The line quietly increased the costs of its Cheers beverage packages. At face value, prices went from $59.95 per passenger, per day, to $82.54 per passenger, per day, if purchased precruise; they increased from $64.95 per passenger, per day, to $88.44 per passenger, per day, if purchased once on board. That looks like a steep increase, but the new price includes an 18% gratuity, which was also charged under the previous package but not included in the up-front pricing.
With the 18% added to the old prices, the new ones represent increases of nearly 17% and 15%, respectively.
For two people, it amounts to an extra $165.20 per seven-day cruise over the former prices, whether the package is purchased before the sailing or during it. (Cruise cabins are designed for double occupancy. To prevent the sharing of packages, all passengers 21 and older who share a room are required to purchase the Cheers package if even one person buys it. There are no exceptions, including for pregnancy.)
Cruisers will also find that all of Carnival’s Wi-Fi packages, from basic to premium, have gone up in price. For one device, the cost for basic internet — which provides access only to social media apps — has risen from $12.75 per day to $18.70 per day for a cruiselong package when purchased online before you sail. For those who choose to buy it once on board, the price went from $15 to $22. (This is about a 47% increase for both options.)
For one device on the fastest connection — which allows you to surf the web, check and answer e-mails, stream from popular apps like Hulu and Netflix, and make Wi-Fi-based calls — a package for a full voyage will set you back $23.80 per day, precruise. It previously cost $21.25 per day. If you wait to buy Wi-Fi until you’re on the vessel, it’ll be $28 per day; the old price was $25 per day. That amounts to an increase of 12% for both.
“We’re proud of the quality and value a Carnival cruise vacation provides our guests,” Carnival told TPG in a statement when asked about the changes. “Recent nominal price adjustments to help cover higher costs and our investments in onboard offerings allow us to continue providing the high-quality experiences our guests know and love.”
Carnival is one of the few major cruise lines that don't offer some sort of all-inclusive package. Norwegian Cruise Line’s More at Sea, Celebrity Cruises’ All Included, Princess Cruises’ Princess Plus and Princess Premier, and Holland America Line’s Have It All fares include basic beverage and Wi-Fi packages.
Carnival last raised the prices of its Wi-Fi in early 2023, with an increase of nearly 25%. The line’s last drink package price hike came in May of 2022, when the cost jumped by more than 15%.
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