Carnival Raises Daily Gratuities Starting April 2026
Carnival Cruise Line has announced a price increase for both daily gratuities and the Bottomless Bubbles soda package, effective April 2, 2026.
This change will impact guests sailing on both U.S. and European departures, marking the first increase in gratuities since April 2023.
Gratuities on the Rise
The new daily gratuity rates will see a modest $1 increase per person, per day. For standard staterooms, the recommended gratuity will rise from $16 to $17. Suite guests will experience a slightly larger increase, with gratuities jumping from $18 to $19 per day.
These increased gratuities will automatically be charged to the guests’ Sail & Sign accounts unless pre-paid through Carnival’s Cruise Manager before April 1, 2026. Guests who prepay will lock in the current rates for any upcoming sailings.
Carnival has emphasized that these gratuities directly benefit the onboard crew, in addition to their base wages, recognizing their dedication to providing exceptional service to guests. Despite the hike, Carnival’s gratuities remain among the lowest in the mainstream cruise industry, still lower than those charged by competitors like Royal Caribbean, which charges $18.50 for standard cabins.
Bottomless Bubbles Price Increase
Alongside the gratuity changes, Carnival is also raising the price of its adult Bottomless Bubbles soda package. Starting April 2, the cost will rise from $9.50 to $11.99 per person, per day, plus a 20% service charge. However, the price for children (17 years and under) will remain unchanged at $6.95 per day, plus service charges.
Similar to the gratuities, guests who pre-purchase the Bottomless Bubbles package before the price hike will lock in the current price. Carnival hopes that these adjustments will continue to support the onboard crew while maintaining competitive pricing within the cruise industry.
Why the Changes?
In a notice to guests, Carnival’s VP of Guest Services, Colleen Oliverio, expressed gratitude for passengers’ ongoing support of the crew, highlighting that these price increases are aimed at ensuring the continued quality of service. The announcement comes as part of a broader industry trend, with several other cruise lines, including Disney and Royal Caribbean, also implementing price hikes on gratuities and onboard packages in recent years.
Guests looking to avoid these increases can prepay gratuities or the Bottomless Bubbles package before the April 2 deadline to lock in current rates, allowing for potential savings ahead of the price adjustments.
