Our Complete Guide to Cruise Drink Packages

Are you wondering if you should purchase one of the cruise drink packages on your next vacation? You’re not alone, as it is a question we hear quite often from fellow cruisers.

There are many factors involved in deciding if a beverage package is right for you. To help in your decision-making process, we have put together this complete guide to cruise line drink packages to help you sift through the different options. We cover plans, pricing, inclusions, and more.

Complete Guide to Cruise Line Drink Packages (2025)

What is a drink package on a cruise?

While some beverages are included in the standard cruise fare, many drinks will cost you extra money.

Complimentary beverages on most mainstream cruise lines include lemonade, juice, non-bottled ice water, iced tea, hot tea, and brewed coffee. Other beverages like specialty coffees, smoothies, fresh squeezed juice, soft drinks, bottled water, and energy drinks are all an additional fee. Likewise, all alcoholic beverages cost extra.

Now, this is where a drink package comes into play. Basically, cruise lines offer various packages that guests can purchase for a flat per-person, per-day fee to enjoy all these upcharge beverages.

The packages, prices, and inclusions do vary by cruise line. We will go into more detail on each line’s offerings a bit later.

Cruise Drink Package Basics

While cruise drink packages do vary by cruise line, they almost all have certain inclusions and restrictions that you should know before purchasing.

• Drink packages are priced per person, per day.
• You need to purchase the drink package for the entire cruise (not just select days).
• An additional service charge or gratuity is added to the total purchase price of a drink package at checkout (for most lines).
• Once the cruise has begun, drink packages are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
• Drink packages are for “personal consumption,” meaning no sharing of drinks with other cruisers that do not have a package.
• Many cruise lines require all individuals in a stateroom (who are old enough if it’s an alcoholic package) to purchase a beverage package, so be sure to read all the terms and conditions.
• Most packages cover beverages purchased at onboard restaurants and bars, and many work on the cruise lines’ private islands as well.
• Cruise drink packages often cover drinks up to a certain dollar amount. Afterwards, cruisers need to pay the difference for any drinks that are above this maximum allotment.
• Most cruise line drink packages do not cover bottles of wine, bottles of liquor, mini-bar items, souvenir cup/specialty promotions, or room service purchases.
• Many, but not all, cruise line drink packages are “unlimited” for the duration of the cruise.
• Cruise lines reserve the right to deny service to individuals who are intoxicated, so enjoy responsibly.
• Many cruise lines offer discounts on drink packages when purchased pre-cruise.

Which cruise lines offer free drink packages?

Some luxury cruise lines are truly all-inclusive, meaning all beverages are included in the price of the cruise. However, that is not the case for the more mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and the like.

Some cruise lines give free drink packages to guests booking the most luxurious cabins on the ship. For example, MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club guests receive a free Premium Extra Package and Celebrity’s The Retreat guests receive a free Unlimited Premium Drink Package.

Further, other cruise lines offer all-inclusive pricing options. Celebrity Cruises has its All Included fare. Princess Cruises has the Plus and Premier Packages, and Holland America has its Have It All fare. These fares bundle a drink package with other inclusions like WiFi or gratuities for one set fare.

Is it worth getting a drink package on a cruise?

This is a question that only you can answer. Essentially, the question is whether you will consume enough beverages to make the purchase “worth it.” Knowing your drink preferences, onboard drink prices, and typical consumption, you can estimate whether or not you would hit the “break even” price point.

Other considerations include the length of the cruise, how many ports of call are on the itinerary, and if you get any benefits from cruise line loyalty programs.

For instance, will you be able to sustain the same drinking pattern over the course of a 10-day or 14-day cruise? If your cruise is port intensive, will you be on the ship enough to make good use of your drink package? Do you get any free drinks because of your status in a loyalty program with the cruise line?

It’s also important to know that many cruise lines allow you to bring a limited amount of alcohol onboard on embarkation day.

Overall, cruise drink packages certainly do offer convenience, as you never have to worry about the bar tab at the end of the cruise. They also make your cruise feel more all inclusive. Still, there are certain instances where they could be a waste of money. So, you will need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself before you decide whether to purchase one or not.

Of course, if you wish to forego a beverage package, you can always pay a la carte for your drinks purchased on the ship.

Cruise Drink Packages by Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean Cruise Drink Packages

Royal Caribbean offers three drink packages. There is the alcoholic drink package, also known as the Deluxe Beverage Package. There are also two non-alcoholic drink packages: the Refreshment Package and the Classic Soda Package.

For all the coffee lovers, there is also the Café Select coffee card.

Royal Caribbean drink packages have dynamic pricing. This means that the price will vary based on ship, time of year, and itinerary. However, you can usually score a discount by purchasing pre-cruise. Average costs for each package are listed below.

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $70 to $100 a day, with recent prices as high as $125!
• Royal Refreshment Drink Package: $29-$38 per person, per day
• Classic Soda Package: $13-$15 per person, per day
• Café Select Coffee Card: $31 for 15 drinks

Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package

The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package includes essentially all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This plan covers all alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine by the glass, and cocktails worth up to $14. Further, the package also includes most liquor and premium spirits.

The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package includes fountain and canned soda, Coca-Cola freestyle machines (where available), still and sparkling water, premium coffees and teas, and fresh-squeezed juices as well. Passengers also receive a Coca-Cola souvenir cup.

Plus, guests who purchase the Deluxe drink package will receive a 40% discount on bottled wines priced up to $100, and 20% discount on wine prices above $100.

Refreshment Drink Package

If you want more options than just soda in your Royal Caribbean non-alcoholic drink package, then the Royal Refreshment package might be right for you. This package offers unlimited choices of premium coffees and teas, soda (including the souvenir cup), bottled water (both sparkling and still), freshly squeezed orange juice, and non-alcoholic frozen drinks.

Essentially, you can enjoy almost any non-alcoholic beverage on this package. There are only a few exclusions, such as Starbucks from licensed kiosks and milkshakes from Desserted on the Icon-class ships. Starbucks brewed coffee from other onboard locations ARE included.

Classic Soda Package

The Classic Soda Package is a popular drink package choice for families. This plan includes unlimited soda from the bars and restaurants onboard the ship and at the private islands. However, it does not include cans of soda or soda ordered through room service.

Carnival Cruise Line Drink Packages

Carnival Cruise Line offers two drink packages. The alcoholic drink package is known as the Cheers! Beverage Program. There is also the unlimited soda program, called Bottomless Bubbles.

The Carnival drink package prices are outlined below.

• Cheers Package: $82.54 per person, per day if purchased pre-cruise, $88.44 per person, per day if purchased once on board
• Bottomless Bubbles: Starting at $8.20 per child, per day or $11.21 per adult, per day

Cheers Program

Carnival Cruise Line offers only one alcoholic drink package, known as the Cheers Beverage Program. Many cruisers refer to this as the unlimited drink package, as it includes essentially all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a flat daily rate.

This plan covers all alcoholic beverages, including beers, wine and champagne by the glass, and cocktails and spirits up to $20. It also includes the self-serve beer stations. Further, this Carnival drink package also includes soda, virgin cocktails, juices, specialty coffees and teas, milkshakes, energy drinks, Powerade and Vitamin Water, and 500ml bottled water.

The Cheers Program also entitles cruisers to a 25% discount on any drink costing more than the $20 allotment, wine and champagne by the bottle, and beverage seminars and classes.

While there is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks with this Carnival drink package, soda and other non-alcoholic beverages do not count towards this limit.

Bottomless Bubbles

Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival Cruise Line’s unlimited soda package. For one flat fee, cruisers can enjoy all the fountain soda and juices they want. Soda choices include Pepsi products. For juices, cruisers have the option of orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice.

Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages

Norwegian Cruise Line offers one alcoholic drink package (the Unlimited Open Bar Package) and two non-alcoholic options: the Unlimited Soda Package and the Unlimited Starbucks Package.

The Norwegian drink package prices are as follows:

• Premium Drink Package: Guests receive this package with More at Sea. Those who choose not to include it at the time of booking but later change their mind and purchase it on board will be charged $89 per person, per day. It’s sold the first two days of the cruise only.
• Unlimited Soda Package: $12.50 per person, per day
• Unlimited Starbucks Package: $16.50 per person, per day

Unlimited Open Bar Package

The Unlimited Open Bar Package is the drink package that guests receive automatically through More at Sea. It includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer up to $15.

Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the private island of Great Stirrup Cay. It also includes a 20% discount on bottles of wine and champagne, Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, and flights purchased on board.

This package differs from most other cruise lines in that it does not include any premium non-alcoholic drinks like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, energy drinks, or specialty coffee.

Unlimited Soda Package

The most basic of the NCL drink packages is the Unlimited Soda Package. It includes Coca Cola fountain beverages including Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water, Fanta, and Soda Water. This package does not cover cans of soda. Other non-alcoholic beverages, like bottled water or bottled juices, are not included either.

Unlimited Starbucks Package

Starbucks fans may want to purchase NCL’s Unlimited Starbucks package. This cruise drink package includes all coffees, teas, Refreshers, and Frappuccinos from Starbucks on board. It excludes canned drinks, bottled drinks, food, and merchandise at Starbucks.

Princess Cruises Drink Packages

Princess Cruises has four drink packages in total — two alcoholic and two non-alcoholic. The alcoholic packages are called Plus and Premier. The non-alcoholic options are the Zero Alcohol Drink Package and the Classic Soda Package.

The Princess cruise drink packages pricing is as follows:

• Plus Beverage Package – $64.99 per person, per day plus 18% gratuity
• Premier Beverage Package – $84.99 per person, per day plus 18% gratuity
• Zero Alcohol Package – $29.99 per person, per day plus 18% gratuity
• Classic Soda Package – $14.99 per person, per day plus 18% gratuity

Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package

The Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass, and cocktails up to $15. It also includes all non-alcoholic beverages including bottled water (500ml only), fountain sodas, juices and smoothies at the Juice Bar (where available), specialty coffees and teas, frappés at Coffee & Cones, and Red Bull energy drinks.

Further, the package includes a 25% discount on all bottles of wine and one-liter bottles of water. 

This package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period.

Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package

The Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package includes everything from the Plus Beverage Package as well as additional top-shelf premium beverages. It includes a premium selection of beer, spirits, wine by the glass, and cocktails up to $20.

Further, guests can enjoy all non-alcoholic beverages including bottled water (500ml only), fountain sodas, fresh juices from the Juice Bar (if available), specialty coffees and teas, frappés at Coffee & Cones, and Red Bull energy drinks. 

The package also provides guests a 25% discount on all bottles of wine and one-liter bottles of water.

This drink package also has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period.

Zero Alcohol Drink Package

The Zero Alcohol Drink Package includes all specialty coffees and teas, hot chocolate, fountain sodas, fresh juices, smoothies, bottled water, mocktails, milkshakes, and Red Bull energy drinks.

Classic Soda Package

The Princess Cruises Classic Soda Package includes all fountain sodas, fresh juices, mocktails, and smoothies.

Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages

When you book a Princess cruise, you have the option of three different price levels. These levels are Princess Standard, Princess Plus, and Princess Premier.

The Princess Standard fare is basically a cruise-only rate. If you want to purchase a drink package on your Princess cruise, you should probably opt to upgrade to one of these fares instead as it’s actually cheaper than a drink package alone.

Guests can upgrade to the Princess Plus fare for $60 per person, per day. This fare has the following inclusions:

• Plus Beverage Package (drinks up to $15 each)
• Wi-Fi (1 device per guest)
• Daily gratuities
• Meals from casual upcharge venues (2 per day)
• Premium desserts (2 per day)
• Fitness classes (2 per cruise)

Guests can also upgrade to the Princess Premier fare for $90 per person, per day. This fare has the following inclusions:

• Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20 each)
• Wi-Fi (up to 4 devices per guest)
• Daily gratuities
• Unlimited specialty dining meals
• Unlimited room service
• Photo package (unlimited digital + 3 prints)
• Princess Prizes
• Medallion accessory
• Premium desserts (unlimited)
• Fitness classes (unlimited)
• Reserved theater seating (for production shows only)

Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages

When it comes to cruise drink packages on Celebrity Cruises, passengers can select from a few options. The Classic Drink Package is the basic offering, while the Premium Drink Package includes additional beverages for an added cost. The Non-Alcoholic Drink Package is also available.

The pricing for these cruise line drink packages is as follows:

• Classic Drink Package – starting around $90 per person, per day
• Premium Drink Package – starting around $105 per person, per day
• Non-Alcoholic Drink Package – starting around $40 per person, per day

When booking a Celebrity cruise, guests have the option of a cruise-only or All Included rate. The All Included rate includes (for most stateroom categories) the Classic Beverage Package and a Basic WiFi package. The price to book with the All Included fare vs. a cruise-only fare varies based on a number of factors.

Classic Drink Package on Celebrity Cruises

Perhaps the most popular beverage package is the Classic Drink Package on Celebrity Cruises. This is also the drink package you will get if you opt to upgrade to the All Included price.

This Celebrity drink package covers beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass worth up to $10 per serving. This package also includes a 15% discount on all wines by the bottle.

With this package, you are also entitled to non-premium bottled water, specialty coffee, juices, and soda. It doesn’t include smoothies or Aqua Spa fresh juices.

Celebrity Cruises Premium Drink Package

Celebrity Cruises’ Premium Drink Package includes all Classic Drink Package items, in addition to other premium offerings. These selections include specialty coffees and teas, craft and artisan beers, spirits, cocktails, mocktails, frozen drinks, soda, premium bottled water, energy drinks, fresh juice, and wines by the glass worth up to $17. Guests also get a 20% discount off all bottles of wine.

If you opt for the All Included price, you can pay to upgrade from the Classic to Premium drink package for around $20 per person, per day.

Non-Alcoholic Drink Package

Celebrity’s non-alcoholic package includes premium bottled water from Evian, San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, specialty coffees and organic teas, Red Bull energy drinks, smoothies, mocktails, Coca-Cola selections, Vitamin Water, and fresh juices.

Holland America Cruise Drink Packages

Holland America Line offers a few different cruise drink packages as well. These include two alcoholic options, the Elite Beverage Package and the Signature Beverage Package. There are also two non-alcoholic options, the Quench Drink Package and the Coca Cola Drink Package.

The pricing for these Holland America drink packages is as follows:

• Elite Beverage Package- $65.95 per person, per day
• Signature Beverage Package- $60.95 per person, per day
• Quench Drink Package- $17.95 per person, per day
• Coca Cola Drink Package- $8 per person, per day

Elite Drink Package

Holland America Line’s Elite Drink Package is the most inclusive option. With this cruise drink package, you can enjoy all drinks priced $15 and under including premium cocktails, spirits, beers, and wines.

The package also includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. These options include specialty coffees, mocktails, smoothies, sodas, bottled water, and Red Bull energy drinks.

With this package, there is a 15-drink daily limit for alcoholic beverages; however, guests can enjoy an unlimited number of non-alcoholic beverages.

Signature Drink Package

The Signature Drink Package includes beers, spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass priced $11 and under. It also includes all of the non-alcoholic items from the Quench Package. Unlike the Elite package though, all zero-proof beverages count towards the daily limit.

Quench Drink Package

The Quench Drink Package is Holland America Line’s non-alcoholic drink package. This package includes premium coffees such as espresso and cappuccino, juices, Coca-Cola products, signature mocktails, energy drinks, and sparkling and still bottled water.

Like the Signature Drink Package, guests are limited to 15 beverages with this package.

Coca Cola Drink Package

This is Holland America’s soda package. This package includes unlimited fountain soda. On Rotterdam, Koningsdam, and Nieuw Statendam, this package also includes the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

Have It All Package

Like Celebrity and Princess, Holland America has its own more inclusive cruise pricing option called Have It All. It costs $60 per person, per day and includes a Signature Beverage Package, a basic wifi package, and shore excursion and specialty dining credit.

So, if you are already considering a Signature Beverage package, you might want to consider this upgrade. You would essentially be getting the internet, shore excursion credit, and a specialty dinner for free.

MSC Cruises Drink Packages

MSC Cruises currently offers three drink packages in the U.S. market. These cruise drink packages include the Premium Extra Package, the Alcohol-Free Package, and the Minors Package.

The pricing for these cruise line drink packages is as follows:

• Premium Extra Package – $95 per person, per day on three-night cruises, $85 per person, per day on 4+ night cruises
• Alcohol-Free Package – $35 per person, per day on three-night cruises and $33 per person, per day on 4+ night cruises
• Minors Package – $25 per person, per day on three-night cruises and $22 per person, per day on 4+ night cruises

Premium Extra Package

The Premium Extra Package is the most inclusive of the MSC cruise drink packages. This package covers all drinks worth up to $16. It includes an extensive variety of cocktails and premium brand spirits, liquors, and cordials. Additionally, guests can enjoy a selection of wines and champagnes by the glass and a 25% discount on bottles of wine and champagne.

The Premium Extra Package also includes draft and bottled beers, soda, juices, smoothies, bottled water, specialty coffee, hot chocolate, and tea.

The Premium Extra Package works at all bars, the buffet, the main dining room, and specialty restaurants, as well as on Ocean Cay. However, it does not work in signature venues.

Alcohol-Free Package

This cruise drink package includes a wide choice of non-alcoholic cocktails, soda, energy drinks, specialty coffees, hot chocolate, and hot tea.

This package does not work in the specialty restaurants or at signature venues.

Minors Package

MSC Cruises’ Minors beverage package is — as the name implies — just for those who aren’t old enough to drink alcohol. It allows younger cruisers to enjoy a selection of mocktails, non-alcoholic beers, soda, juices, and soft serve ice cream.

This package does not work in specialty restaurants or signature venues either.

Minors are considered aged 3-17 on European sailings and aged 3-20 on North American and Caribbean itineraries. These packages are only applicable to minors who are part of a family purchasing an adult drink package.

Margaritaville at Sea Drink Packages

Margaritaville at Sea has two drink packages that guests can choose from: The Unlimited Soda package and the Ultimate Beverage Chill package.

The pricing for these packages is as follows:

• Unlimited Soda Package: $10 per person, per night
• Ultimate Beverage Chill: starting at $65 per person, per night on Islander and $75 per person, per night on Paradise

Ultimate Beverage Chill

Ultimate Beverage Chill is Margaritaville at Sea’s alcoholic drink package. It includes all beers, wines by the glass, cocktails, and specialty beverages worth up to $20 each. It also includes soda, 500ml bottled water, juices, mocktails, and bottled/canned non-alcoholic beverages. This package also gives guests 25% off bottles of wine and champagne. Of note, the package does not include specialty coffees.

Unlimited Soda Package

The Unlimited Soda Package includes unlimited fountain soda. Margaritaville at Sea serves Coca-Cola products. This package also includes a souvenir cup.

Disney Cruise Line Drink Packages

Disney Cruise Line does not offer a traditional cruise drink package. However, it does offer discounted wine bottle bundles and a promotion for beer where you essentially get six beers for the price of five. You can also order a six-pack of Truly hard seltzers to be delivered to your cabin.

Virgin Voyages Drink Packages

Virgin Voyages does not offer traditional drink packages either. However, guests can pre-purchase a Bar Tab that can be used towards the purchase of drinks once on board. The cruise line throws in some extra Bar Tab too. For example, if you pre-purchase $300 of Bar Tab, you receive an extra $50. If you purchase a $750 Bar Tab, you get an extra $175.

The Bar Tab can only be used on drink purchases onboard the ships or at The Beach Club at Bimini. It may not be transferred to pay for other experiences, and any unused Bar Tab credit (both purchased and bonus) is not refundable at the end of the voyage.

Cruise Drink Packages FAQ

Which cruise lines have unlimited drink packages?

A majority of cruise line drink packages are unlimited. However, the Carnival Corporation brands do impose a 15-drink limit for alcoholic beverages per 24-hour period (from 6 am to 6 am). This includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line. As well, MSC Cruises only allows 15 alcoholic drinks per day.

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line all have truly unlimited drink packages. The more premium and luxury cruise lines do as well.

Can you buy a drink package once the cruise has started?

Cruise lines generally require that you purchase a drink package for the entire duration of a voyage. This means that if you wait to purchase once on board, you are only able to purchase on the first day. Some cruise lines allow a drink package to be purchased on the second day as well, but not beyond that.

Is it cheaper to buy a drink package on board?

If anything, it’s actually cheaper to purchase a beverage package prior to your cruise rather than waiting until you’re on the ship. Many cruise lines offer a discount — often around 10 percent — for purchasing pre-cruise. With other lines, the drink package price may be the same whether you purchase it before sailing or once on board.

Which cruise line has the cheapest drink package?

When examining the drink packages offered by all the major cruise lines listed below, you can see that the prices and the inclusions do vary quite a bit. Though, the cheapest alcoholic drink package is found Holland America, followed by Princess and Margaritaville at Sea.

Can two people use one drink package on a cruise?

Cruise line drink packages are based on a per person, per day basis. This means that every person who wants to partake in beverages purchased through a drink package must have a package of their own — NO sharing is allowed. In fact, to discourage sharing, most cruise lines require that if one person has a drink package, everyone else in the same cabin must also buy the same package. If adults have an alcoholic package and are traveling with kids, many cruise lines require that the kids have a non-alcoholic or soda package.

Do I get a discount on drink packages if I’m in the loyalty program?

Though it’s not a common perk, some cruise lines — such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity — do offer drink package discounts for loyalty program members.

Can I get free drinks through the loyalty program?

Many cruise lines include drink vouchers or exclusive cocktail events with free beverages for those in their higher loyalty program tiers. For example, free beverage benefits start to kick in on Carnival at the Gold tier. Royal Caribbean cruisers that reach Diamond level receive a number of daily drink vouchers. Cruise lines including Virgin Voyages, Carnival, Norwegian, and Celebrity host cocktail hour events for select tiers in their loyalty programs as well.

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