Carmen
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-10-02
A cruise drink package can be good value, but only if it matches your real habits. Many travellers look only at the onboard price of soft drinks, wine or cocktails and forget that a large part of the holiday happens ashore. On Mediterranean cruises popular with Danish travellers, often combined with flights to the embarkation port, there are usually many port days. That means people often drink less onboard than expected. So you should calculate based on the pattern of the whole trip, not just what one poolside drink costs.
What does a drink package usually include?
Drink packages are rarely identical. Some cover only soft drinks, juice and coffee variations, while others include beer, wine and selected cocktails, and the broadest packages may also cover bottled water, specialty coffee and fresh juice. At the same time, there are almost always limits: certain brands may be excluded, there may be a cap per drink, and minibar, room service or drinks on private islands can be treated differently. Before judging value, check exactly which drinks you are likely to use every day.
When does a cruise drink package make sense?
A drink package usually makes sense if you spend many hours onboard and spread your consumption steadily through the day. That often applies on sea days, on shorter itineraries with few long port stops, or if you actively use the ship for pool time, shows and bar visits in the evening. For some families, a non-alcoholic package can also be easier to manage than paying as you go. If you travel as a couple, value can improve if both of you have similar habits, especially when the cruise line requires adults in the same cabin to choose the same option.
When are pay-as-you-go purchases often better?
Paying per drink is often smarter if you spend a lot of time ashore, have lunch away from the ship or drink only a little with dinner. It also applies if one person in the cabin barely drinks, or if you prefer a few better glasses of wine rather than many standard choices covered by the package. On popular routes in Spain, Italy and Greece, long days in port can quickly reduce onboard consumption. In those cases, many people end up paying for flexibility they do not use enough to justify the package.
How to calculate it without guessing
Make a simple calculation per day and per person. Split the trip into sea days and port days. Then note realistically how many coffees, soft drinks, waters, beers, glasses of wine or cocktails you would actually buy onboard on each type of day. Also check whether the package must be bought for all adults in the cabin, and whether service charges are included in pay-as-you-go prices or in the package. When comparing, use your normal holiday consumption, not an optimistic estimate based on the first day of the trip.
Questions to clarify before booking
Check whether the package can be bought before departure, whether it costs more onboard, and whether everyone in the cabin has to take the same package. Also look for limits on how many drinks can be ordered at once, the maximum value per drink and which restaurants or bars are included. For Danish travellers, who often fly from CPH, BLL or AAL to a cruise in Southern Europe, it is especially important to match the package to the route. A port-heavy trip and early excursions change your consumption more than many expect.
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