Simple package formula
Daily package cost × (1 + package gratuity rate) = your true daily package cost
Example: an $80 package with a 20% gratuity costs $96 per person, per day—not $80.
Cruise budget made simple
Is a Cruise Drink Package Worth It?
Use the real daily cost—including gratuities—and your normal drinking habits to decide whether a beverage package saves money or simply adds expense.
Interactive tool
Drink Package Break-Even Calculator
Enter your cruise line's current pricing and the drinks you would realistically buy each day. This is a planning estimate, not a quote.
Use the actual daily package price shown for your sailing.
Enter the percentage applied to the package, if any.
Cocktails, beer, wine, or spirits you would normally purchase.
Use a realistic average, including your usual drink choices.
Examples: specialty coffee, soda, bottled water, juice, mocktails.
Only include items you would otherwise pay for separately.
Many cruise lines add an automatic gratuity to individual purchases.
Use the number of days you will be charged for the package.
The key calculation
Always Include Gratuities in the Package Price
A daily package price can look reasonable until automatic gratuity is added. Compare the final package cost with the final cost of drinks purchased individually.
Example: a $96 daily package
If your package costs $96 per day after gratuity and your average cocktail is $14 before its own gratuity, a simple alcohol-only break-even is about six drinks a day.
- At 20% gratuity, a $14 individual cocktail costs about $16.80.
- $96 ÷ $16.80 = about 5.7 cocktails per day.
- Specialty coffee, soda, bottled water, or mocktails may reduce the number of alcoholic drinks needed.
- Do not increase your drinking simply to “get your money's worth.”
An honest answer
When a Drink Package Is—and Is Not—Worth It
The right answer depends on how you normally spend, whether you will use included nonalcoholic items, and whether you are comfortable with the package rules.
It may be worth it when…
A package can bring convenience and predictability if it matches what you truly plan to consume.
- You consistently drink near or above the break-even amount on sea days and port days.
- You would normally buy included specialty coffee, bottled water, soda, juice, or mocktails.
- You value a predictable vacation budget and prefer fewer individual charges.
- You will be onboard often enough to use it—not away on long excursions every day.
- You have reviewed the per-drink price cap and it covers your typical choices.
It may not be worth it when…
Paying individually is often the better value for light or selective drinkers.
- You normally have only one or two alcoholic drinks a day, or drink mainly at dinner.
- You will spend many hours in port, on excursions, or off the ship.
- You prefer drinks that are above the package's price cap and require extra charges.
- You do not drink enough premium nonalcoholic beverages to add meaningful value.
- You would feel pressure to drink more simply because you prepaid.
Read the fine print
Details That Can Change the Value
Packages are not identical across cruise lines. Read the current terms for your specific sailing before you purchase.
Gratuities and pricing
Confirm whether gratuity is added at purchase, whether promotional pricing applies, and whether package pricing changes before sailing.
- Package price before and after gratuity
- Length of time you will be charged
- Pre-cruise sale versus onboard price
- Cancellation or refund rules
What is included?
Know exactly which alcohol and nonalcoholic drinks count, plus any price cap or per-item limit.
- Alcoholic drink price ceiling
- Specialty coffee, soda, water, and juice
- Mocktails and energy drinks
- Private-island or destination inclusion
Rules for your cabin
Some cruise lines require adults sharing a cabin to purchase the same alcohol package or apply other guest-specific rules.
- Adult-sharing-cabin requirements
- Age and identification requirements
- Daily drink limits or service restrictions
- Whether packages can be shared—typically they cannot
Before you click purchase
Ask These Seven Questions
- What is the package's true per-person, per-day price after all gratuities?
- How many alcoholic and premium nonalcoholic drinks would I normally buy—not how many could I consume?
- What would those drinks cost individually after automatic gratuities?
- Does the package have a per-drink price cap, and do my preferred drinks fall under it?
- Will I be ashore often enough that I would not use the package on port days?
- Are other adults in my cabin required to purchase it too?
- What is not included: premium brands, room service, minibar items, private venues, or drinks on shore?
Common questions
Cruise Drink Package FAQ
Do I have to buy the package for every day of the cruise?
Many cruise lines charge beverage packages for the full sailing rather than allowing you to select individual days. Review the current terms of your cruise line and sailing before purchasing.
Can two people share one drink package?
No. Beverage packages are generally assigned to one guest and are not intended to be shared. Sharing can violate cruise-line rules and may result in the package being canceled or other consequences.
Are gratuities included in the advertised price?
Sometimes they are included, but often they are added at checkout. Confirm the final per-person, per-day total before comparing the package with individual drink prices.
Do drink packages work at cruise-line private islands?
It depends on the cruise line, destination, and package. Verify the current terms for your sailing rather than assuming that shipboard package benefits apply ashore.
What if I do not drink alcohol?
Compare a nonalcoholic package, pay-as-you-go specialty coffee and beverages, and any included basic drinks. A package only saves money if you would normally purchase enough included items to exceed its actual cost.
Plan a cruise that fits your budget
Spend on What Matters Most to You
Use practical Dean's Cruises guides to compare cruise costs, choose the right sailing, and avoid paying for extras that do not fit your vacation style.
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