Carnival generally offered a better deal on its all-you-can-drink beverage package compared with its chief rival, Royal Caribbean.
That's because while Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means that the cost can vary by cruise and it can change multiple times per day, Carnival sells its Cheers package at set prices, with it being cheaper on shorter voyages.
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It's possible to book Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage package for less than Cheers costs, but it's normally more expensive. Many passengers also don't appreciate having to keep checking prices to try to secure lower ones.
Royal Caribbean does allow you to cancel the deluxe package and buy it again if the price drops. That, however, ties up hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars while you wait for a refund.
The cruise line will not simply adjust the price if it goes lower, which can anger passengers who didn't get the best possible deal.
Now, while Carnival's Cheers package has generally been considered a better deal than RCL's deluxe beverage caveat, that comes with one major caveat. Cheers buyers are capped at 15 alcoholic drinks per day, while Royal's package is truly unlimited.
Both cruise lines reserve the right to cut off a passenger if they're visibly intoxicated, but if you can appear sober, Royal Caribbean places no limit on how much you can drink.
Image source: Carnival Corp.
Carnival raises the price of its beverage package
Drink-package costs broadly have been creeping higher. Carnival previously offered Cheers at $70.74 per night for cruises six nights or longer and $82.54 per night for trips five nights or less.
All packages now include taxes and an 18% gratuity in the advertised prices.
If you waited until you were on board to purchase, the price rose to $76.64 per night on the longer cruises and $88.54 per night for the shorter ones.
Carnival rarely offers sales or deals on the Cheers package, and now it has increased prices. If you visit the Carnival website, here's what you see now:
CHEERS!: Starting at $82.54* / Person per Day
*Price includes service charge
The lower price for longer cruises has been dropped and Cheers is now being sold only at the higher price. Carnival also shared that prices would be 10% higher on board.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
No other changes appear to have been made, and the package still includes:
- All spirits (including cocktails), as well as beer and wine by the glass with a $20 or lower menu price
- Sodas, zero-proof frozen cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffee, hot tea, 500ml bottled water and other nonalcoholic bottled beverages
- Packaged water in the Dining Room and Specialty Restaurants
- 25% discount off the menu price for any spirit or wine by the glass above $20
- 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle
- 25% discount off beverage seminars and classes
The 15-drink limit remains, and unlike Royal Caribbean's package, Cheers does not work on Carnival's private island destinations.
Normally, when a cruise line raises a set price, it gives passengers some warning. That enables people with a booked cruise who had set a budget time to make the purchase at the old price.
In this case, Carnival raised its beverage package price without telling anyone in advance.
Carnival passengers respond to price hike
As passengers learned about the change, some were not happy and posted their displeasure to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald's page.
"I wish Carnival would go truly unlimited with the latest price change! It would be a win win for Carnival and the customer...plus it would be the best option considering the price is now in line either way with other cruise lines," shared Elizabeth Pride.
Jessica Ann seemed very displeased.
"It is very bad business to give no warning. 2 years ago I was given a warning of a change and a date. Now I am just 29 days away from sailing, planning on finalizing all the small details, and got hit with this. It’s not right," she posted. "Sailings within 30 days should have been exempt without notice.
She said that the increase would impact her cruise plans.
"It’s Xmas time and a hard hit for some. Now, we will NOT get the package. We are not big drinkers and never spend that much anyway, but the safety net was nice. I am now also cancelling my Sept cruise with Carnival and going with NCL. So they are out about 6K in those 2 things just for us," she added.
Others were more forgiving.
"One stride at a time. Obviously, the sudden price change wasn’t the news we wanted to hear either, but hopefully, Carnival can pull something off to put some smiles back on. Can’t make everybody happy these days," wrote Janette Hylton.
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