Carnival Cruise Line Responds to Water Controversy

Cruise ships have very strict rules about what you can bring on board. In some cases, this is a safety issue.

You cannot pack a gun, hunting knife, or anything else that would count as a weapon. Also, you can’t bring anything with a heating element other than an iron. Regular irons, coffee makers and any other appliances are prohibited.

Related: Every Royal Caribbean Passenger Must Know About ‘Royal Math’

In addition, safety rules do not allow passengers to bring candles on board. You may, however, bring matches or lighters for smoking, but only in designated areas. Cannabis in all its forms and CBD are also prohibited on board, even if it is legal in the state you live in and you have a prescription for it.

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean allow passengers to bring a small selection of beverages on board. Here’s how Carnival explains its policy:

“On the day of boarding, a small amount of non-alcoholic beverages (eg, sparkling water, juice, energy drinks, juice and milk) may be brought on board in boxes or cartons and must be in the guest’s hand luggage . baggage,” Carnival says on its website. “A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cans of 12 ounces/354 ml each or less, per person.”

You can’t bring plastic bottles, so that means most people don’t bring water on board.

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Carnival passengers think the cruise line is charging too much for water.

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Passengers angry at Carnival water prices

Carnival sells a package of large water bottles that you can reserve before your cruise. It’s a 12-pack of bottled water (16.9oz bottle/500ml bottle) for $14.95.

“This is the third price increase for this popular beverage product since November 2022,” Cruise Hive reported. “The 12-pack was originally $4.95 ($0.42 per bottle), but at that time, it was doubled to $9.95 ($0.83 per bottle). Then in December 2023, the price was raised again to $11.95 per 12-pack (a drop below $1 per bottle).”

Many Carnival customers are upset with the current pricing and pushed back against comments made by brand ambassador John Heald in a recent video.

“You have quite a short memory! When Carnival stopped letting people bring water on board, you stated on your Facebook page that Carnival would keep it very affordable to purchase on the ship, and it was in the beginning. What happened? It’s not an ‘affordable deal’ at all,” wrote Rob Chastain.

Many of the commentators on his film complained that they could not, in their words, drink the water of the ship.

“If my dear wife drinks the water from the ship, her ankles and feet swell terribly. When it sticks to the bottled stuff, swelling doesn’t happen. So for us, the cost increase is just part of the journey! Of course we think it’s too much, but a cruise is worth it to us,” John Hendrickson posted.

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Carnival’s Heald defends its water price

A single bottle of water on Carnival ships, bought from a bar, will cost you between $3 and $5. This makes purchasing the 12 pack before going on the cruise a bargain.

Heald tried to defend the current pre-order price for the 12-pack.

“We talked a lot about water because people were kind of, uh, I guess, adamant that we were charging too much for bottled water,” Heald said. — Well, it’s a little over $1 a bottle.

Heald called this price “the most affordable in the industry and compared to airports, resorts, etc. It’s still a very affordable deal.

The brand ambassador also made it clear that the ship’s water is potable, a point he illustrated by drinking some.

“I drink the ship’s water and so do you,” he added.

Many people posted that drinking the ship’s water caused swelling.

“I’ve tried several times, but I can’t drink the water from the ship. Only bottled water for me, even to brush my teeth. If I drink the water from the ship, my feet swell so badly that I cannot put on my shoes. It is possible to desalinate your water, but not enough salt has been removed,” said Loretta Kretzcshmar.

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Some posters suggested a water hack.

“On my most recent cruise, I brought a water bottle with a filter in it and kept it full in the fridge. It was wonderful to always have cold, double-filtered water in our room,” wrote Melanie Boyce. “I’m a light packer, but this is one item I’ll be bringing in in the future.”

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