Can I bring a beverage package on a cruise?

No, you cannot bring a beverage package on a cruise. A beverage package is not a physical item you pack. It is a prepaid entitlement you purchase through the cruise line before or during your sailing. It exists in the cruise line's booking system, not in your luggage.

  • United States: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, and MSC offer beverage packages as add-ons. Royal Caribbean sells Classic Soda, Refreshment, and Deluxe packages. Carnival offers Cheers!, Bottomless Bubbles, and CHEERS! Zero Proof. Norwegian includes the Unlimited Open Bar in its More At Sea package. Princess sells Plus and Premier packages.
  • Canada: Cruise lines operating from Canadian ports follow the same global policy. Beverage packages are purchased through the cruise line, not brought onboard.
  • Europe and United Kingdom: MSC, Costa, P&O, and Cunard sell beverage packages. MSC offers Easy, Easy Plus, Premium Extra, and Alcohol-Free options. P&O and Cunard offer all-inclusive packages with beverage inclusions.
  • Gulf Region: Cruise lines departing from Dubai and Abu Dhabi sell beverage packages onboard and through their websites. Packages are entitlements linked to your stateroom key.
  • Turkey: Cruise lines departing from Istanbul sell beverage packages onboard. Packages are added to your onboard account.
  • Asia-Pacific: Cruise lines operating from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo sell beverage packages. Packages are linked to your booking and stateroom key.

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Detailed Answer

What a Beverage Package Is

A beverage package is not a physical object. It is an entitlement you purchase that gives you unlimited or discounted access to drinks during your cruise. You do not pack it. You buy it through the cruise line's website before you sail or through the app or at a bar once you are onboard. The package is linked to your booking and your stateroom key.

How Beverage Packages Work

When you purchase a beverage package, the cruise line adds it to your onboard account. A sticker is placed on your SeaPass card or a digital marker appears in the system. When you order a drink, the bar staff scan your card and the charge is covered by the package. You do not need to present a physical pass.

Most alcoholic beverage packages require all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom to purchase the package. This rule prevents sharing. Non-alcoholic packages can be purchased by individual guests.

By Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers three main beverage packages: Classic Soda Package, Refreshment Package, and Deluxe Beverage Package. The Classic Soda Package includes unlimited fountain soda and a Coca-Cola Freestyle Cup. The Refreshment Package adds mocktails, premium coffees and teas, and fresh-squeezed juices. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Packages can be purchased online through My Royal Cruise up to 72 hours before departure or onboard on the first day.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival offers three beverage packages. Cheers! is the alcoholic package, priced at $59.95 per person per day before the cruise and $64.95 onboard, plus 18% gratuity. It includes up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day plus sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees, energy drinks, and more. Bottomless Bubbles is the soda package for unlimited fountain soda and juice. CHEERS! Zero Proof is the non-alcoholic package with mocktails, premium coffees, milkshakes, and alcohol-free beer and wine. All adults in the same stateroom must purchase Cheers! if one adult buys it.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian includes the Unlimited Open Bar Package in its More At Sea package. The package includes premium spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, draft and bottled beer, sodas, juices, and mocktails. The previous $15 cap per drink has been removed. The package is not available on sailings of less than 5 days or charter sailings. A 20% service charge is added. The package does not include bottled water, bottled wine, energy drinks, room service, or Starbucks.

Princess Cruises

Princess offers Plus and Premier packages. The Plus Beverage Package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass, and cocktails up to $15, plus non-alcoholic beverages and up to 12 bottles of water per day. It has a daily limit of 15 beverages. The Premier Beverage Package includes premium selections up to $20, with no daily limit on alcoholic beverages. Both packages include bar service charges. Guests under legal drinking age receive the Zero-Alcohol Package instead.

MSC Cruises

MSC offers Easy, Easy Plus, Premium Extra, and Alcohol-Free packages. The Easy Package includes selected cocktails, house wines, beer, soft drinks, and hot drinks. The Premium Extra Package includes premium spirits, champagne, and a wider wine selection. The Alcohol-Free Package includes fruit juices, mocktails, and sodas. All packages include gratuities. The Premium Extra Package is included with the MSC Yacht Club experience. A daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages applies.

Real Traveler Experiences

"I bought the Deluxe Beverage Package on Royal Caribbean before my cruise. It was already on my account when I boarded. I just showed my SeaPass at the bar and the drink was covered. No paper pass needed." Cruise passenger, Cruise Critic forum

"Carnival Cheers! was worth it for me. I had cocktails by the pool, wine at dinner, and specialty coffees in the morning. I hit the break-even point every day." Cruise passenger, travel review

"MSC's Premium Extra Package was a great deal booked in advance. I had premium cocktails and champagne every night. The gratuities were already included." Cruise passenger, Reddit community

Pro Tips

  • Purchase your beverage package before you sail for the best pricing
  • Alcoholic packages require all adults in the same stateroom to purchase
  • Packages are per person and non-transferable
  • Gratuities are typically added to the package price at checkout
  • Check the daily limit on alcoholic drinks. Most packages cap at 15 per day
  • Room service and minibar are not included in most beverage packages
  • Check whether your package works on private islands. Some do, some do not
  • Non-alcoholic packages can be purchased by individual guests

Related Questions

Sources

AskTravel.org gives you the answer first, then the detail. Every answer is built from official sources and updated when rules change. See how we answer: How We Answer.

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