Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line’s standard service charge is being raised from 18% to 20%.
- This applies to drink packages, specialty dining, in-stateroom gifts, and other purchases.
- At this time, crew gratuities are not increased, but additional price changes may be coming.
Carnival Cruise Line is quietly raising a fee that the vast majority of its cruise guests pay. No, it isn’t the crew member gratuities, but it does apply to all purchased drinks, drink packages, and specialty dining.
The fee is the familiar 18% “service charge” added to many purchases. Now, that fee has been raised to 20% on applicable purchases.
The increased fee applies to a wide range of items and packages, including:
- Drink packages, including Cheers!, Bottomless Bubbles, and the new Cheers! Zero Proof package
- Individual drinks purchased a-la-carte onboard
- Specialty dining charges
- In-stateroom gift decorations for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
- Gifts purchased for guests’ staterooms, such as toys, flowers, and tote bags
Carnival has not made any official announcement about the fee increase, but it is widely posted on the cruise line’s website when guests check purchase prices or the terms and conditions of different offerings.
Is This Such a Big Increase?
It may not seem like a 2% increase is particularly significant, but it can actually be a hefty change depending on each guest’s preferred purchases.
For example, let’s say a family of four with two adults and two teens plans a 7-night sailing to celebrate a birthday. Both adults purchase the Cheers! drink package, while both teens get the Bottomless Bubbles package.
So far, the fees at 18% would be as follows:
- Cheers! package pre-booked online at $139.90 per day for the adults, a total of $979.30. The 18% charge would be an additional $176.27.
- Bottomless Bubbles pre-booked online for two teens at $13.90 per day, a total of $97.30 for the week-long cruise. The 18% extra fee is another $17.51.
- Birthday stateroom decor to celebrate their special occasion at $52.75, plus the additional 18% of $9.49.
- A special birthday dinner for the whole family at the steakhouse, at $52 each for a total of $208, as the adult price applies to all children over age 11. The extra 18% fee would add $37.44.
All told, the 18% fee for the drink packages, birthday decor, and family dinner at the steakhouse adds $240.71 to the total.
Read Also: Expert Cruiser Details How You Can Save Money During a Cruise
Now, the increase to 20% means each fee is higher and the total of all the same service charges is $267.47.
While the overall increase of $26.76 may not break the bank, bear in mind this fee also applies to any other specialty dining, extra drink purchases, and more.
Will More Fee Increases Follow?
It is also possible that this service fee increase is just the start of an overall increase in additional charges. Carnival Cruise Line has not increased gratuities since April 2023, and it is common for those charges to be increased every 2-3 years.
The base prices for specialty dining, bottled water, internet access, drink packages, Faster to the Fun, and other add-ons could also be set to increase in the coming weeks.
Even at just a dollar or two per item, these fees can quickly add up to significantly higher costs for any cruise guests mindful of their travel budget.
This comes at a time when the Carnival Rewards program has generated great controversy about nickel-and-diming and Carnival Cruise Line valuing spending more than loyalty and the guest experience.
Of course, inflation and price changes are nothing new, and undoubtedly, more items will increase in price over time. Nor are such increases confined to Carnival Cruise Line.
It’s just a question of when and how much, and whether cruise guests respond to the increases with changes in their onboard spending.
