Carnival Cruise Line Just Added a Brand New $25 Per Day Value Package
Carnival Cruise Line has quietly added a brand new Value Package designed specifically for younger cruisers — and at $25 per person per day, it might be one of the better deals the cruise line has put together for families this year.
The new package, which launched on August 24, 2026, sits alongside Carnival’s existing Essentials Value Package and Ultimate Value Package, giving families a third and considerably more affordable option when it comes to bundling onboard extras before they sail.
What the Kids Package Includes
The new offering is available for guests aged three through 17 and covers five specific benefits:
- Bottomless Bubbles unlimited soda package with a souvenir cup
- Social WiFi plan for the duration of the sailing
- 1,000 arcade tokens — valued at $200 on their own
- Lanyard
- 50% off bulk candy
The arcade token component is the headline item here. At face value, 1,000 tokens represents $200 in arcade credit — meaning the package more than pays for itself on the tokens alone if your kids are the type to spend any meaningful time in the arcade. Add unlimited sodas and social WiFi on top and the math starts to look genuinely compelling for families with younger cruisers.
How the Three Carnival Value Packages Compare
The new kids package completes what is now a three-tier Value Package lineup on Carnival:
The Kids and Teens Value Package at $25 per person per day is the entry-level option, covering the five benefits listed above and available for guests aged 3-17.
The Essentials Value Package targets adult cruisers looking to bundle the basics — think beverage packages and WiFi — at a mid-range price point. Notably, this is the only package with a shared purchase requirement: if one adult in a cabin buys the Essentials package, every guest aged 21 and older in that same stateroom must also purchase it.
The Ultimate Value Package sits at the top of the lineup and bundles the most comprehensive set of onboard benefits for guests looking to cover as many extras as possible in a single pre-cruise purchase.
The Fine Print Worth Knowing Before You Buy
A few important details apply across all three packages that are worth understanding before committing:
Purchase window: All three packages must be bought online before the cruise and cannot be purchased once you’ve boarded. Bookings go through My Cruise Manager on Carnival.com.
Availability: The current offer is available for sailings departing between August 28 and December 31, 2026, and must be purchased by September 30, 2026.
All-or-nothing commitment: The packages apply to the full sailing. Guests cannot select specific days for the package to apply — it’s the entire voyage or nothing.
Refunds: The packages are fully refundable if cancelled before the cruise begins. Once the sailing is underway, any unused benefits are non-refundable.
Upgrades: If you purchase a package and later decide you want a higher tier, upgrades are permitted as long as the change is made at least 24 hours before embarkation.
Will These Packages Come Back?
The current Value Package offer runs through September 30, 2026. Carnival has indicated that similar packages may return in the future, though no permanent rollout has been confirmed. For now, families with fall and holiday sailings on the books have a window to take advantage of the kids offering before the deadline closes.
For a family with two children spending a meaningful amount of time in the arcade, the $25 per day package pays for itself before they’ve touched a soda or connected to WiFi. That’s not a bad starting point for a pre-cruise budget conversation.
