It's easy to spend a lot of money on drinks on a cruise ship. The cost of alcoholic drinks on ships can be high. A flat fee drinks package is a way to save on alcoholic drinks when cruising.

Some cruise lines offer drinks packages that can save you money.

There is a cruise line drinks package. How much does a cruise line drink package cost? The answers can be found in the guide to cruise line drinks packages.

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The second half of the guide has a line-by-line guide to drinks package costs.

What is a drinks package on a cruise ship?

Cruise line drinks packages allow you to order as many drinks as you want without paying a fee. Paying for drinks at a time is no longer possible.

There are different levels of drinks packages at some lines. sodas and bottled water are included in the basic tier. Specialty coffee drinks, wine, beer, and alcoholic and non alcoholic cocktails will be added to the tiers. There will be more than one tier of that plan. Coffee cards are offered by some lines that allow you to get a fixed number of drinks at a discounted price. Wine-specific packages are offered by some.

How much do alcoholic drinks packages cost on cruise ships?

Cruises have drinks packages that vary by line. The drinks packages that include all types of drinks cost about $60 per person per day at several of the biggest cruise brands. Norwegian Cruise Line charges as much as $138 per person per day for a top tier package.

The cost of drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks can be much lower. You can get a package of soda for under $10 per person. Some cruise lines discount drinks packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and some lines have periodic sales on their drinks packages online.

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How to get a drink on a cruise ship.

Can you buy drinks on a cruise without a drinks package?

Carnival's Blue Iguana Tequila Bar. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

I agree. You can buy drinks on a a la carte when cruising. You don't have to have a drinks package in order to drink on a ship.

Can you share a drinks package on a cruise ship?

If one adult in a cabin orders a drinks package, all adults in the cabin must order it. Two or more people in a cabin can't share a drink package.

Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises do not have a rule like that. You shouldn't use your package to purchase drinks for other people.

Are drinks packages on cruise ships really unlimited?

It is dependent on the situation. The number of alcoholic drinks that can be ordered using a drinks package is limited by some cruise lines. Most people will never want to order that many.

There are 8 best drinks to order on a cruise ship.

Where can you use a cruise line drinks package?

Bars, lounges and eateries are usually where you can get a drink on a cruise ship. They can't be used when you order room service. They don't apply to drinks taken out of cabins. Before placing an order for a drink to your room, it is advisable to check the fine print in the drinks package. You can use your packages when on private islands.

A line-by-line guide to cruise drinks packages

Sunset Bar on Celebrity Beyond. CELEBRITY CRUISES

There are drinks packages at the major lines. The price is per person per day. We highlight the most inclusive package in detail when a line offers more than one drinks package.

Carnival Cruise Line

The package was named Cheers! The program for beverages.

The cost per day is $64.95 when purchased on board, not including an automatic gratuity charge, and $59.95 when purchased in advance of sailing.

None of the ships are available in Europe or Australia.

Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, non alcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and most bottled water are included. There is a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost can't be used for drinks over 20 dollars.

Drinks with a 25% discount are more expensive. Adults in the same cabin have to purchase the package together. There is a limit on the number of alcoholic drinks a person can consume in a day.

Celebrity Cruises

The package is called the Premium Drink package.

For passengers who have purchased a cruise-only rate, the cost per day is $84. The Premium Drink Package is free for passengers who stay in the premium areas.

Drinks are included in the fare on some ships.

There is a large selection of beers, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, Coca-Cola products, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, and premium bottled water. There is a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost can't be used.

Celebrity now offers a less inclusive drinks package as part of its new Always Included fare structure.

Wine-dispensing machines and in-room minibars are not included in the packages. Room service drinks are not included.

There are 15 cruise ship bars.

Holland America

The package is called the Elite beverage package.

A gratuity charge is included in the cost per day.

It's available on all ships

Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, non alcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water are included.

Limitations related to drink cost can't be used.

Drinks costing up to $11 are included in the less expensive Signature beverage package. The price is $54.95 per day.

Adults in the same cabin have to purchase the same package. Drinks from in-room minibars are not included in packages. Half Moon Cay is not valid for the package.

Plans for a cruise with points and miles.

MSC Cruises

ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY

The package is called Premium Extra package.

The cost per day is not including a service charge. Pre-booking the package will waive the service charge.

It's available on all ships

Drinks by the glass include craft and bottled beer, a selection of wine and Champagne by the glass, and a variety of frozen and classic cocktails. There is a 25% discount on wine and champagne bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost can't be used.

Drinks costing up to $9 are included in the Easy Plus package. The price will go up to $51 per day in October. The Easy package only has a limited number of drinks and can't be used in specialty restaurants. The cost is $38 per day.

Children in cabins will be charged for a less-expensive, nonalcoholic package if one person in a cabin purchases a package. The exception of South America sailings is that packages are not available on short sailings. The package is valid on a private island in the Bahamas.

Is it possible to bring my own alcohol on a cruise ship?

Norwegian Cruise Line

The package is called Premium Plus beverage package.

A 20% gratuity charge will be added to the cost per day.

The Pride of America is the only ship available on.

Premium bottles of Champagne and wine are included in the package. Includes unlimited Starbucks coffee, bottled water, soda, juices, and energy drinks. You can get a 40% discount on other bottles of wine.

There are no limitations relating to drink cost.

There are two alcoholic beverage packages from Norwegian. The package includes beer, wine, soda, and juices. The price of the beverage package will go up to $109 in January of 2020. The drinks package is part of Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion, but you have to pay 20% of the package price for gratuity. The price of the drinks package will increase to $109 on January 1, 2023.

Everyone in the same cabin as well as other cabins tied to the same method of payment must purchase the package if one passenger in a cabin purchases a package. Children are charged for a package that doesn't include alcohol. Drinks from in-room minibars are not included in packages. The beverage packages can be used on Norwegian ships but also on the private island of Great Stirrup Cay.

$12 for a drink made with banana peel. I went to the new zero waste cruise ship bar.

Oceania Cruises

The package is called the "Prestige Select beverage package."

There is a cost per day.

It's available on all ships

Beer, wine, and mixed drinks are included. Specialty coffees and soda are included in the fare. A 20% discount to wine-pairing dinners is included in the package.

There are no limitations relating to drink cost.

Wine and beer with lunch and dinner is included in the House Select package. The cost is $39.95 a day. There is a wine bottle package.

There is a fine print that says none.

Princess Cruises

A bar on a Princess Cruises ship. (Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)

A bar on a Princess Cruises ship. PRINCESS CRUISES

The package is called the "premier beverage package."

A gratuity charge is included in the cost per day. The package cost 7 dollars per day on Australia cruises. The Australian package doesn't have a service charge.

It's available on all ships

Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, non alcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, specialty coffees and bottled water are included. There is a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases.

Can't be used for drinks priced over $18.

The Plus beverage package from Princess can be used for drinks up to $12.

There is a limit on the number of alcoholic drinks that can be consumed. For Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights, the package is not available.

Royal Caribbean

The package was called the "deluxe beverage package."

The cost per day is not including a gratuity charge.

It's available on all Royal Caribbean ships.

Beer, wine, spirits, mixed drinks, cocktails, soda, juices, non alcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water are included. 20% discount on wine bottle purchases is included in the package. Bottles with a 20% discount are more expensive.

Can't be used for drinks priced over $13.

If one adult of legal drinking age in a cabin purchases a package, all adults of legal drinking age in the same cabin must purchase it. Drinks from in-room minibars are not included in packages. Drinks in souvenir glassware and specialty beers are not included in the package.

Viking

The package is called Silver Spirits beverage package.

There is a cost per day.

River expeditions and ships are available.

Specialty coffees and teas at all hours are included in the fare at Viking, as are beer, wine, and mixed drinks by the glass. Wine bottles and premium beverages costing more than fifteen dollars are not included in the package.

Limitations related to drink cost can't be used.

There is a fine print that says none.

Windstar Cruises

The package is called Captain's exclusive beverage package.

A surcharge of 15% is included in the cost per day. All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks are now offered by Windstar.

It's available on all ships

Beer, wine and spirits are included. Non alcoholic beverages are included in the fares on Windstar sailings. A 30% discount on wine bottle purchases is included in the package.

There are no limitations relating to drink cost.

The less expensive Topmast Discoveries Beer and Wine Package has a choice of beer and wine, but not spirits and cocktails.

There is a fine print that says none.

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