The latest Carnival Cruise Line gratuity and drink package price increase has now taken effect for all guests. The price increase was first announced in early February, with a start date for all sailings leaving on or after Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The rate increase applies to all stateroom types on all Carnival ships and is just $1 per day higher per person. This makes the current rate $17 per person, per day for standard staterooms (interior, ocean view, and balconies) and $19 per person, per day for all suites.
Guests who chose to pre-pay gratuities before April 2 were able to lock in the previous lower rate, regardless of their sailing date.
Gratuity increases are always controversial. While cruise guests usually agree that crew members deserve gratuities, frequent increases can become frustrating.
One common argument is that it’s only $1 a day, and therefore not too much for any individual cruise guest. That’s true, but calculating gratuities for an entire family or group can show just how expensive these charges can become, especially on longer sailings.
For a family of 4 on a week-long cruise, for example, gratuities will now be $28 higher than originally expected.
When noted over time, gratuity prices can seem even higher. In 2016, for example, Carnival Cruise Line’s gratuities were just $12.95 per person, per day for most staterooms.
For the same family of 4 on a 7-night sailing, gratuities would have been just $362.60 in 2016. Today, those same gratuities would now be $476, an increase of 24%.
This can come as a shock to guests who may not cruise frequently or who may budget for onboard expenses based on their own past experiences.
Carnival Cruise Line’s gratuities are not the highest in the industry, however. Cruise Hive reported in early February 2026 that Margaritaville at Sea increased its gratuities to $22 per person, per day for standard staterooms and $25 per person, per day for suites.
Virgin Voyages has the same gratuity rate as Margaritaville at Sea, but aboard Virgin Voyages’ Lady Ships, guests can adjust gratuities at their discretion or get a lower rate by pre-paying before they set sail. On Margaritaville at Sea ships, the cost is fixed and may not be adjusted or removed.
Bottomless Bubbles Price Now Higher
The gratuity increase is not the only higher price that has now gone into effect aboard Carnival ships. The Bottomless Bubbles price for adults has also increased from $9.50 per person, per day to $11.99 per person, per day.
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There is no change in the pricing for kids, which remains at $6.95 per day.
A 20% service charge is added to the package price as well. That fee used to be 18%, but was raised to 20% in December 2025. That increase applies not only to Bottomless Bubbles, but also to other add-on packages, including other beverage packages, specialty dining, in-stateroom gifts, and more.
Purchased individually, sodas onboard Carnival ships are roughly $3.50-4, plus the service charge, depending on ship, homeport, and sailing region. Whether or not any drink package is a worthwhile purchase depends on individual guests’ drink preferences.
Calculating your beverage habits can help you decide if a soda, non-alcoholic, or full beverage package is worth adding to your cruise budget, bearing in mind that certain packages come with the requirement for all guests in a stateroom to purchase the same package.
