Drinks packages on cruise ships: What you need to know

Cruise drinks packages promise an easy, cash-free holiday where you can sip cocktails, enjoy your morning cappuccino and never see a bar bill. But with every line offering its own versions, tiers and rules, choosing the right one isn’t always straightforward.

Some packages seem like a bargain until you realise how often you’ll be ashore. Others bundle in soft drinks, bottled water and coffee, quietly saving you more than you expect.

Recent research from travel agent Iglu Cruise proves how divided travellers are on drinks packages. In a survey of more than 4,200 customers, 45 percent said they don’t usually buy a drinks package, 29 percent said they do and 23 percent said they only sometimes do – showing that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Yasmin Peckel, a cruise expert with Blue Cruise, highlighted the advantages of booking a drink package: “If you plan to enjoy cocktails or coffee regularly, a package can save you considerably,” she said. “Booking these packages before you board is often cheaper, so you can relax without worrying about drink costs adding up.”

So, what cruise line has the best drink package? To help you make sense of it all, here’s a full cruise line drink package comparison – what’s included, how much they cost and which are the best cruise line drink packages for 2025 and beyond.

What is a cruise drinks package?

A drinks package is a prepaid plan that covers a set range of beverages throughout your cruise. Instead of shelling out per drink, you pay a fixed daily fee. Depending on the cruise line, that fee can cover everything from water and soda to fine wine and top-shelf spirits.

Packages usually fall into a few categories:

Soft drinks packages – Unlimited sodas, juices and sometimes mocktails.
Classic or standard packages – Beer, house wines, standard spirits and cocktails up to a certain value.
Premium or deluxe packages – A wider choice of brands and cocktails, often including speciality coffees and bottled water.
Café or coffee packages – Prepaid credits for barista-made coffee and tea drinks.

Cruise lines design these tiers so you can pick what suits your drinking habits – from teetotallers who want sparkling water to cocktail lovers who don’t want to think twice about ordering another mojito.

– READ MORE: Which cruises have the best pubs? –

What’s normally included in drinks packages on cruises?

Every cruise line drink package sets its own rules, but most packages include:

• Spirits and liqueurs up to a price limit (usually £10–£15 per glass)
• Draught and bottled beers
• House wines and sparkling wines by the glass
• Cocktails and mocktails
• Fresh juices and smoothies
• Speciality coffees and teas
• Bottled still or sparkling water

Luxury or premium packages may also include Champagne by the glass, craft cocktails and a broader range of wines. Onboard water and speciality coffee alone can make a surprising difference – some travellers find the real value of a drinks package in the extras they didn’t think to add up.

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How much are drinks packages on cruises?

How much are cruise line drink packages in 2025? Which cruise line has the best drink package? We’ve got the answers! Prices vary by line, ship and destination, but here’s a cruise line drink package comparison covering major brands like Princess, MSC, Norwegian, Carnival and P&O.

Princess Cruises drink packages

Princess Cruises drink packages come in four tiers, each offering different inclusions and price limits.

Premier Beverage Package – Drinks up to $20, including premium spirits, wines and cocktails. $84.99 (c.£70) per day
Plus Beverage Package – Drinks up to $1,5, including cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, sodas and water. $64.99 (c.£54) per day.
Zero-Alcohol Package – Coffee, teas, sodas, mocktails, water and energy drinks. $29.99 (c.£25) per day.
Classic Soda Package – Sodas, juices, mocktails and smoothies. $14.99 (c.£12) per day.

Note: Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundles offer better value with drinks, Wi-Fi and other perks included.

Norwegian Cruise Line drink package

How much is a drink package on Norwegian Cruise Line? NCL offers several beverage packages, with the Premium option often included in Free at Sea upgrades.

Premium Beverage Package – Unlimited spirits, cocktails, wines, beer, juice and soft drinks, featuring brands like Grey Goose and Casamigos. $109 (c.£83) per day.
Unlimited Starbucks Package – Coffees, teas, Frappuccinos and speciality drinks. $16.50 (c.£12.50) per day.
Unlimited Soda Package – Fountain sodas including Coke, Sprite and Fanta. $12.50 (c.£9.50) per day.

Note: Free at Sea upgrades start from £249 per person on a 7–8 night cruise. A 20 percent service charge applies.

– READ MORE: Is a Princess drinks package worth it? –

Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages

How much is a drinks package on Ambassador Cruise Line? Ambassador cruises offer three adult drinks packages plus children’s options.

Ambassador Experience Package – Unlimited soft drinks. £20.95 per night.
Ambassador Explorer Package – House wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks. £42.95 per night.
Ambassador Expedition Package – Premium wines, spirits and speciality coffees. £49.95 per night.
Adventurers Packages – £14 per night (ages 3–11) or £17 per night (ages 12–17).

Note: Packages apply for the full cruise and include up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. Pre-booking is cheaper than onboard prices.

Carnival Cruise Line drink package

Carnival Cruise Line offers several drink packages for all tastes.

Cheers! Package – Cocktails, spirits, beer and wine up to $20, plus sodas, coffee, bottled water and energy drinks. $69.95 (c.£54) per day.
Cheers! Zero Proof – Mocktails, speciality coffees, sodas and energy drinks. $29.99 (c.£23) per day.
Bottomless Bubbles – Unlimited sodas and juices. $9.50 (£7.30) adults, $6.95 (c.£5.30) children.
Cruise the Vineyard – Wine-only package from $81 (c.£62).

Note: Packages apply for the full cruise and include an 18 percent service charge.

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Royal Caribbean drinks package

Royal Caribbean offers three beverage packages:

Classic Soda Package – Unlimited fountain and canned soft drinks with a Coca-Cola souvenir cup.
Refreshment Package – Soft drinks, bottled water, juices, mocktails and premium coffees and teas.
Deluxe Beverage Package – Cocktails, spirits, beer and wine by the glass, plus all non-alcoholic drinks.

Note: All packages apply for the full cruise, and Deluxe includes discounts on wine bottles.

P&O Cruises drinks package

P&O Cruises offers four drinks packages on cruises of five nights or more.

Refresh – Soft drinks on tap. £16 per person per day.
Alcohol-free – Adds Costa coffee, teapigs tea and bottled water. £29 per person per day.
Classic – Includes cocktails, beers, ciders, 25ml spirits, wines and Prosecco, plus 20% off excluded items. £50 per person per day.
Deluxe – Adds premium spirits (50ml), craft beers, extended cocktails and wines. £60 per person per day.

Children under 17 get the Refresh package free when adults buy a Classic or Deluxe plan.

– READ MORE: What to know about P&O drinks –

Celebrity Cruises drink packages

Celebrity Cruises offers three drink packages: Classic, Premium and Non-Alcoholic drink packages. However, prices vary by ship, sail date and current promotions shown in My Cruise Planner, so be sure to check when you book your cruise. That said, the All Included offer on select 2026 European sailings adds a Classic Drinks Package and Wi-Fi for £50pp per day.

Classic – Drinks up to $12 ($14 from UK/AU ports) including beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, coffees and soft drinks.
Premium – Drinks up to $19 ($23 from UK/AU ports) with a wider choice of premium brands and Champagne.
Non-Alcoholic – Mocktails, soft drinks, teas, coffees and bottled water.

Note: All adults in a stateroom must buy the same package, though exceptions apply for children, teens, pregnancy or medical reasons.

Disney Cruise Line drink packages

Does Disney Cruise Line have drink packages? No, Disney cruises don’t offer typical unlimited drink packages but the brand sells smaller bundles.

Wine packages – Choose 3 to 7 bottles from Classic ($123–$259 (£111–£234)) or Premium ($183–$388 (£165–£350)) selections, with 18 percent gratuity added.
Beer packages – 6 bottles for $57–$73 (£52–£66) including a Disney Cruise Line Cooler Bag, or 12–24 packs available in bars or for stateroom delivery from $85 (£78), with 18 percent gratuity added.
Refillable beer mug – $21 (£19) for a mug giving 23oz refills at 16oz prices, with 18 percent gratuity added.
Water packages – Six bottles for around $19 (£17), or free tap and fountain water available across ships.
Cove Fanatic coffee card – Buy five speciality coffees and get the sixth free.

Note: Guests can bring up to two bottles of wine or six beers onboard at embarkation or from ports, though corkage fees apply in restaurants. Soft drinks, coffee, milk, juice and water are free at dining venues and self-serve stations.

– READ MORE: Are Celebrity drink packages worth it? –

MSC Cruises drink packages

How much is the drink package on MSC cruise lines? MSC Cruises offers four drink packages:

Easy package – Beer, house wine, basic cocktails, limited spirits, sodas, juices, classic hot drinks and bottled water. €40 (c.£34) per day on 1–10 nights, €36 (c.£31) on 11+ nights.
Premium Extra package – Premium spirits, wines and Champagne by the glass, full cocktail list, beers, soft drinks, juices, coffee and bottled water. €75 (c.£64) per day on 1–10 nights, €70 (c.£60) on 11+ nights.
Alcohol-free package – Soft drinks, energy drinks, juices, coffee, tea, bottled water and ice cream to go. €26 (c.£22) per day on 1–10 nights, €24 (c.£20) on 11+ nights.
Minors package – Soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, bottled water and ice cream to go. €17 (c.£15) per day.

Note: Up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. All guests in the same cabin must buy the same package. Pre-booking is cheaper than onboard.

Cunard drinks package

Cunard offers four A World of Drinks collections, each covering a different range of beverages. Prices below reflect 7–14-night cruises.

Alcohol-Free Collection – Unlimited fountain sodas, juices and hot drinks up to $4.50 (£3.50). $18 (c.£14) per day.
Premium Alcohol-Free Collection – Adds mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes and bottled water up to $12 (£9). $40.50 (c.£32) per day.
Beverage Collection – Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks up to $13.50 (c.£10.50), plus 15 percent off wine and bar activities. $76.50 (c.£60) per day.
Premium Beverage Collection – Fine wines, Champagne and cocktails up to $20 (c.£15), with 25 percent off wine and bar activities. $90 (c.£70) per day.

Note: Guests save 10 percent by pre-booking via My Cunard before sailing.

Holland America Line drink packages

Holland America Line offers four beverage packages ranging from simple soda refills to premium cocktails, wines and spirits.

Elite Beverage Package – All drinks priced $15 and under, including spirits, wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. $55.95 (c.£44) per day.
Signature Beverage Package – Drinks up to $11, including premium beers, wines, cocktails and spirits. $50.95 (c.£40) per day.
Quench Package – Non-alcoholic drinks including coffee, juices, mocktails, sodas and Red Bull. $17.95 (c.£14) per day.
Coca-Cola Package – Unlimited fountain sodas and Freestyle machine access on select ships. $8 (c.£6) per day.

Note: A daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks applies to Signature and Elite packages. An 18 percent service charge is added to all beverage purchases.

– READ MORE: Are Cunard drinks packages worth it? –

Are drinks packages on cruise ships worth it?

Iglu Cruise’s survey also found that while only around a third of guests normally buy a drinks package, most still like the idea of bundling costs together. Over half of respondents (56 percent) said they prefer an all-inclusive style cruise fare, with just 15 percent wanting to pay for every extra up front and a quarter preferring to pay for drinks and extras as they go

Tony Andrews, managing director at cruise.co.uk, told Sailawaze that value really comes down to your habits. “A drinks package is absolutely worth it if you’re planning to take advantage of cocktails, speciality coffees and wines, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Compare the daily rate with what you’d realistically drink on a sea day and a port day. If the total cost of what you’d buy individually is higher, go for the package; if not, pay-as-you-go may be better.”

He also recommends checking the fine print. “Some lines cap drinks by price or exclude certain cocktails and wines, so make sure the package covers what you actually enjoy. Pre-purchase if you can and consider whether non-alcoholic drinks and speciality coffees are included, as these add up quickly.”

– READ MORE: Guide to dining onboard Ambassador –

Is it cheaper to buy a drinks package before you sail?

Almost always. Most cruise lines offer a discount when you pre-book online. Prices onboard can be 10–20 percent higher, and some packages sell out. It’s also easier to pay gradually if you add it to your booking before your cruise balance is due.

Saam Jamalzadeh, Sales & Service Director at Iglu Cruise, says buying a drinks package at the time of booking is often the smartest move. “It removes any concerns over budget whilst on board and adds peace of mind to a holiday,” he explained. He suggests looking at each itinerary individually, especially those with plenty of sea days, as guests spending more time on the ship are likely to get the best value from a package.

Some promotions include drinks as part of the fare — for example, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea or Princess Plus — which can make booking early even more worthwhile. Consider chatting to a travel agent about any deals they have coming up – they can also advise on what might work best for you.

Can two people share one drinks package?

No. Packages are tied to each passenger’s cruise card and can’t be shared. Cruise lines track usage to prevent abuse, and most require all adults in the same cabin to buy the same package if one person does. The rule may feel strict, but it keeps things fair across the ship.

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How many drinks can I bring on a cruise?

Rules differ by line, but most allow limited alcohol at embarkation — often one bottle of wine or Champagne per adult. Anything stronger, like spirits or beer, is usually confiscated and returned at the end of the cruise.

It’s also worth checking corkage fees if you want to drink your own wine in a restaurant; some lines charge around £15–£20 per bottle.

How to get the best value from your drinks package

• Pre-book online to get early discounts.
• Check inclusions carefully – premium coffees, bottled water and smoothies can add huge value.
• Know your itinerary – if you have many port days, you may not drink enough on board to make it worthwhile.
• Look out for promotions – some lines run flash sales or loyalty perks.
• Be mindful of service charges – some lines include gratuities, others add 15–20 percent automatically.
• Stay hydrated – bottled water and soft drinks are often overlooked but costly to buy individually.
• Ask whether upgrades are allowed onboard – Andrews explained some lines let you switch to a higher tier if you’re drinking more than expected.

In the same Iglu Cruise survey, itinerary came out as the top reason people choose a cruise (80 percent), followed by easy and convenient travel (64 percent) and value-for-money (64 percent). Food and drink still mattered to a large majority, though, with 71 percent citing it as a key reason to cruise – another sign that what you sip on board really does shape the overall experience.

– READ MORE: What is TUI River Cruises’ drinks policy? –

Common misconceptions

You’ll be cut off after a few drinks: Unlikely. Lines monitor responsible drinking, and while some packages are limited to a fixed number, that number is often pretty high, for instance, 12 or 15, so you have plenty of scope to hit the bar list. Fully all-inclusive lines won’t put a cap in place but staff may, however, refuse service if someone appears intoxicated.

It covers everything: Not quite. Drinks above the per-glass limit, full bottles of wine, and souvenir cocktails usually aren’t included. Some café treats or room service orders may carry an extra charge.

You can use it ashore: No. Drinks packages apply only on board or on the line’s private islands (although note NCL is no longer accepting the shipboard drink package on its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, from March 2026).

It’s always better value: Not necessarily. As Andrews points out, if you’re only likely to have a glass of wine and a coffee each day you may actually spend less by paying as you go. Packages only pay off when your daily total genuinely exceeds the per-day cost.

Are drinks packages better value on luxury cruises?

Often, yes. Certain luxury lines include drinks in the fare — from fine wines to Champagne. While fares are higher, the inclusive nature removes the guesswork. Marella Cruises is a standout, affordable option that is entirely all-inclusive.

Luxury cruise lines offering all-inclusive drinks (no package needed) include:
Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Scenic, Explora Journeys, Saga Cruises, Ponant, Swan Hellenic, HX Expeditions and Viking.

River cruise lines are often very generous, too. The following all offer all-inclusive drinks:
VIVA Cruises, Uniworld, TUI River Cruises, AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, Avalon Waterways and A-Rosa.

On mainstream lines, the à la carte model gives more flexibility, which suits travellers who like control or prefer dry days.

– READ MORE: Best all-inclusive cruises with alcohol –

Should you get a cruise drinks package?

Cruise line drinks packages can take the hassle out of budgeting and let you relax without worrying about the bar tab. If you’re comparing the best cruise line drink packages in 2025, think about your habits, calculate roughly what you’d drink daily and match that to your preferred line’s package cost. For some, the convenience alone is worth it; for others, it’s an unnecessary cost.

If you’re the type to start the day with a cappuccino, sip a poolside cocktail, enjoy wine with dinner and finish with a nightcap, a drinks package will almost certainly pay off. But if you’re exploring ports most days or drink modestly, you’ll save more by ordering individually.

The best approach? Check the inclusions, do the maths, and pick what suits your travel style – then raise a glass to smooth sailing and stress-free sipping.

– READ MORE: Princess enhances Premier & Plus packages for 2026 –