8 Big Changes Coming to Carnival Cruise in 2025: Drink Prices, Coke, Loyalty & More!

1. 📈 Drink Package Prices Up Carnival has significantly raised its CHEERS! drink package rates — now $82.54 pre-booked and $88.44 onboard, up from about $70.74 �� businessinsider.com 2. ☕ Wi‑Fi Package Prices Increased Internet costs climbed by about 22%, with basic Wi‑Fi now $18.70 pre‑cruise and $22 onboard. Value and Premium plans also saw increases ✉️ 3. 🥤 Switch from Pepsi to Coca‑Cola Carnival ended its PepsiCo partnership and is now exclusively offering Coca‑Cola products — Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Powerade, Topo Chico, and more— starting summer 2025 4. 🏝️ Celebration Key Private Island A brand-new private destination, Celebration Key in the Bahamas, will open July 2025. Spanning 65 acres, it features swim-up bars, water slides, adult-only lounges, and premium zones 5. 🔁 Back to Norfolk, VA The Carnival Sunshine has relocated from Charleston to Norfolk, Virginia, offering year-round cruises from the new port as of early 2025 6. 💳 Loyalty Program Overhaul Carnival is retiring its long-running VIFP loyalty system and launching Carnival Rewards™ in June 2026—a points‑plus‑status model based on spending, cruise fare, and onboard purchases, with new tiers (Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) via its co-branded Mastercard 7. ⚠️ Stricter On‑Board Policies The cruise line has clamped down on guest behavior: Banned non‑battery fans and Bluetooth speakers for noise control Enforced teen curfew (under-18s must be with adult after 1 AM) Limited lounge-chair hoarding to 40 minutes of unattended time 8. 🚢 Fleet Expansion & Rebranding P&O Australia is being absorbed into Carnival—ships like Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter are now Carnival Adventure, with Australian homeport deployment from March 2025 Two former Costa ships (Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze) have joined under the “Fun Italian Style” sub‑brand And the Carnival Jubilee (Excel-class) continues large-ship expansion ✅ Why This Matters: These changes are reshaping the Carnival experience—from onboard costs and beverage options to loyalty perks, private destinations, and amenities. If you're sailing soon, here’s what to expect: Budget for slightly higher drink & internet costs Enjoy Coca‑Cola beverages instead of Pepsi Know the new noise, seating, and curfew policies Get excited about Celebration Key and new fleet options Understand that your loyalty rewards will soon be points-based