Carnival Cruises Information

What is the tipping policy onboard?

Guests can pay their shipboard gratuities in one of two ways:
1. Reverse Gratuity Policy - For our guests' convenience, we automatically add the recommended gratuities to the onboard Sail & Sign account on embarkation day.
Guests will have the discretion to adjust these gratuities based upon the level of service received during the cruise. This includes the option to adjust gratuities (up or down) for any individual on the Dining or Housekeeping staff. In order to do so, the guest will need to visit the Information Desk on board.
2. Pre-Paid Gratuity Policy - Gratuities are pre-arranged and paid at the time of booking or any time up to two weeks prior to the sail date.
All guests on each booking must prepay the gratuities, with the exception of children under two. The pre-paid gratuities can not be removed once the booking has been ticketed. The guest will not have the option to adjust the gratuities (up or down) based on the level of service received during the cruise.
The dollar amount of the gratuities will appear in the Miscellaneous Charge field on the booking. The guest copy on the cruise ticket will indicate if gratuities have been paid.
The total amount will be $10 per guest, per day, which breaks down as follows:
$5.50 pp/pd for Dining Team Service (Headwaiter and Waiter)
$1 pp/pd for Bistro Service (Waiter/Cooks)
$3.50 pp/pd for Cabin Services (Cabin Steward)
Tipping the Maitre D' is strictly at guest's discretion, based upon services rendered. For guests who wish to extend this gratuity in cash, an envelope will be available on the last evening of the cruise.
Tipping still applies regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or utilizing room service.
Bar Waiters, Deck Stewards and Bell Boys - Certain personnel, as noted above, may be tipped as service is rendered. A 15% gratuity is automatically added to beverage purchases which the guest may adjust appropriate to the service received.

What should I pack?

The first thing to remember is that you're on vacation and you are aboard one of our "Fun Ships" to have a good time. The second thing to remember is to travel light. If you keep those two things in mind, you should do just fine.
Casual attire and resort wear is the order of the day both on board and in port. Shorts, slacks, sundresses, blouses, etc., are in line for women. Clothing for men is just as casual. You should bring a pair of rubber-soled sandals or sneakers to wear on deck and a pair of good walking shoes. You might also want to consider bringing along a sweater or jacket for cool evenings and inexpensive rain gear in case of a sudden shower. Women may want to bring along a hat or scarf. You'll have a chance to dress up on two nights during 7 day or longer cruises (one night on shorter cruises) for the Captain's Cocktail Party and the Gala Farewell Dinner. On the other evenings you can dress casually for dinner (no shorts or tank tops).
For those not wanting to dress up, the Lido Restaurants are open nightly and have a casual dress code. Formal Wear: tuxedo; suit and tie; sport coat, tie and slacks; evening gown; cocktail dress; pantsuit Casual Resort Wear: sport shirts and slacks; dresses; skirts; pantsuit; Capri pants NOTE: Shorts, t-shirts, tank tops and bathing attire are not permitted in the Dining Room during dinner.

Can I wash my clothes while on board?

Self-Service Launderettes
Each ship has at least 2 self-service launderettes located on the stateroom decks.
There are two or three washers and dryers, and one iron and ironing board in each launderette. The cost is $2.00 per washer load and $2.00 per dryer load. Vending machines dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.00 per box.
Note: Due to local environmental requirements, the washing machines in the guest' launderette will be closed in port, per each ports specific requirements; the dryers and irons will be available for guest use.

How much are photos on board?

The Ship's Photographers take both candid and posed shots all during the cruise. The photos are then put on display, usually the very next day, and are available for purchase (with a Sail & Sign Card). The prices are as follows, depending on the ship: 4-wallet size $5.00 1-5x7 $5.95 1- 6x9 $8.00
1- 8x10 $19.95 Special requests can be made by appointment and are available for a fee. Film is available in the Duty-Free shops for purchase.
One-day developing service is available for the following types of film. Drop-off boxes are located at the Photo Gallery:
35mm film
Disposable cameras
Panorama and APS Advantix Film can be processed on select ships; check with the Photo Manager for details.
Developing film onto a CD (select ships: Spirit Pride Conquest Legend Glory).

Do You Do Anything Special For Special Occasions?

Wedding anniversaries, birthdays and honeymoons can be celebrated in the dining room with a cake presented to the guest by the dining room staff. Cakes available in various sizes and flavors; visit our Gifts web-site or call 1-800-522-7648. Arrangements need to be made at least one week prior to sailing by the travel consultant. All other occasions, such as a graduation, promotion, etc. cannot be arranged in advance but arrangements can be made on board directly with the Maitre d'.

How old do you have to be to travel alone?

Guests are required to be 21 years old (on embarkation day) to travel. Guests under the age of 21 must be accompanied in the same stateroom by a parent or guardian 25 or older. The exceptions Carnival will make to this policy are:
Married minor couple - The booking must be documented that the couple is married. The couple must have proof of marriage at embarkation or they will be denied boarding without the benefit of a refund.
Domestic Partners/Same-Sex Union minor couple - The booking must be documented that the couple are legal Domestic Partners/Same-Sex Union. The couple must have legal proof of partnership/union at embarkation or they will be denied boarding without the benefit of a refund.
Guest ages will be verified at embarkation. Guests not conforming to this policy will be denied boarding and assessed a 100% cancellation penalty. NO exceptions will be made at embarkation.
The Group policy is slightly different because of stricter group terms and conditions including mandatory chaperones, damage deposits and other considerations.

What amenities are in my stateroom?

All staterooms have an amenity basket displayed in the bathroom. The amenities are subject to change and are only sample sizes. The basket may include such things as: his/her razors; shampoo and conditioner; body wash; Tylenol; deodorant; hard candies. Supplies will be replenished by the room steward, if quantities allow.

What are Carnival "Funship" Dollars?

Carnival now offers gift certificates that friends, family travel agents or businesses can purchase for a Carnival Guest.
Funship Dollars come in denominations of: $25 - $50 - $100 - $500.
Funship Dollars can be redeemed against the cost of a cruise (as payment).
Funship Dollars can be applied as an on board credit on the Guest's Sail and Sign account.
Order Procedures
Certificates are purchased by calling the Reservations Special Programs and Promotions Desk at: 800 906-7603.
The certificates are customized with the name of the person, agency or business that purchased it. The purchaser will fill in the name of the recipient.
The certificate will be mailed to the purchaser upon receipt of payment. * Certificates must be redeemed no later then 2 weeks prior to the cruise

What are the new passport requirements?

Effective December 31, 2006, the U.S. Government will require that all of our guests, including U.S. citizens, be in possession of a valid passport when traveling on any Carnival cruise. Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain further details. For more information or to get a passport application, visit www.travel.state.gov.
All guests must present the required documentation at embarkation. Guests without the required documentation will be denied boarding and no refund will be issued. Please understand that Carnival will strictly enforce this requirement to be in compliance with this important U.S. Government mandate.

Are there any age restrictions on board?

Drinking Alcoholic Beverages:
Guest must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D. with birth date is required.
Casino:
Guest must be 18 years of age or older to play the tables and the slot machines. Guests under 18 years of age are not permitted in the casino.
Spa Carnival and Gym:
Guests under 16 years of age are not permitted in these facilities. Guests between the ages of 16 and 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Lounges, Shows, and Disco:
Guests under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult in all public areas of the ship. Guests under the age of 18 must vacate the disco by 11 PM.
Use of the Waterslide:
Guests must be at least 48" inches in height to use the waterslide on the following ships: Holiday, Jubilee, Celebration, Fantasy, Sensation, Elation, Paradise, Inspiration, Imagination, Fascination, Ecstasy Guests must be at least 42" inches in height to use the waterslide on the following ships: Destiny, Triumph, Victory, Spirit, Pride, Conquest, Legend, Glory, Miracle, Valor Guests under 13 must have their parents permission.
Use of the Pools:
Due to United States Public Health (USPH) Regulations, we do not allow children in diapers or those not toilet-trained in the pools. Lifeguards are not on duty. Use of the pools by guests under 13 without adult supervision is prohibited.

Do you have luggage restrictions?

Baggage Limitations - There is no limit set by Carnival Cruise Lines to the amount of luggage brought on board as long as it fits in the guest's stateroom. The airlines do have restrictions and it is up to the guest to check with the airline he/she is flying on.
Embarkation Baggage Procedures -
Three bag tags per guest are mailed with cruise documents for cruises of 7-days or longer; two bag tags per guest are mailed with cruise documents for cruises of 6-days or less. After arriving at the pier, all guests will follow the same procedure with their luggage, whether they arrive by taxi, car, or transfer bus. Guests with a stateroom assignment are given tags that are color-coordinated to the deck assigned and location on that deck (forward or aft). Guests booked on a TBA basis receive gray bag tags; the porter will re-tag these bags with the corresponding tag according to the stateroom assigned. Additional tags can be obtained at curbside from the porter, if necessary.
Each piece of luggage must be locked and have a colored bag tag listing the guest's name, ship and stateroom number.Guests must identify their bags with a curbside porter who will place the bags on the ship; the customary tip for the curbside porter is $1.00 per bag.
NOTE: There is no curbside porter service on 2/3-day Cruises-to-Nowhere.
For security purposes, Carnival limits the size of hand-carry luggage to 11"X 17" which is the dimension of the opening of the X-ray security machine (similar to those at the airport); there is no measurement for length as the hand-carry luggage will lay flat on the conveyer belt. Luggage larger than 11"X 17" will not be permitted through the security machine and must be checked-in with a curbside porter. Once on the ship, the luggage will be delivered to the guests' stateroom by 7:00pm that night.
Debarkation Baggage Procedures - Guests are advised to place their luggage outside of their stateroom door on the last night of the cruise by 1:00am. All luggage is collected and placed in a holding area on the ship. Upon arrival at the port of debarkation, the luggage is unloaded and separated (by bag tag color) in the baggage claim area of the terminal. The guests must personally locate their luggage and either carry it out or seek the assistance of a porter who will wheel it out of the terminal. The customary tip is $1.00 per bag.
Customs - Each guest is required to complete a customs declaration card prior to debarking the ship. Clearance for customs will take place on board the ship at the home port. When the ship has been cleared by U.S. Customs, guests disembark in an orderly fashion, usually according to the color of their bag tags.
U.S. Customs may request proof of citizenship prior to the guest leaving the baggage claim area. Depending on the number of ships in port that day, the ship usually clears by 9:00am. It is suggested that all return air flights be made for early afternoon, at the earliest.
Baggage Check-In with airlines at debarkation - Effective 9/11/01: For security reasons this service is no longer available.

Is there a dress code for the dining room?

Depending on the length of the cruise, either formal dress or casual resort wear is required in the Dining Room. The dress requirement for children is the same. For those not wanting to dress up, the Lido restaurants are open nightly (with the exception of the last evening of the cruise), and have a casual dress code. Formal Wear: tuxedo (optional); suit and tie; sport coat, tie and slacks; evening gown; cocktail dress; pantsuit Casual Resort Wear: sport shirts and slacks; dresses; skirts; pantsuit NOTE: Shorts, t-shirts and bathing attire are not permitted in the Dining Room during dinner.

What is Our Duty Free Allowance?

Regulations from ATF: Cigarettes and Tobacco Products Foreign-made cigarettes and tobacco products may still be brought into the U.S. in personal-use quantities (exemption: 1 carton per person).
The following guidelines pertain to U.S. Residents only. Non-U.S. Residents must comply with customs allowance guidelines set-up by the Customs Office in their particular country. Specific information will be provided on board the ship.
All Heads of Households are required to complete one U.S. Customs Declaration Form, to include those family members traveling with them who reside at the same address.
The Head of Household must declare the total value of all articles acquired abroad that they are bringing into the United States, including those items purchased on the ship, in foreign ports and any duty free stores. All purchases including tax free items (ex: artwork, unset precious gemstones, perfume, cosmetics, antiques and U.S. made products) must be listed on the back of the U.S. Customs declaration form. Undeclared merchandise is subject to seizure and/or penalty.
If the family has exceeded the U.S. Customs exemptions, the Head of Household must present him or herself with receipts to the Customs Agents on the last morning of the cruise before the debarkation process begins.
Duty-Free Allowance: Ship itineraries that include any of the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John.
$1200 (retail) of duty-free purchases per person may be spent.
Note: of the $1200, no more than $600 can be purchased outside the U.S. Virgin Islands or on board.
5 liters of alcohol per person (21 years or older).
Note: 1 liter of alcohol must be a product of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
5 cartons of cigarettes containing 200 cigarettes each (18 years or older). Note: 4 cartons of cigarettes must be purchased in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
100 non-Cuban cigars (18 years or older).
Duty-Free Allowance: All other ship itineraries.
$800 (retail) of duty-free purchases per person may be spent.
1 liter of alcohol per person (21 years or older).
Note: On certain itineraries, an additional liter may be purchased.
1 carton of cigarettes containing 200 cigarettes (18 years or older).
100 non-Cuban cigars (18 years or older).

Is There a Doctor on board?

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard one of our vessels, the Infirmary staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The Infirmary is equipped to treat minor non-emergency matters. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.
Medical Infirmary Hours
The Medical Infirmary on board has daily office hours which are listed in the Carnival Capers. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. The hours may vary from ship to ship and whether the ship is in port or at sea:
Infirmary Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Doctor's Hours : 9:00am - 11:00am; 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Medical Service Fees
A charge for medical services will be billed to the guest's Sail and Sign Account and a receipt will be provided for the guest to submit to their insurance company upon return for possible reimbursement.
The physicians on board are independent contractors and are entitled to render services at a customary fee which may vary from ship to ship based on the time of day. The basic fee does NOT include medication, tests or treatment.
Medication
Motion Sickness: complimentary Meclizine (Bonine) is available from the Infirmary, Room Service or the Information Desk, free of charge. A motion sickness shot can be administered to those who are actively vomiting, but not as preventive medicine; there is a fee for the shot. The Infirmary does not have motion sickness patches nor wristbands.
Over-the-Counter medications for cold, cough, upset stomach or other minor illnesses can be purchased at the Infirmary from 8:00am-8:00pm. In addition, the shops on board may carry some of these items.
Prescription drugs and vitamins may not be readily available either on board the ship or in the ports-of-call.
Medical Staffing and Equipment
In order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for our guests, our infirmaries meet or exceed the standards established by the International Council of Cruise Lines and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Our infirmaries are staffed by qualified physicians and nurses who are committed to providing the highest quality of shipboard medical care. Each ship in the fleet carries one doctor and three nurses; the Destiny, Triumph and Victory each carry two doctors and four nurses.
Doctors on our ships are required to have a current and valid medical license from the USA, one of its territories, or Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, or have full registration with the British General Medical Counsel of the United Kingdom or current full registration with the British General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, or current full registration with the medical council of a member country of the European Union. In addition, doctors must demonstrate competent skill levels and hold current certification in basic and advanced cardiac life support and cardiac care, have experience in general medicine or general practice including emergency or critical care, and have one to three years clinical experience and minor surgical skills, and board or similar international certification is preferred. The doctors on board are independent contractors.
Shipboard medical facilities are set up to provide reasonable emergency medical care for guests and crew. In cases of extreme emergency where more comprehensive facilities are required, patients are referred to shoreside facilities.
In addition to standard lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and external pacemakers, our infirmaries carry some of the latest in medical technology including thrombolytic therapy, electrocardiograph machines, lab equipment, pulse oxymeters and x-ray machines on many of our ships.

What can I rent on board?

The following services are available for rental and must be arranged for by the guest once on board:
Motorola Radios
Baby Strollers
Snorkel Equipment
Golf Equipment
Rental fees may be obtained aboard your "Fun Ship."

Is There Security on board?

Carnival puts the highest priority on the safety and security of our guests. In order to maintain that environment, we employ a high-profile, onboard uniformed security force. These personnel are onboard to make sure everyone enjoys a safe and happy "Fun Ship" cruise vacation. Carnival Cruise Lines is operating at heightened security levels throughout its fleet and is working closely with law enforcement and federal agencies to ensure the safety of our ships and ports. While we are not permitted to discuss specific elements of our security program so as not to undermine those efforts, we can assure our guests and travel partners that we are at a heightened security status and safety of our guests and crew is of paramount importance.

Which forms of payment do you take?

1. Check Mail check payments to:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Attn: Cash Dept. - MSRV 406N
3655 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
2. Credit Card Call in credit card payments by phone or log on to www.carnival.com. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover . Network, and Diners Club Credit Cards are accepted.
3. FunShipPay Exclusive to Travel Agents. Using FunShipPay will debit funds from Travel Agents bank account and credit the cruise booking. Payments are posted within 30 minutes.
4. Wire Transfers Wire payments by using the following companies at their respective offices to pay for bookings as well as have funds wired onboard:
a. Western Union Write CarnivalFlorida as the city code to have payments sent to Carnival. Also provide the booking #, ship, sail date, and guest name. For questions on how to use any Western Union service, call 1-800-Call-Cash.
b. MoneyGram - Fill in 4174 as the receiving code for payment to arrive at Carnival. Also provide booking #, ship, sail date, and guest name. For questions contact MoneyGram at 1-800-MoneyGram.
5. Bankwires Mainly used by Travel Agents, but can be used by direct guests. The following information is needed when sending a bankwire:
Bank of America
ABA (or Routing) # 1110-0001-2
Carnival Cruise Lines
Account # 1371054130
Swift Code BOFAUS6S (if necessary)
1-800-577-9473
214-508-4800
901 Main Street
Dallas, Texas 75202

Can my friends visit me on the ship while in port?

Carnival has implemented a "No Visitors" policy for the entire fleet. This applies to all ports of embarkation and ports of call. Guests sailing on our cruises will not be permitted to have visitors on board to see them off. We have changed this policy to improve our overall security program and enhance the onboard experience for our guests during embarkation day.
The following exception applies to this policy:
a) Wedding Guests attending a passenger's ceremony/reception or guests attending any type of party/reception on board that has been previously arranged by the Bon Voyage/Wedding Services Department will follow the policies stated by this Department.

Can I access the internet while on board?

For those guests who want the option of staying connected to the everyday world, we have implemented Internet Cafes fleetwide.
The Cafe is open 24-hours a day and features private workstations with the latest flat panel computer terminals. Guests will have the ability to send and receive e-mail and access Internet sites. Guests can access their home account through AOL, Hotmail, Juno or Yahoo or have the option of setting up their very own temporary account on board with our CruiseE-mail.
The computers are equipped with WordPad.
The Internet is accessed via satellite through a satellite modem and guests are able to surf the internet as if they were at home. Files can be downloaded as "read only" but cannot be saved, since a floppy disk cannot be inserted into the PC's.
The Internet connection speed is able to connect with bursts of 2.5 megs and 128 kbps upstream.
If Palm Pilots are wireless than guests can take advantage of our wireless access.
Guests may bring their own personal Laptop for use on board by using our Wireless Internet Service.
If the laptop is not equipped with a Wireless Internet Card, guests will need to rent one from the Internet Cafe.
If the laptop is running on Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 95, software will be installed in order to run the Wireless System. This will take approximately five minutes.
If the laptop is running on Windows XP, the above software is not needed. The Wireless Internet Service is compatible with a Wireless 802.11b card, which is the industry standard.
Even with the wireless service, guest's personal Laptop must be used in close proximity of the Internet Cafe. It cannot be used in guests staterooms.
Internet Cafe Price List
Charges for the following services will be billed directly to guest's Sail and Sign Account as follows:
A one time activation fee is $3.95.
To obtain a temporary account while on board, the set-up charge is $3.95.
To print information, the charge is $.50-per page.
To utilize the service of the Internet Cafe, whether using a private workstation, renting a laptop or using the guest's personal laptop, the charge is:
$.75-per minute.
Block of Minutes (no refund for unused minutes):
3, 4 or 5 Day Cruise
30 minutes for $16.50 (.55 per minute).
60 minutes for $24.00 (.40 per minute).
7 Day Cruise or Longer
100 minutes for $55.00 (.55 per minute).
250 minutes for $100.00 (.40 per minute).
To rent a Wireless Internet Card for a guest's personal laptop, the rate is $10.00 per day. To rent a Laptop, the charge is $35.00 per day; optional insurance is $10.00 per day.

Can I call home while on board?

For our guest's convenience, the ship's telecommunications network offers direct dialing via satellite from the staterooms telephone. This is available 24 hours a day regardless of the ship's location. This service is closed on the final day of the cruise at 4:00AM. The rate is $6.99 per minute for calls to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and $9.99 per minute for all International calls. All charges are billed to the guest's on board Sail and Sign Card. Since all communication is via satellite, guests cannot use calling cards, credit cards, dial 800 toll-free numbers nor make a collect calls. Instructions and rates can be found in the cabin's directory.

Can I mail postcards while on board?

Postcards can be mailed each day when the ship is in port. Due to customs regulations, any type of mail other than postcards, cannot be mailed from the ship; of course, letters and packages can be mailed from a local post office in the ports-of-call.
The postal regulations of the various ports require that the postcards be stamped with a local stamp only (no U.S. postage). The Purser's Information Desk sells local stamps.
There is a mailbox located at the Purser's Information Desk; one side is for postcards with "Foreign Stamps"; these postcards will be mailed when the ship docks at the appropriate port-of-call. The other side is for postcards with "U.S Stamps"; these postcards will be mailed from a U.S port only or when the ship returns to the U.S embarkation city, whichever comes first.

Can I receive phone calls onboard?

Friends and family may call guests onboard via Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN) Shore-to-Ship telephone service. The rate is $9.50 per minute from the United States; additional long distance charges may apply from outside the United States.
The caller needs to have available the ship name and the guest's name. The charges will be applied to the caller's credit card: MasterCard - Visa - American Express - The Discover Card - Diner's Club. 1-877 CCLSHIP (1-877-225-7447) from the U.S. 1-732-335-3284 from Canada and outside the U.S.