Carnival’s New Daily Fees Are Now In Effect—Here’s What You’ll Pay

Cruise costs just went up—again. And if you’re sailing soon with Carnival Cruise Line, these changes are now officially in place.

As of April 2, 2026, Carnival has rolled out updated pricing for both daily gratuities and its popular soda package, impacting guests across all ships and stateroom categories.

New Gratuity Rates Now Active

Carnival’s latest increase raises daily gratuities by $1 per person across the board.

Here’s what guests will now pay:

• $17 per person, per day for interior, ocean view, and balcony cabins
• $19 per person, per day for suite guests

While a $1 increase may not sound like much, it adds up quickly—especially for families.

For example:

• A family of four on a 7-night cruise will now pay $28 more than before

Guests who prepaid gratuities before April 2 were able to lock in the previous lower rate, even if their cruise departs later.

Why This Feels Bigger Than $1

Gratuity hikes tend to spark strong reactions from cruisers. Most agree crew members deserve the extra pay, but the steady increases over time are becoming harder to ignore.

To put things in perspective:

• In 2016, gratuities were $12.95 per person, per day
• Today, they’re $17 per day for standard cabins

That’s roughly a 24% increase over the past decade.

For a typical family cruise, that difference can mean well over $100 more compared to what guests may remember paying years ago.

How Carnival Compares to Other Cruise Lines

Despite the increase, Carnival still isn’t the most expensive when it comes to gratuities.

Other cruise lines charge even higher daily rates:

• Margaritaville at Sea: up to $22 per day (standard cabins)
• Virgin Voyages: similar rates, though pricing structures vary

Some lines allow adjustments or include gratuities in the fare, while others keep them fixed.

Bottomless Bubbles Price Increase

It’s not just gratuities—Carnival’s soda package is also getting more expensive.

The Bottomless Bubbles package for adults has increased:

• From $9.50 → $11.99 per person, per day

Kids’ pricing remains unchanged at:

• $6.95 per day

But there’s another cost to keep in mind…

Service Charges Still Apply (and They’re Higher Too)

All drink packages—and many onboard purchases—come with a 20% service charge.

This was increased from 18% in late 2025 and applies to:

• Beverage packages
• Specialty dining
• In-room gifts and extras

So that $11.99 soda package? It’s actually closer to $14.39 per day after fees.

Is the Drink Package Still Worth It?

That depends on how much you drink.

Individual sodas onboard typically cost:

• Around $3.50 to $4 each (plus service charge)

If you’re having multiple sodas per day, the package can still make sense. But for lighter drinkers, paying per drink may be the better option.

Also worth noting:
Some beverage packages require everyone in the same cabin to purchase the package, which can significantly increase the total cost.

What This Means for Your Cruise Budget

These updates are a reminder that cruise fares are only part of the total cost.

Between gratuities, drink packages, and service charges, onboard expenses can add up quickly—especially for families or longer sailings.

If you’re planning a cruise:

• Review all add-on costs ahead of time
• Consider pre-paying when possible
• Use online calculators to estimate your total

Because while the cruise fare might look the same… what you pay onboard probably won’t.