If you’ve never cruised before, you might be wondering what the rules are around alcohol and where it’s permitted on the ship.
Are there strict bar areas that you have to stick to, or can you walk around with your drink?
Let’s take a look.
Alcoholic Drinks On The Move
Generally, you are allowed to walk around a cruise ship carrying alcoholic drinks with you. As long as you’re behaving respectfully, you’re welcome to grab a drink from any bar or server and take it with you around the ship.
There might be some limitations depending on the cruise line and where you’re headed. Obviously, you won’t be able to take a drink with you on certain attractions on a cruise line, and some shops may ask you to finish your drinks outside before you browse.
But there’s usually no problem with ordering a drink and then heading off around the ship to explore and find somewhere nice to enjoy it.
Drinks Around The Pool
On most cruise ships you’ll be allowed to drink around the pools, and some have poolside bars to even encourage this. However, you might not be allowed to have a glass container – your drink may be poured into a plastic cup if you’re poolside.
If you buy a drink in a glass in another location on the ship and you then head to the pool, a crew member may ask you to move or may bring you a plastic cup to swap your drink into. It’s purely for safety reasons, so nobody slips over on a wet surface and breaks a glass.
Drinks In The Tub
Most cruise lines allow guests to drink while in the hot tub, provided they’re drinking out of a plastic or aluminium container. Glass is banned for obvious safety reasons. Some cruise lines will even have servers walking around the pool area, taking orders and delivering drinks to guests in the hot tub.
So if your idea of heaven is to sit in a hot tub and sip on a cocktail, you should be fine – provided you’ve ordered your drink in a plastic cup or you order from a server while you’re in the hot tub. Just be careful not to spill it while you’re enjoying the bubbles.
In my experience, MSC Cruises doesn’t allow guests to drink in the hot tub, and they’ll tell you to get out. This is weird, because that seems the be the only thing that the crew on deck do enforce!
They certainly don’t police anyone who’s reserving sunbeds with towels or skipping the handwashing station at the entrance to the buffet.
Drinks In Your Cabin
Guests are welcome to take drinks back to their cabin on a cruise. You can head to a bar, order a drink, and then carry it back to your room to enjoy it. A lot of guests enjoy a nightcap this way.
In theory, there’s nothing to stop you from taking a drink back to your cabin, finishing it, and then pouring yourself a drink from the alcohol you’ve brought onboard and carrying it around with you to the rest of the ship.
If you’re on a ship that charges a corkage fee for wine you’ve brought onboard, but only when you’re drinking in public spaces, this is one way you can get around it.
Drinks In The Restaurants
You can take alcoholic drinks into the restaurants with you, but there are also drink servers in the restaurants who can take your order for you, so you don’t need to.
Some cruise lines offer freedom dining where you can turn up for a table whenever you want, but there might be a wait – so it may be a good idea to take a drink with you while you’re waiting to be seated.
The one thing to note is if you plan on taking bottles of wine into the restaurant. If it’s wine that you’ve brought from home, then you might be charged a corkage fee.
Drinks In The Theatre
You can usually take drinks into a theatre on a cruise ship, but be aware that most cruise ship theatre seats won’t have cup holders, so you may need to hold onto your drink or place it on the floor and hope you don’t kick it over by accident.
Some cruise lines won’t let you take drinks in and will stop you at the door and ask you to finish them. But others have more of a lounge-style setup with tables and chairs, and have drinks servers who’ll bring your drink to you. So it varies by ship.
Drinks In The Spa
You’ll likely have no problem with taking drinks into the spa on your cruise. Iced water with fruit is usually available in there, and you may also be able to order Champagne. But if you happen to have an unfinished drink at the time of your booking, just take it in with you.
Here’s a photo of me enjoying an iced coffee in the spa on Enchanted Princess…
Final Word
On most cruises, you’re welcome to wander the ship with a drink in your hand, at least in most areas. It’s just like one large resort, so grab your favourite tipple and then find your perfect spot to enjoy it. Just make sure you ask for plastic glasses if you want to head over to a pool or hot tub.
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
The Baked Alaska parade is a cruise dining room tradition in which waiters march between the tables carrying the meringue-covered ice cream dessert, usually to music, while guests clap and wave their napkins. It is less common than it once was, but Carnival, Ambassador and Princess are among the lines still associated with it. Holland America, meanwhile, features the dessert at its new farewell dinner.
It is one of several food traditions that define the classic idea of a cruise, alongside the midnight buffet, ice sculptures, Champagne towers and the Captain’s Dinner. Here is where they came from, how they have changed and how likely you are to see them in 2026.
What is the Baked Alaska parade?
Baked Alaska is a slab of sponge cake topped with ice cream and sealed in meringue, then briefly baked or torched. The meringue acts as insulation, so the ice cream stays frozen while the outside browns.
The parade turns that dessert into a piece of theater. Dining room staff file out of the galley with the dessert held high, and loop through the restaurant to music. The dining room usually joins in by clapping or twirling napkins. It usually falls on one of the last evenings, and often doubles as a thank-you to the waiters and the galley team.
Where the cruise tradition came from
The dessert is older than the parade, and its story is contested. Britannica’s better-supported account credits Charles Ranhofer, head chef at Delmonico’s in New York, who called his version “Alaska, Florida” as a nod to the contrast of cold and hot. The Alaska reference is tied to the US purchase of the territory in 1867. The name “baked Alaska” spread after Fannie Farmer’s 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. Other accounts credit Antoine’s in New Orleans, and no single story has been proved.
The cruise connection is just as hazy. One of the earliest possible references is in John Maxtone-Graham’s maritime history The Only Way to Cross, which mentions waiters on the German liner Amerika in 1905 carrying “combinations of fire and ice” through the dining rooms. Whether that dessert was Baked Alaska is less clear. The parade seems to have become a firm fixture on cruise ships after World War II, and it was at its peak from the 1950s through the 1980s.
How the parade has changed
The biggest change is the fire. Waiters once carried desserts with real flames, which is a striking sight in a crowded dining room at sea. Many lines dropped the ceremony in the 1990s, probably because of concerns over open flames and fading interest in the dessert. Today’s parades typically use lights or sparklers instead.
Timing has changed too. With flexible dining and multiple restaurants, far fewer guests are in the main dining room at once, and a parade has less of an audience than it did in the era of two fixed sittings. As a result, some ships now serve Baked Alaska without the march.
Baked Alaska pairs frozen ice cream with a browned meringue shell. Photo: Bryce Carithers on Pexels
Which cruise lines still do the Baked Alaska parade?
Few lines promise the parade in writing, and it can vary by ship, season and crew. Use this as a starting point rather than a guarantee.
Cruise line
What to expect
Carnival
Brought Baked Alaska back in a 2017 menu revamp; the parade is linked to the final night in the main dining room
Ambassador
Actively celebrates the tradition, including its own Baked Alaska parade
Princess
Parades have been widely documented on its ships, but reports vary by sailing
Holland America
Baked Alaska features on the menu of its “Until We Sail Again” farewell dinner, being introduced fleetwide in 2026; a parade is not confirmed
Cunard
Named among lines that keep it, in some reports only on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve
Silversea
Reported to arrange it on advance request
How to make sure you see it
This is the part most guides leave out. If you have your heart set on the parade, it pays to plan a little:
Ask your head waiter early in the cruise which night it is likely to happen, since it may not be listed in the daily program.
Eat in the main dining room on the last two nights. Guests who book a specialty restaurant for the final evening often miss it.
If you use flexible dining, ask about arrival time. An early table may be finished before the parade starts, so ask when it is planned.
Mention allergies in advance. Baked Alaska typically contains egg, dairy and gluten, and the waiters can often offer an alternative dessert.
The midnight buffet: mostly gone, not forgotten
The midnight buffet was once the highlight of a cruise, particularly the once-a-voyage gala version with elaborate desserts, fruit carvings and ice sculptures. Passengers would queue up simply to photograph it before anyone was allowed to eat.
Most lines phased these out over the past two decades or so. Rising costs and food waste played a part, as did the arrival of 24-hour dining. What remains is more casual:
Carnival phased out its Grand Gala Buffet about 20 years ago, but now runs a late-night buffet of snacks such as pizza and chicken tenders, reported in early 2026 as open from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
MSC has continued to offer more traditional midnight spreads on select ships and itineraries.
Celebrity has been reported to serve a late-night buffet until about 1 a.m.
Princess passengers have occasionally reported midnight spreads on longer voyages.
Champagne towers are still a highlight of some formal evenings at sea. Photo: 🇻🇳🇻🇳Nguyễn Tiến Thịnh 🇻🇳🇻🇳 on Pexels
Champagne waterfalls and ice sculptures
The Champagne waterfall involves a pyramid of stacked coupes filled from the top, so the wine cascades down the tiers. Princess is the line most closely tied to it, generally staging it around an early formal night. It remains a popular photo moment, though it is worth confirming in your daily program, since details vary by ship.
Ice sculptures have become rarer now that the big midnight displays have gone. You may still see them at gala receptions, on deck or in culinary demonstrations, especially on longer voyages and more traditional lines, but they are no longer a given.
The Captain’s Dinner and other formal traditions
The Captain’s Dinner usually refers to a gala-night menu, or to an invitation-only table hosted by a senior officer. Very few guests dine with the captain in person, and invitations tend to go to frequent cruisers or top-suite passengers. A more realistic experience for most guests is the captain’s welcome toast, often held on a formal night.
Traditions like this are also being reinvented. Holland America’s “Until We Sail Again” farewell dinner, reported in June 2026, features live string music, with the captain, officers and crew circulating to thank guests on the final night, and Baked Alaska among the desserts. If food is your main reason for sailing, our guide to the cruise lines with the best food compares the leading options, and you can take it ashore with our list of the best food-themed shore excursions.
FAQs
What is a Baked Alaska parade?
It is a dining room ritual in which waiters march between tables carrying Baked Alaska, usually to music, while guests clap and wave napkins. It usually happens toward the end of a cruise.
Where did Baked Alaska originate?
Its origins are disputed. Britannica’s better-supported account credits Charles Ranhofer, chef at Delmonico’s in New York, who linked his dessert to Alaska after the US purchased the territory in 1867.
Which cruise lines still do the Baked Alaska parade?
Carnival, Ambassador and Princess are among the lines associated with it, and Holland America and Cunard have also been named in recent reports. Practice varies by ship, so check with your line.
Do cruise ships still have midnight buffets?
Very few do in the traditional sense. MSC has kept them on select ships and itineraries, and Carnival now serves a casual late-night buffet instead.
Is the Baked Alaska on a cruise really on fire?
Mostly no. Many lines now use lights or sparklers rather than open flames, although a small flaming touch may appear on some desserts.
Think you can drink on a cruise at 18 just because you’re legal at home? Think again!
Cruise rules are completely different, and they could ruin those cocktail dreams of yours before they even begin.
There are some sneaky age rules that catch a lot of people out – but don’t worry, once you know them, you’ll know exactly who to book with and where to sail if you don’t want to miss out.
Most cruise lines have a minimum drinking age of 21
On most cruises, the minimum drinking age is 21. Some cruise lines have a lower drinking age of 18, and on some cruise lines, it depends on where the ship is sailing – with most cruises that include ports in the US or Middle East having the higher legal age of 21.
The policy does vary by cruise line though. There are some cruise lines which let guests drink on Europe voyages, and others that permit drinking for 18- to 20-year-olds in some regions if parents sign a waiver.
So if you’re 18, 19 or 20 years old and you want to drink on your cruise, it’s important you choose the right cruise line.
There are also some cruise lines which follow Norwegian drinking law, which is slightly different. On those, guests aged 18 to 20 may be able to drink beer and wine, depending on parental permission, but spirits are not allowed until guests turn 21. So that cocktail of the day might just be out of reach for a couple of years.
There’s also one interesting unique policy, and it’s that of P&O Cruises. On a P&O ship, guests aged 16 and 17 are allowed to drink “modest amounts” of beer, cider and wine to be consumed with a meal on the ship, provided they’re accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It’s the same law as applies when in a licensed premises in the UK. But again, it excludes spirits.
“Modest” is a bit vague though, isn’t it?
When in port, local laws will apply
When you’re sailing on a cruise and you disembark the ship, you must follow the local drinking laws. This means there may be some cruises where 18-year-old guests are not allowed to drink on the ship, but they are permitted to drink while ashore.
Similarly, there may be some ports such as Amsterdam, where you’re allowed to smoke weed ashore but not on the ship!
Senior Frogs Bar in the Bahamas
The laws for cruise ships are about serving alcohol, not about having intoxicated people on the ship – so you will be allowed to board if you’ve had a couple of drinks while visiting a licensed premises ashore.
However, you’ll be subject to the same rules as adults when it comes to being drunk – if you’ve had too much while you’re ashore you may not be allowed back onto the ship.
It’s also worth clarifying that cruise lines’ private islands are treated the same as being on-board, so for example, even though the Bahamas has a legal drinking age of 18, if you’re on a cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas and the drinking age on the ship is 21, it’ll be 21 on the island too.
Some cruise lines have a drinking age of 18!
The only cruise lines that have a permanent minimum drinking age of 18 are British cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen and Marella Cruises as well as Virgin Voyages.
Most other cruise lines will permit drinking on itineraries that avoid the US and Middle East, although for Carnival it’s only cruises from Australia where the age limit changes.
Here’s a more in-depth look at the legal drinking age rules:
For most cruises that have a US or Middle East port on the itinerary, you won’t be permitted to drink at 18, even when the ship is in international waters. A drinking age limit will apply to the whole itinerary.
Bahamas cruises and drinking ages
The legal drinking age in the Bahamas is 18, so provided guests are disembarking the ship and drinking at a private establishment, they are allowed to drink at 18 whilst on a cruise.
Cruise line-owned destinations will apply the same drinking age as they would for drinks on the ship.
Caribbean cruises and drinking ages
Most Caribbean cruises include a US port, even if it is just the home port, and so guests must be 21 or older to drink while on the ship, even while sailing the Caribbean.
18- to 20-year-olds can disembark at most Caribbean islands and drink in private bars not run by the cruise line, though.
Mexico cruises and drinking ages
Provided a Mexican cruise itinerary does not include any US port, guests aged 18 or over can drink onboard on most cruise lines. If a US port is included on the itinerary, 18- to 20-year-olds can only drink while ashore in Mexico, but not on the ship.
Carnival’s drinking age is usually 21, but…
On most Carnival cruises, the minimum age to buy and consume alcoholic drinks on the ship is 21. The only exception is for cruises sailing from Australia, where the minimum drinking age is 18.
Norwegian Cruise Line lets 18-year-olds drink, itinerary permitting
18-year-olds are allowed to drink beer and wine on an NCL cruise, provided that the cruise does not have a US port on the itinerary. Also, an accompanying parent must be on the cruise and must sign the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver, except on round-trip European and Australian cruises.
Disney’s European cruises allow 18-year-olds to drink
Guests on a Disney Cruise Line ship in Europe may drink alcohol if they are aged 18 to 20 and their parents or guardians on the same cruise sign a Beverage Consent Form. The form is not needed for round-trip cruises from Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere in the world the drinking age on Disney ships is 21.
Royal Caribbean also allows 18-year-olds to drink in select situations
You can drink on a Royal Caribbean cruise if you are aged 18 or older and your cruise originated from a port in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia or New Zealand. Any other cruises have a drinking age of 21. The minimum drinking age is also 21 on Royal Caribbean’s private islands, regardless of where the cruise originated.
MSC Cruises allows guests aged 18 and older to drink on all cruises except those which feature a North American or Caribbean port of call. Those cruises have a higher drinking age of 21.
Read MSC’s Boarding Condititions to see the alcohol policy. It’s a long document so use search to find the relevant section.
It only states that minors can’t drink alcohol, but it defines minors earlier in the document as those under the legal drinking age of the area the ship is cruising in.
Legal drinking age by cruise line
Here’s a look at the minimum drinking age for the major cruise lines depending on where the ship is sailing, according to their own policies.
I’ve not added a column for cruises in the US or Middle East because the same rule applies across the board – if a cruise line is visiting a US port then the minimum drinking age is 21.
Even cruise lines like Fred Olsen and Marella Cruises, on their rare calls to North American ports, raise their typical drinking age to 21.
Cruise Line
Drinking age on non-US or non-Middle East cruises
Azamara
18
Carnival
21
Celebrity Cruises
18
Costa Cruises
18
Cunard
18
Disney Cruise Line
18 with parental permission
Fred. Olsen
18
Holland America Line
18 (20 in Japan)
Hurtigruten
18 for beer and wine. 20 for spirits.
Marella Cruises
18
MSC Cruises
18
Norwegian Cruise Line
18 with parental permission. 18 without parental permission in Europe and Australasia only. Beer and wine only.
Oceania Cruises
21
P&O Cruises
18 (16 with a meal)
Princess Cruises
18 (20 in Japan)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
21
Royal Caribbean
18
Seabourn Cruises
18
Silversea Cruises
21
Viking Cruises
21
Virgin Voyages
18
Final word
There you have it then – a comprehensive list of the legal drinking age for cruise ships, and when you’ll be allowed to have a drink depending on where in the world you are sailing.
For any guests planning on travelling without their parents, you’ll want to also check the rules as some cruise lines treat all under-21s as minors, so it may not be allowed.
I’ve made it easy for you though – my guide to the best cruises for 18-year-olds without parents has everything you need to find the cruise lines where you can travel, drink and have fun on your first independent cruise sailing.
And of course, whatever age you are, drink responsibly! Getting kicked off a ship for being too drunk will leave you with more than just a horrendous hangover to deal with – it’ll be a lot of stress too!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Under 21? Read on to find out at what age you can drink on a cruise ship.
The legal age to drink alcohol on a cruise varies between 16 and 21 years. The exact age to drink on a cruise depends on the cruise line, the location of the cruise ship, the type of alcoholic beverage and whether the young persons’ parents are present or not.
As a general rule, you have to be 21 to drink on a cruise in the United States and 18 elsewhere in the world. There are some exceptions, but don’t worry – we’ve done all the hard work for you!
Drinking Age By Cruise Line
The table below shows how old you have to be to drink on a cruise ship.
Cruise Line
United States & Private Islands
Rest of the World
Carnival
21
21
Celebrity Cruises
21
21 (18 with parents’ permission)
Costa Cruises
21
18
Cunard
21
18
Disney Cruise Line
21
21 (18 with parents’ permission)
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
21 (18 in international waters)
18
MSC Cruises
21
18
Norwegian Cruise Line
21 (18 in international waters with parents’ permission)
21 (18 with parents’ permission)
P&O Cruises
21
18 (16 with a meal)
Princess Cruises
21
18 (20 in Japan)
Royal Caribbean
21
18
Virgin Voyages
21 (18 in international waters)
18
Please note that there are many exceptions to the age limits above and also some differences about what constitutes as the United States for these policies. You can read more about this below.
FAQs – Legal Age To Drink On a Cruise
Can 18-year-olds drink on a cruise in the US?
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol in the United States. However, this law does not apply to cruise ships when they are international waters.
You can read more about what international waters means and what’s legal there in this article.
Whilst most cruise lines have policies to prohibit under 21s from drinking at sea, others allow guests aged 18, 19 and 20 to drink alcohol when the ship is a certain distance from the US shoreline.
Some cruise lines count any cruise that includes at least one US port in the itinerary as a US cruise. For others, only cruises that depart from US ports are included in this definition. This can make a difference, for example, for a transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York.
Cruises to Alaska and Hawaii sometimes have their own rules. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line allows 18-year-olds to drink beer or wine with a parental waiver, but this rule doesn’t apply to Alaska or Hawaii cruises where guests must be 21 or over to drink.
Can you drink on a cruise at 18 with your parents’ permission?
Some cruise lines allow guests aged 18, 19 and 20 to drink on a cruise with the permission of a parent or guardian.
The parent or guardian will usually have to fill in a waiver to allow their son or daughter to drink. The parent or guardian must also be a passenger on the cruise.
Also, you can’t just ask your 21-year-old friend to be your guardian for the duration of the cruise, they must be your full-time legal guardian for the waiver to be accepted.
Can you drink if you turn 18 or 21 during your cruise?
If you celebrate a milestone birthday on board a cruise, most cruise lines will allow you to drink alcohol from the day that you’re old enough. You’ll need to visit the guest services desk with your ID to have them update your cruise card.
Cruise Line Policies
Carnival Cruise Drinking Age
Carnival Cruise Line’s policy states:
“Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required”.
“The minimum age for a guest to drink or possess alcoholic beverages on ships sailing from North America, the United Arab Emirates, or at any of our private destinations, is 21. The minimum age for a guest to drink or possess alcoholic beverages on ships sailing from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is 18. In all other cases, the drinking age of the home port shall control our determination of a legal drinking age.
“The Guest agrees that no alcohol shall be purchased or consumed by any Guest under the age of twenty-one (21) on cruises embarking or disembarking Guests at U.S. ports, or under the age of eighteen (18) for all other cruises. “
“Guests who are under 18 years of age are not permitted to purchase or consume alcohol on board. However, whilst in U.S. waters, Cunard enforces and abides by the U.S. legal drinking age of 21 years.”
“The drinking age on board is 21, and a valid photo I.D. is required. However, during round-trip cruises departing from any European country that has a lower drinking age, parents or guardians may sign a Beverage Consent Form that allows their 18- to 20-year-old children to consume alcoholic beverages while in the adult’s presence. In addition, for round-trip cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Brisbane, Guests 18 years of age and older may purchase and consume alcoholic beverages without parental consent.”
“For voyages that include a port in the USA, persons under the age of 21 may not order or consume alcoholic beverages. For voyages that do not include a port in the USA, persons under the age of 18 may not order or consume alcoholic beverages”
“The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Norwegian Cruise Line ships is 21. Guests who are 18 – 20 years of age can purchase and consume beer or wine when the ship is in international waters (3 miles out of US territorial waters). The age modification does not apply for Alaska and Hawaii sailings. The parent or legal guardian must be onboard the sailing with the young adult and present themselves at the Front Desk so they can sign the form allowing the consumption of beer and wine only.
On cruises embarking in a country where the legal drinking age is lower than 21 and where a young adult (age 18, 19 or 20) is not travelling with a parent or legal guardian, they will generally not be permitted to consume alcohol. There may be exceptions made to this restriction in areas of the world where local laws require and Norwegian Cruise Line concurs. Details on such exceptions can be obtained from the Guest Services Desk.”
“Anyone under the age of 18 (or under 21 when in United States of America waters) will not be served alcoholic beverages on board and must not be in possession of alcohol. Please don’t be offended if we ask you to verify your age.
It is prohibited to attempt to purchase alcohol for those under 18 in the bars and shops on board, although 16 and 17-year-olds may be bought modest amounts of beer, cider or wine to drink with a meal in the restaurants when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian”.
“The age for drinking on Princess ships is 21 years old. For cruises between Australia/New Zealand, China, Europe, Singapore and South America ports, the drinking age will be 18 years old. For cruises between Japan ports, the drinking age will be 20 years old”.
“The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings originating in North America is 21.
The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings originating in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is 21.
The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is 18.
The minimum age to consume alcohol at all private destinations remains 21 without regard to where the sailing originated. “
“The drinking age in international waters is 18, in the United States it’s 21, and in other ports, we’ll go with whatever their country’s laws specify.”
The general rule is that you have to be 21 or over to drink alcohol on a US cruise and 18 or over for the rest of the world. There are some exceptions to this and each cruise line has its own policy.
If you’re in any doubt, please confirm with the cruise line before you book your cruise.
And if you’re ready to take a cruise without your parents at 18, then check out my guide to the best cruises for 18-year-olds to help you decide which ship to choose.
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If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Wondering if you can bring your own alcohol or soft drinks on a cruise? It’s a common question and the answer is very much, ‘it depends’.
While bar prices on board many ships are similar to your local pub back home, some cruise ships do charge quite a lot more – particularly if exchange rates aren’t in your favour and you’re charged a service charge on top!
So, bringing a bottle of wine or liquor to drink in your stateroom could be an easy way to save some of your hard-earned cruise spending money.
But, before you go ahead and stash the Stella in your suitcase, you’ll need to be aware of the drinks policy of the cruise line you are sailing with.
Taking your own drinks on a cruise – rules vary!
The policies for bringing your own drinks on a cruise vary depending on the cruise line. Some cruise lines let you bring your own alcohol, soft drinks and water on board, but others strictly forbid it. Out of the cruise lines that allow you to bring alcohol, most limit this to one bottle.
Read on for the lowdown on which drinks you’re allowed to bring with each cruise line…
Bringing alcohol on a cruise
Most cruise ships allow you to bring one 750ml bottle of wine per person on board the ship. You are allowed to drink the wine in your stateroom. If you prefer to drink it in one of the bars or restaurants, a corkage fee will be charged.
There are exceptions to this rule. Costa and MSC Cruises does not allow guests to bring any alcohol on board whatsoever. Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t limit how much wine you can bring, but guests will be charged a $15 fee per bottle, no matter whether they drink it in their stateroom or in a public area.
Princess Cruises allow you to bring one bottle free of charge and their alcohol policy states that guests will be charged a corkage fee of $15 for each additional bottle. However, the fee may not always be enforced.
Sanna Burns from VeganCruiser.co.uk states that she always brings her own vegan wine when she sails with Princess Cruises and has never yet been charged the corkage fee.
Disney Cruise line is a little more generous, allowing two bottles of wine per person, as well as allowing you to swap this allowance to six beers should you prefer. P&O Cruises also allows more than average, with up to one litre of wine or Champagne – but since May 2024 you can no longer bring spirits onboard.
Read on for the alcohol allowance for each cruise line…
How much are you allowed?
Cruise Line
Alcohol allowance per passenger
Non-alcoholic drinks allowance per passenger
Carnival
One bottle of wine
12 x 330ml cans or cartons
Celebrity
Two bottles of wine
No limit
Costa
Not allowed
Water only permitted for medical needs
Cunard
One bottle of wine
No limit
Disney
Two bottles of wine or six beers
No limit
MSC Cruises
Not allowed
Water only permitted for medical needs
NCL
Unlimited wine – $15 fee per bottle
Water only permitted for medical needs
P&O Cruises
One litre of wine or Champagne
No limit
Princess Cruises
One bottle of wine for free. $15 per additional bottle
No limit
Royal Caribbean
One bottle of wine
12 x 500ml bottles, cans or cartons (per stateroom)
The table above shows how many drinks each passenger can bring on their cruise.
If you plan to drink more than this, then it might be a good idea to get a drinks package. Pop your details in the form below, and I’ll send you my handy drinks package calculator so you know whether to get one or not.
Whilst many cruise lines don’t have set limits on the amount of soft drinks or water each passenger can bring with them, many do require that they are carried on as hand luggage and not checked in with your suitcases.
Most cruise lines will let you take a bottle of wine onboard
How to stop wine bottles from breaking in your luggage
Imagine opening your suitcase to find a bottle of red wine has smashed all over your clothes. You’d have to go for the tie-dye look all holiday! This has happened to me once before with shower gel, which was bad enough, but I imagine that alcohol and broken glass would be 100 times worse!
Don’t take the risk; instead, buy a wine bottle protector to make sure your glass bottles can’t smash in transit.
Cruise line policies on bringing your own drinks onboard a ship:
Should you wish to check the exact policy on bringing your own alcohol, you’ll find links to each of the cruise line’s alcohol policies below:
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Taking soft drinks on a cruise
Most cruise lines do not restrict guests from bringing their own soft drinks or water on board to drink in their stateroom. However, the policy on this varies depending on the cruise line with some cruise lines restricting all drinks, only allowing water when it is needed for medical reasons.
Bringing soda on Carnival cruises
Carnival Cruise Line allows guests to bring soft drinks in cans or cartons but not bottles. This is because people have been known to sneak alcohol using plastic bottles. The limit is twelve 330ml (12-oz) sealed cans or cartons per passenger.
Bringing soda on Celebrity cruises
Celebrity Cruises allow guests to bring on unlimited water or soda when they embark or in port. If you wish to bring a case of soft drinks you could attach a luggage tag, check it in with your luggage and it will be delivered to your stateroom.
Bringing soda on Costa cruises
Costa Cruises do not allow guests to bring any soft drinks whatsoever on to their cruise ships. Water is only permitted if it is for medical needs and guests should let the cruise line know if they need to bring on water or distilled water for this reason.
Bringing soda on Cunard cruises
Cunard allows guests to bring unlimited soft drinks and water on board at the start of the cruise and in ports of call.
Bringing soda on Disney Cruise Line cruises
Disney Cruise Line allows guests to bring unlimited soft drinks on board in their carry-on luggage when they embark but not in checked suitcases. Disney Cruise Line offers soft drinks for free with meals, but there is a charge at other times and bottled water is always chargeable on board.
Bringing soda on MSC cruises
MSC Cruises do not allow guests to bring any soft drinks or water onto their cruise ships. If you need to bring water for medical reasons, you should let MSC Cruises know before you cruise as they may require you to fill in a form.
Bringing soda on NCL cruises
Since 2016, Norwegian Cruise Line has prohibited guests from bringing any soda, juices or water on board. The exception is purified or distilled water for medical needs which must be in factory-sealed containers.
Bringing soda on P&O cruises
P&O Cruises allows guests to bring unlimited soft drinks and water on board their cruiser ships. You can also bring more soft drinks on board at each port of call too if you wish.
Bringing soda on Princess cruises
Princess Cruises allow guests to bring unlimited soft drinks on board its ships including soda, juices and water. These can be in cans, bottles or cartons. You can also bring small coolers full of non-alcoholic beverages if you wish.
Bringing soda on Royal Caribbean cruises
Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring non-alcoholic drinks as carry-on items on embarkation day. The limit is twelve 500ml (17-oz) cans, cartons or bottles per person.
Why some cruise lines won’t let you bring soda onboard
The reason why some cruise lines have started to limit the drinks brought on board is to speed up the security process. All luggage is checked for prohibited items, including alcohol.
In the past, guests have attempted to sneak alcohol on board in a variety of ways, a common one being in soft drink bottles. Prohibiting soft drinks, or limiting them to cans or cartons instead of bottles makes it much harder for people to sneak alcohol onboard.
If you’re thinking of sneaking extra alcohol onboard a cruise ship you should remember that as more passengers are caught doing this, it will increase the likelihood of more cruise lines following suit in limiting or banning bringing your own drinks on board.
Cruisers often ask “Can you take soda on a cruise ship?” Or, “Can you take energy drinks on a cruise?”
As far as I’m aware, cruise lines don’t tend to distinguish between different kinds of soft drinks and so this should be fine. If you have experienced otherwise, please let us know in the comments below.
Saving money by bringing your own drinks on a cruise
If your cruise line allows it, then bringing your own alcohol on board can be an easy way to save money on your cruise holiday. Just be sure to buy a wine bottle protector to make sure your bottles don’t smash in your suitcase!
On our recent cruise onboard P&O Britannia, I brought a litre of gin and my husband brought a litre of rum on board. We also brought several large bottles of lemonade. Doing this saved us over £400, compared to how much it would have cost us to buy the same drinks in the bars.
Plus, we found it much more convenient to have these in the fridge in our room and enjoy a drink whilst getting ready to go out in the evening.
Do you like to bring your own alcohol or soft drinks on a cruise? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Eating vegan on a Disney cruise is very doable in 2026 and 2027, as long as you plan ahead and speak up. Add your plant-based diet to your reservation before you sail, go to the Onboard Dining Session on embarkation day, and tell your dining team on the first night. From then on, many vegan cruisers order the next night’s dinner a day early so the kitchen can make dishes that aren’t on the printed menu.
This Disney cruise vegan guide covers how the dietary request system works and what to expect in rotational dining, the buffets, the adult-only restaurants, quick-service counters and room service. It covers all eight ships, from the Disney Magic to the Singapore-based Disney Adventure. Menus change often and differ from ship to ship, so treat any dish you hear about as a “maybe” and confirm it on board.
Does Disney Cruise Line cater for vegans?
Yes, but it isn’t a fully vegan cruise line. Disney’s official Special Dietary Requests page lists vegetarian as a formal request, and its table-service restaurants offer vegetarian choices. Disney also says it will try to leave out common allergens, including eggs and milk. In practice, guests regularly report that menus in the main dining rooms carry at least one dish marked as plant-based, and that servers can arrange vegan versions of other dishes. On the newer ships, the Disney Destiny’s launch coverage described plant-based options at every meal, and Disney’s announcement of the dining on the Disney Adventure named vegan meals as a dietary need it will meet at no extra charge.
How well it works depends on the ship, the venue and how clearly you communicate. Sit-down dinners in the main dining rooms are usually the most reliable. The buffets and pool-deck counters take more effort.
How to tell Disney you’re vegan before you sail
Disney splits dietary needs into two groups, and they have different deadlines:
Special Requests cover lifestyle and cultural meals, such as vegetarian, kosher, halal-certified meats and (on the Disney Adventure only) Jain meals. Kosher, halal and Jain requests need at least 35 days’ notice.
Special Services cover allergies and intolerances, such as milk, eggs, gluten, peanuts and shellfish. Disney asks for these at least 3 days before embarkation.
“Vegan” doesn’t always appear as its own tick-box, so most plant-based cruisers use a combination: they choose vegetarian under Special Requests and add a clear note, or list dairy and eggs under Special Services if those items cause them real problems. You can do this under My Reservations, during online check-in, or by contacting Disney Cruise Line. Whichever route you use, give it clear wording, such as “Vegan: no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey.”
One important detail is that Disney says dietary notes on your reservation are not automatically passed to quick-service counters or in-room dining. Those notes mainly guide your main dining team and the adult-exclusive restaurants.
Your first day on board: three steps that make the cruise easier
Go to the Onboard Dining Session. On embarkation day, Disney holds a session for guests with dietary needs. The time and place are in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. It’s the best moment to confirm that your vegan note is on file and to ask how pre-ordering works on your ship.
Introduce yourself to your servers and head server at your first dinner. In rotational dining, your serving team moves with you from restaurant to restaurant. If they know you on night one, they can plan for the rest of the cruise.
Ask about ordering tomorrow’s dinner tonight. Many vegan guests choose the next evening’s dishes a day ahead. This gives the galley time to make a vegan version of a main or dessert instead of handing you something plain at the last minute.
Even after all that, Disney asks guests to mention their needs every time they order. It’s a good habit at breakfast and lunch too.
Sit-down dinners usually offer the most reliable vegan options on a Disney cruise. Photo: Macourt Media on Pexels
Vegan rotational dining on each Disney ship
Every Disney ship uses rotational dining: you eat in a different themed main dining room on different nights, with the same serving team each time. These are the restaurants you’re likely to see in 2026 and 2027.
Ship
Main (rotational) dining rooms
Adult-exclusive dining (extra charge)
Disney Magic
Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, Rapunzel’s Royal Table
Palo
Disney Wonder
Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s Place, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
Palo
Disney Dream
Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace
Palo, Remy
Disney Fantasy
Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court
Palo, Remy
Disney Wish
Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, Worlds of Marvel, 1923
Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté
Disney Treasure
Plaza de Coco, Worlds of Marvel, 1923
Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté
Disney Destiny
Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, Worlds of Marvel, 1923
Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté
Disney Adventure (Singapore)
Themed rotational venues, including Animator’s Palate
Palo Trattoria
In practice, the restaurants with a strong theme and a set menu, such as the show-style dinners at Arendelle, Worlds of Marvel or Pride Lands, can be harder to adapt on the spot. That makes pre-ordering more useful on those nights. Restaurants with broader menus, like 1923 on the Wish-class ships or Enchanted Garden on the Dream and Fantasy, often give the kitchen more to work with. Cruisers often mention vegan curries, pasta, grain bowls, tofu or plant-based protein mains, and sorbet or fruit-based desserts. Treat these as typical examples, not a promise of any specific dish.
Palo, Enchanté and Remy
The adult-only restaurants cost extra, but vegans often find them worth it, because the kitchens are smaller and the service is more personal. Disney says its adult-exclusive dining, along with the main dining rooms, gives guests with dietary needs the most guidance. Put a note on your reservation when you book, and mention it again when you arrive. At Enchanté on the Wish-class ships, Destiny coverage describes a vegetarian menu, which is a good place for the chef to start a vegan version. Ask on board whether it can be made fully plant-based.
Buffets: Cabanas and Marceline Market
For breakfast and lunch, the buffet is Cabanas on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy, and Marceline Market on the Wish, Treasure and Destiny. On the Disney Adventure, the buffets are reported to be in the dining venues that also serve as rotational restaurants at dinner.
Buffets usually have plenty of naturally vegan food: fruit, salads, bread (check for butter or milk glazes), oatmeal, potatoes, rice, roasted vegetables and often a curry or bean dish. Destiny launch coverage noted plant-based options labelled at Marceline Market. Two tips:
Ask a chef or a crew member in a chef’s jacket if there’s anything plant-based they can bring out from the kitchen, especially at breakfast.
Look out for plant milk at the drinks stations, or ask for it. It’s commonly available for cereal and coffee.
If you prefer table service in the morning, the sit-down breakfasts in the main dining rooms are often easier for vegans, because you can order dishes made to your needs.
Quick-service, room service and snacks
Pool-deck food is where vegans have to work hardest, partly because Disney says reservation notes don’t automatically reach these counters. On the Wish, Treasure and Destiny, the main pool-deck area is Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods, with several themed stations. Guests have reported plant-based burgers or sausages at some counters on recent sailings, but recipes change, so always ask before you order. Fries, salad bars and fruit are usually safe fallbacks. Check the cooking oil and toppings if that matters to you.
The Disney Adventure, which started sailing from Singapore in March 2026, is especially helpful for plant-based eaters. Its line-up includes Mowgli’s Eatery, an Indian quick-service spot with a strong vegetarian focus, and Disney offers Jain meals on this ship only.
For room service, keep requests simple, such as salads, fruit, toast and plain pasta, and state that you’re vegan each time you call. Disney says in-room dining may not be able to meet every request.
Vegan kids on a Disney cruise
Children’s dietary needs go on the reservation in the same way. Children’s menus in the main dining rooms are usually adaptable, and servers are used to plant-based requests such as plain pasta with tomato sauce or vegetables and rice. Kids’ clubs serve snacks at times, so tell the youth activities staff at check-in and pack a few familiar snacks for busy port days. Keep in mind that Disney’s crew can’t store, prepare or reheat food you bring aboard, so anything you pack has to be ready to eat.
Practical tips most vegan Disney cruise guides miss
Write a one-line “dietary card.” A short note on your phone, such as “Vegan: no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin or butter,” is easy to show at busy counters. This is especially useful on the Disney Adventure, where crew and guests speak many languages.
Take care with allergy-friendly labels. Disney says it doesn’t have separate allergy-friendly kitchens and doesn’t consider “may contain” warnings. If you avoid dairy or eggs for medical reasons, list them under Special Services, not just as a lifestyle preference.
Ask about dessert on night one. Vegan desserts are where pre-ordering pays off most. Without notice, you may get fruit or sorbet. With notice, the pastry team can sometimes do more.
Check the newest ship guides. Disney is adding ships quickly. The Disney Destiny launched in November 2025, the Disney Adventure in March 2026, and the next Wish-class ship, Disney Believe, is due to sail from Fort Lauderdale in December 2027. Each new ship brings new restaurants and menus.
Pool-deck counters take a little more effort for vegan cruisers. Photo: Alejandra Montenegro on Pexels
Is a Disney cruise good for vegans?
For most plant-based travelers, yes, provided you see it as a cruise where you ask for what you need rather than one that offers a full vegan menu. Rotational dinners and the adult-only restaurants tend to work well. The buffets are fine for basics, and the pool deck takes the most effort. If you file your request early, go to the Onboard Dining Session and pre-order each evening, you should eat well on any of the eight ships in the fleet.
FAQs
Does Disney Cruise Line have a vegan menu?
There’s no separate vegan menu across the fleet, but main dining room menus usually include at least one plant-based dish, and servers can arrange vegan versions of other dishes, especially if you order a day ahead.
How do I request vegan meals on a Disney cruise?
Add your diet under My Reservations or during online check-in, using Special Requests and Special Services. Then attend the Onboard Dining Session on embarkation day and tell your servers at your first dinner.
Can I get vegan desserts on a Disney cruise?
Usually, yes. Without notice, it may be fruit or sorbet. Ask your server a day ahead and the pastry team can often make a plant-based dessert.
Is the Disney cruise buffet vegan-friendly?
Cabanas and Marceline Market have plenty of naturally vegan basics, such as fruit, salads, grains and vegetables. Ask a chef for hot plant-based items. Plant milk is commonly available on request.
Is there vegan ice cream on Disney cruise ships?
Availability varies by ship and sailing. Sorbet is the most common dairy-free frozen option, so ask your server or the buffet team what’s available on your cruise.
An MSC drink package is a per-day bundle you add to your cruise so most drinks onboard are covered. For US and Caribbean sailings in 2026, MSC sells three: Premium Extra (alcohol included, roughly $85 to $101 per person per day), Alcohol-Free (around $28 to $35) and the Minors Package (around $19 to $24). Guests on European and UK-booked cruises may also see the cheaper Easy package. Whether it pays off depends on how many drinks you really have each day, so this guide includes a simple break-even calculation.
Prices below are guide figures at the time of writing. MSC changes rates by ship, sailing length and date, and runs frequent sales, so the figure in your MyMSC account is the one that counts.
MSC drink package prices for 2026 (US and Caribbean sailings)
On MSC’s US website, new bookings can choose from Premium Extra, Alcohol-Free and Minors. The old Easy package was withdrawn from new US purchases in December 2024, and Easy Plus followed in August 2025. Anyone who bought them before those dates keeps them.
Recent guide prices for Caribbean and North America sailings look like this, per person per day:
Package
Up to 6 nights: pre-cruise
Up to 6 nights: onboard
7+ nights: pre-cruise
7+ nights: onboard
Premium Extra
about $88
about $101
about $85
about $98
Alcohol-Free
about $30
about $35
about $28
about $32
Minors
about $21
about $24
about $19
about $22
Other trackers report slightly different figures for the same period (for example, about $85 to $95 a day onboard for Premium Extra, depending on whether the cruise is three nights or longer). Shorter cruises nearly always cost more per day. Gratuities are already included in the package price.
Three pricing points matter more than the headline number:
Buy before you sail. Pre-cruise prices in MyMSC are lower than the onboard rate, and flash sales have taken up to around 35% off the onboard price.
You pay for the whole cruise. Packages are sold per cruise rather than per day, and priced for every day except disembarkation day.
Everyone in the cabin buys the same package. More on this rule below.
MSC drinks package prices for UK and European sailings
MSC’s UK and international websites still list the Easy package alongside Premium Extra, Alcohol-Free and Minors, and the UK site also mentions Easy Plus for pre-cruise online booking. Neither site shows a fixed GBP rate, because prices depend on the ship and sailing. As a rough guide, UK agents have quoted Easy from the mid-£30s and Premium Extra from the mid-£60s per person per day. You will see promotional rates far lower than that during sales. Log in to the My MSC area for your real figure.
MSC has also confirmed new packages, with new pricing and conditions, for sailings from summer 2026 onward. Since 1 October 2025, only those new packages have been sold for those cruises. If you bought earlier, you keep what you paid for. If you move your booking to a later date, you switch to the new terms. This is one reason older price lists online no longer match what you are offered.
If you are still deciding between lines, our P&O vs MSC Cruises comparison sets out how the two handle drinks, dining and fares for UK passengers.
Cocktails are where a premium drink package earns back its cost. Photo: Skills Media on Pexels
What each MSC drink package includes
Premium Extra drink package
This is the top package and the only alcoholic one sold on new US bookings. It covers draught and bottled beer, premium wine and sparkling wine by the glass, premium spirits and liqueurs, cocktails made with premium brands, non-alcoholic beer, wine and cocktails, specialty coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, juices, smoothies and AQUA by MSC water. Drinks priced above about $16 (or EUR 14) are not included, but you can usually pay just the difference. It works in specialty restaurants and on MSC’s private islands, Ocean Cay and Sir Bani Yas, though the island drinks menus are shorter. Holders also get a discount on bottles of wine and Champagne. Premium Extra is included automatically for MSC Yacht Club guests.
Easy package (Europe and UK)
Easy is the cheaper option where it is still sold. It covers house wine and sparkling by the glass, selected draught and bottled beer, classic cocktails and mixed drinks made with house spirits, soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and AQUA by MSC water. It is valid in selected bars, buffets and main restaurants, but not in specialty restaurants or on the private islands. Easy holders get discounts on cocktails, wine and Champagne that are not included.
Alcohol-Free package
This covers everything non-alcoholic in Premium Extra: specialty coffee, tea, soft and energy drinks, juices, smoothies, mocktails, alcohol-free beer and wine, and AQUA by MSC water. It is not accepted in specialty restaurants or on the private islands.
Minors Package
This is for under-21s on US sailings (MSC’s rules count guests aged 20 and under as minors there). It covers soft drinks, juices, smoothies, mocktails, hot drinks and AQUA by MSC water. It is only sold alongside an adult package in the same cabin.
MSC drink package rules: daily limit and same package per cabin
15 alcoholic drinks a day. Premium Extra, Easy and the Yacht Club allowance all stop at 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day, counted from 6am to 6am. Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. A double counts as two. After 15, you pay menu prices.
One package per cabin. MSC requires everyone sharing a cabin to have the same package. Minors in the cabin need the Minors Package if the adults buy any package. Infants are exempt.
No refunds once it starts. After the package is activated onboard, you cannot cancel it. You can, however, upgrade to Premium Extra before sailing or during the cruise.
Specialty dining. To use packages in a specialty restaurant, everyone dining together needs a package that is valid there.
Not on every ship. Packages are sold fleetwide except on ships sailing from South Africa.
Free drinks on MSC Cruises
Before you pay for anything, know what is free. In the main dining rooms and buffet you can have AQUA by MSC, MSC’s filtered, mineral-enriched still and sparkling water. Basic filter coffee, tea and water are available at the buffet, and breakfast usually includes juice there. Traditional bottled mineral water, soft drinks, espresso-based coffee and anything from a bar costs extra. If you drink mainly water and the occasional buffet coffee, you probably do not need a package.
MSC bar prices without a package
Recent menus put MSC drink prices at roughly these levels on US sailings, before the service charge added to bar purchases:
Beer: about $6 to $9
Glass of wine: about $7 to $12
Cocktails: about $8 to $14 (premium and signature drinks more)
Specialty coffee: about $3 to $5
Soft drinks: a few dollars each
Menus vary by ship and bar, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Specialty coffees add up quickly when you work out whether a package pays off. Photo: Wendy Wei on Pexels
Is the MSC drink package worth it? A break-even calculation
The simplest way to decide is to divide the daily package price by what you would typically pay per drink. Here is the maths using mid-range menu prices plus a typical service charge (about $14 for a cocktail, $9 for a beer or wine, $5 for a specialty coffee, $4 for a soda):
Package (pre-cruise, 7+ nights)
Daily cost
Break-even roughly equals
Premium Extra
about $85
6 cocktails, or 4 cocktails + 2 beers + 2 coffees, or 9 beers or glasses of wine
Alcohol-Free
about $28
about 2 mocktails + 2 specialty coffees, or 7 sodas
Minors
about $19
about 4 to 5 sodas or smoothies
Some practical points the averages hide:
Count whole days, not your best day. Port days, shore excursions and early nights pull the average down. If you would have six drinks on sea days but three on port days, your average may sit below break-even.
Multiply by everyone in the cabin. Because the whole cabin buys the same package, two adults on a 7-night cruise at $85 a day are spending around $1,190 before any minors are added.
Remember the 15-drink limit and the $16 cap. Neither affects most people, but very expensive spirits and wines will need a top-up.
Value convenience honestly. Some passengers pay a little over break-even simply to stop thinking about the bill. That is a reasonable choice, as long as it is a deliberate one.
In short: Premium Extra tends to pay off if you have around six alcoholic drinks or more a day across the whole cruise, or slightly fewer if you also order lots of specialty coffee. Alcohol-Free suits heavy coffee and soda drinkers. Moderate drinkers are often better off paying as they go.
Ways to pay less for drinks on MSC
Watch the MyMSC account in the months before sailing, as flash sales come up often.
Check whether your fare or a promotion already includes drinks. MSC Yacht Club includes Premium Extra, and some agency deals bundle a package.
Compare drink offers across lines when booking. Our guide to cruise deals for 2027 covers when packages are most often discounted.
If you like a lively bar scene but a quiet night, check where your cabin sits relative to the bars. Our MSC Virtuosa cabins guide flags rooms near busy bars and lounges.
At the time of writing, Premium Extra on US and Caribbean sailings costs roughly $85 to $101 per person per day, depending on cruise length and whether you buy before sailing. Alcohol-Free is about $28 to $35, and Minors about $19 to $24. Your MyMSC account shows the exact price.
Is there a limit on the MSC drink package?
Yes. Alcoholic packages allow up to 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day, counted from 6am to 6am. Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited, and drinks priced above about $16 need a top-up payment.
Does everyone in the cabin need an MSC drink package?
Yes. MSC requires everyone in the same cabin to buy the same package, and minors need the Minors Package if the adults buy one. Infants are exempt.
Can you still buy the MSC Easy package?
Not on new US bookings, where it was withdrawn in December 2024. MSC’s UK and international sites still list the Easy package for many sailings outside North America.
What drinks are free on an MSC cruise?
AQUA by MSC filtered water in the main restaurants and buffet, plus basic filter coffee, tea and water at the buffet, are free. Soft drinks, bottled water, espresso-based coffee and alcohol cost extra.
When you cruise with Royal Caribbean, a lot is included already – your accommodation, your entertainment, and a lot of the food options are covered in your fare.
Drinks are one of the bigger expenses not covered, though. You’ll need to pay for these separately. And a lot of people prefer to book a drinks package, rather than have to pay for each drink individually.
The drinks package prices can be quite high though. So, how do you take advantage of the best Royal Caribbean drinks package promotions, and how do you save? Let’s take a look.
Royal Caribbean Drinks Package Pricing
Royal Caribbean has five drinks packages, and the pricing can be confusing as it will often vary depending on your ship, itinerary, and sailing date. The main drinks package is the Deluxe Beverage Package, which costs anywhere from $50 to $115 per day.
This is the drinks package which includes unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The other drinks packages are for non-alcoholic drinks only.
As you can see, the three packages that offer unlimited drinks don’t always have set pricing, so it can be confusing if you’re a Royal Caribbean newbie.
The Deluxe Beverage Package is different because it doesn’t have a ‘set’ price. The price will change depending on the cruise.
For example, here’s the Deluxe Beverage Package on a 7-night cruise on Enchantment of the Seas, showing that it is $71.99 per day, reduced from $90 per day:
And here’s the same package for the inaugural cruise on Icon of the Seas, showing the price as $91.99 per day, reduced from $115 per day:
The Refreshment and Classic Soda packages do have set daily prices, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to pay those, since they can often be included in a promotion.
So, how do you get the best price for your drinks package?
Royal Caribbean Drinks Package Promotions
There are several ways that you can take advantage of the best prices for your Royal Caribbean drinks package. Timing matters, because the best offers will only be available for a short while.
1. Book Before You Cruise
The first tip is always to book your beverage package before you sail – if you book in advance, you can expect to save around 20% of the cost, at least.
If you wait until you board your cruise, you’ll only have the first day in which you can book a drinks package – otherwise, you won’t be able to and you’ll be paying for drinks individually, which could be a lot more expensive depending on how much you drink.
Booking in advance secures the package for you and means you get a decent discount already. But there are better offers available than just 20% off.
2. Look Out For Offers
Every now and then, Royal Caribbean will run promotions to give even bigger discounts on your drinks package.
The sale periods vary – sometimes they’re seasonal, whereas at other times they might be random.
Common Royal Caribbean Drink Package Promo periods include:
Black Friday (and the week leading up to it)
Halloween
4th July
If you’re not based in the US, it’s best just to check in on the cruise planner every couple of weeks, to see if there’s a sale on.
It’s important to note that the offers won’t always be the same. In 2022, for example, the package was reduced by 35% for Halloween but the Black Friday promotion wasn’t as good – and a lot of people were left disappointed.
On very rare occasions, you might be able to secure Royal Caribbean’s 40% off drinks package discount. This isn’t common, so if you see your drinks package discounted by 40%, book it quickly!
35% off is typically the best that most people see, and only during sale periods.
Tip: Don’t rely on just the percentage discounts. Sometimes the full price will be inflated, so a higher percentage discount might actually be a worse deal.
So if you see a good price, you shouldn’t be tempted to wait and try to get it lower – it may be a good plan to snap it up. Especially when you consider this next tip…
3. Purchase & Cancel
One of the best bits of advice from past Royal Caribbean guests is to book your drinks package as soon as you can, and then cancel and re-book if you see a special offer for it.
You can track the offers in the cruise planner for your cruise – just make sure you log in and check periodically. That way, you’ll spot if there is an offer, and you can cancel your existing beverage package and then rebook it immediately for the new price.
There is one important point though – refunds for existing beverage package bookings will take 7-10 days to process, so only cancel your beverage package if you have the funds to rebook it immediately, without the refund.
Otherwise, you might cancel it, wait to get the money back, and then find that the price has gone even higher when you go to book it again.
4. Cheat The System
There is a way to cheat the Royal Caribbean system to get the best possible price for the Deluxe Beverage Package. But it is a cheat, and if you are caught, you could end up paying a lot more.
Officially, if you want to book the Deluxe Beverage Package, then all adults sharing your stateroom have to book the same package. You can’t have one adult on the Deluxe package, and one on the Refreshment package. If you book online, it won’t let you do that.
However – you can call Royal Caribbean and ask to have different packages. You’ll need to explain why your partner/roommate doesn’t drink, though don’t expect to have to give a life story, or medical evidence.
Just be prepared for them to ask the reason, and then they should permit you to book different packages in the same stateroom.
Then, you could be the one to go and grab drinks from the bar, and share them with your partner.
If you’re caught though, your drinks package will be voided without a refund – so you’ll have lost your money and you’ll have to pay individually for any more drinks you have on your cruise.
Personally, I wouldn’t risk it. And speaking of risk…
5. Risk Boarding Day Offers
Sometimes, the best offers may not be available before you cruise, but might only be an option when you board. On some cruises, you might be able to get a ‘Buy One, Get One Half Price’ discount when you board your cruise.
Now, that half price will be half the full price you pay, so it’s not as good a deal as it sounds, but it is still better than saving just 20% on two people.
Here’s an example:
Say the price quoted for your cruise is $115 per person, per day for 7 days
If you book in advance, you’ll save 20% each – so you’ll pay $92 per person, per day
For the total cruise, that’s $92 x 2 people x 7 days = $1,288
If you wait til you board and there is a buy-one-get-one-half-price offer, you’ll pay $115 x 7 for one person, and then $57.5 x 7 for the second person
That’s a total cost of $805 for guest one, and $402.5 for guest two – a total of $1,207.50
You’d save $80.50 this way, but the offer might not be available, so it’s a big risk
If the offer isn’t available, you’d have to pay full price – $1,610 for the week
It’s up to you, but personally, I would play it safer and book before you cruise – the $80 saving isn’t worth risking over $300 if the promotion isn’t available.
Final Thoughts
It can be tricky getting the best promotion prices for your Royal Caribbean drinks package. But just make sure you check the cruise planner every now and then, and you’ll see if there are any amazing offers that are worth cancelling your existing package and rebooking.
But also consider firstly, do you need the drinks package? Or would you save by buying drinks individually anyway? After all, the package is often more expensive than the cruise itself…
If you’re not sure, I suggest grabbing a copy of my drink package calculator to work out how much the drink package is worth based on what you plan to drink.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
P&O Cruises’ cruise ship Iona features 30 bars and restaurants. Some of the restaurants on Iona are exclusive to this ship and her sister ship Arvia, so read on to find out what to expect when it comes to the dining options on Iona.
This guide to dining on P&O Iona shows which restaurants are included in your cruise fare and which have an extra charge. There are links to sample menus where these are available, but you should also check out my guide to P&O Cruises menus.
Iona has four main restaurants, named Coral, Opal, Aqua and Pearl. These restaurants, which are located on Decks Six and Seven, are open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and five-course dinners.
Main Dining Room Food on Iona
In a first for P&O Cruises, Iona offers all Freedom dining. This means you can arrive at any of the main restaurants whenever you like and sit wherever you choose. There are no set dining times on this ship.
Each of the main dining rooms serves the same menus, although it changes every day. Even on a 14-night cruise we never ate the same meal twice. There are different menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Here’s an example of a dinner menu in one of the main dining rooms on Iona:
The Horizon Buffet
✅ Included in the price
The Horizon restaurant is the place to go for quick breakfasts and lunches, informal dinners and snacks outside of mealtimes. Located on the Lido Deck, between the SkyDome Pool and the Infinity Pool, it’s a great place to go when you don’t want to be away from the pool for too long.
In the buffet, each dish is clearly marked to show what allergens it contains. As a vegan, I did find that many of the dishes were shown to contain milk, even the veggie sausages and veggie bacon, which was a little annoying.
Each day at 5 pm, a corner of the buffet restaurant hosts a Children’s Tea where kids can enjoy dinner at around the same time as they do at home. This means that they can be well-fed on kids’ favourites before heading off to enjoy the entertainment of the kids’ club in the evening, while parents enjoy a romantic meal for two.
The Chef’s Table
✅ Included in the price
Iona offers an exciting way to enjoy the glamour of Gala Evenings – with dinner at The Chef’s Table.
Located in an area of the Horizon restaurant (which will be specially styled for the occasion), The Chef’s Table gives guests the opportunity to feast on a menu designed by ‘Food Heroes’ Marco Pierre White and Eric Lanlard. Wines are expertly paired to accompany each course by wine expert Olly Smith.
This included dining experience is very popular so sure to book your place before your cruise via the P&O Cruises cruise planner to ensure that you don’t miss out. On our cruise, I never saw any availability for it.
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The Quays
✅ Included in the price
The Quays is Iona’s vibrant food hall where you’ll find three different restaurants offering street food and takeaways from all over the world. This lively hub offers the opportunity for indoor or outdoor dining, both with spectacular sea views.
The Quays features:
Hook, Line and Vinegar – A posh fish and chip shop that serves scampi, crab and other fancy seafood delights
The Boardwalk Diner – Serving American BBQ hot dogs, burgers and Southern soul food
Fusion – Offering a variety of Asian-inspired street food
Don’t miss the selection of side salads and desserts that are hidden around the corner.
You can also get a secret veggie burger. It’s not on the menu, but if you ask in the Boardwalk Diner they will make you one. If you’re vegan, they even do a special dairy-free brioche bun.
Vegan burger from the Quays
Taste 360
✅ Included in the price
Taste 360 offers a street food-style dining experience on the Lido Deck. Here, you can enjoy flavours inspired by the destinations that Iona visits – whether that be Spanish dishes or traditional Norwegian favourites.
You’ll also find an abundance of burgers, chips, hot dogs and fresh oven-baked pizza to keep everyone happy. Pizza is served by the slice, but don’t be afraid to ask for a whole one – they come fresh out of the oven every few minutes!
Grab-and-Go Bar
✅ Included in the price
Take your pick from self-service snacks like packaged sandwiches, fresh salads, yoghurts and pots of chopped fruit.
Iona’s Grab-and-Go bar is located by the Infinity Pool, so you can just pick up what you want and take it back to your seat or sunlounger, without missing any time in the sunshine.
Grab & Go Bar
The Olive Grove
✅ Most dishes included in the price (supplement for others)
Located by The Quays food court, The Olive Grove is a Mediterranean restaurant serving antipasti, Spanish paella, Moroccan lamb tagines, grazing boards and sharing platters. Choose to eat inside or in the sunshine of the conservatory.
The following dining options are all available for an extra charge…
Ripples
💷 For an extra charge
Iona’s has two ice cream parlours – one in the SkyDome and one in the Quays food court. In partnership with Snowflake Luxury Gelato, Ripples serves artisan sundaes, ice cream cookies and gelato afternoon tea.
The afternoon tea costs £12 but, as you can see, it has enough to feed the whole family so it’s great value for money.
Afternoon Tea at Ripples
Ice cream isn’t free on Iona, except for kids in the buffet at 5pm during the children’s tea. So, even if you don’t go to the children’s tea, I suggest that you still take the kids there for an afternoon treat to save you from paying for ice creams from Ripples.
The Epicurean
💷 From £28 per person
The Epicurean offers the most exquisite fine dining on Iona with flavours of the destinations that you visit during your cruise. On cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, guests can enjoy a six-course taster menu created by award-winning Norwegian chef, Kjartan Skjelde.
Example dishes at the Epicurean
Fillet of lightly smoked mountain trout with horseradish cream, pickled cucumber and puffed rye
Fillet of Jæren coastal lamb, potato cream mayonnaise, white onions, baby carrots, hispi cabbage, jus gras, butter emulsion and chive oil
White chocolate espuma and cloudberry sorbet with meringue, caramelised white chocolate and cloudberries
An Afternoon Tea in the Epicurean is an indulgent treat featuring savoury porcini and pancetta éclairs, pistachio petit choux with red berries, marble swirls red velvet cake pops and orange blossom and bee pollen scones.
Iona’s Beach House offers relaxed dining with families in mind. Enjoy Caribbean and South American classics such as hanging kebabs, hearty grills, seafood and chocolate fondues.
💷 Starters from £4, Mains from £5.50, Desserts from £3
The Keel & Cow is Iona’s gastropub where you can enjoy British classics such as the Prime Minister burger which is hailed as ‘the best burger at sea’.
The Prime Minister Burger
An 8oz dry-aged prime beef patty, Isle of Wight blue cheese, dry-cured bacon, beefsteak tomatoes, pancetta jam, onion marmalade, roasted garlic mayonnaise and pickled gherkins, all served in a salted bun.
The Prime Minister Burger Photo credit: P&O Cruises
Other pub favourites to order at Iona’s pub will include pie and mash, fish and chips and a choice of prince steaks.
💷 Starters from £5.50, Mains from £9, Desserts from £3.50
Sindhu offers the very best in Indian cuisine. In the stylish surroundings of the conservatory, Sindhu’s expert chefs prepare tiffin-style lunches and delicious evening meals with countless courses.
💷 Starters from £2.75, Mains from £8.00, Desserts from £4.50
The Glass House is a wine bar that is open for light bites, lunch and evening meals. Here, you can enjoy a glass of wine and watch aerial artists in the Grand Atrium.
Wine expert Olly Smith has hand-selected wines from around the world which are paired with food in a tapas menu designed by José Pizarro.
In the adult-only Limelight Club, you can enjoy a three-course meal with entertainment by some of Britain’s best-loved celebrity performers.
This venue is adults-only. Although you enter at 7pm, the show doesn’t start until 9pm, so you’ll need to be mindful of this and check the opening hours for the kids’ clubs if you’re cruising with children.
Starter in the Limelight Club
Example dishes at The Limelight Club
H. Forman & Son Mojito cured salmon with cucumber jelly, lemon aioli, pickled cucumber and nori crisps
Pavé of line-caught sea bass with a pancetta, broad bean, shallot and pea fricassée, lemon and herb gnocchi and white wine parmesan cream
Dark and white chocolate mascarpone bomba, raspberries and Amarula ice cream
Located in the Grand Atrium with the most wonderful sea views, this cafe serves sweet treats from master pâtissier Eric Lanlard. Enjoy a Costa coffee or a Teapigs tea while you watch pop-up performances from street entertainers.
Iona has one formal night on each seven-night cruise. Fourteen-night cruises have two formal nights. Formal wear is required in the Main Dining Room and speciality dining rooms but not in the Horizon Buffet on these nights.
Special dietary requirements? No problem!
Like all P&O Cruises ships, people with special dietary needs such as vegan, gluten-free and food allergies are very well-catered for on Iona. You can meet with a chef on the first day of your cruise to ensure that your needs are met.
If you have a special dietary requirement, you should let P&O Cruises know before you cruise.
Pre-booking is required for certain speciality dining venues on Iona. To pre-book, log in to your P&O Cruises planner within three months of your departure date. You can also book dining or join a virtual queue using your mobile phone on board.
Here’s what that looks like…
Dining times
These are the dining times in the main dining room on Iona:
Breakfast: 07:30 – 10:00
Lunch: 12:00 – 13:30
Afternoon Tea: 15:30 – 16:30
Dinner: 17:30 – 21:00
For speciality restaurants, the time varies depending on the restaurant.
Plenty of options for fussy kids too!
A typical P&O Cruises kids’ menu will consist of:
Kids mains
Beef Burger in Buns
Pizza Margherita
Mini Minced Beef And Onion Pasty
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Chicken Nuggets
Grilled Chicken Breast
Poached Salmon
Pork Sausages
Fish Fingers
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Hot Dog
Fried Egg
Omelette
Kids sides
Fresh Vegetables of the Day
French Fries
Grilled Stir-Fried Vegetables
Mashed Potato
Creamed Corn
Potato Smiley Faces
Spaghetti Hoops
Garden Peas
Carrots
Kids desserts
Selection of Ice Creams with Sweet Sauces
Sorbet of the Day
Fruit Jellies
Cupcake
Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Brownies
Children can mix and match as many dishes as they want from this menu. A tip I would give is to specify how much you would like. Be sure to ask for two sausages or two fried eggs, otherwise, you’ll just get one and the portions can be quite small.
Conclusion
With 30 different venues, the Iona cruise ship restaurants and bars offer an abundance of food and drink choices. Many of these options are included in the cruise fare so that guests can dine in a variety of different venues without paying any extra. For something special, Iona has speciality restaurants offering the finest cuisine from around the world.
People with special dietary requirements and parents of young children can relax knowing that there will always be plenty of options available when you choose to holiday with P&O Cruises.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
P&O Cruises ship Iona is the perfect ship for British families, with sailings from Southampton to a variety of European destinations and lots of onboard fun for kids of all ages.
We loved our two-week cruise on Iona with our seven- and five-year-old kids and would definitely return. We’ve also since enjoyed a cruise on her sister ship, Arvia, and loved that one too.
If you’ve booked a cruise, or are considering booking a cruise on board Iona, read on for all the information about Iona’s kids’ clubs, family dining options and family-friendly destinations.
Just like the other family-friendly cruise ships in the P&O Cruises fleet, Iona offers The Reef club with a programme of entertainment and activities that will appeal to all youngsters of all ages – from toddlers to teens.
There isn’t just one P&O kids club – instead, included in the cruise fare are kids’ clubs which are split into different age groups and offer a safe and fun environment in the care of qualified Reef rangers.
Please check the latest kids’ club with P&O Cruises before you book your cruise. This is particularly important if you have children in different age groups as you may find that they’re not able to attend sessions at the same time, which could throw a spanner in the works when it comes to enjoying your child-free relaxation time!
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Splashers – Age 2-4
Splashers (age 2-4)
Two-, three- and four-year-olds will love the bright and colourful Splashers club which features slides, toys, books and activities such as arts and crafts and dressing up.
Surfers – Age 5-8
Surfers (5-8)
Five- to eight-year-olds can attend Surfers, the Iona kids club featuring a soft play area. Kids can play computer games, watch films and enjoy puppet shows. There are themed days such as Pirate Day and they’ll be able to take part in treasure hunts around the ship.
Scubas – Age 9-12
Scubas (9-12)
The Scubas club for nine- to twelve-year-olds looks really cool. It’s relaxed and welcoming, with computer games, air hockey and pool tables. There’ are organised activities available, or kids can just chat and play games with their friends.
Scene – Age 13-17
Teenagers have their own space on Iona, a hang-out called Scene, which is located on deck 6, far away from the kids’ clubs. I really like this idea, as I know that many teens wouldn’t go anywhere near a ‘kids’ club’, but this is more of a chilled-out space where they can hang out with others, as well as testing their skills with the latest gaming technology.
Iona’s Family Facilities
As well as the Reef kids’ club, Iona hosts a myriad of other places where families can have fun together. So even if your child chooses not to attend the organised activities of the kids’ club, there’ll still be loads for them to do.
The Splash Zone
The Splash Zone
The Splash Zone is a really cool water-play area that is used by the kids’ club at some times, and at other times parents can bring their children. I know that my two absolutely loved this – they even wanted to go in on a cold day, although I wouldn’t recommend that!
The Nursery
The Nursery
The Nursery looks like a really great area for babies and toddlers. Sadly, at the time of writing the nursery hasn’t yet opened due to the restrictions. However, I do hope that it opens soon.
The Night Nursery
Iona also features the Night Nursery, which is one of the most-loved features of P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships by parents of under-fives. But again, this hasn’t yet been able to open.
The idea behind the Night Nursery is that parents can leave their children between 6 pm and 2 am to sleep in a quiet area under the watchful eye of qualified staff. They are given a pager so that they can be alerted should their children wake.
We absolutely loved the Night Nursery on Britannia. Walking away from our sleeping children with a glass of wine in hand, heading out to the theatre or casino was such an invigorating feeling when you’re used to a babysitter being a rare and special treat! Best of all, the Night Nursery, like all the other children’s facilities, is completely free of charge.
Ocean Studios
Iona features a four-screen cinema complex. There are screenings throughout the day so families can always choose an age-appropriate film, complete with popcorn, ice cream and snacks. This is the perfect way to spend a rainy day at sea – because they do sometimes happen when sailing from the UK!
The Club House
The Club House is an indoor/outdoor space at the aft (that means rear, for cruise newbies) end of the Promenade Deck. Here, families can get together to play games and enjoy fun entertainment such as games shows.
Our favourite Club House activity was making models of Wallace and Gromit. Then the real Wallace and Gromit turned up to say hello!
Wallace and Gromit
Wallace and Gromit could regularly be seen around the ship, as could their friend Sean the Sheep. There were always lots of Wallace and Gromit-themed activities and meet-and-greets on the daily program and we loved watching the Sean the Sheep movie in the theatre.
Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs
Iona has four swimming pools (excluding the spa):
Beachcomber pool – An outdoor pool at the front of Deck 18
Panorama pool – An outdoor pool at the aft of Deck 18 with plenty of seating in the sun and shade
Skydome pool – Located mid-ship on Deck 16, this large indoor pool has a domed glass roof. This pool transforms into a stage in the evening.
Infinity pool – A glass-sided pool at the aft of Deck 16 which offers spectacular views.
Iona has 24 hot tubs:
6 hot tubs surrounding the Beachcomber pool on Deck 18
2 hot tubs in the sunbathing area on Deck 18 mid-ship
2 hot tubs in The Retreat adults-only area on Deck 18
4 hot tubs on the Sun Deck on Deck 17
2 indoor hot tubs by the Skydome Pool on Deck 16
6 infinity hot tubs on the Promenade Deck on Deck 8
2 large hot tubs by the Sunset Bar at the aft of Deck 8
We found the Iona pools to be a little cold, even the indoor pool. However, because there were so many hot tubs, we were always able to find a warm jacuzzi to relax in, whatever the weather.
Pop-up Performances
Iona has two standout spaces – the Grand Atrium and the SkyDome. In these exciting entertainment hubs, families can enjoy surprising spectacles such as aerial performers and circus acts.
Family-Friendly Dining Options
Iona offers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to food with over 30 restaurants and bars to choose from.
Most of the dining venues on the ship are great for all ages, but there are some that are particularly great for kids…
Taste 360
Located poolside in the SkyDome, Taste 360 offers pizza slices, french fries, hotdogs, burgers and other street food options that kids will love.
The Boardwalk Diner
Part of The Quays dining piazza, this American-style soul food diner serves up chargrilled burgers, hot dogs, southern-fried chicken, fries and much more. There’s also a secret veggie burger (it’s not on the menu, you have to ask for it).
Hook Line and Vinegar
I just love the name of this fish and chip restaurant. Wherever you are in the world, cruisers can enjoy traditional British fish, chips and mushy peas.
The Horizon Buffet Restaurant
This self-service buffet restaurant is open around the clock and offers food from around the globe, accompanied by panoramic ocean views.
Each day at around 5 pm there’s a special kids tea. The buffet is closed to everyone else while it serves up a selection of favourites that kids always love.
The buffet is also a great place to eat breakfast. Another secret for you – kids can have waffles on request. You won’t see them on the buffet, but if you ask a staff member in a yellow apron, they’ll get them for you.
The Main Dining Restaurants
There are four main restaurants on board Iona and all offer Freedom Dining – which means that you can arrive at a time to suit you. Freedom dining gives the option to meet new people each night, or enjoy a romantic evening for two should the mood take you, which I think is just perfect.
Children are welcomed in the main dining room, even on formal nights. There’s a great kids’ menu which you can see here.
Snacks and Sweet Treats
In addition to all the restaurants mentioned, guests can also enjoy Italian-style gelato from the two Ripples ice-cream bars. I would highly recommend the ice cream afternoon tea. It costs £12, but it’s large enough to feed the whole family.
However, if you don’t want to pay for ice cream, you can also get it from the buffet during kids tea for free. You don’t need to eat a meal, you can just walk in and make yourself an ice cream at that time.
As well as ensuring that children are well catered for on board, P&O Cruises has also crafted a range of shore excursions that are perfectly planned to ensure that families have an amazing holiday when they leave the ship too.
Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands
Iona offers 14-night cruises to Spain and Portugal, as well as seven-night cruises to Germany, Holland and Belgium.
As well as winter sun, families sailing to Spain, Portugal and the Canaries will be able to enjoy child-friendly excursions such as:
Riding a cable car and toboggan in Madeira
Enjoy a tree-top high-ropes course in Cadiz
Making a splash in the Aqualand Maspalomas Water Park in Gran Canaria
Touring the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona
Learning how to make traditional Portuguese custard tarts in Lisbon
The Norwegian Fjords
Iona will sail from Southampton to the Norwegian Fjords each week between April and September. On cruises to the Fjords, families will be able to enjoy an exciting range of excursions such as:
Visiting the Atlantic Sea-Park aquarium in Alesund
Meeting the animals at the Øvre-Eide Farm in Bergen
Spending the day building sandcastles at Sola Beach in Stavanger
Riding in an open-top buggy to see the Briksdal Glacier in Olden
Kayaking past waterfalls in Geirangerfjord
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Final Thoughts
We loved our two weeks on Iona and would definitely recommend this ship for families with children aged five to ten. One thing to consider if your kids are younger than this is that the kids’ clubs might not be fully operational – so check with P&O for the latest info on that.
If you have older kids and teenagers who like to be constrantly entertained, then P&O Cruises’ might not be the bets for them as you won’t find any water slides, rock climbing walls, bumper cars or anything like that.
If you’d prefer a ship with those kinds of facilities, I recommend that you instead check out what Royal Caribbean has to offer here: The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
