CHEERS! Beverage Program Q&As Carnival Cruise Line

Table Of Content

• Is gratuity included in the price?
• Can I get a refund if I change my mind about the drink package?
• Get the drink package if you want to step outside of your comfort zone
• I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
• How will the bartender know I have purchased the CHEERS! package?
• What Drinks Can You Bring on a Carnival Cruise?

Carnival’s policy mandates that if one adult purchases the drinks package, all adults sharing the stateroom must purchase the same package. The savings add up to more than $50 over a week-long cruise. When deciding whether or not to purchase the drink package, it is a good idea to calculate how much you would be spending if you bought the individual drinks rather than the package. It’s worth mentioning that Carnival Cruise Line may continue to evaluate and adjust the pricing of the Cheers!

Is gratuity included in the price?

Different brands of vodka, tequila, whiskey, gin, rum, liqueur, brandy, cognac, scotch, bourbon, and more are available. Specialty cocktails start at $10.50, and most cocktails range from $10.50 to $13. Guests can also request top-shelf liquor for an additional cost.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind about the drink package?

Carnival mandates that every adult sharing a cabin must purchase the same drink package to prevent sharing. If one adult in the stateroom cannot drink for medical or religious reasons, you can call Carnival and ask for an exemption. Exemptions aren’t guaranteed, but we have met passengers who didn’t have to purchase the drink package for their travel companion. The only exemption to this policy is for Carnival cruises that depart from New York or Texas when you aren’t allowed to use the drink package on the first day of the cruise. Sailings departing from Texas and New York have the drink package activated at 6 am on the second day of the cruise. So, while the drink package might be worth it for you, you’ll need to consider the drinking habits of your travel companions.

Get the drink package if you want to step outside of your comfort zone

Of course, if you are not a big drinker, you may not get your money's worth. Maybe you would rather splurge on some once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions or a nicer stateroom. Drink package in hand, I ordered a second pint of ThirstyFrog in the Atrium Bar while listening to the strings trio play classical hits. Seeing the bill print out with a balance of $0.00 was a bit of a rush I wasn’t expecting. I’ve been on luxury cruises where the alcohol is included, but this is Carnival!

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Otherwise, on port days, you'll need to get your drinks in at breakfast, dinner and late-night bar-hopping. The Cheers Program also entitles cruisers to a 25% discount off of any drink costing more than the $20 allotment, wine and champagne by the bottle, and beverage seminars and classes. Bottles of wine and champagne are not included in the drink package.

The RedFrog Pub is the Caribbean-themed indoor bar that’s located on the lower level of many Carnival ships. It’s different than the RedFrog Rum Bar which is found in the Lido Pool Deck Area. You can find it on the Breeze, Freedom, Legend, Magic, Miracle, Pride, Radiance, Splendor, Spirit, Sunshine, Sunrise, and Valor. The Havana Bar is a Cuban-themed bar located on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Vista.

How will the bartender know I have purchased the CHEERS! package?

Beverage package is arguably the most comprehensive package you’ll find on mainstream cruises. There are hardly any restrictions on what drinks you can get, and the maximum price per drink is a generous $20—higher than many other cruise lines. Beverage Package is the cruise line’s “all-inclusive package,” offering a range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages for one flat price.

What Drinks Can You Bring on a Carnival Cruise?

Others do not see the point in drinking that much and would rather allocate the funds to other incidentals. Since it does not matter when you get it, you have more time to debate whether or not this is something you want to splurge on. Plus, you can spend the money on other pre-cruise preparations, such as flights and securing the shore excursion that you really want to do.

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Ultimately, you need to know your own habits to determine if the drink packages on Carnival will be a good value during your cruise. Below are the average costs of the different beverages within each category. Using this chart, you can do the quick math to see if you would routinely hit the daily drink costs of the above packages. There are a few basic things you need to know about the drink packages on Carnival before we dive into the details of each option. So, in this Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Carnival, we detail all the plans, drink prices, and FAQs to help you decide if a Carnival drink package is right for your next cruise. If a cruise ship employee catches you sharing the drink package with other passengers, the cruise line will cancel your package without a refund.

For starters, if you pay before you leave on your cruise, you’ll save 10% off the cost of the CHEERS! You can get free drinks in the onboard cruise ship casino when you collect 1500 points while playing. After collecting the required points, you’ll receive a “Drink On Us” card, which allows you to get free drinks while playing. But, if you want to drink it at a bar or restaurant, Carnival charges a corkage fee of $15 per bottle.

Other considerations include the length of the cruise and how many ports of call are on the itinerary. If you would like to know what it’s like on a Carnival Cruise Ship, please read my full Carnival Pride review from our 9 day Norwegian Fjords trip. I do however have a link to the Red Frog Rum Bar Drinks menu. They had a great rotation of comedy acts during our 9 day cruise.

So, if you’re looking for a worry-free and all-inclusive drink experience on your Carnival Cruise, the Cheers! With its extensive offerings and cost-saving benefits, it’s the ultimate way to quench your thirst and elevate your vacation to new heights. The bar still has a nice sports bar feel to it and that was reflected in the range of drinks available.

Yes, even with the beverage program, you’ll pay taxes if in US and the fee will go onto your Sail & Sign card. To activate a pre-purchased Cheers drink package, go to the Casino Bar when you get on board. Otherwise, you can purchase the package at various bar locations on the ship. The bartender will give you a sticker to place on your Sail & Sign card so servers and bartenders know you have the package. If one person in your cabin purchases the Cheers package, every adult age 21 or over in the same room must also do so.

Although I am a fan of drink packages, I would skip one while in Alaska onboard Quantum of the Seas, as it is a port-intensive cruise. I'd rather save my money for once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions. Of course, if you take advantage of the non-alcoholic options, your breakeven point will be even less. Those who enjoy specialty coffees, for instance, will enjoy starting each morning with a handcrafted latte. Virgin Voyages strives to offer drinks for every budget so a la carte purchases won't have a great deal of sticker shock. Those purchasing a prepaid Bar Tab won't save money on individual beverages, though Virgin often offers a promotional onboard credit as a thank you to those selecting a Bar Tab.

Bottled water is available for $1.50 per bottle or $9.95 for a 12-pack. Other options include Gatorade, Muscle Milk protein shakes, Starbucks iced coffee, Naked juices, specialty coffees, teas, and fresh juices at additional costs. Combining these two is the Premium Soft Drinks Option offering a range of soft drinks, juices, small bottled waters, nonalcoholic cocktails and specialty hot drinks.