Are Celebrity Cruises drink packages really worth it?

While Celebrity Cruises is not an all-inclusive cruise line, if you opt for one of the Celebrity Cruises drink packages, your holiday will feel pretty darn close. 

There are three core beverage packages – Classic, Premium, and Non-Alcoholic – plus optional add-ons for soda, bottled water and wine. As a premium cruise line, Celebrity’s drinks packages are a little steeper than you’d expect from the likes of NCL or Princess Cruises.

Let’s take a look at what each one of these drink packages means. 

– READ MORE: Complete guide to drinks packages on cruise ships –

Celebrity’s Classic Drinks Package covers a wide selection of beers, wines by the glass, spirits, cocktails and liqueurs priced up to $12 per drink (or $14 for sailings from the UK or Australia). You’ll also receive a 15 percent discount on bottles of wine.

What’s included?

• Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs and beers (up to $12 US / $14 UK & AUS each)
• Wines by the glass (up to $12 / $14 UK & AUS each)
• 15 percent off wines by the bottle
• Non-alcoholic cocktails (frozen & non-frozen)
• Premium coffees and teas (e.g. Café al Bacio)
• Soft drinks and juices (excluding smoothies and Spa Café fresh juices)
• Bottled water 

A good choice for: Cruisers who like a few drinks a day – think: a morning cappuccino, a lunchtime beer, a cocktail or two at sunset and some wine with dinner, without splurging on the super fancy brands.

Price: $89.99 pp, per day (£70). Excludes 20 percent tip. 

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A step up from Classic, the Premium Drinks Package unlocks top-shelf spirits, craft cocktails, and a wider wine selection. Drinks are covered up to $19 per serving (or $23 on UK/AUS sailings) with 20 percent off bottles of wine.

What’s included?

• Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs and beers (up to $19 / $23 UK & AUS)
• Wines by the glass (up to $19 / $23 UK & AUS)
• 20 percent off wines by the bottle
• Premium spirits (i.e. Grey Goose, Patron Silver, Bombay Sapphire, Crown Royal)
• Champagne by the glass
• Premium bottled water (Evian, Aqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Perrier)
• Red Bull and Vitamin Water
• Spa Café fresh juices and smoothies
• Premium coffees and teas

A good choice for: Those looking to have a fun, care-free time with a taste for the quality labels and mixologist-made cocktails at onboard Celebrity hotspots like The Martini Bar. 

Price: $104.99 pp, per day (£82).

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The go-to for guests looking to skip the alcohol but still want variety and ease when it comes to drinks during their holiday. It includes every type of soft drink, from mocktails and smoothies to sparkling waters.

What’s included?

• Mocktails (frozen & non-frozen)
• Premium coffees and teas
• Soft drinks and sodas
• Spa Café juices and smoothies
• Premium bottled still and sparkling waters (Evian, Aqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Perrier)
• Energy drinks (e.g. Red Bull, Vitamin Water)

Perfect for: Families, wellness travellers on a detox, or teetotal guests. 

Price: $45 pp, per day (£35).

– READ MORE: Celebrity Crusies from Southampton: All you need to know –

Celebrity Cruises also offers a few smaller, more specific add-ons if you want to feel you’re getting some sort of bonus, but don’t need a full drinks package. These are: 

• The Soda Package: Unlimited fountain and canned sodas, such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Coke Zero, etc..
• The Premium Water Package: Take your water seriously! With this package, you’re entitled to unlimited bottles of premium still or sparkling water from brands like Evian, Aqua Panna, San Pellegrino and Perrier.
• The Wines by the Bottle Package – ‘Taste of the Vineyard’: Choose from a three, five, or seven bottle package, served anywhere onboard (in Riedel glassware, no less), featuring labels like Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir, and Achaval Ferrer Malbec. Starts from $109 pp, total (£85) . 

How much is a drink on Celebrity Cruises?

To weigh up whether a Celebrity Cruises drink package is the right choice for you, it’s worth taking a look at how much individual drinks are. Below is a guide for an assortment of drinks onboard.

Beer: $7 / £5.20
Glass of wine: $9–$17 / £7–£13
Cocktail: $10–$17+/ £8–£13
Spirits (standard): $8–$12 / £6.50–£9.50
Spirits (premium): $13–$19+ / £10–£15
Speciality coffee: $5–$7 / £4–£5.50
Soft drink/soda: $3–$4 / £2.50–£3.25
Bottled water (500ml): $3–$5 / £2.50–£4
Smoothie/juice: $6–$9 / £4.75–£7

If you want to check out the full price breakdown, you’ll be able to find the full Celebrity Cruises drinks menu and drinks price list PDF in the Celebrity app once onboard, or on their website.

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Only if you’ve booked the ‘All included fare’, in which case the Classic Drinks Package, wifi and gratuities are already all bundled into the price when you book, to give you as close to an all-inclusive experience as it’s possible to get with Celebrity Cruises. 

Otherwise, the cruise-only fare excludes drinks, though you can always add a package on or upgrade a package pre-cruise or while onboard.

Is it cheaper to buy a drinks package onboard?

In almost every case, no – it’s cheaper to buy your drinks package before you sail. Celebrity Cruises drink packages are often available via pre-cruise discounts through its Cruise Planner, where you can save between 10–20 percent compared with onboard prices. Think of it a bit like early-bird pricing for an event or festival: the sooner you lock it in, the less you’ll pay.

For example, a Classic Drinks Package typically costs around $89.99 per day (£70) pre-cruise, but onboard, you could pay $99.99 per day (£78) or more. The Premium Drinks Package, usually $104.99 per day (£82) online, often rises to $114.99 (£90) once your sailing is underway.

Even the Non-Alcoholic Package, priced at $45 per day (£35) in advance, can jump to $49.99 (£39) at sea!

Multiply that by a seven-night sailing, for instance, and you could be paying £60–£70 more per person just for waiting. You’ll also spread the cost before your trip rather than being hit with a vast onboard bill, and you can make amendments in your online Cruise Planner if you later decide to upgrade or remove it.

So, unless you’ve found a last-minute flash deal onboard (rare but not impossible), smart money says: buy your Celebrity Cruise Drinks Package in advance!

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To break even with a Classic Drinks Package, you’d want to be sipping on around six or more drinks per day (mix of coffee, wine, beer, cocktails, soda) for it to pay off. If this sounds like your idea of a good time, then it’s probably a good bet. 

Plus, with no running tabs or surprise bills, the real value lies in the convenience so you can enjoy your holiday worry-free.

If you’re more of an entertainment junkie or see yourself spending your days in the spa and are less fussed about the drinks, then it’s probably not worth it for you. It’s good to note too that basic coffee, iced tea, tap water, lemonade and milk are all available at all times for guests, free of charge.