Who doesn’t love a slice of pizza as a late-night snack after a full day of activity on a cruise ship? It’s the ultimate comfort food, after all, and it’s just plain fun to eat.

However, some guests sailing aboard two Carnival Cruise Line ships from Australian homeports are disappointed at the lack of complimentary late-night food, particularly pizza.

The situation prompted one cruiser to post a petition on Change.org, calling for the cruise line to provide free pizza through midnight.

“Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter offer exciting voyages and unparalleled experiences. However, as passengers, it’s disheartening to see that there are no free food options available after 9 PM,” states the petition created by Jonathon Hurrell.

“This petition is a call to action for Carnival Cruise Lines to extend free food services on their ships, specifically providing complimentary pizza until midnight. This change would not only enhance the guest experience on board but also align with Carnival’s reputation as the most fun cruise line,” the petition adds.

Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure joined the fleet in March 2025 after sister brand P&O Cruises Australia was absorbed into Carnival Cruise Line. The ships, each with capacity for 2,600 guests in double occupancy, are based in Brisbane and Sydney, respectively.

But the rebranding of the ships into the Fun Ship fleet did not mean that all of the policies and services offered on the transferred ships would mirror those in place across the Carnival fleet.

For instance, the Lido Marketplace buffet is typically open until about 2 a.m. on other Carnival ships, and the Carnival Deli until 11 p.m., depending on the vessel. Neither of the former P&O ships has these options.

“Join us in urging Carnival Cruise Lines to provide free pizza until midnight on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. Sign this petition to make late-night munching a memorable part of the cruise experience,” the petition concludes.

It has so far amassed over 400 signatures from people who have sailed on the ships and also were frustrated at the lack of late-night options, or guests who are booked to sail on future cruises.

As one future guest commented on the petition site: “I booked the Carnival Adventure ship, as I was expecting to get the Carnival value and experience that I’ve enjoyed on Carnival Splendor. Now I’m worried that my Carnival cruise will be ruined because of ‘penny pinching’ and not receiving the Carnival experience that I expected when I booked my cruise.”

Another post chastised the cruise line: “Carnival, you can do better! Aussies are loyal customers who deserve a wonderful cruising experience.”

Earlier Change Limited Late-Night Pizza to Buffet Only

In addition to the Lido Marketplace, Carnival Cruise Line ships have two pizza counters where guests can indulge in the cheesy delight, including Pizzeria del Capitano and Pirate Pizza, both included in the cruise fare.

Read Also: How Not to Overeat on a Cruise – And Why It Matters

The cruise line made a big change in November 2024 when both venues, which had traditionally remained open until 2 or 2:30 a.m., began closing at midnight. 

Under the new policy, late-night pizza became available only at the Lido Marketplace, and the style of pizza was limited to deep-dish only, which disappointed some guests. This policy did not impact either Carnival Encounter or Carnival Adventure since they were not yet part of the fleet.

All Carnival Cruise Line ships, including Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure, do serve pizza and other snacks like sandwiches, wraps, and salads via room service on a 24-hour basis, but fees apply. Pan pizza costs $6.

Carnival Encounter operates Australia and South Pacific voyages, including cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea, while Carnival Adventure sails to destinations such as New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu.

Cruise passengers are required to arrange a payment method for onboard expenses before they set sail, whether they choose to link a credit card to their account or prefer to pay in cash.

One rumor has begun to circulate that cash will no longer be king for onboard accounts, however, but Carnival Cruise Line has been quick to debunk that potentially expensive mistake.

A concerned guest contacted John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s official Brand Ambassador, for confirmation. It is always best to reach out to the experts rather than rely on social media rumors from those who claim to be in the know or who might have spoken to a friend of a friend of a cousin of a former roommate of a crew member.

“More and more people do not have a credit card have only a pre-paid debit card for emergencies only,” the guest explained. “I want to set up my ship account card with cash but was told on the VIFP Carnival Facebook that this will soon be no longer possible because Carnival will not accept any cash at all.”

The guest goes on to explain that they don’t drink or gamble onboard, and so their onboard account is not likely to be a very high expense. Furthermore, they prefer to pay tips individually as well.

“We would like to pay our tips in cash throughout the week as it is more personal to us. Can we still use cash?” they asked.

Heald was quick to respond and stamp “PAID” on the rumor, but also acknowledging that many people use cash less frequently.

“It is true I think that cash is becoming less used when putting money down on our Sail and Sign cards. But yes, you can indeed still use it,” he confirmed.

The rumor may be related, in part, to the idea that Carnival Cruise Line could have been considering removing ATM machines from many ships at the end of 2024. At this time, however, ATMs are still available and there have been no changes to the policies for setting up onboard accounts.

To set up a Sail & Sign account in cash, it is necessary to visit the Guest Services desk on embarkation day to deposit the cash (USD only). Carnival Cruise Line recommends $100-350 per person on the account depending on the length of the sailing.

Guests can add further funds to their account at any time during the cruise with another visit to the Guest Services desk.

If cash-paying guests have more than $10 remaining on their account at the end of the cruise, they will receive a refund via check mailed to their home after the sailing ends.

Amounts less than $10 are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, unless guests retrieve the money from one of the Sail & Sign kiosks onboard or the Guest Services desk before debarking.

What Payment Method Do Most Guests Use?

I’ve always used a credit card for onboard purchases with Carnival Cruise Line, as I prefer the ease of having the account set up before setting sail without any visit to Guest Services necessary.

Cash can certainly be a good option for many guests, however, without any surprises on a higher-than-expected bill after the cruise.

For guests without credit cards or who prefer the security of cash but without a visit to Guest Services, linking a debit card can be another good option.

Heald asked his more than 610,000 Facebook followers what method they prefer to pay for their onboard accounts. In less than an hour, more than 1,500 guests had commented.

The majority of people choose to use a credit card, noting how convenient it is with no risk of running short.

Guests who prefer either cash or debit cards note such things as interest on credit cards or the risk (however miniscule) of credit card fraud. Some have also had past issues with credit cards being denied with fraud alerts – even if those alerts are unfounded.

Read Also: The Best Ways to Save Money During a Cruise

Other guests are not comfortable with the idea of linking a debit card – and therefore their bank information – to the cruise line. A cash account can make setting and sticking to an onboard budget much easier, while credit cards may be just for emergencies.

Furthermore, using cash ensures there is no hold on a credit or debit card, which could be troublesome if guests don’t have a lot of space on their chosen card.

Savvy cruise guests will always stay informed about their onboard account, checking the balance during their cruise to be sure there are no mistakes and to be clear about where their budget is.