We sailed with Carnival about two years ago to Canada. Since we were bringing our children we decided to go to the Bahamas.

Overnight stay: We drove from Virginia Beach the night before and stayed at the Marriott. My husband had checked into other hotels that provided free parking for those cruising but opted for the Marriott and parking at the pier. Although the parking was $15/day it made for a very simple arrival and departure...I think it was well worth the money so we didn't have to deal with shuttles to and from the hotel.

Embarkation: This was actually a simple process compared to when we embarked on our cruise out of NYC. We arrived at the parking area around 1045 to drop off our bags...very simple process. We drove around the block and parked near the entrance to wait until we could park. We were let in around 1110, parked in a covered, secured warehouse type building (although I believe those who arrived later parked outside). Getting through security was quick and easy. We were on board by 1230 exploring and eating lunch. Read more