Carnival Changing Water Sizes, But Not Prices – Or Are They?

Many guests buy bottled water on a cruise ship for CPAP machines, preparing baby formula, taking along on shore tours, or just for personal preference and taste. With the popularity of the beverage, it’s not surprising that it can be a big money-maker for a cruise line.

But is Carnival Cruise Line taking its water pricing to extremes? Guests onboard different ships recently have reported that bottled water has changed from 1.5 liters to 1 liter, and it may even be more expensive.

It is confirmed that the taller 1.5-liter bottles are no longer available from Carnival’s website, where the listing for individual bottles of water is for a single large 1L bottle priced at $4.50.

Earlier this year, that same price was for a 1.5L bottle, which is no longer for sale on the cruise line’s websites.

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Different ships, however, may be utilizing different water supplies. Guests on Carnival Firenze have noted the smaller bottles offered for $5, while other ships have the smaller bottles available for $4.50 or $4.75.

This represents a 30% decrease in size but no change in pricing. Other ships in the fleet, however, are still offering the larger bottles with prices ranging from $4.50 to $5.25.

This change comes as the red VIFP water bottle neck tags have been rolling out across the Carnival fleet, carefully noting which bottles are the “Refreshing Reward” for returning guests.

That loyalty gift is for all returning guests after their first sailing with Carnival, but there has been confusion in the past about whether the in-room bottles can be used for the free gift or if the bottles must be picked up from a bar or restaurant.

Carnival Cruise Line has placed several for-sale bottles in staterooms for many years as a convenience for thirsty guests. If travelers use those bottles, the cost is automatically added to the stateroom account.

The new red tags absolutely confirm which bottle is the free loyalty gift, and they are being delivered to guests’ staterooms without any pickup or requests necessary.

Have the Bottles and Prices Really Changed?

Because there is sufficient variation across different ships, it is possible that there haven’t been any permanent changes to the sizes of the bottled water onboard Carnival ships.

For example, there may have been a simple mixup with a supplier and the confusion and change in water bottles is just temporary. It’s perfectly understandable that if smaller bottles had been provided, the cruise line would rather fulfill orders with those smaller bottles rather than not have any bottled water available.

It is also possible that this represents a true change in the supply and the size and cost of bottles onboard. Since these reports have only been made in the last few days, it would take time for supplies to be completely changed on 29 different ships.

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Cruise Hive has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line for clarification and the cruise line confirmed that “the price adjustments reflect our higher costs for products and services.”

No mention was made of the different water bottle sizes, but time will tell if that becomes a consistent change.

Can You Get Free Water?

In addition to the 1.5L bottle given as a gift to returning cruisers (a gift which will be continued when the loyalty program switches to Carnival Rewards), there are other ways Carnival guests can get “free” water. Or at least, it’s included.

Bottled water is included with the Cheers! drink package as well as with the new Cheers! Zero Proof premium non-alcoholic beverage package, which also includes soda, juices, mocktails, smoothies, and more.

Guests can also get filtered water from the self-service drink stations at the Lido Marketplace buffet and filtered water is served in the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants.

Of course, guests can always drink from the taps in their stateroom or refill their own water bottles from those taps as well.