MSC Cruises offers the cheapest cruise drink packages in 2025, starting around $29–$49/person/day for their non-alcoholic and entry-level alcohol tiers, while Norwegian and Carnival come in second with alcoholic packages from $59–$79/person/day. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are the most expensive, regularly hitting $89–$109/person/day.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
You could easily spend $800–$1,200 on drink packages for two people on a 7-night cruise without batting an eye — or you could spend half that if you pick the right cruise line. Drink package pricing in 2025 varies wildly between lines, and the cheapest option depends on whether you want beer and wine only, cocktails, or a full premium spirits setup.
The Cheapest Cruise Drink Packages by Line (2025 Prices)
Here's the honest breakdown across the major cruise lines. These are the standard adult alcoholic beverage package prices per person, per day — booked in advance online (onboard prices run 10–20% higher):
| Cruise Line | Entry Alcohol Package | Mid-Range Package | Premium Package | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Cruises | $29/day (beer & wine) | $49/day | $65/day | Best value overall; easiest to get on sale |
| Carnival | $59/day (CHEERS!) | $59/day (one tier) | N/A | Single package; 15-drink daily cap |
| Norwegian | $59/day (Free at Sea) | $79/day | N/A | Often bundled free with promotions |
| Royal Caribbean | $75/day (Refreshment) | $89/day (Deluxe) | $99–$109/day | Non-alcoholic tier is popular too |
| Princess | $65/day (Plus bundle) | $85/day (Premier) | N/A | Bundled packages include wi-fi + gratuities |
| Celebrity | $89/day (Classic) | $99–$109/day (Premium) | N/A | Priciest mainstream line |
| Disney | $65/day (Beer/Wine/Cocktail) | N/A | N/A | Limited options; family-focused |
| Holland America | $69/day (Signature) | $89/day (Elite) | N/A | Good mid-tier value |
| Virgin Voyages | ~$40/day (Bar Tab credit) | $55–$65/day | N/A | Unique credit system; no package bloat |
Prices reflect 2025 advance-purchase rates. Sale prices and promotional inclusions can drop these significantly.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Drive Drink Package Costs
What's included in the package matters more than the headline price. A $49/day MSC package capped at basic spirits and house wine is a very different product from a $99/day Celebrity Premium package that covers top-shelf cocktails, craft beers, and specialty coffees.
Daily drink limits are the hidden gotcha. Carnival's CHEERS! package caps you at 15 alcoholic drinks per day — which sounds like plenty until you realize specialty coffees and bottled water count toward that limit. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have similar caps. If you're a light drinker, you may not break even on any package priced above $59/day.
Break-even math is brutal at the top end. At $109/day on Celebrity, you need to consume roughly 7–8 cocktails at $15 each just to cover the cost. For two people on a 7-night sailing, that's a $1,526 package bet. If you average 4–5 drinks a day, you're losing money.
Promotional bundling changes everything. Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion regularly includes a beverage package as one of five free perks — making it effectively $0/day if you were going to pick that offer anyway. Princess's Plus and Premier bundles fold in gratuities and Wi-Fi, which can make a $65/day package look cheap compared to paying those costs separately.
MSC's tiered system is the most flexible of any mainstream line in 2025. Their entry-level beer-and-wine package at $29/day is genuinely useful for casual drinkers, and their mid-tier at $49/day covers most cocktails most people actually order.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Get the Cheapest Drink Package
Book early or watch for flash sales. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian all run 20–30% off drink package sales tied to major holidays (Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day). I've seen Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package drop from $89 to $62/day during these windows.
Never buy onboard at full price. Cruise lines routinely charge 15–25% more for packages purchased after boarding. Lock in your price before you sail.
Do the math for your drinking style before you buy:
- Light drinker (2–3 drinks/day): Skip the package. Pay as you go — you'll come out ahead.
- Moderate drinker (4–6 drinks/day): A package at $59–$69/day likely breaks even or saves a small amount.
- Heavy drinker or cocktail enthusiast (7+ drinks/day): A premium package pays off clearly.
Consider Virgin Voyages' Bar Tab system if you want flexibility without commitment. You buy a credit amount (often discounted 10–15% as an add-on) and spend it however you want — no daily caps, no package anxiety.
Check if gratuities are included. Most packages add 18–20% gratuity on top of the listed price automatically. A $79/day Norwegian package becomes ~$93/day after gratuity. MSC builds gratuity into their package prices, so the sticker price is the real price.
Take advantage of Norwegian's Free at Sea bundles if you're already considering NCL — the beverage package as a free perk when booking select categories is effectively the cheapest deal in the industry when structured correctly.
Best Cruise Lines by Drinker Type
| Drinker Type | Best Line | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious casual drinker | MSC Cruises | $29–$49/day entry tiers; genuine flexibility |
| Beer-and-cocktail moderate drinker | Carnival | Simple single-tier CHEERS! at $59/day; no upsell confusion |
| Deal hunter | Norwegian | Free at Sea bundles can zero out the package cost |
| Premium spirits enthusiast | Celebrity | Most comprehensive coverage despite highest price |
| Flexible spender | Virgin Voyages | Bar Tab credits offer maximum choice without package lock-in |
| Family with mixed drinkers | Royal Caribbean | Refreshment (non-alcohol) package at $35–$45/day is best non-alcohol value |
If cheap is the only metric that matters, MSC Cruises wins 2025 hands-down — no other mainstream line gets you into a legitimate alcoholic beverage package under $50/day. If you care about value relative to what you actually drink, Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion is the real sleeper pick. Use CruiseMutiny to calculate your personal break-even point before you commit to any package — the difference between a smart buy and an expensive mistake is usually just a few minutes of honest math.