How to Choose a Cruise

Earlier this year, we went on our first cruise – and we had such fun time!

I’m convinced that cruising is one of the best ways to travel – you wake up in a different place every morning, lots of food, tons to do…it’s just really fun!

We took our two boys (6 and 2 at the time), and we all had a great time.

The hardest part – in my opinion – is just deciding on your cruise itinerary.

There are seriously SO many options out there, and it can be super overwhelming as you go and start searching for them.

So I thought I would share a few things to consider when choosing your cruise itinerary that I think

Where to Book?

One thing to keep in mind about booking a cruise is that most places will have the exact same prices (source). If it seems cheaper than another website, it’s likely because they haven’t included all of the prices, and it typically says “Cruise price from …”, meaning, the prices start there and typically just go up.

So when booking, I would just go with a place you feel most comfortable with. Some booking agents will offer little perks to get you to book with them, but I think it’s most important to book with someone that you trust.

I went back and forth between Costco and Get Away Today. I love both of these places, but in the end, I decided to go with Get Away Today. They’ve always been so helpful to us for our Disneyland trips, and I knew that they’d be the same with our cruise.

Everyone who helped us book was so kind and responsive – and their website is so easy to navigate. I definitely recommend booking with them! They book for many of destinations, ports, and cruise lines. You can browse their website, and if you need any help, they are just a phone call away.

Cruise Direct is another great option from what I’ve seen.

You can definitely book directly through the cruise website as well. For some, this may make you feel more confident in knowing you’ve booked directly from the source

Destination?

Where would you like to go? There are cruises all over the world, so I think the first step is to decide where you’d like to go. Some popular cruises include:

• Bahamas
• Mexico
• Alaska
• Europe
• Hawaii

Once you’ve decided the general location, you can start to research some of the next things – such as the port and cruise line. You should consider things like the time of year you are going, what kinds of activities you would like to do, etc. For us, we narrowed it down pretty quickly because there aren’t a lot of Zika-free areas for the type of cruises we were interested in, so the Western Caribbean it was!

What is the Best Cruise Line?

I wasn’t sure if I should talk about cruise line or port first, but I think that cruise line is probably most important.

There are quite a few different cruise lines out there, and this can be overwhelming. Everyone has an opinion on what is the best – and for what reason.

One thing to keep in mind is that not all the ships on a specific cruise line are going to be the same – so once you choose a cruise line, you’ll be faced with choosing a ship as well. But even if the ships vary, cruise lines tend to be pretty streamlined across all their ships in terms of food and service. However, amenities and activities can vary substantially – even amongst cruise lines – so that’s definitely something to research as well once you’ve decided on the cruise line.

Now, as I said before, you’ll get LOTS of opinions on what cruise line you should go on. However, through my research, here are the general feelings I got about some of these major cruise lines here in the United States. Keep in mind that I mention children a lot, since that’s what we were primarily looking for. But if I mention it, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time without kids.

• Carnival – good for families and amongst the most affordable. We chose this one because of a) the price and b) it seemed pretty family friendly. It was also one of the only cruise lines I found that the childcare was included for ages two and up, not just three and up (most cruise lines had an additional charge for children two and under). People generally seem to really like the food on Carnival cruise lines – and we really liked it (you can read about our experience with that here – The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Food). This tends to attract more college students during peak seasons – such as spring break – because it is typically less expensive than other cruises.
• Royal Caribbean – This one is touted as being great for families, though from what I’ve seen, it’s more ideal for older children and teenagers. They offer a lot of great deals throughout the year – such as second guest 1/2 off, kids cruise free, etc. They have a lot of active/fitness centered entertainment, so if you are into that kind of thing, you’ll probably love RC. I thought a lot of their amenities and activities looked like a blast, but in the end, we were looking for the most budget-friendly cruise, and that was with Carnival. Lots of entertainment – they were first to bring condensed versions of Broadway favorites to the ocean.
• Norwegian – From my research, this one is good for families with teenagers. They also have a lot of activities for night owls and those that like to party. Good entertainment available. They have studio cabins, which are nice for people who are traveling by themselves!
• Disney – This is the ultimate family cruise – but they are also VERY expensive. If you are looking to have a really unique experience that is all about family, it’s definitely one to consider. We would have loved to have gone on a Disney cruise, but I just couldn’t justify the cost. I do love that there are no casinos on board! The entertainment is apparently amazing. They also offer a lot of “themed” cruises throughout the year (such as for Halloween). It’s truly all about making your cruise absolutely magical.
• Princess – This one seems to be best for couples, older people, or those who are just looking for a little romance.
• Holland – This one is popular for seniors. It is also known for offering some great enrichment experiences, and they sail all over the world. They have live cooking shows which sound like a blast!

There are plenty of other cruise lines, but these are definitely the most popular. I would consider what is most important for you for your cruise and then do some Google searches on those terms to see what you find out! A lot of it comes down to amenities and where you want to go.

I would caution you about reading reviews online. We went on the Carnival Ecstacy, and not all the reviews were glowing on some of the websites I went to. Some of them made it sound like we were basically cruising off to our death. It was an older ship with not as many amenities as some, but we had a BLAST. It’s all about attitude if you ask me! Obviously, if all the reviews are bad, that is something to keep in mind.

Port?

What port do you want to leave from? This is an important thing to consider, along with how you plan to get there.

For instance, we were interested in a Western Caribbean cruise, which narrowed down our port options quite a bit:

• Galveston
• Several in Florida (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral, etc.).
• Charleston

Because we have family in the Charleston area – and there was going to be a family reunion in North Carolina around the time we were going on our cruise – we decided that we would go with that port. Even though the ship was older, it made the most sense for us. A lot of people were surprised that there was even a port in Charleston when we would mention it – as far as I know, only Carnival sails out of there. We went on the Ecstacy, though they are bringing a newer and fancier boat there in 2019 – the Carnival Sunshine.

Anyways – once you’ve figured out what cruise line you are going on – as well as your destination – you can pick your port. It’s important to consider how you are going to get there – before we started considering Charleston, we looked into Florida and Texas, and the most affordable flights for us would have been to Texas.

How Long Should You Go?

Cruises last anywhere from three days to a few weeks long! So what should you choose?

Obviously, the longer you go, the more you are going to have to pay overall – though you may see a decrease in cost per day for a longer trip.

When choosing how long to go, you should consider:

• How many days are sea are there? Some people love these, some people hate them.
• What destinations will you be going to? Are there a variety of new things at each stop that makes it worth it to have extra stops?
• Ages of those going with you?
• Are you prone to seasickness? While I wouldn’t say this would indicate you need to go on a shorter cruise – if you are a first-time cruiser, it might be best to keep it on the lower end of things, just in case you are miserable!
• How long can you take off from work?
• Check flights (if you are flying in) to see what days surrounding the cruise are cheapest to fly in and out and build the length around that.

We went on a five-night cruise, and it seemed to be perfect for our family. We had 2.5 days at sea, and then we had two days at destinations. I could have probably gone another day or two, but the five-night cruise fit our budget the best.

Three and four-day cruises are generally the cheapest options, but I do feel like it would feel a little bit short – especially after going to the effort and expense to get there. But again – if that’s what you can afford, that’s what you can afford.

I don’t know that I’d go much longer than seven days – especially if you are a first-time cruiser or you have children. A lot of people who love cruising will go on longer cruises, and I think that could be fun at some point in my life. But I don’t think they are ideal for most people.

What is included? 

When looking at the cost of your ticket, make sure you know about all the extra charges – there are often port charges, taxes, and more that may or may not be included in the price you are looking at.

Most cruises are going to include food, some entertainment options, and lots of activities. But most cruises also really like to push their paid options – such as the spa, BINGO, and gambling, alcohol, etc.

You can even look at some of the add-ons that you are considering to see what ends up being the best deal. For instance, not all cruise ships have amazing Internet – in fact, until recently, most cruise chips charged by the minute for subpar (at best) Internet connection.

Other Factors to Consider:

I’ve touched on a lot of these factors above, but I felt they were worth diving more deeply into.

Budget

Honestly, this is the first thing I think you should consider before you do ANYTHING! Cruise can be very affordable – but they can also be very expensive.

You have to pay per person – not just per room. And while children are usually discounted, you still have to pay for them. Here are some expenses you have to keep in mind when coming up with the budget:

• Cost of the cruise (with taxes and port fees included) per person
• Tips (these are typically added automatically to your final bill after your cruise is over. It’s typically around $12-15 a person per day, though you can adjust it to whatever you want. Tips aren’t technically required, but it would be pretty poor form not to pay them. The cruise employees work hard!)
• Excursions – these aren’t required, but they can enhance your experience
• On board experiences – spa, gambling, etc. You can look online before you book to see what types of experiences are paid and which require additional payment
• Transportation to the port (flight, rental car, etc.)
• Hotel before and/or after the cruise

Time of year?

The time of year will definitely impact the cost of your cruise – and it can also impact your experience.

You can get some killer deals on cruises during a hurricane – but you have to consider at what cost. There are very real possibilities that your cruise will be canceled. And if it’s not, you may have to miss a stop or two if the destination is having bad weather. If the weather is poor while you are on the ship, it might not be very fun to have to stay cooped up inside the ship for days on end either.

Cruising season will be different based on where you are going – I found this article to be helpful in talking about the best and cheapest times to cruise. It breaks it down by destination, which is helpful.

Ages of people going

Some cruises are better for senior citizens. Some are great for families. And some are more geared toward parties. You definitely need to consider the ages of the people are going and research the cruise lines for that demographic. While most cruises will accept people of all ages, that doesn’t mean they are meant for every age.

What do you like to do?

As I mentioned some of the cruise lines toward the beginning of this cruise, I mention some of the activities available on those cruises. If you have a specific interest, look for a cruise that offers something along those lines. Choosing a cruise with a destination that has activities you want to do can help narrow it down as well.

I hope that this will help you figure out the best cruise line for your family. Again, I can’t say enough good things about Get Away Today. If you are still feeling overwhelmed, they will definitely walk you through the process.

Other Cruise Posts You May Enjoy:

• The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Food
• How to Not Gain Weight on a Cruise (From Someone Who Didn’t)
• Cruise Clothing 101: What to Wear on Your Cruise!

The post How to Choose a Cruise: Tips for Picking the Best Cruise Itinerary appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Cruise Clothes

We just finished our first cruise – and it was a blast. I wish we could still be on it (though at times, it feels like we still are – we feel so wobbly on land right now!).

Over the next few weeks and months, I plan to share all the tips and tricks about cruising I’ve learned along the way…but today, I’m going to talk about what to wear on a cruise.

Leading up to the cruise, I read all sorts of opinions on what you should wear, which stressed me out more than it should. However, I feel like I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on what’s expected, so I’m excited to share a little more about what to bring with you.

Cruise Clothes

One thing to keep in mind when you are packing is not just the cruise itself, but the destination you are going to.

Certain countries may have different customs that require a certain type of clothing (or some of the places you visit while in those countries).

You want to make sure you have appropriate clothing for the weather and activities you will be doing. It would be a big bummer to sign up for an excursion where you are going on a hike only to forget any type of hiking shoes or clothes at home!

The good thing is, you really don’t have to get a brand new wardrobe for a cruise. For the most part, you should have everything you need already. Though it can be fun to get some new items.

Both Forrest and I got a Stitch Fix box before our cruise, and it was so fun to get a few new items (more on that in a bit!).

Most cruise lines have at least some guidelines online so you can have *somewhat* of an idea of what to wear – and it is different based on the cruise line. I thought I would share the guidelines from a couple of the most popular cruise lines here in the US:

Cruise Dress Codes

Carnival Cruise Line

We are on a Carnival Cruise, so that’s what I looked into first. Fortunately, they have a lot of good information on their website.

Essentially, there are three different categories to concern yourself with:

• Daytime Attire
• Evening Casual
• Evening Elegant

The last two are in regards to eating in one of the main dining rooms (if you choose not to do this and want to eat in one of the more casual places like the Lido or Guy’s Burger, it is a more casual environment.

If you are on a cruise for 2-5 days, there will be one formal night. If you are on a cruise longer than that, there will be two. I saw everything from tuxes and elegant gowns to nice dresses, button up shirts, and pantsuits. I think as long as you try to up your game a little bit, you’ll be a-okay.

I’ve seen all sorts of clothes while on the cruise. Some people live in their swimming suits (especially the younger crowd). I’ve just opted for comfortable, yet fashionable. We haven’t spent much time in the pool (Oliver isn’t allowed to swim because he isn’t potty trained), so wearing swimming suits and covers around hasn’t really been our jam this time around.

Royal Caribbean 

This is another very popular cruise line (we almost went with them!). They have three designations for their dress code:

• Casual – whatever is comfortable! They do ask that you keep swimwear just to the swim deck
• Smart Casual – This is requested for most dinners. I would put in the same line as business casual
• Formal

Casual is for during the day, smart casual is for most dinners, and formal is for the formal dinner evenings.

3-5 day cruises will have one formal night, while cruises longer than that will have two.

You can read more details on the Royal Caribbean dress code here.

Disney Cruise Line Dress Code

Disney cruises are definitely geared more toward the younger crowd, therefore, the dress code is a little laxer. The “formal nights” are optional. Most of the time, you are welcome to wear what you want for dinner (with the exception of being shirtless or wearing your swimming suits). There are adult only restaurants that have more regulations for dress code.

One thing to keep in mind is that Disney cruises have themed nights – the longer the cruise, the more they have! One night is usually pirate themed, and then there is usually an optional formal. On the longer cruises, there is typically a semi-formal night as well.

You can learn more about the themed nights, as well as the dress code for the adult only restaurants here.

Princess Cruise Dress Code

I get the feeling that Princess is a little bit of a “higher class” cruise line – on their website, it says, “You should dress for a cruise with Princess the same way you would for any stylish land-based resort. Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants, and jogging suits, is the order of the day both at sea and ashore in hotter climates.”

So think country club.

When dining on board, their designations are “smart casual” and “formal”. If your cruise is 1-4 days, there will be no formal nights.

You can click here to read more about cruise attire on Princess Cruise Lines.

Norwegian Cruise Dress Code 

On their website, they say, “On Norwegian, you can pretty much wear what you want to wear, when you want to wear it. Go cruise casual or get all decked out and look your best – it’s totally your call. That’s the freedom of Freestyle cruising.”

They ask that you keep the following in mind when deciding what to pack and wear:

• Dress for the destination
• Dress for the event – there are a few formal events you can attend that formal clothing would be more appropriate for
• Cruise casual – during the day
• Smart casual – for most meals
• Kids 12 and under can wear shorts in the dining room, but they should be nice
• Tank tops (for men), flip flops, baseball caps, visors and overly faded/torn jeans cannot be worn in the restaurants or main dining rooms.

You can read more about their recommendations here.

Clothes to Wear for a Cruise

In general, it seems as if most cruise lines want you to be as comfortable as possible – but have at least one formal night, sometimes more depending on the length of the cruise.

With the guidelines I found above, I put together a list of cruise clothes ideas (this is based on a warm-climate based cruise. If you are going on something where you will encounter colder weather, you’ll need to adapt accordingly :). Chances are, you already have these in your closet.

• Two swimming suits
• Swim coverup
• Comfortable shorts or capris (one per day)
• Sun dresses, maxi dresses, etc. I loved wearing a few of these that I had – they were perfect throughout the day, as well as for dinner.
• A couple blouses or polo shirts
• Nice dress (or two, depending on how many elegant dinners there are) for women; pantsuits are also considered acceptable for elegant wear
• Suit and tie, or a dress shirt, tie, and slacks for men
• A light jacket or sweater for breezy nights
• Flip Flops or Sandals
• Close Toed shoes or classier sandals for dinners
• Athletic/Tennis Shoes (if you plan to work out, go on a hike, or do an excursion that requires them)
• Athletic shorts/shirt
• Underwear/undergarments
• Pajamas
• T-shirts or casual shirts for during the day
• Hat
• Sunglasses

Looking for ways to save on your cruise? Be sure to read this post – How to Save Money on a Cruise: The Best Tips For Cruising on a Budget

Although I have clothes that fall into all those categories, I thought it would be fun to bring a few new items with us for both Forrest and me.

Because I’m a big fan of Stitch Fix, we partnered with them to show you how easy it is to get a new wardrobe for your upcoming cruise. This is the first time we have tried Stitch Fix for men, which made this extra exciting for us.

If you’ve never tried Stitch Fix before, now is a perfect time – anyone who receives a Fix by June 30th will be entered to win one of ten trips to anywhere in the continental United States AND a Fix for their trip. By scheduling your Fix for before June 30th, you will automatically be entered.

Below are the items that they sent us for the cruise. I felt like they totally nailed it with my style this box. I wasn’t sure what to expect for Forrest, but he ended up loving all the items he received as well. We have worn all of them on the cruise, and if you are looking for some new pieces for your upcoming cruise, definitely consider using Stitch Fix.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR FIRST FIX

Make sure you are very specific with what you are looking for. You will fill out a style survey, but you can also leave notes for your stylist. It’s such a fun and easy process!

Forrest really loves this outfit. The shirt definitely screams cruise! The shorts are great, and they worked well for a variety of occasions on the cruise. 

I loved this dress, and I wore it for the formal night. Many people were ballroom gowns, but there were plenty of people in dresses similar to mine. I loved all the colors and patterns on this. And it was SO comfy!

There is just something about TOMS that scream cruise, don’t you think?

These cropped pants were so comfy to wear around, and I was able to wear them to dinner easily!

One of my favorite items in my box (just ignore the leggings, those were mine, and I did NOT wear them with this outfit). It was so lightweight and airy. Perfect for the cruise!

The post Cruise Clothing 101: What to Wear on Your Cruise! appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Cruise Budget

Cruises are a pretty affordable way to travel – but there are always ways to save even more!

One thing to keep in mind is that while your cruise will be all inclusive…they take every opportunity to squeeze more money out of you throughout the entire cruise. 

While some things are worth indulging in, I would make sure you have a strict budget in mind before you get on the cruise – especially if you are the type that’s not good under pressure. 

When looking at activities, remember that many of these will end with some kind of sales pitch. Forrest went to some art history events, which he actually really enjoyed. They even had giveaways! However, most of those giveaways were for $200 “free” at an art auction…and let’s just say it wasn’t valid for any of the $200 artwork 🙂 

With that said, there are a lot of free and fun activities. Just always pay close attention to who the sponsor is and what the description of it is. On our cruise, they had a lot of fun things like nightly shows, comedy acts, mini golf, giant game boards, trivia, and more. These didn’t cost us anything extra, and they were a lot of fun. Make sure you take a look at your ship’s schedule every day!

One other tip – go to the ship informational meetings that are usually hosted by the ship toward the beginning. We went to one – which was hosted by the cruise director – and he gave out tons of 100% free items. My boys both got a free Build-a-Bear voucher, which was seriously awesome. 

What is Included with a Cruise?

This will vary depending on cruise line, but in general, the following is included with your cruise fare:

• Meals at various places on the ship (breakfast, lunch, and dinner – you can really eat unlimited amounts of food at these places, so long as they are open). You are welcome to bring food back to your room.
• Water and lemonade from dispensers
• Room
• Daily housekeeping
• Tons of free activities and entertainment
• Fitness center
• Pool
• Childcare (age limits apply)

Definitely search for your specific cruise line to see what they include. 

What is NOT Included With a Cruise

Here are a few added expenses that they will try and sell you on your cruise: 

• Spa Treatments – We went to a tour at the spa tour at the beginning of the cruise so we could try and win something free…which was dumb. Forrest and I decided to “splurge” on a couples massage, which was also a huge waste of money. Seriously, I don’t think the spa treatments are worth it because they are so expensive. They also really try and sell you on super expensive products afterward, and I could tell the person who did our massage was NOT happy when we declined. 
• BINGO – I’m sure some people spend hundreds of dollars on BINGO. I wanted to play, but we decided that we would only play one round because it is pricey. Keep in mind that you probably won’t win, haha. It wasn’t a great use of money, but it was a fun experience. Next time I think I’ll just buy one card. If you want to play, look at your schedule to see when they have special promotions going on, because sometimes it is less expensive. 
  

  

• Gambling
• Art Exhibits and Sales – The exhibits don’t cost anything, but they all lead up to getting you to come to an art auction, which, in my opinion, is a total waste of time and money
• Jewelry – There were all sorts of jewelry sales going on. Once I did get a free necklace, which was fun. But they really push the on ship jewelry shop. One of the events was supposed to be about how to navigate one of the port cities, and all it ended up being was someone trying to get us all to upgrade our diamonds at a shop in Naussau. 
• Excursions – Obviously, these are going to cost money. They are always talking about them on the cruise. We did buy one from Carnival (excursions are a whole other post I will write about sometime). While it can be the best idea to get an excursion from the cruise line, ShoreTrips is an awesome way to get them for probably less. My main concern with booking a non-cruise line excursion was that if you do one of those and you are late getting back, the cruise ship won’t wait. However, with ShoreTrips, if you are left behind (for a reason that’s not your fault), they will make sure they get you to your destination at no cost to you. 
• Specialty Dining – You can go through your entire trip without paying for extra food, however, pretty much every cruise ship has some kind of specialty dining. We didn’t check out any of the special restaurants, because we were plenty satisfied with the Carnival Cruise Food, though we did pay $5 a person for a Dr. Seuss Breakfast (more on that in a minute)
• Alcohol and Soda – These are all extras on the cruise. There are drink packages you can get if you don’t think you’ll be able to live without these. Our cruise gave us all the water and lemonade our heart’s desired 🙂 
• Laundry 
• WiFi – WiFi is definitely not free. If you aren’t able to totally disconnect for the week, there are usually WiFi packages available. 
• Childcare (for under a certain age) – A lot of the childcare is free, but if you have an infant, you’ll definitely be paying extra. We went on Carnival Cruise because two and over are free. However, most of the cruise lines I looked at were three and over. 
• Tips – These are not included with your initial fare, and they are automatically added to your final cruise bill – they are usually $13-15 per person, per day. You can go to the concierge desk to have them adjust them or remove them if you plan to tip people with cash. We found it simplest just to leave the tips on. Keep in mind that you will typically have to still pay tips on certain alcoholic beverages as well as salon/spam services. 
• Photos – I think this is the BIGGEST rip-off on a cruises. They take pictures of you at meals, at ports, etc., and then they display them for you to see…and they charge a ton. Maybe other cruise lines do this, but Carnival didn’t offer any kind of photo package with the digital prints. Maybe they should take a leaf out of Disneyland’s book. 
• Souvenirs 
• Exercise Class – I talked about how much I enjoyed the exercise facilities in my post about how to not gain weight on cruises, and these are free. However, our cruise line offered a lot of exercise classes – most of which you had to pay for. I was kind of bummed when I realized you had to pay for Yoga!
• Other Onboard Activities – tours, newer things like Laser Tag – The ship we went on was pretty barebones when it came to specialty activities. We had a pool with a slide, and that was about it. However, I know that a lot of newer ships offer really fun and exciting experiences on board. Some of these may be free, but a lot of them do require you to pay. 

How Much Does an Average Cruise Cost? 

This will vary largely depending on the cruise line, how many days you are on cruise, time of year, extra splurges, etc. 

According to Cruise Market Watch, the average cost per person (in 2018), the average cost per person, per day is $212.80 per day (broken down to $161.26 for the ticket per day, and $62.16 or on board spending). That link has some interesting information, so I would take a look at that. 

The best thing you can learn before going on a cruise? How to say no!

You will be presented with many opportunities to buy upgrades – but you need to decide in the beginning what you will say yes to – and forget the rest. If you go into your cruise without a plan, you may end up spending a lot more than you wanted to!

Extras that were worth it to us

One thing we really enjoyed on the Carnival Cruise we went on was the Dr. Seuss Breakfast. It was $5 a person, and it was so, so fun. Lots of themed food, fun characters, music…it was one of the best things we did. We signed up at the beginning of the cruise for it, and it was definitely money well spent. 

We did get the WiFi, primarily so I could check on our business at night to make sure it didn’t go up in flames. That was worth it to me, but I think for the average person, it really isn’t. 

At our first stop, we paid like $25 for one of these clamshells. It was SUPER sunny without a lot of shade, so even though it seemed a little bit ridiculous, that was worth buying. 

We really did enjoy the excursion we went on. We went on a fun, 30-minute boat ride to a private island where we had a delicious lunch, were able to interact with lots of different animals, and it was just nice to have a place to go. Naussau can feel a little overwhelming, so having a safe place to go without much effort was worth it to us. 

How Much Cash Should You Bring? 

The good news is, nowadays, most cruises are pretty cash-free. Your cruise card will be connected to your credit card (don’t worry, you can choose which cards have access), and 99% of the time, you can just swipe that card. 

Even when we were on the private island we went to for our first stop, the cruise card was connected to all of our purchases there. 

Now, if you are going to a destination that is not specifically tied to your cruise line – that is probably when you will want cash. You may be able to just use your credit card, but some places will only allow cash. Make sure you check beforehand what currency they accept!

You will want to bring some cash to tip people off the cruise ship – for instance, if you go on a tender for an excursion, or for your excursion hosts. 

Some people like to bring dollar bills to give to cruise employees they see going above and beyond, so if you are that type of person, maybe bring a stack of those as well. 

How to Save Money

Planning for Splurges

As you read through this, you might think, “Wow, you really don’t think we should spend any extra money on anything!” 

That is not what I’m saying. I just want to help people save money where they can so they can splurge on the things that really mean the most to them. One of the worst feelings is spending money willy nilly, only to realize it wasn’t on things that truly brought you joy. 

So yes! You can indulge a little bit. Just plan ahead so you can make sure you are spending the money where you really want to. And if you don’t want to spend extra? That’s great, too, and entirely possible!

For instance

Okay! Now that I’ve gone over all the things that aren’t included with your cruise so you can be prepared, let’s talk about how you can save money!

Offseason

Offseason cruises will almost always be less expensive – and offseason may be different depending on what cruise line you go on. 

Hurricane season is known for rock bottom deals, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll actually even be able to get ON your cruise ship. And if you do, it’s very possible it could get diverted, cut short (or in some cases, go on for longer than you anticipated).

I have a friend who had a cruise canceled due to a hurricane. She ended up getting refunded for that cruise, a credit for another cruise, plus like $500 in ship credit, which was

Just keep in mind that there are always going to be some downsides to going offseason – the water might be colder, the ocean might be rougher, and your cruise might be canceled altogether if you go during hurricane season.

However, some upsides include avoiding lots of partiers, cheaper fares, and possibly a less crowded ship. 

Interior cabin

Interior cabins are almost always going to be your cheapest option. We were in an interior cabin, and while it may have been nice to have some view of the outside world…it wasn’t bad. 

Honestly, we mainly just slept in our cabin, so getting an interior cabin was not a big deal for us. We saved several hundred dollars by doing this. 

Sometimes cruises will offer a “free” room upgrade promotion, so you can keep your eye open for that. I know some people have had luck calling a few weeks before their cruise and somehow getting their interior room upgrades for free. But I wouldn’t count on it. 

Different cruise lines and ships will have different room offerings, but in general, here is the rank of least expensive to most expensive staterooms:

• Interior room (no windows)
• Exterior room with port hole
• Exterior room with large window
• Exterior room with balcony

And of course, there are suite options which will typically cost you a lot more!

Eat free food

There is absolutely no reason you can’t get through your cruise without paying an extra dime for food (except for when you are at different destinations unless you are only gone for a couple of hours). 

There are tons of dining options on cruises, and most of them are free. On our cruise, there was a buffet, various quick service restaurants (such as pizza, sandwiches, hamburgers, and Mexican food), and then the dinners were suffered in the nicer, sit down area. 

The only extra meal we paid for was the Dr. Seuss breakfast I mentioned above, and it was super cheap. 

Our cruise had some fun options for breakfast that were included in case you wanted something fancier. 

Honestly, we thought the food was delicious. There was a huge variety, and you could eat as much as you wanted. With room service, there were some free options (though you have to pay tip), as well as some inexpensive paid options, but we never opted for the paid options. 

There are premium restaurants available on cruises, and if you just are dying to try them…then go for it. But you don’t have to pay extra to eat your meals, and if you can avoid the extras, you will be saving money in the long run. 

Skip the drink packages (or buy the second day)

We only really drink water, so this wasn’t even a temptation for us. So if you don’t normally drink soda or alcohol – no reason to start on your cruise by buying the drink package. 

However, if you are a regular soda or alcohol drinker, one of these packages can be alluring. The best advice I’ve read is to wait until the second day of the cruise, because it will be discounted. I don’t think you can usually buy it past the second day, but you’ll save a few dollars by waiting. 

Most cruises will allow you to bring a small number of sealed soda cans on the ship – just double check your cruise ship’s policy before going. 

I know on Carnival Cruise lines, you can bring up to 12 cans of milk, soda, or juice. Bottled water is no longer allowed because it was the most common way to smuggle alcohol on the ship. 

Some cruises will make everyone in a room purchase the drink package, so make sure you read the fine print. 

“Free” Kids on Excursions

So for the excursion, we went on, children under five were free. Awesome, right? Well, for the most part. 

Because Oliver was free, it didn’t include lunch for him. There was a mixup, and I didn’t realize that it was a buffet and Oliver could have easily eaten off my plate. 

Forrest was somewhere else, and the boys were starving, so I went to get them some food, and I used Forrest’s meal voucher for Oliver. We had heard an additional meal ticket was $8, which didn’t seem like a big deal. 

However, that was bad information. It was actually $25 for the food (and let me tell you, it was not worth $25). We did realize there was a little cafe that had cheaper food, but it was too late at that point. 

Oliver didn’t even eat most of the food on his plate. Does this look like a $25 meal to you? Ha!

So just make sure you plan ahead if you have a little one getting a free excursion!

Buy water bottle packages

So we actually just brought our large, 64-ounce water bottles (empty) onto our cruise ship and filled them up with free water from the buffet. This worked well for the days we were on the cruise ship. 

However, when you are at a port, you can’t bring any water off the ship unless it’s one of the ship approved water bottles (at least this was the case on our ship). 

We ended up paying an arm and a leg for water when we were off the ship. You can usually buy a case of water for pretty inexpensive on your ship, and I think this is a good idea. Just save the water for when you are off the ship, and otherwise, drink the free water!

You can carry the cups from the buffet around the whole ship!

If you pre-purchase the water package, it should be delivered before you get on the ship. If you order it afterward, you will be subject to an auto-gratuity. 

Look for Drink Specials

If you really want to get that specialty drink, you can usually find a deal at some point throughout the cruise. Just keep your eyes peeled! 

Cruise for more days

Obviously, if you go on a long cruise, you’ll be paying more overall – but it will usually end up being less per day. If you are wanting to get the most bang for your buck, a longer cruise will typically give that. 

I think that a three-day cruise would be too short. We really enjoyed our five-day cruise, but I think we could have gone for a couple more days without getting stir crazy on the ship. 

Use a Travel Agent

I booked our cruise through Get Away Today. Honestly, the prices were pretty similar at all the places we looked, but I think it’s valuable to book through a travel agent. They can help you navigate the confusing process of booking a cruise and getting the most value for your money, and they often throw in certain perks for booking through them. 

I was really confused when I was trying to decide on our cruise, and it just was a lot simpler when I got on the phone with our agent at Get Away Today. We primarily use them for our Disney trips, but when I saw they offered cruises, I knew that was going to be our best course of action. 

It typically doesn’t cost you extra to book through a travel agent, and it can save you money in the long run since they know all the tips and tricks of the trade. 

Another great company to go through is Cruise Direct. They offer amazing deals on cruises from all the different lines across the world. 

Consider non-cruise excursions

We went on a Carnival cruise excursion, primarily because I was terrified that we would get left behind if we ventured out on our own or used another service. 

We were happy with the one we went on, especially because we didn’t really want to navigate Naussau by ourselves. But if you are adventurous, you can arrange your own tours or go through a non-cruise line excursion company for more savings. 

Just make sure you are back in plenty of time. I found Shore Trips, which seems like your best bet for booking a non-cruise line excursion. They have awesome prices, and if, for some reason, you get left behind due to the excursion (by no fault of your own), they will pay to get you to the next port. That would alleviate some of my stress for sure!

And keep in mind – you don’t have to to get an excursion. You can go out on your own or even stay on the ship if the destination is not your favorite! Excursions are not required. 

Buy extras ahead of time

At least on the Carnival Cruise line, if you booked certain things ahead of time, you got a discount. I believe the WiFi packages were less expensive before we got on the ship, I think they had discounted spa services, etc. So take a look at these beforehand to see if there’s anything you want!

Order wine and ask them to save it

We aren’t alcohol drinkers, but I know a lot of people are! If you order a bottle of wine at dinner, don’t feel like you have to chug it all down right that second. You can ask your waiter to cork it and save it for you for another time on the cruise!

Gift cards

There are a lot of discount gift card websites out there, and some of them have gift cards for different popular cruises. You may not save a ton by getting these, but hey, every dollar counts. 

Avoid Double Tipping

So with the gratuity added to your bill – this is for your restaurant servers, housekeepers, etc. When you do a spa service or go to the bar, they will often include a tip automatically. 

However, you may also see there is ANOTHER line that says tip. Make sure it hasn’t already been added into your receipt before you add in an additional gratuity unless they really went above and beyond and you want to to tip more. 

Timeshare Presentations

If you can’t say no and fold under pressure, just skip this tip! However, if you have a strong arm and won’t be pressured into actually buying a timeshare, this might be a good way to either get a free/discounted cruise, a free excursion, etc. 

There are always timeshare presentations going on at popular tourist destinations, and there is usually some kind of reward for sitting through them. When my brother and sister-in-law went to Cancun recently, they were able to get a pretty cool excursion. 

Keep in mind they are very high pressure, and they aren’t usually very happy if you say no. But it can get you some pretty cool things! You can google “Cruise timeshare presentations” to see if there are any going on near you before you book!

Also, keep in mind that there are usually fees still tacked on. I think your best bet would be a presentation for an excursion. 

Look for special deals – ship credit, kids cruise free, etc. 

A lot of cruise lines will run specials throughout the year. If you can nab one of these, it can really save you some money in the end. I always think ship credit is pretty nice. And the kids cruise free is great if you are going with your children!

Eat on the boat at excursions

Eating off the boat can be pricey, and you can’t really bring food with you. If you can, eat breakfast before you go, maybe buy a snack on the island to tie you over, and eat lunch when you get back to the boat. 

Obviously, if you are on an all day excursion, this won’t be possible. But if you aren’t planning to be gone all day, it will save you money. Food off the ship is EXPENSIVE – at least in my experience. 

Some excursions will provide lunch, so that’s something you can try and look for if you are booking one. 

Don’t get the WiFi (download movies beforehand)

I did get the WiFi, but I have an online business that I needed to make sure didn’t go down the drain while I was on our ship. I only used it for about five minutes a day, though, which was perfect. 

If you don’t need WiFi, though…don’t get it! It is kind of pricey, and if you are looking to disconnect, there is no better place than on a cruise ship. 

You should download movies from Netflix or other sources beforehand so you aren’t feeling tempted to get WiFi to watch shows (though depending on the WiFi, you may not be able to stream anyway). 

Loyalty program

Join your cruise ship loyalty program as soon as you can. You may get certain perks just before signing up. But more so, it’s great if you are planning to go on another cruise eventually. You can sometimes earn points or upgrades for your next cruise, and these are typically free!

Don’t shop at stores closest to the ship

If you are stopping in a tourist-y place, there are bound to be lots of shops set up. The ones that are closest to the ship will almost always have their prices jacked up a ton. Try and venture out a little further to find better prices. 

Bring everything you need

I talked about all the things I forgot in the 22 Things I Wish I Packed for my Cruise post…so don’t be like me! Quadruple check that you are bringing everything you need…because trust me, it’s going to be more expensive if you have to buy it on the ship. 

Remember that everything has a catch

I feel like at least half of the activities we went to on our cruise (probably more) had some kind of catch or upsell…and people were not very happy when you didn’t buy into them. While not everything is, I recommend making sure you look at who the sponsor is and remember you can say no. 

I went to a “Women’s Pampering Hour”, where someone taught some stuff about skin and we tried some products. It was actually really informative. But then she really pushed us all hard to signup for her services right after, and it was kind of intense. I ended up saying I would need to talk to my husband, because she wouldn’t stake no for an answer.

Services on port days

Now, I haven’t tried this myself, but I have heard that on cruise services (such as the spa) can be less expensive. So keep that in mind!

Plan a group cruise

If you can convince a big group of friends to go together, the organizer of the group will typically get a free room! There are rules and regulations on how many people have to book in order to qualify for a room, but it’s certainly an option. Just make sure you are upfront with your group about this from the start that it’s a perk you get for organizing everything. 

Stay in airplane mode

When you get on your cruise ship, just put your phone in airplane mode. While many cell phone carriers offer free roaming in foreign countries…unless you are 1000% positive, you don’t want to risk getting crazy fees for accidental phone calls or text messages. 

Plus, putting your phone in airplane mode right away will make sure it stays in your departure ports time zone, which is typically the time the cruise will stay on (even if you go to a new time zone). 

Book early or late

As I’ve researched the best time to book a cruise, it seems to be the extreme ends of the spectrum – either very, very last minute, or a year or more in advance. 

While you can get some killer deals on cruises last minute, this isn’t something I would recommend if you have a specific cruise you want to go on. The cruise we went on ended up selling out, and even booking when we did, there were pretty slim pickings for rooms. 

We booked about three months before, and I think we could have saved money had we booked sooner – as well as gotten a better room!

Unless you are the type that just really likes to live on the edge, it’s going to be in your best interest to book far in advance. 

Cruise close to home

Sometimes, the most expensive part of a cruise is just getting there. When researching cruises, try and find ports that are either a) close to your hometown or b) inexpensive to travel to. 

We decided to go on a cruise that went out of Charleston because we were able to double up the trip with a family reunion that wasn’t too far from there. We were also able to visit with Forrest’s brother and his family, who live pretty close to Charleston, which saved us on hotel costs when we got there. 

There are ports all over the place, and many of them will get you to similar destinations. If you live in Florida, there’s probably no reason to fly to Texas to go on a cruise. 

Phew! That was a lot. I do hope that this was helpful – and I would LOVE to hear any tips you have for saving money on cruises. 

The post How to Save Money on a Cruise: The Best Tips For Cruising on a Budget appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Food on Carnival Cruise

Food is a big deal on cruises.

I mean, for the most part, you can get delicious food at all hours of the day and night – and it can really make or break your experience.

There’s a reason why the average person gains between 5-10 pounds while cruising (thankfully, I was able to escape that fate!)

When I was researching which cruise line to go with, Carnival seemed to have a good reputation for having delicious food.

The first meal we had was at a buffet, and I’ll admit, I was very underwhelmed. However, the food throughout the rest of the cruise really impressed me, and I came away feeling very satisfied with my experience.

Since I know many people who are about to cruise with Carnival for the first time are probably like me and very curious about how food works, I thought I would put together this guide to Carnival cruise food. Please be aware that this is specific to the Carnival Ecstacy, though they have very similar dining on all the ships.

I’ve heard that the best cruise food is on the Carnival cruise line – and I was pretty impressed by the end of the trip!

Cruise Food

Is Food Included on Cruises? 

I wasn’t totally sure of this at first when we booked our cruise. I’d heard that cruises were all-inclusive, but then I saw people talking about paying for food, so I was confused.

If you don’t want to pay an extra dime on your cruise, you don’t have to! There are free options available for every meal – including room service. And they are more than sufficient in my opinion. They have a huge variety, and the food is available all day and into the evening, so if you are wondering if food is included – YES!

There are, of course, premium options or special activities – like the Dr. Seuss breakfast – but these are purely optional.

Can You Bring Food on a Cruise?

You can bring your own food on the cruise if you need/want to. Just be aware that at most ports, you will not be allowed to bring food off of the boat into the country you are going to.

Dining Times

When you book your cruise, you will be given an option for different times to eat dinner:

• Early Dining (around 8 PM)
• Late Dining (Around 5:45 PM)
• Your Time Dining (Between 5:45 and 9:30 PM)

When we booked our cruise, the only options available still were late dining and your time dining. Since we have small children, it was a pretty easy choice what we were going to do.

Here are the main differences between set dining times and the Your Time Dining times:

• With set dining, you sit at the same table every night; you are typically placed with other people you may not know.
• You will also have the same waiter every night
• If you are more than 30 minutes late, you typically won’t get to eat in the dining room that night
• With Your Time Dining, you can go any time between 5:45 and 9 PM; much more flexible – we found this to be helpful, especially with having kids
• You sit somewhere different every night, and you typically won’t have the same waiter

I know a lot of people love having the same waiter every night, and they create a fun bond, so if that’s important to you…the set dining time might be helpful!

You may also enjoy: Cruise Clothing 101: What to Wear on Your Cruise!

Tips

Because gratuities are automatically added to your bill for the trip, you do not need to tip each waiter individually. However, there are some instances where you will need to add an additional gratuity, such as for room service (even for the free items) or often at bars.

Carnival Cruise Dining Options

There are SO many options for eating aboard Carnival Cruise ships – and I found the food to all be pretty delicious. There’s really something for everyone.

The actual dining facilities may vary depending on the cruise, but in general, you will typically find:

• Pizza
• Tacos
• Hamburgers
• Open Buffet
• Sandwiches
• Formal dining rooms
• Steak House ($$)

And now I’ll go over the specific options aboard the Carnival Ecstacy. Most of these are going to be available on other ships in the Carnival fleet.

Main Dining Room

Since most people will eat dinner in one of the main dining rooms, I will start with that. We really enjoyed being able to sit down in a nice restaurant each night. Even though we had our young children with us, they did pretty well!

As soon as we sat down, they brought out a variety of different breads and butter. I LOVED these, and I probably filled up on them too quickly (even though I didn’t gain weight on the cruise!) But they were so good. These were great for keeping our kiddos at bay as their meals were prepared. You can request they bring them out with your actual food, though, which might be a good way to avoid eating too much!

We were able to order drinks at this point as well, but we always opted for water. Most drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will cost a premium, so keep that in mind.

Each night, the menu was somewhat different. There were some of the same staples, but for the most part, there was a nice, big variety. They typically offered at least one special that was based on the port of call from that day – for instance, they had Shrimp and Grits when we left Charleston, and one night they had some kind of conch dish after we left Princess Cay.

They also had premium options, such as surf and turf, that you could pay extra for. However, I found that they included options were delicious enough to not even be tempted!

Here are a couple of photos from the different menus for each night:

You can order appetizers, a main dish, side dishes, and a dessert. There’s definitely no reason to be starving after coming for a meal. If there are multiple main dishes you want, you can order an appetizer portion so you can try and larger variety without wasting a bunch of food.

I enjoyed getting an appetizer each night (or more than one). Some of them were a bit strange. I didn’t love the corn chowder or the Caesar salad – for some reason, they tasted rather fishy to me.

I did really enjoy these stuffed mushrooms, though. So yummy!

I tried a lot of different items, but I think my favorite was definitely the lasagna and an Indian vegetarian dish. It was SO good. I was sad I didn’t actually eat much of it, because I had filled up on appetizers and bread!

The last night I got ribs, a baked potato, a cornbread muffin, and baked beans. It was also totally delicious.

The first night, I decided to try and be healthy, and I got salmon. It wasn’t really my favorite – it seemed a bit dry, and I wish it had been paired with some kind of dill sauce. It wasn’t bad though!

The kid’s menu was great – they had several different options, and our boys loved being able to pick one out. They came with either veggies, fries, or pasta as a side. Be warned, though – the pasta side was HUGE, and it definitely was more like a main dish.

EXPERT TIP: One thing that I think is worth noting is that even though macaroni and cheese wasn’t on the menu, they did offer it…and it was GOOD macaroni and cheese. I normally don’t like mac and cheese, and I almost wanted to order it for my dinner, too. They also have kid-friendly desserts – our boys loved the banana splits. They had some kind of custard on them that as to DIE for.

EXPERT TIP: Ask them to bring out the kid’s meals as soon as they are ready. The main dishes seemed to take a little longer, and I’m not sure my kids would have loved waiting for food that long (and I wouldn’t have, either!).

The desserts from the main menu were delicious. They had a few staples every night (such as the molten chocolate cake), but then they would have several different options each night as well. I had a Mexican tres leches that was SO good, and the dessert I had on the last night, I could hardly get enough of it. It was a bread pudding of sorts, and I just wish I had one to eat right now.

Lido Restaurant

This was the buffet that was available throughout the day and evening on the Carnival Ecstacy. During the evening, the food at the buffet was pretty much a condensed version of what you could order in the main dining rooms – every time we walked by, I was like, “Hey! That’s what I had tonight!” If you prefer a more casual dining experience, this is definitely a good option for that.

They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and each of these meals has a dessert and pastry table (breakfast was more baked goods than desserts). I only ate at the buffet once for lunch, and it wasn’t my favorite…but it wasn’t terrible either. They have a well-stocked salad bar, which is nice.

The desserts were usually quite tasty! They had at least ten different things each day, so you definitely can satisfy that sweet tooth. There is also a soft serve ice cream station, which our boys loved going to. Jack was SO excited because one day we let him have ice cream with his breakfast (I know, parents of the year).

Sometimes if we were too full for dessert at dinner, we would come to the Lido later to get dessert and eat on the deck as we watched sunset. It was so fun!

Pizza Pirate

I went here on the first day since I didn’t really find much of the buffet to be very appealing. I didn’t understand how it worked at first, so I ended up standing in line for a long time.

The pizzas are – more or less – cooked to order, though they always seemed to be cooking pizza and cheese. 1/2 the pizza is considered a slice, at least when I got it. They have about eight different pizzas to choose from.

The pizza was thin and chewy. I thought ours tasted quite good. I got a pizza with arugula and prosciutto, but to be honest, I preferred the pepperoni. This is open all day, and I believe into the evening.

Sandwich Place

I don’t even know if this has a name! It didn’t really stand out, but it was right next to the Pizza Pirate. I never got a sandwich there, but every time I saw someone with one, I really wanted it! They paninis looked amazing. They have tons of different sandwich meats, cheeses, and breads (as well as items like peanut butter and jelly), so it’s a great place for a quick lunch or snack.

Guy’s Burger Joint

We are big Food Network fans, so I was excited to try this place out. I was a little surprised when I found that it was pretty much a burger buffet, but that was fine.

When you first get into the line, there is a sign with a bunch of different burgers. You can tell them which one you want, and if it has specialty items on it, they will cook those to put on the burger. It was really loud when I ordered mine, so the guy didn’t quite understand me, and I didn’t end up getting what I wanted…but that was fine! There is a big buffet area with different toppings and sauces you can put on top.

Each burger comes with lots of french fries. I thought it was all pretty good. The burgers were thinner, but I like them like that. It did feel a little bit greasy, though. I only had a burger once, but they are worth trying. I thought the buns were great!

Blue Iguana

I loved this place! It’s a little Mexican restaurant you can eat at, and it’s right outside by the pool. For breakfast, they have breakfast burritos, which I LOVED. They put everything that I wanted in it, and I thought they tasted delicious.

During the rest of the day, they have tacos and burritos with a variety of toppings and meats. I had these for lunch one day, and I thought they tasted pretty good. There is a large salsa bar, so you definitely can put whatever you want on it.

The only thing I wish was that they offered tortilla chips!

Island BBQ

So this may not be applicable to all Carnival cruises, but if you go on one that goes to Princess Cay (and I believe Half Moon Cay as well), they host an island BBQ for you while you are on the beach.

The line for this took FOREVER! As I was standing in line, I kept thinking, “Forget this! We’ll just eat when we go back to the boat!” However, it was really, really good. They had hamburgers and hot dogs, but they also had BBQ chicken, tons of salads and sides, and delicious desserts. There was definitely something for everyone, plus you didn’t have to pay extra for it!

Breakfast

I think breakfast was my favorite part of the day – they had SO many great options, and I just loved them. Their scrambled eggs were delicious.

There was such a huge variety of foods – I had everything from omelettes, to burritos, to breakfast taquitos, to egg muffins. They also have all the traditional options, such as sausage, bacon, eggs, grits, and lots of breads. We only ate out at the Lido (except for one morning), and this worked well for us. They do have other breakfast options – some that come at a premium cost, and you can eat in the main dining room. There was a Sea Day Brunch one day that sounded delicious, but we didn’t do this.

**Expert tip – The line for the breakfast buffet in the Lido was always REALLY long! However, they had a breakfast buffet outside at the Blue Iguana/Guys’, and the lines were SO much shorter – and they had everything that they had inside. In fact, they also had an omelette station, which I really enjoyed, as well as breakfast burritos at the Blue Iguana.

Dr. Seuss Breakfast 

This was a fun activity for the kiddos and adults! It was just $5 per person, and on the last day of the cruise, we dined on whimsical meals themed from Dr. Seuss. The tables were decorated in really fun decorations, they had Dr. Seuss-themed music playing, and they even had some special guests (aka, Dr. Seuss characters) come visit the kids.

I wish I had worried less about how many calories I was eating and gotten a better breakfast. I ended up just getting an egg white omelete, and I didn’t like it. Here are some of the more fun additions to the day:

Room Service

Carnival offers a great room service option with free and paid options. The free options are pretty simple (for breakfast, they had cereals, pastries, fruit, etc., and for other meals, they had sandwiches and salads and a couple of desserts), but they are nice if you don’t want to have to leave your room. They do have some options that you can pay for.

Keep in mind that the gratuity for room service is typically extra, so don’t be surprised when you are asked to add gratuity.

Expert Tip: Okay, I’m not sure this will make me seem like an expert, but when we ordered breakfast room service one day, I filled out the card to put on our door the night before. I just put a checkmark next to each item I wanted, and I figured they would bring one of each.

Nope, they brought one for EACH person in our room – so we ended up with a lot of food that we didn’t want/need. So make sure you specify the quantities that you’d like.

Premium Restaurants

They had a restaurant called the Chef’s Table, which cost extra. We didn’t go to this, but I’m sure it was great…we just didn’t want to pay 🙂 I know bigger cruise ships have other paid options, but you can check on the Carnival website for more specifics on these.

Carnival Cruise Drinks

Water and juices are typically free. In the Lido, there is a drink station where you can get cups of water, lemonade, and juice in the morning. I would always fill up my large 64-ounce water bottle there each morning, With that said, the water from the bar and restaurants is much better than the water from the buffet area. You can go up to any place like this and ask for ice water for free.

You cannot bring your own soda or alcohol on the boat, so don’t even try. You can bring an empty water bottle, though. As I mentioned, I brought my 64-ounce water bottle, which worked great. They have water bottles you can buy, but I didn’t want to waste my money on that!

They offer two drink packages that you can buy in bulk either before you get on board, or on the first or second day of the cruise (pro-rated on the second day). This allows you to have unlimited soda (and certain alcoholic drinks if you get that package). We don’t drink much beyond water, and the occasional lemonade, so we didn’t feel like this would have been a good option for us.

Carnival Cruise Food Allergies

I have a lot of friends who have allergies (or who have children who have allergies), and I know how stressful a trip can be where you aren’t able to prepare your own food. Here is some good information on what to do about dietary restrictions. They can only accommodate them fully in the main dining lounge, though they do have a variety of allergy-friendly and vegetarian options in other restaurants (but this may not be as controlled, especially at the buffets).

The post The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Food appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.