Carnival Cruise Guide
Pre-Cruise
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Carnival does an online check-in 14 days prior to sailing (16 days for Platinum and Diamond Members).
Here, you will input information such as:
Passport information
Emergency Contacts
Confirm Dining/Bed Preferences
Select your Boarding Time
Set up your Onboard Spending Account
To get your preference of Boarding Time, the sooner you do this, the better!
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You need:
Passport
OR
Driver’s License and Official Birth Certificate (not a copy!)
For children traveling with one parent, it’s a very strong suggestion to have a signed and notarized travel form from the other parent who isn’t traveling. This can be asked for upon embarkation and is to combat trafficking.
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Carnival uses their HUB App for all their onboard information, including dining, excursions, account and going-ons.
Link Button Below
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Pre-Paid Gratuities: This is an option most cruise lines have; you have the option to prepay gratuities, which are distributed between both the staff you interact with, as well as the behind the scenes staff, such a cooks, dishwashers, cleaners, etc.
Tipping on Board: Many cruisers prefer to tip in addition to, or in lieu of, prepaid gratuities. Some of those staff to consider are:
Dock Porters who handle your check luggage
Bartenders and Bar Servers
Wait Staff
Housekeeping
Excursion Tour Guides and Drivers
Onboard
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Pre-purchasing drink packages is nearly always worth it, as there are commonly discounts; when you buy onboard, it is nearly always full price.
Packages include:
Cheers - Premium Alcohol package, which also includes water, soda, mocktails, milkshakes and specialty coffee
Zero-Proof - Same as the Cheers package, minus the alcohol
Bottomless Bubbles - includes soda
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There are a number of specialty restaurants onboard. One of the key considerations is choosing sooner than later; there are only so many spots and they are first come first serve. They can be purchased as soon as you make a booking.
Specialty Restaurants:
Chef’s Table
Hibachi
Steakhouse
Rudi’s Seagrill
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Excursions are sponsored both by the cruise, as well as third party vendors. There are hundreds to choose from, from ATV tours, to snorkeling, catamarans, museum and brewery tours, or just a chill day at the beach!
Excursions are first come first serve and fill up, and they are available at the time of booking.
While excursions are mainly at port stops, there are some to consider onboard or after the cruise!
Behind the Scenes Tour - check out the ship on a tour of the crew area, including the kitchens and bridge
Transportation - Carnival offers shuttle service to nearby airports for both arrival and departure and can be found in the Excursions tab.
Handlebar Holidays also works through Viator/Trip Advisor and can help!
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Carnival offers a number of theme nights, where there is optional dress. If you choose not to dress a certain way, you are still able to enter all areas, including restaurants - as long as you are following the restaurants dress code.
Themes:
Elegant Night - from polos and khakis to ballgowns - and everything in between!
80’ Rock and Glow Party - Dress like the 80’s for the deck party!
White Hot Glow Party - Everyone wears white, which glows under the blacklights on the deck!
Embarkation Day
What to expect when you arrive at the terminal
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Curbside: When you arrive curbside, you’ll be met with cruise porters. They will take your check bags and make sure they make them to outside your room for mid afternoon. They don’t take backpacks, laptop bags or purses.
Remember that whatever you carry with you, you will carry until rooms open, which is normally around 2:30.
Boarding Time: Carnival is normally pretty strict on arriving for your boarding window. Arriving early may find you waiting outside, or waiting in the terminal seats.
Boarding Documents: Having your boarding documents on you is key! More important is having them handy, either in a purse or pocket. They use the paper to scan you and check you in, and it will also be your way to buy drinks for the first little bit! Once rooms open, you can go to your room and get your Sail and Sign Card.
What to Expect: Once inside, you’ll go through security, check in and passport control. From there, you will head onto the ship when your boarding number is called! This can take a little bit of time.
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Priority #1 when getting onboard!
The muster drill must be completed by every guest. On your boarding document, you will have your assigned muster station. There are plenty of guests to help you find your way. While it’s exciting to wander the ship, this is the only required item both prior to setting sail, and for the entire sailing!
If you don’t check in by a certain time, they will shut you off from getting anything to drink, including water, until you have checked in.
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There is quite a bit available when you board the ship! Most bars are open, pools and hot tubs are open and there are plenty of dining options.
The natural flow is to go to the buffet, but also check out:
Lido Buffet
Guy’s Burgers : The Best Burgers and Fries at Sea
Blue Iguana: Tacos and Burritos
Big Chicken: Fried chicken and fries
Guy’s Pig and Anchor BBQ Smokehouse: BBQ, including brisket, pulled pork, chicken and more
Pizzeria
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Once onboard, the HUB App is your central info center. It has:
all activities on board
Open hours for bars and restaurants
Music and shows
Your account statement
Reservations
Chat - The chat option works for your party, and anyone you add. It’s a one time fee of $5.
Additionally, you can hit the heart next to an activity to make it as an interest to you. Anyone in your party can see this, which helps coordinate activities!
The App will tell you, but be sure to turn on airplane mode and turn off data! You will need to connect to the ships free WIFI to use the app.