Key Aspects:
- Carnival’s text alerts are a great way to stay informed on your sailing and make sure you don’t miss important updates from the cruise line.
- This is especially important during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but delays, changes, and cancellations can and do occur year-round.
- Guests with US mobile numbers can sign up for this feature during Carnival’s online-check in process.
I don’t know about you, but I am a cruiser who always wants to be in control. For my sanity, I need to stay in the loop and want to be among the first to know about potential itinerary changes.
When sailing with Carnival Cruise Line, the best way to do this is to sign up for text alerts during the online check-in process.
Guests who opt in to this useful feature will receive text notifications to their phones in the event of an itinerary change, delay, or cruise cancellation.
While Carnival does also send out email updates before passengers are onboard, the texts are usually seen sooner and help to ensure that you don’t accidentally miss an important message.
Once onboard, Carnival will also update guests with letters delivered to their cruise cabins and/or by making announcements through the PA system.
During the unpredictable Hurricane Season, which will remain active through November 30, 2025, it’s more important than ever to be on the lookout for potential cruise disruptions.
Multiple Carnival cruise ships bound for the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda have already been rerouted due to recent storms and hurricanes, which, again, highlights the importance of these text alerts.
So far, this season has seen 11 named storms form, four of which became major hurricanes.
But there could still be an uptick in activity through the end of the season, as historically, October is one of the most active months for stormy weather.
And per historical data from the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) and the National Weather Service in Miami, the majority of hurricanes that make landfall in areas like South Florida occur after the season’s peak – which is on or around September 10.
Notably, South Florida is home to major cruise ports like PortMiami and Fort Lauderdale.
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Not Just About Weather
As we are in the middle of the 2025 hurricane season, stormy weather is naturally top-of-mind when thinking about possible disruptions to cruising.
However, Carnival’s text alerts aren’t just meant to provide an extra form of communication during this one season.
Instead, the text alerts are available year-round to provide updates on delays, early arrivals, or cancellations related to other issues as well.
For example, a ship that is experiencing propulsion issues might be delayed returning to its homeport, which leads to delays in disembarkation and embarkation for the subsequent sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line Text Alerts (Photo Credit: Amy Sweezey)
“Carnival’s mobile travel alert service provides our guests with timely and important information or updates regarding their cruise (not to exceed ten text messages),” Carnival’s website states.
“Alerts may include changes affecting your ship’s arrival and departure time on the day of embarkation,” it continues.
Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise
Unfortunately for international guests, this service is currently only available to guests with US cellphone numbers.
Guests who do have a US phone number are able to sign up for Carnival’s text alerts during the online check-in process, which can be completed from 14 days before embarkation day and until midnight EST on the day before departure.
There will be a question asking if you want to opt in for text alerts. All you have to do is click on the box that confirms your answer is “yes.” In my experience, the button has said “get started.”
You will then be taken to a page where you can enter your cellphone number. Hit “save & continue” once done, and the whole process is complete in less than a minute.
Carnival will not charge you to send text alerts, but you may incur fees from your cellular provider depending on your plan and if you have purchased a Carnival internet package or not.
And if you sign up for alerts and then change your mind, it’s easy to opt back out as well – although I would personally never say no to more information!
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
