Is a Cruise Drink Package Worth It? The Complete Math Breakdown
We do the math on cruise drink packages from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, and more — break-even points, what's included, and when to skip the package entirely.
The cruise drink package pitch sounds irresistible: pay one flat daily rate and drink as much as you want for the entire voyage. But the math doesn’t always work in your favor — and the cruise lines know this. Let’s break down the actual numbers so you can make an informed decision before you click “add to booking.”
How Cruise Drink Packages Work
A cruise drink package is a prepaid beverage allowance that covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks up to a certain price cap per drink. You pay a daily flat rate (billed for the full length of your cruise), and in return, qualifying drinks up to the per-drink limit are covered. Drinks above the price cap are charged at the difference.
Most major lines require that all adults in the same cabin purchase the same package — you can’t buy a package for one person and share drinks. This rule alone often changes the math significantly for couples where one person drinks significantly more than the other.
Price Breakdown by Cruise Line
Drink package prices vary widely and change frequently. Prices below are typical pre-cruise purchase rates (buying on the ship is usually 10–20% more expensive).
| Cruise Line | Package Name | Approx. Daily Price | Per-Drink Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | CHEERS! Beverage Program | $65–$85/day | $20/drink |
| Royal Caribbean | Deluxe Beverage Package | $65–$95/day | $17/drink |
| Norwegian | Premium Plus Beverage | $109–$119/day | $20/drink |
| Celebrity | Classic/Premium Packages | $75–$105/day | $10–$17/drink |
| MSC | Easy/Premium Extra | $35–$65/day | Varies |
| Holland America | Elite Beverage Package | $60–$80/day | $15/drink |
These prices also typically exclude gratuity — most lines add 18–20% on top of the package price, which adds $12–$22 per person per day to the true cost.
True daily cost example (Carnival CHEERS!):
- Package price: $75/day
- Gratuity (18%): $13.50/day
- Total: $88.50/person/day
For two adults on a 7-night cruise, that’s $1,239 total.
The Break-Even Calculation
To break even on a drink package, you need to consume enough drinks to equal the daily package cost. Here’s how to calculate yours:
Break-even drinks per day = Package daily cost (with gratuity) ÷ Average drink price
Using Carnival as an example:
- True daily cost: $88.50
- Average cocktail or beer price: ~$10–$12
- Break-even: 7–9 drinks per person per day
That’s a lot of drinking — especially on port days when you’re off the ship for 6–8 hours.
Royal Caribbean Break-Even
Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package at $80/day + 18% gratuity = $94.40/day true cost.
- Average premium cocktail: ~$13–$15
- Premium wine by the glass: ~$12–$16
- Specialty coffee: ~$6–$8
- Break-even: 6–8 drinks per day
If you’re having two drinks with lunch, two at the pool, two before dinner, and a nightcap, you’re in the neighborhood — but you need to maintain that pace every single day, including days you feel rough or spend most of the time ashore.
Norwegian’s Premium Math
NCL’s Premium Plus package at ~$115/day + 18% gratuity = $135.70/day. Norwegian packages also include specialty coffees, bottled water, fresh juices, and sodas, which helps justify the higher price if you’re a coffee drinker.
- Break-even including coffee and water: 6–8 alcoholic drinks + several non-alcoholic beverages
- Worth it for heavy drinkers; questionable for moderate drinkers
What’s Included vs. Excluded
This is where many cruisers get surprised. “Premium” beverage packages don’t always cover everything.
Typically Included
- Cocktails, beer, wine up to the per-drink price cap
- Soda (fountain drinks)
- Fresh-squeezed juices (on some packages)
- Specialty coffees (on premium tiers)
- Bottled water (on premium tiers)
- Energy drinks (on some packages)
- Frozen drinks and smoothies
Typically Excluded
- Drinks above the per-drink price cap (you pay the difference)
- Bottles of wine to take to your cabin (usually excluded)
- Room service beverages
- Minibar items
- Some specialty restaurant beverages
- Souvenir cups and glasses
- Freshly squeezed juices (on basic tiers)
- Premium spirits above certain tiers (e.g., Johnnie Walker Blue, Dom Pérignon)
One gotcha to watch: If you order a $22 cocktail and your cap is $17, you’re charged the $5 difference — and then the automatic bar gratuity on that difference. Know your line’s cap before ordering.
Strategies to Maximize Package Value
If you’ve decided to buy a package, here’s how to squeeze every dollar out of it:
Order Specialty Coffees Every Morning
A double espresso or specialty latte runs $5–$7 per cup. If your package includes specialty coffee, two lattes per day = $10–$14 in value before you touch alcohol. On a 7-night cruise, that’s $70–$98 in recovered value per person.
Hydrate with Included Water
Premium packages that include bottled water (usually $3–$5 per bottle) add meaningful value, especially on hot port days. Keep track of what your package covers before buying water ashore.
Pre-Purchase Before Boarding
The on-ship price is nearly always higher than the pre-cruise price. Book during a sale — cruise lines frequently offer 20–30% off package prices during promotional periods. Set a price alert or check on Black Friday/Cyber Monday.
Time Your Port Day Drinking
On sea days, you’re on the ship for 16+ waking hours and the bars are right there. On port days, factor in time ashore. If you’re off the ship 8am–6pm, you have fewer hours to drink aboard. Some cruisers choose to buy packages specifically for longer sea day itineraries (transatlantic, repositioning cruises).
Know Your “Included” Brands
Most basic packages cover well liquor and house wines. If you’re a bourbon snob or prefer specific premium labels, check the package’s brand list before buying. You may find the included spirits don’t match your preferences.
When to Skip the Package
A drink package genuinely isn’t worth it for everyone. Here are the situations where you’re better off paying as you go:
You drink moderately. If you typically have 2–3 drinks per day, you’ll spend $20–$40 out of pocket per day — far less than the $65–$90+ package cost.
You have long port days. Caribbean itineraries with multiple ports often have 8–10 hour days ashore. You’re only drinking on the ship morning and evening. Your daily consumption drops, your break-even gets harder.
One of you doesn’t drink. The “everyone in the cabin must buy” rule is brutal when one person is pregnant, on medication, or simply a non-drinker. The non-drinker would need the soda package or nothing.
You’re buying alcohol in ports. Many Caribbean ports sell cheap, excellent rum and spirits. Buying a bottle ashore and drinking it in your cabin is significantly cheaper — check your line’s bring-aboard policy first.
You’re on a short cruise. A 3–4 night cruise means fewer days to amortize the package cost. It’s harder to break even on a long weekend sailing.
Alternative Packages Worth Considering
Soda Package
Priced at $10–$15/day, a soda package is worth it if you drink multiple sodas per day. At $3–$4 per fountain drink on most ships, three sodas per day gets you to break-even. It’s a no-brainer for kids or non-drinking adults.
Coffee Package
Some lines (Norwegian, Celebrity) offer specialty coffee packages for $8–$12/day. If you’re a two-latte-a-day person, this pays off quickly and is one of the clearest value-adds available.
Water Packages
Bottled water packages are available on some lines for $5–$10/day. Unless your package already includes bottled water, this can save money for port-day hydration.
Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package
Holland America and some other lines offer non-alcoholic packages covering juices, sodas, and specialty coffees at a reduced daily rate. These are genuinely worth evaluating for non-drinkers.
The Honest Bottom Line
Most cruisers who buy a drink package do not break even mathematically — and they often enjoy the cruise just as much as they would have otherwise. The real value proposition isn’t pure savings; it’s budget certainty and decision freedom. When everything is paid for, you can order a cocktail by the pool without pulling out your keycard or mentally tallying costs. For some people, that relaxed vacation mindset is worth $50/day. For others, it’s not.
Run your own break-even calculation before you book. Be honest about how much you actually drink on vacation (hint: most people overestimate). And always compare the package price to the cost of what you’d actually order — not your most optimistic drinking scenario.
If the math works, buy it early, buy it on sale, and enjoy every dollar of it. If it doesn’t, pay as you go and put the savings toward a memorable shore excursion instead.