carnival cruise mandatory tips

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Carnival Cruise Tips /Gratuities

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's gratuities and tipping policy - do you have to and to whom you give your tips. Prepaid gratuities - when and how you can change the number of tips, what goes where and who gets what from the automatic tipping charge. This page is interlinked with our Carnival cruises prices hub. You can compare CCL's "tipping numbers" with those of the main competitor - Royal Caribbean (gratuities/tipping policy) .

Carnival cruise tips - the tipping policy

Tips are charged Per Person Per Day.

• USD 12,95 13,99 14,50 pp (standard staterooms - interior, oceanview, balcony, both adults and kids)
• USD 13,95   15,99 16,50 pp (suites). Suite perks (in addition to priority embarkation/debarkation in all ports, confirmed main dining room preference) also receive priority tender service, free in-cabin bottled water, 1 complimentary bag of laundry (per cruise), enhanced turndown service.
• Carnival cruise gratuities for children - tips don't apply to kids less than two years of age.
• On Carnival cruise ships departing from Australian ports tipping is not compulsory, 
• On Carnival  Cruise-To-Nowhere , the amount of gratuities PP per day is USD  12,95 13,99.
• For Carnival Barbados deals (any  Carnival cruise itinerary  visiting Barbados), all gratuities will be prepaid and added during booking.
• Room Service staff tipping is not compulsory.
• Daily gratuity is an automatic service charge added to the passenger's onboard account each day.
• Passengers can prepay gratuities.
• The amount of gratuities is split between the ship's staff (dining, housekeeping, cabin stewards).

NOTE: Since May 1, 2022, Carnival's onboard gratuity rate is increased. From that date forward, passengers staying in standard staterooms are charged US$14.50 per person/per day, while those in suite accommodations pay daily US$16.50 per person.

Carnival cruise prepaid gratuities - how, to whom, where

Carnival Cruise Lines Service Tips (gratuities) are automatically charged to the guest's onboard "Sail & Sign" (S&S) account. Follows the breakdown of the tips on Carnival cruises (in USD, per day, per person):

• Housekeeping staff - USD 4,05  (standard cabins) USD 5,05 (suites)
• Dining/wait staff - USD 6,40
• Alternative Services (kitchen, entertainment, passenger services, other hotel staff members) - USD 2,50
• For drinks purchases, an automatic 15%  18% gratuity is added to the bill. Charges are applied directly to the onboard account. An automatic 15% 18% gratuity is added to the "Chef’s Table" (dining package) cover charge and applied directly to the onboard account.
• NOTE: Carnival Cruise Line passengers now have to pay an 18% gratuity on alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, even those who buy the company's CHEERS! beverage package. The cruise line increased the gratuity by 3% overnight on November 27, 2018. Previously, the drink gratuity price was 15%. A change to Carnival Cruise Line’s website gratuity section already states that for beverage purchases, automatic 18% gratuity is added to the bill. In the case of individual purchases, it is simply added to the price charged to the guest's Sail & Sign account. When buying a beverage package, the gratuity is automatically factored into the overall price. The change in gratuity also applies to the Bottomless Bubbles soda package.

When purchasing alcohol and soda drinks on board, 15%  18% of your bill will be automatically added to the S&S charge. You are free to tip the Room Service staff if you wish so. Your specialty restaurant dinner price (the cost of the Carnival Steakhouse dinner is currently around $35) is inclusive of gratuities, but everyone is more than welcome to add more.

If you're not satisfied with the level of service you receive while onboard, you may contact the "Guest Services" desk on your ship. It's up to you to adjust the amount of tipping at any time while onboard and tips will be deemed undisputed.

You should know, that the Carnival service staff on board don't make a salary (their salary per month is around USD 100). This means your gratuities are their salaries. On cruise ships "tipping" doesn't mean "something extra" - it means "salary".

The following table shows the total amount of gratuities (per person) based on itinerary duration:

Carnival cruise tipping tips

• According to the Carnival cruise tipping policy, if you prefer to tip the staff personally, you can go to the guest service desk and ask to have tips removed from your S&S (Sail&Sign) card - they will ask you why and you'll tell them you prefer to tip cash, or you could also just leave the tips to them and tell them who you want to get how much. But know that if you do so, you will be shortchanging a few people - those are the staff who you'll never see behind the scenes areas that will not get their share of your tip.
• If you have a service problem, speak first with your cabin steward, then (if the problem remains) with the hotel manager, and if the problem still remains - then adjust the gratuities.
• (optional) You may also tip in cash your waiter - bar server - room steward if you're satisfied with his/her service.
• You can pay your fixed gratuities in advance (on booking), otherwise, you'll be billed on your S&S card on your first embarkation day.
• (optional) additional cash tips
• Tipping porters (staff members that bring the bags to your cabin) - the standard tip is $2 per bag or $5 for 2-3 bags.
• optional (but highly recommended) is to give $5 per day per child at Camp Carnival.

If you want to show the staff that you appreciate their hard work, you can always pay in cash some extra tips (usually at the end of your sailing, but you can tip them also on a daily basis). The list of staff you can tip directly includes cabin stewards and MDR waiters (during the trip), bar servers and room-service delivery (as you use their services), and a proper tip would be $10 to 20 each. As a "playing safe" policy, some guests tip cabin stewards & MDR waiters the first and the last night of the voyage.

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47 Best Carnival Cruise Line Tips & Tricks

Looking for the best Carnival cruise tips and advice for your vacation?

Whether it’s your first cruise or you’re a Diamond level passenger (the highest tier of Carnival’s loyalty program, for those that have sailed more than 200 nights), there’s always more to know. Meanwhile, the cruise line is constantly innovating, making changes, and improving.

To help you out, we’ve rounded up dozens of our best Carnival cruise tips. The advice below can help you save money, save time, or generally just have a better trip.

Note: This article contains affiliate links. Cruzely earns a commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

1. If you’re a Carnival stockholder, you can get free onboard credit

It’s a little-known perk for investors. If you own at least 100 shares of Carnival’s stock, then you are eligible for free onboard credit . Your benefit is $50 for cruises fewer than 7 days and $100 for trips of 7 to 13 days. Take a cruise 14 days or longer, then you’ll get $250 in free onboard credit. Learn how to take advantage here .

Just know that it’s not without risk. Shares of Carnival have been all over the map following the health crisis. However, if you do own the shares, you’ll definitely want to get your onboard credit.

2. Find your room: Odd cabin numbers are on one side of the ship, even are on the other

It’s easy to get turned around on the ship. Hallways can seem to go on forever and cabin doors can all look the same. One tip is that just like a neighborhood street, odd-numbered cabins are on one side of the ship, while even-number rooms are on the other. So when you step out of the elevator to head to your cabin, you can know which side of the ship your room is located.

3. Keep an eye out for happy hour deals

Like to drink but want to save some money? Keep an eye out for the RedFrog Pub happy hour or other specials on the ship. There will be a mention in the daily schedule and also signs posted around the ship. During happy hour — which we’ve seen going on from about 2:30-4:30 in the afternoon when offered — drinks are half-priced. That can save you a ton versus the regular menu price.

4. Know That Carnival Ships Generally Have the Smallest Size Per Passenger

Don’t be surprised if on your Carnival cruise you feel a little crowded. That’s because according to our analysis, Carnival ships in general have the least amount of size per passenger . 

Taking the gross tonnage (a measure of ship size) of more than 100 ships and dividing by the total passenger count at double occupancy, Carnival’s fleet averages a ratio of around 33-35. Compare that to Royal Caribbean, which often comes in around 40 gross tons per passenger.

You can find your specific ship here and compare it to others.

5. BlueIguana Cantina serves breakfast burritos

While BlueIguana Cantina — a Mexican-themed restaurant on the ship — is known for lunch, most people don’t realize that it also serves some fantastic breakfast burritos. Fill up a tortilla with sausage, eggs, ham, and potatoes and you’ve got a hearty (and free!) breakfast that will keep you full all morning, no matter how active you are on ship or in port.

6. Free souvenir? Ask if there are game-used items in the casino

It may not be on every Carnival ship, but we recently took a cruise and got a free souvenir from the casino. We simply went to the cashier during a slow time during the day and asked if they had any used dice or cards. To our surprise, the cashier came back with a casino-used die with the Carnival logo on it… and it was absolutely free.

It’s not much, but it’s a fun little keepsake to remember our time on the ship.

7. Costco member? Try booking your next cruise through them for cash back

Truth is that every website has the same prices for cruises. However, if you buy through a third-party site (as opposed to Carnival.com), then you might get extra incentives like onboard credit.

Costco has some of the best incentives . For cruises booked through CostcoTravel.com, the store will give you a Costco Shop Card potentially worth hundreds (amounts vary by cruise). That’s much more than what other booking sites will give you. If you’re a member, it’s worth looking into before you buy your cruise.

8. The drinking age in most ports is 18 years old… but 21 on the ship

If you are sailing from the United States on Carnival, then you have to be 21 to drink alcohol on the ship. But if someone isn’t quite of age, they can drink when in most ports. Places like Mexico and The Bahamas have drinking ages of 18. That means people underage in the U.S. can still drink legally when visiting.

9. Carnival offers a 110% “Best Price Guarantee” on excursions

If you’re worried about getting the best deal on an excursion, don’t. Carnival offers a 110% guarantee . If you find the same excursion for cheaper somewhere else, then they will refund 110% of the price difference as onboard credit.

That doesn’t mean you can’t find cheaper things to do, but know that if you do buy an excursion through the cruise line, you’ll be covered.

10. Don’t forget to bring your phone to dinner

Hopefully it won’t be this way forever, but one of the changes following the health crisis? Menus and daily schedules are harder to find. Instead, you’ll see QR codes on tables to scan with your phone to bring up the menu in a restaurant. And daily schedules are available within Carnival’s app on your phone.

While we expect things will go back to normal, at least for now, bringing your phone with you to eat is a smart idea. But, if you forget, you can request a paper menu from the staff.

11. Book specialty restaurants early in the cruise for quieter dining

Specialty restaurants offer something a little different from the main dining room. Maybe that’s why later in the cruise it feels like they get more crowded as people search out more variety in meals. However, it seems like early in the cruise people aren’t as interested.

The result? On a recent cruise we were able to dine in a specialty restaurant on night two with only a handful of other passengers. It was a nice way to have a quiet dinner that felt more intimate than busier venues.

12. Trying to budget? Sodas cost $3; Beers cost $6-8

This isn’t so much a Carnival tip as just a heads up on what you’ll spend. Sodas run about three bucks. Beers will set you back about $6-8. Don’t forget to add in 18% gratuity, which is automatically included to the price.

Worried about the bill? Carnival also sells the CHEERS! drink package that gives you access to whatever you want for one daily price. These packages are convenient and can help you budget.

13. There can be a HUGE difference between ships

One thing to know is that not all cruise ships are created equal. This goes for every cruise line, and you’ll find it on Carnival. The oldest ships in the fleet were built in the 1990s while the newest — such as Carnival Celebration — are brand new.

During that span, what is expected of and can be done on cruise ships has soared. Carnival’s newest ships feature more amenities, restaurants, and activities than you can imagine compared to older ships.

In our opinion, the newer ships are better, but the quieter, smaller, and less-expensive trips on older ships also have a lot to offer.

14. Where to find the cheapest beer on the ship

Six or eight bucks for a beer can be tough to swallow. If you want the cheapest beer, then head to the buffet. Ships have self-serve beer stations. At these spots you simply swipe your card, and then you pull the handle to dispense beer. 

Brews are sold by the ounce, and a full-sized glass runs about $5. The beers on tap are limited, but if you don’t care what you drink, it’s a good way to save money.

15. Some paid restaurants offer free lunch

Specialty restaurants charge an extra amount for passengers to eat there. Prices vary depending on the spot, but it’s usually around $15-30 per person. One tip is that on Carnival places like JiJi Asian Kitchen or Cucina del Capitano offer lunch service that’s free. The menu is different than the dinner options, but there’s no charge and you can get something tasty outside of eating at the buffet. 

16. Be prepared for poor cruise payouts in the casino

It’s common sense that with a ship full of people looking to be entertained, the casino should be a popular place… and it is! But with a captive audience and no other casinos around, the onboard casinos aren’t so generous with their payouts .

Expect blackjack that pays 6-5 (instead of the usual 3-2) at the lowest limits and video poker machines that pay 6/5 instead of the optimal 9/6 payout.

17. Guy’s Burger Joint is popular. Try it for dinner for shorter lines

Haven’t heard of Guy’s Burger Joint ? That will change. The free restaurant is across Carnival ships and serves up some great burgers. It’s also extremely popular. Hours are normally 12-6 p.m. and lunch can see long lines.

If you don’t want to wait in line, check it out before it closes for the evening. Most people eat dinner elsewhere, so the lines are much shorter. If you’re an early eater, then grabbing a burger without a line is a smart move.

18. Save that deck chair… but only for 40 minutes

Chair hogs. Perhaps no one draws the ire of cruisers more than the person that goes down early in the morning and puts a towel down to reserve a prime location by the pool… only to leave it for hours.

Yes, you are allowed to save chairs on Carnival, but the official rules are for only 40 minutes — enough time to go grab a bite to eat. After that time the crew may remove your items to let someone sit in the chair.

19. The age limit to gamble on a Carnival ship is 18

While you have to be 21 to drink on the ship, gambling is a different story. Carnival allows those 18 years and older to play in the casino. So while you might not be old enough to play in Las Vegas, you can still play the slots, roulette, or blackjack on the cruise ship.

20. Formal night? Wear what you want, except these items…

What to wear on formal night can be stressful. The truth is, you can get by wearing most anything, as long as it’s not too casual . You don’t have to wear a tux or an evening gown (but some people do).

What you will want to avoid are things like sleeveless shirts, shorts, t-shirts, ball caps, flip-flips, and bathing suits. In other words, just about anything outside of what you’d wear to the beach is just fine.

Our suggestion is to try and dress up some, but don’t stress. And if you don’t want to change out of shorts and sandals, it’s your cruise. You can skip the formal night dining altogether and just eat somewhere other than the main dining room.

21. Avoid kids in the Serenity adults-only area

Some people don’t mind kids. Others want to relax without them running around. If you fall into that second group, check out the Serenity area on your Carnival ship.

This spot is for adults 21 years old and up. It features some cozy and comfy seating you won’t find elsewhere on the ship and often has its own dedicated bar area and hot tubs. 

Even if you don’t care about kids one way or the other, you’ll often find the Serenity area less crowded than the pool area and has more cozy, private spaces. 

22. Cruise insurance is important, but buy third-party

When you book your cruise, Carnival will give you the option of buying the Carnival Vacation Protection . It’s definitely worth it to have some insurance for your trip, however, we think you’re better off going with a third-party insurance policy.

These policies are usually the same or cheaper in price than Carnival’s policy and can provide more coverage. 

23. Ordering a pack of water is a smart move

Before you board, go online and order a pack of water from the Carnival FunShops. It costs about $10 for a dozen bottles, and it’s nice to have in the room. Passengers aren’t allowed to bring on bottles in their luggage (cans/cartons only), so you can’t bring on most water containers. Plus, having some water in the room is nice to keep from having to head to the dining room or buffet to get a drink. It’s always right there waiting for you.

24. Take your drinking into port to save some cash

Want to drink but not break the bank? Just head into port. While drinks on the ship can be pricey — $6-8 for a beer and $10-12 for a cocktail — the bars in port cater to thirsty cruisers with cheap drink specials.

Just taking a walk down the pier can save you tons. Beers for $2-3 are common, so you can easily save 50% in some cases, while also getting to enjoy the local scenery.

25. Don’t worry, you don’t need to learn another language for ports of call

It can be intimidating going to a foreign country. After all, most people don’t speak a foreign language. The good news is that cruise ports in The Bahamas and Caribbean are built for tourism.

Most people in ports speak English, so you don’t have to struggle through trying to speak another language. In addition, U.S. dollars are widely accepted.

26. Short on cash? Carnival offers $50 deposit sales regularly

If you’re short on cash but have plenty of time before you book your cruise, then keep an eye out for Carnival’s famous $50 deposit sales. During these sales, which usually occur a few times a year, you can book your cruise for just $50 down and then pay off the rest later. It makes it affordable to book that trip you’ve had your eye on.

27. TV channels are limited… don’t expect much

Want to watch your favorite show on your cruise? Then you’ll want to download it to your device beforehand. The stations on a cruise television are limited ( you can see the full lineup here ), and most of the big channels you get at home aren’t available.

In fact, most of the time the channels are specific to the cruise, like info about port shopping or safety information. 

28. Don’t show up to the port until you are scheduled to board

Carnival offers a method of boarding known as staggered check-in. You select a 30-minute window of when to board. This keeps things running smoothly and avoids having too many passengers show up at once, such as right when the ship opens up to passengers.

If you show up before your boarding window, you could be asked to return later. If you show up after your boarding window, they will still let you board.

29. Every Carnival ship has a coin. See if you can find it

Want to have a treasure hunt on your cruise? It’s tradition for Carnival to place a coin on the ship when under construction as a good-luck charm. It’s a fun pastime to explore the ship and see if you can find it. It’s usually located on an upper deck in a public area where anyone can access it.

30. Buy the drink package early to save money

Carnival offers passengers the option of buying the CHEERS! drink package . For one set price per day, you can have your run of just about any beverage on the ship — alcoholic or otherwise. 

Now, this drink package isn’t for everyone. You definitely want to run the numbers on how much you’ll drink before you buy and if you’ll get your money’s worth ( see our drink package calculator here ). But if you do decide to purchase it, be sure to do so before you sail.

Carnival discounts the package $5 per day — or about 8% off the onboard price — if you buy the package online before you board.

31. You can bring on some drinks, so take advantage

Carnival allows you to bring some drinks on the ship with with you. You can bring a bottle of champagne or wine (standard size), and up to 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks per person.

While a bottle of wine or a 12-pack of soda may not seem like much, it definitely makes a difference in your budget. Considering that a glass of wine can cost $8-12 and a soda costs $3 each, it’s worth it to bring what you can to keep costs down.

Plus, if you have a favorite brand, it makes sense to bring it because it might not be available on the ship. (Carnival ships serve Pepsi products.)

32. A $5 outlet adapter is worth its weight in gold

Cruise cabins are notorious for having limited outlet space, despite the fact that people travel with more devices than ever. Typically there is only one outlet per cabin in many older ships (newer ships are getting better at offer more outlets).

Bringing a cheap outlet adapter can be a lifesaver , giving you multiple plugs. Best of all, they are only a few bucks and don’t take up much space.

33. Past passenger? Try pricing without your VIFP number

Carnival’s loyalty program — VIFP — can give you special pricing on cruises. If you’ve sailed before, then you can enter your number during your search for cruises on the Carnival website for possible discounts. 

One thing we suggest is trying your search both with and without your VIFP number entered. We’ve personally found that having the number entered can sometimes actually mean you see a higher price than what’s shown without the number.

34. Book excursions online to save time

If you plan to take a shore excursion, you can book it on Carnival’s site ahead of time . If you do this you’ll get the same price you’ll find on the ship, but you have some advantages.

First, you don’t have to spend your precious vacation time waiting in line on the ship to book. Second, you get to book before everyone on the ship. If there’s limited space on an excursion, this could be the difference between getting the excursion you want or having it be sold out.

35. Bring cash, but ATMs are available on the ship

It’s better to bring all the cash you need, but don’t worry if you get an a jam. Carnival has ATMs on the ship where you can get some extra money . Be warned: The charges are high — $6-7 per transaction that we’ve seen. And that amount is before anything that your bank might charge you to access your money.

36. Look for deals on older Carnival ships

Carnival is always rolling out new ships. Mardi Gras, Celebration and Panorama have all been introduced in recent years. Rightly so, many people are eager to sail these newer ships.

But if you want a deal, look at the older ships in Carnival’s fleet. The vessels are still fantastic to sail, but don’t generate the buzz like a new ship does. Often you can find cruises for hundreds of dollars less, giving you a great vacation for less money.

37. Make sure your flip-flops have tread for walking on the ship

Do you wear a pair of old flip flops where the tread has been worn off? If so, it’s time for an upgrade.

Decks on cruise ships can get slippery. Between rain showers, splashes from the pool, or cleaning by the crew, there are lots of times you’ll find wet decks. If you don’t have sandals with grip, then it’s not just a nuisance — it’s downright dangerous. You don’t want a slip and fall ruining your vacation.

38. Even in the warm Caribbean, bring a jacket

You might not think of it, but the nights in the Caribbean can get cool, even in the summer. This is especially true when the ship is underway, which makes the breeze much stronger. Do yourself a favor and bring a light jacket to wear in the evenings. Even if you plan to stay inside on the ship, the air conditioning can get cool in many places.

39. Insert your keycard to cash out in the casino

If you like playing slot machines or video poker on a Carnival cruise, then be sure to insert your room keycard when you play. Not only is your play tracked with this card, which can lead to perks from free drinks to free cruises, but it’s needed when you cash out.

Instead of printing tickets that you can take from machine to machine or cash out at a redemption kiosk, Carnival puts the funds on your room keycard. If you don’t have it inserted, then you have to wait for an attendant to come pay you in cash by hand.

40. Carnival ships cater to families with kids. Take advantage of included childcare

If your child is over two years old, then they can be dropped off at Camp Ocean  on the ship. Not only does this give mom and dad a chance to vacation without having to watch the kids, it gives the kids some time away from parents with activities that they will enjoy. The kids clubs are broken up by age, and best of all, the service is included in your fare.

41. Babysitting is available for just $7.50 per hour

One of the best deals in cruising is that you can drop your kids off (above two years old) at Camp Ocean for no charge. But outside of normal hours or if you have a kid under two, then you can have babysitting at certain times . 

Here, the staff will keep an eye on the kids while they enjoy fun activities but there is a charge. Still, it’s only $7.50 per hour (plus 18% gratuity), so if you have a small kid and want to head to dinner and a show for a couple of hours, it’s a low price to pay.

42. Navigating the ship can be confusing. Only some floors go straight through

If you want to head from the back of the ship to the front of the ship, you might have to go up or down a floor or two to make your way the length of many Carnival ships. Things like the dining room and theater cut through multiple floors and keep you from being able to get through. Stick with the main promenade deck if you want an easy way to go back and forth.

43. Wait for people to get out of the elevator before you try to enter

Elevators are the heartbeat of the ship. They are used thousands of times daily and are typically busy as people travel around the ship. Since there are usually plenty of people on the elevator, it’s common courtesy to wait and let anyone get off at your floor before you try to get on. Otherwise there’s an easily avoidable traffic jam.

Even better, if you are traveling only a few decks, simply take the stairs. It’s faster.

44. BOLT! is worth the money… once

Carnival’s newest ships like Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee have made a big deal of having the first roller coaster on a cruise ship. The BOLT! coaster circles the top deck, taking two riders up to 40 miles per hour, with insane views of the ocean.

A ride costs $15 per person. Having done it, we can tell you that it’s a lot of fun. But considering the ride lasts a literal minute, we’d suggest trying it once but not going again and again.

45. Don’t miss the Love & Marriage game show

It’s one of the most popular shows on a Carnival cruise and one we think is a must see. The Love & Marriage game show is a take on The Newlywed Game. There are three couples who are asked some interesting personal questions to try and match their partner’s answers.

It’s definitely Rated R… or maybe more PG-13… so it’s not for kids. But it’s also one of the funniest things you’ll watch on the cruise.

46. Air freshener is a must. Cabins don’t have powered bathroom vents

Let’s get real. With two people in a small space, bathroom smells can be an issue. Cruise cabins don’t have vents in the bathroom. Foul smells, small cabins, and no ventilation are a bad combo. Pack some air freshener with you on your next cruise. Your cabin mate will thank you for it.

47. The cheapest Carnival cruise prices are when school is in session

Are you flexible with when you can sail? Then you can save a lot of money. Prices are lowest when school is in session and families have a tougher time sailing . The difference between the lowest fares and the highest fares can be hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars for the same cruise simply taken at different times of year.

Have more tips or questions about sailing on Carnival? Let us know in the comments below.

More on Cruising Carnival:

• Worth It? 15+ Questions & Answers About the Carnival CHEERS! Package
• Reviewed: Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi Service (Speed, Reliability, Cost, and More)
• Complete Guide to Sailing Carnival Cruise Line (What It’s Like)

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Carnival Cruise Line passengers share crucial advice for fellow cruisers

In many cases, cruising gets better as you do it more. 

There's a lot of nuance to maximizing your cruise experience. Your cruise preparation actually starts the second you pick which cruise to book. And once you do that, you need to learn all the little things that maximize your vacation.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares a key smoking policy

That list involves everything from packing the right things to deciding about aspects like drink packages, internet services, excursions and specialty dining. 

It's not always easy to fix a mistake that you make before boarding. You won't ruin your trip if you get something wrong, but you can end up having to spend your precious vacation time at guest services or wishing that you had brought something you left at home.

For example, if you forget a sweater or light jacket, you might have to settle for a cruise-line-branded sweatshirt or opt to be a little colder than you'd like to be. 

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Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald asked his followers a simple question:

"If there is one thing you could tell your first-time cruiser self before you took that first cruise, what would it be?"

His audience responded with more than 800 pieces of advice.

Cruise fans say: Do your homework

Many commenters made clear that doing some work and learning about your ship before you cruise are important matters.

"Plan, research, and plan some more," wrote Vera Wallican. "Explore the entire ship, review the [Carnival HUB app] daily to know what’s available, and know all excursion options! 

"I traveled with a large group for my first cruise. I only attended our scheduled activities and excursions. I had no idea what I missed until it was too late. Now that I know better, I definitely cruise better."

Some of Heald's fans regretted not doing more homework before their cruises.

"Research .my very first cruise in 2011 with bf..thought we was gonna float and sail 4 days didn't know about stops in port lol," shared Pamela Griffin.

Many people also stressed the need to stay informed while on board.

"Familiarize yourself with the ship," Jodi Adams posted. "See what is offered every morning on the hub so you can plan your day and not miss things you want to do. Enjoy yourself. You are responsible whether you have a fun cruise or not. It is what you make of it." 

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Carnival passengers share cruising tips

Many posters also made clear that you should not let your cruise, and all the things there are to do, overwhelm you.

"Enjoy every moment, but don't think you need to do everything, every day. Take time to relax and enjoy the experience," Bob Kirsh wrote.

A lot of people also offered packing advice.

"Don't pack too much. And you don't need a tuxedo. It's not the love boat. But it is the fun boat," added Alan Mandato.

Glenda Newberry went even further.

"Don't pack different shoes to go with every outfit. And after packing, remove half of the items from the suitcase, then hang them back in the closet. You can do laundry or pay to send laundry to be done by the staff," she wrote.

Many people offered the same advice about bringing just the essentials.

"Leave up to half the clothes you think you need at home…shoes? I take the flip-flops I have on, one pair of dress shoes…maybe a dressy pair of sandals for casual dining," added Linda Spencer Daily.

Many people also urged cruisers to expect embarkation day to be a little difficult.

"I would tell them that embarking is the most confusing and crowded part of a cruise and to not stress out," advised Rick van Loon. "Things will get remarkably better around 1:30 when people are allowed to get to their room."

Dennis W. Craig mirrored that advice: "Don’t stress the embarkation. You’ll be on the ship quickly enough and the rest is easy." 

Related: Get the best cruise tips, deals, and news on the ships from our expert cruiser

• Carnival Cruise Lines

Tipping....yes, again

By Rdclfamily , December 3, 2023 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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I can't wrap my head around tipping (how much) for this cruise.  It's time to make decisions and this particular cruise is nothing like any other cruise.  There are four of us.  Two adults and two teens.   We have mostly dined in a restaurant like Bonsai sushi where we paid for our meal and tipped accordingly.  We have paid tips on countless drinks.  We paid gratuity on things like fresh juice.  We have only eaten in the main dining room for breakfast and even then, it was just the two of us most of the time.  The teens are in the buffet.  I am just trying to wrap my head around paying $112 x four people plus all of the other gratuities.  They also only service the room once a day compared to two.  This is the first time where I just don't seem to be able to wrap my head around it. I'm easily swayed back to tipping, but wondering what protocol is now that so much dining is not in the main dining room.

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With the automatic gratuities, your gratuities are pooled.

The crew who wait on you in the dining room for breakfast are working on Lido for lunch and dinner for example. Your gratuities are pooled and everyone shares in the pool, so it all comes out in the wash.

How much you pay in gratuities is entirely up to you. I wouldn't get into that here because this thread will go on for pages and pages of people fighting.

It is up to you to go to guest services and have the automatic gratuities removed entirely, or scaled up or down, as you see fit.

What you may decide to do is remove the automatic gratuities and tip in cash the crew you wish to receive your tips. A lot of people do that and it works for them.

You may choose to adjust the automatic gratuities to a level you are comfortable with, and just leave it alone.

There are lots of ways to do this and it's all up to you and what you feel the service you received was worth.

I will say that I have a big problem with the ever-increasing automatic gratuities and the ever-declining level of service (rooms no longer ready at embarkation, only one room servicing a day, hours of dining cut to push people towards the buffet, etc)

I'm trying to calculate what our gratuities will be this time and I think they will be at least $800-1000 for the week if we keep auto-gratuities.  That feels tough to swallow, especially considering the fact that we are off the ship for 3 out of 7 days.  I wish I would have removed it and then just tipped individually.  Now I'm in a confused state.  

6 minutes ago, Rdclfamily said: I'm trying to calculate what our gratuities will be this time and I think they will be at least $800-1000 for the week if we keep auto-gratuities.  That feels tough to swallow, especially considering the fact that we are off the ship for 3 out of 7 days.  I wish I would have removed it and then just tipped individually.  Now I'm in a confused state.    

It's $16 per guest per day in standard rooms and $18 per guest per day in suites.

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=1123

The auto gratuity amount is Carnival's recommendation. As I said you are free to go to guest services once the automatic gratuities post and have them adjusted up or down, or removed entirely. Then yes - you can tip individuals in cash.

Host Carolyn

There have been numerous discussions re tips here on Carnival this year. A quick search brought up these two rather lengthy ones that illustrate the many opinions on this rather hot topic. 

VentureMan_2000

This is per person for a 6-day cruise.

I like doing the math... $28.08 / $96 = 29.25% for Stateroom Steward $45.36 / $96 = 47.25% for Team Dining Services   $22.56 / $96 = 23.50% for Alternate Services

1 hour ago, Rdclfamily said: We have mostly dined in a restaurant like Bonsai sushi where we paid for our meal and tipped accordingly.  We have paid tips on countless drinks.  We paid gratuity on things like fresh juice.  We have only eaten in the main dining room for breakfast and even then, it was just the two of us most of the time.  

Drinks have gratuities of 18$ automatically added... you do not need to pay more. I know the steak house price include gratuities -- you do not need to TIP more.  Assuming the same for any paid restaurants. You can see the above breakdown that gratuities include eating on the Lido/buffet (team dining services). Tipping beyond the suggested $16 per person, per day, is not suggested or required.   

57 minutes ago, Rdclfamily said: I'm trying to calculate what our gratuities will be this time and I think they will be at least $800-1000 for the week if we keep auto-gratuities.  That feels tough to swallow, especially considering the fact that we are off the ship for 3 out of 7 days.  I wish I would have removed it and then just tipped individually.  Now I'm in a confused state.    

If you remove the auto tips and tip in cash, those crew members are required to turn in that cash (yes, they do, otherwise they are hosing their friends) since they will still receive their allocation from the auto tip pool.  If the auto tips are in place, they keep extra tips.  

Gratuities are on a per day basis, not per service. If you skip a meal in the MDR, the staff is still going to be there to serve you. There are also likely the same you will see at breakfast and lunch.

The same is true for cabin stewards. It is per day, not per service.

havanadaydreaming

Drinks and coffee have the 18% gratuity added. As a former bartender id take that all day every day, assuming there was enough volume.  Which there seems to be at sea. 

I tend to tip a lil extra over the course of the sailing but i do think there is a Tipping Exhaustion phenomenon in the USA post Covid. 

Carryout pizza/restaurants make you decline, or add, tip on receipt now. Etc. Etc. 

But im kind of a Vegas midset tipper. Tip whomever you can. 

My thang is to tip buffet bussers.  They never expect it and they work hard. A few extra bucks here snd there is nothing to me and double thumbs up if it keeps me from putting even more coin in the casino machines....

10 hours ago, VentureMan_2000 said:       This is per person for a 6-day cruise.   I like doing the math... $28.08 / $96 = 29.25% for Stateroom Steward $45.36 / $96 = 47.25% for Team Dining Services   $22.56 / $96 = 23.50% for Alternate Services   Drinks have gratuities of 18$ automatically added... you do not need to pay more. I know the steak house price include gratuities -- you do not need to TIP more.  Assuming the same for any paid restaurants. You can see the above breakdown that gratuities include eating on the Lido/buffet (team dining services). Tipping beyond the suggested $16 per person, per day, is not suggested or required.   

Some time ago they used to break down how much each individual got did they not. I recall the maitre'd got $1.50 a day or something. Was that Carnival or some other line, or was I dreaming that?

11 hours ago, Rdclfamily said: I'm trying to calculate what our gratuities will be this time and I think they will be at least $800-1000 for the week if we keep auto-gratuities.  That feels tough to swallow, especially considering the fact that we are off the ship for 3 out of 7 days.  I wish I would have removed it and then just tipped individually.  Now I'm in a confused state.    

$112 times 4=$448. These are your “service” gratuities. Other auto grats (such as drinks) are not optional. Drinks however, are optional if your expenses are too high.

Drinks are part of vacation.  I can't think of any other vacation where I tip $1000+ through the course of a week.  That's why I feel like with the addition of all of the pay-for restaurants, the way we tip may need to change.  I didn't do anything different this time around, but I think I would tip individually next time.  The cruise lines have changed the game, not us.  The way they pay their people may need to change as well.  Cruises used to be entirely free plus drinks and we used to all eat in the same place.  That isn't the case now. 

I do hear what you are saying and never fully thought about it.  We eat in the MDR every night and certainly don't mind the auto tips.  But you are eating often in the pay restaurants so in essence you are tipping twice for that meal.  But if you do tip individually next time would you tip at the Lido?  Wait until someone is cleaning up after you have finished and give them something?  Many times we finish and leave and never see the crew member who cleans up after us at the buffet.

1 hour ago, Rdclfamily said: The cruise lines have changed the game, not us.  The way they pay their people may need to change as well.  Cruises used to be entirely free plus drinks and we used to all eat in the same place.  That isn't the case now. 

Its fair to say you have put some thought into this quandary and I can certainly understand that.  All the cruise line did was add some options in addition to the included items, made some enhancements for more options.  This has been over the years like any other business truthfully.  You made the decision to use those options and change the game for your family.  If you or your family ever use the lido marketplace for anything (even grab a coffee or other drink), someone has to do something to service you (the crew wear many hats and you really dont know who is doing what for you at times).  They may or may not be part of the MDR staff but someone is still required to clean up or restock in marketplace all day. If you set a cup down somewhere or a plate from the pizza place (or where ever) then someone is coming behind you to pick it up.  Breakfast somewhere?  Lunch? snacks?  

As mentioned in prior posts, its per day and not per service and it is impossible to see who is behind the scenes cleaning up after you or your family.  

maybe I'm in the minority, but I just add them to the cruise fare when booking and consider it part of the expense of the trip.  I have to fly to my embarkation point so when I think of flights, meals, hotel, transportation, the cruise, excursions, and everything else it seems worrying about reducing tips is a stretch.  Yes service is not what it once was, but I can say that about so many things in the hospitality industry.  Not sure punishing those in the lowest ranks is the answer.

I would rather have it like it is than have to pay more for the cruise. I don't use the specialty restaurants, spa, lots of bar drinks, etc. and don't want to be paying more for these and other situations with higher cruise fares. We do the auto tips and extra only for what we use.

We look at the tips are a part of the cost of the cruise and try not to think too much about it. I have a teenager who rarely eats in the MRD and eats sushi several times during the cruise. I understand if you pay tips at the sushi and other venues it seems reasonable to remove some of the tips from your account. On my recent cruise, I bought an emptyTrevis cup from a bar and was charged $2.70 for a tip I suspect to see a 20% tip applied soon to drinks and other purchases on board. 

I cruise solo and never eat in the MDR, but I leave tips on, because I still eat in other places. I would suggest maybe putting some cruise cash on your account periodically before your cruise, and that can help lower your final bill. That’s what I plan on doing for my 25 night TP in Oct.

20 hours ago, Rdclfamily said: We have mostly dined in a restaurant like Bonsai sushi where we paid for our meal and tipped accordingly.

I might be wrong, but don't specialty restaurants onboard already come with a gratuity added to the bill. I'm wondering if this is part of your conundrum in that you've been adding onto what already exists in the past.

13 minutes ago, notscb said: I might be wrong, but don't specialty restaurants onboard already come with a gratuity added to the bill. I'm wondering if this is part of your conundrum in that you've been adding onto what already exists in the past.

This is largely the problem.  

6 hours ago, Pyrate13 said: I would rather have it like it is than have to pay more for the cruise. I don't use the specialty restaurants, spa, lots of bar drinks, etc. and don't want to be paying more for these and other situations with higher cruise fares. We do the auto tips and extra only for what we use.

We paid nearly $3000 for an interior closet of a room for four people. I feel like the rate was decently high.  

20 minutes ago, notscb said: I might be wrong, but don't specialty restaurants onboard already come with a gratuity added to the bill. I'm wondering if this is part of your conundrum in that you've been adding onto what already exists in the past.

6 minutes ago, Rdclfamily said: This is largely the problem.  

Some do, some don't. 18% gratuity is added to Chef's Table, for example.

3 hours ago, crzndeb said: I cruise solo and never eat in the MDR, but I leave tips on, because I still eat in other places. I would suggest maybe putting some cruise cash on your account periodically before your cruise, and that can help lower your final bill. That’s what I plan on doing for my 25 night TP in Oct.

This isn't about whether or not I can afford it.  It's about whether or not I can justify it.  $800-$1000+ for a week in gratuity is steep for the type of vacation we took i.e. not super desirable ports, just "okay" food, being off the boat three out of 7 days and tipping the staff off the boat, and an interior room for four people that left us having to stage when we get ready.   I might imagine we would pay this type of gratuity at a much fancier location or for a longer vacation.  It's just off base. I love cruising, I just think with the changes the cruise ships are making we might have to change the way we approach things.  I believe that everyone deserves fair gratuity, but I don't believe we are responsible for the entire pyramid top to bottom.  Carnival has a responsibility to evolve with the changes they are making.  Perhaps they can provide a bill in the MDR, and state how much the gratuity is based on how much the food would have cost us.  

18 hours ago, BlerkOne said: Gratuities are on a per day basis, not per service. If you skip a meal in the MDR, the staff is still going to be there to serve you. There are also likely the same you will see at breakfast and lunch.   The same is true for cabin stewards. It is per day, not per service.

They (whoever they are) have reduced service since Covid, however.

1 minute ago, Rdclfamily said: This isn't about whether or not I can afford it.  It's about whether or not I can justify it.  $800-$1000+ for a week in gratuity is steep for the type of vacation we took i.e. not super desirable ports, just "okay" food, being off the boat three out of 7 days and tipping the staff off the boat, and an interior room for four people that left us having to stage when we get ready.   I might imagine we would pay this type of gratuity at a much fancier location or for a longer vacation.  It's just off base. I love cruising, I just think with the changes the cruise ships are making we might have to change the way we approach things.  I believe that everyone deserves fair gratuity, but I don't believe we are responsible for the entire pyramid top to bottom.  Carnival has a responsibility to evolve with the changes they are making.  Perhaps they can provide a bill in the MDR, and state how much the gratuity is based on how much the food would have cost us.  

None of the reasons you list are the responsibility of the people the gratuities are for. You are responsible for choosing the cruise.

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I don't gamble, but I used a casino status match to get a cheap cruise

As I sat on my balcony looking at the Rock of Gibraltar in the distance, I couldn't believe I'd paid just $72 per night for me and my husband to take a 14-night transatlantic cruise.

Like many other passengers I talked to during the crossing, I'd booked my cheap cruise through a Carnival Players Club offer. My specific offer gave me a "free" balcony room, $50 of casino credit and complimentary drinks while playing in the casino.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

But unlike many passengers who booked Carnival Players Club offers, I hadn't gambled my way to a cruise. Instead, I'd used a chain of status matches to get casino status and sign up for a Carnival Fun Match. Then, I obsessively checked the Fun Match cruise offers until I found one I couldn't resist.

Read on to learn how I did it and how you can, too.

How I got casino status without gambling

To get a Carnival Fun Match, I needed to submit proof of status in another casino's players club or loyalty program.

I have Caesars Rewards Diamond status, but I don't believe I've ever gambled at a Caesars casino — although I have earned reward credits on hotel stays, shopping and dining in Las Vegas. The truth is my activity with Caesars is far too limited to have earned Diamond status with the program. Instead, I have Caesars Diamond status via a match from Wyndham Rewards Diamond status .

You can earn Wyndham Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year if you stay with Wyndham for at least 40 qualifying nights in a calendar year. However, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card offers automatic Wyndham Diamond status for as long as you have the card.

I initially held Wyndham Diamond status through a series of status matches that are no longer available, but after using my Wyndham status for the Carnival Fun Match, my status expired. Now, I hold Diamond status as a Wyndham Business cardholder.

The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Caesars now requires you to "have earned Tier Status with your current loyalty program in order for your status to be matched." But Diamond status from holding the Wyndham Business card counts as an earned status to match to Caesars Rewards.

To summarize, I got Wyndham Diamond status via a no-longer-available status match — but you can still get it by holding the Wyndham Business card. Then, I matched this status to Caesars Rewards online. In previous years, it has taken a few weeks for my match to go through, but this year, it took about a month.

Leveraging status matches

With Caesars Diamond status in hand, it was time to request a Carnival Fun Match in the hopes of scoring a free or cheap cruise.

You can register for the Carnival Players Club Fun Match program if you are 21 or older and a legal resident of one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. Once you do so, you won't get elite status, but you might get discounted cruise offers. Even if you already are a member of Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP Club loyalty program , you can still register for a Fun Match.

To register, you'll need to input your VIFP Club number and email; if you don't have a VIFP account, you can create one. Either way, check the box for "I would like to receive emails for special offers and/or information from Carnival" to get offers in your inbox.

I submitted proof of my Caesars Rewards Diamond status by taking photos of both sides of my physical Caesars Diamond card I'd picked up in Las Vegas. If I had more casino statuses, I could have uploaded more than just one and might have gotten better offers. You'll likely get better offers if you go that route and submit proof of status with other casino loyalty programs.

Related: How to earn free cruises and perks with casino loyalty programs on land and at sea

Carnival Fun Match offers

Once you register for a Carnival Players Club Fun Match, you might see offers via email within a week. However, some travelers have reported registering for Fun Match and only receiving discounted cruise offers. You might go through all the effort of status matching and still not get any offers for a "free" cruise.

When I wrote this story, the Carnival Fun Match website said travelers who register will get "drinks included + upgrades + $50 to spend in the casino." You should get at least whichever offer is currently on the Fun Match registration page.

Otherwise, there are no rules or official guidance regarding the types of Fun Match offers you might receive or how long you might receive offers. Each offer you let expire could be the last offer you see. Once you book a Fun Match offer, the flow of offers into your email inbox will likely end ... at least, until you've gone on your cruise and Carnival has assessed your level of play in its onboard casino.

I started getting Fun Match emails in my inbox within a week of registering in January 2022. Until I booked a Fun Match offer in March 2023, I got one to four emails with Fun Match offers per week.

Some Fun Match offers were for cruises starting at $55 per person, per day (plus taxes, fees and gratuities), based on double occupancy. With these offers, I could have gotten complimentary drinks in the casino and bonus cash from Carnival based on how many points I accrued in the casino during my cruise. For reference, you'll earn 1 point for every $2.50 you wager through slot machines.

Other offers included a "free" cruise with complimentary drinks in the casino and a $50 FunPlay credit. Some offers even included balcony rooms, although these were more limited than ocean-view rooms, which in turn were more limited than windowless inside rooms.

A "free" cruise, mind you, isn't really free. You'll still need to pay a deposit (which you'll get back in onboard credits), plus taxes, fees and gratuities.

After a while, I forgot about the Fun Match offers, as they got hidden in the Promotions tab of my inbox. But once I rediscovered them in late 2022, I checked my cruise offers daily.

You might find hundreds of offers when you click through to see the eligible cruises for a specific offer. Most are usually for cruises to the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Mexico in inside cabins. You can filter by cruise destination, departure port, length of cruise and sail date.

You can select an ocean-view room, balcony or suite if they're available for the sailing, but you will often need to pay more to upgrade to these room types.

Carnival is not in the business of giving away free cruises if it believes it could sell them for more. The best Fun Match deals will likely be on shoulder-season sailings, last-minute cruises and other itineraries that are unlikely to sell out. Don't expect to find a "free" offer on a popular Christmas cruise or a summer cruise on the line's newest ship.

With this understanding, my husband and I decided that if we were going to accept a Fun Match offer, we wanted a "free" balcony cabin on a transatlantic , transpacific or Panama Canal full transit cruise . We had high hopes and were willing to risk not booking an offer for the chance to book one of these extended cruises with a balcony.

After a few months of daily checks, we saw a Fun Match "free" cruise offer for an April 2024 transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Port Canaveral (near Orlando) in a balcony cabin. This offer perfectly fit our criteria — a balcony cabin on a transatlantic cruise — so we booked it with a $200 deposit before it disappeared. After all, months of searching had taught me that offers can go away quickly.

As you can see, our "free" cruise wasn't free. But even after the $391 in taxes and fees and $406 in prepaid gratuities, we got a great deal on our transatlantic voyage. It cost just $36 per person, per night — and that included meals in the ship's multiple complimentary restaurants, onboard entertainment and transportation across the Atlantic.

Plus, about six months before our cruise, a Chase Offer appeared for Carnival that let us get some cash back while paying for the remainder of our cruise cost.

Related: I earned a 'free' cruise in a ship casino — here's what it cost, plus tips for getting comped

Was it worth it?

The Carnival Fun Match was worth it for me. I enjoyed our extended cruise on Carnival Glory and would certainly book another casino offer. It takes patience and stubbornness to wait for the perfect offer that might never come, but I was happy we waited to use my Fun Match offer for a balcony cabin on a 14-night transatlantic cruise.

Once on board, I felt no pressure to gamble despite cruising on a casino offer. You could theoretically never visit the cruise ship casino while sailing on a Fun Match cruise. But since my husband and I had complimentary drinks when playing in the casino as part of our Fun Match offer, we did spend some time at Carnival Glory's Camel Club Casino. I stuck to 1-cent slots, ended up about even and enjoyed a few hard seltzers most evenings.

My limited casino play was enough. I've now started getting new "free" inside cabin cruise offers from Carnival Players Club and am considering booking another cruise if I find the right offer. Panama Canal, here we come!

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Helpful Tips For Making The Most Of Your Cruise

By The Travel Bite

I just got back from a Carnival cruise and have a whole list of notes of things I want to remember to bring next time, as well as a few things I brought along that I now know I can’t live without.

If you’re headed out on a cruise soon, here’s are some helpful tips for packing and planning to make the most out of your vacation.

Pack A Lanyard

You know all those of those lanyards you get at conventions and meetings that you don’t know what to do with?  Bring one on your cruise!  Even if you don’t have a lanyard at home, they sell them on board in the gift shop.  Everything from sporty ones to blingy ones.  It’s useful for carrying your Sail & Sign card when you’re walking around the ship.  We brought a hole punch for ours, but after cruising I discovered it would be better to have a lanyard with one of those clear plastic pouches so that way you can add your driver’s license too for ID when getting on and off the ship in ports.

Pack Extra Conditioner

There are no 3 ounce liquid restrictions on a cruise like there are when flying (though, if you’re flying in for your cruise, you’ll have to put these in your checked luggage).   While this tip might just be for the ladies, I have to say, the one thing I wish I had more of was extra hair conditioner. The ocean wind, sun, and salt water all take a toll on long locks, so I ran out of my 3 ounce conditioner on the third day. They do have some sundries in the gift shop (including conditioner) if you forget anything at home.  But they’re typically priced at a premium since you’re at sea ($5 for White Rain, $14 for Pantene) and not a deal like the items you find in the Duty Free shop.

Pack A Water Bottle And Travel Coffee Mug

In the Marketplace on board the ship you’ll find a filtered water machine as well as a coffee, tea, and hot chocolate available 24 hours a day to keep you hydrated and caffeinated. Bring your own water bottle and travel coffee mug to take advantage of the unlimited refills and to make it easy to walk around the ship without spilling your beverage.  If you forget your coffee mug, don’t worry, they have a coffee shop on board with specialty coffees too.  Be sure to get their coffee card to get a stamp with each purchase toward a free beverage.

Pack These Must-Haves

While I included a few packing tips above, here are few more things I recommend bringing to make your vacation even more awesome:

• zip-lock bags for keeping your stuff organized and dry when you’re at the pool or on shore at the beach
• a few sweaters for when it gets a little chilly at night
• note pads for doors and walkie talkies to communicate with your friends and family when your cell phones don’t work at sea
• decorations to personalize your cabin door so you can easily find your room

Wake Up To The Sunrise

Choose a stateroom that will have the sunrise when you’re headed out to sea, and the sunset when you’re returning home.  This can change depending on your route, but for us, it was the port side.

Check Your Cell Coverage

Check with your cell phone carrier to find out what your coverage is in some Caribbean islands.  With my cell phone plan, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were included for data and cell phone usage. If you do use your phone on the islands, don’t forget to turn it off or switch it to airplane mode when you’re back on the ship so you don’t get any extra international charges while at sea.

Plan a getaway

Stay on Ship’s Time

Depending on your departure port and some cruise itineraries, your ship’s time may change. This can get a little confusing when you go on shore (and if, like me, you check time on your phone instead of wearing a watch), especially if you’re exploring on your own instead of going on a cruise excursion. When on board, you can always check the ship’s time on your stateroom TV. If there’s a difference between ship’s time and local time in an upcoming port, it will be noted in the daily Carnival Fun Times, as well as announced repeatedly the night before arriving in port and the morning of arrival and during debarkation.

Decorate Your Door & Play Games With Your Towel Animals

One thing I wish we had done was decorate our door.  With a long hallway full of wood paneled doors, it’s not surprising how many times I tried to walk into the wrong room.  We saw some really fun decorations done by other passengers that could easily be accomplished with a pre-cruise trip to the party store. The other nice thing I noticed is they were mostly paper decorations, making them light and easy to pack.

We might not have decorated our door, but we did decorate our room with the towel animals, re-posing them with a friendly note to surprise our cabin steward each day.  It’s a fun way to show your appreciation for your cabin steward, especially since tips are automatically added to your Sail & Sign card.

Budget For A Special Dining Experience

While all your food is included with the cruise and 24 hour buffets, pizza, and ice cream still live up to their reputation, the one thing that surprised me the most about cruising on a new ship is the number of restaurant options on board.  We dined at a different location every night, from sushi, to a steakhouse, and even a Chef’s Table experience with a tour of the kitchen and private dining with wine pairings.  Most of these upscale experiences cost a little extra, but are heavily discounted compared to what you’d pay on shore.  For instance, our four course steakhouse dinner was only $35 per person, while something comparable back home in Orlando might be around $80-$100 per person.  Take a tour of these on your first night at sea, then make a reservation to treat yourself to a wonderful dining experience. We couldn’t decide on one, so we tried them all — guess I’m just a foodie at heart.

Splurge On The Spa Without Breaking The Bank

Each day the spa will run special promotions offering significant discounts on certain spa treatments.  However, the one thing that isn’t included with your treatment is access to the relaxation and steam rooms and Thermal Suite .  A day pass to the spa to use these rooms is only $20 — definitely go for it.  We spent our “Day At Sea” lounging around in the Thermal Suite drifting in and out of a nap while pretending to read a book.  It was one of the most relaxing days on our vacation and worth the splurge.

A couple of extra tips for the spa:

• Most of the rooms are co-ed, so wear your bathing suit and bring the robe from your room.
• Bring your iPod and earbuds full of your favorite music or audio books.
• Also bring a book, your favorite teas (hot water is provided), and anything else you need to get your relaxation on.

This post was created as part of my collaboration with  Carnival . As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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