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Carnival Drink Package – Is it Worth it?
People have asked if drink packages on cruise ships are really worth the price. There is not a definitive answer that suits all cruisers. You must first consider what drinks are complimentary or included in the base price of your fare, the cost of the beverage package, what is included in the package, and the number of drinks you plan to consume on a daily basis. Here I will outline all of these details to help you make an informed decision about the “Cheers! Beverage Program” onboard Carnival Cruises.
Complimentary Beverages
For arguments sake, I refer to these beverages as complimentary because there is no out-of-pocket expense for these drinks while onboard your ship. You could argue however, that this cost has been included in the base price of your fare. Carnival offers a variety of complimentary non-alcoholic drinks in the Main Dining Room during service and on the Lido deck 24 hours per day. They include the following.
Non-Bottled Water
Lemonade
Hot Chocolate
Unsweetened Iced Tea
Non-Specialty Coffee
Hot Tea
Beverages For Purchase
In addition to complimentary beverages, a seemingly limitless variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase while onboard your ship. Of course prices and selection may vary and are subject to change, but here is a list of beverages available for purchase onboard your ship. Keep in mind this list excludes any beverages sold in souvenir glasses.
Soft Drinks: $2.50
Energy Drinks: $4.95 and up
Specialty Drinks: $2.00 to $4.95
Beer: $6.00 to $7.95
Mixed Drinks: $6.95 to $20.00
Wine By the Glass: $8.00 to $14.00
Specialty Cocktails: $8.95 to $12.95
You’ll also find a selection of bottled water, coconut water, vitamin water, San Pellegrino, and Perrier which range in price between $1.25 and $5.00 per bottle.
Beverage Package
The beverage package on Carnival is called the Cheers! Beverage Package. In addition to the complimentary drinks already mentioned, it includes a maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per day. This includes all spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and champagne by the glass priced at $20.00 or less. The Cheers! package also includes sodas, specialty coffee, milkshakes, smoothies, virgin drinks, energy drinks, and 500 ml bottled water and bottled beverages served in bars and lounges. Drinks served in souvenir glasses or on the gangway, through room service, or while off the ship are excluded. Be sure you understand the full beverage package rules and exclusions as this list may not be exhaustive.
If you prefer to purchase wine or champagne by the bottle, your purchase of the Cheers! package entitles you to a 25% discount. You will also receive a 25% discount on any beverage with a menu price greater than $20.00. If you are interested in beverage seminars or classes, your purchase of the Cheers! package will provide you with a 25% discount to these as well.
Cheers! Package Pricing
The price of the Cheers! beverage package varies based on the length of the cruise and when the beverage package is purchased. You can purchase the beverage package once onboard the ship, however purchasing in advance will save you approximately $5.00 per day.
If you purchase your beverage package in advance, the cost of Cheers! is $51.95 (plus 18% gratuity) per person per day on cruises of five days or longer. This includes transatlantic cruises to and from the U.S. and Europe. On cruises with a duration of three or four days the cost is $54.95 (plus 18% gratuity) per person per day.
If you wait to purchase your beverage package once onboard, the cost increases to $56.95 (plus 18% gratuity) per person per day on cruises of five days or longer. This includes eastbound transatlantic cruises from the U.S. to Europe. On cruises with a duration of three or four days the cost is $59.95 (plus 18% gratuity) per person per day. The cost of westbound transatlantic cruises from Europe to the U.S. remains $51.95 (plus 18% gratuity) per person per day.
Each person cruising in the same cabin must purchase the beverage package, sharing is not allowed, and you must be a minimum of 21 years of age.
Is it Worth it?
The easiest way to determine if the beverage package is right for you is to determine the break-even point based on your preferred beverage. Let’s say for example you prefer specialty cocktails. We know the cost of these drinks ranges from $8.95 to $12.95, which is an average of $10.95. If we assume a beverage cost of $51.95 and divide by an average cost of $10.95, this gives us a result (with rounding) of 5. This means you would need to drink five specialty cocktails per day in order to break even. If you plan to drink five or more on a daily basis then the Cheers! package is worth the money. You can do the same calculation based on your preferred or combination of preferred drinks by using the pricing provided above. When deciding if the package is right for you, also consider you will not be paying for specialty coffee, sodas, milkshakes, smoothies, etc. if plan to drink any of these as well.
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