Gratuities on cruise drink packages are NOT included in the advertised price — most lines add 18–20% on top, which can add $12–$25/person/day to your total package cost. Always calculate the gratuity-inclusive price before deciding if a package is worth it.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Most cruise lines advertise their drink packages with a suspiciously clean per-day price. What they don't lead with: that price does not include gratuity. By the time you check out, you're paying 18–20% more than the number that caught your eye.
The Real Cost: Drink Package Price + Gratuity Added On Top
Every major mainstream cruise line charges a service gratuity on top of the drink package price — collected either at pre-purchase checkout or automatically added onboard. The industry standard is 18–20% in 2025–2026, with several lines (Carnival, Norwegian, Holland America) having raised their rate to 20%.
Here's what the actual all-in math looks like across the price spectrum:
| Package Tier | Advertised Price/Day | Gratuity Rate | Gratuity Added | All-In Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (soda/non-alc) | ~$20–$30 | 18–20% | $4–$6 | $24–$36 |
| Mid-range alcohol package | ~$65–$75 | 18–20% | $12–$15 | $77–$90 |
| Premium alcohol package | ~$85–$100 | 18–20% | $15–$20 | $100–$120 |
| Celebrity Classic Package | ~$65 (typical pre-cruise) | 20% | ~$13 | ~$78 |
| Celebrity Premium Package | ~$85 (typical pre-cruise) | 20% | ~$17 | ~$102 |
Celebrity Cruises confirms it directly in their FAQ: "No, a 20% gratuity will be added to all drink package prices at checkout." That's not buried in fine print — but it is easy to miss when you're excited about the headline rate.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Affect How Much Gratuity You Pay
1. The gratuity rate varies by line Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, NCL, and Princess charge 18–20%. MSC charges 15% on bar purchases. Carnival recently moved to 20%. The difference between 18% and 20% on a 7-day premium package can be $15–$25 per person — real money.
2. Pre-cruise vs. onboard pricing Buying pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner typically saves 10–20% on the base price — and since gratuity is a percentage of that base, a lower base = lower gratuity too. Always buy before you board.
3. Overage gratuities hit twice If you order a drink that exceeds your package's price cap, you pay the difference plus gratuity on that difference. Celebrity's Classic Package caps at $12/drink — order a $14 cocktail and you're charged $2.00 + 20% gratuity extra. The Premium Package caps at $19; same math applies above that threshold.
4. Luxury lines include gratuities in fare Virgin Voyages, Oceania (as of Jan 2025), Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Azamara, Viking Ocean, and Crystal all include gratuities in the cruise fare. On these lines, drink packages (where they exist) typically have cleaner pricing with no gratuity surcharge layered on top.
5. The package gratuity is separate from daily crew gratuities These are two different charges. Your daily hotel service charge ($16–$25/person/day for mainstream lines) covers your cabin steward, dining staff, etc. The drink package gratuity goes toward bar staff specifically. You're paying both.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Avoid Gratuity Sticker Shock
Calculate the all-in number before you commit. Take the advertised package price, multiply by 1.20 (or 1.18 for lines still at 18%), then multiply by the number of cruise days. That's your real cost. A 7-day Celebrity Premium Package at $85/day becomes $714 base + $143 gratuity = $857 per person. Know that before you click buy.
Buy pre-cruise, not onboard. Onboard pricing is typically higher than Cruise Planner pricing. Since gratuity is a percentage, a $10 higher daily rate costs you another $14 in gratuity on a 7-day cruise.
Watch the price cap closely. On Celebrity Classic ($12 cap) or Royal Caribbean's package ($14 cap for some tiers), ordering premium cocktails that average $13–$16 will generate constant overage charges — each with their own 18–20% gratuity kicker. If your drinking habits run premium, upgrade to the package that actually covers what you drink.
Don't forget the upgrade gratuity. Celebrity charges $20/day to upgrade from Classic to Premium — plus 20% gratuity on that upgrade. So the upgrade costs $24/day, not $20.
Consider whether you'd break even without the package. Individual drinks run $7.50 for domestic beer to $16 for top-shelf cocktails — before 18–20% gratuity. At 5–6 drinks/day including specialty coffee, most moderate-to-heavy drinkers break even or come out ahead with a package. Below that threshold, paying per drink (and tipping only on what you actually order) can be cheaper.
Line-by-Line Gratuity Quick Reference
| Cruise Line | Drink Package Gratuity Rate | Included in Package Price? |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | 20% | No — added at checkout |
| Royal Caribbean | 18–20% | No — added at checkout |
| Celebrity Cruises | 20% | No — added at checkout |
| Norwegian (NCL) | 20% | No — added at checkout |
| Princess | 18% | No — added at checkout |
| MSC | 15% | No — added at checkout |
| Holland America | 20% | No — added at checkout |
| Virgin Voyages | N/A | Gratuities included in fare |
| Oceania | N/A | Gratuities included in fare (as of Jan 2025) |
| Regent / Silversea / Seabourn | N/A | All-inclusive — gratuities in fare |
The bottom line: the drink package price you see is never the price you pay. Add 18–20% for every mainstream cruise line, factor in potential overage charges on capped packages, and then decide if the math works for your trip.
Use CruiseMutiny to run the full drink package vs. pay-as-you-go comparison for your specific sailing — it accounts for gratuity, your daily drink habits, and the number of sea days so you know the real break-even before you book.