I sailed on a Carnival cruise for the first time and saw why they're so popular for budget vacations

Like other cruising powerhouses, Carnival Corp has been raising ticket prices amid a boom in demand. But even with this jump in fares, its eponymous cruise line's cheapest 2024 itinerary starts at just $246 per person for a three-night Australia sailing on Carnival Luminosa.

To compare, competitor Norwegian Cruise Line's most affordable three-nighter in 2024 is $553 per person for a Caribbean voyage, while Royal Caribbean International's is $352 per person for a roundtrip cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico.

Inflation has been hard on many American's household finances.

So, if you can afford to travel this year, wouldn't you want to spend your precious, hard-earned cash on an enjoyable and relaxing vacation — instead of one that could have you stressing about your budget throughout the day?

Two years (including a two-month dry dock) later, the Italy-themed ship's naming ceremony was held in early April, "triggering a step up in bookings," Josh Weinstein, the president and CEO of Carnival Corp, told analysts in late June.

Firenze set sail on its maiden voyage shortly after, marking the 27th vessel to join the cruise line's fleet.

Firenze's cheapest 2024 itinerary is a four-night roundtrip voyage from its homeport in Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, starting at $90 per person and day.

It's the same sailing I did, although I paid double that for my solo interior cabin booked last-minute.

About half of the ship's 16 dining venues are complimentary, a ratio that's become increasingly commonplace on new mass-market cruise ships.

But there are some caveats to Firenze's list.

Two free eateries — the salad bar and grill — were closed until the last day. Others, like the pizza stand and buffet, had tempting up-charged dishes.

But none of Firenze's free meals wowed me — even in the main dining rooms, where I had all my dinners.

Crowds assembled in front of the restaurant's doors every night before opening. But the hype never matched the quality.

Kids could love the dining experience.

Service was interrupted nightly by some variation of a loud announcement, louder music, photo ops with pirates, or, on one night, a waitress who serenaded the restaurant with her rendition of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran.

It was confusing and jarring but, for the most part, entertaining.

But it wasn't exactly a hot spot for great food during the day. Nor was it pristine, thanks to some of the stained booths.

The honey mustard dressing from the lunchtime salad bar was unbearably sweet. But at least it was edible, unlike the dry-as-a-rock chicken.

You could stroll to the buffet's chicken wings station for better poultry options — where you'll pay $5 for six pieces.

Popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival have been increasingly outfitting their newest ships with pay-to-play amenities. Even then, I've never seen a cruise buffet with paid options.

The same goes for the breakfast burrito at the Italian-Mexican fusion kiosk.

Annoyingly, if you want a vegan breakfast from the dining room, you must order it the night before.

But if your only requirement is a quick morning meal, I suggest grabbing one of the biscuit sandwiches from the chicken stand, which becomes an upcharged seafood shack at night.

The buffet has free black coffee, Lipton, and Bigelow's green tea. If you're craving any other pick-me-up, you'll have to buy it at the onboard coffee shop.

If you didn't second-guess your budget for the buffet's chicken wings, you might at the pizza stand. The $6 teriyaki chicken and Korean barbecue steak pies could catch your eye amid the sea of free pepperoni and four-cheese slices.

Fortunately, there were no paid options at the burger or Italian sandwich counters. Grabbing a plate at the latter will involve playing a round of sauce roulette, with the truffle mayo being one of the yummier bites on the ship and the salsa verde being one of the worst things I've eaten recently.

Unfortunately, the open-air stand remained closed until the final afternoon of the voyage.

In retrospect, I wish I had paid for the specialty restaurants. Maybe my meals would've been more memorable.

A $30 sushi boat dinner for two didn't sound too bad, either.

But would it still be a truly budget cruise if you end up splurging on specialty dining?

After all, a 2024 Firenze cruise starts at $90 per person and day, and dinner at the steakhouse would add another $50 to that day's cost.

Competing cruise lines have started charging for simple activities like mini-golf. (I'm looking at you, Norwegian).

But besides the arcade, none of the ship's top-deck amenities required additional payments.

You could spend all day at the mini-golf course, adrenaline-pumping ropes course, sports court, and waterslides without paying a cent. If that gets boring, there are foosball and ping-pong tables, too.

I've seen flashier versions of these amenities on Norwegian and Royal Caribbean ships. But unlike its competition, all of Firenze's were free.

The indoor one doubles as the nighttime movie theater, where you'll encounter your next budget roadblock — $4 bags of popcorn.

Movie time snacks aside, there are more than enough free activities to keep your family entertained during sea days, especially if you plan on catching nighttime shows like the "Dear Future Husband" song-and-dance production.

But if you're on a budget, I suggest avoiding the "Deal or No Deal" game show, which starts at $25. And if you plan on joining the afternoon tea event, ask for the complimentary tea bags from the buffet. Otherwise, you'll have to pay $1.50 per bag.

Firenze has plenty of places to drink, from the bubbly-forward Frizzante bar to the live music-centric Piano Bar 88.

Craving a Negroni? Head to Amari. Looking to catch the latest game? Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge is for you.

But be warned: Cocktails hover at around $13, while beers and seltzers are about $9.

Just be ready to trade the sound of screaming children with loud music. (The ship is devoid of any quiet spaces.)

I admittedly don't have the best sense of direction. It didn't help that there were no signs pointing guests to where they could disembark the ship.

A crew member even accidentally led me in the wrong direction, seemingly unsure of where to go, too.

I wasn't annoyed. Firenze is a 1,061-foot-long vessel, after all.

However, I was annoyed when I stepped off Firenze in Ensenada, Mexico, and saw that the provided portside bus to downtown would cost another $4 per person.

Its cheapest $90-a-night option is still far more affordable than its competitor's newest ships. (This year, Norwegian Viva's most inexpensive cruise is an 11-day voyage for $138 a day, while Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas starts at $221 a day for a weeklong sailing.)

It takes buying a latte or two, reserving a steakhouse dinner and teppanyaki lunch, snacking on a half-dozen wings, and having two beers daily for Firenze's per-day cost to be closer to Norwegian's.

So, there's no denying that Carnival's latest ship is a good deal, even if the food is lackluster, and you'll have to think about your spending at almost every turn of the vacation.

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian's newer ships are undeniably pricier, but both had complimentary meals that were better than the specialty options. And yes, their pay-to-play activities can be steep — like a $15-per-person go-kart track on Norwegian — but they're more modern and flashy than Firenze's amenities if that matters to you.

I don't blame you if Carnival's latest ship lures you in with the affordable fares. But a word to the wise: Pay for a specialty restaurant or two, and save some cash to spend onboard. It'll make the trip more memorable.