The Cunard drinks package – or a World of Drinks as it’s officially known – has become a firm favourite with fans and newcomers to the cruise line alike. It’s been available for a fair few years now, but ‘How does the Cunard drinks package work?’ remains one of our most asked questions.
Drinks packages are a convenient and cost-effective addition to your cruise and, while they can appear a little confusing at first glance, they’re actually really easy to understand once you know how. Here’s our advice on the various drinks packages available from Cunard and how you can buy one on your next cruise.
Coffee or cocktails? That is the question. (We’re only kidding, you can totally have both…)
Buying a Cunard drinks package means you can cover your bar tab in advance by choosing from a number of fixed-price options. Drinks packages cover most drinks available on board Cunard ships and are available to buy from as little as $10 per person, per day. All adults in your cabin will need to purchase the same drinks package and they are only available on sailings of five nights or more.
There are five different drinks packages on Cunard ships and we reckon they’re pretty good value. It’s time to get mathematical: If you consider that wine, beer and spirits are included up to the value of $12 in some of the Cunard drinks packages, you can soon recoup your costs. You can order up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, which excludes room service and the drinks you’ll find in your mini bar.
And not every drinks package is geared towards alcoholic drinks. If you’re a fan of speciality coffees or freshly-squeezed juices, there’s also an option for you.
| Quick guide | |
| Beers, Wine & Spirits Option | $70 pp per day |
| Premium Soft Drinks Option | $30 pp per day |
| ☕ Speciality Hot Drinks Option | $12.50 pp per day |
| Soft Drinks Option | $10 pp per day |
| Wine Collections | Starting from $299 |
(All drinks package prices include a 15% service charge)
The most comprehensive drinks page offered by Cunard includes numerous draught beer, wine served in 150ml measures, spirits and liqueurs served in 1oz measures, valued at up to $12 each. But that’s not all.
You’ll also enjoy 20% off drinks over that amount, a select number of bottles of wine and large bottles of water.
Raise a non-tipsy toast to time spent at sea with a choice of soft-drinks, small bottled waters, freshly-squeezed juices, speciality hot drinks and mocktails.
There’s also a 20% discount on any non-alcoholic drinks not included in the package.
If you can’t contemplate a week or two without really good coffee, Cunard’s Speciality Hot Drinks Option is the one for you. Let someone else put the kettle on for a change and enjoy unlimited Tea Forté infusions, illy speciality coffee and hot chocolates.
Cunard’s expert sommeliers have created two unique wine collections featuring fine wines handpicked from around the world. The Commodore’s Collection and the Captain’s Collection feature exceptional fine wines, creating your own tailor-made selection of either six or 12 bottles. To find out more, ask the restaurant sommelier on your Cunard ship to show you the Wine Collection brochure.
You sure can! It doesn’t matter whether you want to warm your cockles with a cappuccino as you sail to icy wilderness of Alaska, or toast the New York skyline with a Manhattan cocktail in your hand, the Cunard drinks package lets you do it affordably.
If you’ve convinced yourself that a Cunard drinks package is the way to go, the next step is to buy it. You can do this by logging into My Cunard as soon as you’ve booked your cruise, where they’ll be an option to choose your drinks. Alternatively, you can wait until you get on board, where you will be able to buy your drinks package in any bar or lounge. However, they’ll only be available to purchase during the first two days of your cruise, so don’t dither if you are still undecided!
So, there you have it – all your Cunard drinks package questions answered! Of course, the next step is to find a ship to drink all these amazing beverages on. Don’t worry, we’ve got that covered, too. Take a look at our Cunard cruises by clicking here.
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Hello,
Do you have a list of drinks included in the Beers, Wine & Spirits Package (or those not included). I normally only drink cocktails and want to make sure they are included in the package before purchasing it.
Thanks
I am considering the $70 drinks package on the Queen Victoria. Do you know if things like liqueur coffees are included in the package please? Also just to confirm, and check I am reading it correctly, it is only the alcoholic drinks that are limited to 15 per day and all others beverages like soft drinks, water, non alcoholic cocktails and specialty teas and coffees additional to any alcoholic drinks are unlimited?
Are there any restrictions that we should be aware of that aren't mentioned?
Thank you
Good morning Angie,
Please find more information in what's included in the drinks packages here: https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/activity-types/bars-and-lounges/a-world-of-drinks
It is just the alcoholic drinks that are limited to 15 a day.
Hi could you please confirm that the drink packages are in American dollars.
Good morning, yes drinks packages are in US dollars.
When you quote say $7.50 glass of wine do we have to add on the 15% service charge
Good morning Marilyn, yes that is correct.
Will I be able to buy my drinks using cash and do I need to bring dollars on board.
Cunard use a cashless system onboard, everything you purchase will be added to your onboard account and clear with the payment card registered on check in. You do have the option to take cash and clear your account this way. Thank you.
What does a Beer, Cocktail and Glass of Wine cost roughly? I'm thinking pay-as-you-go might work out cheaper if I have say a drink with each meal.
Hi Brian, to give you an idea of the cost of drinks on board, a cocktail is roughly $9, a glass of wine $7.50 and soft drinks are around $3. Thank you.
Hello
Confused. Do you buy drinks package daily ? Or for all seven days even the days boarding and unboarding and also if out on excursions all day. Just need some guidance
Hi Linda,
You will buy the drinks package for the duration of your cruise, so if your cruise is 7-nights, your drinks package will include your embarkation drinks. Usually, when you disembark at then end of your cruise, your onboard account is usually closed in the early hours of the morning. I hope this helps.
So I take it that if I purchase the alcoholic drink package my husband will have to purchase the same although he doesn’t drink! How much will this work out on the Queen Elizabeth per day?
Hi Diane,
Cunard's Alcoholic drinks package is from $70 per person, per day inclusive of the 15% service charge. Yes, you're correct if you purchase this package, your husband will have to have the same. I hope this helps. Please find some more information about the drinks package here:
https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/activity-types/bars-and-lounges/a-world-of-drinks
Hi I’ve just booked a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth. As my friend dies t drink alcohol there is obviously no point in me buying the drinks package . How does the wine package work? Can I buy 6 or 12 bottles of wine to take to restaurants and my cabin? For $299 that might be a better option for me .
Good morning Don,
Yes, if you buy the wine collection of either the 6 or 12 bottle choice, you will be served this at the restaurant. To consume in your cabin their will be a corkage fee. If you'd like any other advise, please don't hesitate to give us a call.
Do any of the drinks packages include cocktails and liquers?
Hi Jan, yes they are up to the value of $12. Thank you.