Your cruise drink package might be worth twice what you paid—if you know the insider tips seasoned cruisers keep to themselves. From hidden perks to lesser-known hacks, here’s the ultimate guide to squeezing every dollar out of your beverage package and saving hundreds.
The Premium Package Myth
Many cruise newcomers believe that only premium packages offer top-shelf spirits. However, Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package includes high-end brands like Maker’s Mark bourbon and Grey Goose vodka, providing excellent value without the need for a higher-tier package.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest “More at Sea” package covers drinks up to $15, which includes nearly every cocktail on the menu except for a handful of super-premium options. Most passengers never order these anyway.
Carnival’s basic CHEERS! The package includes top-shelf brands like Patron Silver and Johnnie Walker Black. The higher-tier packages mainly add ultra-premium options that most cruisers rarely order.
Specialty Coffee Hacks
Your drink package isn’t just for alcohol. Most passengers miss out on specialty coffee benefits worth $20+ daily. Royal Caribbean’s Café Latte-tudes serves handcrafted espresso drinks covered by the Deluxe package – even their fancy flavored cold brews.
Celebrity’s Classic package includes unlimited specialty coffees at Café al Bacio, where a single specialty drink costs $7. Savvy cruisers grab a morning latte, mid-day iced coffee, and after-dinner espresso.
Princess Cruises keeps it quiet that their drink package includes unlimited “specialty coffee drinks” at International Café, including their famous chocolate-covered strawberry frappés, which normally cost $8 each.
The Fresh-Squeezed Truth
Many passengers miss out on one of the most overlooked perks of their drink package—fresh-squeezed juices. On Norwegian, the drink package covers fresh juices ship-wide, a hidden $9 per glass value.
For example, the morning orange juice at O’Sheehan’s comes straight from fresh oranges, offering a healthier alternative that most cruisers never claim.
Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Café serves fresh-pressed juices, including its signature morning wellness shots, which are typically priced at $7 each. However, if you have their drink package, these health-boosting shots are fully included.
Celebrity also adds premium value with their drink packages, offering fresh, antioxidant-rich berry juices at the Spa Café, normally $8 per glass. Seasoned cruisers know this hidden gem, but most guests miss out.
Minibar Mysteries Solved
Minibars are often seen as a trap for extra charges, but not if you know how to leverage your drink package. MSC’s Easy Package, for instance, includes daily minibar restocks, allowing you to enjoy sodas and waters from your cabin without the extra costs most cruisers fear.
Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe package lets you tap into the minibar for sodas and juices anytime, making it perfect for late-night thirst or early-morning hydration without needing to visit the bar.
Princess Cruises quietly adds a similar perk: minibar access becomes available to drink package holders after 1 pm each day. This detail is buried in the fine print, meaning most guests overlook this valuable inclusion.
The Bottled Water Secret
Savvy cruisers know bottled water can be expensive in port, but with the right drink package, you can stock up for shore excursions. On Celebrity, guests can take up to two bottles per person off the ship each day, saving around $12 in water costs when exploring port cities.
Norwegian also includes one-liter bottles of still or sparkling water in their packages. Pro tip: stock up the night before your port day to avoid high prices ashore.
On Royal Caribbean, package holders can grab bottled water from any bar or café, not just the dining areas where most passengers mistakenly assume they must go.
Time Zone Tactics
Here’s a sneaky tip most cruisers miss: your drink package operates on ship time, not local time. You effectively gain extra drinking hours when sailing westward and crossing time zones.
This trick is especially valuable on transatlantic cruises, where you often gain an hour each day, allowing savvy passengers to maximize their beverage package benefits with more time to indulge.
Princess Cruises offers an additional perk for early risers: drink package benefits begin at 6 am ship time, earlier than most cruise lines. If you’re an early bird, you can enjoy specialty coffees hours before most passengers even leave bed.
Celebrity Cruises extends drink package hours until 4 am, making it possible to squeeze in a late-night drink even after most bars have closed, giving night owls an extra edge.
The Frozen Drink Advantage
Frozen cocktails by the pool may look extravagant, but if you have a drink package, they’re included—and typically cost $15 or more per glass. While beer drinkers save around $7-8 per drink, frozen cocktail fans score twice the savings, making it an excellent deal for tropical drink lovers.
Carnival offers an extensive menu of specialty frozen drinks, including its famous chocolate banana coladas, which regularly cost $14 each. These indulgent drinks are fully covered for package holders.
Norwegian Cruise Line ups the ante by including its premium frozen drinks in the package, such as its massive 16-ounce Ultimate Frozen specials, which normally cost regular cruisers $16 a pop. This is where the real savings add up for frozen cocktail enthusiasts.
Mocktail Magic
Don’t overlook the premium non-alcoholic options. Royal Caribbean’s virgin frozen drinks are just as delicious as their boozy counterparts and normally cost $8-12 each, but your drink package covers them all.
Celebrity Cruises has an impressive zero-proof cocktail menu, featuring craft mocktails priced between $9 and $12. Package holders can enjoy as many as they like, providing refreshing options for non-drinkers or those wanting a break from alcohol.
Princess Cruises takes it further by crafting alcohol-free versions of their signature cocktails, all included in the drink package. These mocktails are perfect for sea day afternoons when you want to savor the flavors without the buzz.
Drink Package Double Take
Your cruise drink package is more than just a tally of cocktails – it’s about unlocking hidden value. With these insider tips, you can make every dollar in your package work twice as hard, ensuring you get the most out of your cruise experience. Cheers to smarter sailing!
