Are cruise drink packages worth it?
Updated 2026-07 · 7 min read
Drink packages are the single biggest optional add-on on most cruises — bigger than gratuities, often bigger than the cabin fare. Whether they're worth it isn't a matter of opinion; it's arithmetic. Divide the daily package price by what you'd actually pay per drink, and you get the number of drinks you need per day to break even.
Break-even by tier
Assuming an average à la carte price of about $11 per drink (a blend of cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, and specialty coffee — the actual mix varies by line):
| Tier | Package price | Break-even | 2 adults, 7 nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (Carnival, MSC) | $65/day | 6 drinks/day | $910 |
| Mainstream (Royal Caribbean, Norwegian) | $90/day | 9 drinks/day | $1,260 |
| Premium (Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Virgin Voyages, Disney) | $105/day | 10 drinks/day | $1,470 |
| Luxury (Viking, Regent, Silversea) | Included in fare | — | Included |
On a mainstream line, two adults on a week-long cruise pay $1,260 for the package — real money that needs to buy real drinks to be worth it.
See the drink package line item for your own trip →Who actually comes out ahead
If you're the type who orders a coffee at breakfast, a soda at lunch, a beer at the pool, and a glass of wine with dinner, you're already at 4 drinks before happy hour — close enough to break-even on a budget-tier package that convenience alone can tip it in your favor. Premium-tier packages need 9-10 drinks a day to break even, which is a lot of steady drinking for most people to sustain across a week.
Our take: on budget and mainstream lines, buy the package if you're a genuinely consistent drinker (5+ drinks including coffee/soda) or if you strongly value not thinking about a running tab. On premium lines, skip it unless you know your habits clear the higher break-even — the package price scales with the line's overall price position, but your liver doesn't.
The math nobody shows you
Cruise lines don't publish break-even numbers because the packages are priced to win on average, not for every guest. A package priced at $90/day only needs the average buyer to drink 8+ drinks to be profitable for the line — and plenty of guests buy it, drink 3-4, and quietly overpay for the peace of mind. That's a legitimate reason to buy it. Just buy it on purpose, not by default.
Frequently asked questions
Do kids need a drink package?
No — drink packages are priced and sold per adult. Most lines offer a much cheaper soda/juice package for kids, which isn't part of the alcohol package math here.
Can only one person in a cabin buy the drink package?
On most mainstream and premium lines, no — if one adult in a cabin buys the package, the line typically requires every adult in that cabin to buy it too, specifically to prevent sharing.
What counts toward the package besides alcohol?
Specialty coffees, bottled water, premium sodas, and mocktails are usually included. Some top-shelf spirits and higher-priced wines by the glass are excluded or capped at a per-drink price ceiling, with the difference charged to your account.
What's the honest bottom line?
If you drink 2–3 casual drinks a day on vacation, skip it and pay as you go. If you know you drink 5+ a day including coffee and soda, the math tips in the package's favor — run the numbers for your specific line before deciding.