You’ve booked your perfect cruise, chosen the ideal cabin, and are now dreaming of partying till late, sipping frozen margaritas, and enjoying delicious food. But what you do after booking and before boarding can make or break the cruise experience. One wrong move, and you’ll be fighting the buffet line while others are poolside with a drink.
Carnival knows how to bring the fun—loud shows, big flavors, and nonstop energy. But I learned the hard way that booking the cruise is just step one. A few early mistakes wrecked my first day. It didn’t take long to figure out smarter moves that completely changed the vibe.
If you want to cruise smarter—not stumble through the stuff I did—keep reading. These tips saved my time, my budget, and my sanity. I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.
7 Big Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
I thought I had it all figured out—until I didn’t. These mistakes cost me time, money, and way too much patience. Learn from my blunders so you can cruise like a pro from day one.
I Forgot to Download the Carnival Hub App—and Regretted It on Day One
On my first cruise, I figured that I’d download the cruise app once at the terminal or onboard. Big mistake. First, the signal was patchy at best, and it took ages to install. By the time I did, I’d missed booking the comedy show I wanted and didn’t have a clue where anything was.
Here’s the thing: Carnival Hub isn’t optional—it’s how you check the daily schedule, showtimes, menus, and book activities. A guy in my Facebook group says it’s the first thing he downloads, and I do the same.
I Waited Too Long—and Missed the Best Shore Excursions
Waiting until the last minute to book shore excursions is a classic rookie mistake that I made. By the time I checked the available Carnival excursions on my Caribbean cruise, the SeaTrek Helmet Dive in Aruba and the Best of Bonaire tours were fully booked. I ended up wandering around Oranjestad without a plan.
That’s when I regretted not checking out the Carnival website FAQs—it clearly says to book shore excursions in advance to avoid disappointment when on board.
Now, I research each port early and lock in my top pick. If you wait, you’re stuck with the leftovers—or worse, nothing worth doing at all.
I Forgot to Track Price Drops—And Paid Way More Than I Had To
I booked early and never looked back—until someone in a Cruise Critic forum said they saved $200 by rechecking fares. I didn’t even know Carnival lets you claim onboard credit or a price adjustment if the fare drops before the final payment. By the time I checked, it was too late.
I discovered that it’s usually cheaper to book a cruise through a travel agent. They track prices regularly and can rebook at a lower sticker price if they drop. Some cruisers who book their own cruises check weekly and call the cruise line the minute the fare drops. It’s easy money if you’re paying attention—and a painful lesson if you’re not.
I Packed for a Month. Guess What? I Still Missed the Important Stuff
I made the number one cruise mistake on my first sailing—overpacking. My luggage was stuffed, yet I still forgot sunscreen, a cruise-friendly power strip, and motion sickness bands. In the end, I paid over-the-top cruise prices for basics I could have grabbed at Target.
One cruiser on Reddit joked that they bring less and less each cruise and do better every time. After reading countless comments on Cruise Critic, I came up with the ultimate checklist that helps me pack smarter, not bigger. Of course, Carnival cabins aren’t roomy, and clutter builds up fast.
To avoid making this mistake, check out my 30 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make, or if you have a minimalist mindset, here’s my Packing List for a 7-Day Cruise with just a Carry-On.
I Could’ve Had Free Booze—If I’d Known Carnival’s BYO Rule
I didn’t realize that Carnival allows passengers to bring a bottle of wine or champagne on board on embarkation day. I ended up paying around $40 for a bottle of red wine that I could have picked up locally for $10. Now, I always have a bottle of sparkling wine in my carry-on to toast with on sailaway from my balcony.
Many seasoned cruisers say bringing your own wine or beer on board is the “easiest money-saving move you’ll miss if you don’t read the fine print.” For the rest of the cruise, check out my Big Drink Package Mistakes to decide if you need an expensive upgrade. You might also be interested in why Carnival cruisers are ditching the drinks package.
I Missed Early Check-In—And Got a Lousy Arrival Time
I figured I’d leave check-in until a few days before embarkation. No rush, right? Turns out, boarding times fill up fast—and I was stuck in the last group. By the time I got onboard, half the ship had already hit the pool, grabbed drinks, and unpacked. I spent my first hour sweating in a terminal line, annoyed and hungry.
Cruisers in Reddit threads and Carnival Facebook groups swear by setting an alarm the moment check-in opens. Early boarding means first dibs on lunch, pool chairs, and even cabin access. Don’t wait. Grab the earliest time you can and start your cruise off relaxed, not frazzled.
I Blew My Budget on Day Two (Thanks to Zero Planning)
Oh, the excitement of being on a cruise ship. So, it’s no wonder that it’s easy for your cruise vacation budget to sink faster than the ship’s anchor. Between drinks, souvenirs, and a spur-of-the-moment spa treatment, my onboard balance ballooned before I hit mid-cruise. I never realized how fast payments and gratuities rack up.
It’s a common thread on Cruise Critic and Reddit—the Sail & Sign card makes it all too easy to overspend. Now, I treat it like a prepaid card—set a daily budget, check the app each night, and I’m much stricter with impulse buying unless I’ve got some budget left over.
13 Smart Moves That Made Up for It
Thankfully, my first few cruises weren’t all rough sailing. After reading countless threads on Reddit and comments on Cruise Critic, I was well prepared for my first sailing. I also picked up other tips along the way, some of which resulted from trial and error.
I Paid for Faster to the Fun—and It Was Worth Every Penny
At first, I was hesitant about Carnival’s Faster to the Fun (FTTF)—around $150 for a 7-day cruise. But I decided to splurge and never regretted it. Skip the check-in line, get straight to your cabin, priority tendering on Carnival excursions, and priority dining reservations.
Many Carnival cruisers rave about FTTF because of its convenience. As for me? I hate standing in line, so I definitely think it’s worth it.
But I’ve also read comments from other passengers who don’t think it’s worth the cost. Either they aren’t bothered about priority boarding or cruise itineraries that don’t include tendering ports.
I Built in Buffer Days—And Thanked Myself When Flights Got Delayed
I used to fly in the morning of the cruise—until a delayed connection nearly made me miss the ship. Now, I always fly the day before, enjoy exploring the city, and then take a relaxed journey to the cruise terminal the next day. Same for the return journey—a post-cruise hotel, just in case of delays.
Cruisers on Reddit call flying in the same day as “playing roulette with your vacation.” Flight delays, lost luggage, or bad traffic can wreck your trip before it starts. If you’re not willing to stump up for the hotel stay, consider booking flights through Carnival’s Fly2Fun Air Program—you’re guaranteed not to miss the ship’s departure.
I Printed My Boarding Pass and Brought Paper Copies—Because WiFi Fails and Phones Die
Carnival accepts printed boarding passes, even though other cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have mobile boarding passes. So I was always—and still am—in the habit of printing hard copies of everything. I’ve watched people at the terminal panic as their phone froze, the battery died, or the app refused to load. Don’t be one of them!
For me, the printed boarding pass is one of the downsides of cruising with Carnival. If you don’t have a printer, you can get it printed at the cruise terminal. But you’re only adding to the mountain of things to remember before embarkation.
Carnival’s website says that you can “show the boarding pass on your mobile phone.” However, most cruisers recommend always having a hard copy of all documents to cut down on stress.
I Packed a Day-One Carry-On—and Hit the Pool While Others Waited
I always pack a smart carry-on bag to maximize the first few hours on board. I pack sunscreen, essential meds, a swimsuit, and a hat and head straight for the pool while everyone else is in jeans. Remember, your luggage can take several hours to arrive at your cabin.
Paying for FTTF means you can leave your carry-on in your cabin even before it’s ready. So, there’s no point delaying the fun on Carnival. A well-packed carry-on means you can start your vacation as soon as you step on board.
I Prepaid Gratuities and Perks—and Dodged Last-Minute Charges
Any experienced cruiser will say that paying for gratuities, WiFi, specialty dining, and other onboard perks is cheaper before you board. After my first cruise, I got into the habit of booking and prepaying for everything I could. It’s also less to stress over later.
One advantage is that prepaying helps with budgeting. There are no nasty surprises on the final bill, and you will have fewer regrets about budgeting for your cruise.
I Alerted My Bank—So My Card Didn’t Get Declined in Foreign Ports
I only realized that informing your bank about your vacation was a smart move when my credit card was blocked for “suspicious activity.” This oversight totally ruined my port day in San Juan when I tried to pay for lunch. Fortunately, I had enough cash on hand to pay the bill.
The simple fix is to call your bank before sailing and let them know you’ll be traveling to various countries. After my experience, I discovered that it happens all the time, especially in Mexico and the Caribbean. A quick five-minute call can save a lot of hassle at a checkout counter where the seller doesn’t speak your language.
I Studied Cruise Forums—and Found Gold (and a Few Scares)
One of the best tips if you’re planning a cruise is to read as much information on forums as you can.
One cruiser described it as “falling down a Cruise Critic rabbit hole.” If you join a Facebook group or roll call, you’ll get tips on the best cabins, onboard experiences, what’s hot and what’s not in the Main Dining Room, and places to avoid on the ship. Invaluable info!
I Packed the Essentials All Experienced Cruisers Recommend
I never realized how much difference a few $5 gadgets can make to the cruise experience. Think magnetic hooks, a USB hub, an over-the-door organizer, a highlighter for the Fun Times schedule, a clothesline, and travel-sized laundry detergent. Now, I never step onboard without these cabin essentials.
Most of the cabin cruise hacks I got were from forum threads where cruise experts listed their essential items. One passenger swore by a $10 fan, another never sails without a motion sensor nightlight, and one passenger said a sunrise alarm clock is a game-changer for inside cabins.
Thanks to the advice and tips I’ve picked up over the years, I’ve created a list of 40 must-have cruise essentials that are often overlooked.
I Dodged the Day-One Buffet Chaos—And Ate Like a King Instead
I never head to the buffet or Guy’s Burger Joint on embarkation day as it’s pure chaos. You’ll waste an hour or so standing in line when you could be chilling at the pool. The best advice is to snag a first-day deal at a specialty restaurant or head to the Main Dining Room.
I Watched Cabin Tours—and Picked a Room I Actually Loved
Take it from me—your cabin choice on Carnival can make or break the cruise experience. Don’t make the mistake of picking any stateroom without considering the location and layout. I’ve found it invaluable to study deck plans, search YouTube videos, and ask questions on Cruise Critic about specific cabins.
The general online consensus is that the worst cabins are close to noisy locations—entertainment venues, under the pool deck or buffet, or beside high-traffic zones. A little research can save you from sleepless nights.
Read my article to discover the Best and Worst Carnival Cruise Cabins.
I Found My People on Cruise Critic Before I Even Boarded
A game changer for me before boarding was to join a Roll Call on Cruise Critic for my specific cruise. I was able to make friends with fellow cruisers who’d be on the same ship as me. I got great tips on excursions and tagged along on privately-organized shore excursions. By the time I boarded, it felt like I already knew half the ship.
Roll Calls and Facebook groups are where the real insider planning happens. Cruisers share cabin hacks, port warnings, and even cocktail meetups. If you like a little pre-cruise socializing, this is where the magic starts.
I Kept Tabs on My Onboard Account—and Caught a Sneaky Charge
Midway through my cruise, I spotted a $37 onboard expense that didn’t look right. Turns out it was a mix-up at one of the bars. If I hadn’t checked my account that night, I might’ve missed it entirely. Guest Services fixed it fast—but only because I caught it early.
Plenty of cruisers say they check their Sail & Sign account daily for the same reason. Small errors happen more often than you’d think. A quick look each evening can save you from surprises—and arguments—on debarkation day.
I Showed Up Early to Every Show—and Scored the Best Seats Every Time
After squeezing into a back-row seat at the theater one night, I changed my strategy fast. From then on, I arrived 30 to 40 minutes early, grabbed a great spot, and actually enjoyed the shows without neck craning or awkward view-blockers.
Carnival shows fill up fast—especially comedy and Playlist Productions. On forums, cruisers say the best seats can be gone 60 minutes before curtain. Some even bring a drink and treat it like pre-show entertainment. Trust me, early birds don’t just get the seat—they get the whole experience.
No More Guesswork—Just Smooth Sailing on Carnival Ships
Carnival cruises are built for fun. But to get the most out of your cruise, making the right moves before sailing is vital. The best tip? Don’t leave things until the last minute. Book and prepay for shore excursions, gratuities, and specialty dining as soon as possible—at the time of booking if you can. Then, you can enjoy what Carnival does best: good food, high-energy parties, and high laughs.
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