Carnival Cruise Line's online check in process is required for all guests. This post will give tips for completing the online check-in process as well as discuss getting your boarding pass. 

When Do You Check-In:
          Carnival opens the online check-in 14 days prior to your sailing, but guests with special perks (such as Diamond and Platinum VIFP Club members) will have their online check-in open 16 days prior.

Where Do You Check-In:
          On Carnival's website there is a button for called "Check-In" under the "Manage Your Cruise" navigational bar on the website.

What types of information do you provide during online check-in?
 Carnival's online check-in process is where you will provide information such as:

• Your Information
• Emergency Contact Information
• Travel Documents For Identification -  For example, when I tell Carnival I will be using my passport as my travel documentation I usually have to provide the passport number, issuance date, and expiration date. The other forms of acceptable ID may have other fields that Carnival is required to collect. 
• Acceptance of the cruise ticket contract
• Arrival Appointment - I will discuss this more below! 
• Setup of Onboard Spending Account that will be linked to your Sail & Sign Card
• And More! 

Make sure your travel documents meet the requirements Carnival has posted. Also, make sure you pack your travel documents for your cruise as you will be required to show the required identification during the check-in process. 

Selecting An Arrival Appointment:
            One of the sections of online check-in requires guests to select an Arrival Appointment. The arrival appointment is the time that you should be walking into the cruise terminal to check-in. Arrival appointment times are usually in 30 minute intervals. At the cruise terminal, there are typically lines setup for guests that are arriving on-time during their arrival appointment and guests that are arriving earlier or later than their arrival appointment. Guests who show up early may be forced to wait outside the cruise terminal. but this ultimately varies by port and who is working. 

Is there a benefit to selecting an earlier arrival appointment time?
               Having an earlier arrival appointment time could mean you have to wait in the cruise terminal longer for boarding. Arrival appointment time does not equal boarding time. Sometimes I have selected a 10am - 10:30am arrival appointment time, but due to debarkation of prior guests have not been able to board until close to 12pm. I sat in the cruise terminal for 2 hours. 

Very Late Arrival Appointment Times: Beware of Missing Out On Luggage Delivery Service
                        In some ports Carnival does not allow luggage to be checked-in with a porter after a certain time. If your arrival appointment is one of the very last, you might be missing out on checking in your luggage and have it delivered to your room for you. 

Arrival appointments are selected by stateroom and not on an individual guest level. Carnival's website notes that guests in the same room should come during the arrival appointment window that is selected.

TIP: If you are unsure which arrival appointment time to select to minimize your time waiting in the cruise terminal, I recommend choosing one that is middle of the road (not too early and not too late). 

Onboard Sail & Sign Spending Account:
                All guests must be linked to a spending account for their Sail & Sign card. If guests are traveling as a family in the same room, it might make sense to have 1 spending account setup with all the guests linked. If guests are traveling in the same room, they could each setup an onboard spending account. Carnival has noted the maximum number of guests per account is 15. 
                   Carnival does allow spending privileges to be limited for guests that are minor. The online check-in system will have instructions and allow this action to be completed.

Getting A Boarding Pass:
               You cannot get your boarding pass until all guests in a booking have completed all areas of online check-in. The boarding passes can be accessed in your cruise booking manager and usually load as a PDF. Once you get your boarding pass you should see the arrival appointment time on it as well as some other basic information. This will include your muster station letter/number which you will need to know for the safety briefing process on the first day.
                 Make sure you PRINT your boarding pass! Carnival typically does not accept the boarding pass electronically on your phone despite what instructions say. I've seen people have problems when trying to present the boarding pass on their phone.

When is the deadline for completing online check-in?
                    The deadline to complete Carnival's online check-in is midnight (eastern time) the day of your cruise. Carnival notes that guests who complete online check-in will have an expedited check-in process, but guests who don't will get an arrival appointment emailed to them that is automatically assigned.

        The lido buffet on Carnival Cruise ships have a variety of different desserts including cookies, cakes, and/or pies. Over the past several years there are some desserts I will consistently get when eating at the buffet for lunch. I put this post together to share some food pictures of my favorite Carnival Cruise Lido buffet lunch desserts. 
              Below you will find my favorites (in no particular order). Please keep in mind presentation & ingredients may vary during your cruise and further desserts can vary by ship & itinerary. If you have a food allergy please make sure to consult with Carnival's onboard team to determine if something is suitable for your consumption. This post is not intended to serve as a listing of ingredients as I do not know what is exactly in any of these food items.

​Funfetti Cheesecake:
The Funfetti Cheesecake is one of my top Carnival Lido buffet desserts. This dessert is cheesecake that has icing on top (sometimes also layered into the cake) with sprinkles. 

Red Velvet Cake:
The Red Velvet cake typically has layers of cake with a cream cheese like filling as well as icing on top. This dessert is very sweet, but I have enjoyed it on my past several Carnival cruises.

Green Tea Checkers Cake:
The Green Tea Checkers cake is a dessert I will usually get when the cake is offered, but I typically avoid eating the top icing on this cake. The cake inside has a chocolate cake component and a green tea component (this makes up the checkers piece of the cake). The top layer of the cake has icing (kind of like fondue) and I personally do not like this part.

Lemonade Cake: 
This cake is interesting because it has a lemonade flavor. Inside the cake is layered with icing and I cannot remember if there is cream cheese. 

Ice Cream Swan:
Typically when Carnival hosts a Chocolate Extravaganza, they will have a crew member making ice cream swans. When ice cream swans are offered guests can typically choose between strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate ice cream and have a choice between strawberry or chocolate syrup. Not all cruises have the Chocolate Extravaganza. 

Key Lime Pie:
​Key Lime Pie on Carnival's Lido buffet has been something I have eaten for the past 10 years of cruising (when it is offered). The key lime pie is rich and has some icing on-top. 

Cookies:
Carnival's Lido buffet typically has cookies available at lunch as part of the dessert station. The exact variety offered in a day can vary. but typically there are sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, or chocolate cookies available. The sugar cookies have an ingredient in them at adds a little bit of spice (I do not know what the ingredient is - reminds me of a ginger snap). Carnival's buffet cookies usually are crunchy. 

Ice Cream:
All Carnival Cruise ship buffets have self-service ice cream machines. Although the machines are not open 24 hours, they are usually open for lunch, dinner, and a late night snack before midnight. 

There are so many other desserts you can choose from when on a Carnival Cruise ship. The exact desserts offered at your ship's Lido buffet can vary so I highly encourage you check out what is offered each day at the buffet. 

​For more Carnival Cruise Food tips: Click Here For My Carnival Cruise Food Guide

Have a great cruise!
​

          There is a way Carnival Cruise Line guests can earn a free cruise from Carnival for their loyalty under Carnival's current Milestone Rewards program! This post will take a look at Carnival's Milestone Rewards Program and further the criteria for earning a free cruise from Carnival!

Carnival's Milestone Program:
​    The Milestone Rewards Program Carnival offers is a separate program from the VIFP Club and recognizes guests sailing on milestone voyages. Milestone cruises that Carnival recognizes are the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th cruises. However, the cruises that count towards the milestone rewards program must be "revenue" cruises which means free cruises do not count towards the milestone program. On a milestone cruise guests will receive a special Sail & Sign card for that cruise only. This is on top of the guest's normal VIFP club benefits for their particular level. After a guest's milestone cruise, the Sail & Sign card will return to their VIFP Club level instead of being a special milestone Sail & Sign card.

Milestone Benefit For 25th, 50th, and 75th Carnival Cruises
                   When guests reach their 25th, 50th, or 75th revenue cruise on Carnival Cruise Line, they become eligible for a future non-refundable onboard credit. The onboard credit amount corresponds to the milestone level being reached. 

• 25th Revenue Cruise -  25% Of Milestone Guest's Cruise Ticket As Onboard Credit
• 50th Revenue Cruise -  50% Of Milestone Guest's Cruise Ticket As Onboard Credit
• 75th Revenue Cruise - 75% Of Milestone Guest's Cruise Ticket As Onboard Credit 

                      Guests earning the milestone reward must redeem the reward 30 days prior to sailing and do so by contacting Carnival's Milestone Desk. If you are trying to redeem a Milestone reward or checking for eligibility make sure you read Carnival's full information on the milestone reward. You do not automatically receive the benefit and must apply with Carnival in advance of the cruise to get it. 

Free Carnival Cruise: Reaching Your 100th Cruise!
                   The exciting part of the Carnival Milestone Rewards Program is that under the current program guests that sail Carnival Cruise Line on their 100th cruise become eligible for a free cruise! Carnival's current program allows for the guest that is eligible for this to choose a cruise that is 8 days or less and can stay in any stateroom category up to an Ocean Suite (OT/OS). The cruise could be a Caribbean cruise, Mexican Rivera, Alaska, or Australia. Carnival's current program allows for the free cruise to be for two people. 
                        If you are getting close to being eligible for this free cruise or think that you may already be elgible, you should contact Carnival's Milestone desk by calling.

It is important to note that cruises on other Carnival Corporation brands do not count towards this program nor do the Milestone Program benefits transfer to any of Carnival Corporation's other brands. 

The program is subject to change at any time. I highly recommend you read the full terms & conditions and information about how this program works by checking out the guidance on Carnival's website:  Click Here To View

          This summer Carnival Cruise ships will be sailing from many different homeports across the world in the United States, Australia, and Europe. Carnival will have 25 ships in service this summer. I have compiled a listing that shows Carnival's ships sailing in summer 2023. This includes the ship's homeport and a high level overview of the ship's itineraries. 
           Please keep in mind itineraries, homeport, and sailing schedules are subject to change. This list was compiled based on filtering Carnival's booking engine for cruises departing May 2023 through August 2023 and looking at the search engine results. Check Carnival's site for the latest info!

Carnival Breeze Summer 2023:
Homeport: Galveston, Texas
Itineraries: 4 & 5 day Western Caribbean cruises

Carnival Celebration Summer 2023:
​Homeport: Miami, Florida​
Itineraries: 6, 7, and 8 night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, & Southern Caribbean

Carnival Conquest Summer 2023:
Homeport: Miami, Florida
Itineraries: 3 & 4 day cruises to the Bahamas, Western Caribbean, & Eastern Caribbean

Carnival Dream Summer 2023:
Homeport: Galveston, Texas
Itineraries: 6 & 8 day cruises to the Western Caribbean & Eastern Caribbean

Carnival Elation Summer 2023:
Homeport: Jacksonville, Florida
Itineraries: 4 & 5 day cruises to The Bahamas

Carnival Freedom Summer 2023:
Homeport: Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida
Itineraries: 4 & 5 day cruises to the Bahamas &  Eastern Caribbean. 

Carnival Glory Summer 2023:
Homeport: New Orleans, Lousiana 
Itineraries: 7 day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean & Western Caribbean

Carnival Horizon Summer 2023:
Homeport: Miami, Florida
Itineraries: 6 & 8 day cruises to the Western Caribbean & Southern Caribbean

Carnival Legend Summer 2023:
Homeport: Baltimore, Maryland
​Itineraries: 6, 7, and 8 day cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda, & Eastern Caribbean

Carnival Liberty Summer 2023:
​Homeport: Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida
Itineraries: 3 & 4 day cruises to the Bahamas

Carnival Luminosa Summer 2023:
Homeport: Seattle, Washington
Itineraries: 7 day cruises to Alaska. The ship has some 6 & 8 day cruises to Alaska too. 

Carnival Magic Summer 2023:
Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia
Itineraries: 5, 6, and 8 day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean & Bahamas

Carnival Miracle Summer 2023:
Homeport: San Francisco, California
Itineraries: 3, 4, and 5 day cruises to Baja Mexico and 10 day cruises to Alaska

Carnival Panorama Summer 2023:
Homeport: Los Angeles (Long Beach), California
Itineraries: 7 day Mexican Riviera

Carnival Paradise Summer 2023:
​Homeport: Tampa, Florida
Itineraries: 4, 5, and 6 day cruises to the Western Caribbean and Bahamas

Carnival Pride Summer 2023:
Homeport: London (Dover), England
Itineraries: 9 and 12 day Europe cruises

Carnival Radiance Summer 2023:
Homeport: Los Angeles (Long Beach), California
Itineraries: 3 and 4 day Baja Mexico cruises

Carnival Spirit Summer 2023:
Homeport: Seattle, Washington
Itineraries: 7 day Alaska cruises

Carnival Splendor Summer 2023:
Homeport: Sydney, Australia
Itineraries: 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 12 day cruises to South Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Tangalooma, and some getaway cruises to nowhere

Carnival Sunrise Summer 2023:
Homeport: Miami, Florida
Itineraries: 4 and 5 day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, & Bahamas

Carnival Sunshine Summer 2023:
Homeport: Charleston, South Carolina
Itineraries: 4 & 5 day cruises to the Bahamas

Carnival Valor Summer 2023:
Homeport: New Orleans, Lousiana
Itineraries: 4 & 5 day cruises to the Western Caribbean

Carnival Venezia Summer 2023:
Homeport: New York
Itineraries: The Carnival Venezia will begin sailing for Carnival in May 2023 and complete a transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to New York that is 13 days. From New York the Carnival Venezia will sail 4, 5, and 8 day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean and Bermunda.

Carnival Vista Summer 2023:
Homeport: Galveston, Texas
Itineraries: 7 day cruises to the Western Caribbean

Mardi Gras Summer 2023:
Homeport: Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida
Itineraries: Primarily 7 day cruises, but also some 6 & 8 day options. Some itineraries go to the Eastern Caribbean and others go to the Western Caribbean.

        If you are looking for a short cruise from Galveston you may be hoping to find a 2 or 3 day cruise from Galveston that is a cruise to nowhere. Unfortunately, these options to do not typically exist on cruise sailings out of Galveston, Texas. 

Cruises To Nowhere
             A cruise to nowhere is literally a cruise vacation where the ship does not sail to any ports of call. Instead in these cruises guests are treated to a day or two at sea before the ship returns to a homeport. There are no cruises to nowhere from Galveston. This is because the cruise ships sailing from Galveston are foreign flagged and the vast majority of crew members onboard due to not have the appropriate visa to be on a ship that technically does not leave the country. The cruise lines have to comply with Homeland Security & US Customs requirements. 
                       I personally think it would be neat and exciting to have a cruise to nowhere option out of Galveston, but unfortunately no cruise lines offer this option due to the laws that must be followed. 

2 or 3 Day Cruises From Galveston
                 The minimum voyage length for cruises out of Galveston is typically 4 nights. Since cruise lines cannot offer cruises to nowhere out of Galveston currently, they need to be able to dock in at least one foreign port of call after leaving Galveston and before returning to the United States. Due to the location of Galveston and distance from a foreign port of call, it is not possible for the cruise lines to be able to leave Galveston, have a port of call stop, and be back in Galveston within 2 or 3 days. 
                     Cruise ships out of Galveston that sail 4 night cruises will typically leave Galveston, have a sea day, visit a port of call such as Cozumel or Progreso Mexico, and then have a sea day before returning to Galveston. The sea day allows the ship to travel the required distance and be back. Since the ship visited a foreign port of call, the US requirements were met. 

Summary
             While it would be fun to have a cruise to nowhere or very short cruises from Galveston that are either 2 or 3 days, this is unfortunately not the reality for any cruise lines from Galveston at present. Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer year-round 4 day cruises as their minimum length of cruising. Disney Cruise Line has seasonal cruises from Galveston and the minimum length of the cruises are 4 days. Princess and Norwegian Cruise Line sailings out of Galveston are usually longer in length.

Click Here For Some Galveston Cruise Tips

          The Carnival Valor has many restaurants and dining options for guests onboard. There are multiple complimentary dining options on the Carnival Valor for breakfast, lunch, & dinner and further there are dining experiences on the Carnival Valor that guests can pay extra for food. 
                 If you are cruising on the Carnival Valor, I recommend checking your Carnival Hub App daily for the food options, when each restaurant is open & closed, and for the menu. 

1.  Rosie's Lido Restaurant (Buffet) 
             The Carnival Valor's lido buffet is known as Rosie's Restaurant. This area is located on the Carnival Valor's Lido Deck, which is deck number 9. Rosie's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to Carnival Valor guests. There is no dress-code for dining in Rosie's Lido Buffet, but Carnival does have signage asking guests to wear shirts, shoes, and have cover-ups over swimsuits. The food served in Rosie's Lido Buffet is complimentary and included in your cruise-fare! 

• Lido Buffet Breakfast -  Rosie's normally has multiple breakfast buffet lines open in the morning. The first line to open is the continental breakfast line which offers fruits & pastries. The main breakfast lines open and usually serve a rotating variety of potatoes, meats (i.e. sausage, bacon, etc.), grits, oatmeal, yogurt, milk, and more.  Carnival's main lines vary each day so there are some different options available each day. Multiple omelet stations are available to guests in the morning in different areas of the buffet. In the morning, the Carnival Valor's buffet beverage stations usually feature some juice, coffee (regular and decaf), and hot chocolate. 
• Lido Buffet Lunch -  Rosie's has multiple lunch buffet lines for Carnival Valor guests. The exact food on each of the buffet lines will vary by day. I have seen several varieties of food offered and sometimes these include Italian food, Greek food, Comfort Kitchen food, American food, and much more. The buffet has a dessert station which typically has a variety of sweets such as cakes, pies, cookies, and more. Self-service ice cream and frozen yogurt machines are available at lunch too. 
• Lido Buffet Dinner - Rosie's usually has one (maybe two) buffet lines for Carnival Valor guests at dinner. Fewer buffet lines are open at dinner due to many guests eating in the main dining room. 

2.  Deli on Carnival Valor
              The deli on the Carnival Valor is located inside Rosie's Restaurant. The typical deli hours are 11am - 11pm, but hours can vary so you will want to watch the Carnival Hub App once onboard. Carnival's deli serves sandwiches and a couple of sides such as fries and cookies. The Carnival Valor's deli is complimentary and included in your cruise fare.
For more information about the deli please click here. 

3. Ol' Fashioned BBQ
              The Carnival Valor offers a dining venue called Ol' Fashioned BBQ. The Ol' Fashioned BBQ serves a variety of meats (such as sausage, brisket, & chicken) and sides (such as potato salad, slaw, beans, bread, and more). On the Carnival Valor the Ol' Fashioned BBQ is a buffet line where the crew serve you whatever items you want and is located above Rosie's Restaurant. The Panorama Deck (Deck 10) has a second level of Rosie's Restaurant and this is where the Ol' Fashioned BBQ counter is located. This venue is complimentary and only available during the lunch hours. Please note, Ol' Fashioned BBQ is a different concept with a different menu & food preparation style than Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ which is on some other Carnival ships.
Click Here for more information about Ol' Fashioned BBQ

4. Guy's Burger Joint
             The Carnival Valor has Carnival's popular Guy's Burger Joint onboard and is complimentary. Guy's Burger Joint is located close to the Lido main pool on Deck 9 and is open starting at lunch & throughout the afternoon (typically closes very early evening). Guests can choose from a variety of different burgers such as the Straight Up, Plain Jane, The Ringer, Chilus Maximus, and Pig Patty. Carnival has a toppings bar located outside the Guy's Burger Joint counter where guests can load up an extra vegetables or get some condiments. 
Click Here for more information about Guy's Burger Joint 

5. Blue Iguana Cantina
               The Carnival Valor has the Blue Iguana Cantina onboard which is complimentary and open during breakfast & lunch hours. At breakfast the Blue Iguana Cantina serves arepas and breakfast burrito. You can build your own breakfast burrito by telling the crew member which meat, vegetables, and foods you want included in your burrito. At lunch, the Carnival Valor's Blue Iguana Cantina has a tacos line and a burritos line. You can build your own by telling the crew member working what you want! There is a salsa bar counter located nearby for guests to load up on salsa or some additional fillings (i.e. lettuce, tomato, sour cream, etc.). 
​Click Here for more information on the Blue Iguana Cantina

6.  Pizzeria 
                 The Carnival Valor has a complimentary pizzeria located on the Lido Deck. The pizzeria is usually open from mid-morning until late night (exact hours vary so check the Carnival Hub App). Pizza types served on the Carnival Valor's pizzeria menu usually include margherita,  fungi, pepperoni, quattro formaggi, and prosciutto. 
Click Here for more information on the Carnival Pizzeria

7. Seafood Shack
                 The Seafood Shack on the Carnival Valor is located near the back of the Lido Deck (deck 9) close to the aft-pool. This venue serves seafood items at an ala carte price per item. Some of the items at the Seafood Shack include a bucket of shrimp, lobster BLT, crab cake sliders, fish & chips, and much more. Carnival also sells seafood by the pound at the Seafood Shack. Prices vary by item. 

8. Lincoln Dining Room
                The Lincoln Dining Room is the Carnival Valor's mid-ship dining room. Typically this dining room is used at dinner for Your-Time Dining on the Deck 3 level and guests with traditional (early or late) seating on Deck 4. Some special events such as the Dr. Suess Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast (additional charge) will take place in the Lincoln Dining Room. If you are interesting in the Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast check your pre-cruise booking manager to see if tickets are being pre-sold for your cruise or look to book onboard. 
Your-Time Dining Check-In Information: Click Here To View

9. Paris Dining Room
​              The Paris Dining Room is the Carnival Valor's aft dining room. At dinner, the Paris Dining Room's deck 3 and 4 levels are used for guests with traditional early or late seating. At breakfast the Paris Dining Room is usually open for Sea Day Brunch on sea-days or on port days the dining room is open for breakfast open seating. The upper level of the Paris Dining Room is usually used for tea-time on sea days.

Note:  At dinner the Lincoln Dining Room and Paris Dining Room serve the same menus. Check out some sample Carnival Cruise Main Dining Room menus with food pictures:
Sample 4 Night Cruise Menu
​Sample 5 Night Cruise Menu

10. Scarlett's Steakhouse 
                  The Carnival Valor's onboard steakhouse is known as Scarlett's Steakhouse, which is located on the Panorama Deck (Deck 10). Guests can make a reservation for Scarlett's Steakhouse pre-cruise or once onboard if seats are still open. The steakhouse is open at dinner and the reservation fee typically includes appetizer, salad, entree, side, and dessert.  

11. Room Service
                  Guests are able to order room service through their stateroom phone or order food delivery through the Carnival Hub App. At breakfast there are some complimentary menu items available for guests to order through room service. The rest of the day, Carnival's room service menu charges ala carte per item ordered. There is usually a wait time before you get your food ordered via room service. Sometimes this wait is 5-10 minutes, but during peak times can average 30+ minutes so order early if in-case you have to wait a while for your food to arrive.
​Click Here For The Room Service Menu

12. Java Cafe
                 The Carnival Valor's Java Cafe is the onboard coffee bar which serves a variety of specialty coffees and beverages at an extra charge. On the Carnival Valor the Java Cafe is usually open in the early morning through the late afternoon/early evening (hours vary so check the Carnival Hub App). Guests can usually buy desserts from the Java Cafe as well. Guests on the Carnival Valor can find the Java Cafe on the Promenade Deck (Deck 5) along the King Boulevard Promenade walkway close to the mid-ship elevators.

13. Mongolian Wok
                     The Carnival Valor's Mongolian Wok is located inside Rosie's Lido Buffet near the front section. At lunch this area is open and has many options available for guests to have a customized stir fry bowl. The Mongolian Wok is complimentary. At breakfast, the Mongolian Wok line usually is an omelet station. 

Have a great cruise on the Carnival Valor!

         Luggage and bags are an important thing to worry about before leaving on a Carnival Cruise. In this post I will look at Carnival's restrictions on suitcase & bag size as well as what it means to have a TBA stateroom on your luggage tag (even on embarkation day) and whether you need to print your luggage tags in color. 

Carnival's Restrictions On Suitcase & Bag Size & Weight:
             Carnival's website clearly states that they recommend guests limit luggage to one bag person for cruises that are 3-5 days and 2 bags for cruises longer than 6 days. However, Carnival's website does not state there is a limit on the number of bags you can bring, since the wording is only "recommend". Though there is not an official maximum limit on the bags or suitcases per guest, you do not want to bring too many pieces of luggage because you will have to store the bags/suitcase in your stateroom and space is limited in most rooms. 
                   For each bag/suitcase Carnival requires that the luggage does not weigh more than 50 pounds. There is a size restriction on the luggage as Carnival requires when the luggage (suitcase/bag) is lying flat the bag cannot exceed 24 inches wide and 16 inches high. 
                       Your suitcase or bag must be unlocked for security screening purposes. According to Carnival any oversized baggage or locked baggage may have a delivery delay. 

Stateroom Is TBA On Luggage Tag: How Do I Handle Embarkation Day?
                      If your Carnival luggage tag has a TBA stateroom you should not worry too much. Still print your tag despite it having a stateroom assignment that is not yet available (TBA). At the cruise terminal, the porters will re-tag any luggage that has a TBA assignment. Your stateroom assignment will be determined by the first day so the porters at the cruise terminal will be able to determine your stateroom assignment. Please note, your TBA luggage tag will have your name and booking number typed so it will be easy for the staff at the cruise terminal to look up your booking. 

Does color on the luggage tag matter? Do I have to print my luggage tags in color?
                    It is not required by Carnival to print the luggage tags in color. However, having your luggage tags in color can help with the luggage sorting process. If the crew working the luggage delivery can work more efficiently you might get your bags in your stateroom faster and the chance of them misdelivering to someone else is reduced a bit. You are able to print your Carnival luggage tags in black & white and the bags will be accepted. It is 100% fine - just keep in mind that the color coded system could possibly benefit you too!

Can I get more luggage tags at the cruise terminal on embarkation day?
                       Carnival mentions the porters working the cruise terminal do have extra luggage tags available. At the Port of Galveston I have seen the porters with tags they will write your information on based on your boarding pass. 

Have a great cruise! Make sure to read the information Carnival provides about luggage in any pre-cruise emails as well as the information that is on the printed luggage tag. 

       Carnival Cruise Line offers two drink packages for guests. Bottomless Bubbles is a drink package Carnival offers that serves unlimited sodas & juices. Cheers is a drink package that Carnival offers that serves a variety of alcoholic beverages, coffees, sodas, juice, & more. 
           In this post I do a comparison of Carnival's Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles drink packages. I look at the price of Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles, age restrictions of each drink package, limits Carnival places on drinks, taxes that might be assessed, and more! This 2023 drink package guide is for US Carnival Cruises! Australia guests should consult with the Carnival AU website for information.

Comparing Carnival Drink Package Prices:
Bottomless Bubbles Prices:
The price is typically the same regardless of whether guests pre-pay online or order on the ship. As of 4/2/2023, the prices are as follows: 

• Kids (17 and younger):  $6.95 per day + 18% service charge
• Adults (18+):  $9.50 per day + 18% service charge

Cheers: 
The pricing for Cheers does vary depending on whether guests pre-order before the cruise or purchase the package onboard. Important Note about Cheers: Carnival requires each adult guest 21+ in the stateroom to purchase Cheers. If one guest wants Cheers the others are forced to purchase it. There are no exceptions typically made to this rule including ones related to medical or religious reasons, but you can try to talk to Carnival and maybe you will have some luck (it is doubtful though). 
The pre-cruise pricing for Cheers is as follows: 

• $59.95 per day + 18% service charge 

The onboard pricing for Cheers is as follows: 

• $64.95 per day + 18% service charge

Comparing Included Items Included In Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles:
Bottomless Bubbles:  
Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles package offers a variety of sodas and juices as part of the package.

• Sodas include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Caffeine Free Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free, Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free, Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Zero Sugar, Mug Root Beer, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Bubly Lime Sparkling Water, and Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water. 
• Juice included in Bottomless Bubbles includes orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice. 
• No alcoholic beverages are included as part of the Bottomless Bubbles package. 

Cheers Package:
Carnival's Cheers Package includes the following:

• Sodas: All of the sodas listed above plus Bubly Grapefruit Sparkling Water, Gatorade Lemon Lime, and Gatorade Fruit Punch. 
• Spirits, cocktails, cognacs, whiskies, beer, wine, and champagne by the glass with a $20 menu price or below for the glass price. 
• Specialty Coffee and Hot Coffee (served through the main dining room, coffee bar, or specialty dining venue) 
• Energy Drinks
• 500 ML Bottled Water (must be served in a bar or lounge) 
• Bottled/packaged water in main dining room

Cheers also allows guests to get a discount on beverages that have a menu price above $20, discount on wine by the bottle, and a discount for a seminar or class. 

Neither package includes beverages sold in souvenir glasses, beverages sold at the gangway, purchases of beverages made in ports of call (includes private islands such as Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay), food items, room service purchases, or in-stateroom purchases. There are other restrictions for both programs so you will need to read the terms & conditions carefully if you are purchasing either package. 

When Does Carnival Activate The Drink Packages: 
Bottomless Bubbles:
Carnival activates the Bottomless Bubbles upon boarding if pre-purchased or when purchased onboard. 
Cheers: 
The point when Cheers is activated depends on your particular departure homeport due to state laws. 

• Guests From Galveston and New York - Your Cheers package will not be activated until Day 2 at 6am of the cruise. Guests from Galveston and New York who want drinks on the first day of the cruise will be charged the full menu price per drink. When Cheers is activated on Day 2 the guests will be able to use the Cheers package as normal. These restrictions are due to state laws. Please note, you are not charged for Cheers on Day 1 since it will not be able to be utilized until Day 2. 
• Guests From Other Homeports - Your Cheers package will be activated upon boarding or when purchased on the first day. 

Carnival Charging Tax on Drinks Gotten Under The Drink Packages?
Sometimes due to state & local laws & regulations, Carnival has to charge sales tax on drinks gotten when in US waters. This includes drinks received under the Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles packages. 

• The sales tax rates will vary by the particular state or local jurisdiction. 
• Even with the drink package, if Carnival has to assess tax you will be charged tax on the value of the drink based on the current menu price. This charge will be put on your Sail & Sign card. 

Are there age restrictions on Carnival's drink packages?
Yes, there are age restrictions on the Cheers package. Guests must be 21+ to purchase the Cheers package. There is no age restriction on Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles drink package. 

Where can I get more information about Carnival's drink packages? 

• ​For more information regarding Carnival's Cheers drink package:  Click Here 
• For more information regarding Carnival's Bottomless Bubbles drink package: Click Here

Both links will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Carnival's website.

Please keep in mind any of the information included here is subject to change at any time. Make sure you read the terms & conditions of any drink package program you

       Whether you are cruising Alaska this year or not, you can still enjoy the spectacular views Alaska offers from the internet. Many cruise ships have webcams that update periodically and this will allow you to see the same views the people on the ship could be looking at. Looking at ship webcams is a great way to get excited about an Alaska cruise or fulfill a desire to see more of Alaska. 
           Some major cruise ships sailing Alaska this season, 2023, have a webcam that is viewable online. I have tried to compile as many links to cruise ship webcams and port of call webcams as possible. All links to webcams are on separate sites and I take no responsibility for the operations of these cameras or the content of these websites. 

Thank you to everyone that has been suggesting links related to Alaska cruises & ports of call. The 2023 Alaska cruise season will soon be here! 

Ketchikan, Alaska
KPU Ketchikan Webcam's 
This website has 6 different cameras around the city and cruise docks. I am linking to each one separately. 
Click Here To View Webcam #1   
Click Here To View Webcam #2
Click Here To View Webcam #3
Click Here To View Webcam #4
Click Here To View Webcam #5
Click Here To View Webcam #6

Victoria BC, Canada 
Although Victoria is not a part of Alaska, there are many Alaska cruise itineraries that include a stop in Victoria.
​BigWaveDave's Ogden Point Webcam
Click Here To View Webcam
BigWaveDave's Dallas Road Webcam
Click Here To View Webcam

Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a homeport for many cruise ships that sail to Alaska. I have decided to include some Seattle webcams that have a view of the water as part of this webcam compilation. 
Space Needle Webcam:
Click Here To View This Webcam

I plan to add more Alaska content in the coming weeks and months! If you are cruising to Alaska, I hope you have a great time!

       The Carnival Dream was launched into Carnival's fleet in 2009 and is the first of three Dream class ships. The Carnival Dream has a double occupancy passenger capacity of 3,646 guests and has a gross tonnage of approximately 130,000. 
          This is the main page of my Carnival Dream Photo Tour. The pictures are primarily from my Carnival Dream cruise in 2020 and share photos of some of the public spaces onboard the ship. I am organizing pictures by deck so please scroll down to view the pictures of the Carnival Dream by deck!

Deck 10  - Lido Deck
Highlights: Lido Main Pool, The Gathering Lido Buffet, & Sunset Aft Pool 
Coming Soon!