HIDDEN FEE
Cruise drinks package
Beverage packageAll-inclusive drinks
On most mainstream cruise lines, drinks beyond basic tap water, some teas and coffees are charged individually, and a beverage package is sold to cover them for a daily price. Whether it saves money depends entirely on how much you actually drink — for light drinkers, paying per item is often cheaper.
Where it applies
How to avoid or shrink it
- Estimate your realistic daily drinks and compare that to the package price before buying.
- Light drinkers usually pay less à la carte than for an all-inclusive package.
- Watch for rules that require every adult in a cabin to buy the package.
THE HONEST CAVEAT
A package can be genuinely good value for heavy drinkers and poor value for light ones — there is no universal answer, only your own consumption.
Count it in your true total
Run a specific booking through the calculator and this fee is counted — sourced, dated and confidence-graded alongside everything else the headline price leaves out.
Back to the full fee glossary, or browse the Hidden-Fee Index.