Anyone that’s cruised before knows that tipping is just part of life on the ship. Whether it is called a gratuity or a tip or a service charge, these fees add up. From the daily gratuity charges to the extra price added on top for drinks, specialty dining, or spa services, you’re going to spend hundreds on these costs, no matter which cruise line you sail.
If you’re sailing Carnival, however, the cost is set to be a little higher.
In years past, the automatic gratuity (Carnival calls it a service charge) seen for many purchases around the ship was 18%. So a drink at the bar costing $11 on the menu sees an actual price of $12.98.
We’ve noticed, however, that Carnival has updated its website to reflect a new 20% automatic charge instead:
This new rate applies to many items across the ship. Specifically, beverage purchases are mentioned, as are specialty restaurants like Chef’s Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki. Room service drinks also are subject to the higher fee.
Now to be fair, an increase from 18% to 20% isn’t likely to break the bank. That $11 cocktail from the bar goes from $12.98 to $13.20 — an increase of 22 cents.
Where passengers will see a larger increase is with the CHEERS! drink package. The new rate bumps the daily total price (with service charge included) from $82.54 to $83.94 if bought ahead of the cruise. Since both people in the cabin have to purchase the package if one person in the cabin does, a couple with the drink package on a 7-day cruise will now pay $19.60 more over the course of the trip.
But the new rate isn’t completely out of line in the industry. Norwegian Cruise Line has charged a 20% rate for years. Royal Caribbean charges 18% for most things on the ship, but charges 20% for spa and salon purchases.
Notably, the daily service gratuity (the amount you pay each day to cover waiters, your room steward and others) is not changed. It continues to be $16 per person, per day for most rooms. Suites still see an $18 per person, per day charge.
This rate is lower than most rival cruise lines. Royal Caribbean charges $18/$21.50 for its rooms. Norwegian charges passengers $20/$25 per person, per day depending on the room type.
Daily Wi-Fi Charges Also Rising
Service charges aren’t the only item on the ship seeing a price increase. We’ve also noticed that the rates for wi-fi service on Carnival is increasing as well.
Carnival offers three different tiers of service — Social, Value, and Premium. Each of those has a price when purchased before the cruise and a higher onboard price.
Rates are increasing across the plans. Here’s a look:
All told, the increases come out to about 7-9% if purchased ahead of time. The increases are higher if you wait to buy until on the ship.
Again, this isn’t likely to break the bank, but it does add up. Someone purchasing the Premium wi-fi plan ahead of time for a week-long cruise will see about $12 more in charges with this bump in price.
It ties into our feeling that Carnival is moving from being an inexpensive cruise line to simply affordable.
