Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed which ships are already serving Coca-Cola products following the company’s switch from Pepsi products.
- To date, half the Carnival fleet has already converted to Coke products. The remainder of the fleet will be serving Coke no later than the week after Labor Day.
- All guests can continue to bring a 12-pack of their favorite soda onboard at embarkation and can replenish their supply at each port of call.
Coca-Cola fans are eagerly awaiting their favorite soft drinks on Carnival cruise ships, but which ships are still serving Pepsi and which have completed the switch to Coke?
Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, gets asked every day about upcoming sailings and what brand of soda will be available onboard for different departure dates.
To ease the thirst for Coca-Cola, Heald has confirmed the list of ships that are already fully converted to a certain fizzy beverage.
“A lot of you keep asking me about the ships that already have changed from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products,” Heald said.
To date, the following Carnival cruise ships have already begun serving Coke products:
- Carnival Breeze
- Carnival Celebration
- Carnival Conquest
- Carnival Dream
- Carnival Elation
- Carnival Horizon
- Carnival Liberty
- Carnival Luminosa
- Carnival Magic
- Carnival Paradise
- Carnival Radiance
- Carnival Sunrise
- Carnival Panorama
- Carnival Valor
This means that as of mid-August, half of the Carnival fleet has now fully converted to Coca-Cola brands.
“If you’re on a ship that is not mentioned there, we expect all the ships to be done by the week after Labor Day,” Heald noted.
Labor Day is Monday, September 1. By September 8, then, all Carnival ships should be serving Coca-Cola products.
Heald goes on to note that, following guest feedback and requests, Dr. Pepper is also being added to the soda menu, but only from select homeports.
At the moment, Dr. Pepper is available for Carnival ships sailing from Galveston, New Orleans, and Mobile.
From Texas, this means that Carnival Dream, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Jubilee are now offering Dr. Pepper, while from Louisiana, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Valor have the popular beverage.
While no Carnival ships are currently homeported from Alabama, Carnival Spirit will return to Mobile following her season in Alaska. Guests will be able to toast that return with a cool Dr. Pepper.
Why So Long to Switch Brands?
Carnival first announced the soda switchover in late June. It takes time, however, for adequate supplies to be provided to each vessel as well as for already purchased Pepsi products to be used up enough for a more efficient brand change.
In addition to just being sure the correct soda is onboard, any branded signage or equipment would also need to be switched out.
Soda machines would also need thorough cleaning and sanitizing to eliminate any residual taste from Pepsi products that might linger. Undoubtedly, such cleaning happens regularly, but it can be a challenge to ensure simultaneous cleaning of all equipment onboard a ship in every bar, kitchen, and restaurant.
Read Also: What Is the Carnival Cheers! Drink Package?
Heald goes on to remind guests, especially Pepsi lovers like myself, that everyone can bring a 12-pack of their favorite soft drink onboard at embarkation. Additional 12-packs can also be brought onboard at any port of call.
This ensures that no matter what guests prefer to drink, they can still toast their cruise vacation with their favorite fizzy drink, whether it is Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up, or any other soda.
