One of the most frequent questions new cruisers ask before their first voyage is “Should I buy the drink package on my cruise?”
It’s an understandable question. People like to let loose on vacation. Bars and nightclubs are plentiful on board the cruise ship, and beer, wine, and cocktails are offered poolside, at dinner, and during shows… pretty much everywhere you turn. And come on, you can’t visit the tropics without enjoying a few fruity umbrella drinks, right?
But will you drink enough chardonnays, Moscow mules, Heinekens, or whisky sours to benefit from purchasing the drink package? Maybe. And maybe not.
Really, it all comes down to the math. Beer, wine, and cocktails will run you an average of $8-14 on most cruise ships, and usually that’s not inclusive of the gratuity (another 18-20% on top of that). That means, on average, a single drink on a cruise ship will run you about $13. If you like to cut loose, that means your $70 a day beverage package will cover five or six drinks.
But let’s face it. Math is hard. And how do you know in advance how much you’ll be imbibing? That’s why we’ve put together six reasons why you might want to buy the drink package. In an upcoming post, we’ll give you five reasons why you might want to avoid the beverage bundle. Oh, and at some point in the future, we’ll talk about a few alternatives to the cruise package altogether.
Six Reasons to Buy the Drink Package on Your Cruise:
- You’re ready to PAR-TAY: A cruise is a time to get away from it all. No job, no responsibilities, no chance of getting a DUI. The drink packages offer a nearly-unlimited supply of alcoholic beverages (some cruise lines, like Carnival and Holland America, limit customers to 15 drinks a day). That’s the whole point of the drink package, right?
- You like to set it and forget it: No surprises. You pay for your drink package in advance of your trip, and then you don’t need to think about it again. You don’t need to keep track of your expenses or check your folio to make sure you’re not getting overcharged (or hope you’re getting undercharged) when you have a drink package.
- You like to try new things: Never had a Cucumber Sunrise? A Frostbite? A Rebellious Fish? A Coco Loco? If you purchase the drink package, you have nothing to lose. So go ahead, order a Dirty Martini. If you hate it, just order something with less olive juice in it and be on your merry way.
- You can’t live without cappuccino and Diet Coke: On most (but not all) cruise lines, the drink package covers more than just alcoholic beverages. They typically also include other paid beverages like fancy coffees, smoothies, and even sodas. So if you need your caffeine fix in addition to a handful of cocktails a day, you may want the beverage package.
- Your Itinerary has a lot of sea days: Cruise lines try really, really hard to keep their guests entertained while on the ship. But let’s face it, if you have two or three cruise days on a trip, you’ll probably order a few more cocktails to pass the time. For that matter, if one of your cruise ports is the cruise line’s private island, your drink package may also be valid there. Finally, if you’re one of those folks who doesn’t feel the need to disembark from the ship at every port, you may want to take advantage.
- You can sometimes get a great deal: There’s no other way to say this– drink packages are pricey. But just like everywhere else, you can sometimes get a great deal by waiting for a sale. Keep an eye out (or have a travel advisor like Sea Vixen Voyages pay attention) and wait until the drink package price drops to a level you’re comfortable with. We’ve seen prices drop by 30% or more! Oh– and if you already bought the package and it goes on sale, you can “return” your drink packages and buy new ones at the discounted price.
Cruise drink packages aren’t for everyone, but the six reasons above may inspire you to consider the beverage package on your next cruise.
Are you ready to drink your next Pina Colada on board a cruise ship? Complete our no-obligation inquiry form and let Sea Vixen Voyages help you book your next adventure at sea.
