đłď¸ Cruise drinks and beverages
Tips for non, light, and big drinkers!
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16 Tips
Plenty of free beverages. Cruise ships offer a decent selection of beverages. Help yourself at the buffet or order them in the dining room. These typically include water (not bottled), lemonade, coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, and milk.
Bring your drinks with you. Cruise lines generally allow passengers to bring one unopened bottle of wine per adult and 12 pack of soda.
Drinks are included on some cruise lines. In addition, some high-end lines (Azamara, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways) include beer and wine with lunch and dinner.
Enjoy liquor at the casino. Gamblers typically get free drinks. Some people have reported getting free drinks at the casino bar even if theyâre not actively playing.
Free booze! There are other various onboard opportunities for free drinks. These include Captainâs Welcome Parties, art auctions, vendor events such as jewelry or art boutique promotions, liquor/duty-free shop tastings, loyalty events for frequent cruisers, and adult game shows (winners). Check the daily schedule for phrases like âcomplimentary champagneâ or âfree tastings.â
Ship drinks are not included. If the opportunities above arenât enough for you, know that a cruise ship is not like an all-inclusive resort where drinks are covered. You have to pay for them.
Soda is also not included.
Check your package. The cruise lines have various drink packages that cover liquor, mixed drinks, cocktails, nonalcoholic cocktails, soda, wine, beer, juices, and soda. Make sure your beverages of choice are covered. Premium liquor, specialty cocktails, specific wine bottles, energy drinks, Starbucks and special coffee and tea drinks, and bottled water may not be included in standard or any packages.
Tips are covered, sort of ⌠The ship automatically adds a gratuity to a drink package or individual drink charge.
⌠so donât double tip. But be careful adding a tip to a drink charge as itâs already there. Of course, youâre welcome to tip extra for special service.
Cruises are excellent for non and light drinkers. Base cruise prices are comparatively low compared to all-inclusive resorts because drinks are extra on the ship. In fact alcohol and other beverages are a huge profit center for the cruise lines. So drinkers are essentially subsidizing the cruise for you. Give a kiss on the forehead to the drunk at the ship pool bar.
Consider an all-inclusive resort if youâre a big drinker. Drinks are included at resorts. So the overall cost may be more attractive to you compared to cruises with drink packages.
Drinks are expensive onboard. Typical liquor drinks are $15-20. Drink packages run up to $100+ per person per day. See prices by cruise line at bottom.
Say no if you donât have a drinking buddy. Almost all lines require everyone of legal drinking age in the same cabin to purchase the alcohol package. So if you drink but your partner or cabinmate doesnât, itâs best to skip the package.
Do your drink package math. The drink package may be a good deal if you enjoy 5 drinks per day. But the real breakeven may be 7 or more, considering a couple wine bottles on embarkation and youâre only on the ship part of the day during departure, port, and arrival days.
Donât purchase the package on embarkation. Youâll pay full price then. Prepay it before the trip. The cruise line sends out several drink package offers with nice discounts.
Cruise drink package prices (early 2006)
US cruise line drink packages generally cost between $60 and $110+ per person, per day, for alcoholic options, with higher-end lines often exceeding this.
Carnival Cruise Line (CHEERS!): Approx. $69.95+ per person/day (pre-purchased) to $74.95+ (onboard).
Royal Caribbean (Deluxe): Roughly $75â$105+ per person/day, varying by ship and sailing.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): Premium packages often bundled in âFree at Seaâ or cost up to $109+ per person/day for unlimited open bar.
Princess Cruises (Plus/Premier): Drink packages are often part of inclusive packages, with sodas around $14.99/day.
Holland America (Signature/Elite): Range from roughly $55 to $71 per person/day.
Viking Cruises (Silver Spirits): Generally around $20â$30 per day, often considered the most economical as base fares include beer/wine at meals.