Our goal at Cruise Fever is simple, to help you have the best cruise vacation possible. With that being said, here are the biggest mistakes people make when taking a cruise on Carnival Cruise Line.
Use these Carnival cruise tips wisely and feel free to add your own advice in the comment section below.
Not Purchasing FTTF – What’s FTTF? Faster to the Fun lets you skip lines during your cruise for a small fee. You receive priority boarding, priority tender tickets, priority disembarkation, a priority line at guest services, and your cabin is ready as soon as you board the ship.
After all, life is too short to wait in lines while on vacation.
Thinking All Ships Are the Same – Carnival Cruise Line has 27 cruise ships in service and each class varies in amenities offered on board. Just because your last ship had an incredible new restaurant, doesn’t mean that the next ship that you book will have it. The same is true for water parks and other features found on Carnival’s Fun Ships.
Each class of Carnival cruise ship is unique and only the Excel class have a roller coaster on the top deck.
Not Purchasing Drink Packages – Drink packages offered on Carnival cruise ships can add to up real savings throughout your cruise. An extra benefit is not having to worry about how much you are spending since every drink you order is already paid for.
Carnival offers CHEERS! and a package that includes unlimited soda.
Hitting the 15 Drink Limit – Just because you are allowed up to 15 alcoholic drinks a day with CHEERS!, doesn’t mean you have drink that many. As many cruisers point out, the break even point is around 5-6 drinks a day.
Not Checking For Price Drops – If you book an Early Saver Rate, you are eligible for price drops up to two days before your cruise. This can add to up significant savings and onboard credit that you could be leaving on the table. How to Check For Price Drops on Cruises
Thinking All Inside Cabins Are the Same – Carnival’s cheapest inside staterooms are Category 1A. While the beds in most cruise ship cabins can be made into a queen size bed, the 1A staterooms have upper and lower bunk beds. This is great for friends who are cruising, not so much for couples.
Think Port Stops Are Guaranteed – Carnival does everything in their power to stick to the scheduled itinerary. However, the cruise line does not control the weather and ports that require tendering (Grand Cayman, Belize, Half Moon Cay etc) can be bypassed due to rough seas and high wind.
Failing to Choose a Check-in Time – A few years ago, Carnival began testing staggered boarding and it has now been rolled out across the country. By not choosing a boarding time or waiting until the last minute to check in, you will likely be one of the last to board the ship and start your vacation.
Waiting to Purchase Shore Excursions – The most popular shore excursions can sell out quickly. If there is one that your heart is set on doing, don’t wait to purchase it.
View Cruise Deals on Carnival Cruise Line
Waiting to Purchase the ‘Behind the Fun’ Tour – Interested in going behind the scenes and seeing parts of the cruise ship that are off limits to passengers? The Behind the Fun tour is extremely limited it sells out quickly so book as soon as you can.
Bypassing Specialty Restaurants – Yes, the main dining room and buffet are included in your cruise fare. However, dining in specialty restaurants like the steakhouse or Bonsai Sushi can greatly enhance your cruise experience. Especially when you are cruising for a special occasion.
Also, waiting to book specialty restaurants until later in the cruise could cause you to miss out. Specialty restaurants tend to fill up near the end of the cruise so book early.
Not Dining in the Steakhouse On the First Night – When you dine in the steakhouse on the first night, you get a free bottle of wine. And for those who do not drink (like myself), they brought us over a bottle of non-alcoholic. Kudos to the Carnival staff for that.
Also, if you dine in the steakhouse on the second night of the cruise, you will receive a 50% discount on a premium bottle that is under $100 in value.
Not Booking Your Next Cruise On Board – By not booking your next Carnival cruise while onboard, you’ll lose out on extra perks that can include 50% deposits, $50 in onboard credit, and a two category upgrade.
Note: This article was updated in April 2024.
