Are All Inclusive Drinks Packages good value?

Only if you’re the type of cruiser who genuinely drinks 6+ alcoholic beverages daily and appreciates budget certainty over flexibility. For everyone else – roughly 70% of passengers – you’re essentially subsidizing the cruise line’s profits while convincing yourself you got a deal.

Most people buy drinks packages for completely the wrong reasons, then wonder why they feel ripped off. While marketing departments push the “unlimited everything” fantasy, the reality depends entirely on your drinking patterns, cruise itinerary, and which line you’ve chosen.

I’ve tried the basic drinks package on Princess which also comes with a couple of other perks, but I didn’t get good value, I just don’t drink that much at the end of the day. The difference between passengers who love these packages and those who feel fleeced usually comes down to understanding what you’re actually buying.

Beverages represent about one-third of all onboard revenue, making drinks the number one profit center on modern ships. Meanwhile, research shows that people very rarely drink enough to make packages unprofitable for cruise lines – you typically need seven alcoholic drinks daily just to break even.

Let me save you from making the same expensive mistakes I see repeated on every sailing.

What Makes Drinks Packages Different

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The cruise industry has created a bewildering array of package types, each designed to capture different spending patterns:

• Basic/Refreshment Packages typically include soft drinks, specialty coffees, bottled water, and non-alcoholic cocktails. These usually run £15-25 per day and work well for families or light drinkers who want convenience.
• Premium/Deluxe Alcohol Packages cover everything in basic packages plus unlimited alcoholic beverages up to a certain price point (usually £12-15 per drink). These cost £45-90 per day depending on the line and ship.
• Ultra-Premium Packages include top-shelf spirits and expensive wines, often costing £70+ per day. Only luxury lines typically offer these comprehensively.
• All-Inclusive Lines like Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea include premium beverages in their base fares – but you’re paying for this privilege whether you drink or not. If you’re considering this route, understanding all-inclusive cruises helps you weigh the true value proposition.

The Honest Breakdown: Major Cruise Lines

Royal Caribbean International

The Deluxe Beverage Package covers drinks up to £12 each and runs £63-89 per day depending on the ship. The math is brutal: you need 5-7 drinks daily just to break even. Their Royal Caribbean ships excel at non-alcoholic inclusions though – specialty coffees, fresh juices, and bottled water add genuine value for active cruisers.

Hidden catch: Starbucks locations are excluded, and with Royal’s port-heavy Caribbean itineraries, you’re paying full price for days you’re barely on board.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises bundles their Classic Beverage Package (£89/day) into “Always Included” pricing, making it feel free when pre-paid. This psychological trick works because specialty coffees, bottled water, and decent house wines are genuinely included without daily consumption pressure.

Insider tip: Celebrity’s wine selection at the package level beats most competitors, making this worthwhile for wine enthusiasts even at moderate consumption levels.

Carnival Cruise Line

The CHEERS! package at £60-65 per day includes a 15-drink daily limit – which sounds generous until you realize it includes every soft drink and coffee. Carnival’s individual drink prices are aggressive (£6-8 for cocktails), meaning moderate drinkers often come out ahead paying individually.

Reality check: Carnival’s demographic tends to be price-conscious, so their package pricing reflects genuine value rather than luxury positioning.

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL’s “Free at Sea” promotion bundles drinks with specialty dining and WiFi, making the beverage portion seem like a bonus. The Unlimited Open Bar covers drinks up to £12 each, but Norwegian’s freestyle dining means more time eating (and drinking) than traditional cruise schedules.

P&O Cruises

The Ultimate Drinks Package at £40 per day represents solid value for UK cruisers who understand British drinking culture. P&O’s house wines and spirits selection caters specifically to British tastes, unlike international lines serving generic brands.

The Real Math Behind Package Value

Forget the cruise line calculators – here’s how to actually determine value:

Daily Consumption Requirements

The brutal truth: research shows that people very rarely drink enough to make packages unprofitable for cruise lines – you typically need seven alcoholic drinks daily just to break even.

• Basic packages: Need 3-4 specialty coffees or soft drinks daily to break even
• Premium alcohol packages: Require 5-8 alcoholic drinks daily depending on your drink choices
• Ultra-premium packages: Only worthwhile if you regularly order £15+ cocktails or premium wines

Hidden Variables That Matter

• Port intensity: Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries with daily ports mean you’re paying for packages while exploring cities. Repositioning cruises with sea days offer better package value.
• Cabin occupancy rules: Most lines require all adults in the cabin to purchase alcohol packages if one person does. This doubles costs for couples with different drinking habits.
• Gratuity additions: Packages automatically add 15-18% service charges, increasing real costs significantly.

When Packages Make Perfect Sense

The Sweet Spots

• Sea day heavy itineraries: Transatlantic, repositioning, or longer cruises with multiple sea days
• Social drinkers: Couples who enjoy cocktails, wine with dinner, and morning specialty coffees
• Adventurous tasters: Passengers who want to try expensive cocktails without individual drink anxiety
• Budgeters: People who prefer fixed costs over variable spending

Package Alternatives That Often Work Better

Virgin Voyages’ Bar Tab: Pre-purchase £200+ bar credits that don’t expire, offering flexibility without daily consumption pressure.

Individual wine packages: Many lines sell bottle packages or wine-by-the-glass cards that beat comprehensive packages for wine-focused drinkers.

Loyalty program benefits: Higher-tier members often receive daily drink vouchers that significantly reduce package value.

The Package Trap: When They’re Tourist Bait

Red Flags

• Short cruises: Weekend and 3-4 day cruises rarely provide enough consumption time to justify packages
• Port-heavy itineraries: Daily shore excursions mean minimal onboard drinking time
• Mixed drinking preferences: Couples where one person drinks significantly more than the other
• Specialty restrictions: Lines that exclude premium venues (like ship Starbucks locations) from packages

Better Alternatives

For moderate drinkers, individual purchases often win. Most cruise cocktails cost £8-12, meaning you’d need 6+ daily drinks for package value. Wine by the bottle during dinner often costs less than equivalent package charges.

Common Questions

Can I share a drinks package with my cabin mate? No. Packages are linked to your cruise card and can only be used by the registered person. Most lines also require all adults in the cabin to purchase alcohol packages if anyone does.

Do packages work on private islands like Perfect Day at CocoCay? Generally yes, but coverage varies by venue. Royal Caribbean’s packages work at most CocoCay locations, while other lines may have restrictions at their private destinations.

Can I upgrade my package once onboard? Usually yes, but you’ll pay full price for remaining days rather than getting pro-rated upgrades. Buy the right package initially or stick with individual purchases.

What happens if I don’t use my full package allowance daily? Credits don’t roll over to the next day – it’s use-it-or-lose-it. This makes packages poor value for inconsistent drinkers.

Do packages include room service drinks? Most alcohol packages cover room service beverages, but delivery fees still apply. Some lines exclude premium room service wine selections.

Are there any drinks packages can’t cover? Yes. Ultra-premium wines, specialty venue exclusions (like Starbucks), and drinks over the package limit require individual payment. Always read the fine print.

My Final Verdict

Drinks packages work brilliantly for consistent drinkers on sea-day-heavy cruises who want budget certainty and drinking freedom. They’re expensive mistakes for light drinkers on port-intensive itineraries who assume “unlimited” automatically means “good value.”

The cruise industry profits massively from passengers who buy packages they don’t fully utilize. Do the honest math based on your actual drinking patterns, not your vacation fantasies. Most people overestimate how much they’ll drink when faced with early morning excursions, rich meals, and the simple reality that you can’t party like you’re 25 when you’re exploring ancient ruins at 8 AM.

Don’t get so fixated on drinks that you ignore where the real savings lie – shore excursions booked independently can save you hundreds, and understanding speciality restaurants often delivers better value than any bar tab ever will.