Things to know about Carnival

Every cruise line has unique nuances and differences on how they operate. Following are reasons why we chose Carnival and some things we think are important to be aware of and be prepared for when sailing with Carnival.

Carnival is one of the more inclusive “mass market” cruise lines, including more activities and complimentary dining options than many other lines.  We particularly like Carnival’s newest Excel class of ships, including Mardi Gras, and feel that these ships are similar to both Royal Caribbean and NCL.  Carnival is not quite on par with those other cruise lines in areas such as suites and included amenities (no butler service, for example), and to some degree things like the main dining room experiences, however tends to provide more bang for the buck, particularly for larger families.  Carnival tends to attract a bit of a younger demographic than Royal and NCL.

All referenced pricing is subject to change, but believed to be accurate as of 12/24.

• Onboard Expenses. Carnival is much more inclusive than many other lines, which we love!  We want to make sure you are aware of common onboard expenses, so you can budget accordingly to minimize unexpected surprises once onboard.
  • The one large activity onboard which costs extra is the BOLT roller coaster, which runs $15 per ride (2 laps).
  • Soda, bottled water and alcohol will cost extra – they are available ala carte or in a drink package. Carnival’s CHEERS! inclusive beverage package currently runs between $82.54 – $88.44/pp/day, and the Bottomless Bubbles unlimited soda program currently runs $8.20/pp/day for kids 17 years and younger, and $11.21/pp/day for adults.
  • There are several specialty restaurants onboard which cost extra.  Pricing can be a cover charge or ala carte. We typically stick with complimentary restaurants on most of our cruises and generally find those options sufficient, however we are not foodies. In our opinion, Carnival provides the best selection of included food of any mass-market cruise line, particularly fast casual type dining.
  • Wi-Fi. While we expect that CGM users will receive full wi-fi packages, those without CGM’s will need to purchase wi-fi access if they’d like to access the internet, plus upgrades may be available for all guests.
  • There will be plenty of opportunities to spend money onboard, including shore excursions (you can purchase through Carnival, or through a third party, such as our shore excursion partner, SEG), retail stores, photos, casino, spa.
• Gratuities. Like nearly all cruise lines, there is a daily per person gratuity which is not included in your cruise fare. Most items and services purchased onboard will have a 18% gratuity added.  Current daily gratuities are $16/pp per day and $18/pp per day for suites – some of the least expensive in the industry. (some are up to $20-$25/pp per day and 20% added gratuities)  This is the one effectively mandatory charge in addition to your base cruise fare.  These can be prepaid with your reservation (which will lock pricing, should there be an increase between booking and sailing) otherwise they will be added to your onboard account and charged at the end of your cruise.
• Cashless. With the possible exception of the casino, cruise ships are primarily cashless.  All purchases onboard are charged to your onboard account, which is charged to the credit card on file on the final day of your cruise. You can set up limits for each guest to control spending.
• CGM Cloud Access. Carnival has agreed to provide unlimited access to CGM cloud servers!  The CGM wearer and one follower will be provided unlimited access to CGM cloud data.  This is intended to be utilized for CGM data, and may not include full internet access. While much more reliable than the past thanks to Starlink, internet services onboard are still reliant on satellites, which can be less reliable than hard-wired connections on land.  (but still much better than nothing!) 
• Deposits. Our group rates include refundable deposits of $250/pp.
• Final Payment Date: March 22nd, 2026.  You can choose to pay over time at no additional charge, or simply make a lump sum payment prior to final payment date.
• Itinerary.  We will be sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary
  • 6/20/26 Depart Port Canaveral, FL @ 4pm
  • 6/21/26 Cruising
  • 6/22/26 Grand Turk 8am – 5pm
  • 6/23/26 Amber Cove 8am – 5pm
  • 6/24/26 Cruising 
  • 6/25/26 Nassau 8am – 5pm
  • 6/26/26 Celebration Key 8am – 5pm
  • 6/27/26 Arrive in Port Canavera. 8am
• Military Appreciation Program.  Carnival offers military rates on many sailings which may or may not offer better benefits than our group rates.  We’ll compare available options and find the best option for you.

The Griffin’s
[email protected]
866-2-1SWEET (866-217-9338)