Carnival Drink Package Cost: Prices, Fees & Ways to Save

Carnival sells several drink packages, from a soda-only plan to an all-inclusive alcoholic package. Which one costs less than paying drink by drink depends on how many drinks you actually order, and the rules for buying are stricter than many first-time cruisers expect.

Prices on this page come from cruise-fare tracking sites, checked on Oct 11, 2026. Carnival's prices are per person per day and vary by sailing, so confirm the current amount in the cruise planner on Carnival's site before you buy.

The figures below are per person, per day, with the automatic service charge already included. Buying before your cruise usually costs less than buying onboard.

Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival's soda package, with separate adult and child prices. Zero-Proof Cheers covers non-alcoholic specialty drinks. Cheers! covers beer, wine, cocktails and more, up to the daily limit and per-drink price cap set by Carnival.

Carnival adds an automatic service charge to Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles. The listed prices above already include it, so you do not pay it a second time at checkout.

Because the percentage is added to the base price, the number you see in a planner may differ from the listed price depending on whether a site shows the pre- or post-charge total. Check which version a price refers to.

If you drink mostly wine, a bottle package can cost less than a full alcohol plan. Cruise the Vineyard sells bottles in set quantities, with the gratuity included in the total.

These are totals for the full set of bottles, not per day. Wine packages suit travelers who want wine with dinner and nothing else.

A package pays off if you drink enough each day to beat the daily price. Add up what you would usually order, using the onboard menu prices plus gratuity, and compare it against the daily package price for the length of your cruise.

Points to weigh:

• Rules: Carnival generally requires every adult in the same cabin to buy the same package. Check the current policy.
• Daily limit: The package covers drinks up to a cap per day. Specialty drinks above the price cap cost extra.
• Sea days vs. port days: If you will spend long days ashore, you may not drink as much.
• Other options: A soda plan, a coffee card or paying as you go may suit light drinkers better.
• Age limits: Alcohol packages are available only to guests of legal drinking age on that sailing.

This page does not recommend drinking more to make a package worthwhile. If you drink little or not at all, a non-alcoholic option or no package at all is the better value.

Carnival rewards early buyers. Pre-cruise prices for Cheers! and Zero-Proof Cheers are lower than the onboard rates, and Carnival sometimes runs sales or limited-time offers. Buying early also means you can start using the package on embarkation day. Prices can still rise as your sailing date nears, so look at the planner a few times if you are not ready to commit.

1. Buy before you sail: The listed onboard price is higher.
2. Do the math for your own habits: Look at the menu, then compare it with the daily price.
3. Look at cheaper packages: If you want sodas and coffee, you do not need the full alcohol plan.
4. Check for promotions: Carnival runs sales around holidays and booking periods.
5. Read the fine print: Limits, exclusions and cancellation terms are in the planner.