The Carnival Venezia Cheers! Beverage Package costs $59.95–$79.95 per person, per day (plus 18% gratuity), depending on when you buy it — bringing the real all-in daily cost to $70.74–$94.34 per person.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
The Carnival Venezia is one of Carnival's flashiest ships, and the cruise line knows it. Drink prices onboard are steep, and the math on whether the Cheers! package pays off is not obvious — until you run the actual numbers. Here's the honest breakdown.
Carnival Venezia Cheers! Beverage Package — What It Actually Costs
The Cheers! Beverage Package is Carnival's all-inclusive alcohol option, and it's available on the Venezia. The price varies depending on when and how you buy it:
- Pre-cruise online price: $59.95/person/day
- Onboard price: $79.95/person/day
- Mandatory 18% gratuity is added on top of either price — always
- Both guests in a cabin must purchase it (Carnival's firm policy, no exceptions)
| Purchase Timing | Base Price/Day | + 18% Gratuity | Real Daily Cost (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-cruise (online) | $59.95 | $10.79 | $70.74 |
| Onboard purchase | $79.95 | $14.39 | $94.34 |
| 7-night cruise total (pre-cruise, 2 people) | — | — | $990.36 |
| 7-night cruise total (onboard, 2 people) | — | — | $1,320.76 |
Buying pre-cruise is a no-brainer — you're leaving $330 on the table if you wait until you board.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What Cheers! Covers on the Venezia
The package covers cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, non-alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, and energy drinks — up to $20 per drink. Anything above $20 you pay the difference. On the Venezia, with its Italian-inspired flair and upscale bar concepts like the Tides Bar and Prosecco Bar, you'll find plenty of options that push right to that $20 ceiling.
What's NOT included:
- Bottles of wine at dinner (only by the glass)
- Beverages from the mini-bar
- Any drink over $20 per serving
- Room service drinks
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What Drives Whether This Package Pays Off
The break-even math is simple and brutal:
| Drinks Per Day | Avg. Drink Price | Daily Spend Without Package | Break-Even vs. Pre-Cruise Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 drinks | $13 | $39 | Doesn't pay off |
| 5 drinks | $13 | $65 | Roughly breaks even |
| 6 drinks | $13 | $78 | Pays off by $7/day |
| 8 drinks | $13 | $104 | Saves $33/day |
The key factors that change this math:
- Specialty coffee counts. If you grab a $6 cappuccino every morning, that's already working in your favor.
- Sparkling water and sodas included. If you drink a lot of non-alcoholic beverages, this adds real value.
- The Venezia's bar scene is active. This is not a ship where you'll be bored and dry — the Italian-themed entertainment and long sea days (it does NYC-to-Bahamas itineraries) mean more bar time than average.
- Non-drinkers should skip it. There's a much cheaper Bottomless Bubbles soda package (~$10.95/day for adults) if you just want soft drinks.
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value
- Buy it the moment Carnival opens pre-cruise purchases — usually 30–90 days before sailing. Watch your email or the Carnival Hub app.
- Check for sales. Carnival periodically discounts Cheers! by $5–$10/day during promotions. The best deals often appear on Black Friday or in January.
- Use the Carnival Hub app to order drinks — it's faster than flagging down a bartender and helps you track your daily 15-drink alcohol limit (yes, there's a cap).
- Don't buy it onboard unless you missed the pre-cruise window — the $20/day premium is punishing.
- Factor in embarkation day. The package activates when you board, so a noon embarkation with a late-night departure is a long first day — make it work for you.
- Consider the math per person honestly. If one person in your cabin drinks heavily and the other barely drinks, you're still paying for two packages. Sometimes it's cheaper to pay-as-you-go for the light drinker and get the package for the heavy one — except Carnival won't let you split it. So run the combined numbers.
Is Cheers! Worth It on the Carnival Venezia Specifically?
Yes — more than on most Carnival ships — for two reasons:
- The Venezia sails from New York City, which means it attracts a crowd that's used to $18 cocktails and doesn't flinch at bar spending. The onboard bar prices reflect that demographic.
- The ship's design leans into premium bar experiences. The La Piazza atrium, Prosecco Bar, and rooftop Lido deck create natural drink-spending moments that add up faster than on a standard Carnival Fun Ship.
If you're a moderate drinker (5–6 drinks a day including coffees and sodas), the pre-cruise Cheers! package on the Venezia pays off. If you're a light drinker or on a dry sailing, skip it and pay as you go.
Want to see exactly how much your specific drinking habits will cost on a Carnival Venezia sailing? Run the numbers with CruiseMutiny — it'll show you the real total cost of your cruise before you commit to anything. You can also compare sailings and book through our partner CruiseHub to find the best Venezia fares before the drink packages get any pricier.