Passengers sailing aboard a Carnival cruise ship now have to pay more to stay connected with friends and family back home. The popular cruise line has quietly increased the cost of all three internet plans by as much as 22%.
The price hike comes shortly after Carnival raised the cost of its CHEERS! drink package on cruises that are 6 nights or longer. Previously, the package cost $76.64 per night when purchased onboard. Carnival's official website now lists the package starting at $82.54 when purchased in advance, or $88.44 once you've set sail.
Carnival didn't warn booked cruisers, so they couldn't lock in the lower pricing before the increase took effect. The same happened with the cruise line's popular internet packages. Carnival last raised its Wi-Fi prices in December 2023 by 14-20%.
The cheapest Wi-Fi plan starts at $18.70 per day
The Social Wi-Fi Plan, the lowest tier available, was increased by 22%. It previously cost $15.30 and now comes in at $18.70 per day. Guests who wait to purchase the plan until they're onboard will pay $22 per day instead of $18.
This plan offers basic connectivity, allowing passengers access to select social media sites and apps, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Snapchat, X, and LinkedIn. It doesn't support streaming or heavy browsing.
The Value Plan, which includes access to all sites and applications available in the Social Plan with a faster connection speed, increased by 13%, from $19.55 to $22.10 for pre-cruise purchases. The new onboard rate is $26 per day, up from $23.
Read more: 10 lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time
Finally, the Premium Plan's pre-cruise price rose from $21.25 to $23.80 per day, while the onboard pricing jumped to $28. This package is Carnival's fastest and most inclusive package, letting guests stream movies, video chat, and browse the internet with the highest speeds onboard.
This means that, depending on when you book, Carnival's top-tier package could be more expensive than Royal Caribbean's VOOM Surf + Stream internet package.
For example, the Cruise Planner advertises the package for my upcoming cruise on Icon of the Seas in April at $21.99 per day, meaning the total price for my 7-night voyage would be around $153. Comparatively, purchasing Carnival's Premium Plan for a weeklong cruise would cost around $166.
Still, this is only if you want Carnival's Premium Plan. For those willing to settle for a more basic experience, Carnival’s other plans offer more affordable options, though guests will still find themselves paying higher rates than in previous years.
Read more: Here's what a 7-night Carnival cruise should cost you
"The WiFi cost is criminal"
TikTokers responded negatively to the sudden change in the comments of a video shared by @professormelissa, with some expressing interest in branching out to other lines for a better value.
"The WiFi cost is criminal," wrote gregone30. "Carnival is almost outpricing itself," added Diane.
"We went on the newest Princess ship this fall with their 'plus' package (drinks, wifi, other perks for $60pp per day) for WAY cheaper than carnival! I was shocked," explained rachelkay1821.
Jefferson Lee said, "[I'm] onboard the Miracle right NOW. WiFi has been horrible and I'm on the value (not just social plan). I've been kicked offline many times! I [have] heard from many others the same problem!"
Read more: Things I Don't Pay Extra for on Carnival Cruises To Save Money
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
