If you’re going on a cruise, then no doubt you’re already picturing yourself poolside with a fruity cocktail, or enjoying a glass of wine in the dining room, or having a beer while playing in the casino.
Yes, having a drink or three is a big part of taking a cruise. Of course, it also comes with a high price tag. Between the menu price and the automatic gratuity of around 20%, it can be upwards of $9-10 for a beer and $16-$18 for a cocktail.
Enter the drink package.
Drink Packages Make Things Simple (But There Is Fine Print)
As a way to keep things simple and help you enjoy yourself without worrying about the bill, cruise lines offer drink packages.
On the surface, they are super simple. You pay one daily fee — usually around $75-$100 per person when you include the gratuity charge — and get pretty much what you want to drink around the ship without worrying about another charge.
Except, as we’ve explained in detail, there’s all sorts of fine print that comes with drink packages. For example, there are some drinks that aren’t included — like mini-bar items — and some cruise lines have daily limits on the number of drinks you can buy each day.
For the most part it is pretty straightforward. If you want a drink from the bar, just head up and ask for it.
There’s one rule in the fine print, however, that you have to know before you buy the drink package that will have a huge impact on if it’s worth the money. If the package extends to the cruise line’s private islands, it’s a big deal.
Does the Package Work on Private Islands? If So, That’s Big $$$
The big sticking point for drink packages is that you can’t just buy them on individual days. If you want to drink a lot one day and let loose, you can’t just pay up one day and skip it the next. Instead, you purchase them for the entire trip.
Meanwhile, the packages only work when you are on the ship… except in one case. Some cruise lines allow you to use the drink package on their private islands, just like you would on the ship.
If you are going on a cruise with a stop at a private destination and can use the drink package in port, it’s like having an extra day on the package. You can take advantage and use it just like you were on the ship. That saves you a ton of money versus having to shell out extra for drinks just because you are on land.
The thing is that not every cruise line extends the package to the island. To help you out, we’ve rounded up the rules surrounding some of the major destinations and if you can use them on the island.
CocoCay (Royal Caribbean): Yes. In our opinion, when it comes to the top private destinations, CocoCay takes the top billing. Passengers heading there will also appreciate that the drink package extends to the island so you can use it just like on the ship.
Celebration Key (Carnival): No. While Carnival offers one of the less expensive drink packages, one missing value is that it doesn’t extend to its new destination, Celebration Key. Here, passengers will have to pay full price for drinks. As well, the drink package doesn’t work at other destinations like Mahogany Bay, Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays.
Great Stirrup Cay (NCL): Yes. This is one that’s a little murky. Norwegian has revamped its Great Stirrup Cay destination and with that, it moved to only have an upgraded version of its drink package work on the island. However, it now seems they’ve backtracked on that decision and the package will work on shore.
Harvest Caye (NCL): No. Unlike Great Stirrup Cay, the drink package for NCL does not work on this island.
Ocean Cay (MSC): Yes. The massive island is well-known for its tons of beaches and overnight stays. Best of all considering the long time you’re in this port, the drink package from the ship also works on the island.
