In a move that takes Carnival yet a bit further from the old ‘pay once, all included’ cruise model, Carnival Cruise Line is ending free room service for food except for a Continental breakfast.
Starting this month, room service will switch to an a la carte menu with charges for individual items. The company says the decision was based in part on looking for ways to reduce food waste by encouraging people to order only what they’ll actually eat. The company also emphasized that there’s still plenty of included food if you’re willing to leave the cabin.
Prices for the menu items are, at least for now, not steep, with $4 sandwiches, $3 salads and the like, but history suggests the prices may rise in future, just as they have with the costs of daily gratuities, some activity fees, specialty dining and shore excursions. The path seems clear, and is in general, industry-wide.
UPDATE: Carnival announced on January 7 that it has canceled plans to charge for room service for items ordered before 10 pm.
A Carnival spokesperson said the line is “making some adjustments to that plan to balance the interests of our guests with our efforts to reduce food waste costs. For the time being, there will be no changes until we finalize a plan that will be communicated to guests and travel agency partners alike.”