If you’re planning a cruise, the “Drink!” package is basically your golden ticket to a stress-free vacation. Instead of constantly checking your folio or worrying about a mounting bar tab every time you fancy a spicy chipotle pineapple martini or a poolside bucket of beers, you just pay one flat daily rate. It covers almost everything specialty coffees to wake you up, bottled water for excursions, and those fancy cocktails with the tiny umbrellas. Just keep in mind that everyone in the cabin has to buy it, so make sure your roommate is on board with the plan!

Key Aspects:

• Carnival Cruise Line’s new Cheers! Zero Proof package can now be booked for cruises in early 2026.
• Sailings later in the year still have to wait before the popular package is available for purchase.
• Exact drink availability can vary based on supply and demand as well as restocking opportunities.

What Beverages Are Included In A Carnival Drink Package?

The “Cheers!” package is surprisingly inclusive, covering way more than just your standard poolside cocktails. You’re set for any spirit, beer, or wine by the glass as long as it’s under $20 which covers the vast majority of the menu. Beyond the booze, it’s a lifesaver for caffeine lovers since it includes specialty coffees and teas. You also get unlimited sodas, energy drinks, and those 500ml bottles of water that are perfect for staying hydrated. It even covers milkshakes and mocktails! Just remember, it doesn’t apply to room service or those souvenir cups you see everywhere.

What Are Carnival Drink Package Basics?

The core of Carnival beverage program is the “Cheers!” package, which is basically an all-inclusive pass for your drinks. The biggest thing to wrap your head around is that it isn’t technically “unlimited” for alcohol there is a hard cap of 15 alcoholic drinks within a 24-hour window (6:00 AM to 6:00 AM). However, for everything else like sodas, specialty coffees, and bottled water, you can truly drink as much as you want. It’s designed to make your vacation feel “pre-paid,” so you aren’t constantly doing mental math every time you hit the bar.

The Essentials to Know:

• The “All-In” Rule: If one adult (21+) in a cabin buys the package, every adult in that cabin must buy it. No exceptions, even if one person doesn’t drink.
• Buy Early, Save Cash: You’ll usually save about $5–$10 per day by purchasing the package online before you board rather than waiting until you’re on the ship.
• The $20 Limit: It covers any individual drink (cocktails, wine, or beer) up to a $20 menu price. If you want something ultra-premium over $20, you just pay the difference at a 25% discount.
• Service Charges: Expect an automatic 18%–20% gratuity added to the total cost of the package at checkout, so you won’t have to tip on every individual drink.
• One at a Time: You can only order one drink at a time, and there’s usually a 5-minute waiting period between alcoholic orders to prevent sharing.

What Drinks Do You Get For Free On Carnival?

While you could spend a fortune on drinks, there’s actually a solid selection of “free” beverages already included in your fare. In the buffet and main dining rooms, you’ll find self-serve stations with filtered water, iced tea, lemonade, and basic drip coffee or hot tea available 24/7. At breakfast, they usually put out orange juice, apple juice, and milk as well. It’s all perfectly drinkable, though keep in mind things like soda, bottled water, and espresso will still cost you extra.

Also Read: Complete Carnival Cruise Line Check-In Process Explained Step By Step

Can One Person Get A Drink Package On Carnival?

Of course, it is never mandatory to buy a drink package. The drink packages on Carnival are add-ons to your cruise vacation. However, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers.

If one guest in a stateroom wishes to purchase a beverage package, they can do so with the Bottomless Bubbles (soda) or Cheers Zero Proof packages; it is not required that everyone else in the cabin purchase those packages. However, if one person purchases the regular Cheers package (alcoholic package), everyone else in the cabin that’s old enough (21+) needs to purchase one as well.

What Are The Drink Packages On Carnival Cruises?

Carnival keeps it pretty simple by offering three main tiers to choose from depending on how you like to hydrate. Most people go for CHEERS!, which is the heavy hitter covering cocktails, beer, and wine. If you aren’t big on booze but love fancy lattes and mocktails, there’s the CHEERS! Zero Proof package. Finally, for those who just want their soda fix, there’s the budget-friendly Bottomless Bubbles.

How Much Is The Drink Package On Carnival?

• Cheers Package: The Cheers Package costs $82.54 per person, per day if purchased pre-cruise. It costs $88.44 per person, per day if purchased once on board.
• Cheers Zero Proof Package: The Cheers Zero Proof package costs $35.40 per person, per day if purchased pre-cruise. It costs $41.30 per person, per day if purchased once on board.
• Bottomless Bubbles: The Bottomless Bubbles Package starts at $8.20 per child, per day or $11.21 per adult, per day.

How Do You Get The Best Deal On A Carnival Drink Package?

Getting the absolute best price on a Carnival drink package really comes down to timing and a little bit of strategy. The number one rule is to buy it before you board; you’ll consistently save about 10% compared to the price on the ship. Beyond that, keep an eye out for “Bundle and Save” promotions that Carnival occasionally runs for 2026 sailings, which can lump your drinks, Wi-Fi, and even shore excursion credits together for a much lower daily rate than buying them separately.

How Many Drinks Do You Get With The Carnival Drink Package?

When it comes to “Cheers!” package, the golden number is 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period (6:00 AM to 6:00 AM). It’s a hard cap, meaning once you hit 15, the bartender literally cannot sell you another beer or cocktail, even if you offer to pay cash. The good news? Non-alcoholic stuff like sodas, energy drinks, and lattes are totally unlimited and don’t count toward that 15-drink limit. It’s plenty for most, but you definitely have to pace yourself!

• The “Hard Cut-Off”: Once you hit drink #15, you are cut off from alcohol until the clock resets at 6:00 AM the next morning.
• Non-Alcoholic is Unlimited: You can drink 20 sodas and 10 coffees, and it won’t affect your 15-drink alcoholic limit at all.
• Wait Times: As of 2026, there is now a 10-minute wait between ordering drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) to prevent people from “banking” drinks or sharing with friends.
• No Doubles: You can’t order a “double” to save time; the system counts that as two separate drinks toward your daily 15.

What Drinks Are Included In The Carnival Drink Packages?

Depending on which package you pick, you’re looking at a huge range of options. The standard CHEERS! package covers pretty much everything at the bar cocktails, beer, and wine as long as it’s under $20. But it’s not just booze; you also get unlimited sodas, specialty coffees, energy drinks, and bottled water. If you go for Zero Proof, you get all those premium non-alcoholic drinks and fancy mocktails, while Bottomless Bubbles is strictly for fountain soda and juice.

Also Read: Carnival Military Discount | Veterans & Active Duty Cruise Savings

What Is A Carnival Cheers Program?

The CHEERS! program is Carnival way of letting you prepay for your drinks so you don’t have to stress about a huge bill at the end of your trip. It’s an all-inclusive daily flat rate that covers most of your bar orders, specialty coffees, and even bottled water. While it makes life easy, it does have a few rules to keep things from getting out of hand like a 15-drink daily limit for alcohol and a “everyone in the cabin must buy it” policy. Essentially, it’s about turning your cruise into a worry-free, “purse-free” experience where you can just grab a drink whenever you want.

What Is Carnival Cheers Zero Proof Package?

The CHEERS! Zero Proof package is perfect if you want the “all-inclusive” lifestyle without the alcohol. It bridges the gap between basic soda and a full bar tab, covering premium drinks like specialty lattes, energy drinks, and handcrafted mocktails. It’s a great way to indulge in milkshakes and smoothies by the pool or grab a bottle of bottled water for the gym without worrying about the bill. Plus, it usually costs much less than the standard alcoholic version.

What Are Carnival Drink Prices?

Below is a list of the sample drink prices on Carnival Cruise Line. You can also check out our bar menus from our recent carnival vista cruise to determine the cost of your favorite beverages.

• Beer: starting at $8
• Wine by the glass: starting at $11
• Cocktails: most range from $12.25 – $14.25
• Soft Drinks: $3.50
• Specialty Coffees: $3.25 – $5.50
• Energy Drinks: $5.25
• Water: $2.50 – $5.00

Is The Carnival Drink Package Worth It?

Deciding if the package is worth it really comes down to how much you actually plan to drink every single day. If you’re the type who wants a specialty coffee in the morning, a few beers by the pool, wine with dinner, and cocktails at the show, you’ll easily hit the break-even point of about six or seven alcoholic drinks. It’s also about that “prepaid” peace of mind knowing your bill is already settled so you can try new drinks without worrying about wasting money. However, if you spend most of your time off the ship in port or only have a couple of drinks a day, you’re better off just paying as you go.

Conclusions

Of course, if you wish to forego a beverage package, you can always pay a la carte for your drinks purchased on the ship. You can also purchase items, such as packs of bottled water, pre-cruise via your cruise planner to be delivered to your stateroom.

Further, on embarkation day, guests are allowed to bring onboard a maximum of twelve, 12-ounce cans/cartons of non-alcoholic beverages per person in their carry-on luggage. Guests 21 years of age and older may also bring onboard one 750ml bottle of unopened wine or champagne each in their carry-on.

FAQ

Q.1 Can You Drink More Than 15 Drinks On A Carnival Cruise? .

Ans: No, you generally cannot drink more than 15 alcoholic beverages on a Carnival cruise; this limit applies to all guests (with or without the CHEERS! package)

Q.2 What Is Carnival New Drink Package?

Ans: Carnival Cruise line launched a new non-alcoholic package in September 2024 for $29.99 per person, per day (pre-purchased). 

Q.3 What Drinks Are Free On Carnival?

Ans: Free,24/7 self-service drinks on Carnival include water, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea, and non-specialty coffee.

Q.4 Is It Cheaper To Buy A Drink Package On Board?

Ans: It is generally not cheaper to buy a drinks package on board. Purchasing before your cruise through the cruise line’s app or website almost always results in significant savings.

Also Read: Carnival Military Discount | Veterans & Active Duty Cruise Savings