Looking for Carnival Cruise Line tips? This list is packed with helpful Carnival cruise tips and things to know before you sail.
Carnival cruises are typically casual, lively, and social. Each sailing is a little different depending on the ship and where it’s sailing from, but like every cruise line, Carnival has its own quirks, guidelines, and way of doing things. If you’re planning your first Carnival cruise—or it’s just been a while—these tips will help you know what to expect before you board.
Carnival Cruises Are About Fun
Carnival leans into its “Fun Ship” branding — and they’re not kidding. You’ll find poolside contests, deck parties, loud music, and a very social vibe, especially on shorter sailings. They are fun ships for a reason — and if you’re not looking to have that kind of fun, then maybe another cruise line is more your speed.
Carnival leans into its “Fun Ship” branding — and they’re not kidding. You’ll find poolside contests, deck parties, loud music, and a very social vibe, especially on shorter sailings. They are fun ships for a reason — and if you’re not looking to have that kind of fun, then maybe another cruise line is more your speed.
That said, it doesn’t mean you can’t sail Carnival. There are ways to find your quiet moments on board. The Serenity Adult-Only area helps, and booking a more premium stateroom, like a suite or Havana Cabana, can give you access to private sundecks away from the crowds.
Focus on the Right Carnival Ship for You
Carnival Cruise Line currently sails ships across 10 different classes. That sounds like a lot, and it is — but most cruisers only need to know about a few.
If you’re booking now, you’re most likely to end up on one of these:
- Excel Class (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee): These are Carnival’s newest and largest ships. They feature themed zones, a variety of dining options, and bold attractions like the BOLT roller coaster.
- Vista and Dream Class: These two classes make up a big part of Carnival’s mid-sized fleet. Ships like Carnival Panorama, Horizon, Breeze, and Magic are popular, and you’ll find familiar favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint, the Alchemy Bar, and RedFrog Pub.
- Venice Class (Carnival Venezia, Carnival Firenze): These are part of Carnival’s “Fun Italian Style” ships. Initially built for Costa Cruises, they look and feel a little different than other Carnival ships, with Italian-inspired décor and venues like Il Viaggio and Amari bar.
Carnival also sails older ships in classes like Spirit, Conquest, and Fantasy — they’re still very much part of the fleet, but offer a more traditional layout and fewer of the newer features.
If ship experience matters to you, take a few minutes to look up what’s on board before you book — the differences can be significant.
Carnival Ships Have an Adults-Only Deck
Most Carnival ships have a Serenity Adult-Only Retreat — a dedicated outdoor space just for guests 18 and over. If you’re looking for a quieter spot to read, nap, or escape the music and pool games, this is where to go.
Depending on the ship, it can be just a small deck area with loungers and a hot tub, or something bigger with daybeds, clamshell loungers, and even its own bar. Some Serenity areas are tucked away and easy to miss, so it’s worth exploring early in your cruise.
It’s free to use and first-come, first-served — so if you want a prime seat on a sea day, go early.
Cabin Location and Type May Matter on Carnival
Carnival has a wide range of cabin categories, and it’s worth taking a closer look — especially if you’re thinking beyond a standard interior or balcony room.
Some ships feature Havana Cabanas, which offer a tropical-themed room with a private outdoor patio that opens up to an exclusive shared area with loungers and a pool. Access is limited to Havana guests, making it feel more private during the day.
On Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia, you’ll find Terrazza staterooms, which include access to Terrazza Moda — a quieter outdoor space with cushioned loungers, whirlpools, and a bar. It’s a similar concept to the Havana area but with an Italian-style twist.
Booking a suite also comes with added perks like priority boarding, bottled water, and sometimes access to exclusive areas on board, depending on the ship. We stayed in a suite on Carnival Firenze, which came with access to Terrazza Moda. That extra space and exclusive area made the overall experience feel a lot more comfortable and upgraded.
Choosing the right cabin isn’t just about square footage — if those extras matter to you, and the price difference isn’t too steep, it may be worth the upgrade for a more comfortable experience.
No Bid Upgrades, But Carnival May Offer a Paid Upgrade
Carnival doesn’t have a bidding system for upgrades, but you might receive a flat-rate upgrade offer by email or in your online booking once you’re paid in full. These offers give you the chance to upgrade to a higher cabin category — such as from interior to ocean view, or balcony to suite — for a fixed price.
You won’t get to pick the room location, though. If you accept, Carnival will assign the upgraded cabin, and you’ll lose your original room choice. These upgrades are usually final and can’t be reversed.
Sometimes the upgrade cost is better than what you’d pay if you changed the cabin manually, but not always. If you’re considering it, compare the offer with current prices and decide if the trade-off is worth it.
Drink Packages Are Optional—And May Not Be Worth It
Carnival offers a couple of drink packages, but they aren’t included with your cruise fare unless you specifically purchase one. The CHEERS! package is their alcoholic beverage plan, which covers most cocktails, beer, wine by the glass (up to $20), soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, energy drinks, and mocktails.
There’s also the Bottomless Bubbles soda package, which includes unlimited fountain soda and select juices — but not bottled water or specialty drinks.
Unlike some other lines, Carnival limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks per day on the CHEERS! package. That includes beer, wine, and cocktails. It doesn’t carry over, and anything over the cap is charged separately.
It’s worth doing the math before you buy a drink package. If you’re not planning to drink that much every day or plan to be off the ship often, the package may not save you money. And both adults in a cabin are required to purchase it if one does (with some exceptions), so factor that in too.
Bring a Refillable Water Bottle
One thing we noticed right away on our Carnival cruise — almost everyone had a refillable water bottle with them, and for good reason.
Carnival doesn’t provide bottled water unless you buy it or have the CHEERS! package, and it’s not always convenient to keep running back to the buffet or dining areas just to grab a cup. Bringing your own bottle makes it easier to stay hydrated throughout the day, whether you’re by the pool, in a lounge, or heading off the ship for a port day.
You can refill it at the drink stations (just don’t fill it directly from the spout — pour into a cup first).
Read more: Cruise Items You Shouldn’t Forget to Pack
Bring Your Own Canned Beverages and One Bottle of Wine Per Adult
Carnival is one of the few cruise lines that still lets you bring a few of your own drinks on board — but you have to follow their rules.
Each adult (21 and over) can bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne, but it has to be carried on by hand — not packed in your checked luggage. You can drink it in your cabin with no charge, but if you bring it to the dining room or a bar, they’ll charge a corkage fee.
You can also bring up to 12 sealed cans or a carton of non-alcoholic drinks per person — soda, juice, sparkling water, whatever you like — as long as you carry them on yourself at embarkation. No glass or plastic bottles allowed.
It’s a nice little perk if you want your favorite drinks on hand or don’t plan to buy a drink package.
Carnival’s Gratuities Are Automatically Added, But You Can Prepay
Carnival automatically adds daily gratuities to your account — this covers the crew members who take care of your cabin, serve your meals, and work behind the scenes.
As of now, the daily rate is:
- $16.00 per person, per day for standard staterooms
- $18.00 per person, per day for suites
These apply to all guests, including kids.
You can prepay gratuities at the time of booking or anytime before your cruise by logging into your Carnival account. If you don’t prepay, the charges will be added to your onboard account and settled at the end of the cruise.
Some people like to prepay so it’s one less thing to think about, while others wait and just let it post to their onboard spending. Either way, gratuities are not optional — they will be charged unless you go to Guest Services and ask to adjust them (which most people don’t do).
Faster to the Fun Sells Out Fast—Add It on Early
Faster to the Fun (FTTF) is a paid add-on Carnival offers on some sailings. If you add it on, you’ll get priority check-in and early boarding, your stateroom will be ready sooner, and you’ll have access to a shorter Guest Services line. It also includes priority tendering at ports that require it, and one of the first debarkation zones at the end of the cruise.
It’s limited and usually sells out fast — often before many people even see it as an option. If you’re interested, keep checking your booking and grab it as soon as it appears. A lot of cruisers choose to add it on to their reservation just to make embarkation day a little smoother. Sometimes, all they really want is to get on board, drop off their bags, and not wait around.
It’s a great add-on if you don’t have VIFP status or aren’t sailing in a suite. A lot of cruisers choose to add it on to their reservation just to make embarkation day a little smoother. Sometimes, all they really want is to get on board, drop off their bags, and not wait around.
You Can Book Excursions Through Carnival — Or on Your Own
Carnival offers a full list of shore excursions for every port on your itinerary, and booking through them is easy — especially if you’re new to cruising or want something more hands-off.
One benefit of booking a Carnival excursion is that you’ll usually get priority tendering in ports that require it. If you’re not staying in a suite or don’t have Faster to the Fun or VIFP status, this can help you avoid long waits to get off the ship.
Carnival occasionally offers small discounts on select excursions if you book early, such as within a few days of booking your cruise. These offers can vary and may not be available for all excursions, so it’s worth checking the options when you log into your booking.
That said, we book a lot of our own excursions independently, and we’ve had great experiences doing so. It can give you more flexibility and often better pricing, depending on the port.
Download the Carnival Hub App Before You Board
The Carnival Hub app is a must-have for your cruise. You’ll use it to check in, view your boarding pass, and once you’re on board, it becomes your go-to for the daily schedule, dining times, restaurant menus, and tracking your onboard spending.
You don’t need Wi-Fi to use the app during your cruise — it connects to the ship’s network for free. Just make sure you download it before you board, because ship Wi-Fi or port service isn’t always reliable when you’re trying to set it up last minute.
There’s also a chat feature in the app, which costs extra, but it’s helpful if you’re cruising with a group.
Check-in Opens at 14 Days—Be Ready to Select Your Arrival Time
Carnival’s online check-in opens exactly 14 days before your cruise, and it’s a good idea to mark your calendar. Once check-in opens, you’ll be able to enter your travel documents and — most importantly — select your arrival appointment time for embarkation day.
Unlike some cruise lines that give you a longer check-in window (like Celebrity’s 45 days), Carnival’s is short — and the earlier you check in, the better chance you have of getting an earlier boarding time.
Arrival times are enforced, but how strict it is can depend on the port. In some ports, showing up early might mean waiting outside until your scheduled time. In others, they may be a little more flexible depending on how the lines are moving.
If you have Faster to the Fun, suite status, or you’re a Platinum or Diamond VIFP member, your boarding pass may say “PRIORITY,” which gives you a little more leeway.
Carnival’s Casual Dining is Great—But Reserve Specialty Dining Early
Carnival has plenty of casual food options, but a lot of them — like Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina — are only open during the day. At night, your main go-to’s are the main dining room, the buffet, pizza, and the deli, which is open late.
If you want to try one of the specialty restaurants, like Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (loved it) or Bonsai Teppanyaki, it’s better to book ahead. These spots are popular, especially on shorter cruises, and reservation times do fill up. Carnival sometimes offers a small discount when you book before your cruise — another reason to plan early.
You can always try to book once you’re on board, but if you wait, you might miss out on your preferred time — and you’ll be paying more.
Room Service is Free for Breakfast, Then Comes with a Cost
Carnival still offers free continental breakfast, but only between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM. You’ll need to fill out the order card in your cabin the night before and hang it on your door — it’s a simple way to get coffee, juice, pastries, toast, fruit, or cereal delivered in the morning.
Outside of those hours, room service comes with à la carte pricing. Items like sandwiches, wings, quesadillas, pizza, and desserts are available, but each one has a price — and an 18% service charge is added to every order.
If you’re planning to order room service more than once, those costs can add up fast. Check the full menu in your cabin or on the Hub app before placing your order.
Don’t Miss Carnival’s Sea Day Brunch
Carnival’s Sea Day Brunch is one of those things first-time cruisers don’t always realize is available, but it’s worth showing up for.
It’s held in the main dining room on sea days and combines both breakfast and lunch options into one menu. You’ll find everything from French toast and omelets to burgers, mac and cheese, and steak and eggs. The Skillet Cake is a favorite — a pancake topped with ricotta, guava preserve, marshmallow, and maple butter. It sounds like a lot, but somehow it works.
Brunch usually runs from around 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, though that can vary depending on your ship. Check the Carnival Hub app for the exact time on your sailing. You don’t need a reservation — just check in through the app or head to the dining room.
Carnival Offers a Dr. Seuss Breakfast (for a Fee)
Something fun that Carnival does is offer a Dr. Seuss–themed breakfast on most of their sailings. It’s officially called the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and Friends, and yes — they actually serve green eggs and ham.
This is a sit-down breakfast with Seuss-themed menu items, bright red-and-white décor, and character appearances that are great for kids (or for anyone who still loves The Cat in the Hat). It’s usually offered once per cruise and costs around $10 per person.
You can book it through the Carnival Hub app once you’re on board — and it does fill up.
Specialty Coffee Drinkers: JavaBlue Has a Rewards Program
If you plan to grab a latte or iced coffee every morning, you’ll want to know that JavaBlue Café has its own punch card-style rewards program. After a certain number of drinks, you’ll get one free — kind of like a coffee shop loyalty card, but at sea.
It’s a nice perk if you’re a regular at the counter. Just ask the barista for a rewards card when you order. And if you have the CHEERS! drink package, many of the drinks are already included — which makes that free one even more of a bonus.
Cabins Are Cleaned Once a Day—But Towel Animals Are Still a Thing
Carnival no longer offers turn-down service or twice-a-day cabin cleaning. Staterooms are now cleaned once a day, usually in the morning or early afternoon, depending on your room steward’s schedule.
That said, Carnival still keeps one of its most fun little traditions: towel animals. You’ll usually find one waiting for you on your bed after your room’s been serviced — and if you’re traveling with kids, or you’re still a kid at heart, it’s a fun part of the cruise experience.
Carnival’s Towel Animal Takeover Is a Fun Surprise
One of the quirky little things Carnival does is the Towel Animal Takeover — and it’s exactly what it sounds like.
On one of your sea days, the housekeeping crew goes all out and fills the pool deck with towel animals. You’ll find them draped over loungers, hanging from railings, and showing up in all kinds of funny poses. It’s random, unexpected, and honestly impressive.
You won’t find it listed on the daily schedule ahead of time, but keep an eye on the Fun Times newsletter or the Carnival Hub app — that’s usually where it’s mentioned the morning of. It’s a fun little moment you’ll want to snap a photo of when it happens.
Some Ships Have Self-Serve Laundry—Others Don’t
One of the best things about sailing with Carnival is that some of their ships still have self-service laundry rooms. If you like to pack light or need to refresh clothes mid-cruise, this is a huge plus. You can check ahead of time to see if the ship you’re sailing on has them — it’s listed under the amenities on the ship’s page on Carnival’s site.
That said, not all Carnival ships have them — especially the newer ships and the “Fun Italian Style” ships like Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia. These ships don’t have laundry rooms or ironing boards, so you’ll need to use the valet laundry service instead.
Carnival does sometimes offer mid-cruise laundry specials, especially on longer sailings. Check the Hub app or your daily newsletter for details once you’re on board.
You Don’t Need to Check Out Pool Towels—But Don’t Lose Them
Surprisingly, Carnival doesn’t make you check out pool towels like some other cruise lines do. You’ll find them either in your stateroom or available near the pools, and you can grab what you need without having your cabin number scanned.
That said, don’t walk off the ship with them or leave them lying around. Your room steward keeps track, and if a towel goes missing from your cabin, you could be charged a $22 replacement fee.
So, yes, you can relax and take the towel, but make sure to bring it back to your cabin with you.
Carnival Has “Cruise Elegant” Nights—But it’s Not That Formal
Carnival’s version of formal night is called Cruise Elegant, and it usually happens once or twice per sailing, depending on the length of the cruise. Don’t let the name fool you — it’s not as fancy as it sounds.
Some guests dress up in cocktail dresses, dress shirts, or even a jacket and tie, but many others keep it simple with slacks or a nice top. On our last Carnival cruise, we saw a very low percentage of guests who dressed up — most kept it casual.
The only real rule is that you can’t show up to the main dining room in swimwear, flip-flops, or tank tops — but otherwise, it’s pretty flexible. If dressing up isn’t your thing.
Don’t Expect Many Loyalty Perks on Carnival Until You Hit Platinum
Carnival’s VIFP loyalty program is pretty bare until you hit the Platinum tier. If you’re used to getting perks early on with other cruise lines, this might feel underwhelming.
For your first few cruises (Blue and Red status), you’ll get access to offers and emails — and that’s about it. Once you hit Gold status (25–74 points), you’ll get a VIFP pin, a bottle of water, and one free drink — but only if your sailing is five nights or longer.
The real perks start at Platinum (75 points), when you finally get things like priority boarding, laundry service, and an invite to the VIFP party. Until then, don’t expect much beyond the basics.
One more thing: Carnival doesn’t status match with any of its sister cruise lines like Princess or Holland America. Each program is separate, so even if you’re loyal across the brands, you’re starting from the bottom every time.
Carnival Has a Casino Fun Match Program—Separate From VIFP
While Carnival’s regular loyalty program doesn’t offer much until Platinum, they do have a separate program through their casino side called Fun Match, part of the Carnival Players Club.
If you’ve gambled at a land-based casino or sailed with another cruise line that has a casino program, you might qualify for a Fun Match offer. Carnival will sometimes match your casino status and send you a free or discounted cruise offer, plus extras like onboard credit or drinks while playing in the casino.
It’s not automatic — you’ll need to register and submit proof of your casino status. But it’s definitely worth checking. Some people have received free cruises just by submitting a loyalty card.
Carnival Shareholders May Qualify for Onboard Credit
If you own 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock (CCL), you’re eligible for onboard credit as a shareholder benefit — even when sailing with any of Carnival’s sister brands like Princess, Holland America, or Cunard.
The amount you’ll receive depends on the length of your cruise:
- $50 for sailings of 6 nights or fewer
- $100 for sailings of 7–13 nights
- $250 for sailings of 14 nights or longer
To get the credit, you’ll need to submit proof of ownership at least three weeks before your cruise. Carnival now accepts requests through the Stockperks app or by submitting a recent brokerage statement via email. The name on your statement must match your cruise reservation, and you’ll need to show that you own at least 100 shares.
Note, not all sailings and not all bookings are eligible, especially if you booked under a heavily discounted or restricted promo. That said, it doesn’t hurt to submit the request anyway. Sometimes they’ll honor it even if your fare technically isn’t eligible.
BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
