Carnival guests have to wait 10-minutes between drinks – are drinks package rules going too far?

• Carnival has instituted a new rule that guests with a drinks package now have to wait 10 minutes between drink orders, doubling the limit from the previous five minutes. This applies to all drinks, not just alcohol.
• The line has not made an official statement on the new rule.
• While the new rule appears to be partially aimed at over-indulgence, it could also aim to reduce drinks package sharing.

Carnivals’ new rule that guests who have bought a drinks package have to wait 10 minutes between drink orders has stirred some debate amongst cruisers. Is this a necessary new rule to slow down those who are indulging too quickly, or is an overbearing restriction that takes away from holiday fun?

Carnivals website states: “Only one drink at a time may be ordered, there is a 10-minute wait time between orders and sharing is not permitted. No double shots as that will be considered ordering two drinks at once.”

The previous limit was five minutes, which was also quite a new rule.

Carnival also has a limit of fifteen alcoholic drinks per day, even for those with a drinks package.

Another tricky part of the rule is that it also applies to non-alcoholic drinks. This means that if someone wanted to order a beer, then a soda as well, they would have to wait 10 minutes in between. While this isn’t necessarily a vacation ruining measure, it can certainly add inconvenience to a relaxed vacation.

It can be inconvenient if you were hoping to grab some drinks and take them to another part of the ship, if you want to drink a shot and grab another drink without lining up again, or if you do want to grab a drink for a friend who also has a drinks package but hasn’t arrived yet or is busy.

The fact that this applies to non-alcoholic drinks as well only adds to the inconvenience. You wouldn’t be able to grab a beer and a gatorade at the same time for example.

It’s also possible that the new rules aim to limit drinks package sharing. As mentioned, having an interval between getting drinks means its a lot less convenient to grab a drink for someone else.

While drinks package sharing definitely happens, this method of attempting to police it means that a drinks package, which is purchased for convenience, becomes a lot less convenient.

As mentioned on Carnival’s site, this also means no double shots, which is another freedom that those with a drinks package surely deserve. Many prefer double shot spirits, or putting two shots into flavoured cocktails. However, this rule is not new.

What are people saying?

While some cruisers have shrugged off the new changes, stating it won’t affect them, others are upset by the added inconvenience.

One Reddit user said: “I just hate that it includes water and specialty coffee. Like, why can’t I get them at the same time?”

Another said: “I know a lot of people don’t care, but this would be a deal breaker for me, at least, if they enforce it. As a reminder, it applies to non-alcoholic drinks too.

“I don’t go on vacation very much. If I’m paying for a cruise, I want to relax and have a good time. 

“If I want a shot and a coke to chase it, I don’t want to order, wait for my shot, hold it for 10 minutes, order a coke, wait for a coke and then do my shot.”

Others user said similar things: “I like to get a shot and a beer. It sucks having to order one and then sit around for 10 mins before I can order the other. The waiting period really puts a damper on my vacation mood. All-inclusive resorts would NEVER have a timer like this, so it’s absurd that Carnival does.”

Some cruisers are already in the thick of it: “Can confirm. On the celebration right now with the zero proof package and had to wait 10 minutes to get a second bottle of water :/”, said one Reddit user.

Others took the side of Carnival, thinking the rule is necessary.

“At least someone is attempting to do something to control the irresponsible alcoholics, I feel bad for those that purchase drink packages and drink responsibly.”

Another said: “I really hope I’m not being insensitive when I say this… but if folks can’t wait 10 minutes*in between drinks, that’s a personal issue that they should think about.”

What do you think about the new changes?