Cunard Cruises Drinks Packages: Enhance Your Cruise Experience

Surprising fact: you can often lock in roughly a 10% saving by pre‑booking a drinks package, yet onboard purchases attract a 15% service charge, a small detail that changes the true cost of a day at sea.

This buyer’s guide is everything need know to compare and choose with confidence. It breaks down what is included, current prices and how pre‑book savings work via My Cunard.

The guide sets clear expectations for UK travellers about the range of drinks available and how a package can make spending predictable. We explain how most options are priced per person, per day, and when you actually pay.

At a glance you’ll see four core options: Soft Drinks, Speciality Hot Drinks, Premium Non‑Alcoholic, and Beer, Wines and Spirits. We flag caps on included alcoholic values and the 20% discount on drinks above the cap.

Use this concise overview to judge value, find break‑even examples and decide whether a package suits your itinerary.

Key Takeaways

• Pre‑booking via My Cunard often saves about 10% versus onboard prices.
• Packages are charged per person, per day; plan for a 15% onboard service charge.
• Four main options cover soft drinks to beer, wine and spirits.
• Alcoholic packages include a cap and a 20% discount over that cap.

At a glance: what Cunard drinks packages are and why they matter

This overview explains what each onboard beverage add‑on covers and why they can simplify spending at sea.

Convenience and cost control across your voyage

The add‑ons are optional, paid per person and priced per day to keep your onboard budget predictable. You must buy them for every night of the sailing and they are non‑transferable.

Pre‑booking via My Cunard typically saves about 10%, while buying aboard is full price plus a 15% service charge. That difference often decides whether a package is good value.

How “per person, per day” pricing and caps work

The alcoholic option covers beers, wines, spirits, liqueurs and cocktails up to $13.50 per serving. Drinks above that limit receive a 20% discount.

Non‑alcoholic tiers include soft drinks, small bottled water, juices and speciality coffees, handy for families or guests who prefer no alcohol.

Most bars, lounges, main dining rooms and selected casual venues honour the options, though specialty outlets may be excluded. This makes ordering simple and lets you relax while cruising.

Cunard drinks package prices and savings today

Below are the current per‑person daily figures so you can compare headline rates and likely savings.

Soft Drinks package: from $13.50 when pre‑booked

Pre‑book: $13.50 per person, per day. Onboard: $15.00 per day. This option covers draught softs and selected juices, making it an easy daily price to budget against.

Speciality hot drinks package: from $15.75 when pre‑booked

Pre‑book: $15.75 per person, per day. Onboard: $17.50 per day. The speciality hot drinks rate matches the soft drinks price and appeals to coffee and tea lovers who want premium servings.

Premium non‑alcoholic package: $40.50 pre‑book price

Pre‑book: $40.50 per person, per day. Onboard: $45.00 per day. This tier adds bottled water, mocktails and speciality hot drinks for guests who prefer no alcohol.

Beer, wines and spirits: tiered pricing by voyage length

Pre‑book, per person, per day: under 5 nights $85.50 ($95.00 full); 5–14 nights $72.00 ($80.00 full); 15–74 nights $67.50 ($75.00 full); 75+ nights $49.50 ($55.00 full).

How to use these prices: pre‑book via My Cunard for roughly a 10% discount versus buying onboard. A la carte purchases carry a 15% service charge. The alcoholic tier covers choices up to 13.50 per serving and gives a 20% reduction above that cap.

Practical tip: multiply the per day rate by your voyage length to get the total outlay, then compare with typical onboard spend. All prices and any promotional discount are subject to change at the cruise line’s discretion, so check current rates before you buy for your cunard cruise.

Cunard Cruises Drinks Packages: Soft Drinks Package explained

Here we break down exactly what the soft drinks package includes and who benefits most from it.

What the package covers

The soft drinks package includes unlimited fountain sodas, draught soft beverages and a rotating selection of fruit juices and squash cordials at bars and casual venues.

It does not routinely include small bottled water; bottled still or sparkling water sits with the premium non‑alcoholic tier.

Who it suits and the cost maths

This option suits guests who want simple, non‑alcoholic refreshment without signing for every cola, lemonade or juice across the day.

Pre‑book price: $13.50 per person per day. Onboard full price: $15.00 per person per day. Typical a la carte prices (for context) are Coca‑Cola 330ml ≈ $4.50 and small fountain sodas from $2.90, so frequent use can quickly reach break‑even.

Families and groups often value the convenience on busy sea days. Check venue coverage and availability, and consider upgrading if you prefer speciality coffees or mocktails.

Speciality Hot Drinks Package: premium coffee, tea and hot chocolate

For guests who enjoy café-style hot beverages, this option upgrades every cup to a premium serve.

What’s included versus standard tea/coffee onboard

The speciality hot drinks package covers unlimited barista coffees, speciality tea infusions and rich hot chocolate across cafés and lounges. Regular tea and standard coffee remain available in selected restaurants and staterooms without extra cost.

Why it can be good value

Pre‑book price: $15.75 per person per day. Onboard full price: $17.50 per person per day. If you drink two or more barista-style beverages a day, the flat daily rate quickly pays for itself compared with a la carte pricing.

Practical points to consider

Barista lattes, flat whites and premium tea blends often cost around $4–$6 each. The package suits early risers, late-night sippers and anyone who uses cafés as a daily retreat.

Compare tiers - if you also want bottled water, juices or mocktails regularly, the premium non‑alcoholic tier may offer better overall value than buying the speciality hot option alone.

Premium Non‑Alcoholic Drinks Package: softs, water, juices and mocktails

This tier bundles a broad selection of non‑alcoholic options so you can enjoy variety without calculating each purchase.

The premium non‑alcoholic package includes soft drinks across venues, small bottled water for on‑the‑go hydration, fruit juices, speciality hot drinks and crafted non‑alcoholic cocktails.

Current prices: pre‑book via My Cunard at $40.50 per person per day. Onboard full price is $45.00 per person per day.

Typical a la carte costs help show value: mocktails around $11.50–$12.50, small bottled water ≈ $2.50 and fountain sodas from $2.90 (Coca‑Cola 330ml about $4.50). That makes a single day of varied non‑alcoholic choices easy to justify.

Who benefits? Guests who abstain from alcohol, families and wellness‑minded travellers gain the most. The benefits of the premium selection include fewer decisions, predictable spend and consistent access to speciality hot and cold serves.

Consider your itinerary: if you spend many days ashore, tally likely consumption before buying. Mixed groups keep parity by choosing equivalent tiers so everyone enjoys similar offerings without alcohol.

Beer, Wines and Spirits Package: inclusions, price tiers and the $13.50 cap

This option bundles most alcoholic and non‑alcoholic serves into one per‑day cost, cutting the need to total every bar tab.

What’s included

Beers, wines, spirits, liqueurs and classic cocktails are covered up to 13.50 per serve. The tier also includes soft drinks, small bottled water and speciality coffees for broader coverage.

Voyage length pricing (pre‑book per person, per day)

Under 5 nights: $85.50 (onboard $95.00). 5–14 nights: $72.00 (onboard $80.00). 15–74 nights: $67.50 (onboard $75.00). 75+ nights: $49.50 (onboard $55.00).

How the cap and discount work

Drinks above the $13.50 per cap receive a 20% discount, and select bottles also qualify for reduced rates. That means occasional premium bottles cost considerably less than full a la carte prices.

Typical benchmarks

Expect cocktails from $10–$17, wines by the glass $9–$15.50 and beers about $6.50–$7.10. Use these figures to estimate break‑even volumes against the per‑day price.

Practical note

Most standard bar orders fall within the cap, so the package removes the need to scan menus for every round. Remember to factor in the 15% service charge when comparing pay‑as‑you‑go totals to the fixed daily rate.

Is a drinks package worth it on a Cunard cruise?

Work out your usual daily orders first; that simple step shows if a flat daily rate will save you money.

Remember: pricing is per person, per day and a 15% service charge applies to a la carte purchases. Pre‑booking normally trims about 10% from the listed price, so factor that into any comparison.

Break‑even examples using typical onboard prices

If you drink two cocktails (£10–£17 each), a glass of wine (£9–£15.50) and a beer (£6.50–£7.10) in a day, that total often exceeds the alcoholic per‑day charge once the 15% service fee is added. In short, two or three premium serves plus one or two lower‑cost drinks usually tips the maths in favour of a package.

Non‑alcoholic example: two barista coffees, two soft drinks (£2.90–£4.50), a small bottled water (£2.50) and an evening mocktail (£11.50–£12.50) can approach the Premium Non‑Alcoholic per day price. Variety seekers may find the fixed price simpler and more predictable.

When to skip: light drinkers, short sailings or mixed preferences

Skip the plan if you sip rarely, have a short sailing or spend most days ashore. If cabin mates differ, assess each person individually rather than averaging spend across the cabin.

Check menus on day one to validate assumptions. Special events, sea days and formal nights can raise consumption and often make a prepaid option better value. Use these checks to decide if a drinks package worth buying for your trip.

How to buy, onboard prices to know, and key terms

Before you commit, it pays to check purchase routes and typical on‑ship prices so you can judge value.

Pre‑book via My Cunard to save 10%

Log in with your booking reference to pre‑book; doing so typically gives a 10% discount off standard fares, though terms vary by cruise line and sailing. This is the simplest way to lock a per person, per day rate in advance.

Cunard Cruises Drinks Packages - Onboard price context

Use these a la carte benchmarks when comparing value: cocktails $10.00–$17.00, wines by the glass $9.00–$15.50, beer pints about $6.50–$7.10. Soft options include Coca‑Cola 330ml ≈ $4.50, fountain sodas from $2.90, small bottled water ≈ $2.50 and Red Bull $5.00.

Key policies and alternatives

A 15% service charge is added to onboard orders and alters break‑even maths. You may bring one bottle of wine or champagne per guest into your cabin; a $25 corkage applies if opened in bars or restaurants.

Room service bundles offer in‑cabin convenience: six 1‑litre water $23; six soft drinks/juices with snack $23; six beers with snack $35; house bar from $75; premium bar from $100. Expect draught soft options to vary by ship and venue, and note that some specialty venues or premium tastings may be excluded from a drinks package. Always verify current prices and inclusions shortly before sailing, it’s the need know step for smart spending at sea.

Conclusion

Estimate daily consumption aboard to decide if locking a per‑person, per‑day plan suits your voyage and budget.

Pre‑book via My Cunard to secure roughly a 10% saving and remember the rule: the add‑on is sold for the full voyage, charged per day, per person.

Use the $13.50 cap and 20% discount on higher‑priced items when comparing the beer, wines and spirits option to a la carte costs (cocktails $10–$17, wines by the glass $9–$15.50, beers ≈ $6.50–$7.10).

Non‑alcoholic tiers cover soft drinks, small bottled water, juices and speciality hot drinks. Factor in the 15% service charge, BYO one bottle per guest and $25 corkage when you do your sums.

Final step: do a quick audit of your likely orders. Once you pick the right cunard drinks package, pre‑book in My Cunard to lock in savings and sail with drinks sorted.