Carnival Quietly Raises Cheers! Drink Package Prices Ahead of Busy Holiday Season

Carnival Cruise Line has increased the price of its popular Cheers! Beverage Program, removing the discounted rate previously offered for longer sailings.

This image shows three bottles of liquor displayed on a bar counter aboard a Carnival Cruise ship. The bottles include Campari, Amaro Nonino, and Amaro Montenegro, each accompanied by a small glass of the corresponding drink in front of them. The background features a well-lit bar area with a variety of other bottles on shelves, and a sign that reads "AMARI." The setup highlights the selection of Italian liqueurs available on the cruise.

Now, all passengers will pay the same higher per-day price, regardless of their cruise length.

Previously, guests on sailings of six nights or longer could prepay $70.74 per night, compared to $82.54 per night for shorter sailings.

If purchased onboard, the rates were $76.64 and $88.45 per night, respectively. These prices included an 18% service charge.

Now, only the higher per-day prices are listed on Carnival’s website, effectively raising the cost of the Cheers! package for guests on longer cruises by approximately 16%.

For example, on a typical 7-night cruise, passengers will now pay $82.60 more per person for the package.

Since Carnival requires all adults in a stateroom to purchase the drink package if one person does, the increase can be even more significant for families or groups.

No changes have been made to the package’s offerings, which include drinks priced at $20 or lower with a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per guest.

The sudden price hike has caused frustration among cruisers, not necessarily due to the cost itself but because no warning was given.

In previous price increases, Carnival informed guests ahead of time, allowing them to lock in the lower rates before the change.

Many travellers express disappointment that this latest increase was implemented without notice, leaving them unable to take advantage of the lower rates for upcoming cruises.

Unsurprisingly, the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has taken a bit of a battering on his Facebook page, but he continues to respond to guests as cheerily as possible.

Nice surprise on the drink package price today, sir! 😄 I know its not your idea, last increase they gave us a warning.Thank you, I do apologize. I will let my colleagues know and I will be here if you need anything else. I hope you will let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, cheers.

This approach mirrors recent quiet price hikes by Carnival for specialty dining and other onboard services, which were also introduced without prior announcements.

Frequent cruisers recommend booking drink packages, WiFi, and pre-paid gratuities as soon as prices are acceptable rather than waiting for potential sales or promotions.

By locking in these costs early, travellers can avoid last-minute increases that may strain their budgets.

Despite the increase, Carnival’s Cheers! package remains a staple for passengers who enjoy the convenience of unlimited beverages.

The package includes alcoholic drinks, sodas, specialty coffees, and non-alcoholic cocktails, offering a flexible option for cruisers who like to indulge.

The Bottomless Bubbles soda package and bottled water pricing remain unchanged, though these options never included discounts for longer sailings.

While guests may begrudge the timing of this price hike, the Cheers! package continues to appeal to those who value its all-inclusive nature and onboard flexibility.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.