windstar cruises beverage package

Transform your cruise into a private yacht style experience with everything you ever wanted. Make it an all-inclusive voyage for just $89 per guest per day with our All-Inclusive Fares and enjoy the ultimate in convenience and value with Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine, cocktails, and gratuities or just purchase a la carte. It's YOUR cruise and it's your choice!

The fare is ideally suited for Windstar's relaxing and highly personalized ambiance. Wherever you sail, this is the best and easiest way to bundle the most popular onboard amenities we offer. With the majority of your onboard amenities expenses taken care of upfront, spend your time enjoying uncrowded coastal destinations, award-winning cuisine, and authentic, off-the-beaten-path optional shore excursions in the cherished company of those you love most.

All-Inclusive Fare must be booked at least 5 days prior to departure. Not sure if you want to pre-purchase your amenities now? Book the Cruise Only Fare and then purchase the All-In Package (Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine, and cocktail, and all gratuities) onboard for $99 per guest, per day.

Wi-Fi allows guests to keep in touch with loved ones and share their vacation escapades while globe-trotting through Windstar’s signature small ports of call.

This ultimate beverage package includes all domestic and imported beer and 33 varieties of wine or sparkling wine by the glass plus cordials, liqueurs, aperitifs, cocktails, and mini-bar items.

Cocktails are based on house and select brands, and guests may choose from more than 40 liquors such as Grey Goose, Hendricks, Johnny Walker Black, Ketel One, Glenfiddich, Hennessy, and more (brands rotate and are subject to availability.)

All your hotel and beverage service fees are included with the purchase of the All-inclusive Fare. If you purchased beverages a la carte there is an 18% gratuity added to your purchase.

Windstar Cruises Beverage Guide

This guide contains all of the beverage options available on Windstar Cruises, covering everything from the packages, bar menu, wine list and what’s available in the stateroom minibar. I’ve also included a couple of money saving tips, bottoms up!

Beverage Packages

Windstar signature cocktails, classic cocktails, modern with a twist, the perfect nightcaps, coffee cocktails, zero-proof cocktails, zero-proof spirits, white wines by the glass, red wines by the glass, rosé by the glass, sparkling wines by the glass, windstar minibar price list, windstar cruises drinks faqs.

Windstar also offers two beverage packages which can be excellent value depending on how much you drink whilst on a cruise. They also have an ‘All-in’ package that makes the cruise become all-inclusive and is actually a really good deal as it includes gratuities and Wi-Fi. I highly recommend working out how many drinks you think you will have a day and then seeing if the package makes sense for you. As a lighter drinker I generally use buy drinks individually and find the onboard credit I receive from the Yacht Club loyalty scheme covers most of if not all of my drinks bill.

Top tip: if you are cruising to some EU countries like Italy and Spain Windstar are forced to apply VAT to any beverage packages or drinks purchased if you don’t have a package. The VAT rate is 22% but this can be avoided by purchasing your package at the time of booking or on the Windstar website before the sailing date.

Top tip: The All-in package is $89 per person per day if booked at least 7 days before the cruise starts but $99 per person per day if purchased onboard.

Prices accurate as of March 2024

Windstar Bar Menu with Prices

One of my small Windstar gripes is how limited the beer selection is. Sometimes the bar manager will stock a local beer, for example on our Indonesian cruise there was a wonderful local beer called Bintang but in my opinion the selection is too limited. I come from the UK where we have access to a lot of very interesting craft beers even in big chain establishments. I just wish Windstar would have a more expansive selection, like they do with wines. Also why do they only have one cider and why has it been shoved in with the beers? One cider isn’t good enough either.

Windstar Wine List with Prices

I am a big fan of how the minibar works on Windstar. All soft drinks and bottled water in the bar are complimentary and so are the alcoholic drinks if you are on a beverage package. Your cabin steward will adjust how the minibar is stocked to your preferences. If you don’t drink alcohol they will restock it with the soft drinks or bottled water of your choice. On my recent Mediterranean cruise my wife and I consumed many bottles of San Pellegrino, which were replenished twice a day by our wonderful steward Sunni.

You will also find two jugs of still water which are replenished twice a day, along with an ice bucket and tongs and a variety of quality glassware (not shown in picture) so you can make a cocktail in the room. Room service can also deliver drinks to the cabin , another nice touch.

Prices do not include gratuity, VAT in certain EU destinations and will not necessarily apply if you are on a beverage package.

Prices accurate as of March 2024 .

Is there a service charge on drinks?

Yes, if you are buying alcoholic drinks outside of a beverage package there is an 18% service charge.

Is there a minimum drinking age?

Yes, you have to be at least 21 year old to drink on any Windstar cruise regardless of itinerary.

Is the cabin mini bar complimentary?

Soft drinks and water from the mini bar are complimentary. Alcoholic beverages incur a charge unless you have purchased a beverage package.

When can I buy a beverage package on a Windstar cruise?

Packages can be purchased before the cruise or during the first two days of the cruise.

Do Windstar sell tobacco?

Yes Windstar sell Marlboro Red or Gold from the bars. The price is $8.00 plus service charge.

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Windstar Cruises Beverage Package Options

Watch the wind in the sails, feel it in your hair, and enjoy an ice-cold beverage with windstar cruises..

Windstar Cruises delights in offering their guests intimate comforts aboard their small ships. They don't want you to get lost in the crowd like you might on a larger cruise line, rather they wish to personalize your experience while offering you a variety of amenities to enhance your cruise. With soft drinks and water already included among your perks, select beverage packages can be added on, allowing you to unwind with a variety of alcoholic beverages.

Call 1-800-377-9383 to learn more about Windstar Cruises' beverage packages!

Learn More About Windstar Cruises

Search Windstar Cruises

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Why should I choose a beverage package?

• Convenience - Anything you want: order it! Once you have a drink package, the possibilities are endless.
• Transparency - Order a glass of white, a glass of red, and avoid a glass of tears when you get that bill! Add a beverage package, and forget about it!
• Variety - With Windstar, guests get a variety and even one unique feature! Windstar Cruises offers exotic wines and drinks hailing from the destinations on your cruise!

Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package

As the name suggests, this package grants you unlimited access to select bottled and draught beers, as well as an intriguing selection of new and old world wines. Since Windstar Cruises travel to a number of exotic locales, the wine selections are as varied as their ships' numerous itineraries. Choose from an intense bouquet of whites, reds, roses, and sparkling to best suit your palate.

$49.00 USD per person, per day

Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package

For an additional $10, along with everything included in the Topmast package, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a wide array of liquors and cocktails. Most top-shelf name brands are available, including Dalmore Single Malt Whiskey which is distilled less than five miles from one of Windstar's popular Scotland ports.

$59.00 USD per person, per day

Windstar's All-In Package

For many guests, this package is the most economical because it includes all the amenities of the Captain's Exclusive Package along with free Wi-Fi, laundry services, and all your basic gratuities. Like the previous two packages, it also gives you a 30% discount on all bottles of wine up to $100, including champagne.

$89.00 USD per person, per day

* Drink package details and pricing subject to change; accurate at time of publication.

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Beverage package

By Petoonya , May 19, 2020 in Windstar Cruises

Recommended Posts

The most we drink is two cocktails a day and two glasses wine with dinner. And that's pushing it. Is the beverage package worth it for us? Is the wine that is included decent?

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ridethetide

3 hours ago, Petoonya said: The most we drink is two cocktails a day and two glasses wine with dinner. And that's pushing it. Is the beverage package worth it for us? Is the wine that is included decent?

You generally need to have at least 6 drinks a day for it to make sense.

22 minutes ago, ridethetide said: You generally need to have at least 6 drinks a day for it to make sense.

Thanks Ride. And if I am remembering right....8+ day cruises 3 bottles of wine can be brought aboard?

Misty Morning

2 minutes ago, Petoonya said: Thanks Ride. And if I am remembering right....8+ day cruises 3 bottles of wine can be brought aboard?

Correct, you can bring 3 at the start and likely would be able to bring 1 or 2 more more from the ports (if available) as they don't really care if you don't abuse.  You can also bring the bottles you've brought in at the deck BBQ and there's a 50% chances they won't charge you the corkage fee.  We have done both (with and without drink package) and no longer take it as the wines we like on the wine list are not available by the glass.  I posted wine & drink lists on the forum back in November so you can get an idea of what the prices are.

1 minute ago, Misty Morning said: Correct, you can bring 3 at the start and likely would be able to bring 1 or 2 more more from the ports (if available) as they don't really care if you don't abuse.  You can also bring the bottles you've brought in at the deck BBQ and there's a 50% chances they won't charge you the corkage fee.  We have done both (with and without drink package) and no longer take it as the wines we like on the wine list are not available by the glass.  I posted wine & drink lists on the forum back in November so you can get an idea of what the prices are.

Thanks very much Misty. It's only been a year and a half since we cruised last and some things I remember well and some not so much. I know there were several well priced wines that were perfectly fine to us so probably not even necessary to bring more. I will take a look at your list too. Thanks so much 🙂

Host Jazzbeau

4 hours ago, Petoonya said: The most we drink is two cocktails a day and two glasses wine with dinner. And that's pushing it. Is the beverage package worth it for us? Is the wine that is included decent?

Even if you each prefer different wines, two glasses is almost half a bottle so you would be better off buying by the bottle and having the leftovers saved for the next night.

2 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:   Even if you each prefer different wines, two glasses is almost half a bottle so you would be better off buying by the bottle and having the leftovers saved for the next night.

Thanks Jazzbeau. We usually have a bottle going for each of us as we have different tastes. Lasts a couple nites at least.

Makes a lot more sense than the beverage package. Thank you.

• 3 months later...

I don't know if this is offered on only select cruises, or universal. But when I fired up my record for our August 2021 Alaska cruise I saw a link to specials on the full package.  I clicked though and the offer was $89 pp/d instead of the usual $129.  This includes the full top-level liquor package, very decent hard stuff and decent wines that we've always found perfectly fine. Also includes the WiFi, laundry, and gratuities.  I think this is a decent price.

2 hours ago, milepig said: I don't know if this is offered on only select cruises, or universal. But when I fired up my record for our August 2021 Alaska cruise I saw a link to specials on the full package.  I clicked though and the offer was $89 pp/d instead of the usual $129.  This includes the full top-level liquor package, very decent hard stuff and decent wines that we've always found perfectly fine. Also includes the WiFi, laundry, and gratuities.  I think this is a decent price.

I was able to get this deal ($89 pp/d) on the Spanish Serenade sailing of April 15, 2021.  I hesitated because DW doesn't drink, but when I analyzed the numbers it is still cheaper than just buying the parts we wanted.

  I was able to get this deal ($89 pp/d) on the Spanish Serenade sailing of April 15, 2021.  I hesitated because DW doesn't drink, but when I analyzed the numbers it is still cheaper than just buying the parts we wanted.

minidonuts85

We paid $89/pp/pd for our Jan 2020 Windsurf sailing.

• 1 month later...

sportsfather

The drink package is aways a topic on this forum. Just enjoy your vacation! You have your health and wealth. After dinner the crowd at the bar are my people I enjoy the jokes and stories about the grandkids. What WS charges me for the package I don't focus on the cost I focus on the benefits I get. So if you have the cash I'm sure you do your on WS. Pay Up and enjoy yourself (alway remember you can't take it with you). 

• 2 years later...

Does anyone have a list of wines and sparkling wines included in the all-inclusive package?  

All beverages in the cabin mini-bar (wine, beer, liquor, sparkling waters, soft drinks) are also included in the all-inclusive package. Although the mini-bars are pre-stocked with a varied selection upon boarding, your cabin attendant will modify the contents, based on your preferences. The mini-bars are re-stocked daily; we never ran out of our preferred libations when onboard.

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• Windstar Star Legend Review: My Small-Ship Cruising Experience

Theresa Russell

• August 22, 2024

The Windstar Star Legend is part of the 180° From Ordinary experience. That’s the focus of Windstar, and my sailing on the Windstar Star Legend was an extraordinary experience.

My Windstar Star Legend Review

Windstar Star Legend, previously Seabourn Pride , underwent a refurbishment in 2021. As part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, Star Legend was stretched by 84 feet. This all-suite ship added 50 new suites ship.

Due to its size, the Star Legend stops at many smaller ports that larger ships cannot visit. My trip circumnavigated the British Isles, visiting Dublin and Belfast. The ship sailed from Edinburgh and finished in London, right at the London Tower Bridge.

Our ports included:

• Dun Laoghaire
• Isles of Scilly

Arriving in Leith a day early, we hopped on a double-decker tour bus to explore Edinburgh before starting our cruise. 

With just six passenger decks, Star Legend is simple to navigate, with no distance being far. It’s simple to get between venues without getting lost or spending time trying to figure out where you are. There are elevators at both ends of the ship, but it must be noted that all don’t go to the ship’s upper decks.

I sailed with my husband, and our cabin, Star Ocean View Suite 444, was ideal for our 10-night cruise on the Atlantic Archipelago Adventures voyage.

Upon entering our stateroom, I confirmed that we had made a good choice by sailing Windstar, as this brand was a new experience for us. The room’s layout brought back memories of a long-ago cruise on Seabourn Pride . 

Both of us remarked about the size and comfort of the stateroom. I wondered if I would have preferred the bed near the entry, but after getting accustomed to the room, I knew this was the best arrangement. I recalled a ship designer’s comment that you don’t go directly into the bedroom when you enter a home.

My concern that I wouldn’t be able to see out the window from the living area quickly dissolved. If the bed had been closer to the front door, we wouldn’t have had to squeeze past the foot of the bed to see the view or enjoy the comforts of the living room. 

This stateroom cannot be converted to a two-twin configuration in the SS1 category. However, it worked for us, and we found the layout conducive to our traveling style.

With plenty of outlets in the bedroom area and USB ports, we appreciated the thought that went into the design of this cabin.

Across from the bed, the long vanity/table contained European and North American outlets and USB ports. At the vanity end of the space, there were large drawers. Toward the desk end of the counter, there was a fabric bench that fit under the desk. It was nice to have ample space to recharge electronics. A television hung above the vanity area of the counter.

Separating the living area from the bedroom, a solid drape was pulled out to divide the large suite into two private areas if desired. We had an inviting sofa with a coffee table in the suite’s living area. With such a configuration, we didn’t hesitate to order room service meals on several occasions. Opposite the couch, two additional upholstered chairs provided a comfortable seating alternative.

In the living area, where carafes of fresh water were provided daily, there was also a minibar equipped with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments.

Near the main entry to the cabin, a walk-in closet provides plenty of space for hanging clothes.

A small stand has drawers for extra storage. One of the drawers hides a safe. Triangular-shaped shelfs work for additional storage. In the cabin are life preservers, waffle cloth bathrobes, and slippers.

The bathroom is right next to the closet. To navigate this modern and updated bathroom, one must step up into the toilet, which is typical of most ship bathrooms. Nobody needs a horn. 

Two sinks make sharing the space easy, but there isn’t upper shelf space for the sink near the shower. A long shelf stretches below the sink the entire length of the vanity. Toiletries include L’Occitane products, and it is certainly nice to have various options.

Having one toiletry for each function instead of one pump liquid dispensing a product that works as body wash, hair wash, and who-knows-what-else is a real luxury.

The long shower has grab bars, a rain shower, and a handheld shower. The fluffy white shower rug gave the bathroom a homey feel and a soft landing for my feet.

Star Legend offers a surprising number of dining options for a small ship. The choices of casual, grill, fine dining, and experimental will please the pickiest of guests.

The Yacht Club is a library-like gathering place with beverages and takeaway choices. Grabbing something and enjoying the view from the wall of windows is the perfect way to start the day. 

This is the buffet offering that opens for lunch and breakfast. There is no dinner buffet on Star Legend. I’m not a fan of buffets, but I tried this option for breakfast and lunch. It’s possible to get eggs to order along with other traditional breakfast offerings. Food is scattered throughout the space, including in areas that require climbing down stairs.

For lunch, in addition to choosing from the many buffet choices, you can also get the cooked-to-order dish of the day or a burger or hotdog from Star Grill. You can order these from Veranda, or you can sit out at Star Grill and enjoy these and other dishes at this outdoor venue.

Star Grill 

Head to this casual outdoor space if you are looking for traditional grilled and BBQ foods under the guise of Steven Raichlen. There’s an excellent selection of international foods as well.

This is a traditional main dining room in an elegant setting. Dinner is the only meal served at this open-seating venue. The menu changed daily, and there were vegetarian options. Classics like fish, chicken, and beef are always on the menu.

Veranda transforms into a more intimate space in the evening, becoming a unique dining experience. While dining outside in warm weather is possible, we found it a tad chilly to enjoy the outdoor area. We opted to sit in more intimate side areas of the space and enjoyed the low lighting and quiet atmosphere. Be sure to explore the gourmet salts that come with your meal.

A specialty restaurant included in the fare, this restaurant by Anthony Sasso ranks as my favorite. Cuadro 44 describes itself as an eclectic Spanish restaurant. Tapas-style foods are meant for sharing. The tomato bread offered as an appetizer tantalizes the taste buds. Although a seemingly simple appetizer, the complex flavors made me return for more.

The tapas menu includes pork legs raised on acorns, anchovies, paella croquettes, and octopus. Main dishes include cod, chicken, lamb chops, and more. The menu designates the dishes’ origin in Spain.

The open kitchen allows for watching the chefs in action. Several seats are available facing the cooking area. The chefs’ orchestrated roles, primarily done in silence, added to the enjoyment of our meal.

With only 36 seats, Cuadro 44 requires reservations, as does Candles.

Officially, guests may only dine here and at Candles once, but especially if the ship isn’t full, it’s worth checking to see if space might be available.

Room service is always available with its menu. Moreover, anything offered on the Amphora menu could also be ordered through room service.

Entertainment

Entertainment on Star Legend is primarily self-directed. Small groups sing or play for evening entertainment. During the day, trivia and cooking demonstrations gather guests together. 

The ship has an open bridge policy, and it is worth a trip up top to see how it works.  All Windstar ships now have  Starlink high-speed internet if you need to stay connected .

Public Areas and Watering Holes

In  Star Legend , most public areas also have  watering holes. Yacht Club on the upper deck offers a relaxing space for a snack, reading, or enjoying the view.

Outside at the Star Grill are sofas and chairs to enjoy conversation while enjoying a drink from the bar.

Back inside the ship, Compass Rose serves drinks while guests enjoy pre-dinner music. Demonstrations and other larger gatherings take place in the spacious lounge.

Fitness Center and Spa

The spa and fitness center prioritize wellness and fitness. Guests pay no additional fee for access to the sauna and thermal loungers. The fitness center may be smaller, but it offers everything guests need for a satisfying workout, including a pool and hot tub for post-workout relaxation.

While the sports deck has water toys, it was not open during our sailing. But in warmer weather, it’s something worthy of exploration.

Closing Thoughts

Sailing on a new brand creates excellent expectations, excitement, and trepidation. How closely do the brochure and marketing reflect the experience? Could I survive for ten nights? Being on a ship and sailing guarantees my survival, but would it be an enjoyable experience?

From the minute I set foot on Star Legend , I knew I would be pretty happy to relax in these surroundings for the entire cruise. The space, the service, the food, and the serenity of Star Legend provide the perfect experience for those seeking a leisure trip. But, I immediately recognized this as an excellent opportunity for anybody working remotely.

Then again, the ports are so attractive that they could distract those working on the road. And while this would be a case where I sail for the ship, the ports of call are quite the draw—new ports interspersed with familiar favorites added intrigue to the itinerary. 

Great food, like-minded cruisers, and comfortable surroundings made our Windstar yacht experience 180° from ordinary! I can’t wait to try their sailing ships.

Be sure to check the Windstar sailings . Searching may yield a luxury sailing at a competitive price.

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MSC Cruises Drink Packages & Prices (UPDATED)

 On a recent MSC Cruise, I booked an aft balcony with a special rate that included the “Easy Package”. I really had no idea what to expect since I never booked an MSC Cruise with a beverage package in the past.

Upon embarking, I was told by staff how the Easy Package didn’t include much and couldn’t be used at a specialty dining restaurant. With that information, I paid a nominal upgrade on the spot to the “Easy Plus” package to make sure I had more choices and that I could use the package while dining in every restaurant.

So is a drink package on MSC worth it? Let’s find out!

About the drink packages:

MSC Cruises offers a variety of drink packages for their cruises, including the “Easy” package, “Easy Plus” package, “Premium Extra” package, an Alcohol-Free package for minors, and a Minors package. The packages range in price and offerings, with the Easy Plus package allowing for more choices and access to specialty dining restaurants. Recent changes include gratuity now being included in the pricing. It’s important to understand what each package includes and excludes before making a decision.

Quick things to know:

• MSC Cruises offers various drink packages like the “Easy,” “Easy Plus,” “Premium Extra,” Alcohol-Free, and Minors package.
• Prices range from $19/day for the Minors package to $85/day for the Premium Extra package.
• The Easy Plus package offers more options and includes access to specialty dining restaurants for an additional cost (best value)
• Drink package prices include gratuity
• Drink packages CAN BE USED on Ocean Cay
• If your package doesn’t cover the drink cost, just pay the difference!
• The Mini bar in the cabin is not included in any package
• Everyone in the cabin needs to purchase the same drink package (excluding minors)

MSC Drink Package Prices

Depending on which you choose, you can get a package for as little as $19/day (Minors) – but the most popular package is the Easy Plus Package which starts at $61/day. The good news is that MSC Is running quite a few promotions that INCLUDE the Easy Plus Package ! Take a look at their promotions here.

What do the drink packages on MSC cruises cost?

We’ll be posting accurate European prices shortly, as they have also changed recently.

MSC Cruises Drink Packages Compared (NEW 2024 prices)

There are 5 drink package options that MSC Cruises offers on its ships including the “Easy” package, “Easy Plus” package, “Premium Extra” Package, and the Alcohol-Free Package (with a different price for minors and adults)

• See : MSC Cruises Bar & Drink Menus with Prices

Easy Drink Package

The “ Easy Package ” is the most basic alcoholic beverage package on MSC Cruises with a cost of $46 per day per adult and is sometimes offered at no charge as a promotion. (This package is $49 per day on short cruises of less than 6 nights and is even more expensive if purchased onboard)

Liquor choices that go into mixed drinks are generic and sometimes off-brand.

The upside to this beverage package is that it also includes bottled water, soft drinks & juices as well as espresso, coffee cappuccino, and other hot drinks (tea, hot chocolate, etc.) With many cruise lines when purchasing a drink package, they often exclude bottled water and coffee drinks. 

So if you are a heavy coffee drinker and enjoy bottled water with a few beers throughout the day, this is likely your good choice. 

This is the package that was included on my Meraviglia cruise with the base cruise fare. Initially, this seemed like a good option as it covers the basics, but some restrictions were inconvenient enough to make me upgrade to the Premium Plus.

An important exception to the Easy Package!

  You CANNOT use the Easy beverage package in any of the specialty restaurants . So if you want a gin & tonic at dinner, you’re out of luck. Even more bizarre, bringing a beverage to dinner is specifically prohibited forcing you to purchase any drinks regardless of price for the time you are in a specialty restaurant. 

MSC Easy Drink Package Menu & What’s Included

The Easy drink package entitles you to any beverage up to $7.50 ( sort of ). For your convenience, menus throughout the ships have a section specifying what’s included in the easy beverage package. However even though some beer prices by the bottle are $7.50 or less, those are EXCLUDED from this package. Strange, right?

For beer, with the Easy Drink Package, the only option is Heineken Draft or sometimes Miller Light, and the wines are off-label or inexpensive brands only marked as “chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel Rose, Cabernet, or Merlot (Plus a random label of sparkling wine or Prosecco). So if you’re not picky, this package may be sufficient. 

Martini | Gin or vodka, dry vermouth, olive or lemon peel Manhattan | Whisky, red vermouth, Angostura bitters Daiquiri | Rum, lime juice, sugar syrup Cosmopolitan | Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime Sidecar | Brandy, triple sec, lemon juice Screwdriver | Vodka, orange juice Margarita | Tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, lime juice Moscow Mule | Vodka, lime, ginger beer Cape Cod | Vodka, cranberry juice Mimosa | Sparkling wine, orange juice Gin Fizz | Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda Pink Lady | Gin, lemon juice, grenadine Sea Breeze | Vodka, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice Caipiroska | Vodka, diced lime, sugar Blue Hawaiian | Rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, coconut cream Tequila Sunrise | Tequila, orange juice, grenadine Bloody Mary | Vodka, tomato juice, salt, pepper, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce Long Island Iced Tea | Vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, cola Mojito | Rum, fresh mint, lime, sugar, soda Piña Colada | Rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice Strawberry Daiquiri | Rum, strawberry purée, sweet & sour mix

Alcohol-free cocktails included

Nojito | Lime, fresh mint leaves, sugar, Mojito mix, club soda Magic Island | Pineapple, orange and lemon juice, grenadine, Sprite Cuddle on the Beach | Peach purée, orange juice, cranberry juice Royal Punch | Passion fruit purée, pineapple juice, cranberry juice Fruit Smoothie | Orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, fresh banana, guava juice, mango purée Coco Colada | Fresh pineapple, coconut cream, pineapple juice, milk Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri | Strawberry purée, sweet & sour mix, sugar syrup

Beer Included in the MSC Easy Drinks Package

Heineken draft beer (ONLY)

For this package, even though bottled beers are less than the price cap of $7.50, they’re specifically excluded. Mindblowing, right? It just adds to the confusion about the MSC Drinks packages.

Sodas Included in the Easy Package

Sodas by the glass, Fruit juices by the glass, Still or sparkling mineral water

Other beverages included

Espresso, Decaf espresso, Cappuccino, Decaf cappuccino, Caffè latte, Glass of milk, Hot chocolate, Hot tea

Is the Easy package worth it?

That really depends. If you drink basic cocktails such as Gin & Tonic, Bloody Mary, Screwdriver , etc, and aren’t picky about the liquor used, the Easy Package may work for you. 

Easy Plus Drink Package

The Easy Plus Package cost is $61 per day , ($64 for shorter cruises of 6 days or less) but you can upgrade from the Easy package for about $23/per day per person

With this beverage package, you can order drinks in specialty dining restaurants as well as anything included in the above Easy package. There are caveats, more on that later.

Any beverages up to $10 are included in this package which gets you all of the beer options, more wine options, and some frozen drink options that aren’t available in the most basic drink package.  There is also a larger range of liquor brands, cordials, and martinis available at this price point.

The Easy Plus Package is the most common drinks package because it includes just about everything that a typical drinker would order. Even better, this package can be used in specialty dining restaurants as well. With recent changes to the beverage packages, the cruise line now allows you to order a drink that is not included in the package and only pay the difference (plus gratuity)

This is what we ultimately upgraded to from our included Easy Package. It was well worth the upgrade not only for the more inclusive offering, but for the simplicity of not having to think about what we were ordering and if it was included.

In addition to the Easy Package, you can also order the following:

Cocktails included:.

Sapphire Martini Bombay Sapphire gin, Martini dry, olive or lemon peel Appletini Absolut Classic and Absolut Vanilia vodka, apple sour liqueur, sweet & sour mix Royal Manhattan Crown Royal, Martini Rosso, Angostura bitters Cuban Daiquiri Bacardi Superior white rum, lime juice, sugar syrup Absolut Cosmo Absolut Citron vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, Rose’s lime Spanish Sidecar Cardinal Mendoza brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice, sugar syrup Screwdriver Made in USA T ito’s vodka, orange juice Classic Margarita Jose Cuervo silver tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, lime juice Dutch Mule K etel One vodka, lime, ginger beer Absolut Cape Cod Absolut Classic vodka, cranberry juice Mimosa Blossom Absolut Mango vodka, Galliano, orange juice, prosecco Bombay Fizz Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda Ultimate Pink Lady Beefeater London Dry gin, lemon juice, pomegranate syrup Caribbean Breeze Ketel One vodka, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, lime Masters of the Sea Caipirinha Premium cachaça, diced lime, sugar Blue Hawaiian Punch Bacardi Superior white rum, Malibu coconut rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, coconut cream Aperol Spritz Aperol, prosecco, club soda, orange slice Jalisco Sunrise Jose Cuervo silver tequila, orange juice, grenadine Absolut Bloody Mary Absolut Classic vodka, tomato juice, salt, pepper, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce Ultimate Iced Tea Smirnoff vodka, Bacardi Superior White rum, Beefeater gin, Jose Cuervo silver tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, cola Bacardi Mojito Bacardi Superior white rum, fresh mint leaves, lime, sugar, club soda Mudslide Absolut vodka, Kahlúa coffee liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream, heavy cream Baileys Alexander Baileys Irish Cream, dark crème de cacao, cream

Frozen Drinks:

Mango Tropical Trooper Cruzan mango rum, peach schnapps, triple sec, mango juice, fresh mint Rock Lobster Malibu coconut rum, banana liqueur, grenadine, fresh banana, pineapple and orange juice, Gosling’s Black Seal rum Ultimate Piña Colada Bacardi Superior white rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, fresh pineapple B.B.C Bailey’s Irish Cream, Bacardi Superior white rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, fresh banana Original Strawberry Daiquiri Bacardi Superior white rum, strawberry purée, sweet & sour mix Miami Vice Miami’s hottest drink: half Strawberry Daiquiri and half Piña Colada Frozen Toblerone Bailey’s Irish Cream, macadamia nut syrup, Swiss white chocolate syrup, cream

Beer Included in the Easy Plus package:

Miller Lite USA Budweiser USA Bud Light USA Coors Light USA Michelob Ultra USA Heineken Netherlands Corona Extra Mexico Dos Equis Mexico Red Stripe Jamaica Stella Artois Belgium

Samuel Adams USA Yuengling Lager USA Newcastle Brown Ale England Blue Moon USA Beck’s Germany Peroni Nastro Azzurro Italy Pilsner Urquell Czech Republic Guinness Pub Draft Ireland Angry Orchard Apple Cider USA Heineken 0.0 Netherlands

MSC Easy Plus Package Menu

This is an example of the Easy Plus menu from within the MSC mobile app. Just know that you are entitled to anything up to $10. See the complete list below.

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Premium Extra Package

This drinks package allows you to purchase any beverage up to $16 , however, it comes at a high cost of $85.00 / day per person (this can be as much as $104/day if you are on a short cruise and purchase onboard). You can upgrade from a lower-cost beverage package for the difference in price, i.e. if you have the easy package, for approximately $43/day you can upgrade to this Premium package.  (Note: Prices have changed as of March 1, 2023, and this information reflects the newest pricing)

While this package covers most top-shelf liquor, there are still quite a few wines and drinks that are more than $16, so it’s not as inclusive as other cruise lines’ most premium drink packages.

MSC Premium Extra Drink Menu

Most premium liquors can be purchased with this package including Grey Goose, Aviation Gin, Belvedere, etc. (see the menu below). However, there are still plenty of drinks that are strategically priced above $16, making this package far from all-inclusive. Additionally, most of the champagne and decent wine on board is significantly more than the limit allowed by this package. It’s hard to make sense of this package unless your tastes are squarely within the more premium liquor brands included.

A bonus of these drinks packages is the discounting on bottles of wine (25%), but the reality is good bottles of wine are generally only available at The Butchers Cut Steakhouse, so unless you are dining there regularly, that benefit is minimal. 

In addition to the Easy Package & Easy Plus Package, you can also order the following beverages:

Drinks included in the premium extra package:.

Aviation Martini Aviation gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, fresh lemon juice Hemingway Daiquiri Zacapa 23Y rum, fresh lime juice, grapefruit juice, maraschino liqueur Santa Teresa Manhattan Santa Teresa 1796 rum, orange bitters, red vermouth Gold Rush Woodford Reserve bourbon, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup MSC Signature Martini Disaronno liqueur, Grey Goose vodka, Licor 43, lemon peel Mule Le Poire Grey Goose Le Poire vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger beer Shanghai Margarita Patrón Silver tequila, agave nectar, fresh lime juice, fresh ginger zest Chili Passion Caipirinha Premium caçhaca, lime, raw sugar, hot chili sauce, passion fruit, jalapeño

Ultimate Mai Tai Appleton Estate rum, Bacardi Superior white rum, Disaronno liqueur, pineapple and orange juice, sweet & sour mix, grenadine Purple Rain Bacardi Superior white rum, Finlandia vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, peach schnapps, blue curaçao, sweet & sour mix, grenadine Coco Loco Bacardi Oakheart spiced rum, Malibu coconut rum, Piña Colada mix, mango purée, fruit punch Jamaican Paradise Appleton Estate rum, Malibu coconut rum, Jose Cuervo silver tequila, Midori melon liqueur, blue curaçao, sweet & sour mix Miami Beach Iced Tea Bacardi Superior white rum, Beefeater gin, Smirnoff vodka, Cuervo silver tequila, blue curaçao, sugar syrup, Sprite Sunset Beach Malibu coconut rum, raspberry liqueur, orange and pineapple juice, grenadine Tropical Tease Midori melon liqueur, Malibu coconut rum, banana liqueur, pineapple juice Emerald Mariachi 1800 Reposado tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, passion fruit syrup, pineapple juice Mango Mojito Bacardi mango rum, mango purée, fresh mint leaves, lime, club sod a

You ONLY pay the difference in price for a beverage not included in your MSC DRINK package

You can now get a credit towards any drinks not included in your MSC Drink package!. The credit towards a drink is $8 per drink for the Easy Package, $10 per drink for the Easy Plus Package, and $16 per drink for the Premium Extra Package.

For European cruises the credit you get is 7 Euro for the Easy Package, 9 Euro for the Easy Plus and 14 Euro for the Premium Extra package on MSC.

Alcoholic-Free and Minors Package on MSC Cruises

You might be interested in the non-alcoholic package if you’re not a drinker or when traveling with children. This package offers non-alcoholic cocktails, sodas, energy drinks, juices, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. This package doesn’t apply to specialty restaurants unless it’s for a minor whose group purchased the Easy Plus or Premium Extra alcoholic package. So be prepared to pay for your soda when dining at the Butcher’s Cut, even if you have this package.

These prices will vary if booked on the ship on the day of sailing. Usually by an additional 10% or more. Short sailings are considered anything less than 7 days.

This table of prices is pretty mind-numbing and takes the fun out of figuring out what package is right. Why there are different prices for different lengths of cruise is bizarre and just another way that MSC tends to overcomplicate everything.

• Read : More about MSC Cruises
• See : MSC Bar Menus

In Summary, My experience with the MSC Drink Packages

Originally, I thought the Easy package would be sufficient for our cruise, but discovering the limited beverage options and the fact that you cannot use the package in specialty dining restaurants, we chose to upgrade to the Easy Plus.

Overall this was a good choice, because of the wider variety of options and the ability to use in a specialty restaurant. However, it’s important to know – that when using the Easy Plus in a specialty restaurant like Butcher’s Cut, you must order off of the wine/drink menus in that restaurant!

If your favorite glass of wine isn’t available in the restaurant, you are forbidden to bring anything from an outside bar, which really makes no sense. This is something that they do NOT TELL YOU when upgrading from Easy to Easy Plus on the ship.

Normally this wouldn’t be a big issue except there were very few options on beverage menus that were covered by the Easy Plus package.

Drink Calculator – Are drink packages worth it on MSC?

Let’s find out if getting a drink package is worth it or not by using our handy drink calculator! Simply choose the package you plan on purchasing and estimate how many drinks per day you might consume and see if you “break even”

• Choose the package type you are considering. We’ve entered the package price per MSC Cruises but you can adjust the daily charge if you are getting a promo on the package price.
• Enter the number of cruise days
• Estimate your consumption of each type of beverage. We’ve put the average beverage prices based on the Drink Menus, but you can adjust this if you know you like more expensive drink options.

Easy Package includes:

Specific drinks listed on the easy drink menu (found here).

These drinks are sort of “vague” in some respect, so definitely look at the MSC Drink Menus article , where there is a unique menu for the Easy Package.

The Easy Package covers all of the above served in the bars, buffet and main restaurant as well as Ocean Cay and other exclusive destinations. This package CANNOT be used in specialty restaurants.

Easy Plus Package includes:

Bottomless beverages priced up to $10 all day long.

The Easy Plus Package can be enjoyed in the bars, buffet, main restaurant and specialty restaurants , Ocean Cay, and other exclusive destinations.

Premium Extra Package includes:

Premium beverages priced up to $16.

The Premium Extra Package can be enjoyed in the bars, buffet, main restaurant, and specialty restaurants as well as Ocean Cay and other exclusive destinations.

Estimate Your Daily Consumption:

Each field contains the average price found on most MSC ships in US Dollars.

Remember! Any drink not within your package limit, you pay the overage cost plus the service charge! If you tend to drink nicer wines or cocktails, you can adjust the average price of each beverage in the corresponding boxes! This helps give you a more accurate idea of your possible spending. (15% gratuities on European, Emirates, South Caribbean, Red Sea, South America (Brazil and Argentine) and Far East itineraries, and 18% gratuity on North America itineraries.)

Each field contains the average price found on most MSC ships. For the Premium Extra package, all drinks up to $15 are included. If you tend to drink nicer wines or cocktails, you can adjust the average price of each beverage in the corresponding boxes – Remember, for anything over the included price, you pay the difference plus a service charge or gratuity (15% gratuities on European, Emirates, South Caribbean, Red Sea, South America (Brazil and Argentine) and Far East itineraries, and 18% gratuity on North America itineraries.)!

You haven’t broken even on the Easy Package yet!

You BROKE EVEN on the Easy Package!

You haven’t broken even on the Easy PLUS Package yet!

You BROKE EVEN on the Easy PLUS Package!

You haven’t broken even on the Premium Extra Package yet!

Other MSC Drink Package Helpful Information

MSC Cruises Drink & Bar Menus With Prices (2024)

MSC Cruises Drink & Bar Menus With PriceS – UPDATED We spent a lot of time on a recent voyage with MSC Cruises trying... Read This

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35 Comments

On MSc how much doe sit cost if you buy a beer or a soda pop per purchase since i do not drink much alcohol at all and maybe two sodas a day

Wayne – You can get a beer for about $7.50 and a soda for $3.00-$3.50 + gratuity. You can see the MSC drink menus here

How do you know if the drink you order is within the 10$ limit on the easy plus package? Do the bartenders tell you? I would hate to get a bill for the extra few dollars if not covered. Thanks!

Hi Robin, They are very good about telling you right away if anything you order isn’t in the package, but the menus are also scattered around everywhere, and you’ll quickly learn what types of drinks are extra. I found that the selection of drinks wasn’t incredibly huge, so I knew fast what they had that I liked, and which were going to cost a little more.

I don’t drink alcohol but would like the occasional soda. Is it possible to purchase just individual drinks without the packages?

Hi Peter, Absolutely! If you take a look at the MSC Drink Menus (here) – on the first menu, flip to the last page. You’ll see the list of sodas and other beverages. It’s definitely not worth a package with the occasional soda.

Hi! Sailing in a couple days. Just want water and maybe a MOCKtail or 2 for a day. I wasn’t clear on how much mineral water is included per day or how to access. No soda, tea or coffee for me. The calculator did not offer the nonalcoholic package so wanted your recommendations- I do need to drink alot of water. Can I bring any sealed bottled water aboard? Is there gratuities on bottled water as well and how big are the bottles? Thanks in advance!

Hi Amy – Good point on the calculator – we’ll fix that and add the non-alcoholic package! At about $28 per day for the non-alcoholic package and a water being about $3.25 + gratuities, You’d end up needing to buy about 7 bottled waters per day to “break even”. (They are the large 17 oz sizes you’d get in a restaurant, so it’s a pretty good value) The non alcoholic cocktails are included as well and are usually about $7 to my recollection, but here’s the menus for MSC Drinks . (the first menu flips through to all the non-alcoholic in the back of the menu) – About bringing water, etc. MSC Is one of the only cruise lines that literally allows no beverages to be brought on the ship. Enjoy your cruise! I hope this helps.

We are looking at doing a cruise with our teens in the spring. We don’t drink alcohol, so is it worth buying a drink package? We would like access to sodas, juices, anything non alcoholic, so wondering if you’d advise to get a drink pkg or not. Thanks!

Hi Diana – Basic tea, coffee, water is included in the fare but soda, specialty coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages aren’t included. There IS an Alcohol free package for $28/day per person +/- which is quite a bit less than the other drink packages. HOWEVER, MSC Often does a promo with the “easy” package or “easy plus” as a perk for a bit of an extra charge. Doing the math, you’ll often find that the little higher rate on a cruise that includes the drink package is far less than buying the package separately. For example, on a 7 day booking I looked and the all included fare was about $37/per person per day more expensive and the drink package was included as well as wifi and onboard credit. More benefits for less money for sure! SO be sure to check that pricing and use our drink calculator for MSC (here) to see if you even drink enough soda/non-alcoholic things to make it worth it.

Your calculator doesn’t take into account that they add a 15% gratuity to each drink, and the package includes the gratuity.

Hi Brad, thanks for the comment, we’ll make a change to the formula to include the gratuity in the calculations!

Is there a time limit in between each drink? Like a waiting period of 10/15 minutes?

Hi Sarah – There is not. We would often try a drink of the day or some specialty, hate it, and immediately order something else.

Hope this helps!

I want to get the easy drinks package but my husband cant drink due to Ill health. Do MSC take this into consideration or will we have to both buy same package.

Hi Karen – Normally with a medical notice from a doctor, the second person doesn’t have to purchase an alcohol package. HOWEVER, MSC rules change… sometimes depending on who you speak to. My experience with this is that they will request you purchase the EASY package for yourself and the NON ALCOHOLIC package for your husband. But it will have to be done by phone, and whether they ask for medical proof will likely depend on who you speak to at the time. I had friends traveling with us that were in your exact situation and they were not asked for proof but were in fact told the non drinking person has to purchase a non-alcoholic package.

Is Redbul available at no additional cost in the easy plus package?

Yes, my recollection is that energy drinks were included with the Easy Plus!

So for my wife who does not drink any alcohol is the minor package the best? Based on the menu the easy plus package covers a variety of beers is that correct vs only Heineken on the easy package.

Hi Jason, they (MSC) will likely require the Alcohol-Free Package as I believe the Minors package is truly teens and below. They’re basically the same thing, you’re just getting penalized for being a grown up 🙂 – That said, the Easy Plus package you are considering does cover all of the beers. There wasn’t a beer served that wasn’t covered by the Easy Plus. And yes, Heineken is the only thing available on the Easy Package. So if you’re a beer drinker, it’s worth looking at the Easy Plus. BUT! Keep in mind, the specials that MSC runs sometimes include the beverage packages and it may be cheaper to go ahead and book with those specials rather than cruise only and adding an Alcohol-Free Package + Easy Plus package. Even if your wife doesn’t take advantage of the alcohol, she can have all of the non-alcoholic beverages she wants and in the end the total price may be less on the promotion. Hope this helps!

If you purchase a non-alcoholic drink package, do you pay the difference for an alcoholic drink or the full price?

Hi Tom – The non alcoholic package won’t work to apply anything towards an alcoholic beverage purchase. However if you have the most basic beverage package (Easy), you can pay the difference for drinks that are more expensive than what is covered by the Easy (this is new for 2023)

Thank you, kind of what I thought. I’d have to to go easy plus since the easy package is not inclusive of some of the non-alcoholic drinks I would like.

Interesting! I’m curious about what non-alcoholic drinks you like that wouldn’t be included in the Easy Package? In our experience, everything non-alcoholic was included in the Easy Package (but there may be something I’m missing!) 🙂

What to do if one person drinks and other doesn’t on the same cabin?

Typically everyone of age in the same cabin must have the same drink package. The cruise line will make an exception for medical reasons. Mostly they don’t want one person getting the package and sharing the drinks with their cabin mate 🙁

Thank you for all of this information. It is very hard to navigate all of this from MSC website. I am not a big drinker so I wasn’t sure if the packages were necessary. Your drink calculator is very helpful . If you could answer a question: there are no frozen drinks on the easy drink menu. Does that mean there is no option for frozen margaritas?

Hi Claudia, I’m glad this information helped! We were able to get frozen drinks without a problem, as long as the liquor type was in the basic package. They didn’t distinguish between frozen or on the rocks with things like Margaritas and Daiquiris.

We are sailing to Rome from Durban 20th April and have bought 18 of the 18 unit packages, my question is does a unit mean a short and a mixer, ie, rum and coke or it that 2 units.

Hi Jennifer, we’ve done both Europe & USA cruises on MSC – and in our experience, a rum and coke was in fact a single drink. I know in Europe, it’s common to sell the mixer separate, but that does not seem to be the case on MSC Ships. I hope this helps & enjoy your cruise!

My husband and I are booked to sail from Durban in April on msc Orchestra 25 day cruise to Genoa. Please can you advise if drinks packages are on offer on the ship or if we pay per drink and are soft drinks free? If we pay per drink can you email prices so that we can work out a budget, many thanks.

Hi Ann! When you login to your MSC account you should see a way to pre-purchase the packages. If you wait until you get on the ship, they will be about 20% more expensive! We did the “easy” package which covered sodas, specialty coffee, bottled water, and quite a few basic drinks, but upgraded on another trip to the Easy Plus which gets you better beverages and allows you to use the package in the specialty restaurants (which you can’t with the basic Easy package). We put together a handy drink calculator for MSC (See the drink calculator) so you can estimate your budget based on how you normally consume. This will let you know really fast if you’re going to make the drink package worth it! I hope this helps.

Their top package used to include everything but full bottles of wine. Last time on Miraviglia it included everything on the champagne bar menu including $20 drinks. On the Seaside it used to cover the specialty chocolate drinks and gelato. Mildly disappointed. Used to be the best package. Bartenders loved it because they could make the high dollar stuff most people won’t try

I feel your disappointment! When we were on the Meraviglia , the whole drink package was so confusing that even some of the staff weren’t sure what to include or not. I had hoped they’d simplify it, but the new packages with prices were just released, and it’s still a head-scratcher.

It will be our first time on a cruise. Reading your tips is being mind and eye opening. We will make sure to have every single detail well calculated before we proceed. Thank you! Great website!

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• Windstar Cruises

New Beverage Packages

By Sunprince , September 5, 2017 in Windstar Cruises

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Hi, I just wanted to share the new Windstar beverage packages which I received today via email. I've attached the link (hopefully it will work). There are 3 different levels of packages, 2 with wine only ($32 to $42pp) or wine plus spirits package for $52. Plus gratuities. The good news is that the new packages are per individual and it is not mandatory for both guests in the same suite to take the package. Not sure how they will administer that...hopefully wristbands are not an option!

https://d2xks5907lvzsh.cloudfront.net/media/plan_your_voyage/17-0230_bev_ackage_flyer_v11083117.pdf

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Nice. I still can't drink that much but for those that do, looks good to have choices.

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Do you have to buy the package ahead of sailing or can you buy it when you check in on the day you sail?

Thanks in advance !

Do you have to buy the package ahead of sailing or can you buy it when you check in on the day you sail?   Thanks in advance !

Here is what the website says:

Beverage Packages must be purchased within the first two days and will be charged from the day of purchase onwards. Prices do not include the standard 15% beverage service charge. Bottles of wine and champagne are excluded from the package. Please note the minimum drinking age aboard Windstar Cruises is 21 years old.

There is no advantage of booking this in advance. In fact, I believe you need to pay with a credit card. If you have an OBC you can't use it. When signing up on board, the beverage package is applied to your on board account and any OBC will reduce the cost.

Thanks !!!! Happy sailing !

The link posted above shows a discount of 30% on all bottles under $100 with any package.

We're on the October 7th sailing from Athens to Rome and we were just discussing the beverage packages today. Although neither my husband or I drink much, when we're on vacation it would be very reasonable to drink a glass of wine at lunch, a cocktail in the afternoon, maybe a couple of glasses of wine at dinner...at that point does it make sense to get a beverage package or just pay a la carte? What is the break-even point or are there any hidden charges? We might purchase a bottle of wine at dinner once or twice but probably not every evening.

I would hate to just decide to pay as we go only to discover at the end of the trip that we overspent compared to the cost of a package. What do most guests do?

Sounds like you drink about the same way we do. We've come out much better not buying beverage package. Also assume most days you will be off ship at lunchtime. Have a great trip!

Sounds like you drink about the same way we do. We've come out much better not buying beverage package. Also assume most days you will be off ship at lunchtime. Have a great trip!   Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

That is really helpful information! My husband was just saying that if we were to do the package that includes cocktails we would end up spending close to $700 just on drinks! This is our first Windstar cruise and we can't wait!

new_cruiser

We're on the October 7th sailing from Athens to Rome and we were just discussing the beverage packages today. Although neither my husband or I drink much, when we're on vacation it would be very reasonable to drink a glass of wine at lunch, a cocktail in the afternoon, maybe a couple of glasses of wine at dinner...at that point does it make sense to get a beverage package or just pay a la carte? What is the break-even point or are there any hidden charges? We might purchase a bottle of wine at dinner once or twice but probably not every evening.   I would hate to just decide to pay as we go only to discover at the end of the trip that we overspent compared to the cost of a package. What do most guests do?

The package that includes cocktails is 52 dollars per person per day and both in the stateroom have to take it. Break even is therefore around 5 drinks a day. That assumes cost of a drink averages $10.80 per day. The two wine packages cover wines up to $8.50 or $11.50 per glass so depending which wines one chose, break even might be higher. Also, if you purchase a bottle of wine, one pays 70% of the price (the package gives a 30% discount) so that could push break even farther out.

Break even for the wine only packages is 4 glasses per day if the wines are always at or close to the maximum per glass price allowed by the package.

I'd like to take a package to have the luxury of not signing for drinks, but being a light drinker they are priced too high to be worth it.

The package that includes cocktails is 52 dollars per person per day and both in the stateroom have to take it. Break even is therefore around 5 drinks a day. That assumes cost of a drink averages $10.80 per day. The two wine packages cover wines up to $8.50 or $11.50 per glass so depending which wines one chose, break even might be higher. Also, if you purchase a bottle of wine, one pays 70% of the price (the package gives a 30% discount) so that could push break even farther out.   Break even for the wine only packages is 4 glasses per day if the wines are always at or close to the maximum per glass price allowed by the package.   I'd like to take a package to have the luxury of not signing for drinks, but being a light drinker they are priced too high to be worth it.

Yeah, we just don't drink that much and also don't want to feel obligated to "get our money's worth" by getting a beverage package. We do have to consider meals that we will have away from the ship and if it's really hot, we're even less likely to want to drink much at all (I tend to get headaches in really hot weather). I think we'll just purchase drinks as we go along. I really appreciate the advice!

If you go with nice round numbers, that's more or less $12 per beverage, and I'm counting 4 - 1 glass at lunch, a drink in the afternoon, and 2 glasses with dinner. That's $48. I must admit that when cruising we often add a nightcap, so now we're at $60.

The other reality is that they really don't count glasses, once you order a glass with a meal on the package they just keep topping it up until you say to stop.

I think we had a variation of this new plan in Iceland this summer, and one guy who had the wine only package was surprised to find out that he'd be charged for a beer, which in theory costs less than wine.

In terms of how they keep track, there are different colored dots on your room key, and in our experience once they find out the first time you're good to go.

I have no clue how they're planning to track the pp and not per cabin bit, since you could easily order two drinks as a single person, or clean out the minibar - how will they know who's drinking it?

I must say that is WS goes to wrist bands that will be my last trip with them, but I do think they know better.

I also wonder how this will affect previously booked beverage package incentives.

I just checked our invoice for Japan in April and our credit is for "Guests 1,2 Beverage package $54."

It isn't specific as to which package, and $54 is neither the per person price of the new top package ($52pp) or twice the bottom since if our total is $54 per cabin and not per guest that would be $27 per person, also not a new package price.

In the past, but current online invoice would probably say, but that seems to no longer be available on My Windstar, another downgrade with the new interface.

$54 per person daily is the price of the "old" beverage package.

Which seems to be more or less the content of the new top level package, although the 30% discount on bottles is either new or was previously unknown to me.

Actually, that's not 100% true. For example, there are three new Scotches listed on the new list and the old one was just Dewars. Funny, now that I see this I think I was handed the new list by accident on a cruise last spring as the offerings look the same as what I saw. I don't have a copy since when I showed it when I was denied Dalmore the list was taken away and not returned with some story about how it was "incorrect."

In any case, our TA is firing off a message to the WS rep to confirm what we're getting as our incentive, and I'll report back.

Which seems to be more or less the content of the new top level package, although the 30% discount on bottles is either new or was previously unknown to me.     Actually, that's not 100% true. For example, there are three new Scotches listed on the new list and the old one was just Dewars. Funny, now that I see this I think I was handed the new list by accident on a cruise last spring as the offerings look the same as what I saw. I don't have a copy since when I showed it when I was denied Dalmore the list was taken away and not returned with some story about how it was "incorrect."     In any case, our TA is firing off a message to the WS rep to confirm what we're getting as our incentive, and I'll report back.

WS is responding quickly today, the TA already got back to me with the news that we have the new $52 package. (Why the invoice says $54)

When we booked our Windstar cruise, they were offering the bev package for free. Now that they are offering three different packages for purchase, does anyone know which one we will get?

The beverage package. The other two are wine packages.

To add to the confusion, Winsdstar is calling the wine packages "beverage packages". All non-alcoholic beverages are free. If you want to order a wine package, there are 3 to choose from. They are offered per person (no longer per cabin) and range from $32 per person per day to $52 per person per day. We've decided to just purchase wine/cocktails as we go instead of doing a package since we do t drink that much.

There is the "Voyager Wine Package," and the "Topmast Discovery Wine Package" that just include wine. The other beverage package is the "Captains Exclusive Beverage Package" which includes wine, cocktails, beer, minibar selections, etc. All packages offer a 30% savings on bottles of wine up to $100.

I think they are labeled pretty clearly. If one just wanted to drink wine, you may find the Voyager Wine Package worth the money if you liked the available selection.

As confirmed by WS in the posting above this one. If the old "beverage package" was included in a booking you should be receiving the Wine/Beer/Liquor package.

Just for comparison, the beverage package on Viking Ocean Cruises costs $20 per person per day and includes spirits and an upgraded wine list. (House wines and beer are already gratis at lunch and dinner.) This price includes gratuities. Apples and oranges, I suppose, but the Windstar beverage packages always seemed to be overpriced to me.

There is the "Voyager Wine Package," and the "Topmast Discovery Wine Package" that just include wine. The other beverage package is the "Captains Exclusive Beverage Package" which includes wine, cocktails, beer, minibar selections, etc. All packages offer a 30% savings on bottles of wine up to $100. I think they are labeled pretty clearly. If one just wanted to drink wine, you may find the Voyager Wine Package worth the money if you liked the available selection.

I was referring to this document where the document describing the wine packages is named "beverage packages": https://d2xks5907lvzsh.cloudfront.net/media/plan_your_voyage/17-0230_bev_ackage_flyer_v11083117.pdf

The last cruise we went on we did do the alcohol package however this one is priced too high for the amount of alcohol we drink.

We recently returned from a cruise. All three of the packages were offered at check-in. We debated on just getting a wine package, but in the end, got the full beverage package. Overall, we were glad we did. Sure, maybe we're heavier drinkers than we thought. ;) But we were on vacation, and we easily drank more than the $52/day per person. Occasionally we had a mimosa for breakfast (order extra bubbly in the minibar the night before, and room service OJ...bars not open that early), and then whenever we came back to the ship we had a drink or two (either lunch or afternoon if we were gone all day). Then after a nap/rest/sunning/etc/, we typically had a few drinks sitting up on deck with the crowd waiting for Sail Away, then a couple/few glasses of wine at dinner (hard to keep track, because as others said, they just kept coming to refill us). Sometimes after dinner we'd go to a performance or to the casino/bar and have another drink....or maybe back to the room for a nightcap before bed.

For us, it was nice to just order whatever we wanted and not worry about prices or about always signing receipts (although sometimes we did need to for inventory purposes). We tried some new drinks that we might not typically order if we were paying for each drink. It was also nice not to get a gigantic bill of drinks when we checked out. :D I'd have to double check the bill, but I think that the 15% service charge on drinks was included in the $52/day package, so that helped cover the cost as well. As mentioned, after the first or second day, the crew seemed to know who had the package, so we didn't even need to say anything other than to order our drinks.

Obviously it's not for everyone, but for people who do enjoy their beverages on vacation, it could be a good option.

Yes, service charge is already included in the package price. I liked the drink package when I got it free during a promotion.

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Holland America drink packages: Cost, inclusions and what to know before you buy

Beverage packages aren't for everyone, but they can be a nice way to give your cruise vacation a more luxurious, all-inclusive feel. If you're sailing Holland America , drink packages are available as optional add-ons to your cruise fare. Choose from four different packages, ranging from a simple soda package to an option that includes premium alcoholic beverages.

Sorting out the differences between the packages and understanding what you are actually paying for can be confusing. Most cruisers want to know what exactly they're getting with each drink package and whether or not the packages will save them money.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

If you're considering a Holland America drink package for your next cruise, here's everything you need to know before making your purchase.

What's included in Holland America drink packages?

Holland America alcohol packages aren't the only drink packages available. The line offers two nonalcoholic packages and two options with alcoholic beverages.

All packages allow you to order beverages at most bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and poolside. Exceptions include self-serve draft beer where available and drinks in the Chocolate Seduction and Honor Bar. Packages do not include drinks consumed from in-cabin minibars, ordered from room service or purchased on Half Moon Cay. All packages except the Coca-Cola package have quantity limits.

Related: Cruise ship drink packages: A line-by-line guide

Coca-Cola package

Sodas are not included in your cruise fare, and passengers may not bring them on board. That leaves soda drinkers with the choice to buy a beverage package, pay per drink or get their soft drink fix in ports of call.

The Coca-Cola package covers fountain drinks from bars and bar servers on all ships in the fleet. Three ships — Koningsdam, Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam — have Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain machines that allow you to mix and match your flavors at will. Canned soft drinks are not included in the package, but fountain drinks are unlimited.

You might consider this package if you're the person who relies on soft drinks to quench your thirst throughout the day and drink few, if any, cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine or spirits. It works great for tweens and teens who regularly drink soda.

Quench package

The Quench package includes unlimited fountain soft drinks and up to 15 specialty coffees, bottled water (still and sparkling), fresh juices or mocktails per day.

With this package, you can order your favorite coffee each morning at Explorations Café, drink sodas with your lunch, chill with a frozen mocktail by the pool in the afternoon and grab bottled water before you head out on a day of exploring in port— all without worrying about the individual cost.

Quench would be the Holland America drink package for someone who dives into the vacation spirit with beverage treats throughout the day and evening, but mostly enjoys them sans alcohol.

Signature beverage package

The Signature beverage package is the mainstay Holland America alcohol package. It covers beer, wine, spirits and cocktails priced under $11, plus everything from the Quench package. There is a 15-drink limit, whether alcoholic or non, not counting fountain soft drinks.

You can order a drink with a price higher than the $11 maximum and will be charged only the price difference plus gratuity.

The Signature package satisfies the beverage needs of most cruisers. Unless you prefer top-shelf liquor, you'll be fine with this package. Even the quantity limit of 15 drinks takes care of the average cruiser. If you party into the wee hours of the night, you'd have to order a drink from the package every hour and a half almost around the clock to use all 15.

All adults of legal drinking age within a cabin must buy the same alcoholic drink package. If one person does not drink, they can be granted special permission to buy only the Quench package.

Related: The best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package

Elite beverage package

For those who want to eliminate some of the limits on their drink package, Elite is the way to go. This package includes everything from the earlier packages but raises the price limit to $15 per drink. That covers premium beer, wine and spirits.

The daily limit is also removed for nonalcoholic drinks. That means you can drink all the fountain drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water and mocktails you want without touching your 15-drink limit on alcoholic beverages, which for most cruisers, means you're not likely to reach the limit at all.

What does a Holland America drink package cost?

Here are the standard Holland America drink package prices:

Coca-Cola package : $9.44 per person, per day ($8 plus an 18% gratuity) for unlimited fountain sodas, including from Freestyle machines on select ships

Quench package: $21.18 per person, per day ($17.95 plus an 18% gratuity) for unlimited fountain sodas and up to 15 nonalcoholic drinks per day

Signature beverage package: $64.84 per person, per day ($54.95 plus an 18% gratuity) for unlimited fountain sodas and up to 15 alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks up to $11 each

Elite beverage package: $70.74 per person, per day ($59.95 plus an 18% gratuity) for unlimited fountain sodas, unlimited nonalcoholic beverages and up to 15 alcoholic drinks up to $15 each

I was hard-pressed to find any discounts off the advertised Holland America drink package prices. Even in the midst of Black Friday sales, the only beverage-related discount I found was for the line's Have It All package that upgrades your cruise fare to a more inclusive experience by bundling the Signature beverage package with Wi-Fi, specialty dining and shore excursion credit (with the last two based on the length of the cruise).

It should be noted, however, that the Holland America website states drink package pricing as "starting at." That would imply that the prices could increase from time to time, though I could not find anyone who said they had paid more than the posted prices.

Related: The best cruise ship bars

Drink discounts beyond the drink packages

Before you settle on a drink package, know that it's not your only option for discounted alcohol or inclusive pricing. Holland America offers some add-on items that can be used to supplement or entirely replace a drink package under certain circumstances.

The first is an option to purchase a bundle of wines by the bottle called The Sommelier Suite. You can choose from three different wine lists at three different price points. You can then opt to buy four, six or eight bottles from your preferred list.

Prices start at $119 for a four-bottle package on the lowest-priced list and go as high as $329 for eight bottles on the highest-priced list. These prices are advertised as "up to 25 percent off" the menu price before the 18% gratuity.

Frequent cruisers who are members of Holland America's Mariner Society are offered a 25% discount on the Sommelier Suite packages after 75 cruise days and 50% off after 200 cruise days. Even without the Mariner discounts, the package price makes sense for anyone who enjoys wine on multiple nights of their cruise. You can drink the bottles in any restaurant, share them with friends and even take them to your cabin.

Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise

The final alternative to beverage packages on Holland America is to purchase pay-as-you-go drink cards. These are not discounted but offer the ability to control drink spending or simplify drink accounting by pre-purchasing what is essentially a drink debit card. Funds left on the card at the end of the cruise are refundable to your onboard account.

Holland America cruisers I found on social media report buying the drink cards with cruise line gift cards bought at a 10% discount at some grocery stores and websites, essentially gaining a 10% discount on the drinks they purchase with the drink card. (By the same token, you could use the discounted gift cards to buy your standard drink package, as well.)

You can also purchase gift cards with credit cards, such as the American Express® Gold Card , that give you extra points per dollar spent at grocery stores to get additional value from your purchase.

Is a drink package worth it on your Holland America cruise?

Now that you have the facts, it's time to decide if the packages are worth the price. Remember that free drinks on board include drip coffee, hot and iced tea, water, lemonade, milk and punch, available at meals and drink stations. The ship's water is drinkable, and you can bring a refillable water bottle, which is particularly useful on port excursions.

Fountain soft drinks ordered from a bar are cheap on Holland America at $2.50 (plus tip) each, but that's for a small glass. Serious soda drinkers (me included) could suck down a couple of these in a flash on a hot day in the Caribbean.

Since Holland America does not allow even canned soft drinks to be brought on board at embarkation, this package price seems easy to match for those who regularly drink one or more large sodas at home, especially when cruising in a warm destination. On the three ships offering Freestyle machines, the purchase is definitely a no-brainer.

Related: Are cruise line drink packages worth the price? What to know before you buy

This is my favorite package for making me feel like I'm really on a cruise vacation. I'm a lightweight drinker when it comes to alcoholic drinks, but I can slurp frozen mocktails (which average around $8 each) all day long on a sea day.

Since the package also includes unlimited soft drinks, you can have soda with your hamburger at lunch, followed by a virgin mudslide for dessert if that's what makes you happy. Add in the bottled water, which is the only part of any drink package you can take with you to Half Moon Cay, and it all starts to look quite convenient.

If you drink one specialty coffee per day at around $4.50, two or three of the skimpy fountain sodas, and at least one mocktail per day, you'll top the $17.95 package price without even counting the bottled water, which can be as high as $4.50 for sparkling brands.

Holland America's main alcohol package packs in quite a bit for the money, allowing you to enjoy a nice combination of nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks. At $54.95, if you don't drink anything but the $11 drinks allowed by the package, you'd need to drink five per day to break even.

But factor in a specialty coffee every morning, some bottled water on port days and a soda now and then, and your break-even alcoholic drink tally drops to three or four. If that looks like your typical cruise consumption, you'll at least break even on this package.

The best way to get this package, however, might be by purchasing what Holland America calls the Have It All package , which includes not only the drink package, but Surf Wi-Fi, shore excursion credit ranging from $100 for a six- to nine-night sailing up to $300 for cruises longer than 21 nights, and at least one specialty dining night. It is not available on every cruise, but when it is, the $55 price per person, per day is an incredible bargain, essentially throwing in freebies on top of the beverage package.

This package bumps up the price by a mere $5 per day over the Signature package, so if you prefer premium alcohol in your cocktails, or if the beer and wine on the Elite list are more to your liking, you'll cover the difference with just a handful of drinks. It's your vacation, why not splurge a little, right?

I found cruisers on social media who said you can upgrade to the Elite package from the Signature bought within the Have It All package. They said as long as nobody in the cabin has ordered a drink on the Signature Package, it can be upgraded at embarkation at any bar.

Is a Holland America beverage package right for you?

Drink packages are a personal preference. You can certainly cruise with Holland America without one, combining drinks included in the cruise fare with a pay-as-you-drink routine for everything else. If that's what you are most comfortable with, you can easily keep an eye on your drink expenditures using the cruise line app or checking your daily expenses on the in-room interactive TV screen.

You can also earn a discount by buying bottled wine packages or paying with discounted Holland America gift cards.

If, however, you prefer to pay for as much of your cruise experience upfront as possible and not worry about the spending once you are on board, the package that most closely matches your drinking habits will be the one that makes your cruise most enjoyable.

Drink packages allow you to pay once and forget about the price of each individual glass. Even the tipping is bundled into the purchase price for you, though you can add additional tips if you wish.

The bottom line is that Holland America drink packages, while not designed to save you a fortune, certainly allow you to enjoy beverages on your cruise in an all-inclusive fashion if that's the vacation experience you'd prefer.

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