Many travelers board a cruise ship expecting relaxed evenings with a glass of wine or a cocktail, only to watch the bar tab climb quickly. Alcoholic drinks on board often carry premium prices, prompting frequent cruisers to consider flat-fee drink packages as a potential hedge against surprise costs. The decision hinges on personal habits, the specific line, and the fine print that governs each plan. ([1])
How Drink Packages Work on Major Lines
Most large cruise companies sell packages that allow unlimited or capped orders of beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, and often nonalcoholic options for one daily fee. Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package covers a wide range of drinks but excludes items above a set price threshold. Carnival’s Cheers! program adds a daily cap on alcoholic servings while including many specialty coffees and bottled waters.
Norwegian Cruise Line structures its Free at Sea Beverage Package around cruise length, with an optional upgrade that adds premium spirits and Starbucks drinks. Princess Cruises offers a Premier Beverage Package that reaches higher price points per drink, while Holland America’s Elite plan sits at a middle tier with its own daily limits. MSC Cruises ties pricing to sailing length and includes service at its private island.
Key Rules That Affect Value
Most lines require every adult in a cabin to buy the same package once one person selects it, a policy designed to stop sharing. Carnival, Holland America, MSC, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian all follow this approach. Princess and Windstar stand apart by allowing individual purchases.
Daily alcoholic drink caps appear on several programs, often set at 15 servings. Packages rarely cover room service, minibar items, or drinks above a stated price ceiling. Some plans extend to private islands, while others do not. These restrictions can reduce the effective savings for lighter drinkers or those who prefer top-shelf selections.
Calculating Whether a Package Pays Off
The math starts with an honest count of daily consumption. A traveler ordering five or six cocktails or glasses of wine at roughly ten dollars each, plus specialty coffee and bottled water, may reach the break-even point on packages priced in the mid-range. Lower-volume drinkers who stick to a couple of glasses of wine and occasional nonalcoholic items often spend less by paying individually.
Advance purchase discounts and periodic sales can shift the equation in favor of a package. Still, the real test remains personal: anyone who feels pressure to order extra drinks simply to justify the fee is usually better off without it. Lines without formal packages, such as Disney and Virgin Voyages, offer alternative savings through happy hours, wine packages, or prepaid bar tabs instead.
Alternatives and Practical Tips
Passengers can always buy drinks a la carte on every major line. Some cruisers bring allowed bottles of wine or beer at embarkation where permitted. Others focus on nonalcoholic packages that cover sodas, coffees, and mocktails at lower cost.
Reviewing the exact inclusions for a specific sailing remains essential, because pricing and rules can vary by itinerary and booking channel. Comparing expected daily totals against the package price before departure helps avoid both overspending and unnecessary commitment.
Key considerations: track typical daily orders, note cabin-wide purchase rules, check price caps and daily limits, and confirm coverage on private islands before deciding.
Ultimately, drink packages suit consistent, higher-volume consumers who value predictability. For others, paying as they go preserves flexibility and often costs less. The choice comes down to matching the plan to actual habits rather than hoping the math will work out on its own.
