A cruise ship soda package typically costs $8–$12/person/day, meaning you need to drink 4–6 sodas daily just to break even — which makes it worth it for heavy soda drinkers but a waste of money for most casual cruisers.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
You've probably stared at that soda package upsell screen during online check-in and wondered if you're being played. You are — unless you're the kind of person who genuinely drinks four or more sodas a day. Here's the honest math so you can decide without the cruise line's sales spin.
What Cruise Soda Packages Actually Cost (2025–2026 Rates)
Soda packages vary significantly by cruise line, but they all follow the same logic: a flat daily rate, purchased for your entire voyage, non-refundable if you drink less than expected. Most packages cover fountain sodas, canned sodas, and sometimes sparkling water or mocktails depending on the line.
| Cruise Line | Soda Package Cost | What's Included | Break-Even (at ~$2.50/can) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $8.50/person/day | Fountain sodas + Bubbles card | ~3–4 sodas/day |
| Royal Caribbean | $9.99/person/day | Cans + fountain, Coca-Cola products | ~4 sodas/day |
| Norwegian | $8.99/person/day | Fountain sodas, some specialty | ~3–4 sodas/day |
| Celebrity | $12.00/person/day | Fountain + canned + sparkling water | ~5 sodas/day |
| MSC | $7.50/person/day | Fountain sodas only | ~3 sodas/day |
| Disney | $6.00/person/day | Refillable mug, select locations | ~2–3 mugs/day |
| Princess | $9.99/person/day | Fountain + canned | ~4 sodas/day |
| Holland America | $10.00/person/day | Canned sodas + fountain | ~4 sodas/day |
A la carte soda pricing runs $2.50–$4.00 per can or fountain drink across most major lines. Use that as your personal break-even calculator.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Determine If It's Worth It
Your actual daily soda consumption is the only number that matters. Be brutally honest with yourself — most people overestimate how much they drink when they're also consuming alcohol, specialty coffee, and poolside cocktails.
Voyage length changes the math dramatically. On a 3-night getaway cruise, you're paying $25–$36 total per person. On a 14-night transatlantic, that same package costs $140–$168 per person. The longer the cruise, the more you need to commit to daily soda consumption — and the more you can save if you drink a lot.
What's included varies wildly. Carnival's Bubbles package is fountain-only at specific stations. Royal Caribbean includes cans delivered to your stateroom. Celebrity throws in sparkling water. Read the fine print before purchasing — a "soda package" that only covers fountain drinks at the pool bar is far less valuable than one covering canned delivery to your cabin.
Kids are the X-factor. If you have children who drink soda constantly, the package math shifts dramatically in your favor. Two kids drinking 4 sodas each per day on a 7-night cruise means 56 cans at $3.00 each = $168 in à la carte costs vs. roughly $120 for two packages. That's a real saving.
Your drink package situation matters. If you already have the full alcohol beverage package (which typically includes sodas), buying a soda package separately is pure waste. Always check your existing package inclusions first.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value (or Skip It Entirely)
Bring your own. Most cruise lines allow passengers to bring a limited quantity of non-alcoholic beverages aboard — typically one 12-pack of canned soda per person at embarkation. Carnival and Royal Caribbean explicitly allow this. A 12-pack of Coke costs $6–$8 at a grocery store. That's your entire soda budget for a 3-night cruise, handled before you even board.
Buy only if you'll drink 4+ sodas daily. Set a reminder on your phone for Day 2 of your cruise and tally how many sodas you actually consumed on Day 1. If it's under 3, the package isn't paying off.
Purchase before sailing. Every cruise line charges more for packages purchased onboard versus pre-purchased online. You'll typically save 10–20% by buying before embarkation day.
Consider the premium non-alcoholic package instead. For $15–$25/person/day, lines like Norwegian and Celebrity offer packages that include sodas, specialty coffees, fresh juices, smoothies, and premium waters. If you're a coffee drinker who also wants soda, this tier often delivers better value than the soda-only package.
Free alternatives are underrated. Every cruise ship includes complimentary water, lemonade, iced tea, and often flavored water at the buffet. If you're mildly thirsty rather than a dedicated soda drinker, these free options will get you through the day without spending a dollar.
The Verdict: Who Should Buy It, Who Should Skip It
| Traveler Type | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated soda drinker (4+ daily) | Buy it | Pays off clearly, especially on longer sailings |
| Occasional soda drinker (1–2 daily) | Skip it | Pay per drink, you'll come out ahead |
| Family with soda-loving kids | Buy it for the kids | High-volume consumption makes math work |
| Already has alcohol package | Skip it | Usually already included — read your package |
| Coffee + soda drinker | Consider premium non-alc package | Better value at the next tier up |
| Budget traveler, short cruise | Bring your own cans at embarkation | Cheapest option by far |
The soda package is one of the cruise industry's more honest add-ons — unlike the beverage package, the math is at least simple enough to check yourself. Run your numbers, be realistic about your habits, and don't let the embarkation-day FOMO pressure you into buying something that'll collect digital dust.
Want to see how the soda package stacks up against the full beverage package or other cruise add-on costs before you book? Run the numbers for your specific sailing with CruiseMutiny.