Carnival raises cruise tip, drink package fees. What you'll pay.

• Carnival Cruise Line is increasing its daily gratuity rates starting April 2.
• The rate for suites will be $19 per person, per day, and $17 for all other staterooms.
• The price for the Bottomless Bubbles adult soda package is also rising to $11.99 per day.

Carnival Cruise Line passengers may pay more next time they set sail.

The company is raising its daily gratuity rates and prices for one of its drink packages on April 2. Guests staying in suites will now pay $19 per person, per day, up from the current rate of $18, while the charge for passengers in all other staterooms will increase from $16 to $17, the company confirmed.

Under the new policy, a family of four staying in a standard cabin would pay $476 on a seven-day cruise, up from $448. The cruise line last raised those rates in April of 2023.

Gratuities are automatically added to guests’ onboard accounts but can be adjusted up or down prior to disembarking.

"It is customary for our guests to extend gratuities to the shipboard staff in appreciation for their hard work and exceptional service," Carnival said on its website. "100% of your gratuities are distributed to the crew who you interact with, such as your stateroom attendants, dining and culinary services staff, as well as other members of the onboard team who work behind the scenes to enhance your overall cruise experience."

Cruise operators often hike those fees in response to "external influences" like inflation or changes in economic activity, according to Danny Genung, CEO of travel agency Harr Travel.

"You look at the cost of hotels and transportation, fuel and food and everything else, and I think it's really just a normal response," Genung previously told USA TODAY. "You know, compensating employees, offsetting costs that have increased."

Drink package price also increasing

Carnival is also raising the price for its Bottomless Bubbles soda package. The cost will increase from $9.50 per adult, per day – plus a 20% service charge – to $11.99. The cruise line told USA TODAY in an email that its "cost of supplies has increased" amid its recent transition to Coca-Cola products.

The price for children will remain $6.95 per day. Bottomless Bubbles covers "all-you-can-drink Coke sodas and juice for the full length of your cruise," according to the cruise line’s website.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].