Carnival Raises Gratuities and Soda Package Prices
Carnival Cruise Line will increase its recommended daily gratuities and the price of its Bottomless Bubbles beverage package beginning April 2, 2026, marking the first gratuity adjustment since 2023.
Under the new structure, guests staying in standard staterooms will pay $17 per person, per day in recommended gratuities, up from $16. Passengers in suites will see their daily gratuity rise from $18 to $19. The $1 per day increase applies across all applicable sailings departing on or after the effective date.
Carnival emphasized that gratuities are automatically added to guests’ onboard accounts but can be adjusted at the guest’s discretion while sailing. The cruise line said the change reflects ongoing recognition of shipboard crew members who deliver guest services across dining, housekeeping and hospitality operations.
In addition to gratuities, Carnival is also raising the price of its Bottomless Bubbles beverage package for adults. The unlimited soda and juice package will increase from $9.50 per person, per day to $11.99 per person, per day. Pricing for children will remain unchanged at $6.95 per day. As with other beverage programs, a 20 percent service charge is applied to the listed package price.
Guests who have already purchased the Bottomless Bubbles package for sailings departing on or before April 1, 2026 will not be required to pay the difference. The updated pricing applies to new purchases for voyages sailing from April 2 onward.
Carnival linked the beverage package price adjustment to higher supply costs following its transition from PepsiCo products to Coca-Cola beverages. The cruise line completed the switch to Coca-Cola in 2025, replacing long-standing Pepsi offerings across its fleet.
The pricing updates follow a broader trend in the cruise industry, where operators continue to adjust onboard revenue streams such as beverage packages, specialty dining and gratuities amid rising operating expenses. In December 2024, Carnival increased the price of its alcoholic drinks package by approximately 16 percent.
With the new gratuity and beverage package pricing set for 2026 sailings, Carnival Cruise Line is aligning its onboard revenue structure with rising supply and labor costs while maintaining flexibility for guests to modify gratuity amounts during their cruise.
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