Carnival Cruise Line has begun reaching out to booked guests and travel agents to alert them to an upcoming price change. As of April 2, 2026, gratuity rates will be increased for all stateroom types, but guests who pre-pay before that date can take advantage of the current (lower!) pricing no matter when their cruise sets sail.

Furthermore, the adult price for the Bottomless Bubbles unlimited soda package will also be increasing from April 2, but guests to pre-pay for the package can still enjoy the lower rate if they make their purchase before April 2.

“We are writing to let you know that we will be changing the price for Bottomless Bubbles (for adults only – there is no price change for children) and adjusting the onboard gratuity guidelines, effective April 2, 2026,” the email notification confirmed.

“However, we will honor the existing price for both if purchased prior to the adjustment.”

The current pricing for Carnival Cruise Line gratuities, if paid prior to April ,2 is as follows:

• $16 per person, per day for standard staterooms
• $18 per person, per day for suites

Each rate will be going up by $1 per person per day on April 2, an increase of 6.25% and 5.55%, respectively. This will make the standard stateroom gratuity $17 per person, per day and suites will be $19 per person, per day.

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For Bottomless Bubbles, the price for adults is increasing from $9.50 per adult per day to $11.99 per adult per day, an increase of $2.49 per day, or 26%.

There is still a 20% service charge for the Bottomless Bubbles package as well. While that percentage has not increased, overall it is an additional fifty cents higher on the new price.

Guests who wish to pre-pay for either their gratuities or the Bottomless Bubbles package can do so via the Carnival website for their individual booking, or by reaching out to their travel agent.

Not the First Line to Increase Gratuities

Carnival Cruise Line is not the first cruise line to increase gratuity rates in 2026. Just yesterday, February 1, Margaritaville at Sea increased its mandatory gratuities, effective immediately. Their rate is now $22 per person, per day, and cannot be adjusted or removed from guests’ accounts.

Carnival Cruise Line does still permit guests to adjust gratuities at their discretion.

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The increase from Carnival Cruise Line is not unexpected, as the last time the line increased gratuity rates was April 1, 2023. It is actually quite unusual for a cruise line to go three years without a change in gratuity rates.

Carnival did increase the mandatory added “service charge” from 18% to 20% in late 2025. That fee is added to drink packages, individual drink purchases, specialty dining charges, and other types of onboard services, but it is not considered a gratuity.

Will Other Cruise Lines Raise Gratuities?

It is highly likely that other cruise lines will now begin raising their own gratuity rates, depending on what their current rates are and how they compare across similar lines in the industry.

For example, at just $16 per person, per day in standard staterooms, Disney Cruise Line now has one of the lowest gratuity rates of the major cruise lines, though it did increase rates in January 2025 from the previous $14.50 daily rate.

Cruise lines regularly review different prices, rates, and charges, and will adjust accordingly if needed. Pre-paying gratuities is a good way for guests to ensure they have the lowest cost, because while it’s not certain what cruise lines may raise rates when, what is certain is that gratuity rates do not go down.

Carnival Increasing Gratuities and Drink Package Cost in April 2026