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How early do you need to arrive for Carnival cruise?

Please note that all guests should arrive 60 minutes before their check-in-time in order to guarantee a smooth procedure. Please enter the data of your passport online no later than 24 hours before departure.



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Guest are required to provide us with check-in information by completing their Online Check-in and selecting their Arrival Appointment, within 14 days prior to sailing and no later than midnight (eastern time) prior to the sailing date.

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Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than one to two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening.

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What do you wear on embarkation day? Comfort is key on embarkation day, and it's okay to keep it casual on the first day of your cruise. Many people wear bathing suits underneath their clothes or pack their suit in their carry-on so they can head to the pool right away.

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For consecutive sailings, guests of drinking age are allowed to bring one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing. Additional bottles will be stored by the ship and delivered, one bottle at a time, to the stateroom on the first day of each new voyage.

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It all depends on which cruise line you are sailing with and how busy the terminal is. Boarding will continue up until one to two hours before the scheduled departure time. If you arrive at the terminal a few minutes before the ship's departure, you will not be allowed on.

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Arriving at the terminal early means that you will not have to deal with the later crowds. While the check-in process is pretty straightforward, there are a couple steps that you have to take prior to being let on the ship, including checking your travel documents and going through security.

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Staterooms are typically ready around 1:30 p.m. on the day of your voyage. Luggage may not arrive for a few hours afterward, so I recommend that you bring a swimsuit and coverup in a carry-on bag if you'd like to enjoy the pools onboard shortly after boarding.

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In general, expect to spend about 15 minutes on the boarding process if lines are short (usually when boarding later), or at most about 45-60 minutes if lines are long (usually when boarding earlier). When you arrive to the cruise port can make a big difference in how long you'll wait to board.

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Depending on arrival patterns, seats will be available on a first come, first served basis. Regardless of seating location, Priority guests will still be able to take advantage of Priority boarding. Once on board, if staterooms are not ready, Priority guests will be permitted to drop off luggage in their stateroom.

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All guests must present their passport (or government issued photo ID for domestic cruises), visas (if applicable) and their boarding pass. It is also recommended that you carry any medication that you may need with you in your carry on. Final check-in will conclude one hour before sailing.

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Sail & Sign® is Carnival's cashless on board credit program, which allows guests to charge onboard purchases and gratuities directly to a personal account for convenience. The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for all money transactions on board as cash will not be an accepted form of payment.

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Here's our list of 15 ways you can board your cruise ship faster.
  1. Book a suite. ...
  2. Earn loyalty status. ...
  3. Pay for exclusive access. ...
  4. Fly in the day before. ...
  5. Stay close to the port. ...
  6. Leave luggage with porters. ...
  7. Have luggage tags ready to go. ...
  8. Book a private transfer.


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What to Do If You Miss the Ship
  1. Find a port agent. Most cruise lines have port agents stationed in the port area to assist if your ship has left without you. ...
  2. Make phone calls. ...
  3. Make travel arrangements. ...
  4. Retrieve your belongings. ...
  5. Try to relax.


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If you are running late, the ship will not wait for you like it would if you were with a cruise line tour. Once the ship's crew realizes you have are not onboard, they will enter your cabin and remove certain personal belongings, like your passport, and leave them with the port agents on land.

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The simple answer is yes, you can bring snacks on a Carnival cruise.

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Jeans and baseball caps are not allowed in the restaurants for dinner. On informal nights, jackets (ties optional) for men are recommended, while women can opt for dresses or pantsuits. Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men and gowns or cocktail dresses for women are suggested for formal nights.

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We always eat lunch at the MDR on embarkation day, and never once has anyone on the crew encouraged us to do anything different.

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