6 Carnival Jubilee cruise tips: How to skip lines, peek behind the scenes, save at the spa and more

Ashley Kosciolek

I'm just back from the christening sailing on Carnival Jubilee , Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship. In addition to six zones that include everything from a digital octopus to a roller coaster, the vessel offers fantastic food and great service, but you can make your experience even better with a few insider tips.

During my weeklong voyage, I picked up a few pointers that I found useful and want to share with future cruisers. Here are six little-known tricks that you can use on Carnival Jubilee (and, in some cases, on other ships, too) to help you steer clear of lines, save money and even avoid embarrassment.

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Look beyond the main dining room

carnival cruise secret tips

For those who don't know, Carnival offers two types of dining on its ships: set seating, which assigns you to a specific dining time at a set table with the same waiters every night, and Your Time Dining, which allows you to eat at any time in your assigned dining room between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

If you opt for the latter, you could be in for long lines to enter the main dining room during peak times, even if you check in ahead of time using Carnival's Hub app .

If you want to avoid the wait and dodge the extra fees that come with eating in most specialty restaurants, consider dining in Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano or Mexican-meets-Asian Chibang! instead of the main dining room. Originally designed as overflow eateries for Carnival Jubilee's sister ship Mardi Gras , they allow Your Time Dining passengers to enjoy their evening meal at any time during regular dinner hours for no additional charge.

Both restaurants will remain free to all guests through the ship's inaugural season. Your Time Dining guests receive priority, and passengers with traditional set-seating dining aren't allowed to eat there until after 7:45 p.m.

Use the line's app to request a table shortly before you're ready to head to your restaurant of choice.

Head to the Marina Bar for coffee

carnival cruise secret tips

If you can't function without your morning coffee and the complimentary stuff in the buffet won't cut it, take note. Carnival Jubilee's main cafe, JavaBlue, almost always has a line that spills out into the Grand Central area on Deck 6. If you're in a hurry and don't feel like waiting, check out the Marina Bar on Deck 8, where you can snag the same coffee beverages with a shorter (or nonexistent) line. The ladies there made my almond milk coconut lattes perfectly every time.

Bonus tip: Make sure to ask for a punch card and bring it with you each time you visit the Marina Bar (or JavaBlue). If you buy six specialty coffees, your seventh is on the house.

Related: The best cruise ship cafes for coffee and tea

Look for second-day spa deals

carnival cruise secret tips

It's no secret that deals abound at cruise ship spas if you know where to look and when to book. Whether you're yearning for a facial or have your heart set on a massage, you can often bag bargains when you reserve more than one treatment or schedule yourself for services on port days, when most passengers are ashore.

But, when a spa attendant flagged me down on the pool deck to offer me a same-day appointment on the second day of the voyage, I discovered there were potentially decent savings to be had on the first full day on board (the day after embarkation). Because everyone is so busy exploring the ship (or port, if it's not a sea day), they're generally not thinking about the spa.

In my case, it was a sea day, and I saved 30% — about $60 — on an excellent 75-minute full-body Swedish massage. Later, I learned that, by taking the offer, I made out better than a travel companion who saved only 20% on the same service by attending a spa seminar a couple of days later.

Hang out in Grand Central

carnival cruise secret tips

Are you the type of cruiser who loves to look behind the scenes? I am, but I hate to pay for the privilege. Several cruise lines, including Carnival, allow a peek behind the proverbial curtain if you pay for tours that take you to places the average passenger can't go — the galley, the bridge, the laundry and engine rooms and maybe even backstage in the theater.

But who needs backstage when there's a theater right in the atrium? In Carnival Jubilee's Grand Central zone, Center Stage takes ... well, center stage. The performance space isn't enclosed like a typical theater, so there's no way for it to be shielded from passengers' view during rehearsals. If you stick around during the day, you can watch some of the ship's performers practicing their blocking, their vocals and, occasionally, acrobatic routines before that night's show.

Don't miss special dining room events

carnival cruise secret tips

Unless you're in the know, it's possible to miss some of the fun meal options in the main dining rooms on board.

The first is brunch. There are two types: Seaday Brunch, held in the Pacific dining room on sea days only, and the Dr. Seuss-themed Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast, which was held on the last sea day during my sailing in the Atlantic dining room. The former is free, while the latter is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Both require reservations; check the daily schedule for days and times.

Note: Some Carnival ships have the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast instead of the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast. It's a similar experience with a slightly different menu for the same price. Check the daily schedule for details.

Related: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that let you skip the buffet crowds

The second daytime dining room event I enjoyed was afternoon tea, which is free (unless you choose to upgrade to a gourmet tea option for $3). You can choose from green, black and chamomile tea and a selection of sandwiches and pastries, including scones with cream. Check the daily schedule, or meander over to the Atlantic dining room around 3 p.m. on sea days.

Stop guessing in public restrooms

carnival cruise secret tips

It's always awkward to use public restrooms if you aren't sure whether a stall is in use, especially if there's a line. On Carnival Jubilee, if you're wondering whether a stall is occupied, check the door. If the cutouts in the silver disc below the door handle are white, the stall is unlocked (and likely available, but proceed with caution). If they show red, the door is locked, and the stall is occupied.

When you're finished and washing your hands, if the water temperature seems off, you can control it using the small handle to the right of the spigot — a secret I didn't learn until halfway through my sailing, when a kind fellow passenger clued me in after I unwittingly scalded myself.

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Coastal Wandering

26 Carnival Cruise Tips You Need to Know

By Lisa Wells Last Updated: Nov 6, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Carnival Cruise tips & tricks - planning, packing, dining & more!

Whether this is your first Carnival cruise or your first cruise ever, there are lots of things to know about this popular cruise line.

Here are 26 of the best Carnival cruise tips that will help you plan, pack, dine and relax like a pro.

Carnival Cruise Tips You Need To Know - Coastal Wandering

While every cruiser should know these things, most don't. With these tips for planning, packing, dining and relaxing on board, you'll get more mileage out of your vacation, excursions and travel budget! All while having the time of your life onboard.

Whether this is your first time cruising or not, there are plenty of places to see...and equally as many places to get lost. And no matter what stage of the planning process you're at, there's a lot to know in order for you to make the most of your time and money while onboard.

Here Are 26 Carnival Cruise Tips To Help You Plan, Pack, Dine & Relax

Carnival ships are big. Ginormous even. Their fleet of over 25 ships serves a guest capacity of anywhere between 2,000 and 4,000 people on board.

It can feel overwhelming to say the least (I know from personal experience).

Of course, you don't want to waste time making rookie mistakes while onboard.

The good news? You're here and doing your best to know the insider tips and tricks of Carnival cruise lines before you set sail. So you can make the most of your vacation, cross off big bucket list excursions along the way, and know where to spend (and save) your money while you're sailing.

Haven't started planning your cruise yet?  To search for the best Carnival cruises, click here.

Tips For Planning Your Carnival Cruise

Knowing the ins and outs of Carnival cruises can pay off long before you set sail. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind during your cruise planning.

 1. Score Carnival Cruise Deals By Traveling Off-Season

You've probably already guessed this, but you'll find the absolute best Carnival cruise deals when school is in session. Carnival's primary target market is families, so any time that you can travel when it's typically more difficult for families to set sail is a good time to score a deal. 

2. Research The Ship You're Booking

This is a big one. Not all of the ships in the Carnival fleet are created equally. For example, you'll find a brewery on board the new Carnival Vista, but this may not be the case if you're traveling on an older ship. 

This is particularly important if you're banking on having amenities (like Guy's Burger Joint) available to you while you're at sea. Knowing what is (and isn't) on your Carnival ship will help you plan your time onboard and help you avoid any disappointments during embarkation.

3. Book Everything (Excursions & Dining) Early

If you wait to book your specialty dining venues and shore excursions until you're on board you may already be too late. Again, the Carnival fleet sails large ships and there is always limited capacity. 

Bottom line: if you have must-do or must-see venues and excursions on your list, book them early!

So, where do you do this?

The first place to look go is your online Carnival account. That's where you can schedule specialty restaurant reservations and shore excursions well in advance of your embarkation date. 

And be sure to read the promotional emails you get from Carnival as they are often discounts on things you can book in advance like 20% off spa treatments or 10% off of shore excursions if you book them during the promotion. 

Yes, you can also book these while onboard by visiting guest services. But better safe than sorry, right?

4. Dine At The Steakhouse on the First Night

Want a free bottle of wine? Dine in the steakhouse on embarkation day or the first elegant evening and get a free bottle of house wine or half off any other wine at the steakhouse. If you're a wine lover, this is a chance to try that high-end wine you've been eyeing at 50% off!

If Carnival is running this promotion for your cruise, you will likely see it in one of their promotional emails (for my last cruise it was in the email three weeks prior to sailing). And following suit from the previous tip, Carnival recommends you book specialty restaurants at least two weeks before your cruise date.

5. Take Advantage of the 110% "Best Price Guarantee"

If you're shopping around for the best deals on excursions, know that Carnival offers a 110% price match guarantee. Shop around to your heart's content, but I'd recommend booking with Carnival directly.

The biggest upside to booking your excursions (besides this guarantee) is that Carnival also guarantees that the ship will remain in port until all guests are back on board. So there's no worry of being stranded onshore as you watch your ship sailing away on the horizon.

6. Know That Not All Excursion Days Need to Be Spent On Shore

Excursions are fun. But so is having the ship to yourself!

Know that not all of your port days need to be spent onshore. If you're sailing on a longer cruise you may want to plan for spending one port of call day on board! No lines. The hot tub might as well be a ghost town. Enjoying a good book on deck in complete silence might even be possible. And there are usually promotions at the spa for even more relaxation. Sounds like a great alternative to me!

7. Buy Cruise Insurance

Yes, you definitely want to have cruise insurance in place no matter what time of year you're traveling, but make sure you look at a couple of third-party policies before you book.

Carnival Vacation Protection is an option, but you'll usually find policies with more coverage at the same rate (or cheaper) when you shop third-party.

8. Choose Your Boarding Schedule

Carnival typically boards through a staggered check-in. This allows you to select a 30-minute window for your boarding and gets you on the ship smoothly and controls the total flow of passengers arriving at once.

You can select your arrival appointment time as soon as you see the online check-in option in your Carnival dashboard (usually 90 days before departure). Choose your time slot as soon as this option is available as time slots will fill up as it gets closer to your departure date. I like to schedule the earliest time available so we can enjoy the ship before it sails. 

Don't try to board before your allotted time though, you'll be asked to wait. (But don't worry if you're running a little behind schedule. You'll be able to board if you arrive after your arrival appointment.)

Carnival Valor cruise ship at dock - Coastal Wandering

The Best Carnival Cruise Tips For While You're Onboard

From getting to know your ship, to knowing how to skip the lines, these are some of the best ways to make the most of your time onboard your Carnival cruise.

9. Get To Know Your Ship

Depending on which Carnival cruise ship you sail on, your ship could be over 1,000 feet long and have 15 - 19 floors. With so much space on board, you'll want to get acquainted with the layout of your ship so that you can navigate more easily to restaurants, the pool, spa and anywhere else you may want to visit.

Sometimes there are guided tours on the first day of your cruise, but you can access the ship layout in advance through virtual tours and PDF deck plans. On Carnival cruises, you can also access your ship layout through the Carnival Hub App (more on that later!). 

10. Skip The Lines With "Faster to the Fun"

You didn't go on vacation to wait in lines, did you? No, of course not. To make the most of your time onboard (and skip wasting time in lines) you'll want to purchase the "Faster to the Fun" program.

For just a little extra money (typically under $100), everyone in your stateroom gets front-of-the-line access on embarkation, debarkation, and at guest services---and most importantly for water shuttles in ports where you have to tender to shore (take a small boat to the dock rather than walk off). So you have more time to actually enjoy your vacation!

"Faster to the Fun" is not available on all cruises (see where here ) and it can sell out early. So again, book this as soon as possible if you're interested. You'll find it under shore excursions for your departure port.

Carnival Elation water slides - Coastal Wandering

11. Decide If (And How) You'll Be Connecting To Wifi

Planning to disconnect during your cruise? No problem. But if you're planning to stay connected to your life back home, you'll want to decide how you'll be connecting to Wifi.

If you're staying connected, you have two main options:

  • Purchase an internet package through Carnival. They offer reasonable daily rates.
  • Pre-purchase an international cell plan directly through your service provider.

Of course, you can always look for free public wifi when you're in port. You'll often find it in restaurants near the dock.

12. Bring Cash To Avoid ATM Fees

Carnival cruises are cashless – your onboard account balance is attached to your Sail & Sign card. Even still, there will be times that you'll want a little bit of cash for things like your shore excursions and tipping.

While Carnival has ATMs on board, you'd be best to bring cash with you if you want to avoid high ATM fees (some travelers report fees as high as $6 per transaction !). Aim for small denominations – for tipping and for paying for purchases with exact change. While many places will accept US dollars, they'll often give change in local currency. 

13. Use the Carnival Hub App

This tip is simple: download and use the Carnival Hub App.

This app is useful before and during your cruise. You can do everything from check-in and prepare your boarding documents to access the day-to-day schedule for onboard activities. And you'll even have up-to-date information about your Sail & Sign account balance as you travel. 

You can also use it to message the people you're sailing with while you're on the ship. This is a must-have while you're cruising!

14. Relax On The "Secret" Decks and Adults Only Retreat

The Lido Deck is always popular, but there are quieter decks onboard if you're looking for a relaxing spot to read a book. You'll find these quiet spots at the very front of the ship, though the exact deck will vary depending on which ship you're traveling on.

You will typically access these secret decks through a door located on either side of the ship all the way forward. Usually, these doors will be unmarked as to where they lead.

You can usually also find a quiet spot on the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. This area of the ship is 21 and over and has lots of space for lounging while you watch the waves---and a bar to get your frozen drinks .

Carnival Elation cruise ship deck - Coastal Wandering

Carnival Cruise Tips To Help You Pack Like A Pro

Here are a few essential packing tips to help you make the most of your cruise.

15. BYOB On Board Carnival Cruises

Here's the good news: you can bring both non-alcoholic drinks and/or wine or champagne onboard your Carnival cruise.

But there are rules to follow. Here's a high-level look at what you can bring with you:

  • 1 x 750 ml bottle of sealed wine or champagne, per person
  • Up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 ounces or less, per person

Whatever you choose, know that those sealed drinks need to be packed in your carry-on!

16. Pack Your Carry-On Bag Strategically

Whether you decide to travel carry-on only or not, there is an art to packing a clever carry-on. Here's what you'll want to make sure is inside your bag before you set sail on your Carnival cruise:

  • Any beverages you're bringing on board (review Carnival's beverage policy above)
  • Bathing suit and sunscreen
  • Change of clothes
  • Essential toiletries

It might take some time before the stewards are able to get your luggage to your room, so packing a carry-on with these items helps you begin enjoying the ship as soon as you step on board! 

17. Bring A Corkscrew

On the topic of beverages (wine!), if you'll be bringing some on board with you make sure to pack a corkscrew or bring wine with a screw cap. Corkage fees onboard Carnival cruises typically run about $15.

18. Pack A Cruise Lanyard

This is one of my essential cruise packing items ! Your lanyard will hold your Sail & Sign card, which functions as a cabin key and your primary purchasing method while onboard. Keeping your card on your lanyard means that you'll always have it handy when you need it. There'll be no need to dig around at the bottom of your beach bag for it!

19. Bring A Cruise Outlet Adapter

This is another cruise essential that you'll always see in my suitcase when I'm packing for a cruise. Depending on the ship you may only find one outlet in your cabin, so cruise power strips ( like this one ) can be a lifesaver if you’ve got multiple electronics to charge every day.

20. Pack Flip-Flops With A Tread

Remember that not all flip flops are created equally. Your favorite pair might be perfect for kicking around on the beach, but be sure to take a look at their tread while you're packing. Cruise ship decks can be quite slippery. If the tread is worn off, you'll want to purchase a pair with a little more tread before you set sail. 

21. Skip The Ball Gown For Formal Night

Yes, it's a formal night. But that doesn't mean you need to waste precious packing space on a gown. 

Typically formal night isn't as formal as you might think. Officially, Carnival defines " cruise elegant " as cocktail dresses, pantsuits, or elegant skirts and blouses.

My suggestion? Pack your favorite little black dress and call it a day.

Carnival Cruise Tips & Tricks For Dining In Style

Here are some of the best ways to enjoy all that Carnival offers in the way of restaurants and dining experiences.

22. Treat Yourself And Order Room Service

Room service on Carnival ships is typically free, so go ahead and order breakfast in bed!

That said, be careful if you're watching your onboard budget. Premium items like pizza or wings might run up an extra delivery fee (in addition to the tip for your room service attendant).

23. Know How To Pay And Tip Onboard Your Carnival Cruise

You'll be cruising cashless with Carnival. No need for a wallet (especially if you pack a lanyard!), because your Sail & Sign card is all you'll need to pay for onboard expenses.

And tips? Those can be paid in advance through the Carnival Hub App. That said, understanding what is covered with your automatically applied service gratuities can feel a little confusing. I'd recommend checking out Carnival's gratuities guide for more information.  

24. Check Out Specialty Venues For Complimentary Lunch

You'll find that there are plenty of great specialty venues onboard that charge a reasonable fee for dinner. If you want to try specialty venues without the fee, look to see if those venues offer complimentary lunches. You'll sometimes find complimentary meals at Cucina del Capitano and JiJi's Asian Kitchen.

25. Plan Your Guy's Burger Joint Visit Outside Of Peak Hours

If this is your first time on a Carnival cruise, you'll quickly learn that this is a popular spot. Guy's is a free restaurant onboard and serves some of the best burgers you'll have while sailing or onshore. If you're wanting to avoid lines, try heading to Guy's for dinner.

Also, be sure to check out Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que if there is one on your ship. This is the perfect place to grab lunch on embarkation day and avoid the crowds at the buffet!

26. Explore Your Breakfast Options

You'll typically have more options than the buffet and main dining room, even though that's where many of your fellow cruisers will eat. Watch your daily newsletter to know which restaurants are open for breakfast. Blue Iguana Cantina is rumored to be the best breakfast on Carnival ships!

Now You Know The Best Carnival Cruise Tips – It's Time To Set Sail!

With these tips in mind, you'll be sure to have a fantastic time onboard your Carnival Cruise, no matter which ship you're sailing on.

Looking for more cruise tips, tricks, and guides? Here are a few other posts you'll like:

  • Your step-by-step guide to planning a Caribbean cruise
  • What you need to know before booking your Day Pass for Atlantis Bahamas
  • The 10 things every first-time cruiser needs know before setting sail
  • Which do's and don'ts you need to know before you leave for your next cruise
  • The best cruise essentials every savvy cruiser has in their suitcase (packing list included!)

Ready to start planning your cruise vacation? Start searching for the best Carnival cruises here .

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Carnival Cruise Information, Tips and Tricks

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This is CruiseMapper's page for Carnival cruise secrets, tips, and tricks, information, advice. The content here is updated constantly whenever new information or changes are officially announced. This is our modest "tips and tricks" help and advice for all the coolest-hot fans of the world's cheapest "Fun Ship" cruise line. This survey is integrated with CruiseMapper's main cruise tips and tricks article.

For convenience, next links jump down directly to Your Time Dining review , what is free (included in cruise fares) , how to get a free cruise , military discount requirements , discount codes and coupons , scams , videos (page-bottom).

Carnival cruise secrets, tips, and tricks

We take the Carnival Cruise Lines information subject seriously, and many of the most popular topics are reviewed separately. So if you're interested in a particular subject - just follow our internal links. Enjoy!

Carnival Cruise Information, Tips and Tricks - CruiseMapper

How to get the best cruise booking prices?

Best prices on Carnival cruises are a real deal when you choose:

  • Early Saver booking (20-30% off, depending on the itinerary length) is always combined with the Price Protection guarantee.
  • Special offers by the "Concierge Club" loyalty program and any discounts/promotions available at booking (check for promo codes), group booking (15 plus passengers).
  • low season travel deals (depend on the destination, but the ever best are for early spring and fall. This is just when the best deals on ship repositioning are searching for the following destinations - Transatlantic and Panama Canal crossings (California - Florida), East Coast USA (Canada - Florida) and West Coast USA (to and from Alaska, often with Hawaii).
  • Last Minute deals - if you got the balls for it! Up to 70% lower rates. But it's a big-balls big thing - waiting until the very last moment to book a deal is nothing short to speculation. You may end up drinking beer ashore, the wife and kids yapping constantly at you about your mischief, and only tracking your Fun Ship's position online.
  • Best-money-for-value deals - free cabin upgrade (with availability - up to 7 grades up for free), Suite booking (lots of extras), package deals, specialty dining at most affordable charges, duty-free shopping and "high energy" gambling on board, and all the rest that costs extra and adds more to the Fun Ship experiences. You know your pocket - so you know best.
  • The actual cruise rates can be found through travel agencies/agents, providing regularly updated deals with real-time pricing and latest amenities updates. Strongly recommend is to compare deals by both prices and inclusions. Otherwise, for a few bucks less you can lose good values - like porthole or window, bonus amenities, onboard credit, etc.
  • Closely compare rates for different cabin types and categories. Often you'll need to add around USD 100-200 for a 7-day private balcony, even Suite (with late deals) which comes with complimentary services and bonus perks.
  • Reconciliation for budget-minded travelers - the stateroom is mostly bed and shower, most of the fun is out there, to hell with the windows and balconies - let's get this party started!

Carnival cruise information

Along with the survey on the average prices on Carnival cruise ships, we also give you categorized info on the cost of almost all Carnival Lines services and products. And even a review of the CCL quotes (it's the Carnival Cruises shares Stock Exchange Index/code).

Like anything in life, the fun always has its not small price. And we all know how the price of happiness is increasing faster than it should. We'll continue to add more Carnival prices related information (and correct the old one in the process), so visit us regularly to see what's going on at the "Fun Ship Money Market".

  • Carnival fleet - select a boat and search its schedules, or track its current location, see deck plans and stateroom information.
  • Spa Carnival prices , Cloud 9 Spa prices
  • Alcohol/Drinks prices
  • Bar Menu Prices
  • Wedding/Honeymoon packages prices
  • WiFi/Internet access cost
  • Casino money/cash review
  • Tipping Policy / Gratuities
  • Menus , Drink Packages , Wine Packages ,  Drink Recipes
  • VIFP Loyalty Program / FTTF
  • Fun Ship refurbishments
  • Carnival Corporation news and updates

Carnival cruise toll-free number is 800-327-9501.

  • Booking online - start from Carnival.com ("Quick Search" or "Find A Cruise") or go directly to the ship's page. Choose "Cruise Details" and a select number of guests, then click the price link for stateroom's type. Fill in your information and provide the same for any additional passengers. The last step is to supply your payment details.
  • Price protection assurance with Early Saver says that if a traveller finds lower Carnival advertised fare but he/she has already booked the cruise, Carnival will issue the difference in the form of a non-refundable onboard credit. A price protection claim form has to be completed, available at the link .
  • Carnival requires proper travel documentation at embarkation and throughout the voyage. Any guest without proper documentation will not be allowed to board the ship, no refund will be issued. Carnival recommends all guests to sail with a passport. Though not required for the U.S. citizens on cruises beginning and ending in the same/different U.S. port, the passport may help expedite the CBP clearance upon your return to the U.S. In addition to citizenship proof, a government-issued non-expired photo I.D. is required of guests 16 years/older. The following are acceptable: Driver's Permit, Driver's License, Government-Issued identification card, school/student ID (for guests under 19).
  • Carnival prohibits certain items to be brought on board. Confiscated Items include alcohol (hard liquor), beer, wine or champagne beyond the allowable limits - one bottle (750 ml) per adult in their carry-on; steamers and clothing irons; household and electrical appliances; hookah; heating pads. Exceptions include personal grooming devices; electronics (laptops, cellular phones, cameras); electrical devices (all allowed when used with proper caution).
  • Check-in at least 1,5 hours before departure, otherwise you risk cancellation of the reservation. Security Checkpoint includes going through x-ray security machines with the carry-on luggage (you'll have it checked in if exceeding 24"/16"/30". CCL provides transportation services at most ports.
  • 6 months is the minimum age for cruising with Carnival, with the exceptions of Hawaii, South American and Transatlantic cruises (12 months). Babysitting services (Night Owls) for children ages 11/younger are provided during the 10 p.m.-1 a.m. interval and include movies, board and video games, drinks and snacks. It's $6.75 per hour/per child.
  • Parents with kids aged 3 and younger are provided with an onboard phone. Parents with kids 4 and 5 years are provided with phones depending on the ship’s availability. Parents of kids with special needs and allergies are also provided with phones - free of charge.
  • "Camp Carnival" (shipboard children program) groups kids-only facilities and supervised programming - completely free of charge, featuring kids-only sundeck with pool, the sensational "WaterWorks" park with the "Twister" slide (300ft / 92 m long 2-decks high).
  • Kids' activities are supervised by college-educated youth counselors with professional childcare experiences (education, psychology, recreation), fully trained in basic first aid and CPR. Ship's staffing, in general, depends on factors like capacity, itinerary and season. The youth staff is international.
  • At children's facilities, complimentary dining options include all-you-can-eat kids menu (D-Yummy) from the 24-our Pizzeria (huge slices and great pies), gourmet burgers and hotdogs, cookies, pastries, milk, and chocolate, ice-creams.
  • Leaving kids on the ship in seaports - parents are asked to show their tour ticket to the youth staff for contacting the tour operator on in cases of emergency. This service is available only on Carnival-sponsored (guaranteed) tours and excursions.
  • The Company's policy regarding passengers traveling with minors or alone states that cruisers under 21 have to travel with a guardian/relative of 25 yo / older. Passengers 18-20 yo don't have any restrictions to book cruises. Teenagers 13-17 yo have to be booked up to 3 cabins away from their guardian/relative. Children 12 yo / younger (when booking separate rooms) must either be next door or directly across the hall. Exceptions are for legally married couples and qualified military personnel.
  • Since October 9, 2014, all staterooms are entirely smoke-free, including on outside balconies. Cigarette/E-cigarette smoking is still allowed in designated open-deck areas, nightclubs and in certain areas within Carnival Casino lounges (for playing guests only) and Casino Bar. Pipe and cigar smoking is allowed in designated open-deck areas. Guests who smoke in staterooms/cabin balconies are assessed USD 250 cleaning/refreshing fee on their Sail&Sign accounts.
  • Carnival offers an advanced roaming network, allowing guests to make and receive calls at sea using their own mobile phone/telephone number. International roaming charges are billed by guests' home mobile carriers.
  • Guests may use personal checks on board to acquire a cash advance. 5.5% of the value or a flat fee of $5.50 (if the requested amount is $100 or less) is charged. Traveler's Checks (as well as Canadian Traveler's Checks) are cashed onboard at Guest Services Desk, no fee is applied. Money orders or bank-issued cashier's checks are not accepted onboard. Carnival guests can make balance inquiries and withdraw funds on their accounts while the ship is at sea or in port. A $6.00 fee per transaction is applied for the service which is controlled by the bank sponsoring the ATMs.
  • Should a passenger require medical attention while onboard, the Carnival Medical Center staff is ready to help 24 hours a day.
  • Guests who want to change dining after they're onboard, have to see the Maitre d’ and discuss if any changes are possible.
  • Each Carnival ship provides at least 2 self-service launderettes on the stateroom decks. Two or three dryers and washers are also available, and one iron/ironing board in each of the launderettes. $3.00 fare per washer/dryer load is applied.
  • International assistance is available by the multilingual Purser. Languages spoken include: Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian and Japanese.
  • In order to obtain luggage tags, see the last page of the cruise documents. Print as many as you need by accessing your booking - view cruise details and select the link from the To-Do List section.
  • Free postcards are available at the ship's purser's desk.
  • Your cabin steward is your best buddy on the boat in terms of extra perks - think of extra pillows, for example.

Next, are listed activities available at no extra cost for children by age group:

  • INFANTS (free of charge babysitting service) - min age 4 months, counselors change diapers when necessary, group babysitting from 10 pm until 3 am at additional cost of $6 per hour /1st kid ($4 for siblings), stroller rentals at $6 per day (3-5-night sailings), and $25 per sailing (5+ nights). Kids 2- yo are allowed to play in the playroom when accompanied by a parent.
  • TODDLERS (2-5 yo) - kids-only splash pools, coloring and drawing, cookie making and decorating, "Face Painting", "Sponge Painting", "Fun Ship Bingo", "Cartoon Time", "Pizza Pig Out", sing-alongs, various contests, and family games.
  • JUNIORS (6-8 yo) - "T-Shirt Painting", puppet shows, talent shows and outdoor games, Disney-themed activities.
  • TWEENERS (9-11 yo) - "Breakfast Fun", ping-pong and volleyball, board and video games and tournaments, dance classes, scavenger hunts, photography, jewelry making, lots of arts and crafts.
  • TEENS - "Circle C" (12-14 yo), and "Club O2" (15-17 yo); dedicated teens-only lounges (including a pool and a disco), Disco and Karaoke parties, teen dinners and makeovers, late-night movies, video games (PC, PS2, Xbox), teen-only shore excursions.

Are Carnival cruises all inclusive - what is free / included in the fares?

The list of all Carnival cruise tickets price inclusions has:

  • accommodation (all featuring the “Carnival Comfort Bed” - plush mattresses, deluxe duvets-linens-pillows)
  • all main meals in Dining Rooms, buffets and signature themed food bars ((most restaurants), actually are included), plus water-coffee-tea-milk-juices with 24-hr complimentary room service
  • all ship facilities and activities for families and children, including pools, kids and teens programs, live entertainment and movies under the stars, sports activities (fitness center, jogging track, volleyball-basketball courts, mini-golf, table tennis)
  • ship-shore-ship tendering transfers, special needs requests.

And Carnival doesn't charge for fuel anymore (for now).

What drinks are included in cruise fares?

  • free room-service drinks: orange-tomato-apple-grapefruit juice, regular and decaffeinated coffee, hot and unsweetened iced tea, hot chocolate, regular-skim-chocolate milk.
  • free Afternoon Tea (on sea days only, serving specialty teas, as well as smoked salmon, strawberries and cream, and delicious cakes)
  • free souvenir-glass by buying a DOD ("drink of the day")
  • in the 24-hour Lido Deck buffet are always free the following drinks: milk, coffee, hot and iced tea, hot chocolate and lemonade.
  • free drinks at the casino - as part of the line's new partnership with "Isle of Capri Casinos" (benefits, "Drink On Us" program).
  • Since Carnival upgraded most of its ships with new coffee (vending) machines, the free cappuccino and espresso offers are slowly disappearing fleetwide.

Free alcohol offers

  • a free bottle of Champagne by participating in the on-board game shows
  • the Steakhouse free wine promotion (a free bottle of wine if you make a Steakhouse reservation for the first night of your sailing.
  • free liquor/wine tasting in the duty-free shops (usually the 1st night)
  • free Champagne at Art auctions (note: no art purchase necessary)
  • free drinks (including alcohol) and free Hors d'oeuvres at the Captains Party and Past Passenger parties (the last ones are on the 5+ days sailings only). You may also order whatever you want - it'll be still free.

What food is included in cruise fares?

  • Appetizers-soups-salads-entrees-desserts in main dining rooms - order as many as you want (all free), including steaks and lobster (served usually on Elegant Nights), plus everything on Lido Deck (excepting alcohol-sodas-coffees).
  • healthy-low fat-low cholesterol selections are available in main dining rooms
  • you're eligible for a free steak when you purchase a bottle from ship's wine store.
  • free soft ice-cream (24-hours, free hard ice-cream (plus all kinds of fixings for sundaes in the afternoon
  • 24-hour room service and pizzeria, offering caesar salad, calzones, and pizza!
  • the pre-dinner Sushi bar is free of charge (open only for a few hours in the late afternoon - from 5 pm to 8 pm).
  • Taste Bar (also open from 5 pm to 8 pm) offers complimentary smaller-sized dishes sampling all ship's dining venue menus.
  • Banana splits and mac-and-cheese in the main dining room's kids' menu.

Free items and shipboard services

  • (at the Guest Services Desk) a deck of Carnival-logoed cards, postcards with a picture of the ship
  • in-cabin infotainment (movies, webcam views, cruise itinerary-related information)
  • cruise book in the cabin
  • much free stuff (giveaways) are available at port talks
  • free medications are Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Neosporin, PeptoBismol, plus the cure for the seasickness.
  • The bathroom's amenities basket is free. It includes razors, toothpaste, and dental floss, Emergen-C, lotion, shampoo, Advil (an analgesic medicine).
  • Free of charge processing of Travelers' checks (there's a fee for personal checks).
  • complimentary Carnival Spa treatment (usually facial) is offered with the spa tour when you board the ship. If you participate in the Spa talks you can get a 10% discount on Spa prices. In the Spa-complex, free of charge for all guests are steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs. Booking one of the Cloud 9 Spa staterooms additionally will give you 2 free fitness (yoga or pilates) classes, plus unlimited access to the Thalassotherapy pool.
  • Free Internet - passengers are allowed to access a certain set of websites for free through Wi-Fi (either in the Internet Cafe or on personal devices). Still, for visiting other websites (including for checking e-mails) they have to purchase packages with minutes.
  • Check the "Fun Times" newsletter for all the special offers while on the Carnival cruise ship.
  • There are free Carnival Suite cabin amenities, services, and bonuses for booking the best of the best ship accommodations. The list includes best ship locations, priority boarding/tendering, express embarkation luggage delivery, exclusive cocktail invitations, dining room seating preferences, 24-hr concierge service, complimentary laundry/dry cleaning, welcome aboard luxury gift basket (with champagne and chocolates), en-suite dining (complimentary daily canapes), huge-size balcony.

What is not included in Carnival cruise ticket prices?

Now see the list of services and amenities that are not included on Carnival cruises:

  • travel insurance, passports, visas, airfares
  • shore excursions and tours
  • medical services
  • onboard laundry
  • Internet and ship-to-shore communications (Wi-Fi, cell phone roaming)
  • child-care services (babysitting is available for a fee between 10 pm-3 am)
  • Casino gambling and bar drinks expenses (bingo, casino gaming, arcades, duty-free ship shopping)
  • photo services
  • alternative club dining at specialty restaurants (Steakhouse, Supper Club)
  • Spa Carnival and Cloud 9 Spa facilities and services (Fitness is free, some classes are extra)
  • beverages (soda, liquor, specialty coffees, bottled water)
  • items from the onboard patisserie
  • the Golf Academy program
  • and finally - the Government taxes and port fees.
  • Carnival Suites inclusions
  • Booking a suite guarantees a larger balconied accommodation with private bathroom and whirlpool tub, dressing area with vanity desk, 2 large closets, personal safe, refrigerator, welcome champagne and chocolates, daily canapes, express embarkation/disembarkation (luggage delivery, priority check-ins and tendering), 24-hour butler service.
  • Booking one of the Carnival Spa Suites (on selected ships) will grant you additional special spa amenities, priority reservations, private access areas.

Carnival "Your Time Dining" review

Fleetwide are available 4 dining options - Main Dining Room (MDR), Fine/Specialty, Bistro/Buffet, and complimentary 24-hour room service. "Your Time" dining option is also available on all ships since 2009. Follows our "Carnival Anytime Dining" review (ala "flexible dining") in MDRs (Main Dining Rooms) fleetwide.

  • It's an open seating concept. Guests are allowed to choose their own dining time and tablemates, reservations are not required (but recommended), there's no surcharge.
  • MDRs are two large and most elegantly appointed big-capacity restaurants with resort-casual dress code, excepting the 2 formal dinners per voyage.
  • Upon booking you choose whether you want traditional/assigned seating at dinner or "Your Time" (flexible). This is "during the whole voyage" choice, so choose wisely. The bistro/buffet option is always available - no matter what dinner dining you've chosen.
  • Traditional dining is available on all ships. It's perfect for guests who actually enjoy meeting new people, plus the dining menu is exactly the same.
  • To enjoy Anytime Dining you have to show up at your assigned MDR anytime between 5:45 pm - 9:30 pm (see dining times below) and you just wait for a table ("first come first served" basis). Your room card (S&S) shows your dinner option. Often guests with traditional dining are in the same MDR but on different floors.
  • "Your Time Dining" is only for dinner times - breakfasts and lunches in MDRs are always "open seating".
  • You can request a table for 2 or more guests (depending on group size). If you don't request table at breakfast, you'll most probably be seated with other guests at your table.
  • Group dining - you are a group (all booked independently) and want to be seated close to each in the MDR. If all of you are booked through CCL, you can get your bookings "linked" so the Maitre D' knows that you wish to dine as a group. If bookings are through a travel agent the agency can link them for you (CCL will deal with the agent as the owner of the booking). So one of you has to gather all booking numbers and call Carnival.
  • Remember - 12 is the max number of guests per table, but large tables are limited. If your group has many kids, you would be able to put them at a separate table.

Carnival Anytime Dining review, tips and tricks - CruiseMapper

Shipboard Anytime dining experience

There are passenger reports that this option has not so good to worse service. One of the reasons for that might be that there are sometimes long waits before guests are seated. So make your reservations for the "Your Time" dining to ensure a table for your group. But generally speaking, the MDR service shouldn't be any worse - it's basically traditional dining without the worries of getting there on time.

  • Different or same waiter each night. Usually, guests sit at a different table each night, but they can request at least the same area to ensure service by the same wait staff they had the previous night. Many passengers tip the staff extra to "more personal" service. Note: the same table is not always available, so a reservation really helps.
  • The Carnival prepaid gratuities option is the most preferable one, but for a very well done service by the wait staff guests can always tip extra. Your S&S (Sail and Sign) card they can see who served you the previous dinner, so you can have the same waiters if you want. It's really nice to enjoy a "free choice" dining, but don't forget that there's no way you can change your Carnival dining options after you make them.

American TABLE-FEAST Main Dining Room experience

In December 2013 Carnival introduced its new dining concepts - American TABLE (casual) and American FEAST (formal). Both are dinner-only dining options, with feature dishes influenced by some of the ports of call your ship is visiting. The new dining experience is currently available only on the Glory ship, next to follow in the schedule are Liberty (January) and Imagination and Inspiration (February).

With the "American" cruise dining, Carnival is going to test their customers and see how they will respond to a way more contemporary and region themed dinner style. The new American menus will be rotated daily in the main dining rooms. Feature appetizers are fried calamari and frog legs, while the list of feature entrees includes free-range chicken and lamb shank. The "port themed" entrees list includes mango salad, island chicken curry and mango chutney (in Saint Thomas, for example). Several grill dishes will be also available at dinner.

The American FEAST menu will be offered on formal nights. The yummy list includes crispy crab, prime rib, broiled lobster, flat iron steak, veal parmigiana, and vegetarian dishes will be also available for ordering. As part of this new experiment, there's also a new food presentation starting with a very long list of wines (by glass and bottle, cost extra) and some featured cocktails (extra cost) will be also available at dinner in the Carnival ships' Main Dining Rooms. Since these new dining options are in a testing period, guest feedback will be taken and reviewed. The new Main Dining Room menus are listed along with all the rest sample menus at the "menu samples" link above.

Dining times and attire (Main Dining Room dress code rules)

  • Breakfast times (open 7.45 am – 9.00 am). Some Carnival ships are without a breakfast menu. Instead, they have the new "Punchliner Comedy Brunch" menu. On these ships, there's breakfast only on port days and debarkation day.
  • Lunchtimes (open 12 noon – 1:30 pm, 4 luncheon menus) - open only on sea days/closed when the ship is docked/in port. The Carnival "Punchliner" ships (see the list below) no longer offer lunch menus - the substitute is the Punchliner's brunch (again - only available on sea days).
  • Dinner times (each night 5 dinner menus, 6 different appetizers-soups, 2 salads, 6 entrees). One of two seatings - early (6 pm) or late (8:15 pm). Note: seating times may vary by ship/itinerary. Carnival "Your Time Dining" time for open seating at dinner (5:45 - 9:30 pm). The menus include the CCL's Classics selections (offered nightly) including steak, lobster, cured salmon, grilled chicken, candied tomato, pasta, Indian vegetarian dishes and a classic dessert menu of 6 selections, among which is the best ever "Warm Chocolate Melting Cake".
  • Formal Dinners (with selected wines) - the "Captain's Welcome Dinner", and "Gala Dinner" parties.
  • Items from the Spa and Kids menus are also available on request. The Main Dining option on Carnival is included in the cruise ticket price -multiple courses, classic appetizers, fabulous desserts, fine wines (at additional cost) at lunch and dinner.
  • Carnival dining attire/dining room dress code - in the MDR not permitted are shorts /swimwear, and no jeans at night.
  • list of Carnival ships with the "Punchliner Comedy Brunch" - Breeze, Dream, Conquest, Glory, Liberty, Magic, Miracle, Splendor, Sunshine.

"Dr Seuss at Sea" Carnival breakfast dining

This is the latest upgrade of the Carnival cruise dining options - Dr Seuss at Sea. It's a themed characters breakfast dining experience, part of the countless super fun ideas of The Fun line.

Dr Seuss at Sea debuted in 2014, which means Grinch will be joining you and your friends at sea, together with the rest of the Seuss's feature characters, like The Cat in the Hat, Cindy Lou Who, The Lorax, Ned, and Jo Jo, Horton the Elephant, etc, etc.

Dr Suess breakfast is a family dining program that rolled out fleetwide in 2014. The list of the "Seuss at Sea" events includes:

  • Green Eggs and Ham breakfasts, with Seuss-themed meals (think of moose and goose juices, colorful pancakes, green eggs, and ham. And the serving staff will be dressed in a la Seuss uniforms, while the Seuss characters will interact with the hungry kids in the room.
  • The Seuss breakfasts will be on the first sea day of each Carnival cruise, with a surcharge of US$5 PP. They will be held in Main Dining Rooms, open to all (not only to families).
  • If the Seuss breakfast fans number exceeds the MDR's capacity, they will offer you a second themed breakfast later in the voyage.
  • The "Seussapalooza" is another part of the Seuss at Sea experience - a costume parade on the promenade and outdoor deck spaces, with Seuss characters marching ahead and interacting with the passengers.
  • On Carnival Freedom and the new Carnival Vista there will be a dedicated area within the Camp Carnival kids lounge called "Dr Seuss Bookville" (for reading books, storytelling, character painting, arts, crafts, games, many Seuss toys, etc).

Other Seuss-themed experiences on Carnival ships will be watching Seuss movies and special room decoration package. See below the Carnival lines' official video release:

Shipboard dining options in specialty restaurants (Steakhouse, Supper Club)

The Carnival's Fun Ships have their "fine dining" fancy restaurants located on their Spa and Lido decks. The specialty dining option is dinner-only (5:45 - 9:30 pm). Reservations are recommended, there's plenty of food, the service is absolutely superior, with live entertainment. There's also a surcharge of $25-30 pp and formal dress code. The Carnival ships' gourmet restaurants successfully rival famous upscale chains. The only con is their small sizes in comparison to the ships passenger capacity, so is highly advisable to make your reservations online or early at embarkation.

  • The Carnival Steakhouse is located on the Spa deck. The Carnival's Supper Club is located on the Lido deck. They both offer seafood, steaks, an extensive fine wines list, premium spirits, great desserts, superb service. Think of intimate dining, your choice cooked beef, an amazing seafood selection, gourmet entrees, and appetizers. The only disadvantage is their smaller size compared to the ships' passenger capacity.
  • All ships upgraded by the new Carnival Fun Ship 2.0 program and the newest Carnival ships of the Dream-class (plus the new Carnival Sunshine-class) also feature the "Cucina del Capitano" Italian family-style restaurant (free at lunch, with dinner surcharge $12/ $6 for kids 11+yo). Follow the above link to see which ship got what from all the new 2.0 upgrades, including from the list of the new ship dining venues.
  • All Carnival ships feature The Chef's Table dining tour. Its cost is $75 pp, capacity 12 guests, requires onboard booking. It's a multi-course dinner with a master chef, also includes a private cocktail reception and a tour of the galley.

Self-service buffet dining options

The Buffet is located on the Lido deck, it serves breakfast and lunch. The Buffet serves as Bistro at dinner: times (5:45 - 9:30 pm), made-to-order dishes, Carnival's signature sauces. The "Seaview Bistro" options include New York-style Deli, cafes (pastries, sundaes), specialty food stations (including Asian, Indian, Mexican, Grill, Salads, Pasta, Chicken), pool grilles (hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken and steak sandwiches), a 24-hour complimentary pizzeria (7 kinds of pies, Caesar salad, garlic bread). Menus also include fish, meatballs, traditional bread. A salad bar, a 24-hour ice-cream parlor, low-cal and sugar-free desserts, pool-side bar and grill, a complimentary pre-dinner Sushi bar.

  • "Guy's Burger Joint" - a significant contributor to the Fun Ship 2.0 "fun food" upgrades. The Guy's burgers are the world's largest (3,591 pounds/1,630 kg) and best-ever hamburgers at seaplane and simple! Think of big hot juicy burgers and yummy hand-cut fries - which is exactly what you got from the Carnival's new partnership with the Guy Fieri celebrity from the Food Network TV channel.
  • "BlueIguana Cantina" (Mexican cuisine) - your choice freshly made tacos and burritos, homemade tortillas, chips, salsa.
  • "Bonsai Sushi" - the "seafood-and-soy-sauce spot".
  • "Ji Ji" (Asian/Mongolian cuisine) - complimentary stir-fries for lunch, a nominal-fee menu at dinner.
  • "Mongolian Wok" - your choice meat and sauce, mussels, Szechuan, beef, Thai, chicken.
  • "The Punchliner Comedy Brunch" (by George Lopez) - the Carnival's new "eat and laugh" concept (with live comedy shows per day) - breakfast burritos, french toasts with mac n' cheese, etc.
  • "Fat Jimmy's BBQ" - Italian sausage, barbecue chicken breast, pulled pork sandwich, salads.
  • "The Taste Bar" (international dishes).
  • "Pizzeria del Capitano" (open 24/7) - hand-tossed specialties.
  • "JavaBlue Cafe" - signature coffees and teas, cold drinks, baked treats.
  • "Shake Spot" - classic and special handcrafted shakes and floats.
  • "Coffee Bar" - specialty coffees and freshly brewed tea, homemade pastries, shakes, ice-cream sundaes, cakes, and cookies.
  • "SeaDogs" (only on Breeze, Magic, Sunshine) - located at SportSquare, free of charge all-beef hot dogs and toppings.
  • "RedFrog Pub" (Breeze, Magic, Sunshine, Vista) - live music, ThirstyFrog Red (the CCL's signature brew), snacks.

Complimentary 24-hour ROOM-SERVICE dining

  • Continental breakfast is available until 10 am.
  • This option also offers deck-served full breakfast and lunch.
  • The Room-service menu is listed at the "menu samples" link above.

Carnival Anytime dining tips and tricks

(pros, cons and tips from Funvillers, and links to integrated articles)

  • Go eat whenever you want during the time listed, sometimes you wait for a table, you might not always have the same staff.
  • If you change your mind about the "Anytime Dining"you can always call and see what's available. This is good to be done prior to sailing, but even on the ship you can go and talk with the Maitre D' and see if he/she can change it for you.
  • Booking late dining gives you time to clean up and relax after being in port/shore excursions. If you're very very hungry - you can always go to the buffet for a snack.
  • Kids don't have to order from kids menu only, and adults can order from it. The ice cream sundae and the banana split as dessert choices at dinner are perfect! Just ask your waiter for it." The kids' menu also offers sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and other absolutely not "kids only" stuff.
  • You can see the current kids menu on cabin TVs or in front of MDR. For more choices - check out the specialty restaurant or Lido buffet. If you NEED privacy while you eat - get room service.
  • special dining requests - kid's menu, vegetarian, low calorie-fat-sodium-cholesterol, Spa and Fitness menus. All onboard dining venues are smoke-free.
  • If you don't like anything in the MDR menu, ask the staff to bring you steak, or grilled chicken breast - even though they are not listed.
  • Any of the pasta dishes in the menu's main entree section are available also as appetizers.
  • The list of free drinks includes tea, coffee, water, juice, milk (with breakfast).

Carnival military discount requirements, information, FAQs

This is a review of Carnival's "Military Discount" requirements (rules, travel documents) who can qualify for the military promotions and who is eligible for Carnival's military rates.

The company's "military cruise rate" promos only continue its recognition and support for the military. In January 2016 was launched the "Honor. Family. Fun.". This program is via a partnership with Carrie Underwood (US singer, songwriter, actress) and "Operation Homefront" (US nonprofit supporting military families).

What travel documents are needed for Carnival's military discount?

These deals are some of the cheapest (though available only on select voyages per year) and some of the most attractive as low-priced cruises of all Carnival's specials and promotions. The short answer to "how much is the military discount for Carnival cruises" is 20-25%.

  • Carnival no longer requires a copy of the military photo ID.
  • Documents may be submitted to the Carnival Lines' Interline Desk by: Mail to "Carnival Cruise Lines, Interline Desk, Guest Services MSGP-456s" (the address is "3655 NW 87 Avenue, Miami FL 33178-2428"), Fax (305 406-6478) or E-Mail at [email protected].
  • To request all Military Service Record Forms (all the Carnival US military personnel documents) - follow this link to archives.gov .
  • All documents must be submitted with payment within 24 hours (when booking a trip inside 1 week prior to sailing) and 72 hours (for bookings outside 1 week prior to sailing).
  • Like all travel discounts, Carnival military cruise deals are based on availability. Individual deposit and cancellation policies do apply.
  • The "Military Tips" per day is the same as for the rest of your fellow passengers - USD 11,50 pp (no "lower rates" here, read more about the Carnival Lines gratuities ).
  • Military Upgrades are an additional special offering from 2 up to 7 categories free cabin upgrades (or at again discounted prices) - these specials depend solely on availability. You should ask your travel agency about any available special offers considering your sailing date. Some offers may include additional bonuses - like pre-post-cruise hotel packages deals, also at discounted rates (per room per night, with breakfast, transfers and free parking during your sailing).
  • Carnival Military discount promotion codes (military rate code) are provided upon cruise booking.

What are Carnival military discount requirements and rules?

Before continuing with the actual Carnival military requirements, know that for military discount cruises are applicable all deals excluding only cruises for Christmas and New Year's. These specials are not combinable with other promotions or discounts, but may be combined with 3-4-5 guest promotions. And always the qualified military guest (or the spouse) must occupy the booked cabin in order for the cabin to retain the military rate.

  • Who can qualify for the Carnival Cruise Lines military discounts? These special deals are related to guests who are or were enlisted (retired personnel and veterans) in any of the USAF (the US Armed Forces), consisting of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard. Also uniformed members of the USPHS (US Public Health Services) or the Canadian National Defense and Canadian Forces (DND/CF). To qualify for these promotions a person must be either on an active duty or to have served at least two years (for the Canadians this requirement is ten years) or during a wartime period - both with an honorable discharge.
  • A military guest is permitted to book only 1 cabin (he/she must travel in the cabin). Also permitted are spouses of an active military personnel (on active duty or stationed overseas) with the same requirement - to occupy the cabin (note: "spouses" also include "Same-Gender Union Partner").
  • The spouse is required to provide proof of eligibility - a copy of the official military orders, duties documentation, proof of marriage. Also eligible is spouse of deceased personnel (US or Canadian) - no matter active, retired or veterans. The widow/widower of a military person (active, retired, veteran) may book 1 cabin (she/he must occupy the cabin). The list of documents in this case includes a copy of the death certificate and the DD214/DD256 forms (for Canadians it's NDI75).
  • Military personnel (minors 18, 19 and 20 years of age) are an exception to the Carnival Lines' Age Policy. Needed documents, in this case, are a copy of the military "Leave and Earning Statement" (the SSN is blackened out), and for cadets - a letter from their Commander.
  • Not eligible for the promotion are employees of the US DOD (Department of Defense, civilian personnel), military affiliates and military contractors.

Carnival "Military Cruise" tips, tricks and secrets for first-timers

  • Carnival cruise Veterans Discount - don't forget to tell your agent that you (or a family member) are part of the Armed Forces (no matter active, retired or discharged). Carnival is the only line to offer such discounts to anyone that ever served. You'll NEED your DD214 (or any equivalent) submitted within 48 hours to lock in the military rate. You only have to send Carnival the DD214 document once (e-mailed, faxed or mailed), from then you always will be eligible for this discount without even having to ask.
  • Know, that this discount type isn't offered for all sailings (and not for all cabins), rates and promotions are constantly changing based on availability. When you book through Carnival.com - advanced search, check "military" to see if it's available for your departure date.
  • Know, that the military rate is not always the least expensive, while the "Early Saver" discount is (the ES is when you book a 3-5 day trip 3 months in advance, and 6+ day trips 5 months in advance, it also offers the lowest price guarantee). However, the military rate could become the cheaper deal if the ES is past. So get a rundown of all the rates before you book.
  • You'll not get special deals in a case of cancellation (recalled to duty, etc), but that's simply another reason to buy a travel Insurance.
  • Usually, onboard there are one to several vets meetings (depending on itinerary, check the "Funville Times" for details).
  • And not only that you're allowed to wear military uniforms on formal nights on Carnival cruises, but wear them with pride and joy, holding your head up - many folks will great you with "Thank you for your service"! Lovely - no tux and jackets, huh?

How to get a free Carnival cruise?

  • After completed 100 voyages with CCL they'll give you a complimentary (up to 8 days) cruise to Alaska, Mexican Riviera or Caribbean. This (absolutely legitimate) offer is one of the Carnival VIFP Club Past Guest benefits according to the implemented in June 2012 "Very Important Fun Person" loyalty program.
  • Play Bingo on Carnival cruise and you may win a free cruise (usually with a short itinerary, 3-4 days in length). Additional to the Bingo chances, you can get a complimentary cruise as one of the possible Carnival Casino Players Club comps - not free deals per se, but almost! This is a limited time exclusive promotion (based on availability) - on eligible sailings, your stateroom is for absolutely FREE! In this happy case, you book a cabin and you pay only the taxes. People have received such emails, it's not a scam, you just gotta be a gambler - and a very lucky one. Carnival sends you via email a list of ships available for booking, their departure ports and cruise length to choose from. This offer is also by the VIFP loyalty program - you have to be a VIFP Club member to be eligible. I guess they are right by saying that you gotta spend money to make money, huh!
  • Some timeshare offers are real deals. You'll have to sit and listen about the timeshare for several hours, then you get a 3-day free cruise voucher. Your cabin will be most likely an Interior (with the cheapest location) and the departure date will be in off-season. A different cabin category and sailing date will cost you extra, just like the Gov taxes and port fees.
  • A future free cruise is offered as passenger compensation for an incident/accident .
  • Sometimes, Carnival announces online games and contests either on their website or Facebook page. Like the "Grab Your Destiny" contest and its complimentary European cruise offer for the new Sunshine ship. These are all special offers as promotions, and you can definitely win a best-fun Carnival sailing - for absolutely free, Carnival guaranteed.
  • Travel agencies big-news promotions. Some passengers report very good experiences by enjoying a complimentary Carnival cruise with even included hotel stays and a rental car in the deal.
  • And, finally, you can apply and get a job with Carnival - then you can cruise for free for nine months! a year.

Carnival cruise scams

Most free cruise scams usually require a phone call for details. If you call within the next 2 days they may offer you a free airfare. My advise is - Google it, see what are the other people's experiences with similar offers, then if you feel so - make your call and seal the deal.

However, according to the majority of online reviews on the subject, most of the postcard offers turned out to be scams. And "most" definitely means "not all"! Some do receive their "complimentary", but most of them report that even getting that worked out is a huge hassle. And that they didn't get the best of staterooms onboard. And that the whole thing was not fun at all.

So in a wrap, the postcard offer - it's not worth the effort. Your time is so much more valuable, along with your dignity, common sense, and your money. So toss it in the trash. Some folks are even amusing themselves by shredding this type of mail content - some even before opening the letter, outside, in front of the house, on the stairs, with a shredder, and an extension cord. And here's why.

Unless it's not a free cruise promotion (officially announced by Carnival) think of any "free offer" as a "free dinner from a stranger". And we all know there's no such thing as free dinner, and especially without the kiss before the real f... fun. You'll have to learn an expensive lesson how to respect your money. You have chosen the world's cheapest cruise company - so pay your vacation like a hard-working guy, be in control of your time, enjoy your preferences and all the Fun Ship fun.

"Free cruise" phone call scam

From a May 2013 post at Funville:

  • You will receive a phone call from a number (like 800-227-6482, for example) and a recorded voice will say, "This is Carnival calling to verify your credit card number for you S&S card for your upcoming cruise on the X ship".
  • Well, this is not from Carnival, the caller is not affiliated with CCL in any way whatsoever - this is totally a scam. CCL would never call and ask you for that kind of information (credit card number) for your S&S account.
  • If you get such a "happy call" - just hang up. And this is just to remind you NEVER to give your credit card number over the phone. Of course, unless YOU initiated the phone call.
  • And I also would suggest a report to the police department too. Elderly people especially are susceptible to these scams.

"Complimentary 8 Day Cruise" postcard scam

Carnival's "Complimentary 8 Day Cruise" postcard has its 2 different labels - this is our review of the one that's a "shamelessly free". It is a free cruise offer for two passengers in an oceanview stateroom and optional bonus - free airline tickets and convenient departure from any major US port. Well, the card says "complimentary" instead of "free". Your complimentary cruise postcard has some weird elements well worth of noticing.

  • What's all that supposed to mean? New time - new ideas and opportunities. Fewer and fewer people are buying the "free deal" idea - so the catch-word must be a more sophisticated one, like the "complimentary" approach. Fewer and fewer people are willing to sit for hours and hours and days through some sales pitch event to listen to all kinds of stuff they really don't want to, so the deal gotta be free of that content too - and it's a "timeshare-free" deal. "Not sponsored by Carnival" means the offer isn't related to the Carnival Line. Well, what do you think about it? The free Carnival cruise postcard requires you to call for details on a tall-free number (if you want the bonus - within the next 48 hours). When you do the call and a guy over there starts talking about the need for a credit card number - well, what do you really think this is? On its back it says "This is not a timeshare or land sale offer".
  • It also says "This promotion is not sponsored by or affiliated with Carnival Cruise Lines", along with "Recipient is responsible for any applicable deposits, port charges, taxes and/or fees". The last one often goes around $250 (to be prepaid), but it still seems like a good 8-day Carnival cruise deal.
  • And finally, there's nothing anywhere on the "Carnival" free postcard suggesting the name of the promo company - this leads to the impression that this deal is directly from Carnival. And what about the very reason for this promotion - the "grand opening"? An opening of what? It well may be a burger stand, right?

What is more confusing is that Carnival Cruise Line's logo is so prominently displayed on the front of your really good looking complimentary 8 day cruise postcard. It surely lends a bit of credibility to the deal, and it makes you wonder why the line lets them get away with it. Because it's a fact that many many many people do actually report bad experiences after responding these post-cards. And they blame Carnival for it.

"Timeshare" free cruise postcard

The "real-deal postcard" for a free Carnival cruise is inclusive of airfare - if you attend a sales pitch for, lets say, a discounted travel club membership. It'll offer you the benefit of receiving the best discounted rates on all your vacations in the future - and you still have to call the number to find out more.

Then eventually you go to a presentation in some hotel or whatever, it will all look so professional, so legit, the spoke person will be probably older, very personable and so nice, you pay the company upfront a good amount of money (often in thousands of dollars), then you got the big nothing for your money in the months that follow.

And this is how you learn your lesson - the hard American way. They'll pocket your money without providing the promised travel arrangements and all the advertised bonuses, they'll use the CCL's logo without authorization, along with the logos of airlines, hotels and whatever is necessary to scam you out of money.

Unfortunately, there are many fake companies out there taking a lot from a lot of people by luring them into paying big money for a free cruise vacation - that won't happen. Also, be most suspicious of free offers where the fine print says it's not a timeshare - this is 99% one most free cruise scam. It'll be a rip-off - no matter the company, no matter the promotion.

Carnival Discount Codes and Coupons

Carnival Cruise Lines discount codes and coupons are a great chance to enjoy some of industry's cheapest deals ("last minute" excluded). Discount codes are often provided and are applicable when a payment is being processed also on other travel booking websites. Some of the best travel agencies usually have some of these "secret codes" regularly updated - for those who know what and where to look for.

What are Carnival cruise discount codes?

"FREE Carnival cruise promotion" surely sounds great! And "Carnival kids sail free offer" is another great (and quite catchy!) song for humming and tapping. But such deals are so rare, so special, and often - money-consuming. Carnival's free cruise after 100 sailings, for example, is a real deal. Free cabin upgrades happen more often, and all you need to do is an "Early Saver" booking - and check the price drops. With this one, if not a free cabin upgrade, at least the bonus onboard credit is a sure thing. And these are not promotions - it's just the way company's"Fun Ships" business works.

Carnival's "kids sail free" deals are usually ship promotions, regional and seasonal specials or prize from onboard family activities (contests, talent and quiz shows, etc). Buy-one-get-one-free deals are often available due to ships big capacity and regularly operated roundtrip from Florida Caribbean itineraries. Free of charge shore excursions are offered for kids up to 3- years old, while children 4 to 12 yo enjoy half-priced tours in ports.

Generally speaking, most special deals are monetary discounts - a percentage off from the ticket prices. Discounts also depend on destination (passenger's residence), itinerary (region, length, call ports, tours / excursions), ship class, season.

Carnival's discount code eligibility requirements may include purchasing a particular item (or a minimum value) or may simply apply to your order specifically (for the luckiest ones). Discount codes will expire within a certain time period, and are available for usage only once. The mandatory rule is to sign up to Carnival.com

Promo codes - where, and how it works?

Many folks are regularly looking for discount codes for Carnival cruises or general information about what are the promotion codes, do they save money (or add value), how much cost and where can you obtain such codes.

Generally, Carnival discount codes are few and far between, but promotions do happen for real, once in a while. Shore excursion promotion / discount codes often are posted while onboard the ship. You can cancel your previously booked tour and rebook with the promotion code with up to 50% off the price. Remember that these are promotional deals - if people purchase tours anyway, there is really no reason to lower prices often.

Most customers get e-mails with the discount codes (officially) emailed from Carnival). As sometimes these codes can also be found on travel agency websites too, to google "Carnival cruise promotion codes" is essential. Sometimes codes work, sometimes don't (expired or for other reasons), but it never hurts to try. Special / discount prices on Carnival cruise deals are attainable with:

  • Military Discount Codes for military personnel (both retired or serving) or their spouses
  • Group Discounts (15+ passengers, the "organizer" gets free cruise ticket)
  • FREE cruise promotion by the Carnival VIFP Club loyalty program , also by participating in shipboard games and contests, playing bingo and casino games.
  • Discounts for Florida residents, California, Utah, etc
  • Free Cabin Upgrade - best cabin category deals at their lowest prices - GUARANTEED, with up to SIX categories upgrades!
  • Carnival ships repositioning ( RepositionCruises.com ) - seasonal (Spring and Fall) change-homeport and transoceanic voyages, mostly to/from Europe and Alaska
  • Family cruise offers for Alaska and Europe (seasonal discounts)
  • Cheapest is Carnival's "Last Minute" deals and specials.
  • The list of other most popular Carnival promotion discounts includes: up to $260 onboard credit, free shore excursions, discounted destination rates (South America or Panama Canal, for example), for paying with VISA card, up to $200 cash-backs, Early Saver discounts (with early booking, "Best Price Guarantee"), "Absolute Lowest Price Sale".
  • The list of best travel booking websites for Carnival discounts (after Carnival.com) are the wholesalers Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, Hotwire.

Forever Karen

Carnival Cruise Tips Everyone Should Know

Carnival Miracle

Are you looking to book a Carnival cruise   and need some incite to its cruise line? Carnival Cruise vessels are known as the “fun ships.” After one voyage, you’ll understand why. 

It attracts a younger crowd, much like Norwegian Cruise Line, while Princess Cruises and Holland America generally attract more mature passengers.

If you can’t wait for the fun to begin, here are some Carnival Cruise tips and tricks to maximize your experience and get you on the “fun ship” faster. 

Whether you’re a   first-time cruise guest or a Carnival past member there are many Carnival Cruise tricks and tips to learn about vacationing on a cruise ship.

The Carnival Hub App Simplifies Cruising

Carnival’s Hub App is an absolute must to get you to the Carnival Cruise activities faster. The app simplifies life onboard and becomes your vital Carnival Cruise planner during your vacation.

The Carnival Hub app is available on all Carnival cruise ships and works while on board for your entire cruise and has lots of helpful information.

After my Carnival Cruise check-in and boarding, I downloaded the app using the ship’s free Wi-Fi. It runs off the Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi and doesn’t incur unwanted roaming charges. The app is free to use and doesn’t require purchasing a Carnival Cruise internet package.

It includes ship maps and day-to-day “what’s happening” events and allows you to view your account balance. I particularly liked the “what’s happening” because you can add favorites. Favorite items give reminders of your events right at your fingertips.

There’s nothing better than having the activities onboard right in your hand. It’s a significant upgrade from highlighting the Fun Times newsletter.

Pixels Digital Photo Gallery is available on selected ships and allows you to view and purchase photos taken onboard. After a 7-day cruise, it is often challenging to find ALL of the photo gallery photographs. So, having it at your fingertips is a fantastic time-saver option.

Other uses for the app are booking Carnival Cruise Line shore excursions, booking dining reservations, booking spa treatments, viewing dining times, and reading restaurant dinner menus.

Also, for a small USD 5.00 fee, passengers can chat with each other onboard using the Carnival Hub app. This feature is handy if traveling with a large family or travel group.

If you choose not to chat, the app is entirely free. You can get the Carnival Hub App here if you want to acquire the app before embarkation day.

Fast Track Boarding With Faster To The Fun (FTTF)

Faster to the fun is the most valuable tip for cruising Carnival. As the name implies, it is a fast track to the fun onboard your cruise. Before starting your cruise, (FTTF) is a shore excursion offered for sale on the Carnival cruise website.

Prices vary from USD 39.95 to USD 119.95 (per cabin), depending on the trip’s length and which ship you are sailing. There are selected numbers available so buy one early because they sell out quickly.

Boarding day  is always a little scary, but FTTF speeds things up for you. Onboard, faster to the fun guests have early access to their cabins. They also get priority delivery of their luggage. 

Before my back-to-back Caribbean cruise, I intended to buy the FTTF. I added the excursion to my cart but got too busy to complete the transaction and figured I’d do it the next day.

The following morning, I was disappointed to find it was sold out. That day, I learned the meaning of “you snooze; you lose!”

Also, FTTF offers priority boarding on departures from selected ports. These are Baltimore, Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Port Canaveral, San Juan, Seattle, and Tampa.

Water slide on a Carnival cruise ship

You will also have access to priority tendering, which is a nice feature if the itinerary includes a few tendering ports. Nothing is worse than having to queue for a tender ticket and wait for your turn to leave the ship. FTTF expedites your Carnival Cruise check-in and gets you onboard quicker.

Faster to the fun passengers also have priority dining time assignments after the VIFP Platinum guests. This is especially helpful when traveling with a larger group who want to dine together.

Early dining in the main dining room fills up quickly. However, with FTTF, you can almost guarantee your preferred time in your dining room of choice.

Carnival’s Check-In Time

Gone are the days of just showing up at the embarkation port to board your ship. Carnival has now implemented a system that requires passengers to choose a check-in time within a half-hour time slot. The check-in time helps to lessen congestion and prevent long wait times.

It’s best to book early as the best times get full fast. If you forget or book late, you’ll be boarding your ship in the latest time slots. If you choose a later time and show up early, you may have to leave and come back later.

Stock Holders Get Free Credit

Owning shares of Carnival Cruises has its benefits. If you hold a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc, you’re entitled to free onboard credit, depending on the cruise’s length.

In North America, the credit amounts to USD 250 on vacations longer than 14 days, USD 100 for cruises of 7 to 13 days, and USD 50 on itineraries of six days or less.

Passengers must submit applications to receive the free onboard credit at least three weeks before embarkation, and proof of ownership is required.

As of April 2022, 100 shares of Carnival @ USD 20 would cost USD 2000. If you’re loyal to Carnival, the payback in onboard credit is a big bonus, plus owning the stock pays dividends.

Carnival Has A Private Island

Half Moon Cay is Carnival Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. Many cruises from Miami stop here. While the island has no cruise port, guests must tender to spend a day at the beach or participate in one of many shore excursions. For a private oasis, consider renting a beach cabana.

The cabanas include soda, water, snacks, air conditioning, a refrigerator, and the use of some water toys. The larger villas also include a hot tub. If you’ve purchased a drinks Cheers package on your vessel, your free drinks program doesn’t apply in Half Moon Cay.

Save Money With Price Protection

Do you want to know how to save money on a Carnival Cruise? Carnival Cruise’s lowest price guarantee will give you 110% of the difference in onboard credit if you find a lower price within 48 hours of booking,

Giant chess set on the Carnival Glory

If, after booking, you find a lower Carnival advertised fare, Carnival will honor it and issue the difference in the form of a non-refundable onboard credit.

Early saver guests do not qualify for price protection under the super saver or any program that does not allow you to select your cabin at the time of booking.

Passengers eligible for a lower price should complete a price protection claim form. Carnival will accept price protection requests up to two business days before sailing.

With this revolutionary guarantee, you’re sure to keep your Carnival Cruise cost within your budget by consistently scoring the best cruise deals.  

Carnival Cruises also offers cruise insurance. It’s advisable to purchase travel insurance for your cruise vacation. The number one reason passengers miss their cruise is due to illness. Some opt not to sail if a hurricane hits your itinerary’s region. Be sure to read your cruise insurance policy before your cruise.

Shore Excursion Price Guarantee

Carnival wants to ensure you get the best price on their shore excursions, so they offer the best price guarantee. Passengers who find the same tour offered at a lower cost by another operator can qualify for an onboard credit.

The credit amounts to 110% of the price difference. Just complete a price guarantee claim form more than seven days before the departure date.

Carnival excursions price guarantee is the first of its kind in the cruise ship industry and is offered on all its ships sailing North America Carnival Cruise itineraries.

Great Vacation Guarantee

Vacations are precious, and Carnival wants you to have the “best vacation.” If you’re not happy with any 3 to 14-day Carnival Cruise Line vacation to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Bermuda, Canada/New England, or Alaska, just let us know within 24 hours of leaving the port of embarkation.

If the fault is with the cruise line, Carnival will refund 100% of your fare with no hassles, and our Guest Services team will get you back to your home or port of embarkation free of charge. This policy applies to US and Canadian residents only. Some exclusions apply. See Carnival’s website for more details.

Guys Burger Joint

TV star and restauranteur Guy Fieri’s Guy’s Burger Joints are exclusive to Carnival Cruises. While I’m not a fast-food fan, I have eaten many of his burgers because they are gluten-free (perfect for us Celiacs). His burgers are legendary, fresh, and delicious.

There are only five burgers to choose from and the option of hand-cut fries. If you’re a burger lover, you should try one. Personally, the clincher is the yummy donkey sauce, which gives the patty that added kick.

After the burger joint became a big hit, Carnival recently added Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que. The smokehouse restaurant serves hometown favorites like mac n cheese, smoked pulled pork, old skool potato salad, and molasses baked beans.

Guy’s Burger Joint is available on most ships. However, the Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que is available on approximately nine ships and will be added to others during refurbishments.

Here are the simple ingredients for donkey sauce if you can’t live without the delicious burger addition.

1 cup mayonnaise (preferably homemade) 1/3 cup fresh roasted garlic, minced 1 tsp yellow mustard 1/8 tsp Worcestershire Sauce 1/3 tsp salt 1/8 fresh ground black pepper

Formal Night Has A New Name

Formal nights have become a thing of the past on most cruise lines. To tone down the formal event, lines have introduced other names.

Celebrity Cruise Line calls theirs “evening chic,” and Royal Caribbean uses “Wear your best.” Norwegian’s slogan, “Dress up or not,” allows guests to bypass the tradition of putting on their Sunday best.

Carnival still encourages passengers to choose fancier outfits on their “Cruise elegant” nights.

Carnival Makes Back-To-Back Cruises Memorable

Carnival Cruises are well-known as the “fun ships.” You should consider sailing back-to-back if you don’t want the fun to end. I’ve sailed a back-to-back cruise on the Carnival Glory . 

Even after 14 days in the Caribbean, I wasn’t ready to come home. I would have been happy to spend another week lying on the pool deck, enjoying more room service, and exploring more ports of call.

Passengers will check in as usual on their first cruise when sailing two cruises together. If there is a cabin change between itineraries, pack your luggage, and leave it in your cabin. The cabin steward will move your luggage for you, and your new stateroom will be available before the new passengers embark.

Passengers will assemble in a designated area to check in on the second cruise. A Guest Service Rep will escort all back-to-back guests off the ship as the last disembarking group.

Passengers are presented to the US Customs Border and Protection officers (if at a US port) in the terminal. Then you will be escorted back on board and receive the new Carnival Cruise card.

During my Carnival Glory back-to-back of the Caribbean, each passenger received a complimentary photo of the group. It was great to have the Serenity adult-only area and pool deck to myself for a short time. This was the only time I experienced these popular places empty.

Turning Onboard Credit Into Cash

With stiff competition in cruise pricing, some cruise lines offer substantial onboard credits to entice passengers. If you are not a drinker, don’t plan on taking excursions, or have little use for the credit, don’t let it go to waste.

You could be enticed to use it in the overpriced onboard shops but would probably need to pay more for your item.

Instead, one of the best Carnival Cruise hacks is knowing the trick for getting your money back. Go to your Carnival Cruise casino, load your sail, and sign your card with any amount left in your onboard account. Gamble a little (but not to the point that you spend it all), then “cash out” your leftover balance.

Do note that casinos only operate in international waters, so they will not be open in port. Also, some areas like Hawaii have a ban on casinos, so be sure to do your “gambling” in open waters. Turning credit into cash is a fantastic Carnival Cruise tip for first-time cruisers.

Carnival Glory cruise ship

Carnival Cruise Dining

If you can’t decide what to eat on the menu, order more than one item. Cruise ships do not limit you to one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert.

If none of the entrees appeal to you on the Carnival Cruise menu, request an appetizer as an entrée or order a few appetizers. Ordering more than one item also allows you to sample something you haven’t tasted before.

I remember my first  cruise on the Carnival Spirit , and my waiter kept bringing me new things to try each day. Everything from frogs’ legs and alligator to escargot and duck. The dining room menu was quite varied and surprised me with its offerings back then.

If you crave ice cream, most Carnival Cruises ships have 24 hours of ice cream so that you can satisfy your sweet tooth at any time of day or night. The soft-serve ice cream is the perfect refreshing treat to beat the heat on a hot summer day. It also qualifies as one of the best Carnival Cruise freebies onboard.

If you’re  cruising and have food allergies like myself, have no fear. Carnival Cruises can create gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan, kosher, and sugar-free options to suit your restricted diet. 

Carnival can make their signature “melting chocolate cake, gluten-free and lactose-free,” and you can eat as many servings as possible!

Their Specialty Restaurants Charge A Nominal Fee

Post-pandemic, many cruise lines have raised the price of their specialty restaurants. However, specialty restaurants on carnival vessels are reasonably priced. Ji Ji Asian Kitchen and Cucina del Capitano charge USD 18 for dinner.

The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast is a must for those traveling with children. The meal is part breakfast, part experience. You’ll enjoy a memorable feast with the Cat in the Hat family.

Soda and Wine Policy

With cruises being so competitively priced today, it’s no wonder little money is made on the cruise fare itself. Most profits come from alcohol consumption, store purchases, excursions, pay restaurants, gambling, photos, and spa treatments.

Drinking onboard can get very expensive, but here’s a tip to save you money. Carnival allows you to bring 12 cans of soda per person. Each passenger is also allowed a 750ml bottle of wine or champagne, which they must declare as they embark.

However, if you choose to drink this at the dining room table, a USD 15.00 corkage fee is applied to your account. Here’s a vital tip: bring a corkscrew if your bottles have cork stoppers.

Otherwise, you’ll be charged the corkage fee for opening your bottle, even when drinking in your stateroom.

Want a free drink? Then be sure to attend the captain’s toast party or the art auction for a complimentary glass of champagne. Or, be loyal to Carnival, and once you reach gold status, you receive a free appreciation drink on 5+ day sailings.

Carnival Glory in the Bahamas

If you can’t carry soda onboard, consider purchasing a Carnival soda package because it may be cheaper than buying single drinks. Should you buy one of those fancy Carnival Cruise drinks in a souvenir glass, remember to keep it and not put it down somewhere as I did.

Cruise Tips and Gratuities

As of May 1, 2022, Carnival Cruise charges gratuities of USD 14.50 per person per day for standard staterooms. However, suite staterooms are higher at USD 16.50.

Gratuities are either prepaid before embarkation day or added to your sail and sign card and are due at the end of your cruise.

Cruise lines pay the stewards, waiters, and other cruise staff from these gratuities. They work hard to make your vacation unforgettable, so remember to tip them accordingly.

Additionally, it is good to know bar bills, spa treatments, and a meal at The Chef’s Table automatically incur an 18% gratuity. With this in mind, be careful not to overtip.

Inside Cabins With Access To The Outside

If you’re sailing on Carnival Cruises Spirit-class ships, these have some unique inside cabins. It’s considered an interior French door category. Unlike an actual inside stateroom, these cabins are positioned outside with an opening door.

While there is no balcony (just a glass panel), the opening door allows fresh air and light during daylight hours. The French door staterooms are on the Main (4th) deck and have obstructed views of the lifeboats.

Carnival Spirit's inside with French doors stateroom

I stayed in one of these French door category staterooms on my first cruise to Hawaii. While booking the cruise, I selected one between the lifeboats. Even though it had an obstructed view, I could still see the ocean, listen to the waves, and enjoy the tropical breezes.

The spirit class includes Carnival Spirit, Carnival Miracle , Carnival Legend, and Carnival Pride. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford a balcony but want fresh air, the inside with French door stateroom is a great option.

Havana Cabana cabins feature private patios with a chair swing unique to the Vista-class vessels. Havana Cabana guests also have access to a private Havana pool, hot tubs, and bar at the aft.

Be careful when selecting a guaranteed cabin, though. Some Carnival ships have 1A staterooms, which consist of bunk beds. You’d be disappointed if you had a 1A stateroom on a honeymoon.

Carnival’s kids’ program, Camp Ocean, offers fun and games for children 2 to 11. Their Circle “C” provides hangouts for teens aged 12 to 14, and Club 02 caters to 15-to-17-year-olds.

The kids’ programs are included in the cruise fare. However, should you opt for a night out without the little ones, Night Owl offers evening activities for a small fee.

A family favorite, Seuss at Sea delights everyone during your cruise with its whimsical Dr. Seuss characters and themed events. Anyone for green eggs and ham breakfast?

Carnival Cruise Line Secrets

Some Carnival Cruise ships have secret places that some passengers never discover. On Carnival Dream, Magic, and Breeze, go to the promenade deck (deck 5) and check out the Lanai on either side of the ship. These cozy spots offer deck chairs and hot tubs that hang over the vessel’s side.

Most Carnival ships have hidden observation decks at the front of the vessel. While these areas are not reserved or secret, most cruisers never find them. They do require some exploring down hallways to the front of the ship.

If you find a door that leads outside, you’ll find one of those secret areas. These observation decks are great to use when pulling into a port or sailing to Alaska. Since most passengers never discover them, they tend to be void of people.

Red Sail Restaurant on the Carnival Glory

The spirit class ships have hidden hallways on deck three that run either side of the theatre. I found the ‘jungle’ hallway on the Carnival Spirit during my cruise to Hawaii.

When sailing the Carnival Glory, be sure to walk up the stairs of the Lido buffet. Here, you’ll find the Red Sails Restaurant. On debarkation day and 14 days in the Caribbean, many cruise ship passengers said they never found this little restaurant.

However, I was a regular, and since this small restaurant went unnoticed, there were always plenty of empty seats when the buffet was crowded.

The Red Sails also served great British food like steak and kidney pie, fish and chips, and liver and onions. On the Carnival Conquest, the restaurant is called the Cezanne.

Rosie’s restaurant is found on the Carnival Valor, Emilie’s Lido Restaurant on the Carnival Liberty, and Freedom Restaurant on the Carnival Freedom.

Carnival Cruises VIFP Program

After completing your first cruise with Carnival, enroll in their VIFP (Very important fun person) program. Like all cruise line loyalty programs, the VIFP benefits vary by level. First-time Carnival Cruise passengers attain a “blue” level and work their way up to the “diamond” level at 200 days of sailing.

VIFP passengers can benefit from free upgrades, complimentary drinks, free laundry, priority debarkation, etc. Also, Carnival cruisers may receive special offers on selected itineraries from time to time.

Carnival’s Debarkation Process

Carnival has a slightly different  debarkation or disembarkation day   process than other cruise lines. Instead of filling out a form with your flight information, cruisers must visit the guest services area to collect their colored and numbered luggage tags. 

These debarkation day tags are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, when sailing on a Carnival ship, US passengers are no longer required to complete a customs declaration form if they have not exceeded their allowance.

Only those who have gone over their allowance must complete such a declaration form.

Carnival Cruise Credit Card

A Carnival Cruise MasterCard is a great way to save for a future Carnival cruise. It offers an introductory 0% for the first six months and USD 250 in free onboard credit when you charge USD 500 in the first 90 days.

If your budget is tight and saving for a vacation is difficult, a rewards credit card can be a valuable tool if you pay your balance each month.

Instead of paying cash or debit, charge your everyday expenses like food, gas, and utilities to your Mastercard and immediately pay off the balance. One FunPoint is earned for every dollar spent except for Carnival Cruises-related purchases, which earns two FunPoints for every dollar charged.

One of the great things about the Carnival Cruise Mastercard is that it carries no annual fee. Plus, there are no transaction fees on foreign purchases. This feature makes it an excellent credit card to take on an international cruise.

While Carnival’s portfolio includes Holland America, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn, P & O Cruises, Aida, and Costa, each cruise line differs.

Although, some of these cruising tips apply to other cruise lines too. So, are you ready for the next cruise adventure? Use these cruising tips and tricks, and let your next Carnival adventure begin.

Happy sailing ~ Karen

Carnival Cruise hot tub

Carlos Ponce

Thursday 9th of February 2023

Karen, thank you for sharing some great tips. I've been cruising for many years with Carnival and didn't know about the secret spots. I'll be cruising in March and from now on, and will use your tips to making my sails even better.

Carlos (the family cruise director)

Forever Karen

Awesome. Enjoy your cruise in March!

Wednesday 12th of January 2022

Thank you for sharing all this info! I find it refreshing since it has been a while since we cruised

It's been a while since we've cruised too. With seven cruises cancelled and three more booked, we're hopeful we might actually cruise this year.

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How to Cruise Like a Pro

By Where's Amanda?

Still on the fence about whether a cruise vacation is right for you? I feel you. I felt the same way.

My first cruise was way back when. At a time where I didn’t have to color these grays I’m getting…say circa…the dawn of the new millennium. It was a honeymoon cruise and was a special treat for the two of us just starting out on our new journey together. After our honeymoon, I took a break from travel in general. No cruises. No flights. A road trip every summer was about all I could handle between work, college, a new marriage and a toddler. And then, about five years ago, the tide began to change. I was no longer a 20-something, newlywed, college student with a toddler. I was a seasoned wife with a teenage daughter. A daughter and husband who loved boats and me, the girl who loves to travel. It was time to revisit cruising. And revisit we did…again and again. Six cruises in the past 12 months alone. It helps that we live on a peninsula surrounded by water with more cruise ports close by than we can count on one hand. But I digress. If you’re thinking of booking a cruise vacation (and I emphatically petition you to) here are tips that I wish I had known as a first time cruiser:

1. Power Strip – Put four or five family members in a stateroom and see how much jockeying for plug-in-time ensues. Or just pack a power strip. This way, mom can charge her phone at the same time that Dad is charging his camera battery, while one of the kids is charging a tablet. Problem solved. Use caution though – a power strip with six or seven electronic devices charging all at once might cause unforeseen problems. You should also consider bringing a brand new power strip (still in packaging), because cruise line personnel can confiscate a power strip that’s deemed to be potentially unsafe.

carnival cruise secret tips

2. Cash in Empty Travel Shampoo Bottle – Most cruise lines are a cashless experience. You put a credit card on file and then charge everything to your room including drinks, souvenirs, and optional dining. You really only need your room key the entire time you are on the boat. Unless…you are visiting the casino . You will need cash if you are gambling and it’s also nice to have some while in port. Want an inconspicuous place to stash your cash? Try an empty travel size shampoo bottle. Simply roll your bankroll insert it in an empty bottle and screw on the top. You can even stash it in your toiletry bag in the bathroom.

carnival cruise secret tips

3. Bring permitted alcohol and/or mixers on board – Cruises are “all-inclusive” vacations. That’s the beauty of them. However there are a few areas where add-on’s can really add-up. A few glasses of wine here and a cocktail here and there can lead to a big bill at the end of your cruise vacation. Check out your ship’s alcohol policy before boarding and BYOBooze. Most cruise lines will allow for you to bring at least one bottle of wine onto the ship. My husband doesn’t drink wine so he will bring his mixers on the ship and then order a bottle of his favorite spirits and have it delivered to the room on embarkation day. This method saves us a few dollars on each cruise we take.

4. Bring water shoes – You may want to throw a bathing suit and a pair of non-slip boat shoes that provide good traction into your suitcase and call yourself packed. Especially on a Caribbean cruise vacation. However, you may want to pack yourself a pair of closed-toe shoes. Some Carnival cruise ships have a SkyCourse, which is a super fun ropes course and closed-toe shoes are required. Additionally, those white sandy beaches may be rocky once you get out past the waterline. A cheap pair of water shoes will do the trick.

5. Magnetic dry erase board – I pick up one of these at the dollar store before every cruise. Most ships are made of metal. Especially the doors. Bring a magnetic dry erase board and stick it to the inside of the cabin door so that you can leave messages for your family members.  They are also fun to stick on the outside of your cabin door. We always pose a “question of the day” on the board to encourage other guests to interact with us. It’s fun to read all of the responses at the end of the day.

6. Don’t skip formal night – REPEAT: DO NOT SKIP FORMAL NIGHT! Gone, for the most part, are the days of tuxedos and ball gowns on “formal night.” There are still cruise lines that require formal wear, including sports jackets for men on formal night. However, in general, cruising has become more casual. Carnival, for example, is mostly Cruise Casual dress code in the evenings, with the occasional Cruise Elegant evening where you have the opportunity to get as decked out as you’d like. But don’t feel like you have to be dressed to the nines to enjoy that lobster dinner. Throw on a sundress and a collared shirt for guys and get your lobster on.

carnival cruise secret tips

7. Ship is like a glorious ghost town on port days – On a longer cruise with multiple ports of call? Stay on the ship during a port day. No lines at the self serve ice cream dispenser. You might have the hot tub all to yourself. You might even get the pool to yourself! There are so few people on the ship during port days. This would be a great opportunity to read that book out on a lounge chair on Lido Deck in complete silence and take photos of the ship without anyone in your shot. I like to order room service for lunch and sit out on my stateroom balcony and people watch on port days. It’s fun to see all the families coming and going.

carnival cruise secret tips

8. Skip the elevator, take the stairs  – It’s vacation! They cook, they clean and you enjoy all the deliciousness. Who can turn down three-course meals and all night pizza and dessert buffets? Not I. Vacation calories don’t count do they? One thing that I have found that helps burn off some of those “vacation calories” is to opt to take the stairs instead of taking the elevator. You get a good cardio workout a few times a day throughout the duration of your cruise experience. Also, cruise stairwells tend to have a unique piece of artwork hung on each landing. It’s a good workout and a great way to get to know the ship.

9. Embarkation day discounts abound – Most folks are checking out the ship and getting settled in on embarkation day. Check out the “embarkation day” specials when you board. Spas most always have an embarkation day special.  Also, specialty restaurants people haven’t happened upon yet are easy to get reservations at on the first night. Carnival’s  Steakhouse  offers a free bottle of wine if you dine on embarkation day.

10. Pop up laundry hamper – While you’re at the dollar store picking up your magnetic dry erase board, think about picking up a cheapie pop up laundry hamper as well. They are easy to stow in your cabin closet and will keep all of the dirties corralled in a designated area. When you are packing up on the last day simply dump all the dirties into a suitcase and fold the hamper back flat and slide it into the suitcase or leave it on the ship. It was only $1.

11. Battery operated tea lights – Another dollar store find. These make amazing nightlights for bathrooms.

carnival cruise secret tips

12. Always pay attention to SHIP’S TI ME – You don’t want to be the knucklehead running down the dock as the ship is throwing off tie-lines to sail away. Ship’s time rules on the high seas. It doesn’t matter if you’ve sailed into a different time zone. Keep your watch set on ship’s time. Don’t rely on your cell phone, which may switch to local time if you are in port and take your phone off airplane mode. A wristwatch is always best.

13. Purchase an international cell package before leaving – My husband had a whopping cell phone bill after our last 8-nighter. Of course, if had he pre-purchased a Caribbean plan before we left port it would have been a whole lot cheaper. Contact your cell phone service provider and let them know where you will be traveling. They will likely offer a package to suit your needs.

carnival cruise secret tips

14. Last minute deals – Almost every cruise I have been on has been at a discounted rate. Frequently check in with cruise websites to see what kinds of deals they are running. Last minute cruise deals can save you over 50 percent! Also, once you have one cruise under your belt you will qualify for a return-cruiser rate. If you book another cruise while you are “on” the ship you will likely get a better rate or reduced down payment amount.

carnival cruise secret tips

15. Bring a backpack carry-on – Remember how we discussed BYOB in number 3? You are going to have to carry that on with you and not put it on your checked luggage. Checked luggage may take quite some time to arrive to your stateroom. Be sure to pack your bathing suit and change of clothes/toiletries in your carry-on so that you can enjoy the pool and have a change of clothes for dinner just in case your bags haven’t arrived by dinnertime.

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival . As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Cruzely.com | Everything Cruising

107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies

Whether it’s your first sailing or your 50th, there are always new cruise tips to learn for when you take your trip. That’s why we’ve rounded up a staggering 107 of the best cruise tips, secrets and freebies for you to enjoy .

107 Cruise Tips, Secrets, Tricks, and Freebies, header

Having sailed on countless cruises across every major cruise line, we have a unique experience when it comes to tips and tricks for sailing. (Seriously, we’ve been on a lot of cruises. For example, the picture above isn’t some stock photo. We took it of Norwegian Encore as we rode a tender boat to the cruise line’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.)

This list varies from relatively small tips to make your cruise a little more comfortable all the way to big secrets that the cruise lines don’t like to talk about. And while experienced cruisers may know some of the things on this list, you can rest assured everyone reading will learn at least a few helpful hints.

To make things easy, we’ve broken our 107 tips down into separate sections, including tips for saving money, packing, staying healthy, and more.

Note:  This article contains links to Amazon that are affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra charge to you.

In This Article...

Our 10 Best Cruise Tips

Cruise ships docked next to each other

If you want the best of the best, these tips are our favorites. But don’t miss out on the dozens more things to know that we have below.

1. Many hotels near the port will offer free (or discounted) cruise parking and/or shuttles to the ship 

Are you planning to drive in for your cruise and need a place to stay? Look for hotels that offer cruise parking . Hotels in port cities will do whatever they can to attract cruise passengers. That means they will let you park at their hotel during your cruise for free (or at a sharp discount). Many will also offer a shuttle ride to the cruise port as well.

There is no better way to save money on your cruise parking and getting to the port than with this tip. See our list of hotels in every port with cruise shuttles,  including Miami hotels with shuttles to the cruise port .

2. Older ships are way cheaper to cruise on

If you’re the sort of person who likes a deal, look at sailing on an older ship . Even if an older ship and a newer ship sail the same itinerary, the fares on the older ship will be dramatically lower. We use this tip to sail way more than we could on only new ships.

Of course, in exchange you won’t get the wild new things like waterslides and ten swimming pools. But if you’re the sort of person who simply wants to be out on the water, you can save hundreds of dollars by sailing on an older ship.

3. Bring your own power adapter to give you more outlets

Phones, iPads, laptops, curling irons… the list of things you’ll bring that need plugging in seems to grow by the year. However, many cruise ship cabins have limited outlets. The good news is that newer ships are being built with more power plugs. Still, we suggest bringing an adapter or two to increase the number of plugs available.

We really like this one from Amazon , which offers three plugs and doesn’t take up much room. Also, make sure your plug doesn’t have a surge protector. They are not allowed onboard.

4. Your balcony isn’t as private as you think

Ships railing

Thinking of sunbathing “al fresco” on your balcony? Want to get a little frisky with your partner in the fresh air? Keep in mind that your balcony isn’t all that private. The dividers between balconies are low to allow wind to pass through. They also are several inches above the floor to allow water to flow during a rainstorm. That means anyone in the balcony next to you could easily see what’s going on without much effort.

5. Those “all you can drink” packages aren’t a good deal, unless…

“All you can drink” alcohol packages can really help you budget. For a set amount, you can drink as much as you want without worrying about the bill. But buyer beware, the cost of the packages usually means you have to order between 7-10 drinks per day before you save any money.

And since you have to buy the package for every day of your cruise, that means you have to drink that much every single day you are on your ship — even when you are in a port of call.

We find that many people will find that they are better off simply ordering drinks the old-fashioned way unless they get some sort of great deal on the package or have it included in their cruise. ( Read more about all you can drink packages here  or use our Drink Package Calculator to see if you’d save money .)

6. Turn your phone on airplane mode the second you board the ship

We’ve heard way too many horror stories of cruise passengers forgetting to turn off their phone’s data and then coming home to huge bills for international roaming .

That’s why when you board the ship, you should either turn your phone completely off or turn it on airplane mode to where it doesn’t use up data (but can still connect to wi-fi). It’s the simplest way to make sure there are no big surprises when you get your next phone bill.

7. If traveling fewer than three decks, take the stairs. It’s much faster

Who wants to take the stairs on vacation? That sounds like work! Well, the stairs can often be much faster. Realize that with thousands of people on a cruise ship, the elevators can get overwhelmed, making stops on every deck going both up and down. That means it can take a while for the elevator to reach your floor.

Instead, if you are only going up or down a few decks it’s definitely easier and faster to just hoof it with the stairs. Plus you get to work off a few of those extra “cruise calories” from eating so much.

8. Casino payouts aren’t that great

Casino on cruise ship

Expect to hit it big in the casino? It may take a little more luck than usual. Yes, there are stories of people hitting it big, but that can be tough. In our experience, cruise ships don’t offer great payouts. For example, low-limit blackjack tables will often pay 6-to-5, instead of the usual 3-to-2 you’ll find in many land-based casinos . Video poker payouts are also usually lower and craps tables normally have lower odds bets.

We have noticed that higher-limit games tend to have better payouts, as you might expect.

9. S how up later to boarding to get on the ship fast est

If you show up to board right when the boarding window opens, you can expect to do a lot of waiting. There is always a mad rush to board the ship right as it opens — even with assigned boarding times — which leads to long lines.

What most people don’t realize is that showing up later actually lets you board faster in many cases . We like to get to the port about an hour before the boarding window closes and find no lines. It usually only takes about 10-15 minutes to get checked-in and board, all without having to fight huge crowds.

10. Book extras like drink packages online ahead of time for huge discounts

Want to save a bundle? If you know that you’ll be booking something extra like an internet package or a drink package, then do it online ahead of time.

To entice passengers to book these deals early, the cruise lines offer special discounts. We’ve seen drink packages for buy one, get one 50% off. That’s a big savings over what you’ll spend if you wait to buy until you get on the ship.

Money-Saving Tips For Your Cruise

Want to have a great time without spending a fortune? Here are our best tips on saving money during (and before) your vacation.

11. Pay off your cruise as slow as possible

You’ll always put down a deposit when you first book your cruise, but some people opt to pay off the entire cruise at once. Sure, it’s a nice feeling knowing that your cruise is bought and paid for, but it also puts you at risk if there is a price drop.

You likely know that cruise lines adjust fares, similar to airlines. When you put down a deposit, you can call the cruise line if you see a price drop and ask them to honor the lower price. Not having paid for the entire trip already gives you some leverage as you can potentially cancel and re-book at the lower price.

If you’ve already paid for the entire trip, you lose some of that leverage. Don’t worry, though. Even if this happens, still give the cruise line a call and ask for the lower price. You might get money back for the difference as onboard credit.

12. Want to sail cheap? Cruise when the kids are in school

They should call it the “law of cheap cruising.” If you want to save a ton, be flexible with your dates and sail when school is in session. When school is in, families with kids — a huge demographic in cruising — can’t easily take their trips. That means the cruise lines are looking to fill rooms and will offer up cheaper fares to entice people to sail .

In fact, it’s not surprising to find fares that double during holiday breaks when families can take their trips.

13. Look for cheaper prices on the ship when in port

It’s not always the case, but sometimes you’ll run into discounts around the ship if you buy when the ship is in port. For instance, maybe it’s a spa session that has a slight discount if you book a service while the ship is docked. Or things like Royal Caribbean’s North Star observation pod are free when done while the ship is in port, but sees a charge if sailing.

With fewer people on the ship, prices can be cut to entice demand. 

14. Lunch prices at specialty restaurants are often cheaper than dinner

On your cruise, there are free restaurants that are included with your fare and specialty restaurants, which cost extra. These specialty restaurants offer meals not available in the included restaurants and provide a higher-end experience. In return, you usually pay a flat fee for whatever you order.

If you want to eat here and save money, see if they have discounted lunch rates. Some of the restaurants have fees that are substantially less at lunch time compared to dinner. You can get the same meal for much less.

15. Save money by looking for happy hour specials

Drinks on a cruise ship can get expensive. If you want to save some cash, then check the daily planner delivered to your room (or found on the cruise line app) for any happy hour specials or drink deals. For example, we’ve seen 50% off drinks at RedFrog Pub on Carnival at certain times during the day. There will often be some sort of discount somewhere on the ship each day. It’s just a matter of paying attention and taking advantage.

16. Consider those package deals to save money

Typically, cruise lines offer a low “headline” fare that is enticing. Anything extra on the ship — including drinks, wi-fi, gratuities, and more — costs extra. Now, the tide on this model is shifting though as more cruise lines offer all-inclusive deals.

With these deals, you pay a bit extra, but then you get more included in your fare (such as Princess Plus ). This can include Internet access, drink packages, your onboard daily gratuity, and other perks. What’s often the case is that the price for the upgrade is significantly less than what you’d pay for these items individually. If you plan to buy them anyway, a package is likely worth the money.

17. Independent parking lots offer cheaper cruise parking

Cruise parking in Galveston

Driving to the port? That means you have to find somewhere to park your car while you’re gone. The cruise ports all have on-site parking, usually located within steps of the cruise ship. While it’s extremely convenient, you’ll pay for that convenience. Official port parking lots are always the priciest. Instead, look for off-port parking that can be as much as 50% cheaper.

18. It’s so much cheaper to drink in port

Want to know the cheapest place to drink on a cruise? It’s in port!

If you want to get a good buzz going, check out the bars and restaurants in the area. Many of them not only have cheap drinks every day, but offer drink specials to entice cruisers to stop in. If you plan on drinking, get your fill in port and then walk back to the cruise ship that afternoon/evening. It’s a lot cheaper to pay $2-3 bucks for a beer in port compared to $7-9 on the ship. For more tips on drinking on a cruise, read this article .

19. Cruise line transfers from the airport are a terrible deal

When you fly in for your cruise, you have to also arrange for transportation from the airport to the cruise port. We usually recommend a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. What we don’t recommend is taking the transfers offered by the cruise line.

Cruise line transfers seem like a great idea — after all, if you’re getting a ride from the cruise company to the port, you know you won’t miss your ship. However, the cruise transfers only run on the day of the cruise. That means if you fly in a day early for your trip, you are out of luck.

They are also expensive. For example, Carnival charges $23 per person one-way to get you from the Miami airport to the Port of Miami — a 10-mile ride. Compare that to a taxi or Uber, which will charge you about $25-30 each way for up to four passengers. Meanwhile, with a taxi or other transportation, you aren’t tied to the cruise shuttle’s schedule.

20. Cruise prices are the same on every website

Think you have to search site after site to get the best cruise deal? Think again. We’ve discovered that the cruise prices are actually the same across all websites .

That’s not to say that prices won’t change (they will), but when a price moves, you’ll see it reflected everywhere. Just pick your favorite spot to search and stop worrying if another website has it cheaper. (Hint: Costco usually has great incentives .)

Here’s a roundup of prices that we recently found:

21. Buy/Rebuy Packages on Royal Caribbean to Save

If you sail Royal Caribbean, then you’ll learn the cruise line has “dynamic pricing.” This is a fancy way of saying the prices of items on the ship like drink packages and wi-fi change depending on the cruise. Beyond that, the cruise line likes to offer sales here and there that move prices even more. So one day the drink package might be $80 per day and then a sale drops it to $75 per day.

If you want to make sure you get a deal, you can buy the package. Then, if the price drops, you can refund your purchase and then rebuy at the lower price. Then ensures you always get the best deal.

22. Be sure to check your onboard account regularly

When you sail, all your spending on the ship is done through your room keycard that acts like a credit card tied to your onboard account. At the end of the cruise, it’s automatically paid for with the payment method on file.

However, you should keep tabs on your account (you can do so via the cruise line’s app) to make sure that the charges are legit. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes errant charges will appear. If you find one, just let Guest Services know to get it removed.

23. Cheaper interior cabins mean more money for cruises

Interior cabin on a cruise

Many people claim they couldn’t sail in anything other than a balcony room. But interior cabins can get you on the ship for hundreds — or even thousands — less than paying for a balcony room. Considering that many people (especially on shorter cruises) are rarely in their cabin other than to sleep, it doesn’t make sense to pay a fortune for a room that you won’t use. Instead, you can sail a lot cheaper with an interior room… and potentially cruise a lot more!

24. Don’t waste money on lower-tier Internet

These days being connected is just a fact of life. Not surprisingly, many people opt to pay for the cruise line’s wi-fi service , even though it is pricey. If you do decide to purchase, then you’ll find that there are tiers of service. So you can pay less and get slower or limited service, or pay a little more to get higher speeds and full access to the web.

In this case, you shouldn’t waste your money on the cheapest service. Even at is best, the wi-fi on a cruise ship will be slower than you’re used to seeing at home. In our experience, the lower tiers can be almost unusable. This is one place where you don’t want to skimp if you’re buying.

25. Think twice before buying cruise insurance sold by the cruise line

While we think travel insurance is a good idea to give you peace of mind, think twice before buying the insurance that the cruise lines offer when you book your trip. Yes, it’s better than nothing, but third-party cruise insurance is often a much better deal.

The insurance offered by the cruise lines typically has lower limits and is priced higher from what we’ve found. It also often doesn’t offer as much protection as insurance offered by a third party. Be sure to check what is covered by any policy before buying.

26. American dollars are widely accepted in cruise ports

Don’t worry if you don’t have pesos, or any other local currency. In Caribbean cruise ports American dollars are widely accepted (and often preferred). That’s a huge help for cruise passengers who don’t have to worry about having different currencies as they go from port to port. Credit cards are also accepted in many places, but we suggest cash for most transactions.

27. Mention a special occasion to (maybe) get free stuff

Birthday? Anniversary? Honeymoon? Be sure to mention to any cruise line employee why you are there if it’s a special occasion. There’s no guarantee, but it’s not unheard of to be surprised by a bottle of champagne and some strawberries in your cabin for free. The cruise lines know that a little perk like this doesn’t cost a lot but can make your loyal for life.

28. Credit cards are accepted in ports, but call your company first

Yes, credit cards are accepted, especially in the more touristy areas of port cities. It’s still preferable to pay for most things in cash for security purposes.

That said, if you do decide to use your card, be sure call your credit card company first. It may alert their system to fraud to see a card used in three different ports in three days, leading them to put a freeze on your account if they don’t know what’s going on.

29. Beaches are free ways to enjoy the day

carnival cruise secret tips

If you don’t want to spend money on shore excursions, that’s understandable. A free way to enjoy the port cities and save some money is to simply head to the beach.

Every Caribbean port will have some exclusive beach clubs with hammocks and drink service, but they usually charge an entry fee. Instead, do some research (or ask a taxi) on where the free beaches are. You might have to deal with more people, but nothing beats having a day on a world-class beach without having to spend a dime.

30. Avoid ATM fees at the casino with this trick

ATM fees to get cash out can be expensive on the cruise ship . If you want to gamble but don’t have the cash on hand, you can use a little trick to avoid paying exorbitant ATM fees. Cruise lines will let you charge your onboard account to get money for chips or slot machines. Just be careful as it’s an easy way to spend a little too much!

31. Public transportation gets you to the port for cheap

It’s not available in every port, but if you are sailing out of a major city (specifically Miami or Seattle), then you can get to the port for less money by using public transportation. In fact, it can cost as little as $3 per person!

In Miami you can take the Orange Line train from the airport over to the Coral Way Trolley, which drops at the port ( directions here ). In Seattle, the Link Light Rail lets out just blocks from Pier 66 ( directions here ). If you don’t want to pay for an expensive taxi or Uber, keep this in mind. 

Packing Tips For Your Cruise

Suitcases for a cruise

Not sure what you need to pack? These tips and secrets will have you packing like a pro in no time.

32. You can pack way more than you can on a plane

Are you the sort of person that packs for a month when you’re only going for a week? Good news is the cruise lines don’t have near as stringent baggage policies as the airlines . There are no baggage fees, or real restrictions on how much you can bring (within reason). You also don’t have to worry about the 3-ounce liquid rule. It makes it much easier to pack and much less stressful.

That said, we’d suggest still packing light. Remember, the more you pack, the more you have to carry with you, and the more space it takes up in your cabin.

33. Leave the hair dryer at home

Hair dryers are standard equipment in all cabins, just like in a hotel room. That means you can leave yours at home and save some space in your bags. The only time you’ll need to bring your own is if you have a special type of hair dryer that you just have to use. The in-cabin hair dryer is one of those small hotel-style ones that isn’t terribly powerful, but is plenty for a week at sea.

34. Pack a nightlight for the cabin

Staying in an interior room? That means you have no windows… and no natural light. Once you shut the door and turn out the lights, it’s pitch black. Bring along a nightlight to plug in to provide some light for the room.

Your shins will appreciate the extra light when you have to stumble into an unfamiliar bathroom in the middle of the night.

35. Dry bags are always a good idea if you plan to hit the beach

While you can use Ziploc bags, we like the idea of having a watertight pouch or bag when you head to the beach. They are the perfect size for a phone, cash, and keycards. Best of all, they can snap onto your waistband so that you can carry your things with you in the water while taking a dip — and not leave them vulnerable on the beach.

36. Pack a handful of Ziploc bags. They have a million uses

Ziploc bags have to be the most useful item you can pack . Want to keep things dry while at the pool? Put it in a Ziploc. Want to keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones? Put them in a Ziploc. Have a bunch of small items that you’re packing and would like to keep together? Or maybe you want to snag a snack for later from the buffet? Put it all in a Ziploc.

Always pack a few baggies with you on your trip, and you’ll be sure to find a use for them.

37. Remember to pack a fan for the room

One thing you might not think to bring is a small portable fan for your cabin room. There isn’t much airflow in the cabins, so if you are the type that always need a breeze to be comfy, then you’ll hate sitting still in the room. As well, we like the white noise that a fan provides to drown out sounds like people talking in the hall while we are trying to sleep.

38. Make a copy of your passport to carry instead of the real thing

The best place to keep your passport is in your in-room safe. If you want some ID while your are in your port city, make a copy of your ID page of the passport and carry it with you, along with a driver’s license. This will make due until you can get back to the cabin. In fact, it’s not required that you carry your passport with you into port (though some sort of official photo ID is usually needed to get back on the ship).

Another smart idea is to take a scan of your passport and email it to yourself. This way no matter where you go, you will have a digital copy that you can access from anywhere with Internet.

39. Always pack cool weather gear, too

Swimsuit? Check. Suntan lotion? Check. A jacket? What?!

Yes, even if you are headed to the tropics you should always pack a few items of warm clothing. Once the sun goes down in the evening, it can get chilly on a fast-moving cruise ship with the wind whipping around. Having something with long sleeves and a hood can be a lifesaver.

40. Towel clips are worth their weight in gold

Before a cruise, we never would have thought twice about towel clips. You never really think about how breezy it gets on the ship. With the ship in motion, there is a constant wind on the decks. That makes trying to keep your towel from whipping around an exercise in frustration. You can lay trying to relax, but the corners of your towel will be constantly flapping.

Luckily, for just a few bucks you can get some clips that will keep your towel on your lounger.

Food & Drink Tips For Your Cruise

Drinks on a bar top

Eating and drinking on a cruise are a big deal. Want to get your fill? Check out the tips below.

41. Alcohol can be brought on board, but with strict limitations

The vast majority of cruise lines don’t let you bring on beer or hard liquor and there is no way around it. Nearly all of them, however, will let you bring on bottles of champagne or wine. Check with your cruise line, but the rule is usually either one bottle per cabin or one bottle per adult passenger .

One or two bottles of wine likely won’t last your entire cruise, but considering the price of drinks onboard, anything you can bring saves you a lot of cash.

42. You can bring on non-alcoholic drinks (some lines)

Want to save $30-$40? Many cruise lines — including Carnival and Royal Caribbean — allow you to bring on non-alcoholic beverages . The rule is usually 12 drinks per person. So if you can’t live without your Diet Coke or want to have some Gatorade for the kids, bring it with you.

The only thing to know is that Carnival requires you to bring cans or cartons. No bottles are allowed.

Considering that a non-alcoholic drink can cost $3-4 bucks each on a cruise ship (plus gratuity!) you can save a big chunk of change by bringing your own.

43. You can order a second (or third or fourth) entrée

Can’t choose between the chicken or the fish? Don’t stress out. Order both. Or order two plates on lobster night. Most people don’t realize it, but you can order as much as you want in the main dining room (or other restaurants).

Cruise lines know that people are on vacation to let loose and enjoy themselves. They understand that people love to eat on their trip, so they are usually happy to accommodate your request. (Note: Carnival has implemented a nominal $5 fee for a third entrée . Other lines may have small charges.)

44. Make any reservations early for the best times

If dining at a specialty restaurant or hitting the spa, you might need a reservation. If so, don’t wait until you are on the ship to make reservations at restaurants or the spa. The best times will fill up quickly, leaving you with fewer options. Every cruise line will allow you to make reservations online (or by phone) weeks or months in advance of your cruise.

As soon as you know that you will want to dine at a restaurant or get a spa treatment, make your reservations!

45. Too late to get a reservation on the ship? Head to that restaurant anyway

Didn’t realize you needed a reservation or the spot you wanted was already filled? Don’t worry… you might still be able to get in.

You can head down to the restaurant and see if there is any room available. Sometimes people make reservations and then forget about them, freeing up space. Your chances are best if you go early or late — instead of during peak hours.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get a space, but it does happen.

46. Hungry? Get a whole pizza for free

Nearly every ship you sail on will have a place to get free pizza by the slice. But what if you’re really hungry? You can often order up a whole pie, free of charge. This way you get exactly what you want instead of having to eat a slice of whatever is available. It may take a few minutes to get your pie made, so be a little patient.

47. Breakfast and lunch are also served in the main dining room

Everyone knows about dinner in the main dining room… but they usually eat the buffet for lunch and breakfast. If you want something higher quality, head to the main dining room instead of the buffet. They serve both meals, but with much smaller crowds. Best of all, the food is usually better as well, since it’s made fresh.

48. Don’t think the “drink of the day” is a deal

Each day the bar will have a different drink of the day special. But just because they highlight it doesn’t mean it’s a deal. Often the cruise lines just call it the “drink of the day” to draw attention to an option to get you to buy it, but don’t cut the price. Other times it might just be $1-$2 off the regular price.

49. Have dietary restrictions? Cruise lines can cover you

Vegetarian? Gluten-free? Food allergies? No matter your dietary restrictions, the cruise lines can accommodate. Don’t wait until you are on the ship to tell the cruise line about your diet restrictions. Call as soon as you book and speak to a customer service agent. They can update you on food options and also make a note on your account to notify the crew.

Your waiter will also ask first thing when you eat in the dining room.

50. You can always order your favorite dish, even if it’s not on the menu.

Wasn’t the chicken cordon bleu fantastic last night? Wish you could get it tonight? You usually can. Even if you don’t see an entrée on the menu in the dining room, don’t think you can’t get it. Simply ask your waiter if it’s available. The worst they can say is no.

51. Free room service is becoming a thing of the past

Want a hamburger at 3 a.m.? It used to be free on a cruise ship, but the lines have moved toward a charge for room service. While many lines have some things for free like continental breakfast, they often now charge per item or a flat fee (order all you want for one price). Even though room service isn’t always free, still don’t forget to tip $3-5 to the waiter who brings your food.

52. Even if you don’t show up at your time for dinner, you will still be seated

Having a set time to eat in the main dining room can be a pain. Say you want to go to an early show but it conflicts with your set dinner time. Or what if you lay down for a nap and don’t wake up until your dinner time has passed? The good news is that it’s no big deal.

Just head down to the dining room whenever you’re ready to eat, and they will find you a place to sit. It likely won’t be with your same waiter, but you’ll definitely get fed.

53. You can get free drinks in the casino, but you have to spend major money

We all know that if you are gambling in a Las Vegas casino, you can expect the drinks to flow no matter how much you spend. On a cruise ship, that’s not the case . If you’re a nickel and dime gambler, you’re going to have to pay for drinks in the casino. If you’re betting big, however, then you will likely earn enough credit to get some free drinks.

Be sure to use your card every time you play to get your spending tracked so that the cruise lines know how good of a customer you are.

54. Bring drink flavor pouches for free drinks

Sodas and other drinks aren’t free on a trip, but tea, lemonade and water are. A little trick is to bring a few packs of those drink flavors (available in every grocery store). Drop a pack into your water to instantly make your favorite beverage for free. It’s also a good way to get the kids to drink something other than soda while on their vacation.

Safety & Health Tips for Your Cruise

Cruise ships docked in Skagway, Alaska

Cruising is relatively safe, but there are still some things you should know about staying healthy on your trip.

55. Chances are that you won’t need cruise insurance, but it does help

Odds are that you won’t need the travel insurance you buy, but when you do, it’s a lifesaver. Travel insurance can cover a ton of different things, including if you get hurt or sick on your trip. It’s also handy if you lose your luggage or miss the boat and have to make alternate arrangements to meet your ship elsewhere (or get back home).

56. Never wear those cheap $3 flip-flops around the pool

You know those cheap rubber flip-flops that you can get for just a few bucks? They serve their purpose, but don’t wear them around the pool! These sandals are notoriously slick on the bottom if they have any wear at all. All it takes is one wrong step on a slick ship deck to take a spill.

Instead, look for a pair of flip-flops that has decent tread so that you won’t slip even if you step right in a puddle.

57. Cruise port security is nothing like the airport

No, you don’t have to go through the same hassles that you see in airports to get on the ship. You don’t have to take off belts… or shoes… or carry only 3 ounces of liquids. You’ll just have your bags x-rayed and walk through a metal detector (no full body scanners!). Getting through security usually takes no more than a minute or two. 

58. Packing over-the-counter medications is smart

When you’re packing, it’s a great idea to bring an assortment of medicines for general issues. Ibuprofen for a headache, Imodium for your stomach, aloe for sunburn, etc. These items are available on the ship, but can be pricey. As well, it’s nice to simply have them on hand in the cabin instead of having to hunt them down when you need to take something.

59. Authorities check the passenger list for warrants… and arrest them on the way back

If you have an arrest warrant, think twice before getting on a cruise. Once you board, local authorities will often run the names of the passengers through a database to check for any outstanding warrants. The result? Assuming the warrants are for minor items, we’ve heard of them letting the passengers cruise before escorting them off the ship once it arrives back at port.

60. Cruise ships are a great place for spreading a virus (wash your hands)

You know why you always hear about norovirus on cruise ships? That’s because if you were going to create a conducive place to spread a virus, you would build a cruise ship. Having thousands of people in an enclosed area and the same dining facilities is ripe for spreading illness.

Cruise lines go to great lengths to sanitize and keep everyone healthy. Even so, definitely use hand sanitizer, which is available all over the ship. Proper hand washing is also important.

61. Always use your cabin safe. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing

Cruise ship cabin safe

Unfortunately, we live in a world where you have to be cautious with your valuables. Theft does happen, even occasionally on a cruise. Every cabin will come with an in-room safe, which you should use whenever you leave the room. It’s perfect for storing extra cash, electronics, passports and more.

It’s by no means perfect, but the safe helps protect you from any “crimes of convenience” where someone snags an item just because it’s left out in the open.

62. Be careful, the sun is way more powerful in the tropics

It’s easy to underestimate just how quickly you can burn from the Caribbean sun. Whereas it might take 20-30 minutes to start getting burned back home on a sunny day, the more direct rays closer to the equator can do the same damage in just half the time.

The bad thing is that if you get sunburned, it can put you out of commission for several days, putting a damper on your cruise. Instead, the best thing to do is prevent getting burned. Wear wide-brimmed hats and put on plenty of sunscreen.

63. Get seasick? Get a cabin in the middle of the boat, as low as possible

Everyone seems to have their own home remedy for curing seasickness. There is only one method we know of that makes actual scientific sense, however. If you are prone to seasickness, then you want to book a cabin as low in the ship and as close to the middle of the ship as possible.

Think of the ship as a teeter-totter. It’s the middle of it that would move the least as the ends rise and fall. There is less motion mid-ship, which could help you feel better when the seas are a little rough.

64. You can check your ship’s latest health inspection

Just like restaurants on land, cruise ships sailing from the United States undergo regular health inspections. This checks everything from food service to pool cleanliness and lots more. 

If you want to read the latest report for the ship you’re sailing, the CDC maintains a database of the latest scores . Also includes are full inspection reports, so you can see exactly what the ship needed to address.

65. Never climb or sit on the ship’s railing

Head to a deck that’s open to the water and you’ll notice there are railings everywhere. Of course, you’d expect there to be a railing to keep people from accidently falling overboard. However, some people like to treat these rails as fun spots to sit for a photo or kids like to climb on the railings.

It shouldn’t need to be said, but just to be clear — never climb or sit on the railing . It’s dangerous.

General Tips & Things to Know for Your Cruise

Norwegian Encore at sea

This section covers all sorts of aspects to cruising. From heading into port to what to do with your phone, we have important tips for you to know before you sail.

66. Download the cruise line’s app before you board

We’re usually not a fan of downloading a new app if we don’t have to. But cruise line apps are extremely helpful. These programs include daily schedules, messaging to others on the ship, ship maps, and even tracking of your onboard spending account — all from your phone.

We’d suggest everyone download the app before your cruise to use onboard. It’s much faster to download over home wi-fi instead of using your cellular network or the ship’s Internet.

Learn more about Carnival’s app , Royal Caribbean’s app , and Norwegian’s app .

67. You can debark when you want

Shhh… don’t tell anyone, but you can actually debark the cruise ship when you want when your trip ends.

The cruise lines will call passengers deck by deck, but the process can take hours. If you already have all your bags and want to leave, you can just head down whenever you like. The staff doesn’t check what deck your cabin is on, and they simply want passengers off the ship so that they can get ready for the next group.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that lines can be extremely long right at the beginning of debarkation. Sometimes it’s worth it just to relax for an hour and let the rush die down.

68. Interested in the spa? Take a free tour

Mandara Spa on cruise ship

The spa is a major point of emphasis on a cruise ship. You’ll see promotions and ads for services throughout your trip. If you’re interested in spending some time there but aren’t sure if you want to spend the money, then take a tour. Spas on the ship will be happy to show you around and let you get an idea of what you can expect should you decide to visit for a service.

69. Hooking up with the crew is off limits

When it comes to having a fling on the ship, your eyes might be tempted by the crew. They’re generally young, fit, international, and seem to be having a lot of fun. But if you want a hook-up, then keep looking elsewhere. Getting it on between passengers and crew is expressly prohibited. It can reportedly cost the crew member their job, no questions asked.

70. Look for a cabin on the upper decks of the ship

If you can, look for a cabin that sits on the upper decks of the ship. No, it’s not because higher decks offer great views (although that’s a great perk!). Instead, it has to do with getting around the ship.

Cruise ships are usually laid out with a center promenade area that includes indoor things like the casino, a center bar, restaurants, and shopping. On many ships this will be around decks 6-8. Then there is the pool deck area that’s located at the top of the ship. These two areas are where passengers spend the most time outside the cabin.

Having a cabin between the two spots means you are within just a few decks of either. That makes it much easier to get to where you want to go as opposed to waiting on an elevator because you are on a low deck.

71. Cameras are watching you constantly

Surveillance camera on a cruise ship

We’ve gotten used to seeing security cameras everywhere in life, but ships take it to another level. There are security cameras watching every public area of the major cruise ships. Don’t think you’ll be able to sneak off and do something you shouldn’t be doing. In fact, these cameras are required by law as a way to improve safety onboard. 

72. It is possible your ship could pick up refugees

If you are sailing from ports on the East Coast to the Western Caribbean, there’s a possibility you could find yourself in the middle of a refugee crisis. The waters between Florida and Cuba are where Cubans trying to make their way to America will set sail, hoping to reach the mainland.

It’s not unheard of for cruise ships to run across these people, sailing in makeshift rafts. Rules of the sea call for the cruise ships to render aid, meaning they will stop and help, even if in the middle of a cruise.

73. Cabins at the ends of the ship should have less noise

Cruise cabins are fairly soundproof (though not perfect), but if there is noise in the hallway, it can come in through the door. Case in point is if it’s in the early morning hours and a group of people are coming back from the bar on the ship (we’ve personally had it happen!).

To find a quieter cabin spot, look toward the ends of the ship. Rooms at the ends of halls will have less foot traffic, meaning less noise from passersby.

carnival cruise secret tips

74. Sound can travel between the cabins when you make whoopie

No, the walls of your cabin aren’t paper thin, but sounds can travel between rooms. Keep this in mind if you decide to engage in “activities” in your cabin. You have to remember that you are in a small, confined space with lots of people around. Not everyone wants to hear what you do in the privacy of your cabin (especially if it happens late at night).

Keeping things a little quiet can make sure that your fun doesn’t mess with anyone else’s vacation.

75. While there are lots of rules… you can usually get away with breaking them

There is a difference between rules and laws. Break a law and you’ll get busted. But break a rule, and you could just get a slap on the hand. For instance, if you don’t want to wear formal clothes on formal night, then don’t.

Cruise lines want everyone to have a good time. If you break a rule, they will usually just ask you to stop doing it. It’s rare they will kick you off the ship unless you are endangering other passengers or causing a disturbance.

76. A Post-It Note (or other decoration) helps in finding your room

If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship before, then you know that the cabin hallways can seem almost like an optical illusion. They can stretch forever in a repeating pattern of cabins, walls, and identical doors. While doors are numbered, it’s easy to pass by your room as everything blends together.

Many people go to the effort of decorating their doors to not only be festive, but also stand out and be easier to find. If you don’t want to go to that much effort, just bring a few Post-It Notes (they are great for leaving messages in the cabin anyway). Stick one brightly colored note on your door and you have an instant way to identify your cabin.

77. Creepy? Larger ships will have a morgue

It’s macabre, but if you’re on a larger ship, then it likely has a morgue on board. It’s actually a good idea if you think about it. Cruise ships are carrying thousands of people 365 days a year. It’s a law of averages that someone will eventually pass away while on the ship. With a morgue on board they can keep the body in good condition until reaching a port.

78. Only go early if you like standing in line

Are you the type or person that likes to get on and off the ship first? Then you better be prepared to stand in long lines. With thousands of people trying to do the same thing, there are massive traffic jams for people waiting to either embark or disembark.

Instead, take your time and spend a little longer enjoying a meal or relaxing on board. Once you are done, you can breeze through.

79. Secret clues for getting around the ship

Cabin door sign on a cruise ship

Cabin hallways can go on forever, and with no windows, it can be hard to know if you’re going forward or aft. In that case, look for the clues. On NCL, the hallway carpet has little fish or arrows on it. These fish/arrows face forward.

On Royal Caribbean, the door markers will have a clue like a small arrow pointing forward (see above), or an image of the ship that faces to the front of the ship. If the ship is older, it might have a door marker in the shape of a wave. Here, the higher part of the wave points the way to the front of the ship.

80. Formal night doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s what to wear

No occasion on the trip might cause as much stress as formal night if you’re not sure what to wear. Our advice? Don’t worry. Sure you can dress up in a tuxedo or an evening gown (and some do), but you won’t be out of place if you don’t get that fancy.

For guys, just a pair of pants and a button-up shirt is enough on the major cruise lines. For women, a nice blouse or any dress is fine. The biggest thing is to avoid shorts, swimsuits, and ballcaps. Anything else will be just fine for formal night… up to a full tux. ( Read more about formal night here .)

81. It’s a floating city… where you only see part of it

You might go back and forth on the cruise ship and think you’ve seen every nook and cranny by the time you leave. There are places, however, where you will never set foot.

Hidden away primarily on the lower decks are spots like the engine room, crew quarters, service areas, and more. There are some “backstage” tours that you can take, but they are highly limited in the number of passengers that can go.

82. Your itinerary isn’t set in stone

Your itinerary can change… right up until you dock in a port. The cruise lines have made adjustments to schedules based on everything from weather to health issues to protests. While it doesn’t happen often, changes are regular enough that you shouldn’t be surprised if one happens to your trip.

83. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to see the stars at sea

Being in the middle of the sea, hundreds of miles away from any city lights would seem to lend itself to seeing the stars like never before. The bad news is that isn’t the case.

While ships would be the perfect spot for stargazing, the lights on the deck are bright enough to create light pollution that drowns out many stars. You’ll see brighter ones, but if you were planning to spot the Milky Way out at sea, that probably won’t be the case. 

84. Put away anything you don’t want to the cabin steward to see

During your cruise you will have a cabin steward that tends to the cabin each day. They do things like clean the room, restock anything needed, and make the bed. But one tip is to ensure that if you leave the cabin you don’t have anything laying out that you wouldn’t want them to see.

So if you did something like sneak on alcohol or bring a special outfit to spice things up on vacation, be sure to put them away. Otherwise, there might be some awkwardness the next time you see the cabin steward.

85. Ships can sail at over 100% occupancy

When it comes to cruise ships, 100% occupancy isn’t the max people it can hold. In fact, most ships sail at greater than 100%. 

Cruise liners sail at 100% when there are two passengers for every cabin. So if there are 2,000 cabins on the ship and 4,000 passengers, then that’s considered 100% occupancy. But when there are three or more to a cabin, then that level rises. During normal times, it’s not unusual for cruise ships to sail closer to 105-110% occupancy.

86. The room thermostats may not control anything

Every cabin comes with a thermostat. In our experience, they are often just there for looks, most often on older ships. It would make sense that the thermostats wouldn’t work. Having 2,000 different cabins with different A/C temperatures would be a nightmare. Don’t be surprised if you crank down the air but don’t feel much relief. That’s why we suggest bringing a portable fan .

87. Don’t be shy about asking for anything to make yourself more comfy

The cruise lines want you to be comfy and enjoy your vacation. If there is anything that would make your trip more pleasant, don’t hesitate to ask. This goes for blankets, pillows, fresh towels, and anything else you can think of. Just like a five-star hotel, the cruise ship has all the amenities that you can think of just a request away.

88. What those strange symbols on the hull mean

Stabilizer icon on a cruise

When you are in port, you might notice strange symbols at the ship’s waterline that look like hieroglyphics. They are actually telling important information about the ship underwater. 

For instance, you might see a circle with an ‘X’ through it, normally in groups of three or four. These are where thrusters are installed on the ship to help it maneuver. 

You might also see a strange shape that almost looks like the outline of a key, with a larger square and then a rectangle jutting out (see the image above). This marker? It’s for the ship’s stabilizers. These stabilizers jut out under the waterline like fins and help to reduce the rocking of the ocean.

The symbols help other boats know what’s going on under the water so they don’t get too close.

89. Early debarkation doesn’t always save a lot of time (but it certainly can sometimes!)

Cruise lines offer early debarkation to passengers that want to carry all their bags with them. This seems like a great idea as it allows you to get off the ship first and get back home quickly after your cruise. The problem is that everyone else has the same idea.

Lines for early embarkation can stretch around the ship and take an hour or more to get through in the worst cases. Thankfully many cruise lines are getting better at the process, which is speeding things up somewhat. So sometimes it can be a long wait… other times you can breeze through. 

It can also be faster if you use a passport to sail instead of a birth certificate . Facial recognition at some ports matches with your passport can get you through quickly.

90. Take advantage of private islands as ‘free’ days

Are you headed on a cruise to a private destination? These areas all have a few things in common. For one, they have beautiful beaches where you can spend the day. For another, the cruise lines use them as an opportunity to generate more revenue with things like exclusive areas, cabanas, and more.

One tip is to use these private island days as free days. You could spend a fortune here if you wanted. Instead, they serve as a great way to enjoy the beach and water without spending a ton. You can save your money and instead use that for excursions in non-private ports where it’s not near as easy and cheap to spend the day unless you book a tour.

91. Wait until later in the cruise to do the newest attractions

carnival cruise secret tips

Cruise ships continue to get grander with every new ship. That means crazier attractions like waterslides, go-karts, robot bartenders and whatever else the cruise lines can imagine.

If you want to experience these attractions, wait until later in your cruise. The first day or two will have everyone waiting in line to get in. Instead, if you just wait until the initial rush has died down, you can join the fun without having to wait in a line.

92. Always pack a wad of $1 bills for tipping

The cruise industry relies on your generosity to help pay their service employees. That’s why you shouldn’t skimp when it comes to tipping. From baggage handlers to room service waiters to casino waitresses, you’ll want to slip them each a few bucks whenever they give you good service.

We’d suggest bringing about $20 in ones and carrying a few with you anywhere you go. This way you always have a few singles with you to tip with instead of having an awkward “I’ll tip you later” conversation.

93. Topless sunbathing? It’s not a thing in the U.S. (except for one line)

carnival cruise secret tips

Wondering about private areas of the ship where you could get some sun… without worrying about tan lines? That’s not really a thing these days on cruises from the United States.

There are no major cruise lines that allow topless sunbathing, except for one. The exception is Virgin Voyages , which is adults-only and offers a designated spot onboard that allows it.

94. The reality of cruise line “sales”

Go to any cruise line website (or sign up for their email list) and you’ll always see that there is a sale happening. Cruise line sales try to stress a limited-time offer — often including a countdown timer until it’s over.

The truth is that sales run constantly, and even if it ends, it’s often replaced with something that’s nearly identical. In other words, don’t buy the hype that you have to buy right now or miss out.

95. No marijuana isn’t legal, even on an Alaskan cruise

If you’re cruising to Alaska (where recreational marijuana is legal) from Seattle, Washington (where recreational marijuana is legal), then of course you can bring your pot on board with you, right?

To be on the safe side, the cruise lines follow federal law — which means that marijuana is illegal to bring on board . If you really need some of the green to relax on your cruise, you’ll have to wait until you arrive in port .

96. Bingo may seem silly, but can win you some serious cash

Bingo? Isn’t that for old people? On the cruise, you’ll see bingo contests being held all the time. And while it’s not as exciting as the pool’s belly-flop competition, it is a fun way to spend an hour or two. Best of all, it can help pay for your cruise.

Bingo cards are typically $5-10. Purchase your card and if you win, you can walk away with cash. It’s not unusual to see people pocket hundreds or even thousands of bucks playing the game on the ship.

97. Participate in on-board game shows to get free stuff

Your best way to get some free stuff on the cruise also involves a lot of fun. In the game shows (including the always popular “newlywed” game), some audience participation is required. Not everyone can join in, but if you get selected then you almost always get some sort of prize at the end.

It’s nothing big — maybe a t-shirt and a gift certificate to the gift shop — but it’s the best way to get something for free while on your cruise.

98. Find a spot above the gangway at the ship’s return time to have a laugh

You haven’t laughed until you’ve stood on the port side of the ship close to departure time in a port of call. Keep a close eye and you’ll almost always see a few people making a mad dash back to the ship. You’ve never seen people run as fast as when they think the ship is about to leave them. On a side note, always return to the ship well before the “all aboard” time.

99. If flying, always depart for your port city the day before

With more ports than ever operating around the United States, many people are able to drive to their cruise. Still, there are tons of folks who fly in to take their trip. If you are taking a flight, always aim to get there the day before.

It seems like every day there are horror stories of delayed flights. Weather can delay or ground a flight. Security lines can sometimes take hours and cause people to miss their planes. Mechanical breakdown is always a possibility. And now you never know when a computer malfunction is going to ground an entire fleet.

Flying in the day before allows you a little more of a cushion to get to your port city without having to stress that you might miss your flight… or even worse, your cruise.

100. Don’t expect much on TV (Netflix is great)

We love nothing more than relaxing and watching some TV after a long day in port. Unfortunately, cruise lines don’t offer much in the way of television stations. You won’t get the basic channels you’d expect. Instead, it’s a few news stations and maybe a couple of channels for movies and a couple for cartoons.

Netflix and other services are lifesavers. Download your favorite shows ahead of time (so that you can watch without internet access) and catch up on your programs.

101. Go to Guest Services late at night or early in the morning to avoid lines

What’s that huge line you see in the middle of the ship at the beginning and end of the cruise? It’s the line to talk to Guest Services. It’s always a hassle to have to deal with getting things straightened out with your onboard account, but it’s something you occasionally have to do.

Here’s a big timesaver. If you do have to talk to Guest Services, plan your visit either later in the evening or early in the morning. At these times the line is almost non-existent so you can talk to a rep immediately. (Guest Services are open 24 hours a day during the cruise.)

102. Be sure your clock is set with the ship’s time

Depending on where you sail, there could be changes in the ship’s time from the time at the port of call. Why does this matter? If you don’t return to the ship by the right time, you could get left.

To make things easy, just make sure your watch is set with the ship’s time as you get off in port. It will be made well-known as your debark, or you can just ask a crew member. That way you are matched up with the ship’s schedule and don’t risk missing the return time.

103. Always wait for people to exit the elevator

A quick way to be identified as a rookie cruiser is to stand right in the doorway of the elevator when it opens. Elevators are the main way of getting around the ship — they are always crowded. It’s polite to let the people on the elevator get off before before trying to enter.

Just stand to the side as the doors open. It will make thing go much smoother and other passengers will be grateful.

104. You can take everything out of the mini-bar to have an in-room fridge

Mini bar on a cruise

Your ship cabin may come with a full-stocked mini-fridge. The items inside are counted after you leave, so if you want to use the fridge, you can just set everything out (or ask your room steward to empty it) and use it to keep your own drinks/food cool. Just be sure to put everything back or you’ll get charged for whatever is missing.

105. Cruise ships are surprisingly fast

Ok, no one would confuse travel by cruise ship with the speed of traveling by plane. But considering that a ship is roughly as long as the Empire State Building is tall and has about as many rooms as The Mirage in Las Vegas, the fact they can move at all is impressive.

Truth is, the cruising speed of many ships is around 25 miles per hour . That may not seem like much, but many neighborhoods have speed limits of 25 mph. Next time you see a car drive by your house, imagine that a cruise ship was gliding by instead to get an idea of the speed.

106. Always wear walking shoes when in port

It’s hot in the Caribbean, so who wants to wear shoes? Well, you’d be surprised at how tired your feet will get if you’re touring around in just a pair of flip-flops. Instead, bring a pair of your most comfy walking shoes, or a pair of water shoes that offer more support. Your feet will thank you for it at the end of the day.

107. Get your picture taken; it’s free and you pay only if you want it.

On the ship, they often have staff photographers roaming and taking photos of passengers to remember their trip. You have to buy the photos if you want to take them home, but not if you don’t want them.

In other words, you can get your photo taken by a professional photographer and only have to pay if you actually decide that you want the pic. If you decide you don’t like it, then there is nothing out of pocket.

Have a cruise tip that we left out? Have you used a tip above that worked like a charm? Let us know in the comments below.

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Thank u for the reminder about my watch in airplane mode. I would of never thought of that, made a reminder for myself. Lots of great tips and tricks.. Thanks for the info.

Cruising NCL solo out of Galveston 1/5/24 – 1/12/24 I’ve purchased a small sun blocking umbrella. Plan to have it with me everywhere during daylight hours. Especially while out on deck. Can somewhat protect myself if stuck without shade. I also have a sun blocking hat with brim that will cover my neck.

You have given great advice about turning off phones as soon as you arrive on the ship to avoid roaming fees. Many people now have cell service connected to their watches as well, and might be easy to forget. Be sure to turn off cell service to phones, iPads, watches, etc.

GREAT tips!! My husband and I are going on our first cruise in 2025 for my 60th birthday and our 9th wedding anniversary. I am looking forward to this and many more hopefully to come.

I have a history of motion sickness, but I have cruised frequently and never gotten sick; the trick is to buy Ginger pills/capsules from a health food store and begin taking a couple of them, three times a day, for 2 days before the cruise begins, straight through the second day of cruising. It’s a cheap fix, and I’ve experienced no side affects from the Ginger. After all, it’s only a herb! (Ginger Ale is still an old treatment for nausea, right?)

90. Take a photo of your home and email address:

Ok, two issues with this tip, 1 – how will whoever finds your phone get pass the phone’s access code to actually go in to see your photos? 2 – even if they somehow did (or for whatever reason the phone had no access code), then what happens if in the very rare case the person who finds it is a criminal? They now know that this address is currently unoccupied and ripe for ‘business’. They can just call a buddy to go round there.

Best to hope someone was nice enough to have handed in your lost phone to guest services.

I have read a ton of really good ideas for cruising, but I have yet to see anything about whether to bring an umbrella

I’d say no. It’s bulky and often only needed for a few minutes where you can just go inside on the ship or duck under cover in port. Instead, a rain jacket is a good idea as it’s more versatile.

Holy Moly, yes take an umbrella. Our last cruise this past November 2022 rained EVERY day of the 14 days of this Caribbean cruise. The ONLY saving thing about this soggy cruise was a blessing that we stayed in the Haven and an umbrella was furnished in the room. I felt sorry for all the other passengers who bought ponchos or simply were soaked. Sometimes a problem for space but invest in a small compact umbrella -you will be happy you did!

I didn’t see a comment about doing laundry. It’s true that laundry soap is available in dispensers as well as dryer sheets, but if you bring your own it’s certainly cheaper and you can bring the brand you like. Also if you are planning to wash your own clothes, plan to use the laundry room when there is publicized social activity, and you won’t be standing in line to use the machines since many won’t want to miss the activity and the machines won’t be in use.

Just FYI most ports have shuttles from docks to airports and returns. I Uber to airport take shuttle to docks and reverse on return. No parking fees and I’ve found you can do the round trip Uber and all for around a hundred dollars (sometimes less than that). I’ve also found booking specialty activities much as mixology class are better to book as far in advance as possible…..they fill up fast. Also you didn’t mention about tipping for you cabin stewards, dinner waiters….etc. I always take cash for that. Happy Sailing….

Hello, I cruise all the time and can never get an answer as to why it’s hit or miss on the pool being warm or cold. I always complain if it’s cold and always get the same answer, ( corporate makes the decision. ) If a cruise ship wants people to enjoy themselves then why prevent them from having a great time swimming at the pool. I don’t even need to put my foot in the pool. If there are people in the pool then it’s warm… if it’s cold nobody is in it. Can anyone explain?

Not sure about the heating of pools… but if there are a bunch of people in the pool and it’s warm, then you may not want to think too much about where that warmth is coming from!

I find it handy to bring plastic foldable over the door hanger for bathroom which has many pockets. You can put all the bathroom essentials to avoid a clutter on bathroom counter. Another tip is bring towel clips for lounge chairs so the towels stay in place.

It’s interesting that cruise lines will give cheap fares to people during the off-seasons. My fiance and I want to go on a cruise but we don’t make a lot of money. I’ll have to tell her that if we go during November or something close to that.

Just remember, if you are cruising in the Caribbean, that’s still hurricane season.

I have a small round essential oil diffuser that I use with lavender oil in my stateroom…so relaxing as the boat rocks you to sleep each night!

A roll of Grab Wrap (like saran makes) is so nice to have to keep late night desserts fresh in the cabin fridge for morning.

They want to sell me packages? Going from Quebec to Boston on Norwegian. Any visit suggestions?

Thank Youall !

Always bring a list of what you need too.

Duct Tape has so many uses.. Highlighter to mark the Daily Programs too.

Now with those dang Electric Swithes when you leave your cabin.. Bring an Old Credit Card to insert and Duct tAPE THAT TOO..

We always bring water shoes when we cruise. Some excursions require them & they’re also a less slippery alternative to flip-flops on the pool deck.

Any rules about decorating your room door?

Not that we’ve seen. We would suggest using only non-marking items — so tape, not glue — to stick things to the door.

I have read elsewhere that tape is forbidden on the door. It makes a mess for the staff to clean up. I can understand that some tapes are non-marking, but you can get almost anything with magnets, or just glue magnets to almost anything.

If active military or a vet and have ID ask about discount. Our parking was free in Galveston for a 7 night cruise.

Should you book your next cruise when you are on board?

Our opinion is that it’s a decent idea, but it’s not like you’ll get amazing deals that aren’t anywhere else. They often give you onboard credit to book. Prices are around what you’ll find online.

Many cruise companies offer matching deposits on future cruises when booked on board. I believe Norwegian matches up to $250.

Yes you can get a good deal when you book whilst on board, we did, got $250 for the next cruise which we are going to use on our next cruise., used it for the deposit.

You really shouldn’t put any unofficial stamps in your passport. It even says in the fine print in the back that any unofficial markings inside could invalidate your passport. It most likely won’t ever happen unless you end up with an unforgiving immigration officer and then you’re stuck! I got off with a warning once and thankfully my passport has been renewed since then! Don’t risk it!

Thank you for the information as it is very helpful as well as those that offered others. We are going on our first cruise ever right after Thanksgiving. It is our 25th anniversary and we are looking forward to it.

Glad you found it useful. Congratulations on the anniversary! Twenty-five years is amazing

One of the worse things you can suggest and encourage is bringing fruit and food ashore. When you come into the USA, fruit and certain foods are NOT allowed to be brought into the country. Respect this when traveling to other countries. It’s the LAW there too!

Australia has very strict biosecurity regulations. No food of any type will be allowed in to the country. There will be a quarantine inspection at each port and sometimes even sniffer dogs will be present. This will happen at each port of call in Australia, even if the cruise visits only Australian ports.

The last time I cruised, our cruise critic group had a meet & greet, a gift exchange, a slot game and a special farewell luncheon. If someone from the group gets together with the hospitality people, they can arrange snacks, special meals and gifts for your groups. This was on the Celebrity and it was fantastic.

#95. EXTREAMLY BAD IDEA! A passport can be voided if random non official stamps are in it. Only official government immigration stamps are allowed

That’s “technically” true, however, we’ve never heard of it happening. We’ve also personally had these stamps in our passport and never had any questions about them.

if you are in the Port and you ask the Port Athorites where to get your passport stamped then it is not a “voidable” stamp. Because it is issued by that countries government. Those stamps would be part of the Visa Program if the passport was NOT from the US, I.E. if the Passport was Chinese the cruises might have needed a Visa in the first place and that stamp would end up being part of the Visa.

This were great tips!! I consider myself as an experienced cruiser and I learned a lot.

It’s good to know that breakfast and lunch are also served in the main dining room, rather than just the buffet. My wife and I are hoping that we can go on a sunset cruise tour for our anniversary. We’ll have to check out the main dining room for food, as well as seeing if there are any secret decks if we can make it on a cruise.

Yes I did this on my last cruise. I knew but never took advantage of it.

Great tips people! Going on our first cruise in December (Princess cruises. Miami to LA. Via Panama Canal) Any other advice/tips very welcome!

OOPS~ I guess I’d still be paying for gas… Still better than $20 / day to park on a 7 to 10 day cruise, or leaving my car in some dirt lot for even $8 /day.

Leaving your car at your home airport for a week or more can run up a pretty big bill. If you have the time, consider renting a car from the airport the day before your flight. When you return it to the airport just take the auto rental shuttle to the terminal. Do the opposite when you return home. We are Costco members and can rent a near new (more likely to make it to the airport or it will be replaced if it breaks down) for $25 to $30 per day.

Great Idea! We’re in FL and to drive and park at any other port besides Port Canaveral (we’re 20 minutes away from that, and can always find someone to drop us off) will cost at least another $160. Gas, parking fees, etc. We can rent a car here ($35) drive it to the port and turn it in. Do the same for the trip home. We’ve just saved $90 bucks, and don’t have to worry about leaving the car in some lot, or putting up to an extra 400 miles on it! (if we go to Miami round trip that is!)

Excellent post that was concise and highly informative. Just the recommendation to look for off port parking saved me over $100 dollars. The shuttle to the ship only took us 10 minutes and we were dropped off closer to the ship than the people that parked in the ship parking area.

Awesome article! I highly appreciate your effort!

Thank you for the great article, you did an incredible job 🙂

Great post! I will spread the word.

Bring a hole punch for your ship card to put on a lanyard–some ships have them in the casino-just ask them to punch a hole and give you the lanyard–makes it easy to carry card around neck.

#53 gives bad advice. It links to a power cable that is expressly forbidden as it has a built in surge protector.

Chris, great catch! We’ve updated the section to note that surge protectors are no longer allowed on ships.

They tell you to bring one without a power surge in it

That’s right!

These were all very helpful tips, many of which we have used on our past cruises. Another tip is: The walls in the cabins are metal, even if they don’t look like it. We take magnetic clips and hooks and use them to hold all the papers that are left in the cabin mailbox as well as to hang things that might need to dry. It helps keep the cabin organized.

Rose, great tip! Love it.

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107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies

This Cruise Life

Carnival celebration cruise tips and tricks.

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As part of our Carnival Celebration Social Media Takeover, we’ve been posting a series of 60-second tips and tricks about this epic ship. While we’ve dubbed it “Carnival Celebration week,” these tips and tricks equally apply to Excel-class sister ship Mardi Gras, with one exception highlighted below.

Carnival Celebration Social Media Takeover Welcome

Tip 1: Carnival Celebration Food

Tip 2: Ultimate Playground, Bolt Ultimate Sea Coaster (roller coaster), Zip Line, More

Tip 3: Stateroom Selection

Tip 4: Best Place to Catch Sail Away

Tip 5: The Shows

Tip 6: Gambling in the Casino

Tip 7: The Crew, Fun Squad

Surprise! We loved our sailing experience on the Carnival Celebration so much that we decided to do a Back-to-Back experience of our social media takeover!

Tip 8: locker room and sauna are included.

Tip 9: Try the Pizza at Miami Slice

Tip 10: Embarkation Day!

Tip 11: The Golden Jubilee and The Gateway

Tip 12: Hidden Food Spots

Tip 13: Enjoying multiple Appetizers and Entrees in specialty dining

Tip 14: Debarkation Process

Lots More Carnival Celebration Video Content

Don’t want to miss any of the tips? Check back here or be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel ! We’ve created an entire Carnival Celebration Playlist . Join us in geeking out over Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship.

We’ve got a bunch of Carnival Celebration Blog Posts on our website as well. Check them out below.

Our First Live Q&A Session: January 22, 2023
Carnival Celebration Begins Sea Trials
The Gateway
The Golden Jubilee
820 Biscayne
Carnival Celebration Details Released

One might say, we’re big fans of this ship! Have you sailed Carnival Celebration? Share your thoughts below!

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  • Cruise Advice

35 Carnival Vista Cruise Tips

Doug Parker

Doug Parker

  • July 17, 2018

carnival vista cruise tips

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We have 35  Carnival Vista tips  for you to use before your next Carnival sailing. Larger than their previous vessels and packed with features, some of which were firsts for not only Carnival but the cruise industry, Vista was specifically designed to help passengers connect with the oceans.

Read More: Ultimate Guide to Carnival Vista

The SkyRide took guests to new heights; the Dreamscape funnels allowed them to see things in a different light; and the Havana area redefined what relaxation could be.

Carnival Vista sailing

Since then, Vista has been joined by her sister, the Carnival Horizon (with a third, the Panorama , on her way). Whether you’re sailing this ship for the first time or taking her for another spin, I thought I’d offer you some tips, tricks and notes that will help you get the most out of your time on board. Some of these will be specific to the Vista, while others are more general and could be applied to numerous ships across the Carnival fleet. And while some might seem obvious to seasoned cruisers, it’s worth remembering when you first approached a cruise ship and, staring at the floating city parked alongside the pier, wondered what the heck you’d gotten yourself into… and wished someone had better prepared you. Which is exactly what we’re going to do here today.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

1. Hit the SkyRide sooner rather than later.

Carnival Cruise Ship

If it’s open when you board the ship, go for it! There are a couple reasons I suggest this. For one thing, the SkyRide is crazy popular. That first day, people are so busy getting their bearings and settling in that the last thing on their minds is pedaling around the ship on a suspended bicycle. Plus, what if you put this off and suddenly, on the last day, find yourself wanting to hop on… only to have bad weather shut the attraction down? The SkyRide is one of the most unique attractions you’ll find on any ship, and it would be a shame to miss out on experiencing it.

Watch Now: Video tour of SkyRide on Carnival Horizon

2. Don’t get sucked in by the atrium’s Dreamscape.

carnival vista dreamscape

Vista makes a heck of a great impression, given that the first thing you see upon boarding is the gorgeous atrium. And there, right at the center of this space, is the Dreamscape funnel, drawing people toward it like a moth to a flame… especially since at her base sits a bar, perfectly positioned to welcome you to your vacation with a Kiss On The Lips. (The cocktail, not an actual buss!) But a whole lot of people are going to be heading for that bar and, guess what? There are a lot of other great spots to grab a cocktail without having to deal with the crowds.

3. Don’t try sneaking into the Havana Retreat.

Carnival Horizon cruise ship

You won’t be the first person to attempt it, nor will you be the last. You also won’t be the first (or last) person to be politely but firmly turned away. And while you might find that annoying, remember: the folks staying in the Havana section paid extra for the privilege of having this sanctuary to themselves during the daytime. If you order a hamburger in a restaurant, you can’t be upset because someone at the next table was willing to pay for the steak.

4. Do hit the Havana Retreat after 7 p.m.

During my sailings on both Vista and Horizon , it surprised me how many people didn’t realize that after 7 p.m., the Havana area is open to all guests. Don’t make the same mistake… be sure to head here after 7 p.m.! If the timing works out, this is a great place to watch a sunset or enjoy a sailaway. It’s also a beautiful place to enjoy a late-night cocktail as you look up at the stars and listen to the ship’s wake.

5. You can order food at the RedFrog Pub.

redfrog pub vista

This isn’t the case on many Carnival ships, because there isn’t a galley nearby. But on Vista , there’s a nice menu of pub snacks — including wings and conch fritters — which can be ordered for $3.33 each.

6. You can pour your own beer.

pour your own beer carnival

Several of the tables in the RedFrog Pub are now topped with taps, meaning you can play bartender for yourself and your pals. Simply swipe your Sail & Sign card and pour your brew. There’s a similar set-up in the Lido Marketplace at the PYOB (Pour Your Own Beer) station. But be warned: The CHEERS! program doesn’t cover these dispensers.

7. Take a tour of the onboard brewery.

beer cellar inside Vista

Yes, they really do brew beer on board. And yes, you can find out all about how it’s done by signing up for a tour of the brewing facilities. Keep an eye on the Fun Times for information, or ask at Guest Services. But if you’re interested, make sure to sign up in advance, as there is only limited space available.

Read More: This Brewmaster Has the Coolest Job at Sea

8. There’s a bar in one of the main dining rooms.

Is the rest of your dinner party running late? If you happen to be eating in the Horizons dining room, you can step up to the bar — small though it may be — and enjoy a drink while you wait. It makes sense that this is in the Horizon dining room, as this — the larger of the two main dining rooms on board — is the venue where people with Your Time Dining are served. Because the Reflections dining room has set times, you’re not likely to be hanging around waiting for others to arrive.

9. The Alchemy Bar is a great place for pre-dinner drinks.

drinks at ALCHEMY BAR

Looking for a special way to kick off the evening? Head to the Alchemy Bar for a drinks before dinner or a show. Although I should warn you: The potent potions whipped up by the mixologists here are so good, you might just cancel all your plans in order to hang out here. The drinks are a bit more pricey than you might find elsewhere on the ship, but they’re also covered by your CHEERS! package.

Read More: Alchemy Bar Review

10. You can get bottled water with dinner if you have the CHEERS! package.

Here’s one I only recently discovered: With the CHEERS! package, you can get bottled water from the wait staff if you don’t want to drink the (perfectly fine) desalinized water otherwise offered. (This is a good time to point out that if you’re even thinking about getting the CHEERS! package, look to see what’s covered… you might be surprised. It’s really a heck of a value.)

Read More: 9 Carnival Drink Package Misconceptions

11. Order bottled water for your room.

BOTTLED WATER CARNIVAL

Unlike on some of the other cruise lines, it’s relatively inexpensive to order bottled water on Carnival. You can get a 12-pack for $4.50, and while you can get the same deal once on board the ship, by ordering in advance it’s one less thing you have to worry about. Bottles of water are included in the beverage packages, but if you’re like me, you like having bottles in your room, too. I like knowing there’s a bottle of water available if I get up in the night, or a couple in the fridge that I can take with me on a shore excursion. So whether or not I purchase a beverage package, I still always order water for my stateroom.

Read More: Review of Carnival Steakhouse [New Menu]

12. There’s outdoor exercise equipment.

Vista is one of only five ships in the Carnival fleet to have the SkyFitness open-air exercise facility in addition to a traditional gym. (The other ships are the Breeze , Horizon , Magic and Sunshine . The Panorama will also have one when she is introduced.) The area features mostly elliptical-type equipment, but offers an amazing opportunity to exercise while breathing in that refreshing sea air!

13. Pick your stateroom carefully.

Carnival Vista balcony stateroom

A mistake made by a whole lot of first-time cruisers? Taking whatever stateroom they are assigned by the Carnival site when they book. Whether you are booking your own trip or using a travel advisor, it’s definitely worth making sure you know not only where your cabin is, but what is above and below it. Nobody wants to be stuck in a room directly beneath a nightclub or other loud venue, especially if they are a light sleeper.

Read More: Why Stateroom Location Matters

14. You may not need that extra extension cord.

At long last, cruise ships are catching up with the technological needs of the common passenger! On Vista , staterooms have two regular outlets and two USB outlets, making it easier to have multiple devices plugged in at one time. I was easily able to charge my iPhone, GoPro and laptop… and still had an available outlet!

15. Watch out for “speed bumps!”

There are several spots around the ship — mostly on decks three, four and five —  where, near the fire doors, there are metal plates that are raised a couple inches above the floor. I saw more than a few people trip on them, and I’d think they’d be especially difficult for people with mobility issues. So keep your eyes open.

16. Make sure to pack sneakers!

skycourse at Carnival Vista

Both the ropes course and the SkyRide require you to wear closed toed shoes. Also, with so many options for activities in the SportsSquare, you’re going to want to make sure you have the proper shoes.

17. Explore the SportsSquare.

I was honestly surprised at some of the stuff there is to do at the SportsSquare. Sure, nearly every ship has some form of miniature golf and ping pong. But fooseball? Twister? And something I’ve never seen anywhere before, a cool combo of soccer and pool in which you kick oversized “pool balls” atop a large astroturfed pool table into “pockets” that look like soccer nets. Trust me, this will bring out the competitive nature in anyone.

18. Strike a pose. In fact, strike lots of poses.

I know that a lot of people avoid the ship photographers as if their cameras were going to steal their souls. And I get it: Most people never buy the photographs. Heck, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have. Despite that, I still jump in front of those cameras and urge you to do the same. For one thing, it’s not like there’s any obligation to buy. And you never know when they might snap a picture that really captures you looking and feeling your best. And if you’re thinking, “But think of all the waste when they have to throw out all those prints!” No worries… they’ve switched over to a digital system.

19. Set up a photo shoot you’ll never forget.

Is this a special cruise? Maybe the first family vacation you’ve taken in ages, or a birthday celebration? If you contact the onboard Dream Studio, you can talk to them about arranging a special photoshoot, whether somewhere on the ship or even in a port of call. It might not be cheap, but isn’t it time you replaced that old Sears Portrait Gallery photo you’ve had in the living room for 22 years?

20. There are a lot of ways to look at your pictures. As I mentioned before, Vista has joined the digital age, meaning that when you want to look at the pictures snapped by the various photographers around the ship, you don’t have to deal with prints. In fact, you don’t even have to go to the Pixels studio. If you’ve downloaded the Carnival Hub App (which we’ll talk more about in a minute), you can view them on any of your devices. You can also look at them on the TV screen in your stateroom!

21. That Carnival Hub app I just mentioned? Download it.

carnival hub app

Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. While a few years back, the app was pretty limited in what you could do with it, that has definitely changed. Now, you can access the Fun Times (and set notifications so you don’t miss the events highlighted there), make dinner reservations, look at your photographs. And they’re constantly updating the app to make it more user friendly. It’s free, it’s easy to access and it’s crazy useful.

Read More: 11 Reasons to Download the Hub App

22. Pace yourself.

Many first timers go through stages… sort of like the various stages of grief. There’s the excitement of the first day, followed quickly by the sense that there is absolutely no way that they will be able to see and do everything they want in the week or so they are on board. By midweek, this becomes a sense of dread as the clock ticks down toward embarkation day. Well, let me offer some words of advice: Don’t fall into this trap. You’re right… you aren’t going to be able to see and do everything you want to. You won’t be able to eat in every restaurant, see every show and taste every one of the cocktails on the Alchemy Bar menu. That’s why, even before you get off the ship, you’ll start planning for your next cruise. That’s also why you have to pace yourself. If you try and do everything, you’ll wind up overdoing it and having a miserable time. Slow down. And remember to relax. You are, after all, on vacation.

23. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the layout.

Carnival vista grand turk

One great way to help cut down on your stress is to take a little time to figure out where things on the ship are. It’s actually not as intimidating as you might at first thing. Sure, the ship is huge, but remember: Many of her decks are ones which you’ll never actually go to because they’re nothing but staterooms. A great way to get excited about the ship is to look at deck plans. Where is the dining room to which you’ve been assigned? Where are the bars you’re interested in hitting? What’s the nearest staircase and elevator to your stateroom?

24. Don’t look at too many pictures before you board.

This one is tough, I know. Especially given what I said in the previous tip, not to mention the fact that a lot of us get so excited about our upcoming cruise that we want to spend all day on the internet watching videos and reading reviews and finding out everything we can. But one of the joys of exploring a new ship is the things that make you go “Ooooh!” I’ll never forget the first time I saw the Dreamscape in person. It literally took my breath away.

25. The Tides Pool will be quieter than the Beach Pool.

Tides pool carnival vista

The Beach Pool is where the action is at… meaning this is basically party central. But if you want to get away from that atmosphere, head to the aft of deck 10 and enjoy the relative peace of the Tides Pool. There’s a nice bar here, and the Seafood Shack is there if you want to grab a bite to eat, as is Pizzeria del Capitano. (Bet you can guess what they specialize in!) Want some place even quieter? Read on!

26. Serenity lives up to its name.

serenity deck carnival vista

Sometimes, even people traveling with their kids need a break from their kids… and that is why the Serenity deck exists. As a 21-and-over retreat for adults, it is the closest thing to heaven you’re going to find on a cruise ship. There are comfy clamshells, hammocks perfect for two, adult beverages… and not a young one in sight.

27. Serenity has its own version of a sea day lunch.

As if Serenity wasn’t amazing enough, they raise the bar on sea days. Because that’s when they open up Fresh Creations, an incredible salad bar featuring a wide variety of amazing, healthy treats. That means you don’t have to run down to the buffet or to one of the other food options down on the Lido deck. You can stay right where you are and have an amazing midday meal.

Read more: Serenity Creations Salad Bar Menu  

28. The internet is actually worth the price.

In a perfect world, we would all completely disconnect the minute we got on board a ship. But nobody knows better than I do that sometimes, you need internet. And although on some of Carnival’s older ships, it’s not good for much more than posting to social media, the internet on Vista — like sister-ship Horizon — is pretty darn good. Plus, they offer a variety of packages, meaning you can pay for what you need as opposed to having to buy a more expensive, one-size-fits-all internet plan.

Read More: Carnival WiFi Packages and Plans Detailed

29. You can earn free coffee.

carnival coffee shop

When you head to the coffee shop for that first caffeine kick of the trip, make sure to ask for a punch card. After you’ve bought six coffees, the seventh is free. If you left the card in the room, no worries… ask for another. Bring them both back later, and they’ll combine your punches onto one card for you.

Read More: 10 Reasons to Visit Carnival’s Coffee Bar

30. Have room service deliver your breakfast early.

Carnival Horizon fruits

The early bird doesn’t just get the worm… he also gets his room service delivery on time. Think of ordering breakfast from room service like going to the doctor’s office. (It sounds weird, but go with me here.) If you’re the first appointment of the day, the doctor will probably see you pretty close to on time. But if his office opens at 8 a.m. and your appointment is at 10 a.m., his schedule has probably run into a few hiccups. You’re going to wind up sitting in the waiting room an extra half hour, and then in the actual exam room a while, too. Same here.

The folks who order their room service for bright and early are far more likely to get what they ordered when they want it than are people who want their eggs delivered at 8:30 a.m. By then, a whole lot of little things can have set things back, lessening the odds of your meal arriving on time. I tend to order mine for somewhere between 5:30 and 7 a.m., and it’s almost always on time… if not a few minutes early. Also, don’t forget to fill out your room service order form and leave it on your door the night before. Sure, you can call and order in the morning, but… well, you’ve just become one of those hiccups we were talking about earlier, so count on it taking longer than you’d probably like.

31. Consider booking the Chef’s Table.

empty Chef's table

Eating in the steakhouse or one of the other specialty restaurants makes for a lovely evening. But foodies can ramp things up, big time, by making a reservation for the Chef’s Table. Featuring a tour of the galley followed by a multi-course meal that is (as cliched as it might sound) a feast for the senses, this promises to be a night you won’t forget. But reserve as early as possible, because it fills up quickly. This isn’t the kind of thing you can decide to do at the last minute.

Read More: 5 Reasons to Experience The Chef’s Table

32. Get to the atrium parties early.

There ain’t no party like an atrium party… but boy, can they get crowded. If you want to grab a seat — whether at the bar or anywhere else in the area — get there early. Long before the parties start, the space becomes standing room only!

33. The Library Bar is a great place to get your wine on.

Library bar carnival vista

Not only does the Library Bar have self-serve wine dispensers, but there’s a wonderful area just outside this venue that is perfect for sitting and enjoying a little peace and quiet. As with the beer dispensers mentioned earlier, the wine dispensers are not covered by your CHEERS! package. Instead, when you swipe your Sign & Sail card, the charge goes to your account.

34. Many of the nighttime hot spots are great daytime getaways.

On land, if you visit a nightclub during the day, it tends to be sort of a sad affair. On a cruise ship, however, it can be just the opposite. Some of the places in which people dance and drink the night away become, in the daylight, wonderful spots to curl up and read a good book or play a game of cards.

35. Step outside your comfort zone.

Consider this a personal challenge from me to you. And it’s one that, for a long time, I struggled with. Every time I boarded a ship, I went to the restaurants I knew, drank the beer I was familiar with, saw shows that I knew I’d like. Lately, however, I’ve worked hard to expand my horizons by saying “yes” to think that in the past I’d have never considered.

Want more? 10 Tips for Sailing Carnival Cruise Line

If you’ve sailed on the Carnival Vista, what tips, tricks or recommendations would you have for future guests? 

photo: Andy Newman

#carnival #cruise #travel #carnivalvista

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Cruise worker hid under beds and installed cameras to film kids, feds say

carnival cruise secret tips

A cruise ship worker is facing federal charges after he allegedly installed cameras in guest bathrooms to secretly record children showering and hid under beds to film naked guests.

Arvin Joseph Mirasol was arrested March 3 in Florida on charges of producing and possessing child pornography, according to federal court documents, just after the Royal Caribbean Group’s Symphony of the Seas docked in Fort Lauderdale.

Mirasol’s federal public defenders were not immediately available for comment Wednesday. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told The Washington Post in a statement: “We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior. We immediately reported this to law enforcement and terminated the crew member, and we will continue to fully cooperate with authorities.”

The case began Feb. 26 when Royal Caribbean staff alerted federal authorities to allegations Mirasol had installed secret cameras to record guests, Department of Homeland Security special agent Michelle Maglione wrote in a criminal complaint filed in federal court. Maglione wrote that she investigates claims of child pornography as a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force .

Federal authorities were waiting for the Symphony of the Seas as the vessel arrived at Port Everglades coming from Haiti, she wrote. Mirasol told law enforcement officers his job was to clean guest rooms, which included restocking towels and making beds.

On board, agents took Mirasol’s cellphone along with two SD cards and a USB drive.

Agents found “numerous videos of naked females undressing in the bathroom as well as videos of child pornography” on the USB stick, Maglione wrote.

One was a 114.61 gigabyte video lasting about 5 minutes that began showing Mirasol set up the camera pointing at the shower, Maglione wrote. Shortly after, the footage allegedly showed a girl wearing a cruise wristband indicating she is a child enter the restroom and shower. Agents estimate she was about 10 years old.

Maglione wrote that agents also found that “hidden cameras” and “teen on bed” along with similar terms had been searched on Mirasol’s phone.

In a filmed interview with law enforcement officers, Mirasol admitted he would install the cameras while restocking the guest rooms. He said he had been doing so since he began working on the vessel in December, Maglione wrote.

“I want to control it, but I can’t,” Mirasol told officers, according to the court document. He said he targeted girls 16 and older.

“Mirasol also stated that while the guests were taking a shower, he would enter the rooms and hide under the bed while recording them naked with his cellular device.”

Sexual misconduct has long been an issue on cruise ships and has spurred a series of recent lawsuits and criminal charges. Sex crimes aboard cruise ships coming to and from the United States rose from 2022 to 2023, The Post has reported . The 131 instances of sexual assault or rape in 2023 represent less than 1 percent of the tens of millions of passengers who take cruises each year.

A Miami jury in 2022 found that Carnival Cruise Line owed a woman more than $10 million after she claimed she was raped by a crew member in 2018, The Post reported. A guest on a Margaritaville at Sea cruise filed suit in January and claimed that a bartender on the ship raped her, leading to a pregnancy she “was forced to terminate.” That case was filed in the same federal court set to decide Mirasol’s fate.

Maglione recommended Mirasol remain in custody before his trial. As of Wednesday morning, Mirasol remained in Broward County’s Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach pending trial, according to online jail records. A citizen of the Philippines, his arrest file included a hold for the U.S. Marshals.

A court hearing is scheduled for March 18, according to online court records.

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    Up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 ounces or less, per person. Whatever you choose, know that those sealed drinks need to be packed in your carry-on! 16. Pack Your Carry-On Bag Strategically. Whether you decide to travel carry-on only or not, there is an art to packing a clever carry-on.

  9. 12 Carnival Cruise Tips and Tricks for Maximum Cruising Fun

    1. Bring Wine and Soda On Board. Passengers can bring two bottles of wine and a 12-pack of canned soda on board at the start of a cruise. However, it is inconvenient to bring these liquids with you if you fly to your departure port. Instead, check Yelp or Google maps in advance to find a wine store near your port.

  10. Carnival Cruise Information, Tips & Tricks

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    Watch on. Head to a bar on the ship and you can expect to pay $6-7 for a brew, before you add in the mandatory 15% tip. But on Carnival there's one spot where you can find beer for just $4 a glass. In the main buffet (also known as the Lido Marketplace) there are four automated beer stations.

  13. Carnival Cruise Tips Everyone Should Know

    Cruise Tips and Gratuities. As of May 1, 2022, Carnival Cruise charges gratuities of USD 14.50 per person per day for standard staterooms. However, suite staterooms are higher at USD 16.50. Gratuities are either prepaid before embarkation day or added to your sail and sign card and are due at the end of your cruise.

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    One of the best first-time cruise tips is learning that you can access a layout of the ships. Research your ship and enjoy virtual tours and view deck plans. Download the deck plans to a PDF file, print it out and review it before your cruise. For ships you've already booked, the Carnival Hub App is a great tool that allows you to access your ...

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