The Viking Silver Spirits package costs $27 per person, per day (USD) at the time of writing, and that price already includes a 15% service charge. It turns most of the bar into an open bar: on ocean and expedition ships it covers any drink up to $18, and on river ships it covers almost everything except the rare “treasure wines”. Because Viking already pours free house wine and beer at lunch and dinner, the package usually pays off only if you have around three or more extra drinks a day.
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Below you’ll find what the Silver Spirits Beverage Package includes on each type of Viking cruise, what you get for free without it, typical bar prices, the rules you need to know before buying, and a simple way to work out whether it’s worth it for you.
Viking Silver Spirits Package Cost in 2026
Viking charges one flat price across its ocean, river, expedition and Mississippi sailings for US-market bookings. Here’s how the numbers work out for two people sharing a stateroom:
| Cruise length | One guest | Two guests (whole stateroom) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 nights | $189 | $378 |
| 8 nights | $216 | $432 |
| 10 nights | $270 | $540 |
| 14 nights | $378 | $756 |
| 15 nights | $405 | $810 |
A few points worth knowing about the price:
- Service is built in. The $27 includes the 15% service charge, so there’s nothing extra to add at the bar. (Your general crew gratuities are a separate matter.)
- Other markets pay in their own currency. Viking’s Canadian site lists the package in Canadian dollars, and UK guests see a sterling price, so check the version of the Viking website for the country you booked in.
- Prices do change. Viking’s US price has been $27 since its pricing update effective 1 January 2025 (up from about $20 before that), and it still showed $27 on Viking’s site in late 2026, but always confirm on your My Viking Journey account before paying.
What’s Free on Viking Without a Drink Package
Before you decide on any Viking drink package, it helps to know how much is already included in your fare. This is the main reason Viking’s package is so much cheaper than those on mainstream lines.
- With lunch and dinner: house red and white wine, house beer, soft drinks, and alcohol-free beer and wine, in the main dining venues.
- All day, every day: selected coffees and teas, juices and bottled water.
- Bring your own: Viking lets guests carry wine and spirits on board, including bottles bought in port, and doesn’t charge corkage, according to several Viking specialist travel agencies. Check the current policy for your sailing before relying on it.
So if you’re happy with a glass or two of the house wine at dinner and coffee the rest of the day, you may never need the package at all. The Silver Spirits package earns its keep when you want a cocktail before dinner, a better glass of wine, a drink in the afternoon on a sea day, or a nightcap in the lounge.
What the Silver Spirits Beverage Package Includes
The Silver Spirits beverage package isn’t quite the same on every Viking ship. The biggest difference is that river cruises have no per-drink price cap, while ocean, expedition and Mississippi ships cap each drink at $18.
| Feature | Ocean & Expedition | River (Europe, Asia) | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person per day | $27 | $27 | $27 |
| Cocktails, aperitifs, spirits | Yes, any drink up to $18 | Yes, any drink | Yes, any drink up to $18 |
| Wine | Select wines by the glass | Premium wines by the glass and by the bottle | Premium wines by the glass |
| House champagne | By the glass | By the glass | By the glass |
| Discounts | 30% off premium wines and drinks, including bottles | 30% off treasure wines | 30% off premium drinks over $50 |
| Tasting events | 50% off premium tastings | Not offered on river | 50% off premium tastings |
| Extras | Wine pairing at The Chef’s Table | None | None |
On every type of cruise, the package works anywhere on the ship and at any time of day, not just at meals. It is not available to buy on Viking’s Egypt Nile itineraries, although guests in Explorer’s Suites on those sailings get it included.
The $18 cap on ocean and expedition ships
On ocean and expedition voyages, anything priced above $18 isn’t covered. If you order it, you pay the full menu price, not just the difference. In practice, the cap rules out only a handful of drinks: a glass of proper Champagne (around $18 on sample ocean menus), top-shelf Scotch, bourbon or tequila, and premium bottles of wine. For those, the 30% discount on premium wines and drinks applies instead.
Which Viking guests get it free?
The package is included for Explorer’s Suite guests on Egypt river cruises, and several Viking specialist agencies report that it comes with the Owner’s Suite on ocean ships. Viking also runs promotions from time to time that include a free Silver Spirits package with a new booking, so it’s worth watching for offers. Our roundup of the best cruise deals for 2027 is a good place to start. Penthouse-level ocean suites also have a minibar stocked with some alcohol that is refilled daily, which cuts down on bar visits.
Typical Viking Bar Prices Without the Package
To judge the package’s value you need a rough idea of what drinks cost. Viking ocean menus are in US dollars and already include gratuities. Recent sample menus show prices like these:
- Beer: about $6.50 to $8
- House wine by the glass: about $7
- Premium wine by the glass: about $8 to $12
- House cocktails: mostly $11 to $13
- Spirits: roughly $9 to $17, with a few premium pours above that
- Champagne by the glass: about $18; prosecco about $12
On European river cruises the bar menu is usually priced in euros, with beer around €6 to €7, premium wine around €8 to €11.50 a glass and cocktails around €12 to €14. Your onboard account is still charged in your home currency, so the exchange rate makes river drinks slightly dearer for US guests than the numbers suggest. Treat all of these as a guide: menus vary by ship and change over time.
Is the Viking Silver Spirits Package Worth It?
With most drinks costing $8 to $12, $27 a day is roughly the price of two to three paid drinks. Since wine and beer at lunch and dinner are already free, those paid drinks have to come from outside mealtimes, or from upgrading what you drink with meals.
A simple break-even check
- Count the drinks you’d pay for. Think about a pre-dinner cocktail, an afternoon glass of wine, an after-dinner whisky, or swapping house wine for a premium glass at dinner.
- Multiply by about $10. That’s a fair average for a cocktail or premium glass of wine on Viking.
- Compare with $27. If your total is regularly above $27 a day, the package is likely to save you money. If it’s well below, pay as you go.
- Do it for both of you. Both guests in the stateroom must buy the package, so add up your combined drinking, not just the bigger drinker’s.
Port days versus sea days
Here’s something that often gets overlooked: the package is charged for every night of the cruise, including the days you spend ashore. On a port-heavy river cruise, where you’re out on tours most of the day and back for dinner, you may only have one or two paid drinks a day. On an ocean voyage with several sea days, it’s much easier to reach three or more. Look at your itinerary before you decide, and count your sea days.
It’s probably worth it if…
- You both enjoy a cocktail before dinner and a drink afterwards most evenings.
- You prefer premium wines to the house pour (especially on river ships, where premium bottles are covered).
- Your cruise has plenty of sea days or long relaxed afternoons on board.
- You like not thinking about the bill and having one fixed cost upfront.
It’s probably not worth it if…
- You’re happy with the free house wine and beer at meals.
- One of you rarely drinks alcohol (you’d still have to pay for both).
- You’re on a busy itinerary with long days ashore.
- You plan to bring your own wine on board.
If you’re comparing Viking with other lines, our guide to cruise drink packages compared across the major lines shows how much more mainstream lines charge for unlimited drinks.
Silver Spirits Package Rules and How to Buy It
- Whole stateroom, whole cruise: both guests in a stateroom must buy it, for every night of the sailing.
- Age limit: you must be 21 or older to buy or drink alcohol on board.
- Non-refundable: once bought, you can’t get your money back.
- On board only: it covers drinks on the ship, not in port or on excursions.
- Where to buy: on the Dining & Beverage page of My Viking Journey before you sail, through a Viking agent or your travel advisor, or on board once you’ve embarked. Viking’s US order form says pre-cruise orders must be paid in full at least seven days before departure.
Buying it in advance means one less thing to arrange on embarkation day. Because the package must cover the whole cruise wherever you buy it, there’s little to gain from waiting, so it’s best to decide before you board or on the first day. If you’re heading to Europe’s rivers, our Viking river cruise packing list covers everything else you’ll want to have sorted before you go.
FAQs
Does Viking have a drinks package?
Yes. Viking’s only drinks package is the Silver Spirits Beverage Package, which costs $27 per person per day in USD at the time of writing and covers cocktails, spirits, premium wines and more throughout the day.
Does the Viking Silver Spirits package include gratuities?
Yes. The $27 daily price already includes a 15% service charge, so you don’t tip on the drinks it covers. Standard crew gratuities for the cruise are separate.
Can one person in a cabin buy the Silver Spirits package?
No. Both guests sharing a stateroom must buy the package, and it must cover the full length of the cruise.
Is the Silver Spirits package different on river and ocean cruises?
Yes. On river ships it covers almost any drink, including premium wine by the bottle, with only treasure wines excluded. On ocean, expedition and Mississippi ships each drink is capped at $18.
How many drinks a day make the Viking drink package worth it?
Roughly three paid drinks a day per person. With cocktails and premium wines at around $8 to $12, that’s when the $27 daily price starts to save you money.
