Cruise Line Drink Packages
Worth It? Everything About Cruise Line Drink Packages (2022)
Cruise line drink packages are a big deal. That’s because when it comes to taking a cruise, people like to have a good time. And that good time usually involves alcohol flowing freely. No wonder there are so many bars on a modern cruise ship.
In fact, over 20% of cruisers report spending more than $200 on alcohol on their trip.
That’s why many people are interested in “all you can drink” packages that cruise lines now offer. The appeal of these packages is easy to see. You pay one set amount and then you don’t have to worry about running up a huge bar tab.
Instead, you simply head to the bar, order whatever you want, and get back to the fun. Want a beer? A glass of wine? A cocktail (or three)? You only need to flash your room key and you’ll get it. (Drink packages also include things like soda and water.)
But before you rush out and buy the drink package, there are some things you should know. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest questions — and answers — about the cruise line beverage packages to help you get a better idea of if it’s the right thing for your next cruise.
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How Much Do Beverage Packages Cost?
You would think that the cost of the beverage packages would be straightforward. Unfortunately, the cruise lines like to give people a lot of different options, which make things a little more complicated. Above we’ve listed the recent prices of specific packages to give you an idea of what you’d pay.
Carnival
Carnival offers the CHEERS! Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. The price is $51.95 per person, per day if bought prior to your cruise ($54.95 for three or four-day cruises) or $56.95 per person, per day if bought on the ship ($59.95 for three or four-day cruises).
Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. The final price per day is $61.30/$64.84 if bought before the cruise and $67.21/$70.74 if you wait to buy on the ship.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package covers pretty much any beverage on the ship, up to a $13 per drink limit. Prices vary for this package, depending on your cruise and the ship that you sail.
The package costs between $63-$89 per day (Royal Caribbean charges different prices depending on the specific cruise), plus an 18% service charge. That comes out to a total of $74-$105 per day.
One thing to note is that once you book your cruise, Royal Caribbean will often have large discount offers if you pre-book the drink package, which brings the cost down considerably. For example, during a recent cruise we saw an offer of 20% off the drink package if bought beforehand.
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Norwegian offers The Premium Beverage Package, which covers just about any drink up to $15. The cost is $99 per person, per day, plus an additional 20% gratuity, for a total of $118.80. Norwegian often offers "free" drink packages as a perk on some sailings, but you have to still pay the gratuity.
The cruise line also has a higher-end beverage package called the Premium Plus Beverage Package. This covers all drinks served by the glass on the ship, no matter the cost. It runs $128 per person, per day. With the 20% gratuity, that comes to $153.60 each day.
Princess Cruise Lines
Princess offers its Premier Beverage Package covers any available beverage up to $12 per drink. The package costs $59.99 per person, per day or $70.79 with the required 18% service charge.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity offers different drink packages, billed as the classic and premium packages. Prices and what's included will vary depending on which package you purchase.
The highest-end offering is the Premium Package, which gives you practically any drink you could want up to $15 per glass. The price starts $69 per night, with an additional 20% service charge, for a total of $82.80.
There is also the Classic Package, which offers fewer options and drinks by the glass up to $9 each. It starts at $59 per night. Including gratuity you will pay $70.80.
Note: Celebrity now offers an "Always Included" program, where all passengers have gratuities, the Classic Package, and wi-fi included with their cruise.
MSC Cruises
In late 2021, MSC updated its drink package offerings with a new lineup. Now the cruise line is offering the Easy Package ($38 per person, per day, with select drinks), Easy Plus ($49 per person, per day, with drinks up to $9 each), and the Premium Extra ($69 per person, per day, with drinks up to $15 each).
In addition, MSC charges a 15% service charge on the package pricing.
Can You Share Drink Packages on a Cruise?
It's tempting with unlimited drinks to do what we've all thought -- one person buys the package and just gives a drink to the person they are traveling with.
Every cruise line has rules against this. If you are caught, you could lose your drink privilege.
That said, unless you are blatantly ordering drinks and then handing off to other people, it's almost impossible for you to be caught sharing drinks. If you are discreet, the chances of your being caught are minimal.
Do I Have to Pay Gratuity on the Drink Package?
Gratuity is added on to the cost of the package. So when you purchase the package, you'll see an additional gratuity charge tacked on to the total (typically around 18%, depending on the cruise line). So a $60 package will end up costing around $71 per day.
When you use the package at the bar, you aren't charged an additional gratuity. It's already taken care of with the cost you paid for the package. There may be a line for an additional tip on the receipt if you are feeling generous.
Do Cruise Line Drink Packages Work in Port?
In most cases, the drink package only works on the ship. That's because most ports of call aren't affiliated with the cruise line. So when you port in Cozumel, you are headed into Mexico -- not an extension of the cruise ship.
That said, drink packages work in some private islands that are run by the cruise line. For instance, CocoCay -- Royal Caribbean's private island -- allows you to use the package while in port. MSC's Ocean Cay also allows you to use your drink package in port.
This isn't the case everywhere, however. Notably, Harvest Caye -- operated by Norwegian -- doesn't offer the use of drink packages. Carnival's Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays also don't offer the use of the onboard drink package.
Bottom line: Your drink package won't work in ports of call, but there is a possibility if you are visiting a private island run by a cruise line.
Keep in mind being able to use the package in port is a BIG deal. It's essentially an extra day that you can get your money's worth versus spending out of pocket when you are off the ship.
How Do I Buy Drink Packages?
If you want to purchase one of the drink packages for your cruise, the best way is to either call your cruise line or go online to book through your reservation.
It's usually better to book online ahead of time because there are often discounts for early purchases. For instance, we've seen discounts of 30-40% on some drink packages for booking early.
If you want the best rate, definitely do not wait to book once you are on the ship. Rates are often highest when purchasing on board. Even so, if you wait, you'll find tables setup around the ship offering the package. You can also just head to the nearest bar and ask about buying it.
Other Things to Know Before Purchasing
Before you pull the trigger on buying the drink package, you should know that just because you purchase the unlimited beverage package on your cruise doesn't mean you can drink anything in sight.
Most packages have limits on what's available, excluding drinks that are above a certain price limit (usually $12-15). If you are the sort of person that only drinks the highest-end beverages, then you might want to check and make sure your particular drink is included in the package. If you go over that amount, the per-drink limit will be deducted from the cost and you will need to pay the difference.
If you are a wine drinker, you can't have whole bottles of wine with the packages, although you can get wine by the glass. If you want to purchase the whole bottle, having the drink package usually entitles you to a significant discount (20-40%) off the purchase price.
You can't use the drink packages to buy whole bottles of liquor in the ship's duty-free shops.
Drink packages don't apply to drinks from your in-room mini bar. You'll be charged full price for those beverages.
You can only get one or two drinks at a time with most drink packages. There is often a short waiting period (5 minutes) in between buying drinks.
Are Cruise Drink Packages Worth It?
Whether or not a drink package is worth it depends on how much -- and how often -- you drink. We would guess that for most people, the cost don't justify purchasing an all you can drink package.
You can use our drink package calculator to see if it's worth it for you.
Consider that a beer on the ship costs between $6-8, including gratuity. For a drink package running $60 per day, you'd have to drink about 8-10 beers each and every day -- including on days when you are in port -- to get your money's worth.
If you like more expensive drinks like cocktails, the math works a little more in your favor. A $10-14 cocktail means you'd have to drink about 5-7 drinks every day to make it worth your while.
Many people might be able to keep this sort of pace up for a couple of days, but it can be tough to do that for every day of your cruise. Also keep in mind if you have to spend more to purchase the drink package for everyone in the cabin, even if they don't want it.
There is one benefit to consider, even if you don't come out ahead financially. Some passengers love knowing exactly what they will spend with the package and not having to worry about every nickel and dime they spend on drinks.
With the drink package you aren't going to be surprised by a high bill at the end of your cruise. You'll know exactly what you're spending right upfront.
Are There Other Benefits to Drink Package Beyond Saving Money?
The biggest point of the packages is that they can save you money if you plan to drink your fill on a cruise. But there are some other benefits beyond just the potential money saved.
As mentioned above, some people enjoy that they can get the package and not have to worry about the bill. Instead of keeping a tally of what they've spent, they can just relax and know exactly what they are paying each day. That gives some peace of mind.
But there is another benefit -- the option of trying new things without worrying about the cost. Head to a bar normally to try something new, and you pay out of pocket whether you love it or hate it. With the drink package, you can try drinks you normally wouldn't order without the risk.
If you happen to not like it, you didn't pay anything extra thanks to the package. You can head right back and order something else. That's a bonus that many people don't realize.
