When I first boarded the Marella Explorer 2, I was curious (and a bit skeptical) about what drinks were actually included in the standard All-Inclusive fare.
Unlike many other cruise lines that bombard you with pricey upgrades and hidden extras, Marella makes things refreshingly simple.
You don’t need to pay extra just to enjoy a drink by the pool or a glass of wine with dinner.
Every Marella cruise comes with an All-Inclusive drinks package as standard — and honestly, it covers a lot more than you’d expect!
Let me walk you through exactly what’s included and where you’ll find even more options depending on the bar.
Drinks Available in All Bars (Standard Package)
The following beverages are included and available throughout every bar on the ship.
These are your go-to options, no matter where you’re relaxing — whether it’s poolside, at the theatre, or enjoying a pub night.
If doing all the math sounds like a headache, my drinks package calculator makes it easy to figure out if a Marella 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!
🥂 Wine & Sparkling (150ml servings)
- House White
- House Rosé
- House Red
- House Prosecco
Yes, Prosecco is included — and I definitely made good use of that while enjoying shows at the theatre!
🍺 Draught Beers & Cider
- John Smiths
- Fosters
- Strongbow
🍻 Bottled & Canned Beers
- Red Stripe
- Birra Moretti
- San Miguel Fresca
- Corona
- Guinness
- Heineken Zero
- Peroni (Regular & Red Label)
- Kronenbourg
- Sol
- Tuborg
🥤 Soft Drinks (Fountain-based)
All of the following are included for free — but note, if you want a can, you’ll need to pay extra.
- Lemonade
- Cola / Diet Cola
- Orange, Pineapple, Apple, Cranberry, Tomato & Grapefruit Juices
- Ginger Ale
- Tonic / Soda Water
- Orangeade
I remember grabbing a cold Diet Coke on the pool deck every afternoon — it became part of my cruise routine!
🍸 Classic Cocktails
- Black Russian
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Raspberry Collins
- Mai Tai
- Singapore Sling
- Various Daiquiris
- Cosmopolitan
🥃 Spirits (House Selections)
- Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
- Tanqueray & New Amsterdam Gin
- Smirnoff & New Amsterdam Vodka
- Bacardi
- Famous Grouse, Jim Beam, & Jameson Whiskey
- Malibu
- Jose Cuervo Silver & Gold Tequila
🍷 Aperitifs, Liqueurs, Ports & Sherries
- Cockburns Special Reserve
- Pimms No.1
- Amaretto
- Bailey’s & Molly’s Irish Cream
- Southern Comfort
- Harveys Bristol Cream
- Vermouth
Cabin & Buffet Perks
Besides what’s available at the bars, you’ll also find:
- A kettle in every cabin with tea/coffee supplies
- Free tea, coffee, and water in the buffet and restaurants
- Chilled water stations near cabins on each deck
This made morning routines and late-night tea cravings so convenient!
At-A-Glance: Always-Included Drinks (Standard Tier)
| Category | Included Drinks |
|---|---|
| Wine & Fizz | House White, Rosé, Red, Prosecco |
| Beers (Draught) | Fosters, John Smiths, Strongbow |
| Beers (Cans/Bottles) | Birra Moretti, Red Stripe, Guinness, Peroni, San Miguel Fresca, Corona, Tuborg, Sol, Kronenbourg, Heineken Zero |
| Soft Drinks | Juices (orange, apple, pineapple, etc.), Cola, Lemonade, Tonic, Soda, Ginger Ale, Orangeade |
| Cocktails | Mai Tai, Raspberry Collins, Long Island Iced Tea, Cosmopolitan, Daiquiris, Singapore Sling, Black Russian |
| Spirits | Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, Rum, Tequila – house brands |
| Liqueurs | Baileys, Southern Comfort, Amaretto, Pimms, Vermouth, Sherry |
What Extra Drinks Can You Get at Specific Bars?
While the standard All-Inclusive package already covers a solid range of drinks across the ship, each bar has a few extra goodies up its sleeve.
Depending on where you’re hanging out — whether it’s the Squid & Anchor pub, Pool Bar, or Indigo Bar — you’ll find even more drinks available at no extra cost.
Let’s break down what each venue offers.
Squid & Anchor Pub – Cosy Vibes + Expanded Menu
The Squid and Anchor was one of my favorite spots onboard. It had a traditional pub vibe and a more relaxed evening atmosphere — perfect for an after-dinner drink or catching live music.
Here are the additional drinks included at Squid & Anchor:
Extra Beers
- Red Stripe
- Birra Moretti
- Guinness
Extra Spirits
- Johnnie Walker Red Label
- Bell’s Whisky
- Jameson Irish Whiskey
- Metaxa 5
- Gordon’s Gin
- Malibu
- Rum Haven Coconut Rum
- Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
- Fundador Brandy
Extra Wines
- Rose Arada
- Cava
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Grigio
- Merlot
Extra Cocktails (My personal favorite: Raspberry Collins)
- Illusion
- Electric Lemonade
- Rocking Rita
- Raspberry Collins
Extra Mocktails
- Bora Bora Brew
- Pineapple Sunshine
- November Seabreeze
I tried both the Electric Lemonade and Illusion here — light, sweet, and perfect for winding down after a long excursion day.
Pool Bar – Laid-back and Refreshing
Whether you’re catching the sun or just chilling by the water, the Pool Bar is a go-to for fruity cocktails and refreshing mocktails.
Extra Cocktails
- Melon Ball
- Piña Colada
- Frosé
- Berry Fizz
- Hawaiian Tropics
Extra Beers
- Red Stripe
- Birra Moretti
- Budweiser
- Guinness
- Corona
Extra Mocktails
- Tropical Blend
- Berry Banana
- Cranberry Cooler
- Apple Spritz
- St Clements
I loved grabbing a Melon Ball while sunbathing — sweet, cold, and totally tropical.
Indigo Bar – Cocktails With a Twist (Literally)
Indigo is where you’ll find Marella’s iconic Smoking Cocktails — those smoky, dramatic drinks that everyone’s taking photos of.
While some of them cost a small supplement (£2.50), many mocktails and spirits are included for free.
Extra Mocktails
- Pineapple Sunshine
- Bora Bora Brew
- Kiwi Lemonade
- November Seabreeze
- Mango Dream
Extra Spirits
- Gordon’s Gin
- Jameson Irish Whiskey
- Canadian Club
- Bacardi
- Tanqueray
- Jose Cuervo Gold & Silver Tequila
- New Amsterdam
Even if you don’t opt for the smoking cocktails, the Indigo Bar offers a chill late-night vibe with beautiful views — great for winding down with a mocktail or neat spirit.
Quick Table: Where to Find Extra Included Drinks
| Bar | Extra Included Beers | Extra Spirits & Wines | Extra Cocktails/Mocktails |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squid & Anchor | Birra Moretti, Guinness, Red Stripe | Bell’s, Johnnie Walker, Fundador, Metaxa, Cava, Sauvignon, Merlot | Electric Lemonade, Raspberry Collins, Illusion, Mocktails |
| Pool Bar | Budweiser, Corona, Guinness, Red Stripe | – | Pina Colada, Frose, Melon Ball, Tropical Blend, Berry Banana |
| Indigo Bar | – | Jameson, Bacardi, Canadian Club, Gordon’s, Tanqueray | Bora Bora Brew, Kiwi Lemonade, November Seabreeze, Mango Dream |
Should You Upgrade to Marella’s Premium All-Inclusive Drinks Package?
If you’ve ever cruised with other lines, you know drinks packages can be confusing — not with Marella. They keep it super simple.
When I cruised on the Marella Explorer 2, I loved that standard All Inclusive was included in the fare, but I was also tempted to try the Premium package.
Here’s everything I found out — and what I personally think about it.
How Much Does the Upgrade Cost?
The Premium Drinks Package on Marella is very reasonably priced compared to other cruise lines.
- Price: £12–£14 per person, per night
- Total for 7 nights (2 adults): Around £170–£190 per cabin
💡 Note: Everyone in your cabin must upgrade — you can’t mix and match.
What Extra Drinks Do You Get?
You unlock a massive selection of premium cocktails, spirits, beers, ciders, soft drinks, and waters. Only bottles of wine are excluded, but you can get wine by the glass.
🥃 Premium Spirits
| Type | Brands Included |
|---|---|
| Vodka | Absolut (£3.30), Grey Goose (£3.80), Chopin (£3.80) |
| Gin | Bombay Sapphire (£3.30), Hendrick’s (£3.95) |
| Rum | Myers’s, Flor de Caña (£3.80), Clarke’s Court |
| Whiskey | Jack Daniel’s, Johnnie Walker Black (£3.80) |
| Tequila | 1800 Tequila (£3.80) |
| Cognac/Brandy | Martell V.S.O.P. (£4.60), Cardenal Mendoza (£3.95) |
🍸 Premium Cocktails (£3.95 each)
- Tropical Iced Tea
- The “P” Star Martini
- Cadillac Margarita
- Classic Mojito
- Sea Breeze
- Southern Punch
- Purple Rain
- Chocolate Espresso Martini
- Rumble
- Sex on the Beach
I tried the Tropical Iced Tea and Espresso Martini — both were excellent, and honestly better than cocktails I’ve paid £10 for in bars at home!
🍺 Premium Beers & Ales
| Type | Brands | Price (if not upgraded) |
|---|---|---|
| Draught (Pint) | Heineken, Kronenbourg 1664, San Miguel | £3.95 per pint |
| Ales | Old Speckled Hen, Lagunitas IPA | £4.35 |
| Bottles/Cans | Heineken, Asahi, Alhambra 1925 | £4.35 |
| Ciders | Bulmers, Magners, Strongbow Dark Fruit | £4.35 |
Premium Soft Drinks & Waters
| Type | Brands | Price (if not upgraded) |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Drinks (Cans) | Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Ginger Ale, Irn-Bru | £1.50 |
| Bottled Water | Club Soda, Bitter Lemon, San Pellegrino | £1.50–£1.95 |
| Premium Juices | J2O – Apple & Raspberry, Orange & Passionfruit | £2.65 |
| Energy Drinks | Red Bull – Regular, Sugar-Free, Tropical | £3.85 |
I love J2O and Red Bull, so for me, this alone was worth the upgrade, especially when I was skipping alcohol.
Marella 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!
Can You Still Bring Your Own Drinks?
Nope — Marella no longer allows guests to bring alcohol on board, except for:
- Drinks purchased on your flight (if you show proof of purchase)
- Any alcohol bought at ports is held and returned on the final day
So you’ll have to stick with what’s served onboard, which, honestly, is more than enough.
Is It Worth Upgrading?
Let’s do some basic math:
- If you drink 4 or more premium drinks per day, it’s totally worth it.
- If you just want a couple of cocktails, it might be cheaper to stick with the standard package and pay as you go.
- If you enjoy J2Os, Red Bull, premium beers, or spirits, the upgrade pays for itself quickly.
Even if you’re not a big drinker, Premium isn’t just about alcohol — bottled water, soft drinks, premium juices, and better coffee all count too.
Comparing Standard vs Premium All-Inclusive Drinks
To make your decision super easy, I’ve created a quick side-by-side comparison of what you get with each package:
🥤 Marella Drinks Package Comparison
| Category | Standard All Inclusive | Premium All Inclusive |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktails | 10+ classic cocktails included | 10+ additional premium cocktails (e.g., Mojito, Espresso Martini) |
| Spirits | House brands (Smirnoff, Bacardi, etc.) | Premium brands (Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Jack Daniel’s) |
| Beer & Cider | Draught: Fosters, Strongbow, John Smiths + some bottles | More premium beers, ales & ciders (Heineken, Alhambra, Strongbow Dark Fruit) |
| Wine by the Glass | House red, white, rosé, prosecco | Additional wines (Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cava) |
| Soft Drinks | Fountain soda, juices | Bottled soda, J2O, Red Bull, San Pellegrino |
| Mocktails | Basic fruity blends | Extra mocktail options (e.g., Mango Dream, Kiwi Lemonade) |
| Bottled Water | Not included | Still & sparkling bottled water included |
| Upgrade Price | Included with fare | Included with the fare |
So… Is Premium Worth It?
Here’s what I personally think after cruising Marella and trying both options:
- ✅ If you plan to drink 4+ premium items a day, it’s definitely worth it.
- 💰 Premium drink prices are way cheaper than other cruise lines — you’re not paying £10 per cocktail like on some American ships.
- 🥤 Even non-alcoholic drinkers might benefit if they love branded sodas, J2Os, bottled water, or energy drinks.
For me, the upgrade felt like a no-brainer once I realized I was ordering Red Bull in the morning, a few nice cocktails at night, and bottled water all day.
Final Thoughts: Why I Love Marella’s Approach
Honestly, Marella Cruises gets it right when it comes to drinks.
- You get an impressive variety included in your fare
- Upgrading is optional and affordable
- Pricing is transparent and easy to calculate
Compared to some cruise lines where drinks packages cost as much as your cruise itself, Marella’s approach feels fair, honest, and guest-friendly.
It lets you focus more on enjoying your cruise, not doing math every time you want a cocktail.
