Carnival’s Hub App requires wi-fi, which can be accessed without purchasing a wi-fi plan. To use the Hub App (or access any wi-fi plans you may have purchased), simply put your phone on airplane mode then navigate to the wi-fi settings on your phone and manually turn wi-fi back on. You can choose to do this as soon as you’re on the ship, but that will limit your ability to access any calls, texts, and cellular data you may have through your carrier while you’re still docked in at the embarkation port. Either way, you definitely want do this before the ship gets to International waters. We always make the transition to airplane mode at sail away so we don’t forget.

Putting your phone on airplane mode helps in a couple of ways:

1. Your phone will stay on ship time and not change with the time zones (unless you take it off airplane mode in regions where your cellular plan has coverage – like Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, etc.).
2. You won’t accidentally incur roaming fees for incoming calls, texts or background data usage.

If you purchased a wi-fi package of any kind, navigate to the wi-fi section of the Hub App and sign in to access wi-fi. The wi-fi section of the app will also allow you to purchase wi-fi if you didn’t purchase in advance. Purchasing in advance includes a discount, so if you know you’re going to want wi-fi, you should purchase at least 24 hours in advance so you save a little.

Wi-fi packages are sold per device – BUT – it’s important to know that you can SWITCH devices at any time. So one wi-fi package CAN be used on multiple devices (phones, tablets, computers), just not at the same time. Only one device can be signed in to use the wi-fi at any given time. My husband and I often share a wi-fi plan and just log off and on, as needed.

We often get the Social wi-fi package, not only because it’s the least expensive (around $20 per device/day – 15% discount if you purchase it before midnight the day before sail away), but because along with social apps like Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn, and SnapChat, it also allows use of Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp. These are the apps we use to communicate with those back home.

Since moving to Starlink, the wi-fi plans have definitely improved, so on our most recent cruise we upgraded to the Premium Plan (around $25 per device/day). $5/day seemed like a small jump to allow for full wi-fi access and streaming. With this plan we were able to stream Hulu Live for a football game we didn’t want to miss (Hook ’em!), check emails that we didn’t respond to, and called family using video chat (like Facetime). We had zero issues streaming or video calling and were happy with the purchase. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if having internet access is worth it for you and which plan you want to go with.

Packages:

For the most up to date information on available wi-fi packages, you can use the following links:

• Carnival: https://www.carnival.com/internet-plans
• Royal Caribbean: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/cruise-ship-wifi

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Please note that Cruise Recs is providing this article for informational purposes only. We take great care to make sure the information we provide is accurate, but take no legal responsibility for advising travelers regarding proper travel documents. Be sure to check with your preferred cruise line prior to embarkation to confirm required documentation for your specific travel itinerary.

The required documents are a little different for traveling by sea than by land, and depends on your home port, destinations, and your citizenship status. For this article, we’ll be focusing on United States permanent residents cruising from U.S. Domestics ports.

Most cruise lines highly recommend that all guests travel with a passport book that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.  Traveling with a passport will ensure a smooth debarkation, as without one you may experience delays by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you return to the United States. Additionally, in the unlikely event of an emergency that requires you to cut your cruise short, having a passport will enable you to fly back to the United States without significant delays and complications.

Traveling with a Passport or Other Acceptable Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-Compliant Documents

For cruises that begin and end in the same U.S port, the following WHTI-compliant documents are acceptable for cruise travel. Please note that there are a few exceptions where you MUST travel with a passport – see the Exceptions section below for more information.

PASSPORT

United States citizens may present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book when traveling via air, land, or sea. The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.  U.S. citizens may also present a limited-use, wallet-size passport card. The passport card will only be valid for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda. Note that a passport card cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

• U.S. Passport Book
• U.S. Passport Card

-OR-

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION + BIRTH CERTIFICATE

In lieu of a passport, guests may travel with acceptable government issued photo identification + a valid birth certificate.

An unexpired government-issued photo ID is required of all guests 16 years of age and older. A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.

The following photo IDs are acceptable:

• Driver’s License (a temporary Driver’s License with photo is acceptable)
• Driver’s Permit
• School/Student ID (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age)
• Government-issued identification card including a U.S. Military ID with photo (city/state/federal)
• Government-issued Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) – for photo identification use only

AND one of the following:

• U.S.-born citizens may use a birth certificate issued by a government agency – see Birth Certificate Information section below for more information on requirements for birth certificates
• Consular report of Birth Abroad
• Certificate of U.S. Naturalization
• Native American Indian Card

EXCEPTIONS:

• Cruises that visit Greenland: a passport book is required.
• Cruises that begin and end in a different U.S. port: a passport book or passport card is required.
• Cruises that visit Colombia, provided they depart from and return to a U.S. port: a passport book or passport card is required.

Note that passport books and passport cards must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.

Birth Certificate Information

The following are acceptable:

• An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics.
• A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified.
• Birth Certificate Card
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Internationally adopted children (under the age of 18): If the adoptive parent was not issued a birth certificate, proof of citizenship, a Certificate of Citizenship by the U.S. and adoption paperwork is acceptable. A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized.
• Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at: www.vitalchek.com.
• Laminated birth certificates are acceptable.

Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010, are not valid forms of proof of citizenship and are not accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo ID with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.

Unacceptable Forms of Documentation

• Copies of any WHTI-Compliant document
• Driver’s License as the only proof (must also have birth certificate)
• A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID
• A temporary driver’s license (paperwork without a photo ID)
• Voter’s Registration Card
• Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) – may be used for photo identification use only
• Baptismal Papers
• U.S. Military ID as the only proof
• A Dependent Military ID that is issued to the spouse and children of military personnel is not acceptable
• U.S. Military Discharge Papers
• No Record of Birth certificate: a certificate issued by the Department of Health and Vital Statistics showing that they have no records on this person
• Hospital certificate, hospital-issued birth notice, Certificate of Live Birth, live record of birth or announcement of birth

Names on Travel Documentation
It is important that the guest’s full name (first name and last name) on the booking be the same as the guest’s non-expired government-issued photo I.D. they plan to use for travel identification. In the event of a different name on the booking and the guest’s photo I.D. as a result of a marriage, divorce or a legal name change, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required (at embarkation), such as a marriage certificate, marriage license or legal name change court document. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denied boarding.

For those about to or recently have been married, we strongly recommend that in instances where the non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is in the maiden name, the cruise booking be made in the maiden name (do not include the married name); If the reservation was made in the married name, but the non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is in the maiden name, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required (at embarkation), such as a marriage certificate or marriage license. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denied boarding.

Traveling with Minors
When traveling with a minor where one or both parents or legal guardians are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original signed letter from the absent parent(s) or legal guardians authorizing the minor to travel with you. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the minor (due to sole custody, deceased, etc.) other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, death certificate, birth certificate naming only one parent, would be useful to bring in place of a signed letter. This will expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security.

Citizens of U.S. Territories and Commonwealth

Guests will follow the same travel documentation requirements. U.S. Territories and Commonwealth include: Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John), America Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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To figure out how much cash to bring, we select a dollar amount and multiple it by the number of ports we’ll be visiting, then we add additional for various tips and travel incidentals. The amount you choose is a personal choice and fully dependent on your financial situation at the time of your cruise. We’ve been on cruises where funds were tight and we spent very little in port (sometimes nothing) and other times we’ve had a little more wiggle room and purchased souvenirs or local art for ourselves and friends/family back home. Either way, your budget might include line items for the following:

Embarkation/Debarkation Porters – average is $2 per bag – Sometimes we use porters when we arrive in port and/or when we get off the ship – and sometimes we don’t. There’s really no rhyme or reason to it other than being dependent on how tired we are or how convenient they are in the moment. It’s always nice to plan for it either way, just in case. If we do use a porter, we always tip. The embarkation porters are making sure your luggage actually makes it on the ship, after all. And depending on your home port, sometimes a debarkation porter can get you through Customs lines faster. If we don’t use a porter, then it’s just extra cash we have on hand in case we need it.

Port Days – Plan to spend cash in port for food, drink, entertainment, souvenirs, etc. This amount varies wildly depending on the destination and your financial situation at the time. It could be anywhere from $20-$200 per port or more. If we’re feeling really fancy or find something really unique that we really love, we have been known to splurge a little. We love to bring home original local art – and we know others who love to shop for jewelry or gemstones on shore. We also use this cash for any local transportation, refreshments or maybe a couple of loungers & an umbrella for kicking back on a beach with protection from the sun. Any cash we have leftover from one port, we roll over to the next.

Excursion Tips – average is $10 per guide for a half day outing and $15-20 per guide for a full day outing. These locals work hard to make sure you enjoy your time in their country/on their island and their wages are usually far less than our minimum wage in the U.S. – and in some cases, they only work for tips. So if you have a great local guide, be sure to tip them for their efforts. Everyone appreciates a tip, but some of them depend on tips to make a living.

Tender Tips – average is $2 per trip – What’s a “tender”, you ask? Some destinations have ecological protections for their reefs, which are an important part of the underwater eco-system and play a huge role in the health of the beach and marine life in the area. Reefs offer protection from storms & beach erosion, recreational opportunities (like snorkeling & diving), and can be a source of food and medicine. So, in cases where a port has a protected reef, the ship won’t dock, but instead anchor just off shore, behind the reef. In these cases, a smaller boat (called a “tender”) will bring you to and from the ship. Tenders are not owned & managed by the cruise lines, but by locals from the destination country, which is why you may opt to tip.

Ship Tips – You’ll likely want to tip anyone who delivers room service to your cabin, as well as your stateroom steward, your dining crew if you have set time dining (as opposed to your time dining), and potentially your favorite bartender of barista – if you found one. These amounts vary significantly depending on who you ask. And yes, the cruise staff does share in the tips you pay when you book your cruise, but we like to directly reward good service and “above and beyond” services. This, of course, is a personal preference and entirely optional. For room service, we usually tip $2-3 per delivery. For stewards, we usually tip $10 per day at the end of the cruise. For dining crew, we usually tip $7-10 per day on the last day. For bartenders & baristas, it depends on how great they were, how often they remembered our regular orders, and how pleasant they were to interact with, but $7-10 per day is fairly typical for us.

PRO TIP:

We always pick up extra bank envelopes and separate our cash out by use case. We’ve found this to be the easiest way to make sure we have enough for each destination and some left over for tips and other random incidentals.

We always carry the current port’s envelope AND the one for the next port with us when we get off the ship. This way, if we find something really extraordinary that’s a little over that port’s budget, we have the cash on hand and can plan to spend less in the next port. We also like to have the piece of mind knowing we have a little extra cash in the off chance we get stuck in a port and the ship has to leave without us. This is a very unlikely scenario, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. We keep them in separate bags so if one bag gets lost or stolen, we still have cash. That has never happened either, but there’s a first time for everything.

If you were really good and didn’t spend all of your cash from any particular envelope, just roll it into the next one. It’s always a good feeling to have some cash in your pocket when you step off the ship. You can be proud of yourself for not only sticking to your budget but coming in under! Celebrate by treating yourself to IHOP or Buc-ees on the way home!

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