Guide Library
The Guide Library
Every Waves of Fun guide, one card per guide. 29 guides and counting.
Drawer 1 · Money and Fine Print
Cruise Line Service Fees and Gratuities
What you already paid in daily gratuities and purchase service charges before you tip again, nine lines compared.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 29, 2026
Your Kids’ Carnival Platinum Didn’t Disappear. It Moved to Your Booking.
Where minors’ status went in Carnival Rewards: no accounts under 18, benefits ride on the responsible adult, earned status parked until 18.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 29, 2026
Platinum on a Clock: The Carnival Rewards Guide Nobody Explained to Platinum Cruisers
COMING SOON
Stars vs Points, earning windows, the 10,000 star boost, and the enroll by 2028 deadline.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · COMING SOON
A Real Cruise Repricing Story: $1,000.88 Saved + $50 Onboard Credit
How a fare drop turned into real money back and onboard credit.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · SEP 14, 2026
How I Get Money Back on Stuff I Already Buy for a Cruise
Cash back on the cruise stuff you were going to buy anyway.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 2, 2026
Things I Just Learned as a Travel Agent: Cruise Taxes Edition
What those cruise taxes and port fees on your invoice actually are.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · APR 22, 2025
Drawer 2 · Adult Arcade (Casino)
Carnival Casino Offers & Players Club: A Plain-English Guide
Carnival casino offers and Players Club tiers, in plain English.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 1, 2026
Casino Comps 101: What Does All This Casino Language Mean?
The casino language on your offers, translated.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 1, 2026
Royal Casino Offers Confuse You? Here’s the Club Royale System I Finally Figured Out
Royal Caribbean’s casino offer system, figured out and explained.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · SEP 30, 2026
Casino Offer Match vs. Cruise Loyalty Status Match: What’s the Difference?
Two different matches that people keep confusing with each other.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · FEB 18, 2026
Drawer 3 · Accessibility and Medical
Accessible Cruising: Mobility, Medical, and Special Needs Help
Door widths by line, CPAP, scooters, sensory kits, dialysis, TSA Cares.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 28, 2026
Cruise Scooter Rentals, Handled
Cruise scooter rentals arranged before you sail, handled start to finish.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 28, 2026
Drawer 4 · Ships and Lines Compared
MSC vs. Carnival: What Carnival Regulars Should Know Before Switching
For Carnival regulars thinking about trying MSC from Galveston.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 10, 2026
Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival: What Carnival Regulars Should Know Before Switching
For Carnival regulars thinking about trying Royal Caribbean.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 10, 2026
MSC vs. Royal Caribbean: What Royal Regulars Should Know Before Switching
For Royal regulars thinking about trying MSC.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 24, 2026
Same Ports, Different Sea Day: Symphony of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee from Galveston
Same ports from Galveston, very different sea days.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 16, 2026
MSC Yacht Club vs. Norwegian The Haven: Which Gives You More for Your Money?
The two big ship-within-a-ship splurges, compared on value.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 12, 2026
Would You Pay $2,662 More for the Smaller Suite? Inside MSC Yacht Club
Inside MSC Yacht Club, and whether the suite math makes sense.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 6, 2026
Drawer 5 · Ports, Parking, and Places
Celebration Key: Plan Your Kind of Day Before You Buy the Extras
Plan your kind of day at Celebration Key before you buy the extras.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 20, 2026
From Progreso to Celestún: Flamingos, Mangroves, and a Long Day in Mexico
Flamingos, mangroves, and a long day in Mexico from Progreso.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 13, 2026
Disney Castaway Cay From Galveston: What I Didn’t Know
Disney’s private island from Galveston, and what surprised me.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 6, 2026
Galveston Cruisers: 7 Cruise Lines Sail From Texas. Which One’s Next?
Every line sailing from Galveston, and which one fits you next.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 14, 2026
Galveston Cruise Hotels With Parking and Shuttles
Galveston hotels with cruise parking and port shuttles.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · SEP 8, 2026
Long Beach Cruise Parking: Hotel Packages vs. Port Parking
Hotel park-and-cruise packages vs. port parking at Long Beach.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · JUN 14, 2025
Drawer 6 · Crossings and the Atlas
Crossing the Atlantic Without Flying
How to get to Europe on ships, no plane required.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 22, 2026
Ship-Hop Atlas
86 matched ship combinations that get you to Europe without flying.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE
Drawer 7 · Planning Basics
Carnival FunPacks: Which One Is Actually Worth It?
Which Carnival FunPack is actually worth it, and which to skip.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 14, 2026
Carnival Cruise Theme Nights: What to Pack Before You Sail
Carnival theme nights, and what to pack for each one.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · OCT 13, 2026
Cruise Packing Essentials: What to Pack for Your Next Cruise
What to pack for your next cruise, without the kitchen sink.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · SEP 8, 2026
OneRoam for Cruises: Stay Connected on Land and at Sea
An eSIM that works in port and onboard, so you are not hunting WiFi or paying ship rates.
WAVES OF FUN GUIDE · SEP 15, 2026