Carnival Cruise Drink Packages: A Comprehensive Guide to Sip and Sail

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When you’re planning your Carnival cruise, one of the crucial decisions you’ll face is whether to purchase a drink package or pay for your drinks individually. To help you make an informed choice, this comprehensive guide provides all the facts you need.

Carnival Cruise Drink Packages

If you’re looking for a quick way to determine whether a drink package is right for you, try our Carnival drink package calculator. You can select your preferred beverages, and it will calculate the costs with and without the package.

Which Drink Package To Choose?

Carnival Cruise Lines offers two primary drink packages:

1. Cheers Package – From $59.95 Per Day

The Cheers Package is an all-encompassing option, covering a wide range of beverages, including cocktails, spirits, beer, wine, sodas, and more. Here’s what’s included:

• Cocktails
• Spirits
• Beer by the glass
• Wine by the glass
• Sodas
• Zero-proof frozen cocktails
• Energy drinks
• Milkshakes
• Smoothies
• Juices
• Specialty coffees
• Hot tea
• Bottled water (500ml)
• Other non-alcoholic bottled drinks

The Cheers Package also provides a 25% discount on drinks priced above $20, bottles of wine and champagne, and drinks classes and seminars. However, it’s important to note that the package limits guests to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, and a day is considered to be from 6 am to 6 am. There is no limit for non-alcoholic drinks.

2. Bottomless Bubbles – From $9.50 Per Day

The Bottomless Bubbles package is tailored for those who prefer non-alcoholic options. It includes:

• Fountain soda by the glass (16 oz)
• Juice by the glass (10 oz)

The Bottomless Bubbles package does not include non-alcoholic beverages other than soda and juices, drinks in souvenir glasses, bottled water, hot drinks, or drinks offered at the gangway and room service.

Carnival Drink Package Prices

• Cheers Package Price:
• Buy on website: 6 days or more – $59.95, 5 days or less – $69.95
• Buy on ship: 6 days or more – $64.95, 5 days or less – $74.95

Keep in mind that there’s an 18% gratuity on top of these prices, and when the ship is within US waters, there’s an additional 10% sales tax on each drink.

• Bottomless Bubbles Package Price:
• Children – $6.95
• Adults – $9.50

Similar to the Cheers Package, the Bottomless Bubbles package has an 18% gratuity, plus a 10% sales tax on drinks in US waters.

Do Carnival Drink Packages Go On Sale?

Carnival drink packages are not known to go on sale. The best way to get discounts on these packages is to book them before your cruise. Doing so can save you $5 per day on the Cheers package compared to purchasing it on board.

Can You Buy a Carnival Drink Package With Onboard Credit?

While you can buy a Carnival drink package with onboard credit, it’s not recommended. Using onboard credit means your drink package will cost an extra $5 per day compared to pre-purchasing it. It’s better to use your onboard credit for other expenses.

Are Carnival Drink Packages Worth It?

The worth of a Carnival drink package depends on your drinking habits. Generally, the Cheers package is worth it if you consume five or more alcoholic drinks per day, while the unlimited soda package is a good deal if you drink four or more sodas or juices daily.

To determine whether a drink package is right for you, consider the types of drinks you prefer and use a drink package calculator. This tool can show you how much you can expect to spend with and without a package, based on your drink preferences.

In addition to the packages, Carnival offers reasonably priced individual drinks. On average, you can expect the following prices for drinks on a Carnival cruise in 2023:

• Cocktails: $10.50 – $12.50
• Beer (16oz): $7.00 to $8.50
• Wine by the glass: $9.50 to $14.00
• Spirit and mixer: $7.50 to $15.00
• Soft Drinks: $2.75
• Specialty Coffee: $2.50 – $4.95
• Energy Drinks: $4.95
• Smoothies: $6.50
• Bottled Water: $1.50 – $3.95

What Drinks Are Free on Carnival Cruises?

Carnival Cruise Line offers complimentary drinks in the main dining room, buffet, and room service, including water, lemonade, fruit juice, coffee, hot tea, iced tea, hot chocolate, milk, and chocolate milk.

Can You Bring Drinks on a Carnival Cruise?

Each adult can bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne in their carry-on luggage. Additionally, each person can bring 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic beverages, such as water, soda, energy drinks, juice, or milk. If you wish to drink your wine in a bar or restaurant, you’ll be charged a corkage fee of $15 per bottle.

Carnival Drink Menus

Carnival Cruise offers a diverse range of drink menus across various bars and venues on their ships. At the Atrium Bar, you can enjoy classic cocktails for $10.50 or explore Carnival’s signature cocktails at $11.50, and indulge in frozen cocktails for $12.50. The Red Frog Pub features Red Frog beer at $7.50, along with their delightful cocktails and rum flights. For tequila enthusiasts, the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar serves tequila shots ranging from $7.50 to $15.00, tequila cocktails at $10.50 to $12.50, and tempting margaritas for $11.50 to $13.50. Sports Bar enthusiasts can savor domestic and imported beers priced between $6.50 and $8.50 for a 16oz glass. The Piano Bar offers classic cocktails at $10.50, signature piano bar cocktails at $11.50, and champagne cocktails at $12.50. The Night Club provides classic and signature cocktails at $10.50 and $11.50, respectively, alongside energy drinks at $4.95 and bottled water for $3.95. Additionally, Carnival’s extensive drink offerings extend to other bars and restaurants, with unique drink menus tailored to their themes. For example, the main dining room boasts a wine list with over 100 different wines, while the steakhouse offers a carefully curated cocktail menu designed to complement their delectable menu items.

Carnival Drink Package FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Carnival drink packages:

• Does Carnival offer free drinks in the Casino? Yes, you can earn a ‘Drinks On Us’ card while playing in the casino.
• How much do you have to spend in the Carnival casino to get free drinks? You need 1500 points, which is equivalent to around $3750 in spending.
• Does Carnival have a coffee package? No, they don’t offer a coffee package, but regular coffee is free in certain areas.
• How much are specialty coffees on a Carnival cruise? Prices range from $1.95 for a small brewed coffee to $6.50 for alcoholic coffee blends.
• How much is beer on Carnival? Most 16 oz beers cost around $7.50.
• How much is a Coke on a Carnival cruise? You can’t buy Coke, but Pepsi costs $2.75. You can bring your own Coke.
• How much does a cocktail cost on a Carnival cruise? Cocktails range from $10.50 to $12.50.
• Can you bring a 12-pack of soda on a Carnival cruise? Each guest can bring a 12-pack of soda in 12-oz cans or cartons.
• Do Carnival cruise ships serve Coke or Pepsi? Carnival serves Pepsi products.
• Does Carnival have Red Bull? They have Rockstar energy drinks.
• Is bottled water included in the Cheers package? Yes, 500ml bottles of water are included.
• Does Bottomless Bubbles include coffee? No, it only includes soft drinks and sodas.
• Does Bottomless Bubbles include Gatorade? No, it doesn’t.
• Does the Cheers Package include drinks on Private Islands? No, it doesn’t include drinks on private islands.
• Can you share the Carnival Cheers package? No, the package can’t be shared.
• Do I need to purchase a drink package for my whole cruise? Yes, drink packages are for the entire cruise.
• Is the Cheers package refundable? It’s refundable up to 9:00 pm ET on the evening before departure.