Hello, fellow wanderlusters! Katy Thompson here, your trusted travel agent at Gallivanters Vacations. One of the most common questions I get asked when planning a cruise is, “Is food and drink included?” It’s a fantastic question, and the answer, like the ocean itself, has a few layers!
The good news? Yes, a significant amount of food on almost all cruises is included in your base fare! Think expansive buffets, elegant main dining rooms, and often a few casual eateries. However, when it comes to drinks, that’s where things get a bit more nuanced. Let’s dive into the specifics for the 5 major cruise lines operating in the U.S.: Carnival, Margaritaville at Sea, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line: The Fun Ship Feast!
Carnival is famous for its “Fun Ship” atmosphere, and that extends to its food!
Food Included: Absolutely! You’ll find a smorgasbord of complimentary dining options. This typically includes:
- Main Dining Rooms: Enjoy multi-course meals with rotating menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Lido Buffet: A vast selection for all meals, often with international stations and carving stations.
- Guy’s Burger Joint: Savor delicious, included burgers designed by Guy Fieri.
- Blue Iguana Cantina: Grab tasty tacos and burritos.
- Pizza Pirate: Enjoy 24/7 pizza!
- Soft Serve Ice Cream: A cruise staple!
Additionally, some room service options are available, though some items may have a fee, especially late-night.
Drinks Included: This is where the “free” stops for the most part. You’ll get complimentary non-bottled water, basic coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and some juices (like orange and apple juice) in the buffet and main dining rooms. However, specialty coffees, sodas, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages cost extra.
Drink Packages: Carnival offers two main packages:
- Bottomless Bubbles (Soda Package): Enjoy unlimited fountain sodas. Prices can vary, but expect around $8-$12 per person, per day for children and $11-$15 per person, per day for adults (including service charge).
- Cheers! Beverage Program (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic): This is your all-inclusive alcohol package. It covers most spirits, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffees, bottled water, and sodas, up to a certain price per drink. It also includes a discount on higher-priced items. This package typically costs around $60-$75 per person, per day (plus an 18% service charge). Note: All adults in the same cabin usually must purchase this package.
Margaritaville at Sea: Paradise Found, Mostly!
Get ready for that laid-back island vibe! Margaritaville at Sea offers a charming cruise experience.
Food Included: Your fare generally includes all meals in the main dining areas. This covers the main restaurant, buffet, and often some casual grab-and-go spots. However, specialty dining venues, like the Fin’s Dining Room for more upscale options, usually incur an additional charge. The burger bar on the back of the ship is awesome; I highly recommend it. The buffet was just okay. Nevertheless, in the last several months Margaritaville has really begun to improve the quality and variations of its food offerings.
Drinks Included: Similar to Carnival, complimentary drinks include filtered water, drip coffee, iced tea, and select juices.
Drink Packages: Margaritaville at Sea offers a few options to quench your thirst:
- Unlimited Soda Package: Around $10 per person, per night.
- Ultimate Beverage Chill: This package, available for itineraries starting April 2, 2025, includes beer, wine, “Boat Drinks” (cocktails), and more, with a limit of 15 drinks per day. Prices can vary but are typically around $75 per person, per night if pre-purchased, with potential for significant savings.
- No Doubts Premium Drinks Package: This package offers 10 drink credits for around $99.99 per wristband (plus a 20% service charge).
Royal Caribbean: Adventure and Appetite!
Royal Caribbean, known for its innovative ships and thrilling activities, also delivers on the dining front.
Food Included: Royal Caribbean offers a fantastic array of complimentary dining. You can expect:
- Main Dining Room: Enjoy multi-level dining with a wide variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Windjammer Marketplace: This expansive buffet, is one the best buffet on the high seas. I’m usually not a huge fan of Indian cuisine, but it was fantastic. I think they do a great job of giving you daily variations on the buffet while maintaining some stability for those with less adventurous palates.
- Café Promenade: Get 24-hour snacks, sandwiches, and coffee.
- Sorrento’s Pizza: Savor classic pizza slices.
- El Loco Fresh: Grab Mexican-inspired grab-and-go.
- The Dog House: Usually located on deck and near a pool, making for a quick pop-in snack. You’ll have 4 different hot dogs to choose from, as well as various toppings to load them down with. They grill the onions and peppers to perfection.
Drinks Included: Basic beverages like water, iced tea, lemonade, and regular coffee are included.
Drink Packages: Royal Caribbean provides a tiered approach to its beverage packages:
- Classic Soda Package: Enjoy unlimited sodas, usually ranging from $12.99 to $16 per person, per day.
- Royal Refreshment Package: This includes sodas, mocktails, specialty coffees, teas, and fresh-squeezed juices. It typically costs $29-$40 per person, per day.
- Deluxe Beverage Package: Royal Caribbean’s all-inclusive alcoholic drink package covers most alcoholic beverages (up to $14 per drink), specialty coffees, fresh-squeezed juices, sodas, and bottled water. Prices can vary significantly based on ship and sailing, but expect a range of $56 to $115 per person, per day. Similar to Carnival, all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom usually must purchase this package. However, purchasing in advance through the Cruise Planner can often save you 10-40%.
Virgin Voyages: All-Inclusive, Redefined!
Virgin Voyages truly stands out in the cruise industry with its nearly all-inclusive model.
Food Included: This is where Virgin Voyages shines! All specialty dining is included in your fare. Therefore, you’ll find no main dining rooms, no buffets, just a variety of unique and elevated restaurants (20+ eateries!) with menus curated by Michelin-star chefs. From Korean BBQ to sophisticated Italian, it’s all part of the experience. In my opinion, the food on Virgin is, by far, the finest at sea. You will not be disappointed.
Drinks Included: Virgin Voyages also includes a good selection of “essential drinks” as part of your fare. This covers:
- Filtered still and sparkling water
- Non-pressed juices
- Sodas
- Sachet teas
- Drip coffee
Drink Packages (or “Bar Tab”): While not a traditional “drink package,” Virgin Voyages uses a “Bar Tab” system. You can purchase a Bar Tab in advance, and often Virgin Voyages will offer a bonus amount. This credit can be used for any alcoholic beverages, fresh-pressed juices, and barista-crafted specialty coffees. For example, you might purchase a $300 Bar Tab and receive an extra $100 for free! This allows for more flexibility to pay for what you consume. RockStar and Mega RockStar Sailors also receive exclusive drink inclusions.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Freestyle Dining, Freestyle Drinks!
Norwegian Cruise Line champions “Freestyle Cruising,” offering flexibility in dining and, often, in drink inclusions.
Food Included: NCL provides a wide range of complimentary dining options:
- Main Dining Rooms: Enjoy multi-course meals in a relaxed setting.
- Buffet (Garden Cafe): Find a diverse selection for all meals.
- 24-Hour Eatery (O’Sheehan’s Pub or similar): Enjoy pub fare and comfort food around the clock.
- Other casual eateries like The Local, The Bake Shop (some items may be extra), and outdoor grills.
Drinks Included: Like most lines, basic beverages such as water, regular coffee, tea, and some juices are complimentary.
Drink Packages: NCL is well-known for its “Free at Sea” promotions, which often include the Unlimited Open Bar package as a complimentary perk when booking. If not part of a promotion, here are the general price ranges:
- Unlimited Soda Package: Around $12.50 per person, per day.
- Premium Beverage Package (Unlimited Open Bar): This package covers a wide selection of soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass (up to $15 per drink). If not included in a promotion, it typically costs around $99 per person, per day (plus a 20% gratuity/service charge).
- Premium Plus Beverage Package: This upgrade includes higher-end spirits, wines by the bottle, and specialty coffees, often costing around $128 per person, per day (or an upgrade fee of $29 per day from the Premium package, plus gratuity).
Why Consider a Drink Package?
Katy’s Expert Tip: Always calculate your potential daily drink consumption before your cruise. While the upfront cost might seem high, drink packages can offer significant savings if you plan on enjoying more than just the basic complimentary beverages. Consider how many sodas, specialty coffees, beers, wines, or cocktails you might consume in a day. Often, just a few alcoholic drinks can make a package worthwhile!
Ready to Sip and Sail?
Cruising offers incredible value, with fantastic food often being a highlight. While drinks might be an extra, the convenience and potential savings of a beverage package can truly enhance your vacation.
Don’t let the details overwhelm you! At Gallivanters Vacations, we’re here to help you navigate the options and find the perfect cruise package that fits your budget and desires.
Ready to start planning your delicious escape? Contact Gallivanters Vacations today for a personalized quote and let’s turn your cruise dreams into a reality!