Cruise lines structure these packages differently. Some focus on non-alcoholic beverages, while others combine alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. Certain cruise brands also include beverage packages within broader cruise bundles that may contain dining, internet access, entertainment, or other onboard features.

The exact drinks, limits, venues, taxes, gratuities, age requirements, and purchasing conditions vary by cruise line, ship, itinerary, and country.

Why Cruise Lines Have Different Drink Plans

Cruise ships operate across international waters and visit different countries, so beverage policies can vary according to local regulations and company rules. Drinking-age requirements, alcohol policies, package eligibility, and available brands may therefore differ between itineraries.

For example, Royal Caribbean currently separates its beverage plans into options covering soft drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic drinks. Its alcoholic package includes cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, beer, and wine by the glass, along with selected non-alcoholic beverages.

Common Drink Categories

Cruise Ship Drink Packages can include several categories:

• Soft drinks: Fountain soda, canned soda, and selected branded beverages.

• Water: Bottled still and sparkling water.

• Coffee and tea: Specialty coffees, teas, and selected premium beverages.

• Juices: Fresh-squeezed or packaged fruit juices, depending on the cruise line.

• Mocktails: Non-alcoholic cocktails made with juices, syrups, and other ingredients.

• Beer: Selected domestic, international, or specialty beers.

• Wine: Wine by the glass and, on some plans, selected bottled wines.

• Spirits: Vodka, rum, gin, tequila, whisky, and other spirits.

• Cocktails: Mixed drinks prepared according to the onboard beverage menu.

Not every package includes every category.

Importance

Understanding What Is Included

The main purpose of a drink package is to establish which beverages are covered under a particular plan. A passenger choosing a non-alcoholic package may receive bottled water, specialty coffee, soda, juices, and mocktails, while an alcoholic package may add beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails.

Princess Cruises, for example, currently has beverage packages covering different combinations of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, while its Zero-Alcohol Package focuses on specialty coffees and teas, soft drinks, mocktails, bottled water, and selected other beverages.

Considering Drinking Habits

A package may be more relevant to some travelers than others depending on what they normally drink during a vacation.

Someone who mainly drinks water and occasional coffee may have different requirements from someone who regularly orders cocktails, wine, or beer. Families may also have different needs because children and adults can fall under different package categories.

Understanding Daily Rules

Many cruise beverage plans are structured around each cruise day rather than individual drinks. Some must be purchased for the entire voyage.

The exact conditions vary. Princess states that its beverage packages must be purchased for the full length of the voyage and cannot be shared. Royal Caribbean also states that packages are intended for individual guests and cannot be shared.

Package Comparison

These categories are general descriptions. Individual cruise lines may use different names and package structures.

Recent Updates

More Flexible Beverage Categories

Cruise lines continue to adjust their beverage programs. Instead of having only one broad plan, many brands now provide several levels covering different drinking preferences.

Royal Caribbean currently lists Classic Soda, Refreshment, and Deluxe Beverage options. The Refreshment Package includes beverages such as specialty coffees and teas, bottled water, juices, and non-alcoholic cocktails, while the Deluxe option adds alcoholic beverages.

Changes to Soft Drink Technology

Digital and self-serve beverage systems are also changing how some passengers access drinks.

Royal Caribbean changed its Coca-Cola Freestyle arrangements in March 2026. Its current policy states that the Deluxe and Refreshment packages no longer include the Freestyle cup, while eligible passengers can obtain a separate cup for access to the machines.

This illustrates why passengers should check the conditions applicable to their specific sailing rather than relying on information from an older cruise.

Expansion of Non-Alcoholic Choices

Non-alcoholic beverage selections have become more varied across cruise brands. Specialty coffee, mocktails, bottled water, fresh juices, smoothies, non-alcoholic beer, and other drinks can appear in different package categories.

Princess currently lists specialty coffees and teas, fountain soda, hot chocolate, mocktails, bottled water, and selected energy drinks within its Zero-Alcohol Package.

Beverage Packages on World Cruises

Longer voyages and world cruises can have different beverage arrangements from ordinary itineraries.

MSC Cruises currently states that its World Cruise includes a Dine & Drinks Package covering house wines, draught beer, soft drinks, and still and sparkling water during lunch and dinner in the main restaurants and buffet. Additional beverage packages can be purchased separately.

This demonstrates that package rules can depend heavily on itinerary type.

Cruise Bundles

Some cruise lines combine drinks with other onboard features. Instead of purchasing a beverage plan separately, passengers may encounter broader packages containing drinks together with dining, internet access, or other inclusions.

Norwegian Cruise Line's 2026 beverage information, for example, describes its Unlimited Open Bar arrangements and lists alcoholic drinks, selected wines, specialty coffees, fresh juices, energy drinks, and water among the available categories, subject to itinerary and package conditions.

Laws or Policies

Drinking Age

Alcohol policies are one of the most important considerations when choosing Cruise Ship Drink Packages.

The legal drinking age may vary depending on the cruise line, itinerary, embarkation location, and applicable regulations. Cruise companies can also impose their own minimum-age rules.

Passengers should therefore check the current alcohol policy for their exact voyage rather than assuming that the drinking age is identical worldwide.

Same-Stateroom Requirements

Some cruise lines apply special rules when one adult purchases an alcoholic beverage package.

Royal Caribbean states that guests purchasing its alcoholic beverage package must have all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom purchase the package, subject to the cruise line's stated policies and exceptions.

Such rules are intended to regulate package use and reduce unauthorized sharing.

Package Sharing

Drink packages are generally assigned to individual passengers. Sharing a package with another passenger is normally prohibited.

Royal Caribbean and Princess both state that their beverage packages cannot be shared.

A passenger may therefore need to present a cruise card, wearable device, or other identification when ordering a covered drink.

Drink Limits

Some cruise lines establish daily limits for alcoholic beverages.

MSC Cruises currently states that a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per guest applies to its relevant beverage arrangements, including within and outside the MSC Yacht Club area.

Limits can vary significantly between cruise brands and itineraries.

Excluded Locations and Drinks

A package may not apply everywhere on a ship. Certain specialty venues, licensed branded outlets, minibars, room delivery, premium beverages, souvenir glassware, or particular products may be excluded.

Royal Caribbean, for example, states that its beverage packages exclude drinks served inside licensed Starbucks locations and certain other designated outlets.

Passengers should examine the package's current terms before boarding.

Taxes and Gratuities

The displayed package amount may not always represent the complete amount charged to the passenger. Taxes, gratuities, or other charges can vary according to itinerary and cruise-line policy.

Princess currently states that its listed beverage-package amounts exclude its applicable gratuity charge, with itinerary-specific conditions.

Tools and Resources

Cruise Line Beverage Pages

The official beverage page for the cruise line is usually the primary place to check current package names, inclusions, exclusions, age requirements, and purchasing conditions.

Information should be checked for the exact ship and sailing because package rules can change.

Cruise Planner or Manage Booking

Many cruise companies provide online booking systems where passengers can review available beverage plans before departure.

Royal Caribbean states that its beverage packages can be purchased through its Cruise Planner before sailing and also onboard under its applicable conditions.

Onboard Menus

Digital and printed menus can help passengers identify which drinks are included in a package and which beverages fall outside the package's limits.

Menus may differ between bars, restaurants, specialty venues, and destinations visited during the cruise.

Beverage Package Terms

The package terms are particularly useful for checking:

• Minimum drinking age.

• Whether every eligible adult in a stateroom must participate.

• Daily beverage limits.

• Package duration.

• Sharing restrictions.

• Included beverage categories.

• Excluded venues.

• Tax and gratuity treatment.

• Cancellation or refund conditions.

• Itinerary-specific restrictions.

Cruise Planning Apps

Official cruise apps can sometimes display onboard menus, account information, reservations, and package details. These digital tools can make it easier to check available beverages during the voyage.

FAQs

What are Cruise Ship Drink Packages?

Cruise Ship Drink Packages are prepaid beverage plans that cover selected drinks according to the cruise line's rules. They can include soft drinks, water, coffee, juices, mocktails, beer, wine, spirits, or cocktails.

Do Cruise Ship Drink Packages include alcohol?

Some do and some do not. Alcohol-inclusive packages may cover selected beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails, while non-alcoholic packages focus on drinks such as soda, coffee, tea, water, juices, and mocktails.

Can two passengers share one Cruise Ship Drink Package?

Generally, no. Major cruise lines commonly state that beverage packages are assigned to individual passengers and cannot be shared.

Are Cruise Ship Drink Packages the same worldwide?

No. Package names, drink selections, age rules, limits, taxes, gratuities, included venues, and purchasing conditions can vary by cruise line, ship, itinerary, and region.

Do Cruise Ship Drink Packages include bottled water?

Many packages include some form of bottled still or sparkling water, but the exact package and bottle size can vary. Royal Caribbean and Princess both currently list bottled water within selected beverage plans.

Conclusion

Cruise Ship Drink Packages provide different ways for passengers to access beverages throughout a voyage, ranging from soft drinks and bottled water to specialty coffee, mocktails, beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails. Package structures vary considerably among cruise lines and international itineraries, making the exact terms important to review before sailing. Recent developments include broader non-alcoholic selections, changing digital beverage systems, revised package structures, and itinerary-specific arrangements for long voyages. Understanding inclusions, exclusions, age requirements, sharing rules, daily limits, and applicable charges can help travelers understand how a beverage package fits their cruise plans.