October 29, 2026 — Carnival Cruise Line has explained how the two free drinks for Diamond and Platinum Carnival Rewards members work, and confirmed they stack with the new FunPack bundles. FunPacks can only be bought until October 30.
How the free drinks work
Carnival brand ambassador John Heald cleared up the confusion in a Facebook video on October 28, Cruise Hive reported.
- Diamond and Platinum members get two complimentary drinks, a perk carried over from the VIFP program, which ended August 31, 2026.
- By default, your first two drinks count as the free ones. Heald said bartenders “will automatically make it” unless you say otherwise.
- To save a free drink for later, tell the bartender or server that the drink you are ordering should not count. It is charged to your stateroom account, and your two free drinks stay available.
- Heald suggests saying when you want to use a complimentary drink at the time you order.
FunPacks keep the perk
Heald confirmed that Diamond and Platinum members keep their two free drinks even if they buy a FunPack. Carnival introduced four FunPack bundles on October 14:
| FunPack | Drinks included |
|---|---|
| Kidstarter | Bottomless Bubbles soda and juice package |
| Zero Proof | CHEERS! Zero Proof package |
| Social | Three alcoholic drinks a day plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks |
| Epic | Full CHEERS! beverage package |
Other perks vary by bundle and include arcade tokens, bulk candy discounts, Wi-Fi, and discounts on shore excursions and specialty dining.
Key dates
- Last day to buy: October 30, 2026
- Eligible sailings: departures from October 31, 2026 through December 31, 2027
- Must be bought: at least three days before sailing
Heald did not say whether the offer will be extended and said he did not know whether the packs would return.
What it means for airline travelers
- Decide by Friday. If you have a Carnival sailing booked between now and the end of 2027 and want a FunPack, it has to be bought by October 30.
- Diamond and Platinum members: buying a FunPack does not cost you your two free drinks, so you can compare the bundles on their own merits.
- Arriving on a late flight? If your first drink on embarkation day is a quick soda after a long standby day, say so if you want to save your free drinks for something you would otherwise pay more for.
- The story did not mention any change to travel-industry or interline rates.
Sources
- Cruise Hive — “Carnival Clears Up Confusion Over Free Drinks for Diamond and Platinum Guests” — cruisehive.com
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