Drink packages are among the most common cruise add-ons. While your cruise fare includes select beverages, drink packages make the experience more inclusive by giving you access to a wider variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
However, they aren't always the most affordable. Some cruise lines charge over $80 per person, per day for their most inclusive packages, making them a serious investment.
Throughout my cruising career, I've never regretted adding a drink package to my cruise. However, I have regretted not buying one. While many will argue it's important to evaluate your drinking habits before buying a package, I think it's equally important to consider how much you value convenience.
For me, the convenience always outweighs the cost because I don't have to worry about constantly keeping track of what I'm spending while onboard. Instead, I can freely order whatever drink catches my eye, whether a crafted cocktail, specialty latte, or crisp soda.
That said, not all drink packages are created equally. Some may let cruisers have an unlimited number of alcoholic drinks per day, while others might enforce a cap.
Last year, I took my first Celebrity and Princess cruises. Unlike Royal Caribbean and Carnival, they have two different tiers of alcoholic drink packages.
The lower tiers offer a more basic selection, while the others provide access to premium beverages, including top-shelf liquor and specialty wines.
To save money, I decided on the basic packages, thinking they would meet my needs. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that the selection on one cruise line was more limited than I had anticipated.
Overall, Princess' Plus Beverage Package was impressive, while Celebrity's Classic Drink Package felt more restrictive. Next time, I'd definitely upgrade my drink package on a Celebrity cruise, but I'd happily purchase Princess Plus again without any hesitation.
Read more: Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages
Princess Plus is a better value than Celebrity's All Included fare
Princess and Celebrity allow guests to bundle popular add-ons at the time of booking. This is more cost-effective than adding them individually later on. Princess Plus costs $60 per person, per day, while Celebrity's All Included runs at about $85.
The bundled fares weren't created equally. As such, Princess Plus includes a lot more than Celebrity's All Included fare. In addition to the Plus Beverage Package, Princess Plus also includes Wi-Fi, gratuities, two casual specialty meals, two premium desserts per day, unlimited room service delivery, two fitness classes per sailing, and a waived OceanNow activation fee.
Celebrity's package, while covering the beverage package, includes fewer extras—just the drinks and basic Wi-Fi—so the overall value of Princess Plus is hard to ignore, especially when cruise fares are at their highest.
Read more: Is a Celebrity drink package worth it? I tried it to see whether it was worth the money
Celebrity's drink package was all-inclusive, while Princess capped guests at 15 drinks per day
Though Princess Plus was more inclusive, Celebrity's Classic Drinks Package was unlimited. This meant I didn't have to worry about whether I'd enjoy a specific drink or not. If I ended up not liking something, I could simply order another beverage without worrying about burning through my daily drink allowance. This level of freedom made my cruise experience much more relaxed.
Comparatively, Princess Plus included fifteen drinks per day. To be honest, that's more than I consume, even on vacation. Still, I found myself restricted by the limit and second-guessing every drink order. What if I used one of my drinks on something I wasn't fond of?
Because of Princess' daily cap, I was more strategic with my ordering than usual and didn't step outside of my comfort zone as much.
While both drink packages enforced a maximum value for each beverage, Princess's dollar amount was more generous
For example, both packages cover many well cocktails, wines, and beers, but premium drinks and high-end spirits might be excluded or require an additional charge if they exceed the package's maximum value.
Celebrity's Classic Package includes drinks up to $10, while Princess Plus has a higher threshold of up to $15. If you order a cocktail or glass of wine that costs more than the maximum amount, you'll be charged the difference
Because of that, I enjoyed Princess' drink menus far more. I had access to a wider range of drinks without worrying about exceeding the limit. This made it easier to explore the drink menus and try new options I knew I'd enjoy, including the creative craft cocktails at Crooner's Bar.
In comparison, I was mostly restricted to bottom-shelf liquors and cheap, bitter wine on Celebrity. In my college days, I could drink cheaper liquor without feeling too bad, but my body can definitely tell a difference these days (which is sad considering I'm only 25!).
Though I don't mind mixed drinks like vodka sodas, they must be made with a higher-quality spirit. Otherwise, the drinks taste like a headache waiting to happen.
If I were more into beers, I don't think I would have had an issue with Celebrity's Classic Package, as it included everything from Bud Light to Heineken and Corona. Though not craft beers, there was still a decent selection.
However, as someone who enjoys a good mixed drink, the limited selection of bottom-shelf liquor didn't cut it. There was more than one occasion I paid the difference to try a drink from Celebrity's famous Martini Bar!
Looking back, it would have been more cost-effective to pay the difference to upgrade to Celebrity's Premium Drink Package.
Read more: Celebrity Cruises drink packages: What to know before you buy
I took advantage of both packages' non-alcoholic options
One of my biggest quarrels with any cruise ship is that the complimentary coffee is pretty mediocre. Thankfully, most drink packages allow passengers to enjoy non-alcoholic beverages, including specialty lattes.
In addition to coffee and alcoholic drinks valued at up to $15, Princess Plus also included:
- Fountain sodas
- Bottled water
- Fresh juices
- Healthy smoothies from the Juice Bar
Overall, Celebrity's Classic Drink Package had similar non-alcoholic offerings, including soda, specialty coffee, juices, bottled water, and mocktails. In this way, it was nice to have the flexibility to enjoy a soda or iced coffee without worrying about paying.
However, there were a few differences between the two cruise lines’ non-alcoholic options. For example, while Princess Plus offered freshly made smoothies, Celebrity didn’t have that option, which was a bit of a disappointment. I tried to order a drink from the Spa Cafe's juice bar and was told it wasn't included.
Moreover, because the Princess Plus fare waived the OceanNow activation fee, I could order non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks anywhere on the ship for no extra cost.
I don't regret paying extra for a drink package on my Celebrity or Princess cruise, but I wish I had upgraded my package on Celebrity
For $60 per day, Princess Plus is an incredible value. Though the next tier—Princess Premier—comes with an unlimited drink package that includes beverages valued at up to $20, I didn't feel restricted enough to upgrade. What might convince me otherwise is that for just $30 extra per day, you also get unlimited specialty dining!
However, I wish I had thought more about my personal preferences for my Celebrity cruise. While the package covered basic options like soda, specialty coffee, and basic drinks, I found myself wishing I could indulge in premium cocktails that I don't frequently order at home.
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
