Cruise Drink Packages: Are They Worth It?

It's one of the first questions first-time cruisers ask: should I buy a drink package? The answer depends on a few honest calculations — and this guide will help you make the right decision for your style and budget. The short answer is that for moderate-to-regular drinkers who value convenience and predictable spending, packages are usually worth it. For light drinkers, they often aren't. Here's the full breakdown.

What Drink Packages Typically Include

Most cruise line beverage packages cover a wide range of drinks up to a per-drink price cap (usually around $12-$15 per individual drink). Included beverages typically span the full bar menu at or below that cap: cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, spirits, specialty coffees (lattes, cappuccinos, specialty espresso drinks), bottled water, sodas, energy drinks, fresh-squeezed juices, and smoothies. Premium bottles of wine ordered at dinner or top-shelf spirits exceeding the per-drink cap are usually excluded, but you can often pay only the difference beyond the cap to access them.

Package Names Across Ben's Travel's Cruise Lines

Each cruise line brands their package differently. Royal Caribbean offers the Deluxe Beverage Package, covering virtually all drinks up to their per-drink cap. Carnival's CHEERS! Package is one of the most popular in the industry and covers 15 alcoholic beverages per day plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. Norwegian Cruise Line includes a drink package as part of their popular Free at Sea promotion, making it effectively built into many bookings. Celebrity Cruises offers a Classic Package (covering most drinks up to a standard cap) and a Premium Package (expanding the cap and adding more selections). Holland America's Have It All package bundles drinks with other inclusions like excursion credits. Virgin Voyages includes all beverages in their base fare — no package needed. Viking includes beverages with meals as part of their all-inclusive pricing.

Running the Math

Drink packages typically run $70-$100 per person per day before gratuity. To break even, most travelers need to consume around 4-6 beverages daily — including a mix of specialty coffees, soft drinks, juices, and alcoholic drinks throughout the day and evening.

Think through a typical cruise day honestly: a specialty coffee in the morning ($4-6 retail), a soda or juice at lunch ($3-4), a cocktail at the pool in the afternoon ($12-14), a glass of wine at dinner ($10-12), and an after-dinner drink at the show ($11-13). That's already 5 drinks and roughly $40-50 in retail value — and many cruisers drink considerably more, especially on sea days. For those with that consumption pattern, packages deliver clear value and eliminate the micro-transaction fatigue of paying for every drink individually.

Important: The Two-Person Rule

This catches many first-time buyers off guard: most cruise lines require that both guests sharing a cabin purchase the same drink package if either person buys one. This is intentional — it prevents package-sharing. If you drink heavily and your travel partner drinks very lightly, the package math gets harder to justify across both of you. Factor this into your calculation before purchasing.

When Packages Make the Most Sense

Drink packages are well worth it for travelers who consistently drink 4 or more beverages per day (including non-alcoholic specialty drinks), who enjoy multiple specialty coffees daily, who value the freedom of never thinking about a drink tab, and who want complete predictability in their onboard spending. They're particularly valuable on sea days when you're aboard all day with easy access to bars, cafes, and pools. Many travelers report that having a package simply makes them enjoy the cruise more — there's a mental freedom in knowing every drink is already paid for.

Packages also make sense for travelers booking higher-end experiences like specialty dining paired with wine, or those who tend to socialize heavily at the bar. The social cruise experience often naturally leads to higher drink consumption.

When Packages Probably Aren't Worth It

Light drinkers who average 1-2 beverages per day will almost certainly pay more for a package than they'd spend individually. Travelers who primarily drink inexpensive beer or house wine — cheaply priced à la carte — may find paying per drink costs less. Some cruise lines allow guests to bring their own wine or champagne aboard at embarkation (typically 1-2 bottles per cabin), which is worth factoring in if you have favorite bottles you'd like to enjoy in your stateroom.

Buying at the Best Price

Cruise lines run frequent pre-sailing promotions where packages are discounted 10-25% from the onboard purchase price. Check your cruise line's website regularly in the weeks before sailing, and watch for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday promotional windows when deals are most aggressive. Packages are almost always cheaper when purchased before boarding than when bought from the bar on day one. When you book through Ben's Travel, we'll alert you to promotional windows for your sailing so you can purchase at the best available rate.

Budget Alternatives to Full Packages

If a full beverage package feels like overkill, most lines offer narrower alternatives. A Soda Package (unlimited sodas and specialty non-alcoholic drinks) runs $10-15 per day and is excellent for non-drinkers or families with kids. A Coffee Card providing a set number of specialty coffees is a great value for daily latte drinkers. These targeted packages let you capture the most-used benefits at a fraction of the full package cost.

The Bottom Line

For cruisers who enjoy drinking regularly throughout the day, a beverage package is a genuinely good investment that removes friction and adds enjoyment. For light drinkers, paying as you go is the smarter choice. Knowing your own habits honestly is the key to making the right call.

Not sure which package is right for your cruise line and sailing? Contact Ben's Travel — we know the package options and current promotions across every line we sell, and we'll help you make the right call for your vacation budget.