Over the years, Carnival has introduced several popular specialty restaurants, each of which comes at an additional cost.
While meals in these venues are far less expensive than you would wind up paying for a comparable meal on land, the price is about to go up.
Effective this week, several specialty restaurants have increased prices. Depending on the venue, it could be as low as $1 more per guest… or as high as $51 per person for the Chef’s Table.
Carnival’s Specialty Dining Price Increases in 2023
| Venue | Old Price | New Price | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steakhouse | $48 | $49 | 2% |
| Rudi’s Seagrill | $48 | $49 | 2% |
| JiJi’s Asian Kitchen | $18 | $24 | 33% |
| Cucina del Capitano* | $18 | $24 | 33% |
| Bonsai Teppanyaki Lunch | $35 | $38 | 9% |
| Bonsai Teppanyaki Dinner | $38 | $42 | 11% |
| Chef’s Table Experience | $80 to $99 | $99 to $150 | Up to 52% |
The above chart shows Carnival Cruise Line prices and how they’re changing.
Not surprisingly, some people are displeased by this change… especially given that Carnival did not provide guests advance notice. This would have allowed them to lock in a meal at the previous price before the increase went into effect.
| Note: It’s important to note that, as is often the case, there are some exceptions to the changes. For example, Cucina del Capitano on Excel-class ships such as Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee operate differently than that venue on other ships within the fleet. Guests aboard these vessels receive one complimentary dinner at Cucina del Capitano, with an additional $8 per person fee taking effect should they want to revisit the restaurant. |
Other Recent Price Hikes
Over the past year, guests planning trips aboard Carnival Cruise Line ships have seen prices go up where many of the things not covered by the initial cruise fare are concerned. For example…
… in January, the line announced that Wi-Fi prices would increase for all three packages. Less than a year later, the cost of all three — social, value, and premium internet packages — would increase again.
… in April, the line increased the daily gratuity by $1.50 per person per day. This meant a family of four taking a 7-day sailing could expect to pay an additional $42 for gratuities.
… in October, Carnival announced the price of their drink package — Cheers! — would increase on shorter sailings, bringing the pre-cruise price to $69.95 per day and the price for those opting to purchase once on board the ship to $74.95. These prices did not include the 18% gratuity added to the total cost.
Cruise prices are up
Cruise lines continue to make up for the money lost during the extended shutdown caused by COVID-19. At the same time, lines report record bookings and profits, indicating that the demand for cruises remains extremely strong despite rising prices.
According to a financial report by CNBC, cruise lines have been attempting to reduce the price gap between land-based vacations and cruises this year. The report also stated that the cost of a cruise in December 2023 has increased by 43% compared to the price during the same time in 2019.
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