Carnival Responds to Complaints Over Price that Has Quadrupled

Photo byCruise Fever

Carnival Cruise Line passengers are expressing growing frustration over the rising prices for bottled water on their cruises.

While the cruise line defends its pricing as competitive, many travelers argue that the costs have become excessive, especially given the limited options for bringing their own supplies on board.

The cheapest bottle of water sold at a bar on a Carnival ship currently costs $1.50, according to the cruise line's website, while the most expensive ones can reach up to $5.

For passengers who prefer to have a pack of water in their cabins, the most affordable option is to pre-order a 12-pack of natural spring water, which comes in at $17.64 including delivery and taxes.

This price point has sparked significant backlash from passengers, according to news reports. Melis Sartain, a recent Carnival cruiser, took to social media to voice her concerns.

"Good morning. I was hoping you could tell us what is going on with the price of bottled water? It used to be permissible to bring our own case on the ship. When that was removed it was offered for $4.99, then it increased to $9.99. But now it’s $20+," Sartain stated.

This represents a price that has quadrupled since water packs were not allowed to be brought on board.

Sartain also pointed out that the water available on the lido deck often contains high levels of salinity due to the purification process, making it unsuitable for those with certain medical conditions.

"Carnival is a business and yes, the point is to make money," she said. "But to take away the permission to bring your own and then slow-cook the purchase price 200% on a basic necessity?"

In response to the criticism, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, John Heald, defended the cruise line's pricing decisions.

"Our current water works out just about over a dollar a bottle which compared to airport, hotels, resorts, sports stadiums, and other areas on land is extremely excellent value for money," he stated, citing inflation as the primary factor driving up costs.

However, passengers like Carol Lee remain unconvinced. She expressed particular frustration with the $2.69 delivery fee charged for each 12-pack of water.

"That's a total of over $5 in delivery fees for ONE actual delivery," she posted. "If you look at the cart in the hall when water is being delivered there are at least 100 (12) packs of water on that cart. That is an extra $2.69 Carnival is charging for one person to push one cart of water down and drop it off in the cabins."

Heald acknowledged the delivery fee but noted that it can be removed by requesting it at the guest services desk.

"Thank you, again we still believe it is excellent value compared to not only hotels and airports but other cruise lines as well and our water is still the most affordable," he said.

As the debate over water prices continues, it remains to be seen whether Carnival Cruise Line will make any adjustments to its pricing policies or offer alternative options for passengers seeking more affordable hydration options.