Carnival Cruise Line is known as one of the most affordable cruise companies in the world. However, tickets on Carnival ships aren’t all-inclusive, and your travel costs can quickly skyrocket after paying for spa services, Wi-Fi, some onboard attractions, meals in specialty restaurants, and other add-ons.
Some of those amenities are about to cost passengers even more than before, as Carnival plans to raise prices on upcoming trips. “We’ve made some adjustments in line with rising costs of delivering the high-quality experiences our guests know and love,” Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli shared with USA Today. “While we have worked to mitigate the impact as much as possible, these nominal adjustments still allow us to offer the best vacation value -– on land or at sea.”
So which services are set to cost you more? According to USA Today, passengers will notice price hikes on Wi-Fi plans and some restaurant menus. For Wi-Fi purchased before sailing, expect to pay $2.55 more per day. Wi-Fi purchased after boarding is set to increase by $3 per day. If you’ll be dining at one of Carnival’s specialty restaurants, plan to fork over an additional $1 to $6 per person.
Carnival keeps raising its prices
A few more dollars here and there for dinner or Wi-Fi might not shock your wallet, but it’s important to note that this isn’t Carnival Cruise Line’s first price increase in recent months — and it may not be its last either. In early 2023, the company raised gratuity charges, USA Today reported. Previously, daily onboard gratuities ran from $14.50 to $16.50 per person, depending on the type of accommodation booked. From April 2023, passengers were forced to pay between $16 and $18 per person, per day instead.
In October 2023, The Street also reported that Carnival’s Cheers program (an all-you-can-drink package, limited to 15 alcoholic drinks per day) was about to see a price increase. While passengers used to pay $59.95 in advance per day for the package, the new price was said to jump by 17% to $69.95. However, it’s unclear if or when the change will go into effect (as of December 2023, Carnival still advertises the original rate on its website).
Wi-Fi charges may be one of the latest changes announced by the company, but the price increase is only the most recent in a series of similar hikes. According to Cruzely, Carnival might have quietly revised the cost of Wi-Fi a total of four times since September 2022. Then, the most affordable plan cost as little as $8.50 per day. Now, passengers must pay at least $15.30 for the same plan.
Price hikes will likely continue in 2024
If you’ve been waiting to go on a cruise since the COVID-19 pandemic, know that you’re not the only one. As Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein revealed in a call (via CNBC), a record-breaking number of people are booking spots on board, and cruise occupancy has already exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
With more demand comes higher prices — a trend that’s likely here to stay. “We are well positioned to drive 2024 pricing higher, with less inventory remaining to sell than the same time last year, despite a capacity increase of 5%,” Carnival CFO David Bernstein announced in September, per USA Today.
If you’re eager to set sail in the new year — but don’t want to be burned by sky-high prices — try to be flexible when booking your trip. Choosing shoulder season and off-season cruises and smaller, off-the-beaten-path ports could help keep expenses down. Additionally, remember to compare fares based on total costs including supplementary amenities, rather than looking only at the base ticket price.
