If you’re cruising, you’ve probably wondered: “Should I buy the drink package or just pay as I go?” Let’s break down the truth. Not all cruise drink packages are created equal, and knowing how much you actually drink, what’s included, and how cruise lines price things can save you hundreds of dollars—or prevent regret.

In this guide, I cover Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Virgin Voyages, including Princess Plus vs Princess Premier, Celebrity All-Inclusive Fares, and NCL’s Free at Sea™. By the end, you’ll know which package is worth it, and when it’s smarter to skip it.

What Are Cruise Drink Packages?

A drink package is typically a pre-paid plan that covers beverages onboard for a flat daily rate. The goal is to simplify budgeting and sometimes save money—but only if you drink enough to break even.

Key things to consider:

• What’s included (alcohol, specialty coffee, soda, Wi-Fi, gratuities)
• Daily price
• Break-even number of drinks
• Restrictions (one drink at a time, must purchase for all adults in cabin)
• Extra perks bundled with the package

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🚢 Princess Cruises – Princess Plus & Princess Premier

Princess does things differently. Instead of just selling a drink package, they bundle drinks + Wi-Fi + other perks together.

These are per person, per day for the entire cruise.

Real Math: Is Princess Plus Worth It?

Let’s break it down.

If you do NOT buy Plus, here’s roughly what you’d pay:

• Gratuities: ~$16–$18/day
• Wi-Fi: ~$15–$25/day
• 4–6 drinks at $12–$15 each

Princess is one of the only lines where even moderate drinkers can justify it because it’s bundled with things you’d likely pay for anyway.

🍹 Carnival Cruise Line Drink Packages – Real Talk

Carnival keeps it pretty straightforward, but there are three different options, and they serve very different travelers.

Honest Carnival Bottom Line

Carnival’s CHEERS! package is one of the more reasonably priced alcohol packages in the mainstream cruise world — but you still need to drink consistently to make it worth it.

The Zero Proof package is actually one of the better non-alcoholic packages out there if you’ll use it daily.

And Bottomless Bubbles is strictly for soda fans.

🍷 Celebrity Cruises – Real Talk on Drink Packages

Celebrity has tiered drink packages and an All-Inclusive Fare option that changes the math completely, so it’s worth looking closely before you buy.

All-Inclusive Fares

Celebrity also offers All-Inclusive Fares on select sailings. These bundles include:

• Drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic)
• Gratuities
• Wi-Fi
• Specialty dining
• Onboard credits or perks

Why it matters:

If you’re already getting most of the package perks with an All-Inclusive Fare, it’s often cheaper and easier than buying individual drink packages. It removes the “break-even math” stress and is great for moderate drinkers who want the convenience of flat-rate everything.

✅ Real Talk Bottom Line for Celebrity

• Heavy cocktail & wine drinkers: Classic or Premium can save you money if you consistently drink 5–8 drinks/day.
• Moderate drinkers or All-Inclusive sailings: You might already be covered — buying an additional package may not make sense.
• Non-drinkers: Non-alcoholic package is worth it if you enjoy coffee, mocktails, or specialty sodas.

Celebrity is one of the cruise lines where checking All-Inclusive fares first can actually save more money and hassle than buying a drink package separately.

🍾 Norwegian Cruise Line – Real Talk on Drink Packages

Norwegian does things a little differently. Their Unlimited Open Bar isn’t a traditional daily-price package you buy separately—it’s usually included in the Free at Sea™ promotion.

✅ Real Talk Bottom Line for NCL

• Heavy drinkers: Free at Sea™ is incredible value—your drinks are already included, plus gratuities. Free at Sea Plus™ boosts this for premium spirits and Starbucks.
• Moderate drinkers: Standard Free at Sea™ already covers most drinks you’d buy; the upgrade may not pay off unless you want premium/top-shelf items.
• Non-drinkers: Pop and Starbucks packages can still be a nice perk if you want unlimited soda or specialty coffee.

Key takeaway: NCL’s drink “packages” are built into the fare via promotions, not sold separately in the usual daily-fee way. The smarter strategy is to calculate value based on how much you’ll use the included perks, not just the cost of drinks.

🚢 Royal Caribbean – Real Talk on Drink Packages

Royal Caribbean offers three main beverage packages. Pricing is dynamic, meaning it changes based on your ship, itinerary, length of sailing, demand, and when you book.

Important: Prices below are typical recent ranges for 2025–2026 sailings. An 18% gratuity is automatically added, so the real cost is slightly higher than the base price you see advertised.

Real Talk Strategy for Royal Caribbean

Royal’s pricing fluctuates constantly. The smartest move is almost always to:

✔️ Purchase during a pre-cruise sale
✔️ Watch for Cruise Planner discounts
✔️ Reprice if it drops

Unlike Princess or Norwegian, Royal does not bundle Wi-Fi or gratuities into their drink packages. So your break-even calculation is strictly beverage-based.

Also — because all adults in the same cabin must purchase — this package makes the most sense when both adults are drinking consistently.

✅ Real Talk Bottom Line for Royal Caribbean

Heavy drinkers (5–7+ drinks per day): Deluxe Beverage Package usually makes sense.

Moderate drinkers: Only worth it if you also drink specialty coffee, bottled water, and mocktails daily.

Light drinkers or port-heavy itineraries: Pay as you go is often cheaper.

Non-drinkers: Refreshment Package can absolutely be worth it if you love specialty coffees and mocktails.

Royal Caribbean is one of the cruise lines where the math is very straightforward: it’s purely about how much you actually drink — there aren’t bundled extras like Wi-Fi or gratuities tipping the scale.

🚢 Virgin Voyages – Real Talk on Bar Tabs

Virgin doesn’t sell traditional “drink packages.” Instead, every sailor automatically gets Essential Drinks, which includes:

• Soda, water, teas, and juices
• This is included in your fare—no extra charge

For guests who want cocktails, premium coffee, or alcoholic beverages, Virgin offers the Bar Tab, which is pre-paid and flexible:

How Bar Tabs Work

You pre-pay a set amount and get bonus credit to spend on drinks throughout the ship, which you can share with anyone in your group.

Bar Tab Purchase	Bonus Credit	Total to Spend
$200	+$25	$225
$300	+$50	$350
$500	+$100	$600
$750	+$175	$925
$1,000	+$250	$1,250

Real Talk:

• Unlike traditional packages, there’s no daily limit.
• You don’t have to buy one if you only drink soda/juice—those are included in Essential Drinks.
• Bar Tabs are great if you and your friends or family want cocktails, mocktails, or premium beverages without worrying about paying individually.
• You can share the balance with others in your group, which is super flexible for travelers cruising together.

Best For:

• Cocktail lovers who want flexibility
• Groups or couples who want to share a budget for drinks
• People who want alcohol or specialty drinks without a “per day” package commitment

Bottom Line: Virgin is hands-down the simplest system for adult travelers who want control. Essential drinks cover everyone’s basic needs, and the Bar Tab is a stress-free way to pre-pay for drinks, share with friends, and get bonus credit.

How to Decide if a Drink Package Is Worth It

1. Calculate your average daily drinks (alcoholic + specialty coffees/sodas).
2. Consider extras included: Wi-Fi, gratuities, specialty dining.
3. Check promotions: Norwegian Free at Sea™, Celebrity All-Inclusive Fares, Princess Premier.
4. Cabin restrictions: Some lines require all adults to participate.
5. Don’t buy for “just in case”: Only if you will realistically use it daily.

Rule of Thumb: 5–7 drinks/day is often the break-even point for alcohol packages. Less than that? Pay as you go.

Bottom Line

• Princess Plus: Best for moderate drinkers who value Wi-Fi and gratuities included
• Princess Premier: Heavy drinkers or those wanting luxury perks
• Carnival CHEERS!: Social cruisers, sea-day drinkers
• Royal Caribbean: Cocktail lovers and families
• Celebrity: Check All-Inclusive fares first; premium packages for heavy drinkers
• Norwegian: Drink and perks bundled via Free at Sea™
• Virgin Voyages: Stress-free, all-included drinks

The smartest strategy is to match your cruise style to the right package. Not all packages save money, but used strategically, they can add convenience, fun, and real savings.