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In the never ending talk about Carnival’s policy shake up, they’ve quietly announced a brand new drinks package offering for their guests!
If you’ve been watching how cruise lines bundle extras together, Carnival’s latest Value Packages are a fun twist on the idea of prepaying for drinks, Wi‑Fi, and more before you even step onboard. It feels a bit like what other lines have been doing with all‑inclusive bundles, but with that classic Carnival flavour of choice.
What’s New With Carnival’s Drinks Packages?
Carnival has rolled out two new “Value” bundle options for sailings departing between January 1 and December 31, 2026, and they’re available to purchase online ahead of your cruise.
Cruise lines traditionally charge separately for drinks, Wi‑Fi, shore excursions and things like spa services or photo packages. These new packages let you bundle some of the most popular add‑ons into one buy‑in at a fixed daily rate, so you can budget more easily before the sailing begins.
Essentials Value Package – Basic and Balanced
Price: Around $50 per person, per day
Best for: Families, non‑drinkers or cruisers who want just the essentials.
What’s included:
- 🎉 CHEERS! Zero Proof non‑alcoholic drink package
- 📶 Value Wi‑Fi Plan
- 📍 $50 shore excursion discount (one‑time, pre‑cruise)
- 🍽 $25 specialty dining discount (one‑time, pre‑cruise)
The focus here is on covering the basics at once. Carnival’s non‑alcoholic beverage package includes sodas, juices, bottled water, mocktails and more, and the Value Wi‑Fi is the entry‑level internet plan.
Ultimate Value Package – The Bigger Bundle
Price: Around $90 per person, per day
Best for: Adults who want drinks, better Wi‑Fi and some extra perks.
What’s included:
- CHEERS! alcoholic drink package
- Premium Wi‑Fi Plan
- $50 shore excursion discount (pre‑cruise)
- $25 specialty dining discount (pre‑cruise)
- 50% off spa treatments (pre‑cruise)
- 50% off photo packages (pre‑cruise)
The Ultimate option brings in alcohol, faster internet and meaningful discounts on spa and photos, on top of what the Essentials package gives you.
What You Need to Know Before You Buy
- Packages must be bought online before the cruise. You can’t add them once you’re onboard.
- Discounts for shore excursions, specialty dining, spa and photos apply only to purchases made before sailing through My Cruise Manager.
- Packages were offered for a limited period in December 2025 and apply to 2026 departures.
- Essentials can be bought by anyone aged 3 and over, but the Ultimate option is for adults 21 and over. Everyone in the same cabin must choose the same package.
A quick note if you’re in Australia: while Carnival’s Australian ships sometimes have their own local deals, these specific Value Packages were rolled out globally and should apply to any qualifying Carnival cruise booking you make for 2026.
How These Stack Up Against NCL & Princess
Cruise lines have been moving toward more inclusive pricing models for a while. Here’s how Carnival’s new bundles compare to what you’ll find on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Princess Cruises.
Princess Cruises — Premier & Plus Packages
Princess has had all‑inclusive style packages for a while, called Princess Plus and Princess Premier. These combine drinks, Wi‑Fi, dining and other perks into one price, similar in spirit to Carnival’s concept.
- Plus usually includes drinks (beer, wine, cocktails), Wi‑Fi, some casual dining credits and a few extra perks like crew appreciation and waived delivery fees.
- Premier steps it up with unlimited drinks up to a set value, more Wi‑Fi devices, professional photos, shore excursion credits and often unlimited specialty dining.
In short, Princess packages tend to be broader and more all‑inclusive than Carnival’s Value Packages, but they also cost more per day.
Norwegian Cruise Line — Free at Sea / Premium All‑Inclusive
NCL’s approach isn’t a daily bundle but rather the Free at Sea or Premium All‑Inclusive add‑ons. They mix drink packages, Wi‑Fi, specialty dining, shore excursion credits and more into one booking upgrade.
NCL’s drink packages are usually standalone or part of the Free at Sea upgrade, letting you add premium beverage options plus Wi‑Fi, though they aren’t always bundled at a flat per‑day price like Carnival or Princess.
