Switch your phone

Set your phone in airplane mode and use the ships wifi for communicating – this will avoid international fees.  I have heard horror stories of people who didn’t know about this and once they received their first phone bill after their cruise they about had a heart attack!

The Hub app rocks!

Use the Carnival Hub app! It is free to use and has all of the info from the Fun Times where you can set reminders of what you want to do.  Also, there is a chat feature for $5 per person for the length of your cruise so you can text with everyone in your party, even group messages.  Tip: The app must remain open for the chat to work.

Unpack your bags

Unpack as soon as possible, it’s no fun to live out of a suitcase.   This is your home for the next week (or shorter or maybe longer) so make yourself comfortable!  The steward can bring extra hangers if needed.

Have a mini-bar?

Ask the steward to empty the mini-bar (avoid accidental charges and fill up with your own drinks) – some ships do not have a mini-bar. Some have an empty mini-fridge and some have none at all.

Freebies anyone???

Ask the Guest Services desk for a postcard with the ship’s picture on it – should be free.  Also, ask if they can give you a free deck of cards.  Last cruise we grabbed a deck and played cards in the atrium while we waited for show time.

Open my wine please

A corkscrew can usually be obtained by your cabin steward if you brought your own wine.  This is if you want to open and drink it in your room.  If you want to drink it in the dining room, bring the bottle to your waiter and he will open it and serve it with your meal.  Can’t finish the bottle in one sitting, they will put your name on it and hold it for the next evening.  They will even chill it for you. Note: there is a $15 corkage fee per bottle in the dining room.

Update:  I received a comment that someone was charged $25 from a steward for use of a corkscrew.  We have always been allowed to use them at no charge, but I wanted to add this information.  We may want to pack one…

What about glasses?

Your steward can also bring ice and glasses for your wine or other beverages.  Just ask, they will go out of their way to help you make your vacation perfect.

Game time

The library has free crossword puzzles and trivia games each day of the cruise.  There are also board games and… books… in the library

Forgot a lanyard?

Visit the casino for a free Carnival lanyard for your Sail & Sign card.  They are long and stretchy, our kids love them!

Separate your pictures

Take a picture of the day’s schedule each morning, this will date set the photos taken each day on your camera or phone which makes it easy to see each day’s photos at a quick glance.

Pick your daily activities

Look through the list of activities each day and mark what interests you so you don’t miss it.  Mark with a highlighter or bookmark on the Hub app on your phone.

Extra showers…

Use showers, saunas & steam rooms near spa free of charge.  These are nice and larger than the showers in your cabin.  Also, if you have several people getting ready at the same time in one cabin with one bathroom, some can go shower in the spa area.

Meet new friends

Teens need to attend the first night meet & greet!  This will be the best time to meet the other kids in the teen clubs and make new friends for the duration of the cruise.

You may need a nightlight…

Inside cabins are dark. You can turn the tv to the forward camera channel for minimal light at night and it lets you know when the sun is up.  Or you may want to pack a nightlight.

Laundry rooms

Laundry or ironing rooms are on each floor but they are scarce. If ironing must be done, try to go in the middle of the afternoon as there will be a long line on formal night! (This info is Carnival specific)

Pictures!!!

Have your photo taken by the ship’s photographers! You do not have to buy them, but you may want to if they are really great!  How often is your entire family dressed up with a photographer right there?

Our family photo from our last cruise

Secret decks

Look for the ‘secret’ decks at the front of the ship.  Some ships have a deck that go all the way around… and some don’t.  Most of these have secret decks – well they are not really secret but they are not public decks.  You have to access these from a cabin deck, not a public deck like Promenade.  To access these, walk all the way forward and look for an access door leading outside.  You may want to ask the cabin stewards and they can point you in the right direction. (ex. Carnival Magic has on decks 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11)

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; food, dinner & drinks; ports & excursions; shopping; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

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Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

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