★★ Is a Drinks Package Worth It on Your Cunard Voyage?
“Trying to decide whether a Cunard drinks package is good value for your cruise? You’re not alone — it’s one of the most common questions we get from fellow Cunard guests.”
Mike King — Founder — About Luxury Cruising
Quick Facts- Quick Answers
- Pay-as-you-go drinks now carry an 18% service charge (up from 15%, effective June 2026) — packages already have their service charge baked into the price shown.
- Package prices vary by cruise length — the same collection can cost nearly double per day on a short cruise versus a long one.
- Alcoholic packages cap out at 15 drinks per person, per 24 hours (6am–6am). Go over that and you're charged full menu price plus 18% service charge, package or not.
- Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited in every package except the entry-level Alcohol-Free Collection, which caps at 15 drinks/gelato servings a day.
- Four collections in total: Alcohol-Free (~$18/day, flat), Premium Alcohol-Free ($31.50–$45/day), Beverage Collection ($49.50–$94.50/day), Premium Beverage Collection ($63–$108/day) — all pre-book, per person, per day.
- New for 2026: Signature Packages bundle a drinks collection with Wi-Fi and dining credit for a discounted combined rate.
- Everyone in the stateroom must buy the same package — you can't mix one guest on a package with another paying as they go.
Cunard's drinks prices are refreshingly transparent, but once you factor in cocktails, wines by the glass, speciality coffees, bottled water, and the 18% service charge on individual drinks, the total can add up more quickly than expected. That's exactly why we built this Cunard Drinks Package Calculator.
Why This Matters on Cunard
Cunard isn't a party cruise line — but it is a line where cocktails before dinner are part of the ritual. Wine flows on formal nights. Coffee lovers rack up lattes quickly. And every one of those pay-as-you-go rounds now carries Cunard's higher 18% service charge, which quietly increases with every drink.
From our own sailings, we've found that value really depends on how you cruise — and this calculator reflects that.
A Quick Heads-Up
This calculator uses current average Cunard drink prices and package rates, but prices are subject to change, and onboard spending habits vary. Think of this as a planning tool, not a promise — it's designed to help you budget smarter before you sail.
Our Honest Take
If you enjoy 2–3 cocktails most evenings, wine with dinner, and a couple of coffees or soft drinks during the day, a drinks package often makes sense. If you're more of an occasional drinker or stick mainly to tea, water, and the odd glass of wine, pay-as-you-go may work out cheaper — run the numbers below before you decide.
If you drink more than 15 alcoholic drinks a day on average, be aware that even the packages have a daily cap — see the Quick Facts above.
Cunard Drinks Package Calculator
How This Calculator Works
Simply enter the number of each type of drink you'd have in an average day, and remember that on sea days you might drink twice as many as on a port day. Then pick your cruise length, since Cunard's package prices change with it.
The calculator applies the current 18% service charge to your pay-as-you-go total and compares it against all four of Cunard's package tiers at the correct price for your voyage length — no guesswork, no sales pitch, just clear numbers.
Build your drinking profile for an average day
Enter roughly how many of each you'd have on a typical day — remember sea days often mean more drinks than port days, so use an average across the whole cruise.
How that compares to Cunard's drinks packages
| Package | Price / day * | vs. Pay-as-you-go |
|---|
* Pre-book (online, before sailing) package prices shown, in US$ per person per day, with Cunard's service charge already included in that price. Onboard purchase prices are typically higher. Pay-as-you-go drinks carry an 18% service charge (raised from 15% in June 2026), which is what this calculator applies to your daily total above. The Beverage and Premium Beverage Collections cover up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period (6am–6am) — non-alcoholic drinks in any package are unlimited (or capped at 15 servings/day on the entry-level Alcohol-Free Collection). Drinks above the package cap, or beyond the daily allowance, are charged at full menu price plus the 18% service charge. All guests in a stateroom must buy the same package. Figures are for planning purposes only — always check Cunard's current pricing before booking.
Cunard Drinks Package Costs
Cunard's drinks package prices already include their service charge. All guests in a stateroom must purchase the same package. Prices vary by cruise length: shorter voyages cost more per day, longer voyages cost less per day.
The standard Beverage Collection covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks up to about $13.50 per serving — most classic cocktails like Mojitos and Cosmopolitans are included. The Premium Beverage Collection raises that cap to $20, covering pricier options like Champagne cocktails (you pay only the difference on anything above the cap). Both alcoholic collections are limited to 15 alcoholic drinks per person, per 24-hour period — non-alcoholic drinks within the package are unlimited.
| Package | Price (pre-book, US$/person/day) | What's Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol-Free Collection | ~$18/day | Up to 15 alcohol-free drinks/gelato per day, plus unlimited fountain soda |
| Premium Alcohol-Free Collection | $31.50–$45/day | Unlimited premium non-alcoholic drinks, mocktails, juices, speciality hot drinks & more |
| Beverage Collection | $49.50–$94.50/day | Beers, wines & spirits up to ~$13.50, up to 15/day, plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks |
| Premium Beverage Collection | $63–$108/day | Beers, wines & spirits up to ~$20, up to 15/day, plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, smoothies & extras |
Prices shown are for packages purchased online before sailing. Buying onboard costs more. New for 2026, Cunard also offers Signature Packages that bundle a drinks collection with Wi-Fi and a dining credit at a combined discounted rate — worth comparing if you'd want all three anyway.
Please refer to Cunard for the latest prices and conditions.
Cunard Drinks Package FAQs
What is the current service charge on Cunard drinks?
Pay-as-you-go drinks on Cunard carry an 18% service charge, raised from 15% in June 2026. Drinks packages already have their service charge included in the price you see, so that increase only affects what you pay if you order individually.
Do Cunard drinks package prices change based on cruise length?
Yes. Package prices are quoted per person, per day, and the daily rate is higher on shorter cruises and lower on longer ones. The Beverage Collection, for example, runs from about $94.50 a day on cruises of 6 nights or fewer down to about $49.50 a day on cruises of 75 nights or more.
Is there a limit on alcoholic drinks with a Cunard drinks package?
Yes. The Beverage Collection and Premium Beverage Collection both cap alcoholic drinks at 15 per person, per 24-hour period (6am to 6am). Go over that and any extra alcoholic drinks are charged at full menu price plus the 18% service charge, package or not. Non-alcoholic drinks within the package are unlimited.
What are Cunard's four drinks packages?
The Alcohol-Free Collection (~$18/day), the Premium Alcohol-Free Collection ($31.50–$45/day), the Beverage Collection ($49.50–$94.50/day), and the Premium Beverage Collection ($63–$108/day) — all pre-book prices per person, per day.
Does everyone in a stateroom have to buy the same Cunard drinks package?
Yes. Cunard requires all guests sharing a stateroom to purchase the same Beverage Collection or Premium Beverage Collection package — you can't have one person on a package while their cabin-mate pays as they go.
Disclaimer: This Cunard drinks calculator provides estimated costs only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cunard. Prices, service charges, and package inclusions are subject to change. Always check the official Cunard website or onboard menus for the most up-to-date pricing.
