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BlueIguana is a Chipotle-style restaurant, with yummy made-to-order burritos and tacos. This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. Carnival offers a plan called Carnival Vacation Protection. However, we recommend you look into third-party travel insurance options as well — they’ll likely cost you less per-person and offer more coverage.
Bring Your Own Toiletries
On the Horizon, we found self-serve laundry rooms on most decks that only cost $6 for a load. That’s $3 for a wash cycle and $3 for a dry cycle. If you're sure Carnival is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand.
Head to Cucina Del Capitano and JiJi Asian Kitchen for lunch.
The most expensive – Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, and Spring break! If that’s the only time you can go, book in advance or look for special offers from Carnival. For more information on how to budget your cruise vacation, read my article about Carnival Cruise Costs. There are a couple of restaurants — Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Cucina del Capitano — that have free options at lunch, even though you have to pay to eat here at dinner.
Pack bathing suits and closed-toe shoes in your cruise carry-on
Meanwhile, the cruise line is constantly innovating, making changes, and improving. The doors are sometimes locked at night or in high winds, so try again later if you can't get through. In addition, the extra-fee Night Owls group babysitting (from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.) welcomes junior cruisers as young as 6 months. Parents can use these services to get a break or a night out away from their toddlers and tykes.
They work hard, 7 days a week barely getting a good break. Tipping on the cruise is a big topic and the debate will never end. Just be prepared and follow some of these cruise tips to help you out. You can also check our dedicated section on Cruise Hive for gratuities and tipping. Pack a small portable fan, the AC in the cabins doesn’t work, they maintain a standard room temp of about 68 to 70 degrees. You can purchase the ship’s data access if you really need to get online, or movie packages ($4.5 per movie) when bored.
The menu includes fruit, cereals, a variety of yogurts and baked goods, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, and juices. Cheers must be purchased for the entire length of the cruise. Carnival’s alcoholic beverage package, called Cheers, costs less per day if purchased prior to the sailing. It’s $59.95 per person, per day pre-cruise, or $64.95 per person, per day if purchased once on board. If you own at least 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock, you can get onboard credit every time you sail with Carnival.
I have been on Carnival Cruise Line's oldest and newest ships: Here are my top 11 tips - Cruise Blog
I have been on Carnival Cruise Line's oldest and newest ships: Here are my top 11 tips.
Posted: Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The island is full of complimentary beach chairs for you to enjoy while your ship is anchored (yes, you do have to tender here!). For every port you visit, indulge in a local culinary treat or tour. It’s one of the most popular shows on a Carnival cruise and one we think is a must see.
However, for many years it chose not to follow rivals such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in building ever-bigger ships. Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are now the only Carnival ship on the list of the 50 biggest cruise ships. Where you won't find Carnival ships, notably, is in Asia, South America or, for the most part, Europe. Unlike other big cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, Carnival doesn't spread its vessels around the world to draw a fly-in crowd. Aimed squarely at Americans, its trips are all about cruising close to home at a reasonable price.
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. Carnival discounts the package $5 per day — or about 8% off the onboard price — if you buy the package online before you board. It’s tradition for Carnival to place a coin on the ship when under construction as a good-luck charm.
Always check your booked ship to see your dining options. For example, enjoy premium cuts of beef paired with the Steakhouse wine list, which is recognized by the distinguished Wine Spectator Magazine’s Award of Excellence in 2019. 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. 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.
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. Six or eight bucks for a beer can be tough to swallow.
You can also order food delivered to your poolside lounge chair and text your friends for a nominal fee. The bottled water in the staterooms cost around $5 per bottle. If you think you’re going to drink a lot of water, consider pre-ordering the water from Carnival at $4.50 for a 12-pack. You can also buy a case of water onboard but it’s a little pricier. Another great option is to bring your own reusable water bottle and just continue refilling it throughout your voyage. Spending less might not only convince you to actually book the cruise, but it might entice you to book a few add-ons to enhance your trip, too.
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. 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. While some perks may be delivered to your cabin (such as souvenir gifts and special event invites), others you may need to seek out. Read up on which perks you're eligible for and be sure to take advantage of the money-saving offers.
We skipped the first few nights of movies by the pool, but they turned out to be a favorite way to spend the evening (make sure you grab some free popcorn before settling in). Last in our list of Carnival Cruise tips is a general one—try something new while you are on board. One of the best things about being at sea is star-gazing away from the light pollution on land. However, most deck areas are well lit, so you will need to find hidden spots for the best views.
When I take a warm-weather cruise, I like to bring at least one sweater and one sweatshirt. The love & marriage show is a don’t-miss if you love to laugh. For the uninitiated, the love & marriage show features three married couples from the audience — newlyweds, the couple married the longest (or close to it), and another in between.
