Just imagine, sitting on your private balcony sipping on some of the finest wines, spirits, or liquors while listening to the waves skirting against the side of the ship as you sail along on your first (or 100th) voyage at sea. As a travel agent, some of the most frequently asked questions I get are, “What is the cost of the drink packages? Should I buy a drink package? Are drink packages worth the money?” To be honest, as long as you use it, most would agree it is worth it.
Drink Packages
Presently, drink package prices differ between cruise lines. A lot of people wonder if purchasing the drink package is worth it? Only you can determine that based on how much you drink. I don’t advocate drinking in excess, but I will provide you with some information so that you can make informed decisions on if purchasing the drink package is right for you.
Many people do not know some of the “fine print” involved in purchasing drink packages and consequently, some will book a specific cruise line based on those drink package prices without knowing all the details. Drink package deals are an important factor in choosing the right cruise line for some people. It’s a chance for people to be able to enjoy drinks while knowing they are in a safe environment where they can walk (or crawl) back to their stateroom in just a few minutes. After all, you are at sea and won’t be driving anywhere anytime soon, so why not relax and throw a few back? And, when you book your reservation with me, I can guide you every step of the way!
Tip: If you purchase the drink package, you can use it on most cruise lines’ private islands! However, drink packages are not redeemable on Carnival’s private islands in the Bahamas.
Disney Cruise Line Drink Packages
Disney Cruise Line does not offer the classic all-you-can-drink packages. With this in mind, sodas, teas, non-specialty coffee, juices, and water are complimentary for every guest. In the hopes of saving money on drinks, Disney Cruise Line offers “Drink of the Day”, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, where if you purchase it, you can get it at a discounted price. They also have the refillable beer mug, which is usually around $15 and allows you reduced prices on refills. Don’t worry about keeping up with your mug. You will get a token when you return it to any bar. You will then use that token to get your next drink. Finally, at the end of your cruise, trade in the token for a new Disney Cruise Line beer mug (see description below for pricing on other packages you can purchase).
From Disney Cruise Line’s website under Gifts & Amenities:
Enjoy a special vintage every night of your cruise! Save up to 25% when purchasing one of our wine packages from our classic offerings. Now that you have decided you want a wine package, you will choose a bottle from an exclusive wine list selected by our onboard sommeliers to pair with your food each night. Then, you choose which bottle of wine will be served at your dinner table. A gift message card will be in your stateroom when you arrive. You will then present the message card at the indicated location for gift redemption. However, please note that the price does not include the 15% gratuity. White Wines and Sparkling Baccorosa Zonin Rose – Piedmont, Italy Beringer White Zinfandel – California, USA Tangley Oaks Chardonnay – Napa Valley, California, USA Pinot Grigio Zonin – Veneto, Italy Selbach Riesling Kabinett Mosel, Germany Zolo Torrontes – Mendoza, Argentina Hess Chardonnay Monterey California, USA Kendall Jackson Chardonnay Vintner’s Reserve – California, USA Castello del Poggio Moscato – Lombardy, Italy Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County, California, USA Simi Sauvignon Blanc – Sonoma County, California, USA Red Wines Layer Cake Shiraz – South Australia Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon – Paso Robles, California, USA Seven Daughter Pinot Noir California, USA Centine Rosso Di Toscana – Tuscany, Italy Tangley Oaks Merlot – Napa Valley, California, USA Cune Crianza Rioja, Spain Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon – South Australia, Australia Zolo Malbec Mendoza, Argentina
Azamara Club Cruises Drink Packages
Package Details: Although Azamara Club Cruises includes most nonalcoholic beverages along with select standard spirits, beers and a changing daily selection of red and white wines by the glass in its cruise fares, the line also has four for-fee beverage and wine packages.
Premium Package
$15.95/person/day (features 24 types of beer and dozens of liquors and liqueurs)
Ultimate Liquor Package
$21.95/person/day (builds upon the Premium Package with more offerings for liquors and liqueurs, along with select wines by the glass, Nespresso coffees and premium waters).
There are also two wine packages:
Wine Lover Package
Choose from more than 80 bottles of wine valued at $50 or less; $180 to $350 for five-, seven-, 10- and 12-bottle packages.
Wine Connoisseur Package
More than 50 bottles of wine valued at $51 to $75; $315 to $630 for five-, seven-, 10- and 12-bottle packages. *All packages feature more choices and more premium brands than the complimentary offerings.
Fine Print: Packages can be pre-purchased through Azamara Club Cruises or through your travel agent. You can also purchase them on board throughout the length of your cruise. Charges begin on day one or the day you purchase the package. The package is non-refundable and cannot be downgraded to a lower-tiered package. You can only order one drink at a time. Drinks through room service are also permitted during hours in which shipboard bars are open.
Complimentary Spirits
Smirnoff Vodka – Russia
Finlandia Vodka – Finland
Gordon’s Gin – UK
Beefeater Gin – UK
Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum – Barbados
Jim Beam Bourbon – USA
Seagram’s 7 – Canada
Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky – Scotland
Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila – Mexico
Complimentary Cocktails
Appletini
Bay Breeze
Bloody Mary
Blue Wave
Cape Cod
Caribbean
Daiquiri
Gibson
Gimlet
Grasshopper
Greyhound
Kamikaze
Margarita
Piña Colada
Salty Dog
Screwdriver
Vodka Stinger
Zentini
Complimentary Beer
Newcastle Draught – UK
Budweiser – USA
Bud Light – USA
Beck’s – Germany
O’Doul’s Non-Alcoholic – USA
Complimentary Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Berry-Banana Colada
Bora Bora Brew
Piña Colada
Tropical Lemonade
Complimentary Soda
Coca-Cola
Diet Coke
Sprite
Carnival Cruise Line Drink Packages
Cheers! Alcohol Package
$51.95/person/day, if purchased in advance, $56.95/person/day, if purchased once onboard (plus a 15% gratuity)- Available on all ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, with the exception of those sailing in Australia. The package allows cruisers to select from mixed drinks, beer (including Carnival’s own line of specialty craft beer), wine, and spirits valued at $50 or less each, up to a 15-drink maximum per day.
Includes soda, juices, non-alcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, and teas, as well as most bottled water, milkshakes (where available), Powerade, Vitamin Water, coconut water, and Honest Tea.
25% discount on bottles of wine and Champagne, select water bottles, beverage classes, and seminars, and cocktails, spirits or wines by the glass that cost more than $50
Fine Print: Packages can be purchased in advance online or by phone, until 10 PM EST the evening prior to the cruise departure. You can also purchase them at bars once onboard. If one adult in a cabin purchases the Cheers! package, all adults over 21 years old in that cabin must also purchase it. Participants can order only one drink at a time. There is a five-minute wait-time required between drink purchases, and all bottles and cans are served open; there is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person within any 24-hour period. The package does not apply to drinks in souvenir glasses or via room service. Due to state laws, the Cheers! package is not available until the second day of all sailings leaving from ports in New York and Texas. Cheers! applies to onboard beverages only. It cannot be used at our two private ports of call in the Bahamas: Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays. You must purchase a package for each day of your voyage.
Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages
Celebrity Cruises offers three alcohol-inclusive drink packages.
Standard Beverage Package
Starting from $45 person/night- Choose from select beers, popular wines by varietal, bottled waters, fountain sodas, well brand spirits, cocktails, and frozen drinks up to $6 per serving. Additionally, with the purchase of this Standard Package, you can enjoy a 10% discount on all wines by the bottle purchased on board—even selections from our prized Reserve Wine list.
Classic Beverage Package
Starting from $55 person/night- Choose from an incredible array of beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $9 per serving. This package also included a 15% discount on all wines by the bottle. Additionally, this package includes all standard package items as well.
Premium Beverage Package
Starting from $69 person/night- All standard and classic package items, PLUS: Specialty coffees & teas, craft & artisan beers, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks, Coca Cola products, premium bottled water, and wines by the glass up to $15 per serving. Also, take a 20% discount on all bottles of wine!
Taste of the Vineyard Packages
You can also choose from three wines-by-the-bottle Taste of the Vineyard packages: Classic Wine Package (from $109 for three, five, or seven bottles) Premium Wine Package (from $149 for three, five, or seven bottles) Build Your Own Wine Package (select three bottles priced at $75 or more and get a 15 percent discount)
Note that Celebrity’s trio of ships that exclusively sail to the Galapagos — Celebrity Xpedition, Celebrity Xperience, and Celebrity Xploration — operate on an all-inclusive basis, with all beer, wine and spirits served on board free of charge.
Fine Print: All prices listed are in USD and are subject to change without notice. An 18% service charge will be added to soda, wine, water, classic, and Premium Package prices at checkout. Package prices may reflect an additional tax for certain ports or itineraries. Packages are sold on a per cruise basis, and not on a per-day basis. There will be no refunds issued for unused credits. Packages may not be shared and do not include beverages sold in gift shops, mini-bar, or room service. Purchased packages may be modified up to four days prior to sailing by canceling and reordering the package. Cancellations or refunds will not be issued on board the vessel after embarkation day. Availability of beverage packages varies by ship. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase any alcoholic package and to consume alcohol. See the terms of our guest alcohol policy. Other terms and conditions apply.
Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages
Norwegian has two adult beverage packages, available on all ships except for Pride of America, as well as 2 soda packages based on ages.
Corks and Caps Package
$59/person/day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge- Includes a selection of fountain soda and juices, beer (draft and bottles), and wines by the glass ($15 or less). A 20% discount applies toward the purchase of any bottle of wine.
Ultimate Beverage Package
$89/person/day x Cruise Days plus a 20% gratuity and beverage service charge- Includes everything in the Corks and Caps Package, plus liquor and cocktails (all drinks $15 or less). Also, you can use your beverage package at all onboard bars, lounges, and restaurants, and on the line’s private Bahamian island at Great Stirrup Cay.
Teen & Adult Soda Package (ages 13+)
$7.95/person/day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. It is important to note that you must purchase the package for the duration of your cruise. Keep in mind, this package is non-refundable. A souvenir thermal mug is included in the purchase of the program. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added at checkout. However, this package is not available for sailings of 2 days or less.
Child Soda Package (ages 12-under)
$5.95/person/day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. The entire cruise must be purchased. Non-Refundable. Souvenir Thermal mug included in the purchase of the program. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added at checkout. However, this package is not available for sailings of 2 days or less.
Fine Print: Two drinks are allowed per passenger per order. All passengers sharing a cabin or using the same payment method (i.e., kids you are stuck in the inside cabin across the hall) must purchase the beverage package. (For kids 3 and up, that means buying the soda package instead. Packages do not include room service, buckets of beer, “super-premium” brands of liquor, wine by the bottle, wine stations, mini-bar purchases, freshly squeezed juice, energy drinks, select specialty coffees, or bottled water. For any beverage purchase over $15, a $15 discount will be applied, with the difference charged to the passenger’s account. Drink packages are not valid at the Harvest Caye port in Belize or on sailings of one or two days. Passengers may only purchase packages onboard on embarkation day for sailings between March 1 and April 15.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Drink Packages
Royal Caribbean has one alcohol-inclusive beverage package on offer.
Refreshment Package
$26/person/day- Includes premium coffees and teas, bottled still and sparkling water, fresh-squeezed orange juice, non-alcoholic cocktails, fountain sodas/Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages, Coca-Cola Souvenir Cup included. (excludes gratuities)
Classic Soda Package
$8.50/person/day- Includes fountain soda and refills in any venue, Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages, Coca-Cola Souvenir Cup included. (excludes gratuities)
Deluxe Beverage Package
$55/person/day- Includes cocktails, spirits, beer, wine by the glass, mocktails, premium coffee and tea, bottled still and sparkling water, fresh-squeezed juices, fountain sodas with a souvenir Coca-Cola cup, a 40% discount on wine bottle purchases up to $100 and a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases more than $100. Drinks must not exceed $12 in value. Gratuities are included in the package price, charged in a lump sum of 18% at the time of purchase.
Fine Print: The package does not include mini-bar items, room service, drinks in souvenir glassware or specialty beers. The drinks package must be purchased on embarkation day or a minimum of four days before the cruise ends (prorated prices are available). Packages may also be purchased online up to 72 hours prior to embarkation. Package users may only order one item at a time for individual consumption.
Important to note: The price per night of the Deluxe Beverage package varies from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing. Royal Caribbean employs a variable pricing model that considers the time of year, ship class, and other factors in offering the price of the drink package. Due to the varying prices across the fleet, we hesitate to publish any kind of pricing here. If purchased prior to your cruise on the Cruise Planner site, the Deluxe Beverage package often costs between $44 – $55/person/night (excluding gratuity). The price will be higher if purchased onboard, usually around $65/person/night.
One significant change to the Deluxe Beverage package in 2018 is all Royal Caribbean passengers 21 years of age and older (18 years in Australia and the U.K) are now required to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one other person in their cabin has one. If the other adult(s) in the same stateroom do not wish to purchase a Deluxe Beverage Package, you can call Royal Caribbean and ask for an exemption. Usually, Royal Caribbean will allow the other adult(s) to purchase a less-expensive drink package, such as the Refreshment Package.
Princess Cruises Drink Packages
Premier Beverage Package
$59.99/person/day, plus a 15% gratuity (total $68.99/person/day)- Includes all beer, wine by the glass, and cocktails $12.00 USD and under as listed on our menu(s), or $16.00 AUD and under for voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand. Includes all bottled water (500ml only), fountain sodas, fresh juices (if available), specialty coffees and teas, Gong Cha items, Frappés at Coffee & Cones, milkshakes (if available), and Red Bull energy drinks.
Provides a 25% discount on the following excluded items: all bottles of wine, one-liter bottles of water, canned soda, and bottled juices. The Premier Beverage Package is not available on select voyages. For voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand, the package is available onboard for $86.99 AUD per day, including the service charge. It’s important to know that the package is not available for pre-purchase for these voyages. The package may be used on our private islands, all food and beverage venues, and other areas such as the theater or public spaces that offer beverage service. Selections and services are limited to each venue’s menu offerings and operating hours. If dining at a specialty dining venue, a large bottle of water (one liter) of still or sparkling is covered by the package.
5-for-4 Beer Package
Five bottles for the price of four: Dos Equis ($25.30), Heineken ($25.30), Budweiser ($28.75), and Bud Light ($26.45). The price includes the service charge. Beer packages are not available on voyages when itineraries begin/end in Australia or New Zealand.
Bottled Water Package
$6.90 for 12 (500 ml) bottles- Stay hydrated and refreshed throughout your cruise with 12 (500 ml) bottles of water conveniently delivered to your stateroom. Price includes service charge.
For pre-cruise purchase ONLY through Cruise Personalizer. The package is not currently offered on Sea and Sun Princess or Diamond, Emerald, or Golden Princess voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand.
Unlimited Soda and More Package
$8.05/person/day- Indulge yourself with this premium Unlimited Soda & More Package, which entitles you to unlimited fountain soft drinks, plus mocktails, juices, and complimentary hot chocolate throughout your cruise. Price includes service charge. Package must be purchased for the full length of the voyage, cannot be shared, is non-transferable, and is non-refundable within 3 days of sailing.
Canned Soda Package
$11.50-Choose any six sodas listed below in any combination for the price of five: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, orange soda, soda water, tonic water, ginger ale. The package is not currently offered on selected voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand.
New Grounds Coffee Package
$36.65-Enjoy 15 espresso-based hot or cold specialty coffee drinks with complimentary brewed coffee and premium tea for the duration of your cruise. The package is not currently offered for pre-purchase on selected voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand. The New Grounds Coffee Package has gone digital for voyages beginning in June 2018. View Coffee Package full terms & conditions. Have a paper New Grounds Coffee Card purchased for voyages prior to June 2018? View Coffee Card full terms & conditions.
Fine Print: Princess cruisers may purchase the package on three-night or longer cruises (seven nights for Australian itineraries). The packages are available on an individual basis, meaning passengers traveling in the same stateroom do not have to purchase it if one person does. The package must be purchased for the entire cruise duration as prorated/partial packages are not available. For advance bookings, the window closes three days ahead of the sailing; once on board, it is only available on embarkation day and is nonrefundable. Participants can order only one drink at a time. Also, there is a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per person, per day, which applies to the Premier Beverage Package.
Hopefully having the current pricing (as of July 2018) in one place will help you with your cruise planning.
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