Carnival Cruise lines began operation in 1972 out of founder Ted Arison's home. In the beginning, Carnival had only one ship in operation. As of April 2010, Carnival has a fleet of 80 vessels and carries one-fourth of all cruise ship travelers. Travelers who plan to take a cruise on a Carnival ship will want to make sure they are familiar with the rules before departing.
Carnival Cruise ships are entirely non-smoking. Guests must agree not to smoke in any of the rooms on the ship. Doing so may cause the guest to be disembarked at the next port. Carnival will not be liable for any costs incurred by guests who are disembarked due to smoking.
In ports of call, all guests must agree to return to the ship at least 30 minutes before departure. Guests are responsible for making sure they are aware of what time zone they are in at port, as well as the time the ship will depart. A guest who has missed the ship's departure will be responsible for transportation costs associated with being left behind.
Guests over 21 years of age may be permitted to bring one bottle of wine or champagne with them in their carry-on luggage. A corkage fee will be charged to the guests upon consumption. Any wines purchased on the ship or in port as gifts will be held by Carnival until the guest's departure. During the cruise, alcohol will not be served to persons under 21 years of age. Carnival Cruise ships also prohibit persons over 21 years of age from providing alcoholic beverages to those under 21. Cruise ship staff reserve the right to refuse to serve alcohol to any passenger over the course of the trip.
Firearms are not permitted on any Carnival ship. Explosive devices, ammunition, and incendiary devices are also not permitted. Carnival Cruise ships retain the right to search a person's luggage or quarters without notice at any time. If a passenger is found to have these items, Carnival Cruise ships may confiscate them from him. If criminal activity is suspected, authorities may be notified.
All guests must agree not to bring any pets with them on the cruise ship. An exception to this policy would be for the admission of service animals. In the event that a traveler requires the use of a service animal, Carnival Cruise Lines must be notified of this fact at least 14 days in advance. The pet owner remains responsible for her animal's conduct during the entire cruise and will agree to pay for any damages caused by her animal's misbehavior.
Children under the age of 18 who are not accompanied by both parents during the cruise should have permission from the non-traveling parent to attend the cruise. Carnival recommends the absent parent write a letter giving the child permission to travel with the other parent during the dates of the cruise. If the traveling parent does not have a letter to this effect in her possession, the cruise ship may need to verify that the other parent has given permission for his child to travel on the cruise ship before allowing the child to board. If a sole parent plans to disembark with her child in Mexico, this letter will be mandatory.
