Carnival Cruise Line is expanding the Excel class ships. In 2027 Carnival Cruise Line is planning to launch a 4th Excel Class ship and the order for this ship has been placed with Meyer Werft. 

Other Excel Class Ships
            Carnival Cruise Line already has 3 Excel Class ships in service. The Mardi Gras entered service in 2021, the Carnival Celebration in 2022, and the Carnival Jubilee in late 2023. Other Carnival Corporation brands have Excel Class ships too and when this ship launches this will mark the 10th Excel class ship for Carnival Corporation.

2027 Launch
                 The 4th Carnival Cruise Excel ship is currently scheduled to enter service in Spring 2027. This ship marks the first newbuild order for Carnival Corporation in the past 5 years. While Carnival didn't mention this, the 5 year timeframe means this is Carnival Corporation's first newbuild order since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

2027 4th Excel Class Ship Name
                   Carnival Cruise Line has not named the 4th Excel class ship as of the time of writing. The ship's homeport is also not announced. These details will be available within the next couple of years. 

For More Information
                    If you want to read more about Carnival's 4th Excel class ship please click here for Carnival's press release (this link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Carnival's news website). This press release was the source of information in this article and is great for additional details. 

         Galveston cruises during spring break are a popular time of traveling and cruising. Schools around Texas and surrounding states usually take a week off at some point in March 2024 and this will usually be a week where many families sail on a cruise (the exact week of spring break varies by school). This post will take a look at 2024 Galveston Spring Break cruises and share some tips for navigating the spring break time from Galveston. Since spring break can vary by schools, this post discusses cruises in March 2024 to cover multiple weeks. 

Galveston Spring Cruise Lines & Ships:
There are numerous options for cruising from Galveston during the spring break timeframe in 2024. Cruise lines from Galveston during this time include Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line will have 3 ships sailing from Galveston during March 2024. 

• The Carnival Breeze will be sailing 4 & 5 night cruises with departures on alternating Thursdays, Mondays, and Saturdays. 5 night cruise ports of call typically include Cozumel and Costa Maya or Progreso (depends on the exact departure date).4 night cruises typically have one port of call stop in Cozumel. 
• The Carnival Dream will be sailing 6 & 8 night cruises departing on alternating Saturdays & Sundays. 6 night cruises typically have port days at Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Belize. 8 night Carnival Dream cruises typically have ports of call at Key West, Freeport, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay (or sometimes Princess Cay).
• The Carnival Jubilee will be sailing 7 night cruises from Galveston with Saturday departures. Carnival Jubilee's cruises typically stop at Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay. 

Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean will have 2 ships sailing from Galveston during March 2024. 

• ​The Harmony of the Seas will be sailing 7 night cruises on Sundays. Typical ports of call for the Harmony of the Seas include Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan. 
• The Voyager of the Seas will be sailing 4 & 5 night cruises. 4 night cruises typically have one port of call stop in Cozumel and 5 night cruises typically have ports of call in Cozumel & Costa Maya. 

Princess Cruises
Princess Cruise Line has 1 ship sailing from Galveston during March 2024. The Regal Princess will be sailing from Galveston and primarily will do 7 night cruises during March 2024. These 7 night cruises have scheduled ports of call  in Cozumel, Roatan, and Belize. There is a 12 night cruise scheduled on the Regal Princess that departs in late March that is a repositioning cruise to get the Regal Princess over to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 

Norwegian Cruise Line
​Norwegian Cruise Line will have 1 ship sailing from Galveston during March 2024. The Norwegian Prima will be sailing from Galveston and primarily will do 7 night cruises during March 2024. These 7 night cruises will have scheduled ports of call at Costa Maya, Harvest Caye (Belize), and Roatan. 

Galveston Cruise Spring Break Parking:
There are parking garages, indoor parking lots, and outdoor surface lots available near Galveston's cruise terminals. Some parking areas are owned by the Port of Galveston and others are owned by private companies. These tips will help you plan for booking cruise parking during this busy time of year:
1. Reserve Parking In Advance 
Reserving parking in advance will allow you to make sure you have a spot reserved for your cruise. Also, some parking lots will offer discounts if you book online and pre-pay. 
2. Be Prepared For Traffic When Getting To Your Parking Lot
Spring Break is a busy time of year in Galveston both in terms of cruising and general travel. You may encounter traffic on I-45 coming into Galveston or at the ferry if you are coming in from the Bolivar Peninsula. Give yourself extra time to get to get to the parking lot on the day of your cruise and make sure you are allowing yourself time to check-in for your cruise on-time.
3. What are some parking suggestions for a Galveston cruise?
Please check out these posts for my suggestions on parking for a Galveston cruise: 
​Carnival Jubilee Galveston Parking Guide
Carnival Breeze Galveston Parking Guide
​Carnival Dream Galveston Parking Guide
Royal Caribbean Galveston Parking Guide
Norwegian Cruise Line Galveston Parking Guide
Princess Cruise Line Galveston Parking Guide

Galveston Cruise Pre & Post Hotel Stays:
If you are staying in Galveston before or after your cruise these tips are for you.
1. Reserve your hotel room in advance to make sure you can get the hotel of your choice. During Spring Break travel to Galveston is busy and some hotels may fill up. For this reason, I recommend booking in advance to make sure you are able to get the hotel you want.
2. Look for hotels that offer a package with cruise parking. These hotels normally will allow you to keep your car in their lot for the duration of your cruise and this can save you money with parking. 
3.  If you aren't doing anything in Galveston before or after your cruise and cannot find a hotel that meets your needs, maybe consider looking off-Galveston island. There are numerous hotels along I-45 in cities nearby such as Texas City, Dickinson, and League City. Just give yourself time to get to Galveston from your hotel on cruise day. 

Things To Do In Galveston Pre or Post Cruise:
Last year I put together a mini listing of some things to consider doing in Galveston before or after your cruise. This post is not a comprehensive guide to all things to do in Galveston, but I hope it can be a starting point for further research.
Click Here For My Post On Things To Do In Galveston Pre or Post Cruise

Beaches in Galveston:
The beaches in Galveston are popular, especially during spring break. Visiting the beach while you are in Galveston may be a fun & relaxing way to spend some time before or after your cruise. RyG's Cruise Guide does not have many articles on Galveston's beaches, but I do recommend reading the Galveston Island Visitor's Bureau website for more information.
Click Here For An Article On Galveston's Beaches (link will take you to the Visit Galveston website and away from RyG's Cruise Guide). 

Weather:
Whether you are doing anything in Galveston pre or post cruise or just coming to Galveston for the cruise, keeping an eye on the weather is a good idea. 

Traffic and I-45 Construction:
There has been some construction along I-45 in various spots in between Houston & Galveston. I recommend checking Houston Transtar's website for any construction closures or detours that may be in effect when you are trying to travel to Galveston. Also, using tools like Google Maps or Waze might be helpful if you want to use these tools to find the quickest route. 

For More Galveston Cruise Tips & Information:
​Please check out RyG's Cruise Guide's Galveston Cruise Guide section where I share a variety of tips, information, and pictures!
Click Here To View My Galveston Cruise Guide

          Once you have booked your Carnival Cruise vacation there are a few things you should make sure you do. In this post I will share 6 common things I recommend you do shortly after booking your cruise. 

​1. Select Your Main Dining Room Time
In your "My Booking" section of Carnival's website there is a place for you to select your main dining room dinner time as part of your online Cruise Manager. Carnival offers three options for dinner which are Your-Time Dining, Early Seating, and Late Seating. The "Booking & Order Details" section has a place where you can press "Edit Dining". If you have not yet selected your dining this is a place you can select your dining time. Each option is listed and if any of the options are full you will see what is still available. Later on if you decide you want to change you can do so here if any seats remain. 
In the event you booked multiple staterooms, make sure you select a dining time for each of these. A selection must be made for each stateroom.

2. Link Your Cruise Companions If Not Already Done
​​Linking your cruise companions is important especially if you want to dine for dinner together or check-in for activities together. Under the "Booking & Order Details" page of your online Cruise Manager you can input an email address of someone in one of the rooms you want to link. That person should get an email to approve linking the bookings.
If you have any difficulties or questions I recommend you call Carnival to have your bookings linked. If you booked through a travel agent they should do this for you, but if you are unsure you should ask them. 

3. Note Your Final Payment Date
If you only paid a deposit when booking your cruise, make sure you keep track of when your final payment is due. If you miss the final payment date your booking is subject to be cancelled. 

4. Make Sure You Will Be Prepared For The Travel Documentation Requirements
After booking you need to make sure you will have appropriate and valid travel documentation to meet the identification requirements applicable to your cruise. Carnival's website lists what is acceptable and it is your responsibility to make sure you will be traveling with the right documents and that they will not be expired. Not traveling with the right identification & documentation could result in a denial of boarding so I recommend getting this together sooner rather than later. 

5. Start Browsing Shore Excursions
​​Carnival sells shore excursions online. You can browse a description of each excursion, the departure time, length, and see the prices. If you are planning to book a shore excursion it is important to note that some excursions fill up quickly so I recommend looking around and booking an excursion you want before it fills up. 

6. Watch For Price Drops
Sometimes the price of cruises will drop. If you see a price drop you can contact Carnival or your travel agent to see if you are eligible to get the lower rate. 

          The Carnival Vista recently underwent a dry-dock in Cadiz, Spain. The ship was out of service for approximately a month and during this dry-dock received numerous enhancements and changes. This post will take a look at the Carnival Vista's recent changes made during the 2024 dry-dock. 

If you are interested in more dry-dock news & info please check out my unofficial Carnival dry-dock guide by clicking here!
                   

1.  New Red, White, & Blue Hull Paint Scheme
                      Ever since 2021 Carnival has been slowly painting the ships' hull with a new red, white, & blue pattern. During the Carnival Vista's dry-dock the ship received the new red, white, & blue hull paint scheme. 

2. Dreams Studio Changed Locations
                       The Carnival Vista used to have Dreams Studio on Deck 5, but this was moved to Deck 3. The new location of Dreams Studio is in the atrium lobby by the Carnival Adventures Shore Excursion desk. 

3. Carnival Adventures Store
                            The Carnival Adventures Store was added during the Carnival Vista's drydock. This store sells a variety of gifts & things that might be useful for a shore excursion. 

4. Cherry On Top Moved Decks
                           The Carnival Vista's Cherry on Top moved from Deck 5 in the atrium to Deck 4 in the atrium. The old Cherry on Top location was replaced with Fun Shops space.

5. Non-Smoking Casino Added
                                 The Carnival Vista received a non-smoking casino annex. This is located on Deck 4 mid-ship where Club 02 used to be. 

6. New Club 02 Lounge
                              Since the Carnival Vista's old Club 02 lounge on Deck 4 now houses the new non-smoking casino annex, Carnival build a new Club 02 lounge on Deck 4 where The Warehouse Arcade used to be on Deck 6. Guests can find the new Club 02 right next to the existing Circle C lounge on Deck 6 forward.

7. Thrill Theater Removed and Replaced With New Arcade
                          The Carnival Vista's old Thrill Theater location on Deck 6 was removed and replaced with the new location of "The Warehouse" arcade. Please note that the Carnival Vista does still offer the Imax Theater onboard and this was not impacted during the drydock except the entrance has been relocated to Deck 7 instead of Deck 6.

8. Heroes Tribute Bar 
                          Carnival replaced the SkyBox Sports Bar on Deck 4 with the Heroes Tribute Bar. Guests on the Carnival Vista can now enjoy this renovated space that is a tribute to armed services personnel. With certain souvenir glass purchases Carnival will make a donation to Operation Homefront (I think it is $1.00). 

9. Lido Marketplace Updates
                          According to John Heald's Facebook the Carnival Vista's Lido Marketplace received some enhancements. The aft buffet lines were converted to island style lines. Also, John Heald noted that the Carnival Vista received self-service soda stations similar to those that the Excel class ships have. The self-service soda stations allow guests to get soda after scanning their Sail & Sign card.        

10. Updated Outside Areas
                              During the Carnival Vista's dry-dock, Carnival made a few enhancements outside. The Outdoor Playground on Deck 11 for kids was replaced with "Fun Zone". Carnival also made some updates to the mini golf course. 

Besides these changes Carnival performed routine hotel maintenance and made some ADA complaint upgrades according to GoCCL.

For more information please refer to Carnival's press release by clicking here. This link will open to Carnival's News website and away from RyG's Cruise Guide. Information not covered by the press release came from John Heald's Facebook or Carnival Vista's GoCCL profile.

          Gratuities and tipping on a Norwegian Cruise Line is a commonly asked about topic. Norwegian Cruise Line charges a service charges to guests that is automatically applied to their onboard spending account based on the stateroom type and number of cruise days. There are also some gratuities for amenities or services that are not included in your base Norwegian Cruise Line cruise fare. In my latest post I take a look at Norwegian's gratuity and service charge policies as of February 2024. ​

Norwegian Cruise Line Daily Service Charge 
The daily service charge for Norwegian Cruise Line guests is an additional charge added for guests based on the length of the cruise and type of stateroom being stayed in. 

How much is the Norwegian Cruise Line daily service charge?
This varies by the type of stateroom you are staying in for the cruise. As of 2/4/2024 the daily service charge gratuity rate is as follows for Norwegian Cruise Line:
​Guests staying in The Haven or Suites:  $25 per person per day
Guests staying in Club Balcony Suite & below stateroom types:  $20 per person per day

​The daily service charge is automatically added to each guest's onboard spending account for guests that are 3+ years & older. 

Where can I read official information from Norwegian Cruise Line regarding the service charge?
​Click Here for the information from Norwegian Cruise Line's FAQ which is the source of the above information. This link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line's website. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities

• ​Norwegian Cruise Line adds a 20% gratuity for SPA & Salon Services.
• Norwegian Cruise Line adds a 20% gratuity for the purchase of beverages 
• Norwegian Cruise Line adds a 20% gratuity for any specialty or entertainment based dining. 

Where can I read more information on what Norwegian Cruise Line deems a gratuity?
​Click Here for the information from Norwegian Cruise Line's website regarding gratuities. This link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line's website. ​

Please keep in mind gratuity and service charge information is subject to change at any time and information may not be applicable to all sailings or ships. Please consult with Norwegian Cruise Line's website or your travel agent for the latest information that is applicable to your cruise. 

        Gratuities and tipping on a Royal Caribbean cruise is a commonly asked about topic. Royal Caribbean charges a  gratuity to guests that is automatically applied to their onboard spending account based on the stateroom type and number of cruise days. There are also some gratuities for amenities or services that are not included in your base Royal Caribbean cruise fare. In my latest post I take a look at Royal Caribbean's gratuity and service charge policies as of February 2024. 

Can I adjust the amount that is automatically applied to my onboard spending account?
Royal Caribbean allows guests to adjust the amount of the gratuity charged to their SeaPass account. Guests can visit guest services to change or remove the automatic gratuity. It is important to note this can be done up until the morning of departure from the cruise. 

Does Royal Caribbean allow pre-payment of the gratuity? 
Yes, Royal Caribbean allows guests to pre-pay the gratuity. This can be done by calling Royal Caribbean or if you booked through a travel agent, you can work with your travel agent to pre-pay the onboard gratuities. If you do choose to pre-pay your gratuity, Royal Caribbean should not put them on your SeaPass account so if this is you make sure you watch your SeaPass account to make sure you don't get accidentally charged for something you prepaid. You can pre-pay for gratuity before the cruise up to 48 hours prior to the sailing date.

Are gratuities charged for my young kids?
Yes, the gratuities will be charged for your kids regardless of age. Royal Caribbean's website states the per person per day gratuity charge is for "all guests".  

Royal Caribbean Service Gratuities
Royal Caribbean also has service gratuities that are assessed as part of making purchases for various services or amenities not found in a typical cruise fare. 
Beverages & Mini Bar Items
Royal Caribbean's beverages and mini bar items have an 18% gratuity that is automatically added.
​SPA & Salon Purchases
Royal Caribbean has a 20% service gratuity that is added automatically. 

For more information about Royal Caribbean's gratuities please click here for the official information from Royal Caribbean's website (link will take you away to Royal Caribbean's website).  Please keep in mind policies around gratuities, services charges, and tipping are subject to change at any time so make sure you check out Royal Caribbean's website or with your travel agent for the latest available information.​

        Carnival Cruise Line's fleet grew this past week as the Costa Firenze joined the Carnival fleet to become the Carnival Firenze. Yesterday (February 2nd, 2024) teams from both Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises met on the Firenze to handover the ship in Cadiz, Spain. 

Carnival Firenze's Dry-Dock
          Now that Carnival has taken possession of the ship, the ship will be dry-docked to add enhancements and features that will be for the ship's tenure with Carnival Cruise Line. This dry-dock is taken place in Cadiz, Spain. Some of the features being added are similar to the Carnival Venezia and include venues such as La Strada Grill, Frizzante, Tomodoro, ll Viaggio, Amari, and more. Some other features being added during this dry-dock include Heroes Tribute Lounge, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Java Blue Cafe, Serenity Adults Only Retreat, and Carnival WaterWorks.
For More Dry-Dock Information: My Unofficial Carnival Cruise Dry-Dock Info Page

Carnival Firenze's Sailings From Long Beach
                  The Carnival Firenze's first cruise is scheduled for April 25, 2024 out of Long Beach, California. While sailing from Long Beach the ship will sail 3 & 4 night cruises that sail to ports in Mexico and Catalina Island. The Carnival Firenze's 5, 6, and 7 night cruises are scheduled to sail to ports in the Mexican Rivera, such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. 

​Carnival Firenze Cruise Director
                       Should be announced soon! Click Here for the Carnival Cruise Director Schedule. As the ship's first sailing is April 25th Carnival will likely have the cruise director & other onboard teams on in the weeks ahead of the first sailing. Therefore, the cruise director should be announced well in advance. 

For more information please check out the Carnival Firenze's press release by clicking here. This link will take you away to Carnival Cruise's News website. 

           ​Norwegian Cruise Line sails seasonally from Galveston Texas. The Norwegian Prima is scheduled from Galveston from December 2023 through April 2024 and the Norwegian Escape is scheduled to sail from Galveston December 2024 through March 2025.
          Norwegian Cruise Line cruisers have multiple options for Galveston cruise parking. Cruisers sailing on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship can park at one of the Port of Galveston's official lots or in one of the many private parking lots. This post will look at parking options available to Norwegian Cruise Line guests sailing on the Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Escape from Galveston:

This page was last updated on 12/10/2023.

Official Port of Galveston Lots For Norwegian Cruise Line Guests:
        The Port of Galveston has multiple parking lots available for Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Escape passengers. Some of these parking lots offer shuttle service while others involve a short walk to Cruise Terminal 28. Availability of the lot likely will depend on your sailing date.

• Economy Lot -  The Port of Galveston's Economy Lot B is located at 224 33rd Street. The economy lots are considered self-park and come with shuttle service included. Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Escape guests are usually able to book Economy Lot B on the Port of Galveston's website.
• Express Lot -  The Port of Galveston offers the Express Lot which is located at 2702 Harborside Drive.  Due to the proximity to Cruise Terminal 28 and 25, this lot does not offer shuttle service. 
• SMP Garage -  The Port of Galveston's Shearn Moody Plaza (SMP) Garage is located at 150 Rosenberg Street and pretty much across Harborside Drive from Cruise Terminal 25. Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Ecsape passengers are able to book the SMP Garage which is self-park and does not include shuttle service. Guests parking in this garage can use the crosswalk at street level to cross Harborside Drive and then have a short walk to Cruise Terminal 28.

For the Port of Galveston's parking please visit the Port of Galveston website by clicking here. Exact parking options are subject to availability and could vary by sailing.​

​Parking Lot Discounts For Norwegian Cruise Line Cruisers:
I have a post where I share a few discounts and coupon codes available that I have found through my research. Please click here to view my post discussing some discounts and coupons codes that might be applicable for your cruise.