Honest comparison of cruise drink packages and beverage inclusions
Cost • Value • Pros and cons across 21 major cruise lines
Unlimited premium spirits, wine, cocktails, beer, champagne, plus a restocked mini-bar. Unlimited shore excursions and business-class air on most fares.
Value: Excellent if you drink moderately to heavily. Drinks are effectively included once the fare is paid.
Open bar everywhere plus a stocked suite bar. Gratuities neither required nor expected.
Value: Outstanding for drinkers who prefer quality over quantity.
Unlimited premium drinks plus butler service on every fare type (All-Inclusive Plus / All-Inclusive / Last Minute).
Value: Excellent. One of the most generous luxury inclusions.
Unlimited premium spirits, champagne, and wines, including in-suite. Welcome bottles included.
Value: Very strong for ultra-luxury. Drinks never feel split into house versus premium.
House wine and beer at lunch and dinner included. Silver Spirits is about $25 plus 15% (about $28.75) or a flat ~$27 depending on voyage. It covers cocktails and bar drinks outside meal service, often up to about $18.
Value: Base fare is enough for wine and beer with meals. Silver Spirits breaks even at about 2–3 extra drinks a day.
House wines, beers, selected spirits, and classic cocktails included in the fare. Premium (~$31.95) and Ultimate (~$39.95) upgrades available.
Value: Excellent base value. Many guests never need the paid upgrade.
Classic covers drinks up to about $12 ($14 on some UK and Australia sailings). Premium covers up to about $19. A 20% gratuity is added at checkout, so all-in is often about $70–$120. Retreat suites often include Premium. No daily drink cap. Pay the difference above the cap.
Value: Worth it around 6–8 drinks a day after gratuity. Premium is the better buy for cocktail drinkers.
Your World Included: wine and beer at meals, or shore credit. Prestige Select (~$79.95) unlocks spirits and cocktails, often 50% off if you already picked the wine and beer amenity.
Value: Strong if you choose wine and beer. Upgrade only if you want spirits all day.
Elite covers drinks up to $16 (15 alcoholic drinks a day). Signature is $55.95 and covers up to $12. Have It All at $65 a day bundles Signature drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore credit. Beverage packages may still add 18% gratuity; confirm at checkout. Some pre-summer-2027 sailings still show Have It All at $60.
Value: Solid mid-tier choice, especially with Have It All.
For departures on or after October 13, 2026: Plus is $70 pre-cruise / $75 onboard; Premier is $105 / $110. Sun Princess and Star Princess are $5 higher (Plus $75 / $80, Premier $110 / $115). Plus covers drinks up to $15 with a 15-alcohol daily limit. Premier covers up to $20 with no alcohol cap. Both bundle Wi-Fi, crew appreciation, and dining.
Value: Premier still offers strong overall value when you use the Wi-Fi, dining, and gratuities, not only the bar.
Daily rate falls as voyage length rises (7–14 nights typically about $76.50 / $90). 15 drinks a day. Signature Packages bundle drinks, Wi-Fi, and dining credit.
Value: Best on 7+ night sailings or as part of a Signature Package.
Drinks up to $20 plus unlimited non-alcoholic (soda, specialty coffee, 500 ml water). 15 alcoholic drinks a day. Onboard price is $74.95 + 20% ($89.94). À la carte drinks are often quoted with 18% gratuity; the package itself adds 20% at purchase.
Limited-time FunPacks (through Oct 30, 2026 for sailings Oct 31 2026–Dec 31 2027):
Kidstarter $25 (ages 3–17: Bottomless Bubbles + Social Wi-Fi + extras)
Zero Proof $50 (CHEERS! Zero Proof + Value Wi-Fi + discounts)
Social $60 (21+: CHEERS! Social – 3 alcoholic drinks/day up to $20 + unlimited non-alc + Premium Wi-Fi + extras)
Epic $99 (21+: full CHEERS! + Premium Wi-Fi + 2 excursions + 2 specialty meals + extras)
Value: Good for moderate-to-heavy drinkers. Break-even is about 6 cocktails a day after gratuity. Epic FunPack is excellent value if you use the extras.
Dynamic pricing. Covers drinks up to about $14. No daily alcohol cap, but a short wait between alcoholic orders. Works at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee. Refreshment Package for non-alcoholic. From March 15, 2026 the Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup is no longer included; fountain soda at bars still is. A good pre-cruise price is about $65–$75 before the 18%.
Value: Strong when found under about $75–$80 pre-cruise, before gratuity.
Unlimited Open Bar is “free” via Free at Sea / More at Sea. You pay the package service charge: $28.50 a day on 6+ night sailings, or $32 a day on 2–5 night sailings from May 2026. Cap about $15. That charge is not the daily crew gratuity ($20 standard / $25 suites), which is separate unless you bought Free at Sea Plus. Standalone open bar is about $109 + 20%.
Value: Outstanding with Free at Sea. Avoid full-price standalone.
Gratuities usually included. Cap around $16 on many U.S. itineraries. 15 alcoholic drinks a day (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Valid at Ocean Cay. Cheaper on longer sailings. Easy and Easy Plus are no longer sold for new bookings; an alcohol-free package is the lower tier.
Value: Good mid-range option, especially on 4–9 night sailings and during pre-cruise sales.
Beers, wine by the glass, cocktails, and Boat Drinks up to $20. Soda, 500 ml water, juices, and mocktails included. 15 alcoholic drinks a day (resets 6:00 a.m.). Soda-only about $10–$12 a night. Promos often cut the alcohol package sharply. 25% off wine and champagne by the bottle.
Value: Solid when prepaid around $65 before tip (about $78 all-in). Break-even is about 5–6 drinks a day.
My Soft Drinks / My Drinks / My Drinks Plus. Service charge included. Often bundled free on All Inclusive and suite fares. Onboard prices jump to about €42 / €57.
Value: Attractive on European itineraries, especially if the fare already includes it.
Simplified model: ALL IN (alcohol) and FUN (non-alcoholic). Included in Classic, Comfort, and Premium All In fares (5+ nights, guests 25+). Standalone add-on is usually pricier than booking the All In fare.
Value: Strong when included in the fare or on longer voyages.
Refresh £16 • Alcohol-Free £29 • Classic £50 pre-cruise / £55 onboard • Deluxe £60 / £65. Daily alcohol limit applies. Kids get Refresh free if adults buy Classic or Deluxe.
Value: Reasonable for British drinkers on P&O ships if you buy pre-cruise.
Soft drinks free. Wine packages (3–7 bottles, Classic or Premium) and beer 6-packs (buy 5 get 1). From June 3, 2026: each guest 21+ may bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne (750 ml) or 6 beers at embarkation, in carry-on only. Corkage is $20. Port-bought alcohol is held until the end of the cruise.
Value: Best for families and light drinkers. Use wine packages or the embarkation allowance.
Essential non-alcoholic drinks included (soda, water, basic coffee and juice). Pre-load a Bar Tab for bonus credit (for example $300 becomes $350). Cocktails typically $10–$14. No extra 18% at the bar.
Value: Excellent for moderate drinkers who prefer flexibility. Pre-load for the best bonus.
Tip: Always buy pre-cruise when possible. Cabin-mate rules apply on most paid-package lines: all adults in the room must purchase if one does. Norwegian’s Free at Sea service charge is separate from the daily crew gratuity. Carnival FunPacks end October 30, 2026.