Carnival’s new (and unpopular) loyalty program has sparked concerns that other big changes might be on the horizon — one such rumor is that they are going to start charging for luggage like major airlines.
Whenever you travel domestically on an airline like American, Delta, United, or Spirit, you must pay to check your luggage, unless you plan on carrying it onboard with you.
The baggage fees range depending on the airline, but most cost around $35 per bag. This can be costly for families. For example, a family of four could pay upwards of $140 per way to check bags. As such, the last thing anyone wants to do is pay more to bring luggage on a cruise.
John Heald, Carnival’s witty Brand Ambassador, addressed the rumor on his Facebook page, calling it “nonsense.”
“Have you seen the YouTube channel of--------. In one of his videos he said that he has an inside source that has told him that in August Carnival will start charging an extra $20 for every checked bag on short cruises that are less than 6 days,” one curious guest inquired.
Heald reassured the cruiser that was rumor was just that: a rumor.
“The silly chap is once again talking nonsense and please, please ignore him,” Heald said.
“We are not charging for checked bags. He does not have an ‘inside source’ and you can bring your bags on cost free as always.”
If true, the “new” luggage fees would impact a lot of Carnival’s sailings, as they offer short getaways from Florida, California, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia, Texas, and New York. It would also dictate how some cruisers pack, making them be more selective about their wardrobe and possibly foregoing the cruise line's popular theme nights.
Thankfully, guests don’t have to worry about paying to check their bags for their next Carnival cruise.
The only extra luggage-related fee would be an optional tip for the porter at the terminal. However, this isn’t mandatory. Suitcases will make it onboard regardless of whether you tip the porter or not.
If you do choose to tip your porter, be sure to bring a few small bills. Porters can't accept digital payments (like Venmo) or charge it to your onboard cruise account.
Moreover, make sure you pack all your essentials in your carry-on bag. This includes medication, travel documentation, valuable jewelry, your wallet, and electronic devices. You likely won't see your bags until a few hours after you've boarded, so you won't want anything important to be in your suitcase.
Read more: Post reveals how much you should tip cruise ship porters (it's more than you think)
Carnival's new loyalty program is axing the current tiers and rewards cruisers based on total spend, versus nights spent onboard
It's not too surprising that someone would start a rumor meant to stir up further frustration. The cruise line has faced a lot of backlash following its VIFP Club overhaul announcement.
Instead of rewarding cruisers based on how many nights they've sailed on Carnival cruise ships, the new tiers are based on total spend.
Cruisers can earn additional Qualifying Stars (essentially loyalty points) by applying for Carnival's new co-branded credit card and using it for everyday purchases.
Read more: Carnival overhauls its cruise line loyalty program with first points-based system
"While charging for luggage would be ridiculous and I doubt it would happen, I can’t fully put it past them"
Carnival Cruise Line has lost a lot of trust from loyal cruisers with the announcement of their new loyalty program. Cruisers who had dedicated decades to sailing with Carnival felt betrayed. As such, although Heald dispelled the rumor about charging for luggage, some wouldn't be surprised if Carnival actually implemented a similar policy.
"I can see them charging for more than one piece of luggage, or luggage over 50lbs or something. That wouldn’t shock me," wrote on user on Reddit.
Another added, "I read somewhere that Carnival makes about - 2 million per sailing. Which is insane. They already force us to pay gratuities so they can defray labor costs. I am leaving for my first and likely only cruise this week. I have been shocked at the number of add ons and rising costs. Feels like being [nickel] and dimed to death. I am so over it and would back out if I hadn’t paid so much already."
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
