Carnival Cruise Line Hikes Gratuities & Wi-Fi Pricing

Less than a year after it last raised its gratuities, Carnival Cruise Line is hiking them yet again. At the same time, the line is raising the prices of its Wi-Fi packaging, by as much as 25% for its least expensive option.  

Gratuities
Starting with departures on April 1 and after, gratuities will be $16 per person, per day for standard staterooms, an increase of just over 10%. For suites passengers, gratuities will be $18 per person, per day, an increase of just over 9%.

“Our shipboard team members work hard to provide exceptional service and the friendly, welcoming, and outstanding work of Carnival crew is widely recognized across the industry and amongst cruise fans,” the line said in a statement to Travel Market Report. “We believe our guests will agree this slight increase is well-deserved. While gratuities are automatically added to guest’s shipboard accounts, the amount can be adjusted on board at the guest’s request.”

Passengers with cruises departing after April 1 can pre-pay their gratuities at the current level through the end of March.

Carnival last raised its gratuities on May 1, 20222.

Both Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line also announced gratuity increases late last year. 

Wi-Fi Packages
Starting with departures on January 16, the price for Wi-Fi is going up, by as much as 10 to 25%.

The Social package, which is designed for cruisers who want to be able to connect only to their social media platforms, will be going up the most, from $10.20 per day to $12.75 per day, a 25% increase.

The Value package, which enables users to do pretty much everything except stream, will increase from $14.45 per day to $17, an almost 18% increase.

The Premium package, which lets users do everything online they do at home, will go from $17 per day to $18.70, a 10% price increase.

Cruisers with sailings departing after January 16 have until that day to pre-purchase their Wi-Fi packages at the current pricing.