What's included on Carnival Cruises?

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Enrique B

Carnival's policies are very similar to all the other mass market lines (Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity, etc.).

To answer your specific questions:
Alcoholic drinks are not included; neither are sodas. Water and a few other options are available and included.
Entertainment: Most are included, including production-type shows. Some activities will have a nominal fee (like bingo, wine tastings, etc.).
Tipping is suggested at $10 per night per person. Not only is it suggested, but it is charged to your on board account. You can modify the amount at the end of the cruise if you wish, but most people give at least the recommended amount. Once you're on the cruise you'll understand why.

Please let me know if you have any more questions that I can answer for you.

Julie T

Some of the other costs that are not included in most of the quotes you get on the web:

- Port fees and taxes. Will add $75-100 bucks per person. Be sure to ask you travel agent up front about these fees.

- Tips. $10/per day/per person. So $50 per person for a 5-day cruise, $70 per person for a 7-day cruise. Carnival charges your on-board account for tips the moment you board.

- Sodas. By the can, $1.75 or a Soda Fountain Card. $35-45 per person for the week. If you are a soda drinker and I am...this pays for itself.

- Gourmet offee and specialty sweets. Concept like StarBucks but not as good.

- Shore excursions. $50-200 per person per excursion. Totally optional. There is some neat things to do in each port or you can just grab a cab and ask to go to the free beach.

- Gambling in the casino, bingo and raffle cards.

- Spa services - $50-200.

- Bar drinks - $5-12.00

- Temporary tatoos - $7.50 - 23.00

- Photographs - $22.00 per sheet

What is included...
- cabin
- Meals in dining room and buffet
- Lido deck grill
- Room service (does not include soda, you still have to pay)
- 24x7 pizzeria
- 24x7 ice cream
- Shows in theater including musical, comedy, magic
- Discos

Our family prefers cruising because we have access to so many things that everyone can do their own thing and I am not constantly pulling out cash all week long.

To help manage you vacation budget, set up your on-board account with a cash deposit instead of a credit card. Carnival will suspend your charge privledges when you reach your limit. You can add more cash or stop spending. That way, you don't have sticker shock on the last day of the cruise about how much you spent on "extras".

Bill in Kansas

11 Cruises completed and #12 this August on Carnival Conquest....

Your cruise price includes:

Room
All the food you can eat (except private supper club)
All the water, OJ, Iced Tea, and Coffee you want
Your onboard entertainment (except gambling)
Free room service 24hrs

Alcohol has to be purchased
Soda Pop has to be purchased
Shore excursions cost extra

Tipping (not a city in China)
Carnival suggests $10 per guest per day
Alcohol -- tip is auto added to drinks

troubador77

Hey Phil, I really don't have anything to add to your answers, except that I wouldn't classify Carnvial as the McDonald's of the Seas. We're planning our 5th cruise with them, and as far as I'm concerned they give you the best bang for your bucks.

syndyanne

Yes, you do have to pay for drinks except for coffee, tea or juice. You do not have to pay for entertainment while on the ship except for gambling. There are many bars that have live music every night and then they have comedians and plays in the main theatre on most nights. You have to tip $10.00 a day per person but that includes everyone including your steward. You can pay the total for the cruise on the last day.
What happens is you give them a credit card or put a deposit down and they give you what is called a Sail & Sea card. You use this card for everything. It is your I.D. to get on an off the ship and to pay for everything from drinks, gambling, gifts etc.
All meals are included in the price of the cruise.

BabeHeart

Most of that info is available on their website, but you have to dig. I've been on 2 Carnvial cruises.

Drinks: Tea, coffee, juice, water are free (covered in your ticket price)...sodas, bottled water, alcoholic beverages are for a fee. They do allow a reasonable amount of sodas to be brought on board per passenger. We took a 12 pack each for 5-day cruise and there was no problem. If you are clever, you can get alcohol on board but their policy says they do not allow that. Up to you to take the chance. Alcohol FAQ: http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Liquor_and_Beverage_Consumption_Policy.aspx and Soda FAQ: http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Fountain_Fun_Card.aspx

Entertainment: The shows on board are "free" (included in ticket price). Some spa services, yoga classes, and those types of things are for an additional charge. Using the gym is free and your daily newsletter will tell you what "classes" offered are free and what have a fee. Here's the FAQ on activities on board: http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Activities_and_Entertainment.aspx

Tips: Typically they include a tips on your "Sail and Sign" card which covers most of the people who will attend to your needs while there. The Matrie d' (sp?) isn't covered and you are given an envelope on the last night to tip as you see fit. You can also adjust the tips the line automatically charges you, up or down, if you don't agree with the amount they use.
Here is their tip FAQ: http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Gratuities_Tips.aspx

Here's the whole FAQ page if you need more info http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/FAQLanding.aspx or you can do a search online for specific questions and probably find a message board or site where it's been answered by someone.

Have fun! â˜º

Proud momma of 2

Well actually I'm going on a cruise this September with carnival, what comes with it is unlimited food and my travel agency tells me that I can get free water, tea, and lemonade, any other drink you want you have to pay for. They would like for you to tip. Oh and entertainment is free I believe, unless you want to gamble. Oh and also if you think you are going to be drinking a lot, and I don't think it includes alcohol you can buy a drink card that has all drinks free, and I think my travel agency told me that was $30. So it is really up to you. If you call a travel agency they should be able to tell you all that information though. If you go I hope you have fun, this will be my first cruise so I'm excited!

Lauroo

About the drinks. You can purchase a foutain fun card and then that only for sodas. But if you want to buy drinks you have to pay for them with your room key it just like a credit card. And it will be charge to your room. You can check your purchase on the TV. The entertainment you go you watch and then you leave. Nope no tipping. Carnival offfers it

ocean.denis

Carnival used to have a card that you paid 10 for and gave you free sodas tru the cruise, internet as well, there was a card for the duration of the cruise (otherwise its pretty expensive to use it).
Now on good cruise companies (not Carnival) there is always all inclusive for drinks, you pay extra for the ticket and drink like a fish, if you are into that.
Works well on ships with lots of Brits.
On ships with all inclusive we (staff members) used to give a nice tip to a bartnder so we had it easy on the booze.
Its hard to controle the stock.
Some lines charge you for towels and a pool chair, not Carnival though.
Also some have a better A la carte restaurant that you pay separate, again not Carnival, the McDonalds of the seas.
but they are "fun" ships, specialy if you are young.

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