Norwegian Cruise Line's Premium Plus Beverage Package at $109/person/day offers the best all-in value in 2025 for heavy drinkers, while Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package at $79–$109/day wins for mid-range drinkers — but MSC's Premium Extra package at $40–$55/day is the steal most cruisers overlook.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Cruise lines have turned drink packages into a $100+/day guessing game, and most passengers either overpay for alcohol they won't drink or skip the package and get gouged at $14–$18 per cocktail. Here's the honest breakdown of which package actually pays off in 2025 — and for whom.
The Real Numbers: What Each Line Charges in 2025
These are standard (non-sale) package rates per person per day. Cruise lines run frequent sales — sometimes 30–40% off — so treat these as your worst-case baseline.
| Cruise Line | Package Name | Cost/Person/Day | Top Drink Limit | Notable Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian (NCL) | Premium Plus Beverage | $109 | $20/drink | Spirits, wine, beer, specialty coffee, bottled water |
| Royal Caribbean | Deluxe Beverage Package | $79–$109 | $14–$17/drink | Cocktails, wine by glass, beer, specialty coffee |
| Celebrity Cruises | Classic Drink Package | $79–$89 | $10/drink | Beer, spirits, wine, non-premium cocktails |
| Celebrity Cruises | Premium Drink Package | $99–$119 | $17/drink | Premium spirits, craft cocktails, specialty coffee |
| Carnival | Cheers! Package | $59–$89 | $20/drink | Cocktails, beer, wine, energy drinks, milkshakes |
| MSC Cruises | Premium Extra Package | $40–$55 | Varies | Spirits, cocktails, wine, specialty coffee |
| Princess Cruises | Premier Package (drinks included) | $80–$120* | $20/drink | Part of bundled fare tier |
| Holland America | Signature Beverage Package | $69–$99 | $15/drink | Beer, wine, spirits, non-alcoholic |
| Disney Cruise Line | N/A — no unlimited package | Per drink only | — | No all-inclusive option |
| Virgin Voyages | Bar Tab Credit ($300 included) | Included in fare | — | Pre-loaded bar credit, not truly unlimited |
*Princess bundles drinks into a package tier rather than selling standalone — the $80–$120 reflects the drink portion of the Premier fare upgrade.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What Actually Determines Whether a Package Pays Off
The math is ruthlessly simple. If you drink 5+ alcoholic beverages per day, most packages break even or save money. Fewer than 4 drinks a day? You're probably better off paying as you go.
Price per drink matters as much as package cost. Carnival's Cheers! at $59–$89/day covers drinks up to $20 each — that's exceptional coverage. Royal Caribbean caps many packages at $14/drink, meaning premium cocktails and top-shelf spirits cost extra anyway.
The specialty coffee trap. If you're a two-latte-a-day person, factor in $6–$8 per specialty coffee. Two coffees plus three cocktails gets you to package break-even faster than you think on any line.
Mandatory pairing rules kill solo drinkers. Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Celebrity require everyone in the same cabin to purchase the package if anyone does. On a 7-night cruise, forcing a non-drinker to pay $553–$763 extra is a budget destroyer. This is the single most expensive fine print in cruising.
Port days are the package killer. On days you're off the ship for 6–8 hours, you're paying full package price for half the drinking opportunity. Factor in how many port-heavy vs. sea-day itineraries you're booking.
Photo: MSC Cruises
The Honest Value Ranking: Best to Worst
| Rank | Cruise Line | Best For | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | MSC Cruises | Budget-conscious drinkers | $40–$55/day is 40–50% cheaper than competitors with comparable coverage |
| 🥈 2 | Carnival (Cheers!) | Casual to moderate drinkers | $20/drink cap, broad coverage, includes non-alcoholic specialty drinks |
| 🥉 3 | Norwegian (NCL) | Heavy drinkers, premium spirit lovers | $20/drink cap, best premium coverage — but only worth it if you drink 6+/day |
| 4 | Royal Caribbean | Mid-range drinkers on longer sailings | Good coverage but $14 drink cap is frustrating on premium cocktails |
| 5 | Celebrity Premium | Wine and craft cocktail lovers | $17/drink cap, genuinely premium selection — just pricey |
| 6 | Holland America | Moderate drinkers on longer itineraries | Solid mid-tier value, often discounted at booking |
| 7 | Princess (Premier) | Convenience seekers | Bundled value is decent but hard to isolate drink cost |
| 8 | Disney | Families or light drinkers only | No package = full rack rates. Budget for $15–$18/cocktail |
| 9 | Virgin Voyages | Non-heavy drinkers | $300 bar credit sounds great; heavy drinkers burn through it by day 2 |
Practical Tips to Stop Overpaying
1. Wait for the sale — they're not rare. Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Carnival run 20–40% off beverage package promotions multiple times per year, especially around Black Friday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Booking a package at full price is almost always a mistake.
2. Pre-purchase before you board. Every line charges 10–20% more if you buy the package onboard. Buy through your cruise line account before sailing — or through a travel agent who can apply promotions.
3. Run your personal drink calculation. Take your honest daily drink count × the à la carte price × number of cruise days. Compare that to package cost. Don't romanticize your vacation drinking habits — most people average 3–4 drinks/day, not 7.
4. Target sea-day-heavy itineraries for packages. A 7-night Caribbean sailing with 4 sea days and 3 ports extracts far more package value than a port-intensive Mediterranean itinerary where you're ashore most of the day.
5. On Carnival, note the 15-drink daily cap. Cheers! limits you to 15 alcoholic beverages per day. For 99.9% of cruisers this is irrelevant. Just know it exists.
6. Ask if packages can be split in your cabin. MSC and some Holland America sailings have been more flexible about this than the big three. Always worth asking at booking.
7. Book through a cruise-specialist agent. Agents sometimes have negotiated package inclusions or onboard credits that offset package costs. CruiseHub is worth checking for current bundled deals before you commit.
The Verdict by Traveler Type
| Traveler Type | Best Package Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy drinker (6+/day) | NCL Premium Plus | $20/drink cap, best premium spirit coverage |
| Moderate drinker (3–5/day) | Carnival Cheers! or MSC Premium Extra | Best cost-per-drink coverage ratio |
| Wine lover | Celebrity Premium or MSC | Better wine selections per price point |
| Coffee + light drinking | Royal Caribbean Deluxe | Specialty coffee inclusion makes it pencil out |
| Budget cruiser | MSC Premium Extra | Nothing else at $40–$55/day comes close |
| Non-drinker in a couple | Any line — skip the package | Never let mandatory pairing rules force a purchase |
| Family cruise | Carnival Cheers! (adults only) + CHEERS! Soda Package for kids | Separating adult and kid packages saves real money |
The bottom line: MSC is the hidden value winner at $40–$55/day, Carnival is the best mass-market option, and NCL earns its premium price only if you genuinely drink premium. Don't let the cruise line's pre-cruise email blitz pressure you into a package decision — run your own numbers first.
Use CruiseMutiny to calculate exactly how many drinks you need per day to break even on any cruise line's beverage package before you buy.