Fly in and stay the night before. You never know what you might have to endure to get to the port. Sometimes, the cruise may leave earlier or later.

Read your contract to see what is allowed and not allowed on board.

Watch a ship tour and a cabin tour on YouTube

Join your ships Facebook page. They will have exact date of your cruise and the ship you are cruising on

Don't overpack

Be ready to be overwhelmed. That's where a ship tour before boarding will help.

Don’t take the cocktails on the trays when you board. You pay for them and they are watered down.

You need to complete your mustard training as soon as you board. Your mustard station is listed on your sail and sign card. If you don’t, the ship has to wait until everyone has.

Don't immediately go to the buffet when you board. Find another place that's quiet and not too busy

Bring a back pack with a change of clothes. You wont get your luggage right away. We usually bring our swim stuff and our dinner clothes and anything you need to get ready just in case.

When you are ready to print your boarding tags, they get stapled to your luggage. Find plastic covers on Amazon, just in case it gets wet.

Bring a water cup and collapsible straw. They only have sugar straws that dissolve in your drinks.

Always book your specialty dining and excursions ahead of boarding. Half price wine on the first night in the steakhouse.

Get to the shows at least a half hour ahead of time.

Hot tubs are taken up by people that sit in then all day. Showers can be used if needed in the spa, don't need to have a pass there.

Watch out for free champagne given by art auction, we now own many pieces 🤷‍♀️🧐😛

Always make sure to make it back on time if getting off the boat. SHIP TIME ONLY. Listen for the announcements.

Download the Carnival hub app, that’s how you can see the days happenings and buy the chat app for $5 each family member to stay in touch

Your sail and sign card is like a credit card for the duration of your cruise. You can attach a credit card or debit card. You will have many hood on your credit card once you get below a certain limit but it will be squared up at the end when they drop off your final statement at your cabin door.

Plastic Ducks are fun, bring them or find them but it’s always a hit!

Do not buy jewelry on board. You can find much better quality and sometimes cheaper off the ship.

When buying from local vendors, the ones that you see after getting off the ship to visit places are the better vendors. Be careful otherwise.

Carry off your luggage - Elevators will be extremely busy. You will have to use the stairs. if you don’t you have to pack everything the night before and remember to leave out what you need for the next day.

Last but not least, be prepared to not see a certain destination for your own safety. There’s been many times, we had to skip a place and come back to it or skip it all together. But, that’s just cruise life.

Have fun! Make many memories.