One of the first questions many cruisers ask after booking is whether they should purchase a drink package.
Cruise lines certainly make them sound appealing – unlimited cocktails by the pool, specialty coffee in the morning, wine with dinner, and bottled water throughout the day can all make vacation feel a little easier!
But here’s the reality: drink packages are not always a good deal.
We’ve sailed on everything from mainstream cruise lines to luxury brands where beverages are already included, and we’ve found that the approach to a drink package depends entirely on your travel style, the cruise line, and how you actually spend your time onboard.
Before you purchase a drink package, here are a few things worth considering!
What’s Actually Included?
The first thing to understand is that not every cruise line treats beverages the same way.
On many mainstream cruise lines – such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, and MSC – alcohol, soda, specialty coffees, bottled water, and fresh juices cost extra.
So on these lines, unlimited drink packages can make sense for some travelers!
Luxury cruise lines are a different story.
On brands like Explora Journeys, Seabourn, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which fall into the “ultra-luxury” cruise category, all beverages are already included in your fare!
This is why we always recommend understanding what’s included before making any decisions.
Do The Math
One of the easiest ways to determine whether a drink package is worth it is to calculate your break-even point.
Let’s use a simple example:
If a drink package costs $80 per day and cocktails average $15 each, you would need to consume roughly five to six drinks every day just to break even.
And that’s every day of the cruise.
For some travelers, that’s easy, but for others, especially those spending most of the day exploring ports, it may not be realistic!
This is where many people end up overpaying – they buy the package thinking they’ll use it constantly, only to realize they’re off the ship most afternoons or simply don’t drink enough to justify the cost.
Consider Your Cruise Style
One factor that often gets overlooked is how much time you’ll actually spend onboard.
For example, consider these two travelers:
Traveler One:
- Caribbean cruise
- Two sea days
- Lots of pool time
- Enjoys cocktails throughout the day
Traveler Two:
- Mediterranean cruise
- Long port days
- Off the ship for eight to ten hours daily
- Returns mainly for dinner
The first traveler will likely get far more value from a drink package than the second.
This is one reason we often see drink packages make more sense on Caribbean itineraries than on destination-heavy cruises through Europe.
The more time you spend onboard, the more likely a package becomes worthwhile!
More Than Alcohol
Many people focus only on alcoholic beverages when evaluating a package, but that isn’t the full picture.
Depending on the cruise line, drink packages may also include:
- Specialty coffee
- Fresh juices
- Bottled water
- Smoothies
- Energy drinks
- Soda
If you’re someone who starts each day with a specialty coffee, drinks bottled water throughout the day, and enjoys a few cocktails in the evening, those costs add up faster than you might think.
On the other hand, if you’re perfectly happy with the complimentary coffee, tea, and water stations available onboard, the package becomes harder to justify.
Being honest about your habits is important here!
When We Buy Them
Over the years, we’ve developed a fairly simple approach.
We usually consider purchasing a drink package when:
- The cruise has multiple sea days
- We plan to spend significant time onboard
- The pricing makes mathematical sense
- We know we’ll use the included beverages consistently
We usually skip the package when:
- The itinerary is port-intensive
- Most of our days will be spent ashore
- We would need to “force” ourselves to use it enough to justify the cost
One thing we never recommend is buying a package simply because everyone else seems to be doing it – the right answer is highly personal!
Final Thoughts
So, are cruise drink packages worth it?
Sometimes.
For travelers who spend a lot of time onboard and regularly enjoy specialty beverages, they can absolutely provide value and convenience.
For others, especially those on port-intensive itineraries, they may end up being an unnecessary expense.
The key is understanding your habits, your itinerary, and what’s already included in your fare before making a decision!
