Some Cruise Drinks Are Designed to Quietly Drain Your Budget
Learn which cruise ship drinks are overpriced, why cruise lines structure beverage pricing the way they do, and how experienced cruisers avoid unnecessary onboard spending.
Many Cruise Drink Prices Are Designed Around Psychology — Not Just Beverage Costs
Cruise lines generate enormous onboard revenue through:
- alcohol sales
- specialty coffee
- premium bottled water
- mocktails
- drink packages
Some beverages provide:
- good value
while others are intentionally structured to:
- encourage upsells
- trigger impulse purchases
- make drink packages appear more attractive
This guide focuses on:
- which cruise drinks are commonly overpriced
- which purchases experienced cruisers avoid
- how cruise beverage economics actually work
Helpful resources:
Bottled Water Is One of the Most Overpriced Cruise Purchases
Premium bottled water onboard often costs:
- dramatically more than land pricing
especially:
- Evian
- Fiji
- imported sparkling waters
Many experienced cruisers instead use:
- refillable bottles
- filtered water stations
- pre-purchased water packages
Helpful resources:
Specialty Coffee Quietly Becomes One of the Biggest Daily Expenses
Cruise travelers frequently underestimate how quickly:
- lattes
- cold brew
- espresso drinks
- frappes
accumulate over:
- 7-day sailings
- longer itineraries
Two premium coffee drinks per day can sometimes exceed:
- $100+ during a cruise
Many travelers discover:
- basic complimentary coffee is perfectly acceptable onboard.
Mocktails Often Cost Nearly the Same as Alcoholic Drinks
Mocktails frequently contain:
- juice
- syrup
- soda
- fruit garnish
yet cruise lines often price them:
- almost identically to cocktails.
Many experienced cruisers instead request:
- flavored soda water
- fruit infusions
- simple custom non-alcoholic drinks
Souvenir Glass Drinks Usually Deliver Very Little Actual Value
- Frozen cocktails
- Novelty cups
- Light-up drink containers
- Special event cups
- Collectible barware
Travelers are often paying more for:
- the container
than:
- the beverage itself.
“Healthy” Smoothies Often Become One of the Worst Cruise Beverage Values
Cruise smoothies frequently cost:
- $8–$14 each
especially after:
- protein add-ons
- wellness boosts
- specialty ingredients
Many travelers discover:
- complimentary fruit
- juice
- hydration-focused foods
provide similar benefits at no extra cost.
Helpful resources:
Mini-Bar Pricing Is Usually Worse Than Regular Bar Pricing
Cabin mini-bars commonly charge:
- higher prices
- automatic gratuities
- premium convenience markups
for:
- soda
- water
- beer
- small liquor bottles
Most experienced cruisers simply:
- use bars
- bring approved beverages
- refill drinks elsewhere onboard
Energy Drinks Carry Extremely High Cruise Markups
Energy drinks often cost:
- 30–50% more onboard
than:
- land-based pricing.
Many travelers instead rely on:
- coffee
- tea
- hydration
- better sleep management
especially during:
- port-intensive itineraries.
Drink Packages Are Not Automatically a Good Deal
Cruise drink packages only make financial sense if travelers actually consume enough beverages to:
- offset the daily package cost
Many travelers overestimate:
- daily alcohol consumption
- specialty coffee usage
- soft drink purchases
Drink package value depends heavily on:
- trip length
- drinking habits
- sea days
- excursion schedules
Helpful resources:
Cruise Beverage Pricing Is Designed Around Convenience & Vacation Psychology
Cruise lines understand:
- travelers are relaxed
- people spend more impulsively on vacation
- small purchases feel less significant onboard
That is why:
- daily beverage spending often shocks passengers at the end of a sailing.
Experienced Cruisers Usually Focus on Strategic Beverage Spending
| Smart Strategy | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Bring refillable bottles | Reduces bottled water purchases |
| Skip souvenir cups | Avoids novelty markups |
| Use included beverages | Lowers unnecessary spending |
| Pre-calculate package usage | Prevents overspending |
| Buy drinks selectively | Improves overall value |
The Worst Cruise Drink Purchases Usually Combine High Markups With Low Actual Value
Experienced cruisers generally avoid:
- impulse beverage purchases
- souvenir drink traps
- daily specialty coffee habits
- constant bottled water purchases
The goal is rarely:
- avoiding all onboard spending
Instead, the smartest cruisers focus on:
- spending intentionally — not automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cruise ship drinks overpriced?
Many onboard beverages carry significant markups compared to land pricing.
Is bottled water free on cruises?
Filtered water is usually free at dining venues and refill stations.
Are drink packages worth buying?
Only if travelers consume enough beverages daily to justify the package cost.
Why are mocktails so expensive on cruises?
Cruise lines price mocktails similarly to cocktails because they are marketed as premium beverages.
What drinks do experienced cruisers usually avoid?
Many avoid bottled water, souvenir drinks, mini-bar purchases, overpriced smoothies, and excessive specialty coffee spending.
Some links may be affiliate links.
Request Cruise Options
Get Cruise Info & Personalized Cruise Matches.Tell us when you want to travel, where you'd like to go, and what matters most to you. We'll help identify cruise options that fit your dates, budget, travel style, and cabin preferences. Not sure which cruise line, ship, or itinerary you want? That's completely fine — many travelers start with nothing more than available vacation dates, a departure port, or a general idea of where they'd like to go.
Only know your available dates? That's enough to get started. You can also review our Find a Cruise by Date Guide to see how we narrow cruise options around a fixed vacation window.