Understanding what is included in your Carnival cruise fare versus what costs extra is key to budgeting and maximizing your vacation experience. While Carnival is famous for offering a tremendous amount of complimentary food and entertainment, there are numerous paid options available for guests looking to splurge or enhance specific aspects of their trip.
The value of a Carnival cruise is built around its extensive list of free amenities, ensuring a complete and fun vacation without spending an extra dime once onboard.
Free Entertainment and Activities: You will never run out of free things to do. Your cruise fare covers access to elaborate nightly entertainment, including the full-scale production shows known as Playlist Productions, and endless laughter at the popular Punchliner Comedy Club. The Carnival LIVE Spotlight Series brings top musical talent to the stage at no extra cost. Guests can also participate in interactive game shows like Family Feud, enjoy sing-alongs at the Piano Bar, or relax with a movie under the stars at Dive-In Movies. For active guests, complimentary sports facilities abound, including mini golf, basketball, pickleball, and volleyball courts, along with the full-service fitness center and the jogging track.
Free Youth Programs: Carnival offers robust, complimentary youth programming for all age groups: Camp Ocean for children, Circle C for tweens, and Club O2 for teens, all supervised and included in your fare.
Free Dining and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Carnival ensures you can eat around the clock without ever opening your wallet. Your main meals are covered in the Main Dining Room and the casual buffet setting of the Lido Marketplace. Complimentary dining venues include Guy’s Burger Joint, serving up fresh, hand-pressed burgers, the BlueIguana Cantina for custom-made tacos and burritos, and Pizzeria del Capitano, which serves piping hot pizza twenty-four hours a day. Sweet treats are also free, notably the Swirls ice cream stations. Standard beverages available at no charge include tap water, regular brewed coffee, hot tea, iced tea, milk, and certain juices (often available at breakfast).
For guests who want an upgraded experience, Carnival offers numerous opportunities to spend money on services, specialized dining, and premium beverages.
Paid Dining and Upgrades: While main dining is free, Carnival features several premium Specialty Dining venues that cost extra. These include the Steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano, Bonsai Sushi, and the highly exclusive, multi-course experience known as the Chef’s Table. Dining Upgrades, such as ordering more than two entrees in the Main Dining Room (which costs five dollars per additional entrée), are also paid expenses.
Paid Beverages: Most drinks are an additional charge. This includes all alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees and teas (like espresso and lattes), soda, bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, energy drinks, and milkshakes. Even the welcome aboard drinks often pushed on the first day carry an extra charge.
Gambling and Activities: The Casino is a major source of optional spending, where you pay to play slot machines and table games. Other high-cost activities include Bingo sessions, which require the purchase of game cards.
Service Charges and Logistics: Gratuities are an unavoidable additional charge, representing the standard service fee distributed to the crew. Porter gratuities are small cash tips given to luggage handlers at the pier.
Shopping and Photos: All shopping onboard, whether for designer goods or basic essentials, is a paid expense. Professional Photos taken by the ship’s photographers, along with any Photo Packages you purchase to memorialize your trip, are significant optional costs.
Off-Ship Costs: Excursions purchased through Carnival or independent operators are paid expenses.
Room Service: While some basic food items on the room service menu may be complimentary, many items, including late-night orders and certain specific dishes, carry an à la carte charge, so always check the menu carefully.
