Cruise Drink Package Guide: Is It Worth It?
Use drink package break-even math to decide whether a cruise beverage package is worth it, then compare the package in CruiseKit's dedicated calculator.
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12 min
Topic
Budget
Updated
Mar 2026
Table of Contents
How Many Drinks Break Even on a Cruise Drink Package?
How many drinks break even on a cruise drink package?
All cruise linesDivide the daily package price, including service charge or gratuity, by the average price of the drinks you would actually order. If the package costs $92 per day after gratuity and your average cocktail is $14, you need about 6.5 drinks per day to break even. That has to happen every day of the cruise, including embarkation day and port days when you may be off the ship for hours.
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CruiseKit Cruise Drink Package Calculator
Compare package cost, service charges, cabin rules, and planned onboard purchases at /cruise-drink-package-calculator/.
Is a cruise drink package worth it?
All cruise linesA cruise drink package is worth it when your realistic daily drink value is higher than the package cost after gratuity. It is usually harder to justify for casual drinkers, port-heavy itineraries, families, or couples where one adult drinks much less but both adults must buy the package.
How many drinks per day make the package worth it?
All cruise linesFor most major lines, the break-even point lands around 5 to 8 paid alcoholic drinks per day. Specialty coffee, bottled water, soda, mocktails, and fresh juice can lower the break-even point if they are included in your package and you would buy them anyway.
Does the drink package price include gratuity?
All cruise linesNot always. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America, and several other lines add a beverage gratuity or service charge to the package price. Some bundles include the service charge in the advertised bundle price. Always compare the all-in daily price, not the headline package price.
Should I use a cruise drink package calculator?
All cruise linesYes if the package will materially change your trip budget. A calculator helps you compare the package against your actual drinking habits, sea days, port days, cabin rules, and the rest of the cruise costs you still need to budget for.
Do all adults in the cabin have to buy the drink package?
All cruise linesOn most cruise lines, yes. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America, and Celebrity all require that every adult of legal drinking age in the same stateroom purchases the drink package if one person does. This is the rule that catches many couples off guard — if one of you is a heavy drinker and the other barely touches alcohol, you're both paying full price. Norwegian includes open bar with Free at Sea for all guests. Princess bundles it into their Plus/Premier packages for all guests. Virgin Voyages uses a pre-paid bar tab system that's per-person with no sharing requirement. Disney doesn't offer drink packages at all — everything is pay-as-you-go.
What's the best strategy for saving on drinks without a package?
All cruise linesSeveral tried-and-true strategies: First, pre-order drinks at port — you can often bring one bottle of wine per person aboard. Second, attend the art auction (they often give out free champagne). Third, join the loyalty program — even low tiers sometimes include a welcome-back cocktail party with free drinks. Fourth, buy duty-free liquor at ports (the ship will hold it until the last day, but you can enjoy it at home). Fifth, drink at the included venues — water, tea, coffee, lemonade, and iced tea are free everywhere. Sixth, if your line allows it, buy individual drink packages for specific needs — a soda package or coffee package is much cheaper than the full unlimited bar.
Drink Package Pricing by Cruise Line (2026)
How much is the Royal Caribbean drink package?
Royal CaribbeanRoyal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package costs approximately $78/day per person before the mandatory 18% gratuity, bringing the real cost to about $92/day. Prices use dynamic pricing and range from $56-$120/day depending on sailing date, ship, and when you purchase. Buy pre-cruise for the best rate — onboard prices are consistently higher. The package covers unlimited cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, sodas, specialty coffee, bottled water, and fresh-squeezed juices. It does not cover room service drinks, mini-bar items, or bottles of wine. All adults in the same stateroom must purchase if one does. As of March 2026, the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup is no longer included in the package.
How much is the Carnival drink package?
CarnivalCarnival's CHEERS! Beverage Program costs $82.54/day per person pre-cruise or $90.60/day onboard, plus a 20% gratuity (recently raised from 18%). That makes the real pre-cruise cost about $99/day. The package includes drinks priced at $20 or less — covering most cocktails, beer, wine, sodas, specialty coffee, and bottled water. The 15-drink-per-day limit was quietly removed in 2025. All adults in the cabin must purchase. Their Zero Proof package at $43.95/day is a solid option for non-drinkers who want specialty coffees and premium non-alcoholic beverages.
Does Norwegian include drinks for free?
NorwegianEffectively, yes. Norwegian's standard Free at Sea promotion includes open bar for all guests in the booking. However, there's a mandatory $21.80/day per person gratuity on the "free" drinks that you cannot remove — so it's not truly free. On a 7-night cruise, that's $152.60 per person just in drink gratuity. The Free at Sea bar covers most standard cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. As of March 2026, Free at Sea drink packages no longer work at Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's private island). You can upgrade to Free at Sea Plus for $49.99/day which adds unlimited streaming WiFi, Starbucks drinks, and premium spirits.
How much is the Celebrity drink package?
CelebrityCelebrity offers two main tiers: the Classic Beverage Package at $89.99/day (drinks up to $12) and the Premium Beverage Package at $104.99/day (drinks up to $19). Both are subject to a 20% gratuity, making real costs $108/day and $126/day respectively. The Classic package covers most standard cocktails, house wine, domestic beer, sodas, and specialty coffee. Premium adds top-shelf spirits, premium wine, and craft cocktails. Celebrity also offers a Zero Proof Package at $45/day + 20% ($54/day real cost) for non-drinkers. All adults in the stateroom must purchase the same tier.
How does the Princess drink package work?
PrincessPrincess doesn't sell drink packages standalone — they're bundled into Princess Plus ($65/day) and Princess Premier ($100/day, or $105 on Sphere-class ships). Princess Plus includes drinks up to $15, WiFi for 1 device, gratuities, and 4 casual specialty dining meals. Princess Premier bumps it to drinks up to $20, WiFi for 4 devices, unlimited specialty dining, unlimited photos, a $100 excursion credit on 7+ night sailings, and reserved theater seating. The bundle approach means you're getting multiple perks, not just drinks — making it harder to do simple break-even math but often a strong value overall. The 20% service charge is included in the bundle price.
How does Holland America handle drink packages?
Holland AmericaHolland America offers three standalone drink package tiers: Quench (non-alcoholic) at $17.95/day, Signature (drinks up to $11) at $60.95/day, and Elite (drinks up to $15) at $65.95/day. All are subject to an 18% gratuity. Their Have It All bundle ($60/day) includes the Signature Beverage Package, Surf WiFi, one specialty dinner, and a $100 shore excursion credit — which is often the best deal if you want more than just drinks. All legal-drinking-age adults in the same cabin must purchase a drink package if one does.
Does Disney offer a drink package?
DisneyNo. Disney Cruise Line intentionally does not offer unlimited drink packages to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere. All alcoholic beverages are pay-as-you-go. Cocktails run $10-16, beer $7-10, and wine by the glass $9-15. Soft drinks at meals are complimentary. Specialty coffee is available at Cove Cafe. This is actually a refreshing approach for many families — you don't feel pressure to "get your money's worth" and can simply enjoy drinks at your own pace.
How do drinks work on Virgin Voyages?
Virgin VoyagesVirgin Voyages takes a unique approach: no unlimited drink packages at all. Instead, they offer a pre-paid Bar Tab system where you buy credit in advance and receive bonus spending power. For example, a $300 Bar Tab gives you $350 in spending power ($50 bonus), while a $500 Bar Tab gives $600 ($100 bonus). There's no service charge or gratuity added to individual drinks — the price you see on the menu is what you pay. Sodas, regular coffee, and tea are included in the fare. Basic WiFi is also included. This system rewards moderate drinkers who don't want to commit to an unlimited package but appreciate a discount.
How does the MSC drink package work?
MSCMSC's main offering is the Premium Extra package at approximately $85/day, which includes up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day plus unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. Service charge is included in the package price (no separate gratuity). MSC eliminated their budget drink packages in April 2025, and new package tiers are expected by summer 2026. For the best value, look at MSC's Yacht Club fare class — it's their ship-within-a-ship luxury option that includes all beverages, WiFi, a dedicated pool and restaurant, and butler service. Their Alcohol-Free Package runs about $30/day.