What a cruise beverage package actually covers

A beverage package on a cruise is a prepaid plan that lets you order drinks without paying per drink at the bar, pool, or dining venues. The package covers soft drinks, coffee, tea, juice, and alcoholic beverages up to a certain price point per drink. You typically pay a flat daily rate—usually $15 to $20 per person per day, depending on the cruise line and package tier—and the cost is added to your onboard account before you sail.

What the package does not cover matters as much as what it does. Most packages exclude premium spirits (top-shelf liquor), wine by the bottle, specialty coffee drinks at certain venues, room service beverages, and drinks ordered at specialty restaurants. Some cruise lines charge extra for energy drinks or bottled water, even with a package. The exact exclusions vary by cruise line—Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, and Norwegian all structure their packages differently.

You order drinks the same way you would without a package: at the bar, from a server, or at a poolside venue. The bartender scans your room key, and the drink is covered. No vouchers, no separate transaction. If you order something outside the package, that charge goes on your account separately.

Key Takeaways

  • A beverage package saves money only if you drink enough to exceed the daily cost, which typically means four to six drinks per person per day depending on the cruise line.
  • The package covers standard bar drinks and soft drinks but excludes premium liquor, wine by the bottle, and specialty coffee—check your cruise line's specific list before buying.
  • Families with young children or non-drinkers often pay for drinks they will not use, making the package a poor value for mixed groups.
  • Prepaying before your cruise is usually cheaper than buying the package onboard, and some cruise lines offer discounts during wave season or for repeat customers.
  • If you drink moderately or prefer wine with dinner, calculating your actual drink cost per day helps you decide whether the package makes financial sense for your trip.

The math: when a package pays for itself

Whether a beverage package is worth it depends entirely on how many drinks you will actually order. A standard drink at a cruise bar costs $8 to $12 without a package, depending on the cruise line and the drink type. A beer or soft drink is usually on the lower end; a cocktail is on the higher end. If a package costs $16 per day and you drink three cocktails per day, you are paying roughly $5.33 per drink instead of $10—a clear savings. If you drink one beer and one soft drink per day, you are paying $16 for drinks that would have cost $6, and the package loses money.

The break-even point is roughly four to six drinks per person per day, depending on what you order. If you are a heavy drinker or plan to have a cocktail at lunch, dinner, and the evening show, the package likely saves you money. If you drink one or two drinks per day, you will probably spend less by paying as you go. If you do not drink alcohol and only want soft drinks and coffee, you will almost certainly lose money on a package.

Families with children present a common problem: the package is per person, so you pay for children who will drink only juice and water. A family of four with two adults and two children might pay $64 per day for a package ($16 × 4 people) but only use $20 of it. In that case, paying per drink is cheaper.

How to compare package costs across cruise lines

Beverage package prices and what they cover vary significantly. Royal Caribbean's Classic Beverage Package typically costs $15 to $17 per day and covers beer, wine by the glass, soft drinks, and standard cocktails. Carnival's Cheers! Package runs $16 to $18 per day and covers similar items. Disney Cruise Line's Beverage Package is around $15 to $17 per day but excludes wine and premium spirits entirely. Norwegian Cruise Line's Freestyle Beverage Package is roughly $20 per day and includes more premium options.

Before comparing prices, list what you actually plan to drink. If you want wine with dinner every night, a package that excludes wine by the bottle is not a fair comparison to one that includes it. If you drink only beer and soft drinks, a package that includes premium cocktails is not adding value for you. Write down the drinks you typically order in a day, find the price for each drink on your cruise line's website or past cruise documents, and multiply by the number of days you will sail. Compare that total to the package cost. That number tells you whether the package saves money for your specific trip.

Some cruise lines offer discounts on beverage packages if you book before a certain date or if you are a repeat customer. Checking your cruise line's website or calling their reservations line before you sail can reveal discounts you would miss by waiting to buy onboard.

When buying the package onboard costs more

Cruise lines charge more for a beverage package if you buy it after you board the ship. The onboard price is typically $2 to $4 per day higher than the prepaid price. If a package costs $16 per day prepaid and $19 per day onboard, and you sail for seven days, you pay $21 more by waiting. That difference adds up quickly on longer cruises.

You can usually buy a package onboard at the guest services desk on your first day, but the higher price makes prepaying almost always the better choice if you have decided you want a package. If you are unsure whether you will want one, you can wait and decide after your first day—you will pay more, but you will have a better sense of your actual drinking habits on the ship.

Alternatives to a full beverage package

Not all cruise lines offer the same package options. Some offer a limited beverage package that covers only beer and soft drinks, excluding wine and cocktails. This option is cheaper—usually $10 to $12 per day—and makes sense if you drink beer but not cocktails. Others offer a premium package that includes top-shelf liquor and wine by the bottle, costing $25 to $35 per day, which is worth it only if you regularly order expensive drinks.

Another option is to skip the package entirely and set a daily drink budget. Bring cash or use your room key to order drinks as you go, and stop when you hit your limit. This approach works well if you are unsure how much you will drink or if your group has mixed drinking habits. You pay only for what you order, with no waste.

Some people buy a package for part of the cruise. If you are sailing for ten days but only plan to drink heavily for the first five days, you could prepay for five days of the package and pay as you go for the rest. Not all cruise lines allow this, so check with your cruise line before booking.

Special considerations for families and groups

Families with young children rarely benefit from a full beverage package. Children drink juice, milk, and water, which are often included free or cost very little without a package. Paying $16 per day for a child who will drink $2 worth of beverages is poor value. Some families buy a package only for the adults and let children order drinks as needed.

Groups with mixed drinking habits face a similar problem. If one person in your group is a heavy drinker and another drinks nothing, buying one package for everyone means the non-drinker subsidizes the drinker. Splitting the group—some with packages, some without—is often fairer and cheaper overall.

Couples or groups of friends who all drink similarly usually find a package more straightforward. Everyone buys the same package, everyone benefits equally, and there is no awkward conversation about who owes whom money at the end of the cruise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a beverage package for only some days of my cruise?

Most cruise lines do not allow partial-cruise packages—you buy it for the entire sailing or not at all. However, you can prepay for a package and then cancel it onboard if you change your mind, though refund policies vary. Contact your cruise line directly to ask whether they offer multi-day packages or what their cancellation policy is.

Does a beverage package include drinks at specialty restaurants?

Usually not. Drinks ordered at specialty dining venues—steakhouses, Italian restaurants, or other paid restaurants—are typically excluded from the package. Wine pairings with dinner at specialty restaurants are almost always separate charges. Check your cruise line's package details to confirm what specialty venues are covered.

What happens if I do not use all my package drinks?

Unused drinks do not roll over or refund. The package is a daily allowance, not a bank of drinks. If you order three drinks on a day when you could have ordered six, you lose the value of those three drinks. This is another reason to calculate your expected daily drink count before buying.

Is the beverage package a good deal for non-drinkers?

No. Non-drinkers should skip the package and order soft drinks, coffee, and juice as needed. Most cruise lines charge $2 to $4 per soft drink without a package, so a non-drinker would need to order four or more soft drinks per day to break even on a $16 package. Most people do not drink that much coffee and soda.

Can I share a beverage package with someone else in my cabin?

No. Beverage packages are tied to individual room keys and are per-person charges. You cannot buy one package and have two people use it. Each person who wants package coverage must have their own package.