When we started ocean and river cruising, we always bought the beverage package that included most all wines and spirits that the ship stocked.  We have since started to question that practice and now tend to sail without adding the beverage package.

Personally, we tend to sail on higher premium and luxury lines, and how they handle alcohol and beverages tends to be different anyway.  I will explain.

Should You Buy a Drink Package on a Cruise?

For years, the drink package was almost automatic. It felt like a safe budgeting tool. Pay upfront. Avoid surprises. Enjoy your vacation.

That calculation is changing.

Across major contemporary cruise lines, alcoholic beverage packages now typically range between 80 and 100 USD per person, per day once gratuities are included. And all adults in the cabin must purchase the package.  You can end up in the thousands for a 10-14 day cruise.

Will you drink that much if you were to pay a la carte pricing?

Often, on the contemporary cruise lines, you can save upwards of 30% if you purchase pre-embarkation, and for Canadians paying in Canadian $$ you know what your cost is.  If you wait to purchase until you are on the cruise ship, you will pay in USD or Euros depending on the ship and itinerary.

When Does the Math Work?

If an average cocktail costs 14 USD, you generally need five to seven alcoholic drinks per day to break even. That does not include days spent largely off the ship on port-intensive itineraries.

For cocktail drinkers or those who enjoy specialty coffees, bottled water, and premium wines throughout the day, the package can still make sense.

For moderate drinkers, it often does not.

Policies are also tightening:

  • Some cruise lines have eliminated their lower-tier alcoholic packages and now primarily offer only their premium package on many sailings.
  • Some cruise lines cap alcoholic drinks at 15 per day and non-alcoholic beverages now count toward that daily total.
  • Some have increased beverage package gratuities, adding over 200 USD in service charges on a 7-night sailing.
  • As stated above most all cruise lines require all adults in the same cabin to purchase the same level of beverage package, with very limited exceptions.

These policies can significantly affect couples where only one person drinks.

A Cultural Shift Toward Drinking Less

Beyond pricing, consumer behavior is changing. Many travelers are reducing alcohol consumption. Cruise lines now offer expanded zero-proof menus, non-alcoholic spirits, and wellness-focused programming.

The drink package is no longer assumed.

Smarter Alternatives

Many cruisers now:

  • Purchase drinks individually
  • Take advantage of daily drink specials
  • Use loyalty perks if offered by the cruise line
  • Skip alcohol on port days
  • Watch for 20 to 40 percent pre-cruise discounts

My Professional Advice

There is no universal answer.

I advise clients to evaluate:

  • Length of cruise
  • Number of sea days
  • Personal drinking habits
  • Cabin sharing rules
  • Loyalty status
  • Pre-cruise promotional pricing

One thing I am not doing here is judging anyone on the amount that they drink.  In some cases these packages give you free rein on specialty coffee, and soft drinks throughout the day.  For some this is part of the cost that should be evaluated.  Some higher premium and luxury lines include these drinks, and some do not.

I will add a personal comment here, that it burns when one of our favourite cruise lines charges me USD $5.00 for a Coke at 3:00pm, but includes it with lunch or dinner.  If however I have the drinks package it is included.

Sometimes the package is absolutely worth it. Other times, it is not even close.

However, there are what I would refer to as “High Premium to Luxury” cruise lines that offer you unlimited wine and beer with lunch and dinner – included in your cabin fare.  Some offer a pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge, kind of like a happy hour.  Some of these lines still have beverage packages that you can purchase, but will that purchase pay for itself if you are satisfied with the wines, or you are a beer drinker?  You can pay for that post-dinner drink and be way ahead financially.

On some of these premium and luxury lines, they allow you to bring wine or spirits on board to consume while sailing. Some will serve the bottle of wine you purchased at the winery tour that day with no corkage fees.

If you are considering a cruise and want an honest cost comparison tailored to your itinerary and habits, I am happy to run the numbers with you before you commit.

Cruising should feel relaxing, not financially confusing.

#travelonlywithken #luxurycruising