Many cruisers won't sail without a drink package. Rather than paying for each drink individually, drink packages let you pay a daily price for an unlimited or a set number of beverages. They're great for convenience and to help establish a budget before embarkation.
Recently, I tried Margaritaville at Sea's only alcoholic drink package: Ultimate Beverage Chill. For my 4-night cruise aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, the package cost $323.96 or $80.99 per day. It included up to fifteen alcoholic drinks daily, as well as unlimited non-alcoholic beverages like soda and bottled water.
This package isn't available on the line's other ship, Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise. However, you can choose from an unlimited soda package or package that includes ten top-shelf cocktails, beers, or wines by the glass.
Overall, I was impressed by everything the Ultimate Beverage Chill included. Unlike other lines, like Celebrity and Princess, which feature different tiers of packages, there wasn't much that cost extra with the Ultimate Beverage Chill package.
Editor's note: Margaritaville at Sea generously gifted us the Unlimited Beverage Chill package for our 4-night cruise. However, all opinions are still our own.
What's included in the Unlimited Beverage Chill package?
The Ultimate Beverage Chill includes most drinks onboard, whether you want to enjoy a poolside margarita or a craft cocktail at Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits.
It's easy to purchase a drink package before sailing, too. All you have to do is access Margaritaville at Sea's online planner. This is also where you can reserve the JWB Steakhouse, browse available shore excursions, and book other add-ons like internet packages.
The Unlimited Beverage Chill package includes:
- All beers, wines by the glass, cocktails and Boat Drinks (up to $20 each)
- Unlimited soda and 500ml bottled water
- Juices, Mocktails, and bottled/canned non-alcoholic beverages
- 25% off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle
However, while most beverages are included, the package isn’t all-inclusive. Each guest is limited to fifteen alcoholic drinks per day.
Also, there are a few other exclusions, including liquor bottles, blender cups, blender cup refills, bottles of water larger than 500ml, in-room wine service, specialty coffee, and in-room mini-bar purchases.
How much do drinks on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander cost?
The drink prices were pretty standard for cruise ships. Most cocktails were around $12.00 to $15.00. For example, at the adults-only Tiki Bar, prices ranged from $12.00 for a Tropical Mule made with Margaritaville Last Mango Tequila, Banana Liqueur, Lime, and Ginger Beer, to $15.00 for a Navy Grog.
Some cocktails were as cheap as $10.00, such as the Cuba Libre in the Havana Daydreamin' Sports Bar. Other drinks on the menu include the Varadero Sunset ($12.00), Big Guava Margarita ($14.00), Florida Straits ($14.00), and Rum Old Fashioned ($15.00).
If you aren't a cocktail drinker, you can expect beer to cost around $8.50 for a domestic beer and up to $9.00 for an imported or craft brew, such as Corona, Dos Equis, Modelo Especial, Blue Moon Wheat, and Island Coastal Lager. Ciders and seltzers are also $9.00 each.
Margaritaville's Islander did not have a shortage of wines available onboard. Most ranged from $10.00 to $14.00 per glass, including Moscato d'Asti, Cupcake ($10.00); Pinot Grigio, Dazante ($10.00); Merlot, Robert Mondavi ($11.00); and Chardonnay, Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages ($13.00). However, Moët & Chandon was also available for $29.00 per glass if you want to splurge.
As such, with the package for our cruise costing $80.99 per day, you'd need to consume at least five or six cocktails, nine beers, or eight glasses of wine per day to break even. Of course, the threshold lowers if you're adding in bottled water and soda.
We never waited long for a drink
The ship's design helped keep guests well dispersed, so we hardly ever waited long for a drink. On embarkation day, many guests funneled straight to the Flip Flop Bar. Even then, the line moved quickly with multiple bartenders working efficiently.
We explored the ship before sailing away and ended up at the Tiki Bar during last call before the mandatory muster drill. Around 3:00pm, the bars onboard shut down to prepare for the safety drill, which commenced around 3:30pm. Thankfully, we were some of the last guests to be served and sipped on a Tiki-Marg and Frozen Crazy Mango in anticipation of the in-person drill.
After the muster drill, we ventured to Deck 9 to watch the ship depart Tampa and ordered drinks from the 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar. I ordered the 5 o'Clock Somewhere, while my friend went with the Frozen Banana Breeze.
This was the longest wait we had. However, this is typical of pool bars, especially during sailaway festivities! Even then, we didn't wait longer than ten minutes to be served. Throughout the remainder of the sailing, we could walk straight up to nearly any bar and be served almost immediately.
On the last sea day, we situated ourselves in the adult-only area. Even around 1:00pm, the Tiki Bar was relatively empty. Plus, bartenders were roaming the deck ready to take orders without requiring us to get up.
Freedom to try different cocktails
If I'm cruising without a drink package, I'm far more likely to order drinks I enjoy, such as a glass of pinot grigio or a dirty martini. However, one of the best advantages of a drink package is that you can try new drinks without feeling as though you wasted money.
For example, one evening, I ordered a Mexican Martini at the Flip Flop Bar before dinner. I'm not the biggest fan of tequila-based drinks unless it's a fruity margarita. I was intrigued by the pepper-stuffed olive, though. As expected, this was my least favorite drink of the cruise.
After a few small sips, I politely pushed it away and ordered something different! However, I doubt I would have tried the drink knowing it was $15 without a package.
My friend particularly enjoyed trying new drinks, ranging from Under A Palm Tree to the Flip Flop, Navy Grog, Frozen Crazy Mango, and the Frozen Banana Breeze. She isn't the biggest drinker and appreciated that none were too strong because she tried more than anticipated.
However, since most drinks weren't too liquor-heavy, she felt that the Unlimited Beverage Chill package was almost a must if you're going on the Islander and plan to indulge more than usual. Without it, she would have had to be more selective about how many drinks she had and which ones she chose.
Even if I wasn't in the mood for an alcoholic drink, I loved having the freedom to order a Diet Coke, Ginger Ale, or Sprite Zero.
Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited, so I did not have to worry about keeping track of how many alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages I was consuming daily. This benefit was especially helpful on our last sea day when we encountered some rocky waters, and I stuck to ginger ale for most of the morning.
The most disappointing part of the package was that specialty coffee wasn't included
Other mainstream cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity, include specialty coffee in their drink packages. I love waking up and starting my day with an iced latte because the complimentary coffee isn't always the best quality.
Because we were staying in a suite, we had access to the Concierge Lounge, so we took advantage of the Nespresso machine. Without this perk, we would have had to pay extra at the Margaritaville Coffee Shop in the Port of Indecision buffet, where prices started at $3.00 for an iced coffee and $4.50 for a hot latte. The coffee shop also has fresh smoothies starting at $4.75 for a small and milkshakes for $6.00.
It’s frustrating to pay over $80 for a drink package with specialty coffee not included, especially when other lines don't cap the number of specialty coffees in their drink packages and often charge less for the package.
For example, I purchased a Royal Caribbean drink package for my upcoming cruise on Icon of the Seas for $495.46 for 7 nights or $70.78 per day. For less than the daily price of the Unlimited Beverage Chill package on Islander, I have unlimited daily alcoholic beverages and specialty coffee, which is a major bonus for me!
I'd definitely purchase the Unlimited Beverage Chill package on future cruises
Despite specialty coffee not being included, I found the Unlimited Beverage Chill package worth the cost, especially if you like to be adventurous and try new drinks on vacation. Without a drink package, neither my friend nor myself would have ventured far out of our comfort zone.
Personally, I also prioritize convenience. It isn't vacation if I'm counting each penny while ordering drinks and trying to stick within a pre-determined budget. I'd rather pre-purchase a drink package before my cruise and turn off my brain while onboard.
That said, if you are someone who wants the occasional drink, you may not find the Unlimited Beverage Chill package worth the cost. Drink packages are, at their core, an investment. They aren't required to have a great cruise!
Read more: 25 drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
