What I Wish I Knew Before I Sailed My First Carnival Cruise

I sailed my first Carnival cruise years ago, but it seems like it was yesterday when I took that trip aboard Carnival Valor.
My first cruise ever with Carnival was aboard Carnival Valor. Today, I’ve sailed many times and learned quite a few things about cruising with the line.
Since then, I’ve taken more trips on the cruise line, including the absolute first cruise back after the pause in sailing, which departed Galveston, Texas. And I’ve just visited the cruise line’s newest destination, Celebration Key, in The Bahamas.
Each time I sail, I learn something new about sailing on Carnival.
From things to know about the atmosphere onboard to how to save cash on wi-fi, there’s a lot you can learn before you sail Carnival. Hopefully these can make your first trip on the cruise line even better.
People Are Serious About Having Fun
The vibe and atmosphere on Carnival is just different than other lines. People are much more outgoing and ready to let loose than what we find on other cruises.
Let’s talk about the people on the ship. My first cruise ever was on Royal Caribbean. And to me there is a definite difference between a lot of the passengers you’ll find on Carnival and what you’ll find on other lines. (See our article on the differences between Carnival and Royal Caribbean here.)
Everyone on any cruise is going to be in a good mood, but it certainly feels like the average passenger on Carnival is much more serious about having fun. It’s hard to explain, but it’s just a vibe around the ship.
It starts with things like door decorations. I see way more of these on Carnival than other lines. And the general mood of people onboard is more outgoing and upbeat than what I feel I see elsewhere. Striking up a conversation with practically anyone is a cinch. You’ll see people dancing everywhere around the pool deck. Some of it caught me off-guard as I’m not a line dancer.
Carnival calls themselves the “Fun Ships,” and that’s not just some slogan. It seems like it’s a way of life onboard.
It’s Harder to Get Around the Ship
I’ve found that many ships are laid out to where it’s straightforward to get around the ship. There are usually paths that stretch the length of the ship through central areas.
With Carnival? Not so much. Every ship is different, but the ones I’ve sailed have always seemed much more chopped up. So instead of a nice clear way to get from “Point A” to “Point B,” it seems like it involves walking as far as you can in one direction, going up or down a floor, and then continuing on your way.
In fact, I’ve found that if you are at one end of the ship and want to get to the other end, it’s much simpler to find a deck that’s dedicated to cabins instead of public areas. These decks have long straight hallways that make it much simpler to traverse the length of the ship than the normal public-focused decks.
Carnival Is Tops For Included Food
In our book, the included food on Carnival takes top marks. Not only is it good, but you have a lot of options without having to shell out extra.
It used to be that you bought your cruise and anything you wanted to eat was included. These days cruise lines have implemented tons of specialty restaurants that cost extra to dine at. So you have some food that’s included, but the best options are typically an extra charge.
Carnival, however, is the tops among the major cruise lines when it comes to the number of free options you have around the ship. From Guy’s Burger Joint to BlueIguana Cantina and from the Carnival Deli to Big Chicken, you have way more options on Carnival than you do on other lines without spending extra. 
Guy’s Burger Joint Has Limited Hours
Guy’s Burger Joint is wildly popular, but it keeps limited hours. A visit when it opens at noon will likely mean a long line.
If you talk to anyone that sails on Carnival, the chances are good that somewhere along the way Guy’s Burger Joint will come up. For those that have not sailed, this is an included spot serving burgers and fries by the pool. What makes it stand out is that the burgers are out of this world. And — I’m not making this up — the secret ingredient is Velveeta cheese sauce. May sound a little weird, but it’s delicious.
You’ll notice that the spot gets super busy, especially on days at sea. One reason is that it keeps limited hours. On trips I’ve sailed, it’s open from 12-6 p.m. So if you have your mind set on a burger for dinner, then you need to eat early.
As well, if you’re wanting one around lunch time, then don’t be surprised if there are lines for the first hour or so of opening. If you can wait until mid-afternoon, there’s hardly a wait at all.
Most People Get a Free Bottle of Water (Take Advantage)
One thing I will never understand about cruising is why it’s so hard to get a drink of water. Typically your choices are to head all the way to the buffet or a bar to grab a drink or get it from the bathroom sink in the cabin. That just feels wrong.
You can also bring some with you when you board, but it needs to be in cans or cartons. You don’t often see water packaged like this. And even if you did, it means lugging around heavy water with you from home.
If you want something to drink, Carnival puts large 1.5 liter bottles of water in the room that are $5 a piece. Or you can get a 12-pack of water in your stateroom for $15 before you board.
If you’re a Red-level member of Carnival’s loyalty program (if you’ve ever taken a cruise with Carnival before, you are at least a Red member) you get a complimentary bottle of water. Just head to any bar and ask for it.
Be Ready for Drug-Sniffing Dogs
Carnival has implemented drug-sniffing dogs in terminals. Honestly, it’s not the most fun way to start a vacation.
Back when I took my first cruise with Carnival the laws around marijuana in the United States were much different than they are today.
Then, a few states had made the drug legal, but today roughly half the states have recreational use allowed. Still, it’s illegal at the federal level and with the ship traveling from country to country, it also has to consider foreign laws. To keep things simple, marijuana isn’t allowed on the ship.
What’s changed is that with legalization in many places there has been a bigger issue with people brining it on the shop. Now Carnival has drug-sniffing dogs at the terminal that search your person and luggage for any illegal substances. 
If found, you could face some problems. 
Carnival’s “Space Ratio” Means Ships Can Feel Crowded
The number of passengers to the size of the ship means that Carnival ships can feel more crowded than what you find on other lines.
Carnival packs a lot onto their ships. From bars to restaurants to even roller coasters, there’s a ton to see and do. But there are also a lot of people.
It’s not perfect, but we use a measure called the “space ratio” to estimate how much room there is per passenger. This takes the gross tonnage of the ship and divides it by the number of passengers at double occupancy. 
Most Carnival ships come in with a ratio of 33-38. For comparison, most Royal Caribbean ships come in with a ratio of 40-42, indicating more ship per passenger.
With the design and layout, we have noticed anecdotally that Carnival ships seem to simply feel more crowded as well.
You Can Switch Wi-Fi Connections Between Devices
These days staying connected is a part of life, even if you are on a ship in the middle of the ocean. And with Carnival you can stay connected, though access is expensive. It’s around $25 per day for one connection to the ship’s wi-fi. That means if you have multiple people in the cabin that want to connect, you’re going to pay even more to have more connections.
One feature of Carnival’s service, however, is that while you pay for one device to connect, you can actually switch between them. So you can login to the wi-fi with your phone and then later login on with your laptop. The only restriction is that you can’t login with two devices at once unless you pay for multiple connections.
As long as you don’t need to be constantly online, sharing a connection can save a ton.
The Lagoons on Celebration Key Aren’t Heated
Celebration Key is fantastic, but just know that the enormous pools aren’t heated if you go in the winter months.
Celebration Key is Carnival’s new private destination. Of course, it wasn’t open on my first cruise, but having recently visited, I spent a full day exploring and enjoying the spot.
There’s a lot to like, but one warning is that the massive lagoon pools there are not heated. Visit during the summer and that’s no big deal. But if you visit in the winter — even if the air temperature is warm — don’t be surprised if the pool is actually chilly. 
If you do want warm water, the ocean might actually be warmer during the winter months. Or you can check out the Pearl Cove Beach Club (which charges admission). It has a heated pool.
What Do You Wish You Knew?
I want to know what you wish that you knew before you sailed on Carnival. What surprised you? What didn’t you know? I’m asking because there are a lot of people reading this article who haven’t sailed the line before. If you share your experience, it could make someone’s cruise that much better.The post What I Wish I Knew Before I Sailed My First Carnival Cruise first appeared on Cruzely.com.
Appeared first on: Cruzely.com