Carnival To Test Out New "Faster To Fun" Pass

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Taking a page out of the airline industry's playbook, South Florida based Carnival Cruise Lines will be trying out a new package of perks for a fee this month.

The Faster to Fun pass not only includes priority check-in, boarding and luggage delivery, but also a dedicated customer service line on the ship, according to USA Today. Pass holders will also have faster access off the ship when in port and the choice of either early or late departure from the ship at the end of the cruise.

The price: $49.95 per cabin.

Carnival's Diamond- and Platinum-level members will get all the benefits of the Faster to the Fun program for free.

Carnival said the new plan is based on customer feedback. The new "Faster to Fun" pass will be available on the Carnival Imagination beginning August 20th and on the Carnival Liberty on August 25th.

Charging extra for perks is nothing new for the airline industry. For the last couple of years, various carriers have been charging extra for express check-in and boarding.

Carnival, based in Doral, is the largest cruise line operator in the world, It owns Costa Cruise lines, which operated the ill-fated Concordia, and other well known lines like Cunard, Princess, and Holland America. The company operates more than 100 ships across its different lines.

USA Today contributed to this report.