I’m just back from the christening sailing on Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship. In addition to six zones that include everything from a digital octopus to a roller coaster, the vessel offers fantastic food and great service, but you can make your experience even better with a few insider tips.
During my weeklong voyage, I picked up a few pointers that I found useful and want to share with future cruisers. Here are six little-known tricks that you can use on Carnival Jubilee (and, in some cases, on other ships, too) to help you steer clear of lines, save money and even avoid embarrassment.
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Look beyond the main dining room
For those who don’t know, Carnival offers two types of dining on its ships: set seating, which assigns you to a specific dining time at a set table with the same waiters every night, and Your Time Dining, which allows you to eat at any time in your assigned dining room between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
If you opt for the latter, you could be in for long lines to enter the main dining room during peak times, even if you check in ahead of time using Carnival’s Hub app.
If you want to avoid the wait and dodge the extra fees that come with eating in most specialty restaurants, consider dining in Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano or Mexican-meets-Asian Chibang! instead of the main dining room. Originally designed as overflow eateries for Carnival Jubilee’s sister ship Mardi Gras, they allow Your Time Dining passengers to enjoy their evening meal at any time during regular dinner hours for no additional charge.
Both restaurants will remain free to all guests through the ship’s inaugural season. Your Time Dining guests receive priority, and passengers with traditional set-seating dining aren’t allowed to eat there until after 7:45 p.m.
Use the line’s app to request a table shortly before you’re ready to head to your restaurant of choice.
Head to the Marina Bar for coffee
If you can’t function without your morning coffee and the complimentary stuff in the buffet won’t cut it, take note. Carnival Jubilee’s main cafe, JavaBlue, almost always has a line that spills out into the Grand Central area on Deck 6. If you’re in a hurry and don’t feel like waiting, check out the Marina Bar on Deck 8, where you can snag the same coffee beverages with a shorter (or nonexistent) line. The ladies there made my almond milk coconut lattes perfectly every time.
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Bonus tip: Make sure to ask for a punch card and bring it with you each time you visit the Marina Bar (or JavaBlue). If you buy six specialty coffees, your seventh is on the house.
Related: The best cruise ship cafes for coffee and tea
Look for second-day spa deals
It’s no secret that deals abound at cruise ship spas if you know where to look and when to book. Whether you’re yearning for a facial or have your heart set on a massage, you can often bag bargains when you reserve more than one treatment or schedule yourself for services on port days, when most passengers are ashore.
But, when a spa attendant flagged me down on the pool deck to offer me a same-day appointment on the second day of the voyage, I discovered there were potentially decent savings to be had on the first full day on board (the day after embarkation). Because everyone is so busy exploring the ship (or port, if it’s not a sea day), they’re generally not thinking about the spa.
In my case, it was a sea day, and I saved 30% — about $60 — on an excellent 75-minute full-body Swedish massage. Later, I learned that, by taking the offer, I made out better than a travel companion who saved only 20% on the same service by attending a spa seminar a couple of days later.
Hang out in Grand Central
Are you the type of cruiser who loves to look behind the scenes? I am, but I hate to pay for the privilege. Several cruise lines, including Carnival, allow a peek behind the proverbial curtain if you pay for tours that take you to places the average passenger can’t go — the galley, the bridge, the laundry and engine rooms and maybe even backstage in the theater.
But who needs backstage when there’s a theater right in the atrium? In Carnival Jubilee’s Grand Central zone, Center Stage takes … well, center stage. The performance space isn’t enclosed like a typical theater, so there’s no way for it to be shielded from passengers’ view during rehearsals. If you stick around during the day, you can watch some of the ship’s performers practicing their blocking, their vocals and, occasionally, acrobatic routines before that night’s show.
Don’t miss special dining room events
Unless you’re in the know, it’s possible to miss some of the fun meal options in the main dining rooms on board.
The first is brunch. There are two types: Seaday Brunch, held in the Pacific dining room on sea days only, and the Dr. Seuss-themed Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast, which was held on the last sea day during my sailing in the Atlantic dining room. The former is free, while the latter is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Both require reservations; check the daily schedule for days and times.
Note: Some Carnival ships have the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast instead of the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast. It’s a similar experience with a slightly different menu for the same price. Check the daily schedule for details.
Related: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that let you skip the buffet crowds
The second daytime dining room event I enjoyed was afternoon tea, which is free (unless you choose to upgrade to a gourmet tea option for $3). You can choose from green, black and chamomile tea and a selection of sandwiches and pastries, including scones with cream. Check the daily schedule, or meander over to the Atlantic dining room around 3 p.m. on sea days.
Stop guessing in public restrooms
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White means the stall is unoccupied on Carnival Jubilee. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
It’s always awkward to use public restrooms if you aren’t sure whether a stall is in use, especially if there’s a line. On Carnival Jubilee, if you’re wondering whether a stall is occupied, check the door. If the cutouts in the silver disc below the door handle are white, the stall is unlocked (and likely available, but proceed with caution). If they show red, the door is locked, and the stall is occupied.
When you’re finished and washing your hands, if the water temperature seems off, you can control it using the small handle to the right of the spigot — a secret I didn’t learn until halfway through my sailing, when a kind fellow passenger clued me in after I unwittingly scalded myself.
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