Picture yourself on a cruise and you likely imagine sitting poolside on a day at sea, with a fruity cocktail in hand, soaking up the sun and sipping your refreshing drink.
To be sure, keeping “hydrated” is a big deal on a cruise. You’ll find upwards of a dozen bars on some ships serving anything you could want from a simple glass of water to the fanciest cocktails you can imagine.
But are they included with your trip? Or do drinks cost extra? Here’s what to know…
Are Drinks Included? Most Likely Not…
Let’s start off basic on beverages before getting into some of the finer details. First things first, on a typical cruise (there are some exceptions), drinks are not included with your trip.
Apart from a few basic items, everything else is going to be a charge. If you want a glass of water, sure you can get it for free. But if you want a soft drink, it’s an extra charge. The same goes for fancy coffees (many ships have Starbucks onboard). Want a beer? It’s an extra cost, as are cocktails, glasses of wine, and other alcohol.
In fact, selling drinks is a huge part of the business for cruise lines. Drink prices are high and it’s a popular activity. There are even drink packages that you can buy that offer you the ability to drink whatever you want onboard, but they can run into the hundreds to more than a thousand dollars for a 7-day cruise.
How Much Do Drinks Cost?
If drinks are an extra charge, the big question is what do they cost? Of course, there will be different prices for different items but the numbers below should give you a ballpark idea:
- Soda/Juices: $3-$4
- Beer: $7-$9
- Cocktails: $10-$14
- Wine: $8-$15
But that isn’t all that you’ll pay. In addition ships charge automatic gratuity on drinks, and it’s usually 18-20%. This is a charge tacked on to the menu price. So a cocktail that’s priced at $10 will actually cost you $12 with a 20% gratuity included.
This gratuity charge goes for all drinks you purchase, from a bottle of water to a glass of fancy wine.
What Drinks Are Included?
As mentioned, you don’t have to buy drinks. It’s just that you will likely get tired of the included options during the course of the cruise if you don’t.
There are usually some basic items you can get for free. This includes glasses of water, iced tea, coffee, and some assorted “juice” drinks. (The juice drinks are usually Nestle Vitality machines where the juice comes from a mix, not fresh squeezed.)
Other than that, expect any other drinks to be a charge.
Are There Lines That Don’t Charge for Drinks?
Yes, there are but they are relatively few. Disney and Virgin Voyages are known for offering free non-alcoholic drinks. However, if you want alcoholic drinks, then you have to pay up.
The highest-end luxury lines will often include all drinks — alcoholic and non-alcoholic — with the cruise. But most lines don’t do that.
There is also the possibility of booking the highest-end rooms on traditional lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC, or Royal Caribbean. If you book their top-tier suites, then they often come with a drink package included with the fare. This gives you access to pretty much anything to drink on the ship at no extra charge. Yes, you pay for it with a higher fare, but you won’t see an additional charge for drinks once on the ship.
Can I Bring Beverages Onboard?
Possibly, it depends on the cruise line.
Now, you won’t be able to bring on beer or liquor. So if you’re hoping to carry on a six-pack or a bottle of tequila, that’s a no-go across any cruise line. Most lines WILL let you bring on a bottle of wine or champagne per adult (a standard-sized bottle, don’t try to get cute with a huge one!) to enjoy on your cruise. You’ll want to pack this in your carry-on as you board.
In addition, some lines (notably Carnival and Royal Caribbean) allow you to bring on a 12-pack of non-alcoholic drinks with you when you board. So if you have a favorite drink you can’t live without, then you can bring it with you. You can see a full list of cruise line policies for bringing on drinks here.
Note: If you buy drinks from port of the ship’s duty-free store, they will be held and returned to you on the last evening of the cruise. So you can buy a bottle of tequila in Mexico, but you can’t drink it onboard.
More on Drinks on a Cruise:
- Cruise Line Drink Package Calculator
- Everything to Know About Alcohol & Drinks on a Cruise (Costs, Rules, & More)
- Bringing Water or Soda on a Cruise Ship (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and More)
