Are cruise drink packages worth it?

It depends on your drinking habits. If you typically have 4-5+ alcoholic drinks per day, plus specialty coffee and bottled water, a drink package usually saves money. Light drinkers often pay less with pay-as-you-go pricing. Use the calculator above to see what makes sense for your consumption patterns.

What's included in a cruise drink package?

Inclusions vary by cruise line and package tier. Most include cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, sodas, specialty coffee, and bottled water. Premium packages may include higher-end spirits and wines. Each package has a per-drink price limit (typically $15-$20). Check your specific cruise line's package details for exact inclusions.

Do both people in a cabin need to buy a drink package?

This varies by cruise line. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival require all adults (21+) in the same cabin to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package. Princess and Virgin Voyages allow individual purchases. Non-alcoholic packages typically don't have this restriction.

Can I share my drink package?

No. Drink packages are linked to your cruise card and are non-transferable. Each person must use their own package. This is one reason cruise lines require all adults in a cabin to purchase the same package—to prevent sharing.

Do I have to pay gratuities on drink packages?

Yes. Most cruise lines add an automatic 18-20% gratuity to drink package prices. Some lines include this in the advertised price, others add it at checkout. The calculator above uses the base package price—expect to add roughly 18-20% for gratuities when booking.

Can I buy a drink package onboard?

Usually yes, but it's almost always more expensive than pre-purchasing. Most cruise lines offer better rates when you buy packages before your cruise. Some lines limit onboard purchases to the first day or two of the sailing. We recommend deciding before you sail to get the best price.

Which cruise line has the best drink package value?

It varies based on your drinking preferences and the specific sailing. Carnival's CHEERS! package is often competitive for heavy drinkers. Royal Caribbean's Deluxe package has a higher per-drink limit. Princess packages tend to be more affordable but with lower limits. Virgin Voyages includes most drinks in the base fare. Use the calculator to compare based on your consumption.

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Cruise Drink Package Calculator: Is It Worth It?

Instantly estimate whether a cruise drink package is worth it. Compare drink package costs to pay-as-you-go pricing across major cruise lines for 2026 and 2027 sailings.

Cruise Line

Drink Package

Please select a cruise line first

Number of Nights

Typical cruises range from 3 to 14 nights

Daily Drink Consumption

Drink prices will appear after you select a cruise line

Choose your cruise line above to see pricing and start estimating your consumption

Your Results

Your results will appear here as you fill out the calculator

Choose cruise line

Select your cruise line to see packages and pricing

Enter drink habits

Estimate your daily consumption

See results

Compare package vs. pay-as-you-go

Drink package calculators by cruise line

Each cruise line prices packages differently. These line-specific calculators come pre-loaded with that line's packages, prices, and rules.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean drink package calculator

Carnival

Carnival drink package calculator

Celebrity

Celebrity drink package calculator

Princess

Princess drink package calculator

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages drink package calculator

Norwegian (NCL)

Norwegian (NCL) drink package calculator

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises drink package calculator

How this cruise drink package calculator works

We use current cruise line drink prices and package costs
You estimate how many drinks you'll have per day
We compare package pricing vs paying as you go

How to interpret your drink package results

Your results are based on your estimated daily drink habits. Here's how to think about them and when a drink package may or may not make sense beyond the math.

When a drink package often makes sense

Your calculator shows savings or break-even
You value convenience over tracking individual drinks
You expect more sea days or longer time onboard
You regularly drink specialty coffee, bottled water, or cocktails

When pay-as-you-go often makes more sense

Your results show a clear overspend
You drink lightly or prefer to pace yourself
You spend most days off the ship
You prefer ordering premium or shared drinks

The calculator above uses your inputs to give a realistic comparison, but personal preferences and onboard habits can still influence the final decision.

Do drink packages differ by cruise line?

Yes. Pricing, inclusions, and rules vary significantly between cruise lines. Some lines require all adults in a cabin to purchase the same package, while others allow individual purchases. Some include gratuities automatically, others add them separately. Package limits, eligible drinks, and daily costs all differ. This calculator uses current pricing for each cruise line to give you accurate comparisons.