Want to sip cocktails, beer, or soft drinks throughout your cruise without worrying about the bill? Fred. Olsen’s drink packages offer an easy upgrade that lets you enjoy your favorite beverages without watching your wallet.
But just like with any cruise line, there’s a catch or two—and it’s important to know what’s actually included, what’s not, and whether it’s really worth it.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about Fred. Olsen’s drinks packages in 2025 and 2026—from pricing changes and new perks to package limits, Champagne upgrades, and tips that could save you money.
New for 2026: Free Drinks at Lunch and Dinner (Freedom Fare Only)
Here’s a great perk to look forward to starting in January 2026: If you book a Freedom Fare cruise, you’ll get a selection of free drinks with lunch and dinner—even without paying for a full drink package.
These include:
- House wines
- House beers
- Draft soft drinks
- Possibly house spirits (though this varies)
🎤 Worth Noting: Fred. Olsen’s official announcement was a little vague. Some sources mention spirits; others only reference wine, beer, and soft drinks.
If you’re dreaming of a gin and tonic with your roast beef, it’s best to check onboard whether it’s included.
Still, it’s a solid value boost for 2026 Freedom Fare bookings—and makes upgrading to full packages less essential if you’re only drinking with meals.
Want the Full All-Inclusive Experience?
If you’re sailing in 2026 and want to enjoy drinks anytime you please—not just at mealtimes—then the Premium Drinks Package is the way to go.
For 2025 cruises, you’ll see it listed as the All-Inclusive Upgrade. While similar, the 2026 version includes more drinks and comes at a higher price.
If doing all the math sounds like a headache, my drinks package calculator makes it easy to figure out if a Fred. Olsen 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. Get instant access for free below!
Let’s dive into the pricing.
Fred. Olsen Drinks Package Prices
The cost of your drinks package depends on:
- Your sailing year (2025 vs 2026)
- Cruise length
- Whether you book in advance or onboard
📅 2025 Cruises
| Cruise Length | Pre-Booked | Onboard Price |
|---|---|---|
| 70+ nights | £25 | £25 |
| 28–69 nights | £25 | £25 |
| 6–27 nights | £25 | £35 |
| 1–5 nights | £35 | £45 |
📅 2026 Cruises
| Cruise Length | Pre-Booked | Onboard Price |
|---|---|---|
| 70+ nights | £32 | £36 |
| 28–69 nights | £36 | £40 |
| 6–27 nights | £40 | £44 |
| 1–5 nights | £44 | £48 |
🔍 Price Jump Alert: For a 7-night cruise, the cost jumps from £25 in 2025 to £40 in 2026—but the extra cost also comes with a wider range of included drinks (especially cocktails).
What’s Included in Fred. Olsen’s Drinks Packages?
The drink selection depends on which year you’re sailing.
✅ 2025 Package (All Inclusive Upgrade)
Includes:
- House wines (red, white, rosé, sparkling, and non-alcoholic)
- House spirits (vodka, gin, whisky, rum, brandy, Irish cream – 25ml)
- Selected beers & ciders (on draft and in cans)
- One cocktail or mocktail of the day
- A selection of soft drinks by the glass
- Tea & coffee (from restaurants and buffet)
✅ 2026 Package (Premium Drinks Package)
Includes everything above plus:
- Full cocktail and mocktail menu – no longer limited to one per day
- Expanded drink range across bars and restaurants
- Bigger value overall (which explains the price increase)
🍓 Why That Matters: In 2025, if you’re craving a Strawberry Daiquiri, you’re out of luck unless it’s the Cocktail of the Day. In 2026? Order as many as you like.
Included Beers, Lagers & Ciders
| Drink | Format |
|---|---|
| Ale, lager, cider (draft) | Select bars |
| Carlsberg, Heineken, Spitfire | Cans |
| Heineken 0.0%, Somersby | Non-alcoholic options |
🍷 Included House Wines (All 175ml)
- Red
- White
- Rosé
- Sparkling
- Alcohol-free wine
🥃 Included Spirits (25ml)
- Vodka
- Gin
- Whisky
- White rum
- Brandy
- Irish cream
🍹 Cocktails & Mocktails
- 2025: One cocktail/mocktail of the day
- 2026: All cocktails and mocktails included at no limit
🥤 Soft Drinks (By the Glass)
- Pepsi / Diet Pepsi
- Lemonade / Diet Lemonade
- Tango Orange
- Tonic Water / Low-calorie tonic
- Ginger Ale
Juices (By the Glass)
- Orange
- Apple
- Pineapple
- Cranberry
- Tomato
What’s Not Included in the Fred. Olsen Drinks Packages?
While the drinks packages are pretty generous—especially in 2026—they don’t cover everything. Here’s what you’ll still need to pay for:
❌ Not Included in 2025 or 2026:
- Wines by the bottle
→ You do get a 10–25% discount in 2026 - Premium beers and wines
- Champagne, Prosecco & dessert wines
→ 50% discount in 2025 - Bottled water
→ 50% discount in 2025; costs around £3 per bottle - Red Bull & other energy drinks
- Drinks from Bookmark Café or Oriental Tea Room
- Full cocktail list (2025 only) – limited to the “cocktail of the day”
- Mini bar drinks in your cabin
💡 Tip: Tap water in your cabin is safe and drinkable. If you’re not picky, skip the bottled water.
🍾 Champagne & Wine Packages
If you’re more of a wine or bubbly fan, Fred. Olsen lets you pre-purchase wine or champagne bundles.
These offer some savings vs. buying bottles individually, and can be ordered before your cruise (from 13 weeks out) or added through your online booking.
🥈 Silver Champagne Package – £79
- 1 x 375ml Lanson Black Label
- 1 x 750ml Moët & Chandon
- 1 x 750ml Cava
🥇 Gold Champagne Package – £91
- 1 x 375ml Moët & Chandon
- 1 x 750ml Bollinger Special
- 1 x 750ml Cava
💎 Platinum Champagne & Wine – £144
→ Discounted to £130 with All-Inclusive Upgrade
- 1 x Champagne (750ml)
- 1 x Cava (750ml)
- 1 x premium white wine
- 1 x premium red wine
💠 Diamond Package – £288
→ Discounted to £259 with All-Inclusive Upgrade
- 1 x 750ml Champagne
- 2 x 375ml bottles of Champagne
- 1 x premium port
- 1 x premium white wine
- 2 x premium red wines
The Bookmark Bestseller (Hot Drinks Package)
The Bookmark Café on Fred. Olsen ships is known for its cozy atmosphere, specialty coffees, and handmade truffles. You can grab a mini hot drinks deal here too:
☕ Bookmark Bestseller – £20
- 7 hot drinks (like cappuccinos or lattes)
- 1 bag of chocolate truffles
Most Bookmark drinks cost £3–£4, so the savings are modest—£1 to £8 total, but hey, free truffles!
🚫 Note: Liqueur coffees aren’t included.
Fred. Olsen Bar Menu: How Much Do Drinks Cost?
If you’re debating whether to buy a package or go à la carte, here’s a breakdown of typical drink prices onboard:
🍸 Cocktails & Mocktails
- Cocktails: £7
- Mocktails: £4
🍷 Wines
- House wine (175ml): £6
- House wine (250ml): £8–£9
- Other wines (175ml): £6–£7
- Other wines (250ml): £9–£13
- Champagne: £9–£16 per glass
🍻 Lager, Ale & Cider
- Draught pints: £5–£6
- Half pints: £3–£3.50
- Cans (440–500ml): £4–£6
🥃 Spirits (per measure)
- House spirits: £4 (single) / £8 (double)
- Premium spirits: £4–£5 (single)
- Liqueurs, Irish cream: £4–£5
- Port, sherry, vermouth: £4
- Mixers: £1–£2
Soft Drinks
- Draught soda: £2.50
- Cans: £3
- Bottled water: £2–£3
- Red Bull: £4
- Juice (150ml–200ml): £2–£2.50
- Milkshakes: £4
What Drinks Are Free?
Fred. Olsen is one of the rare cruise lines that still provides free hot drinks in cabins, plus:
Always Free:
- Tap water in bars, restaurants, and staterooms
- Tea & coffee from 24/7 self-serve stations
- Breakfast juices are in the buffet
- In-room kettle with tea, coffee, mugs (British-style!)
Want herbal teas, lattes, or fruit juices after breakfast? Those cost extra.
Fred. Olsen 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!
Important Rules & Tips Before You Buy a Drinks Package
Like most cruise lines, Fred. Olsen has strict rules around their drinks packages, so it’s important to know what you’re signing up for before you add one to your booking.
1. There’s a Cap of 15 Drinks Per Day
The drinks package includes up to 15 drinks per person, per day, and that daily allowance resets at 6:00 AM.
This applies to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
⛔ After that limit? You’ll have to pay for additional drinks out of pocket.
2. You Must Buy the Package for Your Entire Cruise
You can’t pick and choose days. If you book a 7-night cruise, your drinks package is valid—and billed—for all 7 days.
No exceptions.
3. Spirits Are Served as Single Measures
Don’t expect doubles or large pours. With the package:
- All spirits are served in 25ml single measures
- No doubles are allowed under the package
- You can only order one drink per transaction
4. All Adults in the Cabin Must Get the Same Package
If one adult wants to buy the All Inclusive Upgrade, then everyone 18+ sharing that cabin must also buy it.
This is to prevent guests from ordering drinks for each other using just one package.
👶 Children don’t have to get the package, but if you want them to have all-inclusive drinks, it costs the same price as an adult, which rarely works out to be good value.
Most kids simply can’t drink enough mocktails or juice to make it worthwhile.
💡 Weird but true: On 2025 cruises that are exactly five nights, kids can get the package for free—but only if an adult in the cabin is paying for it
🙋♂️ Can you use both cards at the bar to order two drinks for two people? Yes, if both guests have a package.
But no, you can’t use one card to order two drinks for yourself in one go (e.g., a G&T and a shot on the side).
How to Book a Fred. Olsen Drinks Package
There are three ways to book, and pre-cruise is always cheaper.
✅ Option 1: Book in Advance
- Log in to your Fred. Olsen account
- Add the All Inclusive Upgrade (2025) or Premium Package (2026)
- Must book at least 6 days before sailing to get the lower price
- Available for cruises 5 nights or longer
🛳️ Option 2: Book Onboard
- Visit the Guest Services Desk onboard
- Must book by the end of Day 2 of your cruise
- Subject to availability (it can sell out!)
🍾 Option 3: Champagne, Wine & Bookmark Café Packages
- Can also be booked online in advance
- Available from 13 weeks before sailing until 1 day before embarkation
Final Verdict: Is the Fred. Olsen Drinks Package Worth It?
Here’s the deal…
Fred. Olsen’s drinks package is one of the best-value options on the market. It’s cheaper than most major cruise lines, yet still includes a generous range of drinks, especially in 2026 with full cocktail access.
Here’s how to decide:
| Drinking Habit | Package Worth It? |
|---|---|
| 4+ alcoholic drinks per day | ✔ Yes – pays for itself easily |
| 1–2 wines with dinner only | ❌ No – better to pay per drink |
| Love mocktails and soft drinks all day | ✔ Possibly – compare with Premium Non-Alcoholic |
| Traveling with kids | ❌ Usually not worth it (unless 5-night cruise in 2025) |
| Want peace of mind & predictable budgeting | ✔ Yes – great for stress-free sailing |
💡 Rule of thumb: If you’ll be spending more than £25–£40 per day on drinks, it’s a smart buy. Otherwise, go à la carte and enjoy the included tea, coffee, and breakfast juices.
🥂 Bottom Line
Fred. Olsen’s drink packages offer fantastic flexibility, especially compared to big-name cruise lines. Just make sure you:
- Book early to save
- Understand the limits (15 drinks/day, no doubles)
- Do the math using your typical daily drink habits
And once it’s sorted, you can sit back, raise your glass, and enjoy the sail without a second thought about the bill.
Cheers to that! 🛳️🍷
