Celebrity's Premium Package runs roughly $85–$105/person/day pre-cruise and covers drinks up to $19, premium Wi-Fi, tips, and specialty dining credits — making it genuinely worth it for moderate-to-heavy drinkers on sea-heavy sailings, but overpriced for light drinkers or port-intensive itineraries.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
The cruise line in the context hints says Norwegian, but the question is clearly about Celebrity's Premium Package — so let's answer the actual question. Celebrity sells you a bundle dream: drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, maybe dining credits, all rolled into one daily rate. Whether that dream is worth the price depends entirely on how you cruise.
What the Celebrity Premium Package Actually Costs
Celebrity's Premium Package (formerly part of the "Always Included" structure) typically runs $85–$105/person/day when purchased pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner — and closer to $120+/person/day if you wait and buy onboard. For a couple on a 7-night sailing, you're looking at $1,190–$1,470 combined just for the package tier upgrade. That's real money. Here's how it stacks up:
| Package Tier | Approx. Daily Rate (pre-cruise) | Drink Cap | Wi-Fi | Gratuities Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Package | ~$65–$80/person/day | $12/drink | Basic | Yes |
| Premium Package | ~$85–$105/person/day | $19/drink | Premium (streaming) | Yes |
| À La Carte (no package) | Pay as you go | N/A | ~$25–$40/day | ~$18–$20/day extra |
The jump from Classic to Premium is roughly $20–$25/person/day. The key upgrades you're paying for: the drink cap rises from $12 to $19 per drink, and Wi-Fi upgrades from basic browsing to full streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc.).
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
What Actually Drives the Value Calculation
The drink cap is the hinge point. If you regularly order craft cocktails, top-shelf spirits, or premium wines by the glass — which typically run $13–$20 before gratuity at Celebrity bars — the Classic Package will hit you with constant upcharges. That $12 cap triggers surcharges on nearly every premium pour. The Premium Package's $19 cap covers the vast majority of cocktails and wines without extra charges.
The Wi-Fi upgrade matters if you stream. Basic Celebrity Wi-Fi handles email and browsing fine. But if you want Netflix in your cabin or need to take video calls, the premium streaming tier is the only option — and buying it standalone runs ~$39.99/day on comparable lines. Getting it bundled inside the Premium Package is genuinely good value if you'd buy it anyway.
Gratuities are included in both tiers, so that's a wash when comparing Classic vs. Premium. But vs. going packageless, factor in ~$18–$20/person/day for gratuities as a baseline cost you can't avoid.
Sea days load the value, port days drain it. On a 7-night Caribbean sailing with 4 sea days, you have ample time to drink your way to break-even. On a Mediterranean itinerary where you're off the ship 10 hours a day hitting wine bars in port? The math gets much harder.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
How to Know If You'll Break Even
Here's the honest break-even math. To justify the ~$20–$25/day premium upgrade cost over Classic:
| Scenario | Daily Drinks Needed to Break Even | Verdict | |---|---|---|---| | You mostly drink beers and well cocktails under $12 | 0 extra — Classic covers you | Stick with Classic | | You drink 2–3 premium cocktails or glasses of wine daily | ~1–2 surcharge-free drinks/day covers the gap | Premium pays off | | You want streaming Wi-Fi anyway | Wi-Fi alone justifies ~$15–$20 of the gap | Premium makes sense | | You're a light drinker (1–2 drinks/day) | Neither package breaks even easily | Go à la carte |
Break-even for the full Premium Package vs. no package at all: you need roughly 5–6 drinks per day plus Wi-Fi usage to come out ahead. Heavy drinkers hit that before lunch on a sea day.
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value
- Buy pre-cruise through the Celebrity Cruise Planner — onboard pricing is consistently 15–20% higher. Set a price alert and check back; Celebrity runs sales.
- Watch for "All Included" promotions where Celebrity bundles Classic or Premium into the base fare at a discount. These promos appear regularly and are often the best deal.
- Solo travelers should do the math carefully — the package applies per person, and solo supplement fares already sting. If you're a light drinker sailing solo, à la carte almost always wins.
- Premium Wi-Fi is the sleeper value — if two people in a cabin both want streaming, buying standalone Wi-Fi for two devices runs ~$66/day combined. Getting it inside the package is a genuine win.
- Don't upgrade at the pier or onboard — that's where Celebrity makes its margin. Pre-cruise or during a flash sale only.
Bottom Line: Who Should Buy It
| Traveler Type | Recommendation | |---|---|---| | Drinks 4+ cocktails/day, prefers premium spirits | Buy Premium — clear winner | | Wants streaming Wi-Fi + drinks 3+/day | Buy Premium — math works | | Drinks 2–3 basic cocktails, doesn't stream | Classic Package is fine | | Light drinker (1–2 drinks/day) | Skip both, go à la carte | | Port-heavy Mediterranean itinerary | Consider Classic or à la carte |
The Celebrity Premium Package is one of the better bundle values in the premium cruise tier — but only if you'll actually use the drink and Wi-Fi upgrades. Don't buy it because it feels like a deal. Buy it because your honest daily drink count and streaming habits make the numbers work.
Run your exact sailing numbers — including any current Celebrity promo pricing — through CruiseMutiny before you commit. A five-minute check could save you hundreds.