Food and drink - Luxury Cruising

19 Best Carnival Drink Package Tips (2024)

July 24, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Carnival Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Food and drink

Carnival drinks packages are super popular, but as well as the perks, there are some pitfalls. Before you cruise, be sure that you know this essential info to avoid any hidden charges.

1. Purchase the Cheers package before your cruise to save 10%

When planning your Carnival cruise, it’s a good idea to purchase the Cheers drink package in advance. Doing so will net you a $5 per day discount compared to purchasing it onboard. It’s a no-brainer!

	Buy on website	Buy on ship
6 days or more	$70.74	$76.64
5 days or less	$82.54	$88.44

2. Compare the cost of a drink package vs. paying for individual drinks

Before opting for any package, do the math. Consider how many drinks you might consume daily and compare that with the cost of the package.

Sometimes, if you’re a light drinker or particular about your drink choices, paying as you go might be more economical.

You can see Carnival’s drinks menus and prices here. But if that sounds like too much hard work, just use my free drink package calculator. It’ll do the sums for you.

3. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t get the Cheers package

The Cheers package is best suited for those who enjoy both alcoholic and speciality non-alcoholic beverages. If you mostly drink sodas, the Bottomless Bubbles package will probably be a better fit.

It’s virtually impossible to get your money’s worth from the Cheers package if you don’t drink alcohol.

women having drinks on a Carnival cruise

4. Don’t worry about the gratuity!

The cost of Carnival’s drink packages used to be advertised without the gratuity, so they looked a lot cheaper – the lowest price was from $59.95 per day.

However, laws changed in early 2024 which meant that cruise lines could get in trouble advertising prices without extra fees included in certain US states. For ease, they just decided to update all of their prices to include the gratuity.

So the prices above are the prices you’ll pay – there are no extra fees on top that you need to worry about, like there would’ve been previously.

5. Be aware of local taxes when in US waters

When you use the Cheers package while the ship is docked or in US waters, local state taxes may apply. This is usually an extra 10% on the price of each drink whether you have the package or not, so you’ll want to be mindful of this while budgeting.

6. Don’t go crazy on the first night if you’re sailing from Texas or New York

For cruises departing from Texas or New York, the Cheers package isn’t activated until the second day. So, pace yourself on the first night, as any drinks consumed will be charged individually.

Sure, have some drinks and a good time. But know that if you decide to drink 15 beers on the first night, your bill will be about $120. And that’s a lot more than the package.

7. Discuss with the people in your stateroom before you buy

If you want the Cheers package, then every adult in the same stateroom must purchase the same package. It’s crucial to discuss with your roommates and ensure everyone is on board with the idea before purchasing.

8. Don’t share drinks

Sharing is caring, but not when it comes to the Cheers package. Sharing drinks can lead to potential penalties, including the possible deactivation of your drink package without a refund.

9. Know exactly what’s included in your package

The Cheers package includes:

Cocktails
Spirits
Beer by the glass
Wine by the glass
Sodas
Zero-proof frozen cocktails
Energy drinks
Milkshakes
Smoothies
Juices
Specialty coffees
Hot tea
Bottled water (500ml)
Other non-alcoholic bottled drinks

The Bottomless Bubbles package includes:

Fountain soda by the glass (16 oz)
Juice by the glass (10 oz)

If you order anything except for these drinks, you’ll have to pay for it. I’ll explain some of these that you may not have thought of further along in this guide.

10. Ask your room attendant to empty your mini bar

When you first board your Carnival cruise, you may be tempted to dive into the mini bar in your room. But, it’s important to know that the Cheers package doesn’t cover mini bar items. These drinks and snacks come at an additional cost, and they can quickly add up.

To avoid the temptation and any accidental extra charges, consider asking your room attendant to empty the mini bar on your arrival day. This will not only provide clarity on what drinks are covered under your package but also give you extra storage space in your cabin refrigerator. This comes in handy, especially if you’ve brought along beverages, like the allowable 12-pack of soft drinks or your bottle of wine.

11. Try Carnival’s unique speciality cocktails

Carnival offers a range of speciality cocktails unique to the cruise line. With the Cheers package, make it a point to try them out. It’s a fun way to enhance your cruising experience. And if you don’t like one, it doesn’t matter, you don’t have to finish it!

Carnival ships have some really cool cocktail bars like the Alchemy Bar on Carnival Celebration or the Amari Bar on Carnival Venezia. So your cruise is the perfect time to try a cocktail that you’ve never had before. Like this pineapple rum negroni?

Carnival Venezia Amari Bar drinks Pineapple Rum Negroni with menu

12. Order wine by the glass

Wine is only included in the Cheers package if you buy it by the glass. So don’t order a bottle and don’t use the self-service wine machines either as these will be chargeable.

13. Take advantage of the 25% discount on spirits, wine, or champagne over $20.00 and bottled wines

On some cruise ships, if you order a drink that costs more than the package limit you’ll have to pay for the whole drink. Luckily, that’s not the case with Carnival cruises.

If you’re looking to indulge in a high-end spirit or wine, the Cheers package offers a 25% discount for any beverage priced over $20. This is a great way to enjoy luxury drinks at a reduced price.

14. Don’t order fishbowls

Fishbowls or shared cocktails are not included in the Cheers package. Ordering one would mean paying for it separately, so it’s best to avoid them if you want to make the most of your package.

15. Avoid beverages sold in souvenir glasses

Drinks served in souvenir glasses come with an additional charge, even if the drink itself is included in the Cheers package. To avoid surprise costs, stick to standard glassware.

16. Know how to get around the 15-drink limit

If you have the Cheers package, Carnival limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks in any 24-hour period (6 am until 6 am). For most people, this isn’t a problem. But if you start the day with breakfast mimosas and move on to easy-to-drink beverages like bottles of beer, you may find that you want more than 15.

To prevent guests from consuming too much, Carnival’s system means that it’s not possible for them to serve you any more alcohol once you’ve had your 15 drinks – even if you pay for it.

But what if you want more than that? Well, one method that’s discussed on cruise forums is to wait until you get close to the limit, and then buy one of the larger drinks that’s not included in the package. This could be a bottle of wine, bucket of beers or a fishbowl.

17. Drink as many non-alcoholic beverages as you like

One of the benefits of the Cheers package is that non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. This includes sodas, mocktails, and speciality coffees, allowing you to hydrate and enjoy a variety without worrying about additional charges.

18. Bring your own wine and soft drinks

Carnival allows each adult to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne and/or 12 cans or cartons of soft drinks onboard. Even if you have the drink package, it can be a good idea to do this.

Remember, that the mini bar in your room isn’t included in the package. So if you want to enjoy a drink on your balcony or while getting ready to head out for the evening, it can be nice to grab something from the fridge in your room without having to go out and line up at a bar.

19. Ask the bartender or server for clarification on drink package rules you’re not sure

If you’re ever uncertain about what’s included in your package or have questions about specific drinks, don’t hesitate to ask the onboard staff. They’re there to help and ensure you have a fantastic cruising experience.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

See the latest Carnival cruise offers…

The bottom line

If you’re savvy, a drink package can be the perfect way to enjoy as many drinks as you want on your cruise, while saving money. But, as you’ve seen, there are a few things to be aware of.

If you’re still not sure whether a drink package is a good idea, be sure to grab my Carnival drink package calculator before deciding whether to buy it or not…

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.

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14 Sneakiest Ways To Smuggle Booze On To Your Cruise

July 15, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Food and drink Packing

The price of drinks on some cruise ships will be similar to your local pub, but on other cruises, the drinks prices can be pretty steep with $10 for a glass of wine being the norm.

If you’re on a budget you may be tempted to try to sneak liquor on your cruise ship to save yourself some money.

Sneaking booze on a cruise is strictly prohibited. However, a study by Cruzely.com showed that 19% of passengers admitted to smuggling alcohol onto a cruise ship at least once.

You should know that there’s no foolproof way to sneak alcohol on a cruise. However, there are many different ways that people have tried.

Disclaimer: I have never smuggled drinks on a cruise myself and am in no way encouraging you to do it. I am just showing you how others have done it in the past so that you can make your own decisions.

1. Use a disguised umbrella flask

If you hide your booze in a sneaky umbrella flask, there’s pretty much zero chance of anyone suspecting anything. This handy flask holds 9 oz (255 ml) of your favourite drink and is easy to pour out into your glass. It looks and feels like an umbrella rather than a hard bottle.

This type of hidden container isn’t likely to be discovered, particularly on Northern European cruises where rain is likely. Take it to the Mediterranean in summer and it may seem slightly more suspicious!

2. Hide your booze in a fake tampon

If you’d like another virtually foolproof way to smuggle booze on a cruise, then tampon flasks may be it. These fake re-sealable tampon wrappers contain refillable mini flasks. Each one can hold one shot of alcohol.

Even if someone had a really good rummage through your luggage, they’d be unlikely to open a tampon to check in there.

The downside to these is that each one only holds 1 oz (30ml) which is slightly larger than a single measure of spirits. Therefore you’d need a lot of tampons to cover a week-long cruise!

This product may be better for smuggling small amounts of booze into the onboard bars, rather than for bringing a booze haul to drink in your cabin.

3. Re-use shampoo bottles (or buy fake ones)

Putting alcohol in shampoo bottles for cruise holidays sounds like an interesting idea, but it has many flaws. The first is that the design of shampoo bottles makes them very difficult to clean so you’ll never fully get rid of all of the shampoo residue. This will make your drink taste horrible.

The second reason why you shouldn’t use a shampoo bottle to hide alcohol is that shampoo and conditioner bottles aren’t watertight. I once had a bottle of shower gel explode in my suitcase and it was messy. Imagine the same but with red wine. No thanks!

However, you can buy shampoo bottle flasks on Amazon, which are made to conceal alcohol. These leak-proof bottles even include six ‘factory seals’ so that if a security guard opened the bottle, they wouldn’t be able to smell the alcohol.

These are a good option because each bottle fits 8 ounces of liquor. Hidden alcohol bottles are also available to buy in the form of fake sunscreen bottles or deodorant cans.

4. Buy a binocular flask

Some of the things to hide alcohol in for cruise vacations are just genius. This binocular flask would be unlikely to show up as anything suspicious on an X-ray, and even with a manual search, it may go undetected.

Each side of the binoculars holds 8 oz (230ml) of liquor, and it comes with a little funnel that allows you to fill it up without spilling a drop. The two sides aren’t connected, so you could have gin in one half and vodka in the other if you wish to create your own cocktails.

5. Try cleaned-out mouthwash bottles

Another of the popular things to hide alcohol in on a cruise has, for many years, been mouthwash bottles. Mouthwashes such as Listerine come in bottles of up to one litre.

@lasvegas.bartender #fyp #lvbdrinks #lasvegasbartender ♬ original sound – LasVegasBartender (LVB)

The idea is that you would add a clear spirit such as white rum, gin or vodka, and blue or green food colouring to make it look like mouthwash.

In reality, cruise port staff are familiar with this old hack and know that if they find a huge bottle of mouthwash, it’s likely to be suspicious. Because who needs a litre of mouthwash on a one-week cruise?

The first thing they’ll do is open it and smell it to see what’s really inside.

6. Push the limit on wine bottles

This is probably the most common way to sneak wine on a cruise. Most cruise lines allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on board. So what people do is they put one bottle of wine in their checked luggage and another in their carry-on bag.

The bags are checked at different times by different people, and it’s virtually impossible for cruise ship staff to match them up and see that you’ve brought more than the allowance.

As there’s no limit on how much luggage you can bring on a cruise ship (unless you also have to take a flight), you could easily bring two small cases per person, as well as some more cases for the kids.

One thing you do want to be wary of is wine bottles smashing in your checked luggage. If you are planning on putting glass bottles in there, you should always buy inflatable wine bottle protectors.

7. Try classic rum runners

Rum runners, also known as alcohol bags or plastic flasks, are specially-made alcohol containers for cruises. Thousands of cruisers report having had success in using a rum runner to sneak alcohol on cruise ships.

You can buy rum runners on Amazon. They are essentially reusable plastic bags that come with a funnel so that you can decant wine, vodka, tequila or any other liquor that you wish to bring on your cruise. Each one holds up to 32 oz (one litre) of liquid.

The idea behind alcohol bags is that on an x-ray, they don’t look like a bottle, so they won’t be detected when your bag is scanned.

However, if your bag was manually checked for any other reason, it would be obvious what’s inside these booze bags.

8. Give yourself a fake beer belly

An interesting method that may be used to hide alcohol when you embark on your cruise ship is the ‘beer belly canteen’. This polyurethane container looks like a beer belly when worn under clothing and holds 32 oz of booze.

If you wear this, you might have to sacrifice looking slender in your embarkation photos!

9. Boost your bust with a wine rack bra

For women, there’s a similar product to the fake belly, in the form of a bra known as the ‘wine rack bra’, which could actually boost your appearance if that’s what you desire.

If you set off the x-ray scanner with something else, such as your watch, and called over for a pat-down, a wearable flask will easily be detected.

As port staff won’t know whether you’re carrying booze or something much more dangerous, you’ll likely set alarm bells ringing and could get in serious trouble.

10. Wear a boozy bladder

This strange-looking device ties around your waist. There’s a tube that pops out through your fly so that you can refill your glass when nobody’s looking!

This is probably one for the gents rather than the ladies. And you should probably head to a bathroom stall to refill your glass – as you may get some very funny looks from your fellow cruisers otherwise!

The good thing about this device is that it fits a massive one litre of alcohol. If you fill it with spirits, that could keep you going all cruise long.

11. Carry a wine handbag

Now, another one for the ladies – The PortoVino wine purse is a beach tote with a hidden, insulated compartment that holds two bottles of wine.

This stylish handbag comes with a secret zipper with an insulated pouch inside which keeps your wine cool for hours. This bag probably isn’t ideal for bringing booze onto a cruise ship as it may show up solid on the scanner when filled with liquor.

However, it could be an ideal way to enjoy wine from your room by the pool. Whilst some cruise ships allow you to bring your own wine on board, you have to drink it in your room. With this device, you could fill your bag with chilled wine from your in-room refrigerator and sneakily pour it into a glass by the pool using the hidden tap.

12. Hack a box of Capri Sun or water cartons

Here’s a tip from Reddit – why not empty out Capri Sun pouches and refill them with booze?

I poked a hole in the straw opening of capri sun pouches, emptied them, and filled them back up with spirit of choice with a meat syringe. Then resealed the straw hole with gel superglue.

It might be a lot of work but that’s a lot of alcohol you can sneak onboard!

You can even do the same with water cartons – just use a small hole to pour out the water before re-sealing it with glue, without breaking the cap seal.

@jennmerlin They didn’t know! #lifehacks #fyp #sneakalcohol #cruise #travel #adventure #explore ♬ original sound – jennmerlin

13. Replace your contact lens solution

his mother dumped out contact eye solution then refilled the bottle with vodka to sneak it aboard the cruise ship!

I would of course not recommend this if you actually wear contact lenses and need the solution to look after them! I’d rather pay for my drinks and be able to see, after all.

14. Just pack minis

According to one cruise guest, if you just pack miniature bottles and distribute them around your luggage, they won’t be detected and you’ll be able to enjoy them onboard.

@xtothez_23 Protip if you dont wanna spend money on the drink package 🙃 #cruiseship #cruisetok #cruise #alcohol #cruisetips #traveltiktok #lifeontiktok #cruisehacks #traveltiktok #travelhacks #drinkpackage #cruisewithme ♬ Chill R & B with a nostalgic atmosphere(967006) – table_1

I’d be a little wary of this one personally – I’d be surprised if they didn’t check your luggage if they saw a lot of small bottles – but apparently it can work, so it’s up to you if you want to try it.

Where to hide alcohol when you check in

When you’ve decided what type of container to hide your liquor in, your next decision will be where to stash it. Your options are:

In your checked luggage
In your carry-on luggage
On your body

The best place to hide alcohol for a cruise is in your checked luggage. You can drop off checked luggage as soon as you arrive at the port. If something is detected on the scanner and your case is opened, you won’t be around to witness the embarrassment of being called out in public.

Checked bags can be tossed around so always make sure that whatever you’ve packed in there is properly protected from damage.

Sneaking alcohol onto a cruise on your body

Sneaking alcohol on your body is the riskiest way to do it. You’ll have to remove any bulky items and walk through an X-ray scanner. If it beeps for any reason (including for a random check), then you’ll be patted down, and your stash will be discovered, no matter how well it’s disguised.

Bringing alcohol on board in foreign cruise ports

Bringing alcohol on board midway through your cruise is easier than trying to sneak it on as you embark.

When you get back on board the ship you’ll have to pass your bags through a scanner. However, if you have a bottle of something which looks like water, even if it has been opened, it’s very unlikely that anyone would inspect it more closely.

Getting caught with alcohol when boarding a cruise

If you’re caught bringing alcohol on a cruise, the worst-case scenario is that you could be denied boarding.

Royal Caribbean’s policy states:

“Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over-consume, provide alcohol to people under the legal drinking age, demonstrate irresponsible behaviour, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage checkpoints or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them. “

However, other cruise lines simply state that if you are caught with prohibited alcohol they will confiscate and discard it.

Carnival’s policy states:

“Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception – at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage. Outside this exception, all liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided.”

Suggested read: Carnival Cruise Luggage Restrictions

Even when cruise lines reserve the right to refuse embarkation, that doesn’t mean that they will do that in practice.

What REALLY happens when you get caught smuggling booze on a cruise

There are many online cruise forums where people have discussed their experiences in getting caught sneaking alcohol on a ship.

Here, I’ve seen numerous photos of orange confiscation slips inside suitcases in place of missing alcohol. As far as I could see during my research, nobody has reported that they weren’t allowed to board the ship. Interestingly, many people reported that they were even allowed to pick up their confiscated alcohol at the end of the cruise!

How to sneak whiskey on a cruise

Cruise lines don’t allow guests to bring spirits on board. If you want to bring whiskey on board then you’ll need to disguise it. Many people use a rum runner, a rinsed-out tinted bottle of mouthwash, or just decant whiskey into a wine bottle, where wine is permitted.

How to fill a sealed water bottle with alcohol

To fill a sealed water bottle with alcohol:
• Cut the neck off a bottle
• Place it in boiling water until soft
• Pull off the intact cap and ring
• Open a second water bottle and cut off the plastic ring
• Swap the water for clear alcohol
• Screw the intact sealed cap onto the bottle of alcohol

Alcohol allowances on cruises

Many cruise lines allow you to bring a certain amount of alcohol on the ship.

The following table shows the alcohol allowance for each cruise line.

Cruise Line	Alcohol allowance per passenger
Carnival	One bottle of wine
Celebrity	One bottle of wine
Costa	Not allowed
Cunard	One bottle of wine
Disney	Two bottles of wine or six beers
MSC Cruises	Not allowed
NCL	Unlimited wine – $15 fee per bottle
P&O Cruises	One litre of wine or Champagne
Princess Cruises	One bottle of wine for free. ($15 per additional bottle)
Royal Caribbean	One bottle of wine (or two bottles per stateroom)

Click here to read more about taking drinks on a cruise including which cruise lines allow you to take water and other non-alcoholic drinks on board.

Most cruise lines also offer drinks packages which can be great value for money. And wouldn’t you much rather have a freshly-made cocktail than try to sneak your own spirits into soft drinks?

If you’re undecided about whether to buy a drinks package or not, my free calculator will work out whether it’s good value for money, based on what you like to drink.

Cruise lines will check for alcohol (and other things)

All cruise lines will check luggage for alcohol as well as drugs, weapons, irons, drones and other prohibited items during the embarkation process. They will check all checked and carry-on luggage with scanners as well as manual spot checks.

In fact, they’re wising up to some of the hacks on this list. There’s one that I haven’t included in the list above because cruise lines caught onto it very quickly, even though it was quite a clever hack.

It involved taking a multipack of soda, opening the cardboard carefully, swapping out some cans for alcoholic cans, then re-sealing the box using super glue so it doesn’t look tampered with.

Unfortunately, clips of the hack went viral and so cruise lines quickly learned to check the boxes!

@iamgrindface This guy messed it up for ALL OF US🤬🤦‍♂️ #cruise FB/ Melonie Rogers #grindface ♬ original sound – GrindFace The Creator

Trying to sneak alcohol or weed onboard is one of the many things you should never do on a cruise. So please don’t. It’s just not worth it.

How alcohol appears on scanners

Cruise ship scanners usually have no problem detecting alcohol hidden in luggage. Liquid appears dark on an x-ray and the shape of bottles are easy to detect.

If bottles, cans or other containers are detected on the x-ray scanner, port staff will open the bag to have a closer look.

Some cruise lines, including Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line prohibit all drinks including water (unless it’s needed for medical reasons) to be brought on-board. This speeds up the process of having to check every bottle to see if it’s water, soft drinks or alcohol.

The last word

Of course, I’m not recommending that anyone try to sneak alcohol, or anything else, onto a cruise ship. Selling drinks on board is one of the ways that cruise lines cover their costs and if everyone tried to cheat the system by sneaking alcohol on board they would inevitably have to put up the ticket prices.

Plus, getting caught with alcohol is embarrassing. Whilst you may be lucky enough to get away with finding a ticket in your case, if your case is locked, you’ll be summoned to a location on the ship and asked to open it.

If you get caught with excess booze in your carry-on bag, you’ll have to suffer the humiliation of all the passengers in the line behind you, seeing you get busted.

If you found this interesting, please share!

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Drinks served at a cruise ship bar, illustrating what a Cunard drinks package covers

Cunard Drinks Package 2026: Prices, Rules and Is It Worth It?

November 6, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cunard Food and drink

The Cunard drinks package range for 2026 is called A World of Drinks, and it has four tiers: the Alcohol-Free Collection from US$18 per person per day, the Premium Alcohol-Free Collection, the Beverage Collection (drinks up to US$13.50) and the Premium Beverage Collection (drinks up to US$20). On a typical 7–14 night voyage, the alcoholic packages cost US$76.50 or US$90 per person per day if you pre-book. That’s 10% less than buying on board. The packages are worth it if you’ll have about six or more paid drinks a day. Lighter drinkers usually spend less paying as they go.

Below you’ll find current prices, what each package covers, the rules that catch people out, and the newer Signature Packages that combine drinks with Wi-Fi and dining credit. You’ll also get a simple way to work out whether a package pays off for you. Prices are taken from Cunard’s UK website at the time of writing (October 2026). They change regularly, so check your My Cunard account before you buy.

Cunard drinks package prices for 2026

Cunard sets drinks prices in US dollars on board. The cost per person, per day goes down as the voyage gets longer. Pre-booking through My Cunard saves 10% on the on-board price. The table shows the pre-booked price first and the on-board price in brackets.

Package (price cap per drink)	1–6 nights	7–14 nights	15–74 nights	75+ nights
Alcohol-Free Collection	$18 ($20)	$18 ($20)	$18 ($20)	$18 ($20)
Premium Alcohol-Free Collection (up to $12)	$45 ($50)	$40.50 ($45)	$36 ($40)	$31.50 ($35)
Beverage Collection (up to $13.50)	$94.50 ($105)	$76.50 ($85)	$63 ($70)	$49.50 ($55)
Premium Beverage Collection (up to $20)	$108 ($120)	$90 ($100)	$76.50 ($85)	$63 ($70)

The package prices already include the service charge. For a couple on a 10-night Mediterranean voyage, the Beverage Collection costs US$1,530 in total if pre-booked ($76.50 × 2 people × 10 days). If you add the Beverage Collection when you book a qualifying Cunard Fare or Early Saver voyage, UK guests are charged in sterling at the time of booking, with the same 10% saving.

What each Cunard drinks package includes

Alcohol-Free Collection

This is the basic option. It covers soft drinks from the fountain, juices and standard hot drinks up to about US$4.50 per serving, plus gelato. It suits guests who drink a lot of tea, coffee and soft drinks but don’t want speciality coffees or mocktails.

Premium Alcohol-Free Collection

This covers speciality coffees, fresh juices, smoothies, bottled mineral water, milkshakes and alcohol-free cocktails, as well as alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits, all up to US$12 per serving. There’s no daily limit on how many drinks you have. Under-18s, pregnant guests, and guests who avoid alcohol for medical reasons can choose this package even if the adults in their stateroom buy an alcoholic one.

Beverage Collection

This is Cunard’s main alcoholic package. It covers beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, and wine and sparkling wine by the glass up to US$13.50 each. It also includes everything in the Premium Alcohol-Free Collection. You get 15% off bottles of wine priced up to US$150 and a discount on Wine and Bar Academy sessions. If you order a drink above the cap, you pay the difference plus service charge.

Premium Beverage Collection

This raises the cap to US$20 per drink, so Champagne by the glass, finer wines and premium cocktails are covered. The bottle discount goes up to 25% on wines priced up to US$150. It’s worth considering if you like a glass of Champagne before dinner or prefer wines from further down the list.

Bartender pouring cocktails at an elegant bar, the kind of drinks covered by a Cunard drinks package — Cocktails, wine by the glass and spirits up to the price cap are covered by the alcoholic packages. Photo: Alexandru Cojanu on Pexels

Cunard Signature Packages: drinks, Wi-Fi and dining credit

On selected voyages from March 2026, Cunard also sells two bundles called Signature and Premium Signature. They’re available across the fleet, including Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and the newest ship, Queen Anne. Cunard says they can save up to 30% compared with buying each part separately on board. Prices are in sterling per person, per day:

Voyage length	Signature	Premium Signature	Dining credit (Signature / Premium)
1–6 nights	£70	£80	US$15 / US$25
7–9 nights	£60	£70	US$25 / US$40
10–14 nights	£60	£70	US$50 / US$80
15–74 nights	£50	£60	US$70 / US$100
75+ nights	£40	£50	US$100 / US$150

The Signature Package includes the Beverage Collection’s drinks (up to US$13.50), the Essential Internet package for one device, and a dining credit for speciality restaurants and premium dishes. Premium Signature adds the Premium Beverage Collection (up to US$20), the faster Premium Internet package for streaming and video calls, and a larger dining credit. The dining credit is given once for the whole voyage, not every day. A Signature Package becomes part of your fare and follows the same payment and cancellation terms. Bookings made through a travel agent have to be changed through that agent.

The bundles make the most sense for guests who were going to buy Wi-Fi anyway. If you don’t need internet at sea, compare the bundle with the Beverage Collection on its own at current exchange rates before you decide.

Cunard drinks package rules to know before you buy

Everyone in the stateroom buys the same package. If one adult buys an alcoholic package, the other adults in the stateroom must buy it too. The exceptions are under-18s and guests with a medical reason, who can choose an alcohol-free option. A child under 18 sharing with only one adult is charged the package price but gets the alcohol-free version.
There’s a daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks. The alcoholic packages cover up to 15 alcoholic drinks per guest in each 24-hour period, running from 6am to 5:59am. Soft drinks aren’t limited.
The package covers one drink at a time, for you only. You can’t buy rounds for friends on your package, and each order covers one drink per guest.
Some things aren’t covered. Packages don’t cover the minibar, room service, retail purchases or drinks on disembarkation day.
Timing matters. Pre-purchase through My Cunard up to three days before embarkation, which is also when free cancellation ends. On board, you can only buy a package during the first two days, and those purchases are non-refundable.
The service charge is included. When you pay for drinks individually, Cunard adds an 18% service charge. Package prices already include it.

Cunard doesn’t let guests bring their own spirits, beer or wine on board for use in public areas, so plan to buy drinks on the ship. For a wider look at how these rules compare with other lines, see our guide to cruise drinks packages compared across the major lines.

Two glasses of red wine on a dinner table set for an evening meal at sea — Wine with dinner adds up quickly, which is where a drinks package can pay off. Photo: Julia Filirovska on Pexels

Is the Cunard drinks package worth it?

Many guides skip the maths, so here it is. If you don’t buy a package, each drink costs its menu price plus the 18% service charge. A drink priced at US$10 actually costs about US$11.80, and one at US$13 costs about US$15.34. Divide the daily package price by what your usual drink costs to find how many drinks you need each day to break even.

Package (7–14 nights, pre-booked)	Daily price	Break-even at $10 drinks (+18%)	Break-even at $13 drinks (+18%)
Beverage Collection	$76.50	About 6.5 drinks	About 5 drinks
Premium Beverage Collection	$90	About 7.6 drinks	About 6 drinks (or about 4 Champagne-level drinks at $18)
Premium Alcohol-Free Collection	$40.50	About 6 speciality coffees or mocktails at around $6	Not applicable

These are worked examples, not menu prices, so check current bar menus in the Cunard app or on board. Remember to count everything you would drink in a day: a cappuccino at breakfast, a bottle of water ashore, a cocktail at sail-away, two glasses of wine at dinner and a nightcap in the Commodore Club. That’s often six or seven drinks without trying.

Good value if you:

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails, wine with dinner and a drink after the show most nights
Are on a port-light itinerary such as a Transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2, where you’ll spend more time on board
Prefer not to look at a bar bill, or would book Wi-Fi anyway (in that case, look at the Signature Package)
Are on a longer voyage, where the daily price drops a lot

Probably not worth it if you:

Have two or three drinks a day, or one partner rarely drinks (both of you would still have to buy the package)
Have a port-heavy itinerary, such as a Queen Anne voyage around the Greek islands like this 19-night Greek islands cruise, where you’ll spend many days ashore
Mainly drink wine by the bottle. The package discount on bottles may save less than you’d expect

What about Grills guests?

Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites come with some drinks in the suite, such as a stocked minibar. The details vary by grade, so check your booking. Drinks in the bars and restaurants are still charged unless you buy a package, and the same rules apply. If you’re still choosing a suite grade, our comparison of Queens Grill vs Princess Grill explains the differences.

How to buy a Cunard drinks package

When booking: Add the Beverage Collection or a Signature Package when you book your cruise (eligible fares only, and numbers are limited).
Before sailing: Log in to My Cunard, open the drinks section and buy up to three days before embarkation to get the 10% saving.
On board: Visit the Purser’s Office or any bar during the first two days of the voyage. Prices are about 10% higher and purchases can’t be refunded.

Full details and current prices are on Cunard’s A World of Drinks page.

If you are weighing up a British-style cruise line, see how the Fred. Olsen drinks package compares on price and what is included.

FAQs

How much is the Cunard drinks package per day?

For a 7–14 night voyage, the Beverage Collection costs US$76.50 and the Premium Beverage Collection costs US$90 per person per day if pre-booked. On board, they cost US$85 and US$100. Shorter voyages cost more per day, and longer ones cost less.

Does the Cunard drinks package include the service charge?

Yes. Package prices include the service charge. Drinks you pay for individually have an 18% service charge added.

How much does a glass of wine cost on Cunard?

Prices vary by wine and ship. Wines by the glass up to US$13.50 are covered by the Beverage Collection, and up to US$20 by the Premium Beverage Collection. Without a package, you pay the menu price plus 18% service charge.

Can you bring your own alcohol on a Cunard cruise?

Cunard doesn’t let guests bring spirits, beer or wine on board for use in public areas. Check Cunard’s current policy before you sail.

Do all adults in a cabin have to buy the Cunard drinks package?

Yes. All adults sharing a stateroom must buy the same alcoholic package. Under-18s, and guests who don’t drink alcohol for medical reasons, can choose an alcohol-free package.

Colourful cocktail glasses on sand in the sun, illustrating what a Princess drink package covers

Princess Drink Package 2026: Prices, Rules and Is It Worth It?

November 5, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Food and drink Princess Cruises

A Princess drink package costs about $78 per person per day for the standalone Plus Beverage Package ($64.99 plus the 20% service charge) or about $102 per day for the Premier Beverage Package ($84.99 plus 20%). Most travelers get better value from the Princess Plus fare add-on at $70 a day booked in advance, which bundles the same drinks with Wi-Fi and crew gratuities. On average you need to drink about four to six drinks a day for a drink package to pay for itself.

Below you will find current 2026 prices, what each package covers, the rules that catch people out, and a simple way to work out whether a Princess Cruises drink package is worth it for your trip. Prices change often, so check princess.com or your booking before you pay.

Princess drink package prices for 2026 at a glance

Princess sells two kinds of drink deal. First, there are standalone beverage packages that cover drinks only. Second, there are the Princess Plus and Princess Premier fare packages, which include a drink package plus other extras. The table shows US dollar prices per person per day at the time of writing.

Package	Price per day	What’s included
Classic Soda Package	$14.99 + 20% (about $18)	Fountain sodas, fruit juices, mocktails and smoothies
Zero-Alcohol Package	$29.99 + 20% (about $36)	Specialty coffees and teas, sodas, hot chocolate, mocktails, bottled water, San Pellegrino, Evian, Red Bull
Plus Beverage Package	$64.99 + 20% (about $78)	Cocktails, beer, wine by the glass and spirits up to $15 each, soft drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water
Premier Beverage Package	$84.99 + 20% (about $102)	Everything in Plus, with drinks up to $20 each, top-shelf spirits and reserve wines by the glass
Princess Plus (fare add-on)	$70 pre-cruise, $75 onboard	Plus Beverage Package, Wi-Fi for one device, crew appreciation, four casual dining meals, free OceanNow delivery
Princess Premier (fare add-on)	$105 pre-cruise, $110 onboard	Premier Beverage Package, Wi-Fi for four devices, crew appreciation, unlimited specialty dining, photos, reserved theater seats, shore excursion credit

On Sun Princess and Star Princess, the newest ships, Princess Plus and Princess Premier cost $5 more per day: $75 and $110 booked in advance. Industry reports say Princess raised the Plus and Premier prices by $5 in October 2026, and that people who had already bought were kept at the old price. If you booked earlier, check what your confirmation shows.

In March 2026 Princess raised its onboard service charge on food and drink from 18% to 20%. Some of Princess’s package terms still show the old 18% totals, such as $76.70 a day for Plus, so expect the final figure at checkout to be a little higher than older guides show.

UK prices in pounds

If you book through Princess UK, the fare add-ons are priced in sterling. Princess Plus costs £53 per person per day and Princess Premier costs £78 when bought at least four days before you sail. On Sun Princess and Star Princess they cost £58 and £83. The legal drinking age on UK sailings is 18. On North American sailings it is 21.

The Plus Beverage Package explained

The Plus Beverage Package is Princess’s main alcoholic drink package. It covers any drink that costs up to $15 on the menu, including most cocktails, beers, wines by the glass and spirits. It also includes fountain sodas, mocktails, fresh juices and smoothies, specialty coffees and teas, and bottled water. Princess says the selection includes around 50 spirits, 25 wines by the glass and 25 beers.

For sailings from 14 January 2026, the rules changed in a way that matters:

15 drinks per day in total. The limit now covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks together, so sodas, mocktails and Red Bull count toward your 15. Specialty coffees and teas do not count.
Water is limited separately. You can have up to 12 bottles of water (500 ml or smaller) a day, and these do not count toward the 15.
The day runs from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., not midnight to midnight.
One drink per order. You cannot order two drinks at once or order for a friend.
Pay the difference. If a drink costs more than $15, you pay only the amount above $15.

Plus also gives you 25% off bottles of wine, large bottles of water and canned soda.

The Premier Beverage Package explained

Premier raises the price cap to $20 a drink. That opens up top-shelf spirits, reserve and premier wines by the glass, and over 20 crafted cocktails. Princess lists more than 75 spirits and 40 wines by the glass, including a private-label Woodford Reserve and a Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select.

Premier’s terms still limit you to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours, but non-alcoholic drinks do not count toward that limit. If you drink lots of sodas, juices or mocktails between cocktails, that difference alone can make Premier the easier package to live with.

Bartender preparing a cocktail with a jigger and mixing glass at an elegant bar — Cocktails up to the package price cap are included, and you pay the difference on anything above it. Photo: Gustavo Fring on Pexels

Princess Plus drink package vs Princess Premier fares

For most people searching for a Princess Plus drink package, the fare add-on is the better deal. At $70 a day, Princess Plus costs less than the standalone Plus Beverage Package (about $78 with the service charge), and it also includes:

Crew appreciation (daily gratuities), currently $18 a day in most cabins, $19 in mini-suites and $20 in suites
MedallionNet Wi-Fi for one device
Four casual dining meals, plus free delivery from OceanNow and room service

Princess Premier adds unlimited specialty dining, Wi-Fi for four devices, unlimited digital photos with three prints, reserved theater seating and up to $300 in shore excursion credit per guest. If you would pay for specialty restaurants and photos anyway, Premier often costs less than it looks. If you are booking a suite, it is worth reading up on the Princess suite and mini-suite perks first, because some benefits overlap.

Three booking points to know:

The advance price applies only if you buy at least 96 hours (four days) before departure. After that, or onboard, it costs $5 more per day.
The first and second guests in a cabin must choose the same package level. Third and fourth guests are not required to match.
Crew gratuities are already included, so you do not need to prepay them separately. Our guide to whether to prepay cruise gratuities explains how this works on other lines.

Do both people in a cabin have to buy a package?

For the Princess Plus and Premier fares, yes: guests one and two on the booking must choose the same level. For the standalone beverage packages, Princess’s published terms do not clearly require every adult in the cabin to buy. Some passengers report buying for only one person. Whatever you buy, you cannot share it, and staff can cancel a package if they think you are sharing. If one of you drinks a lot and the other hardly drinks, ask Princess or your travel agent how your booking is set up before you buy.

Rules, deadlines and what’s not included

Whole cruise only. You must buy the package for every day of the voyage. Princess does not sell packages for part of a cruise or by the day.
When to buy. You can buy online up to four days before sailing. Onboard, standalone packages are sold only on embarkation day (some terms also allow the day after).
Refunds. Packages are non-refundable within a few days of sailing and once you are onboard.
Not included: drinks above your price cap (you pay the difference), full bottles of wine (25% off instead), canned soda, minibar items, and drinks in some premium venues.
Under-age guests cannot buy the alcoholic packages. In the Plus and Premier fares, they get the Zero-Alcohol package instead.
Staff discretion. Bar staff can refuse service to anyone who appears intoxicated, even if they are under the limit.

If you want ways to stretch your drinks budget within the rules, see our roundup of cruise drink package loopholes that still work in 2026.

Row of wine glasses on a table in a cosy setting with warm lighting — Princess allows each adult to bring one bottle of wine aboard at embarkation. Photo: Vladimir Srajber on Pexels

Princess drink prices and the bring-your-own wine policy

If you skip a package, you pay as you go, plus the 20% service charge. Approximate menu prices at the time of writing are:

Beer: about $6 to $9
Wine by the glass: about $9 to $15
Cocktails: about $10 to $18

Some drinks are free without a package: water, tea, regular coffee, iced tea, lemonade and juice at breakfast.

Each adult of legal drinking age may bring one bottle of wine or Champagne, up to 750 ml, in their carry-on bag at embarkation. There is no corkage fee if you drink it in your cabin. Extra bottles, or a bottle opened in a restaurant, incur a corkage fee. This has been reported at around $20 a bottle, so check the current fee when you board. Princess does not allow you to bring beer or spirits aboard for your own use.

Is a Princess drink package worth it? The break-even maths

Most guides say “it depends on how much you drink” without showing the numbers. Here is a simple way to work it out. Take the daily price, then divide it by what an average drink costs you including the 20% service charge.

Option	Daily cost	Value to earn back from drinks	Drinks per day to break even (at $14.40 a drink)
Plus Beverage Package	about $78	$78	about 5.4
Premier Beverage Package	about $102	$102	about 7.1 (fewer if you choose premium drinks)
Princess Plus fare	$70	$52 after $18 gratuities	about 3.6

The $14.40 figure assumes a $12 average menu price plus 20%. For example, two glasses of wine at dinner, a cocktail by the pool, a beer in the afternoon and a soda already comes to five or six drinks. On a sea day that is easy to reach. On a busy port day, when you are ashore from morning until late afternoon, you may drink much less. Count your realistic sea days and port days, because the package must cover every day of the cruise.

Two quick rules of thumb:

If you would pay the $18 daily gratuity and buy Wi-Fi anyway, Princess Plus pays for itself at roughly three to four drinks a day.
If you drink one or two glasses of wine with dinner and little else, paying as you go, or bringing your one free bottle, is usually cheaper.

Comparing lines? Our MSC drink packages guide shows how a different pricing model works.

FAQs

How much is the Princess drink package per day?

The standalone Plus Beverage Package is $64.99 plus a 20% service charge (about $78), and Premier is $84.99 plus 20% (about $102). The Princess Plus fare, which includes drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, is $70 a day when booked at least four days ahead.

Is gratuity included in the Princess drink package?

The standalone packages add a service charge on top of the price, now 20% on most itineraries. Princess Plus and Premier fares already include the service charge on covered drinks and the daily crew appreciation.

How many drinks can you have with Princess Plus?

Up to 15 drinks per day (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.), including sodas and mocktails, plus unlimited specialty coffee and tea and up to 12 small bottles of water. You can order only one drink at a time.

Can you share a Princess drink package?

No. Packages are for the named guest only, and Princess can cancel a package if it finds you are sharing drinks or ordering for others.

Can you bring wine on a Princess cruise?

Yes. Each adult of legal drinking age can bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or Champagne at embarkation. There is no fee if you drink it in your cabin. A corkage fee applies to extra bottles and to bottles opened in restaurants.

Carnival Cruise Drink Packages 2024: The Ultimate Guide

June 14, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Carnival Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Food and drink

When you book your Carnival cruise, you must decide whether to buy the drink package or pay for your drinks individually. In this thorough guide, I’ll give you the facts you need to make that decision.

If you’re short on time, just use my Carnival drink package calculator. Choose which drink you’d like and it will work out how much you’ll spend with and without the package.

Carnival Cruise Lines offers two drink packages. The Cheers package includes virtually all drinks up to the value of $20. The Bottomless Bubbles package includes only sodas and juices.

Let’s take a closer look at exactly what’s included in Carnival’s drink packages…

Cheers Package – From $59.95 per day

Includes:

Cocktails
Spirits
Beer by the glass
Wine by the glass
Sodas
Zero-proof frozen cocktails
Energy drinks
Milkshakes
Smoothies
Juices
Specialty coffees
Hot tea
Bottled water (500ml)
Other non-alcoholic bottled drinks

The Cheers Package also gives a 25% discount on drinks priced above $20, bottles of wine and champagne and drinks classes and seminars.

Carnival’s Cheers drink package limits guests to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. A day is considered to be 6 am – 6 am. There is no limit for non-alcoholic drinks.

What’s not included?

The Cheers package does not include:

Drinks in souvenir glasses
Bottles of liquor
Drinks offered at the gangway
Room service or mini bar
Sharing cocktails, pitchers, floaters, tubes and buckets
Self-service wine machines
Freshly squeezed orange juice in the Havana Bar
Drinks purchased off the ship including Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay

Bottomless Bubbles – From $9.50 per day ($6.95 for kids)

Includes:

Fountain soda by the glass (16 oz)
Juice by the glass (10 oz)

Soda flavours may vary but generally include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Caffeine Free Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free, Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Zero Sugar, Mug Root Beer, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Bubly Lime Sparkling Water, Bubly Grapefruit Sparkling Water, Bubly Orange Sparkling Water

Juices include orange, cranberry, tomato, pineapple and grapefruit.

The Bottomless Bubbles package does not include:

Non-alcoholic beverages other than soda and juices
Drinks in souvenir glasses
Bottled water
Hot drinks
Drinks offered at the gangway
Room service or mini bar

Bottomless Bubbles Package Terms and Conditions

More info on package prices

Cheers Package

	Buy on website	Buy on ship
6 days or more	$59.95	$64.95
5 days or less	$69.95	$74.95

Carnival’s alcohol drink package costs $59.95 per person, per day, if you buy it before your cruise or $64.95 per person per day if you buy it on board the ship.

For cruises of 5 days or less departing after December 1st 2023, the prices are $69.95 per person per day for advance purchases or $74.95 per person per day if you buy in on the ship.

You will also have to pay an 18% gratuity on top. When the ship is within US waters (docked in port) you will also have to pay an extra 10% sales tax on each drink.

For a 7-day cruise, if you pre-purchase your drink package, you can expect to pay $495 per person for drinks on your Carnival cruise including gratuities.

If your cruise departs from Texas or New York, state laws mean that you cannot use a drink package on the first day of your cruise. In this case, you will charge drinks to your account on the first day, and the Cheers package will start from 6 am the following day. You will not be charged for the first day.

Bottomless Bubbles Package

Drink	Price	Drinks to Break Even
Cocktails	$10.50	6
Beers	$7.50	8
Wines	$12.00	5
Sodas	$2.75	22
Coffees	$3.50	18
Energy Drinks	$5.00	12
Smoothies	$6.50	9
Water	$1.50	40

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Elegant restaurant tables set for dinner, illustrating early or late dining on a cruise

Early or Late Dining on a Cruise: How to Choose, With Times by Line

November 9, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Food and drink

Choose early dining on a cruise if you want your evenings free, have young children or like to be in bed by 10:30 pm. Choose late dining if you want full days in port, a less hurried dinner and time for a show or drink first. If you can’t decide, pick a flexible option where your cruise line offers one.

Deciding between early or late dining on a cruise matters more on some lines than others. Early seatings usually start between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm and late seatings between 7:45 pm and 8:30 pm, but every line sets its own times. The table below shows what to expect for 2026, followed by a simple way to match a seating to your itinerary.

Early or late dining on a cruise: the quick comparison

Factor	Early seating	Late seating
Typical start	5:30 pm to 6:30 pm	7:45 pm to 8:30 pm
Best for	Families, early risers, early excursions	Couples, night owls, long port days
Port days	Can be a rush to get back and change	Plenty of time to return and unwind
Main shows	Usually straight after dinner	Usually before dinner
Atmosphere	Busier, often more children	Quieter and more relaxed
Availability	Fills first	Usually easier to get
Main drawback	Can feel rushed, and you may want a snack later	A late finish, and a long gap after lunch

Cruise dining times by line

These are approximate main dining room times based on cruise line information and recent published guides. Ships and itineraries differ, and lines adjust times without much notice, so treat this as a guide and confirm your own time on your booking, cruise card or app.

Cruise line	Early / first	Late / second	Flexible option
Royal Caribbean	About 5:30 pm	About 8:00 pm	My Time Dining
Carnival	About 5:30 to 6:00 pm	About 7:45 to 8:15 pm	Your Time Dining
Celebrity	About 6:00 pm	About 8:30 pm	Select Anytime, about 6:00 to 9:30 pm
Holland America	About 6:00 pm	About 8:00 pm	As You Wish, about 5:15 to 9:00 pm
Disney	About 5:45 pm	About 8:15 pm	None in the rotational dining rooms
MSC	About 6:00 to 7:00 pm	About 8:30 to 9:00 pm	Selected fares and ships only
Princess	Set times available through Dine My Way, which vary by ship		Dine My Way
Norwegian	No fixed seatings		Freestyle Dining
P&O Cruises (UK)	About 6:30 pm	About 8:30 pm	Freedom Dining, about 6:00 to 9:30 pm
Cunard (Britannia cabins)	About 6:00 pm	About 8:30 pm	Open Dining, about 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Fred. Olsen	About 6:00 pm	About 8:00 pm (8:15 pm on some evenings)	None in the main restaurant

Royal Caribbean dining times

Royal Caribbean offers early seating, late seating or My Time Dining. It gives 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm as the typical traditional times, with some variation by ship and route. On select markets and ships, gratuities are prepaid automatically if you choose My Time Dining, so check this when you book.

Carnival dining times

Carnival times vary more than most. Many ships, including newer ones such as Celebration and Jubilee, use around 5:30 pm and 7:45 pm, while others, such as Conquest and Glory, use around 6:00 pm and 8:15 pm. A few differ again, so look up your specific ship rather than relying on a fleet-wide figure.

UK lines with fixed sittings

Fixed sittings remain central to the British-style cruise. On P&O Cruises, Club Dining keeps you at the same table with the same waiters and fellow diners all cruise, but Iona and Arvia are Freedom Dining only. Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis have two dinner sittings, with the second moving slightly later on embarkation day and formal nights.

On Cunard, your cabin grade decides how you dine. Britannia cabins choose early, late or Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, while Princess Grill and Queens Grill guests keep a reserved table and arrive when they like during service.

Family with children sharing an early evening meal at a restaurant table — Early seating often suits families with younger children. Photo: Gül Işık on Pexels

Why choose early dining?

Early seating works well if you think of dinner as the start of your evening rather than the end of it.

Your evening stays open. You finish in time for shows, music, trivia and a walk on deck.
It suits children. Younger children are less likely to be overtired, and it’s a natural fit before kids’ clubs or bedtime.
It suits early starts. If you have a morning excursion or a sea-day gym habit, you’ll get to bed at a sensible hour.
It keeps to your usual routine. Many people who normally eat around 6:00 pm find it the easiest adjustment.

The trade-offs are real, though. On a port day you may have little time to get back, shower and change, and dinner can feel paced because the room must turn over for the next seating. Early seating is also the most requested, so ask for it as soon as you book.

Why choose late dining?

Late seating gives you a longer day. It’s the better fit if you want every available hour ashore or by the pool.

Port days are easier. You can return close to all-aboard time and still have a relaxed hour before dinner.
Dinner tends to be calmer. With no seating behind you, there’s less pressure to finish.
You can do things first. A pre-dinner drink or an early show fits naturally.
It’s usually easier to get. Late seating generally fills more slowly than early.

The downsides are a long gap after lunch and a late finish, which can catch up with you if the next day starts early. Young children may also struggle to wait that long, and they can get restless at the table.

Flexible dining: a third option

Most big lines now offer some form of flexible dining, so you aren’t always limited to early vs late seating on a cruise. Royal Caribbean’s My Time Dining, Carnival’s Your Time Dining, Celebrity’s Select Anytime and Holland America’s As You Wish all let you eat at different times on different nights. Norwegian has no fixed seatings at all, and smaller premium and luxury lines such as Viking and Oceania generally use open seating.

The freedom comes with a catch. You can queue on busy nights, even with a reservation, and you won’t necessarily see the same waiter twice. You can also be left with awkward gaps around shows, which are often scheduled around traditional seatings. Princess takes a slightly different approach, and our guide to how Princess Cruises dining works explains the choices in more detail.

Disney is the main exception in the other direction. Its rotational system moves you through three themed dining rooms with your servers following along, and main stage shows run opposite your seating, so first seating sees the show after dinner and second seating sees it before.

Table size is a separate question from time. If you’d rather not share, read our advice on how to get a table for two on a cruise before you sail.

Large cruise ship docked at a sunny port beside the waterfront — Port times can decide which dinner seating works best. Photo: Jeffry Surianto on Pexels

Check your itinerary before you choose

Most advice on this topic stops at personal preference, but the cruise itself can settle the question. Before you settle on early or late dining on a cruise, look at your itinerary for these four things:

Late port departures. Count how many days have an all-aboard time in the late afternoon or later. If there are several, early seating will often mean rushing back, so late seating or a flexible option is safer.
Early arrivals and tours. A run of early morning excursions favors early seating, since a late dinner followed by a 7:00 am meet-up is tiring.
Sea days. On a cruise with lots of sea days, the timing matters less for logistics, so go with your normal appetite and bedtime.
Time changes. On a transatlantic or repositioning voyage, the ship’s clock can move repeatedly. Sailing east, clocks go forward, so a 6:00 pm dinner feels like 5:00 pm or earlier. Sailing west, clocks go back, so an 8:30 pm dinner feels later each night.

Traveling with others? Link your reservations before you choose, and confirm the arrangement on boarding day, so your group lands at the same seating and table. New to cruising? Our first-time cruise tips cover what else is worth sorting out before you board.

How to change your dining time

Your options depend on when you act, and sooner is always better.

Before you sail: Many lines let you switch in your online booking or app, subject to availability. On Royal Caribbean, sign in to your Guest Account, open your reservation and go to the Dining section. Carnival guests can use the Hub app or their account.
On embarkation day: Go to the maitre d’ or dining desk as early as you can. Royal Caribbean specifically directs guests to its hospitality desk on that day.
If your choice is full: Ask to be waitlisted. Disney, for example, moves waitlisted guests as main seating places open up.

Fixed-dining lines often hold fewer spare places than you’d hope, so have a backup. Booking a specialty restaurant for a night doesn’t change your main dining room assignment, and the buffet is usually there if a seating simply doesn’t suit one evening.

FAQs

Is early or late dining better on a cruise?

Neither is better for everyone. Early dining suits families, early risers and anyone who wants the whole evening free. Late dining suits people who want long port days and a slower dinner.

What time is early and late dining on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean says traditional seatings are typically 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Times vary by ship and itinerary, so check your SeaPass card and the app for your sailing.

What time is early and late dining on Carnival?

Early dining is usually between about 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm, and late dining between about 7:45 pm and 8:15 pm. The exact times depend on the ship, and a few older ships differ slightly.

Can you change your dining time once on board?

Often, but it isn’t guaranteed. See the maitre d’ or dining desk on embarkation day, and expect early seating to be harder to get. If you can change online before sailing, do that first.

Do you have to dress up for late dining?

No. The dress code is set by the night and the cruise line, not by your seating. Early and late diners on the same evening follow the same guidance.

MSC Cruises Drinks Menus with Prices (2024)

June 4, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Food and drink MSC Cruises

Taking a look at the MSC drinks menus before your cruise can be a good way to know what drinks are available on board, how much the drinks cost, and whether to buy a drink package or not.

If you’ve not yet decided whether to get a drinks package or which one to get out of the five different packages that MSC Cruises offer, then be sure to take a look at my MSC Cruises Drink Package Guide.

That will give you all the info you need to easily work out whether the drinks package is worth it or not.

In this guide to the drinks menus on MSC Cruises ships, you’ll be able to see photos of the drinks menus from each of the bars, lounges and restaurants.

MSC’s drink prices

Here’s a quick summary of what you should expect to pay for drinks on an MSC cruise:

Drink	Cost
Beer & cider	£7.50 to £9
Glass of wine	£8 to £10
Bottle of wine	£31 to £79
Cocktails	£10
Premium cocktails	£14 to £17
Spirits	£8 to £14
Soft drink	£3 to £3.50
Mocktails	£7
Energy drinks	£5.50
Mineral water (still or sparkling)	£2.50 to £3.50

It can be tricky knowing whether you should buy drinks individually, or pay for a drinks package, but I can help.

My drinks package calculator will give you an estimate of how much you’ll spend on drinks, and whether it would be better to pay for a package.

Just drop your email below and I’ll send it to you.

On MSC cruises, cocktails are always a popular choice, especially when sitting by one of the swimming pools.

All drinks served outside or by the pool are served in plastic glasses. They are nice plastic glasses, however, particularly the tall cocktail glasses. All of the drinking straws on MSC Cruises are biodegradable.

On MSC Cruises ships you cannot take your drinks into the pools or hot tubs as you can with other cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean.

MSC Cruises cocktails — Fruit Smoothie and Miami Vice

Here’s a closer look at what’s on the menu…

MSC Cruises Pool Bar beer and cider menu

MSC Cruises Pool Bar spirits and soft drinks menu

MSC Cruises’ cocktail bar menu is the one that you’ll find in most of the indoor bars and lounges such as the Sky Lounge.

As well as cocktails, you’ll find as a large selection of beers, wines, spirits, and hot drinks.

Here’s a closer look at what’s on the menu…

The British Pub on MSC Virtuosa is called Masters of the Seas. On other ships it has a different name such as The Brass Anchor on MSC Meraviglia.

If you love beer, this is the place to be as you’ll find 12 different beers on draft as well as a huge selection of bottled beers and beer-based cocktails.

MSC Cruises beertails — Beer Mojito and Black Velvet

Here’s a closer look at the menu…

In the Main Dining Rooms, each of the lunch and dinner menus has a section headed ‘Sommelier Recommends’ where you can choose from a selection of wines of the day.

Here a closer look at that…

However, you can also order anything from the full wine list. If you have a drink package, it makes sense to order by the glass as wines by the bottle are not included in any package.

When you order by the glass, some of the serving sizes can vary quite a lot! This is a photo of a glass of rose wine that in ordered in the Main Dining Room on MSC Virtuosa last year. (No, I hadn’t drank any before I took the photo!)

And below is a photo of a glass of rose wine that I ordered in the main dining room on sister ship MSC Euribia this year. It’s about three times as big!

Below is a closer look at MSC Cruises wine menus so you can see what else is available…

MSC Cruises wine list by the glass red white rose

In the Marketplace Buffet restaurant on MSC Cruises, there is a simple drinks menu with beers, wines, soft drinks and coffees.

At breakfast, if you ask for coffee or fruit juice in the buffet, it will be given to you from the machines. These drinks are free for everyone, with or without a drinks package, and they’re not the best.

However, if you do have a drink package then you should ask for freshly squeezed juices and a latte or cappuccino. These are included in the package but you won’t get them unless you ask specifically.

On MSC Virtuosa, there’s a robot bartender called Rob who makes drinks for you in the Starship Club.

You can order a drink from Rob using the touchscreens that are located in the bar. There’s a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from, or you can create your own.

Drinks made by Rob the robot cost £18 for alcoholic drinks and £10 for non-alcoholic drinks. They come in a souvenir cup which you get to take home in a box.

Drinks made by the robot aren’t included in the MSC drinks packages, but you can order from a human server instead if you want the free drinks.

Minibar Price List

Each cabin on MSC Cruises ships has a refrigerated minibar that is refilled daily.

Drinks from the minibar are not included in the standard drink package are may be included in some upgrade drinks packages or in Yacht Club Suites.

MSC Cruises ships each have a variety of indoor and outdoor bars, lounges and restaurants. Oftentimes, you’ll see that the same menu is used in more than one venue.

For example, the Pool Bar Menu will be found in all of the outdoor bars as well as the Tropical Bar which is by the indoor pool. Most of the cocktail bars will have the same Cocktail Bar Menu.

There are, however, some drink lists which you can only get in one venue – such as the Champagne bar or the Starship Club.

Online and paper menus

MSC Cruises uses online menus wherever possible. On each table, there’s a sign with a QR code which you can scan with your mobile phone and it will take you to the menu.

You’ll need to be connected to the ship’s wifi to see the menus. You don’t need a wifi package to do this, so it won’t cost you anything.

MSC Cruises QR code scanner for online menus

If you don’t have a mobile device or don’t feel comfortable reading menus on one, paper menus are always available. Just ask one of the waiters for one and they won’t mind at all.

How to order drinks

Although the menus are online, you cannot order drinks online on MSC Cruises ships. Instead, you just tell a waiter what you would like.

Wherever you’re sitting, even if it’s on a sunlounger, the servers will come over regularly to ask if you would like a drink.

In the buffet, some ships have a button you can press that will call the waiter over, which is great!

To conclude

MSC Cruises drinks prices are broadly similar to other cruise lines. The cocktails aren’t particularly strong and the glasses of wine can be fairly small, so you may drink more than you expect to.

If you’re wondering whether to buy a package or not, be sure to take a look at my MSC drink package guide which has information about the various packages and also lists the drinks that are always free or charge with or without a drink package.

Don’t forget about my drinks package calculator too!

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Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

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Tropical cocktails on a sunny cruise ship deck, the kind of drinks covered by a Royal Caribbean drink package

Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide 2026: Prices, Rules and Is It Worth It?

November 1, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Food and drink Royal Caribbean

The Royal Caribbean drink package you will hear about most is the Deluxe Beverage Package. It covers alcohol, coffee, juices, soda and bottled water, and at the time of writing it typically costs about $55 to $120 per person per day, plus an 18% gratuity. There are cheaper non-alcoholic options too: the Refreshment Package, roughly $29 to $42 a day, and the Classic Soda Package, roughly $10 to $18 a day. Whether a package pays off depends on how much you drink every day of the cruise. For most people, the Deluxe package starts to make sense at around five or six cocktails a day.

This guide covers every package Royal Caribbean sells in 2026, what each one includes and leaves out, and how to find the exact price for your sailing. It also explains the 2026 rule changes, including the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup change and the return of the medical exemption, and gives a simple break-even calculation you can run before you buy.

Royal Caribbean drink package options at a glance

Royal Caribbean has three main beverage packages, plus a few smaller add-ons. Prices are dynamic. They change with the ship, the sail date, how far ahead you buy and whether a sale is running. The ranges below are typical pre-cruise prices reported in 2026 and don’t include the 18% gratuity.

Package	Typical price per person, per day (2026)	Best for
Deluxe Beverage Package	About $55 to $120	Adults who drink cocktails, beer or wine every day
Refreshment Package	About $29 to $42	Non-drinkers who want specialty coffee, mocktails, smoothies and juice
Classic Soda Package	About $10 to $18	Kids and soda fans
Water package	Around $39 for 12 one-liter bottles, around $69 for 24	Cabins that want bottled water delivered
Café Select coffee card	Around $31 for 15 coffee drinks	Light coffee drinkers; the card can be shared

In 2026 Royal Caribbean also started selling combo packages. These bundle a drink package with a day pass for Perfect Day at CocoCay attractions or Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. They make sense mainly if you were going to buy both anyway.

What the Deluxe Beverage Package includes (and excludes)

The Deluxe Beverage Package covers any single drink with a menu price of up to $14. That includes:

Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs and beer
Wine by the glass
Mocktails, premium coffees and teas
Fountain soda, fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies and milkshakes, where available
Bottled still and sparkling water
40% off bottles of wine priced up to $100, and 20% off bottles over $100

If a drink costs more than $14, you pay the difference plus gratuity on that difference. The package doesn’t cover:

Room service and the in-cabin minibar
Standalone Starbucks outlets (specialty coffee at Royal Caribbean’s own cafés is covered)
Drinks served in souvenir glassware
Coca-Cola Freestyle machine access (since March 15, 2026, more on that below)
Drinks in ordinary ports of call

Refreshment Package

The Refreshment Package is the alcohol-free version. It covers mocktails, premium coffee and tea, fresh and bottled juices, smoothies, bottled water, fountain soda and non-alcoholic beer and wine. It is a good fit for non-drinkers who would otherwise buy a couple of lattes and a smoothie every day.

Classic Soda Package

The Classic Soda Package covers unlimited fountain soda at bars, lounges, the Windjammer, the Main Dining Room and Royal Caribbean’s private destinations. It still comes with a Coca-Cola Freestyle cup, and a lost cup costs $4.99 to replace.

Colorful cocktails lined up on a poolside bar counter, the kind of drinks a cruise beverage package covers — Cocktails up to the $14 menu price are covered by the Deluxe package. Photo: Ahmet ÇÖTÜR on Pexels

Royal Caribbean drink package rules to know before you buy

Everyone of drinking age in the cabin must buy the Deluxe package if one person does. This is the rule that catches most couples out. The legal drinking age onboard is 21 on sailings from North America, and can be 18 elsewhere. The Refreshment and Classic Soda packages can be bought for one person on their own.
No sharing. Packages are tied to your SeaPass card and are for one guest only. You can generally order one drink at a time.
It covers the whole cruise. You pay for every day, including port days when you may be ashore most of the time. Packages bought onboard are usually only offered when at least four days remain, and the price is prorated.
An 18% gratuity is added to the package price.
Private islands: Your package works at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee during normal bar hours. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is different. It needs its own paid day pass, either non-alcoholic drinks only or with an open bar. A Deluxe package bought on its own doesn’t get you a discount on that pass, which is where the new combo bundles come in.
No daily limit, although bartenders can refuse service to anyone who has had too much.

2026 changes: the Freestyle cup and the exemption U-turn

Two changes in 2026 matter for anyone pricing a package:

Freestyle cup removed from Deluxe and Refreshment (March 15, 2026). These two packages no longer include a Coca-Cola Freestyle cup or access to the touchscreen soda machines. If you want one, the cup costs $4.99 onboard. You can still get fountain soda from any bar. Royal Caribbean said bookings made on or before March 15 keep the old benefit.
Exemption from the all-adults rule is back (September 2026). In August 2025 Royal Caribbean stopped letting cabin-mates opt out of the Deluxe package. In September 2026 it brought back a narrower exemption. A guest who cannot drink because of pregnancy, a disability or a medical condition can submit a request form. Approved guests buy a non-alcoholic package instead. Royal Caribbean reviews each request individually, has said to allow up to 10 business days for a reply, and warns that false information can lead to a full package charge or a sailing ban. Choosing not to drink for personal reasons does not appear to qualify.

How to check your exact Royal Caribbean drink package price

Royal Caribbean no longer publishes one fleetwide price, so the only reliable figure is the one in your booking. To find it:

Log in to the Cruise Planner on the Royal Caribbean website or app (My Royal Cruise) and select your booking.
Open the Beverage category to see the current price for each package on your sailing.
Check again every week or two. Prices move often, and flash sales of 30% to 40% off are common.
If the price drops after you buy, cancel online at least a couple of days before sailing and rebook at the lower price. Pre-cruise purchases can normally be refunded in full before the cutoff.

Buying before the cruise is almost always cheaper than buying onboard. Black Friday and Cyber Monday tend to bring the year’s lowest prices. Holiday and peak-season sailings, and short cruises that call at CocoCay, usually sit at the top of the range. For wider timing tips, see our guide to cruise deals and the best times to book.

Royal Caribbean drink prices onboard (without a package)

To decide whether a package is worth it, you need the à la carte prices. These are typical 2026 menu prices, and an 18% gratuity is added to every drink:

Drink	Typical menu price	With 18% gratuity
Cocktail	$10 to $14	$11.80 to $16.52
Beer	$7 to $9	$8.26 to $10.62
Wine by the glass	$9 and up	$10.62 and up
Mocktail	About $7	About $8.26
Specialty coffee (non-Starbucks)	About $5	About $5.90
Fountain soda	About $3.50	About $4.13
Bottled water	About $3.25	About $3.84

Plenty of drinks are free without any package. Water, lemonade, iced tea, drip coffee, regular tea and some juices at breakfast are all included at the Windjammer and in the dining rooms. Our guide to free places to eat on Icon of the Seas shows where those complimentary drinks are poured.

A latte with foam art on a cafe table, showing the specialty coffee included in non-alcoholic drink packages — Specialty coffee is one of the main draws of the Refreshment package. Photo: Olivier Morneau on Pexels

Is the Royal Caribbean drink package worth it? A break-even calculation

Here is the basic test. Take the daily package price, add 18%, then divide by the average price of the drinks you actually order, also with gratuity. For example, on a Deluxe package at $75 a day:

$75 plus 18% gratuity = $88.50 per day
Cocktails only ($16.52 each with tip): you need about 5.4 cocktails a day
Beer only ($9.44 each with tip): you need about 9.4 beers a day

Most people drink a mix, so this sample day is closer to real life:

Drink	Quantity	Cost with gratuity
Specialty coffee	2	$11.80
Bottled water	1	$3.84
Cocktails ($14)	3	$49.56
Beer ($8)	2	$18.88
Glass of wine at dinner ($12)	1	$14.16
Total	9 drinks	$98.24

That day comes in about $10 above the $88.50 package cost, so the package wins. Drop two of the cocktails and the same person would save money paying as they go. The non-alcoholic packages work the same way. A Refreshment Package at $35 a day costs about $41.30 with tip, which equals roughly five mocktails or seven specialty coffees.

The cabin-wide math most guides skip

Because every adult in the cabin must buy the Deluxe package, compare the cost per cabin, not per person. A couple on a 7-night cruise at $75 a day pays $75 x 7 x 2 = $1,050, plus 18% = about $1,239. If one of you drinks heavily and the other has two glasses of wine a night, add up both people’s likely drinks before you decide. A package can pay off for one person and still lose money for the cabin.

When the package is usually worth it

Sailings with lots of sea days, or a CocoCay day, when you are onboard and drinking all day
When you buy during a sale, which makes the break-even point much lower
Guests who also want unlimited bottled water, smoothies and specialty coffee

When to skip it

Port-heavy itineraries where you will be ashore most days
Crown & Anchor Diamond members and above, who already get four to six free drinks a day
Light drinkers. A few pay-as-you-go cocktails cost less, and the Café Select card covers coffee

Which ship you choose also changes the value. Larger ships have more bars and more sea days to use them. Our Royal Caribbean ships ranked guide can help you pick one that fits your style.

If a package does not suit you, try these legit ways to save money on cruise drinks instead.

FAQs

How much is the drink package on Royal Caribbean?

At the time of writing, the Deluxe Beverage Package typically costs about $55 to $120 per person per day before the 18% gratuity. The Refreshment Package costs about $29 to $42, and the Classic Soda Package about $10 to $18. Check the Cruise Planner for the exact price on your sailing.

Is it worth getting a drinks package on Royal Caribbean?

It is usually worth it if you would otherwise have about five or six cocktails, or nine or more beers, every day of the cruise. It is especially good value when bought on sale. Light drinkers, and people on port-heavy itineraries, generally save money by paying per drink.

Is the Royal Caribbean drink package really unlimited?

There is no daily cap on the number of drinks, but each drink must be $14 or less on the menu (you pay the difference above that). You can order one drink at a time, and bartenders can refuse service to anyone who is visibly intoxicated.

Does Royal Caribbean do 50% off drink packages?

Royal Caribbean runs frequent drink package sales, most often in the 30% to 40% off range, with some of the deepest discounts around Black Friday. The discount is shown in the Cruise Planner, and you can cancel and rebook if the price drops before you sail.

Do all adults in a cabin have to buy the Deluxe package?

Yes. If one guest of legal drinking age buys the Deluxe Beverage Package, all others of drinking age in the same cabin must too. Since September 2026 there is a limited exemption, by request, for guests who cannot drink because of pregnancy, a disability or a medical condition.

Poolside bar on a cruise ship deck with drinks on the counter, the kind of bar covered by a P&O drinks package

P&O Drinks Package 2026: Prices, What’s Included and Is It Worth It?

November 5, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Food and drink P&O Cruises

A P&O drinks package costs from £16 per person per day for soft drinks up to £65 per day for the top Deluxe package, and is sold on cruises of five nights or more. Pre-booking through My P&O Cruises saves 10%, which brings the popular Classic package down to £49 a day. It is usually worth it if you would drink around six or more alcoholic drinks or speciality coffees a day. Lighter drinkers normally save money by paying as they go.

Below we cover all four packages and what each one includes, the 2026 prices and the rules that catch people out. There is also a simple break-even calculation so you can work out whether a P&O drinks package makes sense for your own cruise.

P&O drinks package prices for 2026

P&O Cruises currently sells four daily drinks packages. All prices are per person, per day, in pounds sterling, for cruises of five nights or more. These were the prices on the P&O Cruises website at the time of writing (October 2026). Prices change, so check before you book.

Package	Buy on board	Pre-booked (10% off)	Best for
Refresh	From £16	About 10% less	Soft drink and juice fans, children and teens
Alcohol-free	£29	£26	Non-drinkers who love coffee and mocktails
Classic (5–14 nights)	£55	£49	Regular drinkers happy with popular brands
Classic (15+ nights)	£50	£45	Long voyages and world cruise sectors
Deluxe (5–14 nights)	£65	£58	Premium spirits, wines and cocktail lovers
Deluxe (15+ nights)	£60	£54	Premium drinkers on longer cruises

The pre-booking discount applies when you add the package at the time of booking, or through My P&O Cruises up to three days before you sail. After that, you can still buy on board during the first two days of the cruise, but you pay the full price.

For a couple on a seven-night cruise, a pre-booked Classic package works out at 2 × £49 × 7 = £686. A pre-booked Deluxe package costs £812. Working out the whole-cabin total before you commit is the most useful thing you can do, because the daily figure can make it look cheaper than it is.

What each P&O drinks package includes

Refresh package

This is the entry-level package. It covers soft drinks such as Pepsi, lemonade on tap, fruit juices and mocktail-style drinks. It does not include Costa coffee, bottled water or anything alcoholic. Tea, filtered water and standard coffee in the buffet and main restaurants are free anyway, so you do not need a package for those.

Alcohol-free package

The Alcohol-free package includes everything in Refresh plus selected Costa Coffee drinks, hot chocolate, small bottles of still and sparkling water, alcohol-free beers such as Heineken 0.0 and non-alcoholic cocktails. If you drink three or four barista coffees a day, this package can pay for itself quickly.

Classic drinks package

The Classic package is the one most passengers choose. It includes everything above plus beers and ciders, wine by the glass, prosecco, popular branded spirits in single measures and a wide choice of cocktails such as Piña Coladas and Mai Tais. It also includes P&O’s own Marabelle Gin and Golden Tide Rum. Cocktails above the package’s price limit are not covered and are charged at the normal menu price.

Deluxe drinks package

Deluxe includes everything in Classic and adds premium brands such as Grey Goose vodka, Salcombe Gin and Tidal Rum. It also gives you an extended cocktail list (Aperol Spritz is included, for example), more premium beers and a wider choice of wines from The Glass House. If you mainly drink lager or house wine, the extra £9 a day is hard to justify. If you prefer premium gin and tonics or better wine, Deluxe makes more sense.

Bartender pouring colourful cocktails at a hotel-style bar counter — Cocktails are where a drinks package earns its money fastest. Photo: ahmad syahrir on Pexels

P&O drinks package rules to know before you buy

Minimum cruise length: drinks packages are only sold on cruises of five nights or more. On short breaks you pay as you go.
Whole cruise only: you buy the package for every day of the cruise. You cannot pick and choose sea days.
Everyone in the cabin: if one adult in a cabin buys an alcoholic package, all adults (18+) in that cabin must buy the same one. This stops packages being shared.
Children: under-18s get a complimentary Refresh package when the adults in their cabin buy Classic or Deluxe. Otherwise, children’s soft drinks are paid for separately.
Age limits: alcohol is served to guests aged 18 and over (21 in US waters). Sixteen and 17-year-olds with a parent can have beer, cider or wine with a meal in the restaurants.
Cancellation: pre-booked packages can be cancelled for a refund up to three days before departure. Packages bought on board are generally non-refundable.
Fair use: package drinks are for the package holder only, and bar staff can refuse service. Some guides mention a daily cap of around 15 alcoholic drinks. Check the current terms on the P&O site if this matters to you.

P&O all-inclusive packages: the alternative

For sailings from March 2026, P&O also sells All-Inclusive Classic and All-Inclusive Deluxe packages. These combine the matching drinks package with Wi-Fi (Essential with Classic, the faster Ultimate with Deluxe) and a speciality dining credit. The value of the dining credit depends on how long the cruise is. P&O says the bundles cost less than buying the same extras separately on board. The main catch is that they must be added when you book the cruise. If you already know you want both a drinks package and Wi-Fi, compare the all-inclusive price with buying them separately before you pay your deposit.

P&O cruises drinks prices if you pay as you go

P&O is a British line and its bar prices are in pounds sterling, broadly similar to a bar in a UK city. Guides published in 2025 and 2026 give these typical prices. Menus vary by ship and venue, so treat these as guide figures:

Pint of lager or beer: around £5 to £6
Glass of wine: roughly £6 to £9
Cocktail: from about £8.50 to £10
Barista coffee and canned soft drinks are charged unless you have a package. Tea, filtered water and standard coffee at meals are free.

Unlike many American lines, P&O does not add an automatic service charge to each drink you order, so the menu price is what you pay. This makes paying as you go a better deal on P&O than on lines that add 18–20% to every drink.

Two glasses of white wine on a table with the open sea in the background — Paying by the glass can work out cheaper for lighter drinkers. Photo: Milada Vigerova on Pexels

Is the P&O drinks package worth it?

To decide whether a P&O drinks package is worth it, divide the daily price by what you would actually drink. Using the pre-booked Classic price of £49 for a 5–14 night cruise, here is an example day that roughly breaks even:

Two Costa coffees in the morning
A pint of lager by the pool at lunchtime
Two cocktails before dinner or at a show
Two glasses of wine with dinner
One nightcap

That is around six alcoholic drinks plus coffee. If your typical day looks like this or bigger, the Classic package is likely to save you money and makes budgeting easier. If you would have a glass of wine with dinner and the odd cocktail, you will usually spend much less than £49 by paying as you go.

Remember to count your actual days. Port days, especially long ones with an evening departure, usually mean less drinking on board, but you still pay the full daily rate. An itinerary with many ports favours paying as you go. A cruise with lots of sea days favours a package. Also remember the cabin rule. If one of you drinks heavily and the other barely drinks, you both still have to buy the package, which often makes it poor value for mixed couples.

The Alcohol-free package is often overlooked but can be good value. At £26 a day pre-booked, a non-drinker who has several barista coffees, bottled water and a couple of mocktails each day will usually come out ahead.

If you are comparing lines, our guide to cruise drinks packages compared across lines shows how P&O’s prices stack up. If you are also considering a rival British line, see the Marella drinks package guide, where drinks are built into the fare in a different way.

Bringing your own: wine allowance and corkage

P&O lets each guest aged 18 or over bring one litre of wine or Champagne on board at embarkation, and soft drinks are not restricted. Spirits, beer and other alcohol are not allowed. If you drink your own wine in a restaurant or bar, a £20 corkage fee per bottle is charged to your onboard account. Drinking it in your cabin is free. Alcohol you buy in port is taken at the gangway, stored and returned at the end of the cruise.

For lighter drinkers, a bottle of wine for the balcony plus paying as you go for the odd cocktail is often the cheapest option. If you are choosing between British-market lines on overall value, our comparison of P&O Cruises vs Princess Cruises covers drinks along with dining and onboard costs.

Tips for getting the best value

Pre-book: the 10% discount is the easiest saving. You can still cancel up to three days before sailing.
Watch for offers: P&O sometimes includes discounted drinks packages or onboard spending money in its fare deals, so compare fare types when you book.
Look at the example menus: P&O publishes sample package menus on its website. Check that the drinks you like are on the tier you are buying.
Long voyages: on cruises of 15 nights or more, the daily price drops by £5 for Classic and Deluxe.
Families: if two adults buy Classic anyway, the free Refresh package for children can save a large family a useful amount over a week.

If you are weighing up other UK lines, compare these prices with the Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages.

FAQs

Are any drinks included on P&O cruises?

Yes, but only the basics. Tea, standard coffee and filtered water are free at the buffet and in the main restaurants. Soft drinks, barista coffee, bottled water and alcohol are charged unless you have a drinks package or an all-inclusive fare.

How much is the P&O drinks package per day?

At the time of writing, prices run from £16 a day for Refresh to £65 a day for Deluxe on board. The Classic package costs £55 a day on board, or £49 a day if pre-booked, for cruises of 5 to 14 nights.

Do both people in a cabin have to buy the P&O drinks package?

Yes. If one adult buys an alcoholic package, every adult aged 18 or over in the same cabin must buy the same package. Under-18s get a free Refresh package when the adults buy Classic or Deluxe.

Can you take alcohol on a P&O cruise?

Each guest aged 18 or over can bring one litre of wine or Champagne at embarkation. Other alcohol is not allowed. A £20 corkage fee applies if you drink your own wine in a bar or restaurant.

Have P&O changed their drinks packages?

Prices have risen over the past few years, and from March 2026 P&O added All-Inclusive Classic and Deluxe packages that bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and a dining credit. The four standard drinks packages are still sold.

10 Must-Try Foods From Your Favourite Cruise Lines

April 18, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Food and drink

One of the things I look forward to when going on a cruise is the food. There are always so many different things to try. From savoury snacks to sweet treats, each cruise line offers something unique.

From my own cruises and reading reviews online, I’ve discovered some great must-try foods on different cruise lines. In this post, I’ll share ten of the top foods you shouldn’t miss if you ever get the chance to try them…

1. Mickey Waffles on a Disney Cruise

A photo of Mickey Mouse waffles on a plate with fruit and a hash brown.

On Disney cruises, Mickey Waffles are a breakfast highlight. You can enjoy them in the main dining rooms or order them through room service, perfect whether you’re up for an early meal or a lazy morning in your cabin.

Beyond the beloved classic version, Disney Cruise Line sometimes offers special variations, like churro waffles. Everyone raves about this version, which can usually only be found on the last day of your cruise. However, others have reported getting these by asking very nicely in the main dining room, and they managed to get them for breakfast the next day.

If you have dietary restrictions you don’t need to miss out. Gluten-free and vegan Mickey Waffles are also available. They might not be on the menu, but you just need to ask and your server will work their Disney magic.

2. The Best Pizza at Sea on a Princess Cruise

Princess Cruises is often praised for offering some of the best pizza at sea. You’ll find it poolside and you can order by the slice.

If you want something special, such as a pizza without cheese, just ask and the chefs will do their best to make one for you.

Another pizza venue that you simply must visit on a Princess Cruise is Alfredo’s Pizzeria. This venue is celebrated for its gourmet, Neapolitan-style pizzas crafted from scratch by Master Chef Alfredo Marzi.

The pizzeria is located on the stunning three-story Piazza, which serves as a central hub for entertainment, dining, and shopping on several Princess ships, including Regal Princess, Royal Princess, and Sky Princess.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria provides a variety of thin-crust pizza options and the open kitchen layout allows guests to watch as their pizzas are prepared and baked to perfection.

3. Gourmet Milkshakes on Icon of the Seas

Cruisers have been sharing photos of their milkshakes on social media at the Desserted Milkshake Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.

The ‘Stranded Burro’, a vanilla and salted caramel milkshake, is a fan favourite. It is overflowing with dulce de leche, doughnut pieces, and cinnamon cereal, topped off with a generous swirl of vanilla icing, caramel popcorn, and whipped cream.

For adults looking to spice it up, a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is the perfect kick. If mint is more your style, the ‘Minty Mariner’ offers a cool burst with its mint milkshake base, laced with mint chocolate syrup, chocolate Pocky, waffle cone pieces, and an array of sprinkles, finished with a touch of vanilla icing and whipped cream.

And for those who taste the classics, the bar also serves timeless favourites like vanilla, chocolate, and cookies & cream shakes.

Despite the eye-catching presentation and the lure of these indulgent shakes, it’s noted that the price point is quite high at $21, leading some to prefer the delightful bubble cones from Izumi in the Park as a sweet alternative. However, the milkshakes look like a great thing to try as a one-off treat.

4. Guys Burgers on a Carnival Cruise

Guy's Burgers and Fries on Carnival Cruises.

Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruises is a standout choice and has been named ‘the best burgers at sea’. The burgers are so popular that they’ve been rolled out across nearly every ship in Carnival’s fleet.

Created in partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, it’s known for its hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries. The eatery sports a vibrant Americana decor reminiscent of a West Coast roadside diner, and it is conveniently located by the pool area on many Carnival ships.

The menu offers five distinct burger creations, each tailored to your liking, at an impressive toppings bar featuring options from sautéed mushrooms and onions to a variety of sauces, including the famous ‘Donkey Sauce’ – a punchy blend of garlic, mustard, and Worcestershire. And let’s not forget the fries; they’re a popular item in their own right, seasoned and cooked to a perfect crisp.

One of the biggest draws to Guy’s Burgers is that it’s included in your cruise fare, so you can indulge without an additional cost. It’s typically open from noon until 6 p.m., making it an ideal lunch spot.

For cruisers sailing from Texas, there’s an exclusive offering known as the Big Tex Burger. This burger adds a local twist to the menu, adding toppings like roasted green chilli salsa and tortilla strips.

5. Sushi on Norwegian Cruise Line

On Norwegian Cruise Line, cruisers often share their love of the sushi.

The place to go is the Orchid Garden & Sushi Bar, a complimentary specialty restaurant. This venue is praised for its salt and pepper Calamari and Harvest Spring Rolls, and guests can also enjoy sushi from the sushi bar at an additional cost.

The offerings range from $5 to $8.50 per item, with favourites like the Two-Timing Tuna Roll and the uniquely delicious Crispy Rice sushi.

On the newer Norwegian ships like the Norwegian Prima, you can experience Nama, a glamorous sushi bar that serves custom rolls and offers live sushi and sashimi preparation.

Norwegian’s Teppanyaki restaurant is another popular dining option. Guests can watch chefs perform while they prepare dishes like steak, shrimp, and fried rice on a steel grill.

6. Burritos and Tacos on a Carnival Cruise

A photo of BlueIguana Cantina on Carnival Cruise Line.

People love the made-to-order burritos and tacos on Carnival Cruise Line for their fresh, custom-made approach to quick and delicious food. The combination of proteins like seasoned chicken or beef, the option to pack in plenty of veggies, and the choice of zesty salsas and sauces make these a hit.

You have the ability to personalise each taco or burrito to suit individual tastes, from spicy to mild, meat-filled to vegetarian. Begin with a fresh tortilla, move on to choose from a variety of fillings, and then top it off with your preferred extras. There’s a range of salsas for an extra kick, from mild to fiery hot. And for those who love a bit of creaminess, there’s the ever-popular guacamole.

Tacos, on the other hand, allow for similar customisation. Whether you opt for a soft tortilla or a classic crunchy shell, you can fill it with your chosen ingredients and make it right for your palate. Fish tacos, often featuring grilled fish with a squeeze of lime, are a fresh and flavorful option many gravitate towards.

7. Tiana’s Buttermilk Beignets on Disney Wonder

A photo of Tiana’s Buttermilk Beignets on Disney Cruise Line

Tiana’s Buttermilk Beignets are a delightful treat that pays homage to Princess Tiana from the Disney film “The Princess and the Frog.”

These light and fluffy pastries are dusted with powdered sugar and have a soft, pillowy texture, making them a favourite among cruisers.

Served in Tiana’s Place, the themed restaurant on board the Disney Wonder, the beignets are part of a broader dining experience that captures the charm and vivacity of New Orleans. The restaurant’s ambience and live jazz music add to the authentic feel.

These beignets are typically enjoyed as a dessert or a sweet treat to complement the Southern-inspired menu of Tiana’s Place.

8. Italian Gelato on an MSC Cruise

A lady serving ice cream on an MSC cruise ship.

On MSC Cruises, the freshly made gelato is a standout treat that captures the authentic flavours of Italy, where the cruise line is based. Served in various onboard venues, including dedicated gelaterias, this creamy dessert is crafted with high-quality ingredients and traditional Italian techniques.

Gelato on MSC is celebrated for its rich texture and depth of flavour. It differs from typical ice cream through a slower churn process incorporating less air, allowing for a denser and more flavorful experience.

Guests can choose from various flavours, from classic options like chocolate and vanilla to regional specialties and seasonal fruits, reflecting the ports visited during the cruise.

9. Afternoon Tea on a Cunard Cruise

Four people enjoying a lively afternoon tea on a Cunard cruise ship. They're seated around a table with a white linen tablecloth, indulging in a variety of pastries and tea. Laughter and conversation are evident, as they share a cheerful moment, with one individual pouring tea and another offering a plate of food, encapsulating the joy of cruise dining experiences.

Afternoon Tea on Cunard Line is a classic British event that captures the traditional charm of tea time. Held in the elegant ballroom with live music playing softly in the background, this daily occasion offers guests luxury.

During Afternoon Tea, servers dressed in white gloves present a variety of tasty sandwiches, fresh scones with cream and jam, and a selection of sweet pastries and cakes. Guests can choose from a wide array of teas, carefully selected worldwide, served in fine China.

This experience is more than just tea and snacks; it’s a chance to relax and indulge in a longstanding tradition at sea. It’s included in your cruise fare so that everyone can enjoy this lovely part of the day without extra cost.

People love it for the delicious treats and the experience. It’s a part of the Cunard experience, embodying the cruise line’s dedication to British luxury.

10. Lobster on Royal Caribbean

A close up photo of the lobster dish on Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s Lobster Night is an eagerly awaited highlight for many cruisers. It is held during one of the formal nights on cruises lasting six days or longer.

On these nights, guests dress up and descend upon the main dining room with the prospect of enjoying a lobster meal included with their cruise fare.

Traditionally, the meal features a broiled Canadian lobster tail, served in its simplest form with lemon and a side of melted butter. The allure of this dinner lies not only in the quality and preparation of the lobster but also in its previous policy of unlimited servings.

Although recent changes now restrict guests to a single lobster tail as part of sustainability efforts, the enthusiasm for this delicacy has yet to wane. The decision to limit servings stems from Royal Caribbean’s commitment to responsible sourcing, aligning with Marine Stewardship Council standards, ensuring that even luxury dining can be environmentally conscious.

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Trying different foods is a big part of the fun on a cruise. I’ve highlighted some top picks, like Disney Cruise Line’s Mickey Waffles and Royal Caribbean’s Lobster Night, but there are many more unique dishes to enjoy aboard different cruise lines.

This list just scratches the surface. If you’ve got your favourites, I’d love to hear about them. Please share your experiences and suggestions in the comments below.

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1. Purchase the Cheers package before your cruise to save 10%

2. Compare the cost of a drink package vs. paying for individual drinks

3. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t get the Cheers package

4. Don’t worry about the gratuity!

5. Be aware of local taxes when in US waters

6. Don’t go crazy on the first night if you’re sailing from Texas or New York

7. Discuss with the people in your stateroom before you buy

8. Don’t share drinks

9. Know exactly what’s included in your package

10. Ask your room attendant to empty your mini bar

11. Try Carnival’s unique speciality cocktails

12. Order wine by the glass

13. Take advantage of the 25% discount on spirits, wine, or champagne over $20.00 and bottled wines

14. Don’t order fishbowls

15. Avoid beverages sold in souvenir glasses

16. Know how to get around the 15-drink limit

17. Drink as many non-alcoholic beverages as you like

18. Bring your own wine and soft drinks

19. Ask the bartender or server for clarification on drink package rules you’re not sure

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1. Use a disguised umbrella flask

2. Hide your booze in a fake tampon

3. Re-use shampoo bottles (or buy fake ones)

4. Buy a binocular flask

5. Try cleaned-out mouthwash bottles

6. Push the limit on wine bottles

7. Try classic rum runners

8. Give yourself a fake beer belly

9. Boost your bust with a wine rack bra

10. Wear a boozy bladder

11. Carry a wine handbag

12. Hack a box of Capri Sun or water cartons

13. Replace your contact lens solution

14. Just pack minis

Where to hide alcohol when you check in

Sneaking alcohol onto a cruise on your body

Bringing alcohol on board in foreign cruise ports

Getting caught with alcohol when boarding a cruise

Royal Caribbean’s policy states:

Carnival’s policy states:

What REALLY happens when you get caught smuggling booze on a cruise

How to sneak whiskey on a cruise

How to fill a sealed water bottle with alcohol

Alcohol allowances on cruises

Cruise lines will check for alcohol (and other things)

How alcohol appears on scanners

The last word

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Cunard drinks package prices for 2026

What each Cunard drinks package includes

Alcohol-Free Collection

Premium Alcohol-Free Collection

Beverage Collection

Premium Beverage Collection

Cunard Signature Packages: drinks, Wi-Fi and dining credit

Cunard drinks package rules to know before you buy

Is the Cunard drinks package worth it?

Good value if you:

Probably not worth it if you:

What about Grills guests?

How to buy a Cunard drinks package

FAQs

How much is the Cunard drinks package per day?

Does the Cunard drinks package include the service charge?

How much does a glass of wine cost on Cunard?

Can you bring your own alcohol on a Cunard cruise?

Do all adults in a cabin have to buy the Cunard drinks package?

Princess drink package prices for 2026 at a glance

UK prices in pounds

The Plus Beverage Package explained

The Premier Beverage Package explained

Princess Plus drink package vs Princess Premier fares

Do both people in a cabin have to buy a package?

Rules, deadlines and what’s not included

Princess drink prices and the bring-your-own wine policy

Is a Princess drink package worth it? The break-even maths