The average consumer is so fickle and uneducated about what really goes on. We hear all of the time of things that went away from cruising and how much better it was 30 years ago. When it reality, there are so many apples to oranges comparisons. Mass market brands of today were closer to luxury cruises back in the day. That model would not have made cruising as large as it is today. People want a lower barrier to entry. Adjusted for inflation, the mass market is more affordable that cruising used to be, by far. It is basically a different product. The luxury cruises still exist, but we'd rather complain instead of paying more for them.
Carnival has back peddled their change. What their final decision is, we will see. People feel like this is a victory as Carnival will no longer "take anything away". Like the cost cutting/revenue boost will be forever paused because the people fought back. The money will be just rolled up somewhere else. People would be ok with a $100 price hike, but god forbid there is $50 in itemized charges. In the end, the people who don't use this service are largely subsidizing the gluttons who demand they be pampered, will take one bite, and waste the rest, all because they "are on vacation!"