Holland America Drink Prices, Bar Menus & Beverage Packages
Holland America Line has one of the more interesting bar programs at sea. It is not as loud or flashy as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian, but that is part of the appeal. The drinks feel more refined, the menus are more cocktail-focused, and the overall atmosphere fits the Holland America style: classic, relaxed, and a little more grown-up.
I sailed Holland America on the Amsterdam, which has since been retired, and that cruise gave me a very good impression of the brand. Holland America is not trying to be the biggest party cruise line. Instead, it offers a more polished onboard experience, and that carries over into the drink menus. You will find classic cocktails, Caribbean-inspired drinks, wine packages, specialty coffees, minibar items, and several beverage package options.
This guide includes Holland America drink prices, cocktail menus, beverage package information, and my thoughts on whether the drink packages are worth it.
Holland America Cocktail Prices
Based on the menus I have, most Holland America cocktails fall around $11 to $14, with some premium or specialty drinks priced higher.
Examples from the cocktail menus include:
- Trader Vic’s Mai Tai – $13
- Cazadores Margarita – $12
- Bahama Mama – $12
- Pusser’s Painkiller – $13
- Green Swizzle – $14
- El Presidente – $13
- Myrtle Bank Special Punch – $13
- 17th Century Pirate Punch – $19
- Rotterdam Martinez – $14
- The Bee’s Knees – $11
- Classic Daiquiri – $12
- Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned – $17
- Penicillin – $13
- Paper Plane – $12
- Como Spritz – $12
Holland America Caribbean Cocktails
One of the most interesting drink menus I found was the Caribbean Cocktails by David Wondrich menu. These drinks feel a little more unique than the standard cruise ship cocktail list, with several rum-heavy options and historical cocktail notes.
The menu includes drinks such as:
- Green Swizzle – $14
- El Presidente – $13
- Myrtle Bank Special Punch – $13
- Big Youth – $13
- 17th Century Pirate Punch – $19
This is the kind of menu that makes Holland America stand out. It is not just frozen drinks and basic margaritas. There is more personality here, especially for guests who enjoy classic cocktails, rum drinks, and old-school bar history.
Holland America Ocean Bar Drink Menu
The Ocean Bar menu includes several classic cocktails and premium options. Prices on this menu range from around $11 to $17, with the Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned being one of the higher-priced options.
Examples include:
- Rotterdam Martinez – $14
- Trader Vic’s Mai Tai – $13
- The Bee’s Knees – $11
- Classic Daiquiri – $12
- Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned – $17
This is where the drink package math starts to matter. Some drinks fall within the Signature Beverage Package limit, while others may require the Elite package or an additional charge depending on the current package rules.
Holland America Sam Ross Modern Classics
Holland America also features a Sam Ross Modern Classics cocktail section. These drinks are more modern and craft-cocktail inspired.
The menu includes:
- Penicillin – $13
- Paper Plane – $12
- Como Spritz – $12
I like seeing this kind of menu on Holland America because it gives the bar program more depth. These are recognizable modern classics, not just generic cruise drinks.
Holland America Breakfast Drinks and Specialty Coffee Prices
Holland America also has beverage options during breakfast and room service.
Some listed prices include:
- Fresh squeezed orange juice – $4.75
- Mimosa – $11
- Bloody Mary – $11
- Holland America Line sparkling wine – $10
- Taittinger Brut Champagne – $22
- Cappuccino – $3.75
- Espresso – $2.75
There are also complimentary-style breakfast beverages listed, such as coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, milk, and several juices.
Holland America Minibar Prices
The minibar is separate from the regular bar menus, and it is important to know that minibar products are usually not included in beverage packages.
Examples from the minibar menu include:
- Heineken – $7.75
- Josh Cellars Chardonnay 375 ml – $19.50
- Frescobaldi Remole 375 ml – $19.50
- La Marca Prosecco 187 ml – $11
- San Benedetto 1 liter – $6
- Sparkling water can – $4
- Red Bull – $5
- Soft drinks – $2.95
- Kettle Brand chips – $2.25
- Snickers – $2.95
- Stroopwafel – $1.95
This is a useful section for guests because many cruisers assume drink packages cover everything. They usually do not. Holland America’s official beverage package terms exclude minibar purchases, room service dining beverages, Half Moon Cay purchases, and some other items.
Holland America Wine Packages
Holland America also offers wine packages through its Sommelier Suite program. The menu I have shows three different wine collections, with pricing based on the number of bottles selected.
Examples shown:
Cellar No. 1
- 4 bottles – $134
- 6 bottles – $188
- 8 bottles – $244
Cellar No. 2
- 4 bottles – $152
- 6 bottles – $224
- 8 bottles – $292
Cellar No. 3
- 4 bottles – $179
- 6 bottles – $258
- 8 bottles – $334
This is a smart option for wine drinkers, especially if you know you will want wine with dinner most nights. It may also be better than buying wine by the glass if you prefer bottles and plan to drink consistently throughout the cruise.
Holland America Beverage Packages
Holland America currently lists several beverage package options, including Signature, Elite, Quench, and Coca-Cola packages. The official Holland America beverage package page says prices are per person, per day, and an 18% service charge applies to beverage purchases and packages.
Signature Beverage Package
The Signature Beverage Package covers drinks priced up to $12 or less, with a daily limit of 15 alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
This package is also the drink package included with Holland America’s Have It All fare. Holland America says Have It All includes the Signature Beverage Package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credit, depending on cruise length.
Elite Beverage Package
The Elite Beverage Package covers drinks priced up to $16 or less, with a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.
This is the better package if you like premium cocktails, wines by the glass, or drinks that regularly go above the Signature limit.
Quench Beverage Package
The Quench package is Holland America’s non-alcoholic package. It is limited to 15 non-alcoholic drinks per day and includes options like specialty coffees, juices, mocktails, Coca-Cola products, and energy drinks.
Coca-Cola Package
The Coca-Cola package is the basic soda option. This is best for guests who mostly want fountain soda and do not need cocktails, wine, beer, specialty coffee, or bottled water.
Is the Holland America Drink Package Worth It?
For many Holland America guests, the biggest question is whether to buy a beverage package, upgrade to Elite, or just pay à la carte.
The answer depends on how you drink.
If most cocktails are around $12 to $14, the break-even point is usually around 4 to 5 alcoholic drinks per day, depending on your package price and whether you also drink specialty coffee, bottled water, soda, or mocktails.
For example:
- If you drink two cocktails per day, paying à la carte is probably better.
- If you drink three cocktails plus specialty coffee and bottled water, the package starts making more sense.
- If you drink four or more cocktails daily, especially with specialty coffee or soda, the package may be worth it.
- If you already booked Have It All, the Signature package may be the better value because it comes bundled with Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursion credit.
The Elite package is more useful if you like cocktails above the Signature limit. Looking at these menus, several drinks are priced at $13, $14, $17, or $19, which means the Elite package gives more flexibility.
Signature vs. Elite: Which Package Is Better?
The Signature Beverage Package is fine if you mostly drink standard cocktails, beer, basic wine, soda, and specialty coffee. However, some Holland America cocktails may exceed the Signature limit.
The Elite Beverage Package is better if you want fewer restrictions. Since the Elite package covers drinks up to $16, it fits more of the cocktail menu, including many premium cocktails and wines by the glass.
However, even Elite may not cover everything. For example, a $17 Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned or $19 17th Century Pirate Punch may still cost extra depending on the current onboard rules.
My practical take:
- Light drinker: Skip the package.
- Moderate drinker: Have It All is usually more attractive than buying only drinks.
- Cocktail-focused drinker: Consider Elite.
- Wine-with-dinner guest: Compare the wine package against your expected by-the-glass spending.
- Non-drinker: Quench may be worth it if you drink specialty coffee, soda, juices, mocktails, and bottled water daily.
Important Holland America Drink Package Rules
Before buying a package, keep these rules in mind:
Holland America says all adults of legal drinking age in the same stateroom must purchase the package if one adult buys it. Packages are also non-transferable, non-refundable, and sharing is not permitted.
The packages also exclude certain purchases, including minibar items, room service dining beverages, Half Moon Cay purchases, and some other specialty locations or items.
That matters because some guests assume the package covers everything onboard. It does not.
Final Thoughts on Holland America Drink Prices
Holland America’s drink prices are fairly typical for a premium cruise line, with many cocktails falling in the $12 to $14 range. What makes Holland America more interesting is the quality and style of the menus. The cocktail program feels more curated than what you might find on some mainstream cruise lines, especially with menus like the David Wondrich Caribbean cocktails and Sam Ross modern classics.
For casual drinkers, paying à la carte may be the best choice. For guests who already want Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks, and shore excursion credit, Have It All can be a strong value. For guests who enjoy premium cocktails or want fewer restrictions, the Elite Beverage Package is the better fit.
As always, prices and package rules can change, so use these menus as a helpful planning guide and confirm current pricing once onboard.
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