Jaunted

Cruises / Miami Travel / Travel News / Ships / Carnival Cruises / Costa Cruises / → All Tags

Power To The Cruisers! Carnival Installs Self Check-In Kiosks

Can everyone please welcome the cruise lines to the 21st century? If airlines, notoriously security-focused as they are, can successfully board and fly their passengers who have checked in via a self-service kiosk, then why can't ships do the same for cruisers? Finally, after Costa Cruises saw the light last year and installed some kiosk check-ins, Carnival has come around to allowing their passengers to check themselves in as well, but only at the Port of Miami.

Veteran cruisers know that along with the unlimited buffets and blue water of a cruise, one must endure the grueling discomfort of a lifeboat muster drill and the wait to simply board the ship. You check your luggage, get loaded with pamphlets on shore excursions and a map of the ship, and finally claim your ID/onboard credit card, and all you want to do is collapse into the closet that is your ship-side bedroom.

Now, using the self check-in kiosks, you can zip through the formalities, even set up a cash account for onboard purchases, and finally exchange your checked-in confirmation for your stateroom key. To use this new machine, however, you must pre-register online and be a US or Canadian citizen or from a visa-waiver country. Checked bags can be left with the porters and you are free to board and partake in the farewell Lido buffet, one of the grandest traditions in cruising.

Related Stories:
· Carnival Introduces Self-Service Cruise Check-In Kiosks [CruiseCritic]
· Carnival Launches Self-Service check-in at Port of Miami [Travel Weekly]
· Cruise News [Jaunted]

[Photo: CruiseCritic]