What to Expect on a Cruise: Drink Packages on Cruises

Table Of Content

• What's included in Royal Caribbean's drink packages?
• Windstar Cruises Drinks Packages
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Drinks Packages
• Are There Limits in How Many Drinks I Can Get?
• Well drinks
• What Is Included in the Drink Package?
• Are Cruise Line Drink Packages Worth It?
• Flashback: Cruise Bar Menus From 10 Years Ago Show How Much Prices Have Soared

You can use packages to make your cruise as all-inclusive as you'd like (and maybe save some money in the process), or you can opt to cruise and drink in pay-as-you-go mode. Either way, you'll find plenty of fun cocktails and mocktails, as well as your favorite wine and beer, to enhance your vacation at sea. If you are a Diamond C&A member, your SeaPass card will be loaded with four free drinks per day. Diamond Plus members get five drinks, and Pinnacle members get six. Those can be water, specialty coffee or tea other than at Starbucks, sodas from bar servers, beer, wine or cocktails up to $14 (except at Bionic Bar). If you prefer nonalcoholic beverages, you can expect to pay around $7 for mocktails and protein shakes, $5 for lattes at non-Starbucks locations and close to $9 for smoothies.

What's included in Royal Caribbean's drink packages?

That’s why many people are interested in “all you can drink” packages that cruise lines offer. You pay one set amount, and then you don’t have to worry about running up a huge bar tab. One of the big allures of a cruise for many vacationers is that quite a lot is included in the fare, including a room, most meals and a wide range of entertainment. Alas, at many lines, drinks are not part of the package — and they can be quite pricey. For heavier drinkers, it's easy to run up an enormous bar tab when ordering drinks by the glass. At some lines, the question isn't even relevant, as they include all or most alcoholic drinks in their base fares.

Windstar Cruises Drinks Packages

That's because most ports of call aren't affiliated with the cruise line. So when you port in Cozumel, you are headed into Mexico -- not an extension of the cruise ship. Princess does not specifically say that all passengers in a cabin have to purchase the drink package. Carnival requires that each adult in a stateroom purchase a drink package if one person does. So if a husband purchases the package but the wife doesn't drink, she must still purchase the drink package as well.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Drinks Packages

The packages, prices, and inclusions do vary by cruise line. So, we will go into more detail on each cruise line’s offerings a bit later. You can order it with no second thoughts when you have a beverage package. But if you typically only drink a couple of glasses of wine at dinner, you aren't likely to break even — at least not on the Deluxe Beverage Package. In that case, skip the package that includes alcohol and do the math on the Refreshment Package. Diamond Plus members also have a discount of 30% on Deluxe Beverage Packages when purchased on board.

Disney Cruise Line guests will pay for alcoholic beverages, bottled water, smoothies and specialty coffees. Guests may purchase individual drinks onboard or pay for select drink bundles either once onboard or in advance on Disney's Onboard Gifts page after booking. This cruise drink package includes a wide choice of alcohol free cocktails, soda, energy drinks, mineral water, flavored water, fruit juices, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, hot teas, and soft-serve ice cream. Another newer offering to the list of NCL drink packages is the Unlimited Starbucks package.

There are also two non-alcoholic options, the Alcohol Free Package and the Minors Package. 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. This Celebrity drink package covers beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass for up to $10 per serving.

What Is Included in the Drink Package?

Basically, cruise lines offer various packages that guests can purchase for a flat fee per person, per day to enjoy all these up-charge beverages. In addition, some cruise lines do not offer package sales on select ships or sailings. For example, Norwegian does not sell its packages on one- and two-night sailings or on any Pride of America cruises, while Carnival doesn't offer drink packages for its cruise operations in Australia. Enjoy beers, spirits, cocktails and wines by the glass priced at US $11 and under, plus everything from our Quench package. 15-drink daily limit for alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages. If your drinks are already paid for, you have no incentive to order cheap well drinks when you can get name-brand liquor for the same price.

Guest’s check may reflect applicable VAT and/or taxes for certain ports or itineraries. Guest is responsible for 20% gratuity and beverage service charge on the retail value of the package. Must be purchased for all guests 21+ on the same reservation.

In that case, you'll want to call the cruise line to explain the situation. Just know that if you buy the package, you can't change your mind later and get your money back. So, if you are already considering a Signature Beverage package, you might want to consider this upgrade. Essentially, you would be getting the internet, shore excursion credit, and a specialty dinner for close to free. 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.

While other cruise lines may not set explicit limits, if you are obviously intoxicated, then don't be surprised if you are cut off from ordering any more drinks. So if there is a $15 per drink limit, it will cover drinks up to that amount. If you want a beverage that's more than $15 per glass, then you'll pay extra for the amount over $15.

At some other lines, drinks normally cost extra but often are thrown in for free as part of booking promotions. Cruise ship drink packages let you order as many drinks as you want while on a cruise for one flat fee. This package does not work in the specialty restaurants or at signature venues. Yes, this means that if you purchase this package, you can’t even order a soda while enjoying dinner in the Butcher’s Cut. Yet ironically, this is the only drink package for adults that includes free soft serve ice cream.

MSC Cruises drink packages: Save money on onboard beverages - The Points Guy

MSC Cruises drink packages: Save money on onboard beverages.

Posted: Sun, 07 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The minimum drinking age aboard Windstar Cruises is 21 years old. The Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package includes the same beer and wine offerings with the addition of Champagne by the glass, cordials, cocktails and mini bar selections. Virgin Voyages strives to offer drinks for every budget so a la carte purchases won't have a great deal of sticker shock. Those purchasing a prepaid Bar Tab won't save money on individual beverages, though Virgin often offers a promotional onboard credit as a thank you to those selecting a Bar Tab.

If you opt for the All Included price, you can pay to upgrade from the Classic to Premium drink package for $24 per person, per day. 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.

Only you know whether it’s the right purchase or not based on your habits and style of cruising. I was travelling solo on this cruise, which made adding the drink package a no-brainer. If there are three adults in a cabin, it becomes $795 – and that’s likely more than most people paid for a cruise of this length in an entry-level stateroom. Drink package in hand, I ordered a second pint of ThirstyFrog in the Atrium Bar while listening to the strings trio play classical hits.

The Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package includes domestic and imported beer along with more than 30 varieties of wine by the glass. Passengers can save more than 50 percent on drink packages when purchased in advance as a bundle with Wi-Fi and crew appreciation. Disney drink bundles range from six-packs of beer, six-packs of Truly canned cocktails, and wine options from single bottles up to seven-bottle packages. Refresh with premium bottled water from Evian, Perrier, San Pellegrino, & Panna. Specialty Coffees & Organic Teas, Red Bull Energy Drink, Frozen Smoothies, Zero Proof Cocktails, Coca-Cola selections, offerings from Vitamin Water, Aqua Spa Fresh Juice, and Bottled Iced Teas. But there is another benefit -- the option of trying new things without worrying about the cost.