Carnival Cruise Line is changing how it charges for beverage packages and Wi-Fi plans, moving to a system where prices shift depending on the cruise’s length, itinerary and the time of year. The change takes effect Dec. 1.
Carnival disclosed the pricing shift near the bottom of an Oct. 14 announcement that was mostly about new “FunPacks,” which bundle several cruise extras into a single pre-cruise purchase.
The company told Fox News Digital that the new pricing structure, known as dynamic pricing, will apply only to individual beverage and Wi-Fi packages purchased separately, not to packages included in bundles.
“Importantly, once a guest purchases a package, their confirmed price is locked in and will not change even if pricing is adjusted later,” Carnival said.
Dynamic pricing is a common business strategy in which prices move up or down based on factors like demand, competitor pricing and available inventory, according to a Harvard Business School blog post.
Carnival said the shift is meant to give passengers “greater flexibility and more options for tailoring their Carnival vacation experience.”
Passengers React Online
The announcement drew mixed reaction from cruisers online, with some worried the new approach would make it harder to plan and budget for a trip.
“I’ve never heard a single person that was happy about dynamic pricing,” one Reddit user wrote.
“Who’s wishing for more complications on vacation?” another person asked.
One commenter went further, writing, “I officially dropped Carnival for the rest of my life.”
Other passengers said the change could work in their favor depending on how Carnival sets the actual prices. One suggested beverage packages might end up cheaper on longer or more port-heavy itineraries, while Wi-Fi costs could vary differently based on trip length.
“I have no issue with this,” one Reddit user wrote. “We’d be more open to it if it were dynamic pricing.”
Other Cruise Lines Raising Prices Too
Carnival isn’t the only cruise company adjusting its extras pricing. Princess Cruises raised the cost of its Plus and Premier packages by $5 per person per day starting Oct. 13, bringing the standard rates to $70 and $105 per day, respectively.
Princess also overhauled its standalone Wi-Fi options, dropping its four-device plan in favor of a new two-device package priced at $39.99 per day. Single-device internet purchased onboard now costs $39.99 for 24 hours, or $33.99 per day when bought for the entire sailing.
Princess told Fox News Digital it periodically reviews package pricing in response to changes in its operating environment, while aiming to give guests value through bundled amenities.
