Whether you have a cruise booked or are in the initial planning stages, you probably have some questions about alcohol onboard. Is it included? Should you buy a drink package? What types of alcohol can be found onboard? The list goes on and on!
Thankfully, consuming alcohol onboard a cruise ship is not a complicated topic. Whether you choose to splurge on a drink package or buy each drink a la carte, you'll need to make sure that you are of legal drinking age.
Of course, alcohol onboard a cruise is not cheap, with some drink packages costing more than the total price of a 7-night cruise. While there are some ways to save money, you should refrain from trying to sneak any alcohol onboard.
We're just getting started! Here are eight common questions cruise ship alcohol to help you plan for your next voyage!
1. Is alcohol included on cruises?
Unless you are sailing on a luxury line or book a specific promotion (i.e., Norwegian Cruise Line's "Free at Sea"), alcohol is not included in your cruise fare.
Moreover, drink prices vary based on what line you're sailing on. For instance, while you can find cocktails for $9-$10 on MSC Cruises, they're closer to $13 on most Royal Caribbean ships.
2. Can you bring alcohol on a cruise ship?
In most cases, the answer is no. Much of each cruise line's revenue comes from onboard purchases made by passengers. Because alcohol makes up a large chunk of those purchases, lines are hesitant to allow cruisers to bring their own.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, for instance, allow each guest of legal drinking age to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne with them on embarkation day only.
Although some lines do allow each traveler to bring a limited quantity of their own water, soft drinks, and juice, no major oceangoing cruise ship will allow beer or liquor (spirits) to be brought aboard, with the exception of Disney, which does allow one six-pack of beer per adult 21 years or older.
However, some luxury ocean cruise lines and river lines do allow it, particularly those that include alcohol in their fares. This is because it is already included, so it doesn't take away from onboard sales if you bring-your-own-booze (BYOB).
3. Can I bring wine on a cruise?
Most mainstream lines, such as Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, allow each adult passenger (21 years of age or older on North American sailings) to bring a limit of one bottle, no larger than 750 mL, to be consumed onboard.
Those lines allow cruisers to drink their own wine for free in their staterooms, but if they wish to bring it to dinner, a corkage fee of anywhere from $15 to $25 per bottle is charged.
Notable exceptions include MSC, which does not allow any alcohol, including wine, to be brought onboard, and Norwegian Cruise Line, which allows an unlimited number of bottles up to 1,500 mL but charges a per-bottle corkage fee regardless of where the wine is consumed: $15 USD per 750ml bottle and $30 per 1,500m bottle.
Moreover, wine or champagne that is shipped to the ship by travel agents or other parties will be charged the same fee. No guest can bring boxed wine onboard. If you have a drink package, you will not have to pay any corkage fees.
Note that if you buy wine in port, it will be collected and returned on the final night of your sailing. You are only allowed to bring wine onboard with you during embarkation.
4. What kinds of alcohol are served on cruises?
No matter what cruise line you are sailing with, you are sure to find an alcoholic beverage (or two) that suits you! While you can expect to find a generous selection of spirits, beers, and wines, you will also find specialty cocktail bars that are able to craft beautifully made drinks, some that you will not find anywhere else!
Do you like a good margarita? What about a fruity frozen drink to sip on by the pool?
If you are unsure of what to order, do not be afraid to ask! You may end up finding a new drink that you love. Plus, if you have a drink package, it is a great time to step outside of your comfort zone and try drinks you would not otherwise try if you had to pay for each a la carte.
While exact offerings will vary from cruise line to cruise line, just know that you will be taken care of!
5. What are cruise alcohol packages?
If you enjoy a steady flow of adult beverages on vacation (in addition to premium water, juice, and specialty coffee), an alcohol package might be your most cost-effective option.
Cruise lines that offer them charge a (somewhat hefty) daily fee that offers passengers nearly unlimited access to drinks, including nonalcoholic tipples like bottled water, soda, and juice, at nearly all onboard bars and restaurants.
There are caveats, however. For example, some packages stipulate that you can only order one drink at a time, and certain top-shelf liquors could be excluded, depending on the package tier you buy.
Additionally, all packages must be purchased for the duration of your voyage, and some have daily limits (like Carnival Cruise Line's CHEERS! Package), usually around 15 drinks per day.
If you would not normally drink that much in one day, or if the total cost (daily fee multiplied by the number of days you're sailing) is too high, you could be better off purchasing drinks a la carte.
Further, most alcohol packages require all adults sharing a cabin to purchase a package if even one person decides to. The policy is designed to increase the cruise line's revenue by preventing the sharing of packages.
Some cruise lines, such as Celebrity Cruises and MSC, have different tiers of beverage packages, so you can choose which one best suits your drinking habits and vacation budget. If, however, you want a more inclusive vacation, you will benefit from splurging on one of the premium packages.
6. Are there ways to get free alcohol onboard?
If you play your cards right, free alcohol isn't always so hard to find on cruises.
You likely won't be able to pick and choose the type of drink you'll receive; however, you can expect to find champagne at onboard art auctions. Plus, if you sail with the same cruise line multiple times, you'll rise up the ranks of its loyalty program, which can earn you invitations to welcome receptions and other at-sea celebrations where several types of free libations are generally provided.
Some higher tiers even include a certain number of included beverages per voyager or greater discounts on bottles of wine.
Royal Caribbean, for instance, provides their Diamond Crown & Anchor members four drink vouchers per day. If you are not an alcohol drinker, they can be used for non-alcoholic beverages, such as soda, premium coffee, etc.
There are also ways to find less expensive alcohol onboard. Try purchasing a bucket of beer instead of buying bottles individually; you'll usually save a couple bucks.
Opt for the drink of the day, which usually comes at a discount. Make sure, however, that you don't get anything in a souvenir glass, as they'll charge extra for it!
Are you a gambler? If so, once you reach a certain tier of a cruise line's gambling program, you'll often be rewarded with free drinks while playing.
If you're going on a Carnival cruise, for instance, "Drinks on Us!" is their program that rewards those who accumulate a certain number of points with complimentary cocktails, beer, wine, sodas, and other non-alcoholic drinks while playing. According to Carnival's website, "...you [can] earn free drinks twice as fast as on any other cruise line."
You can also purchase duty-free bottles of liquor in port or at the onboard shops. You'll save a little, and although the ship will check the alcohol for you until the last night of the sailing, you can enjoy it when you get home knowing that you snagged a deal.
When purchasing liquor in ports of call or onboard, take into consideration how you are traveling home. Do you feel comfortable checking it in your luggage if flying? If you drove to the port, you do not have to worry!
Read more: Why you should plan a cruise within driving distance
7. What's the drinking age on a cruise?
Although drinking age policies can vary from cruise line to cruise line, or even ship to ship or sailing to sailing, depending on the country of departure, the standard drinking age on voyages from Europe is 18, while the minimum age to consume alcohol on most sailings from North America is 21.
Some cruise lines do make exceptions, though. For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line permits passengers from 18 to 20 years old to consume beer and wine in international waters if their parents are sailing and agree to sign waivers. This rule does not apply to Alaska or Hawaii sailings.
Younger cruisers, be warned: each passenger's age is tied to the cruise card he or she receives at embarkation (some cruise cards are even designed differently for guests under 21). If someone tries to order a drink while underage, the system will flag it, and the order request will be denied.
8. What happens if I try sneaking alcohol on a cruise?
If you're thinking about how to sneak alcohol onboard a cruise ship, you aren't the first person. Some have been successful, while others have opened their luggage to find their "hidden" alcohol confiscated.
If you're caught trying to bring contraband beverages on your sailing, they will be confiscated and discarded without compensation, meaning you will be out the cost of the alcohol. Many cruise lines state that you could even be denied boarding.
If you're thinking of giving it a go, there are ways to smuggle alcohol onboard, but it's highly discouraged.
Rather than potentially waste money trying to smuggle alcohol onboard, put that cash towards an onboard drinking fund. While it will not get you as far, you will have more fun sitting at a bar and having a bartender make you a fun beverage than making a drink in your stateroom, anyway!
Ashley Kosciolek
Ashley boarded her first cruise more than a decade ago and never looked back. Since then, she has written thousands of expert cruise tip features; ship, port and shore excursion reviews; and industry news articles. Her work has appeared on Cruise Critic, USA Today, the Associated Press, NBC News, the Miami Herald and Huffington Post.
