Just as one of the busiest sailing times of the year gets underway, Carnival Cruise Line has quietly hiked the price of its wildly popular Cheers! Beverage Program.

The increase removes the lower daily rate that has previously been charged for longer sailings, and instead, all passengers will now be paying the higher per-day price no matter what length of the cruise they enjoy.

The price change has been noted on Carnival’s official website, where both prices were previously listed. Guests on sailings of 6 nights or longer could prepay $70.74 (USD) per night compared to $82.54 per night for itineraries of 5 nights or less.

When purchased on board, longer sailings would pay $76.64 per night, while shorter sailings would pay $88.45 per night. All prices already include the mandatory 18% service charge.

Now, only the higher prices are listed and any reference to the discount for longer sailings has been removed.

No other changes are noted with the program, such as what types of drinks are included or excluded. The $20 or lower menu price per beverage still applies, as does the firm 15-per-day drink limit.

This change represents a roughly 16% per day increase for travelers on longer sailings. Because of the duration of the cruises that are impacted by the change, this can be a significant extra expense for travelers.

For example, on a 7-night cruise – the most common longer sailing length offered by Carnival Cruise Line – guests will now pay $82.60 more per person for the drink package.

The cost will be even higher if more than one cruiser is over the age of 21 in a stateroom, as all adults must purchase the package if one person does.

Carnival does not make any exemptions for this rule, even with medical documentation that guests cannot drink, a point the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has been very firm about. The restriction is in place to prevent sharing the package and to monitor guests’ individual consumption as needed.

It should be noted that the price of the Bottomless Bubbles soda package has not changed, nor has the price of bottled water available for purchase through Carnival’s website. None of these options, however, had any price discount based on sailing length.

Cost Is Not Upsetting Guests – Timing Is

It isn’t necessarily the cost increase of the drink package that is most surprising and upsetting to guests. After all, the Cheers! package has never been inexpensive, and guests budget for the cost based on their own ability to indulge.

Read Also: What Is the Carnival CHEERS! Package?

What is frustrating most travelers, however, is that no warning was given for this price increase, and therefore booked guests cannot “lock in” savings before the higher price takes effect.

When the Cheers! package last had a price increase in late 2023, travelers were notified of the change several days before the price was changed and urged to purchase their packages without delay to take advantage of the savings.

This latest move by Carnival Cruise Line is similar to other recent price increases, such as higher charges for several specialty dining restaurants, that have been quietly put into effect without notifying guests.

Most cruisers are relatively understanding about increased costs – after all, we all see such prices change in our daily spending, regular bills, and land-based recreation. What is irksome to cruisers, however, is that no notice is given and the higher prices simply appear in their check-out carts.

These types of surprises can be avoided, of course, by simply purchasing drink packages, wi-fi access, and pre-paid gratuities as soon as possible if the price is acceptable, rather than waiting and watching for a possible sale or price decrease.

Following the quiet price increase for the Cheers! beverage package, Carnival Cruise Line has also quietly increased the price for all three of its WiFi plans. Regardless of whether guests pre-pay for the package before setting sail or purchase internet access onboard, the costs are now higher.

Carnival offers three different WiFi plans – Social, Value, and Premium. Each one has now increased in price, with no notice to booked guests and no opportunity for travelers to lock in savings.

The cost increases can quickly add up, as each package has increased a minimum of 12% over previous pricing.

The Social WiFi Plan, which includes access to social media websites and apps to stay in touch with family members and friends back on land, has increased the most. Previously, the plan was $15.30 per day when purchased before sailing, and $18 per day when purchased onboard.

Now, the costs are $18.70 pre-cruise and $22 when purchased onboard, an increase of a whopping 22%. For a 7-night sailing, travelers will now pay $23.80 to $28 higher for this package, depending on when they make their purchase.

The Value Wi-Fi Plan includes all social sites as well as limited internet browsing with a faster connection speed than the Social option. The previous pricing was $19.55 pre-cruise and $23 when purchased onboard, but has now increased 13% to $22.10 and $26, respectively.

The Premium WiFi Plan has increased the least, but still has a notably higher price. Previously, the cost per day was $21.25 before sailing and $25 onboard, but guests will now pay 12% more – $23.80 when purchased pre-cruise and $28 when purchased onboard.

Carnival’s official website does note that prices “are subject to change without prior notice” but with previous price increases, the cruise line has typically notified booked guests several days early. This has permitted travelers to lock in savings by buying their Wi-Fi plans before an increase goes into effect.

For example, in late 2023, when Carnival increased WiFi prices for cruises in Australia, guests were notified through the Carnival Hub app about the change.

“You should know that we are adjusting Wi-Fi pricing,” the notification read at that time. “Make sure to add your Wi-Fi package early to lock in the current package price for your upcoming cruise.”

No such notice was sent to guests about these latest price increases.

Guests React to Surprise Price Increases

Carnival guests are not happy about the price increases, but the lack of communication from the cruise line appears to be the most frustrating issue.

Many travelers have reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, with their concerns. While it is true that no business needs to notify customers of pending price increases, loyal travelers and repeat cruisers feel it would have been courteous for the cruise line to do so.

This is especially true when guests book cruises months, even years, before sailing, and may have budgeted very carefully for their add-on packages at that time.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have WiFi – 5 Things to Know

Heald, while promising to ensure that guests’ frustrations are passed along to the cruise line’s executives and customer service team, does note that Carnival has not acted deceptively or done anything that other businesses would not do.

“I think that most restaurants and hotels and Cruise lines do not normally give email or press release warnings if they are going to increase a price of well anything really,” he said. “But I absolutely understand your frustration and I promise to make sure the right people will see it.”

Every traveler has to choose whether or not they want to purchase a beverage package or internet access according to their own preferences, needs, and budget. Forewarning of a price increase could encourage guests who may have been undecided to go ahead and make the purchase at a lower rate.

Without such warning, however, many guests appear to now be foregoing the packages or else reconsidering travel with Carnival Cruise Line altogether. What would your reaction be? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!