Carnival Cruise Line has quietly rolled out price increases to both its WiFi packages and onboard service charges effective December 1, 2025, and while the changes may seem subtle at first glance, they can make a noticeable difference over the course of a cruise, especially for families or anyone who purchases the CHEERS! drink package. These increases weren’t rolled out with much fanfare, obviously, but they do affect a wide range of onboard purchases, so it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s changed and how it might impact your next sailing.
Service Charge Jumps from 18 – 20%
The most universal change is the increase of Carnival’s automatic service charge from 18% to 20%. This fee applies to drinks, specialty dining, bottled water packages, onboard gifts, and nearly anything else with an added service gratuity. A 2% bump doesn’t sound like much until you apply it to higher-priced items like the CHEERS! drink package.
Pre-cruise, CHEERS! is priced at $69.95 per day, and onboard it jumps to $74.95 per day. Under the old 18% service charge, a pre-purchased CHEERS! package totaled $82.54 per day. Now, with the 20% charge, that same package costs $83.94 – an increase of $1.40 per day per person.
For onboard purchases, the new service charge adds $1.50 per person per day. Over a 7-night sailing, one person pays around $10 extra. A family of four over the same week pays about $40 more, simply due to the 2% service-charge increase.
If you are considering purchasing the CHEERS! beverage package, check out our free beverage package calculator to see if it makes sense based on your estimated consumption. The Carnival Beverage Package Calculator has been updated to reflect the new 20% service fee!
WiFi Prices Increased as Well
WiFi prices have also risen across every tier. Carnival’s internet plans already varied in capability, but now they vary more in cost as well. Pre-cruise pricing for the entry-level Social plan increased from $18.70 to $20.40 per day. The mid-level Value Plan increased from $22.10 to $23.80, while the Premium Plan rose from $24.45 to $25.50 per day.
Carnival also introduced a new Premium Multi-Device option for up to four devices at a hefty $90 per day – a significant jump for families wanting to stay connected. While buying pre-cruise still offers the best value due to a 15% discount, the increases are noticeable, especially for those who rely heavily on connectivity.
Each WiFi plan still includes the same functionality as before:
- The Social Plan grants access to major social media platforms but excludes browsing, email, and streaming.
- The Value Plan allows general web browsing and email but still blocks all streaming services.
- Premium offers the best speeds and supports video chatting, streaming platforms, music apps, and access to home security systems like Ring. WiFi calling is still not supported on any tier.
With these adjustments, guests who work remotely, manage home cameras, or simply stream onboard will see higher overall cruise costs.
These increases don’t make or break the Carnival experience, but they do reflect an industry-wide trend of onboard costs gradually rising. Planning ahead – especially buying WiFi and the CHEERS! package before your cruise and understanding how the new service charge affects higher-priced items — can help prevent sticker shock when you review your Sail & Sign account at the end of the