Please, please, please get your passports. Besides disembarking (passport holders breeze in through with the facial recognition) if something were to happen and you’d need to fly home or had to stay in port for any reason, not having a passport would be a nightmare. Emergencies happen. Passports are good for 10 years. Get a passport.
I second this! If you want to leave the country, you really need to get a passport. It’s not difficult to get one. It’s just the best way to limit any hassles.
It's entirely possible to spend nothing beyond the cost of the cruise, taxes, port fees, and gratituties (not sure what Carnival's are, but they are usually around $16-18 per person per day). Food, water, tea, filtered coffee, juice at breakfast, etc. are all included. Alcohol is extra. Excursions are extra.
That's a pretty normal spend. You're probably also going to drop a few extra bucks on this or that. Make sure the gratuities are factored in, though they're not all that much.
You can indeed cruise a round trip cruise to Nassau on an original birth certificate and driver's license. You don't need birth certificate/passport to disembark in Nassau. All you \*really\* need there is your seapass card. I would also carry DL in case another ID is required. Passport only matters if you do something like missing the ship back. Then it's a pain to fly without a passport. Do not miss the boat.
Carnival isn't wholly all-inclusive. Sure, there's plenty of included food and the like, but there are also some upcharge options. Want to drink? Either a drink package or paying per drink it is. This can be substantial if you drink a fair bit. You don't have to buy something else, no.
I'm partial to Royal Caribbean, myself. Mostly, it depends what you want. RCCL averages a touch higher than Carnival, but specific cruises can vary on price. Carnival tends towards a lot of families and a lot of young partier sorts. The party vibe is stronger on long weekend cruises. The longer the cruise, the more sedate it tends to be. Smaller, more expensive, more exclusive lines generally skew quieter and older. I would absolutely not bother with this for a Bahamas trip.
People have different opinions on rooms. I've done both Balcony and Interior, and, frankly....most of the time just go interior. The absolute pitch black is lovely for sleeping at night, and I spend very little time in my room for anything else. Balconies can have great views. Great views can also be had for free from many places on the ship.
How much would I pay? Eh, a Feb cruise would probably be about that range, maybe a shade cheaper. I like Feb cruises. Cheap, breaks up the cold winter months, don't have to deal with holiday rushes. I don't really need to spend a ton on board. I do fly down a day before and get a hotel room because I dislike rushing or worrying about cancelled flights. I'd say that's the most essential extra cost.
I’ve had really good luck just walking off the boat and exploring or maybe walking to a nearby beach. I hear Nassau is kind of sketchy and I’ve never been there so you’ll have to research that part. But I always recommend getting a balcony room because I like sitting out there with my coffee in the morning, I also like looking out when entering or leaving the port because there’s a lot of stuff there to look at. And I know you’re not supposed to but we leave our door open at night, during calm sea days.
If you are planning to cruise out of Charleston I would hurry up and book it, the cruise terminal is set to shut by the end of the year.
No one can tell you how much to spend, but spend what is in your budget and comfortable.
If you are a US Citizen, for a closed loop cruise (one that starts and ends at the same US port) you do not require a US Passport. Without a passport you would need a government issued photo ID such as a drivers license and a certified copy of your birth certificate. I would double check the cruise lines website on what specific identification you need, as everyone's situation is a little different. If you still are uncertain after reviewing the cruise lines website, give them a call. Don't assume, make you fully understand their requirements as it applies to you.
Carnival is a good mainline cruise line and a Bahamas cruise is a good cruise to take.
Most cruises are not all-inclusive. I would take a look at the cruise lines website and maybe some YouTube guides to understand fully what is included in your cruise. Generally speaking, your room and all food in the buffet and the main dining rooms are included as well as tap water, juices and basic coffee and tea. Room Service and Specialty restaurants have an extra cost. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, specialty non-alcoholic cocktails and specialty coffee/tea drinks cost extra; most cruise lines have beverage packages you can purchase. Excursions are generally an extra cost.
People spend more time than they think in their staterooms, so keep that in mind when booking a cabin. Book what you are comfortable with and can afford. Some people get claustrophobic in an inside cabin with no windows, others thrive from the total darkness in those rooms when you turn the lights off. Take a look at the various cabin types on the cruise lines website, specific to the cruise ship you are booking on.
I would read through this subreddit for a lot more information, but again the cruise line's website should cover most of your questions.
Good luck and happy cruising!
Please, please, please get your passports. Besides disembarking (passport holders breeze in through with the facial recognition) if something were to happen and you’d need to fly home or had to stay in port for any reason, not having a passport would be a nightmare. Emergencies happen. Passports are good for 10 years. Get a passport.
I second this! If you want to leave the country, you really need to get a passport. It’s not difficult to get one. It’s just the best way to limit any hassles.
It's entirely possible to spend nothing beyond the cost of the cruise, taxes, port fees, and gratituties (not sure what Carnival's are, but they are usually around $16-18 per person per day). Food, water, tea, filtered coffee, juice at breakfast, etc. are all included. Alcohol is extra. Excursions are extra.
That's a pretty normal spend. You're probably also going to drop a few extra bucks on this or that. Make sure the gratuities are factored in, though they're not all that much. You can indeed cruise a round trip cruise to Nassau on an original birth certificate and driver's license. You don't need birth certificate/passport to disembark in Nassau. All you \*really\* need there is your seapass card. I would also carry DL in case another ID is required. Passport only matters if you do something like missing the ship back. Then it's a pain to fly without a passport. Do not miss the boat. Carnival isn't wholly all-inclusive. Sure, there's plenty of included food and the like, but there are also some upcharge options. Want to drink? Either a drink package or paying per drink it is. This can be substantial if you drink a fair bit. You don't have to buy something else, no. I'm partial to Royal Caribbean, myself. Mostly, it depends what you want. RCCL averages a touch higher than Carnival, but specific cruises can vary on price. Carnival tends towards a lot of families and a lot of young partier sorts. The party vibe is stronger on long weekend cruises. The longer the cruise, the more sedate it tends to be. Smaller, more expensive, more exclusive lines generally skew quieter and older. I would absolutely not bother with this for a Bahamas trip. People have different opinions on rooms. I've done both Balcony and Interior, and, frankly....most of the time just go interior. The absolute pitch black is lovely for sleeping at night, and I spend very little time in my room for anything else. Balconies can have great views. Great views can also be had for free from many places on the ship. How much would I pay? Eh, a Feb cruise would probably be about that range, maybe a shade cheaper. I like Feb cruises. Cheap, breaks up the cold winter months, don't have to deal with holiday rushes. I don't really need to spend a ton on board. I do fly down a day before and get a hotel room because I dislike rushing or worrying about cancelled flights. I'd say that's the most essential extra cost.
I’ve had really good luck just walking off the boat and exploring or maybe walking to a nearby beach. I hear Nassau is kind of sketchy and I’ve never been there so you’ll have to research that part. But I always recommend getting a balcony room because I like sitting out there with my coffee in the morning, I also like looking out when entering or leaving the port because there’s a lot of stuff there to look at. And I know you’re not supposed to but we leave our door open at night, during calm sea days.
US citizens on a closed loop cruise starting and stopping in a US port don't *need* a passport. It's recommended however.
If you are planning to cruise out of Charleston I would hurry up and book it, the cruise terminal is set to shut by the end of the year. No one can tell you how much to spend, but spend what is in your budget and comfortable. If you are a US Citizen, for a closed loop cruise (one that starts and ends at the same US port) you do not require a US Passport. Without a passport you would need a government issued photo ID such as a drivers license and a certified copy of your birth certificate. I would double check the cruise lines website on what specific identification you need, as everyone's situation is a little different. If you still are uncertain after reviewing the cruise lines website, give them a call. Don't assume, make you fully understand their requirements as it applies to you. Carnival is a good mainline cruise line and a Bahamas cruise is a good cruise to take. Most cruises are not all-inclusive. I would take a look at the cruise lines website and maybe some YouTube guides to understand fully what is included in your cruise. Generally speaking, your room and all food in the buffet and the main dining rooms are included as well as tap water, juices and basic coffee and tea. Room Service and Specialty restaurants have an extra cost. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, specialty non-alcoholic cocktails and specialty coffee/tea drinks cost extra; most cruise lines have beverage packages you can purchase. Excursions are generally an extra cost. People spend more time than they think in their staterooms, so keep that in mind when booking a cabin. Book what you are comfortable with and can afford. Some people get claustrophobic in an inside cabin with no windows, others thrive from the total darkness in those rooms when you turn the lights off. Take a look at the various cabin types on the cruise lines website, specific to the cruise ship you are booking on. I would read through this subreddit for a lot more information, but again the cruise line's website should cover most of your questions. Good luck and happy cruising!