Is purchasing a cruise drink package worth it?
I have to admit: “Is the drink package worth it?” is a loaded question. The answer could be yes, and it usually is for us. But the answer could also be no depending on a number of questions.
So, let’s figure out together whether or not the cruise drink package is worth it for you!
What is a drink package?
Cruises are not all inclusive. They do include a lot of things, BUT there are also a decent amount of extras that can be purchased. The drink package is an extra that the cruise line sells to make an extra buck. You absolutely do not have to purchase a drink package.
Your cruise fare already includes water, coffee, tea, and juices which can be found at designated beverage stations. I have cruised without purchasing a drink package and very much enjoyed my trip with only these basic offerings. The coffee was good and we never had a problem finding it. There are water stations throughout the ship with cups for your convenience, but I highly recommend bringing along a wide-mouth refillable water bottle so you can take your agua on the road.
There are a few different levels of drink packages available on your cruise: the coffee card, the soda package, and the package I am referring to in this post: the alcoholic drink package. The coffee card allows you to get a certain amount of specialty coffees from the cafes on board. The soda package gets you soda at the soda machines. The alcoholic drink package gets you all of the above plus alcoholic beverages.
Questions to ask yourself before purchasing the drink package:
Do you have more than 4 alcoholic drinks per day on vacation?
For us, 4 drinks a day is beyond easy! Or, at least it was before children.
On sea days, my husband and I enjoy a Bloody Mary or two with breakfast, a seltzer(s) at the solarium, an Aperol Spritz in the afternoon, and wine to go with dinner as well as an after meal espresso. Then we enjoy tasting different cocktails around the ship in the evenings while attending shows and events. That typically tallies up to 10 drinks or so from breakfast until bed. The drink package, for us, pays for itself very quickly.
Are you going to one of your cruise lines’ private islands?
On port days, the drink package does not work when you get off the ship. Ports are not owned by the cruise line. They are independent places that wouldn’t mind enjoying some of your money as well.
But if you are going to the cruise line’s private island, then the drink package works on land too! I have enjoyed a cruise where we had two sea days and two private island stops – the drink package was more than worth it. During one trip to Coco Cay, we spent the entire day at the swim-up bar meeting new people and enjoying the music. To some, it’s a day wasted. But to us, it was perfect – it was exactly what we felt like doing that day.
Which cruise line are you sailing with?
Each cruise line’s drink package has different limitations. Most drink packages limit the amount of alcoholic beverages you can have per day (Carnival and Norwegian both limit you to 10).
One cruiser I spoke with who sailed with Carnival was extremely frustrated by this, stating, “ten beers for me is a lot different than ten Long Islands for a 125 pound female,” and I find myself agreeing. I remember a night when I had four (yes, I meant four) too many Espresso Martinis while my husband drank a bunch of Miller Lite. At 7′ tall and 300 lbs, it was barely a step up from drinking water for him, whereas I’m lucky I remember the evening at all…
If you don’t want a limit on your drinks, look into the drink package your cruise line offers (or let me research it for you!) and make sure it works for you. Just be aware, if you do drink too much and are visibly intoxicated, they will cut you off —lookin’ at you, girl, with the full espresso martini in your hand while you try to order another (hint: it’s me).
Do you want a more “all inclusive” experience?
As mentioned before, cruises are not all inclusive. If you decide to forgo the drink package but still drink while onboard, you will have to sign receipts as you go. Once you reach the end of the cruise, your card on file will be charged for all of the things you purchased while onboard. I have heard a few people say they drank way more than they thought they would on board and spent much more than the cost of the drink package by the end of the cruise.
When you’re at dinner and you want a glass of wine; or when you’re enjoying a show and the waiter comes by; or maybe you’re meeting other people and wind up having an impromptu night out, the charges can add up pretty quickly.
Also, most cruise lines charge an 18% automatic gratuity. When you buy drinks as you go, you are charged gratuity per drink. But when you pre-purchase the drink package, you pay the 18% on the total cost of the drink package and your gratuities are seen as paid for.
You are not required to tip when you order drinks on the drink package, but we definitely treat our favorite bartenders well. It’s hard not to when they remember your name, your favorite drink, and are always checking to make sure your hand isn’t empty.
Do you drink lattes, sodas, or bottled water?
Lattes, sodas, and bottled water are all included with the alcoholic drink package. So not only are your special adult beverages paid for, but the ginger ale for your hangover, the americano to get you going again, and the bottled water to mix with your electrolyte replenisher are all included as well.
My favorite electrolyte replenishers are LMNT and Nuun (with caffeine added)!
In addition to the list of cocktails I mentioned above, we also have one to two specialty coffees in the morning, an afternoon latte after a nap, an after-dinner espresso, and at least ten bottles of water (each) throughout the day. We typically don’t drink soda unless we have a particularly rough night and need a little ginger to settle the rocky seas in our stomach (again, say no after one espresso martini).
If you answered ‘yes’ to most of the above, you should definitely get the drink package. The price seems high at first, but once you see your purchase summary post cruise it will feel more than worth it. Besides, you will avoid the stress of having to track your drink purchases and trying to figure out if you should try that cucumber martini in the Champagne Bar or not. Get the drink package and get the cucumber martini—trust me, it’s good.
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