Feeling thirsty? All you need to know about P&O Cruises drinks offering

P&O Cruises drinks offering ensures one of the most important things of all holidays is well taken care of: the drinks. There’s just nothing quite like watching the sunset with your favourite tipple in hand or coming back from a day of exploring to a refreshing beverage. 

P&O Cruises‘ drinks selection has endless options, with an array of scenic bars and lounges across its seven ships to quench your thirst in, plus partnerships with major drinks brands including Costa Coffee and Teapigs. Four P&O Cruises drinks packages have also been designed to suit every type of traveller. So, If you enjoy a drink or four on your cruise holiday, settle in as we have the answers to all your questions.

Water, coffee and tea are all free of charge to guests onboard P&O Cruises ships but all other drinks are priced. The cruise line offers a range of drinks packages varying in cost, which tend to give holidaymakers the best deal.

P&O Cruises drinks packages are available on any cruises lasting more than five nights. While they each offer a great range of drinks, none of the packages offer a fully ‘all-inclusive’ option, with items such as Champagne and whiskies always coming at an additional cost. 

– READ MORE:  P&O Cruises guide for foodies –

‘The Refresh Drinks Package’ is a great option for anyone looking to stick to soft drinks during their holiday and so is an ideal package for families with children. Soft drinks are available on tap, as are fruit juices and squash. At just over £10 per person per day, this is certainly the wallet-friendly option.

Next comes ‘The Alcohol-Free Package’, which includes all of the above plus selected speciality coffees, teas and hot chocolate, and all non-alcoholic beers, cocktails, spirits and wines. 

The most popular P&O Cruises drinks package is ‘The Classic Drinks’ package. On top of everything available in the alcohol-free package, this gives you a selected range of cocktails, wines, spirits and proseccos, as well as beers and ciders! You also receive a 20 percent discount on all drinks outside of the drinks package. Coming in at £44.95 it’s easy to see why this package is the go-to choice.

For the ultimate indulgence to get you in the holiday mood, ‘The Deluxe Drinks Package’ offers the widest array of drinks. Inclusive of all beverages in the ‘Classic’ package, this also allows for the full range of hot drinks plus an extensive selection of cocktails, spirits, wines and craft beers. It even includes milkshakes! To top it all off, if you’re travelling with a child under 17, they’ll receive a free Refresh package when you book the Deluxe. 

– READ MORE: Which P&O Cruises drinks package is right for you? –

If you don’t fancy opting for a package, you’ll find that drinks prices on P&O Cruises are roughly similar to what you might expect at your local pub. If you live in London however, it may even feel like a bargain. *Simultaneously cries and jumps for joy at a pint being under £6*.

To give an idea, a pint of beer is around the £5 mark, while glasses of wine range from £6-9. Cocktails are about £8.

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

Each of P&O Cruises’ seven ships has a diverse range of bars and lounges, each with differing drinks menus. For example, the onboard pubs have a wide selection of craft beers, while the cocktail bars focus on jazzy cocktails. 

Speciality bars include The Glass House wine bar & restaurant, with a wine list of 38 wines by the glass plus guided food and wine pairings, or The Crow’s Nest which offers a gin menu of over 20 UK gin brands. 

A partnership between P&O Cruises’ newest ship Arvia and Jersey-based rum brand ‘The Tidal Rum’, has led to the creation of Golden Tide Rum, available exclusively on P&O Cruises drinks menus. Golden Tide Rum is a golden-aged spiced rum, infused with foraged coastal botanicals, said to bring the Caribbean and British Isles together.

Special rum tastings led by the ship’s onboard rum expert explain the craft behind each sip. 

– READ MORE: Rum tastings & beyond: P&O Cruises Caribbean excursions –

Yes! Each guest may bring up to 12 soft canned drinks with them, as long as they are packed in their hand luggage. Make sure to steer clear of any glass, plastic or Tetra pack bottles and cartons though, as these are not permitted.

All passengers of age are also allowed to bring one litre of wine, Champagne, beer, spirits or liqueur onboard. If you consume your own alcohol in any of the ship’s public spaces, a £20 corkage fee is charged, however there’s no corkage fee if drunk within your cabin.

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