What is the Best Priced Cruise Alcohol Package!
- Angie - Your Guide
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Setting sail on the open ocean, feeling the salty breeze, and having a delicious cocktail in hand—it’s the picture-perfect vacation moment. But how much does that moment cost? Cruise alcohol packages can be a fantastic way to enjoy your favorite beverages without a shocking bill at the end of your trip. Let’s dive into the vibrant world of cruise drink packages to find the best value for your vacation.
We'll explore the offerings from all the major cruise lines, from all-inclusive deals to premium upgrades. You'll learn the ins and outs of pricing, rules, and how to snag the best deals. Get ready to toast to a fantastic and budget-friendly cruise adventure!
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): The Undisputed Value King
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, Norwegian Cruise Line’s "Free At Sea" promotion is a game-changer. This incredible offer bundles several perks into one package, making it the best value on the high seas. For a flat fee, you can get the Premium Beverage Package, specialty dining credits, Wi-Fi minutes, and shore excursion discounts.
The real star here is the beverage package. While the promotion itself might add a fee to your booking (typically around $28.50 per person, per day for a 7-day cruise), this is a fraction of the cost you would pay for the package alone on another cruise line, which is typically $109 per person, per day plus gratuities. This amazing deal makes NCL an easy choice for travelers who love an inclusive feel.
NCL's Premium Beverage Package Details
Cost: The "Free At Sea" upgrade fee is significantly lower, making it the best way to get the package. Free at Sea will add a $20 cover charge for the specialty restaurants included. But the for the alcohol package $28.50 is the best price around.
What’s Included: A wide selection of soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass valued up to $15. It also includes unlimited juice and soda for everyone in the stateroom.
Drink Limit: There is technically a limit of two drinks per person per transaction, but no daily cap on the number of drinks you can order throughout the day.
Cabin Rules: If one adult in the stateroom selects the "Free At Sea" beverage package, all other adults in the same cabin must also get it.
Premium Upgrade: For an extra fee (around $29 per person, per day), you can upgrade to the Premium Plus Beverage Package. This includes top-shelf spirits, premium wines, all Starbucks coffee, and bottled water.
Best Time to Buy: Absolutely select the "Free At Sea" promotion when you book your cruise. This locks in the lowest possible price for an incredible bundle of perks.
Some people update their internet packages, as they don't give you enough minutes. So just remember the "Free at Sea" is the base price for this package.
Royal Caribbean: Flexibility and Fantastic Deals
Royal Caribbean is a giant in the cruising world, known for its incredible ships and endless activities. Their drink package, the Deluxe Beverage Package, is a popular choice for guests who want a worry-free vacation. While the sticker price can seem high, Royal Caribbean is famous for offering frequent sales on their packages.
Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package
Cost: The price is dynamic and varies by sailing, but it generally ranges from $65 to $110 per person, per day (plus 18% gratuity).
What’s Included: Enjoy cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, beer, and wine by the glass up to $14. It also includes premium coffees, bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, energy drinks and fountain sodas.
Drink Limit: No daily limit! You can enjoy as many eligible beverages as you like.
Cabin Rules: All adults of legal drinking age in the same stateroom must purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if one person does.
Premium Drinks: Most popular brands are included within the $14 limit. For a drink that costs more, you simply pay the difference.
Best Time to Buy: This is where you can be a savvy shopper. Book your package through the online Cruise Planner well before you sail. Keep an eye out for sales, especially around holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Memorial Day. You can often find discounts of 20-30% or "Buy One, Get One 50% Off" deals. If you buy the package and the price drops later, you can cancel and rebook it at the lower price.
Carnival Cruise Line: Fun Ships and Straightforward Sipping
Carnival is all about fun, and their CHEERS! beverage program is designed to keep the good times flowing. It’s a comprehensive package that offers great value for those who plan to enjoy a variety of drinks throughout their cruise.
Carnival's CHEERS! Program
Cost: The price is $59.95 per person, per day if booked before the cruise, or $64.95 per person, per day if purchased onboard (plus 18% gratuity).
What’s Included: A wide array of spirits, cocktails, beer, and wine by the glass valued up to $20 per serving. It also includes sodas, juices, specialty coffees, teas, and bottled water.
Drink Limit: The CHEERS! program has a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period (from 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM). Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. Just remember that unlimited drinks is not included. This is not an all inclusive resort.
Cabin Rules: If one adult purchases the CHEERS! program, all other adults (21+) in the same stateroom must also purchase it.
Premium Drinks: With a generous $20 limit per drink, most premium and top-shelf liquors are already included, which is a major perk.
Best Time to Buy: Purchase the package online before your cruise to save $5 per person, per day.
Celebrity Cruises: All-Included Luxury
Celebrity Cruises offers a more upscale, modern luxury experience. They have simplified their pricing structure with their "All Included" model. This means that for most bookings, the Classic Drink Package, Wi-Fi, and tips are already bundled into your cruise fare. It creates a wonderfully seamless and relaxing vacation.
Celebrity's Drink Packages
Classic Drink Package (Often Included):
Cost: Usually included in the "All Included" fare. If purchased separately, it’s around $84 per person, per day.
What’s Included: A fantastic selection of beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, and wines by the glass up to $10. Also includes specialty coffees, juices, sodas, and cold and hot tea.
Premium Drink Package:
Cost: You can upgrade from the Classic to the Premium package for about $20-$24 per person, per day.
What’s Included: This expands your options to include everything in the Classic package, plus premium brands of spirits, higher-end wines by the glass up to $17, and craft beers.
Drink Limit: No daily limit.
Cabin Rules: With the "All Included" pricing, everyone in the stateroom receives the Classic Drink Package.
Best Time to Buy: Opt for the "All Included" fare at booking. It’s the most straightforward and cost-effective way to enjoy drinks on a Celebrity cruise.
Princess Cruises: Princess Plus and Princess Premier
Princess Cruises has followed the trend of bundled packages, offering two excellent options that add tremendous value to your fare: Princess Plus and Princess Premier. These packages go beyond just drinks to create a truly all-inclusive feel.
Princess Drink Package Tiers
Princess Plus:
Cost: About $60 per person, per day added to your cruise fare.
What’s Included: The Plus Beverage Package (drinks up to $15), Wi-Fi for one device, crew appreciation (gratuities), two premium desserts per day, and more.
Princess Premier:
Cost: About $80 per person, per day added to your cruise fare.
What’s Included: The Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20), Wi-Fi for four devices, crew appreciation, specialty dining meals, a photo package, and other perks.
Drink Limit: Both packages have a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per day.
Cabin Rules: If you opt for a Plus or Premier fare, all guests in the stateroom must have the same package.
Premium Drinks: The Premier package’s $20 limit covers an extensive list of top-shelf brands.
Best Time to Buy: Select the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package when you book. The bundled value is far greater than purchasing each item individually.
MSC Cruises: European Flair and Easy Sipping
MSC Cruises brings a touch of European style to the seas. They offer tiered drink packages to suit different tastes and budgets. Their Easy Plus package is a popular mid-tier option that covers most vacationers' needs.
MSC's Drink Packages
Easy Plus Package:
Cost: Varies by itinerary, but typically around $62 per person, per day.
What’s Included: A selection of classic and frozen cocktails, spirits, beer (including Heineken draft), and wines by the glass up to $10. Also includes non-alcoholic cocktails, sodas, and coffee.
Premium Extra Package:
Cost: Around $86 per person, per day.
What’s Included: An extensive list of all drinks by the glass up to $16, including premium spirits, high-end wines, and champagne.
Drink Limit: No daily limit on MSC packages.
Cabin Rules: The drink package must be purchased by all guests occupying the same cabin, including minors (who get a non-alcoholic version).
Best Time to Buy: Purchase your package before the cruise to get the best price, as onboard prices are higher.
Holland America Line: Classic Cruising with Choice
Holland America offers a refined, classic cruise experience. Their "Have It All" package is the best way to bundle perks, including a beverage package, shore excursion credit, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi.
Holland America's Signature Beverage Package
Cost: Included in the "Have It All" fare, which adds about $55 per person, per day to your booking. If purchased alone, it's $54.95 per person, per day.
What’s Included: A large selection of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages up to $11 each.
Drink Limit: There is a daily limit of 15 beverages.
Cabin Rules: If one person has the "Have It All" package, all guests in the stateroom must also have it.
Premium Upgrade: For about $10 more per person per day, you can upgrade to the Elite Beverage Package, which increases the per-drink limit to $15 and includes premium brands.
Best Time to Buy: The "Have It All" package at booking is the most economical choice.
Disney Cruise Line: A Different Approach
Disney Cruise Line operates differently from most other cruise lines. They do not offer a traditional all-inclusive alcohol package. Instead, they focus on a family-friendly model where alcoholic beverages are purchased a la carte. However, they do have a few smaller packages and policies that are good to know.
A La Carte Pricing: Most cocktails are priced between $8 and $15.
Beer and Wine Packages: Disney offers a Wine and Dine package (choose 3, 4, 5, or 7 bottles of wine for your cruise) and a beer package (get a 6-pack of domestic or imported beer in a souvenir cooler bag). These offer a slight discount over buying individually.
Drink of the Day: Each day features a special alcoholic "Drink of the Day" at a discounted price, usually around $5-$6.
Virgin Voyages: The Bar Tab Revolution
Stepping into the world of Virgin Voyages is like flipping the script on traditional cruise drinking packages. Forget the cookie-cutter packages you’ve seen on other lines—Virgin Voyages brings a playful and refreshingly simple approach with their “Bar Tab” system.
How Virgin's Bar Tab Works
Rather than requiring guests to purchase an all-you-can-drink package, Virgin Voyages invites you to pre-pay for a Bar Tab, which acts as onboard credit specifically for beverages—alcoholic or otherwise. You load up your account with increments starting at $300, and then delightfully sip, shake, and stir your way through the wide array of cocktails, wines, craft beers, pressed juices, and specialty coffees at your leisure.
There’s no set daily limit, no fine print about who in your cabin must participate, and no stress if you don’t want a drink every day. Even better: Virgin frequently spices things up with offers like “Buy a $300 Bar Tab, get an extra $50 for free,” and on some special sailings or as part of promotional bundles, you may find them tossing in free drinks or bonus credit, just for a little extra sparkle.
Why It’s Different—and Why You Might Love It
This relaxed approach makes Virgin Voyages stand out from the pack. There’s no pressure to drink a set number of beverages just to “break even,” and you truly only pay for what—and how much—you want. Love to linger over an exquisite cocktail but not up for round after round? No problem! Traveling with a partner who’s more into mocktails or just wants to try a glass of bubbly? The system is as flexible as it is fun.
Plus, the Bar Tab can be used at any onboard bar or restaurant—even at the beach club on Bimini—meaning your options for enjoyment often feel limitless. For guests who crave freedom and hate one-size-fits-all, Virgin’s way is a breath of fresh (sea) air.
Bringing Your Own Wine Onboard
Want to bring a special bottle of wine to celebrate an anniversary or just enjoy your favorite vintage? Most cruise lines allow this, though policies and fees vary.
Norwegian (NCL): Allows guests to bring bottles of wine and champagne. A corkage fee applies to each bottle, regardless of where it is consumed ($15 for a 750ml bottle, $30 for a 1,500ml magnum).
Royal Caribbean: Allows two 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom at the start of the cruise. There is no corkage fee if you drink it in your cabin, but a $15 fee applies if you bring it to a dining room or bar.
Carnival: Allows one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult in the stateroom on embarkation day. A $15 corkage fee applies if consumed in the main dining room or steakhouse.
Celebrity: Allows two bottles of wine per stateroom. A $25 corkage fee applies if opened in a restaurant or bar.
Princess: Allows one bottle of wine or champagne (up to 750ml) per adult. A $20 corkage fee is charged for consumption in public areas.
Holland America: Allows wine and champagne to be brought on board. A $20 corkage fee applies per bottle for consumption in restaurants and bars.
MSC: Does not permit guests to bring any beverages on board.
Disney: Allows a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) or six beers (no larger than 12 ounces) per person at the start of the cruise. A $26 corkage fee applies if you drink your wine in a dining room.
Hidden Costs: Taxes and Port Fees
One thing to be aware of is that local taxes can affect the final price of your drinks, even with a package. When your ship is docked in certain ports, it may be required to charge local sales tax on all beverages.
For example, if your cruise departs from Miami or Galveston, you will be charged state and local taxes on all drinks purchased while the ship is still in port on embarkation day. This also applies to European ports in countries like Spain and Italy, where a Value-Added Tax (VAT) will be added to your drink purchases while docked. These taxes are typically not covered by your drink package and will appear as an extra charge on your onboard account.
Also be aware of the mini bar. For the most part the mini bars in your cabin are not covered by the alcohol package. The Menu price for these items is usually sitting nearby so you can decide which is best for you.
Is a Cruise Alcohol Package Right for You?
To decide if a package is worth it, do a little math. Estimate how many drinks you and your travel companions will have each day. Consider all beverage purchases: specialty coffees, bottled water, fresh juices, sodas, beers, wines, and cocktails. If the total cost of buying those drinks a la carte exceeds the daily price of the package, then it's a great deal. Some of these refreshment packages are so expensive you would need to drink 5 alcoholic drinks a day to be worth it.
Also remember, this is just covering the alcohol packages. If you are a soda drinker, some cruise lines offer unlimited soft drinks package or a refreshment package that includes water, juices and smoothies. I love having a hot chocolate on a Princess cruise when in Alaska.
For many, the true value lies in the peace of mind. A drink package transforms your cruise into a more all-inclusive experience, allowing you to relax, explore new cocktails, and enjoy every moment without constantly thinking about the cost. Cheers to that!
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