Cruise ship drink packages were once considered a near-automatic add-on for many travelers, a simple way to budget for cocktails and avoid onboard sticker shock. That calculation is changing fast. Between skyrocketing daily rates, restrictive new policies, and a growing cultural shift away from heavy drinking, more passengers than ever are taking a hard look at the numbers and walking away. The drink package debate has never been louder, or more consequential for cruisers’ wallets.
The Price Tag Has Simply Gotten Too High
Drink packages are some of the most expensive cruise add-ons, with some lines charging over $70 per day for their alcoholic packages. That number, once considered a ceiling, has now become something of a starting point. As of 2025, Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package ranges from $56 to $120 per person, per day. For a couple on a typical seven-night voyage, that can easily add up to well over a thousand dollars before a single cocktail is ordered.
Depending on the cruise line, packages run about $80 to $100 per day after the automatic gratuity is included. Having unlimited drinks on a cruise is so popular with cruisers that demand is driving prices up each year. The trouble is that what was once considered a deal is now a serious line item that many passengers can no longer justify, especially when they realize how many drinks they actually need to consume each day just to break even.
The Math Rarely Works Out for Moderate Drinkers
For many passengers, drink packages simply don’t add up. Light or moderate drinkers often find they’re paying for far more than they actually consume. If you’re not knocking back 10+ drinks a day, it’s hard to break even on the cost. This reality check is hitting home for a growing segment of cruisers who are doing the arithmetic before boarding rather than after. In most cases, if you are going to drink more than five cocktails or glasses of wine per day, then buying the package probably makes sense. When you consider that each drink can cost $14, the value piles up quickly.
The price for the Deluxe Beverage Package, however, has gone high enough that some people are clearly skipping it. While packages might seem enticing, pricey drink packages aren’t always worth the investment. For example, if you can’t envision drinking six or more cocktails daily, you likely won’t get your money’s worth. Port-heavy itineraries make the problem even worse, since passengers spend entire days off the ship and pay for a package they simply can’t use.
Cruise Lines Keep Changing the Rules – and Not in Passengers’ Favor
Though adjustments aim to streamline the beverage experience, prioritize safety, and improve overall service, they reflect an industry-wide trend toward higher cruise costs. The changes affect passengers sailing with Norwegian, MSC, and Carnival, with some cruisers likely to pay an additional $80 or more for drink packages on a 7-night cruise in 2026 MSC made one of the most dramatic moves by eliminating its more affordable tiers entirely. Effective December 18, 2024, the only alcoholic package available on sailings departing on or after April 1, 2025, is the Premium Extra Package, which eliminates the cheaper packages.
Princess Cruises added its own controversial twist by tightening what counts toward the daily drink limit. Princess is making a big change to its basic drink package. It’s always limited passengers to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. Now, non-alcoholic drinks will also count toward that 15-drink limit. Meanwhile, Norwegian’s gratuity structure also shifted upward. Expect to pay $210 on a 7-night cruise for the new NCL drink package. Previously, the daily charge was around $21.80 or $152 for a weeklong sailing. Taken together, these changes are making packages a harder sell with every announcement.
The “Everyone Must Buy” Rule Is Pushing Couples to Skip Entirely
Pregnant women, passengers in recovery for substance use disorder, and others who can’t or don’t drink might still be forced to purchase alcohol packages when they sail with Royal Caribbean, thanks to a recent change. When a passenger purchases the line’s Deluxe Beverage Package, the rule has long been that anyone 21 or older sharing the same cabin as that person must also purchase one. For couples where only one person drinks, this policy has long been a frustration. Royal Caribbean previously granted exemptions to that rule for people who can’t or don’t drink when proof was provided, allowing them to downgrade to a less expensive beverage package. Earlier this month, the line eliminated those exemptions, meaning the above rule now applies regardless of the reason for abstinence, including being pregnant, in recovery, or on medication that can’t be mixed with alcohol.
The financial impact is significant. Couples who used to mix packages could save nearly $490 on a typical seven-night cruise. Ultimately, this change will likely lead some guests to skip the drink package altogether and buy drinks individually instead. If only one person in a cabin drinks enough to justify the cost of a drink package, being forced to pay for two packages makes it far less appealing. This is arguably one of the single biggest drivers pushing cabins away from packages in 2026.
A Growing Sober-Curious Culture Is Reshaping Who Books Cruises
The shift isn’t only about pricing. A broader cultural movement is changing how people think about alcohol altogether. A consumer sentiment survey of over 1,000 people aged 21+ finds nearly one in two Americans are trying to drink less alcohol in 2026, a 44% increase since 2023. One generation in particular is leading the charge: Generation Z. Forty-three percent of Americans feel Gen Z is spearheading the sober curious trend, and nearly two in three Gen Zers plan to drink less in 2026. These are people still booking cruises, just not loading up on alcohol to do it.
The sober-curious movement is growing, and cruise lines are responding. Sober cruises are often organized by vendors specializing in them and are available on various major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Princess Cruises. Several cruise lines are joining the mocktail movement. Passengers have many more nonalcoholic options, from separate zero-proof menus to a few nonalcoholic concoctions on the regular beverage menu. For these travelers, the idea of paying $100 a day for alcohol they won’t drink is a complete nonstarter.
Smarter Alternatives Are Winning Over Budget-Conscious Cruisers
With packages feeling less like value and more like obligation, many cruisers are turning to practical workarounds. Instead of paying a hefty upfront cost, many passengers stick to buying individual drinks. This works especially well for those who only want a few drinks a day. This option also lets you take advantage of drink specials or skip drinks entirely on port days. Even Royal Caribbean acknowledges the math isn’t always in the package’s favor. If you only drink a couple of cocktails a day, it might actually be cheaper to skip the package and just pay as you go.
Pre-cruise package sales often offer 20 to 40% discounts on drink packages. Loyalty perks are also proving valuable for repeat cruisers. Guests with Diamond status in the Crown and Anchor Society receive four free drinks per day, which can quickly add up over the course of a cruise. Casino Royale Prime members also enjoy unlimited complimentary drinks, but only at the casino bar. Passengers are increasingly treating drink packages as optional luxury items rather than default cruise expenses, and they’re making it work.
