A Complete Guide to Cruise Line Drink Packages
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Packages can either be a set number of drinks for a discounted price (for example, 12 bottles of water or five bottles of wine) or a set per-day fee for a range of drinks orders. If you're someone who is picky about wines, meanwhile, you may find that the wines included in drink packages don't quite meet your expectations. Generally, cruise drink packages only can be used for the wines by the glass that are available at bars and restaurants on ships, not the wider array of bottled wine in cruise ship cellars. That said, signing up for a drink package will get you a discount when buying wines by the bottle on some lines. Drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks, such as soda packages, typically cost far less.
What Drinks are Included on a Carnival?
You can tip more if you feel generous, but it’s not expected or required. Two lines that notably don't have such a rule are Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Technically, you are not supposed to use your package to buy drinks for other people. Apart from that, most beverages you see on the ship will be available under the package. If you are on the fence of being unsure whether the package would be worth it for you or not, remember that the All Included offer may make the choice much easier. With a potentially lower price for the package, it could put the math in your favor.
Can You Share Drink Packages on a Cruise?
If you know you plan to purchase a drink package, then it’s a much better value to get it through the all-inclusive offers instead of purchasing it by itself at the current prices. But there is another way to buy, and that is with the Princess Plus and Princess Premier all-inclusive offers. These deals offer gratuities, wi-fi, a drink package, and more included in the cruise fare. See our section titled “Is it Better to Buy the Drink Package or Get it Through Princess Plus/Premier? So if you make a purchase from the bar with the drink package, it will not have an additional gratuity tacked on — your drink is no cost from the bar.
Golden Mermaid Bar
As you can see, the variety of complimentary beverages on a Carnival Cruise ensures that you stay hydrated and refreshed throughout your journey. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the included drinks as you embark on a memorable vacation at sea. No, you cannot order multiple drinks at once (including buckets of beer) or purchase a drink for another passenger when using your beverage package. For more details on alcohol-inclusive packages, see our story on all-you-can-drink packages.
There is the option to upgrade to a premium beverage package offering high-end liquors, Scotch and Champagne by the glass. On Oceania Cruises you get complimentary still and sparkling water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas with a choice of two alcoholic drinks packages. Enjoy unlimited drinks during lunch and dinner or at any time throughout the day. For accuracy with this, you'll need to look up drink prices online; however, keep in mind that cruise lines don't always post bar menus, and the ones you find online may be out of date.
Cruise Lines Beverage Package Cost
Applies to onboard beverages only; it cannot be used at Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay. The package must be booked for the entire duration of the voyage. Perhaps the best way to drink for free is to show your loyalty. Once you have taken a cruise with a line, you will be enrolled in their loyalty program, which unlocks a whole range of opportunities for free or cheaper boozing, depending on your tier status. This could entail invites to welcome-back parties and other social events with free drinks, or discount coupons for half-price drinking on a cruise.
Although wine by the glass is covered, whole bottles of wine are not, but there are sizable discounts offered for wine bottle purchases (up to 40%). Non-Alcoholic PackagesMSC also has two non-alcoholic packages that feature drinks across the ship that don’t have alcohol. This includes non-alcoholic cocktails, soda, energy drinks, juice, water, coffees, tea, and even ice cream. They are known as the Alcohol-Free Package and the Minors Package. These appear to have the same beverages offered, but a cheaper price for those under 21 sailing from the United States. When you purchase your package, you’re getting most drinks on the ship included.
He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings. Every Carnival ship has a piano bar that’s hopping every night. While it might not always be named Piano Bar 88, it will have a similar drink menu to the one below. This menu is the wine list you’ll find in most of the main dining rooms across the Carnival fleet. If you prefer a cocktail, you can usually use the Atrium Bar Menu. In January through March 2024, Carnival rolled out new prices across the menu with increases of about $0.25 per $1.50 per drink.
Carnival Increases Prices for Drink Package on Short Sailings - Cruise Critic
Carnival Increases Prices for Drink Package on Short Sailings.
Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
So a $10 drink on the menu will actually end up being about $12. In other words, even if you aren’t a big cocktail drinker, there’s likely to be something that you’ll want to sip. It also depends on how much you drink in any given day and what sort of drinks you typically order. If you happen to not like it, you didn't pay anything extra thanks to the package.
If you like more expensive drinks like cocktails, the math works a little more in your favor. A $10-14 cocktail means you'd have to drink about 5-7 drinks every day to make it worth your while. It's tempting with unlimited drinks to do what we've all thought -- one person buys the package and just gives a drink to the person they are traveling with. Norwegian Cruise Lines requires each adult in the stateroom (and additional staterooms if you are traveling under the same payment method) to purchase the same drink package. Royal Caribbean requires adult passengers in a cabin to all purchase the package if one person does. Carnival requires that each adult in a stateroom purchase a drink package if one person does.
Relax and unwind with premium and frozen cocktails, domestic and imported beers, and a wide selection of wines by the glass. Stay refreshed and connected with VOOM, the fastest internet at sea, enjoy unlimited high-speed internet and stream all your favorite movies, shows and music while onboard. Share every unforgettable moment of your vacation in real time. Passengers sailing Windstar Cruises tend to favor the all-inclusive approach so all drinks, service charges and Wi-Fi is bundled into the pre-cruise fare. Light drinkers may prefer an a la carte approach if their primary beverage choices are mocktails and specialty coffees, which are always included in the base fare. A corkage fee applies to personal bottles consumed in public areas of the ship.
With an array of top-shelf liquor and premium brands available, Carnival Cruise Line ensures that guests can savor their favorite drinks while onboard. Whether you’re a fan of classic cocktails like the Cosmopolitan or prefer tropical delights like the Piña Colada, Carnival’s bartenders are ready to mix up the perfect concoction for you. Guests should also keep in mind that Carnival Cruise Line allows each passenger who is 21 or older to bring one 750 ml or smaller bottle of wine or champagne onboard. This is a great option for those who have a favorite bottle they’d like to enjoy during their cruise.
Note that some cruise lines discount drink packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and others offer periodic sales on their drink packages online. More elaborate (and expensive) tiers will add alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails, wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. Even if you don’t use the wi-fi service at all, the cost of gratuities is something you’d pay for no matter what. Subtracting that cost out, it means you’ll pay $44 total for the drink package. That’s the cost of only a handful of drinks each day, and don’t forget that non-alcoholic beverages like specialty coffees, water, and soda are also included.
Also, most add a 15 to 18 percent gratuity and taxes on top of the cost of the package. Does everyone in a cabin have to purchase a drink package if one person does? While it does depend on your specific cruise line, most make each adult in a cabin purchase a package if one person does. This helps discourage drink sharing where one person buys the package and gives other people free drinks.
The cocktail is made with Absolut Vodka, Gosling’s ginger beer, coconut syrup, and a twist of lime, and it’s one of the most refreshing drinks on the menu. If there’s one cocktail that immediately screams vacation, it’s the piña colada. The drink originated in Puerto Rico in 1954 and combines pineapple, coconut cream, and rum into a frozen beverage. Beer prices on Carnival Cruise Line range from $6.50 to $8 per serving. Domestic and international beers are typically priced around $6.50 to $7.50, while craft beers are priced at around $8.
Yes, gratuity is included in the cost of the package, according to MSC. Each of the packages has a different cost, ranging from as little as $21 per day to $104 per day at last price check. For a line-by-line guide to drink package costs, inclusions, limitations and fine print, scroll to the second half of the guide. Whether or not a drink package is worth the money is often a point of contention. With the Princess deal, however, we think it’s definitely worth it for most people. You can also wait to purchase the package once on the ship.
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