A 4-night Carnival Radiance cruise from Long Beach to Catalina and Ensenada departing September 29, 2025 typically runs $300–$700 per person for the cabin alone, with total out-of-pocket costs landing between $500–$1,200+ per person once you factor in gratuities, drinks, WiFi, and port spending.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Four nights sounds short. Your wallet disagrees. The Carnival Radiance Catalina/Ensenada run out of Long Beach is a classic West Coast weekend-plus cruise — but the add-ons pile up fast on a short sailing, making per-night costs surprisingly high relative to a 7-day voyage.
What This Cruise Actually Costs: The Full Breakdown
Cabin fares for the September 29, 2025 sailing vary by category, but here's what a realistic total spend looks like across three traveler types — per person, based on double occupancy:
| Cost Category | Budget Traveler | Mid-Range Traveler | Splurge Traveler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin fare (per person) | $149–$229 (Interior) | $279–$399 (Balcony) | $499–$699 (Suite) |
| Gratuities (4 nights × $17/day) | $68 | $68 | $76 (suite rate) |
| CHEERS! Drink Package (4 days) | $0 (skip it) | $260–$340 | $260–$340 |
| WiFi — Value Plan (4 days) | $0 (skip it) | $95 | $102 (Premium) |
| Specialty Dining (1 dinner) | $0 | $45 (Steakhouse) | $45–$80 |
| Port spending — Catalina + Ensenada | $50 | $150 | $300+ |
| Estimated Total Per Person | $267–$347 | $897–$1,097 | $1,280–$1,597 |
Those gratuity figures reflect Carnival's current rate of $17/person/day for standard cabins and $19/person/day for suites (rates increased April 2, 2026 — you're sailing before that, so confirm your booking locked in the previous $16/$18 rate if you booked early).
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Drive the Cost on This Itinerary
1. It's only 4 nights — the fixed costs hit harder. Gratuities, drink packages, and WiFi are all charged per day. On a 7-night cruise, a $75/day drink package feels more justifiable. On 4 nights, you're paying $300 for CHEERS! — you need to pound roughly 5–6 drinks per day just to break even, every day, including port days when you're off the ship.
2. The CHEERS! Package math on a short cruise. Carnival's CHEERS! Beverage Package runs $65–$85/person/day pre-cruise (check your Cruise Planner — dynamic pricing means your exact rate varies). That's $260–$340 total for 4 nights. With a $20/drink cap and a 15-drink daily limit, it's the most generous alcohol cap in the industry. But on port days in Catalina and Ensenada, you'll be off the ship for hours. If you're a moderate drinker, skip it and pay as you go.
Individual drink prices on Carnival (before 20% gratuity):
- Domestic beer: ~$7.50
- Well cocktail: ~$11.50
- Signature cocktail: ~$13.50
- Wine by the glass: ~$8–$22
- Specialty coffee: ~$6
Note: Carnival now charges 20% service charge on all beverage purchases (raised from 18%). That's baked into CHEERS! pricing.
3. WiFi is genuinely useful on this run — but pricey. You're sailing close to the California coast, so your phone's cellular signal will work intermittently near Catalina. But offshore and in Ensenada, you'll want ship WiFi. Pre-cruise rates:
- Social Plan: $20.40/day
- Value Plan (browsing + email): $23.80/day
- Premium (streaming + video calls): $25.50/day
For a 4-night trip, Value at ~$95 total is the sweet spot for most travelers. Premium Multi-Device ($90/day) is overkill for a long weekend.
4. Port fees and taxes are on top of the cabin fare. Expect $80–$120 per person in port fees and government taxes on this itinerary. These show as a separate line item at booking — they're non-negotiable and not included in the headline cabin price.
5. Ensenada shore excursions vs. going independent. Carnival's Ensenada excursions run $50–$120/person. But Ensenada is completely walkable from the pier. First Avenue has good tacos and La Bufadora (a blowhole 45 minutes south) is accessible via cheap local vans. Save the excursion money.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Keep Costs Down
Skip CHEERS! if you're a casual drinker. On a 4-night sailing with two port days, you'd need to drink heavily every single day to justify $260–$340. Pay as you go and use the Bottomless Bubbles soda package ($11.99/day) if you just want unlimited soft drinks.
Book your Cruise Planner add-ons early. CHEERS!, WiFi, and specialty dining are all cheaper pre-cruise than onboard. Prices in the Cruise Planner fluctuate — set a reminder to check periodically before September 29.
Prepay gratuities now if you're booking before April 2, 2026. The rate increased to $17/day on that date. If your booking was made before then and you haven't prepaid, lock it in at the old $16/day rate — saves a couple bucks per person but every dollar counts.
Catalina Island: The tender port fee ($3 round trip) is cheap. Skip the overpriced golf cart rentals ($80+/hour) and walk the waterfront instead. Avalon is small enough to explore on foot in 2–3 hours.
Ensenada dining: Don't eat lunch onboard on Ensenada day. Street tacos and seafood tostadas near Avenida López Mateos run $2–$5 each. Save the ship's food for sea day meals.
Watch the minibar and room service. Room service now carries a delivery fee, and the minibar triggers that 20% service surcharge automatically. These are quiet budget-killers on short cruises.
Is the Carnival Radiance the Right Ship for This Run?
The Radiance (formerly Celebrity Summit, re-christened as Carnival Radiance in 2021) is one of Carnival's better ships on the West Coast. It's not a mega-ship, which means:
- Less crowding at embarkation at Long Beach's CCL terminal
- Easier navigation during a short sailing
- Steakhouse and specialty dining available
- Decent pool deck for a sea day on the return
For a 4-night Pacific Coast itinerary, it's a solid choice — especially for first-time cruisers or anyone who wants to test the cruise format before committing to a longer sailing.
The honest verdict: Budget $800–$1,000 per person all-in for a comfortable mid-range experience on this sailing. If you're two people traveling together, plan for $1,600–$2,000 total including everything — cabin, fees, gratuities, one drink package between you, WiFi, one specialty dinner, and modest port spending. Anything under that requires discipline at the bar.
Want to see exactly how your specific cabin category and add-on choices stack up before you book? Run the numbers through CruiseMutiny to build your personalized cost estimate for this Radiance sailing — no fluff, just the real total. You can also compare fares directly through CruiseHub to make sure you're not overpaying on the base cabin price.