What to Expect on a Cruise: Drink Packages on Cruises
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If you're thinking about buying your drinks package on the last day of your sailing so you can save money for most of your cruise and let loose on the final day, think again. You can only buy your drinks package onboard for roughly the first 48 hours, and packages must be purchased for the entire duration of the cruise. Instead, you could get a soft drinks package or just elect to buy your beverages a’la carte. You won’t have wasted money on a pricier drinks package and will still get what you want. If this sounds like you, then you can get your money’s worth with a drink package. The rules of these packages say that you have to buy them for every day of your cruise, even on the days when you are in port.
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You would then have to spend the money on the ship and not be able to get unused credit back in cash. For more details on alcohol-inclusive packages, see our story on all-you-can-drink packages. While the listed upgrade price is $20 per person, per night, I've heard from multiple cruisers that the upgrade is sometimes offered as low as $6.99 per person, per night, making that a bargain as well. Don't forget the 20% gratuity per person, per night, that's tacked onto the price.
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What do Celebrity drink packages cost?
So when you port in Cozumel, you are headed into Mexico -- not an extension of the cruise ship. Most drink packages also have limits on the cost of the drink they will cover. There is also the Classic Package, which offers fewer options and drinks by the glass up to $10 each.
Is a Celebrity drink package worth it?
At embarkation, per Disney Cruise Line's Alcohol Policy, guests 21 years of age and up may bring two bottles of wine or Champagne, or six beers (12 ounces or less each) in their carryon luggage. Guests may bring additional wine or beer on after each port. Package is not available until the second day of all sailings leaving from ports in New York and Texas. Applies to onboard beverages only; it cannot be used at Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay. The package must be booked for the entire duration of the voyage.
How Much Do Beverage Packages Cost?
The biggest difference between the two is that the Classic package offers drinks up to $10 per glass while the Premium plan offers drinks up to $17 per glass. The Premium package also offers a 20% discount on wine by the bottle compared to 15% for the Classic offer. We’ve put together a Drink Package Calculator here than can help you do the math and see if the package is a smart buy for you. Simply enter the number and type of beverages you think you’ll drink each day, and you can compare that amount to the cost of the drink package offered on your cruise. Royal Caribbean requires all adults in a stateroom to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package (which includes alcoholic drinks) if one person does.
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Here is what's included in each Celebrity cruise drink package. With the Classic Package, choose from an incredible array of beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $10 per serving. The cost of drinks in the table below are an average price offered on Carnival when purchased individually. This is a representation of what, on average, it will cost you to drink a la carte on a cruise.
Should I Buy My Drinks Package Before or During My Cruise?
When you do that, you'll be charged each time you get a beverage and don't forget the extra gratuity -- usually around 18% -- that's tacked on. They have also added a Premier Beverage Package that offers drinks up to $20 per glass. The Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package includes the same beer and wine offerings with the addition of Champagne by the glass, cordials, cocktails and mini bar selections. Many guests aboard Viking Ocean Cruises will find the complimentary beverages offered during lunch and dinner provide enough variety during an itinerary.
That way, you're always comparing apples to apples, despite BOGO deals or percentages off. Packages do not include beverages ordered from room service, bought in onboard gift shops or consumed from the minibar in your cabin. These are just a few of the questions new Celebrity cruisers (and even some veterans of the line) often ask when it comes time to consider buying a drink package for their cruise. Prices for drinks outside of a beverage package can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of drink, the cruise itinerary, and any promotions or packages that may be available.
There is an additional 18% gratuity charge tacked onto this amount. Over the course of a 7-day cruise, the total would come to $536.82. You spent $53— $63.60 with a 20% for gratuity — for drinks.
Cruise lines tend to differ on this, but two to three days prior to embarkation is a good rule of thumb. Miss out, and you'll be stuck buying the package while onboard, which can be more expensive. Before you pull the trigger on buying the drink package, you should know that just because you purchase the unlimited beverage package on your cruise doesn't mean you can drink anything in sight.
The Minors Package includes mocktails and all the same selections as the adult Alcohol-Free Package. This package is usable everywhere except specialty restaurants and signature venues. Day 1, you wake up for some orange juice ($3.50) with your breakfast.
The limit only applies to alcoholic beverages, so feel free to order unlimited soda, juice, and specialty coffee. Below, we’ve listed the cost of drink packages for some of the mainstream cruise lines to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay. It is universal across cruise lines — including Celebrity — that sharing is not allowed. This is a reason that cruise lines require all adults to buy the drink package if one person in the cabin does so. As mentioned above, Celebrity offers two different alcoholic packages.
If you're happy with these free options, supplemented by a couple of extra-fee drinks per day, you might save more by purchasing drinks a la carte versus splurging on a drink package. As you consider which package works best for your drinking habits, be sure to factor in the ports and the itinerary as a whole. Sea days tend to be higher drink consumption days, so a seven-night cruise with two sea days may bump up your needs a bit. Stops at private islands may mean even higher consumption because you're away from the air-conditioning for much of the day.
The cost of a cruise ship drink package does not include gratuities. You will be charged gratuities at checkout on the drink package, usually between 15% and 20%. If you decide to purchase a drink package on your cruise, you must buy it every day of the vacation. You can’t purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise.
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