I used to always buy the drink package. More than anything, it was a sign that I wasn't going for the cheapest possible cruise and that I had enough money to splurge. That matched how I like to travel, and my love for all-inclusive resort vacations, since MONEY was what I was trying to escape. No pressure to spend on this and spend on that. It was all paid in advance, and since I had already spent the money, I might as well kick back and relax, enjoy a few drinks, and have fun doing it.
A quick note on drinking safely
At no point am I encouraging overconsumption ... know your limits! Always be safe and do not be stupid; this is especially important at sea, where small accidents can turn into major problems very quickly. Hopefully you have a partner as amazing as Heather is who is strong enough to help you avoid crossing that line since the repercussions at sea could involve time in "cruise jail", your drinking privileges being revoked, or serious bodily harm and in extreme cases you could even be banned from the cruise line in the future.
Do not look at a drink package as your license to get stupid and do dumb things by overconsuming alcohol.
These Are The Six Times I DO Consider Buying The Drink Package On A Cruise ...
That "I have already paid" feeling is still the best part of booking a drink package for me. I hate signing a receipt every time I order and I hate getting off the ship to bill shock on the last morning. The nickel-and-diming involved in figuring out the cost of a drink package is almost as tough as figuring out how much to tip on the cruise. Heather and I don't drink like we used to, but that doesn't mean we never get the drink package. Here are 6 times when getting the drink package on a cruise just makes sense for me, even as a by-the-drink guy.
Over the years, I started to realize I was drinking less, and I no longer had anything to prove. I could buy the drink I wanted. I could buy a bucket of beers and finish it that night, or a top-shelf scotch, or even do my own personal whiskey tasting at sea by pointing to a bottle and saying, "Let's try that one!" I did not need a drink package.
It was ultimately clear that between drink packages often excluding top-shelf spirits, or making you still pay extra for it, something that eroded my "the money is already spent" motivation, and that while I wanted to enjoy that special night of going down the list of spirits I could not find at home... I did not want or need to do that EVERY NIGHT of a seven-day cruise, much less a longer voyage.
One alternative I really like: Virgin Voyages does not do a traditional drink package, and I LOVE their bar tab concept where you can get a discount based on how much you pre-pay. Same prepaid peace of mind, without locking me into drinking a certain amount every day.
Short Cruises Where It Is A Party, Not A Marathon
The cost of drinking on a long cruise is just crazy, and no matter what I say, the price just does add up and the amount of sustained drinking will force you to either drink too much or feel like you are not getting your money's worth.
On a short Baja cruise from San Diego to Ensenada or a cruise from Long Beach on Carnival though ... you can party for 3-4 days and be ok... it is a party, it is fun and you are not really expecting to do anything more than let some steam off.
When The Cruise Deal Is Just Too Good To Pass Up
Sometimes the deal really is that good and it just makes sense to book the drink package. I feel like those deals are not as good as they used to be but I still see occasional promotions where a cruise line offers a very basic beer and well drinks package that is so cheap you would be a fool to pass it up.
When The Package Includes More Than Alcohol
Princess is doing a really good job of this, and to be honest, they have always been a leader here. I remember getting a drink package on a Princess cruise years ago that included milkshakes. They were pretty terrible milkshakes, but I had more milkshakes on the four- or five-day repositioning cruise from San Diego to Vancouver than I had ever had in my life, and if I recall correctly, we had some that were spiked with whiskey too - yum!
Today, though, there are drink packages bundled together in a HAVE IT ALL PACKAGE or Princess PLUS where it is part of the overall deal ... sometimes including the pre-paid gratuities so you don't have to figure out how much extra tips will cost.
Coffee inclusions is another factor since Free at Sea Plus currently includes Starbucks and MSC includes their specialty coffee in the Premium Extra package as well - and for what it is worth I love the coffee on MSC so while that is a lot of coffee to make up for the package... it can be worth it depending on the individual.
When You Want Freedom To Taste New Stuff From Around The World
Viking, like other similar premium cruise lines, often includes a significant discount (or sometimes free) for tastings for when guests have the drink package. Viking's is the Silver Spirits and costs about $25 per day so it is both moderately priced and gives me the freedom to say "that looks interesting I want to try that!" It also allows me to experiment with new cocktails and attend tastings that I want to go to without spending $50 extra per session or whatever the cost might be.
I did an Armagnac tasting on Viking Octantis on an expedition cruise around the Great Lakes last year and it was truly one of the lasting memories of the cruise and one I might not have done if I had to pay full price. Viking Silver Spirits provides a 50 percent discount.
Sea-day Heavy Sailings And Repositionings
That San Diego to Vancouver run was exactly this case. Four or five days direct with a lot of sea days, living on the ship, hanging by the pool, trying new bars, catching shows.
On a sea-day-heavy sailing, you actually use what you paid for without having to force it. That is totally different from a port-intensive itinerary where you are off the ship all day and only back for dinner.
Cruises Where We're Celebrating - Birthdays, Anniversary Cruises, Retirement Parties
If you are doing a birthday party cruise, anniversary celebration, retirement celebration or a honeymoon cruise then alcohol and freedom to splurge as part of the celebration is totally worth it.
Want to have some sparkling wine for a cheers - done! Want to have beers with the buddies to celebrate your retirement without thinking about anything other than celebrating... done! That is the time not to count drinks. You are there to celebrate and the package just lets you stay in the moment with the people you came with.
Package pricing and details can fluctuate a lot depending on the cruise line and itinerary, always work with your travel agent before booking a cruise to ensure it is the perfect fit for your needs.
Ultimately, Deciding To Go For The Drink Package Is A Choice You Need To Make For Yourself ...
While I know a lot of folks look at the drink package as a way to drink a little bit too much and not have to worry about the per-drink cost, the decision to get a drink package is a bit more complicated than that and for a lot of folks ... like Heather and I ... the decision to get the drink package vs just looking around for deals on the ship to save money on drinks like "drink of the day" or "happy hour specials" really depends on who we're sailing with and what sorta cruise we're doing.
If you are looking at West Coast sailings to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, or a Pacific Coastal repo and want help matching the ship, the dates, and the bar program to how you actually drink and travel - Heather Hills at Flow Voyages can help you book a cruise.