Carnival requires all guests to provide them with their check-in information by completing the online portion and selecting their arrival appointment no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time before their cruise date.
The multi-step online check-in process is easy and takes just a few minutes. It will go even quicker if your passport (or other travel documentation) and credit card are readily available.
On embarkation day, you will complete the check-in process at the terminal. Port agents will verify your travel documentation, and you will pass through a short security check.
Keep reading to learn more about Carnival Cruise Line's check-in process.
The online check-in portal opens 14 days before your cruise
Because the check-in window opens two weeks before your sailing date, you might have to wait a while if you booked your sailing more than a year in advance.
For example, if your cruise departs on November 22, 2025, your online check-in will open on November 8.
If you aren't sure when your check-in portal opens, the date is listed under your "to-do" list on Carnival's Cruise Manager or Planner.
To access your booking, make sure your reservation is linked to your account. If you log into your Carnival account and don't see an upcoming cruise, input your reservation number and surname under "Booking and Order Details."
Read more: 31 cruise ship embarkation tips and tricks
Once you have found the check-in link and your portal has opened, you can begin checking in for your cruise
To make this as easy as possible, make sure you have the following documents available:
- The legal name, birthday, telephone number, and address of each guest
- Travel documentation for each guest
- Emergency contact information
- Carnival VIFP membership number, if applicable
- The credit or debit card that you will link to your onboard account to cover your expenses on the ship (you may also select a cash account)
- Flight information, if applicable
You also must select an arrival time. They aren't automatically assigned by Carnival, so if you want an earlier slot, set a reminder on your phone or calendar since they're usually chosen first.
If you wait until a few days before your departure, you may find that your desired arrival times have already been chosen.
Once the online check-in process is completed, Carnival will issue everyone a boarding pass
Print your physical boarding pass before leaving your house or pre-cruise hotel to ensure your boarding process isn't delayed. It doesn't matter if you print your boarding pass in black and white or in color.
After speaking with a port agent and having your travel documentation verified, your pass will be stamped with a specific number to let other port employees know who was responsible for successfully checking you in.
The boarding pass has tons of important embarkation day information, including your ship name and sail date, embarkation city, arrival appointment time, final boarding time, stateroom number, VIFP loyalty number, and muster station.
Carnival Cruise Line's embarkation day check-in process
Even though you, hopefully, completed Carnival's online check-in process, you aren't cleared to board until you complete the physical check-in at the port.
Within hours, Carnival checks in thousands of guests ready to embark on their long-awaited vacation, so it's helpful to understand how the in-person part works.
Because some cities have multiple terminals, ensure you have the right address before arranging your transportation. You can confirm the terminal address through Carnival's website or your pre-cruise documents.
After arriving at the terminal, a porter will assist you with your larger bags. Because you won't have your suitcases for a few hours, pack a carry-on with your essentials, including travel documentation, medication, a swimsuit, and other valuables.
To speed up the luggage part of the check-in process, pre-print your luggage tags and securely affix them to your bags.
Once you've dropped your bags off, you will head inside the terminal to complete the security screening and have your documents verified. Similar to airport security, you must pass through an X-ray scanner.
However, Carnival also has a K9 narcotics dog on-site to sniff all carry-on bags to check for illegal drugs, such as marijuana. This is typically done before going through the X-ray screeners.
Want to skip the lines? Purchase Faster to the Fun
Faster to the Fun is Carnival's priority pass that can be purchased before your cruise. In addition to priority check-in at the terminal, you will also receive:
- Early access to your cabin to drop off carry-on bags
- Expedited luggage delivery
- Priority tender boarding
- A dedicated line and phone number for faster service at Guest Services
- Priority Main Dining Room and specialty restaurant reservations
- Priority disembarkation
The cost varies based on the length of your cruise. The lowest price starts at around $79.95 per cabin for shorter cruises and increases to $189.95. Unlike other cruise lines' priority embarkation passes, Faster to the Fun is priced per cabin, not cruiser.
If you purchase Faster to the Fun, you can skip the general boarding lane, as there will be a decided priority line for those with exclusive passes.
Read more: 10 lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time
Suite guests also have priority boarding
Carnival suites don't have as many perks as some of the lavish suites on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC ships. However, one benefit is priority boarding.
Suite passengers can select arrival appointments 48 hours before other guests, making it easier to grab one of the earliest time slots. If that isn't enough, there's a dedicated check-in lane for priority guests.
Plus, priority guests receive a letter with special luggage tags offering disembarkation options toward the end of the cruise.
Once onboard, don't forget about the mandatory muster drill
All cruisers, regardless of which line they're sailing with, must complete the ship's safety drill before sailing away. Thankfully, Carnival doesn't require passengers to report for an in-person drill at the same time.
Instead, guests visit their assigned assembly station on their own time for a short safety demonstration by one of the crew members. They will show how to properly use a life jacket and advise on other important protocols.
Once the ship's all-aboard time has passed, the Captain and Cruise Director will come over the public address system to provide a few more important safety reminders and sound the emergency alarm. During this time, services like the bars will be closed to ensure everyone's paying attention.
You must visit your assembly station as soon as possible. That way, you can fully transition into vacation mode!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
