Cruise Drink Packages Explained: Costs and Inclusions by Line

A cruise ship vacation can quickly become expensive when ordering wine, beer and cocktails one at a time. A single mixed drink aboard a cruise vessel easily costs $15 to $20, meaning a passenger who enjoys several alcoholic beverages per day faces a substantial bill by the end of the trip. Most major cruise lines have responded by offering flat-fee drink packages, which allow passengers to order unlimited beverages for a fixed daily rate. These packages represent a middle ground between paying per drink and avoiding alcohol entirely.

The appeal of a drink package hinges on consumption habits. A passenger planning to order just one or two drinks per day might find the package costs more than à la carte ordering. Conversely, someone who regularly enjoys multiple cocktails, wines, specialty coffees and bottled water may recoup the package cost quickly. Understanding how these packages work, what they include and how much they cost across different cruise lines is essential before making a purchase decision.

How Cruise Drink Packages Work

Cruise ship drink packages operate on a simple premise: passengers pay a flat fee per person per day in exchange for unlimited beverage orders (or up to a specified daily limit) at virtually any onboard venue that serves drinks. This structure eliminates the need to track individual purchases or carry a room key to a bar each time a guest wants to settle a tab.

What’s Included

The contents of a drink package vary significantly depending on the cruise line and tier selected. Basic packages typically include sodas, bottled water and juices. Mid-tier packages add beer, wine by the glass and mixed drinks. Premium packages expand to include top-shelf spirits, specialty cocktails, premium wines and Champagne by the glass, along with specialty coffees, energy drinks and nonalcoholic cocktails. Some cruise lines structure packages to separate alcoholic and nonalcoholic options; passengers who don’t drink alcohol can purchase nonalcoholic packages at substantially reduced rates, often starting around $17.95 to $29.95 per day depending on the line.

Where Packages Are Valid

Packages typically work anywhere passengers can order a drink on ship—at bars, lounges and eateries throughout the vessel. However, significant restrictions exist. Room service beverages are generally excluded, as are drinks from in-cabin minibars. Many cruise lines also exclude drinks purchased on their private islands, though this varies by operator. MSC Cruises explicitly includes its private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in package coverage. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea package is valid at Great Stirrup Cay, its private island. Carnival’s Cheers package excludes Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay.

Cabin Policies and Daily Limits

A critical fine-print detail affects many cruise lines: if one adult in a cabin purchases a drink package, all other adults in that same cabin must also purchase one. This restriction prevents two passengers from sharing a single package. Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises are notable exceptions, allowing individual package purchases without mandating cabin-wide purchases. Most cruise lines impose a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per person per day, though this figure is so high that few passengers approach it. Some packages also restrict how much a single drink can cost; if a cocktail exceeds the package limit, the passenger pays the difference out of pocket.

Pricing Across Major Cruise Lines

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Budget and Value-Oriented Options

Norwegian Cruise Line positions itself competitively on price. Its Free at Sea package costs $32 per day on sailings lasting two to five nights and $28.50 per day on sailings six nights or longer. This package includes cocktails, wine by the glass, soft drinks and draft and bottled beer, plus $15 off ultra-premium selections and 20% off wine bottles. For an upgrade to Free at Sea Plus at $49.99 per day, passengers gain unlimited Starbucks beverages, wine and Champagne from NCL’s signature collection, bottled water, energy drinks, fresh juices and top-shelf spirits. Carnival Cruise Line offers the Cheers package at $69.95 per day if purchased in advance of sailing, or $74.95 if bought onboard, with prices including gratuities. The package covers beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, zero-proof frozen cocktails, soda, juices, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water, with a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. Carnival limits this package to drinks costing $20 or less. Holland America Line offers the Signature Beverage Package at $55.95 per day for drinks up to $12 each, or a standard package covering higher-priced drinks up to $16. For nondrinkers, Holland America’s Quench package costs $17.95 per day and includes unlimited bottled water, juices, specialty coffees, Coca-Cola products and mocktails.

Mid-Range Offerings

MSC Cruises structures pricing by cruise length. For sailings of one to three nights, the package costs $60 per day if booked in advance and $95 if purchased onboard. For four- to nine-night sailings, prices drop to $55 (advance) and $85 (onboard). Longer voyages cost $50 (advance) and $82 (onboard). MSC notably does not add service charges to drink package purchases, unlike most competitors. The package includes beer, wine and Champagne by the glass, premium spirits, liqueurs, cordials, frozen and classic cocktails, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, hot chocolate drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water, plus 25% off wine and Champagne bottles. MSC also offers an alcohol-free version at roughly half the price of the standard package.

Premium Packages

Celebrity Cruises charges a minimum of $100 per person per day for its Premium Drink Package, which includes a large selection of beers (including premium varieties), wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, Coca-Cola products, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. Coverage extends to drinks priced up to $19. Passengers staying in The Retreat on Celebrity ships receive this package at no additional cost. Oceania Cruises positions its Prestige Select Beverage Package at $79.95 per day, to which an 18% service charge is added, bringing the total to approximately $100 per day. This package includes unlimited Champagne and wine by the glass, beer, spirits and cocktails at any onboard venue and through room service during bar operating hours. Sodas, specialty coffees and teas are always complimentary. Royal Caribbean charges more than $100 per person per day for its top-tier packages. Princess Cruises offers the Premier Beverage Package at $84.99 per day plus an 18% service charge (totaling approximately $100), covering top-shelf spirits, premier wines and Champagne by the glass, high-end crafted cocktails, fountain sodas, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, specialty coffees, teas and still and sparkling bottled water.

Is a Drink Package Worth the Cost?

Running the Numbers

The decision to purchase a drink package ultimately depends on personal consumption patterns. A simple calculation can guide the choice. If a drink package costs $60 or $70 per day and a passenger plans to consume five or six cocktails or glasses of wine at $10 or more each, plus a specialty coffee and several bottles of water, the package likely represents good value. Conversely, if someone intends to order just a couple of glasses of wine per day, a morning latte and sparkling water at dinner, paying à la carte is probably cheaper. The critical error is attempting to “drink your money’s worth” by increasing consumption beyond normal habits simply to justify the package cost.

When to Skip the Package

Purchasing drinks individually remains an option on all major cruise lines. Passengers who don’t regularly order multiple drinks per day should compare their likely consumption against the package price before committing. Some cruise lines offer periodic online sales on drink packages, providing an opportunity to purchase at lower rates if planning a cruise in advance. Those who typically order only water, soda or a single evening cocktail will save money by paying per drink.

Alternatives to Flat-Fee Packages

Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages represent exceptions to the cruise industry standard of offering flat-fee drink packages. Disney Cruise Line does not offer drink packages in the traditional sense, though the line has developed alternative strategies for passengers seeking to manage beverage costs. Virgin Voyages similarly does not operate a flat-fee drink package model, instead providing its own approach to beverage purchasing.

Key Fine Print to Watch

Beyond the headline cost and inclusions, specific restrictions merit careful attention. Holland America Line excludes drinks from the Honor Bar in the Neptune Lounge and from Chocolate Seduction locations. Some cruises departing from New York, Texas and Virginia on Carnival begin drink package coverage on Day 2 at 6 a.m. rather than from the moment passengers board. If one cabin passenger purchases a package, enforcing the all-adults requirement sometimes creates logistical issues if travel partners disagree on the purchase decision beforehand. Packages available through onboard sales typically cost 5 to 20 dollars more per day than advance online purchases, making advance booking the financially prudent choice for passengers already committed to a cruise. Always confirm whether specialty beverages like premium wine by the bottle or top-shelf spirits beyond the listed brands are included or require a supplemental payment.

Source: The Points Guy Articles