Are Cruise Drink Packages Worth It? Here's How to Actually Decide
Every time I bring up cruise drink packages, someone in the comments asks some version of the same question: "Are they actually worth it?"
The honest answer is: it depends. And I know that's not what anyone wants to hear. But after years of helping clients plan cruises, I've stopped giving a blanket yes or no on this one — because the right answer varies a lot depending on how you drink, what you drink, and which cruise line you're on.
I used to recommend drink packages to almost everyone. Now I help clients actually run the math first. This post will walk you through how to do that.
Key Takeaways
Cruise drink packages are not automatically a good deal — whether they're worth it depends almost entirely on your personal drinking habits.
Most premium beverage packages require you to consume 5–6 alcoholic drinks per day just to break even, and that number doesn't account for port days when you're off the ship.
The math changes when you factor in non-alcoholic options: specialty coffee, smoothies, bottled water, energy drinks, and mocktails all count toward the value.
Buying a package for the convenience of not tracking spending is a legitimate reason — but be honest about what that convenience is actually costing you.
If you're on a cruise line like Norwegian or Celebrity that includes a drink package in bundled promotions, the value calculation is very different than paying full price out of pocket.
Some travelers are better served by a lower-tier package or no package at all.
I Used to Recommend Drink Packages to Almost Everyone
When I first started helping clients plan cruises, I almost always suggested getting the drink package. It felt like the obvious move — unlimited drinks, no bill at the end of the night, no stress about what things cost. It seemed like a simple way to enhance the experience.
Then I started looking at what clients were actually spending, and what they were actually drinking.
The honest truth is that most people don't drink enough to make a premium beverage package worth the price. Not even close. And I realized I'd been recommending something based on the feeling of value rather than the actual math.
That's changed how I advise clients now. Instead of a blanket recommendation, I ask a few questions. The answers almost always make the decision clear.
What's Actually Included in a Cruise Drink Package
Before you can figure out whether a package is worth it, you need to understand what's in it — because not all packages are created equal, and not all drinks count the same way.
Most cruise lines offer tiered options. A basic or "classic" package typically covers beer, well liquor, house wine, and non-premium cocktails. A premium or "deluxe" package adds top-shelf spirits, specialty cocktails, premium wines, and often non-alcoholic beverages like specialty coffee, fresh-squeezed juice, smoothies, bottled water, and energy drinks.
On lines like Royal Caribbean, the Deluxe Beverage Package covers drinks up to a certain price point — typically around $14–$17 per drink — and anything above that carries an upcharge. Carnival's Cheers! program works similarly. Norwegian's free-at-sea promotions often bundle a beverage package into your fare, though it's worth checking what tier is actually included.
The non-alcoholic items matter more than people realize. If you're someone who orders a specialty latte every morning, a smoothie at the pool, and a bottle of water on port days, those add up. That's easily $20–$30 per day in non-alcoholic beverages alone, depending on the ship and the line.
The Break-Even Math (Do This Before You Decide)
Here's the straightforward way to think about it.
Take the daily cost of the package — usually somewhere between $65 and $100+ per person per day depending on the line, the sailing, and when you buy — and divide it by the average per-drink price on that ship.
On most mainstream cruise lines, a cocktail runs $12–$16. So if you're paying $80/day for the package, you need to consume roughly 5–6 drinks per day just to break even. Every day. Including port days when you're off the ship for 6–8 hours.
That's a lot of drinks.
Now factor in the full picture. If the package also covers specialty coffee, smoothies, bottled water, and non-alcoholic beverages, your daily consumption across all categories starts to look different. Someone who drinks 2–3 alcoholic drinks, two specialty coffees, and a couple of bottled waters per day might actually come close to breaking even — or even come out ahead.
Do the math honestly, based on how you actually drink — not how you imagine you'll drink on vacation.
When a Drink Package Makes Sense
There are situations where a beverage package genuinely does make sense, and it's not just about volume.
You drink consistently throughout the day. Not just at dinner. If you're someone who has a bloody mary at brunch, a couple of drinks by the pool, wine at dinner, and a nightcap, the numbers start to work. That's probably 5–6 drinks without trying hard.
You drink specialty coffee or other non-alcoholic premium beverages regularly. If every morning starts with an espresso drink and you're the kind of person who orders fresh juice or a smoothie at the pool, add those into your daily tally. They're not cheap on a cruise ship.
You prefer to spend without tracking. Some people genuinely enjoy the feeling of an all-inclusive experience — no checking the bill, no mental math, just order what sounds good. If that peace of mind has real value to you, that's a legitimate reason. Just be clear-eyed about what you're paying for it.
The package is bundled into your fare at a discount. Lines like Norwegian and Celebrity frequently include beverage packages in their promotional offers. In those cases, you're often getting the package at a fraction of what you'd pay if you added it on separately. The break-even math looks completely different.
You're sailing on a longer voyage. The longer the sailing, the more opportunity you have to average out. A 10- or 14-night cruise gives you more at-sea days where you're more likely to drink throughout the day.
When a Drink Package Probably Isn't Worth It
You're a light or moderate drinker. If you typically have 1–2 drinks with dinner and that's about it, a premium package is unlikely to pay off. You'd do better paying as you go.
You're sailing with a lot of port-intensive itineraries. If you're in port from 8am to 6pm most days, you're off the ship eating and drinking locally. That's time you're not consuming from the package. A Mediterranean itinerary with daily port calls is very different from a 7-night Caribbean cruise with two sea days.
You don't drink alcohol and don't consume other premium beverages. Some cruise lines offer a non-alcoholic package for significantly less. If that's what actually fits your habits, it's worth looking into.
You're sailing on a line with less expensive drink prices. Not every cruise line has the same pricing structure. If drinks are already reasonably priced by the glass, the math favors paying as you go.
Only one person in your party drinks. Most cruise lines require that all adults in the same cabin purchase the same package. If one person wants the package and the other rarely drinks, you're paying for two packages when only one person will use it.
A Note on Port Days
This is the single biggest variable people underestimate.
On a port day, you might be off the ship from 8am until 6pm. That's 10 hours where you're not using your package. You might grab a beer at a local restaurant, a coffee from a street vendor, a bottle of water from a shop — none of which counts toward your package value.
For itineraries that are heavy on port calls — think Alaska, the Mediterranean, or port-intensive Caribbean routes — the effective daily value of your package drops considerably. You might only be on the ship for 8–10 hours, and of that, several will be sleeping.
Do the math with your actual itinerary, not a theoretical full day onboard.
My Recommendation Now
I don't recommend beverage packages across the board anymore. What I do instead is ask clients to honestly estimate their daily consumption — alcoholic drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water, anything premium — and compare that to the package price.
For some clients, the package is clearly worth it. For others, paying as they go is the smarter choice. And for a few, a lower-tier package (non-alcoholic or classic tier) is a better fit than the premium version they were defaulting to.
The one thing I've found to be consistently true: people tend to overestimate how much they'll drink on a cruise. The vacation feeling makes it seem like you'll be sipping something from the moment you board until you turn in for the night. In reality, port days and full itineraries mean many people don't drink nearly as much as they anticipated.
Be honest about your habits. The package isn't going anywhere — you can always add it on after you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth getting a drink package on a cruise? It depends on your drinking habits. If you'll realistically consume 5–6 drinks per day across alcohol and premium non-alcoholic beverages, a package often pays off. If you're a light drinker or spending most days in port, you'll likely save money paying as you go.
What is the average cost of a cruise drink package? Prices vary by cruise line and itinerary, but most premium beverage packages run between $65 and $100+ per person per day. Promotional pricing is often available if you purchase before sailing, and some lines include packages in bundled promotions.
Do cruise drink packages include non-alcoholic beverages? Premium packages on most major lines — including Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package, Carnival's Cheers! program, and Celebrity's packages — typically include specialty coffee, bottled water, smoothies, fresh juice, and non-alcoholic cocktails. Basic or classic packages may not.
Can I add a drink package after I board? Yes, most cruise lines allow you to purchase a beverage package onboard, though pricing is usually higher than pre-cruise rates. It's generally worth purchasing in advance if you know you want one.
Do both people in a cabin have to buy the drink package? On most mainstream cruise lines, all adults sharing a cabin must purchase the same beverage package. This is an important consideration if only one person in your party drinks regularly.
What happens if I go over the drink limit on a package? Most premium packages don't have a hard daily drink cap, though some lines cap the number of alcoholic drinks per day (Royal Caribbean, for example, limits the Deluxe package to 15 alcoholic drinks per day). Non-premium drinks are typically unlimited. If a drink exceeds the included price point, you pay the difference.
Are drinks cheaper to buy individually on a cruise? By the drink, cruise ships are not cheap — cocktails and wine typically run $12–$17 each on mainstream lines. If you're only having 1–3 drinks per day, individual pricing is still usually less expensive than a daily package rate.
Is it better to buy a drink package or pay as you go? Run the math based on your specific habits and itinerary. Light drinkers, travelers with many port days, and those sailing on lines with lower a-la-carte prices are often better off paying as they go. Regular drinkers with more sea days tend to get value from packages.
What cruise lines have the best drink package value? Norwegian Cruise Line frequently bundles drink packages into promotional offers, which can make the effective per-day cost very low. Celebrity and Princess also offer competitive packages. The "best" value depends on what's included at your specific price point — always compare what's covered at each tier before deciding.
Can I share a drink package with someone else? No. Beverage packages are tied to individual guests and are not transferable or shareable. Each person must have their own package.
Ready to Plan Your Cruise?
If you're still figuring out your cruise budget or trying to decide what's actually worth paying for, I can help. I work with travelers one-on-one to plan cruises that make sense for their budget, travel style, and goals — not just the options that sound good on paper.
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