Carnival Cruise Line has finally caved to years of guest feedback. Check out any Facebook group and you’ll find dozens of posts complaining. “I don’t understand why Carnival doesn’t have a coffee package?” “I hate that Carnival doesn’t offer a non-alcoholic package. We don’t drink alcohol.” Today, the brand has made many cruisers very happy. Carnival adds CHEERS! Zero Proof Package for those looking for a non-alcoholic drinks plan. That’s right, the beards have finally listened.
What’s included in CHEERS! Zero Proof
Per Carnival’s news site, The CHEERS! Zero Proof Package includes:
- Sodas (Coca-Cola products)
- Juices
- Bottled water (still and sparkling) and coconut water
- Premium coffees and teas
- Zero proof cocktails (non-alcoholic)
- Alcohol-free beer
- Alcohol-free sparkling wine
- Frozen drinks (non-alcoholic)
- Smoothies and bottled protein shakes
- Milkshakes
- Energy drinks
How much does CHEERS! Zero Proof cost?
The new CHEERS! Zero Proof package will cost $29.99 per day when purchased ahead of the cruise. The price jumps when booked on board. There is an additional 18% mandatory Service Charge that is added to the package, plus applicable tax. For a 7-day sailing, the total price on my upcoming reservation is $247.72.
The only non-alcoholic option Carnival offers today is Bottomless Bubbles for $9.50 per day which offers unlimited soda and juices. The new CHEERS! Zero Proof costs an additional $20.49 daily compared to Bottomless Bubbles. Considering everything else that comes with the new package, we expected to see a substantially higher price.
What’s excluded from CHEERS! Zero Proof?
Carnival spells out pretty clearly all that’s not included with the plan. The first item on the list? ALCOHOL!
- Alcoholic beverages; Beer (domestic, imported, craft), Cocktails, Wine by the Glass, Spirits/Liquors, Discount on Bottled Wine.
- Beverages promoted and sold in souvenir glasses
- Beverages offered at gangway
- Room service, mini bars, and/or in-stateroom beverage programs
- Beverages offered at private parties and/or events
- All other beverage-related programs including merchandise, cigars, and cigarettes
- Food items
Does every person in the stateroom need to purchase CHEERS! Zero Proof?
I just tested it out on our upcoming Carnival Liberty sailing and was able to add it for just one person in the stateroom. Total price: $247.72 (including the $37.79 Service Charge). While I was able to add it and check out, there is text on the screen that states, “Beverage packages must be purchased for all days of the cruise, and all guests 21+ within the same cabin must purchase.“ The language is clearly a carryover from the original CHEERS! Program and so TBD if Carnival will eventually make every guest in the stateroom purchase.
Can one person buy the original CHEERS! and another buy CHEERS! Zero Proof?
Because every guest 21+ in the stateroom must purchase the CHEERS! Package, it does not appear that you can mix and match. We’d love to see that in the future.
Final Thoughts
We here at This Cruise Life love choice when it comes to cruise packages. Carnival has finally listened to their guests and have added one more way to manage costs on your cruise vacation. While this package isn’t for us (here’s looking at you, alcohol!), we have many friends that will absolutely love the new offering.
What do you think? Is this something you’ve been wanting Carnival Cruise Line to add to their packages? Will this new package create even more congestion at the onboard venues? Let us know what you think in the comments!