What about hurricanes?

Hurricane season encompasses the months of June through November. Due to the unpredictable nature of hurricanes it may not be possible to give information about itinerary changes in advance of the sailing. Carnival's main priority is the safety of our guests and crew, as well as the vessel. It is rare for a cancellation to occur due to an impending hurricane. In some instances an itinerary deviation is implemented to avoid a storm. Hurricanes have been known to change their course drastically at the last minute. Guests that have any questions should contact our Reservations department the day prior to sailing, as that is when we will have definitive information. We will always make decisions that assure the cruise experience will be a great one and that all on board are totally safe.

What is the Fountain Fun Card?

We will offer to all guests the option to purchase a "Fountain Fun Card" which will allow them unlimited soft drinks for the duration of the cruise at a one time purchase price (including gratuities). The "Fountain Fun Card" can be purchased at any bar on board the ship. In all locations where beverage service is offered, guests may receive a glass of the soft drink of their choice - one glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the card. The card cannot be used through room service.

NOTE: A 15% gratuity will automatically be added on at the time of purchase of the Fountain Fun Card.

Can Special Diets be Accommodated?

Guests with diet requirements can be accommodated on board. We do not have Dieticians onboard; therefore, we can only offer assistance with simple requests such as the method of preparation of menu items. The special diet requirements need to be arranged with the guest's Headwaiter on the first night of the cruise. Every menu (in the dining room) has Spa Carnival Cuisine Fare. These items are lower in calories, sodium, cholesterol and fat. Salads are prepared with diet dressing. Desserts are prepared with Sweet'N Low or NutraSweet instead of sugar. In addition, each menu has one vegetarian entree. Low-cholesterol egg substitute is available upon request as well as diet jellies at breakfast. The following simple diets can be prepared onboard: vegetarian salt-free bland low sugar The following food is not available onboard: Kosher meals Baby Food and Formula

Can I Bring Liquor On Board?

A liquor and beverage consumption policy was created in order for Carnival to be able to control the liquor consumption of minors and the quantities consumed that lead to the disruptive behavior of others on board. Liquor and Beverage Policy Bringing Alcohol On Board - Embarkation Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board. Guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages. Excessive quantities, to be determined at the discretion of security and/or embarkation personnel, will be confiscated and discarded without compensation. However, if celebrating a special occasion while on board, one bottle of fine wine or champagne may be brought on board only during embarkation at the beginning of the cruise. A $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged should you wish to consume this wine in the dining room. Guests may purchase a variety of beverages onboard the ship. Alcoholic beverages will not be sold or served to anyone under the age of 21. We reserve the right to refuse the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone. Alcoholic beverages purchased in the ship's gift shops or in ports of call will be retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage. Ports-of-Call Alcoholic beverages of any kind purchased in any Port-of-Call will be confiscated at the gangway, stored on board and retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage. Ship Gift Shops Alcoholic beverages of any kind purchased in the ship's gift shop will be stored on board and be retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage. Drinking Alcohol On Board - The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. Carnival reserves the right to refuse the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone. In the event that Bar/Restaurant/Gift Shop Staff are in question that a guest is less than 21 years old, they shall request picture identification, prior to serving the drink or selling the bottle of liquor.

SKIPPERS CLUB (SM)

The Skippers Club program is an exclusive service designed to afford guests in deluxe suite accommodations with special registration and boarding privileges. This service is now available in: Miami Port Canaveral New Orleans Galveston Tampa Long Beach Fort Lauderdale San Juan New York Jacksonville Mobile If you are entitled to Skippers Club services, please inquire at embarkation.

What should I pack?

The first thing to remember is that you're on vacation and you are aboard one of our "Fun Ships" to have a good time. The second thing to remember is to travel light. If you keep those two things in mind, you should do just fine. Casual attire and resort wear is the order of the day both on board and in port. Shorts, slacks, sundresses, blouses, etc., are in line for women. Clothing for men is just as casual. You should bring a pair of rubber-soled sandals or sneakers to wear on deck and a pair of good walking shoes. You might also want to consider bringing along a sweater or jacket for cool evenings and inexpensive rain gear in case of a sudden shower. Women may want to bring along a hat or scarf. You'll have a chance to dress up on two nights during 7 day or longer cruises (one night on shorter cruises) for the Captain's Cocktail Party and the Gala Farewell Dinner. On the other evenings you can dress casually for dinner. For those not wanting to dress up, the Lido Restaurants are open nightly (with the exception of the last evening of the cruise), and have a casual dress code. Formal Wear: tuxedo; suit and tie; sport coat, tie and slacks; evening gown; cocktail dress; pantsuit Casual Resort Wear: sport shirts and slacks; dresses; skirts; pantsuit; Capri pants NOTE: Shorts, t-shirts, tank tops and bathing attire are not permitted in the Dining Room during dinner.

What activities are available on board?

The following activities and entertainment are just a sample of what is available on all �Fun Ship� cruises. Gala Captain's Dinner Captain's Cocktail Party Past Guest Party (on cruises 5-days or longer) Camp Carnival - year round supervised children's activities (ages 2-15) Singles Cocktail Party Full Gambling Casino Gaming Lessons Tournaments: Blackjack; Slots; Poker 3 Bands and Orchestras (Calypso, Dance Music, Easy-Listening) Karaoke Briefings on each Port-Of-Call Shopping Talk Gala Midnight Buffet (on cruises 3-days or longer) Nightclub shows each evening at sea Midnight shows Spa Carnival Program Note: Some classes may not be available on every ship; classes listed with a $10 fee are not offered on: Celebration, Jubilee or Holiday. Beauty Seminars Pathway to Yoga Bodywalk Power Walk Pathway to Pilates Body Stretching Class Kickboxing Class Low Impact Aerobics Body Cycle Class Body Symmetry Stretch and Relax First-Run movies featured daily on the in-cabin TV Ping Pong Shuffleboard Volleyball (not available on Destiny, Triumph or Victory) Golf Putting Video Arcade Art Auction at Sea Card Players meet and play Guest Talent Show On Board Duty-Free Shopping Bingo Sessions Library: books and board games to borrow Midnight Deck Party Dance classes Galley Tour Ice Carving Demonstrations Debarkation Talk Fun and Games with the Cruise Director and Social Staff Note: Games vary and are up to the discretion of the Cruise Director Horseracing Couples and Lovers Game Trivia Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Win/Lose/Draw Battle of the Sexes Scavenger Hunt Ship Building Competition "Survivor" Game Show Mania Lido Deck and Pool Games

Does Carnival offer transportation services in Galveston?

Advance Reservations for Transfers IAH Houston Intercontinental Airport - Port of Galveston HOU William P. Hobby Airport - Port of Galveston This service will be available on the day of embarkation and immediately following debarkation only. One Way; $33.00 Roundtrip; $66.00 Transfer/Meet and Greet Service "upon arrival" at Baggage Claim motor coach service begins at 11:30am - IAH motor coach service begins at 12:00pm - HOU Ship Embarkation hours: 1:30PM - 3:30PM Elation, Ecstasy Latest arrival flights into IAH before embarkation: 12:30pm Latest arrival flights into HOU before embarkation: 1:00pm Earliest return flights out of IAH after debarkation: 2:00pm Earliest return flights out of HOU after debarkation: 1:30pm Coach USA Houston Intercontinental Airport (800) 334-4441 William P. Hobby Airport Purchase of Transfers Day of Embarkation/Debarkation Day of Embarkation: Transfers must be purchased in advance atleast two weeks prior to sailing through Carnival. Day of Debarkation: The Information Desk on board the ship sells one-way return transfers to the airport for guests who did not purchase the transfers in advance.

Do you have luggage restrictions?

Baggage Limitations - There is no limit set by Carnival Cruise Lines to the amount of luggage brought on board as long as it fits in the guest's stateroom. The airlines do have restrictions and it is up to the guest to check with the airline he/she is flying on.

Where will I park for the cruise?

The Texas Cruise Ship Terminal in Galveston has shuttle service operated to and from parking lots a few blocks away. Private lots are also available. View the Parking Page for more info.

Embarkation Baggage Procedures -

Three bag tags per guest are mailed with cruise documents for cruises of 7-days or longer; two bag tags per guest are mailed with cruise documents for cruises of 6-days or less. After arriving at the pier, all guests will follow the same procedure with their luggage, whether they arrive by taxi, car, or transfer bus. Guests with a stateroom assignment are given tags that are color-coordinated to the deck assigned and location on that deck (forward or aft). Guests booked on a TBA basis receive gray bag tags; the porter will re-tag these bags with the corresponding tag according to the stateroom assigned. Additional tags can be obtained at curbside from the porter, if necessary. Each piece of luggage must be locked and have a colored bag tag listing the guest's name, ship and stateroom number.Guests must identify their bags with a curbside porter who will place the bags on the ship; the customary tip for the curbside porter is $1.00 per bag. NOTE: There is no curbside porter service on 2/3-day Cruises-to-Nowhere. For security purposes, Carnival limits the size of hand-carry luggage to 11"X 17" which is the dimension of the opening of the X-ray security machine (similar to those at the airport); there is no measurement for length as the hand-carry luggage will lay flat on the conveyer belt. Luggage larger than 11"X 17" will not be permitted through the security machine and must be checked-in with a curbside porter. Once on the ship, the luggage will be delivered to the guests' stateroom by 7:00pm that night. Debarkation Baggage Procedures - Guests are advised to place their luggage outside of their stateroom door on the last night of the cruise by 1:00am. All luggage is collected and placed in a holding area on the ship. Upon arrival at the port of debarkation, the luggage is unloaded and separated (by bag tag color) in the baggage claim area of the terminal. The guests must personally locate their luggage and either carry it out or seek the assistance of a porter who will wheel it out of the terminal. The customary tip is $1.00 per bag. Customs - Each guest is required to complete a customs declaration card prior to debarking the ship. Clearance for customs will take place on board the ship at the home port. When the ship has been cleared by U.S. Customs, guests disembark in an orderly fashion, usually according to the color of their bag tags. U.S. Customs may request proof of citizenship prior to the guest leaving the baggage claim area. Depending on the number of ships in port that day, the ship usually clears by 9:00am. It is suggested that all return air flights be made for early afternoon, at the earliest. Baggage Check-In with airlines at debarkation - Effective 9/11/01: For security reasons this service is no longer available.

How Do I Report Damaged or Lost Luggage?

If a guest determines that their bags have been damaged or lost during the distribution process, they must complete a claim form with one of the embarkation representatives. If a guest discovers the problem on board, they must complete a claim form at the Purser's Office. If the guest discovers after returning home that they have mistakenly claimed someone else's luggage or that their luggage is damaged, they must contact Carnival's Guest Relations Department which is open seven days a week at (800) 929-6400 or (305) 599-2600.

Is There a Doctor on board?

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard one of our vessels, the Infirmary staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The Infirmary is equipped to treat minor non-emergency matters. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.

Medical Infirmary Hours

The Medical Infirmary on board has daily office hours which are listed in the Carnival Capers. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. The hours may vary from ship to ship and whether the ship is in port or at sea: Infirmary Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm Doctor's Hours : 9:00am - 11:00am; 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Medical Service Fees

A charge for medical services will be billed to the guest's Sail and Sign Account and a receipt will be provided for the guest to submit to their insurance company upon return for possible reimbursement. The physicians on board are independent contractors and are entitled to render services at a customary fee which may vary from ship to ship based on the time of day. The basic fee does NOT include medication, tests or treatment.

Medication

Motion Sickness: complimentary Meclizine (Bonine) is available from the Infirmary, Room Service or the Information Desk, free of charge. A motion sickness shot can be administered to those who are actively vomiting, but not as preventive medicine; there is a fee for the shot. The Infirmary does not have motion sickness patches nor wristbands. Over-the-Counter medications for cold, cough, upset stomach or other minor illnesses can be purchased at the Infirmary from 8:00am-8:00pm. In addition, the shops on board may carry some of these items. Prescription drugs and vitamins may not be readily available either on board the ship or in the ports-of-call.

Medical Staffing and Equipment

In order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for our guests, our infirmaries meet or exceed the standards established by the International Council of Cruise Lines and the American College of Emergency Physicians. Our infirmaries are staffed by qualified physicians and nurses who are committed to providing the highest quality of shipboard medical care. Each ship in the fleet carries one doctor and three nurses; the Destiny, Triumph and Victory each carry two doctors and four nurses. Doctors on our ships are required to have a current and valid medical license from the USA, one of its territories, or Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, or have full registration with the British General Medical Counsel of the United Kingdom or current full registration with the British General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, or current full registration with the medical council of a member country of the European Union. In addition, doctors must demonstrate competent skill levels and hold current certification in basic and advanced cardiac life support and cardiac care, have experience in general medicine or general practice including emergency or critical care, and have one to three years clinical experience and minor surgical skills, and board or similar international certification is preferred. The doctors on board are independent contractors. Shipboard medical facilities are set up to provide reasonable emergency medical care for guests and crew. In cases of extreme emergency where more comprehensive facilities are required, patients are referred to shoreside facilities. In addition to standard lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and external pacemakers, our infirmaries carry some of the latest in medical technology including thrombolytic therapy, electrocardiograph machines, lab equipment, pulse oxymeters and x-ray machines on many of our ships.

Are there religious services on board?

When available, a clergyman will be on board for Christmas, Easter, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; this is subject to availability of booking clergymen during their most holy days.

Is There Security on board?

Carnival puts the highest priority on the safety and security of our guests. In order to maintain that environment, we employ a high-profile, onboard uniformed security force. These personnel are onboard to make sure everyone enjoys a safe and happy "Fun Ship" cruise vacation. Carnival Cruise Lines is operating at heightened security levels throughout its fleet and is working closely with law enforcement and federal agencies to ensure the safety of our ships and ports. While we are not permitted to discuss specific elements of our security program so as not to undermine those efforts, we can assure our guests and travel partners that we are at a heightened security status and safety of our guests and crew is of paramount importance.

Can my friends visit me on the ship while in port?

Carnival has implemented a "No Visitors" policy for the entire fleet. This applies to all ports of embarkation and ports of call. Guests sailing on our cruises will not be permitted to have visitors on board to see them off. We have changed this policy to improve our overall security program and enhance the onboard experience for our guests during embarkation day. The following exception applies to this policy: a) Wedding Guests attending a passenger's ceremony/reception or guests attending any type of party/reception on board that has been previously arranged by the Bon Voyage/Wedding Services Department will follow the policies stated by this Department.

PREGNANCY POLICY

Children must be at least 6 months old to sail.
Guests who are 24 weeks or more into their pregnancy on the date of embarkation will not be allowed to sail. In order to sail, all pregnant women, must submit, prior to departure, a letter from her attending physician certifying the gestational period and that the expecting mother is fit to sail.