10 Things to Know Before Your Carnival Cruise

Carnival cruises are among the top favorites for travelers all over the world.

But what should you know before setting sail? One thing’s for sure, you’ll have a great time and probably start planning your next trip as soon as you get home.

Still, let’s take a closer look at what to expect and how to best prepare for a perfect Carnival cruise!

Pack smart

Seriously, pack a small carry-on with the essentials for the first hours on board: swimsuit, change of clothes, toothbrush, chargers, and any meds.

I once forgot my swimsuit in the hold and no, the pool bar won’t pause for you.

And speaking of chargers, bring a multi-outlet power strip (brand new, still in box) because stateroom outlets are usually not enough.

Oh, and don’t forget water shoes, some of Carnival’s ships and destinations have amazing water parks and ropes courses where closed-toe shoes are required, and beaches can be surprisingly rocky.

A light pop-up laundry hamper (one from the dollar store) is another trick to keep dirty clothes off the floor, even if it feels a bit nerdy to bring one.

Expect a casual vibe and dress comfortably

Carnival is all about fun, not formal fashion shows. You will see jeans, athletic shorts, and t-shirts even at dinner.

One cruiser joked that on Carnival, you can rock jeans on “elegant night” and nobody will blink.

Many of you already know my opinion on this: I like to keep up the tradition of dressing elegantly, but if you want to, you can leave your tuxedo or elegant dress at home.

You can still pack a few “nicer” outfits if you feel like getting fancied up, but don’t expect people to judge you for shorts and flip-flops on Carnival.

Use the Carnival Hub app

Carnival has a phone app (or booklet) that lists EVERYTHING going on: trivia, dance classes, shows, movies, karaoke, you name it.

It’s basically your personal cruise calendar. I recommend scrolling through it before or right after embarkation and picking a couple of things per day that sound fun.

Seriously, don’t try to do everything, or you’ll run around exhausted and miss half of the fun.

Also, don’t skip the muster drill, that short safety thing on Day 1. They won’t let the ship sail without it, so might as well get it over with early (sometimes you can complete it on your phone or by video).

After that, you’re free to sip that welcome daiquiri on the pool deck!

Dining: Buffet, burger line, or fancy

The food situation on Carnival is, well, abundant.

The main dining room and Lido buffet are included in your fare, and they do get restocked all day long.

Some people rave about the 24/7 pizza or Guy’s Burger Joint, but heads-up: those lines can get really long at peak times.

My tip: try to go to dinner a bit early to beat the crowd and get a seat of your choice. Also, don’t rely on the buffet menu to change much every day.

Some people say the breakfast starts to feel repetitive after a while. I honestly didn’t feel that way, but I also don’t usually do very long cruises.

Bring some cash and know the rules for drinks

Carnival ships are mostly cashless; everything is charged to your Sail & Sign card (room key) once you swipe a credit card at embarkation.

Still, it’s smart to stash a bit of cash: you’ll need $1 bills for tipping on excursion shuttles or tipping cabin stewards if you want, and cash is also accepted at the casino.

Now, drink policy. You can bring some booze: one sealed 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per person when you board (they charge a $15 corkage fee to open it).

No distilled spirits in luggage, though. And here’s a biggie: no plastic water bottles or big soda bottles are allowed onboard.

The rule is canned or boxed drinks only (max 12 cans per person).

My recommendation? Bring a refillable bottle or just drink the (free!) water from the taps, or buy their bottled water to your room ($5-ish for 12 small bottles) if needed.

If you love soda, consider buying the “Bottomless Bubbles” unlimited soda package, or bring powdered drink mixes (and empty water bottles you can refill in the buffet).

On shore days

When the ship docks at a new port, you have options. You can dash off the ship and go see the sights (beach, snorkeling, shopping) by yourself or on a Carnival shore excursion.

If you prefer mellow, you can also stay on the ship when everyone else gets off. On those days, the pool deck becomes a ghost town, there’s no wait for the buffets, no jammed ice cream machine, and sometimes the whole Lido Deck feels like it’s yours.

I personally loved grabbing an unattended hot tub or lounge chair, but keep an eye on time if you do leave the ship, it sails on the ship’s time, not local port time.

PRO TIP: Set your watch to ship time each morning.

Oh, and if you want to do something special, book at least one excursion in advance. Some of the best ones sell out quickly. Just check that it’s not one of the ports where an excursion isn’t necessary.

Keep track of ship time and safety

Building on that last point: always follow the ship’s clock.

If Puerto Rico wakes up at 8 am local, the ship might already be saying “bye-bye” at 7:30 ship time.

Don’t be that person sprinting down the dock to catch a departing ship!

Also, that morning muster drill I mentioned is mandatory; it’s usually done via video/app or a quick in-person session showing your life jacket. Pay attention to it (I know, it seems boring) so you know where to meet if anything happens.

Besides that, just remember the common-sense rules: no peeing in the pool, no shouting at night, and listen to your crew, they really do look out for guests.

Also read: 10 Things Cruise Ship Workers Hate to See From Passengers.

Prepare to disconnect

Don’t expect super-fast internet out at sea. Carnival Wi-Fi has improved significantly in recent years, but you are still out at sea.

Also, pay attention to your mobile phone network. One couple admitted they accidentally forgot to turn off roaming and came home with a “whopping” phone bill.

My advice: enjoy being offline for the most part! Download books, podcasts, or Netflix shows to your devices before boarding.

If you really need to check social media or email, wait until port or buy a higher-tier Internet package. Otherwise, think of this as a tech detox: you’ll live!

Tips and extras are automatic

Carnival handles tips automatically, so no need to keep cash on hand for gratuities (they automatically add about $15/day per person for your cabin steward and dining staff).

Of course, if someone does something extra-nice, you can always slip a few bucks in an envelope.

Other things to budget for: spa treatments, specialty dining, or souvenirs. You can also take advantage of embarkation day specials.

The spa and specialty restaurants often have discounted rates on Day 1, when everyone else is still figuring out which deck they’re on. I included this tip in my Carnival cruise money-saving guide.

Have fun (no one’s keeping score)

Seriously, remember why you’re on a cruise. Feel free to embarrass yourself in karaoke or attempt an original dance move at the ’80s night, it’s all good.

Want to wear a pirate hat at breakfast because it amuses you? Go for it. Love towel animals? Learn to make a swan (or request the turndown crew’s artwork).

Carnival is all about letting loose and enjoying the unexpected. If you forget a phone charger or get sunscreen in your eyes, it’ll probably make a funny story later (and hey, the crew is really friendly and will always try to help, and you can always ask for these things at the guest services).

At the end of the day, no matter how many sunburns, pimples, or lost flip-flops happen, you’ll still end up thinking, “That was awesome.”

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