What do you do when you first go to the dock to go on a cruise ship... im going with carnival?

Question

What do you do when you first go to the dock to go on a cruise ship... im going with carnival?

Answer 1

there will be signs, where to park, and lots of signs saying things like "board ship this way" and stuff.  you will wait in line and basically be herded onto the ship.

Answer 2

drop off your bags, go to stand in line , show cruise people your passports, tickets, ID,  stand in line again.  go up the gangway, get your picture taken, show them the cruise card they gave you when you showed your ID,  and then smile for the picture.

enjoy your first hour on board.

enjoy.

Answer 3

well you wait in line. get your sail & sign card (on-board expense card+room key) and you get on!

Normally carnival ships leave at 4. so get there about 12. There will be a lot of people after 12.

Answer 4

Normally ships begin the boarding process about noon and you can board then even if your cabin is not ready. They try to have them all cleans but some may not yet be ready by noon. You should ALWAYS get to the ship at least an hour before the time to sail. Some cruise line request that you be there 90 minutes ahead because all of the cruise lines have to present a complete passenger manifest to Customs officials an hour before departure. If you have not completed the pre-cruise check-in information (on line or by mail) you need to be there two hours before departure.

The terminals will vary quite a bit. Passengers arrive at the port by various means. Some take the cruise line's bus. Some take a taxi from the airport. Some drive to the cruise port. I have done all three. If you take the "transfers" bus provided by the cruise line, they will have a representative meet you at the luggage claim area and help you get to the bus. Some cruise lines will even retrieve your luggage and take it to the bus, based on the luggage tags that you should put on before you check your bags.

If you drive to the port or take a taxi there will be porters at the pier who will take your bags (except carry ons) and take it to the ship's gangway to be put aboard.

Check in at the cruise ports goes like this.

-You arrive at the port by car or bus and drop your luggage with a porter who works for the port, not the cruise line. So tip the guy a couple dollars at least. These people put all of the luggage in carts based on the luggage tags on your bags. The porters take your bags to the ship's doors and there ship's personnel send then through a scanner, one bag at a time just like at the airport, with someone watching content. I don't know for sure but my bet is they have dogs sniffing for bombs and other stuff too. Then your bags are delivered to your cabin door; but usually not until much later in the day about 5:00 PM.

Meanwhile you get in a line where they check first to see if you are even supposed to be there; many cruise lines use a self print pass that says you are to sail at that date and time.

-Then you get in line to go to a window to have your passport and other paperwork checked and to give your credit card so they can set up your on board cruise account.

-Then some cruise lines take your photo at the check in desk and other will take it at a different location as part of the check in process.

-Then they issue you your cruise card which serves as your room key, pass to get off and on the ship in ports and your charge card for everything you buy on ship.

- Then you and all of your carry on things (including handbags, camera, cell phone, and all packages) go through a scanner just like at the airport. Everything you are carrying goes on a belt to go through an X-ray machine, just like at the airport.

-When you clear the scanner/x-ray machine you head to the gangway and there some cruise lines take your photo (those that did not at the check in desk). The photo is an image that is on the magnetic strip on your cruise card so that when you enter or leave the ship they have your photo as well as your name.

Then there is usually another line to have a photo made of you boarding the ship. Some cruise lines will have a poster or mural for you to stand beside or in front of for the photo.

Now all of the foregoing may vary just a little by cruise line but that's been the process when I have cruised with Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, NCL and Princess.  It should be about the same on Carnival.

When you first board the ship lunch will be ready for you in the buffet , whatever its called on your ship. In addition, the bars will be open for drinks, and gym, pools and hot tubs will be open for use. The shops and casino will not be open but you can walk through it and upon first boarding is a good time to tour the ship.

Answer 5

As soon as you get into the terminal, the fun begins. Someone from the ship comes into the corridor and gets people in a partying mood. Be prepared to get your pictures took often. They hope to sell you the prints in the photo gallery. You're issued your Sail & Sign card, Security puts your JPEG picture on the magnetic strip on the back.

After the muster drill, the cruise director says f"For the next 7 days, we're going to do nothing but have fun fun fun till daddy takes the T-Bird away!!"

Be absolutely sure to order chocolate melting cake at evening dinner. Yummy!!

Bon Voyage,

Answer 6

First someone will direct you where to drop off your bags. Then you stand in a line. When your turn comes, the cruise people will ask you for your cruise papers, ID and probably your passport. If you pre registered a credit card with the cruise company and filled out all necessary papers beforehand, then it is real quick, like 2 minutes. They then show you where to get on the ship. Before you go up the gang plank, most likely someone will take your picture, so smile. You then get in the ship, show them your cruise card which you get before you go on the ship. They take your picture again, this time for security, scan your card and then off you go to the elevators. Someone is there to help you find your cabin.