What is not covered by cruise drink packages?

Last updated: April 11, 2026 · By Dave Giovacchini

Cruise drink packages typically exclude premium wines and spirits above a per-drink price cap (usually $12–$15), bottled water in your cabin, energy drinks, fresh-squeezed juices, minibar items, room service drinks, and beverages purchased in specialty restaurants or at private island bars — meaning you can easily spend an extra $50–$150+ per person even with a package.

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

You bought the drink package, cracked open that first poolside cocktail, and felt smug about beating the cruise line at its own game. Then the bill arrived at the end of the cruise and you weren't feeling quite so clever. Drink packages have more holes in them than a ship's porthole — and the cruise lines are counting on you not reading the fine print.

What Cruise Drink Packages Actually Exclude (The Real List)

Every major cruise line structures their beverage packages around a per-drink price cap — typically $12–$15 per drink on mainstream lines, up to $18 on premium lines like Celebrity and Virgin Voyages. Anything above that cap, you pay the difference. But the exclusions go way beyond just premium spirits.

Here's what is almost universally NOT covered:

• Wines and spirits above the price cap (e.g., a $22 glass of Whispering Angel rosé with a $15 cap = you pay $7 out of pocket)
• Bottled water delivered to or stocked in your cabin
• Minibar and in-cabin beverages (those little bottles cost $6–$10 each and are nearly always excluded)
• Room service drinks (even if the same drink is free at the bar)
• Fresh-squeezed juices (not the carton stuff — actual fresh-pressed)
• Energy drinks (Red Bull is excluded on most lines even with a premium package)
• Souvenir cups and collectible glassware (you pay for the vessel, not just the drink)
• Specialty coffee drinks in some venues (varies by line — Starbucks is almost always excluded)
• Private island and beach club bars (a huge one — Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay and similar stops often have separate bar systems)
• Pre-bottled or canned premium beverages (certain craft beers, premium RTDs)
• Gratuities on drinks (some packages exclude auto-grat on individual drinks; always verify)
• Drinks purchased for other passengers (packages are non-transferable)

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

Cost Comparison: What You'll Still Pay Out of Pocket by Package Tier

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

Key Factors That Drive Your Out-of-Pocket Drink Costs

1. The Per-Drink Price Cap Is Everything This is the single biggest driver of surprise charges. If you're a Scotch drinker or love premium wine, a $12 cap will burn you constantly. Glenfiddich 12-year at the bar? Easily $16–$18 a pour. You'll be paying the difference every single round.

2. Where You're Drinking Matters as Much as What You're Drinking Room service bars and private island bars operate on completely separate systems on most ships. Ordering a margarita to your balcony at 9am? That's cash (or card). Grabbing the same drink at the Hideaway Beach bar on a Royal Caribbean private island? Also likely not covered.

3. Minibar Raids Are Expensive and Almost Never Covered Those cute little bottles in your cabin? $6–$10 each, virtually never included in any package tier on any major line. Some lines let you swap them out for nothing, but the default is always charged separately.

4. Gratuity Confusion Most premium packages include gratuities on the package itself, but some lower-tier packages still add an 18–20% service charge on individual drinks you order with the package. Read. The. Fine. Print.

5. Sharing Is Prohibited and Enforced Every package is tied to a single passenger's SeaPass or folio account. Ordering a drink for your partner who doesn't have a package is technically a violation and can result in your package being revoked. The bar staff is trained to catch this.

Practical Tips to Avoid Getting Burned

Know your drinking habits before buying. If you drink premium whisky, aged rum, or high-end wine, calculate whether you'll consistently hit the price cap and how often. Sometimes buying drinks à la carte is actually cheaper for light or premium-only drinkers.

Buy a water package separately. Most lines sell a 12-pack or 24-pack of bottled water for $5–$8 — far cheaper than minibar rates. Order it on embarkation day before your cabin gets stocked.

Check the private island policy in advance. Before your cruise, look up whether your line's private island/beach club has a separate bar system. If you're spending a full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Princess Cays, budget an extra $40–$80 per person for drinks there if they're excluded.

Screenshot the exclusions list before you board. Cruise lines update package terms. The fine print on the cruise line website (usually buried in a FAQ) is the authoritative list. Save it.

Pre-book packages online, not onboard. Package prices are typically 15–25% cheaper when purchased before your cruise through the cruise line's website or a booking partner like CruiseHub.

Use your package for what it does cover aggressively. Draft beers, house wines, well cocktails, smoothies, specialty coffees (where included), bottled sodas, and mocktails are often fully covered. Front-load your package value there and pay out of pocket selectively for the premium stuff.

Line-by-Line: Notable Exclusions to Watch For

The drink package math only works in your favor if you know exactly what's in the fine print — and order strategically around the exclusions. Before you buy, run your numbers through CruiseMutiny to see whether a package actually saves you money based on your real drinking habits, or whether you're better off paying as you go.