For most non-drinkers, the standard alcoholic beverage package is not worth it — but a dedicated non-alcoholic refreshment package priced at $25–$45/day often is, especially on sea-heavy itineraries where specialty coffees, mocktails, bottled water, and premium sodas add up fast.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
The cruise line's marketing department really, really wants you to believe the drink package is for everyone. It's not. But that doesn't mean non-drinkers should automatically skip all beverage packages — it means you need to know exactly which package to buy and when the math actually works in your favor.
The Core Answer: Which Package Is Right for Non-Drinkers?
Most mainstream cruise lines offer a tiered beverage system. The full alcoholic "Deluxe" or "Premium" package runs $70–$120/person/day (pre-cruise price) — that's designed for people drinking 5–6 alcoholic drinks daily just to break even. Non-drinkers have no business paying that.
What does make sense is the non-alcoholic refreshment or soda package, which most lines offer separately:
| Package Type | Typical Daily Cost (Pre-Cruise) | What's Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Alcoholic Beverage Package | $70–$120/person/day | Cocktails, beer, wine, mocktails, specialty coffee (varies), sodas | Heavy drinkers, 5–6 drinks/day minimum |
| Non-Alcoholic / Refreshment Package | $25–$45/person/day | Mocktails, specialty coffees, premium sodas, juices, bottled water | Non-drinkers who love coffee and specialty drinks |
| Soda Package Only | $9–$14/person/day | Fountain sodas, sometimes canned sodas | Soda-only drinkers |
| Nothing (Pay As You Go) | $0 upfront | Whatever you buy | Minimal drinkers, short itineraries |
Always check your Cruise Planner for your exact sailing — drink package prices are dynamic and fluctuate based on sailing date, ship, and demand.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What Drives the Cost for Non-Drinkers
Specialty coffee is the biggest wildcard. A single espresso drink at the ship's specialty coffee bar runs $6–$9 before the 18–20% gratuity tacked on top. Two lattes a day = $14–$22 before gratuity. That adds up to $17–$26/day just on coffee. If you're a two-coffee-a-day person who also wants premium sodas and mocktails, you can absolutely justify a refreshment package.
Bottled water and premium sodas aren't free. Fountain soda at the buffet is free on most lines, but bottled water runs $3–$5/bottle and Red Bull or similar energy drinks hit $5.50+ each — and neither is typically included in the non-alcoholic package either. Check the fine print.
Mocktails cost real money. A well-crafted zero-proof cocktail runs $9–$13 at the bar, and yes, gratuity is on top of that too. Two mocktails in a sea-day afternoon = $22–$32 after gratuity.
Sea days inflate your consumption. On a port-heavy itinerary where you're off the ship from 8am to 5pm, you'll drink far less onboard. On a sea-heavy sailing with 4+ sea days, your beverage spend can double.
Photo: MSC Cruises
The Break-Even Math for Non-Drinkers
Let's run the actual numbers for a non-drinker considering a refreshment package at $35/day:
| What You Consume Daily | Cost À La Carte (with 20% gratuity) | Package Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 2 specialty coffees ($7 each) | $16.80 | — |
| 2 mocktails ($11 each) | $26.40 | — |
| 2 bottled waters ($4 each) | $8.00 | — |
| Daily Total À La Carte | $51.20 | Save ~$16/day vs. $35 package |
| 1 specialty coffee + 1 premium soda | $16.80 | Break-even at $35? No — skip the package |
| Just fountain sodas | $0 (free at buffet) | Definitely skip the package |
The package pays off if you're genuinely consuming 3+ specialty/premium beverages per day. If you're a water-and-buffet-soda person, pay as you go.
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value
Buy before you board. The pre-cruise price in your Cruise Planner is almost always cheaper than the onboard price — sometimes 20–30% less. Set a calendar reminder to check 90, 60, and 30 days out, as prices fluctuate.
Check if gratuities are included in the package. Some packages include gratuity, some add it on top. A $35/day package that charges 20% gratuity on top is actually $42/day. Read the fine print before you click buy.
Don't buy the full alcoholic package "for the perks." Non-drinkers sometimes think they should get the premium package to cover a travel companion who drinks. Both people in a cabin must buy the same package on every major line — so if your partner drinks and you don't, one of you is overpaying, full stop.
Know what's free before you buy anything. Every mainstream cruise line provides free: fountain soda at the buffet, tap water, lemonade/iced tea at the buffet, and drip coffee/basic tea in the dining room. If those are all you need, your daily beverage budget is $0.
Look for package promos when booking. Lines like Norwegian, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean frequently bundle beverage packages into promotional offers ("Free at Sea," "Always Included"). If a non-alcoholic package is bundled into a deal as an upgrade or swap option, it's worth grabbing — just verify the specific package included.
Virgin Voyages is a unique case. Non-alcoholic beverages (including specialty sodas and non-alcoholic cocktails) are included in every Virgin fare by default, with no package needed. If you're a non-drinker, this alone can make Virgin a compelling value — just don't expect Carnival-style pricing on the base fare.
The Bottom Line by Traveler Type
| Non-Drinker Profile | Best Move | Estimated Daily Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee lover, 2+ specialty drinks/day | Buy the refreshment package | $25–$45/day (package) |
| Mocktail enthusiast on a sea-heavy cruise | Buy the refreshment package | $25–$45/day (package) |
| Casual sipper, mostly water and buffet drinks | Pay as you go | $5–$15/day |
| Companion to a heavy drinker | Each buys their own tier | Partner buys full package; you buy soda or nothing |
| Sailing Virgin Voyages | Nothing to buy | Included in fare |
For most non-drinkers, the honest answer is: skip the $70–$120 alcoholic package entirely, evaluate the $25–$45 refreshment package based on your actual coffee and mocktail habits, and default to pay-as-you-go if you're mostly a water person. The cruise line counts on you overestimating your consumption — don't fall for it.
Use CruiseMutiny to run the numbers on your specific sailing and see whether any bundled package deals make sense before you commit to anything.