I've sailed on the Carnival Panorama 3 times with more trips planned this year. I keep going back for the cheap prices, fun activities, and great food.

I love to cruise, especially from my home base on the west coast to Mexico. I've boarded Norwegian, Princess, and Holland America ships, but my favorite vessel remains the Carnival Panorama.

The Carnival Panorama sails the same itinerary year-round from the port of Long Beach in California to Mexico including stops in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlán.

And while I've sailed a similar itinerary on Holland and Princess, I find that the Carnival Panorama offers a similar experience for far cheaper and doesn't skimp on activities, dining, and exciting places to visit.

I recently sailed on Panorama with a friend, though I've also cruised solo and with my spouse. Here's why I love this budget-friendly vacation and keep coming back.

As a frequent cruiser, I really missed sailing when COVID-19 halted most forms of travel.

My first Panorama cruise since the shutdown took place in September 2021 and I got a little teary-eyed when the ship's officers and captain lined the atrium steps to welcome guests back on board.

It was so good to be back on a ship, and I've now sailed 11 more times since then, with a handful of sailings booked in the coming months — including on the Panorama.

I particularly enjoy Carnival's "welcome aboard" deck parties, which are a beloved tradition on embarkation day and I feel the excitement of cruising from the moment I step onboard the Panorama.

I have booked a variety of cabin sizes on the Carnival Panorama, but I find an entry-level inside stateroom offers enough space and amenities, and choosing one is the best way to trim my overall budget.

On my most recent week-long sailing, I vacationed with a friend and we each booked our own separate inside cabins for $304 plus taxes and fees, for a total of just $437, not including alcoholic beverages. That's $62 per night.

While inside rooms start at just 185 square feet — compared to ocean view cabins that start at 230 square feet — I thought it was comfortable. Even when I've shared an inside room on past sailings, the size never bothered me since I spend most of my cruising time outside on the decks and only use my cabin to sleep.

Unlike other cruise lines, there was no single supplement to sail solo in my stateroom. This not only saved me money but precious square footage as my single cabin came with just one bed, as opposed to the usual two. This meant I had more room to spread out and I never felt cramped.

I didn't have ocean views, but I appreciated the fact that I had no outside light shining through to interrupt my afternoon nap.

In addition to the bed, my room came with a large closet, a desk with storage beneath it, a TV, and a bathroom.

Like other cruise ships I've experienced, my cabin bathroom was petite, but included a shower stall, a sink with mirrors above, a storage shelf beneath, and so many towels I was never wanting for more.

Carnival has so many onboard activities for all ages, but my all-time favorite thing to do on a sunny sea day is slip down the water slides. Panorama has two main slides, both of which I find to be thrilling. There is also a kiddie slide and a splash pad for little ones.

Since there are only two slides for all ages, I've seen it get busy and have had to wait in line, however I enjoy it so much, I never mind.

Panorama has two main pools on the Lido deck.

Beach Pool is centrally located and surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas, including seating within the pool. I enjoy this pool early morning and late evening, when it's a bit quieter without the DJ and impromptu dance parties.

The Tides Pool is at the back of the Lido deck and I find it tends to have a quieter vibe compared to the deck party atmosphere midship. I usually go to this pool for a mid-afternoon dip.

It can be tough to secure a deck chair beside the pool on sea days, but I've never seen a line form to enter the pool or thought it felt overcrowded once inside.

My spouse and I also love SkyRide, but I made sure to make time for it when I sailed more recently with my friend, too.

The sit-down cycle follows a suspended track above the upper deck where guests pedal their way along the track at their own pace. I have yet to see a big line form for this free attraction that is offered all day on port days and sea days alike.

I'm also a fan of the ropes course on the top deck, another free activity that technically offers great ocean views, but I'm usually more focused on the view of my feet and making sure I don't wobble.

I think it's a fun but challenging course, and while I found it intimidating at first, once I gained my confidence, the ropes earned a spot on my must-do list whenever I'm on the Panorama.

Panorama has a wide variety of complimentary dining for all tastes.

The all-day buffet in Lido Marketplace rotates between roasted turkey to grilled fish and everything in between. The buffet operates morning through late night, so I tend to eat breakfast and dinner here daily.

While I usually opt to eat at quick-serve venues like the buffet because I like to graze, a few times during the week I'll have dinner at the main dining room, Vista Restaurant.

They serve a fine dining menu with even more variety to choose from and I think the kitchen does a particularly nice job with the glazed baked salmon.

Once a week, guests can also enjoy lobster tails for no extra cost. On other cruise lines, lobster is usually a significant upcharge, ranging anywhere from $10-30.

As one of celebrity chef Guy Fieri's eateries, cruise guests know to go here for pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage, cold salads, and a variety of Fieri's signature sauces. My favorite is the brown sugar and bourbon sauce for sweet-meets-tangy perfection.

In the evening, this barbeque joint has an a la carte upcharge, ranging from $10 for finger foods to $30 for apps and an entree, but seasoned cruisers like myself know this specialty restaurant offers a free lunch spread on sea days. Anyone can take advantage of this and no reservations are required.

I'm not much of a dessert person, but every time I sail on Carnival's Panorama, I stop by Java Blue Café for my favorite espresso drinks.

Even without a sweet tooth, I still find myself stopping to stare at the pastry selection, which have an a la carte upcharge, but are modestly-priced for the huge portions, in my opinion.

Expect to pay between $1-$3 for treats. Favorites I've tried include the carrot cake and a dulce de leche cupcake.

I'm always delighted to find a brewery in the middle of the ocean. Carnival has breweries onboard its ships, either in Fieri's smokehouse or at the RedFrog Pub & Brewery.

On the Panorama, I have made it a point to try some of their always-available offerings, like amber ales and IPAs. My personal favorite so far has been the limited-edition golden ale made in celebration of Carnival's 50 years at sea.

Beer is included in the Cheers! beverage package, or a la carte starting at $6.50 for a 10-oz glass.

Throughout the day, guests will find trivia tournaments, bingo, dance-off competitions, and various live music performances, all included for no extra charge.

My favorite way to spend the evening is in the Liquid Lounge, where three times each week a different stage production includes popular music and a dance team. Dancers and singers perform hits from Stevie Wonder, Adele, Simon & Garfunkel, and other Top 40 selections.

Another favorite nightlife venue of mine is the Panorama Atrium with its rotating roster of musicians. This cocktail space might have a solo musician one hour, a blues guitarist the next, or my personal favorite, the rock violinists who combine pop and classical music.

On the back of the Promenade deck is Havana Bar, a sleek venue where karaoke competitions take place, but I like to visit when the Latin band performs. The dance floor quickly fills for a night of heart-racing beats.

There's no charge to enjoy the band or to sing karaoke, so I pop by randomly when I'm walking in that area of the ship.

Panorama has so many great activities night and day, which is why I keep coming back to this cruise ship. But sometimes I want a break from the buzz, and that's when I head to the Serenity deck. This is a quiet place just for adults to escape the crowds and party vibe.

Serenity Adult-Only Retreat has tons of lounge chairs, daybeds, cabanas, and secluded hot tubs all free for use night and day. I think it's a great spot to work on my tan or to chill out and watch the sunset.

This area is tucked away from the pool deck on its own little upper deck at the front of the ship, so I find it's always free of busy crowds and music, and it's easy to find a space to lounge.

I think one of the best surprises during a week onboard Panorama is waking up to find towel animals taking over the pool deck.

Similar to the towel animals room stewards provide in the cabins, crew members set them up throughout the pool deck area on all the chairs to greet the morning crowds.

I always get a kick out of seeing the dozens (hundreds?) of animals set on their sun loungers, and it's also fun to watch as families with kids see the towel animal party for the first time.

One of the best things about Panorama is how packed the itinerary is for those looking for activities day and night — but knowing it's not necessary to do all the things.

I enjoy pool deck parties and waterslides and joining a trivia challenge, but I also really appreciate taking time out to simply enjoy an ocean view for a few quiet hours on my own.

I also like that the ports of Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlán don't require pricey excursion tickets since there's so much to do within walking distance. While it's possible to spend $30 and up to go snorkeling or take a tour, I haven't found the need for this.

Instead, I walk to the cultural centers, enjoy the beach for free, and simply take in the sights.

Sailing on the Panorama is ideal for me year-round, with sunshine always on offer in the Mexican Riviera.

Between the varied itinerary offerings and ship amenities, time and again I have found that Panorama has something for everyone. It's a special cruise and one I know I'll be back to soon.