With a Carnival cruise, the fare you pay is often just the beginning. Drinks packages and WiFi can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a vacation, and now the cruise line is making a major change to how these extras are priced.
The announcement comes alongside the introduction of new bundled packages offering discounts on popular onboard extras. But while Carnival says the changes will give guests more flexibility, some cruisers are questioning whether their next vacation could end up costing more.
Carnival Is Changing How It Prices Drinks and WiFi
Starting December 1, 2026, Carnival Cruise Line will introduce dynamic pricing for its beverage packages and WiFi plans, meaning passengers could pay different prices for the same extras depending on which cruise they book.
The change was confirmed in an October 14 announcement, with Carnival explaining that package prices will depend on three factors: the length of the cruise, its itinerary, and the time of year.
Until now, Carnival has generally used standardized daily rates for its drinks and internet packages. Under the new system, prices will be more closely tied to individual sailings rather than remaining the same across different cruises.
For example, someone booking a seven-night Caribbean cruise during the summer could find that a drinks package costs a different amount than it would on a shorter sailing or a cruise departing in another season.
Carnival hasn’t revealed exactly how much prices will vary or whether certain cruises will become more expensive than others.
The cruise line says the change is intended to give passengers more flexibility. Speaking to Travel Weekly, a Carnival spokesperson said the new approach “creates more flexibility and accounts for seasonality.”
Will Carnival’s Drinks and WiFi Packages Cost More?
That’s the question many Carnival cruisers are asking, but the cruise line hasn’t confirmed whether the new pricing system will lead to higher or lower costs.
Currently, Carnival’s CHEERS! alcoholic drinks package starts at $69.95 per person, per day when purchased before sailing. With the 20% service charge, that comes to $83.94 per day, or $587.58 for a seven-day cruise. Guests who wait until they’re onboard pay $74.95 per day before the service charge.
Carnival’s WiFi plans currently start at $20.40 per day for Social WiFi, $23.80 for Value WiFi, and $25.50 for Premium WiFi when purchased in advance.
Under the new system, those prices could vary between sailings. Passengers traveling during popular vacation periods might encounter different rates from those cruising during quieter months, although Carnival hasn’t said which sailings will be cheaper or more expensive.
There’s also an important detail that remains unclear. While dynamic pricing can sometimes mean prices rise or fall as demand changes, Carnival hasn’t confirmed whether its package prices will fluctuate as a ship’s departure date approaches.
For now, passengers shouldn’t assume that booking their drinks or WiFi packages earlier will automatically guarantee the lowest price under the new system.
Carnival Guests Have Questions About the Changes
Carnival’s announcement has sparked plenty of discussion among cruise passengers, with many questioning whether dynamic pricing will mean higher costs rather than better deals.
In a Reddit discussion on r/CarnivalCruiseFans, one passenger was skeptical about the possibility of saving money, commenting:
“Of all the things this will bring to the cruise community, lower prices will not be one of them.”
Another passenger questioned the fairness of charging different prices for the same services, writing:
“Why should someone have to pay more on the same itinerary for the same exact drink package, same exact wifi? It’s corporate greed.”
Others were frustrated by the added complexity of planning a cruise. One commenter wrote:
“Seriously. Just so many things. Whos wishing for more complications on vacation?”
However, not everyone was against the idea. One Reddit user suggested that variable pricing could work in passengers’ favor on certain itineraries:
“If by dynamic pricing you mean less per day for Cheers for either linger cruises or more port-intensive cruises? Sign me up!”
Another pointed out that Carnival isn’t the first cruise line to take this approach, noting:
“Royal Caribbean has been doing this for years. Not at all surprised to see Carnival do this.”
Beyond the potential cost, some guests are wondering what the changes mean for packages they’ve already purchased.
On the Cruise Critic message boards, one passenger asked:
“wonder how that is going to affect if you have already purchased traditional cheers or if you have it via the casino”
Another suggested that existing purchases would likely keep their original prices, although Carnival hasn’t provided detailed guidance on how the change will apply to prepaid packages.
Some passengers have also questioned whether the new pricing system is intended to make Carnival’s FunPacks more attractive compared with purchasing drinks and WiFi separately.
The discussion reflects a wider concern about the cost of cruising. With drinks packages, internet access, specialty dining, and excursions often adding hundreds of dollars to a vacation, passengers are paying close attention to changes that could affect their onboard spending.
Carnival Has Also Introduced New FunPacks
Alongside the pricing changes, Carnival has introduced four new FunPacks that allow passengers to bundle drinks, WiFi, and other onboard extras into a single purchase.
The packages replace Carnival’s previous Value packages, with the cruise line advertising savings of 35% to 55% compared with purchasing the included extras separately.
There are four options available:
- Kidstarter FunPack ($25 per person, per day): Designed for children ages 3–17, with unlimited soda and juice, Social WiFi, 1,000 arcade tokens, a souvenir cup, a lanyard, and a candy discount.
- Zero Proof FunPack ($50 per person, per day): Includes unlimited eligible non-alcoholic drinks, Value WiFi, a $50 shore excursion discount, and a $25 specialty dining discount.
- Social FunPack ($60 per person, per day): Includes the new CHEERS! Social package, offering three alcoholic drinks daily and unlimited eligible non-alcoholic beverages, plus Premium WiFi, one shore excursion worth up to $100, one specialty dining experience worth up to $55, and discounts on spa treatments and photography.
- Epic FunPack ($99 per person, per day): Includes the full CHEERS! drinks package, Premium WiFi, two shore excursions worth up to $100 each, two specialty dining experiences worth up to $55 each, spa and photography discounts, a bottle of sparkling wine, and one bag of laundry service.
We’ve also covered the restrictions and conditions attached to Carnival’s new FunPacks, including the rules for adults sharing a cabin.
Carnival President Christine Duffy said:
“We’re excited to launch FunPacks, our largest collection of packages to date, making it easier for guests to bundle the experiences they enjoy the most and save money.”
The FunPacks are available for purchase through Carnival’s My Cruise Manager until October 30, 2026, for eligible cruises departing between October 31, 2026, and December 31, 2027.
One important condition is that if an adult purchases a FunPack, other guests ages 21 and older sharing the same cabin must purchase the same package. The bundles must also be purchased before sailing and cannot be bought onboard.
What Carnival Cruisers Should Know Before Buying
For anyone with a Carnival cruise booked for December 2026 or later, it’s worth checking the cost of drinks and WiFi packages in Carnival’s My Cruise Manager before making a purchase.
With prices set to vary by sailing, passengers will need to pay closer attention to the cost of packages for their particular cruise rather than relying on rates they’ve paid in the past.
Passengers who have already purchased CHEERS! or WiFi for an upcoming cruise should keep their booking confirmations and check Carnival’s published terms for any updates. The cruise line hasn’t provided detailed guidance on how its new system will affect existing reservations.
It’s also worth doing the math before choosing a package. Someone who enjoys several cocktails each day might find CHEERS! worthwhile, while a passenger who only has an occasional drink could save money by paying individually.
Not sure whether a drinks package is worth it for your next cruise? Try my free Drinks Package Calculator to estimate how much you’d spend on drinks and see whether buying a package could save you money.
The same applies to WiFi. Carnival offers different plans depending on whether you want basic social media access, regular internet browsing, or streaming and video calls. Paying for a higher-tier plan won’t necessarily make sense if you only want to check messages occasionally.
For those considering the new FunPacks, the advertised savings are worth comparing against what you’d actually use. A bundle might look like a good deal, but benefits such as specialty dining and shore excursions won’t be valuable to everyone.
Carnival will continue offering individual drinks and WiFi packages alongside its new bundles, giving passengers the option to purchase the extras that suit their plans.
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