Carnival Cruise Line recently moved one of its ships from Charleston, South Carolina, to Norfolk, Virginia, after 14 years in Charleston. The Carnival Sunshine now sails year-round from Norfolk following a $12 million upgrade at the port. The new route has been well-received, with many passengers giving positive reviews.
However, some guests were confused about the rules for Carnival’s Cheers! beverage package on Norfolk sailings. Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald, clarified on Facebook that passengers must wait until 6 AM on the second day of their cruise before using the drink package. This is due to Virginia state laws, which prohibit the package from being used on the first day.
Heald explained that while many guests are enjoying Carnival Sunshine, Virginia’s laws do not allow the Cheers! program on embarkation day, so it only activates on Day 2. The same rule applies to cruises departing from Texas and New York. According to Carnival’s website, the Cheers! package begins on Day 2 for ships sailing from these locations, with activation starting at 6:00 AM on the second day.
The drink package comes with several restrictions. Guests must be 21 or older to purchase it, and every adult in the same cabin must buy the package. Only one drink at a time can be ordered, and sharing is not allowed. The package allows a maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period, from 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM, and is non-refundable. Additional taxes apply when sailing in U.S. waters.
Heald also recently clarified Carnival’s “Bring Your Own Alcohol” policy. Each passenger aged 21 or older can bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per cruise, but beer, hard liquor, and extra bottles are not permitted. This rule stems from an old ocean liner tradition where passengers could bring a bottle to celebrate sailaway. However, the policy strictly limits it to one bottle per person, regardless of cruise length.
Banned items include water, soda, and other non-alcoholic drinks in bottles. Carnival has no plans to change this policy soon.
For those sailing from Norfolk, Texas, or New York, it’s important to remember that the Cheers! package starts on Day 2 at 6 AM. The cutoff for pre-purchasing the package is 11:59 PM the night before boarding, and drinks cannot be shared. With these rules now clear, passengers can enjoy their Carnival Sunshine cruise without any surprises.
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