Is the cruise drink package worth it? The math for one or two drinks a day

How many drinks a day before the drink package pays?

Divide the daily price, with the service charge, by what one cocktail costs on that line. That is how many drinks you need every single day to break even.

Prices checked 7 October 2026. They change by sailing, booking date and whether you buy before or after you board. Typical cocktail prices are from dated cruise menus (Cruise Mummy, Royal Caribbean Blog, 2025–2026). Drinks bought one at a time usually carry a service charge too, so your real break-even can be about one drink lower. Check with your own cruise line.

Work out your own number

Put in what you were quoted and roughly what a drink costs on your ship.

Do both adults in the cabin have to buy the drink package?

On most lines, yes. If one adult buys the alcohol package, every adult in that cabin has to buy it too, even the one who barely drinks. In the lines’ own words:

• Royal Caribbean: “Any guest wishing to purchase an alcoholic beverage package must do so for all guests of legal drinking age … in the same stateroom.”
• Carnival: “Each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program.”
• Celebrity: “requires all guests wishing to purchase a Drink Package to do so for ALL guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom.”
• Holland America: “All adults of legal drinking age for the respective itinerary that are booked in the same stateroom must also purchase the package.”
• Viking: “Both guests in a stateroom must purchase the package for the full length of the cruise in order for it to be valid.”
• Princess Plus (the fare bundle): “One guest’s participation in Princess Plus or Princess Premier may be dependent on the other guest(s) in his/her stateroom’s participation, as determined by booking method.”

What about port days?

You still pay for them. Royal Caribbean: “Must be purchased for the duration of the cruise.” Carnival: “Cheers! packages can only be purchased for the entire length of your cruise.” Princess: “Packages must be purchased for full length of voyage.” Holland America answers “No” when asked whether you can buy a package for selected days.

Is there a package for two drinks a day?

Not a daily one, as far as we could find on all ten lines (October 2026). Some lines sell fixed bundles instead, like Carnival’s wine packages and Royal Caribbean’s beer buckets and spirit bundles. The closest thing to a two-drinks-a-day deal is Norwegian’s Free at Sea, below.

The small print that changes the math

Is a drinks-included fare cheaper?

Sometimes. These fares and bundles fold the drinks in with something else you would pay for:

• Norwegian Free at Sea: “Includes unlimited premium spirits, cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice and soda.” You pay the gratuity: “Gratuities are $28.50/per person/per day for all guests 21+ … this is the pre-cruise price. The onboard price will vary.” At about $12.50 a cocktail, that is roughly two drinks a day.
• Viking: beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner are included for every guest.
• Celebrity All Included: “All Included pricing will continue to include the Classic Beverage package.”
• Princess Plus: $65 a day pre-cruise for “15 drinks per day (up to $15 each)”, Wi-Fi for “1 device per guest”, and crew tips. The Plus drink package alone is about $77 a day with the service charge.

5 cheaper ways to drink on a cruise

Way 1: What do you get to drink if you don’t buy the package?

More than people think.

Way 2: Is it cheaper to pay as you go?

For one or two drinks a day, yes. On Carnival a specialty coffee runs about $3–$5.50 and a smoothie about $7 (Cruise Mummy, February 2026). A glass of wine at dinner (about $12) and a specialty coffee (about $5) is $17 a day plus service: about $119 plus service for a week, against $587.58 for the package.

Some ships now have a little health bar with healthy snacks, smoothies and fresh juice, and I just love that those are offered now. Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Café, for one, lists “speciality wraps, fresh fruit and yoghurt, and smoothies.” Ask what your ship has on day one.

Way 3: Is there a cheaper non-alcoholic package?

If you love the fancy coffees, smoothies and mocktails, buy that package, not the alcohol one. That’s what Pollywog, Peaches and I did.

Service charges differ by line. Do the same math: at about $30 a day, you need several specialty drinks a day, every day, to come out ahead.

Way 4: What drinks can you bring on a cruise?

The full list, line by line, is in our packing list and Season 1, Episode 9.

Way 5: How do you get free drinks on a cruise?

At events on board. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess and Holland America all run Park West art auctions, and Cruise Critic notes: “Often, just by stopping by, you’ll be greeted with a free glass of sparkling wine.” Members’ parties pour free drinks too: Carnival’s “Platinum and Diamond VIFP Party on 5+ day sailings featuring complimentary beverages,” Norwegian’s cocktail party for Silver members and up, Virgin Voyages’ Sailing Club cocktail reception from your third voyage, and Royal Caribbean’s lunch with an officer at 340+ points, where “house red, white and sparkling wine will be served.”

By loyalty tier (the first tier that gets free drinks):

In the casino:

General information from published cruise line sources, not financial advice. Prices change without notice; every quote here was checked on 7–8 October 2026 unless marked otherwise. Check with your own cruise line before you book. Related: Drink packages and Wi-Fi · How the free cruise offers work (Season 2, Episode 1).