Cruise Beverage Packages: Are They Worth The Money?

09.08.2023 - 13:07 / forbes.com

Additional costs on a cruise can quickly add up, with drinks one of the biggest offenders. A cool G&T by the pool, a glass of wine or two over dinner, a cocktail at the show, and before you know it you’ve run up an unintended bill.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make before boarding a cruise is whether to shell out for a beverage package. It’ll cost more up-front, but you may end up saving money.

Such all-inclusive deals can cost anywhere from $30 to well in excess of $100 per day. The exact price you pay depends on which cruise line you sail with, the length of your cruise, and which beverage package you choose.

Cruise ship beverage packages offer all-inclusive alcoholic and soft drinks for a fixed daily amount. Most lines offer some kind of package but they vary in what’s included.

For example, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offer one of the cheapest packages at sea at just £25 ($32) per day, but it’s limited to draught beer, house wines and the one cocktail of the day. In contrast, the Premium package on Celebrity Cruises—which includes all drinks up to the value of $17 each—costs more than $100 per day.

If you have a package, the bartenders will know by scanning your cruise card when you order a drink. You will be able to order whatever you like from the inclusive menu, but usually just one drink at a time. So, are cruise beverages packages worth it? It depends on several factors.

It’s impossible to judge the value of a package without studying the cost of individual drinks on the bar menus. Most cruise lines publish the cost of their drinks or at least a range for the different beverage types, allowing a basic comparison.

A few cruising-focused websites have come up with calculators to help you work out if a beverage package is right for you, including Cruzely. Just remember to bear in mind the following questions too.

Although often considered ‘all-inclusive’, such deals usually come with a long list of terms and conditions. That’s especially true on lines with multiple package options.

Read the small print to understand how many types of tap beer (it’s sometimes just one) are included, what wines (often just house wine by the glass) are offered, and whether the deal is valid in speciality restaurants.

What soft drinks are included? How about bottled water? Coffee in the bars is usually included, but specialty coffee from a designated coffee shop, if present, is often excluded.

Once you’ve got a complete overview of what’s included and what’s not, you’ll be much better placed to make a decision.

This is one of the most important factors that many people don’t consider, as you will inevitably drink more on days with no port calls.

If you’re on a classic 7-day Mediterranean cruise with port