Do you have to pay for the bar on cruises?
You definitely have to pay for it. Prices for cocktails on cruise ships usually run about $10-14 per drink, before gratuity. So expect to spend about $12 to $16.50 per beverage when gratuity is added.
Luxury cruises often include some free alcoholic beverages. Some even offer an open bar to their guests, such as Seabourn, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. Check out our compilation of cruises that include alcohol in your fare for more info.
On most cruise lines' ships, alcoholic drinks cost extra and incur an automatic 15 to 20 percent service fee. Pricing will vary by line, but it's akin to restaurant and nicer bar prices -- about $12 per cocktail, $8 to $10 per glass of house wine, $14 to $25 for nicer wines.
All major cruise lines will let you buy drinks on an a la carte basis when cruising. You don't need a drinks package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship.
Legal Drinking Age on Cruise Ships
That said, you'll notice that most cruise ships sailing from North America have a minimum drinking age of 21 years to abide by United States law. This is despite Mexico and some places in Canada having minimum drinking ages of 18 or 19.
To buy drinks on the ship you don't need cash or a credit card. In most cases you simply hand over your room keycard, which acts as a charge card for your onboard account. (Sometimes you simply give your room number and the staff charges your account that way.)
If you decide not to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package, then you will buy drinks individually. Plus, each time you order a drink, there will be an 18% gratuity on the bill. What is this? This can make drinks pricey, but it might be a better option than buying the deluxe package if you don't drink much.
Most cruise lines allow 2 bottles of wine or sparkling wine per cabin and some do allow liquor or beer. You can enjoy that in the stateroom, or pour a glass and walk freely with it, but if you want to bring the bottle to the dining room they will charge you a corkage fee.
Standard alcohol packages average $55 to $65 per person, per day, and the price likewise varies both by cruise line and drink inclusions.
As part of the cruise price, there is always complimentary food of many types and flavors. Drinks included are tap water, some juices and iced tea on most lines; everything else typically costs extra. Coffee and tea are complimentary, but you'll need to pay for specialty coffee beverages.
Can I bring a 12 pack of soda on Carnival cruise?
A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person.
Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Members can enjoy beverages from this happy hour menu at any bar or lounge onboard*. *Select bar locations are excluded from Happy Hour. Menu items are subject to change at any time. Happy Hour times vary by ship.
- Get in Line for the Liquor Tasting. Many cruise lines offer free liquor tastings on board, usually during the first or second night of the cruise. ...
- Take in the Art Auction. ...
- Attend a Lecture. ...
- Toast the Cocktail Reception. ...
- Join a Contest or Raffle.
Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.
Royal Caribbean allows the use of drink packages right from the start. Just don't be surprised if you can't get your favorite drink the moment you step on board.
There is no limit on a Royal Caribbean drink package in terms of how many drinks a guest may consume in a day or throughout the cruise. The only limit on a drink package is that you may only order one drink per order, per drink package.
Are cruise ship bars open day and night? Cruise ships make it easy for you to buy drinks at all hours; on most large cruise ships, you can start with Bloody Marys and mimosas in the morning, move on to fruity drinks by the pool, grab pre-dinner martinis and finish up your night with an Irish coffee.
If you have a drinks package, tips are included. Additional tipping is not required, even if there's a blank line for an “additional gratuity” on your check.
| Drink | Price | Drinks to Break Even |
|---|---|---|
| Sodas | $2.75 | 22 |
| Coffees | $3.50 | 18 |
| Energy Drinks | $5.00 | 12 |
| Smoothies | $6.50 | 9 |
Debit card
This method of payment is not recommended. If you use a debit card, a request for pre-authorization will be made by the cruise line to ensure the availability of funds. This request will freeze the pre-authorized amount for up to 30 days.
Can I buy drink package halfway through cruise?
Also, keep in mind that the drink package is sold on the first day or two of the cruise. You can't decide halfway through the trip that you want it. You'll need to buy it early.
Yes, you can buy a beverage package. These all-you-can-drink packages allow passengers to pay a set fee up front for unlimited drinks (of a certain type, as outlined by the package's fine print), rather than pay per drink once onboard the cruise ship.
Cash is not accepted at the onboard shops. All purchases made at the Royal Shops must be made using your Seapass® card.
Alcoholic beverages (beer, seltzer or hard liquor) seized on embarkation day will not be returned. Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom.
11. Don't buy drinks for anyone underage. The drinking age on all U.S.-based cruise lines is 21 -- even when sailing international waters. (Under special circumstances, some cruise lines allow 18- to 20-year-olds to purchase and consume alcohol with a parent's consent.)
All cruise ships allow smoking in certain areas, which are typically designated in outdoor smoking zones and sometimes in casinos, nightclubs, cigar lounges and cabin balconies (depending on the cruise line). The rest of the ship is firmly nonsmoking, however, and that includes all staterooms, restaurants and theaters.
As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.
The cheapest is Holland America—just $3.75 for a bottle of beer. And for a glass of house wine: Royal Caribbean ($8), Princess ($6.75), Costa (€4.95, or about $6.75), Norwegian ($6.25), Disney ($5.75), Celebrity and Holland America ($5.50), and Carnival ($5.25).
Whether you order from the bar, main dining room, or a specialty restaurant, soda will cost extra on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Currently, the price for a can of soda is $3.50, before the 18% gratuity.
Your cruise fare always includes food for breakfast, lunch and dinner on a cruise ship. However, not all venues that offer food will be free. The main dining room and cruise ship buffet will always be included in your cruise fare, though a few specialty items might cost extra.
Are all-inclusive drinks unlimited?
If you go on an all-inclusive vacation, it means your stay, unlimited food, drinks, activities and entertainment are included in the booking price of the resort – without any surprise costs.
On a cruise a beer will usually cost around $7, a glass of wine $10, a cocktail $10, a soda $2.50, and a specialty coffee $4. Drinks prices vary between cruise lines and gratuities (tips) may be added on top of the menu price as standard. Below are examples from the largest cruise lines by passenger numbers.
MSC Cruises Bottled Water Policy
MSC Cruises, like several other cruise lines, has also completely banned guests from bringing their own bottled water onto its ships. This is most likely a part of their effort to prevent alcohol smuggling and speed up the embarking process for its guests.
To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.
Do I need a passport? We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.
So the 3-1-1 rule is the TSA's quick reminder: 3 ounces, 1 quart bag and 1 bag per traveler. Note that food items, such as peanut butter, sauces or beverages need to fit within this 1 bag and larger items will be confiscated and discarded.
While climates will vary depending on which region you're sailing, expect temperatures to range from the upper 80s during the day to the mid-60s in the evening.
Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use.
Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required. In keeping with U.S. federal law, the age for the sale of tobacco products is 21. This policy is for U.S.-based itineraries/ships only.
They do. Each and every time you purchase whatever, your room card is used to identify you and to charge you for the purchase. This is far easier than checking IDs in some foreign language and does not require the bartender to “think”.
Is water free on a cruise?
Water is always free of charge on most cruise ships. You may be asked to pay a fee for some versions of bottled water. However, you can likely ask for a jug of iced water in any restaurant or bar for no added cost. There are several water dispensers present on a cruise ship so that you can help yourself.
Each Interior stateroom includes: Either a Royal king size bed or two twin beds, private bathroom with shower, vanity area, a TV and telephone, fridge or minibar, hair-dryer and 24 hour room service.
Onboard, bottled water can start at $3.25, and this package is worth it if you plan on enjoying a few of those throughout your cruise—plus a coffee and OJ each morning.
Can guests purchase the all-inclusive beverage packages for selected days? The package is sold for the first 2 days of the voyage and can only be purchased for the length of the voyage. On a 2 or 3-night cruise, guests must purchase on the first day.
The onboard casino action can get intense, but here's the deal: we've got a plan to make sure it always stays refreshing. With Drinks On Us!, once you earn enough casino points, the cocktails, beer and wine — as well as sodas and other nonalcoholic drinks — they're all on us, the whole time you're playing.
Does the package have to be purchased for the entire week or can it be purchased on a daily/a la carte basis? The beverage package can only be purchased for the entire voyage at a rate of $59.95 USD per person, per day via Carnival's website and $64.95 USD per person, per day if purchased once on board.
Are cruise ship bars open day and night? Cruise ships make it easy for you to buy drinks at all hours; on most large cruise ships, you can start with Bloody Marys and mimosas in the morning, move on to fruity drinks by the pool, grab pre-dinner martinis and finish up your night with an Irish coffee.
FREE UNLIMITED. OPEN BAR. Enjoy a wide selection of soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $15 during your entire cruise.
The beverage package can only be purchased for the entire voyage at a rate of $59.95 USD per person, per day via Carnival's website and $64.95 USD per person, per day if purchased once on board.
Should guests wish to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar, a $15.00 USD corkage fee, per 750-ml bottle, will be charged.
Is it illegal to sneak alcohol on a cruise?
Fine or surcharge: On many cruise lines, you may be subject to a fine or a surcharge if they catch you sneaking alcohol onto the ship. Confiscation of alcohol: No matter what other disciplinary action the cruise line takes, you can expect them to confiscate your alcohol as soon as they find it.
About In-room Beverages. All products sold containing alcohol have a limit of two products per booking (whether booked or a telephone order). This includes alcohol, wine, champagne and beer. A 'pack' or 'package' is considered one product.
Is food included on a cruise, or do I have to pay extra? Your cruise fare always includes food for breakfast, lunch and dinner on a cruise ship. However, not all venues that offer food will be free.
Cruise Cash Bar provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account which can be applied toward any bar purchases. This credit is good for any bar charge made to their account including alcoholic drinks, juice, soda, water, and coffee shop charges.
Many things to do on the cruise ship are included in your fare, but not everything. As cruise lines continue to push the envelope of things to do, the bigger and better activities do see charges. For example, Norwegian Cruise Lines charge for their go-karts on their ships.
So, it's important to know that Carnival won't serve any passenger more than 15 alcoholic drinks in a single day. And that's not just for beverage-package buyers. The cruise line has a hard limit on 15 alcoholic drinks per person.
| Drink | Price | Drinks to Break Even |
|---|---|---|
| Sodas | $2.75 | 22 |
| Coffees | $3.50 | 18 |
| Energy Drinks | $5.00 | 12 |
| Smoothies | $6.50 | 9 |
When you order a drink in a bar, restaurant or lounge on a cruise ship, it's typical for the cruise line to include a 15% to 20% gratuity on your bill, so that $6 beer may actually cost you $7.20. If you have a drinks package, tips are included.
Carnival's daily limit for alcoholic drinks is fifteen drinks per day, whether you are on the CHEERS! program or not. This limit resets at 6 AM every day, and this rule does not apply to non-alcoholic drinks. Carnival offers this package on all cruises excluding those leaving from Australia.
Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.