Drinking is often considered synonymous with cruise vacations. However, as wellness culture continues to grow, many travelers have cut back on alcohol — and cruise lines have taken notice.
In 2023, Drizly conducted a survey of consumer drinking trends and found that more and more Americans are actively choosing non-alcoholic (NA) beverages. This was especially true for Gen Zers, with 23% of respondents indicating interest in high-quality NA options.
To meet this growing demand, cruise lines have expanded their non-alcoholic offerings beyond sodas and juices. Carnival Cruise Line also added a new drink package designed for guests who don't drink.
CHEERS! Zero Proof is the line's newest non-alcoholic drink package designed to make the cruise experience more inclusive for passengers who prefer alcohol-free options, including premium coffees and teas, zero-proof cocktails, milkshakes, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, and more.
The package was first announced in September 2025. Until then, cruisers who didn’t drink were limited to a soda-only package called Bottomless Bubbles.
Read more: Carnival introduces its first non-alcoholic drink package
CHEERS! Zero Proof can be booked on all 2026 Carnival cruises
When the non-alcoholic package was first announced, it was only available on sailings in September, October, November, and December — much to the disappointment of future cruisers who were booked outside that window and wanted to plan ahead.
A few months later, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, John Heald, shared that the package was then available for sailors on voyages in January, February, and March 2026. The rest of the year, however, remained in the dark.
Finally, Heald announced on January 27 that the CHEERS! Zero Proof package is now available to book on all 2026 Carnival sailings, putting an end to the staggered rollout.
"Here is the direct link for you for sailings from North America for the [zero-proof] program. It should now be open for all of you. Thank you so much," he posted on his popular Facebook page.
"CHEERS! Zero Proof is a direct response to what we’ve heard from our guests who want a comprehensive non-alcoholic drink package when they cruise," said Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, in September.
"This new package brings together the abundance of our alcohol-free refreshments with the flexibility and ease that our guests already enjoy with our other beverage packages."
Read more: 15 Best Carnival Drink Package Tips
What's included in the non-alcoholic Carnival cruise drink package?
CHEERS! Zero Proof starts at $29.99 per person, per day, when purchased in advance through Carnival's online cruise planner. This price does not include the mandatory service charge, which brings the total to $35.98 per day once added to your cart.
The package includes a good variety of alcohol-free options, such as:
- Sodas (Coca-Cola products)
- Juices (standard, not fresh-squeezed)
- Bottled still, sparkling, and coconut water (500ml)
- Premium coffees & teas
- Zero-proof cocktails (21+)
- Alcohol-free beer and sparkling wine (21+)
- Frozen drinks (non-alcoholic)
- Smoothies and bottled protein shakes
- Milkshakes
- Energy drinks
Like the standard CHEERS! package, however, the zero-proof option cannot be used ashore at Carnival's private destinations, including Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay.
That said, not every guest in your cabin needs to purchase it the way they would the alcoholic drink package.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line Drink Menu and Prices
Cruisers react to the new Carnival drink package
Although many cruisers enjoy indulging in cocktails on vacation, the response to CHEERS! Zero Proof has been very positive. Now, guests can enjoy a wider variety of non-alcoholic beverages for a set price.
As someone who recently started their own sobriety journey, I'm glad to see that Carnival is thinking about inclusivity — and I'm not the only one.
"Finally!!! I’m so glad they made this," wrote Kylie Willey on Facebook.
Missy S Bozeman added, "We got this [on] our last sailing and loved it! I think it’s the best one yet!"
"I stopped drinking back in February, and was worried cruising would be less fun. It was nice to...throw back NA Sam Adams IPAs all cruise long. Made things feel kinda normal on my first sober cruise," shared one Redditor.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
