Travel Hub

Cruise drink package ROI

Calculate if a cruise's drink package is worth buying vs. à la carte.

Drink package

Your typical daily drinking

Package total (with gratuity)
$785
À la carte total
$581
Break-even drinks/day
8.0
Package costs you
$204
Insight: At your typical 4 drinks/day, the package costs $204 more than paying à la carte. Skip it.

Package vs à la carte by daily drinks

Get weekly marketing insights

Join 1,200+ readers. One email per week. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently asked questions

1.What counts as a 'drink'?

Alcoholic cocktails, beer, wine by glass, soda, specialty coffee, juice (sometimes), bottled water. Premium wines by bottle usually extra. Each line has a $/item cap (e.g., $14 max per drink).

2.Can my spouse share my package?

No — sharing drinks is grounds for package revocation. Enforcement varies: strict on NCL, lax on Carnival, very strict on Royal.

3.Is gratuity included?

Most packages include gratuity (auto-added 18-20%). À la carte adds 18-20% gratuity to each drink. Factor this into comparison.

4.What about shore excursion days?

Package continues while off-ship. But you can't use it at ports. If you sail 7 days with 4 port days, you're paying for 7 days of package but using it only 3 full days.

5.Can I prepay to lock in price?

Many lines discount 10-20% if you buy pre-cruise. Also sometimes included in promotional fares ('Choose Your Perk'). Always check for promo before paying cash.

Drink packages on cruises: usually a bad deal

Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package runs $85–$105 per person per day (2026 pricing). Carnival Cheers! at $69. Norwegian Premium Plus $138. At those prices, you need to drink 8–10 alcoholic drinks per day to break even — which is more than most travelers drink and more than is enjoyable.

The math that matters

Break-even drinks per day = package price ÷ average drink price. If cocktails run $14 on the ship, Royal's $95/day package requires 7 cocktails/day to break even. A more realistic traveler drinks 3–5 alcoholic drinks per day = $42–$70, cheaper à la carte than the package.

When the package makes sense

  • You drink 6+ alcoholic drinks per day (realistic for some cruisers).
  • You want the psychological freedom to order without checking prices.
  • Package includes non-alcoholic drinks you'd buy anyway (bottled water $5/bottle × 8/day = $40/day in water alone).
  • Specialty coffees ($6 each × 3/day = $18/day) tip the balance.

The gratuity trap

Most drink packages add an 18–20% gratuity on top of the advertised price. A $95 package becomes $112/day. Factor this in before comparing.

Cheaper alternatives

Most lines let you bring a bottle or two of wine at embarkation (corkage fee $15–$25). Bring sparkling water (pre-boarding). Use casino comps if you gamble a little. Some lines include basic beverages with loyalty status.

2026 drink package pricing by major cruise line

  • Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package: $85-$105/day + 18% gratuity. Drinks up to $14. Includes soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, cocktails, beer, wine by glass.
  • Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package: $35-$45/day. Non-alcoholic only — soda, coffee, juice, smoothies, mocktails, bottled water.
  • Carnival Cheers!: $69/day + 18% gratuity. Up to 15 drinks/day (alcoholic + non-alcoholic combined).
  • Norwegian Free at Sea (promotional, often bundled free): house beer/wine/cocktails. Premium Plus at $138/day upgrades to top-shelf.
  • Celebrity Classic Beverage Package: $79/day. Premium $104/day upgrades.
  • Princess Plus Package: $60/day includes beverages + wifi + gratuities. Premier $80/day adds specialty dining + faster wifi.
  • Disney Cruise beer & wine: $66-$84/day. Less pressure than other lines.
  • MSC Easy Plus: $59/day, generous European-style approach.
  • Viking Silver Spirits: $25/day on select voyages, huge value.

Worked examples: when packages pay off

Example 1 — 7-day Royal Caribbean Caribbean cruise, couple who each drink 4 cocktails + 2 coffees/day: package $95 × 1.18 × 2 × 7 = $1,568. À la carte: 4 × $13 cocktails + 2 × $7 coffees = $66/day per person × 2 × 7 = $924. Package costs $644 more. Skip.

Example 2 — 7-day Royal Caribbean, couple drinking 7 cocktails + 3 waters + 2 coffees each/day: À la carte 7×$13 + 3×$5 + 2×$7 = $110/day × 2 × 7 = $1,540. Package $1,568 — essentially break-even with peace of mind.

Example 3 — 10-day Norwegian, "Free at Sea" promo where beverages are included free with cruise fare: always take it. $0 cost.

Example 4 — 14-day Princess World Cruise, Princess Plus $60/day × 14 = $840 includes wifi (worth $25/day) + crew appreciation ($16/day) + beverages. Wifi alone covers 40% of package.

Example 5 — 7-day Carnival, light drinker (2 beers + 2 sodas/day): À la carte = 2×$7 + 2×$4 = $22/day × 7 = $154. Package $69 + 18% × 7 = $570. Huge loss.

Strategies that reduce drink costs without a package

  • Bring wine at embarkation: Most lines allow 1-2 bottles of wine per adult. $15-$25 corkage fee if consumed in dining rooms. Free in cabin.
  • Bring non-alcoholic beverages: Carnival allows 12 sealed bottled/canned non-alcoholic drinks per guest. Royal: 12 cans/bottles per stateroom. Big water/soda savings.
  • Loyalty perks: Carnival Platinum and higher gets drink vouchers. Royal Diamond+ gets 4-5 drinks/day at happy hour. Celebrity Elite+ gets daily happy hour drinks.
  • Happy hour specials: Most ships have 4-6pm drink specials, $5-$8 cocktails.
  • Casino comps: $200-$300 of play usually earns complimentary drinks while gambling.
  • Suite perks: Haven suites on Norwegian, Yacht Club on MSC include beverages for concierge guests.
  • Port day discounts: Some lines drop drink prices 20% on port days to encourage onboard drinking.

FAQ on cruise drink packages

  • Can one person in a cabin buy the package without the other? Most lines require BOTH adults in cabin to buy. Workaround: book adults in separate cabins (doesn't work with most discounts).
  • Does the package include tips? 18% gratuity is added to the package price, not individual drinks. No additional tips expected.
  • Are premium liquors included? Varies by package tier. Royal Deluxe covers drinks up to $14, so single-pour premium cocktails yes, Louis XIII no.
  • What happens if I don't drink alcohol one day? No refund. Package is per-day flat fee.
  • Can I share drinks with spouse? No. Both need the package. Servers will deny pours to second person.
  • Do drinks at specialty restaurants count? Yes, as long as drink is under package cap.
  • Is the package valid during private island days? Yes at Royal's CocoCay, Norwegian's Harvest Caye, etc. Not at third-party ports.
  • Can I cancel the package mid-cruise? Some lines allow within 24h, others are non-refundable.
  • Are coffee cards a cheaper alternative? Yes — 10-drink cards for $35-$50 on Carnival/Norwegian/Royal. Works if you mainly want specialty coffee.
  • Is the Princess Plus upgrade worth it over base fare? $60/day gets beverages + wifi + gratuities. If you'd pay for wifi + auto-gratuities ($41/day combined), package net cost is $19/day for drinks. Strong deal.

Troubleshooting: drink package regret

Three common regrets. First, buying pre-cruise at "discount" ($85 vs $95 onboard) — that's still hundreds over break-even for most drinkers. Second, underestimating seasickness. If you get queasy on day 2 of a 7-day cruise, you've lost 5-6 days of package value ($500+). Third, not budgeting for specialty lounge minimums — some premium venues (champagne bar, cigar lounge) aren't covered, so you pay à la carte on top. Fourth, package doesn't cover drinks in ports, so long port days cost extra. Always track actual consumption for the first 2 days and buy the package only if you're tracking toward break-even.

Related tools

Pair with cruise vs land trip, all-inclusive comparison, and trip budget.

More free tools

View all 40 calculators →