Carnival Cruise

If you're planning a Carnival cruise in 2025, you’ll want to become familiar with the upcoming changes and additions the cruise line is making. 

While they won’t welcome any brand-new ships to the fleet, Carnival is making several exciting updates to enhance the guest experience, as well as some that have outraged loyal customers. 

From increasing the cost of Carnival's drink and internet packages to restarting cruises from Norfolk, Virginia, here are 6 big changes you can expect to impact your cruising experience in 2025 and beyond.

Carnival Cruise Line is one of the most well-known cruising brands in the industry. With a large fleet of vibrant cruise ships and an energetic clientele, there’s no shortage of fun or partying on a Carnival cruise.

I love cruising, whether a port-intensive sailing to Greece or a short getaway to the Bahamas, so within the past year, I tried cruises to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival ships.

Each line is known for something different. Carnival, for example, is known for its fun, lively atmosphere with plenty of activities geared toward partygoers and families. On the other hand, Celebrity provides a more refined and sophisticated experience, with an emphasis on fine dining and world-class service. 

After being asked whether they'd consider banning cell phones in the dining room, Carnival's Brand Ambassador responded that it isn't the cruise line's place to enforce a no-electronics rule. 

The anonymous passenger expressed their frustration to John Heald, saying they don't allow their three children—ages 7, 11, and 15—to use phones or tablets during dinner and felt that other families should adhere to similar standards. 

Before this year, I had never cruised on a ship I swore I'd never return to. Though every vacation has pros and cons, the experience always has something redeeming, whether it's a great crew or fun activities. However, my cruise aboard Carnival Elation left me feeling frustrated. By the end of the voyage, I was excited to be disembarking in Jacksonville. 

Those who have cruised before know how important the Cruise Director is. They play a pivotal role in ensuring each guest has a memorable experience by coordinating activities and hosting events. 

Kyndall “Fire” Magyar, Cruise Director of the brand-new Carnival Jubilee based out of Galveston, Texas, took to social media to give interested cruisers a glimpse into her daily life. The video shared on her Facebook account has received over 3,000 likes. 

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%.

One popular cruise line increased the price of its drink package without warning. Passengers sailing on Carnival cruises 6 nights or longer now have to pay more for their CHEERS! beverage package. 

If you are sailing on a Carnival cruise soon, whether it is to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, or elsewhere, you might be debating on purchasing a drink package.

Carnival's drink package offers guests the option to enjoy up to 15 alcoholic beverages per day, as well as unlimited sodas and other applicable non-alcoholic beverages, on their cruise for a fixed daily rate, rather than worrying about paying for each drink individually.