carnival cruise line boarding pass

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New boarding pass with zone number

By Lottacruises , December 17, 2018 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Lottacruises

I have heard that the boarding passes are changing again, this time with the addition of a zone to wait in before boarding starts. This would be in lieu of the zone cards that some ports give out. I would expect no changes to the priority ones, but for non priority passengers yes.

Has anyone seen these yet? They are due out any day now.

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I see a spot, but nothing in there....

CC Rider 69

Completed my 2-28-19 Panama check-in yesterday and noticed I had a D-1 Boarding Zone. This was NOT on the boarding pass I had for the Freedom two weeks ago. I guess it's like the arrival appointment time. We Plat's have to pick one, and they CCl have to give us a zone number. I'm hopeful we'll still have to priority board without any unforeseen delay.

Anyislandwilldo

I checked mine as well and no number.  I'm platinum so I get to board first.  It also shows muster station A5.  This is for the Dream.  Does anyone know where this is?

D-1, should we speculate?

sanmarcosman

20 minutes ago, Lottacruises said: D-1, should we speculate?

Rum Runners will be 4-F

My boarding zone is empty-   we are platinum    and I expect to be boarding when we arrive so no boarding zone should be required for us    

Muster stations-- you can know when you board-   its not really necessary to know that before you board.     THe location will be listed on the cabin door

I was 1-H, then 1-A back in the day and real nervous.

1 hour ago, mkcurran said: I see a spot, but nothing in there....

2 minutes ago, serene56 said: My boarding zone is empty-   we are platinum    and I expect to be boarding when we arrive so no boarding zone should be required for us     Muster stations-- you can know when you board-   its not really necessary to know that before you board.     THe location will be listed on the cabin door

Yeah, well we're platinum as well and got D-1. We still plan on walking right in.

8 minutes ago, CC Rider 69 said: Yeah, well we're platinum as well and got D-1. We still plan on walking right in.

D-1 as a boarding zone Or is that your MUSTER station?

1 hour ago, Anyislandwilldo said: I checked mine as well and no number.  I'm platinum so I get to board first.  It also shows muster station A5.  This is for the Dream.  Does anyone know where this is?

Just off the Dream a few weeks ago. 

A-5 is main theater 5th floor.  (A-3, A-4 are main theater 3rd floor, main theater 4th floor).

B-3 is the mid-ship restaurant 3rd floor.  B-4 is the mid-ship restaurant 4th floor.

Not sure where C and D were.  (I think they are some of the lounges or night clubs).

E-3 and E-4 were the aft restaurant 3rd and 4th floor.

31 minutes ago, CC Rider 69 said: I was 1-H, then 1-A back in the day and real nervous.

If I get A-1, I will be looking for the steak.  

crewsweeper

41 minutes ago, serene56 said:   D-1 as a boarding zone Or is that your MUSTER station?  

I bet that's muster, good call!

4 minutes ago, crewsweeper said: Maybe they're shifting to the airline boarding paradigm.  Board by Decks starting with 12 forward and working down to deck 1 aft.

Maybe? I was wondering about the correlation between check in time and boarding zone. It will be interesting to see If it corresponds to the deck instead. With rooms not being ready until 130 though I don't see why.

Hopefully a non priority passenger will post a pic of one with a number.

Athankfulheart

The fwd theatre on deck 5

27 minutes ago, Lottacruises said: I bet that's muster, good call!

Not Muster, it's Station G. If I can figure out how to post a copy I will.

13 minutes ago, Athankfulheart said: The fwd theatre on deck 5

12171802.PDF

1 hour ago, Lottacruises said: Hopefully a non priority passenger will post a pic of one with a number.

I'm non-priority, vifp red. Have not paid for the FTTF. Chose 11:30 boarding.

It said lower on the pass that I am in Muster E.

21 minutes ago, KristiK said:     I'm non-priority, vifp red. Have not paid for the FTTF. Chose 11:30 boarding. It said lower on the pass that I am in Muster E.    

Thanks for posting. A1 sounds like an early zone but by 1130 the numbers should be on up there. Maybe that's the equivalent of 27 but that's high....

I know the zone cards they currently use there  are about 25 per zone, one card per cabin.

I'm non-priority gold status with an arrival appt of 11:30-12:00. Boarding zone is currently blank.

6 minutes ago, Ehpride said: I'm non-priority gold status with an arrival appt of 11:30-12:00. Boarding zone is currently blank.

The plot thickens, lol.

I've heard that they won't begin using the boarding pass zones immediately, but will tell us to ignore that and go by the zone card they give us. Talk about confusion! 

7 minutes ago, Lottacruises said: The plot thickens, lol. I've heard that they won't begin using the boarding pass zones immediately, but will tell us to ignore that and go by the zone card they give us. Talk about confusion! 

 I wonder if it depends on the port and/or sail date. I'll check back later and see if it updates I guess.

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Carnival Cruise Line has a beverage policy you may not know about

F or many people on a cruise, their vacation starts when they're sitting at the pool deck or at one of the many onboard bars having their first drink. It's a symbolic move that represents the break between a normal day, where you probably don't have a big, fruity tropical adult beverage before 2 p.m.  

But, even when you're on a cruise, you have responsibilities. On the first day of a cruise passengers have things they should do including making specialty dining reservations, checking on their internet package, and making sure they're grouped properly with any traveling companions in the main dining room.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares controversial onboard dining policy

Not doing those things may impact their vacation, but it won't get them in trouble with the cruise line. Cruisers, however, do have one thing they absolutely have to do within their first few hours onboard, the muster drill.

Muster drills vary a bit by cruise line. Royal Caribbean, for example, allows passengers to watch safety videos on their phones and then check in at their physical muster station. This is the place on the ship the passenger is supposed to report in the unlikely event of an emergency.

This virtual muster system replaced the pre-Covid way of doing the same drill where every passenger had to gather at their station for a safety presentation. That often led to long waits as passengers showed up late, leaving people standing in the sun waiting on inconsiderate passengers.

Under that old system, when muster time came all services shut down on the ship. This forced people to stop eating, drinking, and having fun to get to their muster station.

The virtual muster does not require a shipwide shutdown, but Carnival Cruise Line ( CCL ) does have a way to force some passengers to stop what they're doing and go to their muster station.

Carnival can shut you off at its bars

Carnival Brand Ambassador recently shared a note about how the cruise line's muster drill works on his Facebook page. 

"Yesterday on the posts I was answering there were 40-plus comments about the E-Muster. Before I discuss a few points please allow me to recap what every guest needs to do with regard to your safety and the current procedures," he wrote.

• Your muster station is written on your boarding pass and on your sail and sign card.
• I really do recommend that before you graze on Lido or grab a Fun Ship Special that you go directly to your muster station
• Once there you present your boarding pass or sail and sign card to the crew member. They will explain that the place you are at now is your muster station and in a real emergency or whenever the emergency signal is given that this is the place you must come to.
• Once you have checked at the muster station on embarkation day there will be a brief but very important demonstration on how to wear the life jacket

Heald shared that most passengers follow the rules and do the muster drill, but he shared that the cruise line has a method to force people to complete the drill if they decide to put the fun first.

"And it is brilliant to see that 99% of people know to go to their Muster Station as soon as possible and that after the purchase of two drinks a third will not be possible as your account will be locked until you have checked in," he wrote.

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That's a policy that will likely surprise many passengers when they get shut off, but it's a logical rule as people should be relatively sober when completing the safety drill.

Carnival comments on potential muster changes

While most passengers prefer the new muster drill because it's much faster than the old system and does not put you at the mercy of other passengers, some want the old system to return.

"I noticed in the posts yesterday that there were a few people who think we should return to the old system of the safety briefing with guests in the lounges or in front of the lifeboats. I think possibly that the majority of these people wanted this so we could return a smoking area in the casino while it is closed and used as a muster station on embarkation day. I understand why but this is not something that I think will ever happen," he shared.

Under the old system, the casino was only used for the muster drill during the allotted time leaving it as a place people could smoke most of the day. Heald's post got over 2,400 comments and nearly all supported the new version of the muster drill. 

"Yes, we like the current process. Under the more traditional system of standing outside near a lifeboat, on a different cruise line, we saw a passenger pass out in the heat while waiting for our briefing. The only thing that kept them from face-planting on the deck was the crush of people around them," posted Doug Ryan.

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People passing out in the heat under the old system was a common theme.

"Best thing that came out of the pandemic. Love it. Old way was a horrible way to start your vacation. Many times I had seen people faint due to heat and the amount of people crammed together," added Nancy W. Ryan.

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To fill out your cruise ticket, you’ll need the following pieces.

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Short answer… you don’t “need” this cruise ticket. If you try to use it to board your cruise, you’ll probably get some strange looks. And possibly some attention from Maritime Security Personnel.

So why did we take the time and effort to build this tool?

We’re cruise fans too. When we booked our first cruise, we expected a cruise ticket to show up in our mailbox. We had a spot on the refrigerator all cleared in preparation for its arrival.

That cruise ticket never came. Instead, we were emailed a boring text-based document… it didn’t make it to our refrigerator.

Over the years, our cruising community has expressed similar frustrations. They’ve told us that they want a pretty, printed cruise ticket to help build the anticipation. Here are some of the most common reasons our members want this.

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19 Shocking Cruise Ship Secrets And Tips I Learned After Going On Seven Cruises

Booking a cruise is just like buying a car, meaning you can negotiate the price and get bonus perks, so ~never~ pay the price you see online.

BuzzFeed Staff

Hey! I'm Spencer , and I just got back from my seventh cruise. I've seen and learned a lot of really cool behind-the-scenes secrets while traveling the world on these ships, so I wanted to share some of the most interesting ones with you here, including some tips that may be helpful for your own future adventures. Enjoy!

For context, I've traveled on four different cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, and now Carnival. My most recent trip was a seven-day sail aboard Carnival Firenze, which traveled throughout Mexico. This was my first time on Carnival, and I somehow managed to get a private tour to areas of the ship that even the most elite VIP passengers will never, ever see. Here are some things I learned along the way.

1. First of all, yes, most cruise ships have both a jail and a morgue on board. These were the only areas of the ship where I wasn't allowed to visit (trust me, I asked multiple times) because they're strictly off limits unless you find them the old-fashioned way...by getting arrested or dying. I didn't want to take those chances, but I did find out that shorter cruises tend to see a LOT more action in the jails (aka "the brig"). Guests typically treat shorter sailings as more of a party by taking advantage of unlimited drink packages, and more alcohol = more fights on board, so needing a jail totally makes sense.

In terms of the morgues, those are usually located on one of the ship's lowest decks. Think of these as giant refrigerators that, depending on the ship's size, can house anywhere from a couple to nearly a dozen bodies. The majority of these deaths are obviously of natural causes – for reference, as of 2018, fewer than  25%  of global passengers were under the age of 30 – but the average age of a cruise ship passenger is getting younger and younger every year now.

2. The higher you are on a ship, the more movement you'll feel, so if you're someone who tends to get motion sickness then you should definitely book your room on the lowest floor possible (just not in the morgue). I've personally never had an issue with motion sickness on a cruise, but I'll occasionally see passengers with at-sea patches behind their ears for help. Contrary to what you might think, though, you'll probably get the best night's sleep of your life on a cruise. Yes, there's a ~very~ slight rocking, but it'll feel sort of like you're a baby again who's being lulled to sleep in a cradle. Just trust me on this one.

This is a photo of what my cabin looked like. I also included a picture of my bathroom, which was a little bigger than I thought it'd be. The shower itself was a pretty decent size and left me with room to spare (if you want a point of reference, I'm 5'11" [a real 5'11", not a Tinder 5'11"]).

I was in a balcony room on Deck 6, and, again, I had no issues with motion sickness. I've also sailed on higher deck levels before (up to Deck 9) and didn't have any issues then either. In terms of where on each deck you should book your cabin (i.e. midship, aft, or forward), that doesn’t actually matter because you won’t really feel the motion differently in other spots on the same deck.

3. But I promise that you probably won't even have to worry about getting seasick. I got a private tour of the ship's control room, and I learned that they do a lottttt to combat any movement from the waves. For example, ships try to hit waves at a 45-degree angle because that's apparently the most effective way to help break them up and cut down on the extra motion. Ships also have stabilizers that can extend outwardly (picture, like, wings on an airplane), which help to keep things super, super stable.

Think of these stabilizers like fins on a fish, so they help each ship glide along the water. I spoke with the captain and some of the engineers in the control room, and they explained that the stabilizers require extra fuel and also decrease the speed of the ship, so they tend to not use them unless the water is pretty rocky.

4. Before you book a cruise, you should know that they're sort of like buying a car: you can negotiate! Basically, the price you see online should almost never be the price you pay (though they often offer great discounts that you should absolutely check out!). Instead, it's best to call and book your trip with an actual person (i.e. someone who works for the cruise line, a travel agent, etc.). For example, travel agents are usually free, and they can get you a ton of bonus perks and huge discounts on rooms for a fraction of the original price.

A lot of cruise lines occasionally offer "buy one, get one" discounts, as well as a ton of other sales around specific holidays. There are also a bunch of sites where you can book discounted sailings to fill the leftover rooms that haven't sold, so just do a little research. Also, places like BJ's and Sam's Club offer trip discounts if you have a membership card to their stores, so take advantage! I booked a previous cruise through one of them a few years back and got a massive discount for my room, onboard credit, and free gratuities. It pays to save!

5. And if you ever want a "free" cruise then you should definitely hit up the casinos on board. It's super common to get extra perks on future sailings (like free Wi-Fi, drink packages, or even entire trips altogether) if you're someone who gambles a lot. Basically, each bet is tied to your personal cruise card (i.e. your room key) every time you play the slots or put money down at a table game. Your total winnings are tracked on that card, and you'll earn points based on the amount you spend. The more you gamble, the more likely you are to get offered those extra perks.

I'm always mesmerized by cruise casinos because they literally created their own mini Las Vegas on board. Like, there are pit bosses and thousands of tiny security cameras and everything else that a real casino would have. The only downside is that these casinos are obviously much smaller than what you'd find in Vegas, so they probably won't have every table game you're looking for. Yes, they have roulette (my favorite) and craps and half a dozen variations of poker, but I still haven't found a pai gow table on board. Maybe next time!

6. The cool thing about cruises – especially for people who are ages 18 through 20 – is that they can sort of make their own laws while at sea. This is known as Maritime Law. For example, gambling at the casino is only allowed once the ship is at least 12 miles from land, but that also means they can lower the age limit from 21 to 18 while in international waters. The legal drinking age on most cruise ships is also 18, not 21.

There were actually two separate casinos on my recent Carnival ship. The larger area allowed smoking and had hundreds of slot machines, a ton of table games, and "adult" claw machines that replaced stuffed animals for huge wads of cash. The other casino, though, was the designated non-smoking area, and even though it was much smaller it still got the job done.

I'm still surprised that people are allowed to smoke in the main casino (there was also a cigar room on board but on a different deck), but, hey, I guess that's Vegas, baby.

7. There are themed cruises for pretty much anything you could ever imagine – for example, Royal Caribbean offers an immersive Star Trek cruise , and Norwegian is even offering a 2,300-person nude cruise next year – but on "regular" cruises there are certain SFW guidelines that guests (and staff!) need to adhere to. For instance, it's forbidden for staff to hook up with guests on board. Doing so would result in a pretty quick termination of their employment contract. Also, there are thousandsssss of security cameras on board, so, like, good luck trying to get away with it.

Years ago I befriended one of the gym trainers on a cruise, and he revealed that he actually managed to hook up with a guest on board. Because there are so many security cameras, it would have been impossible for either of them to visit the other person's cabin without getting caught, so he told me they hooked up in a random towel closet. I guess this is why a lot of cruise ship employees end up dating each other instead of the guests, because it's way less risky and a lot more convenient.

8. Speaking of hooking up on board, there was so much "swinging" happening between couples that a lot of cruise lines had to create training programs for the staff. Basically, decorating cabin doors is a pretty common thing for elite cruisers (as pictured below), and the secret symbol for swingers is an upside-down pineapple. As a result, a lot of couples would decorate their doors with upside-down pineapples to let other guests know that they're open for fun. According to the high-up staff member I talked to, employees on their previous ship were instructed to report any pineapple decorations found on board.

That staff member also told me that this whole issue started because some couples would leave their cabin doors ajar as an invitation for other swingers. However, the housekeeping staff (who are truly, truly incredible!) unknowingly entered while the couples were ~doing the deed~. Employees on cruises typically come from all over the world (on my Carnival ship, they had staff from over 100 different nations), which means they also have certain religious backgrounds. Spotting and removing these pineapple decorations was done in an effort to protect the staff and their religious beliefs.

9. You have to remember that these ships are basically floating cities, so they have everything you could ever want. Like, I've been on ships with a freaking ice skating rink before, and my recent Carnival sailing had an 18-hole mini golf course on the top deck. Also, itineraries are left outside each guest's stateroom every morning, and they list alllll the activities you can do (or not do!) that day. Want to try your luck at bingo? Have at it. Always wanted to go to an art auction? They've got those too. Want to prove your sports, movie, history, Harry Potter , Friends , or just general knowledge at dozens of trivia events? Be their guest! I promise that you'll never be bored on a cruise.

Cruises even have LGBTQ+ mixers, silent disco parties, wine tastings, and cooking classes. There are also discreet meetings for those who are sober or in recovery. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are labeled as "Friends of Bill" events on each ship's itinerary (this is a nod to Bill Wilson, who co-founded AA).

10. Keep in mind that items on cruise ships are definitely more expensive than what you'd normally pay on land. The spa and salon on my last sailing, for example, charged $175 for a 75-minute Swedish massage and $99 for a "red carpet blowout." If that's somehow in your budget then have at it, but if you want heavily discounted prices then you should book those treatments on days when the ship is at port – this is when most passengers will be off the vessel, so a lot of cruise lines offer discounted treatments to help fill up those time slots and prevent people from hitting up the spas on land. Again, though, you can typically negotiate for certain spa perks when booking!

Every cruise I've been on has had a full-fledged shopping mall on board. There are dozens of stores that sell everything from designer goods to any type of candy or snack you could want. Again, these prices are pretty steep, so if you forget to bring sunscreen then it's probably best to just wait until you get to the next port. Even so, there are definitely ways to save money while cruising! 

11. The more you cruise with a specific line, the more perks you'll get (like free room upgrades, priority access, unlimited internet, and on-board casino credit). These loyalty programs are based on the number of days you sail with each line, so, for example, everyone on their first Carnival cruise is in the Blue tier, then they reach Red status on their second sailing, and once they hit 25 days on board they'll reach the Gold tier. Platinum is achieved after 75 total days of sailing, and Diamond status is for people who've sailed for at least 200 days. I met so many Diamond members that my jaw kind of dropped – like, these people LOVE cruises and go on several a year. It isn't just a vacation for them; it's a full-on hobby.

While doing some research, I also found out that Royal Caribbean even has a "Pinnacle Club" for people who've sailed for over 700 days on their ships, which, holy crap??? So if you're prepared to spend the equivalent of two years on a ship (which kind of sounds like a dream to me, to be honest), then get ready for the ultimate form of perks and luxury.

12. Another way to save money is by booking your shore excursions through third-party vendors. Booking through the ship is definitely the most expensive route, but it's also the safest because you'll never have to worry about the ship leaving without you. Ships have strict docking schedules to follow on port days, so they ~will~ leave without you if you aren't back in time. Otherwise, you're in charge of making it to the next port of call on your own, so good luck. If you have a short port day and are only docked for a few hours then I'd suggest booking through the ship so you don't risk getting left behind.

Cruise lines display all excursion reviews from past passengers on their site, so this can be such a helpful resource to prevent you from booking something that sounds good on paper but is underwhelming in reality (been there, done that). I typically book excursions through vendors who are waiting outside as soon as everyone gets off the ship, but I do a lot of research ahead of time and will often find things to do that aren't even offered by the cruise.

You obviously don't have to go on any excursions at all either. There have been plenty of times when I've simply explored on my own by walking around, grabbing a bite from a local spot, or relaxing at the beach. You also don't even have to leave the ship if you don't want to. In fact, port days are incredible for peak relaxation on board because it's way more quiet, and you'll never struggle to find an open lounger by the pool. Free is my favorite number, so remember that there will always be plenty to do no matter your budget.

13. You should know that there are some banned items you simply can't bring on a cruise. Before boarding, you'll quickly go through security, sort of like a relaxed version of TSA at the airport. The whole process typically only takes a few minutes. Depending on the cruise line, you're usually allowed to bring up to 12 cans of non-alcoholic beverages (my friend brought a six-pack of ginger ale in case she felt seasick, and those made it through just fine. I also saw a bunch of Diet Coke-obsessed people with whole cases, and those made it through too). Candles, hot plates, and the obvious knives, guns, fireworks, etc. are all banned as well.

Bottled water isn't typically allowed through security when checking in, but you can absolutely buy it on board. More importantly, though, there will be plenty of free fill-up stations for your water bottle throughout the ship, so that's an easy fix. I can't stress enough how necessary having a water bottle is, so make sure you bring one (both for your regular onboard living but also for when you leave the ship on port days).

14. Also, don't even try to sneak alcohol on board because you'll definitely get caught. Each ship is different, but for the most part you're only allowed one unopened bottle of wine or champagne in your carry-on. If you buy spirits while at port then you'll have to check them when you get back on the ship, and they'll be returned when you disembark. After all, most cruises only become profitable after adding up their total alcohol sales and casino winnings (I guess it helps that Carnival's 27 ships, for example, sell over 14,000 margaritas each day). For reference, a standard cocktail on my last trip was about $13, and the unlimited drink packages were about $60 a day.

Depending on the cruise line, these unlimited drink packages can range from $55 to over $100 each day. These include specialty coffees, soda, beer, wine, cocktails, and the works. Remember, some people treat cruises like parties (my last sailing had FIVE different types of espresso martinis at the bars, so, like, I sort of don't blame them), and they certainly try to get the most bang for their buck. I've done the math, and you need to have at least five specialty drinks per day to make the unlimited package "worth it."

Non-alcoholic drink packages also exist, like a $9.50-a-day pass that'll get you unlimited sodas. But there are free drinks on board, whether you're at the buffet or sit-down dining, like tap water, brewed coffee, hot teas, hot chocolate, lemonade, iced tea, fruit juices (fresh-pressed ones will cost extra), and milk.

15. Cruise ships obviously make tons (and I mean that literally, not figuratively) of food every single sailing. After all, the average ship holds about 3,000 guests and 1,000 crew members. An employee who I spoke with said Carnival serves about 30,000 burgers every single day, and they'll make over 1.3 million pounds of French fries each year. There are free sit-down restaurants and buffets on board, but there are also specialty dining options that guests can pay for, like hibachi and steak houses. My family always sticks with the free dining options, and I think non-cruisers will be shocked by how good the food actually is, but the best part is that you can order several appetizers, entrées, and desserts per person, so, like, you'll never leave hungry.

All of that food used to mean there's a lot of food waste, but that's not really the case anymore. In fact, a lot of ships are working on how to become more and more sustainable and environmentally friendly. For example, rather than dumping food waste in the water, I saw on my private tour that Carnival has a "food digester" room. Basically, it's a massive machine filled with bacteria that'll break down all the food scraps, just like how your own body breaks down food. Yes, it smelled just as bad as you probably think it would.

Similarly, some ships are even using artificial intelligence to make their sailings more environmentally friendly. While in the control room, one of the engineers told me about how their ship is using new AI that basically studies each sailing so it can recommend new ways to make future voyages as efficient as possible, like by creating energy-saving routes and so on.

16. If you're worried about potentially having bad weather on your cruise then, well, think again. Yes, there's obviously a lot to do inside, but a lot of ships also have retractable roofs on their top decks. So, if it's ever too cold, rainy, or windy then they can usually cover the entire lido deck (i.e. where most of the pools, jacuzzis, and lounge chairs are), which means you can relax "outside" even in the terrible weather. A lot of ships also offer indoor pools and adults-only sections, so, like, you'll totally be set no matter what.

My recent cruise had a regular pool and jacuzzi setup on the lido deck, but there was also another section at the back of the ship with one more pool and two more jacuzzis. There was even a "Serenity" section at the top deck, which served as an "adults-only retreat," meaning passengers younger than 18 weren't allowed. That area unfortunately filled up super fast on sailing days, so if you ever go on a ship with one I'd definitely recommend getting there early.

A lot of ships also offer private areas and decks that are exclusive to only those who book certain rooms. This secluded area was much quieter, super luxurious, and actually felt like I was on a totally different ship. If you're booking a cruise and see that there's an exclusive area, you should absolutely ask about how to get access ahead of time.

17. It's tradition for every ship to have a celebrity godmother or godfather who christens the boat before the inaugural launch, and those celebs are typically rewarded with free cruises for life (!) on that specific vessel. For example, Oprah Winfrey is the godmother of a Holland America ship, and even Audrey Hepburn was the godmother of a Princess ship. Carnival only has two godfathers, and they're fittingly both for their Italian-themed cruises: Jay Leno and now Jonathan Bennett. Christening the ship used to entail smashing a bottle of champagne against its hull, but the night before my cruise I got to watch Jonathan Bennett pour a bottle of champagne over the ship's bell to toast its safe travels instead.

Judi Dench is also the godmother of a ship, and it famously took her three different attempts to break the bottle of champagne against its hull, which then sprayed all over her. That was in 2002, so I think switching to this new christening method with the ship's bell is definitely less messy.

18. One of the most unique parts about cruising is that you'll typically find a cool towel animal waiting for you after returning to your cabin every night. The housekeeping staff are all trained in towel folding, so after dinner you'll have a new animal sitting on your bed or, in my case, hanging from the ceiling. A lot of ships even host towel-folding classes during sailings so guests can learn how to make the animals themselves, and how-to books are also available in the bookstore. I found out that Carnival's housekeeping team makes about 15 million towel animals every single year, which, holy crap.

One morning while on my way to the gym, I walked through the lido deck and saw hundreds of towel animals sitting on every single lounge chair outside. There were monkeys and elephants and dogs, but the most impressive towel animal that I saw was an octopus. I still have no idea how they managed to pull this off, and I'm genuinely so impressed.

19. And finally, the most important thing you should know about cruises is that there are several self-serve ice cream machines on board, and they're all completely free (and unlike McDonald's, these machines are always working!). If you're like me and deserve a sweet treat after dinner – or, let's face it, after or even before breakfast – then you understand how big this is. After all, you're on vacation, so you should be eating as much ice cream and frozen yogurt as you can get your hands on.

I worked at Dairy Queen for a few summers as a teen and genuinely loved it there, so having the ability to serve myself a cone whenever I wanted made me feel at home. And if you're more of a gelato person then I totally understand! Luckily for you, cruises have got you covered. My ship had a freaking gelato spot on board, and they expect to serve about 750,000 scoops this year, but I have a feeling half of them were because of me.

That's it! If you have any other cruise travel tips that have worked for you, please feel free to share them in the comments. Thanks!

Note: BuzzFeed was granted this cruise aboard Carnival Firenze for free, though we were under no obligation to provide a positive review.

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Margaritaville at Sea failed a surprise health inspection due to too many people in hot tubs and concerns about food safety

• CDC officials failed Margaritaville at Sea Paradise on a surprise health inspection.
• The ship scored 83 points, below the 86 needed to pass, with 65 issues noted.
• Margaritaville at Sea told BI some issues have been resolved and it's seeking a reinspection.

On May 1, CDC officials boarded Margaritaville at Sea , a Jimmy-Buffet-themed ship that welcomes 1,680 passengers, for an unexpected health inspection.

The Vessel Sanitation Program officials gave the ship a failing grade. During the visit, they noted 65 issues on the ship, which resulted in an 83-point score. A score of 86 is needed to pass.

In the inspection detail report , officials noted food and drink concerns as well as crowded whirlpools.

In a statement sent to Business Insider, representatives for Margaritaville at Sea said, "Following internal policies, immediate corrective actions have been taken to address the issues identified in the inspection."

"Many of these issues have already been resolved and we will be working with USPH for a reinspection as soon as possible. We expect this reinspection will exceed USPH standard," the statement continued.

The report noted concerns about food and drink safety

Across the Paradise ship , there are seven dining venues, six bars, and food and drink areas for the ship's workers.

Within these spaces on Paradise, the officials noted in the inspection report that one worker handled an ice machine with gloves that "were stored with tools," adding that "it was unclear if the crew member washed his hands before putting on gloves."

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The report stated that items like heavy cream were not in cold enough environments to meet CDC standards and that a crew member "could not demonstrate competency in verifying the concentration of the chemical used" while washing lettuce.

Additionally, numerous fridges, freezers, and deep fryers were out of service across the ship, areas of decks were soiled and in disrepair, and multiple rooms on the ship also didn't reach the required light intensity of 220 lux, the inspection stated.

Beyond food and drink, the officials noted that whirlpools often had six guests, although they're designed for a maximum of four people.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise isn't the only ship to fail its inspection

In a statement sent to Entrepreneur , the Vessel Sanitation Program officials said, "Inspections usually take 6-8 hours, depending on the number of inspectors, ship size, amount of time the ship is in port, and issues identified during the inspection."

Previously, the MSC Seaside failed with a score of 67, Business Insider reported last spring. During that inspection — the lowest score given in six years — officials found a "crew member's hands and refrigerator door handle covered in hamburger blood" and "black filth residue" on four yogurt containers.

Meanwhile, fifteen ships gained perfect scores in last summer's report . Those ships included Disney Fantasy, Disney Wonder, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Sunshine, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Millenium, Celebrity Summit, MSC Seascape, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, Oceania Riviera, Rotterdam, Silver Moon, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Pearl.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise scored an 87 in the biannual report last year.

In the past two years, multiple Business Insider reporters have boarded the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise ship, and their reviews have been mixed. Reporter Brittany Chang was on the ship's inaugural sailing, where she noticed outdated features and quality issues, deeming a Paradise cruise "not worth it."

Lauren Mack came to a similar conclusion after boarding the ship last summer following the cruise line's multimillion-dollar renovation . During her cruise, she moved staterooms twice due to cigarette smoke smells and felt like the ship lacked a cohesive theme.

"Margaritaville has all the cruise basics, but I think they're scaled back in quantity and quality," Mack said. "If you temper your expectations and want an extended booze cruise or a beach day on a budget, you may find the cruise worthwhile."

Watch: Cruise ship captain breaks down 8 cruise ship disasters in movies and TV

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Virgin Voyages cruise deal offers a month on board with Caribbean season pass

Travelers can make a cruise ship in the Caribbean their floating vacation home this summer.

Virgin Voyages is launching a Summer Season Pass on its Valiant Lady ship, allowing guests to sail six back-to-back cruises over the course of a month at a discounted price. The adults-only cruise line added the Caribbean option after seeing high demand for its season passes in the Mediterranean on Resilient Lady and Scarlet Lady earlier this year. The offers are aimed at remote workers who want a change of scenery – though you don’t have to be working to take advantage.

“We heard from travelers in North America who wanted the option to sail the stunning Caribbean and stay a bit closer to home while working in a similar time zone,” a Virgin Voyages spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

What are the terms of the Caribbean Summer Season Pass?

Passengers have the option to take their month at sea in June, July, August or September. Each option includes six back to back cruises over the following dates:

• June 7-July 5
• July 5-Aug. 2
• Sept. 4-Oct. 1

Destinations include Key West, Florida; Bimini in the Bahamas; Costa Maya, Mexico, Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos and more, though stops vary by itinerary.

Cruise booking tips: There's more to it than picking your travel dates

How much does the Caribbean Summer Season Pass cost?

The pass starts at $12,000 for up to two guests, a 25% discount compared to purchasing the cruises separately. Passholders will be booked in Central Sea Terrace cabins and get wash and fold laundry service, two specialty coffees per day, premium Wi-Fi and other perks.

Travelers can book online .

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].