Galveston Cruise Terminal 28 Carnival Cruise vacations on the first day are busy for guests, crew, and everyone shoreside that works the terminal & pier. There are some random things that you may not know are going on behind the scenes while some guests end their cruise and others begin their cruise. This post will take a look at some of the things I've learned over the years and observed from the first day of my Carnival Cruises.
1. Time Between Cruises Is Short
For most Carnival Cruises the time in between the last guest getting off the debarking cruise and the first guest getting on the next cruise is short. The ship's crew are busy during this time removing signage & crowd control barriers intended for debarking guests and then updating signage to welcome the next guests onboard.
2. Thousands Of Suitcases & Bags Are Sorted & Delivered
Suitcases are loaded off from the previous cruise in the early morning for guests that choose general debarkation. Meanwhile as embarking guests arrive suitcases & bags are taken by porters to go through security & get loaded onto the ship. Once luggage is through security on the pier, the luggage is sorted into bins and then brought onto the ship using forklifts. Carnival has a team onboard that bring the luggage to each deck and then members of the luggage delivery team bring it to outside the stateroom door. Most of this is going on from the early morning until after the ship has sailed away.
3. All Staterooms Get Cleaned & Turnaround Quickly
Stateroom stewards work hard to get staterooms cleaned, bedding changed, and toiletries refreshed in between cruises. On the debarking cruise guests usually have to be out of their room early (either 8am or 8:30am). Guests on the embarking cruise typically have to wait until 1:30pm to access staterooms. Once the debarking guests are off, Carnival will close the fire doors to the stateroom areas to keep embarking guests out of the staterooms so work can be performed to the rooms. Stateroom stewards have a window of 4-5 hours at best to get the rooms turned around.
For most Carnival Cruises the time in between the last guest getting off the debarking cruise and the first guest getting on the next cruise is short. The ship's crew are busy during this time removing signage & crowd control barriers intended for debarking guests and then updating signage to welcome the next guests onboard.
2. Thousands Of Suitcases & Bags Are Sorted & Delivered
Suitcases are loaded off from the previous cruise in the early morning for guests that choose general debarkation. Meanwhile as embarking guests arrive suitcases & bags are taken by porters to go through security & get loaded onto the ship. Once luggage is through security on the pier, the luggage is sorted into bins and then brought onto the ship using forklifts. Carnival has a team onboard that bring the luggage to each deck and then members of the luggage delivery team bring it to outside the stateroom door. Most of this is going on from the early morning until after the ship has sailed away.
3. All Staterooms Get Cleaned & Turnaround Quickly
Stateroom stewards work hard to get staterooms cleaned, bedding changed, and toiletries refreshed in between cruises. On the debarking cruise guests usually have to be out of their room early (either 8am or 8:30am). Guests on the embarking cruise typically have to wait until 1:30pm to access staterooms. Once the debarking guests are off, Carnival will close the fire doors to the stateroom areas to keep embarking guests out of the staterooms so work can be performed to the rooms. Stateroom stewards have a window of 4-5 hours at best to get the rooms turned around.
4. Crew & Staffing Changes Happen
Days in homeport are frequently when crew & staffing changes occur onboard. Some crew members get off because their contract has ended, but new crew members will get on to replace those getting off.
5. Food & Fuel Are Restocked
There is a lot going on down on the pier by the ship. Some of the activities include the restocking of food, supplies, and fuel. Typically, food is unloaded from large trucks and pallets are placed near the ship. Forklifts will load the food and supplies into the bottom of the ship. From there crew members will move the food into the appropriate storage area.
6. Maintenance From The Pier
Sometimes there is work that needs to be done to the ship that cannot be done at sea. Often times crew members are working outside from the pier to wash the ship, paint areas in need of a fresh paint coat, and perform all sorts of work.
Days in homeport are frequently when crew & staffing changes occur onboard. Some crew members get off because their contract has ended, but new crew members will get on to replace those getting off.
5. Food & Fuel Are Restocked
There is a lot going on down on the pier by the ship. Some of the activities include the restocking of food, supplies, and fuel. Typically, food is unloaded from large trucks and pallets are placed near the ship. Forklifts will load the food and supplies into the bottom of the ship. From there crew members will move the food into the appropriate storage area.
6. Maintenance From The Pier
Sometimes there is work that needs to be done to the ship that cannot be done at sea. Often times crew members are working outside from the pier to wash the ship, paint areas in need of a fresh paint coat, and perform all sorts of work.
7. Crew Take Turns Getting Off In Ports
Crew members are allowed time off the ship in ports depending on their job onboard & the location of the ship. Often in the ship's homeport while guests are getting off & others are getting ready to board for the next cruise, there are some crew members who are able to enjoy a few hours off the ship in port. The crew members use a gangway on the lower areas of the ship and typically do not come into contact with guests as they get on or off. While off crew members often times will look for free or cheap internet or make phone calls home. Who exactly gets off varies each week and crew members have told me that Carnival has a rotation to make sure everyone eligible to get off gets a turn eventually.
8. Sail & Sign Cards Are Sorted & Delivered
The Sail & Sign card onboard is your room key, pass to get on/off the ship in ports, and used to make purchases onboard. On the first day you will receive your Sail & Sign card in an envelope in your stateroom mailbox. Crew members took the time to sort the cards, put into envelopes, and then deliver them on the first day of the cruise before staterooms open. I would imagine some of the sorting happened behind the scenes before the prior cruise ended, but the delivery to stateroom mailboxes happens after the debarking guests get off and before embarking guests can access staterooms.
Crew members are allowed time off the ship in ports depending on their job onboard & the location of the ship. Often in the ship's homeport while guests are getting off & others are getting ready to board for the next cruise, there are some crew members who are able to enjoy a few hours off the ship in port. The crew members use a gangway on the lower areas of the ship and typically do not come into contact with guests as they get on or off. While off crew members often times will look for free or cheap internet or make phone calls home. Who exactly gets off varies each week and crew members have told me that Carnival has a rotation to make sure everyone eligible to get off gets a turn eventually.
8. Sail & Sign Cards Are Sorted & Delivered
The Sail & Sign card onboard is your room key, pass to get on/off the ship in ports, and used to make purchases onboard. On the first day you will receive your Sail & Sign card in an envelope in your stateroom mailbox. Crew members took the time to sort the cards, put into envelopes, and then deliver them on the first day of the cruise before staterooms open. I would imagine some of the sorting happened behind the scenes before the prior cruise ended, but the delivery to stateroom mailboxes happens after the debarking guests get off and before embarking guests can access staterooms.