Cost of Beverage Packages

Maybe better to buy before you go?

Many ocean cruise lines are tweaking the prices of their drink packages for 2019. If your clients like to imbibe on the high seas, consider booking one for them, so they can pay for their drinks upfront and then enjoy them every day without digging into their wallets. Here’s a rundown of what every major ocean cruise line offers.

Azamara Club Cruises Azamara offers a number of different packages. Its Premium Package costs $15.95 per person per day and includes standard brands. The Ultimate Package costs $21.95 per person per day and includes everything in the Premium Package plus all wine and higher-end brands.

Azamara also offers two wine packages. The Wine-Lover Package allows guests to purchase bottles of wine below $50; there is a 5-bottle package for $180, a 7-bottle package for $235, a 10-bottle package for $315, and a 12-bottle package for $350. The Wine Connoisseur Package, which includes all bottles of wine between $51 and $75, offers guests a 5-bottle package for $315, a 7-bottle package for $415, a 10-bottle package for $560, and a 12-bottle package for $630.

Carnival Cruise Line Carnival offers its Cheers! Pre-Paid Beverage Package for $56.95 per person per day when purchased onboard and $51.95 per person per day when purchased online prior to the cruise. Neither of those prices include an automatic 15 percent gratuity charge. The package includes a variety of cocktails, beer, wine, and bottled water. It is not available in Australia.

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity’s Standard Package ($49 per person per night) includes beer, wine, bottled water, fountain soda, cocktails, and more. Its Classic Package ($59 per person per night) includes beer, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks and wines by the glass up to $9 per serving plus a 15 percent discount on wines purchased by the bottle.

Celebrity’s Premium Package ($69 per person per night) adds specialty coffee and teas, craft beers, spirits and cocktails, Coca Cola products, premium bottled water, and wine up to $15 per serving, plus a 20 percent discount on bottles of wine.

The line also offers Wine Packages (starting at $109) that include a 10-15 percent discount on wines and is available for three, five or seven bottles.

Finally, Celebrity’s Premium Non-Alcoholic Drink Package ($22 per person per night) includes premium bottled waters, frozen drinks and smoothies, specialty coffees and teas, Red Bull, coconut water, and Vitamin Water.

An 18 percent service charge is added to each check.

Crystal Cruises Crystal Cruises is all-inclusive. All beverages are complimentary, with the exception of top-shelf liquors and some pre-selected wines. Because of its all-inclusive price, travel agents make commission on the pricing.

Cunard Cunard’s Soft Drink Package, which includes sodas and juices, can be purchased for $8.50 per person per day plus a 15 percent service charge. Wine and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately while onboard.

Holland America Line Holland America’s Signature Beverage Package costs $51.69 per person per day when purchased in advance or $57.44 per person per day when purchased onboard. It includes a variety of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, sodas and coffee, for drinks costing $9 or less.

Holland America also offers its Elite Beverage Package for $63.19 per person per day. It includes premium spirits, cocktails, wine, beer, coffees, nonalcoholic beverages, bottled water and sodas, up to a per glass value of $15. The package includes the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines on Koningsdam, which offer more than 100 flavors.

Then there is the Cellar Master Package, which starts at $273.74 per person per day. The packages include a choice of five wine bottles, a standard and a premium wine-tasting, one Pinnacle Grill dinner, a wine accessory gift set, and a Holland America Line commemorative bottle of wine.

MSC Cruises MSC’s Cruises offers a number of different packages depending on sailing and guest.

• All-Inclusive Premium Plus Package costs $79 per person per day and offers unlimited drinks by the glass, including drinks and food from the minibar and the room service menu, and drinks from the theme bar menus, plus a 30 percent discount on bottles of wine and champagne. The package can be used at all bars, the self-service buffet and restaurants, including specialty restaurants.

• MSC’s All-Inclusive Premium Package costs $62 per person per day. That package includes all drinks priced up to $12, including beers wines by the glass, premium spirits and cocktails (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic), mineral water, energy drinks, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Includes drinks from the minibar, room service and specialty restaurants.

• All-Inclusive Deluxe Drink Package (available on cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and UAE only) costs $55 per person per day on cruises lasting eight nights or less; and $44 on those nine-nights or longer. It includes premium liqueurs, aperitifs, cocktails, wines, beer, non-alcoholic drinks, juices, mineral water, energy drinks, espresso and cappuccino, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Includes drinks from the minibar, room service and specialty restaurants. Includes a 30 percent discount on bottled wine.

• All-Inclusive Easy Package costs $35 per person per day and includes a selection of wines by the glass, beer, spirits and cocktails (including nonalcoholic cocktails), soft drinks from self-service restaurants and buffets.

• All-Inclusive Non-Alcoholic Package costs $29 per adult or $17 per child aged 3-11, per day. That package offers unlimited alcohol-free cocktails, soda, energy drinks, mineral and flavored water, a wide range of coffee drinks, hot chocolates, organic tea and soft ice cream.

• Mealtime Restaurant Package costs $18.50 per person per day on cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and UAE lasting 8 nights or less; and $14.50 on nine-nights or longer. It includes unlimited wine by the glass, all beer, soft drinks, mineral water in the main restaurants and self-service buffet. Specialty restaurants are not included.

• All-Inclusive Deluxe Drink Package for Children (ages 3-17) (available on cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and UAE only) costs $23 per child per day on cruises lasting eight nights or less; and $18.50 on nine-plus sailings. Includes unlimited alcohol-free cocktails, smoothies, soda, juice, energy drinks, mineral and flavored water, coffee and chocolate drinks from the bars, minibar, room service, buffet and all restaurants, including specialty restaurants.

• All-Inclusive Restaurants and Bar Drink Package for children (ages 3-17) (available on cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and UAE only) costs $13.50 per child per day on cruises lasting eight nights or less; and $10.50 on nine-night sailings or longer. It includes unlimited alcohol-free cocktails, smoothies, soda, juice, mineral water, milk shakes and ice cream from the bars, buffet and all restaurants, including specialty restaurants.

• Mealtime Restaurants Drink Package for Children (ages 3-17) costs $10 per child per day on cruises lasting eight nights or less; and $8 on sailings of nine nights or longer. It includes soft drinks and mineral water at lunch and dinner from the buffet and main restaurants, not including specialty restaurants.

Norwegian Cruise Line NCL’s Corks and Caps Package costs $65 per person per day, plus a 20 percent gratuity. It includes select fountain soda and juices, beer (draft and bottles) and wines by the glass ($15 or less).

NCL also offers an Ultimate Beverage Package that costs $99 per person per day plus a 20 percent gratuity. That package includes liquor and cocktails that cost $15 or less.

The Soda Program runs $7.95 per person per day for adults and $5.95 for children.

Oceania Cruises Oceania’s Prestige Select package costs $59.95 per person per day and includes unlimited premium spirits, champagne, wine and beer.

Its House Select package, which costs $39.95 per person per day, includes unlimited champagne, wine and beer with lunch and dinner (not available on Alaska and New England sailings).

Oceania also offers Wine by the Bottle packages; a seven-bottle package goes for $47.50 each, gratuity included.

Paul Gauguin Cruises All cruises include complimentary select wines and spirits, beer, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages served throughout the ship.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Royal’s Deluxe Package costs $63-$70 per person per day, depending on the sailing, plus an 18 percent gratuity. It includes cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, tea, and bottled water; and a 40 percent discount on bottles of wine under $100, and a 20 percent discount on bottles over $100.

Royal’s Refreshment Package costs $26-$29 per person per day, plus an 18 percent gratuity. It includes teas, coffee, bottled water, sodas, and juices.

The Classic Soda package, which $12.99 per person per day, plus an 18 percent gratuity, offers unlimited soda.

Seabourn Seabourn cruises include beer, wine, champagne and spirits. Rare or ultra-premium bottles of wine are available for an extra fee.

Silversea Cruises Silversea cruises include beer, wine, champagne and spirits. Rare or ultra-premium bottles of wine are available for an extra fee.

Viking Ocean Cruises Costs for the Viking’s Silver Spirits Package vary depending on itinerary length, but start at $139 per person for seven nights. The package covers drinks up to $15 each, anywhere on the ship or in the minibar (or 15 percent off those costing more), and premium wines at The Chef's Table wine pairing.

Windstar Windstar offers three packages. The Voyager's Adventure Wine Package ($32 per person per day) includes 20 fine wines priced up to $8.50 per glass. Its Topmast Discoveries Wine Package, which $42 per person per day, offers a choice of 33 premium wines priced at up to $11.50 per glass.

And its Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package, which costs $52 per person per day, includes unlimited cocktails, spirits, beer and wines, priced up to $11.50 per glass including minibar; a 30 percent discount off the cost of wine bottles up to a retail value of $100; and free corkage for all wine guests carry onboard.