Every major cruise line now sells a drinks package, and the headline pitch is usually the same: pre-pay one daily rate, drink as much as you like, simplify the bill. The honest comparison across the five biggest lines we sell is more nuanced. Some packages bundle Wi-Fi and dining alongside drinks; others sit as drinks-only add-ons. Some include gratuities; others do not. Some are unlimited at every venue; others cap at 15 drinks per day or exclude private islands. This guide compares all five head-to-head.
For the line-specific detail beyond this comparison see Cunard drinks packages, NCL Free at Sea, MSC drinks packages, P&O drinks packages and Princess drinks packages.
Call our specialists on 020 7947 0270 once you have a shortlist.
30-second view: which cruise line drinks package suits you?
| Line | Headline package | What is included beyond drinks | Gratuities included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cunard | Signature Package | Essential Wi-Fi + speciality dining credit | Yes (service charges on drinks) |
| NCL | Free at Sea | Speciality dining, Wi-Fi minutes, shore excursion credit | No (Plus tier adds them) |
| MSC | Premium Extra | Drinks only, unlimited venues incl. private island | Yes (service charges on drinks) |
| P&O | Classic Package | Wi-Fi + speciality dining credit + kids soft drinks | Included on the fare |
| Princess | Plus / Premier | Wi-Fi, dining credit, room service, shore credit (Premier) | Yes (Crew Appreciation) |
The shortest version: Princess Premier is the most inclusive package at sea right now. P&O Deluxe is the closest UK-flagged equivalent. Cunard Signature is the most refined. NCL Free at Sea is the broadest bundle below the Plus tier. MSC Premium Extra is the most flexible standalone drinks package.
Cunard Signature Package
The Cunard Signature Package is a bundled fare (not a standalone drinks add-on) that includes the Beverage Collection, Essential Wi-Fi and a speciality dining credit for one of Cunard’s alternative restaurants. The Premium Signature Package upgrades all three components: Premium Beverage Collection (wider wine, cocktail and spirit selection), Premium Wi-Fi (streaming and video calls), and an enhanced dining credit.
For non-drinkers, Cunard’s separately-sold Alcohol-Free Collection and Premium Alcohol-Free Collection cover sodas, juices, mocktails, smoothies and zero-alcohol beers. Service charges on drinks are included.
Suits: couples who want a refined, British-style cruise with Wi-Fi and dining built in. Our Cunard Signature Packages guide walks through the maths in detail.
NCL Free at Sea
NCL Free at Sea bundles five things into a single per-night rate: the Premium Beverage Package (more than 100 cocktails plus premium brands like Grey Goose, Casamigos, Maker’s Mark), speciality dining credits scaled to cruise length (one meal on 2-4 nights, up to four meals on 9+ nights), 150 minutes of Starlink Wi-Fi per guest, a $50 shore-excursion credit per port, and reduced upgrades for guests 3-8.
Free at Sea Plus adds top-shelf spirits, Champagne, unlimited Wi-Fi, daily prepaid service charges, 50% off speciality dining cover charges beyond the included meals, and unlimited drinks at NCL’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.
Suits: cruisers who want the widest bundle for the money on a per-night basis. Our NCL Free at Sea guide walks through when each tier is worth buying.
MSC Premium Extra
MSC’s drinks package range covers four tiers: Easy (entry, 15 alcoholic drinks per day, not valid in speciality restaurants or on private islands), Premium Extra (the most comprehensive option, unlimited drinks up to $20 menu price, valid almost everywhere including Ocean Cay), Alcohol-Free, and Minors (for under-18s).
Premium Extra is the standout for MSC guests who want maximum flexibility. The package is valid in speciality restaurants and on MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay, both of which are out of scope for the Easy tier. Yacht Club guests get Premium Extra included as standard.
Suits: MSC guests who want maximum venue flexibility and unlimited drinks. Our MSC experience tiers guide covers how drinks interact with the line’s Bella, Fantastica and Aurea experience tiers.
P&O Classic and Deluxe
P&O Cruises offers two bundled packages that combine drinks with Wi-Fi and dining: the Classic Package and the Deluxe Package. Classic includes the Classic drinks package (cocktails, beers, wines by the glass, Prosecco), a speciality dining credit for one of P&O’s alternative restaurants, Essential Wi-Fi and free soft drinks for children in the same cabin. Deluxe upgrades drinks (premium spirits, craft beers, extended wine pours), dining (enhanced credit), and Wi-Fi (the Ultimate Wi-Fi tier, P&O’s higher streaming option).
Standalone drinks packages are also available: Classic, Deluxe, Refresh (sodas and juices) and Alcohol Free (sodas, mocktails, Costa Coffee, zero-alcohol beers and ciders). Both adults in a cabin must take the same package.
Suits: UK-based cruisers booking from Southampton who want the British-style cruise format with included drinks and kids’ soft drinks. Our P&O Cruise Fares guide covers how the bundled packages interact with the underlying fare type (Select Price, Early Saver, Saver).
Princess Plus and Premier
The most comprehensive bundled package on the list. Princess Plus at £50 per person per night includes 15 drinks per day at up to $15 each, casual dining at four selected venues, single-device MedallionNet Wi-Fi, unlimited room service and OceanNow delivery with no fees, plus gratuities (Crew Appreciation) included.
Princess Premier at £75 per person per night upgrades all components: unlimited drinks up to $20 menu price, unlimited speciality dining across the ship, multi-device Wi-Fi, reserved theatre seating, unlimited digital photos, and a $300 per guest shore excursion credit. On longer voyages with significant port time and onboard dining, Premier often pays back the differential.
Suits: cruisers who want maximum inclusion and Princess’s MedallionClass tech-forward experience. Our Princess Plus or Premier guide walks through when each tier pays back.
How to pick the right one
Most readers comparing drinks packages have already chosen the cruise line. If you are still choosing between lines and the drinks package is a deciding factor, the priorities go in this order:
1. Do you want gratuities included? Princess Plus/Premier and P&O Classic/Deluxe include them. Cunard and MSC include service charges on drinks but not the wider daily gratuity. NCL Free at Sea standard does not include gratuities (Plus tier does).
2. Do you want Wi-Fi as part of the package? Cunard Signature, P&O Classic, Princess Plus and NCL Free at Sea all include Wi-Fi in some form. MSC Premium Extra does not (Wi-Fi is sold separately).
3. How much do you actually drink? If you drink fewer than 3-4 drinks per day, skipping any package and paying à la carte is often cheaper. The most inclusive packages start to pay back at around 4-6 drinks per day plus the bundled extras (Wi-Fi, dining, gratuities) at standard rates.
4. Are you sailing to a private island? NCL Free at Sea Plus is the only package that includes unlimited drinks at NCL’s private island. MSC Premium Extra is valid on Ocean Cay. The others do not have private islands.
“The question I ask first is how much the guests would drink on a typical evening at sea. Below three drinks a day, almost no package pays back, no matter how it is bundled. Above three drinks plus a couple of speciality dinners across the voyage, the maths tips toward the bundled packages on Cunard, NCL, P&O and Princess. The Princess Premier is the most inclusive package at sea right now, but it only earns its place on sailings of 7 nights or more with multiple speciality dinners and a heavy port itinerary. On a short Caribbean hop the simpler Plus tier usually wins.”
— Robin, cruise specialist at Paramount Cruises
FAQs
Which cruise line has the best drinks package?
Princess Premier is currently the most inclusive on a per-person-per-night basis (drinks, dining, Wi-Fi, shore credit, gratuities). NCL Free at Sea Plus is the broadest fare-length-priced equivalent. The best for you depends on the line you would otherwise book.
Are gratuities included in cruise drinks packages?
Sometimes. Princess Plus/Premier and P&O Classic/Deluxe include daily gratuities. Cunard and MSC include service charges on drinks but not the wider daily gratuity. NCL Free at Sea standard does not include gratuities; the Plus tier does.
Do I need to buy a drinks package at all?
If you drink fewer than 3 drinks per day and would not use the Wi-Fi or dining credits the bundled packages include, no. Most cruise lines also offer Refresh-style soft-drink-only packages at lower prices for guests who want unlimited soft drinks without alcohol.
Can I add a drinks package after booking?
Most lines allow this, with the proviso that pre-booking before sailing is cheaper than adding on board. NCL and Princess specifically discount pre-cruise pricing. P&O bundles the package into the fare type itself.
Do both adults in a cabin need to buy the same package?
Yes across all five lines. This is the industry standard and is enforced strictly. The one common workaround is for one drinker and one non-drinker: book separately if itinerary allows, or accept that the non-drinker subsidises the drinker.
Which cruise line drinks package is the best value for non-drinkers?
Cunard’s Alcohol-Free Collection and Premium Alcohol-Free Collection are the most generous alcohol-free packages we sell. P&O Alcohol Free (sodas, mocktails, Costa Coffee, zero-alcohol beers) is the most comprehensive UK-flagged equivalent. MSC Alcohol-Free Package is the entry option for guests who want simple soft-drink coverage.
Plan your cruise with Paramount Cruises
Browse our full range across Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises and Princess, or call our specialists on 020 7947 0270 to run the per-night maths on the right drinks package for your specific sailing.
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By Josh Harris. Last updated: 20 May 2026.
