl jewelry and white clutches are just perfect.

Elegant Night

One of the cruise’s highlights, Elegant Night invites guests to dress in their most formal attire. I have to say that, as time goes by, formal nights become less and less popular.

I personally still like to dress up for a few evenings on a cruise. There is no need to overdo it!

Men can wear tuxedos or dark suits , with ties or bow ties if they like it.

Women can wear evening gowns or cocktail dresses , paired with shiny jewels and evening clutches.

• Island Night

On some cruises, there can be an Island Night . The idea is to capture the spirit of tropical heavens with Caribbean music, island-inspired cocktails, and activities that celebrate beach life.

The dress code for all includes bright floral shirts or dresses featuring palm leaf, floral, or other bright prints .

It’s basically the Carnival version of the Caribbean Night that you can find among the Royal Caribbean Theme Nights 2024 .

• Motown Party

The Motown Party it’s a night dedicated to the sounds of Motown, with soulful music, classic hits, and an atmosphere that will bring you back to the golden age of rhythm and blues.

As far as I know, there’s no actual dress code for this party. To stay on topic you can opt for a ’50s or ’60s outfit .

Vintage suits, fedoras, and polished dress shoes for men. A-line dresses, sequined tops, and flared skirts for women.

2024 Schedule

Theme nights on carnival elation.

• Rock the Promenade

Theme nights on Carnival Paradise

• 80s Rock and Glow
• Rock the Prom

Theme nights on Carnival Sunshine

• Motown Showdown
• 90’s Party

Theme nights on Carnival Sunrise

• White Party

Theme nights on Carnival Radiance

Theme nights on carnival spirit.

• 70s and Motown Party

Theme nights on Carnival Pride

• Electric White Night

Theme nights on Carnival Legend

Theme nights on carnival conquest.

• 80s and 90s Party

Theme nights on Carnival Glory

Theme nights on carnival miracle.

• Hawaiian Event
• Luau Deck Party

Theme nights on Carnival Valor

Theme nights on carnival liberty, theme nights on carnival freedom.

• Decades Party

Theme nights on Carnival Splendor

• Superhero Party

Theme nights on Carnival Dream

• White Night Party

Theme nights on Carnival Magic

Theme nights on carnival breeze.

• Decades Atrium Party

Theme nights on Carnival Vista

• Rock and Glow
• White Hot Party

Theme nights on Carnival Horizon

Theme nights on carnival panorama, theme nights on mardi gras, theme nights on carnival celebration.

• Motown Part
• Evolution Party

Theme nights on Carnival Venezia

• Festa Italiana

Theme nights on Carnival Luminosa

• Island Nights
• Motown and 70s Party
• Decades Music Party

Theme nights on Carnival Jubilee

• White party

Chart of all the themed nights and parties on Carnival

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6 thoughts on “Carnival Theme Nights 2024: Schedule for Every Ship!”

Will all the party’s listed happen on every cruise? Do I need to bring outfits for all then find out when I board which ones they will have or is there a way to find out beforehand so I don’t overpack?

Hello Selena, unfortunately the parties can change very often during the year so there is never 100% certainty about which ones there will be. My advice is to bring clothes that can adapt well to the different parties, but that you can also wear normally during your cruise.

What is serenity night on the magic?

as far as I know it should be a deck party at serenity, which is an adults-only area for guests ages 21 and over.

• Pingback: Cruise Checklist: 43 Things People Always Forget to Bring! - Cruise with Leo

Our cruise is at the beginning of October and I heard there will be a Halloween party. Is that true? And does it take the place of another one of the parties?

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Theme Nights Onboard

Theme Nights are part of the fun onboard and feature on all Carnival cruises:

• 3 & 4 night cruises  will have one 80s Rock'n'Glow Deck Party.
• 5 & 6 night cruises or longer  include 80s Rock'n'Glow, Silent White Hot Night and Superhero Music Party.

Be ready to dance, sing and party the night away. We do not sell any costume merchandise onboard our ships, so it is best to come prepared and pack something before you leave.

Elegant Night - Dress to Impress

Get formal photo-ready at our Cruise Elegant evenings. Dress up or suit up in your finest attire and enjoy a night of high class on the high seas. Oh, and remember to say ‘cheese’ when you get your photo with the Captain!

Need some tips on what to wear?

• Men : Dress slacks, dress shirts, and we also suggest a sport coat; men may also wish to wear a suit and tie or tuxedo
• Women : Cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses; ladies may also wish to wear an evening gown
• Not permitted in the dining room : Cut-off jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, shorts, t-shirts, sportswear, baseball hats, thongs (flip-flops) and bathing suit attire.

The length of the cruise determines the number of Cruise Elegant evenings in the Dining Room. The first Cruise Elegant evening is scheduled for the 3rd or 4th day of the cruise; the second Cruise Elegant evening is scheduled for the 4th or 5th day prior to the end of the cruise, schedules permitting.

• 3-5 Day cruise : one Cruise Elegant evening.
• 6 Day or longer cruise : two Cruise Elegant evenings.

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What Theme Parties Will Be On Your Carnival Cruise?

Last Updated on April 30, 2024

Carnival has always positioned itself as the fun cruise line, and you can usually feel that from the moment you step onboard. It just has a different energy from other cruise lines. Everyone just seems ready to have a great vacation. As part of the cruise, Carnival hosts theme parties or events.

Previously, it seemed that Carnival was trying to standardize all the events across the fleet. However, it seems that has gone by the wayside. John Heald , Carnival Brand Ambassador, recently shared the theme parties that will be occurring on each ship in the fleet, and they’re pretty varied. It comes down to a lot of factors like the Cruise Director, sailing length, and ship.

Take a look at the different parties below and how they work. 

What is a Carnival theme party?

Several nights on a Carnival cruise, they host a party with a specific theme. The parties usually take place on the main Lido pool deck or in the ship’s Atrium area. Guests are encouraged to dress to fit the theme, but it’s not required. Unfortunately, Carnival only schedules 30 minutes for most of these events, which seems way too short for an event you go out of your way to dress up for. 

What types of theme parties are there?

There’s a variety of parties, here are some of the more popular ones.

White Hot Night Party

This is the easiest party to dress for; just wear white. The more, the better. White hats, glasses, watches, accessories, go all out. Most ships with a white party are equipped with black lights to make you pop. It’s an amazing experience to see a room full of people in glowing white dancing away. 

Mega Deck Party

This “mega” party will usually take place on the deck by the main pool if the weather allows. The music will be pumping, and Carnival’s fun squad will keep the energy up. There will be limbos, choreographed dances, and more. Carnival recommends wearing red or blue to this party, but we rarely see people dress up in theme for this one. 

80’s Rock & Glow

Get ready for lots of neon, leg warmers, and high hair. The 80’s Rock and Glow party celebrates everything 80’s. Usually taking place on the Lido Deck, the party features all your favorite music from the 80’s. It seems like one of the better attended and dressed for events on the cruise ship. 

Decades Theme Parties

Some ships will also have a theme party dedicated to a specific decade. Typically, in our experience, fewer people dress for these events, but they usually have a great turnout. 

Silent Night Disco

The Silent Night Disco is a recent addition to the Carnival fleet but has been on other cruise lines for some time. In a silent disco, you get a set of headphones to listen to the music. There’s a button to change between two different live streams of music on the headsets. That means you can be dancing next to someone who’s listening to a completely different song. If you really want to have fun, go without headphones and enjoy the surreal experience of seeing people dancing in a completely silent room. Well, not completely silent; you’ll have people singing along to the different tracks at the same time, which adds to the experience.  

What theme parties are on your Carnival cruise?

John Heald provided the list below in mid-March. Keep in mind these parties can change because of weather, change of cruise director, or adjustment of the cruise itinerary. Usually, you’ll get an email a few weeks before your cruise outlining the parties so you can be prepared. It’s frustrating that Carnival can’t just post this information in the online cruise planner to make it easy for everyone. They have a listing about it on their general website, but it’s outdated and hard to find.

Carnival Breeze

• Motown Showdown – Atrium
• Decades Atrium Party – Atrium
• 80’s Rock & Glow – Lido
• Rock the Promenade – Atrium
• Silent Disco – Lido

Carnival Celebration

• Evolution Party – Atrium (Center Stage)
• Motown Showdown Party – Atrium (Center Stage)
• White Hot Party – Lido

Carnival Conquest

• 80’s & 90’s Party – Atrium
• Mega Deck Party – Lido
• Motown Party – Atrium (4-day cruises only)

Carnival Dream

• 90’s Party – Atrium
• Silent White Night Party – Lido/Nightclub

Carnival Elation

• 80’s Party – Atrium
• Motown Trivia Party – Atrium

Carnival Freedom

• Motown Showdown
• 80’s Rock & Glow Party
• Farewell Party
• Silent Disco / White Night Party Combo (4-day)
• Silent Disco (5-day)
• White Night Party (5-day)
• Decades Party – Atrium
• Motown Party – Atrium

Carnival Glory

• Getaway Island Afterparty – Atrium
• 70’s and Motown Music Party – Atrium
• White Hot Nights – Atrium

Carnival Horizon

• Farewell Music Party – Atrium
• Silent Disco Party – Lido
• White Night Party – Atrium

Carnival Jubilee

• 80’s Party- Lido
• Motown Party – Lido
• Tailgate Party – Lido
• Atrium/Center Stage parties to be announced

Carnival Legend

• Silent Party – Lido

Carnival Liberty

• 80’s Trivia Party – Atrium
• 70’s & Motown Trivia – Atrium (4-day sailings only)

Carnival Luminosa

• Backyard Bash – Lido (on sailings 8+ days)
• Decades Music Party – Ocean Plaza
• 80’s Rock & Glow Party – Lido
• Island Nights – Lido (on sailings 7+ days)
• Motown & 70’s Party – Ocean Plaza
• Silent White Night Party – Lido
• Superhero Party – Ocean Plaza

Carnival Magic

• Serenity Nights – Serenity Deck (8-night sailings)

Carnival Mardi Gras

• 90’s Party – Atrium (Center Stage)
• Tiki Fest (Hawaiian) – Lido
• Rock and Glow Party – Lido

Carnival Miracle

Schedule for 14-day journeys cruises.

• Ballroom Dancers – Atrium
• Hawaiian Appreciation Event – Atrium
• Luau Deck Party – Lido
• Sail Away Party – Lido
• Walk the Plank – Atrium

Carnival Panorama

• Farewell Party – Atrium
• Silent Night Disco – Lido
• White Night – Atrium

Carnival Paradise

• Fun Farewell – Atrium
• Rock the Promenade- Atrium

Carnival Pride

• 70’s & Motown Party – Atrium
• Silent Disco – Nightclub

Carnival Radiance

• 80’s Rock & Glow – Atrium
• White Party – Atrium

Carnival Spirit

• Silent White Party – Lido

Carnival Splendor

• Island Nights – Lido (on sailings 8+ days)
• Superhero Party – Atrium (on sailings 5+ days)
• White Hot Party – Lido (on sailings 6+ days)

Carnival Sunrise

• 80’s Rock and Glow Party – Lido
• Rock the Promenade – Atirum

Carnival Sunshine

Carnival valor.

• 90’s Trivia Party – Atrium

Carnival Venezia

• Festa Italiana – Lido
• Motown party – Atrium
• 90’s Party – Lido

Carnival Vista

• White Hot Party – Atrium

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Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 20 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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Carnival Theme Parties 2024

by Prof. Cruise · Published May 25, 2023 · Updated February 11, 2024

Are Carnival Cruises Just Giant Parties?

I have a reputation for being cheap and nerdy and Carnival has a reputation for offering cruises with a wild, party atmosphere. So is either actually true?

Yes and partly. You’ll likely find me doing one of two things on a cruise. First, gorging on complimentary food and calculating how much the same meal would cost me on land in my home city of Seattle (sometimes I actually cheer when I determine I’ve reached the break even point on my cruise fare). And second, reading, walking while listening to an audiobook, or looking for wildlife on an outside deck. Cheap. Nerdy.

As for Carnival, it has somewhat embraced its reputation as the party cruise line by referring to vessels as “fun ships,” calling the daily onboard schedule of events the “Fun Times,” with its “Funderstruck” marketing campaign, and by offering onboard theme parties.

Know though that your experience on Carnival will vary depending on the specific ship, itinerary, and time of year. I once sailed with my toddler on a spring break Carnival cruise so wild I had to have the sex talk with him a decade earlier than planned. But I’ve also sailed on many Carnival cruises that have felt more peaceful and subdued (look for longer sailings and dates when school is in session). Regardless of which ship, itinerary, or time of year you sail though, you’ll find your fellow Carnival cruisers among the friendliest at sea and your ship will offer several onboard theme parties for those who like to dress up, let loose, dance, and have a good time.

While I nearly always sleep through them (see, nerd), you should definitely check out these parties if interested! So…

What are Theme Parties on Carnival Cruises?

Usually (but not always, so check your Fun Times schedule of events for the location) held in the evening near the main lido pool or in the atrium, theme parties are short (typically lasting around 30-45 minutes) and energetic gatherings led by the cruise director and Fun Squad with music and dancing consistent with a particular theme. Guests are encouraged to dress in accordance with the theme, but it’s not required. (Everything I own is from the 90’s, so I just show up to that party in my regular gear only to feel low-key offended when I hear: “Nailed it!”)

Themes include decades parties from the 70’s through the 90’s, Mega Deck where you can wear blue or red, White Hot where you can dress in white and dance amidst black lights, 80’s Rock and Glow where the Fun Squad will pass around glow sticks, Motown, Mardi Gras (sometimes including a parade), a Hawaiian themed Tiki Party, and Backyard Bash featuring country music and line dancing. Relatively new to Carnival are “silent” parties where music is played through provided headphones.

Which Theme Parties will be on my Carnival Cruise?

Here’s the schedule of planned theme parties by Carnival ship for 2024 (source: John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador). Keep in mind that these parties are at the discretion of the cruise director, so always double check your schedule once onboard.

Carnival Breeze Theme Parties 2024

• Rock the Promenade
• Motown Showdown
• Decades Atrium Party
• White Night Silent Party
• 80s Rock and Glow

Carnival Celebration Theme Parties 2024

• White Hot Party
• Motown Party
• Evolution Party

Carnival Conquest Theme Parties 2024

• 80s and 90s Party (3 and 4-night sailings)
• Motown Party (4-night sailings only)
• Mega Deck Party

Carnival Dream Theme Parties 2024

• Silent White Night Party

Carnival Elation Theme Parties 2024

• Motown Trivia Party

Carnival Freedom Theme Parties 2024

• Decades Party

Carnival Glory Theme Parties 2024

• 70’s and Motown Party
• Getaway Island Afterparty
• 80s Rock and Glow Party
• White Night Party

Carnival Horizon Theme Parties 2024

• Farewell Music Party
• Silent Disco Party

Carnival Jubilee Theme Parties 2024

• Lone Star Tailgate

Carnival Legend Theme Parties 2024

• Silent Party

Carnival Liberty Theme Parties 2024

• 80s Trivia Party (3-night cruises)
• 70s and Motown Trivia (4-night cruises)

Carnival Luminosa Theme Parties 2024

• Silent Night White Party
• Island Nights (7-nights and shorter sailings)
• Backyard Bash (8-night sailings and longer)
• Motown and 70s Party
• Decades Music Party
• Superhero Party

Carnival Magic Theme Parties 2024

• Serenity Nights (8-night cruises only)

Carnival Mardi Gras Theme Parties 2024

• Rock and Glow

Carnival Miracle Theme Parties 2024

14-night Cruises

• Ballroom Dancer Demonstrations
• Hawaiian Appreciation Event
• Sail Away Party
• Luau Deck Party
• Silent White Night

Carnival Panorama Theme Parties 2024

• White Party
• Farewell Party
• Silent Night Disco

Carnival Paradise Theme Parties 2024

• Rock the Prom
• Fun Farewell

Carnival Pride Theme Parties 2024

• Silent Disco
• Electric White Night
• 70s and Motown Party

Carnival Radiance Theme Parties 2024

Carnival splendor theme parties 2024.

• Superhero Party (5-night and longer sailings)
• White Hot Party (6-8 night sailings)
• 90s Party, Island Night (8-night and longer sailings)
• Backyard Bash (8-night and longer sailings)

Carnival Spirit Theme Parties 2024

• Silent White Party

Carnival Sunrise Theme Parties 2024

Carnival sunshine theme parties 2024, carnival valor theme parties 2024.

• 90s Trivia Party

Carnival Venezia Theme Parties 2024

• Festa Italiana

Carnival Vista Theme Parties 2024

What should i wear to my carnival cruise theme party.

You don’t have to dress at all (I mean dress up at all – even Carnival has some standards), can keep it simple, or go all out. Here are a few reasonably-priced ideas available to purchase on Amazon (click on the photo to pull them up)*:

Costume Ideas for a 70’s and Motown Theme Party

Costume Ideas for an 80’s Theme Party

Costume Ideas for an 90’s Theme Party

Costume Ideas for a White Hot Theme Party

Costume Ideas for a Backyard Bash (country) Theme Party

And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Don’t forget to PIN so you can refer back to this later and share with your traveling companions and social medial groups!

Homework (10 points): What’s a party without a few adult beverages? Find all the Carnival bar menus and drink prices HERE :

Carnival Bar Menus and Drink Prices 2024

And be sure to follow  Prof. Cruise  on your favorite social media sites:

Twitter  (@cruiseprof)

Instagram  (@profcruise)

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*I earn a small commission on products purchased through links on my site at no extra cost to you, including through the Amazon Affiliates Program. All commissions go toward supporting the work of the website. Thank you for your support!

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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