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Cruise Drink Packages: Are They Worth It? (Real Math & Honest Breakdown)

ByCruisePrism

Cruise drink packages are one of the most confusing—and most debated—parts of cruising.

On paper, they sound simple:
Pay one price, drink as much as you want.

In reality?

It’s not that simple.

After 20+ cruises across different cruise lines, I’ve done it both ways:

  • With the drink package
  • Without it
  • And sometimes with it included in promotions

And here’s the truth:

For some people, it’s absolutely worth it
For others, it’s a complete waste of money

Let’s break it down—with real math.

How Much Cruise Drink Packages Actually Cost (2026)

Prices vary by cruise line, but here’s a realistic breakdown:

Royal Caribbean

  • $70–$105 per person, per day
  • Includes:
    • Alcohol
    • Cocktails (~$14 each)
    • Specialty coffee
    • Soda

Gratuities usually added (~18%)

Norwegian Cruise Line

  • “Free at Sea” promo often includes drinks
  • Otherwise:
    • ~$99 per day + gratuities

Important:

  • You still pay gratuities on the “free” package

Carnival

  • $59–$70 per day
  • 15 drink limit per day ⚠️

Once you hit 15 drinks → cutoff

MSC Cruises

  • ~$65–$85 depending on package
  • 15 drink limit on some tiers ⚠️
  • Doubles = count as 2 drinks
  • You can hit the limit if you’re trying

Princess Cruises

  • ~$65–$85/day
  • No strict drink count, but daily caps exist (~15 alcoholic drinks)

Holland America

  • ~$60–$75/day
  • Typically capped around 15 drinks/day

Virgin Voyages (Different Model)

No traditional drink package.

You prepay a bar tab (like $300, $600, etc.)

  • Often comes with bonus credit
  • No pressure to “drink enough”

Honestly? This is one of the more flexible systems.

The REAL Math: How Many Drinks to Break Even?

Let’s assume:

  • Average drink = $12–$15
  • Package = ~$80/day

Break-even point:

You need roughly:

6–8 drinks per day

Every day.

That means:

  • 2 drinks at lunch
  • 2–3 drinks in the afternoon
  • 2–3 drinks at night

And you need to do this consistently

Where People Get It Wrong

This is the biggest mistake I see:

👉 People try to “keep up” with the drink package

And that leads to:

  • Drinking more than they want
  • Waking up hungover
  • Losing entire days

You see it every cruise.

People go hard early… and by day 3:
👉 They’re waking up at 3–4 PM
👉 Missing half the cruise

Real Experience (This Matters)

I’ll be honest here.

I can drink.

And even for me?

It’s hard to justify the drink package.

Why?

Because of one thing:

Not everyone in your cabin drinks the same

My situation:

I can drink, that’s for sure. However, on many cruises, my mom might have a glass of wine with dinner and a couple of drinks by the pool, and that’s about it. That’s where the math starts to fall apart for us. We’re paying for two drink packages, but only really getting full value from one.

So for it to be worth it:
I’d basically have to drink for two people

And that’s where it becomes unrealistic.

Even worse on port days:

  • You go out
  • You drink at a beach club or excursion
  • You come back to the ship already done

That’s basically a lost day on your package

Disney Dream Mixed Drink

When the Drink Package IS Worth It

There are definitely situations where it makes sense:

If both people drink regularly

This is the biggest factor

If you have:

  • Two consistent drinkers
  • Who will drink every day

Then yes—it can absolutely be worth it

If you plan to drink throughout the day

  • Pool drinks
  • Afternoon drinks
  • Night drinks

You’ll hit that 6–8 drink range easier

If it’s included in a promotion

This is how I’ve had it most times.

“Free at Sea” (NCL)
MSC bundles with WiFi

In those cases:
It’s usually a no-brainer

When It’s NOT Worth It

If only one person drinks

This is HUGE.

Both people in the cabin usually have to buy it

So:

  • One drinks
  • One doesn’t

You’re overpaying immediately

If you drink casually

  • 2–4 drinks a day?
    👉 Not worth it

If you have a lot of port days

Less time on ship = less value

If you don’t want to feel pressured

Some people don’t like:
Feeling like they have to drink to justify it

The 15 Drink Limit (Important)

Carnival and MSC:

15 alcoholic drinks per day max

  • You CAN hit it
  • I definitely hit it on a couple of occsaions.
  • Especially with doubles

But realistically:
Most people won’t hit it daily

My Honest Verdict

After doing it all:

I rarely buy drink packages outright

Why?

Because:

  • It’s hard to justify
  • It doesn’t fit how I cruise
  • And it depends too much on the other person in the cabin

But…

If I were cruising with:
Someone who drinks like me

Then yes:

It would be 100% worth it

Final Thoughts

Cruise drink packages aren’t a scam…

But they’re also not always a good deal.

It comes down to:

  • How much you actually drink
  • Who you’re traveling with
  • And how you spend your days onboard

The best advice?

Don’t buy it just because it sounds like a good deal.

Do the math for YOUR trip.

One thing many cruisers forget is that drink packages often include much more than just alcohol. Specialty coffees, bottled water, energy drinks, soda, mocktails, and fresh juices can add up surprisingly fast. Depending on the cruise line, those extras can make a real difference. If you’re the type of cruiser who starts the morning with a specialty coffee and grabs bottled water throughout the day, your break-even point may be lower than you think.

Wondering what the most common cruise mistakes are? Check out our 10 common mistakes first time cruisers make.

Rose flavored cocktail.

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