Carnival Cruise Line has a variety of specialty dining venues across the fleet. The specialty venues available will vary by ship. This post discusses some of the specialty dining venues available on Carnival ships and gives insights into the dress code for the venue, whether reservations are required, and what pricing for eating at the venue looks like.
           Prices and dress-code are subject to change so you will want to pay attention to what is established for your particular cruise vacation. 

Steakhouse: 
              Most Carnival Cruise Line ships have a steakhouse onboard that serves a variety of foods at dinner, usually a variety of cuts of beef, seafood, and more. The steakhouse meal comes with an appetizer, salad, entrée, side, and dessert. 
Steakhouse Price:  Carnival charges $48 per adult and $13 for kids 11 & under. However, when a child is on the reduced child price, they can only order from the kids menu and not order from the regular steakhouse menu. Beverages ordered through bar service will cost extra.
Dress-Code:  The steakhouse onboard follows the main dining room dress code at dinner for the evening. Shorts are never permitted in the steakhouse.
Which ships is the steakhouse on? The steakhouse is on all Carnival ships except the Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
Reservations: Carnival highly recommends reservations be made in advance. This can be done through your cruise booking manager online. Usually reservations can be made onboard, but reserving in advance gets you the best opportunity to select the night and time you are wishing to dine. 

Menu & More Information:  Carnival has a menu for the steakhouse posted on their website. Click Here to view the steakhouse menu.

Cucina Del Capitano:
               Cucina Del Capitano is an Italian restaurant that serves a variety of Italian dishes at dinner. Carnival advertises that the recipes were selected by some of their Italian captains. 
Cucina Del Capitano Price: If you are sailing on Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, or Mardi Gras your Cucina Del Capitano experience is free. Click Here if you are sailing on one of these three ships for more info. However, if you are sailing on any of the other ships with Cucina Del Capitano you will have to pay. The price is $18 per adult and $6 for kids 11 & under that order off the kid's menu. Beverages ordered through bar service will cost extra.
Dress-Code:  Carnival advertises the dress code of Cucina Del Capitano is cruise casual. 
​Which ships is Cucina Del Capitano on?  Cucina Del Capitano is located on the Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Vista, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee (when the ship enters service). 
Reservations: Guests can make reservations online before the cruise or once onboard if spots are remaining. On Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, and Mardi Gras guests cannot make reservations because the venue is considered an alternative to the main dining room and complimentary at dinner. 
Menu & More Information:  Click Here for Carnival's webpage on Cucina Del Capitano

JiJi Asian Kitchen:
​              JiJi Asian Kitchen serves a variety of Asian themed dishes. The venue is full service and offers guests a variety of Asian & Mongolian dishes. 
JiJi Asian Kitchen Price: The adult price is $18 per adult and $6 for kids 11 & under when they order off the kids menu. Carnival notes the fee includes a starter, entree, dessert, and gratuity for the waitstaff. Beverages ordered through bar service will cost extra. 
Dress-Code:  The dress code for JiJi Asian Kitchen is cruise casual. 
Which ships is JiJi Asian Kitchen on? The JiJi Asian Kitchen is on the Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Sunshine.
Reservations:  Carnival does not require a reservation for JiJi Asian Kitchen, but does recommend having one to be able to dine at your preferred time. 
​Menu & More Information: Click Here for Carnival's webpage which includes more info on JiJi Asian Kitchen & a sample menu.

Rudi's Seagrill:
              Rudi's Seagrill is a dining establishment on Carnival's XL class ships. This venue has a variety of dishes inspired by Rudi Sodamin.
Rudi's Seagrill Price: The adult price for Rudi's Seagrill is $48 per adult and $13 per child 11 & under that is eating off the kid's menu. The adult menu price includes a starter, entree, dessert, and waitstaff gratuity. Beverages ordered through the bar will cost additional.
Dress-Code:  The dress code for Rudi's Seagrill is cruise casual. 
Which ships is Rudi's Seagrill on?  The Rudi's Seagrill dining venue was introduced on the Mardi Gras and is also on the Carnival Celebration. The Carnival Jubilee will have Rudi's Seagrill after the ship launches later in 2023.
​Reservations: You can make a reservation for Rudi's Seagrill before your cruise on the booking manager on Carnival's website. I highly recommend booking in advance to be able to get the night & time you wish to dine at Rudi's Seagrill. 
​Menu & More Information: Click here for Carnival's webpage on Rudi's Seagrill. 

Bonsai Teppanyaki:
                 Bonsai Teppanyaki is an interactive dining experience where guests gather around the table and watch the chef perform while cooking. 
Bonsai Teppanyaki Price: At dinner Bonsai Teppanyaki is $38 per guest regardless of age. At lunch Bonsai Teppanyaki is $35 per guest regardless of age. An 18% service charge is added on top of this fee for all guests at both lunch & dinner. The price includes a starter, entree, and dessert. Beverages ordered through the bar will cost additional. 
Dress-Code: The dress code for Bonsai Teppanyaki is cruise casual. 
Which ships is Bonsai Teppanyaki on? The Bonsai Teppanyaki venue is on the Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Venezia, and Mardi Gras. The Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Firenze will also have Bonsai Teppanyaki when the ships debut for Carnival. 
Reservations: The Bonsai Teppanyaki has limited seating. Carnival's website highly recommends guests make reservations due to the limited space. Reservations can be made pre-cruise through Carnival's online booking manager portal.  
Menu & More Information: Click Here for Carnival's webpage which includes more information as well as the Bonsai Teppanyaki menu. 

Chef's Table:
I will have a separate post on the Chef's Table coming soon! There is too much information to discuss on this topic so I wanted to create a separate post!

Dining On The Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee:
The specialty dining on Carnival's XL class ships (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee) has a few differences when it comes to Cucina Del Capitano, Chibang, & Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse. I recently wrote a post about how on these 3 ships the venues are considered an alternative to the main dining room. Click Here to read my post on these venues on Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee. 

         The Carnival Venezia has officially joined Carnival Cruise Line's fleet from the Costa Cruises fleet. On March 22, 2023 in Cadiz, Spain, the handover from Costa Cruises to Carnival Cruise Line took place.
             Carnival Cruise Line Captain Claudio Cupisti and Costa Cruise Captain Tihomir Muzic were in attendance for the ship's handover between the cruise lines. Both Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises are Carnival Corporation brands so the handover is mainly just a change in which of Carnival Corporation's many cruise lines is operating the ship. The ship's name has changed from Costa Venezia to Carnival Venezia as part of this handover. 

               The Carnival Venezia's first cruise will be May 29, 2023 which will be a 15 day transatlantic cruise from Barcelona, Spain. This cruise is considered a Carnival Journeys cruise and will have some exciting throwback events held at various times on the voyage. When the Carnival Venezia arrives in New York on June 15, 2023 the ship will begin sailing year-round departures from the city. The ship's New York sailings are scheduled to be from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.  

Other Carnival Venezia Posts & Information:
Carnival Venezia Dining:
The Carnival Venezia will have several traditional Carnival dining options as well as some new ones that embrace Carnival's Fun Italian Style concept. Please check out my post on the Carnival Venezia's dining:
Click Here To View

Carnival Venezia Terrazza Staterooms:
​The Carnival Venezia Terrazza Staterooms are a special area onboard and come with some extra amenities. Check out my post on the Carnival Venezia's Terrazza staterooms:
Click Here To View

It will be exciting to see the Carnival Venezia officially enter service for Carnival Cruise Line in May! 

        Several of the cruise directors for Carnival Cruise Line have Facebook or Instagram pages that they occasionally post on to share pictures/info with past guests or those about to cruise with them. I have compiled a list of the public pages for the Carnival cruise directors that I was able to find. 
             Please note, some cruise directors also have personal social media pages that it looks like are only for family & their close friends. I tried to not include any of those pages here. If you realize that one of these links is to a personal social media account please let me know so I can remove it from this list. Additionally, if there is a cruise director social media account that I did not capture here please let me know so I can get it added!
One Other Note - Most cruise directors do not check or respond to questions/comments on their pages. If you have a special request for your cruise or need information your best bet is to wait until you are onboard the ship or contact Carnival directly prior to your cruise for assistance. 

Looking For The Carnival Cruise Director Schedule? Click Here For The Schedule

Jasper Wade
Public Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/jvspercruisedirector/ 

Lawrence West
Public Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/people/Lawrence-Cruise-Director/100083349541873/

Lee Mason (Lee Your Cruise Director) 
Public Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/LeeYourCruiseDirector/

Chris Williams (The Flying Scotsman) 
Public Facebook Page: www.instagram.com/flyingscotsmancd/?hl=en

Marq Anthony 
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MarQAnthonyCD/

Alex Siegler 
Public Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/alexjaycarnival

James Love
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/jamesloveentertainer/

Andrew (Andy) Mercer 
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AndyMEntertainment/

Christian De La Rosa
Instagram Page: www.instagram.com/cruise_director_christian/ 

Jonathan Adams (Cruise Director Cookie) 
Public Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/cruisedirectorcookie/
​

Jacky Tang
​Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/JackyTangEntertainment/

Cam Chavis
​Public Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/people/Cameron-Hey-Cam-Chavis/100057669482145/

​Adam Gilbert 
​Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/adamgilbertentertainer/

Simon London
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/SimonLondonCD/

Ryan Rose  -  Ryan Rose left Carnival earlier in 2023.
Public Instagram Page: ​www.instagram.com/ryanrosecruisedirector/?hl=en

Chris (Donkey) Salazar -  No longer a ship cruise director, but promoted to Fleet Cruise Director!
​Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/chrisdonkeysalazar/

​Kyndall Fire
​Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kyndallfireCCL/

Georgia Craig
​Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/georgiayourcruisedirector

Christian Deon Williams
Public Instagram Page:  www.instagram.com/deonentertainment/?hl=en

Erin Weigand 
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/erincruisedirector/

​Melessa Durrant
​Public Instagram Page:  www.instagram.com/melcruisecarnival/?hl=en

TJ Partida 
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tjthecruisedirector/

Leon Smith
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/people/Leon-Entertainment/100035553111965/

Savannah Mitchell
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/savannahcruisedirector/

​Lia Stivers
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/people/LiA-Your-Cruise-Director/100089161703245/

Tyler Meehan
Public Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/people/Tyler-Your-Cruise-Director/100043148058382​

James Love
Public Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/jamesloveentertainer/
​

       Flying in for a cruise out of Galveston likely means you will flying into Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or William P Hobby (HOU). This post will discuss some general information about flying in for a Galveston cruise as well as share tips about getting from the Houston airport to the Galveston Cruise Terminal. 

The Two Airports Of Houston Are IAH (Bush Intercontinental) and HOU (Houston Hobby)
There are two airports that cruisers flying in for a Galveston Cruise can use for flying into Houston.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH):
This airport is located approximately 70 miles away from Galveston on the North Side of Houston. Typically it takes between 1 - 1.5 hours to get from IAH to Galveston assuming no traffic delays, road construction delays, and the optimal route is taken. 
William P Hobby Airport (HOU): 
​This airport is located approximately 42 miles away from Galveston and on the South-Southeast side of Houston. Typically it takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour to get from Hobby Airport to Galveston assuming no traffic delays, road construction delays, and the optimal route is taken. 

Getting From The Airport To The Galveston Cruise Terminals
There are several options you can consider to get from the airport to the Galveston cruise terminals. Research each option you are interested in to compare prices, time it would take for you to get to Galveston, and what best works for your individual situation. Your options may vary a little bit depending on if you are trying to get to Galveston from the airport on the day of the cruise versus coming in a day early. 

• Ground Transportation Offered By Your Cruise Line -  Many cruise lines out of Galveston offer ground transportation that can be purchased from the cruise line. Typically this option is available for the day of the cruise and leaves the airport at certain times. The options available may vary depending on which airport you are flying into. Check with your cruise line to see if a ground transportation option is offered and what options you may have to get to Galveston if something is offered.
• Ride-Share (Uber, Lyft, Etc.) -  Ride share companies are another option to get to Galveston from the Houston airports. Lyft has an official agreement with the Port of Galveston and can drop passengers off on cruise terminal property as the port charges a tariff for drop-off. As of March 23, 2023, Uber does not have an agreement with the Port of Galveston and usually drops off guests close to terminal property, but does not drop off directly at the cruise terminal. This may change soon as the Port of Galveston's March 2023 board meeting contains a draft operating agreement between the port and Uber so it will be interesting to see if this ends up changing soon!
  ​The price of the ride share companies can vary greatly depending on day, time, demand for rides, and which airport you are traveling from to Galveston. 
• Taxi - Both airports usually have taxis available that can take cruisers to Galveston. Make sure you understand how your fare is being calculated as it could be mileage, travel time, or some combination of both plus any other factors that company uses to determine fare. The rate could also be flat, but it really depends on the taxi operator. 
• Shuttles -   There are some companies that offer shuttle service to Galveston, including the cruise terminal area, that are not affiliated with the cruise line. If you are interested in taking shuttle service you need to look into price, departure times, whether a reservation is required, and any other factors that may impact your ability to get to Galveston.
• Rental Car -   There are usually several rental car companies available near both Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P Hobby Airport. Prices can vary based on the type of car you are renting and how long you will have the car rented. If you are getting a rental car one thing you should consider where to park the rental car while you are on the cruise. In this case you will be paying for parking of the rental car plus the daily rental fee. Also, if you are renting a car make sure you are mindful of any toll roads that you may take on your way to or from Galveston as the tolls or fees will likely be passed along to you by the rental car company. 

Tipping: It is generally customary to tip your driver and any assistants that may handle your luggage on a transfer, taxi, shuttle, etc. While the amount you give is ultimately up to you, it is customary to give $1 or $2 per bag. 

Things To Consider When Planning Getting From The Airport to Galveston:
Flying Into Houston On Your Cruise Day:
Personally, I get stressed flying in on the day of the cruise due to the many risks of flight delays or a delay getting to the cruise terminal. However, if this is your situation, there are some things that you need to consider since you are flying into one of the Houston airports on the day your cruise departs. 

• Make sure your flight arrives early. You need to make sure you have enough time to collect your luggage, find your transportation, spend time on the road traveling to Galveston, and check-in at the cruise terminal. Give some time incase your flight arrives late or you face traffic or road construction delays. 
• Depending on your transportation method to the cruise terminal, the location of pick-up could vary. Try to research in advance where you need to go when leaving the airport to get on your method of transportation. Prior research can save you time later when it actually matters!

Flying Into Houston Before The Day Your Cruise Departs:
If you are flying into Houston before your Galveston cruise, you have more time to get to Galveston. You could stay in Houston area before heading to Galveston or go directly to Galveston to spend some time pre-cruise. How you do this is totally up to you! There are still some things for you to consider: 

• Cruise line shuttle options from the airport are usually not available earlier than the day of the cruise. However, there are many other transportation methods you can look into using. 
• Make sure you consider where you are going to stay for the night(s) before your cruise starts.

​Road Construction In The Houston & Galveston Area That May Impact Getting To The Galveston Cruise Terminals:
​Road construction is usually planned in advance, but sometimes unplanned road construction must take place and causes lane closures, traffic jams, and issues. Houston Transtar will post TX DOT construction schedule for roads in the Houston area where you can see lane(s) closed, timing of closures, and any other relevant information. Click Here to visit the Houston Transtar website (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide). 

Debarkation Day Of The Cruise: Getting Back To The Airport For A Departing Flight From Houston:
If you are flying out of Houston on the same day you get off your cruise, there are a few things you need to consider and keep in mind:

• Regardless of the transportation method you are taking back to the airport, make sure you book a flight that is not too early. You need to allow time to get off your cruise ship, travel to the airport, and go through security & check-in at the airport. 
• Keep in mind there could be delays due to traffic, road construction, or weather. 
• Fog is sometimes an issue that keeps Galveston based cruise ships from being able to dock timely. If you are sailing at a time of year where fog could cause an issue, consider booking a flight for later in the day of debarkation from the cruise or consider flying out the next day. Fog and delays can be unpredictable so have a back-up plan in place. Also, consider booking airline tickets with flexible terms that would allow you to change your flight if needed on the day off. 

Have a great cruise from Galveston! Enjoy your time in Houston, Galveston, and Texas before and after your cruise!
​

          Carnival Cruise Line guests on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee are able to enjoy some of Carnival's specialty dining options for free at dinner. This includes Cucina Del Capitano, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, and Chibang. These venues are treated as an alternative to the main dining room on Carnival's XL class ships. In this post, I will take a look at the specialty dining options that are complimentary on these three ships at dinner as well as discuss who is allowed to eat in these places at dinner & when.

How Eating In These Three Venues Works For Guests
All guests on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee are allowed to eat free in Cucina Del Capitano, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, and Chibang at dinner. However, the time that guests are allowed to eat in these venues for free during dinner depends on which dinner dining assignment guests have. 

• Guests with Your-Time Dining can eat dinner in one of these venues at any time during the open hours at night. These guests can easily check-in using the Carnival Hub App during the open hours at dinner. 
• Guests With Early Seating Dinner -  Guests with early seating are allowed to eat free in these 3 dining venues at dinner, but are not allowed to enter the venue until after 7:30pm. 
• Guests With Late Seating Dinner - Guests with late seating dinner are allowed to eat free in these 3 dining venues, but similar to the guests with early seating are not able to dine at the venue until after 7:30pm. 

Cucina Del Capitano
The Cucina Del Capitano venue on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee at dinner is an alternative to the main dining room and complimentary at dinner. Cucina Del Captiano serves a variety of Italian themed dishes. Other Carnival ships that have Cucina Del Capitano charge a reservation fee for dining in Cucina Del Capitano at dinner so the free dining option on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee is special. However, some people have reported that the menu options available in Cucina Del Captano are a little different for the free version on these three ships. 

• Mardi Gras:  The Cucina Del Capitano venue is located on Deck 8 in La Piazza. The Mardi Gras' Cucina Del Capitano has some outside seating available on the Mardi Gras' Lanai. 
• Carnival Celebration: The Carnival Celebration's Cucina Del Capitano venue is located on Deck 8 in 820 Biscayne. The Carnival Celebration's Cucina Del Captiano has some outside seating available on the Lanai. 
• Carnival Jubilee: The Carnival Jubilee's Cucina Del Capitano venue is located on Deck 8. It is expected outside seating will be available for Carnival Jubilee guests when the ship launches in 2023.

Carnival does have a section of the Cucina Del Capitano menu on these three ships that has a few favorite dishes from the main dining room. 

Chibang
​The Chibang venue on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee serves Mexican and Chinese food. The venue has two separate menus that feature appetizers, main courses, and desserts for each of the cuisine types. You can mix and match which cuisine type(s) you pick as an appetizer, main course, and dessert. This venue is complimentary at dinner and is considered an alternative to the main dining room on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. 

• The Chibang venue is located on Deck 8 near the Havana Bar area on all 3 ships.

Carnival does have a section of the Chibang dining room menu at dinner that has some of the favorite dishes from the main dining room.

NOTE ABOUT CHIBANG:  I have heard that on Mardi Gras, the Carnival is piloting a dinner cost. Guests can eat lunch complimentary at Chibang. For dinner, guests can eat once complimentary, but then will be charged for any additional dinners. It is not clear if this will also apply to Carnival Celebration or Jubilee.

Guy's Pig & Anchor: 
The Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee serves BBQ dishes at dinner. The venue is considered an alternative to the main dining room and is complimentary on these 3 ships. The Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse not on these three ships does charge extra for the food served. From what I have seen, the menu is a little different between the ships with Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse where it is not free versus the complimentary dinner menu available on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. 

• The Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is located on Deck 8 near the back of the ship. Patio Pool (outside) is located right behind the Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse area.

Dining Room Menu Items Typically Available:
The exact dining room menu items available in the alternative main dining room options can vary some, but these are the dishes I have typically seen on the menu in Chibang and Cucina Del Capitano. I do not know for sure if this menu is also available at the Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse at dinner. 

• Appetizer - Shrimp Cocktail and Caesar Salad 
• Main Courses - Grilled Salmon, Roast Chicken, and Broiled Striploin Steak
• Dessert -  Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake and Fresh Tropical Fruit

Carnival offering these three specialty dining venues for free on the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee gives guests on the ships an opportunity to try some exciting food options! However, if guests prefer the traditional main dining room experience eating in the main dining room each night of the cruise is an option as well. 

For more Carnival Cruise food and dining tips please check out my guide:
Click Here For Carnival Cruise Food Guide!
​

       Princess Cruise Line's Regal Princess will be sailing from Galveston November 2023 through March 2024. In this post I will take a look at parking lots for Regal Princes cruisers, which cruise terminal the Princess Cruise Line ships sail from in Galveston, and share some basic Galveston check-in information that pertains to both ships. 
​               

Princess Cruise Line Ships Sailing From Galveston:​

• Regal Princess -  The Regal Princess is scheduled to begin sailing from Galveston starting in November 2023 and sail from Galveston through March 2024. The ship is scheduled to return again in October 2024 and sail through Galveston through March 2025.

Princess Cruise Line returned to Galveston in December 2022 after a gap of many years of not sailing from Texas. Some long time cruisers may remember Princes Cruise Line has sailed from the Houston Bayport Cruise Terminal in the past before Princess repositioned away from Texas many years ago. It is exciting seeing Princess Cruise Line back sailing from Galveston!

Which cruise terminal do Princess Cruises ships use in Galveston?
Princess Cruise Line sailings from Galveston use Cruise Terminal 25 and Cruise Terminal 28 depending on the particular sailing date. Most sailings on the Regal Princess in 2023 depart cruise terminal 28 when the ship is departing on a Sunday. 
For a full list of 2023 Galveston Cruise Terminal typical docking assignments: Click Here To View Galveston Cruise Terminal Typical Docking Assignments

Princess Cruise Ship Parking Lot Options:
Princess Cruise Line cruisers sailing out of Galveston have many parking lots to choose from. The Port of Galveston offers many different lot options close to both Cruise Terminal 25 and Cruise Terminal 28. Further, there are many privately owned parking lots located close to the cruise terminal that offer shuttle service. This section will take a look at the many parking lot options available for Princess Cruise Line's Regal Princess guests out of Galveston. 
​Please keep in mind any information included here is subject to change at any time including, but not limited to, pricing, parking lot availability, and parking lot amenities. I am not affiliated with any of the parking lots mentioned here nor responsible for the content of any linked websites. I recommend using this research as a starting point for your Galveston Princess Cruise parking research!​

Official Port of Galveston Lots For Princess Cruises:
        The Port of Galveston has multiple parking lots available for Regal Princess passengers. Some of these parking lots offer shuttle service while others involve a short walk to Cruise Terminal 25 or Cruise Terminal 28. 

• Economy Lot -  The Port of Galveston's Economy Lot A is located at 160 33rd Street and Economy Lot B is located at 224 33rd Street. The economy lots are considered self-park and come with shuttle service included. Ruby Princess and Regal Princess 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. This lot is very close to Cruise Terminal 28 and still within very close walking distance to Cruise Terminal 25. 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. Regal Princess 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 either Cruise Terminal 25 or Cruise Terminal 28. 

For the Port of Galveston's parking please visit the Port of Galveston website by clicking here. 

Private Parking Lots In Galveston For Princess Cruises:

• EZ Cruise Parking - EZ Cruise Parking is located at 2727 Santa Fe Place. Guests that wish to park at EZ Cruise Parking have the option to book parking with a shuttle or book parking without a shuttle. The lots of EZ Cruise Parking are uncovered, but car covers are able to be purchased. For more information about EZ Cruise Parking please click here to go to the EZ Cruise Parking website.
• Falstaff Cruise Parking - Falstaff Cruise Parking is located at 3402 Church St. Guests sailing on the Regal Princess or Ruby Princess that park at Falstaff Cruise Parking have the option of purchasing indoor parking with free shuttle or gated parking with free shuttle. For more information on Falstaff Cruise Parking please click here to go to the Falstaff Cruise Parking website.
• Galveston Park N Cruise - The Galveston Park N Cruise is located at 2514 New Strand Street. Guests sailing on the Regal Princess or Ruby Princess that use Galveston Park N Cruise can choose between indoor parking and gated outdoor parking. This parking lots website states lists the Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises ships that they service. For more information on Galveston Park N Cruise please click here to go to the Galveston Park N Cruise website. 
• Discount Cruise Parking - Discount Cruise Parking recently changed addresses and is located at 433 33rd Street. Guests sailing from Discount Cruise Parking have the option to purchase gated parking with shuttle service for their Regal Princess or Ruby Princess cruise. For more information on Discount Cruise Parking please click here to go to the Discount Cruise Parking website.
• Port Parking - Port Parking is located at 202 37th Street. Guests sailing the Regal Princess or Ruby Princess that use Port Parking have the options of purchasing indoor parking with shuttle or outdoor parking with shuttle. For more information on Port Parking please click here to go to the Port Parking website.
• VIP Cruise Parking - VIP Cruise Parking is located at 111 Rosenberg. Indoor cruise parking is available for purchase. The VIP Cruise Parking website states they serve Ruby Princess and Regal Princess cruisers, but unfortunately at the time of writing the online booking engine was not letting me view the options available to cruisers of these two ships. For more information on VIP Cruise Parking please click here to go to the VIP Cruise Parking website.

There are some hotels that offer packages to be able to park at the hotel during the cruise. I may research these for a future post, but at this point in time do not have this research done.

Some of the parking lots offer discount codes or loyalty programs. I have written a post that shares some information about these programs that I was able to find information out online. Click Here to view my post about Galveston Cruise Parking Discounts & Loyalty Programs. 

Arriving At The Cruise Terminal & Dropping Off Luggage For A Galveston Princess Cruise:
1.  Make sure you verify with Princess Cruises the terminal that your ship will be departing from. Princess uses both Cruise Terminal 25 and Cruise Terminal 28, which are both located next to each other off of Harborside Drive. The terminal can vary depending on the sailing date so make sure you confirm where you will need to go.
2.  Drop your luggage off at your ship's cruise terminal. The luggage drop-off at each of Galveston's cruise terminals is clearly marked with signage and porters wearing the official vests should be able to assist you. If you are arriving via a parking lot shuttle they will help direct you to what you need to do to get your luggage dropped off. Be careful not to not accidentally drop off your luggage at the wrong cruise terminal! 
3.  Make sure you keep your boarding pass, documentation, and anything else needed for the boarding process with you (do not accidentally let this stuff get in the checked luggage). 
4.  Follow the directions of the terminal staff and signs at your respective cruise terminal. The staff are usually friendly and able to easily point you in the right direction throughout the check-in process. 
5.  Make sure you follow any other check-in instructions sent to you from Princess Cruises and bring all of the correct items/documents needed to board. 

Ruby Princess From Galveston Cruise Review:
Check out our guest reviewer's pictures & photos from a 2022-2023 Ruby Princess Galveston sailing. This review includes photos, tips, & information about the Ruby Princess from Galveston. Click Here To View

For more Galveston Cruise Tips please visit my Galveston Cruise Guide section of the website by clicking here. 

          Earlier this week Carnival Cruise Line announced some of the popular cocktails onboard will have alcohol free alternatives available. Carnival is partnering with Lyre's to offer non-alcoholic cocktail options to guests sailing on Carnival Cruise Line ships. According to Carnival's press release, Lyre's uses natural flavors to try to match the taste, aroma, and appearance that guests would expect in the regular version of a cocktail. 
             Carnival Cruise Line ships sailing from the USA are receiving the alcohol free options first and this is expected to be expanded to Carnival Australia ships at a later time. Almost all Carnival ships have an Alchemy Bar onboard. 

Examples of Cocktails Served In The Alchemy Bar With Lyre's: 

• ​Martini Seduction - Carnival describes this drink as having red passion fruit nectar, lime juice, and orange mix with Lyre's White Cane. The alcohol version of this drink features vodka, but the non-alcoholic drink will not feature vodka and instead feature the Lyre's White Cane. 
• Cucumber Sunrise -  Carnival describes the Cucumber Sunrise as having watermelon nectar, cucumber, lime juice, and orange juice mixed with Lyre's Agave Blanco. This drink normally has vodka, but will instead have Lyre's Agave Blanco. 
• Perfect Storm -  Carnival describes this drink as having strawberry puree, fresh lime, rosemary, and Lyre's Dry London. Typically this drink has vodka, but for the non-alcoholic version Lyre's Dry London. 
• Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini -  This drink, according to Carnival, includes Lyre's Agave Blanco and pineapple cocktail. 
• The Remedy -  Carnival describes this drink as orange juice, pineapple, lime juice, Lyre's White Cane and Spiced Cain. Typically this drink includes dark and coconut rum in the alcoholic version. 
• Hearts of Fire - Carnival describes this drink as having fresh thyme, raspberries, and Lyre's Dry London. The alcoholic version of this drink contains gin. 
• Restorative Basil Drop - Carnival describes this drink as having fresh basil, citrus, and Lyre's Dry London. 

Will the main dining room serve any of the non-alcoholic cocktail options?
              Carnival's press release mentions that the Lyre's alcohol free prosecco will be served in the main dining room of ships with the Alchemy Bars. It is not clear if these non-alcoholic cocktail choices will be available in the main dining room too. 

Which Carnival Cruise ships have the Alchemy Bar concept? 
             The following Carnival Cruise Line ships have the Alchemy Bar as of 3/17/2023: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Dream, Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Pride, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Valor, Carnival Vista, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee. 

How do the non-alcoholic cocktails cost?
                  The price will be posted on the Alchemy Bar menu onboard, which can be accessed using a QR code. 

For more Carnival Cruise Food tips: Click Here To View My Unofficial Carnival Cruise Food Guide!
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          The Carnival Firenze is the second of Carnival's "Costa by Carnival" concept. Currently the ship sails for Costa Cruises as the Costa Firenze, but in 2024 the ship will change over to a Carnival Cruise Line ship and be known as the Carnival Firenze. The Carnival Firenze's sailing dates have been uploaded into the Carnival Hub App and can be seen under the drop-down if someone is trying to login with a booking number. The sailing dates and itineraries are not yet for sale as of the time of posting, but it is known that the Carnival Firenze will sail from Long Beach, California. 

             Based on the sailing dates currently showing in the Carnival Hub App, it looks like the Carnival Firenze will offer 4 & 5 night cruises as well as some 7 night cruise itineraries from Long Beach, California. Please note, these dates are subject to change and could be different when Carnival opens the booking engine for the Carnival Firenze. These dates were displaying in the Carnival Hub App on 3/17/2023. 

May 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates: 

• May 2, 2024 
• May 7, 2024 
• May 12, 2024 
• May 16, 2024
• May 21, 2024 
• May 26, 2024 
• May 30, 2024

June 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates:

• June 4, 2024 
• June 9, 2024
• June 13, 2024 
• June 18, 2024 
• June 23, 2024 
• June 27, 2024

July 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates: 

• July 2, 2024 
• July 6, 2024
• July 11, 2024 
• July 16, 2024 
• July 21, 2024 
• July 25, 2024 
• July 30, 2024 

August 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates: 

• August 4, 2024 
• August 8, 2024 
• August 13, 2024 
• August 18, 2024 
• August 24, 2024
• August 31, 2024 

September 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates: 

• ​September 7, 2024 
• September 14, 2024 
• September 21, 2024 
• September 28, 2024 

October 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates:

• October 5, 2024
• October 12, 2024 
• October 19, 2024 
• October 26, 2024

November 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates:

• November 2, 2024 
• November 9, 2024 
• November 14, 2024 
• November 19, 2024 
• November 29, 2024 
• December 2, 2024 

December 2024 Carnival Firenze Sailing Dates:

• December 2, 2024 
• December 7, 2024 
• December 12, 2024 
• December 16, 2024 
• December 26, 2024 
• December 31, 2024 

No cruises past April 2025 are currently showing in the Carnival Hub App for the Carnival Firenze. 

         To show you what I am seeing on the Carnival Hub App for the Carnival Firenze I have decided to include some screenshots below. If you want to see for yourself, click on the "Enter With Booking #" button the main screen of the Carnival Hub App. Then go down to Ship Name and select "Carnival Firenze". The sail date field will then show many dates. 

It will be interesting to see the exact ports of call and further details that Carnival releases on the Carnival Firenze. The first Costa by Carnival ship, the Carnival Venezia, will be launching in 2023. Both ship's are going to be in Carnival's Venice class, but have many similarities to the traditional Carnival Vista class ships. 

Stay tuned for more Carnival Firenze information!
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         Each Carnival Cruise ship has a video arcade area onboard that offers a variety of games for both kids & adults to play. In this post I will take a look at the arcade cost, spending limits, type of games available, how many arcade machines are on each Carnival ship, and more! 

Which Carnival ships have an arcade?
               All Carnival Cruise Line ships have an arcade area onboard. Some ships' arcades have a name called "The Warehouse" which includes the Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee (coming December 2023), Carnival Legend, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Pride, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Vista, and Mardi Gras. The other ships have arcades as well, but the name is unique to the ship and not called "The Warehouse". The concept of "The Warehouse" is pretty much a branding thing that Carnival has been doing over the past several years.        

How much does the arcade on Carnival Cruise Line ships cost?
                 The cost of the arcade games onboard varies by machine. There are no free arcade games on Carnival Cruise Line ships. Carnival advertises that the prices vary between $.75 to $2.00 USD for the arcade games. Carnival notes on their website the typical price of a game is $1.00. 

Playing The Arcade Game: What do you use to play with the machines?
                  Your Sail & Sign card  is swiped in order to use the arcade machines. The arcade machine has a card reader and the guest has to swipe the Sail & Sign card in this card reader to begin. In order to play, the Sail & Sign Card must be considered active and have the ability to make onboard purchases. 

Is there a dollar limit on how much you can spend at the arcade? Can parents control how much their kid spends in the arcade?
                     ​Yes! Carnival says they have daily default limit of $100 per day per guest on the arcade spending. This daily limit applies to both adults & minors onboard. Parents are able to go to Guest Services or the Casino Cashier station to have the daily limit adjusted upwards or downwards for their children or for themselves. 

Does Carnival's arcade accept cash or coins?
                      Unfortunately, Carnival's arcade machines do not not accept cash or coins. The Sail & Sign card (your onboard spending account) is the only method to using the arcade machines. 

When is Carnival's arcade open onboard?
                     Carnival advertises the arcade is open 24 hours a day for each day of the cruise. The arcade is typically open on embarkation day, sea days, and days where the ship is in a port of call. 

Does Carnival's arcade offer games for E-ticket rewards or prizes?
                   Carnival's website states that the arcades feature a selection of redemption games and self-merchandiser games. Any machines that are redemption games will upload an E-ticket to the Sail & Sign card of the guest playing and the guest can redeem the E-tickets at a self-service prize hub located in the arcade. Carnival also notes that any machines that are considered self-merchandiser will allow guests to win prizes directly at the machine. Not all machines may allow for points or prizes so you will have to pay attention when you are onboard your Carnival ship. 

How many arcade machines are there on each ship? 
                     The number of arcade machines onboard will vary by ship due to the space size. Generally speaking, Carnival's larger and newer ships have the most arcade games available onboard. The Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Dream, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Splendor, and Mardi Gras are all listed on Carnival's website as having 50+ machines onboard. The Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise are Carnival's smallest two ships and are listed as having 15+ machines onboard. 

For more information on Carnival Cruise Line's arcades please click here. This link will take you to Carnival's website. 

        If you will be on a Carnival Cruise during Easter your ship may hold some events & activities to celebrate Easter. This post will discuss some of the events & activities Carnival lists on their website for Easter Sunday as well as discuss Carnival's policy regarding religious clergy & services onboard.   
            Easter Sunday for 2023 is scheduled to fall on Sunday, April, 9, 2023. In 2024, Easter Sunday will fall on Sunday, March 31, 2024. The events & activities scheduled onboard will depend on the ship's location for the day as well as the entertainment department onboard.   

Does Carnival have Easter church services onboard for Easter Sunday?
                 According to Carnival's website a non-denominational service is listed as being planned for ships that are not in their homeport on Easter Sunday. This means ships that are undergoing debarkation & embarkation on Easter Sunday will not have any type of service held onboard. Carnival's website does not give any additional information about who will lead a non-denominational service on ships that are having services. 

What Easter themed activities & events are scheduled to take place for Easter Sunday?
                    Carnival's website states that a Family Easter Hop N' Stop event and Family Hidden Egg Hunt are scheduled to take place. Guests onboard during Easter should be able to learn the information from the ship's entertainment team regarding these events. Carnival also states that "Easter Egg-stravaganza" bingo is scheduled to take place. Bingo onboard typically costs extra and I'm not exactly sure how the game will be done with an Easter theme. Carnival also mentions an Easter Traditions Trivia is one of the events that will take place. The Carnival youth programs will also be hosting onboard events & activities. 

What is Carnival's policy regarding religious services and clergy?
                    Carnival's website references the religious services policy around multiple holidays (this is not Easter specific information). Carnival does not place clergy onboard their ships. Clergy that are traveling on a Carnival Cruise ship are able to volunteer to conduct a service while on the cruise. The clergy traveling should contact Guest Services and leave their name, stateroom number, and description of the services they offer. Additionally, the clergy member must leave a letter showing good standing with their religious organization with Guest Services. Per Carnival's website the final determination of approval will be based on factors such as the letter, schedule suitability, and venue availability. 

Where I can I get more information from Carnival? 
​                The FAQ section of Carnival's website has great information regarding the Easter Sunday holiday celebration as well as the religious services policy. I highly encourage you to check out both of these policies as these are the sources of my information to write this post.   
Carnival Cruise Celebrating Holidays Information:  Click Here 
Carnival Cruise Religious Services Policy Information:  Click Here

This post was updated on March 11, 2023 after being originally posted on January 16, 2023 due to some updates made on Carnival's website. ​