Reminder #1:  Don't Forget Sunscreen or Sunblock
         If you plan on being outside for any length of time you need to make sure you bring sunscreen that will protect you from u/v rays and the sun. Bring enough sunscreen for you and your family.  However, don't forget to actually put it on before going outside. You may still get sunburned, if you are like me, but the sunscreen should help protect you. Put the sunscreen on as recommended by the label on your bottle and don't forget to reapply if the directions state the protection only lasts for a certain amount of time.
         Getting a sunburn during your cruise vacation could put a damper on your vacation or make you feel terrible.

Reminder #2:  Parents Watch Your Kids At Pools
          No matter what type of pool, slide, or water recreation activity your child wishes to participate in, make sure you keep an eye on him or her. Most cruise ship pools have no lifeguards and are use at your own risk. The pools on ships can be used year round in some destinations, so this tip doesn't just apply to cruises that sail in the Summer. Parents need to watch their children closely to make sure nothing happens to them. It is always much better to be safe than sorry!  

Reminder #3:  Be Careful & Don't Run On Your Cruise Ship
              Sometimes cruisers get excited and will run or jog on the cruise ship to get somewhere faster. I have seen not only children do this, but adults too.  You could injure yourself or someone else. If a deck or walkway is slippery you could get hurt. Also, the motion of a ship could mess up your balance and you could get hurt or hurt someone else. The moral of the story is don't run. 

Reminder #4:   Chair Hogging - Don't Do It!
                When the warm temperatures come the likelihood of hogging  public deck chairs increases. When cruisers try to reserve deck chairs for periods of time by placing their stuff in them, this is referred to as hogging deck chairs. Leaving your stuff in a deck chair unattended could result in it getting lost or stolen. If you need to step away quickly from your deck chair for a very short period of time it is acceptable to try to save your deck chair (like using the bathroom or getting a quick drink from a nearby place), but otherwise give up your chair to someone else who may really want it. Some cruisers get frustrated when others have many seats saved for long periods of time and there are no other poolside deck chairs available.

Reminder #5:  For The Ports - Keep Track of Time & Be Back Before The Designated Time
                  Sometimes cruisers get off in a port of call and then get too wrapped up in their excursion or activity, which causes them to forget about getting back to their ship on-time. Although this is an issue that pertains to all cruises, it is important to remember to give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship before the designated return time. Once your ship has sailed, you are probably out of luck and will have to find transportation to meet the ship elsewhere. The simple solution is to keep track of time, get back to the ship early, and then you can enjoy watching others rush back to the ship because they arrived near the last possible second!

     I have been asked many times what is special about a cruise on Carnival that keeps me wanting to sail on the cruise line over and over again. To be honest, this is never a simple question to answer because there are so many different things to see, do, eat, and try onboard a Carnival cruise. I began this blog post planning on writing about my top ten reasons to take a Carnival cruise, but after coming up with so many ideas I have decided to share all of the things there are to like and love about Carnival Cruise Line. These are in no particular order.
(UPDATED:  AUGUST 2019) 

1. Numerous Itinerary Options
       Carnival has a fleet of 26 cruise ships that sail to a multitude of ports of call from various homeports. Depending on the ship & itinerary, you can find cruises as short as three days and longer than two weeks. The most common cruise lengths are 4 day, 5 day, and 7 day cruises, but you can find many other length options too. 

2. Carnival Offers A Great Vacation Guarantee 
       Some people never step onboard a Carnival ship because they are afraid they will not have a good time. Carnival has found a solution to this by offering a guarantee called the Great Vacation Guarantee to cruisers incase they get onboard and don't like the cruise for whatever reason. All cruisers have to do is notify the ship's guest services desk within the first 24 hrs. of the cruise vacation that they would like to exercise this guarantee. Guest services on the ship will then setup travel arrangements for the guest to get home from the ship in the next ship's upcoming port of call. Furthermore, Carnival will refund 110% of the cruise fare and offer a $100 onboard credit for a future cruise. For more details on Carnival's Great Vacation Guarantee:  Click Here To Read More (will take you to Carnival's website). 
         You have nothing to lose by trying a Carnival Cruise. If you get onboard and don't like it, you can then use their vacation guarantee. 

​3. High Level Of Personalized Friendly Service 
         Carnival's crew members often go above and beyond to serve guests. In the main dining room, I have had servers that try to learn my name and personal dining preferences. Also, I have had stateroom stewards learn my name and greet me each time they saw me around the ship. 

4. The Beds Are Extremely Comfortable 
          For some reason I sleep better on a cruise than I do at home. The beds on Carnival's ships are probably the reason for that. 

5.  Production Shows
          Each Carnival ship has some type of production shows to entertain guests. These production shows feature a cast of singers and dancers that perform a varying selection of music.

6.  Helpful Customer Service Representatives
            Whether you need something before or after your cruise, Carnival's phone customer representatives are usually very helpful. I have found each time I call Carnival I receive quick service and if the agent does not know the answer to my question they will put the phone on hold and seek help from a supervisor. Carnival's phone system will sometimes give fun facts about the company while you wait on hold, so waiting on the phone is not a boring experience.
           

7.  VIFP Program
           VIFP stands for "Very Important Fun Person". The VIFP program is Carnival's loyalty program that is based on the number of cruise days a guest sails. Each loyalty level has its own perks and rewards. Each person's Sail & Sign Card is color coded based on his or her VIFP level. First time cruisers are a part of the blue level, 2nd cruise to 24 days is a part of the red level, 25 days to 74 days is a part of the gold level, 75 days to 199 days is a part of the platinum level, and 200+ days is a part of the diamond level. The higher a person's level, the more perks and privileges he or she will receive. 

8.  Fast & Easy Embarkation Experience
           I have always found Carnival's embarkation experience to be easy and the staff working the check-in tables always friendly. The embarkation process always involves going through security and getting checked in. Sometimes the lines are long during peak times, but usually the lines move fast. Regardless of the homeport I have cruised from, I have found Carnival's embarkation process easy and not too stressful. If you have your proper travel documentation ready to show, you should have a quick and easy time! 

9.  Safety Is A Priority
           Carnival emphasizes safety procedures during the ship's safety briefing. On the first day of the cruise, as required by law, each guest has to report to his or her muster station at a designated time for a brief presentation of safety procedures and how to put on a lifejacket. This mandatory drill always passes by quickly!

10.  Karaoke 
           Every Carnival cruise typically has karaoke at least once a day. Carnival has an enormous variety of songs and genres cruisers can choose from. If you love to sing you should consider attending karaoke to sing. However, if you can't sing, you can still attend karaoke to hear others sing! Sometimes you will hear cruisers that have an amazing singing talent and sometimes you will hear people that sound awful.