The best cruise drinks are the ones built for sunshine and sea air: frozen rum classics like the piña colada and Miami Vice, Caribbean punches such as the Painkiller and rum swizzle, and each cruise line’s own signature cocktails, like Carnival’s Caribbean Colada or Royal Caribbean’s Cucumber Martini. Light spritzes and sparkling brunch drinks round out the list, and almost every bar will make a mocktail version if you ask.
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Below are 20 favourite cruise drinks, with what goes into each one, why it works on a ship, and where it tends to be famous. After that you’ll find good alcohol-free picks, rough 2026 drink prices and a quick guide to whether a drinks package is worth it.
20 Best Cruise Drinks to Try on Your Next Sailing
Frozen and tropical favourites
- Piña Colada: rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice blended with ice. It’s the unofficial drink of Caribbean cruising, and almost every pool bar keeps a blender busy making it. The drink comes from Puerto Rico, which makes it a natural choice on a San Juan itinerary.
- Miami Vice: half piña colada, half strawberry daiquiri, poured so the two layers sit side by side. It’s a good pick when you can’t decide between creamy and fruity, and you can order it on almost any mainstream line.
- Caribbean Colada (Carnival): Carnival’s own twist on the colada, served frozen at the RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar on the Lido deck. If you’re sailing with Carnival, this is the one to try first.
- Love Connection (Royal Caribbean): layers of strawberry daiquiri, mango daiquiri and piña colada. Royal Caribbean bartenders make it at any bar with a blender, and it works just as well without the rum.
- Frozen Margarita: tequila, lime and orange liqueur blended with ice, often in mango, strawberry or guava. Carnival’s BlueIguana bar serves several flavours, and frozen margaritas are a sensible order on Mexican Riviera and Cozumel sailings.
- Blue Hawaiian: rum, blue curaçao, pineapple and coconut. Its bright colour is a big part of the appeal, and it photographs well against a sea view.
- Mudslide: vodka, coffee liqueur and Irish cream, often blended with ice cream. It’s rich enough to count as dessert, so it suits an evening rather than a hot afternoon.
Caribbean rum classics
- Mojito: white rum, fresh mint, lime, sugar and soda. It’s lighter and less sweet than the frozen drinks. Many bars also make a frozen version, and Royal Caribbean lists the Frozen Mojito among its fan favourites.
- Painkiller: dark or navy rum, pineapple, orange juice and cream of coconut, topped with nutmeg. It comes from the British Virgin Islands, and Carnival’s RedFrog bar serves its own version, Red’s Painkiller.
- Bahama Mama: coconut rum with orange and pineapple juice, plus grenadine on many ships. It’s a classic on short Bahamas sailings and private-island days.
- Rum Swizzle: Bermuda’s national drink, made with dark and light rum, fruit juices and bitters, and traditionally “swizzled” with a stick. Order it on a Bermuda cruise from New York, New Jersey or Boston.
- Dark ‘n’ Stormy: dark rum, ginger beer and lime. Another Bermuda favourite, and the ginger makes it a refreshing choice in the heat.
- Coco Loco: rum, sometimes with tequila or vodka, mixed with coconut and pineapple and often served in a real coconut. You’re as likely to find it at a beach bar in port as on board.
Cruise line signature cocktails
- Cucumber Martini (Royal Caribbean): Grey Goose vodka, lemongrass syrup, sweet and sour, cucumber and basil. It’s famously mixed tableside at 150 Central Park on Oasis Class ships and is also served at champagne bars. Crisp and not too sweet.
- Cucumber Sunrise (Carnival): Belvedere vodka, lime, watermelon syrup, orange juice and muddled cucumber. It’s the best-known order at Carnival’s Alchemy Bar, where cocktails cost about $14.25 in recent reports.
- Lime & Coconut (Royal Caribbean): coconut rum, coconut milk, coconut and guava syrups and lime. It’s the house drink of the Lime and Coconut pool bar on newer Royal Caribbean ships.
- Espresso Martini: vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso. It has become one of the most requested after-dinner drinks across the major lines, and it’s a natural fit before a late show.
Lighter sips for brunch, ports and dinner
- Mimosa: sparkling wine and orange juice. It’s the classic sea-day brunch drink and easy to keep light.
- Aperol Spritz: Aperol, prosecco and soda with an orange slice. It’s low in alcohol and bittersweet, and it’s everywhere on Mediterranean cruises, where you can order the same drink at a café in port.
- Pimm’s Cup: Pimm’s No.1 with lemonade or ginger ale, cucumber, mint and fruit. It’s a summer favourite on British-market ships and Northern Europe sailings, and some US bars will make one on request.
Honourable mentions: the Singapore Sling (gin, cherry liqueur and pineapple) on Asia itineraries, and Royal Caribbean’s PB&J Old Fashioned at the Mason Jar restaurant and bar.
Best Non-Alcoholic Cruise Drinks
You don’t need alcohol to enjoy the bar menu. Most of the drinks above can be made “virgin”, and the major lines now list proper spirit-free cocktails:
- Virgin piña colada or Love Connection: all the coconut and fruit, no rum. These are popular with families.
- Carnival spirit-free cocktails: Carnival offers several signature cocktails in alcohol-free form, including the Martini Seduction at Alchemy Bar (non-alcoholic cane spirit, passion fruit and lime), at around $10.25 in recent reports.
- Nojito: a mojito with soda in place of rum. Very refreshing after a day in port.
- Iced specialty coffees and smoothies: good mid-morning choices, though they’re often charged separately or need a coffee or premium package.
- Lemonade, iced tea and water: on most mainstream lines these are free at the buffet, and it’s worth alternating them with cocktails on hot days. Carnival’s free options are covered in our guide to drinks that are always free on Carnival cruises.
How Much Do Cruise Drinks Cost in 2026?
Prices change by line, ship and venue, so take these as rough guides. On mainstream US lines, most cocktails cost about $12 to $16, and specialty bars or premium spirits cost more. An automatic service charge of about 18 to 20% is usually added to every bar bill. Beer generally costs less than cocktails, and frozen drinks are usually priced like standard cocktails. Souvenir glasses and refillable cups cost extra.
Is a Cruise Drinks Package Worth It?
A package only pays off if you’d drink enough of these favourites anyway. The usual rule of thumb is that you need about five or six alcoholic drinks a day to break even, and many people drink less than that. This table shows where the main US lines stand as of October 2026:
| Cruise line | Package (approx. 2026) | Value tip |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | CHEERS!: about $89.94 per person per day, including the 20% service charge. Carnival is moving to dynamic pricing from 1 December 2026. | Everyone aged 21 or over in a cabin normally has to buy it together, so add up the cost for the whole cabin before you book. |
| Royal Caribbean | Deluxe Beverage Package: about $98 to $119 per day before sailing on Caribbean cruises. It covers drinks up to about $14 each. | Prices often drop during Cruise Planner sales and usually rise once you’re on board. |
| Norwegian (NCL) | Free at Sea Open Bar, with a daily service charge of about $28.50. The Plus upgrade costs about $49.99 per day. | Check whether your booking has More at Sea or Free at Sea terms. They changed for bookings made after 5 November 2025. |
Royal Caribbean also has a lesser-known option, which we explain in the Royal Caribbean drinks package most cruisers don’t know exists. If you’re sailing with a premium or British line, see our guides to Holland America drink packages and the Marella drinks package, where drinks may already be included in your fare.
Tips for Ordering Drinks on a Cruise
- Look for the cruise line’s own drinks. House specialties like the Caribbean Colada or the Cucumber Martini are what each line does best, and bar staff make them all day.
- Ask for less sugar. Frozen drinks can be very sweet, so ask for half the syrup or extra lime.
- Drink water in the sun. Heat, sea air and alcohol add up quickly, so alternate cocktails with water and pace yourself. Bartenders can refuse service if they need to.
- Check the menu price before you order. Premium spirits and specialty bars can cost more than your package covers, and the difference is charged to your cabin.
- Remember the rules. The minimum drinking age on US-based lines is generally 21, although some lines allow 18 on certain European or South American sailings with an adult’s consent.
Planning your next sailing? Our 2027 cruise deals guide lists the offers worth watching, including fares that come with drinks included.
Sailing with Virgin? Find out how the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab works, including the bonus credit on each tier.
Before you buy a package to try these, read our guide to the Royal Caribbean drink package rules so you know what is and is not allowed.
Before you pack, check our list of items commonly confiscated at cruise security, because many lines hold banned items until the end of the sailing.
FAQs
What is the most popular drink on a cruise ship?
The piña colada is widely seen as the most popular cruise drink, especially in the Caribbean. The Miami Vice, frozen margaritas and mojitos come close behind.
What drinks should I get on a cruise?
Start with your cruise line’s signature drinks, such as Carnival’s Caribbean Colada or Royal Caribbean’s Cucumber Martini. Then try regional classics like the rum swizzle in Bermuda or an Aperol Spritz in the Mediterranean.
What cruise line has the best drinks?
It depends on what you like. Royal Caribbean and Carnival have the widest choice of themed bars and signature cocktails, while luxury lines usually include premium drinks in the fare.
Are non-alcoholic drinks free on a cruise?
Water, iced tea, lemonade, basic coffee and some juices are usually free on mainstream lines. Sodas, mocktails, specialty coffees and smoothies normally cost extra unless you buy a package.
How much is a cocktail on a cruise in 2026?
On mainstream US lines, most cocktails cost about $12 to $16, plus an automatic service charge of around 18 to 20%. Specialty bars and premium spirits cost more.
