Cruise Drink Package Mistakes That Cost You Money
A cruise drink package looks like the easy answer. Pay one daily price, stop thinking about your bar tab, and enjoy the trip. But plenty of cruisers end up paying hundreds more than they would have spent drink by drink.
The problem usually isn’t the package itself. It’s the fine print — service charges added on top, cabin rules that force everyone to buy, port days that don’t count, and exclusions nobody reads until the bill arrives.
This guide breaks down the 12 most expensive drink package mistakes, with real current prices and rules from the biggest cruise lines, so you can decide whether a package actually saves you money.
Quick Answer: Is a Cruise Drink Package Worth It?
A drink package is usually worth it only if you’ll have around 5–6 alcoholic drinks every single day, including port days. If you drink less than that, paying per drink is almost always cheaper.
Before you buy, add the service charge to the daily price, multiply by every night of your cruise, and multiply again by every adult in your cabin. That’s your real cost.
Cruise Drink Package Mistakes Checklist
| Mistake | What It Costs You | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Skipping the break-even math | Paying for drinks you never drink | Divide the daily price by your average drink cost |
| Ignoring the service charge | 18–20% on top of the listed price | Always calculate the total with service charge |
| Forgetting port days | Paying for days you’re ashore | Count how many full sea days you have |
| Not knowing the cabin rule | Buying packages for non-drinkers | Check if all adults must purchase |
| Buying onboard | Higher daily price | Pre-purchase before sailing |
| Not rechecking prices | Missing a later sale | Watch the cruise planner until sailing |
| Ignoring drink limits | Can’t drink as much as planned | Read daily caps and ordering rules |
| Sharing your package | Losing the package entirely | Never pass drinks to non-package guests |
| Assuming everything is covered | Paying extra for “excluded” items | Read the exclusions list |
| Buying alcohol when you mostly drink coffee | Overpaying for unused alcohol | Choose a soda or non-alcoholic package |
| Skipping cheaper alternatives | Missing free or discounted drinks | Use wine allowances and happy hours |
| Treating “free” packages as free | Surprise gratuity charges | Check the package gratuity at booking |
Mistake 1: Skipping the Break-Even Math
This is the most expensive mistake on the list. Most people buy a package based on a feeling, not a number.
Here’s the simple formula: daily package price (with service charge) ÷ average price of one drink (with gratuity) = drinks you need per day to break even.
For example, Carnival’s CHEERS! package costs $69.95 per person per day when pre-purchased, plus a 20% service charge. That’s $83.94 a day. On Royal Caribbean, a typical cocktail costs around $10–14 before an 18% gratuity, so roughly $15 after it.
At those numbers, you’d need about 5.5 drinks every day just to break even.
The fix: Be honest about how much you actually drink on vacation. If it’s two cocktails at dinner and one by the pool, you’ll save money paying as you go.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Service Charge
The price on the cruise line’s website is rarely the price you pay. Most lines add a service charge or gratuity to drink packages.
Carnival adds 20% to CHEERS!, which turns $69.95 a day into $83.94. Norwegian also adds a 20% gratuity to its beverage packages. Other lines add 18–20% to bar bills in general.
Over a 7-night cruise, Carnival’s service charge alone adds nearly $100 per person.
The fix: Multiply the listed daily price by 1.18 or 1.20 (depending on the line) before you compare it with paying per drink.
Mistake 3: Forgetting Port Days Still Count
You pay for every day of the cruise, including days you spend ashore. But drinks you buy on land aren’t covered.
Carnival’s package doesn’t cover drinks at ports of call or at its private destinations, including Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays. So a beach day at a private island can mean paying for your package and paying again for drinks on the beach.
The fix: Count your sea days versus port days. A port-heavy itinerary makes a package much harder to justify.
Mistake 4: Not Knowing the “All Adults in the Cabin” Rule
On most major cruise lines, if one adult in a cabin buys an alcoholic package, every other adult in that cabin must buy one too.
Carnival requires all adults in the same stateroom to buy CHEERS! if one person does. Norwegian requires the same. Royal Caribbean ended most exceptions to its rule on August 1, 2025.
Royal Caribbean now offers a Beverage Package Accommodation Request for guests who can’t drink due to a disability, medical condition, or pregnancy. Even if approved, that guest still has to buy a non-alcoholic package, and approval isn’t guaranteed.
The fix: If one person drinks and the other doesn’t, run the math for both packages. It often makes the deal much worse.
Mistake 5: Buying the Package Onboard
Waiting until you board almost always costs more. Cruise lines reward pre-purchase.
Carnival charges $69.95 per day pre-purchased versus $74.95 per day onboard, before the service charge. Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, and pre-cruise sales are often around 35–40% off, sometimes more.
The fix: Decide before your cruise and book through the cruise line’s planner or app. Check the refund deadline too — Carnival’s pre-purchases are refundable until 10pm ET the evening before departure.
Mistake 6: Not Rechecking the Price After You Buy
Royal Caribbean’s drink package prices change based on ship, sailing, and demand. A package you bought months ago might be cheaper next week.
Many cruisers cancel and rebook when the price drops, as long as the cruise line allows it.
The fix: Check the cruise planner every few weeks before sailing. If the price drops and cancellation is allowed, rebook at the lower rate.
Mistake 7: Ignoring Daily Drink Limits and Ordering Rules
“Unlimited” doesn’t always mean unlimited. Some packages have daily caps and ordering rules.
Carnival’s CHEERS! allows up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period. It’s one drink per order, with a 10-minute wait between orders, according to Carnival’s own terms. Princess also caps alcoholic drinks at 15 per day.
Norwegian lets you order two drinks at a time and doesn’t publish a daily cap.
The fix: Read your line’s limits before buying. If you’re planning on lots of drinks at a pool party, the ordering rules matter.
Mistake 8: Sharing Your Package
Passing a drink to a friend or partner who doesn’t have a package sounds harmless. Cruise lines don’t see it that way.
Packages are personal and non-transferable. Royal Caribbean said its stricter cabin rule was introduced specifically to stop sharing. Getting caught can mean losing your package without a refund.
The fix: Only order drinks for yourself. If your partner wants a drink, they pay for it or have their own package.
Mistake 9: Assuming Everything Is Covered
Every package has an exclusions list, and it’s longer than most people expect.
Common exclusions include:
- Drinks served in souvenir glasses
- Room service and minibar drinks
- Bottles of wine or liquor
- Premium or “connoisseur” selections
- Starbucks drinks and bottled water (on Norwegian)
- Drinks at ports and private islands
The fix: Read the exclusions before you buy. If your favorite drinks are excluded, the package loses a lot of its value.
Mistake 10: Buying Alcohol When You Mostly Drink Coffee and Soda
Some cruisers buy the full alcoholic package mainly for specialty coffees, juices, and sodas. That’s an expensive way to get a latte.
On Royal Caribbean, a latte costs about $4.25 and a canned soda about $3.50. Regular coffee, tea, water, and some juices are typically free in the main dining room and buffet.
The fix: If you mostly drink non-alcoholic drinks, compare the soda or refreshment packages, or just pay as you go.
Mistake 11: Skipping Cheaper Alternatives
A package isn’t the only way to save on drinks. Cruise lines offer several cheaper options.
Royal Caribbean lets each adult bring one sealed 750ml bottle of wine or champagne on embarkation day in carry-on luggage. A corkage fee (reported at around $15) applies if you drink it in a restaurant or lounge, but not in your cabin.
Other ways to save include happy hours, drink-of-the-day specials, and loyalty program perks for frequent cruisers.
The fix: Check your cruise line’s current beverage and wine policy before you pack, and look at the daily schedule for specials.
Mistake 12: Treating “Free” Drink Packages as Free
Promotions that include a “free” drink package usually come with gratuity charges.
Norwegian’s More at Sea promotion includes a drink package, but mock bookings reviewed by Cruise Radio showed a $420 drink-package gratuity on a seven-day sailing. That’s real money added to your booking.
The fix: Look at the full booking breakdown before you choose a “free” perk. Compare it with a lower base fare without the package.
What I’d Do Differently
Based on current cruise-line guidance and common traveler feedback, the biggest saving comes from doing the math before booking. Calculate your daily total with the service charge. Then multiply it by every night and every adult in the cabin.
If that number is higher than what you’d realistically spend at the bar, skip the package.
FAQs
How many drinks a day make a cruise drink package worth it? For most packages, about 5–6 alcoholic drinks per day, every day. The exact number depends on your line’s package price and drink prices.
Do all adults in my cabin have to buy the drink package? On Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Princess, generally yes. Royal Caribbean offers limited medical and pregnancy accommodation requests.
Is it cheaper to buy a drink package before the cruise? Usually, yes. Carnival charges $5 more per day onboard, and Royal Caribbean often runs pre-cruise sales.
Are drinks at private islands included in my package? Not always. Carnival’s package doesn’t cover drinks at Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, or Princess Cays. Check your line’s rules.
Can I share a drink package with my partner? No. Packages are for one person only, and sharing can get the package cancelled.
I am Zoe Grace, a passionate enthusiast of cruise ships. With a decade of firsthand experience in the cruising industry, I have developed a deep understanding of the intricacies and wonders that these majestic vessels hold.
Now, I am excited to embark on a new journey as an author, sharing my knowledge and insights with readers who share my fascination for the world of cruising.
Join me as we explore the captivating world of cruise ships together.
