Passengers travelling with one of the largest cruise lines in the world have hit out at a policy the business has around alcoholic drinks.
Carnival Cruise Line - which is a subsidiary of the world's largest cruise line company, Carnival Corporation & plc - has responded after coming under fire for issues relating to the drinks packages that customers upgrade to.
Journeying more than 2.5 million people around the world every single year, Carnival is one of the largest individual brands on the planet, second only to Royal Caribbean International.
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Of those 2.5 million, a huge chunk will upgrade to one of Carnival's drinks packages. This is where you pay a flat day rate on top of the cost of your cruise to have unlimited drinks.
With four options to choose from, prices start at $11 (£8.70) a day for unlimited soft drinks. There are then three packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, starting at $82 (£64) per day to up $146 (£115) per day.
The cheapest of these is the 'Cheers!' package, which recently was increased in price by 17 percent from $70 for guests on cruises for six nights or more. It also caps alcoholic drinks at 15 a day in this popular choice.
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Alcohol annoyance
The problem with Carnival's alcoholic drinks packages, according to customers, is that they come with some small print that some think is unfair.
But an ambassador for the company says it has to be in place due to people 'abusing' the rules.
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That's because the rules on a Carnival ship state that if one adult in your cabin opts in for the unlimited booze packages, all adults have to do the same. Combined with the price increase and some are not best pleased.
"Between my parents and I, we have four cruises booked till 2026. We've always supported the Cheers! program, but it's insane when the price goes up without warning," one customer wrote on a Carnival Facebook post about the drinks.
"There needs to be an option for someone who doesn't drink alcohol to opt out.
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"I get it, people break the rules, but come on."
Another wrote: "This is the second increase in a year. And the last one, we were given a heads up if already booked. This time we were blindsided and during the holidays."
The comment was made on a post from Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, who regularly interacts with guests via the social media platform.
Carnival Cruise Line's reason for the rule
Responding honestly to the customer, Heald explained the situation from Carnival's viewpoint.
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"We did try allowing opt-outs when we first started the program, but it was abused - pure and simple," he said.
"The only way we can fairly control it now is to require everyone 21 and over to purchase it. I apologise, but we have no plans to change this."
Ultimately, it exists to stop drink dodgers who might pay for one adult to have an unlimited package and then covertly share drinks with others.
On the price increase, Heald told one customer: "I’m sorry that this took you by surprise. We do increase things now and then and like hotels and restaurants and other cruise lines we don’t always notify people.
"And yet I do understand your frustration. I’m afraid there is absolutely nothing I can do to change this."
Topics: Alcohol, Cruise Ship, Food And Drink, Holiday, Travel, Facebook, Social Media
Tom Earnshaw