‘Is the drinks package worth it?” Thats probably the question I get asked most about cruising, and it’s something I consider before every cruise holiday too. It sounds simple, but once you start factoring in sea days, port days, service charges and packages that only cover some drinks, the maths can get complicated pretty quickly!
So to give you a helping hand, I’ve created this drinks calculator to do the hard work for you. Just pick your cruise line, add roughly what you think you’d drink on a typical day, and it’ll tell you whether a drinks package will save you money or whether you’re better off paying as you go.
I try and keep the package prices as up to date as I can, but they do vary depending on your ship and sailing, so it’s always worth double-checking before you book.
Enter drinks for one adult and the calculator multiplies it by the number of adults in your cabin.
Sea days tend to be thirstier, so a few more by the pool is normal.
Cruise drinks package calculator by Roost & Roam © 2026
I hope my drinks package calculator has helped you decide whether a drinks package is worth it for your cruise. We often find some great cruise deals through Cruisenation, and sometimes they even include discounted drinks packages, so it’s always worth checking what’s available.
Don’t Forget the Gratuities!
If you’re working out your cruise budget, gratuities can add a fair bit on top. Use my cruise gratuities calculator to see exactly what you’ll pay for your cruise line.
Have the best time!