Did Carnival Accidentally Reveal an Upcoming Wi-Fi Price Hike?
Carnival Cruise Line guests might soon be paying a bit more to stay connected at sea. A technical glitch briefly exposed an internal webpage showing higher Internet rates, sparking speculation that another price increase could be coming soon.
Website Slip Reveals Draft Wi-Fi Pricing Page
On October 24, someone accidentally published a draft webpage on Carnival’s travel agent portal. The updated page listed new pricing for pre-purchase rates on cruises departing after December 1. Proving that it was still a work in progress, the chart showed “TBD” for the onboard pricing.
The proposed rates are 7% to 9% higher than current levels.
The page was quickly reverted to the previous version around 10:26 p.m., but not before we captured a screenshot of the draft. Carnival has not issued any official statement or update confirming the change.
UPDATE: Guests with 2026 cruises booked are seeing the higher prices in their cruise planners, but the Carnival website or travel agent portals have not yet been updated.
December Increases Are Becoming Common for Carnival
Even though this leak hasn’t been verified, it wouldn’t be surprising if the prices do rise soon. Over the past two years, Carnival has increased its Wi-Fi rates each December, often with little or no notice.
| Aug 22 | Sep 22 | Jan 23 | Dec 23 | Dec 24 | Dec 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Plan | $8.50 | $10.20 | $12.75 | $15.30 | $18.70 | $20.40 (+9%) |
| Value Plan | $11.05 | $14.45 | $17.00 | $19.55 | $21.10 | $23.80 (+8%) |
| Premium Plan | $14.45 | $17.00 | $18.70 | $21.25 | $23.80 | $25.50 (+7%) |
Why This Change Feels Likely (and CHEERS Might Go Up Too)
The leaked timing and pricing fit right in line with Carnival’s previous adjustments. December has become a common window for price changes, not only for Wi-Fi but also for the line’s CHEERS beverage package.
If the new numbers hold true, guests can expect to pay more starting with December sailings.
Further signaling potential price increases, Carnival has not yet released the 2026 pricing for its new CHEERS Zero Proof package. Brand Ambassador John Heald has indicated that it will be available for purchase soon. At that point, Carnival could choose to raise the price of the package if it proves unprofitable. The timing aligns perfectly with the proposed Internet price change.
Should You Lock In Rates Now?
Historically, Carnival has given guests advance notice of price changes so they can lock in the old rate before the new prices take effect. But last year, guests were outraged when the line gave no notice and increased both the CHEERS package and Wi-Fi pricing with no warning. The same could happen this year, as Carnival didn’t seem concerned about the backlash last time.
Whether this was a simple webpage mistake or a sneak peek at what’s to come, all signs point to Carnival continuing its year-end price adjustment trend.
If you plan to purchase a Wi-Fi package for an upcoming cruise (or possibly CHEERS), now’s the time to lock in the lower rate.
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