Six Cruise Lines Offer Alcohol Packages

How drink plans work

A beverage package changes the way passengers pay for drinks during a cruise. Instead of settling the price of each beer, glass of wine or cocktail separately, a traveler pays one fixed charge. The plan then permits unlimited orders or a specified maximum each day, depending on the cruise line’s terms. That structure can reduce costs for passengers who routinely have several alcoholic beverages daily, especially because cocktails and other drinks bought individually aboard a ship can be expensive.

Packages are not all built alike. An entry-level option may cover soda and bottled water, while a broader and usually pricier version can include beer, wine, alcoholic cocktails, alcohol-free mixed drinks and specialty coffees. A cruise company may sell multiple comprehensive tiers rather than a single plan. Separate products can also focus on wine, while coffee cards may provide a fixed quantity of premium coffee-bar beverages at a reduced rate.

Prices vary considerably

The principal all-drinks plans at Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America range from $29 to $95 for each passenger per day. At Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, the upper-tier option can exceed $100 per guest each day. Plans without alcohol are generally much cheaper; soda packages commonly come in below $12 per person for a day.

The listed daily rate is not necessarily the only price a traveler might encounter. Some operators reduce the cost when a package is purchased online before departure. Others periodically run online promotions. Comparing both the package level and the timing of the purchase can therefore matter when calculating the beverage portion of a cruise budget.

Cabin rules can add cost

Travelers do not have to purchase a package to order beverages. Every major cruise line allows passengers to pay individually for alcohol and other drinks, so a plan is an optional way to organize spending rather than a requirement for service.

However, the decision may affect more than one person in a stateroom. Carnival, MSC and Holland America require every adult sharing a cabin to buy a package when one adult purchases it. The restriction is intended to stop cabin mates from using one plan between them. Princess Cruises does not impose that all-adults requirement, and neither does Windstar Cruises, although passengers still may not use their own package to obtain beverages for somebody else. These cabin-wide policies can significantly change the total price a couple or group must consider.

Limits and exclusions matter

A flat charge does not always mean alcohol is entirely unrestricted. Carnival permits a package holder to order no more than 15 alcoholic beverages in a day. Other plans may operate without that kind of daily ceiling, so travelers should distinguish between unlimited service and service subject to a numerical cap.

Coverage generally follows the places where drinks are sold aboard the vessel, including eateries, lounges and bars. Room-service beverages are usually excluded, as are items removed from a cabin minibar. Certain cruise companies extend package use to their private islands, but that benefit depends on the operator. Reading the applicable conditions before requesting an in-room drink or going ashore can prevent an unexpected charge.

Lines travelers can compare

Alcohol-inclusive packages are available from Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line, along with Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Holland America. Most large mass-market operators sell fixed-price beverage plans. Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages are the stated exceptions, although each provides other methods for passengers to spend less on beverages.

For cruise shoppers, the useful comparison goes beyond whether a line sells a plan. The daily charge, covered drink categories, purchase-ahead discounts, cabin requirements, order limits and eligible locations can all differ. A package offers the strongest potential savings to someone who expects to order several alcoholic drinks each day; passengers with lighter consumption retain the option to pay for each beverage separately.