I have been on over 25 Cruises, and been a member of many Sailing Groups for lots of Cruises. I have also been an Administrator several times. Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions that I have come across over the years, as well as some that are repeated on a regular basis.
FOLLOW SEMI PRO CRUISER ON FACEBOOK – CLICK HERE
1. “What Terminal do we go to/at what terminal will our ship be docked?”
I see this question more than any other. The answer? It doesn’t matter. If you are driving yourself, you only need to put in the Port Address. (FIND THE PORT ADDRESSES HERE). When you arrive at the Port, there are large Digital Signs telling you what terminal to go to. If you are taking a Cab to the Port, or a Rideshare – just tell them to take you to the Port and the name of the ship – they will know where to go. If you are looking for Parking Garages, there will be signs for that, too. There are also workers at the Port that can help you. In all of my Cruises, I have never once even thought about which Terminal my Ship was in until we pulled into the Port.
2. “Can I bring Bottled Water on Board?”
No – you are not allowed to bring any beverages in plastic or glass (Except for your Bottle of Wine), Water can be brought on in Cans or Cartons – the same rules apply for water as soda – you can bring a 12 Pack, Maximum per person. The cans or cartons must be 12 oz. or less. CLICK HERE FOR CRUISE EMBARKATION RULES.
3. “What nights are the theme nights?”
With Carnival, you really can’t tell what nights the theme nights will be prior to your Cruise. Sometimes your Cruise Director will give an update on their Social Media Page before the Cruise, but this doesn’t happen very often. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UPDATED LIST OF CRUISE DIRECTORS WITH LINKS TO THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
4. “What night is Elegant Night?”
Number of Elegant Nights Depends on the length of the Cruise. 1-5 Day Cruises have 1 Formal Night. 6-10 Day Cruises have 2 Formal Nights. 11 Day Cruises or Longer have 3 Formal Nights. Which Nights? 3/4/5 Day Cruises – Usually on Night 2. 6 Night Cruises – Usually on Nights 2 and 5. 7 Night Cruises – Usually on Nights 2 and 6. 8 Days or more – Formal Nights vary by ship and Sailing. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT FORMAL/ELEGANT NIGHTS.
5. “Can I bring an Iron or Clothes Steamer”
Absolutely not. You are not allowed to bring anything with a heating element (except for hair appliances like curling irons and hairdryers) Wrinkle Release Spray is a great option. All ships have Ironing Rooms. TO SEE ALL PROHIBITED ITEMS, CLICK HERE.
6. “Is the Drink Package Worth It?
That all depends on each individual and how much they plan to drink. They say the Break-Even Point is 6 Drinks per day – if you drink more than that, it’s worth it – plus you get free Bottled Water, Soda and Coffee (Which do not count against your 15 Drinks per day Maximum). CLICK HERE IF YOU NEED MORE HELP DECIDING.
7. “Do I need my Passport or Birth Certificate/ID to get off the ship at the Ports?”
Unless you are traveling to Bermuda, Greenland, Panama or Colombia (which require Passports) you never need to take out your Passport or Birth Certificate after Embarkation. Store them away in a safe place in your room or your Room Safe. If something happens and you are left at a port, the Crew will retrieve your Passport. The only thing you need to get on and off the ship at Ports is your Sail and Sign Card. I always carry my ID with me, but have not had to show it in at least my past 15 Cruises.
8. “Are we able to bring Energy Drinks Onboard?”
Yes – the same rule applies to energy drinks as soda – 12 oz. max in Cans or Cartons, and a maximum of 12. CLICK HERE FOR LUGGAGE EMBARKATION DAY RULES.
9. “Can I put my wine/soda in my Suitcase when boarding the ship?”
No. All wine and soda must be in your Carry On or Carried On. (You can carry your 12 pack without putting it in a bag.) CLICK HERE FOR LUGGAGE EMBARKATION DAY RULES.
10. “Do I need to exchange my money to Foreign Currency in the Ports?”
No. Shops, Restaurants, Bars and Excursions all take American Money, Credit or Debit Cards. If using a Credit or Debit Card, make sure to let your Company know that you will be traveling Internationally.
11. “There are two of us, and we each have a bottles of wine. Can I put both bottles in the same Carryon, or do they have to be separate?”
You can put both bottles in the same Carryon Bag, as long as you Board together. Same goes for Soda, and also applies to more than just two people. Example – if you have 4 people Boarding together, and everyone has a case of Soda – you can combine them into 1 bag.
12. “When you carry on sodas, do they have to be in the box or can they be loose?”
Either way. There are no rules that say you have to keep them in the original box. You can also mix and max. CLICK HERE FOR LUGGAGE EMBARKATION DAY RULES.
13. “Can I see the schedule of events, shows, etc. before my Cruise?”
No – you cannot. Every Cruise is different, and every Cruise Director does each Cruise differently. You can message your Cruise Director before the time, and they might be able to give you some insight. CLICK HERE FOR THE 2025 CRUISE DIRECTOR SCHEDULE. You can also see what the theme nights are ahead of time, but not which night they will be taking place. CLICK HERE FOR 2025 THEME NIGHTS. Once onboard, you will be able to access the Daily Schedules through the Carnival Hub App., or on the Fun Times that are delivered to you cabin daily. You can always Google Fun Times, and see examples from previous Cruises, but as stated above, they change every Cruise.
14. “Do we need to make reservations for shows, events on Carnival?”
No – Carnival does not take reservations for their shows or events. All shows and events are First Come/First Served.
15. “Does the Cheers package include sodas and water, and do they count against your 15 Drink Limit?”
Yes, you can get unlimited sodas, waters, milkshakes, coffees and juices with the Cheers Package. They do not count against the 15 Drink Limit.
16. “Are there hairdryers in the rooms?”
Yes, there are hairdryers in every cabin. They are typically located in the desk drawer. However, they are not the best quality – if you have thick hair, I would suggest bringing your own.
17. “Can we bring snacks on board?”
Yes. You can bring snacks as long as they are unopened and in the original packaging. They can either be in your carry-on or checked luggage. They can also be combined in one carry-on or checked bag. CLICK HERE FOR CRUISE EMBARKATION RULES.
18. “How can we make sure that everyone in our party sits at the same table for dinner, even if we aren’t in the same cabin?”
Log in to your Carnival Account (on the website, not the APP). Click on BOOKING AND ORDER DETAILS. On the right side of the page, there is a link – MANAGE ANOTHER BOOKING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
19. “How come some people are able to check in before me?”
Check-in begins 14 days ahead of your Cruise at 12:00 am EST. Cruisers that are Platinum or Diamond Levels can check in 2 days before that.
20. “Is there shampoo/conditioner in the room?”
Yes – Carnival provides a small soap bar (normally, but you can ask for it from your steward if there isn’t any), and there’s a wall dispenser in the shower with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. They are not the best quality, so if you are particular about your brand, I would suggest bringing your own.
21. “I will be reaching the next level card part of the way through my upcoming Cruise, will I get my new level card at the beginning of the Cruise?”
YES! For example, If you are Gold Level and have 74 Days, and you start your next Cruise – you will receive your Platinum Card when you board the ship.
22. “Are there Irons in the rooms?”
NO! Irons and other items with heating elements are not allowed in the cabins. They pose a fire hazard. All Carnival ships have rooms with irons. All ships except the Excel Class have Laundry Rooms. I would suggest bringing Downy Wrinkle Release.
23. “Do I need a Real ID/Star ID to Cruise or go out of the Country at the different Ports?”
No. Real IDs are not required to Cruise or to go out of the Country. Beginning May 7th, 2025, they will be required to Fly Domestically. There are no Mandates for Real IDs for Cruises or for getting off at the Ports.
24. “Do we need to bring towels for the beach or Excursions?”
No. Carnival provides plenty of towels. There are towels in your room and you can also check out towels at the pool. Just make sure you return them, or you will be charged.
25. “Are there refrigerators in the rooms?”
Yes. All Carnival Cabins have small refrigerators in the rooms.
26. “Do the rooms have microwaves?”
NO. Carnival Cruise Line does not have microwaves available for guests in their staterooms or for general use on the ship.
27. “Do we need to put luggage tags on our Carry-On Bags?”
No. Luggage tags only need to go on checked luggage. Some people like to put them on their Carry-On Items, but it is not necessary.
28. “Do Boarding Passes have to be printed?”
Yes. At this time, Carnival still has not implemented a way to use your phone for boarding. If you forget to bring your Boarding Pass, or have a problem printing, they can print them off for you at the port.
29. “Are the doors/walls on my ship metal?”
This one is tough to answer, because every ship is different, and we haven’t been able to find a definitive list of all the ships. I have found that the bathroom doors are almost always metal, so they work great for magnetic hooks. Some of the walls and ceilings are metal. Some doors are metal. If you are looking to decorate your door with magnets, I suggest bringing 3M tape as backup. My last Cruise on Horizon – I paid brought a great custom made magnet to display on the outside of my cabin door, but the door wasn’t metal, so I just used 3M tape and it worked great.
30. “How/Can we reserve shows or other activities before the Cruise on the App or online?”
You cannot. Carnival Shows are all first come first served.
31. “If I reach the next level on my upcoming Cruise, (example: turning Platinum) will I be that level at the start of the Cruise?”
Yes – you will be given that color card at the beginning of your Cruise. This is only under the current loyalty system, and may change when the new Loyalty System goes into effect.
32. “Can I Pre-Order Bottled Water for my Cabin?”
Absolutely – You can pre-order order Bottled Water, Wines, Beer, Special Occasion Cakes and more for your stateroom, and it will be delivered to you. You can order here: CARNIVAL.COM/IN-ROOM-FOOD-BEVERAGES
33. “I’m sailing out of a Port where the Drink Package doesn’t start until Day 2. I’m booked under a ‘Drinks on Us’ Package through the Casino. When does that start?”
Drinks on Us in the Casino starts as soon as the Casino Opens.
34. “Do luggage tags have to be printed in color?”
No. Black and White is fine – they just need to be able to see your Cabin Number.
35. “Can you use the Cheers Package on Carnival’s Private Island? If not, do drinks you purchase on the islands count towards your 15 Drink Limit?”
Cheers does not extend to any of Carnival’s Private Islands. If you purchase a drink on the island, it does count toward your 15 Drink Daily Limit. (If you use your Sail and Sign Card). Celebration Key is the exception – there will be places there where you can buy drinks with cash or a Credit Card, and these will NOT count towards your 15 Drink Daily Limit.
36. “Can you bring full size shampoo, conditioner, etc. ?”
Yes – full size toiletries are fine, there are only restrictions for those on flights.
37. “Are Stanley Cups (or similar refillable cups) allowed?”
Absolutely – there are water stations around the lido deck where you can refill them. They can be brought on board either in your Carry On or your Checked Luggage. However, they must be empty when boarding. (They will make you empty them before Boarding).
38. “Can I bring a fan?”
Yes. You can also ask your room steward for a fan – although there are limited quantities. I personally like my room freezing when I sleep, and I have never needed a fan. Some people do like them for the noise. Fans can be no larger than 12″ in Diamater.
39. “Is there an ATM on the ship?”
Yes – they are normally located in the casino. There is currently a $6.50 fee per transaction.
40. “What happens if I’m late for my Check-In Time on Embarkation Day?”
Nothing – you just cannot normally arrive before your check-in time. Just make sure you are there before final Boarding.
41. “Are there coffee pots in the rooms?”
No. Coffee pots have heating elements which can be a fire hazard. There is free coffee at the Buffet, and Specialty Coffees at Java Blue.
42. “Can I send a gift to a worker on the ship after my Cruise?”
Absolutely! You can ship using the following format: PERSON’S NAME. C/O CARNIVAL (INSERT SHIP NAME). DEPARTMENT/POSITION (EX: 9TH FLOOR HOUSEKEEPING). 3655 NW 87TH AVENUE. MIAMI, FL 33178-2428. From there, Carnival will ensure it gets where it needs to be at no further cost. If you mail it to any other address, it more than likely will not reach the intended recipient.
43. “Does medication have to be in the original container? Does it have to be in a sealed or labeled bottle?”
NO! Medication does not have to be in the original bottle. It is perfectly fine to put it in a pill organizer. Below is the answer directly from Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald:
44. “Do the rooms have hangers or do I need to bring my own?”
Yes, the rooms have hangers in them. If there aren’t enough, you can bring some of your own, or ask your Room Steward for some.
45. “I received the following email, does this mean we can no longer bring wine?!?!”
No. This email is sent out every Cruise – it is not referring to wine. You always have been able to, and can still bring wine. This is referring to bringing Liquor onboard. Click here to review Carnival’s Liquor and Beverage Policy.