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Is it Worth it to Buy a Cruise Line Drink Package? | Frommer's  

Is it Worth it to Buy a Cruise Line Drink Package?

You may have noticed that cruise lines offer drink packages and wondered whether they're a good deal. The answer is simple but requires some math on your part: It depends on how many drinks you typically consume in a day. Here is a breakdown of what each cruise line offers, from water to soda, beer, wine, and liquor. Check it out, and then divide the package price by the cost of individual drinks to see how many you have to order a day before the savings kick in:
Cruise Line Nonalcoholic Drink Packages Alcoholic Drink Packages How to Order
Azamara Club Cruises

Water: Unlimited bottles for $8/person/day.

Juice: None

Soda: None

Standard alcohol is included in the price of the cruise, but you can upgrade to top-shelf brands for a larger selection.

Wine: 5 bottles for $165, 7 for $220, 10 for $300, and 12 for $335.

Beer: Unlimited for $12/person/day, plus 25% off wine.

Liquor: Unlimited cocktails and beer for $13/person/day.

Unlimited cocktails and beer plus select top-shelf brands for $16/personday.

Unlimited cocktails and beer plus all top-shelf brands for $19/person/day.

Call 877.999.9553 before departure, or order onboard during the first 2 days.
Carnival Cruise Lines

Water: None

Juice: None

Soda: Unlimited for $6/person/day; age 18 and under for $4.50/person/day.

All wine, beer, spirits, and soda for $50/person/day. Bottles of wine and Champagne 25% off.  Online before departure; all 21+ passengers traveling together must also purchase the package.
Celebrity Cruises

Water: Unlimited bottles for $12/person/day.

Juice: See below.

Soda: Unlimited for $7/person/day.

Other: All soda, juice, coffee, tea, and bottled water for $14/person/day. Everything above plus frozen and energy drinks for $18/person/day.

Wine: Bottles for $99 or $129/package. Quantity varies by package.

3 bottles and a $10 coupon for the wine glass workshop onboard for $191.

Beer: Nonalcoholic drinks plus beers that cost less than $5, wine, and 20% discount on wine bottles for $44/person/day.

Liquor: Nonalcoholic drinks plus energy drinks, cocktails, beer, wine, and a 30% discount on wine bottles for $54/person/day.

Online up to 4 days before departure (with a slight discount), or at any bar onboard. The 3-bottle wine package must be purchased on embarkation day.
Costa Cruises

Water: None

Juice: None

Soda: Unlimited for ages 4-17 for $15/person/day. Must be purchased with the all-inclusive package for parents.

Unlimited cocktails, beer, wine, soda, and coffee for $26/person/day.

Online, by phone, or through a travel agent. All 21+ passengers traveling together must also purchase the package.
Crystal Cruises

Unlimited beverages are included.

Unlimited beverages are included.

Just book the cruise, and you get drinks included in the cruise fare.
Cunard Line

Water: None

Juice: See below.

Soda: Unlimited soda and select juice for $7/person/day.

Wine: 6 bottles starting at $249. Specialty collections of 4 bottles for $179 or $239, 6 for $249 or $325, 9 for $369 or $479, and 12 for $479 or $625.

Beer: None

Liquor: None

Alcohol can be ordered in advance by calling 0843.374.0000, and the soda package may be purchased at any bar onboard or the reception desk the first 2 days at sea, for the duration of the cruise.
Disney Cruise Line

Water: 6 bottles for $9 or 24 for $35.

Juice: None

Soda: None

Wine: Classic: 3 nights for $84, 4 nights for $110, 5 nights for $139, and 7 nights for $189. Premium: 3 nights for $129, 4 for $174, 5 for $219, and 7 for $292.

Beer: 6-pack of domestic for $22 or imported for $26. Beer mug package costs $15 with discounted refills.

Liquor: None

Packages can be purchased online.

Holland America Line See alcoholic packages. Up to 15 servings of wine, beer, cocktails, soda, or coffee for $100/stateroom. 

By the second day of the cruise, for the duration. All 21+ passengers traveling together must also purchase the package.

MSC Cruises Unlimited soda, juice, and water, except at specialty restaurants, for children for $13/person/day. Unlimited soda, juice, water, nonalcoholic cocktails, and hot drinks in all venues for children for $29/person/day.

Unlimited wine, beer, soda, juice, and water, except at specialty restaurants, for $23/person/day. Unlimited wine, beer, cocktails, soda, water, and hot drinks in all venues for $57/person/day.

3 days prior to departure through a travel agent or online, for the duration of the cruise. All passengers traveling together must also purchase the package. Special packages are available on Caribbean sailings.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Water: None

Juice: None

Soda: Unlimited (with souvenir thermal mug) for age 13+ for $7/person/day, $5 for age 12 and under. 

Wine: See below.

Beer: Unlimited soda, beer, and wine for $44/person/day.

Liquor: Unlimited soda, beer, wine, and cocktails for $49/person/day. 

Online or by phone, email, or fax, for the duration of the cruise. All passengers traveling together must also purchase the package.
Oceania Cruises Unlimited soda, bottled water, coffee, tea, and juice are included in cruise fare.

Wine: See below.

Beer: Beer, wine, and Champagne during meals in any dining venue for $40/person/day.

Liquor: Unlimited beer, wine, Champagne, and spirits in any venue for $60/person/day.

Call Reservations at 800.531.5619, order online, or onboard.
Princess Cruises

Water: None

Juice: None

Soda: Unlimited for $4/person/day

Wine: With lunch and dinner for $25/person/day, or just with dinner for $20/person/day.

Beer: See below

Liquor: Wine with lunch and dinner and unlimited drinks (including beer) for $45/person/day. Or open bar (on drinks up to $7) for $30/person/day.

Call 800.Princess, for the duration of the cruise.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Unlimited beverages are included.

Unlimited beverages are included. Just book the cruise, and you get drinks included in the cruise fare.
Royal Caribbean International

Water: 12 bottles for $39, 24 for $69.

Juice: 6 bottles for $20, 8 for $25, and 12 for $36.

Soda: Unlimited (in a souvenir cup) for $19/day.

Wine: 5 bottles for $165, 7 for $220, 10 for $300, and 12 for $335.

Beer: Unlimited wine, beer, nonalcoholic cocktails, soda, and juice for $35/person/day.

Liquor: Unlimited cocktails, wine, beer, and nonalcoholic beverages from $49/person/day.

Online for extra savings, or onboard.
Seabourn Cruise Line Unlimited beverages are included. Unlimited beverages are included. Just book the cruise, and you get drinks included in the cruise fare.
Silversea Cruises Unlimited beverages are included. Unlimited beverages are included. Just book the cruise, and you get drinks included in the cruise fare.
Windstar Cruises Unlimited beverages are included.  Unlimited cocktails, wines, Champagne, beer, and soda for $54/person/day. Onboard, for the duration of the cruise.
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