Embarkation:

Since we only had a short 5 hour drive from my house in Georgia, left the morning of the cruise around 4am. We arrived at Executive Parking (Exit 49 of FL 528) around 9am. After we checked in at the parking lot, we waiting a few minutes for the shuttle bus to arrive back from PC. By 9:15, we were on the shuttle to the port and were very excited to get our vacation started! After a short 10 minute ride to PC, we the Dream vacation we were awaiting for over a year was upon us. It showed itself in the form of the 130,000 gross ton, 1004 foot Carnival Dream! After snapping a few photos, we were in the terminal to complete our check in and get our sail & sign cards. Because we arrived so early, after checking in, we did have to sit in the terminal for approximately an hour. Boarding began around 10:30 starting with wedding groups, VIP (platinum and diamond guests), etc. General boarding was done in zones, and at zone 5, our family was through the embarkation process and on the Lido deck by 11am!

Embarkation at Port Canaveral was by far the most organized I have ever experienced! Having sailed from the Port of Miami and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, I can say that nothing compares to the embarkation at PC. I would like to commend Carnival and the folks at Port Canaveral for getting this hectic process down to a science! Read more