Carnival Cruise Prices Rise for Drinks, Gratuities in Texas and Louisiana

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Carnival Cruise Line is increasing prices for certain onboard services and amenities, including the Bottomless Bubbles soda package for adults and daily gratuities, on sailings from ports in Texas and Louisiana. The soda package will now cost $11.99 per person per day, plus a 20% service charge, while daily gratuities are going up by $1 per person per day, equating to around $17 per person per day in a standard stateroom.

Why it matters

These price increases could significantly impact the overall cost of a Carnival cruise vacation for travelers from Louisiana and Texas, two key markets for the cruise line. While Carnival says guests who prepaid for packages will be grandfathered in at the lower rates, most cruisers do not prepay these items, meaning they will have to absorb the higher costs.

The details

The Bottomless Bubbles soda package for adults is increasing from an unknown previous price to $11.99 per person per day, plus a 20% service charge. However, the price for the same package for kids 17 and under will remain at $6.95 per day. Additionally, Carnival is raising the recommended daily gratuity rate by $1 per person, from an unknown previous rate to around $17 per person per day in a standard stateroom and $18 per person per day in a suite.

• The Bottomless Bubbles soda package price increase and the $1 per day gratuity hike will take effect on April 2, 2026.

What’s next

Guests who have already prepaid for drink packages and gratuities before the price increase was announced will be grandfathered in at the lower rates, but most cruisers do not prepay these items.