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Cruise passengers could soon pay different prices for drinks and Wi-Fi depending on when and where they sail.
Carnival Cruise Line announced that it will introduce dynamic pricing for its beverage packages and Wi-Fi plans beginning Dec. 1. Prices will vary based on the length of the cruise, itinerary and season, according to the company.
The change was disclosed near the bottom of an announcement on Oct. 14 that largely focused on Carnival’s new “FunPacks,” which bundle several cruise extras into one pre-cruise purchase.
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The dynamic pricing will apply only to individual beverage and Wi-Fi packages, Carnival told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“Importantly, once a guest purchases a package, their confirmed price is locked in and will not change even if pricing is adjusted later,” the company said.
Carnival Cruise Line announced that it will introduce dynamic pricing for its beverage packages and Wi-Fi plans beginning Dec. 1. (Getty Images)
More broadly, dynamic pricing is a strategy in which prices can change based on factors such as supply and demand, competitor pricing and available inventory, according to a blog post from Harvard Business School.
The cruise line said the changes will provide passengers with “greater flexibility and more options for tailoring their Carnival vacation experience.”
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The move quickly drew reaction from cruise passengers online, with some questioning whether the new system could make budgeting for a trip more complicated.
The dynamic pricing will apply only to individual beverage and Wi-Fi packages. (iStock)
“I’ve never heard a single person that was happy about dynamic pricing,” one Reddit user commented.
Another traveler had a more direct concern.
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“Who’s wishing for more complications on vacation?” the person wrote.
“I officially dropped Carnival for the rest of my life,” said another person.
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Others said the approach could make sense depending on how Carnival ultimately sets its prices.
One commenter suggested beverage packages could potentially cost less on longer or more port-heavy cruises, while Wi-Fi prices could vary differently depending on the length of the trip.
The cruise line’s new pricing quickly drew reaction from cruise travelers online, with some questioning whether the new system could make budgeting for a trip more complicated. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“I have no issue with this,” one Reddit user wrote. “We’d be more open to it if it were dynamic pricing.”
Fox News Digital previously reported on another cruise line changing the price of popular vacation extras.
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Princess Cruises raised the cost of its Plus and Premier packages by $5 per person per day beginning Oct. 13, bringing the standard rates to $70 and $105 per day, respectively.
The cruise line also changed its standalone Wi-Fi options, retiring its four-device plan and introducing a two-device package for $39.99 per day.
“I have no issue with this.”
Single-device internet purchased onboard increased to $39.99 for 24 hours or $33.99 per day when purchased for the entire sailing.
Princess told Fox News Digital at the time it periodically reviews package prices based on changes in its operating environment while aiming to offer guests value by bundling popular amenities.
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Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
