A Carnival cruise drink package might be the best money you spend on your trip, or it could end up being a costly mistake. It all comes down to a few rules that many people overlook, like who’s sharing your cabin, where your cruise starts, and how many days you’ll be off the ship. Also, Carnival’s prices will change on December 1, 2026.
Imagine yourself leaning on the Lido Deck rail with a cold drink in hand. Steel drums play in the background and the ship’s wake foams below. You don’t want to worry about prices every time you get a drink. I understand. That carefree vibe is why so many people consider a Carnival drink package before they even start packing.
Let’s make sure you keep that feeling all the way through to your final bill!
The Quick Answer
- CHEERS! (alcohol and everything else): $69.95 a day before you sail, or $83.94 with the required 20% service charge. Onboard, it’s $89.94 a day.
- CHEERS! Zero Proof (premium alcohol-free): $29.99 a day, or $35.99 with the charge.
- Bottomless Bubbles (soda and juice): $14.39 a day for adults and $8.34 for kids 17 and under, with the charge.
- The catch: If one adult in your cabin buys CHEERS!, every adult 21+ in that cabin has to buy it too.
- The deadline: Flat prices end December 1, 2026.
Carnival Drink Packages Explained
CHEERS!: The Big One
When people mention a Carnival cruise drink package, they usually mean this one. Here’s what it includes:
- Spirits, cocktails, beer and wine by the glass up to a $20 menu price
- You get 25% off drinks over $20, bottles of wine and champagne, and drink classes.
- Sodas, juices, energy drinks, specialty coffee and hot tea
- Alcohol-free frozen drinks and milkshakes
- You’ll also get 500ml bottled water at the bars and bottled water in the dining room.
What a 7-night cruise really costs:
- One adult, bought before you sail: $587.58
- Two adults in one cabin: $1,175.16
- The same two adults buying onboard: $1,259.16
You’ll spend $84 more if you wait to buy until you’re on board. It’s best to purchase before 11:59 p.m. ET the night before your cruise.
CHEERS! Zero Proof: The Middle Option
Many cruisers wanted an option between the soda plan and the full drink package. Carnival listened and now offers Zero Proof on all 2026 sailings.
It covers:
- Sodas and standard juices
- Still, sparkling and coconut water
- Premium coffees and teas
- Smoothies, milkshakes and bottled protein shakes
- Energy drinks and frozen alcohol-free drinks
- Mocktails, alcohol-free beer and alcohol-free sparkling wine (21+ only)
A nice perk is that your cabinmates don’t have to buy it. One person can choose Zero Proof, and others can just pay for drinks as they go.
If you’re traveling with kids, they can use Zero Proof too. Just remember, mocktails and alcohol-free beer and wine are only for guests 21 and older.
Bottomless Bubbles: Soda Lovers Only
This one’s straightforward. You get unlimited Coca-Cola fountain sodas (16 oz) and juice (10 oz) by the glass. As of April 2026, the adult price is $11.99, while the kids’ price remains $6.95.
It doesn’t cover bottled water, specialty coffee, or milkshakes. Unlike CHEERS!, you can get a refund until 10 p.m. ET the night before your cruise.
Cruise the Vineyards: A Wine Lover’s Shortcut
If you usually just have wine with dinner, you can skip the daily packages. Carnival offers 3-bottle and 5-bottle wine packages for use in the dining room and main bars. Any unopened bottles can be taken home.
Carnival Drink Package Prices After December 1, 2026
A lot of places haven’t mentioned this change yet, but it’s important.
From December 1, 2026, Carnival will use dynamic pricing for drink packages and Wi-Fi. Instead of a single set price, what you pay will depend on a few factors:
1. Sailing length
2. Itinerary
3. Season—so prices will likely be higher during holidays and spring break
The good news is that if you’ve already bought a package, you’ll keep the price you paid.
Here’s my advice: If you’re booked on a 2027 cruise and want CHEERS!, check the price in My Cruise Manager now. Buying before the change could lock in today’s rate. Just make sure to review the refund policy first.
Wondering about FunPacks? Carnival’s new bundles of drinks, Wi-Fi, and extras were only available to book through October 30, 2026. These included the new CHEERS! Social tier, which gave you 3 alcoholic drinks a day. Keep an eye on My Cruise Manager in case Carnival brings them back.
The Rules That Catch Everyone
The Cabinmate Rule
If one adult in your cabin buys CHEERS!, then every adult 21 or older in that cabin must also buy it. Carnival does not allow any exceptions, even for medical reasons.
For example, if you love margaritas but your partner hardly drinks, your $83.94 choice now costs $167.88 each day. Make sure to calculate the total cost for both of you, not just yourself.
The 15-Drink Limit
You can have up to 15 alcoholic drinks between 6 a.m. and 6 a.m. If you reach 15, you cannot buy more alcohol until the next morning, even if you want to pay extra. Non-alcoholic drinks are still unlimited, and bartenders may stop serving you earlier.
The 10-Minute Wait
You are allowed to order only one drink at a time, and you have to wait 10 minutes before ordering another. This rule also applies to water.
Here’s a tip: order bottled water when you first sit down for a show. By the time the show is over, you’ll be able to order the cocktail you want.
The Day-Two Start
If you are sailing from Galveston, Norfolk, or New York, state laws mean CHEERS! does not begin until 6 a.m. on the second day. Drinks during sail-away are full price, so keep that in mind.
No Sharing, No Exceptions
If you give your drink to a friend who doesn’t have a package, your package could be canceled. Kids need their own Bottomless Bubbles or Zero Proof.
Taxes Still Apply
When you are in U.S. waters, state tax is added to each drink you order. Even with the package, your bill will not be zero.
What the Carnival Drink Package Doesn’t Cover
Drinks served in souvenir cups aren’t included. If you order the same drink in a regular glass, it will be covered by your package.
- Room service and minibar drinks
- Buckets, pitchers and bottles of liquor
- Welcome drinks at the gangway
- Private parties and events
- Anything ashore, including Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay (RelaxAway) and Princess Cays
This last point is important. Even if you have the drink package, you’ll still pay full price at the beach bar on those days.
Is the Carnival Cruise Drink Package Worth It? The Real Math
Here’s how to figure out your break-even point.
Here’s your average Carnival bar prices with the 18% tip added:
- Beer: about $10
- Glass of wine: about $14.75
- Cocktail: about $17
- Specialty coffee: about $6
- Soda: about $4
- Bottled water: about $3.50
You break even at $83.94 per day:
- Cocktails only: about 5 a day
- Beer only: about 8 to 9 a day
- A mix: 2 specialty coffees and 2 waters, plus about 4 cocktails
The Zero Proof package is worth it if you have about six premium drinks a day. The Bottomless Bubbles package pays off at around four sodas a day.
A Day Where It’s Worth It
If you have a latte in the morning, two waters by the pool, two frozen drinks, a beer at trivia, wine with dinner, and a nightcap at the piano bar, that adds up to about $100 in drinks. In this case, you save money with the package.
A Day Where It Isn’t
If you spend eight hours in Cozumel, have one beer when you return, and a glass of wine at dinner, you’ll pay $84 for about $25 worth of drinks.
The Port-Day Trap
You’re charged for the drink package every day of your cruise, not just on sea days. On a 7-night cruise with four stops, you probably won’t use your package much between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on port days. It’s not realistic to try to make up for it by drinking extra after a long day ashore.
Buy It If…
- You’ll really have 5 or more drinks a day
- Every adult in your cabin drinks about as much as you do
- Your cruise has lots of sea days
- A running bar tab stresses you out
Skip It If…
- You’ll have 3 or 4 drinks a day
- Your partner is a light drinker
- Your cruise is heavy on port days or private-island days
- You’re on a short cruise from Texas and will lose day one
Smart Ways to Save Without a Package
1. Bring your own drinks on the first day. Each guest can take up to 12 sealed cans or cartons (12 oz or smaller) of soda, sparkling water, or juice. This is only allowed when you board.
2. Pack a bottle of wine if you’re 21 or older. Each adult can bring one sealed 750ml bottle of wine or champagne. You can enjoy it for free in your cabin, but there’s a $15 corkage fee if you drink it in the dining room or at a bar.
3. Take advantage of the free drinks. Water, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea, and regular coffee are always available for free at the Lido buffet. Juice is also free at breakfast.
4. Only pay for the drinks you really enjoy. For example, having a latte each day and a cocktail at sunset often costs less than buying a full drink package.
5. If you buy your drinks package before your trip, you’ll save $5 per person each day.
FAQ: Carnival Drink Packages
Enjoy Your Drinks the Smart Way!
Picking the right Carnival cruise drink package can make your trip feel easy. You won’t have to worry about bar tabs or surprise bills—just relax with a cold drink and the sea breeze. But if you choose the wrong package, you might end up spending money you could have used for a fun excursion instead.
Here’s your plan:
- Be realistic about how many drinks you’ll have each day
- Think about what each adult in your cabin will really want to drink
- Count how many days you’ll be in port
- Try to buy your package before you board, and before December 1 if possible
- Remember to plan separately for any drinks you’ll have at the beach
If you follow these tips, you’ll either enjoy your drink package or be happy you decided to skip it. Cheers!
