Carnival Cruise Line Reverses Room Service Change (2019)

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker of Cruise Radio discusses Carnival Cruise Line's decision to reverse a planned change regarding room service charges. The situation began on New Year's Eve when brand ambassador John Healed announced that the company would start charging guests for room service. This announcement resulted in significant public backlash, including a Change.org petition with over a thousand signatures and intense social media criticism. Parker notes that while Healed was the messenger for the corporate decision, the company ultimately decided in early January to pause the changes. Currently, Carnival will maintain its existing room service structure without a delivery charge. The menu will continue to offer complimentary items such as cookies, tuna sandwiches, and cereals, while certain specialty items like chicken wings and quesadillas will remain for a fee. Parker observes that while the current course maintains the status quo, the company is still working to finalize a long term plan. He suggests that Carnival may eventually follow the trends of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian by implementing delivery fees, but for now, the complimentary service remains available.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.