When I first sailed with Ambassador Cruise Line, one of the things I was curious about was the cost of drinks.
After all, a cruise can quickly become pricey if you’re not careful at the bar.
The good news? Ambassador’s drink prices are surprisingly affordable — in fact, some of the cheapest I’ve ever seen at sea.
So, if you’re planning a cruise on Ambience or Ambition, let me give you a full breakdown of the drinks menus, prices, and packages — plus a few of my personal tips (including the one cocktail you absolutely need to try!).
Are Drinks Expensive on the Ambassador?
Honestly? Not at all. Compared to most other cruise lines — and even compared to pubs back home in the UK — Ambassador’s drink prices are refreshingly low.
On my cruise, I actually found myself double-checking the bill because I couldn’t believe how inexpensive some of the cocktails were.
Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll typically pay onboard:
Ambassador Cruise Line Drinks Prices (2025):
- 🍺 Bottle of beer (330ml): £3.95
- 🍺 Draught beer (pint): £5.45
- 🍷 Glass of wine (250ml): £7.95 – £8.75
- 🥃 Spirit (40ml): £4.75 – £6.60
- 🍹 Cocktail: £6.60
- 🍹 Mocktail: £4.25
- 🥤 Mixer: £1.40
- 💧 Bottled water: £0.75
- 🍊 Fruit juice (250ml): £2.85
- 🥤 Soft drink (330ml): £2.85
- 🍵 Tea: £2.50
- ☕ Coffee: £2.50 – £5.45
👉 If you’re used to cruising with big-name lines like P&O or Royal Caribbean, you’ll know those prices are a fraction of what you’d usually pay onboard.
Drinks Menus Onboard 🍸
One thing I like about Ambassador is that the line keeps things simple. Instead of juggling different bar menus across venues, they use one main drinks menu fleet-wide.
That means whether you’re in the main lounge, by the pool, or enjoying a late-night show, you’ll find the same drinks available.
That said, a few specialty items — like draught cider or certain gins and whiskies — are bar-specific. So if you’re after a particular brand, it’s worth asking which bar stocks it.
Here’s how the menus are laid out:
- 🍷 Wine List – red, white, rosé, and sparkling choices.
- 🍹 Cocktails – including frozen favorites (the frozen strawberry piña colada is my personal must-try).
- 🥃 Spirits & Beers – from mainstream lagers to imported gins.
- 🥤 Soft Drinks & Coffee – plenty of non-alcoholic choices too.
Should You Buy a Drinks Package?
Like most cruise lines, Ambassador gives you two options:
- Pay-as-you-go – order drinks individually and settle your tab at the end.
- Buy a drinks package – unlimited drinks for a fixed daily rate.
There are four main packages available (technically five, since there are two kids’ versions depending on age).
Which one is best for you really depends on how much — and what type of drinks — you usually enjoy.
💡 Here’s my tip: Ambassador actually has a handy drinks package calculator.
You can plug in what you’d typically order in a day, and it will show you the cost comparison between paying individually versus buying a package.
I’ve used it myself, and it’s a great way to avoid over- or under-spending.
Price Increases Over the Years 📈
It’s worth noting that prices haven’t stayed static since Ambassador first launched.
- When Ambience set sail in 2022, drinks were shockingly cheap — even less than many UK pubs.
- By 2023, with the introduction of Ambition, prices rose by around 20%.
- From 2024 to 2025, they climbed again by a similar margin.
Still, even with those increases, Ambassador remains one of the most affordable cruise lines for drinks.
For me, the value is still outstanding compared to most competitors at sea.
Final Thoughts 🍷
If you’re someone who enjoys a few drinks on your cruise (and let’s be honest, most of us do), you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Ambassador’s prices.
Whether you’re sipping a pint on deck, indulging in a fruity cocktail, or just grabbing a coffee between shows, it won’t break the bank.
For light drinkers, paying as you go may still be the cheapest option. But if you’re someone who enjoys a steady flow of cocktails or wine with every meal, definitely check the drinks packages — they could save you a small fortune.
Either way, you can relax knowing you won’t be stung with sky-high bar bills like on some other lines.
And trust me, don’t leave the ship without trying that frozen strawberry piña colada. It’s heaven in a glass. 🍓🍹
