Are you planning your next cruise and looking for the best spots to grab a drink onboard? Carnival Cruise Line offers a variety of bars, each with its unique vibe and signature cocktails. We'll dive into the top Carnival bars, explore their themes, and highlight the must-try drinks at each. Whether you're a cocktail connoisseur or just looking to unwind with a drink, here's everything you need to know! We’re Random Recess, a travel experiences and tips team. If you don't know us, we share our unique views and guides here on our website and our socials, most notably on YouTube under the same name Random Recess.

We have sailed on over 20 cruises across three cruise lines. Most of this cruise travel is concentrated on Carnival Cruise Line. We;ve covered topics like Why Cruising Is the Best Form of Travel, Should You Book A Carnival Cruise Suite and a deep dive into Carnival Cruise Lines Newest Excel Class ship! We feel uniquely qualified to take on this topic of some of the best drinks on Carnival Cruise Lines.

1. Marina Bar

• Theme: Located in the Shores Zone on Carnival Jubilee, this bar resembles a small bar at a marina. The drinks are themed around day drinking by the sea while enjoying an ocean breeze. The bar is small but one of the best on the ship. Located in a busy thoroughfare in the Shores Zones across from Cucina Del Capitano, Marina Bar can offer quick cocktails on your way to and from Summer Landing. It is also one of two additional locations where you can grab Java Blue coffee in the morning. Java Blue Cafe can get very backed up, so remember to grab your coffee at Marina Bar in the morning.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Sunset on the Pire: A cruise favorite with two kinds of rum and fruit juices that combine to look like a beautiful sunset.

  • Marina Cape Cod: A unique blend of vodka, including blueberry vodka, this concoction will delight your tastebuds and set the tone for a lovely pre-dinner drink.

  • Espresso Martini: This is our favorite adult beverage. Remember that Marina Bar brews its own coffee. Once your Vodka Red Bull days end, you grow into the Espresso Martini; the sophisticated version of the Vodka Red Bull Marina Bar makes the best on the Jubilee.

• Why You’ll Love It: The Marina Bar is great for kicking back and relaxing. With ocean views and various fruity, frozen drinks, it's a must-visit for those enjoying the sun. Outdoor seating is available, but bar service is not available. Grab a set at the bar, grab a drink, and head outside for amazing ocean views.

2. Dr. Inks

• Theme: This bar is all about experimentation and creativity, offering an array of eclectic, Instagram-worthy cocktails. The bar is themed around Dr. Inks, the fictional character created by Carnival. Dr. Inks, a PhD holder, is known for her delicious cocktails and excellent service. The bar is fabulous; you can even see her checking in on the bar service throughout the evening in the Currents Zone. The Currents Zone features several LED screens that mimic underwater windows. The video packages include Dr. Inks in her study as she continues developing new and inventive drinks. You can grab a fun Instagram photo in her chair across the bar. This bar is not as busy as Alchemy, but it should be. Alchemy’s claim to fame is their housemade syrups and custom drinks. Dr. Inks has the same beautiful syrups and amazing bartenders that can make you anything you want. We love Dr. Inks and hope Carnival continues to invent fun bar concepts on future Excel class ships and their new mega-ships.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Crismon Catch: A playful twist on classic cocktails with Swedish fish-infused vodka, this delightfully sweet cocktail will delight your tastebuds while you enjoy the underwater themes at Dr.Inks. Plus, who doesn’t love vodka-infused candy?

  • Deep Abyss: Not your standard blue curacao drink, this cocktail comes with charcoal syrup and is intriguing in the best ways.

  • Snapping Pop: Who doesn’t love pop rocks? This cocktail offers a bit of fun while you drink it. The pop rocks mimic underwater bubbles, and the cocktail is light and refreshing.

  • Ocean Bubble: Our favorite drinks have smoke, bubbles, or both. This fun drink lets you make an underwater wish when a fun, smoke-filled bubble tops the beverage. Order two and see if the bartenders can combine them. The drink is lovely, so if sweet drinks are not your thing, perhaps you should avoid this one.

• Why You’ll Love It: For those who enjoy adventurous drinks, Dr. Inks delivers the fun with its mad-scientist-inspired cocktails, perfect for impressing your travel companions.

3. The Golden Mermaid

• Theme: A mystical, underwater-themed bar with a touch of elegance. Picture yourself in an undersea kingdom while you sip on beautifully crafted cocktails. The Golden Mermaid is another one of Carnival’s fully themed bar concepts. Located near the Currents Zone but not sure if it would fall under the Current Zone due to it’s location. The Golden Mermaid is an upscale cocktail lounge full of inventive drinks and beautiful decor. Again, one of Carnival’s least visited bars and it’s a shame because it has some of the better drinks on the ship. Alchemy bar is one of the most popular bar concepts Carnival has created but Golden Mermaid should be given more attention. The drinks are handcrafted with homemade syrups and fresh juices. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and some of the best on the ship. They also can make you fun cocktails if you don’t find what you like on the menu.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Ruby Rapture: This deep red, delicious cocktail made with Pama pomegranate liqueur is tangy and sweet and goes down very easily.

  • Sapphire Sparkle: Golden Mermaid is known for their edible glitter, and this drink has plenty of it. This fun drink is very Instagrammable and elegant. Made with Barcardi Limon Rum, this cocktail is refreshing and sweet.

  • A Pearly Bubble: Of course, it's one of our favorites, and it's pictured below. This is another bubble cocktail from Carnival, and this one has Bombay Sapphire Gin for a deliciously tangy and sweet finish. Make your wish and enjoy this fun cocktail in one of the most beautiful bars on any Carnival ship.

• Why You’ll Love It: The Golden Mermaid’s magical theme and unique cocktails make it a standout on Carnival, offering a more refined drinking experience. This bar is also upscale and has the best interior design elements from any bar we’ve seen on any Carnival cruise ship. Alchemy and Dr.Inks are cute, but the Golden Mermaid is elegant and a perfect place to start your night, especially on a formal night.

4. Guy's Pig and Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse

• Theme: A casual, down-to-earth smokehouse focusing on craft beers and hearty BBQ fare. Guy Fieri continues to dominate Carnival Cruise with more fantastic food and drinks. His Flavortown bar is a fan favorite, and we can see why. The bartenders are quick and can make anything. Located in the aft on Deck 8 in Summer Landing, you will find an ample space full of seating and great drinks.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Brewhouse Craft Beers: The ship brews its own beer, including unique flavors like the ParchedPig Toasted Amber and Farmhouse Ale. They offer enjoyable brewery "tours" during the cruise, where you can learn about beer while sampling a variety of brews. The brewmaster is fantastic, down-to-earth, and extremely passionate about beer. You'll find yourself learning a lot more than you expect, plus you get to enjoy plenty of beer!

  • Smoky Watermelon Margarita: This smoky, robust drink pairs perfectly with the BBQ. It is a great margarita and, honestly, the best margarita on the ship. They muddle real watermelon, which makes it fresh and very summery, fitting for Summer Landing.

  • Guy’s Bloody Mary: If you are not a Bloody Mary person you will be after this. They infuse their vodka in Bloody Mary vegetables to add more flavor. The drink can be served extra spicy for those who like that sort of thing. The Bloody Mary mix is rich, creamy, and full of flavor. They top the drink with olives and a huge stick of bacon.

• Why You’ll Love It: If you love craft beer and BBQ, this bar is for you. Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse delivers rich flavors in both food and drink.

5. Havana Bar

• Theme: A lively, Cuban-inspired bar that transports you to the heart of Havana with vibrant décor, live music, and mojitos galore. The Havana bar is open to everyone, while the outside Havana Bar and deck is exclusive to Havana stateroom guests. The Havana bar is fun and lively and often the scene for trivia and other events onboard. This bar is also the second location where you can grab a coffee to avoid the Java Blue Cafe hellscape. No offense to Java Blue Cafe; they work so hard, but Carnival really needs to figure out how to incorporate mobile ordering so that line can get reduced in the morning. However, we’re not here to discuss Java Blue; let’s talk Havana Bar.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Classic Mojito: Fresh mint, lime, and rum—need we say more?

  • Cuban Iced Tea: A fun take on Long Island iced tea, this drink will definitely do the trick when you are looking for something tasty and strong. Made with Bacardi 8, superior, and lemon, this cocktail is what you wish Long Island would taste like.

• Why You’ll Love It: The Havana Bar offers a festive atmosphere perfect for dancing the night away with a refreshing mojito.

6. Grand View Bar

• Theme: As the name suggests, this bar offers stunning panoramic ocean views when the Grand Central windows are open, making it the ideal spot for sunset cocktails or a fun place to grab a drink during one of the many shows hosted at the Center Stage. The Grand View bar can be hard to find, often empty. It’s tucked away on the side entrance of the casino on Deck 7. Look for the giant blue LED wall and you’ll see the Grand View Bar.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Sunset Sipper: A fruity, refreshing cocktail that complements the beautiful views.

  • Ocean Breeze: A light, tropical cocktail perfect for unwinding as the sun sets.

• Why You’ll Love It: For those who value the perfect view to accompany their drink, the Grand View Bar provides the ultimate relaxation with unmatched scenery.

7. RedFrog Tiki Bar

• Theme: A fun, laid-back, island-inspired bar with a Polynesian flair. Complete with tiki decor and an upbeat atmosphere, it’s a tropical escape at sea. This bar is usually a rum bar on most Carnival ships, but on Carnival’s Excel class, they’ve doubled the fun, making it two stories and tiki-themed. It's not as fun as Trader Sam’s at Disney, but it still has those classic tiki rum drinks you know and love.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Wikiwki: is a sweet, robust rum-based cocktail embodying the islands' spirit.

  • Tiki Mai Tai: A fruity, refreshing favorite, perfect for sipping while enjoying the sea breeze.

• Why You’ll Love It: With its tropical vibes, island-style cocktails, and colorful tiki drinks, the RedFrog Tiki Bar is a great spot for anyone looking to embrace vacation mode with a delicious drink in hand. Located on decks 16 and 17, this bar has great views of the Lido deck and can be a fun place to escape the heat, grab and drink, and enjoy the DJ sessions at the Lido Deck. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s located next to Guy’s Burgers. Who doesn’t love a refreshing Tiki drink and a tasty burger? Honestly, it's a fantastic combination.

8. Alchemy Bar

• Theme: A vintage-style apothecary bar where mixologists craft "prescription" cocktails tailored to your taste. This is Carnival Cruise Line's flagship bar and it is THE spot to be on any ship. The issue we have with Alchemy has nothing to do with the bartenders and drinks because those are top-notch. It has everything to do with how small it is on the Excel class ships. The popularity makes it difficult to get a drink and enjoy this bar. People reserve seats and stay at the bar for hours on end. We suggest arriving early to try and find a seat because, unfortunately, if you thought you could just walk up and enjoy a quick cocktail at Alchemy, you are mistaken. We would love to see Carnival institute time limits to allow more people a chance to enjoy the bar seating or have more servers walking around to take drink orders from those sitting around the Alchemy bar.

• Must-Try Drinks:

  • Cucumber Sunrise: A refreshing mix of cucumber, citrus, and gin. You may not like cucumbers, but we highly encourage you to try them. We promise it is subtle and well-balanced, unlike other cucumber drinks. We don’t particularly care for cucumber-based cocktails, but this is truly a masterpiece.

  • Spicy Chipotle Martini: This is a must-try for those who like their cocktails with a little kick. Alchemy Bar is known for making its own syrups and drink mixes, and this is no exception. They married chipotle peppers in pineapple juice to make their infused syrups. The attention to detail and flavor make this a class cocktail at Alchemy Bar.

• Why You’ll Love It: Alchemy Bar is all about personalized experiences. The mixologists work with you to create a cocktail that suits your mood and preferences, making it a unique and interactive drinking experience. Honestly, some of the best drinks on any Carnival ship, but it is also very popular and not the only bar that can make custom drinks. If you an find a seat definitely visit but if you cannot, we recommend going to Dr.Inks or Golden Mermaid, their drinks are just as good and you should be able to get served.

Carnival Cruise Line offers various bars and drink experiences, each with its personality and signature offerings. From the relaxing atmosphere of the Marina Bar to the creative concoctions at Dr. Inks and the festive vibes at the Havana Bar, there’s something for every cruise traveler. On your next Carnival cruise, visit these bars and try the must-have drinks listed here.

Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel for a full tour of these bars and more recommendations on how to make the most of your cruise! We also have a guide to Carnival Cruise drink Packages to help answer any questions you may have.