TOP 10 CRUISE TIPS

​MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CRUISE VACATION

1. The perfectly packed carry on is essential. Carnival will deliver your luggage to your room by the early evening of the first night of the cruise, so you only need to carry on a limited number of items. Our perfect carry on has a swimsuit, toiletries, medication, a change of clothes for dinner, and our travel documents like passports, birth certificates, and boarding passes.
   Pro Tip: Many cruise lines allow you to bring a bottle of wine in your carry on, 1 per adult passenger. This can’t go in your checked luggage, so plan accordingly!
    

2. Download the Carnival Hub App before you get onboard. You’ll use the app to plan your days, check in for dining, chat with friends ($5pp), check out your photos, review your spending activity, and so much more.
   Pro Tip: Share your cruise countdown to your social media – you’ll discover how many of your friends like to cruise and have great tips for you!
    

3. Explore the ship on day 1. You’ve just stepped onboard a floating resort with dozens of decks to explore. Where should you start? Your first stop should always be your muster station. You’ll complete a brief, mandatory safety briefing and then you’re ready to discover the vessel. If you have limited mobility, consider grabbing some lunch and getting a good seat for the sail away party by the main pool on the Lido deck.
   Pro Tip: Watch ship tours on YouTube prior to your sailing. Use the ship map on the Hub App or reference the maps near each elevator bank.
    

4. A little cash goes a long way. While you may have your onboard expenses set to go on your credit card, you’ll still want some cash on hand throughout your trip. Tipping the in-port luggage porters is appreciated, around $1-$2 per bag. You might also consider cash tips for cruise staff who go above and beyond. Extra tips charged to your Sail & Sign account do eventually get to the Crew, but they show up on paychecks instead of cash in hand. Your American dollars will work in port for most Caribbean cruises, and you will need these for all cab rides along with some shops and vendors. Like your mom always said, “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have.”
   Pro Tip: A nice tip to your bartender or server on the first day often helps you stand out from the crowd the rest of the trip.
    

5. Pack with a purpose. We’ve all done – you’re probably going to overpack. It’s helpful to remember that you’re never going to see these people again, and nobody cares if you wear the same swimsuit more than once. Plan outfits with interchangeable items to maximize your outfit utility. That same strategy applies to footwear.
   Pro Tip: Wash and fold laundry service is available at a cost of $15 flat rate per bag. This can really help for longer cruises.
    

6. Plan for phone/data usage. Put your phone in Airplane mode before the sail away party. Your wireless bill could become terrifying if your family is scrolling TikTok at sea. If you want to stay connected during the voyage, pre-purchase the WiFi package. You’ll save money by purchasing it ahead of time.
   Pro Tip: Share WiFi when possible. This is pretty easy to do amongst couples. The bigger your group is or the more they scroll may mean more WiFi packages. Only 1 device can use the package at any given time.
    

7. Treat yourself! For specialty dining, make your reservations in advance to get the best dining time. For the spa, wait until you get onboard and take advantage of port day rates. These are almost always more affordable on the ship than in advance.
   Pro Tip: Think you might be a spa person? Stop by the spa on Day 1 while you’re exploring and see if they have any specials or packages that appeal to you.
    

8. Plan to pay the standard gratuities. These can be pre-paid before your sailing or they can be applied to your onboard account. These gratuities are paid for many of the people you see, like dining room servers and stateroom attendants, as well as many people you don’t see, like the buffet attendants and crew who pick up drinks and trash left behind all around the ship. 
   Pro Tip: While these can be adjusted or removed from your account, we strongly encourage guests to consider standard gratuities part of your total cruise fare. Recognize exceptional service with cash.
    

9. Allow yourself to have fun. The people on the ship fall into 1 of 2 groups. The first group is made up of thousands of strangers who will never see you again. The second group is close family and friends who know and love you for who you are. Let yourself cut loose during vacation. Get involved with the activities and get out of your comfort zone now and then. You might just discover that your two left feet have turned into a professional Cupid Shuffle dancer.
   Pro Tip, and this is for the adults only: Go see the Love & Marriage show. Just trust us.
    

10. Be kind. For the duration of your cruise, remember that a cruise is all about a group of people living their best life for a few days. It does not matter who you voted for, where you worship, what you do for work, who you love, what color your skin is, how much money you make, where you’re from, or how smart/talented you may be. When you’re on the cruise, you’re just another person who loves having fun with their family and friends. When given the choice, always choose to be kind. You might just be making someone else’s trip better without knowing it.
    Pro Tip: Talk to strangers, you might just make a cruise friend for life.