When you’re planning your P&O cruise, one of the first big decisions is whether to go for a drinks package or just pay as you go.
I remember on one of my cruises, by day two, I found myself at the bar thinking, “Have I already spent more than the package would’ve cost?”
We’ve all done that mental maths with cocktails, wine, and soft drinks — so let’s break it down and see if that all-inclusive deal is really worth it.
👉 The short answer: It depends on how much you drink, what you drink, and how you cruise.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know — from package costs to what’s included — so you can make the right call for your holiday style.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself
Before deciding on a P&O drinks package, take a moment to think about:
- How much are the drinks packages?
- What do individual drinks cost on board?
- How many drinks do you really have each day?
Spoiler: For some people, a drinks package is a fantastic deal. For others, it’s money down the drain.
If doing all the math sounds like a headache, my drinks package calculator makes it easy to figure out if a P&O cruise 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!
P&O Drinks Packages Overview
Unlike cruise lines like Marella that often include drinks as standard, P&O Cruises sticks with a full-board setup — meals included, but drinks extra.
I was pretty glad when they introduced drink packages in 2019, as it gave people the option to go all-inclusive if that’s more their style.
And with the 2023 refresh, it’s now much easier to find a package that fits both your taste and your budget.
💬 Personal note: I do enjoy a cocktail or a glass of Prosecco while I’m cruising, but I still tend to skip the P&O drinks package. That’s just what works for me — let’s go through everything so you can decide what’s best for your trip.
P&O Drinks Package Prices
Here’s what you’ll pay on board if you don’t book ahead:
| Package | Price per Person, Per Day |
|---|---|
| Refresh (soft drinks) | £14.45 |
| Alcohol-Free | £26.95 |
| Classic | £48.45 |
| Deluxe | £60.50 |
✨ Advance Booking Discount:
If you buy your drinks package before your cruise starts, you’ll save about 10%. That means:
| Package | Advance Price |
|---|---|
| Refresh | £12.95 |
| Alcohol-Free | £24.25 |
| Classic | £43.95 |
| Deluxe | £54.45 |
👍 Family perk: If you buy the Classic or Deluxe package, you get a free Refresh package for one guest under 16.
What’s in Each P&O Drinks Package?
Nothing’s worse than finding out your “all-inclusive” deal doesn’t cover your favourite tipple.
Here’s what’s actually included:
Deluxe Drinks Package
- Extensive range of cocktails (think Martinis, Aperol Spritz)
- 50ml spirits (including premium options like Grey Goose)
- Prosecco, craft beers, and cider
- 250ml wines, dessert wines, fortified wines
- Costa coffees (small & medium), teapigs
- Mocktails, non-alcoholic beers/wines
- Sodas, mixers, juice, squash
- 20% off excluded drinks
❌ Not included: Signature whiskies, cognac, bottles of wine/Champagne, fine wines by the glass, vending/self-serve drinks, minibar, room service drinks, Anderson’s Bar exclusives
👉 Limit: 15 alcoholic drinks in 24 hours
Classic Drinks Package
- Selected cocktails (e.g., Mojito, Pimm’s Cup)
- Mocktails, non-alcoholic beers/wines
- Small Costa coffees, teapigs
- 25ml spirits
- Prosecco, beers, cider
- 175ml wines, dessert/fortified wines
- 20% off excluded drinks
- Sodas, mixers, juice, squash
❌ Also missing compared to Deluxe: No premium cocktails, no large wines, no double measures, no craft beer, no Perfect Serves
Alcohol-Free Package
- Small Costa coffee, teapigs
- Mocktails, non-alcoholic beer/wine
- Sodas, mixers, juice, squash
⚠️ No 20% discount on extras
Refresh Package
- Draft soft drinks
- Juice and squash
💡 Tip: Adults can buy this, not just kids anymore!
Important Extras
- Minimum cruise length: Packages only sold on cruises of 5 nights+
- No sharing allowed: Each adult must buy their own package if one person does
- Buy for the entire trip: You can’t pick and choose days
P&O Cruises Wine Packages
If you’re more of a wine lover than a cocktail sipper, P&O offers wine bundles that can save you a bit of cash compared to buying bottles individually at dinner.
How Do the Wine Packages Work?
- Buy on board only: You can’t pre-order these packages — they’re only available once you’re on the ship.
- Savings: You’ll generally save about 15% to 20% versus paying for bottles one at a time.
- Where you can drink: Enjoy your wine at any restaurant or even have a bottle delivered to your cabin.
| Package | 6 Bottles | 12 Bottles | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain’s Collection | £149 | £279 | ~15% |
| Commodore’s Collection | £249 | £450 | ~20% |
💡 Tip: If you’re planning romantic balcony dinners or want to avoid bar queues, a wine package might be a smart move.
What Happened to the Hot Drinks Package?
Once upon a time, P&O offered a hot drinks package (around £10.95/day) that covered Costa coffee, hot chocolate, and teapigs tea. Unfortunately, that’s no longer available as of 2025.
👉 Closest alternative? The Alcohol-Free Drinks Package, though it’s pricier at £26.95 per day, at least covers your coffees and soft drinks.
P&O Drinks Prices
Before you lock in a drinks package, it’s worth checking how much individual drinks cost.
One of the nice things about P&O Cruises is that their drink prices are pretty reasonable — more like your local UK pub than a big American cruise ship.
| Drink | Price |
|---|---|
| Single rum | £3.50–£5.00 |
| Single gin | £4.00–£4.50 |
| Glass of wine | £4.75–£12.50 |
| Cocktail | £6.95–£8.95 |
| Speciality coffee | £1.95–£2.80 |
| Tea | £2.20 |
| Pint of beer | £4.75–£5.20 |
| Water (330ml) | £1.95 |
| Mixer | £2.05–£2.55 |
| Soft drink (reg) | £2.25 |
| Soft drink (large) | £3.05 |
| Bottle of beer | £4.50–£4.75 |
| Red Bull | £3.50 |
| Single whisky | £3.75–£4.25 |
| Mocktail | £3.50 |
💡 Example: If you’re someone who sticks to a couple of beers, a cocktail, and maybe a soft drink or coffee each day, paying individually could easily be cheaper than the daily package rate.
What Cocktails Are Included?
Both the Classic and Deluxe packages offer cocktails, but the Deluxe has a much broader selection.
Classic Package Cocktails
- Mai Tai
- Mojito
- Pimm’s Cup
- Pina Colada
- Strawberry Daiquiri
- Singapore Sling
- Woo Woo
- Spiced Rum Mule
- Fruit Salad
- Pink Gin Spritz
Deluxe Package Cocktails
- Margarita
- Cosmopolitan
- Negroni
- Martini
- Aperol Spritz
- Bellini
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Sunset Cooler
- Irish Coffee
- Sour
- Punch
⚠️ Excluded from all packages:
- Seven Wonders/Seven Treasures cocktails (Amber/Emerald Bar)
- Anderson’s Bar exclusives
Can You Bring Your Own Alcohol On Board?
P&O’s alcohol policy changed in 2024, and it’s a bit stricter now than in the past.
🚢 What You Can Bring
- 1 litre of wine or Champagne per adult (18+) at the start of your cruise
- Unlimited soft drinks and water (at embarkation and ports)
❌ What’s No Longer Allowed
- No more spirits or beer brought on board
💬 Personal insight: I once brought a couple of bottles of Prosecco and some soft drinks on a P&O cruise, and it easily saved me over £150 compared to bar prices.
It made those sunset balcony moments feel extra special without the extra cost — I do miss being able to do that now!
⚠️ Additional Notes
- If you buy alcohol in port or duty-free, it’ll be held until the end of your trip.
- Drinking your own booze in your cabin or balcony is free, but if you want to enjoy it elsewhere (restaurant, bar, lounge), expect a £20 corkage fee per bottle.
When is a Drinks Package Worth It?
You’ll benefit if:
✔ You drink 6+ alcoholic drinks daily
✔ You have lots of sea days (more time onboard = more drinks)
✔ You want premium coffee/mocktails, Red Bull
✔ You prefer budgeting in advance
Probably not worth it if:
❌ You drink 1–3 alcoholic drinks per day
❌ You spend most days ashore
❌ You’re happy with free drinks (tea, coffee, juice at breakfast, water)
Example Daily Spend (No Package)
Say, on a typical day, you have:
- 2 pints = ~£10
- 1 cocktail = ~£8
- 1 glass of wine = ~£6
- 1 soft drink = ~£2
💰 Total: ~£26
👉 This is well below the Classic package (£48.45) or Deluxe (£60.50).
Things to Think About Before You Buy
- How many drinks will you actually have? For the package to pay off, you typically need to drink enough to match or exceed £48.45 (Classic) or £60.50 (Deluxe) per day.
- What’s your itinerary like? More sea days = more time on board = more drinks.
- What do you drink? If you love cocktails, large wines, or double spirits, you’ll want the Deluxe package — but even then, paying as you go might still be cheaper.
- Are you traveling with kids? Buying a Classic or Deluxe package gets one child the Refresh package for free — that can be handy if your child enjoys soft drinks.
Example Cost Breakdown
Let’s say you’re on a 14-night cruise:
| Package | Total Cost (2 people) |
|---|---|
| Classic | £1,356.60 |
| Deluxe | £1,694.00 |
If your combined daily drinks spend wouldn’t reach those totals, paying individually makes more sense.
💬 Tip: P&O’s drinks are priced so reasonably that many cruisers find they don’t hit those daily package thresholds unless they’re having several alcoholic drinks a day.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
👉 Thinking you can share a package: Sorry, no sharing — P&O requires all adults in a cabin to have their own package if one person buys.
👉 Assuming you can cancel mid-cruise: Once your cruise starts, you’re locked in. No refunds for unused days.
👉 Overlooking age rules: The drinking age is 18 on P&O, but if your ship enters U.S. or UAE waters, it jumps to 21 for alcohol and packages.
👉 Using self-service machines: Fancy a quick beer or glass of wine from the self-serve stations? These aren’t covered by your package, and you’ll be charged.
👉 Hoping for minibar coverage: Drinks packages don’t apply to your in-room minibar or room service drinks.
P&O Cruises Drinks Packages — Quick Comparison
| Package | Price (Advance / Onboard) | Includes Alcohol? | Key Features | Who It’s Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe | £54.45 / £60.50 | ✅ Yes | Full cocktail list, premium spirits, large wines, craft beers, Prosecco, Costa coffee | Big drinkers, cocktail lovers, those who want top-shelf options |
| Classic | £43.95 / £48.45 | ✅ Yes | Kids, light soda drinkers, and anyone wanting basics | Moderate drinkers who stick to basics |
| Alcohol-Free | £24.25 / £26.95 | ❌ No | Non-alcoholic beers, mocktails, sodas, small Costa coffee | Those avoiding alcohol, coffee/soft drink fans |
| Refresh | £12.95 / £14.45 | ❌ No | Soft drinks, juice, squash | Kids, light soda drinkers, anyone wanting basics |
P&O 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!
Final Tips for Deciding
✅ Buy in advance: That 10% discount adds up over a long cruise.
✅ Track your spend: On your first day or two, pay as you go. If you find you’re spending near the daily package rate, you can consider buying the package early (if still allowed).
✅ Mix it up: Remember, you can bring some of your own wine or Champagne and top up with individual bar drinks if that suits your style.
✅ Sea days count: If you’ve got lots of sea days, packages become better value.
The Bottom Line
👉 If you’re the type who enjoys plenty of drinks throughout the day, or you just like the convenience of not thinking about cost each time you order, the package might work for you.
👉 But if you’re someone who has a couple of drinks here and there — especially on port-heavy itineraries — paying as you go is often far more cost-effective.
My Final Take
Personally, I usually skip the drinks package on P&O. I enjoy the odd Aperol Spritz or a glass of Prosecco in the evening, but I just don’t drink enough each day to make the package worthwhile.
That’s what works for me, but everyone’s cruise style is different. Now that you’ve got all the details, you can choose what’s right for you.
