I'm sailing as a first time cruiser on the Carnival Elation/Ecstasy March 2 out of Galveston to Calica (don't worry; we're skipping Calica and going straight for Playa). A few questions...okay, maybe a lot. Here we go:
1. Are beach towels provided in room or do I need to bring my own?
2.Is there at least a minifridge in every cabin for storing beer, water, etc.?
3. How early can you board upon embarkation out of Galveston if the ship leaves at 5pm? I've heard as early as noon. Is this correct?
4. Is there a hairdryer in cabin or bring your own? If you bring your own, do you need a voltage converter? Also, I've heard advice on bringing power strips...what for???
5. This might be a question for the port-reviews, but does Carnival offer some sort of shuttle from Calica to PDC? If not, is the cheapest way a taxi? I'm traveling with 4 other people (5th wheel).
6. What is the fastest way to get off the ship once you've reach your port (in this case, Calica)? (Considering you have no voucher, etc., to show that you have an early excursion) We plan on finding something once we get to PDC.
7. Know of any theme nights aboard the ship?
Sorry for all the questions!!! Your help is very appreciated. Kind regards.

First I want to welcome you to cruise-chat. You will get a wealth of information from this site.

1. Are beach towels provided in room or do I need to bring my own?
Carnival provides all beach towels. They will be in your room the night before you arrive at a port. Just don't loose it as they will charge you a hefty fee, I believe around $22.00.

2.Is there at least a minifridge in every cabin for storing beer, water, etc.?
No. There is usually mini fridges in the balcony and suites but not in the Ocean view and interior cabins. Just bring along a small soft side cooler and ask your cabin steward to keep ice in it for you.

3. How early can you board upon embarkation out of Galveston if the ship leaves at 5pm? I've heard as early as noon. Is this correct?
I have not personally gone out of Galveston, but I know at most of the ports we have gone out of we have arrived as early as 11:00 am or so and have gotten on the ship around noon, your cabin will not be ready but you can go to the Lido deck and enjoy the lunch buffet they have set up for onboarding pax.

4. Is there a hairdryer in cabin or bring your own? If you bring your own, do you need a voltage converter? Also, I've heard advice on bringing power strips...what for???
There is usually a hair dryer in the cabin, but if you need a high powered one, you might want to bring your own. We have had some that were great and others that took way to long to dry your hair. As far as the power strip, usually there is only a double outlet around the vanity area in your cabin, if you have batteries to charge, phones etc..you might need one. Also if you bring rechargable walkie talkies. We have brought a small one to help with the overload.


5. This might be a question for the port-reviews, but does Carnival offer some sort of shuttle from Calica to PDC? If not, is the cheapest way a taxi? I'm traveling with 4 other people (5th wheel).
6. What is the fastest way to get off the ship once you've reach your port (in this case, Calica)? (Considering you have no voucher, etc., to show that you have an early excursion) We plan on finding something once we get to PDC.
Really can't answer these as I have not disembarked in Calica. Don't know too much about it. I am sure others who have ported there can answer this.

7. Know of any theme nights aboard the ship?
Sometimes they have a Caribbean night, maybe a 50's night, so its hard to say. Ask you travel agent or call Carnival directly to see what they tell you. Others might know more about this.

Sorry for all the questions!!! Your help is very appreciated. Kind regards.
No problem, we have all been first time cruisers, ask away!!

We have been to Calica many times. It is actually an industrial dock in the middle of nowhere. Local vendors set up a tent city at the dock for souvenirs. A small bar too, with the coldest Corona anywhere. Just the thing to quench a thirst after a hot day ashore.

Taxis and rental cars are available. Buses for tours too. There is no free shuttle to Playa, or if there is I never knew about it. The only free shuttle was for coming and going to Xcaret, which is essentially next door to the dock, but you can't get there without taking a circuitous route in a bus. Taxi is the best way to Playa. It isn't too far and the price was decent. I forget how much, but it was less than $20 if I recall correctly.

The ship docks, so you can leave as early as you wish. They won't keep you aboard while they get the tours off, which is sometimes the case with tender ports. As soon as they announce the ship has been cleared by Mexican authorities you just walk down to the exit and go.

Hi I just got back from the Elation yesterday so I'll answer questions that haven't already been answered.

4. Is there a hairdryer in cabin or bring your own? If you bring your own, do you need a voltage converter? Also, I've heard advice on bringing power strips...what for???
My cabin did have a hairdryer HOWEVER most other cabins did not. So bring your own. I had myself and my two daughters in my cabin so we NEEDED a power strip. There is only one receptacle.

5. This might be a question for the port-reviews, but does Carnival offer some sort of shuttle from Calica to PDC? If not, is the cheapest way a taxi? I'm traveling with 4 other people (5th wheel).
I booked an excursion to Xcaret through the ship which provided transportation there. Then we hopped a cab and went to Carlos & Charlie's on 5th Avenue. Cost $10 for a max of 4 people in a cab. Then we took a cab back to the ship for another $10. They will only ride 4 people in their cabs.

6. What is the fastest way to get off the ship once you've reach your port (in this case, Calica)? (Considering you have no voucher, etc., to show that you have an early excursion) We plan on finding something once we get to PDC.
I saw people getting off earlier than I thought we could. I suggest you try as early as possible, like 8:15 or 8:30. It really isn't a long enough day to do all there is to do there. Bummer!

7. Know of any theme nights aboard the ship?
No theme nights on my trip. It was a 4 night cruise.

Hope this helps you. Let me know if you have any questions.

1. yes they give you beach towels,for the whole cruise but if you lose them you are charged 25.00 on your sail and sign, there are towels provided at the pools no charge they are just the reg white towels, the larger towels in your room are color towel with carnival logo, to be honest I worried every time the kids took them out of cabin for fear of losing them on deck or beach at 4 per room thats 100.00 so we bought cheap beach towel at store on shore, so if they were lost it was easier on our budget, or if you have room pack a couple

2. I have mostly been in balcony rooms and suites and they have mini bars in them so you can use it, it is locked and the steward will unlock it after you are settled and after the fire drill am not sure if inside and ocean views have them as I was only in that type of cabin on my very first cruise on celebration and we had no mini bar.

3. we have been on 7 cruises and we have been on board between 12 and 2 depends on how fast every on gets off the previous cruise.

4 Bring a pwer strip as there is only 2 out lets on the vanity and if you have more then 2 women bring a extra dryer if you feel you have room for it, there are dryers in cabins the bathroom outlet is for elec. shaver only so you will relay on the vanity for recharging phone for hairdryers curling iron or whatever you may need electricy for we had a smoothie maker and 3 phones to recharge

4. taxies are pretty cheap I think we paid 10.00 oneway to playa del crmen there were 2 of us that went do not think carnival supplie tran. only if you booked a tour

5 &6 debarking playa was quite fast its not a port alot of people jump off on its usually the first time cruisers that get of all of us that have been to certain ports know where we want to go or just hang out on board while the ship is pretty empty to enjoy the quiet atmosphere although I speak for myself lol

7. the only theme nights I know of are the nights you leave ports you visited, on the lido deck one nite we had a bathrobe night every one came to party in Carnival bathrobes was pretty funny, the food and parties are themed on the lido deck mostly caribbean &mexican hope this helps you some

thanks so much for the info. this site is great and i would be lost without it. the cruise lines don't tell you EVERYTHING!