Celebrity Cruise Drink Package Guide & Tips

From the minute you step on a Celebrity Cruise, you will be pampered with luxurious amenities, modern ambiance, divine cuisine, and excellent service. 

If you are looking to enjoy a premium cocktail the minute you step onboard without worrying about breaking your budget, then purchasing a Celebrity Cruise drink package might be a great choice for you. 

Drink packages allow cruisers to pay a fixed daily cost to indulge in unlimited drinks each day. You don't want to be worrying about how much you are spending onboard, which is why pre-purchasing your beverage packages can be a great budgeting tool.

Along with the Classic Beverage Package, Celebrity Cruises offers two other packages available to purchase or upgrade. These include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

The Classic Beverage Package includes beverages up to $10. Keep in mind that this means you will have a smaller selection than if you upgrade to the premium package. 

Here’s our ultimate Celebrity Cruise drink package guide and tips!

Read more: Celebrity Cruises Tips & Tricks

The Basics

If you want to elevate your cruise experience even more, Celebrity offers a Premium Beverage Package that includes even more drink options like premium liquor, craft beer, specialty coffees, organic teas and more.

Celebrity Cruises also offer a non-alcoholic drink package that might also be a good option to consider for your upcoming cruise.

You can save a lot of money depending on how much you like to drink when you are cruising and whether you prefer higher-end liquor and spirits.

Paying for drinks individually can add up quickly, especially when cocktails can cost up upwards of $15 each. One of the best reasons to upgrade to Celebrity Cruises’ Premium Drink Package before your cruise is being able to budget appropriately.

In the end, drink packages are meant to make your cruise vacation easier by letting you indulge each day without fretting over how much you have racked up on your final bill. Nobody wants to be shocked the morning of departure!

There are a few factors you will need to consider to determine if purchasing or upgrading your Celebrity Cruise drink package is worth it, as it’s not always the best choice for everyone. 

What is Celebrity's "All Included?"

When booking a Celebrity cruise, you will notice that you have two fare options. The base fare is what you would expect with any cruise. You get select dining and beverage options, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation between ports of call. 

With the "All Included" rate, you can opt for a slightly more all-inclusive cruise, as this rate includes a Celebrity Cruise drink package, internet package, and gratuities for the duration of your cruise.

In 2017, they introduced "Always Included;" however, that was phased out. Celebrity nows allows guests to choose how they want to personalize their vacation, rather than including everything for all guests. 

When considering which fare you want to choose, you should think about how much the add-ons, like drink packages, are. A Classic Drinks Package starts at $89 per person, per day, and if you want the more inclusive package, you have the option to upgrade!

Read more: What's included with Celebrity Cruises fare?

Upgrading Your Package

If you are looking for an elevated beverage experience, Celebrity Cruises allows you to upgrade from the Classic Beverage Packages to its Premium Beverage Package. 

When upgrading to the Premium Beverage Package, you will receive specialty coffees & teas, craft beers, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks and Coca Cola products. The Premium Beverage Package also includes premium bottled water, freshly squeezed juices and wine by the glass up to $17 per drink, along with 20% off bottles of wine. 

Currently, the cost is $24 per day for the Premium Beverage Package. 

How to Purchase a Celebrity Cruises drink package

To upgrade your drink package or purchase an additional one, Celebrity Cruises encourages guests to go online in the Cruise Planner. Be sure you book at least 72 hours before setting sail!

Celebrity Cruises requires passengers to purchase the drink package for the entire duration of the cruise, so you cannot choose a certain days (like only sea days) to indulge. 

Gratuities are also included when you purchase one of Celebrity's beverage packages. This means you won't be hit with additional gratuity for every drink that you enjoy throughout your cruise. However, it is always nice to tip your favorite bartender a little extra for their service!

Drink packages cannot be shared and must be purchased individually. If you have three people in your cabin above the age of 21, they will all be required to purchase a package. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your cruise vacation. 

Read more: 13 Things Celebrity Cruises does different than Royal Caribbean that I like better

Drink Package Options

Celebrity Cruises offers three drink packages that cruisers can purchase for their vacation, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. For a fixed cost, you can enjoy unlimited drinks each day within your purchased package.  

The 3 packages are the Classic Beverage Package, Premium Beverage Package, and Zero Proof Drink Package. 

Regardless of which package you choose, all of them allow you to get unlimited beverages per day. 

Classic Beverage Package

Celebrity's Classic Package is their most basic alcoholic package; it starts at at $89.00 per person, per day.

It includes select beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $10 per serving. It also includes Coca Cola products, premium bottled water, and specialty coffess and teas. Plus, you also get 15% off all wines by the bottle. 

If you order a beverage that is over $10, the difference, as well an 18% service charge, will be billed to your onboard account. Note that to "break even," you would need to drink about nine $10 beverages per day.

Premium Beverage Package

Enjoy an elevated drinking experience on your Celebrity cruise that includes specialty coffees and teas, craft and artisan beer, spirits, cocktails, liquors, Coca Cola products, premium bottled water, frozen drinks and wines by the glass, up to $17 per drink. This also includes 20% off bottles of wine purchases. 

Just like the Classic Package, if you would like to order a drink that is more than the maximum price, you will be charged the difference plus gratuity.

The Premium Package starts at $109 per person; however, since the maximum cost per beverage is higher, you will only have to drink seven $17 drinks per day, rather than the Classic Package's nine $10 drinks. 

Zero Proof Drink Package

For those who do not drink alcoholic beverages, Celebrity Cruises the Zero Proof Drink Package. This costs $30 per person, per day and includes premium bottled water, specialty coffees and organic teas, Vitamin Water, Red Bull, bottled ice teas, frozen smoothies, zero proof cocktails, and Coca Cola products, as well as offerings from Aqua Spa Fresh Juice.

There are no age restrictions on this package!

Is a Celebrity Cruises drink package worth it?

Whether or not a Celebrity Cruise drink package is worth it depends on multiple factors that you will want to consider. With some homework and a little math, you can calculate if purchasing or upgrading your beverage package is worthwhile. Depending on your drinking habits, you might get an exceptional value by purchasing a drink package, rather than paying for each drink à la carte. 

On the other hand, it you are thinking that you will drink a couple of drinks per day, you will probably save money by buying each drink individually. 

Moreover, if you get the Classic Package, you may or may not feel as though the upgrade is worth the cost since you already have many drink options included in your cruise fare. 

As of March 2023, cocktail prices range from $9 to $17 each.

In the end, it totally depends on how you like to cruise, how much you like to drink, and what you prefer to drink. 

Can you break even?

Before you decide if you should purchase one of Celebrity’s beverage packages, or upgrade from the Classic Beverage Package, you’ll want to decide how much you drink each day. 

More specifically, for the Premium Beverage Package, you will want to research if you prefer any premium liquors that would make the additional cost worthwhile. You’ll have to spend more than $12 extra each day on drinks to make the cost of upgrading worthwhile.

For other beverage packages, make sure you will be able to get your money's worth each day. WIth alcoholic drinks ranging from $9 to $15 and coffees costing anywhere from $5 to $8, it isn't difficult to see how quickly drinking can add up on a Celebrity Cruise.

Is your cruise port-intensive?

Another important factor to consider when deciding if upgrading or purchasing one of Celebrity Cruise’ drink packages is worth your money depends on your cruise itinerary. Being ashore more often means you won’t have as many opportunities to utilize your drink package. 

If you will be spending most of your day exploring the port, then you might find it difficult to take full advantage of your drink package because you are not onboard the ship as much. When you're spending a lot of time in port, you can even enjoy drinks ashore for a fraction of the cost that you'd find onboard. This could be a good option if you’re looking to drink without breaking the budget. 

On the other hand, if your Celebrity cruise is filled with a lot of sea days, you will have more time onboard to utilize your drink package during the cruise. 

Consider how much time you’ll actually be spending onboard versus in port to see if you can make the drink package worthwhile. 

Do you want a totally all-inclusive experience?

Celebrity Cruises aims to make its onboard experience feel as all-inclusive as possible, hence the integration of the All Included pricing. 

Normally, cruisers who love the drink packages often feel that the added convenience alone makes the purchase worthwhile. If you do not want to feel like you are only limited to drinks less than $10 or feel like you are skimping on your favorite drinks just to save money, it might be worth it for you to upgrade the package. 

When you purchase one of Celebrity Cruises' drink packages, you will only be billed a fixed price for enjoying unlimited beverages. This helps create a totally all-inclusive feel onboard the cruise ship, meaning you don't have to worry about your budget.

You can drink whatever you want whenever you want it - and that's exactly how it should be on vacation! One of the biggest pros of a drink package is the convenience. You do not have to worry about racking up any large sums on your onboard account or think about if you actually want to spend the money on a drink in that specific moment.

A drink package gives you a more all-inclusive experience and lets you order a drink even if you are unsure if you will like it or not. 

How many drinks can you order at one time?

Just because you have an unlimited package does not mean you can order unlimited beverages at a single time. If you're going up to the bar, be prepared to order one drink per SeaPass.

Does every person in the stateroom have to purchase a package?

You do not have to purchase a drink package on a Celebrity cruise. However, if one person in your stateroom wants to get one, everyone else of legal drinking age in the same stateroom are required to do so as well.

Additionally, if an adult purchases an alcoholic package and they have guests between the ages of 13 and 20 in the same room, they will have to get Zero Proof Drink Package. Guests 12 and under do not have to get any package.

Finally, if you are sailing with a pregnant guest, recovering alcoholic, or someone with another medical issue that prevents them from drinking alcohol, they are able to get the Zero Proof Drink Package instead. 

Are Celebrity drink packages available on every ship and itinerary? 

No. If you are sailing to the Galapgos Islands on an Expedition ship, you will not be able to purchase a drink package. These cruises, however, do include a drink package in the upfront cost.