How to Use the Cruise Drink Package Value Calculator
Deciding whether to add a drink package to a cruise booking is a common dilemma — the upfront price can look steep, and it's hard to tell whether paying per drink or buying the package saves more. Enter your cruise length, the package's total price, how many drinks you expect to have per day, and the average price of a single drink, and this calculator compares the two options and shows the break-even point.
The break-even number tells you how many drinks per day you'd need to have just to make the package pay for itself. If you plan to drink more than that number, the package is the better deal. If you'd drink less, paying per item as you go usually costs less overall.
Cruise lines typically price alcohol-inclusive packages differently from non-alcoholic ones (soda, coffee, juice), so use the price and consumption estimate that matches what you'll actually drink for an accurate comparison. It's also worth checking whether gratuities are already included in the package price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dividing the package price by the cruise length and the average per-item price tells you how many drinks per day you'd need to break even. If you plan to drink more than that, the package saves money.
Most cruise lines sell a separate non-alcoholic package (soda, coffee, juice) at a lower price than the alcohol-inclusive one. If you won't be drinking alcohol, re-run the numbers with that package's price and your expected non-alcoholic consumption.