Celebrity's Classic Beverage Package covers drinks up to $10/pour and costs roughly $65–$75/person/day, while the Premium Package covers drinks up to $17/pour and runs $85–$99/person/day — a difference of about $20–$25/day that's only worth it if you drink premium spirits, specialty cocktails, or wines by the glass.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Cruises sells you a dream: unlimited drinks, all cruise long. What they don't tell you upfront is that which package you buy determines whether that dream includes a $16 craft cocktail or just a well whiskey and a house Chardonnay. The gap between Classic and Premium is real, and choosing wrong costs you money in both directions.
Classic vs Premium: The Core Difference in Numbers
The single biggest distinction is the per-drink price cap. Classic tops out at $10 per drink. Premium tops out at $17 per drink. Anything above those limits — and you pay the full difference out of pocket, plus the automatic 20% gratuity that's added to every drink order.
Here's how the two packages stack up across every major variable:
| Feature | Classic Package | Premium Package | |---|---|---|---| | Price (pre-cruise sale) | $65–$75/person/day | $85–$99/person/day | | Price (onboard, no sale) | $79–$89/person/day | $99–$115/person/day | | Per-drink cap | $10 | $17 | | Beer | Domestic & select imports | Premium craft & imported | | Wine by the glass | House pours (~$9–$10) | Premium labels up to $17 | | Spirits | Well & mid-tier (Tito's, Bacardi, Jim Beam) | Premium (Grey Goose, Patron, Woodford Reserve, Hendrick's) | | Specialty cocktails | Basic cocktails under $10 | Most signature & craft cocktails | | Fresh-squeezed juices | No | Yes | | Sparkling water (Perrier/San Pellegrino) | No | Yes | | Premium coffee (Nespresso, specialty lattes) | No | Yes | | Red Bull / energy drinks | No | Yes | | Milkshakes | No | Yes | | Gratuities included | Yes (18–20%) | Yes (18–20%) | | Minimum nights required | Full voyage | Full voyage |
Both packages require all adults in the same cabin to purchase the same package — Celebrity enforces this without exception.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Determine Which Package Is Worth It
Your drink order matters more than anything else. Pull up Celebrity's current bar menu before you decide. If your go-to is Grey Goose, Hendrick's gin, Patron, Woodford Reserve, or any craft cocktail priced at $12–$17, the Classic Package leaves you paying out of pocket every single time. At 4–6 drinks a day, those overages add up fast.
The $10 cap is tighter than it sounds. In 2025, Celebrity's onboard cocktail prices have crept up. A simple margarita on a pool deck is often $11–$13. A glass of anything drinkable in the wine department hits $12–$14. The Classic Package's $10 ceiling catches a lot of people off guard mid-cruise.
The upgrade math. The Premium Package costs roughly $20–$25/day more per person when booked pre-cruise on sale. If you're a couple on a 7-night cruise, that's $280–$350 extra total to upgrade both of you. That only makes financial sense if you'd each otherwise pay overages or buy specialty coffees and sparkling waters daily.
"Always Included" promotions change the calculus. Celebrity frequently bundles the Classic Package into its Always Included fares. If you've already got Classic included free, the question becomes: is it worth paying $20–$30/day per person to upgrade to Premium? For light-to-moderate drinkers who stick to beer, basic cocktails, or house wine — almost certainly not.
Non-alcoholic value in Premium is underrated. If you or your travel partner drink specialty coffees, sparkling water, fresh juices, or Red Bull daily, the Premium Package's inclusion of these items alone can justify a significant chunk of the price difference — especially on longer sailings.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value
Book the upgrade pre-cruise, never onboard. Celebrity's onboard beverage package prices are 20–35% higher than pre-cruise rates. Lock in the sale price before you sail — Celebrity runs promotions constantly, especially in the 60–90 day window before departure.
Check if Classic comes bundled first. If your fare already includes Classic through an Always Included promotion, calculate the actual upgrade cost (not the full Premium price) before deciding. You're paying the delta, not the full package price.
Do a drink audit before you book. Write down every drink you realistically order in a day — morning coffee, midday cocktail, beer by the pool, wine at dinner, after-dinner digestif. Price each one against Celebrity's current menu. If more than 2–3 of those drinks exceed $10, Premium pays for itself.
Consider the upgrade after boarding — carefully. You can upgrade from Classic to Premium onboard, but at the higher onboard rate. If Celebrity offers an early-boarding upgrade promotion (they sometimes do), that can be a sweet spot — just confirm the price before you commit.
Don't assume "Premium" means unlimited everything. Bottles of wine to your cabin, room service alcohol, and items above $17 are still not included. A bottle of Dom Pérignon at dinner costs extra regardless of which package you hold.
Which Package Is Right for Which Traveler
| Traveler Type | Best Package | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beer drinker, domestic/import | Classic | Most beers fall under $10 |
| House wine drinker | Classic | House pours are $9–$10 |
| Grey Goose / Patron / Hendrick's drinker | Premium | These spirits exceed $10/pour |
| Specialty cocktail lover | Premium | Most craft cocktails are $12–$16 |
| Daily Nespresso or latte drinker | Premium | Specialty coffee alone adds up |
| Sparkling water + juice daily | Premium | Included only in Premium |
| Non-drinker traveling with partner | Classic (minimum) | Classic covers mocktails & sodas |
| Someone with Classic already bundled | Evaluate upgrade cost only | Math changes significantly |
The bottom line: Classic is genuinely fine for moderate drinkers who stick to beer, well spirits, and house wine. Premium earns its price premium only when you consistently drink above the $10 cap — which, given current Celebrity pricing, is easier to do than you'd think.
Before you book either package, use CruiseMutiny to calculate exactly how much your drinking habits would cost à la carte versus each package tier — so you're not making a $300+ decision based on a guess.