Carnival Cruises

Top Reasons To Choose Carnival Cruises

• Carnival features financing that makes it easy to choose a cruise and pay for it over time.
• Family fun activities are regularly featured onboard and off-board ship.
• You can earn Carnival FunPoints when you use the brand's MasterCard, providing you with more savings for future sailings.
• You can have your choice of fine-dining venues – something for everyone, from burgers to Mexican specialties to Asian fare and delicious seafood and steaks, Carnival has your onboard dining preferences covered.
• You can choose from various accommodations, depending on your budget and preferences. Therefore, you can elect to stay in a cabin or a suite. In either, case your accommodation will be well-appointed and relaxing.
• Select from a variety of travel destinations and itineraries. You can conveniently plan your trip online and also book it, pay for it, or finance it at the same time.
• Carnival offers a loyalty program, called Very Important Fun Person (VFIP), which allows you to save even more on cruise travel.
• The cruise line makes booking a cruise simple and convenient. Select a cruise, based on the length of the trip, the destination, and travel availability. Everything can be managed online.
• You are not locked into one location, once you begin your Carnival cruise. You can visit 5 or more locations during your trip at one time. 
• Carnival offers a large number of fun activities onboard while you are traveling from one port to the next. You could say the ship can be likened to a floating city, as it features a host of fun activities, upscale dining venues, and entertainment offerings.
• The cruise brand really knows how to pack onboard entertainment on its ships. You can enjoy both daytime and nighttime activities for each day you are at sea. For example, you can visit the ship's SkyWalk amusement, enjoy a little pampering at the spa, shop onboard ship, lay out on the deck or by the pool, catch a movie at the IMAX, learn a new skill, or visit a casino.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carnival Cruises

• What trips does Carnival feature?

  Carnival features trips that, on average, last about 15 days. You can plan travel to a variety of destinations, such as Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Tahiti, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. You can also take a Transatlantic cruise if you want to spend most of your time at sea. 

• Are there trips Carnival does not offer?

  You cannot book a cruise to Antarctica nor book a world cruise on Carnival. The cruise line also does not feature travel to South America or Asia.

• Do minors receive a special travel discount?

  All guests, regardless of age, receive third- or fourth-person trip discounts.

• Are all meals provided for free?

  You can eat all your onboard meals and snacks for free. However, you may want to check out some of the cruise line's specialty restaurants too, which may cost extra.

• What drinks are included in the cruise fare price?

  You can drink non-bottled water, iced tea, lemonade, some coffees and teas, and hot chocolate free of charge. Drinks with alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, and specialty coffees can be consumed for an extra fee. You may want to consider Carnival's CHEERS! – an all-inclusive beverage plan, or Bottomless Bubbles, which offers an unlimited soda package. Either of these add-ons can be purchased after you create a cruise reservation.

• Are there restrictions to sailing on Carnival?

  Cruise travelers must be 21 years of age if they are traveling on their own. If a guest is under 21 years old, he or she must be accompanied by a guardian or relative at least 25 years old.

• What types of suites are available?

  You can choose from a junior suite with an obstructed view, an ocean suite, Cloud 9 suite, or grand suite. Suites provide accommodations for 3 or 4 guests, depending on your choice of an accommodation. Cloud 9 spa suites feature a whirlpool tub. All suites allow VIP check-in, so you can easily access your suite.

• What travel documents do I need for traveling to Europe?

  U.S. citizens must carry a U.S. passport that is good for travel six months past the year of the visit. Guests do not need to obtain a visa.

• What travel documents are required for domestic travel in the U.S.?

  A passport or passport card is required, or a state enhanced driver's license, can be used for cruises that begin and end in the U.S. If you travel to Canada, you must obtain a passport. Check with your travel agent or a carnival cruise representative, to make sure all your documentation is in order.

• What luggage can be brought onboard?

  Travel experts advise that luggage be limited to a maximum one bag per person if the cruise lasts from 3 to 5 days. For cruises of 6 days or longer, travelers should limit their luggage to two bags per person. In addition to luggage, cruise guests must have boarding documents ready, such as picture I.D. visa, or passport.

• What are the rules for checked baggage?

  Checked baggage service is available for 2 hours before the ship's scheduled sailing time. This information is printed on the traveler's cruise documentation. Guests who arrive after the 2-hour window must carry their bags onboard. Each piece of checked luggage cannot weigh over 50 pounds. When lying flat, bags should not be any more than 24 inches wide or 16 inches high. Luggage must be unlocked for security screening. 

• What are e-tags?

  Guests receive personalized luggage tags in their electronic documents, which are called e-tags. These tags are available as soon as online check-in has been completed. The tags do not need to be printed in color. 

• Should I attach my luggage tags before I arrive at the terminal?

  Carnival luggage tags must be attached to customer baggage before it arrives at the cruise terminal. Any additional tags can be obtained from the porter, at curbside. 

• What can be worn onboard ship in the daytime?

  Casual attire can be worn during the daytime hours in warmer weather. This apparel may include shorts, capris, tee shirts, polo shirts, khakis, jeans, summer dresses, lightweight jackets or sweaters, workout wear, and a bathing suit and cover-up. For cooler weather cruises, clothing should be layered, and include gloves and scarves. If you are a woman who plans to visit a religious site in Europe, you should cover your knees or shoulders. Comfortable footwear should be worn, especially shoes that features rubber soles or low or flat heels. Footwear that features wheels cannot be worn onboard ship. 

• What apparel or footwear is not allowed for a cruise casual dress code in the main dining area?

  Avoid wearing cut-off jeans. Also, men cannot wear sleeveless shirts basketball shorts, or baseball caps. The wearing of flip-flops is not permitted as well. Tee shirts and bathing attire cannot be worn in the dining area.

• What should be worn for formal evening dining?

  Men can wear dress slacks and dress shirts and a sports coat. They may also opt to wear a tuxedo or a suit and tie. Women can wear cocktail dresses, blouses and elegant skirts, and pantsuits. Wearing an evening gown is also acceptable. 

• Does the Carnival Cruise line feature a loyalty program for travelers?

  The Carnival Cruise line loyalty program is called Very Important Fun Person (VIFP), and allows you to earn points for sailing on Carnival. You are also privy to members-only special and exclusive cruise offers. You earn points every time you take a cruise vacation.

• What makes the Carnival Cruise Line stand out among the competition?

  Carnival Cruise Line is known as the "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line." The brand emphasizes that cruise-goers have fun on their cruise vacations, onboard, while in route, and off-board while exploring a cruise city destination. With the emphasis on "fun," taking a vacation on a Carnival Cruise ship is one trip you won't forget. The cruise line also guarantees the lowest rates and features value-added cruise offerings, which includes the use onboard credit during your Carnival cruise adventure.

Minimum Age Policy on Carnival Cruises

Minor Policy for Bookings Created on or After February 1, 2025

Guests must be 21 years or older on embarkation day to travel independently. Age verification will be conducted at embarkation. Failure to meet this requirement will result in denied boarding without compensation. For additional age restriction guidelines while onboard, click here.

Travel Requirements for Guests Under 21

• Guests 20 years of age and younger must travel with a relative or guardian who is at least 25 years old (legal guardianship is not required).
• Minors cannot be booked under TBA offers; stateroom numbers must be assigned at the time of booking.
• Guests 21 to 24 years old may travel with their minor children.

Stateroom Booking Guidelines for Minors

Guests 14 Years and Younger

• Must be booked in the same cabin or a connecting cabin with a relative or guardian (25+ years old).

Guests 15 – 17 Years Old

• Can be booked up to three staterooms away from a relative or guardian (25+ years old).
• Reservations must be linked as “Travel With” and cross-referenced.

Guests 18 – 20 Years Old

• Can book a stateroom in any location with no restrictions.
• Must have their reservation linked as “Travel With” a relative or guardian (25+ years old) and cross-referenced.

Specialty Stateroom Requirements

• Terrazza Staterooms: Minors must be 12 years or older to stay in these accommodations.
• Havana Staterooms & Suites: Minors must be 12 years or older to stay in these accommodations.

Minors Traveling Together or in Groups

• Standard minor booking policies apply.
• Groups of 8 or more staterooms must be booked through the Group Department.
• A $100 damage deposit per minor will be charged.
• Prepaid gratuities for each minor are due at final payment.

Traveling with a Minor (Parental/Guardian Documentation)

If traveling with a minor without one or both parents/legal guardians, it is strongly recommended to carry a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

• If a second parent has no legal claim (due to sole custody, deceased status, etc.), other documentation—such as a court order, death certificate, or a birth certificate listing only one parent—may be required.
• These documents will help expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security.

Exceptions for Guests Aged 18–20 Traveling Without a Guardian (25+)

Guests 18–20 years old may travel independently under the following conditions:

Legally Married Couples (Including Same-Gender Couples)

• Proper documentation must be presented at embarkation.
• Failure to provide documentation will result in denied boarding without compensation.
• Acceptable documentation includes:
  • Marriage license issued by the County Clerk’s Office.
  • Legal proof of civil union.
  • For newlyweds: Copy of the marriage license application or certificate signed by the officiant.

Qualified Military Personnel

• Applies to U.S. Military Personnel and Canadian National Defense Personnel (and their traveling companions in the same stateroom) who are 18–20 years old.
• Proof of service is required at embarkation.
• Failure to provide proper documentation will result in denied boarding without compensation.

Travel Protection Options on Carnival Cruises

Carnival wants you to have the best vacation ever, with nothing to think about except how much FUN you’re going to have. That’s why we created Carnival’s Cruise Vacation Protection. Carnival’s Cruise Vacation Protection package of benefits has been designed to give you the peace of mind that comes with having the following:

Cruise Vacation Protection Package of Benefits:

• Carnival Cancellation Fee Waiver Program – waives the non-refundable cancellation provision of your cruise Ticket Contract and pays you the value of the unused portion of your prepaid cruise vacation in the event that you or your traveling companion need to cancel your cruise vacation (for specified reasons). In addition, should you or your traveling companion need to cancel your cruise for “any other reason”, you may be eligible for cruise credits up to 75% of the non-refundable, prepaid cruise vacation cost. Brought to you by Carnival Cruise Line*.

• Carnival Travel Insurance Program – provides coverage for independently-booked air, accident and sickness medical benefits, evacuation, baggage protection and much more. Underwritten by Transamerica Casualty Insurance Company.

• CarefreeTM Worldwide Emergency Assistance Program – provides 24-hour assistance services including: pre-cruise health, safety and weather information; assistance with travel changes; lost luggage assistance; emergency cash transfer assistance; emergency medical and dental assistance; lost travel document assistance; and emergency medical payment assistance. Provided by On Call International.

We recommend adding Carnival’s Cruise Vacation Protection to your reservation, so that you can get back to the important planning decisions like what to pack!

Please note that payment of the required cruise deposit does not automatically activate enrollment in Carnival’s Cruise Vacation Protection. To activate enrollment, the appropriate program costs must be paid in addition to the required cruise deposit amount. Please keep these documents for your records.

Dining on Carnival Cruises

At time of booking, Carnival guests will be able to confirm their preferred dining choice. If their preference is not available, they may confirm an alternate choice and be waitlisted for their preferred choice. Waitlists will be cleared prior to the sailing and guests will be notified by email. Parties traveling together who are waitlisted will be cleared for the same dining time. Lunch and dinner are also available bistro-style on the Lido Deck. Spirit-class, Conquest-class, Carnival Splendor as well as the Dream-class ships have the added convenience of a reservations-recommended steakhouse (nominal $30 fee per person will apply).

By popular request, all dining rooms are now smoke-free.

Breakfast & Lunch

Breakfast: 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Lunch: Noon – 1:30 PM

For breakfast and lunch, the main dining rooms are organized as "open seating," where you may come and go as you please during the set hours and are not obligated to sit at your assigned table. Breakfast times vary by ship; the times above are provided as a general guideline. Please check your daily Capers for exact times. You can also enjoy a continental breakfast in your stateroom until 10:00 AM or a limited breakfast menu on deck.

Dinner

Early Seating: 6:00 PM

Late Seating: 8:15 PM

*Your Time: 5:45 to 9:30 PM

*Prefer a little flexibility? No reservations required. Your Time dining allows you to dine in the main dining room, at your leisure, anytime between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Guests are seated first-come, first-serve, depending on party size. In most cases, guests are accommodated within 20 minutes. However, pagers are provided if all tables are occupied so guests can relax elsewhere on the ship until their table is ready. Due to the limited number of large table availability, parties with greater than 10 guests may need to be accommodated at different tables.

Dining times are subject to change.

More Delicious Options

. Casual Dining
. Steakhouse Dining* (Available only on select ships)
. 24-Hour Stateroom Service
. Sushi Bar
. European-Style Cafe

Fuel Surcharge Policy on Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line has eliminated its fuel surcharge effective for all voyages. For all bookings within the final payment period, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit. For all bookings outside of the final payment period, the fuel supplement will be removed and guests will be provided with a revised final payment amount.

Carnival reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement of up to $9.00 per person per day, without prior notice, in the event that the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) is greater than $70.00 per barrel of oil. Carnival may collect any fuel supplement in effect at the time of sailing, even if the cruise fare has been paid in full.

Tipping Policy on Carnival Cruises

Gratuities & Service Recognition

It is customary for guests to show appreciation for our hardworking crew by extending gratuities. 100% of gratuities go directly to the shipboard team members who enhance your cruise experience, including stateroom attendants, dining and culinary staff, and other crew members working behind the scenes. To streamline this process and ensure fair distribution, gratuities are automatically applied to each guest’s account.

Recommended Gratuity Guidelines

• Standard Staterooms: $16.00 USD per person, per day
• Suite Staterooms: $18.00 USD per person, per day

How to Pay Gratuities

Pre-Paid Gratuities

• Can be added at the time of booking or any time before the sail date.
• Guests who booked directly with Carnival can add gratuities through Carnival.com.
• Guests who booked through a travel agent should contact their travel professional to add gratuities.
• Prepaid gratuities appear under the ‘Miscellaneous Charge’ field on the booking confirmation and guest e-documents.

Sail & Sign® Account

• If gratuities are not pre-paid, the recommended amount will be automatically posted to the guest’s Sail & Sign account on the second-to-last day of the cruise.
• Guests who have concerns about service may visit Guest Services while onboard to address them promptly.
• Gratuities can be adjusted at the guest’s discretion while still onboard. After disembarkation, gratuities will be considered final, and no changes can be made.

Additional Gratuity Information

• Gratuities apply to all guests except children under 2 years old.
• Gratuities apply regardless of dining preferences, including casual dining and open seating options.
• Beverage purchases include an 18% service charge.
• An 18% service charge applies to specialty dining reservations at Chef’s Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki as well as à la carte dining at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril’s Bistro, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, and Seafood Shack. Additional gratuities may be added at the guest’s discretion.
• Room service staff may be tipped at the guest’s discretion as service is provided.

Payments / Refunds on on Carnival Cruises

CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

General Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your booking before the final payment due date, there is no penalty unless your reservation was made under a promotion with a non-refundable deposit or non-refundable cruise fare.

• For cruises 5 days or less, the final payment is due 76 days prior to sailing.
• For cruises 6 days or more, the final payment is due 91 days prior to sailing.

Multiple Occupancy Cabins: If you booked a stateroom for multiple guests (e.g., 3, 4, or 5 persons), the cancellation charges apply to the entire cabin reservation, even if only one guest cancels. The same policy applies if all guest names were not provided at the time of booking.

Denied Embarkation: Guests denied boarding due to background checks or conduct-related reasons, as well as those booked in the same travel party as a denied guest, are subject to the standard cancellation penalties. Please refer to your Cruise Ticket Contract for more details.

Non-Refundable Promotions

Some promotional fares have non-refundable deposits and/or cruise fares, which will be penalized accordingly.

• Early Saver: Deposit is non-refundable at all times. Cancellations made before the final payment due date will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for the deposit amount, minus a $50 USD per person service fee. The FCC is non-transferable, must be used within 12 months, and can only be applied to a future cruise fare. Any unused portion will be forfeited.
• Super Saver: Deposit is non-refundable at all times.
• Pack & Go: 100% of the total fare is non-refundable after booking.

Cancellation Penalties

Once inside the cancellation penalty period, fees increase as the departure date approaches. The day of sailing is not included in the calculation:

• Final payment date – 56 days prior to sailing: Penalty equals the standard deposit amount.
• 55 – 30 days prior to sailing: Penalty is 50% of the Total Fare or the deposit amount, whichever is greater.
• 29 – 15 days prior to sailing: Penalty is 75% of the Total Fare or the deposit amount, whichever is greater.
• 14 days prior to sailing – departure day: Penalty is 100% of the Total Fare.

No refunds will be issued for no-shows or if you cancel after the cruise has begun.

What is Included in the Total Fare?

The Total Fare consists of:

• Cruise Charges: This includes the Cruise Fare (covering accommodations and standard dining) and Required Cruise Fees and Expenses (mandatory third-party fees).
• Fly2Fun Airfare: The Restricted Air option is non-refundable at booking, while Flexible Air is refundable outside of 60 days before sailing (with penalties for changes within 60 days).
• Government Taxes & Fees, and Prepaid Gratuities: These are refunded in the event of cancellation.

Checking Your Cancellation Penalty

• For direct bookings with Carnival: Log in to your Carnival.com profile, navigate to ‘My Cruise Details’, and click ‘Is there a penalty for canceling this booking?’
• For travel agent bookings: Contact your travel advisor directly to check applicable cancellation fees.

Smoking Policy on Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line is committed to ensuring the safety of all guests and crew while providing a fun and memorable vacation experience.

Smoking Policy

Smoking poses a fire and safety risk aboard the ship and is therefore restricted to designated outdoor deck areas. All guests must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Staterooms, suites, and balconies are strictly non-smoking. This includes all forms of smoking, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, and marijuana.
• While some destinations may allow marijuana use, Carnival Cruise Line complies with U.S. federal law, which prohibits the possession and use of recreational or medicinal marijuana and other controlled substances.
• Violations of this policy will result in a $500 fine per offense, charged to the guest’s Sail & Sign® account. Additionally, guests who violate the policy may be disembarked, with no refund for the unused portion of their cruise. They will also be responsible for any travel expenses incurred and may be prohibited from sailing with Carnival in the future.

Casino Smoking Rules

• Smoking is permitted only while seated and actively playing in the casino.
• Smoking is not allowed at the casino bar or in the casino when it is closed.

Additional Information

• The full smoking policy is outlined in Carnival’s Cruise Ticket Contract. Guests can refer to the contract for ship-specific smoking areas.
• In accordance with U.S. federal law, the minimum age to purchase tobacco products is 21 on all U.S.-based ships and itineraries.