Carnival Cruise Line Ends Free Water Confusion With Simple Fix

Photo: Carnival Cruise Ships at Celebration Key 9Photo Credit: Eric Glenn)

One of the first benefits that Carnival Cruise Line guests earn in the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program (and that will continue with the new Carnival Rewards program when it launches in September 2026) is a free 1.5-liter bottle of water.

Unfortunately, there has been confusion over which bottle is free and which costs extra over the years. Because the same bottles of water for sale are placed in every stateroom, it’s understandable that guests might assume those are actually the free bottles.

Now, the cruise line is introducing a sure-fire way to clarify which bottle is which in guests’ staterooms: a new “neck tag” that will be placed on every bottle of water offered as a gift.

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, recently introduced the change on his popular Facebook page.

“There were some previous misunderstandings,” Heald noted. “Do you take it from the room or do you go to the bars?”

Guests have frequently asked about this. Furthermore, many guests have reported being charged for a bottle they took from their rooms, even though they had earned the gift in the cruise line’s loyalty program. Now, that confusion will no longer be an issue.

“You see, over the coming weeks, the 1.5 liter bottle, the big, larger bottle, that has always been your VIFP benefit will now be delivered to your stateroom and identified with a neck tag,” Heald explained.

He notes that the new paper neck tag on the free bottles is red and will be labeled appropriately, so there is no more confusion.

“That’s the bottle you need to take,” Heald said. “If it doesn’t have this neck tag on, and you drink the other bottles that will be there, then yes, you’ll be charged.”

New Label Revealed

Shortly after the announcement, Heald revealed a photo of the new neck tag. Not only is it boldly colored in Carnival’s classic red shade, but it’s clearly labeled as a gift.

“A Refreshing Reward,” the label reads. “All members with Red status or higher receive a complimentary bottle of water, right here in your room. Cheers!”

This ensures there is no confusion any longer about which bottle is which. The typical sales tags for extra bottles guests can purchase are white and clearly marked with a price.

The 1.5-liter bottles cost $4.50 (USD), and guests can pre-order them to be placed in their stateroom before their cruise if they wish.

Is Water Really That Confusing?

It may seem silly to need to specifically label bottles of water as free or for purchase, but this has been a confusing issue for Carnival guests for years.

Part of that confusion stems from the fact that pre-pandemic, the gifted bottles were placed in guests’ staterooms. After cruising resumed, guests had to collect the free bottles themselves from a bar or restaurant.

Heald has previously explained that the housekeeping and bar departments do use the same water, but have different inventories to track how much water is consumed. This is why some bottles are free, but others are not.

Further confusion sometimes stems from the fact that free water is also given to guests in suites, regardless of their loyalty level.

Hopefully, the new neck tag will be clear enough to eliminate any confusion, and all returning Carnival guests can easily stay hydrated on every cruise vacation. Drink up!