Welcome back to Byte Size Cruises! We are a travel agency in Philadelphia, PA, specializing in all things cruises. If you enjoy cruising or want to learn more about cruise vacations, you're in the right place! Our goal is to share the best and most up-to-date information with you so you can plan an amazing cruise vacation. Today, we are going to talk about Carnival Cruiseline. Carnival has a reputation for being the most fun cruise line on the high seas, and if you're looking for a party, this is the place to be. Here, we will break down our TOP 10 TIPS if you want to have an amazing Carnival cruise. To watch this post on our YouTube channel, click here. If you enjoy this post and want to learn more about cruising, click to subscribe! We would love to have you on this journey with us.
If you've never been on a Carnival cruise, you've probably seen some of their commercials. They often feature big names and personalities promoting their vacations, and their ships often have lots of exciting bells and whistles. Over time, they have developed a reputation for being the party ships and even a little wild. You'll hear people say everything from "Carnival is the Walmart of the cruise lines" to "the Bachelor party in the Atlantic." In our experience, Carnival can be a TON of fun. Today we are looking to give you accurate information about Carnival Cruises so you can choose if Carnival is the best fit for your next cruise. Let's get into our tips!
1: Don't stress about Formal Night. One thing you'll learn very quickly about Carnival is that the dress is casual. They do have a Formal Night on most cruises, and it's kind of a "dress your best" evening; however, that does not mean super formal and stuffy. Often, on Formal Night, they'll have many different and more upscale options in the restaurants and dining room. If you're not into dressing up, going more casual is no problem. That doesn't mean it's a good idea to wear your bathing suit into the dining room; however, wearing a nice pair of jeans or a polo is not a big deal.
2. Book packages AHEAD of embarking! This applies to just about every cruise line, and it is worth mentioning again. There are no deals once you get on the ship. The longer you wait to book a package, the more it costs. If you are deadset on getting the drink package, WiFi package, etc., get it as soon as possible. This will also help relieve stress as you get closer to your vacation.
3. Make sure you pick the right ship. When you go on vacation, you are looking for something specific, and most likely, it is unique to you and what you enjoy. Generally, if you pick a smaller, older ship doing a 3 or 4-day cruise, those are considered "booze cruises." On these types of cruises, there is often a heavy drinking crowd and a lot of partying. Going on a cruise that leaves on Friday and comes back on Monday? That's a party cruise. If you do a longer cruise, it most likely will be more laid back and reserved. The longer the cruise, the older the crowd tends to be, simply because younger generations often have difficulty taking off work for 10- or 14-day cruises. Take all of this into account when choosing your ship and sailing to ensure you're making the best choice.
4. Blue Iguana Cantina. If you're on a ship with this restaurant and looking for a quieter place to have breakfast, definitely check it out. This restaurant is included in your cruise fare, and breakfast is served there every morning. If you're tired of the buffet and want to avoid the crowds, check out this place.
5. Print your boarding pass! You should do this before you get to port (preferably at home before you leave). We don't often focus on this tip anymore because so much of our lives are digital. However, for Carnival in particular, it is very helpful during the boarding process. Remember, there is always a chance that your phone will die, that you won't be able to find the reservation on the app, etc. etc. Carnival boards quickly and efficiently, and having this single piece of paper ready to go can help to set your mind at ease and make the process seamless.
6. Order water for your room. This is not Carnival specific but good to know overall for cruising. Sometimes, if you don't have the drink package, getting bottled water on the ship can be a hassle. It's nice to have it available in your room, especially if you wake up in the middle of the night and are thirsty. We recommend pre-purchasing and ordering water to be sent to your room so this is taken care of beforehand. You can do this right from the Carnival website or from the cruise app. You can also do this with soda! If you preorder soda, it will be delivered to your room, and then you can take it with you to the pool, a show, etc. Along the same lines, Carnival is one of the cruise lines where you can bring up to 12 cans of soda with you onto the ship. You cannot bring plastic bottles (so no bottles of water), but you can bring one bottle of wine per person. If you are bringing drinks onto the ship, it must be in your carry-on (not your checked luggage).
7. Go to the parties! This is something Carnival does REALLY well. The sailaway and themed parties on Carnival are amazing and worth checking out. If you've been on another cruise, the parties are often fun but quieter and more reserved. Not on Carnival. When you go to the sailaway party, there will be THOUSANDS of people, and the cruise directors will be very involved in ensuring everyone has a blast.
8. Faster to the Fun. This is optional and is an extra package available to purchase. It will give you priority embarkation at the port, access to your room early so you can drop off your luggage, priority luggage delivery, priority disembarkation, and tendering, etc. On a short cruise, this could cost anywhere from $50 to $60 per person; on a longer cruise, it will be more. This is totally up to what you prioritize and whether being first is important to you.
9. Serenity Deck. This is the hidden gem of most Carnival ships and our favorite place to relax. It is an adults-only sundeck area with really nice chairs, daybeds, clamshells, and fun places to sit, connect, and chill. On a lot of the newer ships, there is also a bar. This is the quiet place on the ship and a great place to spend a peaceful afternoon. This space is included in your cruise fare and we recommend you check it out.
10. Last but not least... Ensure you bring your phone or an iPad to use the cruise app! You will need this on a Carnival cruise for the daily activities that are going on around the ship, to make reservations, etc.
Bonus tip: Take advantage of brunch on sea days! Carnival serves brunch on days you are at sea, and it is delicious. It's also a bit of a change of pace and maybe gives you a chance to get some extra sleep on these days.
Those are our TOP 10 TIPS for an amazing Carnival cruise! Have you cruised on Carnival before? Would you add anything to our list? We would love to hear from you! Comment below.