Nickel & Diming? A Closer Look at Carnival Cruise Line's Recent Price Changes
Carnival Cruise Line is one of the world’s largest operators of cruise ships, with over 70 vessels sailing to more than 700 destinations worldwide. In recent months, Carnival Cruise Line has made some major changes to its policies and amenities. This blog post will discuss these changes and their potential impact on passengers.
On April 1, 2023, Carnival Cruise Line will be raising the value of its recommended daily crew tips on all U.S. and European cruises, providing a much-needed boost to cruise crews and their families who have faced financial hardships due to the pandemic. The change is a welcome one – many view these tips as an essential part of a crewmember's work satisfaction, allowing them to provide for themselves and their families during their time away at sea. Overall, this increase reaffirms Carnival's commitment to taking care of their employees while they take care of the guests, giving them the recognition and perks they deserve from being such hardworking professionals at sea.
Increased Gratuities for U.S. and European Cruises
One of the most noticeable changes is the increased recommended gratuity amounts for U.S. and European cruises (excluding Australia). According to Carnival, the new recommended gratuities are $13.99 per person per day ($17.99 in suites) for guests aged 12 and over and $6.99 per person per day ($8.99 in suites) for guests aged 3-11 years old—an increase of $1–$2 from previous rates depending on accommodations type and age group. According to a letter sent to booked guests, the gratuities for both standard staterooms and suites will be increased by $1.50.
Carnival offers a pre-paid gratuity option that allows passengers to pay their tips before their cruise begins, saving time onboard by eliminating the need to sign a daily folio or wait in line at guest services for refunds or adjustments after disembarkment. Prepayment also eliminates discrepancies with autograt systems where tips may be applied incorrectly due to mix-ups between cabin numbers or guests sharing cabins who do not wish to be charged twice for tips.
The last time Carnival Cruise Line changed its gratuity rates was nearly two decades ago in 2003 when it raised prices from $9/$10 per person per day ($11/$12 in suites) to their current levels of $13/$14 ($17/$18).
Increased Onboard Wi-Fi Access Prices
Carnival has also increased its onboard Wi-Fi access prices across all lines except those sailing out of Asia Pacific—as well as raising its plan limits throughout all regions—in an effort to provide faster internet speeds on both new and older ships alike by investing funds into upgrading hardware infrastructure rather than subsidizing access costs. The new plans range from 500 MB/day at $5/day up to 10GB/day at $35/day, with several unlimited plans available as well starting at $15/day depending on the length of the voyage, region sailed, ship type, etc.. For example, Nassau sailings aboard Carnival Horizon include a 100MB plan for just under $5 while Alaska sailings aboard Carnival Splendor feature an unlimited plan for around $20/day (prices subject to change). In addition, all plans include onboard streaming (music & movies), complimentary chat & email access via the app, and multi-device connectivity of up to four devices per account holder so families can share one plan without having multiple logins or devices connected simultaneously using one account login.
Carnival has announced that it will be raising the cost of its onboard Wi-Fi internet access plans effective January 16, 2023. Despite this unavoidable price increase, travelers can still enjoy the convenience and flexibility of staying connected throughout their cruise. A variety of packages are available to suit each passenger's specific data needs— from basic options for occasional check-ins, to more robust plans for those who need extensive coverage. Whether passengers are in need of quick updates or want to stay connected every step of the way, Carnival offers a range of on-board Wi-Fi access plans that should meet their need for reliable connection at sea.
Cruising is becoming increasingly popular as travelers seek to explore the world in style, luxury and comfort. However, many are unaware of the cruise ticketing policies. Standard stateroom passengers will now have to pay an additional $16 per guest, per day for their ticket - something not previously expected. On the other hand, if you opt for a suite during your voyage, you may find yourself paying an extra $18 per person each day of your journey. It sounds like a hefty sum but make no mistake - these charges are more than worth it when it comes to experiencing a world-class holiday onboard your chosen liner!
Planning a vacation can be an exciting experience, and it is important to make sure that you do everything necessary to enjoy your time away. If you are thinking of taking a cruise, pre-paying gratuities online by April 1 could be a great way to maximize your enjoyment. Doing so will ensure that you get the current rates and not those which may be higher at the time of departure. Many passengers have made use of this offer and found that they experienced great savings. Pre-paying gratuities online before April 1 could be just the thing you need to save big on your next trip!
Carnival Cruise Lines strives to provide their customers with the best possible experience on board their vacation vessels, which is why they have recently adjusted the value of recommended daily gratuities. The last change was made in April 2021 when the bar was raised by $0.50 across all categories - captain, restaurant staff, cabin stewards and other general staff. This small increase may not seem like a lot, but it shows a level of appreciation for the hardworking individuals who create wonderful experiences every day on board Carnival Cruise Lines' ships. The company values each employee and wants to ensure they receive respect and recognition that reflects the high quality services provided. Thus, going forward, passengers should keep this increase in mind and take care to honor their service with an appropriate tip for each person whose efforts contribute to the magic of a holiday on board the ship.
Conclusion
Carnival Cruise Line has been making some big changes recently—most notably with its onboard gratuities and Wi-Fi access prices—which could have significant impacts on passengers’ experiences onboard their vessels moving forward if they choose not to take advantage of the pre-payment options offered by the company or opt out of purchasing Wi-Fi packages altogether while sailing internationally or within U.S./European waters respectively. If you have any further questions about these changes or would like more information about cruising with Carnival Cruise Line please feel free to contact us today! We hope this blog post gave you a better understanding of what has been going on lately with this popular cruise line operator!