The hidden truth (and cost) of cruise drink packages
Norwegian Cruise Line’s unlimited open bar package encompasses cocktails, wine and spirits up to $15 (£11) each - Christian Santiago
A barista-made cappuccino to start the day, a couple of piña coladas by the pool, a crisp and cold sauvignon blanc with dinner, followed by nightcap... your drinks bill can soon rack up on a cruise. That’s where cruise drink packages can be useful.
However whether they make sense for you depends on how much you plan to drink and a close read of the fine print. That last part is harder to do after a few nights at the open bar – so we have done it for you.
What do cruise drink packages actually include?
At their core, drink packages are prepaid daily bundles designed to cover all, or most, of what you drink on board. What’s included is largely dependent on the cruise line and the tier of package you choose.
On mainstream lines, packages typically cover soft drinks, juices, bottled water, speciality coffees, mocktails, beers, wine by the glass, and cocktails up to a set price cap.
As an example, Carnival’s $69.95 (£52) Cheers! package includes drinks up to $20 (£15) each and allows up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks.
Luxury lines generally include all drinks - StockPlanets
On premium lines, the packages become more comprehensive. Celebrity Cruises offers a premium drink package for $104.99 (£86) per person per day. This includes top-shelf spirits, premium wine, craft beer, speciality coffees, bottled water, and discounts on wine by the bottle. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Unlimited open bar package costs $109 (£89) per day and encompasses cocktails, wine, and spirits up to $15 (£11) each – alongside unlimited soda and juices.
A truth universally acknowledged is that the more you pay, the more is included. Luxury lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC), Seabourn and Silversea generally include all drinks – from sparkling water to premium champagne – in the fare. Here, drinks packages are redundant; the indulgence is built in.
What do drink packages cost?
Prices for drink packages vary wildly. Generally speaking, it pays to book in advance. Carnival’s Cheers! package starts at $69.95 (£52) per day if purchased online in advance, but rises to $74.95 (£56) on board. Elsewhere, Holland America Line’s Elite beverage package comes in at $55.95 (£42) per day, while the cheaper Signature package costs $50.95 (£38) and covers drinks up to $11 (£8) each.
On MSC Cruises, prices range from about $35 (£26) per day for the easy package to $79 (£59) for premium extra, with savings of up to 15 per cent if you book ahead.
Prices for drinks packages vary wildly – so its generally advised to book in advance - courtneyk/iStockphoto
The Princess Cruises’ Plus bundle is priced from around $65 (£48) per day and includes up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day valued at $15 (£11) each, alongside Wi-Fi and gratuities. Or you can upgrade to the Princess Premier package for $100 (£74) per day, which includes unlimited speciality dining and cocktails up to $20 (£15) each.
With cocktails typically costing anywhere between £8-15, a glass of wine hovering between £6-10, and speciality coffees around £4-6, most passengers need to consume at least seven drinks per day to break even.
On sea-day-heavy itineraries, that’s not difficult; on port-intensive ones, less so.
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What are the pros of purchasing a drink package?
The biggest selling point for packages is arguably budget clarity. A drink package eliminates the spectre of a sky-high bar bill sailing your way at the end of the cruise. You know what you’ll spend before you step on board, which makes life simpler – and cocktails taste sweeter.
For heavier drinkers, the maths can also work out. Then there’s the sheer convenience. No fumbling for your key-card, no signing receipts, no calculating tips. For those who plan to spend lazy afternoons lounging by the pool bar, it can make your cruise feel genuinely all-inclusive, even when it isn’t.
What are the cons of purchasing a cruise drink package?
Here’s where things get trickier. Firstly, many lines enforce a cabin-wide rule – if one adult in your cabin buys an alcoholic package, all adults must. This can double the cost, especially if your cabin-mate is a light or non-drinker.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Unlimited open bar package costs $109 (£89) per day - Norwegian Cruise Line
Secondly, exclusions abound. Packages rarely cover the minibar, room service, Starbucks, or premium wines and spirits above a set limit. Some lines also impose daily limits – usually 15 alcoholic drinks – and enforce one-drink-at-a-time policies, with sharing strictly prohibited.
Consider your itinerary, too. On sailings where you’ll be ashore most days, the likelihood is that you simply won’t drink enough to justify the price tag. The value of a drinks package for a seven-night Caribbean cruise with four days in port differs significantly from that of a two-week transatlantic crossing, which invariably features several consecutive days at sea.
Last word
Cruise drink packages aren’t about drinking your bodyweight in mojitos, though I have known people who’ve tried. They’re about predictability and the ability to indulge without fretting. Those for whom a holiday without a constant stream of wine is not a holiday at all will find packages deliver great value.
However, for light drinkers, teetotallers or anyone booked on a port-packed itinerary, you’ll almost certainly spend less by purchasing drinks individually.
As the ancients once said: know thyself. Do the maths, scan the fine print and be strategic. That way, your bar tab – like your holiday – stays firmly under control.
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About our expert
Murray Garrard
Murray got his sea legs young, when he took a topper off a beach in South Devon and charted a course for the south Atlantic, only to capsize yards from the shore. Not put off, since then he’s spent as much time on – and indeed in – the sea as possible, sailing on every ocean and every type of ship. An inveterate wanderer, he has lived on five continents and travelled to over 180 countries.
Writer Murray Garrard
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