Cruise Check-In Process

If you haven’t cruised before, or it’s been a while since your last one, the check-in process might feel a little overwhelming. It’s not difficult, but there are a few things you need to do ahead of time so that embarkation day goes as smoothly as possible. I’ve found that the best way to avoid stress is to get everything ready before check-in even opens. That way, when it’s time to complete the process, I’m not scrambling for documents or trying to remember which card I want on file.

Get Organized

Before check-in opens, I make sure I have a document with all the important details in one place. Personally, I have a Google Doc that has all of our family's information saved that we need for each trip we take. This makes the process go a lot faster because I can just copy and paste everything instead of hunting for information. Here’s what I include:

• Full name and date of birth for each traveler

• Passport number, issue date, and expiration date

• Credit card number, expiration date, and security code for the card I plan to have on file for charges back to the room

• Arrival and departure flight numbers and times

• Emergency contact information

• Cruise loyalty program numbers 

Having everything prepped ahead of time means I can check in quickly instead of wasting time searching for a passport number while trying to keep an eye on my email for the confirmation.

When and How to Check In

For Royal Caribbean, check-in opens 45 days before your cruise at midnight in the time zone of your departure port. For Carnival, check-in opens 14 days before your cruise at midnight, eastern time. You’ll get a reminder email letting you know that check in is open, but it usually doesn’t arrive until later in the morning. I set a phone reminder for the moment check-in opens so I don’t forget.

You can check in through the app or website for Royal Caribbean, but only the website for Carnival. If you’re using the app, make sure you have access to your saved travel information on the same device so you can easily copy and paste everything.

Check-in remains open until about two days before departure, but it’s best to complete it as soon as possible so you can choose your preferred check-in time at the port.

Onboard Expense Account

As part of the check-in process, you’ll need to set up your onboard expense account. This account is used for all purchases on the ship since your cruise with be cashless while you are on the ship. During check-in, it will ask you to link a credit card or debit card. Any purchases you make on board will be charged back to your room (you can keep track of this in the app or on one of the channels on the TV) and then will be charged to your card at the end of the cruise (no need to close out your card).

If you need to change the card on your file, you can do that on the app up until the day before you cruise, or at guest services on the ship once you're onboard. You can change your card up until the last night onboard. If you used a debit card, you can expect the cruise to put a authorization hold on your card. You can also bring cash and payoff your room charges at guest services as you go, up until the last night. 

Security Photos

Some cruise lines allow you to upload a security photo ahead of time. Royal Caribbean, for example, requires a passport-style photo taken against a plain background. The easiest way to do this is to take a photo in front of a white wall with good lighting. Carnival, on the other hand, takes your photo when you arrive at the terminal, so there’s nothing you need to do in advance.

Health Questionnaire

For Royal Caribbean, an additional step in the check-in process is completing a health questionnaire. This is required for all guests and must be submitted within 24 hours before boarding. The easiest way to do this is through the Royal Caribbean app, where you’ll be prompted to answer a few basic health-related questions. Completing this in advance can speed up the embarkation process and help avoid delays at the terminal.

Choosing a Check-In Time

When checking in, you’ll select an arrival time at the cruise terminal. These time slots are usually in 30-minute increments between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM. Each has its benefits:

• Earlier check-in (10:30 AM – 12:00 PM) means you can board the ship sooner, grab lunch on board, and take care of things like dining reservations, spa bookings, or kids’ club registration before they fill up. The downside is that your stateroom might not be ready yet, so you’ll need to carry your bags around for a bit.

• Later check-in (1:30 PM – 3:30 PM) is usually less crowded, and by the time you board, your stateroom will likely be ready. The downside is that you have less time to explore the ship before departure.

Policies on early and late arrivals vary by port. Carnival at Miami let us board early even though our check-in time was later, while Carnival at Galveston had a separate line for early arrivals that actually took longer.

Boarding Passes and Luggage Tags

Once you’ve checked in:

• Royal Caribbean: Your SetSail Pass will appear in the Royal Caribbean app, and you can add it to your phone’s digital wallet, just like a plane ticket. The last four numbers under the barcode on your pass should match your stateroom number, so it’s worth double-checking.

• Carnival: You’ll need to print your boarding pass and bring it with you or have a screenshot on your phone.

Before your cruise, you’ll also need to print your luggage tags. These are similar to airline baggage tags and help ensure your bags make it to your stateroom. Each checked bag needs two tags:

1. A personal luggage tag with your contact information in case your bag gets misplaced.

2. The cruise-issued luggage tag with your stateroom number so the crew knows where to deliver your luggage.

Once your luggage arrives in your stateroom on embarkation day, you can toss the cruise luggage tags—they’re only needed for that first day.

Muster Drills

Before the ship departs, everyone on board must complete the muster drill, which is a safety briefing. You can watch the muster video in the app before embarkation day. If you do it in advance, you’ll only need to check in at your assigned muster station once you board, which takes just a few minutes. If you forget, you can still do it on the ship, but it’s one more thing to remember on embarkation day.

Is The Drink Package on a Carnival Cruise Worth It?

One thing that you seem to always hear about on cruises is the "drink package." It seems to be the order is you book your cruise, you book your excursions, and next comes the drink package. Each cruise line does their drink package a little differently, so whether or not you should get the drink package depends on which cruise line you're sailing with. This post is about Carnival's drink package, but if you want to know more about Royal Caribbean's drink package, then go to this post here. 

What is the Carnival Drink Package

There's actually several "drink packages" on a cruise. When people wear the shirts that say "watch out! I bought the drink package," they're actually referring to the Cheers Package, AKA the alcohol package. There's also the Bottomless Bubbles Package, AKA the soda package. The alcohol is the most expensive package, and the non-alcohol will be the least expensive package. For this post, if I'm talking about a drink package, I'm talking about the alcohol package, which Carnival calls their Cheers Package. 

What do you get in the Carnival Drink Package

The drink package is basically everything you'd get for the non-alcohol package (sodas and juices) plus alcohol. You get 15 drinks, up to $20 per drink . If you're wondering, most drinks at the bars will be under the $20 limit, but the specialty drinks are usually over the $20 limit. That doesn't mean you can't order a $20 drink, it just means you have to pay the difference for anything over $20. So if you have the drink package, a $21 drink will cost you $1 Bob. 

One thing you don't get in the drink package is full bottles of wine for dinner. You can either buy it buy the glass, or you can save 25% on a bottle of wine. 

How much is the Carnival Drink Package

Sadly, it depends. Carnival changes the price for each cruise. But, the price is always per person, per day. What this means is that you could go on 2 cruises and pay $85/per day on the first cruise and $100/per day on the second cruise. 

In general, people say you need to drink about 7 drinks a day to break even on the drink package, since drinks are about $14 each. 

Why the Carnival Drink Package is NOT Worth It

People always assume you must get the drink package, and I mostly disagree. In fact, I think that most cruisers would actually save money if they didn't get the drink package. You don't have to have the drink package in order to drink alcohol. If you don't have the drink package, then you just charge the drinks back to your room like you would at a hotel. The drink package is just you pre-paying for alcohol, but it's not the only way to drink alcohol on the ship. 

Don't get the drink package if your itinerary has a lot of port stops

You can't use your drink package when you're not on the ship. Let's take a hypothetical scenario of where your itinerary is Day 1 embarkation day, Day 2 port day, Day 3 port day, Day 4 sailing day, Day 5 disembarkation day. Let's assume your embarkation day boarding time is 3pm, you're at each port from 8am to 4pm, and your disembarkation time is 8am. In this scenario, you only have from 3pm - 12pm to use your drink package on Day 1; from 4pm - 12pm to use your drink package on Days 2 and 3; all day to use your drink package on Day 4; and you're probably not going to even drink on Day 5. 

Given that you have to drink 7 or more drinks each day to break even, how much do you think you can drink during these time periods? While 7 drinks might be totally feasible for you one day, can you do it 5 days in a row? What about if you add in drinking at a Margaritaville or Senor Frogs while you're off the ship? Can you drink 7 more drinks in the evening after drinking ashore? With a schedule like this, it's cheaper to pay per drink, even if you're drinking 5 drinks a day. 

Don't get the drink package if the other adults in your room don't drink

If one person 21+ in a room gets the drink package, everyone 21+ in that room has to get the drink package. This is to keep people from sharing drink packages. 

So if you're traveling with someone who chooses to be sober, or who just isn't a big enough drinker to drink the 7 drinks a day to justify a drink package, maybe you shouldn't get the drink package. Because the room rate is now two drink packages, it may just be cheaper for you to pay per drink. 

Don't get the drink package if you only drink wine

Each person 21+ can bring one bottle of wine with them in their carry-on bag. If you only drink wine, and you bring a bottle of wine with you, then there's no need to buy a drink package. You can take the bottle of wine to dinner and the server will pour you your own wine each night. My personal favorite thing to do is to bring a silicone wine glass and sit out on my balcony in the evenings and enjoy a glass of wine. 

And if anyone else you're traveling with is 21+, they can bring their own bottle of wine too. So that hypothetical person from my last point who doesn't really drink can bring your 2nd bottle of wine in their carry-on bag for you, and now you have 2 bottles of wine to last you a whole trip. 

Don't get the drink package if you think you might get seasick

Literally, there is nothing worse than being drunk or hungover on a  moving ship. If you think the room spins when you lay down on land, just imagine what it feels like when your bed is bobbing in the ocean. I'm not saying you can't drink during your cruise if you get seasick, but I am saying that you more-likely-than-not won't be drinking the 7+ drinks a day you need to break even with a drink package if you're already feeling queasy. 

Why the Carnival Drink Package IS Worth It

Get the drink package if your itinerary has a lot of sailing days

Let's take a hypothetical scenario of where your itinerary is Day 1 embarkation day, Day 2 sailing day, Day 3 port day, Day 4 sailing day, Day 5 disembarkation day. Let's assume your embarkation day boarding time is 11am, you're at each port from 8am to 4pm, and your disembarkation time is 9am. In this scenario, you have from 11am - 12pm to use your drink package on Day 1; all day to use your drink package on Day 2; from 4pm - 12pm to use your drink package on Day 3; all day to use your drink package on Day 4; and you're probably not going to even drink on Day 5.

Given this itinerary, it's a lot easier to fit 7 drinks per day on most of the days. This makes it more likely that you'll at least break even on the drink package for most days. 

Get the drink package if you don't plan on getting off at the port stops

On the other hand if you have no interest in getting off the ship, then you will be able to use your drink package all day even if your itinerary has a lot of port stops. The drink package is still available for you to use even when your ship is docked at a port. 

Get the drink package if you get it on sale

Prices go up as you get closer to the cruise, but you aren’t charged until right before the cruise so if it goes on sale, you can always cancel the drink package at the higher price and then buy it at a lower price. At $14 a drink, the drink package breaks even at only 4 drinks if you can get it for less than $56 a day, or 5 drinks for less than $70 a day. 

This makes it a lot more price efficient to get the drink package if you get it on a good sale. 

Get the drink package if you're a heavy drinker

If you are a heavy drinker, especially for cocktails or mixed drinks, then the drink package is probably a better deal for you. If you know that you can drink all day at the beach and then get on the ship and keep drinking, and then wake up and do it all again for several days in a row, then this is a good deal for you. Some people fully embrace "vacation mode" and are surprised at the drink bill at the end of their cruise. If you think you'll get close to breaking even on the package (and remember, this is easier to get if you get in on sale), then you might as well get the drink package. 

Should you get the drink package for your Carnival cruise

Personally, I think most people don't need the drink package, unless it's on a really good sale. 

My husband and I did the math, and for us it's just not worth it. I bring a bottle of white wine in my checked bag and have that at dinner, and my husband brings a bottle of sangria in his checked bag, and I have that in the room in the evenings. My husband will have the occasional 2-3 pina coladas during the day and we usually will share a bucket of beer on a sailing day. And we aim to make sure we have the opportunity to go somewhere all inclusive at our port stops. For us, that's enough alcohol for a trip and is significantly less than the almost $100 per person per day cost of the drink package. 

Is The Drink Package on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Worth It?

One thing that you seem to always hear about on cruises is the "drink package." It seems to be the order is you book your cruise, you book your excursions, and next comes the drink package. Each cruise line does their drink package a little differently, so whether or not you should get the drink package depends on which cruise line you're sailing with. This post is about Royal Caribbean's drink package, but if you want to know more about Carnival's drink package, then go to this post here. 

What is the Royal Caribbean Drink Package

There's actually several "drink packages" on a cruise. When people wear the shirts that say "watch out! I bought the drink package," they're actually referring to the Deluxe Beverage Package, AKA the alcohol package. There's also the Refreshment Package, AKA the soda and bottled water package. Last, there's the Classic Soda Package, AKA the soda package. The alcohol is the most expensive package, and the non-alcohol will be the least expensive packages. For this post, if I'm talking about a drink package, I'm talking about the alcohol package, which Royal Caribbean calls their Deluxe Beverage Package. 

What do you get in the Royal Caribbean Drink Package

The drink package is basically everything you'd get for the non-alcohol packages (sodas, juices, bottled water) plus alcohol. You get unlimited $14 and under drinks. If you're wondering, most drinks at the bars will be under the $14 limit, but the Bionic Bar and specialty drinks are usually over the $14 limit. That doesn't mean you can't order a $15 drink, it just means you have to pay the difference for anything over $14. So if you have the drink package, a $15 drink will cost you $1 Bob. 

One thing you don't get in the drink package is full bottles of wine for dinner. You can either buy it buy the glass, or you can save 40% on a bottle of wine. 

Another thing you don't get in the drink package is Starbucks drinks. There are non-Starbucks coffee cafes on board, and you can get those premium coffees for free if you have the drink package, but there is no drink package option that includes Starbucks. This means that no matter what drink package you get, if you're a big Starbucks person you'll be paying for each drink you get from there. 

How much is the Royal Caribbean Drink Package

Sadly, it depends. Royal Caribbean changes the price for each cruise. But, the price is always per person, per day. What this means is that you could go on 2 cruises and pay $70/per day on the first cruise and $100/per day on the second cruise. 

In general, people say you need to drink about 7 drinks a day to break even on the drink package, since it covers you up to $14 a drink. 

Why the Royal Caribbean Drink Package is NOT Worth It

People always assume you must get the drink package, and I mostly disagree. In fact, I think that most cruisers would actually save money if they didn't get the drink package. You don't have to have the drink package in order to drink alcohol. If you don't have the drink package, then you just charge the drinks back to your room like you would at a hotel. The drink package is just you pre-paying for alcohol, but it's not the only way to drink alcohol on the ship. 

Don't get the drink package if your itinerary has a lot of port stops

You can't use your drink package when you're not on the ship. Let's take a hypothetical scenario of where your itinerary is Day 1 embarkation day, Day 2 port day, Day 3 port day, Day 4 sailing day, Day 5 disembarkation day. Let's assume your embarkation day boarding time is 3pm, you're at each port from 8am to 4pm, and your disembarkation time is 8am. In this scenario, you only have from 3pm - 12pm to use your drink package on Day 1; from 4pm - 12pm to use your drink package on Days 2 and 3; all day to use your drink package on Day 4; and you're probably not going to even drink on Day 5. 

Given that you have to drink 7 or more drinks each day to break even, how much do you think you can drink during these time periods? While 7 drinks might be totally feasible for you one day, can you do it 5 days in a row? What about if you add in drinking at a Margaritaville or Senor Frogs while you're off the ship? Can you drink 7 more drinks in the evening after drinking ashore? With a schedule like this, it's cheaper to pay per drink, even if you're drinking 5 drinks a day. 

Don't get the drink package if the other adults in your room don't drink

If one person 21+ in a room gets the drink package, everyone 21+ in that room has to get the drink package. This is to keep people from sharing drink packages. 

So if you're traveling with someone who chooses to be sober, or who just isn't a big enough drinker to drink the 7 drinks a day to justify a drink package, maybe you shouldn't get the drink package. Because the room rate is now two drink packages, it may just be cheaper for you to pay per drink. 

Don't get the drink package if you only drink wine

Each person 21+ can bring one bottle of wine with them in their carry-on bag. If you only drink wine, and you bring a bottle of wine with you, then there's no need to buy a drink package. You can take the bottle of wine to dinner and the server will pour you your own wine each night. My personal favorite thing to do is to bring a silicone wine glass and sit out on my balcony in the evenings and enjoy a glass of wine. 

And if anyone else you're traveling with is 21+, they can bring their own bottle of wine too. So that hypothetical person from my last point who doesn't really drink can bring your 2nd bottle of wine in their carry-on bag for you, and now you have 2 bottles of wine to last you a whole trip. 

Don't get the drink package if you think you might get seasick

Literally, there is nothing worse than being drunk or hungover on a  moving ship. If you think the room spins when you lay down on land, just imagine what it feels like when your bed is bobbing in the ocean. I'm not saying you can't drink during your cruise if you get seasick, but I am saying that you more-likely-than-not won't be drinking the 7+ drinks a day you need to break even with a drink package if you're already feeling queasy. 

Why the Royal Caribbean Drink Package IS Worth It

Get the drink package if your itinerary has a lot of sailing days

Let's take a hypothetical scenario of where your itinerary is Day 1 embarkation day, Day 2 sailing day, Day 3 port day, Day 4 sailing day, Day 5 disembarkation day. Let's assume your embarkation day boarding time is 11am, you're at each port from 8am to 4pm, and your disembarkation time is 9am. In this scenario, you have from 11am - 12pm to use your drink package on Day 1; all day to use your drink package on Day 2; from 4pm - 12pm to use your drink package on Day 3; all day to use your drink package on Day 4; and you're probably not going to even drink on Day 5.

Given this itinerary, it's a lot easier to fit 7 drinks per day on most of the days. This makes it more likely that you'll at least break even on the drink package for most days. 

Get the drink package if your itinerary includes a stop at a Royal Caribbean-owned port stop

I should clarify from earlier, that you can only use the drink package on the ship and at a cruise line-owned port. For Royal Caribbean, that includes Coco Cay and Labadee. As Royal Caribbean opens their Royal Beach Club in Cozumel and their Perfect Day at Costa Maya, there may be additional port stops that you can use your drink package off of the ship.

So, let's take the hypothetical scenario from my point above. If your trip only has 1 stop, and it's at a Royal Caribbean port, then you can use your drink package every day. With this itinerary, you're more likely to break even on the drink package. 

Get the drink package if you don't plan on getting off at the port stops

On the other hand if you have no interest in getting off the ship, then you will be able to use your drink package all day even if your itinerary has a lot of port stops. The drink package is still available for you to use even when your ship is docked at a port. 

Get the drink package if you get it on sale

Prices go up as you get closer to the cruise, but you aren’t charged until right before the cruise so if it goes on sale, you can always cancel the drink package at the higher price and then buy it at a lower price. I like to use the website RoyalPriceTracker.com to notify me when drink packages or excursions go on sale. At $14 a drink, the drink package breaks even at only 4 drinks if you can get it for less than $56 a day, or 5 drinks for less than $70 a day. 

This makes it a lot more price efficient to get the drink package if you get it on a good sale. 

Get the drink package if you're a heavy drinker

If you are a heavy drinker, especially for cocktails or mixed drinks, then the drink package is probably a better deal for you. If you know that you can drink all day at the beach and then get on the ship and keep drinking, and then wake up and do it all again for several days in a row, then this is a good deal for you. Some people fully embrace "vacation mode" and are surprised at the drink bill at the end of their cruise. If you think you'll get close to breaking even on the package (and remember, this is easier to get if you get in on sale), then you might as well get the drink package. 

Should you get the drink package for your Royal Caribbean cruise

Personally, I think most people don't need the drink package, unless it's on a really good sale. 

My husband and I did the math, and for us it's just not worth it. I bring a bottle of white wine in my checked bag and have that at dinner, and my husband brings a bottle of sangria in his checked bag, and I have that in the room in the evenings. My husband will have the occasional 2-3 pina coladas during the day and we usually will share a bucket of beer on a sailing day. And we aim to make sure we have the opportunity to go somewhere all inclusive at our port stops. For us, that's enough alcohol for a trip and is significantly less than the almost $100 per person per day cost of the drink package.