Drink Package Value Estimator: cruisetipstv.com/estimator/

I don’t know about other cruisers, but if I had 15 drinks a day on my ship, I would remain shipfaced the entire cruise. Man, that’s waaaay too much booze!

I’ve cruised with and without the drink package. I feel like I have a love hate relationship with it. It’s nice to not have to worry about paying but sometimes I feel pressured to get more drinks to get my moneys worth when I would have been fine without them. But then if I don’t purchase it and I end up drinking a lot I regret wasting money by not having it. I’m also an over tipper by personality so the bills do add up regardless. I’ve pretty much decided drink package for short cruises, no drink package for longer cruises. We’ll see if I stick to that 😂🙃. All of your points were great things to consider. I need to remember to ask for top shelf, I always forget.

For me it's two things. First I have tha package as it's easier. The second is I get it for say $60 per person. 2 beverages before lunch. Wine with this. 3 cocktail before changing for meal. Couple wines with meal. Go to a show and have 2 more cocktails. That's 10 drinks. That's avarage $122. So for me it's worth it

Great points to consider for the drink package. Since I am not a big drinker, I sometimes don''t chose the "free" option and it works out fine just getting drinks as needed and on the island stops. It would be nice if the cruise lines allowed passengers to choose a "soda/soft drink package" as an alternative "free" option even for adults. My tip for a drink package is for the times when the seas get a little choppy and the ship starts to toss. Ginger is beneficial to minimize seasickness wooziness or motion sickness in cars or trains. So, I'll get the Ginger Beer from the bar and enjoy it in my cabin or in the middle ship lounges.

Hey Sheri! To your point regarding other included beverages outside of alcohol, Celebrity (owned by Royal Caribbean Group, of course) includes their specialty coffees in their Premium Drink Package. So if you’re craving a specially made latte or espresso, it will be included in that Premium Package.

We typically spend a bit more than $100/week on drinks, so the value is dubious. But we have a transpacific booked this fall, and the "discounted" drink package is $3,930 CAD (for 2 including mandatory gratuities)! However we were 7 nights short of diamond, so we booked an 8 night, southern Caribbean cruise which cost us $2734 CAD including fees (we spent $0 on drinks on that cruise) and that got us to diamond so we get 8 drinks per day on our transpacific! Saving $1196 (and getting another cruise).

It's shocking how fast the drinks add up, especially when including water and coffee! I prefer to order the drink package to reduce the stress of purchasing the drinks individually.

Great tips! We got a package on our last cruise and totally forgot about the free Bottled water from the bars! Ugh!

I’m Diamond. That’s 8 free drinks between my wife and I. 6 for me and 2 for her 😁 Yes, we occasionally go beyond that by a couple of drinks. An extra $30 here are there is not a deal breaker. Beyond our Diamond drinks, I’ll usually get a bar tab of perhaps $100. $750-1,000 for a drink package is complete insanity IMO

Yep, a lot of people forget about the coffee and the milkshakes and the spike milkshakes on carnival.

These are some great tips! I appreciate the recommendation to not forget that non alcoholic drinks can help "get my money's worth" and to try new things, because if I don't like it, it's free. Thanks!

I've never purchased a beverage package because I don't drink a lot of alcohol, but we're doing the HAL "Have it All" on our next cruise because with all the perks it was worth it.

I’m doing a carnival cruise for 7 days to Mexico. After I booked it, they gave me $200 on board credit. So I used it for the drink package. The drink package was $500.00 so I used the $200.00 obc towards the drink package. Which I paid $300.00 I think it was a good choice.

We usually never buy a drink package but my husband and I leave next Saturday on our first cruise alone without family/kids on Sky Princess. We bought the Plus Package. It made more sense bc included wifi and gratuities and we were just ready for one cruise or vacation where we weren't budgeting spending while onboard. The best part of cruising is the inclusive part of it and not having to budget while on vacation. Makes so much more stressful than should be. We can't wait to just be able to fully relax and enjoy, ALONE lol

Hey Sheri! Me and my husband usually get the deluxe drink package as long as it's on sale for a good price. We aren't big drinkers unless we are on vacation lol but we will have a few cocktails throughout the day and a couple of glasses of wine at night with dinner and love getting the specialty coffees for breakfast. We usually end up breaking even but we feel it's worth it for the peace of mind of not worrying about a big bill at the end.

I once made it to 13 drinks on my drink package. Was so hungover the next day I didn't drink at all.

Great tips Sheri. Watching this as I am about to head to the airport in a couple hours and fly to the NCL Escape for a week in the Eastern Caribbean with Premium Plus.

I just used your calculator NCl: I’m a solo traveler. I just need 1 good coffee, 2 bottle of water and 5 cocktails per day, maximum. I don’t think the package is worthy in my case, unless I can get a discount. Thank you!

Love the drink estimator, so helpful! I've never found the drink package worth it but I'm not much of a drinker.

I like drink packages so i have no bill at the end

Great video! I will definitely give your calculator a try. We usually get Cheers on Carnival. It's so nice to order what you want and not worry about it. We get a lot of use out of it for things like specialty coffee, sparkling or coconut water etc. Things that might otherwise be a splurge it we were paying a la carte.

Hi Sheri!! We usually do NOT buy the drink package except for very special cruises; it’s simply not a money saver for us. Great job with the video!

Great video!! On our recent Holland America cruise we were surprised that the Have it All (included in rate) bev package had a 15 drink limit for BOTH alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages! We were so used to all the other lines that incl the non alcoholic with no limit, and was surprised that our specialty coffee counted towards the 15. Like Sheri said, always check the fine print folks!!

Norwegian has no limits! That is why I prefer NCL. Honestly, those slushy rum drink go down too easy!

We do try new drinks because of the cruise package and there are some days I’ve had one too many lol. I drink between 7 to 8 drinks per day

Hi Sheri! 👋🏻👋🏻🤗🤗. Thanks for another helpful tips!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻

i am addicted to your channel. please keep up the great work.

Hi Sheri! We usually don’t buy the drink package as not a money saver for us - my husband doesn’t drink alcohol. Great video!

I don’t think you should tip to ensure good service. I tip at the end of the cruise for good service I received.

Hi Sheri and family! Excellent video 👍🏻 Very well explained 👌🏻 Thank you!

We always buy the premier package as we always cruise with Princess. It’s worth it not only the beverage package but the wifi as it’s for multiple devices as my cruise it’s not just a vacation, also work. Loved the premier reserved seating for the shows in the theater. We can get up to 6-7 min before the show and we will have great seats. And my husband takes advantage of the top shelf drinks. Never paid extra for drinks. Tipping we still tip some of the bartenders as they are very friendly and take care of you. Also the room service for my drinks.❤

glad celebrity is giving us the drink package. we are in Bermuda for 3 days. if it was not included we would not do it on a port intensive trip

How good are they (Royal esp) at spotting someone with a drink package passing a few over to others? Asking for a friend.

This was so helpful! I figured the drink package was not a deal. Great video

I LOVE my Bombay Sapphire martinis too!

With me travel with P&O Australia and you can't pay the difference of a more expensive drink than what is on your package. You have to pay the full amount. Meaning if your dink package let's you have up to $15 and your drink is $19. You have to pay $19 for the drink and not the $4 difference.

thankyou for this , Im booking a RC cruise here in South Australia...we love our drink :) ...lots

Tito’s vodka is always available with the drink package on RCCL

Yup always do lol hubby is a fish.. I won't do deluxe again I don't get enough out if it... I drank mostly liquid Iv last time lol

Price change on Princess cruise cocktails plus package from $12 to $15 and from $16 to $20 for the Premier packages.

Thanks Sheri, another great and informative video! 🍺

I do not drink Alcohol all that much but I like NCL drink package. I can get soda, and non alcohol mix drinks.

Spa Cafe on RCCL and Celebrity for smoothies.

Great video!

Not sure if it's too shelf...but Hennessy is my go to!!! Lol 😆

In August 2021 we did a Back to Back and were offered the drink package for $5/day. Yes, I said $5/pay. The best deal I have ever seen.

I’m not a big drinker so never bought the drink package. But every cruise I wanted a mimosa or Bloody Mary at breakfast, wanted a cocktail at lunch and dinner and sometimes just wanted one between meals. I also wanted soda, wished I could get a gourmet coffee and always wanted a couple of milkshakes. Also mineral water at times. Maybe got two of these on each cruise because of the cost. Figured out using Sheri’s drink calculator that I could have enjoyed my cruises much more with the drink package. Last cruise, I drank at least 7 alcoholic drinks a day and all the milkshakes, coffees, etc, I wanted. Lesson: do not only think about alcohol when deciding whether to purchase the drink package.

Yeah I can’t reach far on the piano.

Thank you Sherri! Good information!

Thanks.

my biggest blunder (in my opinion) is getting the Soda package on Royal on a ship that doesn't have the freestyle machines. Without the variety of the machines, Sprite, coke and water do not feel worth the daily cost.

Bought drink package for 7 days cruise. First two days of cruise drank a lot. Rest of cruise didn't want to touch anymore alcohol. My alcohol package blunder!

Makers Mark is hard to come by on Royal ships. So on day 1 I visit every bar so I know where to get it 😅

Plenty of reasons to choose all-inclusive cruises.

That sucks that all inclusive cruises aren't actually all inclusive and so many rules around it unlike resorts where you get more bang for your buck but I still wanna go at least once..never been. Still a bummer and annoyance. They nickel and dime you at every turn.

I don’t drink alcohol very much but I do drink a lot of soda

RCCL is at $102 per day I am holding off maybe closer to my cruise in sept 2023 it will have some kind of discount.

Thanks for the info. Great Video

The only things I don't like is not being able to use it on the private island and everyone in the cabin has to buy one. My son is not a drinker and usually shares a room with us.

Hi!! Wondering if you know if the drink pkg is available on the Princess private island of Princess Cays!

added a sub just on this vid TA!

Getting ready f or an NCL trip in December. I'd like water and juice, but not really interested in soda or alcohol. Any suggestions? Tia

Just a side note: When you tip in advance for the drink package, you’re only tipping 18% of the cost if you were to break even. Maybe 5-7 drinks per day? So if you drink more than that, the prepaid amount would not be enough. That’s why we typically give more.

We’re doing a Bahamas 4 day cruise can my husband & I get 1 alcoholic & 1 non alcohol package.

Very interesting video! We are going on our first cruise and are very interested in the drink package sailing out of Texas on ruby princess for 7 days since you can't use the package till day 2 do they charge you for all 7 days or only 6?

Just drink water it's free!

You are in the know. When are they going to unmask the crew? It is creepy. And, it needs to stop! Thanks!

Those packages encourage people to drink because any said that they will make sure to get what they pay for.

We take our own soda and bottled water. On princess you can take 2 bottles of wine with you, so I take 2 wine bottles and fill them with tequila and a little red food coloring and we drink that in our room.

On first sea day do y get free wine at dinner in the special dinning

I’m cruising with my daughter 12 and son 19 I still debating what drink packed to get. Any mom that can relate I’ll appreciate if you can give me any advice.

Do they tell you if the drink you order is included?

Going on RC cruise soon. Buying Delux bev package. 18% gratuity will be added. My question is whether the 18% is added to the price of the package OR if it is figured on “retail” price of the individual drinks actually ordered?

Hello I am about to go on my rc 1st cruise in January 2023. Right now the deluxe drinks package is 90.00 including the vroom. I am looking out for a cheaper price. My question from your experience. Will the price go down before December?

If I had 15 drinks in one day I'd wake up dead, so to speak.

I don’t see the drink package calculator link

In order for an alcohol drink package to be worth it you have to be wasted for the entire cruise which is just not worth it for me so I instead get the soda/juice package and when I'm at port I do a bar crawl since I know prices will be cheaper in foreign ports.

15 alcoholic drink maximum per day? Who drinks that much. Kiss your liver goodbye.

Krakken Rum!

But carnival pours less on upgraded liquor told by bartender

To ME a drink pkg is a double negative. If I do get it it's too much money...and if I do get it I would drink way too much.

How do y’all‘s, I’m a new cruiser will be taking carnival panorama in October with my son and it’s just the two of us my question is should I buy the bubbles package for him since I don’t drink alcohol or sodas and question number two does anybody know if club soda or seltzer water is free or should I buy a bubbles package for myself as an adult

I know you know this but we don't have a tipping culture so I won't ever tip.

I was looking at a Carnival cruise and one of the offers available was a “free” drinks package with the booking. Of course it’s not free, because the price is higher, but is this better value than buying the package separately?

what are the consequences of sharing drinks? 👀

15 drinks is… well, a lot. That’s about 1 for every hour you’re awake and out of the cabin. On a port day there’s no way you’re having 15 drinks if you get off the ship. I can’t imagine drinking that much alcohol on a cruise lol I still think that drink packages pay for themselves if you have a few beverages every day

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Excellent video!