One of the best things about cruising is being able to unwind without constantly pulling out your wallet, and that’s exactly what prepaid drinks packages promise. But do they actually offer good value on a Cunard cruise?
For some guests, a drinks package means sipping wine or cocktails guilt-free. For others, it’s an unnecessary expense.
So, how do Cunard’s options compare to other cruise lines—and are they worth the cost?
Let’s break down everything you need to know about Cunard’s drinks packages, including what’s included, who they’re best for, how much they cost, and insider tips to make sure you don’t overpay.
When Is a Cunard Drinks Package Worth It?
Whether or not a Cunard drinks package is worth buying depends entirely on how much you drink.
✔️ If you average around 7–8 alcoholic drinks per day, you’ll likely save money
❌ If you only have a glass of wine at dinner, or a cocktail here and there, it might not be worth it
Everyone has different habits—some enjoy several drinks daily, while others prefer just a cappuccino or a mocktail.
That’s why Cunard offers four main drink packages, catering to both non-drinkers and cocktail lovers alike.
Want to calculate your exact breakeven point? Use a drinks package calculator before your cruise to see if your daily drink count adds up to savings.
Cunard Drinks Packages at a Glance
Let’s start with a quick snapshot of the current packages and prices:
| Package Name | What’s Included | Pre-Book Price (per day) | Onboard Price (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Drinks Package | Sodas, juices, squash, cordials | $13.50 (£10.79) | $15.00 (£11.99) |
| Speciality Hot Drinks | Barista coffees, teas, hot chocolate | $15.75 (£12.59) | $17.50 (£13.98) |
| Premium Non-Alcoholic | Everything above + bottled water, mocktails | $40.50 (£32) | $45.00 (£35.98) |
| Beers, Wines & Spirits | All drinks up to $13.50 + soft drinks | From $49.50 to $95 | Based on cruise length |
Let’s explore what each package offers, who it’s best for, and whether it’s actually worth the cost.
1. Soft Drinks Package – from $13.50 per day
Perfect for: Non-drinkers, families with kids, or soda lovers
This simple, low-cost option includes:
- Unlimited fountain sodas (Coke, Sprite, etc.)
- Fruit juices
- Squash and cordials
It’s a good choice if you’re not into alcohol or coffee but still want more than just water with your meals.
💡 Tip: This is great for kids too, since they often crave juice or soft drinks throughout the day.
☕ 2. Speciality Hot Drinks Package – from $15.75 per day
Perfect for: Coffee addicts, tea lovers, and hot drink fans
Includes:
- Unlimited specialty coffees (lattes, cappuccinos, espressos)
- Tea Forté loose-leaf infusions
- Rich hot chocolates
For cruisers who rely on their daily latte fix or love trying unique teas, this package can quickly pay for itself, especially since many barista-style drinks onboard run $4 to $6 each.
💡 Worth it if… you’re having 3+ café-style drinks a day.
🍹 3. Premium Non-Alcoholic Package – from $40.50 per day
Perfect for: Non-drinkers who still enjoy variety and premium beverages
This all-in option includes everything in the Soft and Hot Drinks Packages plus:
- Small bottled water (330ml, 500ml)
- Fresh juices and smoothies
- Mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails)
- Speciality coffees and teas
- 20% discount on smoothies, large water bottles, and Godiva chocolate drinks
💡 Best for: Adults who don’t drink alcohol but still want a wide drink selection, especially those who enjoy mocktails or juice bars.
4. Beers, Wines & Spirits Package – From $49.50 per day
Perfect for: Guests who enjoy alcoholic beverages every day—and want the freedom to order what they want without checking prices
This is Cunard’s most popular package—and for good reason. It includes:
- Unlimited beers, wines, cocktails, spirits, and liqueurs priced up to $13.50 per serving
- Everything in the Premium Non-Alcoholic Package
- 20% off:
- Drinks over $13.50
- Select bottles of wine
- Cunard Wine Academy
- Cocktail Master Classes
💸 Pricing (Pre-Booked Rates):
| Cruise Length | Price (Per Day) |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 nights | $85.50 |
| 5–14 nights | $72.00 |
| 15–74 nights | $67.50 |
| 75+ nights | $49.50 |
Prices are higher if purchased onboard—up to $95/day for short cruises—so book in advance through My Cunard to save around 10%.
🚨 Quirky Pricing Example:
An 84-night cruise will cost you $5,670 for drinks…
But an 85-night cruise drops the cost to $4,207.50
👉 That’s a savings of over $1,400 for one more night. Worth knowing if you’re booking a world cruise!
What Drinks Are Included?
The alcoholic package covers a wide range of drinks under the $13.50 threshold, including:
- All beers and ciders
- Gins, vodkas, tequilas, liqueurs
- Most whiskies, rums, and cognacs
- Small glasses of wine, Prosecco, Champagne
- Most classic and signature cocktails
If a drink costs more than $13.50, you don’t just pay the difference—you pay full price, minus the 20% discount. So it’s best to stick with drinks under the limit if you want to stay in value territory.
Cunard Wine Packages: Bottles You Can Pre-Order
Prefer sipping wine with dinner and not fussing with bar orders? Cunard offers wine collections you can purchase ahead of your cruise.
🧑✈️ Captain’s Collection
- 6 bottles: $310
- 12 bottles: $550
Includes a handpicked selection of Cunard’s most popular reds, whites, one sweet wine, and a bottle of Prosecco.
Commodore’s Collection
- 6 bottles: $445
- 12 bottles: $750
A more refined list of premium wines, including sparkling and rosé options.
📝 Create Your Own Collection
Mix and match your own bottles across both collections. Cunard offers up to 20% off compared to individual bottle prices if you build a package.
How Much Do Drinks Cost on Cunard Without a Package?
Here’s a sample price list (before gratuity):
| Drink | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Alcohol-free beer | $5.90 to $6.40 |
| Bottled Beer | $5.90 – $6.60 |
| Bottled cider | $5.90 to $6.60 |
| Draught Beer | $6.10 – $6.80 |
| Gin | $6.30 to $7.80 per serving |
| Glass of Wine | $6.80 – $13.20 |
| Tequila | $6 to $8 per serving |
| Cocktails | $9.50 – $13.60 |
| Champagne (Glass) | $12.30 – $21 |
| Rum | $6.30 to $14 per serving |
| Mocktails | $5.50 – $6.50 |
| Coffee | $2.80 – $6.70 |
| Soda (Fountain) | $2.80 – $3.80 |
| Bottled Soft Drinks | $3.90 |
| Vodka | $5 to $7.90 per serving |
| White wine glass (150ml) | $6.80 to $11.70 |
| Red wine glass (150ml) | $6.80 to $10.70 |
| Rose wine glass (150ml) | $7.50 to $13.20 |
| Prosecco | $9 per glass |
| Liqueurs | $5.90 to $6.60 per serving |
| Red Bull | $4.90 |
| Hot Chocolate | $4.80 |
| Whisky | $5.90 to $12 per serving |
| Brandy & Cognac | $6.90 to $70 per serving |
| Fountain mixers | $1.80 |
| San Pellegrino | $3.50 |
Important: Cunard adds a 15% service charge to all drink orders. So a $6 beer actually costs $6.90.
✅ Drinks packages include gratuities, so that 15% is already baked in when you go prepaid.
Cunard 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!
10 Essential Rules You Must Know About Cunard Drinks Packages
Before you rush to book, there are some important fine-print rules that could make or break your decision.
1. No Drink Packages on Short Cruises
Drink packages are only available on cruises of 5 nights or longer. If your sailing is 4 nights or fewer, you’ll have to pay per drink.
Why? Cunard knows guests are more likely to drink heavily on short getaways, so they limit the offer to avoid big losses.
2. Pre-Book Up to 4 Days Before Your Cruise
Want to save 10%? You must pre-purchase your drinks package at least four days before embarkation using your My Cunard account.
Miss the cutoff, and you’ll be stuck paying onboard prices.
3. You Can’t Share Your Package
Each drinks package is strictly for individual use only. If you’re caught sharing—even just handing a mocktail to your child—you could:
- Have your package cancelled without a refund
- Be monitored more closely by staff for further violations
It’s unlikely you’ll get in trouble for letting someone taste your drink, but repeated sharing will get flagged.
4. All Adults in the Same Cabin Must Purchase the Same Package
To prevent sneaky sharing, every adult (18+) in your cabin must get the same drinks package—no mix-and-match allowed.
So, if one of you wants alcohol, everyone else must buy the Beers, Wines & Spirits Package too. This can drive up the cost fast if you’re cruising as a couple or with grown children.
Children don’t need to get a package, but again, sharing drinks with them is frowned upon.
5. Can’t Buy a Package After Day 2
If you board and decide after your first drink that you want to go all in, you can still get a package—but only until Day 2 of your cruise.
After that, it’s too late.
Pro tip: If you buy the package on Day 2, you won’t be charged for Day 1—just the remaining days.
6. 15-Drink Daily Limit on Alcohol
Even though it feels unlimited, the alcoholic package caps you at 15 drinks per day.
The daily window is 6 AM to 6 AM. Once you hit 15 alcoholic beverages, staff may:
- Politely decline additional drink orders
- Assess your condition—if you’re not intoxicated or disruptive, they might let you continue (no promises)
This is a safety rule as much as a value one, so be respectful if you’re cut off.
7. One Drink at a Time + 10-Minute Cooldown
To prevent overordering and sharing, you’re limited to one drink at a time, and you must wait 10 minutes before ordering another.
The system tracks your orders, so trying to beat it by going to a different bar or server won’t work—your card will flag the cooldown.
8. You Can’t Buy a Package for Just Part of Your Cruise
Thinking of buying a package just for the sea days? Unfortunately, that’s not allowed.
If you get a package, you’re committing for the full length of the cruise—charged for every night, even if you’re disembarking early or skipping a drink day.
The only exception is if you add the package on Day 2 (see Rule 6).
9. Not All Venues Are Included
Your package covers bars and restaurants only—but not:
- Room service
- Drinks purchased in onboard shops
- Minibar items
- Premium experiences (e.g., spa cafés or wine-paired dinners)
Plan accordingly so you’re not caught off guard.
10. Drinks Over $13.50? You Pay Full Price (Minus 20%)
On many cruise lines, if your drink costs more than the package limit, you just pay the difference. Not on Cunard.
If you order a $15 cocktail with a $13.50 limit, you’ll pay the full $15, minus the 20% discount. That’s $12 out of pocket—not just a $1.50 top-up.
Final Thoughts: Is the Cunard Drinks Package Worth It?
Here’s a simple way to decide:
| If You… | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Drink 7+ alcoholic beverages daily | Beers, Wines & Spirits Package |
| Love barista-style coffees & hot teas | Speciality Hot Drinks |
| Don’t drink alcohol but want variety | Premium Non-Alcoholic Package |
| Just want sodas & juices | Soft Drinks Package |
| Prefer wine with dinner only | Buy a wine collection |
| Drink lightly or only occasionally | Pay per drink |
Also remember:
✅ Pre-book for lower prices
✅ Don’t forget the 15% gratuity that gets waived with packages
✅ Consider your itinerary—port-heavy cruises mean fewer drinking hours
How to Book a Cunard Drinks Package
There are 2 ways to book:
✅ 1. Before Your Cruise (Best Option)
- Log in to My Cunard
- Choose your package
- Add for every adult in your cabin
- Enjoy discounted rates
🛳️ 2. Onboard
- Visit any bar or Guest Services desk
- Pay higher per-day prices
- Must purchase before Day 3
