Cruise drinks packages sound like a dream. Unlimited cocktails, wine with dinner, and coffees whenever you fancy.
But they don’t always save you money.
On some cruises, the package pays for itself quickly. On others, you could end up spending far more than if you’d just paid for drinks as you go.
Cunard offers several drinks packages, each with its own rules, price limits and quirks. And depending on how you like to drink, one of them might make far more sense than the others.
So are Cunard’s drinks packages actually good value… or could skipping one leave you better off?
If You Average Around 8 Drinks Per Day, It’s Probably Worth Getting a Package
Whether a Cunard drinks package is worth it or not depends on how much you drink – typically, if you average around 7–8 alcoholic drinks per day, or a mix of cocktails, wine and speciality coffees, then you will likely find that the drinks package is good value, although some drinks are cheaper than others.
Everyone is different – with different tastes, preferences and in terms of how much they drink each day too. Some people drink a lot every day of their cruise, while others might have a couple of days where they take it easy.
I can help, though – my drinks package calculator will help you work out whether a Cunard drinks package is worth it. All you need to do is fill in how many drinks you’ll likely have each day, and this will tell you whether you should get the package or just buy your drinks separately.
Prices
There are four main drinks packages available with Cunard. The drinks package with alcohol costs between $49.50 and $108 per person, per day if bought before you sail. Non-alcoholic packages range from $18 to $45 per person, per day.
Here’s a summary table. The prices are per person, per day when bought before you sail – prices in brackets are the equivalent cost if you book onboard.
| Package | 1-6 Nights | 7-14 Nights | 15-74 Nights | 75 Nights + |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol-Free Collection | $18 ($20) | $18 ($20) | $18 ($20) | $18 ($20) |
| Premium Alcohol-Free Collection | $45 ($50) | $40.50 ($45) | $36 ($40) | $31.50 ($35) |
| Beverage Collection | $94.50 ($105) | $76.50 ($85) | $63 ($70) | $49.50 ($55) |
| Premium Beverage Collection | $108 ($120) | $90 ($100) | $76.50 ($85) | $63 ($70) |
Here’s a look at each of the main packages, along with some wine packages you can buy.
1. Alcohol-Free Collection
Cost in advance: $18 per person, per day
Cost when bought on the ship: $20 per person, per day
This is the most basic drinks package you can buy. It includes:
- All draught soft drinks
- Selected fruit juices
- Squash and cordial
- Hot drinks up to the value of $4.50
It’s a good option if you’re travelling with kids, or if you’re not an alcohol drinker and you’re not too fussed about expensive hot drinks. You’ll be able to get as many drinks as you want from that short list throughout the cruise, at any of the bars or restaurants.
2. Premium Alcohol-Free Collection
Cost in advance: $31.50 to $45 per person, per day depending on sailing length
Cost when bought on the ship: $35 to $50 per person, per day, depending on sailing length
This package is for those who don’t want to drink alcohol (or who prefer to pay for their alcoholic drinks separately), but want as many other drink options included in their package as possible. You get:
- All draught soft drinks
- A selection of bottled soft drinks
- Small bottled waters (330ml and 500ml)
- Fresh juices
- Speciality hot drinks
- Non-alcoholic cocktails
There is still a price limit here of $12 per drink maximum. Anything more expensive needs to be paid for.
3. Beverage Collection
Cost in advance: $49.50 to $94.50 per person, per day
Cost when bought on the ship: $55 to $105 per person, per day
The Beers, Wines and Spirits Option doesn’t have a set list of drinks that it includes. Instead, you get all the benefits of the Premium Alcohol-Free Collection, as well as all alcoholic drinks up to the value of $13.50.
This includes:
- All beers and ciders
- All gins, tequilas, vodkas and liqueurs
- Many of the whiskys, rums and cognacs
- All small glasses of wine
- Selected Champagne and prosecco glasses
- Most cocktails
As well as those drinks being completely included, you also get:
- 15% off Wine and Bar Academy activities
- 15% off bottled wine
4. Premium Beverage Collection
Cost in advance: $63 to $108 per person, per day
Cost when bought on the ship: $70 to $120 per person, per day
The Premium Beverage Collection is a more recent addition to the options available with Cunard. It works the same as the Beverage Collection, but with a higher drink cost limit – all alcoholic drinks up to the value of $20 each are included.
You also get upgraded discounts:
- 25% off Wine and Bar Academy activities
- 25% off bottled wine
5. Wine Collections
There are a few options available for wine packages on a Cunard cruise. These let you buy bottles of wine in advance, to be used during the cruise.
Captain’s Collection
The Captain’s Collection is made up of a selection of white and red wines that are some of the most popular on the ship. There will also be a sweet wine option and a bottle of Prosecco available. You can choose any 6 or 12 from the list.
- 6 bottles – $310
- 12 bottles – $550
Commodore’s Collection
The Commodore’s Collection works in the same way as the Captain’s Collection, but it includes finer wines. Again there will be a mix of white and red wines, along with a couple of sparkling wine options and a rose.
- 6 bottles – $445
- 12 bottles – $750
Create Your Own Collection
Another option is to curate your own wine list from across both the Captain’s Collection and Commodore’s Collection, mixing your list between them. You’ll then be given a price for your custom list, which will be up to 20% cheaper than if you bought the wines separately.
If you like the idea of the collections, but can’t decide between them, then creating your own is the way to go.
Drinks Are More Expensive than on Land
Drink prices on Cunard ships are similar to many American-style cruise ships, so they’re quite expensive compared to on land, but not by a huge margin. Beers cost around $6.50, glasses of wine cost between $9 and $15, and cocktails range from around $12 to $14.
However, that’s before the 15% gratuity is added on. Every time you buy a drink on a Cunard ship, you’re charged a 15% service charge on top of the drink order. So really, a beer doesn’t cost $6.50 – it’s closer to $7.50.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Cunard’s gratuities
When you buy a drinks package, the service charge is included, so that does help to make it a lot better value for money – you’re not paying 15% again every time you have a drink.
Price List for 2026
Here’s how much drinks cost on a Cunard cruise.
- Bottled beers – $6.50 to $7.00
- Draught beer – from $6.50
- Bottled cider – $6.50 to $7.00
- Alcohol-free beer – $6.50 to $7.00
- Gin – $10.50 to $12 per 50ml measure
- Tequila – $10.50 to $12 per 50ml measure
- Rum – $10.50 to $11.50 per 50ml measure
- Vodka – $10.50 to $12 per 50ml measure
- Whisky – $11.50 to $19.50 per 50ml measure
- Brandy & Cognac – $11 to $26.50 per measure
- Liqueurs – $9.50 to $11 per 50ml measure
- White wine glass (175ml) – $9.50 to $15.50
- Rose wine glass (175ml) – $10.50 to $13.50
- Red wine glass (175ml) – $10.00 to $13.50
- Prosecco – $9.50 per glass
- Champagne glass – $18 to $23 per glass
- Cocktails – $12 to $17.50
- Mocktails – $12 to $12.50
- Fountain sodas – $3.50 (small) $4.50 (large)
- Bottled soft drinks – $4 to $5.50
- Red Bull – $5.50
- Fountain mixers – $2
- San Pellegrino – $4
Depending on your view, these might seem quite expensive or quite reasonable. They’re not really much more expensive than many other cruise lines, although that 15% service charge does bump the prices up somewhat.
They’re certainly not cheap – there are many cruise lines that are a lot cheaper than these prices, though they’re not quite the same standard of premium cruising as Cunard offers.
You can view the full bar menu here and the wine list here.
Some Drinks Are Free…
During breakfast, guests can enjoy a selection of fruit juices along with water, tea and coffee. Water during meals is always free, and guests can enjoy a cup of coffee after their meal has ended. Tea and coffee-making facilities are provided in all staterooms on the ship.
You can get water throughout the day as well from the fountains on the ship, and the tap water is safe to drink, but otherwise, if you want any other drinks, then you’ll need to get a drinks package, or head back to your room to make a tea or coffee.
Don’t Forget to Take Your Own Too!
Guests are allowed to take one bottle of wine or Champagne onto their cruise with them, no larger than 750ml. It can be consumed for free in the cabin, but if guests want to drink it anywhere else on the ship, they have to pay a $25 corkage fee.
Read the Cunard alcohol policy.
10 Things You Must Know About the Cunard Drink Packages
1. You Can’t Share
You’re not allowed to share a drinks package with anyone – any drinks you order when you have a drinks package have to be consumed by you. If you’re found to be sharing, then you may have your drinks package taken from you without a refund.
It’s unlikely that you’re going to be seriously punished if you let a child have a sip of a soft drink you’ve ordered, but if wait staff notice it, then they might keep an eye on you, and if it keeps happening, then they’ll take action. The point of a drinks package is that you each pay for your own drinks – it’s cheating the system if only one person pays.
And as a result…
2. All Adults in a Cabin Have to Have the Same Package
To help prevent drinks from being shared, all adults (anyone aged 18 or over) sharing a cabin must have the same drinks package. It’s not possible for only one adult to buy a drinks package, or for one to buy a Beers, Wines and Spirits package while the other chooses a Soft Drinks package.
So if you’re travelling with your partner, you need to factor in that you’re paying for both of you – for the alcoholic package that’s now $140 per day for your cruise. If you’re sailing with a small group of friends or with adult children, the costs do add up. But again, it’s the only way of keeping it fair.
Children in your cabin don’t need to have a drinks package, but you will still get in trouble if you keep sharing your non-alcoholic drinks with them. You can buy them a different package, though, so you can have the Beers, Wines and Spirits Option for you and the Soft Drinks Option for them.
3. You Can’t Get a Drinks Package on Short Cruises
A simple rule – you can only book a drinks package if you’re cruising for 5 nights or more. If you’re not sailing for that length of time, then you won’t be able to, and you’ll just need to buy your drinks separately.
With any drinks package, the cruise line is asking you to commit to a set daily figure because they know you’re unlikely to drink a lot every single day of your cruise. But on a shorter cruise, you may well do so, so it’s not as cost-effective for the cruise line to let you buy a package.
4. No More Than 15 Alcoholic Drinks a Day
When you choose the Beers, Wines and Spirits package, it’s not completely unlimited. You’re allowed 15 drinks per day, with a day measured as being 6 am through to 6 am the next day.
Officially, the terms and conditions state that any drinks above the 15-drink limit are at the discretion of the crew. If you’ve paced yourself with your 15 drinks and you are not too drunk, and not causing a nuisance, then the crew might let you have another. But they may still refuse you. If they do, accept the decision and wait until the next day.
5. Pre-Cruise Prices Can Be Booked Up to 4 Days Before You Sail
All of the drinks packages cost less when you buy them in advance, between $2 and $5 per day lower. You can book your drinks package at this lower price any time from the moment you’ve booked your sailing, right up until 4 days before you’re about to cruise.
If you decide last-minute in the couple of days before you cruise that you want a drinks package, you’ll be paying full price.
6. You Can’t Get a Package After Day 2 of Your Cruise
If you board your Cunard ship and then decide that you do want a drinks package, you are able to add it to your account. You just need to visit the Guest Services desk and request it, or visit any bar or lounge, and you’ll then have the package value added to your cruise account.
The latest you can do this is on your second day of your cruise. Any later and you’ll be refused, and you’ll just have to pay for your drinks individually. This again is to make sure the cruise line gets good value from the deal – rather than letting you book a package for the last two days of your cruise when you’ve planned a blowout.
7. You Can’t Get a Package for Part of Your Cruise Only
When you book a drinks package, you can’t order it for only part of your cruise. You have to pay for it for the duration of your cruise. To be clear, you’ll be charged for the same number of days as nights you are sailing – so if your cruise is 7 nights, you’ll be charged for 7 days, even though you’re on the ship for an eighth day.
The only exception to this rule is when you order your drinks package onboard the ship on the second day of your cruise. When that happens, you won’t be asked to pay for the day you’ve already missed – instead, you’ll just pay for the remainder of your cruise.
8. If a Drink’s Not Covered, You Have to Pay Full Price for It
The Beers, Wines and Spirits Option drinks package includes all alcoholic drinks up to a value of $13.50. With some cruise lines that use similar rules, if you choose a drink outside that price bracket, you only pay the difference – so if you ordered a $15 drink, you’d only pay the $2 difference.
That is not the case with Cunard. Any drinks that you choose to order that are outside of the drink price limit must be paid for at full price. So try to stick to drinks under that $13.50 limit to make sure you’re getting good value.
9. One Drink at a Time!
To help make sure that guests don’t go crazy with their drinking, and also to prevent drink sharing, you’re only allowed to order one drink at a time when you have the drinks package. And then there is a 10-minute wait before you are allowed to order again.
Don’t think that you can get away with it by finding a different crew member. When your sail card is scanned for the drinks, it’ll flag that you’ve just ordered a drink elsewhere, and the crew member will refuse to serve you until the 10-minute limit is up.
10. Not Everything is Included
There are some exceptions to the main rules when it comes to what drinks are included. Specifically, the drinks packages cover the bars and restaurants on the ship only – but nowhere else.
So you can’t use a drinks package to order from the room service menu – those drinks still have an extra charge to pay.
And the same applies to any drinks sold in the onboard shops – they are not covered by the drinks package and you need to buy them separately.
Read the full terms of the Cunard drinks package here.
How to Book a Package
There are two ways that you can book a Cunard drinks package.
If you’re booking in advance, it’s really easy. Once you’ve made your cruise booking, log onto the Cunard website and log into My Cunard, the online account for your cruise. In here, you’ll be able to choose a drinks package to add to your account, though remember you’ll have to add the same package for all adults in your cabin.
The second way to buy a drinks package on a Cunard cruise is in person on the ship – either at a bar or lounge, or at the Guest Services desk. Remember that if you choose this option, you’ll be paying a higher price.
Final Word
So, there you have it – everything you need to know about the Cunard drinks package options.
Should you buy one though?
It really depends. The Cunard drinks – when you factor in the service charge – certainly aren’t the cheapest. I think the Soft Drinks Option is definitely good value, but for the other three, it depends on how often you’ll be drinking the beverages that are included.
Use my drinks package calculator to work out how much a drinks package will likely save you, and then you can make your own personal decision based on that.
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Your statement, “There are many cruise lines that are a lot cheaper than these prices, though they’re not quite the same standard of premium cruising as Cunard offers,” is ridiculous, as we have already paid the price for that “standard of premium cruising” even if we do not consume alcohol. A bottle of a alcohol costs every cruise line the same. What Cunard is accomplishing is maximizing revenue from moderate drinkers, and minimizing the cost of “holiday” drinkers by limiting their intake. They experience even higher revenue by requiring that everyone in your stateroom needs to drink more to make it worthwhile. What could go wrong?
When you purchase he alcohol drinks package 72USD ,does one pay 15% over that price thus 82.8 USD X7 for a seven day cruise
Hi,
One small addition to:- 8. If a drink’s not covered, you have to pay full price for it.
Yes, you will definitely have to pay full price for it, minus the 20% discount, but on top of that there is also the 15% gratuity.
So it works out expensive to go outside the drinks package.
BTW, wine is now served by the glass in 175ml portions.
Lastly, there isn’t a single classic martini cocktail on the ship that is within the drinks package. Cheapest martini is $14, which would work out as an extra $12.88 including the discount and gratuity charge.
From what I’ve read on the forums, the bartenders will do their best to help you stay within the drinks package and will prepare drinks accordingly.
I’ll be on the Queen Victoria in January ’25 with a drinks package, and I intend to find out if they can make me a martini that won’t cost me extra.
Every cruise we take we weigh up the options, go round in circles and come back to the only option – take the package! We have noticed the options available on the package have reduced in quality, and sadly, Sancerre is no longer available by the glass. It’s nice to be able to have san pelligrino water, proper cans of drink and a speciality coffee as often as you like. It’s a cost but when you factor in the service charge added to each drink you buy individually it is the best option certainly for us.
Thanks for your useful article
Simone
It’s easily miscalculated for the Alcohol beer, wine, spirits package whereby at first glance – the per person (7 night) $72 would be hard to drink alcohol to that value on all 7 nights. Your calculator tool really is valuable to help realise that it’s $36 for the premium soft drinks package and additional $36 for the alcohol. With your tool it’s easy to see if you have coffee’s, soda, juices during the day and around 4 alcoholic drinks @ $9 (inc 15% service) it represents a breakeven. For my lady that likes wine (noting only served in 150ml) she’ll exceed that value daily. If you think the premium soft drinks is good value and you like wine…….
THANK YOU FOR THE CALCULATOR TOOL.
(I just wonder if you’re allowed to walk through the ship carrying a drink eg Soda or Beer maybe to sit on deck or on my balcony?)
Glad you found it helpful. Yes, you can walk around the ship with drinks and take them to your balcony, no problem at all. Jenni
We are travelling on the Queen Elizabeth soon and wondering if it’s possible to buy a drinks package for my husband only. I’m not a big drinker so I’m not interested in a package. However my husband would benefit from a drinks card.