Carnival Juice Policy Changes Spark Confusion and Passenger Frustration

Cruise bloggers and YouTubers are popping up all over the place these days as the cruise industry continues to grow in demand.  But along with all this extra content, sometimes the truth of the matter can be harder to find.

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, just posted a video on his Facebook page to correct some YouTubers about a beverage policy rumor that had been spreading online.  But he only addressed part of the issue, leaving some still wondering.

Rumors Prompt Carnival Response

Heald started his three-minute video this morning addressing what he called a “fire” ignited by some YouTubers regarding the availability and cost of juice on Carnival ships.

In a candid and direct way, Heald clarified recent reports to make sure Carnival cruisers have the accurate facts.

“Really just one thing to talk about today and this is another fire that I have to put out that seemed to become a blaze over the last few days,” Heald began, addressing the rumors head-on. He specifically called out “a few of the youtubers,” some good and some not so good, who “seem to have expanded on something” regarding Carnival’s juice offerings.

The Issue: Dining Room and Lido Juice

What was the main issue?  Heald said that some content creators were claiming that Carnival was charging for orange juice in the main dining room and had removed some of these juice offerings from the Lido deck.

Heald emphatically stated, “What these youtubers have said is incorrect.”

To clarify the cruise line’s policy, Heald explained, “if you purchase a juice from the bar of course there is a charge.” However, he reassured viewers that “if you go to the dining room for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, you will be able to have as much complimentary orange juice as you wish.”

Heald further explained the beverage policy in the dining room that was the main point of contention with some cruisers.

“What we are doing is charging the same in the dining room for grapefruit and pineapple and tomato juice,” he stated. “If you have orange or apple juice that’s complimentary in the dining room but those three—grapefruit, tomato, and pineapple as we do in the bars, we charge in the dining room for that.“

It should be noted that grape juice and cranberry juice also carry an extra charge.

Dismissing another piece of misinformation, Heald confirmed another juice option would be available for free: “We have not removed the very popular guava juice.”

He urged viewers to “please please ignore” the incorrect information, humorously adding, “the same as I ignore smoothies and juices and kale and tofu and most green things– I got called glutton bucket last week brilliant that really made me laugh.”

But Here’s What Passengers Are Actually Talking About

While Heald tackled the orange juice rumor, the comments on his Facebook post painted a slightly different picture. Lots of passengers chimed in to say that the real story wasn’t about orange juice at all.

Instead, they were talking about how Carnival had started charging for other juices – like pineapple, tomato, grapefruit, and sometimes cranberry – that used to be free during breakfast and brunch in the main dining room.

This change has left some cruisers feeling like Carnival is cutting corners. They see it as another way the cruise line is adding extra charges while the overall cost of a cruise stays the same or even goes up. 

One passenger put it this way: “Carnival have now decided to charge for juices that used to be free in the dining room for breakfast, except for orange or apple. The u-tubers I have heard have pointed out we still get free apple and orange juice. I am sorry John but that is really disappointing…”

Another comment was even more direct, telling Heald, “None of them I saw said anything about orange juice. What they did say that you failed to say is that the other juices were free in the MDR for brunch and you took them away…”

Plenty of people specifically mentioned missing the free pineapple and tomato juice, with some pointing out these were their usual choices. There was also a sense that Carnival hadn’t clearly communicated these changes beforehand.

What About Drink Packages?

Heald did briefly touch on the Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles drink programs, acknowledging that passengers have asked if smoothies could be included or if the Bottomless Bubbles package could be upgraded.

Currently, the Bottomless Bubbles drink package only includes sodas and juices.  Some have been pushing for things like coffees, smoothies, and mocktails to be added to the package.

He said there aren’t any immediate plans for this, but Carnival is aware of these requests.

So, while Carnival addressed one rumor about orange juice, it seems the real buzz among passengers is about the other juices now costing extra in the main dining room. This shows that sometimes, the stories that get the most attention online might not always reflect the full picture of what cruisers are actually experiencing and talking about.