Are cruise Drinks Packages worth it?

Embarking on a cruise is an adventure that combines both travel and leisure, opening a world of possibilities. There are a wealth of choices you can make to enhance your onboard experience, from dining in speciality restaurants to visiting our onboard spa, but the upgrade at the focus of this guide is Drinks Packages; specifically, are they worth it?

At Ambassador Cruise Line, our three tiers of Drinks Packages are carefully designed to help you make the most of your voyage, but we understand that guests who haven’t opted for one before might wonder whether they’re actually worth it. If that sounds like you, read on to discover if a Drinks Package is right for you.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A CRUISE DRINKS PACKAGE?

Our lowest tier of Drinks Package is designed with non-drinkers in mind, ideal for guests who want to keep their cruise alcohol-free without missing out on the fun. This package covers a large selection of soft drinks, juices and expertly crafted mocktails, ensuring you can enjoy the creativity of the bar without the alcohol. Whether you’re keeping hydrated under the warm ocean sun, sipping on fruity drinks around the pool or enjoying your favourite soft drink with dinner, this tier of Drinks Package is the perfect companion for your sailing.

The next two tiers are for guests who prefer a tipple, adding to the existing soft drink offerings with a package that also covers house wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks, and an elevated option for premium spirits, signature wines and speciality coffees. Whether you’re a big drinker, or enjoy one or two of an evening on board, treat yourself with the right Drinks Package – you are cruising after all!

RELAX KNOWING THAT YOUR DRINKS ARE ALREADY PAID FOR

One of the biggest benefits of a cruise is that almost everything is paid for upfront. If you’re travelling on a budget or just trying to be mindful of your spending, pre-paying for an agreed Drinks Package is one more financial element you can forget about, rather than trying to monitor and limit your drinks purchases throughout the sailing. Stay hydrated on sunny sea days without keeping track of a tab and indulge in a few glasses of wine with dinner without thinking about the cost.

All our menus clearly indicate what drinks are included in which packages, so you won’t get caught out with unexpected charges, and each of our three Drinks Packages also include gratuities and service charges, which is just another less thing to worry about.

Just had the most amazing time on…

Just had the most amazing time on Ambassador cruise ship Ambition. Leaving from a local port was fantastic, embarkation went very smoothly. Our cabin was spotless and very comfortable.
Food was really good with lots of variety. We had a drinks package which for us was well worth the price, it includes specialist coffees not just alcohol.
Entertainment was second to none, we watched fabulous shows every night.
Ports were varied and not to many sea days, always plenty to do while on sea days.
A very friendly ship with wonderful staff and we can't wait to book another trip on Ambition.

– Verified Guest Review, Trustpilot

BE ADVENTUROUS WITH YOUR DRINK CHOICES

We’re proud to offer such a wide variety of drink choices across our bars and restaurants. From a vast range of cocktails, mocktails, wines, spirits and even speciality hot drinks, you’ll be spoilt for choice from the moment you arrive!

Opting for a Drinks Package rather than purchasing each drink individually allows you to be more adventurous with your choices. Always wanted to try that spirit? Curious about a punchy cocktail? Still trying to find the perfect wine? You can explore new beverages with confidence knowing that the cost of the drink is already covered.

Whatever your tipple of choice, why not try some of our guest-favoured cocktails, including:

Ambassador Cocktail – vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lime juice, lavender syrup
Bramble – gin, blackberry brandy liqueur, lemon mix
Old Fashioned – bourbon, angostura bitters, sugar, fresh orange juice, lemon juice, soda
Pina Colada – rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice and your choice of strawberry, banana, kiwi or mango
Mint Berry Delight – vodka, blueberry puree, lemon juice, mint, soda
Paloma Cocktail – tequila, grapefruit juice, agave syrup, flaked sea salt, sparkling water

Who knows, you may even find your new signature drink!

IS A CRUISE DRINKS PACKAGE TRULY UNLIMITED?

While we’ve designed our Drinks Packages to embody a truly bottomless feel, in the interest of reducing waste we do impose minor limits on the number and frequency of drinks you can order. Guests are limited to ordering one drink per person at a time, with a minimum 15-minute interval between each order. Outside of these small restrictions, our Drinks Packages are completely unlimited.

Read more: The Joy of Adult-Only Cruises

Just back from Fjord cruise with…

Just back from Fjord cruise with Ambassador leaving from Dundee
From the minute we stepped aboard we felt very welcome by all staff and this carried on throughout the cruise
You could not fault the food - it was always fresh and plentiful The drinks package included many drinks no other cruises offer
The entertainment team were tremendous from the quiz shows to the Palladium shows Such talented people!
All staff on board were very professional- from the cleaners to the Captain
Cleanliness was superb You always noticed someone cleaning in all parts of the ship
I would definitely recommend Ambassador cruises and hope to travel with them in the future

– Verified Guest Review, Trustpilot

HOW MUCH DOES A CRUISE DRINKS PACKAGE COST?

At Ambassador, you can rest assured that our Drinks Packages are competitively priced, with savings available when you pre-purchase (up to 7 days in advance of your cruise) and for longer sailings (30+ nights).

Drinks Packages are priced per person and must be purchased at the same tier for every occupant of your cabin. For example, if two guests are travelling in a cabin together and one wants to drink alcohol while the other sticks to soft drinks, an alcoholic Drinks Package is required for the cabin. An alternative solution is to opt for the non-alcoholic package and then pay-as-you-go for alcoholic drinks, but this can be more restrictive and less cost-effective overall depending on the frequency and type of alcoholic drinks chosen.

View our Drinks Package prices

ENJOY YOUR CRUISE, YOUR WAY

If you haven’t booked a cruise – what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of cruise deals offering great prices on upcoming sailings. And don’t forget to consider a Drinks Package!

If you’re looking for more cruising guides, destination advice or tips for making the most out of your upcoming holiday, be sure to read our blog.

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WHY CRUISE WITH AMBASSADOR

Enjoy more of your cruise with Ambassador. Sailing from UK ports with welcoming service, comfortable smaller ships and a wide range of destinations, it’s easy to make the most of every moment on board while enjoying your favourite drinks along the way.