It's a beloved staple, it used to be free, and now it's sparking debate at sea
Carnival Cruise Line Charges for This Popular Snack—And Passengers Have Thoughts
Published on May 23, 2025
I’ve been on a lot of cruises over the past 30 years, and upcharging for special experiences has become commonplace in the last decade. Unfortunately, so has upcharging for some pretty basic items. Want soda? That’s extra. A decent espresso? Fork over more. While passengers are accustomed to these extras, nothing gets under a cruiser’s skin faster than being nickeled and dimed for something that used to be free.
That’s exactly why my inbox (and online chats) lit up when passengers started reporting a surprising new upcharge on Carnival Cruise Line (yes, this is different than the recent change of charging for juice). Even worse? This popular snack feels more like a basic right than a luxury purchase, so you might not be happy when you hear what it is. Read on to find out.
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Which snack do guests now have to pay for on Carnival Cruises?
Carnival is now charging for popcorn, even when it’s served during Dive-In Movie showtimes at the Seaside Theater. This snack staple will run you $4 for a small bag that holds just a few cups of popcorn, with larger portions priced at $7, and no free refills. To make matters more irritating, the popcorn is served plain—no butter or salt—so if you’re hoping for buttery movie-theater vibes, you’ll need to pack your own flavor enhancements.
Some ships serve the popcorn in prefilled bags, while others scoop it fresh and hand it to you in a disposable container. Either way, it’s an extra charge, and gratuity may be automatically added, depending on where and how it’s purchased.
Let’s do some quick math: If you order popcorn every evening during a standard seven-night cruise, that’s $28 to $49 in snack charges alone—per person. For a family of four, that’s $112 to $196! And unlike other upcharges (say, for specialty dining or spa services), this one feels particularly stingy—because popcorn is notoriously cheap to make.
What does Carnival say is the reasoning behind the charge?
The answer appears to be twofold: to minimize food waste and reduce extra cleanup efforts.
The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, said, “We started charging for popcorn … after finding out that when it was for free that people would order so much, eat very little, and thus waste so much. There was [also] always an awful mess afterwards, when it was free, for housekeeping to have to clean. That is not the case now.”
While these reasons sure seem noble, we have to assume there’s a revenue element at play as well. Any chance for a little extra profit, right?
What are passengers saying about this?
Popcorn might seem like a small thing, but it hits a nerve—especially when cruise passengers are already navigating drink-package add-ons, Wi-Fi fees and increasing gratuity charges. For many, it’s not about the $4. It’s about the feeling that what used to be free on a cruise line that markets itself as affordable now comes with a swipe.
Customers had a lot to say in the Facebook group Carnival Cruise Lines Chat, Tips, Reviews and Fun, which has 590,000 members:
- “Take your own premade bag. The popcorn on the ship is awful.”
- “Popcorn is so dang cheap …makes ya drink more … it’s actually the most profitable food to make money off of …. ya think you’d get it for free. Lol”
- “Yes, and it’s stale, so not worth it.”
- “Gosh dang. Nickel and dime ya anywhere they can!”
Cruise Critic forums were also filled with complaints, including:
- “Don’t get me wrong, if they want to charge for popcorn I am fine with it if they had popcorn worth paying for. What they have just isn’t good enough for a charge. But I would be all for a popcorn bar with different flavors and or good butter popcorn.”
- “A charge for this, a charge for that, starts to annoy people, decreasing overall satisfaction.”
- “It reminded me of the popcorn we give to the animals at our local zoo. No taste whatsoever. What was worse is it smells so good when you approach the area. You can’t wait to take that first bite and then nada. I’d gladly pay if we had some salt and butter on it.”
Are any snacks still free?
Despite the popcorn pricing controversy, Carnival still offers plenty of complimentary snacks throughout the day. Soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt are available 24/7 on most ships at Swirls. The Lido buffet offers rotating desserts, cookies and finger foods. You’ll also find snacks at Pizza Pirate, Guy’s Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina that are included in the cruise fare.
And while you won’t find a complimentary movie-snack station, some creative cruisers have found workarounds. You can bring cookies or chips from the buffet, or swing by the soft-serve machine before heading to the Lido screen. Or you can bring your own bags of pre-popped popcorn in your luggage. Where there’s a will, there’s indeed still a way!
RELATED:
- Carnival Cruise Line Is Making This Popular Unofficial Trend Its Own
- Carnival Cruise Line Is the First to Ban This Controversial Item on All Sailings
- Is This New Cruise-Tipping Trend a Huge Etiquette Faux Pas?
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Sources:
- Cruise Hive: “Carnival Cruise Line Explains Expensive Price for Cheap Snack”
- Facebook: “Carnival Cruise Lines Chat, Tips, Reviews and Fun”
- Cruise Critic: “Popcorn at movies”
