Thinking about buying a cruise drink package? These packages can cost anywhere from $80 to over $100 per person per day—sometimes almost as much as your entire cruise fare.
Before you drop hundreds or even thousands on drinks, let’ me show you’s go over 9 reasons why cruise beverage packages might be the most expensive mistake you make on your trip. Don’t waste your money!
Reasons Not to Buy the Cruise Drink Package
1. Back to Back Port Days
If your cruise is packed with port days, a drink package is usually a waste of money. Think about it—on itineraries like the Mediterranean, you’re off the ship most of the day exploring, and you only get back in time for dinner. That means your drinking window is pretty short—basically just dinner and maybe a nightcap.
And if you’ve got another early morning shore excursion the next day, you’re probably not staying at the bar until 2 a.m.
To get your money’s worth, you’d need to drink 5 to 9 alcoholic drinks every single day… and on port-heavy cruises, that’s just not realistic.
2. Not Everyone in Your Cabin Drinks
Here’s a big thing to watch out for: on most cruise lines, if one adult in your cabin buys the drink package, everyone else in that cabin has to buy it too — even if they barely drink or don’t drink at all.
That means if you’re cruising with a partner, friend, or family member who doesn’t enjoy alcohol, they’re still on the hook to pay full price.
This can turn into a lot of wasted money if only one or two people actually use the package. In that case, it’s almost always cheaper to skip the package and just order drinks a la carte when you want them. That way, you’re only paying for what you actually drink, not a flat fee for something you don’t fully use.
3. The Wine You Brought Is Enough
Most cruise lines let you bring your own wine or champagne when you board. For example, Carnival allows one bottle per adult, and other cruise lines have similar rules.
If you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a little bubbly to celebrate, bringing your own bottles can save you money. Why pay hundreds for a drink package when your favorite wine is already in your cabin?
A few bottles might cover all your drinking needs for the cruise, especially if you’re not a big drinker. So skip the beverage package and bring your own wine instead.
4. Private Island is Not Included
Many people assume their drink package works everywhere on the cruise — but that’s not always true when it comes to private islands. Some cruise lines include drinks at their private islands in the package, while others don’t.
For example, Norwegian’s drink packages does not work in all of their private islands. If you’re cruising with MSC, their package does cover Ocean Cay.
If you’re planning to spend time at a private island, always check ahead to see if your drink package covers it. Otherwise, you could end up paying extra for every drink you order on the beach.
5. You Have Loyalty Status
If you’ve cruised enough to earn high loyalty status, you will get invited to special VIP receptions with open bars, and sometimes you might even get invited to more than one during a single cruise.
For example, MSC Cruises invites their Diamond members to two VIP receptions on a 7-day cruise. That means open bar- free wine, cocktails, and champagne at the event.
Some cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, also reward higher-tier loyalty members free alcoholic beverages at certain times of the day. These drinks aren’t unlimited, but if you’re not a heavy drinker, they might be all you need.
Plus, Celebrity Cruises even takes it a step further by inviting loyalty members to exclusive wine tasting sessions, giving you a chance to sample premium wines for free.
Between the VIP receptions, wine tastings, and daily perks, you could easily enjoy several free drinks without paying a dime.
With perks like these, buying a drink package often doesn’t make sense if you’re not a heavy drinker.
6. Your Favorite Premium Brand is Not Included
If you’re someone who’s picky about your drinks and loves specific premium brands—whether it’s your favorite bourbon, whiskey, or wine—you need to be careful with drink packages. Many cruise lines have limits on what’s included, and premium brands often come with restrictions or extra charges.
For example, Carnival’s Cheers Beverage package caps drinks at $20 each. If you order a drink that costs more, you have to pay the difference out of pocket. So, if your go-to bourbon or craft cocktail is pricier, you could end up paying more than you expected.
Some cruise lines, like Norwegian, offer different levels of beverage packages. Their higher-tier package includes premium brands, but it costs significantly more. So if you’re particular about what you drink, make sure you check exactly which brands are included before buying a package.
Otherwise, you might end up paying extra on top of the package price just to get your favorite drink—which kind of defeats the purpose of saving money.
7. You are on a Budget
Drink packages aren’t cheap. If you’re on a budget, it might not be the best idea to buy one. These packages can be quite expensive, and they add up quickly.
For example, at Carnival Cruise, the cheapest drink package starts at $80 per person per day, while at Norwegian Cruise, it starts at $109 per person per day. And don’t forget about the 18-20% gratuity that you’ll need to add on top of that.
Plus, keep in mind that you’ll be charged for the drink package for the entire duration of your cruise. In some cases, the drink package can be almost as expensive as your cruise fare! So, if you’re on a budget, you definitely don’t want to double your cruise fare by adding a drink package.
8. You are Not Big Drinkers
If you don’t drink a lot, the cruise beverage package probably isn’t worth it. To break even on the cost, you’d need to drink between 5 to 9 alcoholic beverages every single day. That’s a lot of drinks!
Even if you mix in specialty coffees, smoothies, or non-alcoholic drinks included in the package, you still need to consume quite a bit to make it pay off.
If your ideal cruise day is a cocktail by the pool, a glass of champagne before dinner, and a glass of wine during your meal, you’re much better off paying as you go.
Plus, there are plenty of ways to get free drinks on the ship without buying the package. For example, many cruises have art auctions where you can get free champagne just for attending the auction.
Unless you’re planning to drink heavily every day, skipping the beverage package could save you a lot of money.
9. You Can Get Free Drinks
Did you know you don’t have to buy a drink package to enjoy free drinks on board? There are plenty of ways to get complimentary beverages if you know where to look.
For example, many cruises hold art auctions where they serve free champagne to attendees. You can also enter raffles and contests throughout the cruise where they serve free champagne and they may even give out bottles of champagne as prizes.
Plus, some captain’s events and receptions include free champagne as part of the celebration.
So, if you’re not a heavy drinker and just want to enjoy a free drink here and there, don’t buy the package.
Cruise lines are experts at making you spend more—think drink packages, surprise fees, and upsells you can’t resist. In the next video, I’m exposing their sneaky tactics and showing you exactly how to avoid them.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cruise Planning Essentials
Day Passes to Resorts– Booking private beach resort access in advance guarantees a comfortable beach experience at the cruise port.
Travel Insurance with CFAR Coverage– CFAR travel insurance gives you flexibility to cancel your cruise for any reason and recover part of your costs if plans change.
Last Minute Cruise Deals– Search for last minute cruise deals.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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