Carnival will price drink and Wi-Fi packages by sailing length, itinerary and season from 1 December 2026, and is selling fixed-price FunPacks bundles until 30 October.
Cover image: Carnival Celebration in port at Funchal, Madeira (file photo) — photo by Ianbeyer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Carnival Cruise Line is moving its drink packages and Wi-Fi plans to what it calls dynamic pricing. From 1 December 2026, prices for both will vary by sailing length, itinerary and season, according to a press release dated 14 October. Carnival has not published price ranges for the new model, Recommend reported on 19 October.
The same release launched FunPacks, four bundles that pair a drinks package and a Wi-Fi plan with other extras at a fixed per-day price. Carnival's terms put them on sale from 13 to 30 October 2026, for sailings departing between 31 October 2026 and 31 December 2027. Carnival claims savings of 35 to 55 per cent against buying the items separately, based on a 6-day cruise.
What changes on 1 December, and what has Carnival not said?
Carnival ties the price to the sailing itself: its length, itinerary and season. The release does not say that prices will move with demand or with how early a guest buys.
CruiseHive reported on 14 October that Carnival had not clarified whether packages bought before 1 December keep current rates, or whether the change covers all sailings departing after that date. The New York Post said on 19 October that Carnival had not answered its request for more information.
Travel Market News found no further clarification as of 19 October 2026.
According to Recommend and CruiseHive, the CHEERS! alcoholic package costs $69.95 per person per day bought before sailing, or $74.95 on board, and per-person Wi-Fi plans cost $20.40 to $25.50 a day before sailing. CruiseHive adds that a 20 per cent service charge applies to the beverage packages, separate from the daily gratuities six cruise lines raised this year. Both are core onboard sales (see how cruise lines make money).
What do the four FunPacks include and cost?
FunPacks replace Carnival's earlier Value packages; existing Essentials and Ultimate packages stay on bookings unless cancelled, the FunPacks page says.
"We're excited to launch FunPacks, our largest collection of packages to date, making it easier for guests to bundle the experiences they enjoy the most and save money," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
The Social tier carries CHEERS! Social, a new drinks option sold only in that bundle. The prices below are from Carnival's US FunPacks terms and match Recommend's report.
| FunPack | Per guest, per day | Ages | Drinks and Wi-Fi | Main extras | Saving claimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidstarter | $25 | 3 to 17 | Bottomless Bubbles; Social Wi-Fi | 1,000 arcade tokens, 50% off bulk candy | Up to 50% |
| Zero Proof | $50 | 3 and over | CHEERS! Zero Proof; Value Wi-Fi | $50 excursion and $25 dining discounts | Up to 35% |
| Social | $60 | 21 and over | CHEERS! Social; Premium Wi-Fi | 1 excursion, 1 specialty dinner, 50% off spa and photos | Up to 50% |
| Epic | $99 | 21 and over | CHEERS! (15 alcoholic drinks a day); Premium Wi-Fi | 2 excursions, 2 specialty dinners, 50% off spa and photos, sparkling wine | Up to 55% |
Source: Carnival FunPacks page, accessed 19 October 2026. US dollars. Savings based on a 6-day cruise.
What rules come with a FunPack?
Carnival's FunPacks page sets these conditions:
- A FunPack must cover every day of the cruise and be bought through My Cruise Manager at least three days before sailing. It is not sold on board.
- If one guest aged 21 or over in a stateroom buys Social or Epic, every guest aged 21 or over in that stateroom must buy the same package.
- If the cruise booking changes, Carnival may cancel and reprice the FunPack.
Recommend noted that guests who skip the bundles can still buy the packages separately, at the new rates once they take effect.
How should advisors quote Carnival extras now?
Recommend, which writes for travel advisors, suggested pricing drink and Wi-Fi packages for each sailing when quoting, showing clients booked through 2027 the fixed FunPack rates before 30 October, and rechecking prices just before clients buy, since Carnival notes its prices can change without notice.
Carnival's Australian website sells FunPacks over the same window, with its own prices and a minimum age of 18, not 21, for Social and Epic. Advisors selling the Australia-based ships, two of which leave that market in 2028, should check which applies.
Reaction quoted by the New York Post was mixed. One X user wrote: "Hope the price you see at booking is the price you actually pay."
Frequently asked questions
When does Carnival's dynamic pricing for drinks and Wi-Fi start?
On 1 December 2026, according to Carnival's 14 October press release. Drink and Wi-Fi package prices will then vary by sailing length, itinerary and season. As of 19 October 2026, Carnival had published no price ranges and had not said whether earlier purchases keep current rates.
How long are Carnival FunPacks on sale?
Carnival's terms put the sale window at 13 to 30 October 2026, through My Cruise Manager on carnival.com, for sailings departing from 31 October 2026 to 31 December 2027. A FunPack must cover the whole cruise and be bought at least three days before sailing.
How much do Carnival FunPacks cost per day?
Carnival's US terms list Kidstarter at $25 per guest per day, Zero Proof at $50, Social at $60 and Epic at $99, figures Recommend also reported. Social and Epic are for guests aged 21 and over, and Carnival adjusts their prices on sailings from Galveston, New York and Norfolk.
What is CHEERS! Social?
A new drinks option sold only inside the Social FunPack. It includes unlimited non-alcoholic drinks plus three alcoholic drinks a day. Carnival's FunPacks page says each included alcoholic drink may be valued at up to $20, and unused drinks do not carry over.
Sources
- Carnival Cruise Line, FunPacks press release
- Carnival Cruise Line, FunPacks page and terms
- Carnival Cruise Line Australia, FunPacks page
- Recommend, Carnival moves drink and Wi-Fi packages to dynamic pricing
- CruiseHive, Carnival drink package and Wi-Fi prices will change by sailing
- New York Post, Carnival to begin dynamic pricing for onboard amenities
