Let me tell you a little secret I learned the hard way: not buying a drink package on my first Costa cruise was a total rookie mistake.
Back then, I didn’t realize just how many things Costa charges for, including water in the main dining room.
While you can grab tea, coffee, and water in the buffet when it’s open, outside those hours? You’ll pay.
So when I boarded the Costa Smeralda for my second cruise, one of the very first things I did—right after taking a deep breath of that sea air—was purchase a soft drinks package. And wow, what a difference.
What It’s Like to Cruise With Costa Cruises
Let’s talk vibe. If you’re picturing soft jazz, muted colors, and peaceful strolls down beige hallways… think again.
Costa ships are colorful, energetic, and unapologetically bold. On the Smeralda, every deck was splashed with a different vibrant color.
It felt like cruising inside a rainbow! There were also lots of families on board, including young children and babies.
Costa is super family-friendly, and one reason is their pricing policy: anyone under 17 is considered a child.
That makes a big difference in cruise fare if you’re bringing the whole crew. So, if you’re sailing with kids or prefer a lively, buzzing cruise atmosphere, Costa might be perfect for you.
But keep in mind that it comes with a few quirks, like how they handle their drink packages.
Costa’s Drink Packages: What They Don’t Tell You Upfront
When you first book your Costa cruise, you’ll likely see just one drink package option: the My Drinks Package. It’s typically priced at around £30 per night (depending on your currency).
It’s not until after you book and log into your My Costa account that you’ll uncover a whole menu of additional options—some unlimited, some fixed-quantity, and all priced in euros.
Costa’s drink packages can be confusing at first glance, so I’ve broken them down here to help you figure out which (if any) are worth it.
My drinks package calculator makes it easy to figure out if a Costa drinks package will actually save you money. Just enter how many drinks you expect to enjoy each day, and you’ll see whether a package or paying as you go is the better deal.
Costa Cruise Drink Package Prices at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the unlimited drink package options:
| Package Name | Description | Pre-Cruise Price | Onboard Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Drinks Plus | All drinks | €48 | €57 |
| My Drinks | Selected drinks only | €35 | €42 |
| My Soft Drinks | Non-alcoholic drinks | €23 | €27 |
Costa also offers fixed-quantity packages (like 20 beers or 5 glasses of wine), which we’ll cover later.
Let’s break down what you get with each main package—and whether it’s worth the money.
1. My Drinks – €35 Per Night
This package sounds great on paper—it includes alcohol, right? Yes, but with a few more restrictions.
Here’s what you get:
- Unlimited water (but only one 500ml bottle of water per person per day)
- Draft Heineken (no bottled beer)
- Basic house wine
- Classic cocktails (think mojitos, not martinis)
- Basic spirits (no premium brands)
And what you don’t get:
- No access to your minibar
- No fruit juices
- No bottled or canned soft drinks
- No premium liquors
What’s worse is that not all drinks are clearly marked. You might find yourself constantly checking with bartenders to see if your order is covered—and that’s a headache you really don’t want on vacation.
💡 Bottom Line: It’s a decent value… if you’re okay with house brands and limited choices. Personally, I’d skip this one unless you’re okay playing “is this included?” every time you order.
2. My Drinks Plus – €48 Per Night
Think of this as the “no worries, I’ll take one of everything” plan.
With My Drinks Plus, you can enjoy:
- All hot and cold drinks
- Bottled water and soft drinks
- Fruit juices
- Premium cocktails
- Glasses of wine
- Top-shelf liquors
- Access to your minibar (if your cabin has one)
This package includes just about everything you could want to sip onboard—but there are still some caveats:
- Not valid in the Archipelago or Casanova specialty restaurants
- Limited beer selection (mostly draft Heineken, bottled Corona, and Becks)
- No info on exact wine or spirit brands—so if you have high-end taste, some drinks might be excluded
💡 Bottom Line: If you want to try a bit of everything and hate the idea of checking menus for exclusions, this is your go-to plan. Just be aware that premium doesn’t always mean everything.
3. My Soft Drinks – €23 Per Night
Cruising alcohol-free? This plan might be perfect.
The My Soft Drinks package includes:
- Still and sparkling water
- Basic coffee, tea, herbal teas, and hot chocolate
- Fruit juices and iced teas
- Soft drinks by the glass
- Non-alcoholic cocktails like Crodino and virgin mojitos
Like the others, this package doesn’t give you exact brand or menu details online. There’s no mention of smoothies or milkshakes, so assume those are excluded. The same goes for canned drinks.
💡 Bottom Line: Great for kids, non-drinkers, or cruisers who just want hydration and caffeine without booze.
Fixed-Quantity Drink Packages: Are They Worth It?
If unlimited drinks sound like overkill, Costa offers set-quantity beverage packages.
These give you a specific number of drinks to use during your cruise. Sounds great, right? Well… let’s dig into the details before you commit.
4. 100% Alcohol-Free (20 Drinks) – €79
Identical to the 40-drink version, but with only 20 drinks—and it’s even less economical.
- €79 ÷ 20 drinks = €3.95 per drink
Since some juices and teas cost less than that individually, you’ll likely lose money with this one.
💡 Bottom Line: Skip it. You’re better off paying as you go unless you need the convenience.
5. 100% Alcohol-Free (40 Drinks) – €135
This package gives you 40 non-alcoholic drinks, which can include:
- Fruit juices
- Iced teas
- Non-alcoholic cocktails
- Cordials
At first glance, it feels flexible—but do the math:
- €135 ÷ 40 drinks = €3.38 per drink
- Many soft drinks onboard are priced around €3.10 to €3.70
- Water is cheaper, so if you’re hoping to save on hydration, this won’t help much
🧠 Bonus Fact: You can share this package with other people, but that opens the door to confusion if the wrong person tries to order using your package.
💡 Bottom Line: Unless you’re cruising with juice-obsessed kids, this one just isn’t a great deal.
6. Classic Package – €155
This one’s designed for wine lovers who like a drink with dinner—but don’t need alcohol all day.
You get:
- 7 bottles of water (1L each)
- 3 bottles of house red wine
- 3 bottles of house white wine
Let’s break that down:
- Water = €3.50 x 7 = €24.50
- Red wine = €38 x 3 = €114
- White wine = €25.50 x 3 = €76.50
- Total value = €215
- You pay = €155 → Save €60
💡 Bottom Line: Great value if you actually want a bottle of wine each night. Not ideal if you prefer beer or cocktails.
7. Draught Beers (20 Beers) – €105
This package gets you 20 draught Heinekens (40cl, a little less than a pint).
- Individual price per beer = €4.80
- 20 beers = €96
- But with a 15% service charge added onboard = €110
- So this package saves you about €5
💡 Bottom Line: You’d have to drink all 20 beers just to save €5. Unless you’re very loyal to Heineken, it’s just not worth the effort.
8. Water, Coffee & Beer Combo – €89
This bundle includes:
- 7 bottles of water (1L)
- 7 draught beers (40cl)
- 14 coffees (espresso or decaf)
Doing the math:
- Water = €24.50
- Beer = €33.60
- Coffee = €30.80
- Total = €88.90 (before service charge)
💡 Bottom Line: This package is basically break-even. A decent choice if this is your exact drink routine—but if you want flexibility or specialty options, skip it.
9. Super Vitamin Package – €33
This package gives you 7 freshly squeezed juices—you pay for 5, get 2 free.
💡 Bottom Line: If you’re a fresh juice fan, this is one of the better-value specialty bundles. But if you’re just curious, try one à la carte first.
10. Bottled Water Package – €42
You get 13 one-litre bottles of still or sparkling water.
- Each bottle costs €3.50 → 13 x €3.50 = €45.50
- So you’re saving just €3.50 (aka “buy 12, get 1 free”)
💡 Bottom Line: Handy if you hate asking for water—but not much of a deal otherwise.
Costa Cruise Drinks Package Calculator
Wondering if a drinks package is really worth it on your next cruise? My easy-to-use calculator does the tough calculation for you!
Simply enter the drinks you usually have on a typical day, and it’ll show you in seconds which package gives you the best value.
✅ Get instant access for free below!
Things You Need to Know About Costa Drink Packages
Before you buy a package, here’s what most first-timers don’t realize:
1. Free water is available—but only in the buffet
You can get tea, coffee, and water when the buffet is open. Pro tip: pour glasses of water and carefully refill your own bottle at breakfast for your day ashore.
2. Always buy your package before your cruise
Prices are always higher once you board the ship. The best time to browse and buy is after booking, through the MyCosta portal.
3. Everyone in your cabin must get the same drink package
This applies to unlimited plans, not fixed-quantity ones. Even kids aged 4+ must have the same package (non-alcoholic, of course), which can make it hard to justify if one person doesn’t drink much.
4. Costa’s drink prices are fairly reasonable
Unlike some cruise lines that charge premium rates, Costa’s drink prices are comparable to what you’d pay at a nice café or pub on land.
5. Breakfast is your best time for free drinks
Whether you’re dining in the main restaurant or buffet, you’ll find free:
- Fruit juices
- Coffee
- Tea
- Milk or plant milk
- Water and hot chocolate
| Drink Type | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Draught Beer (large) | €6.10 |
| Mocktails | €6.70 – €7.30 |
| Bottled Beer | €4 |
| Spirits + Mixers | €7.80 – €12.40 |
| Wine (glass) | €5.70 – €10.30 |
| Cocktails | €5.70 – €10.30 |
| Fruit Juice | €3.10 – €5.70 |
| Bottled Water (500ml) | €2.20 |
| Coffee | €2.20 – €6.70 |
| Soft Drinks | €3.70 |
| Glass of Water | €1 |
| Bottled Water (1L) | €3.50 |
Final Thoughts: Should You Get a Costa Drink Package?
After my first cruise without a drink package (where I spent more than I expected), I can honestly say: if you plan to have more than a couple of drinks a day, a package is worth it—especially since Costa even charges for water in certain restaurants.
Here’s how to decide:
| Ask Yourself… | Best Package |
|---|---|
| “I’ll just have a few beers or glasses of wine.” | My Drinks Plus |
| “I’m fine with house wine, beer, and basic cocktails.” | My Drinks |
| “I’ll just have a few beers or glasses of wine.” | My Soft Drinks |
| “I’ll just have a few beers or glasses of wine” | Buy a bundle |
Booking Tip:
Always buy your drink package before your cruise via the MyCosta portal—it’s cheaper than waiting until you board.
And don’t forget to check the fine print. Some packages include minibar items or gelato, while others don’t.
Packages can’t be shared and must be purchased for all guests in a cabin over the age of 4.
