Carnival’s April 2, 2026 price changes raised its recommended onboard gratuity guidelines by $1 per guest per day and increased the adult Bottomless Bubbles package price from $9.50 to $11.99 per person per day, plus a 20% service charge. The changes applied to U.S. and European departures. Carnival described gratuities as recommended—not an unadjustable mandatory fee—and the soda-and-juice package remains optional.
What changed on April 2, 2026?
Carnival’s February 2, 2026 guest notice set out two changes effective April 2 for U.S. and European departures. The notice called the gratuities “onboard gratuity guidelines” and said the adult Bottomless Bubbles price would change. Cruise Critic’s February 4 report also reported the new rates.
| Charge | Before April 2, 2026 | From April 2, 2026 | How it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended gratuity, standard stateroom | $16 per guest per day | $17 per guest per day | Automatically added to Sail & Sign if not prepaid; adjustable during the cruise, but not after it ends. |
| Recommended gratuity, suite | $18 per guest per day | $19 per guest per day | Same onboard handling as the standard-stateroom guideline. |
| Bottomless Bubbles, adults | $9.50 per person per day | $11.99 per person per day | A 20% service charge applies. |
| Bottomless Bubbles, children 17 and under | $6.95 per person per day | $6.95 per person per day | No base-price increase; a 20% service charge applies. |
Carnival’s Bottomless Bubbles page lists the current adult and children’s base prices and explains package limitations.
Are Carnival’s gratuities mandatory?
The notice does not describe the gratuity amounts as a fixed, unchangeable charge. It calls them recommended guidelines and says guests may adjust the amounts during the cruise, but not after it ends. If a guest has not prepaid, the applicable guideline is automatically added to the Sail & Sign account. The optional Bottomless Bubbles package is a separate purchase, not a fee every guest must pay.
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How much can the changes add to a cruise budget?
The gratuity increase is $1 per guest per day in either cabin category. Multiply that by the number of guests and cruise days to estimate the difference for guests who pay the new guideline amount instead of the former one. For example, two guests on a seven-day cruise would see a $14 increase in recommended gratuities compared with the former rates.
For adults buying Bottomless Bubbles, the base price rose by $2.49 per person per day before the 20% service charge. A child’s base price did not change, though the service charge applies. Actual totals depend on how many eligible guests buy the package and the cruise length; the package must be purchased for the full cruise, cannot be used for room service, and is not accepted at destinations including Celebration Key, according to Carnival’s product page.
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Could guests lock in the old rates?
Carnival said qualifying prepaid Bottomless Bubbles purchases and prepaid gratuities for open sailings would retain the former rates if purchased through April 1, 2026. The notice directed guests to My Cruise Manager. That cutoff has passed, so it is no longer a way to secure the previous prices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the email does—and does not—establish
The Carnival-branded notice copy says: “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, as outlined below.” It is signed by Colleen Oliverio, VP, Guest Services – Contact Centers. The copy is hosted by Into the Funnel rather than on a Carnival domain; Carnival’s own current product page verifies the package’s current base rates, while Cruise Critic separately reported the notice and rate changes.
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The notice is a dated guest advisory with rates, an effective date and a prepayment cutoff. It does not establish that every guest must buy a drink package or pay an unadjustable gratuity.
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