Carnival Cruise FAQ: 50+ Questions Answered by Expert Travel Agents
Comprehensive answers to all your Carnival cruise questions from Essex County travel experts
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General Carnival Cruise Questions
1. What is included in a Carnival cruise?
✅ INCLUDED:
- Accommodations (your stateroom)
- All main dining venues (5-8 restaurants)
- Entertainment (shows, comedy, live music)
- Kids' programs (Camp Ocean, teen clubs)
- Pools, hot tubs, water parks
- Fitness center
- Room service (small delivery fee after midnight)
❌ NOT INCLUDED (extra cost):
- Alcoholic beverages ($8-15 per drink)
- Specialty dining ($15-45 per person)
- Shore excursions ($40-200+ each)
- Gratuities ($16/person/day, auto-charged)
- WiFi ($15-25/day)
- Spa services ($100-300+)
- Casino, Photos
Total Budget: Plan $100-150 per person per day beyond cruise fare
2. Is Carnival a good cruise line for first-timers?
Absolutely yes! Carnival is ideal for first cruises because:
- ✅ Affordable: Best value in cruising ($399-1,299 for most itineraries)
- ✅ Casual: No pressure, relaxed atmosphere, minimal dress code
- ✅ Easy to Navigate: Ships have clear signage, helpful staff
- ✅ Family-Friendly: Kids' programs mean parents can relax
- ✅ Forgiving: If you forget something, shops sell everything
We recommend starting with a 5-7 day Caribbean cruise for your first time.
3. What is the dress code on Carnival?
Most Nights: Cruise Casual
- Jeans, shorts, t-shirts are fine
- NO swimwear in dining rooms
- NO offensive clothing
Elegant Night (1-2 per cruise, optional):
- Men: Dress pants + collared shirt (or suit/tux if you want)
- Women: Dress, skirt/blouse, dressy pants outfit
- BUT: You can still wear casual clothes! Just dine at buffet or Guy's Burger Joint
Bottom Line: Carnival is the MOST casual major cruise line. Pack what you'd wear to a nice casual restaurant.
4. Do I need a passport for a Carnival cruise?
It depends on your itinerary:
Closed-Loop Cruises (start and end at same US port):
US citizens can use birth certificate + government-issued photo ID
Examples: Miami → Caribbean → Miami
One-Way Cruises: Passport REQUIRED
Example: Miami → Caribbean → Galveston
Our Strong Recommendation: Get a passport even if not required
- Emergency: If you need to fly home from a port due to medical emergency, you NEED a passport
- Easier: No hassle at ports, faster re-entry to US
- Future travel: Good for 10 years
Processing Time: 6-8 weeks standard, 2-3 weeks expedited ($60 extra)
5. Can I bring alcohol on a Carnival cruise?
Carnival's Policy (as of 2025):
- ✅ Wine/Champagne: 1 bottle (750ml) per person age 21+, must be in carry-on
- ✅ Embarkation Day Only: Additional bottles allowed but $15 corkage fee if consumed in dining room
- ❌ Beer: NOT allowed
- ❌ Liquor: NOT allowed
- ❌ At Ports: You can buy alcohol but it will be held until end of cruise
Consequences: If they find prohibited alcohol, it will be confiscated and held until disembarkation.
6. How much does a Carnival cruise really cost?
Base Fare (per person):
- 3-5 day Bahamas: $399-799
- 7-day Caribbean: $799-1,499
- 7-day Bermuda: $899-1,299
Real Example (Couple, 7-Day Caribbean):
- Base fare: $1,099 x 2 = $2,198
- Taxes: $150 x 2 = $300
- Gratuities: $112 x 2 = $224
- Drinks (moderate): $50/day x 7 x 2 = $700
- Excursions: $100 x 2 x 3 ports = $600
- Flights: $250 x 2 = $500
- TOTAL: $4,522 ($323/person/day all-in)
How to Save: Sail from Cape Liberty (no flights), skip drink package, book inside cabin, independent excursions.
Booking & Pricing Questions
7. When is the best time to book a Carnival cruise?
1. Wave Season (January-March)
Industry-wide sale period, deepest discounts of the year, onboard credits
2. Early Booking (6-12 months ahead)
Best cabin selection, early bird discounts (10-30% off)
3. Last Minute (30-90 days)
Potential 40% off but very limited cabin choice
Our Recommendation: Book in February during Wave Season for best combo of price + selection.
8. What is Carnival's cancellation policy?
- 75+ days before sailing: Minimal penalty ($50-100/person)
- 56-74 days: 50% penalty
- 31-55 days: 75% penalty
- 0-30 days: 100% penalty (you lose everything)
Our Strong Advice: Buy travel insurance ($70-150/person)
Covers:
- Trip cancellation (for covered reasons)
- Medical emergencies at sea
- Trip interruption
- Baggage loss
Cost: Typically 5-7% of total trip cost
Ships & Cabins Questions
11. Which cabin type should I book?
Interior (No Window): $799 avg
Best For: Budget travelers, short cruises, anyone rarely in the room
Balcony: $1,099 avg
Best For: First-timers (worth the splurge!), couples, longer cruises
Suite: $1,499+ avg
Best For: Special occasions, large families
First cruise? Book balcony. Repeat cruiser? Interior is fine.
12. Where is the best cabin location on a Carnival ship?
✅ Best Locations:
- Mid-ship, mid-deck (less motion)
- Deck 6-8 on most ships (easy access)
- Away from elevators (noise)
- Away from theater/nightclub
❌ Worst Locations:
- Directly below Lido Deck (pool noise until midnight)
- Above/below theater (thumping bass)
- Near elevators (24/7 noise)
- Forward cabins (most motion, anchor noise)
Dining & Drinks Questions
14. How does dining work on Carnival?
Main Dining Room (FREE):
- Your Time Dining: Show up anytime 5:30-9:30pm
- Assigned Dining: Early (6pm) or late (8:15pm) seating
Casual Options (All FREE):
- Lido Marketplace (buffet)
- Guy's Burger Joint (amazing!)
- BlueIguana Cantina (burritos, tacos)
- Pizza Pirate (24-hour)
Specialty Dining (Extra Cost):
- Steakhouse: $48/person
- Cucina del Capitano (Italian): $15/person
- Bonsai Sushi: $15-45
Tip: Main dining + casual venues are MORE than enough.
15. Should I buy the Carnival drink package?
CHEERS! Package: $60-70/person/day
Includes: Unlimited drinks up to $20 value (15 per day max)
Break-even: 5-6 drinks per day
✅ Buy if:
- You drink 6+ alcoholic drinks daily
- You want unlimited soda/coffee
- You don't want to think about costs
❌ Skip if:
- You drink 0-3 drinks per day
- You mainly drink at ports
- You're on a tight budget
Kids & Families Questions
30. Is Carnival good for families with kids?
Absolutely! Carnival is one of the most family-friendly cruise lines.
- Camp Ocean (ages 2-11): Free supervised activities 9am-10pm
- Circle C (ages 12-14): Tween lounge and activities
- Club O2 (ages 15-17): Teen club with games, movies
- Water Parks: WaterWorks on most ships
- Family Entertainment: Shows suitable for all ages
- Connecting Cabins: Available for families
3rd/4th guests in cabin (kids) cruise for just $199-299 each - huge savings!
Still Have Questions?
Call 833-874-1019 to speak with our Carnival cruise experts
We've answered thousands of Carnival cruise questions for Essex County travelers. No question is too small!