Carnival reverses course and decides to KEEP free room service after backlash for asking customers to pay for snacks delivered to cabins
- Carnival Cruise Line has announced it will put its pay-per-item room service plan on hold, after backlash from customers who wanted free all-day dining options
- Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald said the policy change would be put off to balance the interests of guests with efforts to reduce food waste costs
- Carnival had previously planned to implement an a la carte style room service menu with a fee for each item that would launch in mid-January
- The items were expected to range from $2 to $6 and be sold from 6am to 10pm
- It had always planned to keep it complimentary continental breakfast
Carnival Cruise Line has temporarily halted its plan to do away with complimentary room service, after backlash from travelers.
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, made the announcement in a post on his verified Facebook page early on Sunday.
It seems that there will be some cost, eventually, for in-room dining aboard the cruise ships, but the changes will no longer take place in mid-January, and will likely be less burdensome than initially thought to passengers.
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Carnival Cruise Line has temporarily halted its plan to do away with complimentary room service, after backlash from travelers who didn't want to pay for all-day in-room dining options. A file photo of the Carnival Imagination is shown, photographed on May 3, 2017 while docked in Ensenada Harbor
Heald shared the post just before 8am on Sunday, to the joy of many.
'I had previously told you about changes to our room service offerings that would go into effect in January,' he wrote.
'I wanted to let you know that we are in the process of 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 then, there will be no changes until we finalise a plan that will I will communicate to you all.'
Heald clarified in the comments that his announcement meant that there would be charge for ordering room service on Carnival Cruise Line ships before 10pm, in line with the pre-existing policy.
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald said in a statement on Sunday that the policy change would be put off to balance the interests of guests with efforts to reduce food waste costs
The initial planned change would have implemented an a la carte style stateroom service menu beginning in mid-January 2019, according to the company's website release.
Items listed ranged from $2 to $6 and were planned to be sold from 6am to 10pm.
Some of the items included: Greek Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, Portabella and Veggie Bun, Grilled Cheese, Bacon and Tomato Sandwich, Roast Turkey Wrap, Dark Chocolate Walnut Brownies, Doughnut Sandwich and Banana Split.
The cruise line was always planning to continue to offer its complimentary Continental Breakfast from 5am to 10am.
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However, in the initially proposed policy change, the earlier statement said:
'On the last morning of the cruise, room service is not available; guests will have the option of enjoying breakfast at the Lido restaurant or in the main dining room.'
That release added: 'In addition to food items, beverages from the bar may be ordered through room service including liquor and wine by the bottle, which is limited to two bottles per day and must be consumed in the guest's stateroom.
In a previous statement, Carnival released a menu including items that would remain free, but also range from $2 to $6, during the hours between 6am and 10pm
From 10pm to 6am, all room service would have had a fee, starting in mid-January, but now the plan has been put on hold for the time being
At the end of 2018, Carnival announced that it would be building the first roller coaster on a ship.
The attraction, called Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster, is set to be built on Carnival Cruise Line's new Mardi Gras liner and will stretch for nearly 800 feet, reach speeds of up to 40mph and contain plenty of twists and turns.
Bolt, which is being built by Munich-based Maurer Rides, will be an all-electric roller coaster that allows two riders in a motorcycle-like vehicle to race along a track 187 feet above sea level.
It will also enable guests to experience the sea in an exciting new way with breathtaking 360-degree views.
