On most major cruise lines, both adults in a cabin must purchase the drink package — you can't buy it for just one person. The only exceptions are lines like Virgin Voyages (drinks included) and a handful of situations involving non-drinkers, medical exemptions, or under-21 travelers.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Here's the uncomfortable truth: cruise lines designed the "everyone in the cabin must buy it" rule specifically to stop one person from buying a package and sharing drinks with their cabinmate. It's not a glitch — it's policy. And on most ships, that policy is ironclad.
The Core Rule: Both Adults Must Buy It
On Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC, and Princess, if you're an adult sharing a cabin, both of you must purchase the beverage package. No exceptions for "I only drink wine at dinner" or "my husband doesn't drink much." The cruise line's position is simple: they don't want you splitting one package between two people.
Here's what that actually costs per person, per day in 2025–2026:
| Cruise Line | Package Name | Cost Per Person/Day | Both Adults (7-Night) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Deluxe Beverage Package | $89–$109 | $1,246–$1,526 |
| Carnival | CHEERS! | $72–$105 | $1,008–$1,470 |
| Norwegian | Premium Plus | $109–$139 | $1,526–$1,946 |
| Celebrity | Classic Package | $79–$99 | $1,106–$1,386 |
| MSC | Premium All-Inclusive | $45–$75 | $630–$1,050 |
| Princess | Plus Package (drinks portion) | ~$60 | $840 |
Prices reflect 2025 promotional and standard rates. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian regularly run 30–40% off sales.
If you're a couple where one person barely drinks, that mandatory double-purchase policy can sting hard.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Determine Whether You Can Buy Solo
1. Age of the second occupant If your cabinmate is under 21, you're off the hook — minors are excluded from the adult beverage package requirement. They'll be offered a non-alcoholic package instead (typically $15–$30/day). This is the most common legitimate workaround.
2. Medical or sobriety exemptions Some cruise lines — particularly Celebrity and Royal Caribbean — will grant a waiver if the non-drinking guest provides documentation of a medical condition or sobriety requirement. This is not guaranteed, and you need to call the cruise line directly before sailing. Don't assume the guest services desk on board has the authority to approve it.
3. Which cruise line you're sailing Norwegian has the strictest enforcement. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have the most documented cases of approved medical waivers. Carnival's CHEERS! policy is rigid but occasionally flexible on casino-heavy sailings.
4. All-inclusive lines skip the problem entirely Virgin Voyages includes drinks in every fare — no package to buy, no per-person rule. Drinks are included across the board. If the non-drinking partner situation is a recurring issue for you, Virgin is worth a serious look.
5. Room type matters less than you'd think Some travelers assume suite guests get more flexibility. Generally, they don't — the same both-adults-must-buy rule applies to suites. What suites do sometimes include is a complimentary package built into the fare, which sidesteps the issue entirely.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Save Money (or Avoid the Double-Buy)
Run the math honestly before you buy. The break-even point on most packages is roughly 5–8 alcoholic drinks per person per day, once you factor in specialty coffees, bottled water, and sodas. If one partner is a light drinker, calculate their realistic daily spend — it might be cheaper to pay à la carte.
Here's what à la carte actually costs:
| Drink Type | Typical Ship Price (2025) |
|---|---|
| Cocktail / Mixed Drink | $12–$18 |
| Glass of Wine | $10–$16 |
| Draft Beer | $8–$12 |
| Specialty Coffee | $5–$7 |
| Bottled Water (500ml) | $3–$5 |
| Soda (can) | $3–$4 |
If the light drinker is having 2 cocktails and a coffee per day, that's roughly $35–$45/day à la carte — well below the mandatory package cost of $60–$109/day.
Book during a promotion. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian frequently run "drink package included" or "50% off packages" promotions when booking. If a package is bundled into your fare, the both-adults requirement is already met and the cost is sunk into the cruise price.
Call before you sail. If you have a genuine medical or sobriety situation, contact the cruise line's accessibility desk — not general reservations. Celebrity Cruises in particular has a process for this. Get any approval in writing before boarding.
Consider the non-alcoholic package for the light drinker. Some lines allow one adult to take the premium beverage package while the other opts for a lower-tier non-alcoholic package. Norwegian allows this in some configurations. It won't save a fortune, but it's better than forcing a full package on someone who'll use it for sparkling water and smoothies.
Which Lines Are Most Flexible?
| Cruise Line | Solo-Purchase Allowed? | Exemption Process | Best Workaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | No | Medical waiver possible | Bundle during promo |
| Carnival | No | Very rare exceptions | Pay à la carte for light drinker |
| Norwegian | No | Almost none | Non-alcoholic package option |
| Celebrity | No | Medical/sobriety waiver documented | Call accessibility desk |
| MSC | No | Limited | Book Yacht Club (included) |
| Princess | No | None standard | Plus/Premier bundle |
| Virgin Voyages | N/A | Drinks included in fare | Book Virgin |
| Disney | No package system | Per-drink only | À la carte always |
Bottom line: if you're sailing a mainstream line and one partner barely drinks, your best financial move is usually to let the light drinker pay à la carte and eat the policy — or book during a promotion where packages are included and the question becomes moot.
Use CruiseMutiny to calculate whether a beverage package actually pencils out for your specific sailing, drinking habits, and cruise line — before you commit to paying double for a package one of you won't use.