Carnival Cruise Line's relatively new Hub App is a way for cruisers to digitally connect with information and events occurring during their cruise vacation. This app is free to download and is currently in the process of being added to all of Carnival's ships. On my recent Carnival Triumph cruise vacation, I had the opportunity to try out this app for the first time. I will begin this article by sharing some of the features the app on my phone had and then give a few tips I learned from using the app.
What Are Some Of The Basic Features?
1) Displays Activities & Events
One of my favorite features of the app was the app's ability to display information about events and activities onboard. The app displayed almost all of the same information that was available in the print copy of the ship's daily newsletter, the Fun-Times. For each event and activity, information about the time, location, and deck were included. Listing the deck numbers can be helpful for cruisers that are not familiar with the ship's layout.
2) Shows Dining Information
In addition to showing onboard events, the app had information about onboard dining and beverages. Cruisers were able to find information about what food places were open when and also information about the beverage service onboard. Just like the activities, the location and deck number for dining was included too.
3) Deck Plans Are Available Through The App
The app gives cruisers the ability to view the ship's deck plans and places on each deck. These deck plans were the exact same as the deck plans Carnival has on its website.
4) Ability To View Onboard Sail & Sign Account Statement
For cruisers that want to know how much they spend or how much onboard credit is on their account, this app can give this information. The app gives information about each purchase and how much the purchase was for. A cruiser's overall balance is included at the top for convenience. Viewing this information through the app was much easier than waiting in line at the Sail & Sign Kiosk.
5) Chat Feature (This Costs A Little Extra)
The app also has a chat feature available. I did not use this feature, but I have read positive reviews on the chat usage. Currently, the chat feature costs $5.00 for the entire cruise. Cruisers twelve and under have to have parent/guardian consent in order to use the chat feature. This is an important detail to note if you were planning on allowing younger kids to use that chat feature on the app. If you want to communicate with others onboard your cruise ship, this might be something you want to look into paying for.
Side Note: The Carnival Vista, Carnival's newest cruise ship, has an additional feature. Cruisers are able to view and purchase their onboard photos via the Carnival Hub App. Personally, I hope this feature gets added to other ships.
Some Tips For Using The App:
1) Save Time & Download The App In Advance
Consider downloading the app in advance of your cruise. While you cannot access the app's features at home, there is a countdown clock that you can set to countdown to your cruise vacation. The main reason I recommend downloading the app in advance is to help yourself save time on the cruise. During my cruise on the Carnival Triumph, the ship had advertisements that said the app was free to download onboard. These informational ads instructed cruisers to put their phone in airplane mode to avoid roaming charges. If you want to make things easier on yourself, I would download the app from home prior to the cruise. Save yourself some time and this will be one less thing you have to do once you are on vacation!
2) You Must Have Your Phone In Airplane Mode & Be Connected To The Ship's Wi-Fi To Use The App
I learned the app will not work if your phone is not in airplane mode. Also, you must be connected to the ship's wi-fi. For me, both of these things had to be done for the app to work correctly.
3) Verify Your Ship Is Setup To Use The App
Not all Carnival ships have the Carnival Hub App at this time. You can check Carnival's website to see if your ship has the app. Do not get onboard your ship and find out the ship is not equipped for the app yet. This could be a disappointing scenario. However, if your ship does not have the app yet, you can still find information in the daily Fun-Times onboard newsletter.
Downloading The App:
This link on Carnival's website is where you can go to download the app: Click Here
You will have to specify if your phone is an I-Phone or Android in order to start the download process.
What Are Some Of The Basic Features?
1) Displays Activities & Events
One of my favorite features of the app was the app's ability to display information about events and activities onboard. The app displayed almost all of the same information that was available in the print copy of the ship's daily newsletter, the Fun-Times. For each event and activity, information about the time, location, and deck were included. Listing the deck numbers can be helpful for cruisers that are not familiar with the ship's layout.
2) Shows Dining Information
In addition to showing onboard events, the app had information about onboard dining and beverages. Cruisers were able to find information about what food places were open when and also information about the beverage service onboard. Just like the activities, the location and deck number for dining was included too.
3) Deck Plans Are Available Through The App
The app gives cruisers the ability to view the ship's deck plans and places on each deck. These deck plans were the exact same as the deck plans Carnival has on its website.
4) Ability To View Onboard Sail & Sign Account Statement
For cruisers that want to know how much they spend or how much onboard credit is on their account, this app can give this information. The app gives information about each purchase and how much the purchase was for. A cruiser's overall balance is included at the top for convenience. Viewing this information through the app was much easier than waiting in line at the Sail & Sign Kiosk.
5) Chat Feature (This Costs A Little Extra)
The app also has a chat feature available. I did not use this feature, but I have read positive reviews on the chat usage. Currently, the chat feature costs $5.00 for the entire cruise. Cruisers twelve and under have to have parent/guardian consent in order to use the chat feature. This is an important detail to note if you were planning on allowing younger kids to use that chat feature on the app. If you want to communicate with others onboard your cruise ship, this might be something you want to look into paying for.
Side Note: The Carnival Vista, Carnival's newest cruise ship, has an additional feature. Cruisers are able to view and purchase their onboard photos via the Carnival Hub App. Personally, I hope this feature gets added to other ships.
Some Tips For Using The App:
1) Save Time & Download The App In Advance
Consider downloading the app in advance of your cruise. While you cannot access the app's features at home, there is a countdown clock that you can set to countdown to your cruise vacation. The main reason I recommend downloading the app in advance is to help yourself save time on the cruise. During my cruise on the Carnival Triumph, the ship had advertisements that said the app was free to download onboard. These informational ads instructed cruisers to put their phone in airplane mode to avoid roaming charges. If you want to make things easier on yourself, I would download the app from home prior to the cruise. Save yourself some time and this will be one less thing you have to do once you are on vacation!
2) You Must Have Your Phone In Airplane Mode & Be Connected To The Ship's Wi-Fi To Use The App
I learned the app will not work if your phone is not in airplane mode. Also, you must be connected to the ship's wi-fi. For me, both of these things had to be done for the app to work correctly.
3) Verify Your Ship Is Setup To Use The App
Not all Carnival ships have the Carnival Hub App at this time. You can check Carnival's website to see if your ship has the app. Do not get onboard your ship and find out the ship is not equipped for the app yet. This could be a disappointing scenario. However, if your ship does not have the app yet, you can still find information in the daily Fun-Times onboard newsletter.
Downloading The App:
This link on Carnival's website is where you can go to download the app: Click Here
You will have to specify if your phone is an I-Phone or Android in order to start the download process.
RSS Feed