The full 12-chapter guide: the day-by-day plan, where to stay, costs with the dates we checked them, what is not worth it, backup plans. You read it online in your PerkJolt library.

Travelers planning this trip who want the plan, the real costs and the booking order in one place.

Does it cover points and miles?

It focuses on the plan and the costs; our points guides cover programs and transfers in depth.

Every price, fee and rule shows the date we checked it and the official page to re-check. Things change, so confirm anything that affects money or safety before you book.

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Yes. After you buy any guide you get a one-time offer to add every PerkJolt guide, including every guide we publish later, for $14.99.

Cruise Drink Packages: When They Pay Off (Math by Line)

Cruise Drink Packages: When They Pay Off (Math by Line): free sample chapter

Read the first chapter free. No email or account required.

Start here

Disclosure: Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

Things change. We tried to open the official beverage pages for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, Celebrity, Princess, Disney and Virgin Voyages on 2026-10-10. None opened with usable content (blocked or empty). Nothing in this guide carries a "verified" stamp for a price, so every price you need is a blank for you to fill from the line's official page or your booking. Package names, gratuities, caps and rules change; confirm on the line's page before you buy.

Cover block

The promise: a method that tells you, in minutes and with your own numbers, whether a drink package saves you money on your sailing, plus the line-by-line questions to ask so a rule does not surprise you.
Who it's for: anyone choosing between buying a package, paying per drink, or buying a narrower soda/coffee/water product, on any of the eight lines covered.
Best for: first-time cruisers, couples where one drinks more than the other, families with an adult who drinks and one who does not, and budget travelers who want a trip cost they can predict.

At a glance

Break-even drinks per day = (package price + package gratuity) ÷ the price of the drink you actually order.
Typical package rules to confirm for your line: whole sailing, every day, all adults in the cabin, a per-drink price cap, and no sharing.
Packages come in tiers: alcohol-inclusive, soda, coffee, water and sometimes bundles.
Buying before you sail typically costs less than onboard, but check the line's page for current terms.
Port days, private islands and specialty bars are where coverage varies most.
Non-drinkers and moderate drinkers usually do best skipping the big package.
Chapter 9 is a printable decision worksheet and a per-day tally sheet.