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 one of Celebrity Cruises' drink packages might be a great choice for you.
Paying for drinks individually can add up quickly, especially when cocktails can cost up upwards of $15 each. 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.
Here’s our ultimate guide to Celebrity Cruises' drink packages!
Read more: Celebrity Cruises Tips & Tricks
Celebrity Cruises offers three different drink packages for guests to choose from
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 around $89 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" with the package, you would need to drink about nine $10 beverages per day.
Those sailing to Australia or the United Kingdom have a $12 limit per beverage, rather than $10.
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. Moreover, the limit for sailings departing from the United Kingdom and Australia is $20 per drink, rather than $17.
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, either! It can be purchased by children or adults who are not big alcohol drinkers but still want to enjoy premium non-alcoholic offerings.
Consider booking an "All Included" fare
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 and internet package for the duration of your cruise.
In 2017, they introduced "Always Included;" however, that was phased out. Celebrity now allows guests to choose how they want to personalize their vacation, rather than including everything for all guests.
Note that while "All Included" used to include gratuities, effective October 4, 2023, Celebrity will no longer include tips as a perk of this package, meaning that you will have to pay for your own gratuities in addition to the higher fare.
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?
If you purchase the "All Included" rate, you are able to upgrade from the Classic to the Premium Beverage 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 $20 per day for the Premium Beverage Package when booked through the Cruise Planner. Usually, however, you can score a better deal so long as you book before getting onboard.
How do I 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 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
You can save money by purchasing a drink package in advance
By buying a drink package in advance through Celebrity's Cruise Planner, you can take advantage of pre-cruise sales, meaning that you will be able to score a drink package for less than you would if you bought it onboard the ship on embarkation day.
Wouldn't you rather pay $87 for a Premium Package instead of $109? For a 7-night cruise, this could save you around $150 per person! This means that you could spend more on shore excursions, onboard shopping, or simply pocket the extra cash!
If one person chooses to get a drink package, every single person in your cabin has to purchase one, too
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 there are guests between the ages of 13 and 20 in the same room, they will have to get a 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.
Even with a drink package, you cannot order unlimited drinks whenever you go up to a bar
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. This means that if you are ordering for a group of five, you will need all five SeaPasses!
If you want to step outside of your comfort zone, get an unlimited drink package!
Everyone has their go-to drink. Personally, mine is a vodka soda or glass of Pinot Grigio! That, however, does not mean that you cannot try something new.
Unlimited drink packages allow you to step outside of your comfort zone by being able to order something you aren't sure that you will like or not. If you end up disliking it, you can simply order something else, and you won't be charged a dime for the other drink!
This is different from a few other cruise lines, namely Carnival and Holland America Line, that have a cap on how many alcoholic beverages you can order in a single day. And no, they don't roll over to the next day! When sailing on Celebrity Cruises, you won't have to worry about counting how many drinks you've had to determine how many you have left.
When on cruises with a drink package, I tend to order specialty cocktails that I'm less likely to pay for in my day-to-day life, such as espresso martinis or other crafted beverages that are unique to the cruise line and/or bar. While onboard Carnival, for instance, I decided to splurge on a martini flight at the Alchemy Bar, and I'm looking forward to doing the same on my Celebrity Reflection cruise in April 2024!
You might not get a package's full value if you are going on a port-intensive cruise
Another important factor to consider when deciding if upgrading or purchasing one of Celebrity Cruises' 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.
Understand how much Celebrity Cruises drink prices are if you were to pay for each individually
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, if you are thinking that you will drink a couple of drinks per day, you will probably save money by buying each drink individually.
As of March 2023, cocktail prices range from $9 to $17 each, whereas the average price for a bottle of beer is around $7 or $8. Wine drinkers can find plenty of options between $8 and $14.
Non-alcoholic offerings include $3 for sodas, $5 for Vitamin Water and specialty coffees, and $6.50 for Red Bull. Of course, pricing is subject to change at anytime.
The drink packages for you to get unlimited drinks at Royal Caribbean Group's private destination
Does your itinerary include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, Haiti? If so, rejoice in the fact that you can enjoy included beverages all day while ashore with one of Celebrity's drink packages. Plus, you can try one of their signature drinks, too!
Unlike other mainstream cruise lines, such as Carnival, you can use any of Celebrity's drink packages at CocoCay and Labadee. Just like when you order a drink while onboard, the bartender will check your SeaPass to see whether or not you have a package.
If you don't, all drinks will be charged to your onboard account, while those with packages will not be charged anything extra. You aren't required to use your package ashore, either.
Celebrity drink packages are not available on every ship and itinerary
If you are sailing to the Galapagos Islands on an Expedition ship, you will not be able to purchase a drink package on the Cruise Planner. That being said, these specialty sailings do include a drink package in the upfront cost.
Expedition ships include Xpedition, Xploration, and Flora. These sailings are more expensive than standard cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, or even the Mediterranean, and they're a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many!
Fun fact: did you know that Celebrity Xploration has a maximum capacity of only sixteen guests? This means that you'll get a more intimate cruising experience unlike any other!
Read more: Celebrity Cruises ships by age from newest to oldest
To save some money, consider bringing a limited amount of alcohol onboard with you on embarkation day
Each guest of legal drinking age may bring one 750ml bottle of unopened wine or champagne per person in their carry-on luggage.
If you choose to bring a bottle of wine or champagne onboard and consume it outside of your stateroom, like in the Main Dining Room during dinner, you may be subject to a corkage fee.
You can also opt to drink in port, as this is usually cheaper than drinking onboard. Just make sure that you don't drink too much and end up losing track of time and missing your ship!
If you want free beverages, rise up the ranks of Celebrity's Captain's Club
Some of the highest tiers of Celebrity Cruises’ rewards program, known as the Captain's Club, have some drink benefits. In order to reach different tiers, you will have to continue sailing with Celebrity.
While you won't get any free drinks until you reach Elite status, you will be able to enjoy complimentary drinks from the Captain's Club Happy Hour menu daily from 5pm to 7pm. Remember that if you're a Platinum or above Crown & Anchor member with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity allows you to status match.
This means that you might be able to get free drinks on your first-ever Celebrity cruise if you've sailed enough with Royal Caribbean!
Spend some time in the ship's casino to earn free drinks while playing
Did you know that if you're actively gambling in the casino you can order free drinks from a limited menu? Of course, this means that you have to actually be playing, not just sitting at a slot machine.
This is different from other cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, that require you to reach a specific tier in their casino program before being able to get free drinks.
Moreover, if you climb the ranks of the Blue Chip Club, you might be able to earn free drink packages. This becomes a perk when you reach the Amethyst level.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
