Cruise giant Carnival joins Princess, Norwegian in sharply hiking service fees
Et tu, Carnival Cruise Line?
The world's second largest cruise operator is joining its smaller competitors Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line in sharply hiking the automatic service charges it adds to customer bills for 2023.
In a notice sent this week to booked passengers, the Miami-based cruise giant said it would raise the automatic gratuity fee it levies on passengers by more than 10% to $16 per person per day for those staying in most cabins.
It also said it planned an unusually sharp hike to the amount it charges for onboard Wi-Fi, with the cost of single-device plans soaring as much as 25%.
The price hikes for the service and Wi-Fi fees will take effect on April 1 and Jan. 16, respectively.
The current gratuity rate at Carnival is $14.50 for passengers in standard cabins and $16.50 for passengers in suites.
The new rates taking effect on April 1 will be $16 per person per day for standard cabins and $18 for passengers in suites.
With the increase, a family of four in a typical cabin will pay nearly $450 in automatic gratuities on a seven-night cruise — one of the higher levies in the business.
The news of the coming service charge increase at Carnival comes just three weeks after Princess, a sister line to Carnival, also hiked its service fees by more than 10%, and just two days after a stunning 25% increase in Norwegian's service charge took effect.
Another sister brand to Carnival, Holland America, also plans a service charge increase in the coming weeks.
With the increases, almost all the brands will soon be charging a service fee of $16 per person per day for passengers staying in most cabins. Norwegian will be the outlier with a service fee of $20 per person per day for passengers staying in most cabins.
Among other big lines, Royal Caribbean also currently charges $16 per person per day in service charges for passengers staying in most cabins. MSC Cruises adds an automatic service charge of $12.50 to $14 to final bills on sailings out of U.S. ports.
Related: TPG's ultimate guide to cruise ship gratuity charges and tipping
The service fee increases come amid a surge in prices for all sorts of onboard items at many lines as the cruise industry struggles to return to profitability after three years of heavy losses.
In addition to this week's announcement of service fee increases, Carnival has already pushed up the cost of some of its marquee restaurants on ships over the past year by as much as 26%. For instance, the fee for the line's signature steakhouses has jumped from $38 to $48 per person in two steps over the past eight months.
Carnival has also increased the cost of its signature Chef's Table experience over the past year by nearly 24% — to $99 a person. The cost of drinks packages on Carnival ships is up significantly over the past year, too, in some cases by more than 15%.
Meanwhile, Norwegian has been announcing fee increases for multiple things in recent months by sometimes sharp amounts. On Jan. 1, the brand increased the cost of its Unlimited Open Beverage Bar Package by about 10%, to $109 per day — in addition to raising service charges. The cost of a higher-end drinks package shot up to an unprecedented-in-the-industry $138 per day, up from $128.
Many Norwegian customers get a "free" drinks package as part of a booking promotion. However, the booking promotion does not include an automatic 20% bar gratuity on the theoretical cost of the packages. As the cost of Norwegian's drinks packages rises, the cost of its automatic bar gratuity fees rises, too.
Related: The 9 most exciting new cruise ships of 2023
Cruise lines have blamed the onboard price hikes in part on the soaring costs of food and fuel needed to operate their ships.
That said, in many cases, the prices that cruisers are finding this year at onboard venues such as restaurants and bars — and the amount they are spending on onboard fees — are rising much faster than the rate of inflation.
Carnival's coming service fee increase will be the brand's second in less than a year. The line also raised service fees in May, from $14 to $14.50 per person per day — a 3.6% increase.
Carnival notes that, in some cases, passengers who are unhappy with the service they receive on Carnival ships can adjust the amount of daily gratuities posted to their accounts while on board by visiting the guest services desk.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees