Are Carnival Cruises All Inclusive? (Know THIS Before Your Book…)

Booking a cruise can be confusing, especially since you don’t know exactly what is and isn’t included in your fare.

The Carnival Cruise Line is one of the most popular and budget-friendly cruise vacations on the market. But their cruise fare can be a bit confusing, especially for first-timers.

So, what does a carnival cruise include? Are carnival cruises all inclusive?!

We’ll cover everything that is and isn’t included in the cruise fare so you can make the best decision for you and your family…

Are Carnival Cruises All Inclusive?

Breakfast spread on a cruiseship with text on top asking 'Are carnival Cruises All Inclusive?"

Carnival cruises are NOT all-inclusive. Your carnival cruise fare will include accommodation, some entertainment and on-board activities (pool, gym, etc.), plus food in the buffets and main dining halls. Drinks, especially alcoholic beverages, cost extra.

Carnival offers two drink packages which can technically make your package ‘all-inclusive.’ They offer the Bottomless Bubbles, which includes unlimited sodas and juices (all non-alcoholic) and the Cheers package which includes alcoholic beverages (up to $20 per drink,) wine, spirits, energy drinks, and alcohol-free cocktails as well.

The ‘Cheers Package’ is the closest thing Carnival offers to an ‘all-inclusive’ package.

What Is Included In The Carnival Cruise Price?

Carnival cruises offer great value for travelers, even if they don’t offer an all-inclusive cruise package. Your carnival cruise fare covers:

Most importantly, your fare covers your accommodations on board the ship for the duration of the cruise, including all taxes, port charges, and gratuities that are due upon full payment for your reservation.

This also includes meals in either their dining room or buffet restaurants aboard the ship.

Depending on your selected stateroom category and accommodation package, you may also receive additional perks such as priority boarding or upgraded stateroom amenities like complimentary wifi or access to priority restaurants and lounges.

In some cases depending on promotion, fares may include extras like onboard credits, complimentary beverage packages, or even a free night’s stay pre-or-post-cruise.

Be sure to read up on which promotions are available to you before fully booking a cruise – it could save you extra time and money.

Your standard cruise fare will always include:

  • Nightly turndown service in your stateroom
  • Access to all pools, hot tubs, and waterslides (with small exceptions depending on the boat)
  • All fitness centers
  • Live entertainment such as theatre shows, comedians and musicians (may need to book ahead)
  • Kids clubs for 2 to 17-year-olds
  • Food in the Main Dining Room and Lido Buffet
  • Some meals in the specialty dining venues for breakfast and lunch (varies by cruise ship)
  • The 24-hour pizzeria and 24-hour soft-serve ice cream machine
  • Select non-alcoholic drinks in the Main Dining Room and Lido Restaurant (such as water, iced tea, and non-specialty teas and coffee)

Additionally, many cruises have special additions like water slide parks and theaters available at an extra cost but there will always be plenty of free activities on board such as events put on by entertainers, pools, hot tubs, and other recreation facilities!

Is Food Included On Carnival Cruises?

People often wonder if food is included on Carnival cruises.

Since they are known as a budget-friendly vacation option, many people assume that all meals are included. Dinner and certain snacks are usually included in the price of your cruise ticket.

There may be additional charges for premium dining experiences such as specialty restaurants or enhanced drinks packages, but the majority of meals will be covered by the cost of your cruise package in the main dining room and Lido buffet.

Most Carnival cruises serve three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Breakfast is typically served from 7am to 10am, with an early-risers breakfast service from 6:30am to 7am. Lunch is served from 12pm to 2pm and dinner is served from 5pm to 7:30pm (or 8:00pm).

There may also be snack foods available throughout the day in different parts of the ship such as a poolside snack bar or the 24/7 pizzeria.

Most carnival cruises have a soft serve ice cream machine available all day and it’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the cruise ship!

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive experience on your Carnival cruise, there are some upgrade options available that include alcoholic drinks.

These packages can provide a great value if you plan on fully taking advantage of all onboard offerings during your trip – just make sure you know what’s included before making a final decision so you don’t end up paying too much for features you don’t need.

Are Drinks Included On A Carnival Cruise?

Image of a drink on a cruiship overlooking a harbor - Select drinks may be included on a carnival cruise

Drinks are NOT included in your Carnival cruise package. Carnival, however, does offer two drink packages that you can add on to your fare. They offer their ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ and ‘Carnival Cheers’ packages.

Per their website, the Bottomless Bubbles includes:

Soft Drinks:

  • Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Pepsi Decaf.
  • Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Zero Sugar
  • Mug Root Beer
  • Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew
  • Bubly blackberry or lime-flavored mineral water

Juices:

  • Orange Juice
  • Cranberry juice
  • Tomato juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Grapefruit juice

The following drinks are not included:

  • Non-alcoholic drinks that are not listed above
  • Drinks that are sold at the souvenir shops
  • Bottled water
  • Coffee specialties
  • Drinks that are offered at the gangway while leaving the ship
  • Drinks from the minibar
  • Drinks from the room service

Per their website, the Carnival Cheers package includes:

  • Soda drinks and non-alcoholic Frozen Cocktails“
  • All spirits including our cocktails*
  • Beer and wine served by the glass*
  • Rocky Star Energy Drinks, Powerade, Honest Tea
  • Specialty coffees and teas served in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants, and coffee bars
  • 500ml bottles of water served in bars and lounges
  • Large format (1 liter and 1.5-liter) bottles of water in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants
  • Vitamin Water, Coconut Water
  • 25 percent discount off the menu price for any spirit, cocktail or wine by the glass costing more than 20 USD per serving
  • 25 percent discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle and larger format water bottles purchased outside the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants
  • 25 percent discount off the menu price for all beverage classes and seminars

*up to a maximum amount of 20 USD

Planning a Carnival cruise can be drastically different from the traditional planning of a land-based vacation.

Carnival cruises are known for their somewhat-inclusive rates that cover accommodation, meals, entertainment, and various other onboard activities, but many people do get confused by their drink packages.

Many travelers wonder if their ticket also includes drinks on Carnival cruises because it’s not always explicitly stated when booking the voyage.

An important factor to consider is the type of drink you are looking for onboard your cruise.

Most bookings don’t include alcoholic drinks or fancy coffee beverages but there is still plenty of free non-alcoholic options throughout the ship.

Guests will find plenty of soda, juices, and lemonade as well as a huge selection of bottled water to select from during their journey on any Carnival Cruise.

Your Carnival cruise line fare covers basic needs, each deal includes juice and water beverages in at least one type of meal (breakfast or lunch).

Whether the drink packages are the right choice for you depends greatly from passenger to passenger!

You can always buy drinks individually or choose special beverage packages when booking with Carnival that includes tropical cocktails and an array of other alcoholic beverages for those looking for an extra special experience onboard.

What’s Not Included On A Carnival Cruise

Cruiseship at harbor

Carnival cruises may include a lot of things, but there are still a few things that are not included in the price. It’s important to know what is not included so you can plan accordingly.

When booking a Carnival cruise, it’s important to note that some meals and drinks provided throughout the trip may not be included in your fare.

Alcoholic beverages, room service, and select specialty restaurants often have an extra cost associated with them.

Before you embark on your journey, consider purchasing a pre-paid package to include some or all of these items if they are something you would like to enjoy during the cruise.

Also, keep in mind it’s customary to tip crew members onboard for services rendered during the trip. It’s usually not included in your cruise fare but is highly recommended for exceptional service provided by wait staff and cabin stewards.

When making your reservations, ask how much should be budgeted for tipping crew members throughout your vacation.

Finally, while activities such as rock climbing walls or miniature golf courses may be listed as part of the entertainment package on board a Carnival Cruise ship, these amenities often require an additional fee as well.

Make sure to research carefully ahead of time so you’re aware of these expenses before boarding the ship and adjust your overall budget accordingly.

This is everything THAT IS included in your carnival Cruise fare:

The price of your cruise includes: 

  • Your stateroom, featuring the Carnival Home™ Bedding Collection… additional stateroom features include a flat-screen TV, in-stateroom safe, individual climate control, full bathroom and ample storage space.
  • Spectacular production shows and entertainment, including hysterical comedians
  • Numerous lounges featuring live music and entertainment
  • Fitness center
  • Pools, hot tub spas and waterslides
  • Year-round youth programs for kids 2-17 years of age
  • A variety of dining options for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late night in the Main Dining Room and/or Lido Restaurant.
  • A variety of dining options for breakfast, lunch and snacking at specialty food spots (featured on select ships), such as but not limited to: Guy’s Burger Joint, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, BlueIguana Cantina, Street Eats, Big Chicken, Mongolian Wok and Ol’ Fashioned BBQ.
  • Pizzeria (9:00am-4:00am)
  • Soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt
  • The following beverages served in the Main Dining Room and 24/7 in the Lido Restaurant: non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea

Taking into account all fees associated with this type of vacation is key for ensuring that a Carnival Cruise is truly all-inclusive for you and your family!

Does Carnival Cruise Have All Inclusive Packages?

If you’re looking to find an all-inclusive vacation package that includes your travel, accommodations, and meals, you may be wondering if Carnival Cruise has anything to offer.

Unfortunately, Carnival Cruise does not offer an All-Inclusive Package. Basic fare includes your room, meals in the main dining room, the buffet, and access to amenities such as pools and onboard venues. You also have the option of purchasing a drink package to make your vacation more ‘all-inclusive’ but that still won’t include meals in certain restaurants, just drinks.

Carnival Cruise also has discounts available for passengers who book multiple days or a complete week on the Caribbean island excursions.

Are Flights Included On A Carnival Cruise?

Airplane wing - Are flights included on a carnival cruise

When planning a Carnival Cruise, many people may wonder if flights are included on their cruise. This really depends on which Carnival Cruise line and destination you’re interested in cruising to.

Generally, Carnival Cruise Lines do not typically include flight packages with their cruises – these need to be arranged separately.

However, when booking a cruise with Carnival, you may have the opportunity to bundle flight, hotel, and transfer to-and-from the airport with your cruise package through the website, which can save travelers time and money when booking.

In addition, some of their more popular destinations such as Hawaii or Europe offer flight packages that can be added as part of a larger package.

If your destination is one of these places, be sure to check out what extra features are included in the package before booking.

Along with bundling services through the official website for additional savings or convenience – travelers can also book direct flights available from airlines or travel agents for the most direct route and flexibility when finding an itinerary that best fits their needs.

It’s important to verify how much each individual component will cost before making any final arrangements or choosing the bundle from Carnival Cruise Lines as each item affects overall cost significantly when traveling abroad.

It can sometimes be cheaper to arrange transfers and flights separately. However, you will have to figure out the logistics and coordinate with the different companies.

If there are any flight delays, since it’s a bundle and purchased directly, the cruise may be made aware and wait for you (within reason.) If you book it separately, you will just be considered a no-show.

Drink Packages On Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruise offers two drink packages.

They have a ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ and a ‘Carnival Cheers’ package available for purchase, allowing guests to make their vacation more ‘inclusive.’

As stated, this is everything that is included in their packages-

Per their website, the Bottomless Bubbles includes:

Soft Drinks:

  • Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Pepsi Decaf.
  • Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Zero Sugar
  • Mug Root Beer
  • Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew
  • Bubly blackberry or lime-flavored mineral water

Juices:

  • Orange Juice
  • Cranberry juice
  • Tomato juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Grapefruit juice

The following drinks are not included:

  • Non-alcoholic drinks that are not listed above
  • Drinks that are sold at the souvenir shops
  • Bottled water
  • Coffee specialties
  • Drinks that are offered at the gangway while leaving the ship
  • Drinks from the minibar
  • Drinks from the room service

Per their website, the Carnival Cheers package includes:

  • Soda drinks and non-alcoholic Frozen Cocktails“
  • All spirits including our cocktails*
  • Beer and wine served by the glass*
  • Rocky Star Energy Drinks, Powerade, Honest Tea
  • Specialty coffees and teas served in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants, and coffee bars
  • 500ml bottles of water served in bars and lounges
  • Large format (1 liter and 1.5-liter) bottles of water in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants
  • Vitamin Water, Coconut Water
  • 25 percent discount off the menu price for any spirit, cocktail or wine by the glass costing more than 20 USD per serving
  • 25 percent discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle and larger format water bottles purchased outside the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants
  • 25 percent discount off the menu price for all beverage classes and seminars

*up to a maximum amount of 20 USD

A Carnival Cruise drink package offers travelers the opportunity to purchase a variety of drinks during their stay aboard one of the cruise line’s ships.

Depending on the package, you can find a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, such as sodas and cocktails.

If one person in a cabin purchases the drink package, everyone in that room must purchase it as well. It can’t be purchased individually.

When purchased, it offers “all-you-can-drink” capabilities and serves as an alternative to bar tabs with prices more suitable for smaller groups.

The drink packages are a great option for most travelers. However, if you aren’t a big drinker or plan on being on a lot of excursions and off-ship, it may not be the best fit for you.

What Isn’t Included In A Carnival Cruise?

Your Carnival cruise vacation includes a lot of things, but there are still some extras you’ll have to pay out of pocket for.

Carnival Cruise does NOT include gratuities, Specialty dining, drinks, room service, shore excursion, spa treatments, fitness classes, laundry service, internet access, and anything in the gift shop.

Gratuities catch some people off-guard and can add up. Gratuities are $16 per person, per day in a regular stateroom or $18 per person, per day in the suites.

These must be paid before you disembark and are added to your account on the second-to-last night of the ship. You do have the option to pre-pay your gratuity through the website or travel agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Carnival Cruises all-inclusive?

No, Carnival Cruises are not all-inclusive. While some of the amenities are included in the cost of the cruise, such as meals, entertainment, and onboard activities, things such as shore excursions, spa treatments, and alcoholic beverages are paid for separately.

What amenities are included in a Carnival Cruise?

Amenities included in a Carnival Cruise are meals in select restaurants, entertainment, and onboard activities. Things such as shore excursions, spa treatments, gratuities, and alcoholic beverages are paid for separately.

What is the cost of a Carnival Cruise?

The cost of a Carnival Cruise will depend on the length of the cruise, the destination, and the type of cabin you choose. Prices start at around $50 per person per day, but can go up significantly depending on the cruise and amenities selected.

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