Are Cruise Drink Packages & Specialty Dining Really Worth It? An Honest Cost Breakdown

Jacqlyne
7 days ago
5 min read

When you book an ocean cruise, it’s easy to feel like you’ve locked in an all-inclusive vacation. The base fare covers your accommodation, transportation between ports, entertainment, and round-the-clock food in the buffet and Main Dining Room.

However, as soon as you complete your booking, the cruise line will start sending emails promoting extra add-ons: Unlimited Beverage Packages and Specialty Dining Packages.

These onboard add-ons can easily add hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars to your total trip bill. As a travel advisor who plans cruises for clients at Journeys by Jacqy, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is: "Should I buy the drink package and specialty dining, or should I just pay as I go?"

The answer isn't a simple yes or no—it all comes down to doing the math for your specific travel style. Let’s break down the real numbers, hidden rules, and break-even points so you can decide if these cruise upgrades are truly worth your hard-earned money!

Part 1: The Drink Package Breakdown

Most major cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, and MSC) offer beverage packages. On average, a standard Deluxe / Unlimited Alcoholic Beverage Package costs anywhere from $65 to $100+ per person, per day, plus a mandatory 18% to 20% gratuity/service charge added at checkout.

The Onboard A La Carte Prices (What Drinks Cost Otherwise):

To see if a package makes sense, you need to know what individual drinks cost on board:

Cocktails / Mixed Drinks: $13.00 – $16.00
Glass of Wine: $10.00 – $14.00
Domestic / Imported Beer: $7.50 – $8.50
Specialty Coffee (Espresso/Latte): $4.50 – $6.00
Bottled Water / Soda / Energy Drinks: $3.50 – $5.00

Doing the Math: The Break-Even Point

Let's take a realistic example on a 7-night cruise where the drink package costs $80 per day + 18% gratuity = ~$94.40 per person/day.

To break even on a $94.40 daily cost, you (or your cabin mate) would need to consume roughly:

6 Cocktails per day ($14 each) OR
4 Cocktails + 2 Glasses of Wine + 2 Specialty Coffees + 2 Bottled Waters per day.

When a Drink Package IS Worth It:

You Enjoy Sea Days & Poolside Cocktails: If you plan to sip pina coladas by the pool, enjoy wine with dinner, grab an espresso in the morning, and grab bottled waters for port days, reaching 6–8 drinks a day is surprisingly easy.
You Want "Peace of Mind" Vacationing: You don't want to spend your vacation calculating prices, checking your account balance, or worrying about a surprise $1,000 credit card bill on the final morning.
You Love Non-Alcoholic Specialty Drinks: Most deluxe packages cover fresh juices, milkshakes, Red Bulls, specialty teas, and Starbucks/cafe beverages—not just alcohol.

When to SKIP the Drink Package:

The "Both Adults in the Cabin" Rule: Most major cruise lines require all adults (21+) sharing a room to purchase the package if one adult buys it. If you drink cocktails but your partner/spouse only drinks water or soda, you will waste a lot of money forcing them into a high daily fee.
Port-Intensive Itineraries: If your ship is in port from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM almost every day (like a Mediterranean or Alaska itinerary), you won't be on the ship enough hours to drink $95 worth of beverages daily.
You Only Enjoy 1–3 Casual Drinks: If you're content with a beer by the pool and a glass of wine at dinner, paying as you go will save you hundreds.

💡 Jacqy’s Pro-Tip: Don't forget that tap water, iced tea, drip coffee, lemonade, and basic juices in the buffet are always 100% free!

Part 2: Specialty Dining Packages – Gourmet Splurge or Unnecessary Extra?

Every cruise ship features free dining in the Main Dining Room and buffet, where multi-course meals are included in your ticket. However, cruise lines also feature premium Specialty Restaurants—like high-end steakhouses, hibachi grills, Italian trattorias, French bistros, and seafood raw bars.

Specialty dining is priced either as a flat cover charge ($35 – $60+ per person) or a la carte pricing. Cruise lines also offer 3-Night or Unlimited Specialty Dining Packages at a discounted rate.

Is Specialty Dining Worth the Surcharge?

Why You SHOULD Try Specialty Dining:

Elevated Culinary Quality & Service: While Main Dining Room food is cooked en masse for thousands of guests, specialty venues cook in smaller intimate batches with higher-end ingredients (like Prime cuts of steak, fresh seafood, and artisan desserts).
Quieter, More Intimate Vibe: If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon, specialty venues offer a romantic, quiet atmosphere away from noisy dining halls.
Cuisine Variety: It gives you a break from the standard menu rotation and lets you experience interactive dining like Teppanyaki/Hibachi or Brazilian Steak houses.

Why You Might Want to SKIP It:

Main Dining Room Food is Already Great: For first-time cruisers, the included dining options are usually more than impressive enough! You can order multiple appetizers, main courses, and desserts in the Main Dining Room at no extra charge.
Shorter Cruises (3 to 5 Nights): On a short sailing, you won't have time to get tired of the included complimentary restaurants.

The Verdict: How to Get the Best Value

If you want to enjoy specialty dining and drinks without breaking your travel budget, here are my top travel advisor recommendations:

Look for Bundled Cruise Fares: Lines like Norwegian Cruise Line (Free at Sea / More at Sea), Princess Cruises (Princess Plus / Premier), and Celebrity Cruises (All-Included) often bundle drink packages, Wi-Fi, and specialty dining credits directly into the cruise fare at a massive discount compared to buying them separately!
Book Pre-Cruise Sales: Never buy drink packages or dining passes onboard the ship! Cruise lines run sales in their online planner months prior to sailing (especially around Black Friday or holiday sales), offering 10% to 35% off onboard pricing.
Hybrid Approach: You don't need an unlimited package to enjoy a special night out. Book one specialty dinner on a formal night or anniversary as an a la carte splurge while paying as you go for drinks.

Need Help Navigating Cruise Add-Ons & Promotions?

Every cruise line has different beverage rules, dining packages, and bundled promos. When you book your vacation with Journeys by Jacqy, I crunch the numbers for your specific itinerary and preferences to ensure you get maximum value without paying for extras you won't use.