he moment you step on a cruise ship, the world widens into sunlit decks, clinking glasses, and menus that tempt you from every direction. Drinks packages sit at the center of that temptation. They promise freedom. Order what you want, when you want, without doing mental math every time you crave a mojito. The question that nags every traveler is simple. Is it actually worth the money?

Let’s cut through the noise with clarity you can use.

What a Cruise Drinks Package Actually Includes
Cruise lines wrap their drink deals into tidy little categories. Each one has a personality, a spending style, and a purpose.

Soda Packages

Covers: soda, sometimes a refillable cup, sometimes basic juices
Perfect for: kids, soda addicts, anyone who hates paying per can

The soda package is the starter pack. It saves money if you drink more than two sodas per day. If you don’t, the ship will gladly take your money and hand you one lonely Coke.

Coffee and Café Packages

Covers: specialty coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, frappés
Perfect for: caffeine loyalists who treat lattes like lifeblood

Ships with big café scenes make these packages shine. Your wallet will thank you if you drink more than one specialty coffee daily.

Basic Non-Alcoholic Packages

Covers: mocktails, bottled water, specialty juices, smoothies, premium coffees
Perfect for: sober cruisers, parents who want bottled water for port days, wellness-focused travelers

This package often ends up being the quiet hero. Bottled water alone can break your budget without it.

Standard Alcohol Packages

Covers: beer, wine by the glass, cocktails up to a certain price cap, soft drinks
Perfect for: casual drinkers who want vacation freedom without luxury spirits

You’ll find this is the most common option. It hits the sweet spot for most adults who enjoy a few drinks each afternoon or evening.

Premium Alcohol Packages

Covers: top-shelf spirits, craft cocktails, higher-priced wines, some specialty coffees, bottled water, soda
Perfect for: travelers who have strong opinions about bourbon, tequila, or wine

These are indulgent. They feel like treating yourself. They are worth every penny only if you consistently prefer premium liquor.

How Much Drinks Packages Usually Cost

Prices vary by cruise line, ship, and season, but most lines follow reliable patterns.

• Soda: $8 to $15 per day
• Café/specialty coffee: $7 to $20 per day
• Non-alcoholic: $20 to $35 per day
• Standard alcohol: $55 to $85 per day
• Premium alcohol: $75 to $120 per day

Cruise lines charge per person, per day, and some require every adult in the same cabin to buy the same alcoholic package. They do this to prevent sharing. The ocean is beautiful. The policies are not.

How to Know if a Drinks Package Is Worth It

A good decision needs a simple formula. Here is the one that decides your fate.

Step 1: Count What You Actually Drink in a Day

Picture a normal vacation day for you.

Morning: 1 cappuccino
Afternoon: 1 bottled water, 1 poolside cocktail
Evening: 2 glasses of wine at dinner
Night: 1 cocktail at a show

That’s 5–6 paid drinks daily.

Step 2: Multiply by Cruise Prices

Typical per-drink costs onboard:

• Cocktails: $10 to $16
• Wine by the glass: $9 to $14
• Beer: $7 to $10
• Bottled water: $2.50 to $4
• Specialty coffee: $4 to $7

If your daily total reaches $60 or more, a drink package starts to make financial sense.

Step 3: Add Your Vacation Personality

Money is only one factor. The way you cruise matters even more.

The package is worth it if:

• You love variety
• You drink most days
• You hate tracking receipts
• You enjoy the “order anything” feeling
• You want bottled water at all times
• You’re cruising in hot weather where drinks flow naturally

The package is not worth it if:

• You drink lightly or only with dinner
• You plan many port days
• You prefer bringing your own wine (allowed on some ships)
• You enjoy budgeting more than spontaneity

Sneaky Costs People Forget

A drink package kills surprise charges, but the cruises still try to win the game.

Service Charges

Many lines add a gratuity fee to the package cost upfront. For example, a $70 package becomes $82 after automatic service charges. No refunds. No exceptions.

Drink Price Caps

If your cocktail exceeds the included price limit, you pay the difference. Ordering the fancy whiskey can still sting.

Port Days

Most travelers drink less on port days. Packages don’t adjust price for that. You pay full price, even if your day was filled with hiking, snorkeling, or sleeping on a beach chair.

How to Find the Best Value

You can tilt the odds in your favor with a few clever moves.

Buy Before the Cruise

Most lines discount drink packages 20% to 40% when purchased online in advance.

Watch for Holiday or Flash Sales

Black Friday, Memorial Day, and New Year’s promos often drop drink package prices dramatically.

Check Loyalty Programs

Returning cruisers sometimes get discounts or onboard credit that can be used toward packages.

Share Bottled Water in a Non-Alcohol Package

Many ships let you grab bottles freely under non-alcohol packages. Stock up for port days.

Example Scenarios: Which Traveler Are You?

The Easygoing Vacationer

Drinks 3–4 alcoholic beverages a day
Likes a cappuccino in the morning
Total value per day: about $45
Package cost: $70
Verdict: Skip the package.

The Poolside Cocktail Lover

Drinks 5–6 cocktails a day
Enjoys bottled water and soda
Total value per day: $70–$90
Package cost: $75
Verdict: Worth it.

The Port Explorer

Off the ship most days
Drinks at dinner only
Total value per day: $25–$40
Verdict: Skip the package.

The Sober Cruiser

Drinks mocktails, smoothies, water
Daily value: $20–$40
Verdict: Non-alcohol package may be perfect.

The Real Secret Behind Drink Packages

It is less about drinks. It is more about how you want your vacation to feel.

You pay for simplicity. You pay for freedom. You pay to walk up to a bar, order what you want, and never wonder what your tab looks like. Some travelers savor that feeling. Some do not need it.

Your best choice is the one that makes your cruise lighter, easier, and happier.

Choose the Cruise That Fits You. Let Us Handle the Details

A drink package can elevate your cruise from “nice getaway” to “effortless vacation” if it matches your style, your pace, and your taste. The real goal is simple. Build a trip that feels natural to you. Maybe that means endless poolside piña coladas. Maybe it means sparkling water and cappuccinos. Maybe it means skipping the package entirely and putting that money toward a memorable shore excursion.

Your cruise should fit you like a well-worn favorite hoodie. That is where we come in.

Port To Paradise Vacations makes planning feel easy. We compare drink package prices across cruise lines, check current promotions, and help you choose the option that fits your habits without wasting a dollar. You get the clarity, the savings, and the confidence. You also get a partner who loves cruising as much as you do.

If you want personalized help choosing the right drink package or planning your next sailing, reach out to us. We will build a cruise that feels made for you.