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This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. If you've done your research and have decided that you want to do a specific excursion offered on your cruise, think carefully about whether to book in advance or onboard. It's best to book in advance for must-do tours and limited-availability excursions (like almost every excursion on an Alaskan cruise or flightseeing while docked on a cruise to Hawaii). The knowledge and efficiency of tour operators vary, and some tour offerings are simply duds.
Booking Shore Excursions in Advance vs. Booking Onboard
By researching and selecting the right excursions, you can tailor your vacation to match your interests and preferences. Consider factors such as reviews, budget, physical requirements, and unique experiences to make informed decisions. The booking process for Carnival cruise excursions is straightforward, and it’s beneficial to book your desired activities in advance to secure your spot. Before we delve into the details, it’s worth mentioning that Carnival offers a wide range of excursion options tailored to suit various interests, activity levels, and budgets.
Step 4: Review excursion details and availability
It's a place to get together to talk, watch movies, play video games and take part in other activities. The quality of the food (and drink) on Carnival ships always surprises us, given the budget pricing of the brand. Despite being one of the industry's lowest-cost operators, Carnival manages to pull off one of the best steakhouses at sea in Fahrenheit 555, and even the no-extra-charge main restaurants get the basics right. Most of these six ships (all but Carnival Venezia) have an a la carte barbecue-and-beer joint called Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, too.
Night Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise
You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home. Others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time. For shore excursions that are not included in your cruise fare, budget a minimum of $50 per adult per excursion. There is no real upper limit as exclusive tours could cost thousands of dollars. It’s important to keep your confirmation email and tickets readily accessible throughout your cruise, as they serve as proof of your bookings and provide essential details for each excursion.
How to Get the Most From Your Shore Excursion: Pro Tips for Your Tour
By taking the time to research and consider these factors, you can ensure that you choose the right Carnival cruise excursions that align with your interests and expectations. Remember, the goal is to create unforgettable experiences and make the most of your time on shore. Be ready to dive in for some underwater adventures when your ship docks in Turks and Caicos. Local scuba diving operators offer boat dives that include wall dives and stunning reefs.
Onboard Experiences
Arriving in multiple ports you are unfamiliar with and expecting to find the best things to do would be challenging at best and disastrous at worst. In most cases, shore excursions give you access to something that might otherwise be hard to arrange on your own. Starting with signing in to your Carnival account, you can browse through the wide range of excursions available at each port of call. Take your time to review the excursion details, availability, and pricing to select the activities that align with your interests and preferences. It’s important to note that the payment for your Carnival excursions is typically processed at the time of booking. This ensures that your reservations are secure and that you can confidently plan your activities during the cruise.
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Paint Your Own Souvenir of Turks and Caicos
You'll receive a Sail & Sign card that you can use to make charges. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. All this said, we recommend checking Carnival's website before sailing for the very latest on requirements. Unlike some lines, Carnival has resisted the trend of big-ship operators carving out whole sections of deck-top areas for the exclusive use of passengers staying in suites or willing to pay hefty access fees. Meanwhile, for passengers hoping for quiet time away from the kids, many Carnival ships also have an adults-only Serenity retreat area on their top decks with padded loungers, daybeds, hot tubs and often a bar.
Note that Carnival's two oldest ships — those that are part of the 1990s-built Fantasy Class — have relatively few balcony cabins by today's standards. (After retrofitting, several have around 150 balcony cabins, out of a total of more than 1,000 cabins in all.) In part because of this, Carnival has been phasing these ships out of its fleet in recent years. Carnival vessels based on the East Coast and along the Gulf of Mexico mostly sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Some East Coast ships also head to Bermuda, New England and Canada.
First-Timers' Guide to Shore Excursions
Carnival has just begun operating its first truly giant ships in years, the 181,808-ton, 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 183,521-ton, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration. However, the line's next-biggest vessel, the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia, measures just 135,225 tons. That's about 40% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean. Indeed, if you're going on a Carnival cruise, the odds are you're driving to the ship, not flying, and you're probably not paying much more than you would for a trip to a local beach town. Our ships sail to stunning destinations — see just where on the map we go. Each of our ships is a unique experience — check the features and find out which ship is right for you.
Note that three of the line's newest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia — do not have launderettes. Carnival allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding plus up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas. The social and value plans cost $18 and $23 per day, respectively, when bought onboard a ship. While the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Camp Ocean until 1 a.m.
You'll also pay a premium for letting the cruise line arrange your day. Ship-arranged excursions also tend to have broad appeal, so if you're interests in a given port are more specific or niche, you may want something outside of the cruise line's offerings. Most ships have a shore excursion team through which you can get detailed information about the available tours and purchase excursions. During the checkout process, you may be prompted to provide additional information, such as guest details, special requests, or any dietary restrictions. It’s important to fill in these details accurately to facilitate a smooth and personalized excursion experience.
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You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience. Your cruise director or the daily newsletter will usually inform you if it's necessary to take your passport with you on a shore excursion. It’s also wise to take along the information provided by the ship about their agent in each port and the contact information for the local consulate. If you miss the ship’s departure, life will be easier with a passport. The same would be true if you are injured and unable to contact the ship.
Carnival is the undisputed leader among North America-based cruise brands when it comes to affordability, which makes it popular with vacationers on a budget. However, with two exceptions, they're not giants by today's standards. Carnival ships are all about fun in a very laid-back, unpretentious, nothing-too-fancy sort of way. Once you’ve successfully created your Carnival account, you can proceed to sign in using your registered email address and password.
