Should I Get the Drink Package?
The Ultimate Cruise Drink Package Guide
Carnival • Royal Caribbean • Norwegian Cruise Line • Princess • MSC
Drink Math • Package Types • Break-Even Counts • Cabinmate Rules • Port-Day Strategy
Should I Get the Drink Package?
The short answer? Maybe. The real answer comes down to your actual vacation drinking habits, itinerary, package price, and cabin rules.
The Short Answer
Drink packages are worth it when your realistic daily drink value beats the package cost — not when vacation math gets overconfident.
What Counts?
What is included in a drink package varies by cruise line and package. Depending on the cruise line, your package may include alcoholic drinks, soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, energy drinks, mocktails, smoothies, juices, and other beverages.
Some packages also have maximum drink prices, daily alcohol limits, venue restrictions, or different rules for private islands and exclusive destinations.
Never assume two cruise lines include the same things. Always check the exact package terms for your specific sailing.
What Matters Most?
Daily package price, drink caps, beverage price limits, whether cabinmates must purchase the package, gratuities or service charges, port days, sea days, and what you actually drink.
Big Warning
Cruise drink packages are usually priced per person, per day, for the entire cruise. You generally cannot buy one only for the days you plan to drink more.
The Break-Even Formula
Use this before the cruise planner starts whispering “treat yourself.”
A Better Formula
Compare the package price to the total daily value of everything you drink:
Alcohol + Coffee + Water + Soda + Mocktails + Energy Drinks + Other Included Beverages.
Example
An $84-per-day package divided by a $14 cocktail equals six cocktails.
But four cocktails + two coffees + two waters may also get you close.
Do Not Forget the Cabinmate
Many cruise lines require every guest age 21+ in the same cabin to purchase the alcohol package when one person buys it.
If that rule applies to your sailing, calculate the package cost for everyone required to purchase it.
Break-Even Cheat Sheet
Approximate daily drink counts using common cruise drink values.
About 4 cocktails at $14, 6 beers at $9, or a mixed day such as three cocktails + coffee + bottled water.
About 5 cocktails at $14, 7 beers at $9, or three to four cocktails plus multiple specialty coffees, waters, or mocktails.
About 6 cocktails at $14, 9–10 beers at $9, or four to five cocktails plus non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day.
About 7 cocktails at $14, 5 premium $20 drinks, or it may make sense when valuable extras such as dining or Wi-Fi are included.
Carnival Drink Packages
CHEERS!, CHEERS! Zero Proof, Bottomless Bubbles, and wine packages.
CHEERS!
Pre-cruise price plus 20% service charge = $83.94 per day.
Onboard purchase is $74.95/day plus 20% service charge = $89.94 per day.
What CHEERS! Includes
Alcoholic drinks up to $20 menu price, soda, zero-proof frozen cocktails, specialty coffee and tea, energy drinks, 500ml bottled water, and more.
Rules
Maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks during each 6 AM–6 AM period.
Non-alcoholic drinks do not count toward the 15-drink limit.
All adults age 21+ assigned to the same cabin must purchase CHEERS!
Other Carnival Options
CHEERS! Zero Proof: starts at $29.99/day before service charge.
Bottomless Bubbles: starts at $11.99/day before service charge.
Wine bottle packages are separate.
Carnival: How Many Drinks?
Use real menu ranges, not wishful thinking.
Cocktail Break-Even
With CHEERS! at approximately $83.94/day all-in pre-cruise, you need roughly 5–7 cocktails, depending on drink price.
Beer + Wine Math
Sample beer prices run approximately $8–$8.50 and wine by the glass about $11–$15.50.
Beer-only drinkers generally need closer to 9–10 beers.
Mixed-Day Example
Four cocktails around $14 + two specialty coffees + two bottled waters or energy drinks can get close to break-even.
When to Skip or Think Hard
Consider skipping if you mostly drink included beverages, have many port days, dislike the cabinmate purchase rule, or only drink one to three alcoholic beverages each day.
Royal Caribbean Drink Packages
Dynamic pricing, unlimited drinks, and several non-alcoholic choices.
Deluxe Beverage Package
Alcohol-inclusive package covering cocktails, spirits, beer, wine by the glass, bottled water, premium coffees and teas, mocktails, and discounts on bottles of wine.
Refreshment Package
Non-alcoholic package including soda, mocktails, premium coffee and tea, bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, and Johnny Rockets milkshakes where available.
Classic Soda Package
Unlimited fountain soda and refills plus Coca-Cola Freestyle access with the souvenir cup.
Rules
Royal states the Deluxe Package does not have a daily drink limit, but beverages are one at a time and sharing is prohibited.
All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom generally must purchase Deluxe.
NCL Drink Packages
Free at Sea / More at Sea-style value and onboard open bar pricing.
Unlimited Open Bar
NCL states Unlimited Open Bar may be purchased onboard during the first two days for $45/person/day plus 20% gratuity, taxes, and fees.
What It Includes
Many cocktails, spirits, wine by the glass, beer, soda, and juices.
Premium Exceptions
Ultra-premium drinks can cost extra depending on current terms.
Other Options
NCL may offer soda, Starbucks, water, and upgraded bundle options.
Princess Plus + Premier
These are not just drink packages. They are bundles with Wi-Fi, crew appreciation, dining, and other perks.
Princess Plus
Includes the Plus Beverage Package with beverages up to $15 per drink, Wi-Fi, crew appreciation, casual dining meals, delivery benefits, and more.
Princess Premier
Includes the Premier Beverage Package with beverages up to $20 per drink, Wi-Fi for up to four devices, unlimited specialty dining, casual dining, photos, shore excursion credit, reserved theater seating, and more.
Drink Limits
Plus is subject to daily alcoholic beverage limits.
Current Premier terms state no daily limit on included alcoholic beverages.
Important
Princess packages should not be evaluated as drink-only packages unless you assign zero value to the bundled perks.
MSC Drink Packages
Premium Extra, Alcohol-Free, Minors Package, and current package rules.
Premium Extra
Includes premium drinks across many venues, gratuities included, and up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day.
Alcohol-Free
Includes specialty coffees, teas, soft and energy drinks, juices, smoothies, water, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Minors Package
Includes soft drinks, juices, smoothies, water, non-alcoholic cocktails, and more.
Important Change
MSC states Easy and Easy Plus are no longer available for purchase.
Top Five Lines: Drink Math Snapshot
Alcohol-package break-even using typical drink values and published package structures.
| Cruise Line | Package / Example Price | Approx. Break-Even | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | CHEERS! ≈ $83.94/day all-in pre-cruise | 5–7 cocktails or 9–10 beers | 15 alcoholic drinks per daily period |
| Royal Caribbean | Dynamic pricing; example $75–$95/day | About 6–7 $14 cocktails or 9–11 beers | No published daily drink limit on Deluxe |
| NCL | $45/day + 20% ≈ $54/day before taxes/fees | About 4 $15 cocktails or 5–6 beers | Promo/bundle pricing changes the calculation |
| Princess Plus | $65/day bundle | About 5 $15 drinks before valuing perks | Wi-Fi, crew appreciation, dining and more add value |
| Princess Premier | $100/day bundle | About 5 $20 drinks before valuing perks | Includes premium bundled benefits |
| MSC Premium Extra | Approx. $57–$104/day range | About 4–7 premium drinks | Pricing varies by destination and duration |
Non-Alcoholic Package Strategy
For soda people, coffee people, mocktail people, and hydration gremlins.
Soda-Only People
Soda packages can work if you drink several sodas every day.
Coffee + Water People
Refreshment-style packages can be worthwhile when you regularly use specialty coffee, bottled water, mocktails, juices, and soda.
Zero-Proof Cruisers
Non-alcoholic packages can make sense even when you drink no alcohol.
Kids + Teens
Check age rules, package options, and sailing-specific terms.
Sea Days vs. Port Days
The itinerary can make or break the package.
Sea-Day Heavy
Packages often look better on cruises with more sea days because there is more onboard time to use them.
Port-Heavy
Packages are harder to justify if you spend most of the day ashore.
Private Islands
Package rules may differ at private islands and exclusive destinations.
Embarkation Quirks
Some packages activate later from certain homeports or may be subject to local taxes while in port.
Cabinmate Rules Matter — A Lot
This is one of the most important parts of drink-package math.
Carnival
CHEERS! must be purchased by every adult age 21+ assigned to the same stateroom.
Royal Caribbean
Deluxe generally must be purchased by all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom.
Princess
Package participation can depend on the booking method and other guests in the stateroom.
MSC + NCL
Rules vary by package, promotion, and booking. Verify all requirements before purchasing.
You Should Probably Buy It If…
The package is not for everyone, but it is definitely for some people.
You Drink Daily
You realistically drink 5+ cocktails or equivalent value most days.
You Use Non-Alcoholic Drinks Too
You also use specialty coffee, water, soda, mocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, or juice.
You Want Budget Control
You like knowing the bill ahead of time.
You Have Sea Days
Your itinerary gives you enough onboard time to naturally use the package.
You Should Probably Skip It If…
Pay-as-you-go is sometimes the better answer.
You Drink Lightly
If you average 0–3 alcoholic drinks daily and do not use premium non-alcoholic drinks, paying à la carte may cost less.
Your Cabinmate Does Not
If both adults must buy the package and only one drinks enough, the total cost can become expensive quickly.
You Are Port-Heavy
Long port days and limited onboard time make packages harder to justify.
You Feel Pressure
If buying the package makes you drink more than you actually want, skip it.
Final Drink Package Checklist
Ask yourself these questions before clicking purchase.
1. Daily Habits
How many cocktails, beers, wines, sodas, coffees, waters, energy drinks, juices, and mocktails do you actually drink on vacation?
2. Your Itinerary
How many sea days and port days do you have? Are private-island stops covered? Does the package start on day one?
3. Cabin Rules
Does everyone age 21+ in the cabin need to buy? Can exceptions be made? Are gratuities included or added?
4. The Real Decision
Buy it for value, convenience, and comfort — not because you feel like the cruise line challenged you to a hydration duel.
Still Doing Drink Package Math?
Hidden Duck Travel can help compare the package cost to your actual sailing, ship, itinerary, cabin situation, and drinking style so you can decide what makes the most sense for your vacation.
Visit Hidden Duck Travel Email DavePrices, rules, package names, promotions, cabin requirements, and inclusions can change. Always verify the exact cruise-line terms for your specific sailing before purchase.