Cruise Drink Packages by Line: Prices, Inclusions, and the Math
Walk into any cruise planning forum and you’ll find the same conversation happening in parallel across dozens of threads: someone paid $89 per person per day on one line while their friend paid $59 on another — and neither of them is sure what was actually covered. Cruise drink package pricing is genuinely confusing, because cruise lines have designed it that way. Package names change, value caps move, promotional pricing fluctuates, and the “both adults must buy” fine print catches thousands of cruisers off-guard every year.
This cruise drink package comparison cuts through that noise. Below you’ll find a line-by-line breakdown of what each major cruise line charges, what’s actually covered, the rules that matter, and the math you need to know before you click “add to cart.” For a broader look at where drink packages fit within your total cruise spend, see our Cruise Costs & Money pillar hub.
How Cruise Drink Packages Work
Before the line-by-line breakdown, a few universal truths worth knowing:
Pre-cruise pricing beats onboard pricing. Almost every cruise line offers a discount — sometimes 20–30% — when you purchase your package before boarding. Once you’re on the ship, the price goes up.
Most lines require all adults in a cabin to buy the same package. This is the single most important fine print in cruise drink package buying. If you drink heavily and your partner doesn’t drink at all, you’re still paying for two packages on most ships. Exceptions typically require documentation (pregnancy, a medical condition).
Gratuity is almost always added on top. The advertised daily rate is rarely the true daily rate. Most lines tack on 18–20% service charge. The prices cited throughout this article are pre-gratuity unless otherwise noted.
Packages run for the full cruise duration. You generally can’t buy a package for just three of your seven nights — it’s all or nothing.
Royal Caribbean: Deluxe Beverage Package
Price range: $55–$90 per person, per day (varies by ship and sailing date). The fleet-wide median sits around $72/day, but ships like Utopia of the Seas price significantly higher than older vessels like Grandeur of the Seas.
What’s included: Any single drink priced up to $14, including cocktails, spirits, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffees, bottled still and sparkling water (Evian, San Pellegrino), fresh-squeezed juices, fountain sodas, mocktails, and energy drinks. Guests also receive a 40% discount on bottled wine purchases.
What’s NOT included: Drinks priced above $14 (you pay the difference), bottles of liquor, Starbucks on ships that have standalone Starbucks locations (separate brand agreement), and minibar items.
Drink limits: No fixed daily drink limit and no per-hour limit. Bar staff serve one drink at a time per guest and can decline service if a guest appears intoxicated.
Both adults must buy: Yes.
Pre-cruise pricing available: Yes, and strongly recommended.
Royal Caribbean Break-Even Math
At $72/day (before gratuity, so roughly $85/day after), you need to drink enough to justify that spend. A cocktail on Royal Caribbean typically runs $13–$15, a draft beer around $8–$10, a specialty coffee around $6–$8. If you’re ordering two cocktails, two beers, and a morning coffee each day, you’re close to even. Three cocktails and a couple of other beverages and the package is paying off.
Carnival: Cheers! Package
Price range: $69.95 per person, per day (plus 18% gratuity, bringing the real cost to approximately $82.55/day). Carnival occasionally runs pre-sale promotions with slight discounts.
What’s included: Any drink priced up to $20 — the highest single-drink value cap of any mainstream cruise line. This covers cocktails, spirits, domestic and imported beer, wine by the glass, non-alcoholic frozen drinks, specialty coffees, sodas, energy drinks, and bottled water.
What’s NOT included: Drinks above $20 (you pay the difference), any bottles of wine or liquor, room service beverages, and Funshops (duty-free) purchases.
Drink limits: 15 alcoholic drinks per person per 24-hour period. Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. After drink 15, you can still purchase alcohol a la carte.
Both adults must buy: Yes. One notable Carnival rule: the package can only be purchased on embarkation day if you didn’t buy it pre-cruise, and it applies to the entire remaining cruise from that point.
Pre-cruise pricing available: Yes, through the Carnival website before sailing.
Carnival’s $20 Cap Advantage
The $20 per-drink ceiling is a meaningful differentiator. On lines with a $14–$16 cap, premium spirits and top-shelf cocktails trigger upcharges. On Carnival’s Cheers!, nearly everything on the menu is included without extra charges. If you tend to drink well (top-shelf whiskey, premium tequila cocktails), Carnival’s package offers more practical coverage than its sticker price might suggest.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): Premium Beverage Package
Price range: $109 per person, per day when purchased separately; however, NCL’s Free at Sea promotion bundles the drink package into fares, and many guests effectively get it “included” as part of a package deal. Standalone purchase pricing as of 2026 is approximately $79.95–$109/day depending on the sailing length, with shorter sailings priced higher after NCL’s 2026 rate adjustment.
What’s included: Cocktails, spirits, draft and bottled beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffees, sodas, juices, and bottled water. The package covers drinks across all bars and restaurants.
What’s NOT included: Bottles of wine or spirits, drinks in the specialty dining surcharge tier, and some premium labels.
Drink limits: A per-drink cap applies (typically $15); drinks above this price incur an upcharge for the difference.
Both adults must buy: Yes.
Pre-cruise pricing available: Primarily through the Free at Sea bundle at booking. Standalone add-on pricing is generally higher than pre-cruise promotional rates.
NCL Free at Sea Context
For most Norwegian guests, the drink package question isn’t “should I buy it” — it’s “does Free at Sea make this cruise the better deal?” If Norwegian is offering the package as a fare inclusion, you’re paying roughly the equivalent of one drink’s worth per day in fare premium to unlock the full package. That’s nearly always worth taking.
MSC Cruises: Premium Extra Package
Price range: $80–$100 per person, per day. As of April 2025, MSC retired its lower-tier Easy and Easy Plus packages, leaving the Premium Extra as the sole alcoholic package option.
What’s included: Drinks priced up to $16, including fine wines and champagne by the glass, premium cocktails, top-shelf spirits, draft and bottled beers, specialty coffees, hot chocolate, energy drinks, smoothies, and soft drinks. A 25% discount on bottled wine is also included.
What’s NOT included: Drinks above $16 (pay the difference), bottle service, room service beverages.
Drink limits: 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period (a rule implemented in April 2025). Non-alcoholic beverages remain unlimited.
Both adults must buy: Yes.
Pre-cruise pricing available: Yes, pre-cruise rates are lower than onboard.
MSC’s Single-Tier Reality
The elimination of budget-friendly packages means MSC’s drink package math is straightforward but less flexible. If you’re a moderate drinker — two or three drinks a day — you may find MSC’s all-or-nothing Premium Extra harder to justify than comparable packages on Carnival or Princess. Heavy drinkers who hit close to the 15-drink daily cap will find good value; casual drinkers may be better off ordering a la carte.
Celebrity Cruises: Classic and Premium Beverage Packages
Celebrity offers two tiers, and the gap between them matters.
Classic Package price: Approximately $59.99 per person, per day pre-cruise (plus 18% gratuity, so roughly $70.79/day all-in). Often bundled into Celebrity’s “Always Included” fare tiers.
Classic what’s included: Drinks priced up to $12 (or $14 from some ports), including beer, wine by the glass, standard cocktails, spirits, specialty coffees, sodas, and juices.
Premium Package price: Approximately $84.99 per person, per day pre-cruise (plus gratuity, roughly $100.29/day all-in).
Premium what’s included: Drinks up to $19 per serving, covering a wider range of premium spirits, wines, and cocktails. Essentially opens the full drink menu without upcharges on most items.
What’s NOT included (both tiers): Bottles of wine or spirits, drinks above the respective value cap, and some specialty beverage programs.
Drink limits: No stated fixed daily limit on alcoholic beverages, though bar staff apply standard responsible service policies.
Both adults must buy: Yes.
Pre-cruise vs. onboard: Celebrity’s “Always Included” fare structure means many guests receive the Classic package as part of their base fare. Upgrading to Premium pre-cruise is significantly cheaper than purchasing it onboard.
Celebrity’s Tier Decision
The $25/day gap between Classic and Premium comes down to your drinking preferences. If you’re happy with house spirits and standard wines, Classic is sufficient. If you regularly order premium bourbon, specific single malts, or better-label wines, the Premium tier pays for itself within a drink or two per day.
Princess Cruises: Princess Plus and Princess Premier
Princess embeds its drink package inside two bundled fare tiers — Plus and Premier — making it difficult to compare purely on beverage cost alone. The drink component is a meaningful part of both packages.
Princess Plus: $65 per person, per day (add-on rate; fare bundles vary). Includes drinks up to $15, covering beer, spirits, wine by the glass, cocktails, zero-alcohol cocktails, all non-alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, bottled water, and Red Bull. Daily alcoholic beverage limit: 15 drinks. Specialty coffees and teas do not count toward this limit.
Princess Premier: $100 per person, per day (add-on rate). Raises the drink cap to $20 per serving and removes the daily alcoholic beverage limit. Also adds up to 12 bottles of water per day and expands non-alcoholic coverage.
What’s NOT included (both): Bottles of wine (25% discount applies), one-liter water bottles (discount applies), and drinks above respective value cap.
Both adults must buy: Yes.
Pre-cruise pricing: Available and recommended — onboard pricing is higher.
Holland America Line: Signature and Elite Packages
Holland America draws an older, more deliberate-pace cruiser demographic, and its drink packages reflect that — solid value at mid-range prices without the energy drink and cocktail-heavy menus you’d find on Carnival or Royal.
Signature Package: Approximately $50.95 per person, per day pre-cruise (plus 18% gratuity). Covers cocktails, premium beers, spirits, and wines by the glass priced up to $12.
Elite Package: Approximately $55.95 per person, per day pre-cruise (plus 18% gratuity). Raises the drink cap to $16 and adds the full Signature package inclusions. Both packages cap alcoholic beverages at 15 drinks per 24-hour period.
What’s included in both: Premium beers, cocktails, spirits, wines by the glass, specialty coffees, sodas, and juices up to respective price caps. Bottled still water is included.
What’s NOT included: Bottles of wine, drinks above value caps (you pay the difference), and room service beverages.
Both adults must buy: Yes.
Pre-cruise pricing available: Yes, with meaningful savings versus onboard rates.
Holland America also bundles drink packages into its “Have It All” and “Pinnacle” fare packages, where the break-even on the overall package is often just a few beverages per day — making it one of the better-value bundled options in mainstream cruising.
Disney Cruise Line: No Standard Drink Package
Disney is the outlier in this comparison: Disney does not offer a traditional unlimited alcoholic drink package. Instead, Disney sells beer and wine in bulk:
- Beer packages: Bundles of 6, 12, or 24 bottles at a slight discount versus individual pricing. A 6-pack bundle runs roughly $49–$65.
- Wine packages: Selections of 3, 4, 5, or 7 bottles from a curated list, starting around $100 for three bottles.
- Spirits: Sold a la carte only. Disney does not offer a spirits-inclusive package, and guests who bring spirits from port are held by the ship until disembarkation day.
For Disney sailings, the drink math is straightforward: if you’ll drink more than one beer or one glass of wine per day, the bundle pricing saves a small amount over individual purchases. For heavier drinkers, Disney cruises are simply not the most cost-effective environment for drinking, and that’s by design.
The Break-Even Analysis: How Many Drinks Per Day Do You Need?
Here’s the simple math most cruise lines don’t put in their marketing materials:
| Cruise Line | Approx. Daily Package Cost (with gratuity) | Break-Even Drinks/Day |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | ~$85 | 5–7 cocktails/beverages |
| Carnival Cheers! | ~$83 | 4–5 cocktails (at $20 cap value) |
| Norwegian Premium | ~$131 | 7–9 drinks |
| MSC Premium Extra | ~$96–$120 | 6–8 drinks |
| Celebrity Classic | ~$71 | 5–6 drinks |
| Celebrity Premium | ~$100 | 5–6 premium drinks |
| Princess Plus | ~$77 | 5–6 drinks |
| Princess Premier | ~$118 | 5–7 drinks |
| Holland America Signature | ~$60 | 4–5 drinks |
| Holland America Elite | ~$66 | 4–5 drinks |
Break-even assumes average drink prices of $12–$15. Your exact number shifts based on what you drink — coffee and bottled water count too, so morning lattes and afternoon Pellegrinos factor into the calculation. For a detailed walkthrough of the math for your specific drinking habits, see our guide on Is a Cruise Drink Package Worth It?
Key Questions Answered
Can I share a drink package with my travel partner?
No. Every package is tied to a specific SeaPass card (or equivalent) on every major cruise line. Bar staff scan your card when you order. Passing your card to a partner to order on your package is against the terms of service on all major lines and can result in package revocation without refund.
Do kids and teens need their own package?
Children typically cannot purchase alcoholic packages. Most lines offer separate non-alcoholic packages for minors, covering sodas, juices, mocktails, smoothies, and specialty coffees. Prices generally run $15–$35 per child per day. Some lines include the non-alcoholic package with kids’ fares; check your specific line’s policy.
Is it always cheaper to buy before the cruise?
Almost always, yes — often meaningfully so. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity all price packages noticeably higher when purchased at the ship’s bars versus pre-cruise online. The gap can range from $10 to $30 per person per day.
What happens if I buy a package and don’t drink much?
You lose the difference. Packages are non-refundable and non-transferable once the cruise begins. If you’re unsure whether you’ll drink enough to break even, consider how drink packages fit into your full cruise cost picture — our guide on What’s Included in Your Cruise Fare covers what you’re already paying for before you add packages.
Who Should Buy a Cruise Drink Package (and Who Shouldn’t)
Buy the package if:
- You drink 5+ beverages daily (counting coffee, juice, bottled water, and alcohol)
- You prefer budget certainty over tracking individual charges
- You drink specialty coffees and bottled water regularly — these alone can add $10–$15/day
- You sail on Norwegian and the Free at Sea bundle is offered
Skip the package if:
- You’re a light drinker averaging 1–2 alcoholic drinks per day
- You sail on Disney (no standard package exists)
- You’re sailing on a short 2–3 night cruise where the math rarely works out
- One adult in your cabin drinks and the other doesn’t — paying for two packages for one drinker rarely makes financial sense
Consider the mid-tier if:
- Celebrity’s Classic vs. Premium decision is the best example of this calculus — if you drink house spirits happily, save $30/day and stay Classic
The Bottom Line on Cruise Drink Package Comparison
No single line offers the universally best cruise drink package. Carnival wins on value cap flexibility ($20 per drink). Holland America wins on entry price. Celebrity’s bundled fares often make the Classic package an effective freebie. Norwegian’s Free at Sea is a compelling all-in deal when the promotion is live. MSC’s streamlined single-tier approach works for heavy drinkers but is poor value for moderate ones.
The right package depends on what you drink, how often you drink it, how many adults are in your cabin, and whether your cruise line is offering a fare bundle that makes the package math easier. Run the break-even calculation honestly, account for gratuity in every price you compare, and buy before you board.
For the full picture of what your cruise fare already covers before you spend a dollar on extras, explore our Cruise Costs & Money hub — it covers everything from tipping policies to port fees to what that “free” dining really costs you.