Key Aspects:
- One guest is frustrated that soda is not widely available first thing in the morning onboard Carnival ships.
- John Heald has clarified that the JavaBlue Cafe does offer soda and energy drinks as soon as it opens every morning.
- Experienced guests have also offered other solutions so that anyone can enjoy soda at any time they wish.
Many people are fiercely loyal to a specific brand of soda, but are they equally insistent on when they drink that soda? One Carnival Cruise Line passenger has reached out to learn if they can have their drink of choice first thing in the morning.
The guest, who was recently aboard Carnival Sunrise sailing from Miami, noted that soda isn’t widely available early in the day and reached out to the cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, about where and when they can get the fizzy refreshment.
“Does Carnival understand that many of us drink soda with breakfast?” they asked on Heald’s Facebook page. “The problem is John that the first bar to open on the Sunrise was the lobby and not 8 in the morning.”
It’s true that bars onboard do not open until later in the morning when more guests are seeking adult beverages. It can be hard to find soda at other locations.
“I need to have a Coke with breakfast. John you should try it and ditch the coffee. It’s refreshing,” the guest explained. “Please do something to help the many American cruisers who want a soda before or with breakfast.”
While not all cruisers agree that a soda is “refreshing” first thing in the morning, Carnival Cruise Line does try to have a variety of options available for their guests.
Heald noted that the JavaBlue Cafe (or other coffee shops onboard, depending on the ship) does offer both soda and energy drinks even in the early morning.
“We now have soda and energy drinks available from the JavaBlue cafes across the fleet and they open at 7am or thereabout,” he said.
Heald also spoke with “the Beards” to confirm the availability of sodas from the coffee shops on every ship early in the morning.
Carnival Cruise Line does serve Coca-Cola products, a switch the line made in mid-2025 after years of offering Pepsi products. Cruise Hive reported on the change with a complete list of available products.
It is not unusual for cruise lines to periodically switch between major suppliers as provisioning contracts are renegotiated.
Do Cruisers Drink Soda in the Morning?
For many travelers, the morning drink of choice would be coffee or fruit juice. Carnival offers orange juice, apple juice, and a delicious orange-passionfruit-guava blend that is this writer’s favorite.
For those who need a bit more of a kick for waking up, energy drinks or traditional morning cocktails like Bloody Marys, Irish coffee, mimosas, or bellinis are also popular.
While many other commenters noted they do prefer other drinks in the morning, some support the early morning soda idea.
This is especially true for those who don’t care for coffee but may still need a bit of caffeine to start the day.
“My Diet Coke is my coffee,” one quest quipped.
An ice-cold soda might also be preferred on hot Caribbean mornings, particularly if guests aren’t accustomed to tropical temperatures.
Guests Suggest Other Solutions
If the original poster prefers their first soda of the day even earlier than when the JavaBlue Cafe opens, other Carnival guests suggested a variety of options.
It is possible, for example, to get an unopened can of soda from a bar or lounge the night before, then keep it in one’s stateroom for that early morning drink. While stateroom coolers are not as cold as fridges, guests can request ice from their cabin attendant every evening to keep a soda cold or they can get a glass of ice at breakfast.
Another option is to bring a 12-pack of one’s soda of choice at embarkation. The Carnival Cruise Line’s beverage policy permits every guest to bring “a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person” onboard.
Cases or cartons of soda must be in carry-on luggage and are subject to inspection.
