Alcohol on Cruise Ships: Packages, Costs & Bring-Onboard Rules
Understanding alcohol on cruise ships is essential for budgeting your trip. Alcohol is a major onboard revenue source, and policies around drink packages, corkage fees, and prohibited items directly impact what you’ll spend.
This guide focuses on the practical side of cruising: what’s included, what costs extra, what you can bring, and whether a drink package makes financial sense.
For legal drinking age requirements, see our guide to legal drinking age on cruise ships.
Is Alcohol Included on Cruise Ships?
On most mainstream cruise lines, alcohol is not included in your base cruise fare.
When sailing with brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, or Norwegian Cruise Line, alcoholic beverages are charged individually unless you purchase a drink package.
Luxury lines may include beverages in their fare. For example, see what’s included with HX in our guide to HX All-Inclusive: What’s Included?
Typical Per-Drink Pricing (Mainstream Lines)
| Drink Type | Average Price Range |
|---|---|
| Beer | $7–$10 |
| Wine (glass) | $10–$16 |
| Cocktails | $10–$15 |
| Specialty martinis | $14–$18 |
Prices vary by ship and itinerary, but onboard drinks are comparable to major city hotel pricing.
Cruise Drink Packages Explained
Drink packages allow unlimited (or high-limit) beverage consumption for a flat daily fee.
What’s Typically Included
Most alcohol packages include:
- Cocktails
- Beer
- Wine by the glass
- Soda
- Bottled water
- Specialty coffee
Some premium tiers include higher-end liquors and wines.
How Much Do Drink Packages Cost?
Most mainstream cruise lines charge:
$60–$100+ per person per day
Important rules:
- Must purchase for the entire cruise duration
- All adults in the same cabin usually must buy the package
- Some lines limit drinks per day
- Packages may cap the maximum value per drink
Are Drink Packages Worth It?
A simple break-even formula:
If cocktails cost $14 and your package costs $80/day:
You would need about 6 drinks per day to break even.
Consider:
- Sea days vs port days
- Whether you drink daily
- Included gratuities (often added automatically)
Light drinkers usually spend less paying per drink. Moderate-to-heavy drinkers may benefit from packages.
Can You Bring Alcohol on Cruise Ships?
This is one of the most common operational questions about alcohol on cruise ships.
Beer and Liquor
Most mainstream cruise lines prohibit bringing:
- Beer
- Hard liquor
- Spirits
Security screening during embarkation often includes alcohol detection.
Confiscated items are typically not returned until the final night — if at all.
Bringing Wine or Champagne
Most cruise lines allow:
- 1 bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne per adult
- Must be brought onboard during embarkation
Policies vary slightly by cruise line.
For example:
- MSC Cruises has stricter bring-onboard policies on some itineraries.
- Disney Cruise Line permits limited wine and beer per adult.
Always verify before packing.
Corkage Fees on Cruise Ships
If you bring wine onboard and consume it in:
- Dining rooms
- Specialty restaurants
- Public bars
A corkage fee typically applies. Average corkage fee is $15–$25 per bottle.
If consumed in your stateroom, corkage is usually not charged.
Buying Alcohol in Port
If you purchase alcohol during a port stop:
- It is typically held by the cruise line upon reboarding
- Stored securely
- Returned on the final evening of the cruise
This prevents bypassing onboard alcohol sales.
This is especially relevant on roundtrip sailings from U.S. ports, where U.S. regulations may apply throughout the voyage. Learn more in our guide to Closed Loop Cruise: What Is It?
What Happens If You Try to Sneak Alcohol Onboard?
Cruise terminals use security screening similar to airports. These same screening procedures also apply to broader eligibility and travel restrictions.
For more on cruise travel limitations, see Can a Felon Take a Cruise?
If alcohol is discovered:
- It is confiscated
- You may receive a warning
- Repeat violations can escalate
Cruise lines rely heavily on beverage revenue and enforce these policies strictly.
Private Islands & Drink Packages
On most cruise line private islands:
- Drink packages remain valid
- Bar pricing mirrors ship pricing
- Outside alcohol is prohibited
Policies are controlled by the cruise line, not local island laws.
Summary: Alcohol on Cruise Ships at a Glance
| Topic | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Included in fare | Usually no |
| Drink package cost | $60–$100+ per day |
| Bring beer/liquor | Not allowed |
| Bring wine | 1 bottle per adult (typical) |
| Corkage | $15–$25 |
| Port alcohol purchases | Held until final night |
Policies may change by cruise line and itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Planning Advice
Before you sail:
- Calculate realistic daily drink consumption
- Review your cruise line’s package pricing
- Understand corkage fees
- Confirm bring-onboard rules
For minimum age eligibility and booking rules, see our Age Policy on Cruise Lines (2026 Guide): Minimum Age & Booking Rules Compared.
