15 Changes Carnival Cruise Line Saw in 2018

1. Updated smoking policy

Before, anyone caught smoking on a balcony was charged a cleaning fee. Now, guilty smokers caught breaking the rules face a $500 fine and the possibility of being kicked off the ship at the next port of call. Any roommates would be kicked off too, so make sure your friends and family only smoke in the safe, designated smoking areas.

2. Cost of internet increased

4. Steakhouse increased to $38

For the first time in a long time, Carnival increased the price of its steakhouse restaurant, though only by $3. Previously $35, the multi-course fine-dining venue now costs $38 per person. Perhaps a bigger upset was when the cheesecake was removed from the dessert menu, causing such an uproar that Carnival brought it back.

5. Gratuities went up from $12.95 to $13.99

In another price increase, the cost of gratuities increased by just over a dollar this year. Despite some expected initial backlash, the new cost of gratuities – which are charged per person per day – puts Carnival more on par with its competitors’ gratuity pricing.

6. Cheers drink value limit reduced to $20

Almost overnight, Carnival reduced the drink value limit from $50 to $20 on alcoholic drinks included in its Cheers beverage package. However, the truth is not many drinks were affected by this change, except for a few select wines and whiskeys valued at more than $20 per-pour. Cruisers can rest easy knowing the vast majority of their favorite beverages are still covered under the Cheers package.

7. Two ships will get total makeovers

Following in the footsteps of sister ship Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Sunrise (currently known as Carnival Victory and Carnival Triumph) will soon emerge as “new” ships in Carnival’s fleet after their respective dry dock makeovers. As part of Carnival’s $2 billion fleetwide enhancement program, the ships will undergo bow-to-stern refurbishments over two-month dry docks in Spain in 2019 (Sunrise) and 2020 (Radiance). Carnival Radiance and Carnival Sunrise will then debut with new and improved accommodations, dining venues, entertainment, and more.

8. First roller coaster at sea announcement

In an industry first, Carnival recently announced that the first ship in its upcoming XL class, Mardi Gras, will feature the world’s first roller coaster on a cruise ship. Set 187 feet above sea level, passenger-controlled vehicles able to travel up to 40 miles per hour over the winding, twisting track will offer personalized rides to each cruiser willing to dare the course.

9. Drink package went up on January 1

As of January 1, 2018, the price of the popular Cheers package increased $2 per day, bringing it to $51.95 per person per day when booked before sailing, or $56.95 if purchased onboard the ship. Despite the slight increase in cost, Carnival’s all-inclusive Cheers beverage package still remains as one of the most competitively priced and inclusive beverage programs available at sea.

10. Faster to the Fun increased

While Carnival argues that the Faster to the Fun (FTTF) program as a whole only increased once this year, it’s true that the cruise line has increased the program’s cost multiple times – at least for certain ships and certain cruise lengths. Once $50 per stateroom to purchase, the FTTF program is now charged based on the length of the cruise and on the particular ship you’re cruising on. At its lowest, FTTF costs $49.95 per stateroom for a three-day cruise, excluding cruises on Carnival Liberty. At its most expensive, FTTF will run you $119.95 per stateroom for an eight-day cruise on Carnival Horizon. However, with perks like priority embarkation and debarkation, priority tendering, priority luggage service, priority dining reservations, and more, the program continues to sell out almost immediately despite the additional cost.

11. New dining venue announced

When Carnival Radiance emerges from her two-month, $200 million dry dock in 2020, she will be the first ship in the Carnival fleet to feature the new “Big Chicken” restaurant. As a creation of the line’s Chief Fun Officer (CFO) and former NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal, the complimentary venue will primarily serve fried chicken sandwiches, including chicken-and-egg biscuits for breakfast.

12. Carnival Horizon introduced

This year we met Carnival Horizon, the line’s newest ship. Introducing things like Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, Brewhouse, smart elevators, a Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, and Bonsai Teppanyaki, the ship certainly made a big entrance into the cruise industry, even among competitor ships introducing things like onboard racetracks.

13. Drink gratuities increased 3 percent

Basically overnight, and almost without warning, Carnival raised the gratuities on the Cheers beverage package to 18 percent, up from 15 percent. While the increase seems minimal, amounting to only about $11 per person for a seven-day cruise, the increase has cruisers divided, with some upset by the change and some shrugging it off that the new percentage is on par with the competition.

14. HUB app updated to enable check-in and pizza delivery

Earlier this year, Carnival began testing onboard pizza delivery through the HUB app on Carnival Horizon. Thanks to a new app update pushed in late December, this convenient food service is now available on Carnival Victory, Breeze, Magic, and Conquest as well, with a note saying that more ships will be added soon. The app update also allows users to check-in for their cruise from their mobile device, share their cruise countdown on social media, and book and pay for things like excursions, drink packages, spa treatments, and more.

15. Family Zone Lunch added on embarkation day

In an effort to quell the buffet crowds on embarkation day, Carnival recently started offering lunch in the main dining room. The lunch is available only to families, as noted by the “Family Zone Lunch” sign posted outside the dining room, and is set up like a buffet, meaning there are no waiters serving as one would expect in the dining room. This way, crowds are dispersed among the lido deck and main dining rooms, but the wait staff is still free to attend to their normal embarkation day duties.

Video: 15 Changes at Carnival Cruise Line in 2018