is the princess cruise drink package worth it

Princess Cruises drink packages: Are the line’s inclusive options deals or duds?

There's nothing worse than being hit with an unexpectedly sizable bill on the last day of your sailing. It's important to budget for extras like drinks, Wi-Fi and crew gratuities — the drinks especially can really add up and surprise even the most seasoned cruisers.

That's why Princess Cruises offers a variety of drink packages. You can pay up front to avoid nasty surprises later. The options range from nonalcoholic and soda packages to inclusive plans that bundle together additional services for more comprehensive savings. But are you really saving money versus purchasing your soft drinks and cocktails a la carte?

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Let's dive into the four options, corresponding costs and what's included so you can determine if a Princess Cruises drink package or all-inclusive bundle is worth booking.

What are the various Princess Cruises drink packages?

is the princess cruise drink package worth it

Princess Cruises offers four drink packages , including a couple of nonalcoholic drink plans. Each is designed to help you save money and not worry about the price of individual drink orders throughout your cruise.

However, it's important to note that Princess does things a bit unconventionally for the industry: There is no option to buy a stand-alone alcoholic drink package. If you want an inclusive alcohol package, you'll have to pay for the all-inclusive package that includes drinks alongside Wi-Fi, prepaid gratuities and access to such additional perks as specialty dining, fitness classes and free room service delivery.

Each package is available for purchase on board during the first two days of the sailing or pre-cruise through the Cruise Personalizer booking platform. (Packages are not available for pre-purchase within three days of sailing — if you've waited that long to decide, you'll need to make the purchase on board.)

Packages must be purchased for every day a passenger is sailing (you can't pick and choose days), they may not be shared and they are nontransferable and nonrefundable.

Zero-Alcohol Package

Love indulging in specialty coffees and teas, fizzy sodas, fresh juices and smoothies, cozy hot chocolate, zero-proof mocktails, bottled water and Red Bull energy drinks? Then the Zero-Alcohol Package (previously known as the Coffee & Soda Package) is primed to please your palate. This package is also a great way to get your fill of sparkling and still water bottles, which can be handy for pouring into your reusable bottle and taking ashore on excursions.

There is no age restriction for this package, and it may be used on Princess' private islands and at all onboard dining venues, bars and public spaces with beverage service.

Classic Soda Package

For those with a serious fountain or canned soda habit who don't dabble in fancy coffees or crave bottled water, the Classic Soda Package delivers much-needed refreshment. Beyond the unlimited sodas, this package includes canned fruit juices (excluding the fresh juice bar), mocktails and smoothies.

As with the Zero Alcohol Package, this package has no age restrictions, and it may be used on Princess' private islands or anywhere on board that offers beverage service.

Princess Plus Package

Princess' entry-level bundled drink package offers guests a savings of 54% (based on a seven-night cruise) on several of the cruise line's extra-fee offerings.

First, let's look at the drinks included with Princess Plus: all the nonalcoholic beverages included in the Zero-Alcohol Package, plus cocktails, spirits, wine and beer up to $15 each. (Items selected beyond this price will be charged only the difference in price.) Interested in purchasing a bottle of wine? You'll get 25% off as part of your package perks, and this discount also applies to one-liter bottles of water.

Age restrictions do apply to this package, and exclusions to this package include minibar items, souvenir glassware and bottles of spirits or wine.

Now, let's examine what else comes with the Princess Plus Package because the beverages are just the beginning:

Wi-Fi: You get internet access , including streaming and video chat, on a single device.
Crew gratuities: The Plus Package includes pre-paid gratuities (which the line calls "crew appreciation"), saving you $16 to $18 per day (depending on cabin type).
Premium desserts: Indulge your sweet tooth twice a day with complimentary desserts from the Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee & Cones.
Unlimited juice bar: Choose from four juice blends and two power shots (ginger and turmeric), including antioxidants (fruit only), cleansing (vegetables only), immunity (fruit and vegetable) and energy boost. Each juice is a 6-ounce serving.
Fitness classes: Work off those premium desserts with two complimentary fitness classes from Xponential during your sailing. Options include Pure Barre, Yoga Six and Stretch Lab.
Casual dining meals: Dine out twice at no extra charge at casual sit-down restaurants, such as Alfredo's (pizza), Kai Sushi and pop-ups like Planks and Steamers.
OceanNow delivery and room service delivery: Craving a cocktail at the pool? A snack while you read in the library? Just order and it'll be delivered to you, no matter where you are on the ship — including your room. (You'll still pay the cost of the food, drink or OceanNow device; the line will waive the delivery fee.)

Princess Premier Package

Impressed with what you see in the Princess Plus Package but want even more? The Princess Premier Package offers guests savings of 66% off because of the extra value in bundling together even more perks.

When it comes to beverages, you'll get all the same access as the Plus Package, but with this selection, drinks up to $20 are covered (instead of being capped at $15). The package also covers a one-liter bottle of still or sparkling water each time you dine at a specialty restaurant.

As with the Plus Package, guests who choose the Premier Package will receive 25% off bottles of wine and one-liter bottles of water. Age restrictions apply to this package, and exclusions to this package include minibar items, souvenir glassware and bottles of spirits or wine.

Similarly to the Plus Package, the Premier Package also includes:

Prepaid crew gratuities
Unlimited juice bar
OceanNow delivery and room service delivery

You'll also get access to even more services and experiences (some upgraded, removing limitations), including:

Wi-Fi: You'll have access on four devices, instead of just one.
Premium desserts: You can order unlimited complimentary desserts (versus two per day).
Fitness classes: You can sign up for unlimited fitness classes fee-free (versus two per sailing). Casual dining meals: You can enjoy unlimited casual dining meals for free (versus two per sailing).
Specialty dining meals: This package includes two meals during your cruise, at Crown Grill, Sabatini's or one of the line's other specialty restaurants .
Photo package: You'll get unlimited digital images downloaded to your device plus three prints as a keepsake souvenir.
Princess Prizes: With the Premier Package, you're automatically enrolled in Princess Prizes. This is your chance to win cruise prizes (a seven-night cruise for two in a balcony stateroom is awarded on every cruise to one lucky player), shopping gift certificates, exclusive onboard experiences and more.
Medallion accessory: The Princess Medallion is a quarter-sized wearable device that speeds up embarkation, unlocks your stateroom door and enables onboard payments. This package includes a free accessory, such as a clip, so that you always have it handy.
Reserved theater seating: No more rushing to the production shows after dinner because you'll have reserved seating. Seats are held in special sections and are marked with special seat covers.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

What do Princess Cruises drink packages cost?

Each of Princess' four drink packages has a price that scales with its value. Here's what you can expect to pay per guest, per day:

Classic Soda Package: $14.99
Zero-Alcohol Package: $29.99
Princess Plus Package: $60
Princess Premier Package: $80

The prices listed above do not include an automatic 18% service charge per day for the Classic Soda and Zero-Alcohol packages, so factor that into your travel budget if you decide to purchase a package.

When calculating cost, it's important to note that the first and second guests in a cabin must each book the same Plus or Premier Package; however, the third and fourth guests are not obligated to do so, which saves money for a family traveling with children.

With the Premier plan, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the photo package are shareable, which allows a family of four with two parents to have their children's devices on Wi-Fi, take home family photo keepsakes and enjoy one specialty dining experience with their entire family.

One final point worth mentioning: The Plus and Premier plans aren't unlimited when it comes to alcohol. There's a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages over a 24-hour period, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren't)

When's the best time to buy Princess drink packages?

There's no time like the present to purchase your drink package, so if you're positive you'll want it, feel free to select that option when booking your cruise — or any time prior to three days before your sailing.

Once on board, time is of the essence when it comes to purchasing a Princess drink package, as these bundled offers are only available for purchase on the first two days of your cruise (the day you embark and the next day of the voyage only). After that cutoff, it will be too late to take advantage of these packages.

Another reason to plan ahead? Both the Plus and Premier packages are capacity controlled and, if sold out, might not be available for all cabin categories at the time of booking.

You can either sign up during your first two days on board (you will see various crew members promoting the packages or you can upgrade directly through the cruise line's app) or you can add these packages onto your booking ahead of the cruise by logging into your Cruise Personalizer. If you prebook a package, it is nonrefundable within three days of sailing.

Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?

What drinks are you allowed to bring on board?

If you don't want to purchase a plan, you might think you can BYOB in order to save money on drinks when you cruise. You have a few options, but they are limited.

For instance, if you were planning to bring your own soda, sparkling water or juices on board, you can do so on embarkation day if carried in your hand luggage (not checked). You are limited to a maximum of 12 sealed cans (not bottles) of 12 ounces each or less per person. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding (so don't show up with a Big Gulp in hand).

If you wish to bring alcohol on board, Princess allows one bottle of wine or champagne (750mL in volume or less) per guest of legal drinking age, which must be presented to security during embarkation. A $20 corkage fee applies if guests wish to consume said bottle in the ship's public areas. (It's free to enjoy in your cabin).

Also, a $20 corkage fee also applies to each additional bottle beyond the one-bottle-per-guest-per-voyage allowance. How many bottles you can bring in total is unknown; the fine print simply says, "Limitations apply, and wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused."

Finally, passengers agree to surrender alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty-free from the vessel's gift shop or at ports of call. They'll be delivered to your cabin prior to disembarking the voyage. (Be sure to account for those in your checked luggage on the way home.)

Related: Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line guide

Are Princess drink packages worth the money?

You'll need to do a bit of math to figure out if the drink packages are worth the price.

If you're considering the Classic Soda or Zero Alcohol packages, start by calculating how many sodas, specialty coffees, juices, smoothies and mocktails you think you'll drink on a daily basis. Then do the math: sodas typically cost $2.50 each, specialty coffees and teas $3-$4, juices $8 and smoothies $10. If it's just two or three drinks each day, these plans likely won't be worth it.

But if you drink at least six sodas each day, or several sodas and a mocktail or smoothie, the Classic Soda Package starts to make sense. Or, if you plan to start your day with a vanilla latte or energy drink, enjoy a few sodas with your meals and by the pool, hit the juice bar after the gym, and partake in a pre-dinner mocktail, then purchasing the Zero Alcohol Package could be the way to go. Just remember that you'll need to keep up the same drinking pace on port days as you do on sea days to break even.

For the Plus and Premier packages, there's a lot more to calculate, but the value of each is a no-brainer before you even get down to the nitty gritty numbers of each individual perk.

With the Plus Package, if you assume that most cocktails are $10-$15 each, beers are about $7 apiece and glasses of wine are $10-$20 each, it's easy to spend $30 or more a day if you plan to have one beer by the pool, a glass of wine at dinner and a post-dinner nightcap. Once you add in the prepaid crew appreciation (a minimum of $16 per day), and Wi-Fi for one device (14.99 per day), you're already paying $61 per day a la carte — yet the cost of this package is only $60 per day.

Related: 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package (and 3 to avoid)

Without adding in the value of premium desserts, fitness classes, the unlimited juice bar, two casual dining meals ($14.99 each) and room service and OceanNow delivery, you've already come out ahead.

The value continues with the Premier Package. Let's assume the same $30 per day on alcohol and $16 on crew appreciation, but now you have access to up to four devices on Wi-Fi ($40), bringing your total to $86 per day a la carte — yet this package only costs $80 per day. Add in the value of two specialty dining meals (starting at $35 per person), unlimited digital photos and three prints, unlimited premium desserts and fitness classes, unlimited juice bar and casual dining meals and Ocean Now and room service delivery, and you've found a great package deal.

It's important to note that both guests sharing a cabin must purchase the same bundled package (Plus or Premier). Be sure to double that price in your calculations if you're traveling as a couple, or discuss with your travel companion prior to the trip to ensure you're on the same page about purchasing a package.

Bottom line: Is a Princess Cruises drink package right for you?

Now that you have all the facts and figures, take a look at your everyday lifestyle when it comes to beverage consumption — do you already have a Starbucks addiction or a four-soda-a-day habit, enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner and seek out juices and smoothies when you're feeling a bit low-energy? Your routines aren't likely to trend downwards on a cruise. In fact, you'll probably indulge a bit more since you're on vacation and have easy access to plenty of options.

Unless you believe you're going to be satisfied with the basic beverages included in the cruise fare — tap water, drip coffee, hot and iced tea, milk, lemonade and juice from a dispenser at breakfast — you will end up spending some amount of money on extra beverages. If you don't enjoy the feeling of being nickled and dimed every time you place an order, the Classic Soda and Zero Alcohol packages will lead to a stress-free vacation with no ugly surprises on the last day.

As for the Plus and Premier packages, you have no choice but to pay the crew appreciation (as you should!) and there's little chance you'll go without Wi-Fi on a cruise — so if you plan on having any beverages at all, especially ones containing alcohol, you'll see massive savings with these packages — Princess claims 54% and 66% respectively off the retail value on a seven-night voyage.

The choice is yours, so choose the option that will best enhance your vacation and save you stress and money. Remember that the more you save, the more future cruise vacations you can afford to book.

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The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Princess Cruise Drink Package – Is It Worth It [Updated 2023]

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There are a number of different Princess Cruise Drinks Packages available for purchase. Are they worth the money?

Princess Cruises Drinks Packages have changed a lot in recent times and have updated again in August 2023.

The recent changes relate to Room Service and the introduction of changes to charges for a new category of dining now called Casual Dining.

And these August 2023 changes are going to make a lot of Princess Cruisers unhappy.

Including me.

What Are the Princess Cruise Packages Available

Princess Cruise Lines introduced Princess Plus and Princess Premium.

These are drinks packages that also include other features such as crew appreciation (gratuities) and Wi-Fi.

This is a more all-inclusive pricing system where you pay a set amount each day.

It includes either the Princess Plus or Premium Beverage Package along with some other perks such as Wi-Fi, crew appreciation (gratuities), fitness classes, a juice bar, and premium desserts.

The recent changes also relate to Casual Dining and Room Service charges.

I have just sailed with Princess and upgraded to Princess Premium.

I sailed on Discovery Princess in November 2023.

I will explain what is included in each package, and also give my thoughts on whether the upgrade, particularly to Princess Premium is actually worth it.

For many guests, Princess Plus and Princess Premium are good value – but there are some exceptions that we will discuss below.

Princess Cruise Drink Package Options

This guide shows you the drink prices and menus so that you can work out whether or not a Princess Cruise Drink Package is worth it for you.

There are four types of drinks and other packages which include drinks now available on all Princess cruises. This is a change from the previous seven options.

Here are the Packages available:

Princess Plus Package

Princess Premier
Zero Alcohol Package
Coffee and Soda Package
The Plus Beverage Package
The Premium Beverage Package

These are the old Packages that are no longer available:

The Soda Package
The Premium Coffee and Soda Package
The Coffee Grounds Package

The more “conventional” drinks packages of the Plus Beverage Package and Premium Package are still available according to the Princess Website

However, these are not a good value at all as they cost more than the “bundled” Plus and Premium Packages at $64.99 and $84.99.

I am guessing that these options will be removed soon as there is no logical sense in purchasing them, and they have already been removed from the Princess Cruise App and Cruise Personalizer.

Here is a summary of the old benefits of Princess Plus and Princess Premier:

The changes which are being phased in over August 2023 mean that this now looks like this:

Princess Cruises Website

You can see that the changes have been added in Ocean Now Delivery, Room Service Delivery , and Casual Dining Meals.

The way the pricing originally evolved is that it was very attractive to have either the Princess Plus Package or the Princess Premier Package which includes a drinks package, wifi, crew appreciation, fitness classes, and an unlimited juice bar.

The Princess Premier Package also features 2 Speciality Dining Meals Per Guest, an Unlimited Digital Photo Package with 3 Prints, a Medallion Accessory, and Princess Prizes.

At first sight, the new additions of Ocean Now Delivery, Room Service Delivery, and Casual Dining look as though that’s a good thing. At first, you think to yourself, well fabulous, I am getting more for my money.

Unfortunately, you aren’t.

Ocean Now Delivery and Room Service Delivery used to be free.

Many of the casual dining options that you will now pay for if you don’t have the package were free as well.

A lot of Princess Cruisers are not going to be happy at all.

We discuss later what exactly the charges are if you don’t have an upgraded package, and also what casual dining actually is.

When you first book your cruise you will have the option to see pricing for your stateroom without the package as well as with the add-ons.

If you choose not to have a package at all then you will book Princess Standard.

You can change your mind and book in your Cruise Personalizer up to three days prior to your sailing date.

If you board your cruise ship and then want to add any of the packages you can do that on the first day of your sailing.

You can also upgrade a package if you have paid for another one.

For example, on my last Princess cruise, I had already included the Princess Plus Package. I wanted to see whether the extra benefits of Princess Premier were worth it (more on that later) so I upgraded on the first day

The upgrade cost was the price difference between the two packages. This was $20 a day per person.

Let’s look at what each package includes so you can see if it will be worth it for you to include them.

WHAT DRINKS ARE INCLUDED IN EACH DIFFERENT PACKAGE?

Remember that we aren’t just talking about drinks being included, so we will look at the other benefits separately.

However, the main part of each of the packages is the drinks, so we will look at what each includes.

The Princess Plus Package is priced at $60 per day.

The Plus Package includes a wide selection of drinks on your Princess Cruise.

It includes:

Fountain Soda
Small Bottled Water
Red Bull Products
Coffee and Tea including Specialty Items
Wine by the Glass

All drinks with a price of $15 or less on the beverage menus are included.

For sailings that depart from and return to Australia and New Zealand, the price limit is $22 AUD.

The package excludes bottles of wine, but you will be given a 25% discount if you decide to purchase a bottle.

Unless you are particularly wanting to try a bottle of wine that is not offered by the glass, this isn’t really great use of the Package.

You will also get a 25% discount on one-liter bottles of water and bottled juices.

As you can have the 500 ml bottles of water included in the package I am not sure why you would want to buy a large bottle, when you could have the smaller ones which are included!

You can use the Package at all food and beverage venues, including those on Princess Cruises’ private island, and at the theater onboard the ship.

You cannot also use it for Room Service where the tip is included.

The New Princess Premier Package

This new package was introduced in February 2023.

This is an upgraded drinks and amenities package from the Princess Plus Package and includes:

Top-shelf spirits, reserve wines by the glass, and new high-end crafted cocktails by Mixologist Rob Floyd
Selection of 75+ spirits, 40+ wines by the glass, 20+ high-end, crafted cocktails
Premier wines by the glass including Duckhorn, Stag’s Leap, Grgich Hills, and Cattier Champagne
Private Woodford Reserve Bourbon Selection created exclusively for Princess
Personalized Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Single Barrel Select
25% discount on wine bottles (including rare vintages)
25% discount on large bottles of water and cans of soda

How Do You Buy the Princess Plus or Premier Beverage Package?

You can buy it online via your Princess Cruise Personalizer up to three days prior to boarding your Princess ship.

It is also offered on the first day of sailing when you are onboard.

There are no refunds once you have bought the Package.

You are limited to 15 alcoholic beverages per day. This is counted in a 24-hour period which runs from 6 am until 6 am.

Also, if any passenger appears to have had one too many alcoholic beverages they can be refused service.

There is no limit to the amount of non-alcoholic beverages you can have on the Princess Cruise Drinks Package.

If you want 20 lattes then that’s allowed. Probably not very advisable though!

Princess doesn’t have the rule that some other cruise lines have, that every adult in your stateroom has to buy the Package.

It is fine for just one guest in the cabin to have the Package.

What you can’t do though is share. If you are caught sharing you will have your Premier Package revoked.

Just don’t do it.

HOW MUCH DO DRINKS COST ON A PRINCESS CRUISE?

So that you can see whether or not a Premium or Plus Package would be good value for you it is useful to see some of the prices of the drinks on Princess Cruises.

Here are some samples of the bar and drinks menus.

All are taken from Discovery Princess in February 2023:

Here are the options showing some of the drinks which are included in the Premier Package,

If you have the Plus Package and want to have a drink that is priced above $15 you will be charged the upgrade cost.

So for example if you want a $19 you would be charged a $4 upgrade cost.

The choice is very good and most of the drinks are included in the Princess Plus Package.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS OF THE PRINCESS PREMIER AND PRINCESS PLUS PACKAGES?

At this point, you can are probably already working out whether or not a package will be worth it to you, based solely on the drinks element of the Premier and Plus Packages.

Most alcoholic drinks are in the $10 to $12 range.

If you are buying drinks a la carte an 18% auto gratuity will be added.

So, the price of drinks is around $12 to $14.

On that basis, you need around 5 alcoholic drinks if this is the only part you take into account.

However, this is too simple an equation – because this isn’t just a drinks package.

You need to add in the other benefits.

Crew Appreciation is Included

If you do not get the Premier or Plus Packages crew gratuities are charged according to your stateroom category:

Interior, oceanview, and balcony cabins: $16 per person per day
Mini Suites and Club Class: $17 per person per day
Suites: $18 per person per day

So if you are paying $60 a day for the Plus Package and you are in an interior, oceanview, or interior stateroom the “other perks element” that you are purchasing is costing $44 a day.

That amount is $43 if you are in a Mini-Suite or Club Class, and $42 for a Suite.

If you just look at the alcoholic drinks element to start saving then at $44 per day you break even around the 3 alcoholic drinks point.

Wifi Packages

Both Packages include WiFi.

The Plus Package includes WiFi for one device .

The Premier Package includes WifFi for four devices.

If you buy this without a package it is $15 per day for a single-device plan and $40 per day for a four-device plan.

Most Other Drinks are Included

It isn’t just drinks with alcohol that are included. These are too:

A can of soda is $2.50. With a gratuity, the total is $2.95

Coffee is priced around $4 with a gratuity. I realized I completely forgot to take a photo of the coffee menu – but will get one on my next cruise in a few weeks.

Therefore you could easily spend $10 a day on non-alcoholic drinks if you like coffee and soda.

The Princess Juice Bar

Unlimited Juice from the Juice Bar is included in the Plus and Premier Packages.

I was so excited about this. And so very very disappointed in the reality.

By Juice Bar I was expecting freshly squeezed juice and blended drinks.

This was definitely not what was on offer.

I tried The Immune Booster, The Cleanser, The Antioxidant, and The Rejuvenator.

I really wanted The Booster but was told every day they didn’t have turmeric. So not only was it spelled incorrectly on the menu, but it also wasn’t available!

However, even if it had, I doubt I would have been impressed. The “fresh” juice was already made up and in plastic containers.

No measurement was taken of any of the ingredients and the blender remained unused.

I could see some fresh fruit in bowls at the side, but nothing went in the blender or the drink!

The resulting drinks were at best disappointing and pretty unpleasant.

I really hope that Princess ups their game on this as this is being presented as a huge benefit, and if you are buying a la carte then you are paying $8 to $12 plus gratuity.

Princess Premium Desserts

This was another failure in my opinion.

But this may just be a temporary issue.

I sailed the week that these were introduced and I think that possibly the problems were due to a lack of training and understanding.

Whatever, it was, I didn’t get a premium dessert.

For me, this wasn’t too much of an issue as really I was only motivated to get one as I wanted to see what the new desserts were like and to get photos for this article!

Desserts are not really my thing so this wouldn’t have inspired me to buy a package or upgrade.

I downloaded the menu via the QR code:

For every Premium Dessert that we asked for we were told that one of the ingredients wasn’t available, so it wasn’t an option.

The Server seemed very confused as to where we had even seen the menu.

The menu below was the one that was available at the counter.

It’s difficult to comment on the Premium Desserts as they weren’t actually available.

If you enjoy a sundae and they are available, then this is a $12 or $14 charge without a gratuity, so that will add to the value of the Package if you think you will have a number of these.

The Princess Plus Package gives you unlimited Premium Desserts. Might not be exactly wise to get the maximum value out of this unless you want to consume a ludicrous amount of calories!

Fitness Classes

You get 2 classes per cruise with the Premium Package and unlimited classes with the Plus Package.

Classes include those from Pure Barre, YogaSix, and StretchLab.

If this is something that you would enjoy doing this most definitely will introduce a lot of value into the Packages.

Medallion Accessory

If you have the Premier Package you will also get a Medallion Accessory.

I was intrigued to find out which one it would be

Of course, it’s the least expensive one offered – the Medallion Clip.

But if you don’t already have one I found the Clip so much nicer than the lanyard.

I am not a huge fan of wearing a lanyard but usually do as it’s just convenient. However, the Clip was a definite hit as it was really easy to deal with.

Reserved Theater Seating

This one, the jury is still out for me on what I think about this benefit.

The idea is that Premier Package holders have priority seating in the theater.

How it worked on our cruise was that there were a number of dedicated seats in the middle and left of the theater that was for Premier Package holders only.

Firstly, you need to know that this is just for the Production Shows. On a 7 night cruise, there are usually two production shows. So for 5 nights, you don’t get this benefit.

The seats that were allocated were the best seats in the house so that is definitely a plus.

It wasn’t made clear anywhere but you are supposed to enter by the upper left door to the theater so then the crew can see if you have the Premier Package.

We didn’t know this and entered through the wrong door, but saw the clearly marked seats and sat down.

DH then went to get a drink and when he entered back into the theater was asked for his room number.

However, you could easily have sat in the designated seats without being asked.

When we were waiting we did see a Crew Member asking some guests to move.

However, when the show was 5 minutes from starting the Crew Member removed some of the blue Premier covers from the seats and people just moved to the better ones.

I think there are some details here that need. to be worked out.

I really like the perk of “better” seating.

However, it didn’t seem to be very well organized, and the downside is that it is limited just to the Production Shows.

Photography Package

If you have the Premier Package you get unlimited digital downloads and 3 prints included.

Usually, I don’t buy a photo package, maybe just a print or two, but this encouraged me to actually have some photos taken.

I was glad I did as we have some good downloads and the 3 prints are something I probably just wouldn’t have bought but are nice to have.

If you have a lot of photos taken then this is a good reason to think about upgrading to Premier.

Room Service and OceanNow Delivery

Both of these used to be free.

Now they are included with both the Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages.

But if you do not have a package you will be paying for this.

One of the brilliant features of the Princess Medallion technology is that you can order drinks from your phone to be delivered to you anywhere on the ship. This is OceanNow.

Having food and drinks delivered to your stateroom is Room Service.

If you don’t have either package, Princess Standard, you will pay a one-time access fee of $14.99 per person per voyage will apply for OceanNow delivery and a $5 room service fee will apply for each order placed by stateroom phone.

Note this is per person. So if there are 2 guests in your stateroom (and most often of course this is the case) you will now have a charge of $30 to even use the Medallion App to order your food.

If you place an order by phone that’s going to cost you $5 per order!

And make sure your kids know this too, because if they order via the app they will have that $14.99 access fee on your account as well.

What is Casual Dining?

This is a new “class” of dining on Princess cruise ships.

It is important to understand that this does not affect the dining in the main dining rooms. That is still included in your cruise fare.

However, the changes bring new charges to other dining venues on Princess ships that were previously free of charge.

The restaurants include:

Alfredo’s Pizzeria
O’Malley’s
Ocean Terrace
Gigi’s Pizzeria
Salty Dog Gastropub

Select casual dining venues will now include a cover charge of $14.99 for the new 3-course prix fixe meals. A la carte items may also be purchased individually.

If you have the Princess Plus Package you will be entitled to 2 Casual Dining Meals.

If you have Princess Premier you have unlimited Casual Dining Meals.

Some of these dining venues used to be free. Alfredo’s Pizzeria was a place I particularly enjoyed and that was free. Now it’s going to add $14.99 if you want to eat there and don’t have a Plus or Premier.

Salty Dog Gastropub was an $18 charge for an appetizer, two plates, and one dessert. So in theory this might be a “saving. However, let’s see how that works out. I wonder if the new 3-course meal will be for less food than the $18 charge was for?

Is the Princess Plus Package Worth It?

For many guests, it is definitely worth it.

Princess Cruises has probably the best value of any of the cruise line drinks packages.

The cost is $60 per day per person.

Gratuities are $16 per day. Wifi is $15 for one device.

Therefore most people will already be at $31 per day, This leaves $29 to “find” before you break even.

If you have more than a couple of alcoholic drinks, some soda, and enjoy the coffee you are probably going to break even at the very least.

If you are going to go to Fitness Classes, drink the Juice (hopefully it will improve), and have a Premium Dessert or two (when the Crew is trained properly) then it is definitely going to be worth adding it.

Now add the Casual Dining, Room Service, and OceanNow into the mix, more and more people are going to see this as something that is worth the upgrade cost.

The unfortunate thing, of course, is that an element of this, up to August 2023, used to be free anyway.

Is Princess Premier Worth It?

This is a bit more difficult to call.

If you want more than 2 Fitness Classes a day, drink premium alcoholic beverages, and have better theater seating is worth it to you then this is worth thinking about.

I probably won’t do it again.

The value of the Specialty Dining part of the Premium Package is also worth considering. With Crown Grill now at $39, you are going to be spending $48 with gratuity.

The Specialty Dining element is worth around $96 (slightly less if you go to Sabatini’s).

The total upgrade cost of Premier of $140 per person over the Plus Package for a 7-day cruise is worth thinking about if you are definitely going to do specialty dining.

Also if you want to get the 4-device package this would cost an additional $24 per day and $156 for the 7 nights. If this is crucial for you and you are using the dining credit too, then the Premier Package is for you.

Unless it really is a huge inconvenience for you to log out of one device and into another then $24 per day is somewhere where you could make a saving.

Would I upgrade to the Premier Package again?

I didn’t feel that the overall value was worth an additional $20 per day over and above the Plus Package for a 7-night cruise.

For 2 guests that is an additional $280 that I feel could have been put to better use.

The premium drinks and other benefits just didn’t make it a good option for me.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER PRINCESS CRUISE DRINKS PACKAGES?

There are two other options:

Princess Classic Soda Package

The Classic Soda Package includes fountain sodas, fresh juices (if available), mocktails, and smoothies.

The cost for the Princess Soda Package is $14.99 per day plus an 18% service charge (totaling $17.69 per day) for all itineraries except Australia. The package is AUD $23 per day which includes a service charge for all Australian-based vessels.

The package includes:

Fountain Sodas
Cans of soda and juices (excluding the fresh juice bar)

Here is a menu from February 2023 showing the prices of some of the drinks which would be included in the Princess Soda Package.

Therefore, if you are thinking that you will drink a couple of mocktails and a fountain soda every day you will save money with the Princess Classic Soda Package.

There are certain items that are excluded namely bottled or canned items, specialty or premium coffees, teas, hot chocolate, ice-cream-based drinks, or any items offered in Retail Venues or Shops onboard.

Room Service and Mini Bar items are also excluded.

However, always compare the price of what is included with Princess Plus.

At $60 a day, the Soda Package is priced at $42.31 less than Princess Plus.

But you need to take into account the $16-a-day crew appreciation which is also included in Princess Plus.

That takes it down to a price difference of $26.31 per day.

Remember that coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages, and the Juice Bar are not included.

If you think that you will purchase more than 2 alcoholic drinks, order Room Service, or have specialty coffee then the value of Princess Plus may be a better fit.

Princess Zero Alcohol Package

The Zero Alcohol Package includes:

Specialty and Premium Coffee and Tea
Hot Chocolate
Fresh Juices (if available)
Cans of Sodas
Frappes at Coffee and Cones
Milk Shakes (if available)
Bottled Water
San Pellegrino
Evian Water

This Premier Coffee and Soda Package is priced at $29.99 per person per day.

The added gratuity takes this to $35.39 per person per day.

The rules are the same for all the packages – it is only for the person it is purchased for and it is not transferable.

Also, it can’t be used for Room Service or Mini Bar items, bottled or canned items, or any items offered in Retail Venues or Shops onboard.

As the Premium Plus option is only $25 per day more, if you think that any of the other benefits are going to be worth it for you, then this one really isn’t going to make sense for many guests. That extra $25 almost covers the minimum of $16 a day gratuities that you will be paying anyway.

New Grounds Coffee Package

I think that this used to be one of the best values of all the Princess Cruise Drinks Packages.

However, this is no longer available.

Which Drinks are Free on a Princess Cruise?

If you really don’t want to have any of the packages, some of the drinks are included in your basic Princess Cruise fare.

Some drinks are already included with your Princess Cruise.

According to the Princess Cruise website, these are

Brewed Coffee
Fruit Flavored Drink
Non-Bottled Water
Fruit Juice and Milk in the mornings

You may discover that these aren’t that easy to find on most Princess ships though!

However, in my experience, these are only available at certain locations, such as the buffet. Often there is another location on the pool deck tucked away in the corner somewhere!

Free Brewed Coffee is available in all restaurants and the Buffet.

Princess cruise lines still win my own personal award for “worst tasting coffee at sea”.

The taste of this does seem to have improved recently, but it still isn’t great!

Can You Take Your Own Wine on a Princess Cruise?

You can also take one bottle of wine per adult onboard a Princess cruise with you without being charged.

If you take an additional bottle you will be charged a corkage fee at the port of $15 per bottle.

Usually, there is a table just after you go through security where you will be directed to pay the wine corkage fee if you have more than one bottle each.

If you are taking a bottle of wine with you, always remember to pack this in your carry-on luggage.

Never try to sneak wine onboard a cruise. It’s against the rules and they will find it and confiscate it. Just don’t even try.

Princess Cruise Elite Lounge Drinks

If you are a Platinum or Elite Princess level you will be invited each night to a reception that includes discounted cocktails.

The Princess loyalty program has some of the best perks of any cruise line, and the reception is a really nice perk.

There is always a good selection of snacks available and the discounted cocktails are a good value if you have not purchased one of the Plus or Premium Packages

What do you think of the Princess Cruises Premier and Plus Packages?

Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Thursday 8th of February 2024

Add me to the disappointed list. I am taking my granddaughter on her first cruise in March. I have almost always cruised with Princess. This will be my first cruise since the pandemic and boy, how things have changed. The draw of the cruise was that you paid one price and everything on board (with a few exceptions) was included. We will see how this goes, it may also be my last cruise.

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023

FYI, the fitness package in the plus plan is 2 classes total-per cruise. Not per day. At least this what it specifically states on a 8 day cruise

Friday 6th of October 2023

Thank you for pointing this out - I have corrected that on the article!

Monday 2nd of October 2023

Great article - thank you, Maureen! Our Princess cruise date is quickly approaching. After reading your article, we compared the cost of the Princess Plus package we purchased with what you actually get. (Yes, we should have been more diligent when booking months ago.) We'll be in a port nearly each day, so wifi isn't really necessary. We have wine with dinner occasionally, but just one glass. Add in the other things, like fitness classes that we don't need or want...we decided we would be paying waaaay more than necessary. We contacted Princess and cancelled that package and received a full refund. Princess is a cruise line that will become better known for nickle and dimeing passengers than they are for providing an nice cruise experience. We'll take this cruise, without all of the expensive add-ons/packages, but, this will likely be our last Princess cruise. They just aren't providing the basic things in a package an average passenger desires. Fifteen drinks per day? Really? Paying extra for pizza? Are you kidding me?

I am glad that you found the article helpful and that it enabled you to make a better choice for whether or not you should choose one of the packages. The packages really aren't the best choice for everyone, but for some they make sense. I hope you have an amazing cruise!

Friday 22nd of September 2023

Thanks so much for a detailed explanation. I like to have everything figured out before our trip so we can know what to expect and just lay back and enjoy the trip! ?

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

I am glad that you found this helpful. I hope that you enjoy your cruise!

Sunday 17th of September 2023

Feels like they're going the way of airlines where your ticket only gets you a seat on the plane, and everything else is an extra charge. Disappointing. The days of all-inclusive cruising seem to be over and it's quite sad to see. Thank you for the thorough walkthrough of the drinks information as I was looking for this all over and couldn't find the details. As a light drinker I can now see there's no benefit in getting a package and will just buy a la carte.

I am glad that you found this helpful and that it helped you make a choice.

Princess Cruises Drink Packages: Worth It? (With Calculator)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Are you considering purchasing a drink package for your upcoming cruise on Princess Cruises?

In our Ultimate Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages, we’ll discuss the different types of packages available and why you shouldn’t purchase a Princess Cruises drink package.

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

Princess Cruises Drink Packages and Prices

Caribbean princess aerial view from the rear of the cruise ship

Princess Cruises offers a choice of four drink packages. We’ll explore each package to help you decide which one is right for you.

Premier Beverage Package

The Premier package costs $84.99 per person per day plus an 18% service charge , added at checkout. Including the service charge, the total cost of the package is $100.29 per day.

On a 7-day cruise, the Princess Cruises Premier Drink Package costs $702.02 per person for the entire cruise.

The Premier beverage package includes:

Wine by the glass
Specialty coffees and teas
Fountain soda
Bottled water
Fresh juices
Healthy smoothies
25% discount on wine bottles
25% discount on large bottles of water and cans of soda

The Premier drink package allows you to purchase drinks up to a $20 limit. The package

You simply pay the difference if you buy a drink over $20.

You don’t need to worry about the price limit as most top-shelf spirits, reserve wines, and high-end crafted cocktails by Mixologist Rob Floyd are under the limit.

While the Premier Beverage Package includes nearly every onboard beverage, the following beverages are not included in the drink package:

Bottled spirits
Buckets of beer
Bottles of wine
Minibar or vending machine purchases
Room service
Items offered in the onboard shops

The Premier package cannot be combined with other promotions or special offers, including wine tastings, buckets of beer, Buy One Get One offer, Chef’s Table, or Specialty Dining cover charges.

Plus Beverage Package

Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package is a step down from the Premier package. But it’s the cruise lines most popular alcoholic drink package.

It includes all the same drinks as the Premier package, but the Plus Drink Package has a price limit of $15 per drink.

The Plus Beverage Package costs $64.99 per person per day and $76.69 after adding the automatic service charge.

For a 7-night cruise vacation, the total package cost is $536.82 per person.

Zero Alcohol Package

Zero Alcohol Package is Princess Cruises’ non-alcoholic drink plan.

The Zero Alcohol Package includes the following beverages:

Premium coffee and tea
Hot chocolate
Zero-proof mocktails
Bottles of water
San Pellegrino and Evian water
Red Bull energy drinks
One souvenier tumbler per package

Princess’ Zero Alcohol Package costs $29.99 per person per day or $35.39 per person per day after the automatic gratuity.

For a 7-night sailing, the package costs $247.72.

Classic Soda Package

The Classic Soda Package has a price of $14.99 per person per day, plus an 18% service charge added at checkout. Including the service charge, the Classic Soda package costs $17.69 per person per day.

On a 7-day cruise, you can expect to pay $123.82 per person for the entire length of the cruise.

The Classic Soda Package offers the following beverages:

Fountain sodas

It’s important to note this beverage package doesn’t include bottled or canned items, specialty or premium coffees, ice cream based drinks, hot chocolate, or minibar items. And it should go without saying the Classic Soda Package doesn’t include alcoholic beverages.

Drink Prices on Princess Cruises

Before deciding if purchasing the drink package is worth it , it’s essential to understand the cost of Princess Cruises drinks.

In the chart below, you’ll find the approximate prices if you pay the full price for the drinks on the ship.

When deciding whether or not to purchase the drink package, it is a good idea to calculate how much you would be spending if you bought the individual drinks rather than the package. Knowing the prices before you cruise can help you decide if purchasing a drink package makes financial sense. Sometimes, you’ll spend less money when you are buying drinks individually.

Is Princess Cruises Drink Package Worth It?

Young Couple on a Cruise Ship with Drinks in hand

Determining if the drink package is worth the price depends on your drinking habits.

What drinks will you consume? How many drinks do you purchase every day? Will you be getting off the ship at the ports of call?

But, even when you drink enough to cover the cost of the package, you shouldn’t purchase a Princess Cruises drink package on its own .

That’s because Princess Cruises offers two inclusive cruise fare packages that combine the drink package with your cruise fare, along with other perks like WiFi, priority boarding, and more.

Princess Cruises offers three cruise fares. The standard fare includes basic accommodations, drinks, meals, and entertainment. Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundle your cruise fare with a drink package, WiFi, room service, and more.

Princess Plus and Princess Premier cost less than the drink package, but you still receive a Plus or Premier drink package bundled with the inclusive fare.

You’ll actually save money by buying the upgraded cruise package instead of the drink package.

Don’t believe me?

Let’s look at the prices.

Princess Plus costs $60 per person per day and includes the Plus Beverage package, regularly priced at $64.99.

With Princess Plus, you receive the following:

Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package
Gratuities included with the cruise fare
Two boutique fitness classes per voyage
Two premium crafted desserts per day
Unlimited premium fresh juices.
Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 Internet with Fleetwide Starlink and 5G for a single device.
Two prix fixe meals at any casual dining location per sailing
Free OceanNow Delivery Service Activation
Complimentary Room Service
“Green Lane” Express Boarding, including free Medallion device delivery.

Princess Premier costs $80 per person per day and includes the Premier Beverage Package, regularly priced at $89.99.

With Princess Premier, you receive the following:

Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package
Two nights of complimentary specialty dining
Reserved seating in the Princess Theatre
Unlimited boutique fitness classes per voyage
Unlimited premium crafted desserts per day
Unlimited Digital Photo package and Princess Prizes
A complimentary Medallion accessory
Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 with Fleetwide Starlink and 5G for up to four devices.
Unlimited prix fixe meals at any casual dining location

I’m not sure how Princess Cruises came up with their pricing. But there’s no benefit to purchasing the drink package instead of the upgraded cruise fare.

If you want the Plus drink package, purchase the Princess Plus cruise fare.

If you want the Premier drink package, purchase the Princess Premier cruise fare.

However, Princess Plus and Princess Premier are sold in limited quantities. If you cannot purchase the inclusive pricing package, use our calculator below to help you decide if the drink package is worth it.

Princess Cruises Drink Package Calculator

Enter the quantity of drinks you expect to consume to help you decide if the drink package is right for you.

" * " indicates required fields

Princess Cruises Beverage Package Rules

Woman holding cup of coffee on cruise ship

Before purchasing one of the Princess Cruises drinks packages, you need to know a few basic details.

Like most cruise lines, Princess Cruises’ beverage packages are priced per person per day. Further, the drink package must be purchased for the entire cruise. This means you can’t buy the package on individual days.

At checkout, the cruise line adds an 18% gratuity to your purchase. However, the service charge is waived on Australian sailings.

The drink packages are not available for purchase on itineraries of two nights or fewer (or Australian voyages of seven nights or less.)

Guests may use the beverage packages at the cruise lines’ private islands, onboard restaurants, and venues that offer beverage service, including the theatre.

While we recommend purchasing the package in advance, you can buy a drink package onboard the ship, but only on the day you embark on the cruise ship.

Before embarkation day, you can purchase any Princess Cruise drink packages up to four days before you set sail. You can buy the plan from the Cruise Personalizer , telephone, or your travel agent.

The beverage package is non-refundable and non-transferable within three days of the sail date or if you purchase the beverage package on the cruise ship.

As expected, Princess Cruises does not allow passengers to share the drink package. In other words, you won’t be able to use the drink package to purchase beverages for other passengers. Further, there is a daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day, and you’ll only be able to order one drink at a time.

However, unlike most cruise lines, not all passengers sharing a stateroom need to purchase the drink package. So, if only one guest wants to buy a drink package, the other passengers won’t need to buy one.

An incredible advantage if you ask us!

Frequently Asked Questions

What drinks are free on princess cruises.

Princess Cruises’ free drinks include glasses of water, lemonade, standard tea, brewed coffee, iced tea, and fruit juices with breakfast.

Can You Take Drinks Onboard a Princess Cruise?

Yes, you can bring alcohol on a Princess Cruise . Each adult guest can get one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne on board. You can consume the bottle in your stateroom at no extra charge.

If you want to consume your wine or champagne around the ship, including in restaurants, you must pay a $15 corkage fee per bottle.

Passengers can bring additional bottles of wine or champagne on the ship. However, each bottle will be subject to the $15 corkage fee regardless of where you consume the bottle.

Guests can also bring unlimited soft drinks and water onboard a Princess cruise.

Can You Share the Drink Package on a Princess Cruise?

You cannot share the drink package on a Princess cruise. If a crew member catches someone sharing drinks with another passenger, the cruise line reserves the right to cancel that guest’s beverage package without providing a refund.

Does Everyone in the Cabin Need to Purchase a Princess Cruise Drink Package?

Princess Cruises is one of the only cruise lines that doesn’t require everybody sharing a cabin to purchase the drink package if one person buys it.

If only one person wants a drink package, you won’t need to purchase it for everyone in the cabin.

How Many Drinks Can You Order at a Time?

You can only order one drink at a time. There is no set time limit on drink orders; however, you won’t be allowed to purchase two drinks back to back immediately.

What is the Drinking Age on a Princess Cruise?

The drinking age on Princess Cruises varies based on the itinerary. For cruises that depart from Australia, New Zealand, China, Europe, or Singapore, the drinking age is 18. For cruises that sail to Japan, the drinking age is 20.

Everywhere else, including cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, the drinking age is 21.

Is There a Daily Drink Limit on Princess Cruises?

Princess Cruises has a daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person . There is no limit to the number of non-alcoholic beverages you can purchase.

Can I Purchase the Princess Cruises Beverage Package on Individual Days?

The Princess Cruises drink packages must be purchased for the entire length of your cruise. You cannot buy the drink package on individual days or during your voyage.

Does the Princess Cruises Drinks Package Include Minibar Purchases?

Princess Cruises drink packages do not include items in your cabin minibar. Consuming drinks from the minibar will result in an extra charge.

Does the Princess Cruises Drinks Package Include Room Service?

The Princess Cruises drink packages don’t cover room service or mini bar purchases. Drinks purchased through room service will be charged to your onboard account.

Can You Use the Princess Cruises Drink Package at the Private Islands?

Yes. You can use any Princess Cruises drink packages at the private islands, including the cruise lines Princess Cays in the Bahamas.

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Man on a cruise connecting to Princess Cruises MedallionNet Internet on a laptop

Princess Cruises Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: April 8, 2022 - Last updated: February 11, 2024

Princess Cruises Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

On a Princess cruise, you can buy a beverage package or pay for your drinks individually. But are Princess Cruises drink packages worth it?

When you’re cruising with Princess, there’s a very limited selection of complimentary drinks included with your basic cruise fare. If you’d like to enjoy your favorite sodas, specialty coffees, or adult beverages, it’ll cost you extra.

Some cruisers opt to pay as they go, but there’s also the option of buying a drinks package that covers your drinks for the entire cruise. You’re probably wondering if it’s smarter to pay for your drinks individually or to spring for one of the Princess beverage packages.

Here’s everything you need to know about Princess Cruises drink packages to help you make that decision.

What Princess Cruises drink packages are available for 2024?

For 2024, Princess Cruises offers four beverage package options at various price points. You can choose from all-inclusive packages that cover almost anything you’d like to drink, or one of two non-alcoholic options. One soft drink package covers the basics, and another also includes specialty coffees and teas.

Let’s start with the most comprehensive (and most expensive) drinks package and work our way down to the cheapest.

Along the way, I’ll do some calculations to let you know how much each of the Princess drink packages will cost you in total for the average seven-day cruise.

Premier Beverage Package

The most inclusive of Princess’ drinks packages, the Premier Beverage Package includes any of the following drinks with a menu price of up to $20 USD ($30 AUD for Australia and NZ cruises) each:

Wine by the glass
Fountain soda
Specialty coffees
Fresh juices
Bottled water (sparkling or still, 500ml or under)
Frappés at Coffee & Cones
Hot chocolate
Red Bull energy drinks
“Zero-proof” mocktails

Note: If a drink costs more than the menu price limit of $20 USD / $30 AUD, you’ll just be charged the difference.

This package also provides a 25% discount on all bottles of wine and one-liter bottles of water.

At meals in the for-a-fee specialty dining venues on board, the package covers one large bottle (1L) of still or sparkling water.

The Premier Beverage Package is not available for voyages of two nights or fewer, or for voyages under seven nights for Australia-based itineraries.

Premier Beverage Package exclusions

The following drinks are excluded from the Premier Beverage Package on all Princess sailings:

Bottled wine or spirits in the retail shops onboard
Stateroom mini-bar items
Drinks sold in souvenir glassware (passengers may use the package for the drink itself and pay an additional charge for the glass only)
Beverages offered via self-service or vending machines
Wine tastings, buckets of beer, or BOGO drink offers
Drinks ordered for room service

How much does the Premier Beverage Package cost?

For most sailings, the Premier Beverage Package costs $84.99 USD per person, per day. A service charge of 18% is included when booking, bringing the cost to $100.30 per day.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $702.10 USD

Pro tip: It’s actually cheaper to buy a Princess Premier cruise fare (which also includes WiFi, gratuities, and much more) than to pay for this drinks package à la carte!

For all Australian-based ships, the package is $140 AUD per day, which includes a service charge. The Plus Beverage Package is not available for pre-purchase for voyages from Australia and New Zealand.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $980.00 AUD

Plus Beverage Package

The second tier of Princess beverage packages, the Plus Beverage Package includes any of the following drinks with a menu price of up to $15 USD ($22 AUD for Australia and NZ cruises) each:

Bottled water (500ml or under)

Note: If a drink costs more than the menu price limit of $15 USD / $22 AUD, you’ll just be charged the difference.

Although the Plus Beverage Package used to cover one large bottle (1L) of still or sparkling water at meals in the for-a-fee specialty dining venues on board, this perk is now only available with the Premier Beverage Package.

The Plus Beverage Package is not available for voyages of two nights or fewer, or for voyages under seven nights for Australia-based itineraries.

Plus Beverage Package exclusions

The following drinks are excluded from the Plus Beverage Package on all Princess sailings:

How much does the Plus Beverage Package cost?

For most sailings, the Plus Beverage Package costs $64.99 USD per person, per day. A service charge of 18% is included when booking, bringing the cost to $76.70 per day.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $536.90 USD

Pro tip: It’s actually cheaper to buy a Princess Plus cruise fare (which also includes WiFi, gratuities, and more) than to pay for this drinks package à la carte!

For all Australian-based ships, the package is $110 AUD per day, which includes a service charge. The Plus Beverage Package is not available for pre-purchase for voyages from Australia and New Zealand.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $770.00 AUD

Zero-Alcohol Package

Formerly called the Coffee & Soda Package, Princess’ most inclusive non-alcoholic drink package includes:

Premium and specialty coffees and teas
Fountain sodas
Fresh fruit juices
Frappes at Coffee & Cones

Zero-Alcohol Package exclusions

The following drinks are excluded from the Zero-Alcohol Package on all Princess sailings:

All alcoholic beverages
Bottled water and juice or canned sodas
Beverages offered in shops on board
Beverages offered via vending machines (except Coke Freestyle machines where available)

How much does the Zero-Alcohol Package cost?

For most sailings, the Zero-Alcohol Package costs $29.99 USD per person, per day. An 18% service charge is included when booking, bringing the daily cost to $35.39.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $247.73 USD

For all Australian-based vessels, the package is $45 AUD per day, which includes the service charge.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $315.00 AUD

Classic Soda Package

If you’re looking for unlimited soft drinks (but you don’t also need specialty coffees), Princess’ Classic Soda Package might be the right choice for you.

This package includes:

Canned soda and juice

Classic Soda Package exclusions

The following drinks are excluded from the Classic Soda Package on all Princess sailings:

Specialty or premium coffees and teas
Ice cream-based drinks

How much does the Classic Soda Package cost?

For most sailings, the Classic Soda Package costs $14.99 USD per person, per day. An 18% service charge is included when booking, bringing the daily cost to $17.69.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $123.83 USD

For all Australian-based vessels, the package is $23 AUD per day, which includes a service charge.

Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $161.00 AUD

Princess Cruises drink packages FAQ

If you have questions about drink packages for your upcoming Princess cruise, you’ve probably been scouring Princess’ website looking for answers. I know I did before my very first cruise with Princess!

I’ll answer the most common questions about Princess Cruises drink packages below—it’s a combination of the questions I spent hours looking for answers to before my first Princess cruise in 2017, and questions from readers.

Hopefully I’ll save you some time with my Princess Cruises drink package FAQ. If I don’t have the answer to your question, pop it in the comments at the end of this post. I respond to every comment!

How do you buy a Princess Cruises drink package?

For most sailings, passengers can buy any of Princess’ beverage packages online via your Cruise Personalizer . For most cruise beverage packages, you’ll have the option to buy online up to four days before your cruise sails.

If you haven’t bought a drink package before embarkation day , you still have the option to do so—but only on day one and day two of your cruise.

For Australia and New Zealand cruises, the drinks packages are only sold on board on embarkation day.

Another option is to upgrade to Princess Plus or Princess Premier when you book your cruise. These are more expensive fares, but include either the Plus or Premier Beverage Package plus extra perks like unlimited Wi-Fi and crew gratuities.

Do you need to tip for drinks purchased with Princess’ beverage packages?

When you purchase a beverage package on Princess, you’ll pre-pay your gratuities (18% of the package total).

Once on board, there’s no need to tip your server or bartender extra each time you receive a drink. But if you’d like to add an extra tip for great service, you absolutely can.

You may also like: Tipping on a Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities

Do you need to pay tax on your drinks?

When you’re sailing in international waters, there’s no tax on your drink purchases (whether you have a beverage package or not). But if you’re in a jurisdiction that taxes drinks, you’ll see a small charge for tax on your onboard account. This typically happens on embarkation day, in ports, and when you’re leaving port but haven’t yet reached international waters.

Tip: If you’re not sure if you’re in international waters yet, check to see if the onboard shops are open. They’ll only be open when you’re in a tax-free zone.

Can you buy a drink package for certain days of the cruise?

Princess doesn’t allow passengers to buy a drink package only for certain days of a cruise. Although it would be nice to pay for the package just when you’ll use it most (like on sea days ), if you buy a drink package it needs to be for every day of the voyage.

Are you charged for your Princess drink package for disembarkation day? Does the package work that day?

When buying the Premier Beverage Package, Plus Beverage Package, Zero Alcohol Package, or Classic Soda Package, you won’t be charged for disembarkation day.

Although I’ve never seen any official policy stating that drinks packages still work on disembarkation day, I always get my specialty coffee on disembarkation morning and I’ve never been charged!

Can you share your Princess beverage package with another guest?

None of the Princess drink packages permit sharing with other passengers. The cruise line can cancel your drink package if you’re caught sharing, without a refund!

Do Princess Cruises drink packages work on their private islands?

On Princess Cays, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas, Princess cruisers can use their drink package at any of the bars, just as you would on the ship.

You may also like: Ultimate Guide to Princess Cays

Do Princess drink packages work with room service?

None of Princess’ drink packages work when you’re ordering room service. However, you can order any of the complimentary beverages with your room service order.

How old do you have to be to buy a beverage package on a Princess cruise?

There’s no age requirement to purchase either of the non-alcoholic drinks packages on Princess (Zero Alcohol Package and Classic Soda Package).

To purchase the Premier or Plus Beverage Packages, guests must be age 21 or over. On sailings in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Singapore, the drinking age on board is 18, and in Japan it’s 20. However, on these cruises, guests under 21 can’t purchase a Premier or Plus Beverage Package even if they’re allowed to buy alcohol on a per-drink basis.

Is there a limit to how many drinks you can order per day with a Princess beverage package?

Princess limits alcoholic drinks to 15 beverages per person in a 24-hour period, beginning at 6 AM each day. The cruise line says that “alcoholic drinks requested above the daily limits are at the discretion of the shipboard management and crew and charged at regular menu prices.”

However, since Princess introduced the daily drink limit a few years ago, I’ve never seen a bartender allow anyone more than 15 drinks.

Tip: Ordering a “double” counts as two drinks toward the daily limit. But ordering a single drink that has more alcohol in it (such as a martini or a Beverly Hills Iced Tea) only counts as one drink.

Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited with Princess’ beverage packages, and they don’t count toward the 15-drink daily limit.

Does Princess still have a coffee card program?

Princess Cruises retired its New Grounds coffee program in February 2023. Cruisers who want specialty coffees as part of a drink package now need to purchase either the Zero-Alcohol Package, Plus Beverage Package, or Premier Beverage Package. Specialty coffees can also be purchased individually at menu prices.

What do you do if you have a Princess drink package, but your onboard account was charged for an included drink?

I’ve never been on a cruise where I had a drink package and I wasn’t accidentally charged the menu price for an included drink at least once. This doesn’t only happen on Princess!

Smart cruisers always check their onboard accounts periodically for mistakes, and definitely before the morning of disembarkation. If you thought that the line at Guest Services was insane on embarkation day, just wait until the morning that you get off the ship!

The best course of action is to go to Guest Services when you notice a mistake and there’s not a huge line. Don’t wait until you’re home from your cruise! The representatives onboard are far more likely to help when you’re standing right in front of them.

Tip: If you want to be 100% sure that no one accidentally drinks something in your room that has a fee attached, ask your room steward when they introduce themself if they can remove the drinks altogether. This includes mini-bar items as well as any bottles of water provided for your convenience.

Is it worth it to get a drink package on a Princess cruise?

If you’re thinking about buying a drink package for your upcoming Princess cruise, it’s important to have a few factors at the top of your mind. Beverage packages aren’t cheap, and you’ll want to consider:

Will you mainly drink the beverages that are free with your cruise fare?
Can you get any free alcoholic drinks on your Princess cruise?
Are there any allowed drinks you’d like to bring from home on your cruise vacation?
How much do the drinks you like cost on Princess if you buy them individually?
Will you drink enough to make buying a package worth the money?

In this section, I’ll help you answer all of these questions so you can decide if it’s worth it to get a drink package on a Princess cruise.

What drinks are free on Princess Cruises?

When you’re considering purchasing a drinks package on Princess, it’s good to know which drinks are already included with your cruise fare. If you’re OK with just drinking these beverages during your cruise, you won’t need to buy a package (or purchase individual drinks) at all!

Free drinks on Princess Cruises include:

Hot tea (except at International Café)
Brewed coffee (except at International Café)
Fruit juice (at breakfast only)

Tip: Ask for extra fruit juice at breakfast and you can store it in your stateroom mini-fridge to enjoy throughout the day!

Can you ever get free alcoholic drinks on a Princess cruise?

There are a few times during your cruise that you’ll be offered a free alcoholic drink. However, 99% of the time it’ll just be a small glass of sparkling wine.

That said, here’s where you can enjoy a free glass of bubbly on your Princess cruise:

Captain’s Welcome Aboard Party
Captain’s Circle (past passenger) Party
Art Auction
Events at the Effy store (Morning Mimosas, Pink Party)
Lightning Fast Art Auction

You may also like: 21 Princess Cruise Tips You Need to Know

Can you bring your own drinks on a Princess Cruise?

Princess permits passengers to carry on one 750 ml bottle of wine per guest. The cruise line charges a $20 corkage fee if you drink the wine in a bar or restaurant. They permit additional bottles, but will charge the $20 fee regardless of where guests drink that wine, including in your stateroom.

Guests can carry on up to 12 cans or cartons of water, sodas, or other non-alcoholic beverages on embarkation day (not in your checked luggage).

How much are drinks on a Princess cruise if you buy them individually?

These prices are based on the most recent (2024) menus and include the most common drinks that cruisers purchase. Of course (especially if you’re ordering premium alcohol) prices can skew higher.

But here’s a general price range of typical drink prices on Princess in 2024 (note that these prices are for ships that use USD):

Beers: $6.25 – $10
Wine (by the glass): $10 – $19+
Cocktails and standard spirits: $7.50 – $18+
Mocktails: $7
Espresso drinks: $2.50 – $4.50
Fountain soda: $2.50
Bottled water (500ml): $2.65

You may also like: Are Cruise Drink Packages Worth It?

How many drinks will you consume each day on your cruise?

Most people tend to drink a little more on vacation, whether that’s soda, alcohol, or specialty coffees. Think back to your last vacation and consider how many servings of your favorite drinks you had each day.

Here’s how many servings of some popular drinks you’ll need to consume each day to break even with a Princess drink package:

Plus Beverage Package – $64.99 per day

Strawberry Daiquiri (menu price $10.00): 6-7 per day to break even

Heineken (menu price $7.00): 9-10 per day to break even

Glass of house Sauvignon blanc (menu price $11.00): 6 per day to break even

Zero-Alcohol Package – $29.99 per day

Fountain soda (menu price $2.50): 12 per day to break even

Café Mocha (menu price $3.50) – 8-9 per day to break even

Mocktail (menu price $7.00): 4-5 per day to break even

Bottled water (menu price $2.65): 11-12 per day to break even

Classic Soda Package – $14.99 per day

Fountain soda (menu price $2.50): 6 per day to break even

Mocktail (menu price $7.00): 2-3 per day to break even

Obviously, most cruisers won’t exclusively drink one beverage on a cruise! So consider what you enjoy drinking and how many of each you’d like to have before choosing the right drink package—or skip the package altogether!

Is Princess Plus Really Worth It?

By EDH75 , March 13, 2023 in Princess Cruises

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reedprincess

Princess Plus should only be costing you $60usd a day, per person. Not sure where you're getting $70pp from?

That said, only you know your habits and whether it's worth it for you. With your numbers, 3.5 cocktails a day basically covers the beverage package portion. Throw in one latte or frappucino or 2 or 3 bottles of water and the alcohol "requirement" goes down a lot.

And it's just averages. If one day you drink 7 or 8 and the next day none, you've still averaged out.

On TAs, Caribbean cruises, things like that, beverage packages are no brainers for us.. others wouldn't dream of paying for them.

And there is an intangible value in knowing it's already paid for, instead of budgeting each and every drink. That has some worth also...

Worth is entirely in the eye of the beholder.

jaycruising

Also, if you are not elite, internet is $15 per day for one device… so for about $30 per day is the other stuff worth it to you… since I always get wifi and gratuity… it works for me… I loved having the freedom to get water or pretty much anything else I wanted and left the ship with $0 owing

We just got off the Caribbean. Paid $60 each per day for Plus. Averaged $10 each daily in bottled water alone - we drink a lot of water. A couple espressos or Americanos in the morning was another $5. We don’t drink much soda but there were a couple diet cokes in 10 days. Of course we used the internet daily, so $15 there. And the $16 gratuities. Normally, I’m two beers a night. That’s only $15. But the Plus package does encourage over- drinking and my drinks ran from 3-6 daily. Usually a beer, a couple wines and 2-3 manhattans a night. At ships’ prices, that was $40-70 (including tips). So, worth it? Yes. Now, I just have to cut back to 2 beers, cut out dessert and increase my steps to 20,000 a day for the next month to lose those 5 pounds I put on.

It totally depends on YOU. For us, it's worth it even at the new $60 price point. (I certainly hope Princess is finally happy with the price. Having it go from $40 to $50 and now to $60 is plenty of price hikes for us.)

Everyone has to make their own calculation, but fundamentally what do you want? For me I don't need WiFi, don't drink much alcohol or caffeinated drinks, so I'd have to "work" to break even. I even did a spreadsheet to see what I'd have to consume.

3 to 4 drinks a day. IT sounds like a lot, and IT IS ! But it is not like you are drinking all day long, or that they are large drinks!

You can sample something and if you like it, order another (they are not necessarily big).

I can say that when we went on Discovery over Thanksgiving, it worked out for us. My Bride discovered that there was a hot chocolate desert drink in the Main Dining Room. She would then sample some drink at another bar, and maybe a drink after the Big Show of the day.

Could we keep up such a pace for 2 weeks? I dont know!

Still, a Dirty Banana, for a day or 2, a Toasted Almond, a Lemon Drop Martini, maybe a Baileys Irish Cream, St. Germain Cocktail or Frangelica a time or two over the trip..... Maybe there is a beer that you would not otherwise get or try?

But I do understand, when you add up the cost and write it down to be $1960!!! It can make you think twice.

IF the break point is down to 3 drinks a day, that is at least $30 a day (times 2 for both of you)? Then maybe it is cheaper to pass on it and save some money. But it is a bit of a vacation, and it is possible to get carried away and end up not saving anything! Remember, if you buy a drink outside the drink package, they add an 18% tip. (At least I think that is the case).

Bottom line is that it IS a lot of money. There may be a cheaper way to go, but if this is a rare splurge, then you may enjoy it! You may not fully enjoy all of the aspects of the trip and opportunity if you say 'no' to the package. IF there are things you may want to try, this may be a great opportunity.

Anyway, IF It were one week, I d say it is probably worth it!! Can you keep up even 3 drinks a day for 2 weeks? It is not a challenge (though some think that the challenge is not 3 but 15 drinks a day!!)

Let us know what you decide, and then come back after the trip and let us know if you regret either decision?

Even on 14-21 day cruises we average 8-12 drinks a day. Absolutely need Plus

The very simple math is, and this varies by cabin class and Captain Circle Status Level:

Gratuity = $17ish per day

Wifi = $15ish per day. If you use no other feature, you have $28ish per day leftover for drinks. That is 2 glasses of decent wine per day at current prices. Or perhaps one glass of decent wine and two cocktails, or a little less alcohol than that plus some coffee drinks. So if you are in the “two adult drinks per day, maybe three if I am on vacay, and one or two prepared coffee drinks per day” then it is easy to break even. I really can’t imagine anyone who consumes alcohol “losing” money on the deal. The only dealbreaker would be if you travel with oodles of OBC and would be using that to pay the majority of your expenses. But even then, you could book the basic package and upgrade on day one of the journey and use the OBC to pay for the upgrade.

I think everyone is saying the same thing, figure out your life style and see if the right choice.

We purchased it for 2 cruises when it was $40.

We are in the minority who gave up alcohol a long time ago so it was espresso drinks (too many 😂 ), water, and maybe virgin drink occasionally

We do enjoy our own internet in the evening (we try to share one cruise and didn’t really work for us) and of course the daily service gratuity.

At $40 we likely paid just little more than we would a la carte but, it was worth it just to not think about prices and simply get what we wanted.

Now at $60 I can’t justify the all inclusive cost anymore and will just get the things we want a la carte.

On my last cruise, I averaged 0.2 drinks a day, more or less. That was high for me, it is usually zero. But I did enjoy a Virgin Mojito almost every evening. And a Coke or two at lunch. I'm trying to cut down on Coca-Cola products and substituting tea and lemonade instead. For me, the package is, no brainer, NOT worth it.

Do the math and decide. And recognize that the decision you make will not end the world -- you will have a great cruise whichever way you decide!!

I only factor in two costs; drinks per day and gratuities. The internet really doesn't even work, so no gain there. The other "normal" part of PP are not important to us.

If we are in warm weather, yes, we will easily do 8-15 drinks between us, more for me than her. Add in the waters for free and the coffees, and those #'s go up. Then I figure in the gratuities. Easy decision.

Going to Alaska or colder weather areas, neither of us drinks as much, even the coffee drinks.

So, really have to deliberate on the beverage package in the farther northern hemisphere. In warm waters, no argument. Drink package all the way.

latebloomer56

4 hours ago, EDH75 said: Wife and I are sailing on the Regal Princess TransAtlantic cruise in April. We have sailed about 12 times and never have purchased their drink packages before. We usually cruise with another couple, but this time it us just the 2 of us. But on a 14 day cruise with only 4 ports, that means lots of sea days just lounging around and relaxing and drinking (even though we normally are not big drinkers) For $70 per day including tax ( Total of $1960 for both), here is what the Princess Plus provides. Princess® dining, accommodations and entertainment MedallionClass® experience Plus Beverage Package (drinks up to $15 each) Wi-Fi (1 device per guest) Crew appreciation NEW Premium desserts (2 per day) NEW Fitness classes (2 per cruise) NEW Unlimited juice bar Wifi is normally $10 per day each and crew appreciation is $224 each so that comes out total of $728. So the question is can we drink a total of $1200 in 14 days? That divides out to basically $44 per day each for alcohol / juice? So basically we need drink 3 or 4 cocktails each per day. Just looking for replies / comments/ thoughts for members that have purchased drink packages in the past! Was it worth it to them? Thanks

It was for us last Oct. but it was cheaper and didn't have the three new items which don't interest us in the least. We would normally have a soda package for hubby and a coffee for me with maybe a drink or two a day. With the crew appreciation (pre pay anyway) and WiFi (which was very good on the Sapphire to Hawaii for us) it was worth it. We also have two waters per day as well each.

It's not just alcohol you need to think specialty coffees and teas, juice, and water are also part of drink package.

We don’t really drink at home. We have gotten Plus comped the last couple of cruises. We both use the internet every day. But lots of bottled water and soda’s don’t really make up the extra $28/day.

But on every cruise with Plus, my wife now ends up having 2-3 cocktails per day. And I have a whole new category of drinks to choose from throughout the day. Plus, I have a wife who is much more relaxed and happy throughout the trip.

Financially, it’s pretty close for us, but comparing a cruise with and without Plus. It’s worth every $ we’d have to spend adding it on.

And now, I know my daughter will enjoy a few desserts on the cruise. Heck, me too!

FrankieJayIII

Can someone tell me about bottled water with the PLUS? Do we have them delivered to the stateroom? Pick them up somewhere? How does that work?

Are you saying we do not need to order water bottles before the cruise for in the stateroom?

Thank you in advance.

2 hours ago, FrankieJayIII said: Can someone tell me about bottled water with the PLUS? Do we have them delivered to the stateroom? Pick them up somewhere? How does that work? Are you saying we do not need to order water bottles before the cruise for in the stateroom? Thank you in advance.

If you have Plus, the small bottles of water are included in the package. You can either pick one or two up at any bar, or have them delivered to your cabin foc. No need to order water before your cruise.

We tend to amass a few bottles during the first few days of the cruise, to store in the cabin fridge, so as to always have a supply available, and then keep our stock replenished thereafter.

And what about espresso drinks or decent coffee at the International Cafe??? Hubby gets hot cocoa each morning and night, so there you go. And I love my Caramel Macchiato s each morning.

8 minutes ago, MissP22 said: .

A message for us all.

2 hours ago, wowzz said: A message for us all.

It's what the new plus package is worth to us which is not much.

It only forces us to drink more than we normally would, gaining gaining weight in the process on empty calories.

Sitting there getting frustrated trying to use their lousy internet only to view news that I don't care to here anyway and checking email that I just delete most times because most of it is spam.

What is really humorous that they've convinced lots of the people that they actually need the package. Great marketing by Princess. 😄 LOL

21 minutes ago, MissP22 said: It only forces us to drink more than we normally would,

Different horses for different courses !

If we did not have the package we would have to drastically reduce our drinking - what's the fun in that on holiday ?

1 hour ago, MissP22 said: It only forces us to drink more than we normally would , gaining gaining weight in the process on empty calories.

The package is not for you. Sometimes the numbers are a slam dunk, other times value is in the eye of the beholder. Many people report drinking more as a result of having the package. This is probably the first account of which I've read someone feeling forced into an undesirable situation due to the calories involved, vs the more common "I'm on vacation" attitude of those who appreciate being able to drink freely and not worry about the bill. It's a totally valid opinion, just unusual...if you're counting calories the package is definitely not for you.

Just goes to show, your mileage may vary...everyone has to decide for themselves, but you have to be an informed consumer. Princess itself is hardly the only provider of goods and services that is happy to oversell to an uninformed consumer.

2 minutes ago, PMGS247 said: The package is not for you. Sometimes the numbers are a slam dunk, other times value is in the eye of the beholder. Many people report drinking more as a result of having the package. This is probably the first account of which I've read someone feeling forced into an undesirable situation due to the calories involved, vs the more common "I'm on vacation" attitude of those who appreciate being able to drink freely and not worry about the bill. It's a totally valid opinion, just unusual...if you're counting calories the package is definitely not for you. Just goes to show, your mileage may vary.. .everyone has to decide for themselves , but you have to be an informed consumer. Princess itself is hardly the only provider of goods and services that is happy to oversell to an uninformed consumer.

We don't "count" calories when on vacation but they sure do add up quickly especially when having 3 or 4 dirty bananas each day.

That's +1000 calories which is almost half of a normal diet. Add in all the food you don't normally consume & you're why over the top. Seeing that we cruise multiple times a year we would look like ( I'm not going to say it) but just take a look at some of the people sailing these days.

1 minute ago, MissP22 said: We don't "count" calories when on vacation but they sure do add up quickly especially when having 3 or 4 dirty bananas each day. That's +1000 calories which is almost half of a normal diet. Add in all the food you don't normally consume & you're why over the top. Seeing that we cruise multiple times a year we would look like ( I'm not going to say it) but just take a look at some of the people sailing these days.

I guess I have a wider definition of counting calories. If you're doing calorie math you're definitely on the calorie counting spectrum. Your logic is fine but it's yours. Most leave this type of thought behind when setting sail. I'm not judging either way, just an observation....different strokes. Package isn't for you.

Always works for me and getting fresh orange juices at breakfast is a bonus.

I'm not a foodie so tend not to eat much on a cruise as it interferes with my available drinking time!

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Princess Cruises Drink Packages (with bar menus and drink photos)

Princess Cruises Drink Packages - The Ultimate Guide

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Are you planning a Princess Cruise? That’s great! Princess Cruises have some of the best options for drink packages, both alcoholic, non-alcoholic and specialty coffee.

Princess also has an all-inclusive type pricing option called Princess Plus , where the Premium Beverage Package is included as a perk.If you enjoy even more perks, consider the newest way to book your Princess cruise, Princess Premier.

In this post, I’ll go over the details of each drink package. I’ve also included some frequently asked questions by other cruisers and Princess Cruises bar menus.

Plus, at the end, check some Princess drink favorites to tempt you as you await and anticipate your next cruise!

The Ultimate Guide to Princess Cruises Beverage Packages

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

Princess Cruises Drink Packages

Princess Cruises have 3 drink packages available, or 4, depending how you look at it.

Premium Beverage Package
Premier Coffee and Soda Package
Soda Package
Grounds Coffee Package

Premier Beverage Package

The Premier Beverage Package includes alcoholic drinks up to $12 such as beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, and liqueurs and spirits. In addition, non-alcoholic drinks such as virgin cocktails, fountain soda, fresh juice, bottled water, milkshakes and frappes, energy drinks, and specialty coffees and teas are included as well.

The cost is $59.00 USD per day, per person plus an additional 18% gratuity or service charge.

There are some terms and conditions you should know. While still considered an all-inclusive option, there is a daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day, per person. Drinks brought by room service and *mini-bar items (including water bottles) are not included.

*I’ll include a little cruise cabin hack at the bottom of this post to avoid this.

Princess Cruises BBC and Mojito Drinks on pool deck

Premier Coffee & Soda Package

For those that won’t get value from the all-inclusive drink package, the non-alcoholic beverage package includes just about everything else.

With the Premier Coffee and Soda Package, you’ll enjoy specialty coffees and teas at the International Cafe and in the dining room, as well as virgin cocktails or “mocktails”, fountain sodas, fresh juice, hot chocolate, energy drinks and milkshakes (when available).

The Premier Coffee & Soda Package is $19.99 USD per person, per day, plus an additional 18% service charge.

Classic Soda Package

This Classic Soda Package is best for non-coffee drinkers and is the simplest of Princess’ drink packages. It includes all fountain sodas, fruit juices, mocktails and smoothies.

The Classic Soda Package is $9.99 USD per person, per day, plus an additional 18% service charge.

New Grounds Coffee Package

For those of you that have cruised with Princess in the past, you’ll likely be aware of the Princess Coffee Card, which offered 15 specialty coffees plus unlimited brewed coffee for about $36. This was a very popular specialty coffee option!

Princess Cruises has replaced the original coffee card with a new specialty coffee package – the New Grounds Coffee Package . The coffee package is now linked to your onboard account.

With the New Grounds Coffee package, you get specialty coffees or teas which can be used anytime during your cruise – the number of coffees varies by the length of your cruise. As well, you’ll have unlimited fresh brewed coffee, tea and hot chocolate from the International Cafe throughout your cruise.

Here are the details:

The specialty coffees can be shared, however, the unlimited fresh brewed coffee, tea and hot chocolate is said to be only for the original purchaser. In our experience, there is leeway on this. The cost of the coffee package depends on the length of your cruise, and the information can be found on your cruise personalizer.

On our last Princess Cruise , the cost of the New Grounds Coffee Package was in line with the old package. The main difference is that you can no longer hold over unused specialty coffees on a punch card for your next cruise. Being fair, it’s still a great value.

Cruise tip: Try the frozen specialty coffees, and ask the baristas for suggestions. They are perfect when coming back to the ship after a hot day in a cruise port of call.

Princess Cruises Drink Package The ultimate Guide

Is the Beverage Package ever included on a Princess Cruise?

In the last few years, Princess has had promotions a couple of times a year in which the Premium Beverage Package has been offered as a perk. See below for an explanation of Princess Plus – a great option for many cruisers .

Tip: Keep an eye on Princess’ sales by signing up for their emails as well as promotions through large online cruise websites to take advantage of the best offers.

Suggested: Princess Cruises: 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider’s Secrets

Princess Cruises Perks – Princess Plus

For the best overall value, you may want to consider a fairly new perks offer from Princess, which they call Princess Plus . By opting for Princess Plus, you’ll receive the Premium Beverage package , unlimited free wifi and free gratuities.

Something to note, is that unlike Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea perks , the 18% tips on the drink package, are included with Princess Plus. So the price you see is what you get (no extras).

Princess Cruises Crooners Bar Lemontini Martini

Princess Drink Packages – Frequently Asked Questions

How does princess plus work.

With Princess Plus , the Premier Beverage package is given to all guests in the cabin. So for instance, if you’re on a family cruise and staying with your kids in your cabin, they’ll receive a drink package as well. If they’re under 21, they’ll get the Premium Soda and Coffee package.

3rd and 4th guests also receive free wifi (on many ships this is Princess’ Ocean Medallion internet ) and free gratuities, so it’s a pretty good deal

If you’d like an all-inclusive type option for your cruise, Princess Plus will be your best bet!

Is there an extra gratuity charge with the Princess Drink Package?

An 18% gratuity or service change is added to your purchase of the Premium Beverage Package and all drink packages with Princess Cruises, at the time of purchase. You won’t be charged an additional amount once on board, as you “purchase” each drink.

If you opt for Princess Plus, which includes the beverage package perk, the gratuities have been included in the total price, and you will not be charged an additional gratuity.

Princess Cruises Beverage Package Ultimate Guide cocktail menu

Does the Princess drink package have daily drink limit?

Yes, there’s a daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person, per day. There’s no limit for sodas, bottled water, and other non-alcoholic drinks.

Does Princess Cruises ever offer discounts on beverage packages?

Princess Plus, the almost all-inclusive option is actually combinable with many promotions, including Captain Circle fares and offer offers.

If you’d like to purchase a drink package separately, these go on sale on rare occasions. The best way to find a drink package discount, or any other onboard specials, is to log into your cruise personalizer and keep an eye on your emails.

Tip: Even if you don’t get a discount on a beverage package, there are many ways to get additional onboard credits with Princess , which you can use towards any onboard purchases.

The Ultimate Guide Princess Cruises Beverage Package menus and photos

Is the drink package worth it?

This question is often asked, however it’s really quite personal. The best way to decide if the all-inclusive beverage package is worth it, is to do a comparison of what it might cost you if you ordered each drink individually.

At $59.00 USD per day (plus 18% gratuity), with the Premium Beverage Package there are up to 15 alcoholic drinks included plus mocktails, fountain soda, fresh juice, bottled water, milkshakes and frappes, energy drinks, and specialty coffees and teas.

Some things to keep in mind when evaluating this are:

Your itinerary – do you have many days in port where you’ll be off the ship or at sea?
How much do your favorite drinks cost?
Are you opting for the drink package included with Princess Plus or another offer? Even if you don’t drink a lot, the overall value may be to your benefit. Make sure to calculate your overall savings

On our most recent cruise on Princess (2020), the prices on drinks were as follows:

Frozen cocktails and poolside drinks were about $8-11, martinis $10-12, wine about $9-12 a glass, and beer is about $6-7. Here are some drink menus for you to see for yourself.

More drink menus will be at the bottom of this post.

Princess Bar Menu Cocktails and Frozen Drinks

Can you bring wine on a Princess Cruise Ship?

Yes, you can bring one bottle of wine per person onto your Princess Cruise Ship, without charge. If you’d like to bring additional bottles, you’ll be charged a $15 USD corkage fee upon embarkation .

Cruise tip: Make sure that you put your wine bottles in your cruise carry-on bag , as you enter the port terminal during the boarding process , to avoid broken bottles in your main luggage (and a big mess!).

What drinks are included or free on Princess Cruises?

Princess Drink Package what drinks are included on a Princess Cruise

If you don’t purchase a beverage package, there are still some drinks that are included on your cruise.

What’s included:

Fruit juice (available in the morning)
Milk and chocolate milk (available in the morning)
Fruit flavored drink, lemomade, and unsweetened ice tea
Drip coffee and tea in the buffet and room service
Water (not bottled)

If you’d like to buy water bottles to keep in your cabin or bring with you on cruise port days , you can purchase a few bottles for a reasonable price.

Does Princess Cruises give a souvenir tumbler with their drink packages?

Yes, if you buy a drink package, you’ll get a souvenir tumbler with your purchase.

Princess Cruises Drink Menus (photos)

Princess Cruises Drink Package Good Spirits Bar Menu

More bar and drink menus are available here: Princess Cruises Bar Menus and Drink Lists: Cocktails, beer and wine

Popular Drinks on Princess that You Must Try

I couldn’t end this post without a few suggestions of drinks you’ll want to try, especially if you have the drinks package!

Here are some favorites of Princess Cruises Fans.

Dirty Banana

Toasted Almond Martini

Chairman of the Board

Deep Sea Martini

Apperol Spritz

The Isacc

Fun fact – The Isacc cocktail was created for Princess Cruises 50th Anniversary in honor of Isacc, the original Love Boat Bartender we all love and adore! It’s not actually on any Princess menus, but if you ask a Princess bartender to make it and they will happily oblige!

Video: Princess Premier and Princess Plus Beverage Package & Perks

Here’s the latest information about Princess Premier, the pricing and what is included in the new Princess Cruises perk option. As always, you can book a cruise only rate or with Princess Plus .

If you are going on a Princess Cruise these are 3 articles that you should read next, before you go.

Princess Cruises – 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider’s Tips All Cruisers Need to Know

Princess Plus: What’s Included and Is it Worth it?

12 Top Reasons to Cruise with Princess Cruises

30 Cruise Cabin Hacks (avoid the mini bar charges)

Have you tried the Princess Beverage package and did you find it worth it? What drink have you enjoyed and recommend? Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Cruising,

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

31 Cruise First Aid Kit Essentials You Need to Have

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30 Cruise Cabin Hacks Every Cruiser Needs to Know

Let’s connect:

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Going on our first cruise with princess regal from Southampton on the 21 August 21,40th wedding anniversary celebration, never sailed from Southampton before, never been on a ship this size before. Only 3 days but it will be a great experience.

Hi Stephen,

Fabulous first cruise! Enjoy every minute!!

I really appreciate your videos. Will you be sharing about Princess Premier Package which begins on June 25th?

Hi Katie, I talked about Princess Premier in this video: https://youtu.be/cFRTEsQOVFM

I’ll add it to the post & update shortly. Thanks for mentioning it!

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

Worth It? 15 Cruise Line Drink Package Questions & Answers

Questions about drink packages on your cruise? When it comes to taking a cruise, people like to have a good time, and that good time usually involves alcohol flowing freely. Bars are everywhere on a modern cruise ship, and with people buying drinks, the costs can quickly add up.

That’s why many people are interested in “all you can drink” packages that cruise lines offer. The appeal of these packages is easy to see. You pay one set amount, and then you don’t have to worry about running up a huge bar tab.

Instead, you simply head to the bar, order whatever you want, and get back to the fun. Want a beer? A glass of wine? A cocktail? You only need to flash your room key and you’ll get it. (Drink packages also include things like soda and water.)

But before you rush out and buy the drink package, there are some things you should know. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest questions — and answers — about the cruise line beverage packages to help you get a better idea of if it’s the right thing for your next cruise.

In This Article...

How Much Do Beverage Packages Cost?

You would think that the cost of the beverage packages would be straightforward. Unfortunately, the cruise lines like to give people a lot of different options, which make things a little more complicated. Below, we’ve listed the recent prices of specific packages to give you an idea of what you’d pay.

Carnival Carnival offers the CHEERS! Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. The price is $59.95 per person, per day if bought prior to your cruise or $64.95 per person, per day if bought on the ship.

Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. The final price per day is $70.74 if bought before the cruise and $76.64 if you wait to buy on the ship.

See our complete guide to the Carnival CHEERS! Drink Package here .

Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package covers pretty much any beverage on the ship, up to a $14 per drink limit. Prices vary for this package, depending on your cruise and the ship that you sail.

At last check, the package costs between $75-94 per day (Royal Caribbean charges different prices depending on the specific cruise, so your price will vary), plus an 18% service charge. That comes out to a total of around $88-112 per day.

One thing to note is that once you book your cruise, Royal Caribbean will often have large discount offers if you pre-book the drink package, which brings the cost down considerably. For example, during a recent cruise we saw an offer of 20% off the drink package if bought beforehand.

See our complete guide to the Royal Caribbean Beverage Package here .

Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian offers the Unlimited Open Bar Package, which covers just about any drink up to $15. The cost is $109 per person, per day, plus an additional 20% gratuity, for a total of $130.80. Norwegian often offers "free" drink packages as a perk on some sailings, but you have to still pay the gratuity.

The cruise line also has a higher-end beverage package called the Premium Plus Beverage Package. This covers all drinks served by the glass on the ship, no matter the cost. It runs $138 per person, per day. With the 20% gratuity, that comes to $165.60 each day.

See our guide to Norwegian's drink packages here .

Princess Cruise Lines Princess offers its Plus Beverage Package covers any available beverage up to $15 per drink. The package costs $64.99 per person, per day or $76.70 with the required 18% service charge.

They have also added a Premier Beverage Package that offers drinks up to $20 per glass. This package runs $84.99 per day, plus and 18% gratuity. That comes to a total of $100.29 each day.

Note: Princess offers drink packages as part of their Princess Plus and Princess Premium deals. These programs include the drink package, wi-fi, gratuities, and more, for less than the daily cost of the drink package. If you plan to purchase a drink package, you'll save money (and get more perks) with these offers.

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity offers different drink packages, billed as the Classic and Premium packages. Prices and what's included will vary depending on which package you purchase.

The highest-end offering is the Premium Package, which gives you practically any drink you could want up to $17 per glass. The price starts $109 per day, with an additional 20% service charge, for a total of $130.80.

There is also the Classic Package, which offers fewer options and drinks by the glass up to $10 each. It starts at $89 per night. Including gratuity you will pay $106.80.

Note: Celebrity now offers an "Always Included" program, where all passengers have gratuities, the Classic Package, and wi-fi included with their cruise.

MSC Cruises In late 2021, MSC updated its drink package offerings with a new lineup. Now the cruise line offers the Easy Package ($49 per person, per day, with select drinks), Easy Plus ($64 per person, per day, with drinks up to $10 each), and the Premium Extra ($88 per person, per day, with drinks up to $16 each). Note that prices are for booking ahead of your cruise.

In addition, MSC charges a 15 or 18% service charge on the package pricing if booking on the ship. If you book before your cruise, then this charge is waived.

See our complete guide to MSC drink packages here .

Do I Have to Buy a Drink Package?

Absolutely not. Drink packages are completely optional. In fact, most people simply pay for each individual drink. When you do that, you'll be charged each time you get a beverage and don't forget the extra gratuity -- usually around 18% -- that's tacked on.

Just know that if you buy the package, you can't change your mind later and get your money back. So be absolutely sure you want it before you purchase.

What Is Included in the Drink Package?

To start, you should know that each drink package on each cruise line is a little different. There will be slight variations on what all they include.

But in general, if you get a drink package then you'll get alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, and cocktails up to a certain dollar limit per drink. This limit is normally around $15, depending on the cruise line and package. This covers most drinks on the ship, but some high-end beverages may still be an extra cost.

Most drink packages also include a number of non-alcoholic drinks including soda, bottled water, and juices. There are usually no price limits and few restrictions on non-alcoholic drinks included with your package.

What Is Not Included?

Even if you have the drink package, that doesn't mean everything on the ship is available to you. While rules will vary among cruise lines, usually all the following are excluded from drink packages:

Drinks in souvenir glasses
Alcohol by the bottle (except beer)
Drinks offered at the gangway (welcome beverages)
Room service alcohol or mini-bar drinks
Shareable drinks like buckets or pitchers

Most drink packages also have limits on the cost of the drink they will cover.

So if there is a $15 per drink limit, it will cover drinks up to that amount. If you want a beverage that's more than $15 per glass, then you'll pay extra for the amount over $15. In this case, an $18 drink would cost you $3.

Are There Limits in How Many Drinks I Can Get?

The only cruise lines we know to have any limits on the number of drinks you can order are Carnival and Princess (which is owned by Carnival Corporation). They have a 15-drink limit on alcoholic beverages during the 24-hour period that runs from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Non-alcoholic drinks aren't included in the 15-drink total.

So if you have 15 alcoholic drinks, you can't order another until the next day, but you can have all the waters or sodas that you want.

While other cruise lines may not set explicit limits, if you are obviously intoxicated, then don't be surprised if you are cut off from ordering any more drinks.

Most cruise lines do have limits on ordering more than one drink at once. As well, there are often waiting periods (normally around five minutes) between drink purchases.

Do I Have to Buy Beverage Packages For Every Day of the Cruise?

Yes. You can't simply decide you are going to go wild one day and buy the package for that single day. Nor can you pick and choose the days you want to buy it.

If you purchase the package, it is charged for every day you are on the ship. It doesn't matter if you are in port for a day, you are still charged. This is one of the main drawbacks of the beverage package.

Also, keep in mind that the drink package is sold on the first day or two of the cruise. You can't decide halfway through the trip that you want it. You'll need to buy it early.

Does Everyone in the Cabin Have to Purchase the Beverage Package?

Often yes, if one person in a cabin buys the package, all adults will need to as well. That said, the rules do vary depending on the cruise line you sail.

Carnival requires that each adult in a stateroom purchase a drink package if one person does. So if a husband purchases the package but the wife doesn't drink, she must still purchase the drink package as well.

Royal Caribbean requires adult passengers in a cabin to all purchase the package if one person does.

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.

Princess does not specifically say that all passengers in a cabin have to purchase the drink package.

Celebrity Cruises spells out detailed terms of their drink package, including age restrictions, and that "all guests wishing to purchase a Drink Package to do so for ALL guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom."

MSC Cruises requires each adult to purchase the drink package if one person does. If you are traveling with a minor, then they will need to have the non-alcoholic drink package.

Bottom line: Except for a few cases, you should expect everyone has to buy it if one person does.

What If I'm Traveling With a Minor or Someone That Can't Drink?

Maybe you are traveling with someone in recovery, is pregnant, or a minor who can't drink. In that case, you'll want to call the cruise line to explain the situation.

They will make accommodations to where that person doesn't have to buy the alcoholic package. It may still be that they need to buy a non-alcoholic package. You may also have to provide some sort of proof of a medical condition that means a person can't drink.

Obviously minors won't have to purchase an alcoholic package.

Can You Share Drink Packages on a Cruise?

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.

Every cruise line has rules against this. If you are caught, you could lose your drink privilege.

That said, unless you are blatantly ordering drinks and then handing off to other people, it's almost impossible for you to be caught sharing drinks. If you are discreet, the chances of your being caught are minimal.

Do I Have to Pay Gratuity on the Drink Package?

Gratuity is added onto the cost of the package. So when you purchase the package, you'll see an additional gratuity charge tacked on to the total (typically around 18%, depending on the cruise line). So a $60 package, for example, will end up costing around $71 per day.

When you then use the package at the bar, you aren't charged an additional gratuity. It's already taken care of with the cost you paid for the package. There may be a line for an additional tip on the receipt if you are feeling generous, but it's not required.

Do Cruise Line Drink Packages Work in Port or Private Islands?

In most cases, the drink package only works on the ship. That's because most ports of call aren't affiliated with the cruise line. So when you port in Cozumel, you are headed into Mexico -- not an extension of the cruise ship.

That said, drink packages work in some private islands that are run by the cruise line. For instance, CocoCay -- Royal Caribbean's private island -- allows you to use the package while in port. MSC's Ocean Cay also allows you to use your drink package in port.

This isn't the case everywhere, however. Notably, Harvest Caye -- operated by Norwegian -- doesn't offer the use of drink packages (though NCL's Great Stirrup Cay does allow the use of drink packages). Carnival's Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays also don't offer the use of the onboard drink package.

Bottom line: Your drink package won't work in ports of call, but there is a possibility if you are visiting a private island run by a cruise line.

Keep in mind being able to use the package in port is a BIG deal. It's essentially an extra day that you can get your money's worth versus spending out of pocket when you are off the ship.

How Do I Buy Drink Packages?

If you want to purchase one of the drink packages for your cruise, the best way is to either call your cruise line or go online to book through your reservation.

It's usually better to book online ahead of time because there are often discounts for early purchases . For instance, we've seen discounts of 30-40% on some drink packages for booking early.

If you want the best rate, definitely do not wait to book once you are on the ship. Rates are often highest when purchasing on board. Even so, if you wait, you'll find tables setup around the ship offering the package. You can also just head to the nearest bar and ask about buying it.

Other Things to Know Before Purchasing

Before you pull the trigger on buying the drink package, you should know that just because you purchase the unlimited beverage package on your cruise doesn't mean you can drink anything in sight.

Most packages have limits on what's available, excluding drinks that are above a certain price limit (usually around $15). If you are the sort of person that only drinks the highest-end beverages, then you might want to check and make sure your particular drink is included in the package. If you go over that amount, the per-drink limit will be deducted from the cost and you will need to pay the difference.
If you are a wine drinker, you can't have whole bottles of wine with the packages, although you can get wine by the glass. If you want to purchase the whole bottle, having the drink package usually entitles you to a significant discount (20-40%) off the purchase price.
You can't use the drink packages to buy whole bottles of liquor in the ship's duty-free shops.
Drink packages don't apply to drinks from your in-room mini bar. You'll be charged full price for those beverages.
You can only get one or two drinks at a time with most drink packages. There is often a short waiting period (5 minutes) in between buying drinks.

Are Cruise Drink Packages Worth It?

Whether or not a drink package is worth it depends on how much -- and how often -- you drink. For some, it's absolutely worth the money. We would guess that for many people, however, the costs don't justify purchasing an all you can drink package.

You can use our drink package calculator to see if it's worth it for you.

Consider that a beer on the ship costs between $6-8, before gratuity. For a drink package running $60 per day, you'd have to drink about 8-10 beers each and every day -- including on days when you are in port -- to get your money's worth.

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.

Many people might be able to keep this sort of pace up for a couple of days, but it can be tough to do that for every day of your cruise. Also keep in mind if you have to spend more to purchase the drink package for everyone in the cabin, even if they don't want it.

There is one benefit to consider, even if you don't come out ahead financially. Some passengers love knowing exactly what they will spend with the package and not having to worry about every nickel and dime they spend on drinks.

With the drink package you aren't going to be surprised by a high bill at the end of your cruise. You'll know exactly what you're spending right upfront.

Are There Other Benefits to Drink Package Beyond Saving Money?

The biggest point of the packages is that they can save you money if you plan to drink your fill on a cruise. But there are some other benefits beyond just the potential money saved.

As mentioned above, some people enjoy that they can get the package and not have to worry about the bill. Instead of keeping a tally of what they've spent, they can just relax and know exactly what they are paying each day. That gives some peace of mind.

But there is another benefit -- the option of trying new things without worrying about the cost. Head to a bar normally to try something new, and you pay out of pocket whether you love it or hate it. With the drink package, you can try drinks you normally wouldn't order without the risk.

If you happen to not like it, you didn't pay anything extra thanks to the package. You can head right back and order something else. That's a bonus that many people don't realize.

Have you purchased a drink package before? Was it worth it? Let us know in the comments below.

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Hi, new to cruises. If i do not take a drinking package (let’s say on Celebrity), will I get free drinks with breakfast, like coffee in the morning, or do I have to pay for any drink, even during breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Basic drinks like coffee, water, tea are included for free.

Does a drink purchased on Princess Cays count against my limit of 15 drinks despite the drink package not being honored in that port?

Great question, but unfortunately, I’m not sure how they account for drinks on land versus on the ship.

With celebrity doing all included package, tips and WiFi, does the drink package price reduce with the bundle or is it the same price if you purchased WiFi the package and prepaid tips?

Not sure I understand your question, unfortunately. The bundle includes them all for one price so not sure where reducing the price of the drink package comes into play.

I am going on a cruise in the carnival conquest in june 2023 3 days and coming home on the 4th day. Is it worth getting the cheers drink package?

That will depend on your style of cruising. In general, the shorter cruises you are more likely to get your money’s worth as keeping up the pace for a few days is much easier than an entire week.

Remember, if you are not buying the alcohol package are you going to buy the beverage package, (Royal)? If so, start your calculations with that understanding. If I’m being offered the alcohol package for 82.00, that’s a lot of alcohol per day 6-7 drinks.

Now if you take the cost of the alcohol package, minus the cost of whatever other package you would purchase, say that beverage package, (need my coffee), so 82.00-32.00 or 50.00 per day for alcohol. Now that turns out to be about 4 alcohol drinks a day, and when you factor in a bloody in the morning or wine with dinner, a cocktail while mingling or a drink by the pool, it’s much easier to see the price as realistic.

We also have two cabins because we have 3 kids so putting one adult in each cabin means we don’t have to purchase the alcohol package for both of us but of course this won’t pertain to most travelers.

Exactly, my wife and may not make up the package in alcohol purchases every day (although we often do), but we always end up making up the difference and coming out ahead when you factor in other drinks. Bottled or canned water always costs money on board, and we always stock up on those for shore excursions. We also like to go to the onboard coffee shop, which isn’t cheap, and I also like to drink seltzer water. If you’re burned out on alcohol, you can always get mocktails too. We always get our money’s worth out of a drinks package on Royal or Carnival. Though, I haven’t tried NCL, that price seems a little excessive, and I’d probably go a la carte if I ever take an NCL cruise.

First time with a Princess beverage package. Princess plus $59 plus gratuity. Is there a limit on the number of drinks Or once I order as an example four beers and four wines wines I have hit my limit?

Princess has a 15 alcoholic drink limit per day.

For those that might be interested, Princess is currently offering their “Princess Plus” package for $40 per day (for the entire length of the cruise). This package includes WiFi, all gratuities, *plus* the premier drink package. All in, that makes the drink package *much* more affordable than it would otherwise be. (I’m sure this is just part of the marketing effort to bring people back after COVID, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect it to be the case for the long term.)

That’s right. We have more details here: https://cruzely.com/is-princess-plus-worth-it-program-details-and-what-to-know/

Hi all, the hubby and I are taking a carnival cruise in october for our honeymoon. the cruise is 15 days. we are moderate drinkers and enjoy having a good time. we typically get the drink package but wondering if it will be worth the money for such a long cruise? has anyone done the drink package on such along cruise? was it worth it? Thanks so much.

Im about to go on my first cruise (Carnival) with my future husband for our honeymoon. So I see that you cannot use the CHEERS package at port, but what if at port you are just hanging out at the beach… can you get back on the ship and drink on the ship??

Absolutely. And you just can’t use the package in port in Galveston and New York because of local laws. Other ports (e.g. Miami, Tampa, etc.) have the drink package when you get on the ship.

Apart from Galveston/New York, if you’re on the ship, you can use the package.

Yes, while in port if you’re close you can get on and off ship as much as you like to eat or drink, that’s a good idea!!

I organise groups of anything from 12 to 49 persons on board a cruise. We understand that normally two persons in a cabin both need to purchase. I fail to understand when some cruise companies tell me that the whole group need to purchase it or nobody can have it? Regarding gratuities, this is not a legal obligation and they can not force that type of payment.

The gratuity is added as part of the contract, so you either have it Included or don’t get the package. That protects the bartenders from being shorted, you get many who don’t even want to pay for the package and would end up tipping NOTHING.

We’re thinking of taking a 4 day cruise with our 2 teenagers next summer on Carnival. As far as alcohol goes neither of us are heavy drinkers; 5 tops/each. I read that the drink package won’t work while at port…which we will be for 2 days of the trip. The package doesn’t seem worth it for the alcohol but I’m worried about the other beverages. If getting beverages from the buffet area what drinks are usually free there? Must they be consumed in that area as well? And are we allowed to take bottled waters off the ship while at the ports? Also, I was told we could come on board with a bottle of unopened wine. Would you happen to know if we’re free to drink this in our stateroom?

Given what you’ve said, we don’t think the drink package would be worth it for you. Carnival allows you to bring on 12 unopened cans or cartons (non-alcoholic drinks) per person, as well as a bottle of wine or champagne. With four of you, you could bring pretty much anything you might need for non-alcoholic drinks.

The buffet serves tea, lemonade, water, and fruit juices. You can take them with you around the ship. And yes, you can take a bottle of water with you into port.

Hi! I am a solo traveler on Emerald Princess February 2020. I am trying to decide on the drink package. I have called Princess trying to get the prices of individual drinks. They say they have nothing. I have ‘googled’ Princess drink prices but they are ‘fuzzy’ and not all drinks are listed. Does a scotch and soda count as two: 1 for the scotch and 1 for the soda water? Also, can I order a double, realizing that I would be charged twice? Thanks.

As a rule of thumb, we say figure about $10-12 for a cocktail. Maybe a little more. A scotch and soda would just be one drink, not two. You can order a double. You’ll likely only be charged for the extra shot, not for two separate drinks. With the drink package you may not be able to order a double.

hi… we’re going on a princess cruise, and its looking like for one drinks package this is going to cost 700 dollars.. which makes me gulp .. Any suggestions? I m unlikely to need it, but my partner likes a drink.. and having looked at the comments, it sounds like not having a package can be a pain..

Not having the package isn’t a pain at all. In fact, it’s the same exact process for getting a drink — you just have a bill at the end of the cruise and need to watch your spending. We always suggest doing the math on the packages. Figure out how much you’ll drink and then see how much that would cost without the package. Cocktails cost about $10-12 each. Beer costs $6-8 each.

Hi will be cruising for the first time in October onboard Carnival. Considering the drink package and saw nothing about shots …. are these included?

Yes, the package includes “all spirits” with a menu price under $20.

I am bringing my 13 year old granddaughter on a cruise next year, can she fill up her own water bottle with water/soda at the buffet and bring it with her? Likewise myself with tea?

Yes, although we often see signs asking people not to fill up water bottles (but everyone does anyway).

First time cruising in August in Alaska. On Celebrity ship at restaurant and buffet, are the soda fountain and regular coffee included or not? Don’t drink alcohol. Do I need to take a package to have 2-3 soda, 2 bottle water, orange juice in the morning and regular coffee?

Generally coffee will be included, but specialty coffee will not. Soda is normally not included. If you are sticking to sodas and waters (no alcohol) then the soda package is likely a good deal for you. It’s $18 per day and includes all the items you mentioned.

Your comment is awaiting moderation What if I only use 10 of the 15 drinks do the other 5 roll over or is it a use it or lose it type of deal?

It’s 15 per day. There’s no rollover.

Can any one tell me the drink packages on the celebrity silhouette, do these packages include wine to your room?

Wine is included in drink package, but it’s not delivered to your room. You’ll need to go to a bar to order.

FYI, I saw a deal on NCL for upgrading our stateroom on a 13 day cruise, and get the premium drink package for 150.00. Sounded like a deal until we learned that you have to pay the gratuities on the retain price if 99.99/person, per day. So add to that 150.00, 20.00 per day multiplied by 13 days. This totals 407.00 for the 13 day cruise! Ouch!

Yes, in fact, you have to pay gratuities of 20% on the free drink package in the “Free at Sea” offer. So your free package ends up costing a bundle anyway!

I am a normal person that wants to remember my vaca, so I’m not going to drink like a fish ‘because I’m on vacation.’ Notice the stats above say that only 20% of people drink enough alcohol to actually warrant the price of the drink package, which is in line with the hard sell. That leaves 80% of the rest of us that don’t need it. The general rule of sales is that hard sells are for products that don’t sell. Anything requiring that hard a sell isn’t worth buying. I got the drink package and regretted it. I paid a premium price for goods I didn’t receive.

Good luck actually getting that bottled water if you ask for it. I had to bully the staff to even get one bottled water with my ‘unlimited’ bottled water package. Its not worth it. I originally bought the package on sale so I didn’t have to deal with the harassment of ‘you can’t have one unless you have a card” but that happened anyway. If I had no card they could’ve just charged my account for that one drink, its the same level of harassment but waaay cheaper.

I had a total of one drink per day at dinner. All other liquids I ingested were free, either tap water or flavored water juices (lots of different flavors of punch) at the buffet. I don’t generally like soda, but I indulged in a total of 3 sodas during my 7 day cruise. If I had no drink package I would have bought a grand total of 8 frozen drinks and 3 sodas; everything else was free. That didn’t come close to the $235 price tag for the package. Save your money, put that amount as a credit on the account, then the $ are returned to you if you don’t use it, (or, more likely, you can apply the remainder as a tip, or pay down the ‘gratuities’ added to the account).

I am not much of a drinker of adult beverages, but hubby likes to partake while on vacation, when we first started cruising, I used to cringe every time he bought a drink, to the point of limiting myself because I was afraid of the final bill. Once we discovered the drink packages and did the math for us, there has been no turning back…..I can relax and know it was already paid for up front. I drink lots of bottled water, and always took 4 or more off the ship on port days. I enjoy specialty coffee, a few fru fru adult drinks a day, or a cold beer once in a while, that along with virgin drinks and juices, the package paid for itself for me too.

So Ill be on Holland America in February and there prices are similar to Celebrity or Princess.. the deal of $442 for seven day premium or $361 for signature seems expensive. I am trying to see if it is worth it..I imagine my desire to drink water would be about three times a day, at least 2 cups of coffee a day, not big drinkers but we are on vacation so I imagine a couple of drinks and maybe 2 can of soda..would you encourage buying the package or pay separately?

Expect bottled water to be about $2-3. Coffee at $3-4. Cocktails will run about $10-12 and sodas $2-3. Keep in mind that water and coffee can be free in the dining room/buffet. From what you’ve described, you’d spend about $50 a day on drinks — or about $350 over a seven day cruise. You can try our drink package calculator here ( https://cruzely.com/cruise-line-drink-package-calculator/ ) although we don’t yet have Holland America. You can still estimate how much you’ll drink.

So we just returned from cruising on the Carnival Vista. I am a hardcore beer drinker and bought the Cheers package. I hit my 15 drink limit everyday, but one thing I did not know is that once you hit it…….you are CUT OFF!!! That’s crazy! The other thing is that we qualified for free drinks in the casino, but because we had Cheers, we were not given free drinks in the casino unless they counted against our Cheers package……

How did you get free drinks in the casino??

What this article doesn’t factor are your non alcoholic drinks like coffee, tea, water and smoothies as an example. Two cocktails, a glass or wine, water and a couple coffees and your over!

They DO NOT count any non alcoholic beverages towards your 15 drink limit, that limit is only alcohol, you can drink as many coffees, teas, milkshakes, mocktaiks, sodas even bottled juices or power aides as you like with 5 min in between purchases, bottled water also covered

Love Carnival’s Cheers package. I always buy it, since I travel with my teenage son, I only have to buy for me. One advantage to Carnival’s program, is each drink can cost up to $50, so it’s high end all the way.

Cruised with Celebrity recently. Have cruised with them before and loved it. This time, we were approached preboarding to enroll in a Free non-alcoholic package as we were frequent return travellers and consierge. We were told we could obtain theses drinks in one certain bar for free. We had during our entire stay 3 bottles of water and 2 steamed milk and latte. To our shock, our final statement had a charge to another bar of over$500 CND. We have been contesting this charge for nearly 3 mos and are also informing VISA for charges for which we had no service. The push to sell booze is all too obvious now…buyer BEWARE

“Do I Have to Buy Beverage Packages Every Day of the Cruise?”

On Royal Caribbean you can purchase on board as long as there are 3 days of the cruise left. I did this when I needed to join the ship at the first port rather than the destination.

This could be a good option if the last 3 days are at sea, as it makes it worthwhile as you are not paying for the package on port days. Or if you just want to dedicate the last 3 days to partying 🙂

While you can certainly make do without a drink package (and we did when we first started cruising), we have found the convenience of the “all-in” premium packages worthwhile for us. First, because you aren’t running between decks to the buffet to get free soda or iced tea all day. Remember that the cruise lines charge for premium waters (Smart Water, Perrier, etc as well as soda at the bars, and for Cappuccino and Expresso at the buffet, and straight fruit juice at the bars). So, for example, a cappuccino or two at breakfast, 3 or 4 Smart Waters before lunch if its hot on deck another 2 or 3 in the afternoon and maybe a latte around 4pm, a cocktail before a late dinner, a glass of wine or two with dinner and maybe an aperitif with a latte and a late night cocktail or two during the entertainment or at the dance clubs and the packages start to make a lot of economic sense. Also, the drink packages cover your drinks at the cruise ship’s “private port” beaches. Finally, we find with the drink packages, you consume what you want, rather than feeling like you must finish every drink because they are so expensive. I guess our view is that this is ‘vacation’ — which is why we opt for balcony rather than interior rooms although the later is always cheaper. We factor the drink package into our mental cost estimate for the trip…no surprises on the cruise bill when checking out.

Keep an eye out for deals on drink packages ‘included’ in the fare in some specials…and recently it seems they have been offering pre-purchase or “welcome aboard” discounts on the premium package if you buy them before they leave port.

Great points all around. Thanks for sharing!

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Our Cruise Drink Packages – Variety at a Value

We have drink packages that serve up everything from cappuccinos to craft cocktails for less.

Want to save on your beverage package? Our Princess Plus and Princess Premier cruise packages include everything you love about our beverage packages and much more at a lower per day cost than buying just a beverage package!

Plus Beverage Package

Beverages up to $15 USD* each

Plus Beverage Package Includes:

Cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, specialty coffees fountain sodas, bottled water, fresh juices and healthy smoothies (juice bar), new juice bar, mocktails and crafted cocktails by Mixologist Rob Floyd
50 spirits, 25 wines by the glass, 25 beers, all specialty coffees & non- alcoholic drinks
25% discount on wine bottles (including rare vintages)
25% discount on large bottles of water and cans of soda

A value of $64.99 USD* per day

If you purchased before December 2022 and haven't upgraded:

Premier Beverage Package

Top-shelf premium beverages up to $20 USD* each

The Premier Beverage Package includes everything the Plus Beverage Package has and:

Top shelf spirits, reserve wines by the glass and new high-end crafted cocktails by Mixologist Rob Floyd
Selection of 75+ spirits, 40+ wines by the glass, 20+ high-end, crafted cocktails
Premier wines by the glass including Duckhorn, Stag's Leap, Grgich Hills and Cattier Champagne
Private Woodford Reserve Bourbon Selection created exclusively for Princess
Personalized Jack Daniel's Whiskey Single Barrel Select

A value of $84.99 USD* per day

Princess Plus – Save 57% when you bundle with Wi-Fi, crew appreciation and more.

Princess Premier – Save 69% when you bundle with Wi-Fi, photos, specialty dining and more.

No-Alcohol Drink Packages

Zero-alcohol package.

Enjoy premium and specialty coffees and teas along with sodas, fresh juices and healthy smoothies (juice bar), hot chocolate, "zero-proof" mocktails, bottled water, San Pellegrino, Evian and Red Bull Energy Drinks througout your entire cruise with this zero-alcohol beverage package.

Available for purchase on board or for booked guests in Cruise Personalizer .

Classic Soda Package

This package includes all sodas, fruit juices, mocktails and smoothies.

The Classic Soda Package is $14.99 USD* per person, per day

*Price listed is in USD and excludes service charge. An 18% service charge will be applied to all itineraries excluding Australia. Purchase price may vary due to currency exchange rates. Beverage package charges are calculated based on the total number of days of your cruise. Packages must be purchased for full length of voyage, cannot be shared, are non-transferable and are non-refundable within 3 days of sailing.

Please note product offerings may vary on voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand.

Cocktails, Crafted Just for You

Cocktails with a story.

Our expert Mixologist, Rob Floyd, has refreshed the cocktail menus across the entire Princess fleet using his unique blend of knowledge, technique and flair for storytelling. Exclusive cocktails from the master himself join guest favorites with locally inspired flavors to create moments remembered long beyond the last day of the voyage.

Fresh is an ingredient

Rob Floyd’s signature cocktails are made with freshly squeezed citrus, fruit muddled in the glass and carefully chosen herbs for a drinking experience unlike any other. From light and fruit-forward to crisp, complex and engaging, each bar has cocktails created just for its unique atmosphere. Come see what’s new!

Good Spirits® At Sea

It’s the place where every drink is an experience and tells a story, connecting you to those around you and regional flavors around the world. Based on Good Spirits, the popular TV series that traveled to far-away destinations in search of local ingredients for original cocktails, our lively bar is the perfect place to explore new drinks. Our onboard mixologist immerses you in the culture of your chosen destination as he crafts your cocktail. Catch the original series on the Princess® Cruises App or your stateroom TV.

Calling All Wine Lovers

World-class in every glass.

Curated for your enjoyment, our award-winning wine assortment offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a wine lover or a wine novice, you’ll find top selections from the world’s best wine regions — and at every price point. From Chilean Cabernets to New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, immerse yourself in the globe’s diverse wine regions and cultures. Raise a glass to over 100 new wines on our fleetwide menus featuring biodynamic, organic and sustainable, rare vintages, women winemakers and more!

Partners in wine

Grab a seat at the table for new experiences with some of the world’s leading vintners. We’ve partnered with two iconic Napa Valley-based wineries: Silverado Vineyards and Caymus Vineyards. Each experience brings you chef-designed multicourse meals perfectly paired with wine for the optimal experience. Exclusive to Princess guests, these food and wine dinners will expand your palate. Book your spot at these limited-space gourmet events. Call the Dine Line to make a reservation.

Discover more about these exclusive epicurean experiences:

Good times, fine wines

Let our very own sommeliers help you discover your next favorite vintage. A Princess wine tasting is the ultimate way to explore new varietals from all over the world. You’ll enjoy a diverse selection of premium wines — for all palates and prices. And each is paired with a savory canapé to enhance your experience.

We take wine seriously, so we’re proud to announce our onboard dining room received the prestigious Wine Spectator's 2023 Award of Excellence.

Even More Cruise Drinks to Enjoy

Premium lavazza coffee.

Start your day or end a meal with your coffee-based beverage of choice, thanks to our new partnership with Lavazza. Enjoy a made-from-scratch pastry with your coffee at breakfast from the International Café or recharge with an iced frappé at Coffee & Cones. Savor a fresh cup of coffee any time you crave it, and delight in specialty espresso drinks prepared by professional baristas. A full menu of espresso-based selections are available on board and can be customized to suit your taste.

Afternoon tea

Indulge in a traditional afternoon tea service, served on board daily, complete with tea sandwiches, cookies, scones and the classic hearty jams and rich, creamy spreads. Choose from a selection of flavorful teas and relax in an elegant dining room.

MedallionClass® On All Ships!

Next-level technology. More time for you. Your vacation – simplified, personalized.

What's Included

A world of dining options at no extra cost.

I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

Main content

How To Save Money On The Royal Caribbean Drink Package

I f you’re looking forward to your next (or first) Royal Caribbean cruise , the high cost of drinks will likely dampen your excitement. If you’re debating whether or not the Royal Caribbean drink packages are worth it, you’ve come to the right place. With prices ranging from $55 to $105 per day for packages that include alcoholic beverages, it’s understandable to want to try and budget.

If you love drinks, a Royal Caribbean drink package will likely save you money in the end, but it’s good to understand your options when it comes to purchasing a Royal Caribbean drink package. This article will help determine if a Royal Caribbean drink package suits you.

Royal Caribbean Drink Packages

There are three primary Royal Caribbean drink packages that are offered for guests:

Classic Soda Package ($13 per person per day)
Refreshment Package ($38 per person per day)
Deluxe Beverage Package ($55 to $105 per person per day)

Features and contents vary across packages. In a nutshell, the Deluxe Beverage Package is centered on alcoholic drinks. It includes gratuity and practically all drinks except for a few cases, like drinks in souvenir cups. The Refreshment Package includes the same beverages as the Deluxe Package minus alcoholic drinks. The Classic Soda Package, on the other hand, contains soda.

You can also purchase additional bundles and upgrades including the Cafe Select Coffee Card ($31 per card) and Evian Bottled Water Package ($39 to $69), or you can add on VOOM® high-speed internet to the Classic Soda and Deluxe Beverage packages.

What If I Don’t Purchase a Royal Caribbean Drink Package?

Royal Caribbean charges for beverages a la carte if you don’t purchase a drink package. An 18% gratuity will be added every time you order a drink.

While this increases the cost of drinks, it may be more cost-effective than the deluxe bundle if you drink sparingly.

Reasons Why Some People Want To Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package

The drink package isn’t flexible in terms of usage schedule. So, customers must either pay for the drink package each day of their cruise or go without it entirely. Because you have to buy it every day of the trip, some people feel it’s unfair.
If a passenger in a cabin bought a deluxe drink package, all passengers of legal drinking age must do the same. Couples and groups whose members have widely varying alcohol preferences may find this frustrating. Some cruisers have had luck calling the cruise line and asking for an exception to this rule.
Those who want their money’s worth daily are encouraged to drink more than they usually would be under this drinking package system, which might result in increased alcohol consumption.
Vacation cruises are already costly, drink packages are another example of consumers being charged for services that they will never use.

Royal Caribbean Drink Package Hacks

If you wish to purchase a Royal Caribbean Drink Package but are still interested in saving money, the following tips and tricks will help you get the most bang for your buck.

Before going on a cruise, buy your chosen drink package.

Look for deals up to 3 days before your cruise departs. You may also log onto the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean’s website and buy the package in advance. Before the day of your trip, log on to the website and check to see if any discounted options are still available.

After you’ve booked your trip, keep an eye on the prices of the various drink packages. If the cost of the drink package reduces after you buy it, you can cancel and rebook it at the lower price until your departure date.

Ask for top-shelf liquor at the bar.

If you can, always order and look for top-shelf liquors. Since you’re already required to pay a daily price for drinks, why not ensure those drinks are high-quality? Whether you’re ordering a shot of liquor or a drink, mention that you want anything from the top shelf.

Share your drink package.

Break the rules and give your friend a shot of your booze. Many passengers have succeeded with this strategy despite violating Royal Caribbean’s policies. You only need to buy one Deluxe Beverage Package (which contains alcoholic beverages) and one Refreshment Package (non-alcoholic beverages) for each additional person (which is strictly non-alcoholic drinks). Someone with access to the Deluxe Package can discreetly share their alcoholic purchases with their friend.

Even though you’re free to do so, Royal Caribbean forbids the practice and won’t issue a refund if you’re spotted sharing your Deluxe Beverage Package. Remember to proceed with caution if you decide to go on this route.

Throughout the day, order non-alcoholic drinks such as juice, coffee, and soda as part of your beverages package.

Take advantage of the deluxe drink package by ordering sodas and juices throughout the day—your bundle includes more than simply alcoholic drinks. Coffee, tea, fountain sodas, juices, bottled water, and mocktails are all part of the Deluxe Beverage Package. Get your money’s worth by purchasing various drinks throughout the day.

Take some water when going on excursions.

Bring along water to drink when at ports. Royal Caribbean usually lets you grab a few water bottles regardless of your drink package, so you can carry them anywhere.

Free and completely safe tap water is always available on Royal Caribbean ships. If you’d like to have six, 12, or 24 bottles of water brought to your cabin, you can purchase the water package. Having some water with you can minimize costs when going on an excursion.

Carry your own bottle of wine on board.

Don’t want to spend money on a drink? Bring a bottle of wine on board. While all other alcoholic beverages are banned, wine is permitted on Royal Caribbean cruises. All adults can bring one sealed 750-milliliter bottle of wine or champagne.

There’s a corkage cost of $15 if you wish to consume your wine out in public. However, if you drink the wine in your room, there aren’t any fees.

Can I Purchase a Single-Day Drink Package on Royal Caribbean?

You need to buy a drink package for the entirety of your trip. So for example, if you’re traveling on a 7-day cruise, you have to pay for 7 days’ worth of drink package.

Is It Worth Cheating the Royal Caribbean Drink Package?

Finding ways to cheat the Royal Caribbean beverage package is a difficult task. Royal Caribbean does a fantastic job of monitoring shipboard behavior.

In addition, smuggling alcohol into the ship could result in losing your alcohol package, no refund, and even possible expulsion from the cruise. Avoid the drink package entirely if you drink infrequently, or stick to ordering top-shelf liquors and carrying wine onboard to save money.

Bottom Line: Is It Worth It to Get the Royal Caribbean Drink Package?

Do the math to ensure you use money wisely before buying a drink package from the cruise line. The truth is that for some customers, the unlimited drinks bundle is money well spent. Others wind up paying more than they would have on buying beverages for themselves.

Think ahead about how you’ll manage your alcohol intake while cruising. When on vacation, some folks are okay with imbibing every day. Some people like to partake a few times a week, whereas others prefer to avoid drinking altogether.

If you get a drink package, you must pay for it every day of the trip, even if you don’t drink. Those who consume less regularly or expect to spend less time ashore may find it challenging to recoup their costs with this package.

But, if you often partake in alcoholic beverages, you may discover that it works to your advantage. This is the case for shorter cruises, where it’s simpler to maintain a lively atmosphere, as opposed to longer journeys of a week or more.

Set a daily drinking limit for yourself. After doing the math, you’ll know if the drink package is less expensive compared to buying beverages separately.

The post How To Save Money On The Royal Caribbean Drink Package appeared first on honeymoons.com .

If you’re looking forward to your next (or first) Royal Caribbean cruise, the high cost of drinks will likely dampen your excitement. If you’re debating whether or not the Royal Caribbean drink packages are worth it, you’ve come to the right place. With prices ranging from $55 to $105 per day for packages that include... View Article

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Princess Cruise Drink Package
Princess Cruises Drinks Package Guide 2022
Princess Cruises Bar Menus and Drink Lists: Cocktails, beer and wine
Princess Cruise Drink Package
Princess Cruise Drink Package
Princess Cruise Drink Package

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Worth It? Princess Cruise Drink Packages Explained (Prices, What's
Therefore, a passenger would pay $76.69 per day. Over the course of a 7-day cruise, the total would come to $536.82. The higher-end Princess Premier offer runs $84.99 per person, per day or $100.29 after the gratuity amount. That comes to a total of $702.02 for a person on a 7-day cruise. However, you can get the drink package for less if your ...
Princess Cruises drink packages: Are the line's inclusive options deals
Zero-Alcohol Package: $29.99. Princess Plus Package: $60. Princess Premier Package: $80. The prices listed above do not include an automatic 18% service charge per day for the Classic Soda and Zero-Alcohol packages, so factor that into your travel budget if you decide to purchase a package.
Princess Cruise Drink Package
Princess Cruises Drinks Packages have changed a lot in recent times and have updated again in August 2023. The recent changes relate to Room Service and the introduction of changes to charges for a new category of dining now called Casual Dining. And these August 2023 changes are going to make a lot of Princess Cruisers unhappy.
Princess Plus & Premier Offers: Package Details and if it's Worth it
With the Princess Premier offer, the Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20) is included. Princess is including the Plus Beverage Package with the Princess Plus offer. This drink package normally costs $64.99 per day, or about $77 once the 18% service charge is added on.
Princess Cruises Drink Packages: Worth It? (With Calculator)
The Premier package costs $84.99 per person per day plus an 18% service charge, added at checkout. Including the service charge, the total cost of the package is $100.29 per day. On a 7-day cruise, the Princess Cruises Premier Drink Package costs $702.02 per person for the entire cruise. The Premier beverage package includes:
Princess Cruises Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide for 2024
For most sailings, the Zero-Alcohol Package costs $29.99 USD per person, per day. An 18% service charge is included when booking, bringing the daily cost to $35.39. Cost for a seven-day cruise per person: $247.73 USD. For all Australian-based vessels, the package is $45 AUD per day, which includes the service charge.
Princess Cruises Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide
Classic Soda Package. Sodas, juices, mocktails, smoothies. $14.99 per day. $17.69 per day. Prices are in US dollars. If you're cruising from Australia, the pricing is different and is priced in AUD. In addition to these packages, Princess Cruises offers the 'Princess Plus fare' and the 'Princess Premier fare'.
Princess Drink Packages Compared: Plus vs. Premier
Cruising with Princess Cruises offers an indulgent experience filled with luxurious amenities, and one aspect that adds to the enjoyment is the selection of beverage packages. As of December 2022, Princess Cruises introduced two new drink packages: Plus and Premier.. These packages enhance the onboard experience by providing guests with a variety of refreshing beverages.
Complete Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages
The price of a Plus drink package is $64.99 per day, while upgrading to the Princess Plus fare is only $60 and provides additional benefits. The same is true for the Premier pricing. The Premier drink package is $84.99 per day, while the Princess Premier fare is only $80 with even more benefits.
Is a Cruise Drink Package Right for You?
Sure, some cruise lines allow you to bring on your own soda or bottled water. And almost every cruise line allows you to bring at least a bottle or two of wine onboard. But sometimes, it's just ...
Should I Buy My Drinks Package Before or During My Cruise?
You can only buy your drinks package onboard for roughly the first 48 hours, and packages must be purchased for the entire duration of the cruise. Purchasing a drinks package onboard is likely the ...
Is Princess Plus Really Worth It?
But on a 14 day cruise with only 4 ports, that means lots of sea days just lounging around and relaxing and drinking (even though we normally are not big drinkers) For $70 per day including tax ( Total of $1960 for both), here is what the Princess Plus provides. Princess® dining, accommodations and entertainment.
Princess Plus
Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass and cocktails up to $15 each. It also includes many non-alcoholic drinks including bottled water, fountain soda, freshly squeezed juice, specialty coffees and teas, frappe's and milkshakes and energy drinks. There is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person, per ...
Princess Cruises Drink Packages (with bar menus and drink photos
On our most recent cruise on Princess (2020), the prices on drinks were as follows: Frozen cocktails and poolside drinks were about $8-11, martinis $10-12, wine about $9-12 a glass, and beer is about $6-7. Here are some drink menus for you to see for yourself. More drink menus will be at the bottom of this post.
Are Drink Packages Worth It On A Cruise?
Premium Extra Package. This package is the most expensive, and includes drinks up to $16 each. This package is very similar to other cruise lines where you have the widest variety of options across the ship. It includes beer, cocktails, wine, specific brands of liquor, energy drinks, juices, coffee and water.
Worth It? Everything About Cruise Line Drink Packages
Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. The price is $59.95 per person, per day if bought prior to your cruise or $64.95 per person, per day if bought on the ship. Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on.
A Complete Guide to Cruise Line Drink Packages
Princess Drink Package Details: Princess Cruises offers two alcohol-inclusive drink packages and two nonalcoholic package options. ... Is the Viking Ocean Cruises Drink Package Worth It?
Princess Cruise Drink Packages
This package includes all sodas, fruit juices, mocktails and smoothies. The Classic Soda Package is $14.99 USD* per person, per day. Available for purchase on board or for booked guests in Cruise Personalizer. View Classic Soda Package terms and conditions. *Price listed is in USD and excludes service charge.
Is Upgrading to the Princess Plus Package Worth it? (2023)
This allotment also covers all beers and many wines by the glass. However, there is a drink limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per day with this plan. The Plus Beverage package is priced at $64.99 a day per person plus an additional 18% gratuity. New in 2023, the Princess Plus package also features new inclusions.
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Celebrity Cruises drink package. Package name: Premium Drink Package. Cost per day: $109, not including a 20% automatic gratuity charge, for passengers who have purchased a cruise-only rate ...
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Cost: CHEERS! package: $59.95 per peson, per day if purchased before embarkation, $64.95 if purchased onboard. Bottomless Bubbles: $6.95 per person, per day for kids 17 and under, $9.50 per person ...
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Buy the drink package Drink packages on cruises aren't worth it unless you plan on drinking a ton and spending a lot of time on the ship. IM_photo/Shutterstock
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Princess makeovers range from $100 to $450, with the basic "Deluxe Carriage Package" including hairstyling, shimmering makeup and face gem, princess sash and cinch sack, nail polish, and t-shirt.
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The drink package isn't flexible in terms of usage schedule. So, customers must either pay for the drink package each day of their cruise or go without it entirely. Because you have to buy it ...

Princess Cruises drink packages: Are the line’s inclusive options deals or duds?

What are the various Princess Cruises drink packages?

Zero-Alcohol Package

Classic Soda Package

Princess Plus Package

Princess Premier Package

What do Princess Cruises drink packages cost?

When's the best time to buy Princess drink packages?

What drinks are you allowed to bring on board?

Are Princess drink packages worth the money?

Bottom line: Is a Princess Cruises drink package right for you?

Princess Cruise Drink Package – Is It Worth It [Updated 2023]

What Are the Princess Cruise Packages Available

Princess Cruise Drink Package Options

Princess Plus Package

WHAT DRINKS ARE INCLUDED IN EACH DIFFERENT PACKAGE?

The New Princess Premier Package

How Do You Buy the Princess Plus or Premier Beverage Package?

HOW MUCH DO DRINKS COST ON A PRINCESS CRUISE?

WHAT ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS OF THE PRINCESS PREMIER AND PRINCESS PLUS PACKAGES?

Crew Appreciation is Included

Wifi Packages

Most Other Drinks are Included

The Princess Juice Bar

Princess Premium Desserts

Fitness Classes

Medallion Accessory

Reserved Theater Seating

Photography Package

Room Service and OceanNow Delivery

What is Casual Dining?

Is the Princess Plus Package Worth It?

Is Princess Premier Worth It?

Princess Classic Soda Package

Princess Zero Alcohol Package

New Grounds Coffee Package

Which Drinks are Free on a Princess Cruise?

Can You Take Your Own Wine on a Princess Cruise?

Princess Cruise Elite Lounge Drinks

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Princess Cruises Drink Packages: Worth It? (With Calculator)

Princess Cruises Drink Packages and Prices

Premier Beverage Package

Plus Beverage Package

Zero Alcohol Package

Classic Soda Package

Drink Prices on Princess Cruises

Is Princess Cruises Drink Package Worth It?

Princess Cruises Drink Package Calculator

Princess Cruises Beverage Package Rules

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Take Drinks Onboard a Princess Cruise?

Can You Share the Drink Package on a Princess Cruise?

Does Everyone in the Cabin Need to Purchase a Princess Cruise Drink Package?

How Many Drinks Can You Order at a Time?

What is the Drinking Age on a Princess Cruise?

Is There a Daily Drink Limit on Princess Cruises?

Can I Purchase the Princess Cruises Beverage Package on Individual Days?

Does the Princess Cruises Drinks Package Include Minibar Purchases?

Does the Princess Cruises Drinks Package Include Room Service?

Can You Use the Princess Cruises Drink Package at the Private Islands?

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Princess Cruises Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

What Princess Cruises drink packages are available for 2024?

Premier Beverage Package

Premier Beverage Package exclusions

How much does the Premier Beverage Package cost?

Plus Beverage Package

Plus Beverage Package exclusions

How much does the Plus Beverage Package cost?

Zero-Alcohol Package

Zero-Alcohol Package exclusions

How much does the Zero-Alcohol Package cost?

Classic Soda Package

Classic Soda Package exclusions

How much does the Classic Soda Package cost?

Princess Cruises drink packages FAQ

How do you buy a Princess Cruises drink package?

Do you need to tip for drinks purchased with Princess’ beverage packages?