Frustrated cruise passengers push back as popular line rolls out new drink prices

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Cruise passengerscould soon pay different prices for drinks and Wi-Fi depending on when and where they sail.

Carnival Cruise Line announced that it will introduce dynamic pricing for its beverage packages and Wi-Fi plans beginning Dec.1.Prices will vary based on the length of the cruise, itinerary and season, according to the company.

The change was disclosed near the bottom of an announcement on Oct.14 that largely focused on Carnival’s new “FunPacks,” which bundle several cruise extras into one pre-cruise purchase.

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The dynamic pricing will apply only to“Importantly, once a guest purchases a package, their confirmed price is locked in and will not change even if pricing is adjusted later,” the company said.

Carnival cruise ship docked in turquoise Caribbean Sea water near pier in Willemstad Curacao

Carnival Cruise Line announced that it will introduce dynamic pricing for its beverage packages and Wi-Fi plans beginning Dec.1.(Getty Images)

More broadly, dynamic pricing is a strategy in which prices can change based on factors such as supply and demand, competitor pricing and available inventory, according to a blog post from Harvard Business School.

The cruise linesaid the changes will provide passengers with “greater flexibility and more options for tailoring their Carnival vacation experience.”

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The move quickly drew reaction fromcruise passengersonline, with some questioning whether the new system could make budgeting for a trip more complicated.

Passengers walk along a pier beside the Carnival Dream cruise ship docked at a tropical port.

The dynamic pricing will apply only to individual beverage and Wi-Fi packages.(iStock)

“I’ve never heard a single person that was happy about dynamic pricing,” one Reddit user commented.

Another traveler had a more direct concern.

“Who’s wishing for more complications on vacation?” the person wrote.

“I officially dropped Carnival for the rest of my life,” said another person. 

Others said the approach could make sense depending on how Carnival ultimately sets its prices.

One commenter suggestedbeverage packagescould potentially cost less on longer or more port-heavy cruises, while Wi-Fi prices could vary differently depending on the length of the trip.

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