Carnival Cruise Line VIFP Club Diamond guests receive a special event invitation from the ship's captain each cruise. Most of the time this special event will take place as a lunch that is for Diamond VIFP club members. Diamond guests have sailed 200+ days with Carnival and are at the highest tier of Carnival's VIFP loyalty program.
           According to John Heald, the lunch menu has been the same for a long time, but that is now changing. A brand new Diamond Lunch menu has been introduced and there are plans to update the menu quarterly.  Below are the food options on the VIFP Diamond Lunch Menu as released by John Heald in January 2023:

The menu is subject to change, especially once the next quarter's menu is released. I will come back to update if the updated version of the menu is released. 

Just a Reminder: The special invitation Diamond event listed on Carnival's website as a benefit is subject to change at any time. ​The event could take place in a different form than a lunch or if circumstances arise could be cancelled. 

          Carnival Cruise Line has two ships with the Carnival Multiplex onboard. This includes an Imax Theater and Thrill Theater. In this post I will discuss some information about the Imax Theater onboard Carnival ships and the movie schedule. 

Which Carnival ships have the Imax Theater onboard?
               As of January 2023, the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon are the only Carnival Cruise ships to have an Imax Theater onboard. This is a part of the Carnival Multiplex on both of these ships, which also includes the Thrill Theater.  

Imax Movie Schedule For Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon: How can I find out which movies or documentaries are being shown on my Carnival cruise?
                   Unfortunately, Carnival no longer releases the Imax movies scheduled to show on the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon. The movies do vary by cruise, but Carnival does not publish a schedule in advance. Once a guest is onboard the ship they will be able to find out what movies are scheduled to play. 

Where on the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon can I find the Carnival Multiplex? 
​                       The main location of the Carnival Multiplex is on Deck 6 and can be easily found from the front elevator/stairwell area. The Carnival Multiplex's main area has a desk where tickets can be purchased as well as a desk that sells concessions. When I cruised on the Carnival Vista a kiosk was available for self-service ticket purchasing.

What times and days of the cruise are movies shown?
                            This ultimately can vary by cruise. On my Carnival Vista cruise the Imax Theater had movies scheduled on all days of the cruise, including the first day & port of call days. The number of showings on sea days was higher than the days the ship was going to be in a port of call. 

Does the Carnival Panorama have a Carnival Multiplex?
                            The Carnival Panorama does not have the Carnival Multiplex experience despite being considered a Vista Class cruise ship. Instead this area on the Carnival Panorama is home to the Sky Zone experience.

How much is the cost to see a movie?
                           When I cruised on the Carnival Vista in 2019, the cost was based on the type of movie. Documentaries cost $5.50 per guest. Movies that were considered Hollywood Blockbusters cost $12.95 for adults and were discounted at $9.95 for kids 12 & under or senior citizens (55+). Pricing has likely changed since my cruise in 2019, but I wanted to share this so you can have an idea of the cost from a few years ago. Prices should be posted when you go to buy your tickets on your cruise. 

How do you pay for your movie tickets onboard?
                           It will be charged to your Sail & Sign Card account. This is your onboard spending account while on the ship. Ultimately, this is linked to your credit card, debit card, or backed by a cash account you setup. When you complete your pre-cruise online check in you will have to setup your Sail & Sign account.

           ​On my first cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy in 2007 the galley team onboard hosted a free galley tour. The galley tour was held on the last sea day of the cruise and met in the Wind Star Dining Room. When it was time for the tour to start, the galley team members led everyone that showed up into the galley. Galley crew members were stationed around to discuss the kitchen equipment, how the galley operated, and to answer any questions that guests had. 
             The Carnival Ecstasy left Carnival's fleet in October 2022 and in November 2022 arrived in Turkey to be beached. Now the ship is being dismantled and recycled. 
            This page of the website will share pictures from my galley tour of the Carnival Ecstasy in 2007. Guests were allowed to take pictures and actually encouraged to by the crew members onboard! Check out the pictures from the galley tour below:
Click any picture below to make it larger!

Entering The Carnival Ecstasy's Galley:
                   We entered the Carnival Ecstasy's galley from the crew entrance in the Wind Star Dining Room. The Wind Star Dining Room was the Carnival Ecstasy's mid-ship main dining room and located on the Atlantic Deck. Onboard the Carnival Ecstasy the galley was located on the Atlantic Deck in between the Wind Star and Wind Song Dining Rooms. 

As we walked through the galley, several food sculptures were on display. The chefs onboard were talented. This is similar to some of the displays Carnival used to offer at the midnight buffets. The midnight buffets are sadly gone nowdays. 

A crew member was in the galley showing off ice carving skills. In addition to this ice carving in the galley, Carnival also held ice carving on the Lido Deck outside. Guests from the pool would come by to watch this event. Ice carving still takes place on several Carnival Cruises as of 2023, so be on the look-out for this on your next cruise. 

One of the neat things to see on the Carnival Ecstasy's galley tour was food. The chefs were working in the galley on preparing food for lunch & dinner during our tour. The below pictures are of fruit sitting in the fridge waiting to be served as part of lunch. 

Below are more food carving pictures. This was neat to see while cruising on the Carnival Ecstasy!

The galley tour ended in the Carnival Ecstasy's Wind Song Dining Room. This dining room was the aft dining room onboard and was actually my dining room for the cruise. Back in 2007, Your-Time Dining did not exist yet so both dining rooms had early & late seating. 

I ate breakfast & lunch a couple of times in the Wind Star Dining Room on my first cruise. Below are a few pictures of the Wind Star Dining Room from this cruise. This was the same place where the galley tour started. 

The Carnival Ecstasy was a great ship. Out of my cruises on Carnival this was the only cruise that offered a free galley tour. Carnival eventually rolled out the Behind the Fun Tour that offered a small number of guests a chance to see many crew only areas, including the galley. This tour is expected to return in 2023 and guests can see the galley (and other behind the scene areas) for an additional fee. 

       Carnival Corporation signed an agreement with SpaceX's Starlink. The Starlink is expected to provide a faster and more reliable wi-fi experience onboard the cruise ships for both guests and crew. 
                The Starlink roll-out has started on Carnival Corporation's Carnival Cruise Line and Aida Cruises brands. However, there are plans to expand Starlink to other Carnival Corporation brands such as Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard. The specific timeline on the Starlink rollout has not been released for all of the Carnival Corporation brands.

Carnival Cruise Line Implementation Schedule
                 Several Carnival Cruise Line guests have asked which ships have Starlink and what the implementation schedule of Starlink is expected to be. Unfortunately, the rollout schedule is not yet available at the time of writing. According to Carnival's brand ambassador, John Heald, the timeline and specific rollout schedule across Carnival's fleet has not yet been finalized. 

​A Note About Carnival & Aida Ships:
                    With the way Carnival Corporation structured the press release it sounds like the rollout started in December 2022 but details are not yet fully known. It is unclear at this time how many Carnival or Aida ships already have Starlink installed, how many are in the process of getting Starlink right now, and what the future timeline of installation is. This is something to stay tuned on. 

This is an exciting development and one that will be worth following. 

For additional details please check out Carnival Corporation's press release by clicking here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide). 

       If you are taking a Carnival Cruise vacation on Valentines Day there are a few events & activities scheduled to take place onboard your cruise. The timing & exact events that will take place can vary based on your ship's planned location on the itinerary and your onboard entertainment team. This post will take a look at the events Carnival has listed on their website as planned to take place on Valentine's Day. 
            Valentine's Day is always February 14th, but the day of the week the holiday falls on will vary depending on the year. Valentine's Day in 2023 will be Tuesday, February 14, 2023 and in 2024 will fall on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. 

Below is a list of activities that Carnival has posted to their website as being planned for Valentine's Day. Some of the activities will cost extra to participate. Check your Carnival Hub App onboard for times & locations for the activities. You can also pick up a copy of the What's Happening onboard newsletter at Guest Services to see the time & location of events. 

Where can I find the location & times of Valentine's Day activities onboard?
​              You will want to check the Carnival Hub App or the What's Happening newsletter for the time & location of the activity. 

How can I know which activities are considered free/complimentary versus an additional charge?
​               When you are onboard you can ask before participating in an activity if it is free or not. Asking will save you the hassle of realizing you were charged for the activity later. 

Happy Valentine's Day 2023! 

If you are cruising on Valentine's Day in the future I recommend you check out your Carnival Hub App, to make sure you don't miss any special events that may be held on your cruise.
If you would like more information about what Carnival's website says will be done onboard check out this page of their website: Click Here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide) 
Please keep in mind that the activities held on your cruise are subject to vary depending on the ship's itinerary and entertainment team onboard.​

         If you are going on a Carnival Cruise on Super Bowl Sunday and want to watch the football game you should be in luck. This post will take a look at the information Carnival Cruise Line shares about watching the Super Bowl football game onboard as well as some of the related events and activities scheduled. 
2023 Super Bowl: February 12, 2023 
2024 Super Bowl:  February 11, 2024

Do Carnival Cruise ships show the Super Bowl game?
            Yes, according to Carnival's website the Super Bowl game is planned to be shown onboard. This is on the USA Carnival Cruise website. I do not have information regarding if the game will air on ships based outside of the USA. The experience you have watching the Super Bowl onboard could vary a bit from at home or on land as the commercials may not be the same due to the ships broadcast coming in via satellite. 

Where on a Carnival ship can you watch the Super Bowl game? 
                Carnival states the primary viewing locations of the Super Bowl onboard are select bars, lounges, and the Carnival Seaside Theater. Ultimately, the location(s) where the game is shown will vary by ship. Most Carnival ships have Seaside Theaters, but not all do. 

How can I find out where on my Carnival ship the Super Bowl game is being shown?
                     You should be able to find this information out once onboard your Carnival ship. The Carnival Hub App lists events & activities. If you cannot find the game listed in the Carnival Hub App, I recommend stopping by a bar or guest services to ask. Someone on the ship's crew should be able to tell you the time & location of where you can watch the game. 

Will Carnival have bar service at the Super Bowl showing locations?
                       You should be able to access bar service while watching the Super Bowl. Carnival will likely have bartenders walking around, but also have the event in a lounge or location where walk up bar service is possible. If the showing location is the Seaside Theater, guests should be able to easily access the bars on the Lido Deck.

Tailgating On A Cruise Ship? Check Out Carnival's Sailgate Party
                  Carnival's website states a "Sailgate Party with a VIP Seating Challenge" is one of the possible activities that could be scheduled to take place on Super Bowl Sunday. If this event is going to take place on your cruise, check the Carnival Hub App for the scheduled time & location. 

What other activities does Carnival plan to schedule on Super Bowl Sunday?
                    Carnival's website says NFL Trivia and Bingo are events that could take place on Super Bowl Sunday. Watch your Carnival Hub App for the times & location of the events. Please note, bingo costs extra onboard to play unless otherwise announced onboard (FYI - I've never seen a free game of bingo on a Carnival Cruise). Carnival also encourages guests to wear their favorite team's attire for Super Bowl Sunday.

Just A Note About Watching Games Onboard:
                       While Carnival's website states that the Super Bowl game is planned to be shown, if there is a satellite connection issue or problem getting a particular TV station the game may not be able to show. There is always a risk something changes or goes wrong. Connection could be disrupted due to weather, the location of the ship, or a variety of circumstances. ​

       If you are going on a Carnival Cruise during March Madness and want to watch the basketball games you should be in luck. This post will take a look at what Carnival says about showing the March Madness games on their cruise ships. In 2023 March Madness is scheduled to take place throughout the March 14 - April 3 timeframe per the NCAA. 

Will the March Madness basketball games be shown on Carnival Cruise ships? 
            Yes, according to Carnival's website the March Madness games will be televised in select bar locations. Additionally, Carnival's website states that the Final Four and Championship Game could be shown on the Seaside Theater. The Seaside Theater is not available on all ships. 

If I am cruising during March Madness how can I find out where the games will be shown? 
                There are multiple ways for you to find out where the March Madness games will be shown while you are on the ship. The Carnival Hub App may have the game time & location listed. You can also check with Guest Services for the information.

Besides showing the March Madness basketball games, does Carnival do anything else?
                   Carnival's website says that they will have a March Madness Trivia activity. The time & location of this activity will be posted in the Carnival Hub App and on the What's Happening newsletter if this event is being held during your cruise. Carnival also encourages guests to wear their favorite team's attire. 

Will I be able to watch March Madness basketball games in my Carnival ship stateroom?
                     It depends on the TV station the games are being shown on and if Carnival carries that stateroom in the guest rooms. Your best bet to watch the game will be in the designated bar or lounge. It may get crowded so you may want to consider arriving early to make sure you get a good seat .

Is this also going to be shown on ships out of Australia? 
                         Unfortunately, I have not been able to get confirmation that this will take place on cruises out of Australia. The March Madness celebration information is only listed on the Carnival Cruise USA website. 

Just A Note About Watching Games Onboard:
                       While Carnival's website states that the games are planned to be shown, if there is a satellite connection issue or problem getting a particular TV station the game may not be able to show. There is always a risk something changes or goes wrong. If this happens, I am sorry for the disappointment you will feel if something goes wrong, but hopefully you still can enjoy the cruise. 

To read Carnival's holiday list posted on their website with accompanying information please click here (link will take you away to Carnival's website). Please note, any of this information is subject to change at any time and the games or events listed may be modified or not take place on all cruises.

          Carnival Cruise guests decorating their stateroom door has become a popular cruise activity and seems to be a growing trend. This post will share some information about Carnival's policy on stateroom door decorations as well as give some ideas for door decorating based on the displays I have seen onboard. 

Does Carnival allow decorations of stateroom doors on the ship? 
            Yes, Carnival Cruise Line does allow guests to decorate stateroom doors. However, there are some restrictions that have to be followed for safety reasons. 

Highlights of Carnival's Policy:

• The decoration materials have to be fire retardant. Guests cannot spray the decorations with fire retardant spray. If you are making decorations or purchasing something before the cruise, check the packaging to make sure your decoration(s) are fire retardant in order to be acceptable under Carnival's policy. 
• You cannot place decorations on the stateroom door frame, walls, or railings. 
• Carnival asks guests to use magnets or command strips. Do not use adhesives (Carnival explicitly mentions tape or glue). 
• No decorations on the balcony. 
• You cannot put decorations over or on the light fittings or fixtures. Carnival's policy mentions this could restrict airflow and cause an item to ignite.
• No string lights of any kind area allowed.

What Happens If You Break Carnival's Policy?  Carnival's website mentions that guests could have the decorations taken away if the decorations do not meet the fire retardant policy or are flammable. Carnival says they will not give compensation for decorations taken away. Make sure you follow Carnival's policy exactly and if unsure check with a crew member before hanging up your decorations. It's better to ask than get your stuff taken away!

Over my past cruises I have seen a variety of stateroom door decorations. Some are extremely elaborate while others are very simple. It is your vacation so the amount of time & effort you put into decorating your stateroom door is up to you. I personally do not decorate my stateroom door, but I do enjoy walking by and seeing the displays of other guests. Some of the holidays that people will decorate for are as follows: 

• Birthday -  I have commonly seen large letters saying "Happy Birthday". Sometimes people will include the name of the person and the age they will be turning. 
• Honeymoon or Anniversary ​-  I've seen many doors on the ship that indicate the guests inside are celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary. A lot of people usually put the number of years of marriage. In a few cases I have seen guests celebrating a milestone anniversary put one of their wedding pictures on the door as a decoration. 
• Divorce -  Celebrating the opposite of a wedding? In one case I have seen a guest decorate their stateroom door to celebrate a divorce. If this is going to be your situation on a cruise, you could put up a decoration that says "Happy Divorce". 
• Graduation -  When cruising in the early summer, I have seen people put that they are celebrating a college or high school graduation on their door. In these cases, most of the guests will usually have some sort of "Happy Graduation" decoration and include a reference to the school graduated from. 
• Tropical Themed Decorations -  The most common door decorations I see each cruise are simply celebrating the fact of being on a cruise. I've seen a huge variety in how people decorate this way, but this includes beach themed decorations, pictures of Carnival ships, and all types of vacation themed décor. 
• Christmas -  When cruising around Christmas I have seen people decorate their door with Christmas decorations. String lights are not allowed so you cannot decorate your door with Christmas lights. 
• Halloween -  Around Halloween guests will frequently decorate their stateroom doors with Halloween decorations. Or guests will decorate with a fall (non-spooky) theme. Make sure to keep your decorations appropriate as Carnival does have restrictions related to Halloween costumes.

These are not the only holidays, events, or occasions that people decorate for. I know people decorate for many other things, but these are the common themes that stand out to me. 

For Carnival's official policy please click here (link will take you to Carnival's website). The policy is subject to change so make sure pre-cruise to verify your decorations are going to still be allowed. 

Click Here For Carnival Cruise Tips
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          Can I bring a drone on my cruise ship? Can I pack a drone for use in the cruise's port of calls? Both of these are common questions and the answer varies by cruise line. Some cruise lines ban drones from being brought onboard, but others allow drones to come onboard for specific use in ports of call. If you are planning on bringing a drone you need to make sure to comply with your cruise line's policy (do not bring onboard if not allowed) and further follow the laws/rules of the port of call & areas you are visiting. 
            This post will share the basic policies of whether you can bring a drone on a Carnival Cruise ship, Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Princess cruise ship, Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Holland America cruise ship, and Celebrity Cruise ship. 

Important Note Regarding Cruise Line Policies Below:  These are pulled from the USA cruise websites for each cruise line. Cruises departing from other countries and regions of the world may have different policies from the cruise line. Make sure you check on the policy that is applicable to the country your cruise is departing from. 

Carnival Cruise Line Drone Policy
Carnival Cruise does allow drones to be brought onboard the cruise ship, but the drone can only be used in ports of call. Guests bringing a drone must check in & check out the drone with the Chief Security Officer onboard per Carnival's policy. Storing drones in a stateroom to bypass security as prohibited under this policy. Additionally, the drone must be used off the ship. This means you cannot check out the drone and then fly it from onboard the ship.
For Carnival's full drone policy on the prohibited item list please click here (link goes to Carnival's website)

Royal Caribbean Drone Policy
Royal Caribbean does allow drones to be brought on the cruise ship, but has strict requirements for the drones. Per Royal Caribbean's policy drones are able to be brought by guests for use on land only & outside port areas. Drones must be stored in a guests stateroom while onboard the ship. However, Royal Caribbean notes that the drones are not allowed to be operated on the ship and further drones are not allowed at port of call private destinations that are Royal Caribbean's. The private destinations listed in Royal Caribbean's policy include Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, or Labadee, Haiti. The full policy from Royal Caribbean notes the guest is responsible for following the rules/laws of the local authorities. 
​For Royal Caribbean's full drone policy please click here (link goes to Royal Caribbean's website). 

Norwegian Cruise Line Drone Policy
Norwegian Cruise Line does not allow drones to be brought onboard their cruise ships. There are no exceptions to the policy posted online by Norwegian Cruise Line. The full list of prohibited items from Norwegian Cruise Line clarifies that remote controlled or autonomously flying devices, toys, or drones are prohibited. 
​Click Here For Norwegian Cruise Line's Policy

Princess Cruises Drone Policy
​Princess Cruise Line does not allow drones to be brought onboard the cruise ship per the prohibited items list. There are no exceptions to the policy shown online. 
For Princess Cruises' prohibited items list on the FAQ please click here (link goes to Princess Cruise's website)

Celebrity Cruises Drone Policy
​Celebrity Cruises does allow drones to be brought on the cruise ship, but has strict requirements for the drones. Per Celebrity Cruise's policy drones are able to be brought by guests for use on land only & outside port areas. Drones must be stored in guests staterooms while onboard the ship. The policy by Celebrity notes that guests must make sure to comply with all local authority rules for drone usage and obtain any required permissions for drone usage. 
​For Celebrity Cruises' prohibited items information which discuses the drones please click here (link goes to Celebrity's website) 

          This post contains a list of items and clothing to wear that I recommend bringing for a Carnival Cruise vacation. The list I have below is a starting point for developing a packing list, but in no way contains everything you could possibly need or want. I have included some suggestions on things to bring for casual clothing, guidance from Carnival on what to wear for formal night (elegant evening), as well as other misc. things you should consider bringing. 
       Before your cruise write a list out that covers everything you will need. As you pack, check each item off your list to make sure you got everything covered. If you forget something, the gift shop onboard may have the item for sale. 

Carnival Cruise Line's main dining rooms have a dress code that should be followed. There are two dress-codes fort the main dining room which are "Cruise Casual" and "Cruise Elegant". The main dining room is typically "Cruise Casual" except for 1-2 nights where it is "Cruise Elegant". Cruises 2-5 nights in length have 1 elegant evening and cruises 6+ nights have 2 elegant evenings. Carnival has some suggestions on things to wear for cruise elegant evening which I have included below to assist you in packing to comply with Carnival's dress-code:

On Cruise Casual dress-code nights Carnival suggests the following clothing: 

• Men: sports slacks, khakis, jeans, long dress shorts and collared polo shirts
• Women: summer dresses, casual skirts, pants, capris, dress shorts, jeans blouses and tops

On Cruise Elegant dress-code nights Carnival suggests the following clothing: 

• Men: dress slacks, dress shirts, sport coat, a suit and tie or tuxedo
• Women: cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses, or evening gown

Don't forget to pack shoes that go with your clothing that you will wear to the main dining room. For me, I always have to remember to pack dress socks with my nicer shoes so if you are in the same situation, make sure to add that to your packing list.

Does Carnival have a dress-code for the buffet? The answer to this is sort of. Carnival asks guests to wear shirts, bathing suit covers, and footwear while in the buffet. 

Can I bring bottled waters, sodas and alcohol with me on the Carnival Cruise?
Carnival has a policy about bringing drinks onboard. Please see my post about this by clicking here. 

Themed Clothing For Deck Parties:
Most Carnival cruises will have at least one themed deck party or celebration that guests can dress-up for. This will vary by ship and cruise director so I recommend closer to the time of your cruise trying to figure out who your cruise director is. Often times they will post on their public social media page what the theme deck parties are and this will give you time to plan on what you want to pack. Carnival specifically recommends packing red or blue for the Mega Deck Party (I believe this is held on almost all cruises).  Themed clothing is not required, but some guests really enjoy getting into the spirit of the event. On Halloween cruises Carnival usually hosts a costume content and on Christmas cruises there is usually an ugly sweater contest. 

Door Decorations For A Carnival Cruise:
Some people will bring door decorations with them to put on their Carnival ship stateroom door. Carnival allows guests to bring magnets or command stripes, but asks guests not to use tape or glue for decorations. The decorations you bring for your door must be fire retardant material and cannot be string lights. Often times I have seen guests use magnets to hang a few pieces of paper that showcase who is staying in the room or a fun vacation themed message. If you are interested in door decorations, you will want to add magnets and the supplies to your packing list.

Click Here For More Carnival Cruise Tips
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