Carnival Cruise Line offers an all-inclusive beverage package called the Cheers Beverage Program, which covers the cost of most alcoholic beverages on the ship. The package starts at 59.95 USD per person, per day for sailings 5 days and less via Carnival’s website. The Bottomless Bubbles unlimited soda program is available for those who want to stay refreshed during their cruise.
Wine prices on Carnival cruise ships are wide, starting at 9.50 and going up to around 30. If you decide not to get the package, passengers can bring a limited amount of alcohol onboard with them on embarkation day. Passengers may bring one 750ml bottle of wine. An 18% service charge will be added to all drink package purchases.
The Cheers Beverage Program is the only option for those who want to enjoy a flat price for their spirited beverages over the entire length of the cruise. The package costs 64.95 USD per person, including an 18% service charge. Other drink packages include Bottomless Bubbles 8.20, Cruise the Vineyard Wine Package 95.58, and all spirits (including cocktails), beer, and wine by the glass with a 20.00 or lower menu price.
The age range for the program is 21 years old. The cost for admission includes alcoholic beverages priced up to 20, soft drinks, and up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hour period (9AM – 3AM). Once you have consumed your 15 drinks, you cannot purchase any additional alcoholic beverages.
For cruises of three to five nights departing on Dec. 1, 2023 or later, the CHEERS! program is available for those who wish to enjoy a more affordable and convenient beverage package.
📹 Everything you NEED to know about Carnival Cruise Line Drink Packages
A Carnival drink package allows you to indulge in a fixed number of alcoholic beverages per day of your cruise for a set price, …
What is the average cost of a Carnival drink package?
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(5 days or less) $82.54USDper person, per day including 18% service charge or (6 days or more) $70.74USDper person, per day including 18% service charge via Carnival’s website and (5 days or less) $88.44USDper person, per day including 18% service charge or (6 days or maore) $76.64 USDper person, per day including 18% service charge,if purchased once on board.
Why aren’t full bottles of wine and champagne included in the enhanced program?The program allows guests to purchase drinks on an individual basis at a convenient flat rate and not purchase multiple drinks at one time or bottles of wine and champagne. The program does include a feature that allows guests to purchase full bottles of wine and champagne at a 25 percent discount.
I don’t drink alcohol.Am I still able to purchase the Bottomless Bubbles all-inclusive soda program?While guests who purchasethe enhanced CHEERS! program receive all of the benefits of the Bottomless Bubbles program, CHEERS! does not replace the Bottomless Bubbles soda program which continues to be available to children at a cost of $8.20USD per person, per day and adults at a cost of$11.21USDper person, per day including 18% service charge, Please note: If one guest(21 or older) in a stateroom purchasesCHEERS!, theneach adult assigned to the same stateroom must also purchase the program.
What is the most expensive drink on a Carnival cruise ship?
Carnival Cruise Line Fun-loving Carnival fans will find mostly modestly-priced drinks throughout the cruise lines menus, with the exception of your average bottle of Dom Perignon ($225).
When the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Wish, launched in the summer of 2022, one of the buzziest stories on board was the swirling speculation around the mysterious $5,000 beverage available in the brand-new Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge.
What was in this cocktail to warrant such a high price tag? And what was up with all the secrecy surrounding it? The answer, thanks to a handful of influencers and other passengers who coughed up the funds to test it out: The Kaiburr Crystal is a flight of rare spirits and a cocktail served in an intriguing vessel, along with some take-home swag and tickets to visit Skywalker Ranch. The speculation continued: did it merit such a price tag, rivaling the cost of the entire vacation? The real shock is that this isn’t even the most expensive drink on a Disney cruise (more on that later).
The hype around that cocktail got us thinking: What are the most expensive drinks on other cruise lines, and what’s the allure of ordering the most expensive thing on the menu? Whether you’re a high roller, or you just want to take a peek at how the other half drinks, here are some of the most eye-poppingly expensive cruise ship beverages you’ll find on the high seas. Most of them don’t come with the same amount of pomp and circumstance you’ll find with the Disney drink, but for liquor aficionados they just might be the best kind of vacation splurge.
Does everyone in the cabin have to buy the drink package on Carnival?
Guests must be 21 or older to purchase CHEERS! and each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program.
Can two people use one drink package on a cruise?
No. As this is a personal package, only one beverage per guest will be served. Packages can be purchased by individual guests. All packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people. Any guest wishing to purchase an alcoholic b…
Yes. Except where prohibited by law an 18% gratuity will be automatically added to the pre-cruise or onboard purchase of a beverage package. Gratuities may be modified in the guest’s sole discretion by visiting the Guest Relations desk onboard at any…
You may purchase a beverage package up to 72 hours before you sail, online at Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. Or you may purchase it onboard, on the first day of your cruise. Ask at any bar for more information, or look out for a table setup promot…
Is it worth buying a drinks package on a cruise?
Bottom line. Buying a drink package on a cruise ship instead of paying for drinks individually can be a good way to save when cruising. But they aren’t for everyone. Drink packages generally make sense only for cruisers who typically order large numbers of drinks every day or particularly expensive drinks such as premium cocktails. For cruisers who only have one or two or three drinks a day, or order low-cost drinks such as beers, a cruise drink package generally doesn’t make sense.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Can I bring a refillable water bottle on a Carnival cruise?
Free Lemonade & Iced Tea (and water too!) – One of the things I remember wondering before my first cruise was if I there was any complimentary beverages other than water. The good news is there is! Lemonade and Iced Tea flow freely on the Lido Deck and in the dining rooms. If you’re feeling extra fancy you can mix both the lemonade and iced tea to make an Arnold Palmer (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this!). Of course, water is available too— and it’s perfectly safe to drink. Bring a refillable water bottle to save on trips to the Lido Deck.
Lunch in the dining room – Most cruisers rush to the Lido Deck for a buffet lunch on embarkation day, but a little known fact is the dining room is also open during lunchtime. When we choose this option, there is usually only a handful of guests dining with us. The best part? Never having to wait for a table.
TheChef’s Table – On select cruise ships there is an option for dinner at The Chef’s Table. Now, I haven’t had the chance to attend this VIP experience, but it’s on my list for a future cruise. The dinner starts with a tour of the galley followed by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and then a multi-course feast, prepared by a master chef. The menu is also unique to the experience. I think this would make a fantastic evening to celebrate a special occasion.
Can I bring a 12 pack of beer on Carnival?
Bringing Liquor and Beverages On Board – Embarkation A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person.
Proper travel documentation is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise. Even though a guest has completed registration using Online Check-in, it is still the responsibility of the guest to present the required travel documents at the time of embarkation. Guests should check with their travel agent and/or government authority to determine the travel documents necessary for each port of call. Any guest without proper documents will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of the cruise fare will be issued. Carnival assumes no responsibility for advising guests of proper travel documentation.
Except where it is a mandatory requirement, Carnival highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport book. The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. This will enhance the debarkation experience as delays may be expected upon return to the United States for those without one. Additionally, this will enable guests to fly from the United States to meet their ship at a foreign port should they miss their scheduled port of embarkation and allow guests who must disembark the ship before their cruise ends, due to an emergency, to fly back to the United States without significant delays and complications.
For cruises that begin and end in the same U.S port, the following WHTI-compliant documents are acceptable for cruise travel. Please note that if the cruise visits Colombia or Greenland, a passport book(valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel) is required. A passport card with the same validity is also acceptable for cruises to Colombia.
Is it cheaper to buy a drinks package on board?
Some rumors have circulated that onboard-purchased drinks packages will save you money, but that is almost always not the case. According to Cruise Critic member pete14, “The only price reductions for a drinks package that I have seen are a special offer for buying the package in advance. Whether even the advance discounted price is good value is debatable and dependent on how many drinks you intend to buy.”
Wine at dinner aboard Costa Toscana (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
The best time to buy a drinks package, if you believe you need one, is almost always prior to your sailing. The pros tend to outweigh the cons for this option. This doesn’t mean that purchasing your drinks package onboard is a particular bad idea, though. For some cruisers, it’s more ideal to “see how they feel” once they’re on the ship or potentially save money by not purchasing it for the first or second day.
Is the 15 drink limit at Carnival?
- Must be 18 years or older to purchase and agree not to give to minors.
- *Price is per person, per day and CHEERS! must be purchased for the entire duration of the cruise.CHEERS Package is only available on sailings 7 days or longer.
- Each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program.
- If the program is part of an offer you’ve received from Carnival, then it’s applicable to the 1st and 2nd adults in the cabin only
- if the 2nd passenger is not 18 years of age, then the Bottomless Bubbles package will be assigned.
- Only one alcoholic drink at a time may be ordered. No sharing is permitted.
- Program allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hour period (9AM – 3AM).
- Once you have consumed your 15 drinks, you cannot purchase any additional alcoholic beverages.
- Only one non-alcoholic beverage (other than mixers) at a time may be ordered. No sharing is permitted.
- If you are on the CHEERS! program, you can not (even by paying) purchase sharing cocktails (aka fishbowls), floaters, pitchers, tubes and buckets.
- Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason. Responsible Service of Alcohol rules apply.
- Program is strictly non-refundable and is also non-transferable onboard.
- All bottles and cans will be served opened.
- Program only applicable for onboard purchases during regular operating hours.
Note:Cheers! must be purchased by each adult assigned to the same stateroom, for the entire length of your cruise.Package is non-transferable and non-refundable after 10:00pm the evening before departure.
How to save money on Carnival drink package?
Save $8 per day by purchasing before you sail!
Cheers will be added for all adults 21 and over in the selected staterooms.
Enjoy the ease of paying one flat price for your spirited beverages over the entire length of your cruise.Now, that’s something to cheer about!Save $8 per day by purchasing before you sail!
- All spirits, domestic and imported beer, wine and sparkling wine by the glass, hand-crafted cocktails and frozen cocktails at a value of up to $23 AUD per drink.
- Soft drinks, frozen mocktails, energy drinks, packaged water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages.
- Packaged Water in the Dining Room and Specialty Restaurants.
- 25% off selected spirits or wines outside of the program.
- 25% off beverage seminars and classes.
- 25% off bottles of wine in Fahrenheit 555.
Does Carnival cut you off after 15 drinks?
- Must be 21 years or older to purchase and agree not to give to minors
- Each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program
- Only one drink at a time may be ordered. No sharing is permitted
- Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters
- Program allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks, per 24-hour period (6:00am – 6:00am).
- Once you have consumed your 15 drinks, you cannot purchase any additional alcoholic beverages.
- Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason
- Program is non-refundable
- All spirits (including cocktails), as well as beer and wine by the glass with a $20.00 or lower menu price
- Sodas, Zero-Proof frozen cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffee, hot tea, 500ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages
- Packaged water in the Dining Room and Specialty Restaurants
- 25% discount off the menu price for any spirit or wine by the glass above $20.00
- 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle
- 25% discount off beverage seminars and classes
- Beverages promoted and sold in souvenir glasses
- Bottles of liquor
- Beverages offered at gangway
- Beverages offered through room service, mini bars and/or in-stateroom beverage programs
- Sharing cocktails, floaters, pitchers, tubes and buckets
- Beverages offered at private parties and/or events
- All other beverage-related programs including merchandise, cigars and cigarettes
- Food items
📹 Carnival Drink Package | 2024 UPDATED – DO NOT BUY BEFORE WATCHING
With the Cheers Package, you can enjoy a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including cocktails, beer, …
Last cruise me and the wife did, we both had the drink package. We brought the 2 bottles of wine and 2 12 packs of soda we could on Carnival. She isnt much of a drinker but I am. Since we could get 15/day each We started getting the canned beers at the bar or pizza place place. They serve them sealed and all were 16oz. We would bring them back to the room. Put them in the mini fridge. On debarkation day we had 5 liters of liquor, 3 bottles of wine and 13 16 oz beers/selzers/twisted teas that we took home to get our monies worth.
Your advice about finding a favorite bartender is spot-on. I do this everywhere I go, not just on cruises!! My first Carnival cruise last October was on the Freedom out of Port Canaveral and I found Zora at the Alchemy Bar……she was awesome, remembered my name, remembered my drink(s), and helped make my cruise great!! (Adrian on the Celebrity Edge right now is also one of the absolute BEST!!!)
Anti drink package tips! Gamble once you hit 1500 points you get free drinks in the casino. Pre order wine and beer before your embarkation and you will have it in your room by the time you board! If the cruise is longer than 7 days I believe you can preorder hard liquor for the cabin. Also bring your own bottle of wine on boarding day. Without the cheers package you can budget your drinking expenses by purchasing bar cash through the fun shops. If the drink package is your thing get the most out of it! I’m talking smoothies fresh squeezed juice liquor and specialty coffee 😂
One thing your article should mention in the future is when to think about NOT buying a drink package. People should consider how many stops are on the cruise and what they plan to do on those stops. For example, Mediterranean cruises have several day-long ports of call. If you know you’re going to be off the boat 50% of the time, it may be more difficult to get your money’s worth getting a drink package.
Just completed Sunrise Cruise on 23 Mar 24. Ship flooded on 2nd deck, my balcony door wouldn’t shut completely and blew open multiple times at night during storm, ship had multiple leaks during five day voyage. Pros: Fun for all ages, diversified passengers, good dining options throughout the day, abundance of activities, room cleanliness Cons: Too many children left unattended running throughout ship decks, customer service, unorganized embarkation and debarkation, WIFI for only one person at a time on a group, lack of quality excursions, room maintenance
Before we sailed on Celebration last August I had figured an ” average price per drink (including tip)”. I realized we could drink pretty much what we had on our previous, ‘package-enhanced’ cruise. My husband like to tip folks and I thought the non-package option was a better option. Well, the drink prices had actually increased and that the 18% gratuity was included before the total, and little line for tips :/. We only drank mid-level cocktails and the occasional fancy coffee and found our break over point (on long cruise) was 5 drinks a day. It would be even more efficient if I drank soda. We will probably do the package on our upcoming cruise on the Mardi Gras
Question – sailing with three teens, the last few years we have done all inclusive resorts, so they are used to order virgin daiquiri and pina coladas, with the cheers package will I be able to order these for them? Do others order virgin drinks? I have read non alcoholic are unlimited, so thinking I can get as many as we want of those and milkshakes and coffees right?
I just want to clarify- when you said it’s excluded at ports like Nassau, you mean if you get of the ship, correct? We are going on a 5 day and Nassau is port we’ve been to many times so we were going to stay on. I called Carnival and they said you can still use th Cheers pkg if you stay on the ship that day in port.
I’m waiting on the coffees and shakes package. I don’t drink enough alcohol to make the cheers package worth it. And I’m not a major soda drinker either. Blended coffees are my vice. Water occasionally mixed with a bit of fruit juice is my main form of beverage. I would consider a specialty coffees option that meets a similar value to the cheers and bubbles packages to be worth it to me. Otherwise I’ll just pay per drink while onboard. 😉
Booked on Mardi Gras in December. Since it’s all about “finessing the system” how observant is the crew? Let’s just say that someone was to use the package to get a specialty coffee and they went around the corner and gave it to their daughter. Would those people be easily busted and have their Cheer package revoked? Asking for a friend.
Did anyone notice how difficult it is to get a cold dring when not ordering with dinner or a show? You have to go to a bar to get it most times so you can’t exactly send your kids. You would think they could have a special drink are just for the bubbles to make it easier to acces the drinks. Also, do they have milkshakes on any of the packages? Last cruise you could get a Milkshake even though they had only one place you could get them and only one person making them.
We were on Carnival Celebration October 15 – October 22 7 Day Cruise out of Miami . We bought the soft drink Pepsi Package. Only 2 days the fountain dispensers worked. We had to walk to any bar to get a can of Pepsi. We had to wake 15 minutes or longer to get a second can of Pepsi . We went to service desk complain about the Pepsi dispenser and others were there complaining about the machines being down. Only reply was go to a bar to get a soft drink but you can drink orange juice, Mango Juice or Apple juice free. They didn’t care. It could be 1 AM at the service and there would be between 10-15 People lined up. The service at some restaurant that you paid for food, the server would forget some items and you had to tell the server. This Ship wasn’t as good at past Carnival Ships. This is just my 2 cents worth.
Great article! Thanks for all the info. Couple Questions for ya… 1.) When off the ship while stopped at a particular port resort for the day (Grand Turk, Freeport, etc), do any drinks we pay for out of our own pocket while we’re there get counted towards our 15 while we’re off the ship? And 2.) Will they deliver unopened cans of beer to your room for room service as part of the Cheers package?
Wow way to screw people carnival. It’s like they are punishing you for taking a short cruise. Some people might only be able to afford the package on a short cruise since they insist everyone gets it even though my mother is diabetic and literally can’t drink because it messes with her blood sugar levels