Cruise passengers may now be getting used to the whiplash of budget-airline-type fee increases, but upcoming hikes on Carnival ships may induce some real sticker shock.
First up is an increase of nearly 40% in the price of its drinks package, from $59.95 per day to $82.54 — and that doesn’t include the 18% service charge on top of it. For a couple (you can’t buy a drinks package for only one) that’s an over-$300 boost over a 7-day cruise, or a total of $1155 for drinking your way through the Caribbean.
But for those who don’t drink or buy drinks individually, there’s no complete escape: Carnival is raising internet prices, too — by 47%, from $12.75 per day to $18.70, and that’s for basic internet, which only allows social media apps. If you want to browse the internet, send email or stream anything, the premium package is going from $21.25 per day to $23.80.
Rates like that can start to make a bargain cruise look like an expensive option!
But, like the budget airlines that tell you charging a multitude of fees is keeping fares low, Carnival sees it differently. Their spokesperson told a reporter from The Points Guy website that “We’re proud of the quality and value a Carnival cruise vacation provides our guests. Recent nominal price adjustments to help cover higher costs and our investments in onboard offerings allow us to continue providing the high-quality experiences our guests know and love.”
Photo by Marco Tjokro on Unsplash
