Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed it will broadcast the Super Bowl across its entire fleet on February 9, but sports fans hoping to catch the Winter Olympics will be out of luck due to broadcast restrictions.
Brand ambassador John Heald announced the plans in a recent video, explaining that all Carnival ships will show the big game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Ships with large outdoor screens on the Lido Deck will host tailgate parties, while other vessels will broadcast the game in their main theaters.
Schedule Changes for Game Day
The cruise line is making several adjustments to accommodate the 6:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff time.
Ships scheduled for Elegant Evening on February 9 will move formal night to a different day during the sailing, allowing guests to watch the game in comfortable attire rather than formalwear.
Guy’s Burgers and other food outlets will stay open throughout the game, and the Lido Marketplace buffet, room service, pizzeria, and deli will be available for guests wanting game-day snacks.
The full game and halftime show will air, but guests should note that Super Bowl commercials won’t be shown. Heald explained that Carnival receives a direct satellite feed that doesn’t include U.S. commercial breaks.
Passengers not interested in football can still enjoy the regular schedule of activities, including trivia, comedy shows, and other entertainment.
Olympics Not Available Onboard
While football fans celebrate, Olympic enthusiasts will be disappointed to learn that the 2026 Winter Games in Italy won’t be broadcast on Carnival ships.
The cruise line doesn’t carry the network airing the Olympics, which run from February 6 through 22.
Guests who plan to follow Olympic events such as skiing, figure skating, bobsled, and others can purchase Wi-Fi packages to stream coverage on their personal devices.
