Your savings may be getting shipwrecked.
The world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Cruise, has just announced it will start using dynamic pricing on certain drink and WiFi packages. The mega cruise line dropped a press release introducing its newest packaging structure — FunPacks, the “largest offering of packages tailored to different vacation styles,” the announcement read.
Carnival claims the new, pre-cruise feature will help guests save 35-55% compared to buying items individually. From Oct. 13-30, passengers can book the FunPacks, which include add-ons your trip like Wi-Fi, certain beverages, shore excursions, specialty dining, spa and photos and more.
After detailing a slew of other “family-friendly perks,” the Florida-based cruise line added a sentence to the bottom of its press release detailing a new pricing structure.
“Beginning Dec. 1, 2026, Carnival will also introduce dynamic pricing for beverage packages and Wi-Fi plans,” the press release said.
Dynamic pricing is where businesses can fluctuate prices based on certain factors. The pricing structure has recently been used in grocery stores, where customers have seen prices change in real time rather than the classic fixed price you’d spot on a shelf tag.
Carnival said it will use dynamic pricing to charge passengers based on sailing length, itinerary and season. The cruise giant claims the change will offer guests more flexibility and options that will be tailored to their personal vacation experience.
According to Carnival, the new structure will soon be one easy pre-cruise purchase, saving guests 35-55% compared with buying items individually.
“Whether guests choose to bundle benefits through a FunPack or purchase individual packages, these enhancements provide greater flexibility and more options for tailoring their Carnival vacation experience,” the press release said.
The Post reached out to Carnival for more information but has not heard back.
While the brand claims the new model will offer customers savings, the dynamic pricing model has some potential passengers worried as grocery shoppers have seen costs increase from shelf to checkout. After hearing the news, an X user posted, “Hope the price you see at booking is the price you actually pay.”
The comment inferred that the company could charge guests more at checkout if it chooses.
Another X user reminisced about a simpler booking time by claiming, “Remember cruising in which everything was included, we had midnight buffets, & mints on our pillows every night? Now everything is nickel, dimed, & packaged to death. $50 a day non-booze package.”
Not everyone fears the dreaded phrase. One X user said dynamic pricing may actually make more sense.
“Dynamic pricing rewards booking early. The beverage package math is simple: at about 5 drinks a day, the package usually beats paying per drink. I tell clients to lock the package and WiFi when the price looks fair, since waiting rarely helps.”
The FunPacks can be booked through My Cruise Manager on Carnival.com from Oct. 13-30, 2026, for sailings departing Oct. 31, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027. Passengers can choose from four FunPack options: Kidstarter, Zero Proof, Social and Epic.
Read the full article here
