Do Cruise Drink Packages Include Gratuity?
Quick answer
Usually not built into the headline price. Most cruise lines add an 18 to 20 percent gratuity on top of the drink package cost, so the total you pay is higher than the advertised per-day rate. A few lines bundle the tip in.
On most cruise lines, the gratuity is not baked into the price you see advertised for a drink package. Instead, an automatic service charge of roughly 18 to 20 percent is added on top, so the real cost runs noticeably higher than the per-day rate in the brochure. A few lines do fold the tip into the headline price, but they’re the exception.
How the gratuity is added
When you buy a package, the line takes the daily rate, multiplies it by the number of days in your sailing, and then tacks on the service charge. That charge covers tips for the bar staff who serve you all week, so you don’t tip again on each drink. It’s separate from the daily auto-gratuity charged per person, which compensates your cabin steward and dining-room crew.
For example, a package listed around the mid-range daily price can end up roughly a fifth more once the gratuity is applied. Always look at the final total at checkout rather than the advertised rate, because that’s what hits your card.
Lines that bundle it in
A handful of premium and luxury lines advertise drink packages with gratuity already included, and some promotional offers occasionally waive the service charge to sweeten a deal. If a package looks unusually expensive or unusually cheap compared with the rest of the market, it’s often because the tip is or isn’t included. Check the fine print to compare like with like.
A note on limits
Drink packages are typically marketed as unlimited, but unlimited comes with guardrails. Common rules include:
- A per-drink price cap, so very premium pours may cost extra above the package.
- A daily limit on the number of alcoholic drinks, often around 15, mainly as a responsible-service measure.
- A short wait between drinks in some cases, and one drink served at a time.
Within those bounds, you can order as much as you like.
The bottom line
Budget for the gratuity unless the line clearly states it’s included. Add about 18 to 20 percent to any per-day price you’re quoted to estimate your true cost, and confirm the total before you buy. Our drink package break-even calculator folds the gratuity into the daily cost for you so you can see what you’ll really pay.
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