If you’ve taken a cruise before, you know that add-on fees can significantly increase your overall cruise costs.
From customary fees like daily gratuities to costs for things that aren’t included in your cruise fare like beverages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining meals, and shore excursions, cruise add-ons can add hundreds of dollars to the total cost of your vacation.
If you’re setting sail on a Carnival cruise soon, your added costs for cruise extras are about to get even higher. Carnival Cruise Line just raised its rate for an add-on charge that applies to multiple types of purchases made on board, and even some purchases made prior to a cruise.
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Higher fees now apply to beverage purchases on Carnival cruises, including beverage packages.Photo credit: Mulevich / Shutterstock.com
Carnival increases onboard service charge from 18% to 20%
Carnival Cruise Line has quietly raised its onboard service charge from 18% to 20%, and updated its website FAQs to reflect the new rate. Carnival’s service charge is separate from the daily gratuities that are customary for passengers to pay to recognize stateroom attendants and other crew members. Carnival’s daily gratuity amount remains $16 per person, per day for standard staterooms.
Carnival’s service charge applies to:
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Beverages ordered from the bar and from room service
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Stateroom gift orders also incur a 20% delivery fee
While the higher service charge only increases the cost of a $12 cocktail by 24 cents from $14.16 to $14.40, the costs add up over the course of a cruise.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares update on popular new drink package
Passengers will notice the increase most on purchases of the cruise line’s popular Cheers beverage package, which now costs $83.94 per person, per day including the 20% service charge. On a seven-day cruise, passengers will now pay $9.80 more for the Cheers package with the service charge rate increase.
And since Carnival requires all adults in the same cabin to purchase Cheers if one passenger does, the cost will increase by $19.60 for two passengers with the Cheers package on a seven-day cruise.
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Carnival hiked Wi-Fi plan prices, too
In addition to upping the service charge, Carnival is rolling out price increases for its cruise Wi-Fi plans.
Here’s a breakdown of the Wi-Fi price increases for Carnival’s three onboard Wi-Fi plans, which are now taking effect for sailings departing on or after Dec. 1:
Social Wi-Fi Plan:
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Previous pre-cruise price: $18.70 USD per day
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New pre-cruise price: $20.40 USD per day
Value Wi-Fi Plan:
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Previous pre-cruise price: $22.10 USD per day
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New pre-cruise price: $23.80 USD per day
Premium Wi-Fi Plan:
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Previous pre-cruise price: $23.80 USD per day
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New pre-cruise price: $25.50 USD per day
Passengers will pay about $12 more for Wi-Fi on a seven-day cruise.
Related: Should you go without cruise Wi-Fi? Here’s what Carnival cruisers say
If you want a Wi-Fi plan for your cruise, make sure to purchase it online in advance of your sailing. If you wait to purchase it once you’re on board, you’ll be charged an even higher rate.
Like the service charge, a higher Wi-Fi fee won’t increase your cruise costs significantly on its own. But if you purchase a Wi-Fi plan, the Cheers beverage package, and specialty dining meals, you’ll likely start to feel the pinch in your pocket.
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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Dec 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.