👍
A package often wins if
You enjoy several cocktails or glasses of wine a day, or you love specialty coffees and bottled drinks, every day of the cruise.
Home › Guides › Cruise drink packages: are they worth it? (and the whole-cabin rule)
GuideCruise drink packages: are they worth it? (and the whole-cabin rule)
A drink package can turn a running bar tab into one predictable number, or it can be money you did not need to spend. Here is how to tell which, plus the whole-cabin rule that catches so many people off guard.
☎Call now · +1-833-684-4250The short version
- A drink package makes sense if you will drink enough each day to pass its break-even point; light drinkers usually come out ahead paying as they go.
- The whole-cabin rule: on most lines, if one adult buys the alcohol package, every adult of drinking age in that cabin must buy it too.
- Non-drinkers and kids can often take a cheaper soda or zero-proof package instead.
- Read what the package actually covers, some exclude premium pours, bottled water, specialty coffee or mini-bar.
- Wi-Fi is usually sold the same way, in per-device or per-cabin tiers.
How drink packages work
A drink package is a flat, per-day price that covers drinks up to a certain value, for the whole cruise. Lines offer tiers: a full alcohol package, a refreshment or soda package, and sometimes a water or specialty-coffee package. You pay per day of the sailing, not per drink.
Break-even point: the number of drinks per day at which the package costs the same as paying individually. Below it you overpay for the package; above it the package wins.
The whole-cabin rule
On most major lines, if one adult in a stateroom buys the alcohol package, every adult of legal drinking age in that same cabin has to buy it too. It exists to stop one person sharing a package with the whole room.
This is the detail that most often turns a good-value package into an expensive one. If only one of two adults in the cabin really drinks, buying the package for both can wipe out the value. There are usually exceptions for children, for teens on a zero-proof package, and for medical or pregnancy cases, so it is always worth asking.
Is a package worth it for you?
Do the honest maths for a single day, then multiply by how you really travel:
👎
Paying as you go often wins if
You drink lightly, take some days off, or one adult in the cabin barely drinks (remember the whole-cabin rule).
🧒
For non-drinkers & kids
A soda or zero-proof package is far cheaper, and children usually cannot be on an alcohol package anyway.
Packages reward heavy, consistent use. If you are not sure you will drink enough every day to clear the break-even point, you probably will not, and paying per drink keeps you in control.
The fine print to check
Before you commit, confirm what the package really includes:
- Is there a per-drink value cap that excludes premium pours?
- Does it cover bottled water, specialty coffee, fresh juice and the mini-bar, or just the basics?
- Are gratuities on the package included, or added separately?
- Does it work at every bar and venue, including the private island?
The exact package rules differ by line and change over time, so we keep the current, verified version for each on the cruise facts page.
The bottom line
A drink package is worth it when you will genuinely use it every day and both adults in the cabin drink; otherwise, paying as you go usually keeps more in your pocket. Either way, the whole-cabin rule is the thing to check first.
Tell a specialist how you actually drink and they will tell you, honestly, whether a package pays off for your sailing. It also helps to read what is included in a cruise fare next.
Frequently asked questions
Are cruise drink packages worth it?
Yes if you will drink enough each day to clear the package's break-even point, and both adults in the cabin drink. Light or occasional drinkers usually pay less by ordering as they go.
Does everyone in the cabin have to buy the drink package?
On most major lines, yes, for the alcohol package: if one adult buys it, every adult of drinking age in the same stateroom must buy it too. There are usually exceptions for children and medical cases.
Do kids need a drink package?
No. Children cannot be on an alcohol package, and a cheaper soda or zero-proof package is optional. Water, milk and juice at meals are typically included in the fare anyway.
What does a cruise drink package include?
It varies by line and tier, usually cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, sodas and often specialty coffee and bottled water, up to a per-drink value cap. Always check the exclusions before you buy.
Is Wi-Fi included, or a separate package?
Usually separate. Most lines sell tiered internet packages, per device or per cabin, and a few premium fares include a basic tier. Check the current policy for your line.
Keep reading
💸
The cruise facts that cost you money
The verified drink-package rules for every line, plus gratuities and Wi-Fi.
🧾
What's included in a cruise fare
What your fare covers before you add any package.
💰
How to find an affordable cruise
Where a package fits into keeping the trip good value.
🧭
Find a cruise that fits
One call and we'll tell you if a package pays off for you.
Ready to price a real sailing?
Call a specialist, they'll give you the all-in number for your dates.