Carnival how early should i arrive

Kind of a strange comment at best. If you board at , which i doubt, nothing will be open, no bars will be open. When we were on the Serenity deck waiting for the bars to open.

Have a slot and get there at , do we get in line with the other people or I don't like being stressed about getting somewhere "on time" so I plan on being early just in case something happens along the way. Our hotels have usually been near airports which are minutes from the port. I arrange transportation that will get us to the port between a.

Our last cruise didn't have staggered boarding, this time we'll have FTTF. Even if we get there and have to wait, I'll feel better that we're at the port and I can relax until it's time to board.

We arrive early to get a disabled parking spot. Mom and I print out separate boarding passed so she can drop me and the baggage off and find a close parking spot.

We don't mind people watching and waiting to board. On our last cruise, we were on board by 11, getting our food, drinks, and finding another cabin, since we walked in on our flooded cabin. We were assigned another cabin after dinner. They only have individual boarding passes now and there's no longer an option to print them all on one anymore.

Because we like to start our cruise as early as possible. I am not sure what you mean by more relaxed We get to parking about 10am, gather our stuff.. Not sure how that is not relaxing. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy! Already have an account? Sign in here. By LauraS Started October 12, Carnival Cruise Lines. October 19, Log In Issues. Does arrival appointment time slot matter? Share More sharing options Followers 5.

Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2. Recommended Posts. Posted November 17, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options BDRebel Posted November 17, CruiserMiami Posted November 17, Every port is different, but, in general, many offer some variety of souvenir shops, restaurants and bars, beaches, active pursuits, historical sites and other attractions, which you can either explore on your own or visit via a shore excursion.

Shore excursions can be a sightseeing tour by bus, a walking tour or a guided activity like snorkeling, biking, hiking or kayaking. They come in two types: ship-sponsored activities and independent tours.

Ship-sponsored are those booked through your cruise line, and independent tours are booked with guides or companies that operate privately. You can often save money with independent tours, but it's important to do your homework to make sure you've booked with a reputable provider who will return you to your ship on time.

Generally, ships wait as long as they possibly can for passengers to return, but it also depends on how tight the schedule is, the mood of the officers in charge and whether port officials allow the ship to stay docked for a longer period of time. If you're late because you're on an excursion you booked through your cruise line, the ship will wait for you.

If you're booked on an independent tour and you're late getting back, it's likely you'll be waving goodbye to your vessel from the pier when you do return. If you do miss your ship, you'll have to either meet it at the next port or fly home at your expense.

If this happens, it's important that you call your ship or cruise line as soon as possible so they know where you are. Before you leave your ship, make sure that you know when you need to be back onboard. The "all aboard" time will be printed in your ship's daily newsletter and often on a sign by the gangway.

Also verify that your watch is set to the same time on which your ship is operating. Due to government regulations, ships often do not allow passengers to bring plants, live animals and certain perishable items produce, meat and dairy products that aren't prepackaged back onboard.

This rule can apply to something as seemingly harmless as a woven palm hat or a leftover apple from your lunch. If in doubt, don't spend your money on something you might end up having to throw away. More commercial ports will often have duty-free shops where visitors can purchase tax-free goods like jewelry, watches, perfume, makeup, handbags, cigarettes and alcohol.

These can all be brought back onto the ship, but any alcohol or cigarettes you purchase will be checked at the gangway and held until the last day of your sailing.

Due to weather conditions and other unforeseen factors like medical emergencies or mechanical failures, port stops can be changed or canceled. Sometimes one port of call will be replaced by a visit to a different port; other times, a stop will be skipped altogether and replaced with a sea day. Itineraries can change at any time. Depending on the reason for the modification, your cruise line might or might not choose to compensate you for the change.

The What to Expect on a Cruise series, written by Cruise Critic's editorial staff, is a resource guide, where we answer the most common questions about cruise ship life -- including cruise food, cabins, drinks and onboard fun -- as well as money matters before and during your cruise and visiting ports of call on your cruise.

Find a Cruise. Cruise Tips. You may also like Dismiss. Docked vs. Tendered: Two Ways to Get Ashore. Countries That Require Visas for a Cruise. How to Apply for a Cruise Visa. Express luggage Your luggage will be expedited to your stateroom so you can unpack directly and start you holidays. Guest Services You will have a dedicated phone and line at Guest Services. Priority dining reservations Priority dinner time assignments for the main dining room and the specialty restaurants except Your Time Dining.

Tender priority If you want to explore a port on your own, you will have priority tender service from ship to shore. Debarkation When your cruise is over, you may choose an early or late disembarkation time upon. Already booked? Please note the following information regarding our Online-Check-In and embarkation process : Guests must pre-register for their cruise in advance and select a check-in-window period.