Do you actually need the drinks package?
Drinks packages get pushed hard at booking and again the moment you step onboard. For some people they're genuinely worth it. For us, doing the actual maths says otherwise, and it might for you too.
What packages typically cost
Cruise line drinks packages vary a fair bit by line and tier, but a full package covering alcoholic drinks can run up to around £100 per person, per day. Multiply that across a week, for two people, and it adds up to a genuinely large chunk of the total holiday cost, often more than the cruise fare itself once you add it up.
What we actually spend, paying as we go
I'm not a big drinker. My typical day is a nice coffee in the morning and a glass or two of prosecco in the evening. Paying as you go, ordering and paying for each drink individually rather than a package, we've never spent more than a couple of hundred pounds between the two of us for an entire week-long trip. Compare that to what a package would have cost for the same week, and the difference is substantial.
Where a package can make sense
This isn't a package is always a bad deal. If you and your travel companions drink more than a couple of drinks a day each, particularly cocktails or premium spirits which are priced higher individually, the maths flips and a package can genuinely save money. Some people also just prefer not thinking about it, ordering freely without mentally tallying a bill, and that peace of mind has real value too.
A quick way to work out which is right for you
Before booking a package, try being honest with yourself about a typical day: how many drinks would you realistically have, and roughly what does each one cost on that particular cruise line (this varies, so it's worth checking their menu pricing if it's listed). Multiply that out across your trip length, and compare it to the package price for the same days. If pay-as-you-go comes out notably lower, and you don't mind occasionally checking your onboard bill, it's usually the better choice.
Good to know: most lines also offer non-alcoholic or soft drinks packages at a lower price, worth considering separately if you mainly want unlimited coffee, soda, or juice without needing the full alcohol package.
The five-minute version
- Drinks packages can run up to around £100pp/day, work out what that means for your trip length
- Pay-as-you-go works out cheaper for lighter drinkers, we've never spent more than a couple hundred pounds for two of us over a full week
- Packages can genuinely be worth it if you drink more, or prefer not tracking spending
- Do a rough personal calculation before you book, don't just default to the package
- Check for a separate non-alcoholic package if that's closer to what you actually want