r/CarnivalCruiseFans

Had a death in the family. My husband and I were booked to cruise next week (8/29 out of Miami) but my minor son's father died unexpectedly on 8/2. We started reaching out regarding our booking the same week. My son's father lived with us, I know it's a strange situation but it worked for us to lower living costs and co-parent.

Due to the school calendar and the unexpected death, I had no one to stay with my minor child and the date would not work to add my son to the sailing, which by the way, would be really soon given his DAD JUST PASSED AWAY.

What I was hoping for: Change dates and keep the booking (we honestly preferred this option and would have likely picked a more expensive cruise + added my son for his fall break) or receive a full refund so we could use those funds to book with Carnival at a later date when everything settled down some and all of the final expenses were paid for, because I'm the one handling the estate.

I really wanted to continue to sail with Carnival but given the lack of compassion from the review team I'll be picking another cruise line to be loyal to. The only option presented to us was add my son and get a referral for truancy (given the dates and school calendar) or lose almost $700 by canceling with penalty on top of the loss of family. Horrible experience.

I made a casino offer booking that requires me to buy/pay for $200 in OBC. Is it true that you can't use the OBC for prepaid gratuities? That's what I'd normally use some of it for, but if you can't use it that way, is it best not to pay the gratuities in advance and just let them accrue on a daily basis and use the OBC to cover them that way?

Does anyone know which SELECT ships and trips that elegant night will be replaced with white night? Anyone who has come back from a cruise recently?

I was excited to take my in laws cruising for the first time but am a little sad that these experiences might not be offered on our particular cruise.

Source: it’s stated on the help carnival page official website for select short voyage ships! I’m new to Reddit so I’m sorry I didn’t post all the source of discussions and link originally! http://help.carnival.com under what to wear~

Planning on going on a ship soon. I’ve been seeing that employees don’t actually get the gratuities. I was wondering can I opt out of gratuities at the beginning or is it just at the end that I have to do it. I plan on bringing a lot of cash for tipping cause I rather give people who help me tips directly.

Edit
Guys I’m not actually removing the gratuities just asking a question because of things ive heard. Ive never booked a cruise myself. I am more than happy to pay/prepay the gratuity. Stop implying that im scum on earth for asking a question lmaooo 😭

does anyone know how often groupon does the carnival giftcards?

saw them on sale about a month ago and forgot to get them.

now hoping they'll be back in time for our cruise in november

Recently got off Carnival Firenze, quick Friday to Monday Ensenada trip. Our (me, my daughter, and her friend) room was on deck 5, the Terrezza deck so we had access to the private jacuzzi’s, etc. We never used our room towels, just got them from the stack on the deck. I used a robe once but left it hanging in the bathroom.

Issue: Never received our final sign & sail invoice so I checked my credit card statement and noticed almost $200 more charged than I was expecting. I went to the carnival site and pulled my final S&S invoice - sure enough, they had charged me over $190 for “robe, towels, and books” 🫪 Whhaatt?? Searched online for a number to call - called the number I found but there was not an option to speak to someone about a bogus charge. So I used their online form as it directed me to - and was told I may hear back in 10 days via email 😑 Seems like they charged it after the cruise was over, like after cleaning the room maybe? So I don’t think even if I had received a S&S invoice the night before it would have been on there yet.

Anyone have any luck fighting these incorrect charges after the fact? Know of a number where I can speak to a person? Any other helpful info is much appreciated!

I would appreciate input from fellow cruisers about the port out of Miami.. We are planning on flying into the Miami airport and take a taxi to the hotel.
That is my question, experiences on where to stay close to the port. Then take a taxi to the port for the cruise. Thanks.

So I have my cruise coming up but don’t want to pay for the WIFI package. We have a really good roaming plan through our provider, just wondering how that works with the cruise? Do I have to be in airplane mode at all times? Looking for some guidance as we don’t plan on living in our phones but love to scroll on TikTok at bed time.

Got off the Mardi Gras last Saturday and going on another cruise soon. I always bring cash and tip a dollar a drink and a few more on the last night. I’ve always ended up with one main guy or gal who really takes care of me.

I always assumed cash was the best but my waiter on the Mardi Gras said it was better to sign the tip on the phone and he said tbey split the cash tips but don’t share the charged ones. I thought it was the opposite. Can anyone clarify?

Hello! I’m sailing on the Venezia early next year, we’re going with another family under a different reservation. I see them listed as my cruise companion however when I go to book a specialty dining reservation I don’t see them listed.
Should they book a separate reservation at the same time & when we get there ask to combine or what is the best way to do this?

https://preview.redd.it/prj63d4ef9kh1.jpg?width=694&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2616a8d82c8a2662ce149ec14688dbf92bcb4e6a

I received about 900 points a couple weeks ago. Today I got this offer. Have to book by 8/31 and most seem to be in Sept/Oct. I looked at one 4 night Mexico where I would save $144 on an Oceanview, $200 OBC, and the drinks. I'm wondering if this will be it or can I expect more to come?

I'm a rather shy girl and a bigger girl so I'm very shy and thought there would be a Reddit to find friends on a cruise. But it seems there's only nsfw stuff. I'm with my family and this is my first cruise being 21. I don't mind the bars but doing it alone and not wanting to just hang with my parents or younger siblings makes it so hard..

The last time I was on a cruise I couldn’t play because I was underage. I’m planning on going on one and was wondering if they had UTH on the floor. I’m not a blackjack fan at all. Thanks guys. Also if you have any hacks or tips I should know about lemme know

The Carnival Rewards program will launch in just two weeks! In preparation for the transition, be sure to verify your Carnival Rewards enrollment status.

Guests will not be automatically enrolled in Carnival Rewards. In order to have your VIFP status and cruise days roll over, along with the ability to earn points and stars with the new system, you must opt-in to Carnival Rewards. You can opt-in here or by clicking on the banner at the top of your screen when you log into your Carnival account.

Even if you have gone through the process of opting in and have a confirmation email, you should still take a minute to verify your enrollment. If your VIFP number starts with zeroes (e.g., 0012345678) do not include them in the field (just type 12345678).

You’ll either get:

> congrats!

> You are fully enrolled in Carnival Rewards as of [date]

> This means your VIFP status and days sailed will now carry over into Carnival Rewards™ and you'll enjoy exciting new rewards and benefits launching September 1, 2026.

or

> We don't see an enrollment for you. If you've recently opted in, it may take up to 48 hours for your info to show up in our system, keep an eye on your email for your enrollment confirmation or check back in a few days.

Just a quick reminder....either use your American Express Platinum to book your cruises or make sure to buy travel insurance. I know a person who was on the cruise in Jan 2025 when fell ill, ship had to divert to Puerto Rico due to critical condition, didnt make it....if you research the complications of that scenario of having to retrieve unfortunately from another jurisdiction.....it could be even more devastating and costly to a family. Trip interrruption or having to be let off at a different spot, those things are covered under your American Express card. If you dont have one GET a 3rd party insurance company for travel. If you have family members going and you want to protect them as well.....GET 3rd party insurance for each cabin and make sure you insure the children too. I cant express how important this is to anyone. Please do this for yourself and your family. It really is not that much more other to have peace of mind knowing things can and do happen unfortunately BUT in doing this you are covering aspects of something you never expect to happen.

My parents bought themselves, me, and my friend tickets for the Carnival Sunshine cruise. My parents don't drink very much but my friend and I plan on having some drinks, however, I don't want to charge the drinks to my parents credit card for the week. Is there a way my friend and I can have our own credit cards charged for the drinks we buy on the cruise throughout the week?

hello everybody !! I've been going on cruises my whole life but havent been in a long time, and in that time, ive become an adult.

now I have my first cruise as an adult lined up for december, and im wondering if anybody has recommendations for drinks that will get me tipsy, but wont taste disgusting. im a naturally nervous and shy person, so I like to be tipsy or drunk so I can enjoy myself without worries, but Im a picky person who doesnt like the taste of wines, beers, or other alcohols. for most parties, i drink cruisers or hard rated, no clue if they have those on carnival. my favourite flavours are passionfruit, lemon, lime, pineapple, cola, stuff like that.

if it helps, im just going on a simple carnival adventure cruise, 5 days, with one friend. im pretty small so it doesn't take a lot to get me drunk. I have zero experience with mixed drinks or cocktails since I stick so closely to the drinks that are familiar and safe to me, so reading the bar menus does nothing for me as ive never tried them 😭💔

edit: for everyone's information, my cruise unfortunately does NOT have the alchemy bar !!