Most people buy cruise drink packages because they think they’ll save money. The cruise lines count on this delusion.
Here’s the reality. Royal Caribbean’s deluxe beverage package costs about $70 per person per day. That means you need to drink $70 worth of alcohol daily just to break even. At $12 to $15 per cocktail, you’re looking at five drinks minimum. Every single day.
The average cruise passenger drinks 2.3 alcoholic beverages per day according to industry data. You’re paying for five. The cruise lines make roughly 40% profit margin on these packages because most people dramatically overestimate their drinking habits.
But wait, it gets worse. You can’t share the package between couples. Both people must buy it if one person wants it. So now you’re both committed to drinking five drinks daily or losing money.
The break even point assumes you’re ordering the most expensive drinks on the menu. Order a beer instead of a premium cocktail and your math falls apart completely. Choose wine with dinner instead of top shelf liquor and you’re basically funding the cruise line’s quarterly earnings.
You can absolutely buy the drink package if you want the convenience of not thinking about costs. Just don’t pretend you’re saving money. You’re paying for peace of mind, not value. If you want help running the real numbers for your specific cruise, that is literally what we do.
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