Unpopular opinion: I prefer this to a cruise alcohol package

I do not understand the allure of cruise alcohol packages.

I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t drink that much on cruises. I might order two alcoholic drinks on a weeklong sailing — and even that would be generous — so all-you-can-drink offers have never held much value for me.

Even if I did enjoy alcohol more, I don’t think I could drink enough to break even on the package’s cost. If I downed enough cocktails, wine and beer to come out ahead financially, I wouldn’t remember much of my cruise or would miss out on the fun because I felt ill. To me, that defeats the whole point of going on a trip to new destinations.

I do spend money on drinks on board, but they’re not spiked with booze. I’d rather have coffee than alcohol when I cruise. Ask me to roll out of bed before 8 a.m., especially on vacation, and I immediately start thinking about where I can get my caffeine fix. In order to make it through both early morning excursions and late-night dance parties, I need several cups throughout the day.

Give me a coffee package over an alcohol one, and I’ll be a happy cruiser. If you can relate and wish cruise lines wouldn’t automatically assume everyone wants an alcohol package, here are some things to know about getting your caffeine buzz on a cruise.

The cost can quickly add up

All cruise lines offer free drip coffee in various locations throughout their ships, and that’ll do in a pinch. But, if given the choice, I’ll go with a shot of espresso or an iced coconut latte every time over a plain mug of hot bean water — and the costs add up quickly.

Prices generally range from about $3 to $8, depending on the cruise line and venue. (You’re likely to pay more at an onboard Starbucks location than at a nonbranded cruise line cafe.) If I’m ordering two to three caffeinated beverages a day, I’m easily spending more than $100 per weeklong cruise, just on coffee, especially when I account for auto-gratuities and extra tips for the baristas.

Only some cruise lines sell coffee packages

Most mainstream cruise lines sell soda and alcohol packages, which can offer significant savings to passengers who drink a lot of those beverages. But not all cruise lines offer similar packages for javaphiles.

On Carnival Cruise Line, for example, you can only order unlimited specialty coffee drinks if you have a Cheers! alcohol package. Otherwise, you’ll have to buy each coffee individually. But, at a cost of more than $80 per person, per day, if you don’t drink a ton of alcohol, it’s much more cost-effective to pay a la carte for your coffee than to buy the package (unless you’re drinking more than 10 coffees a day, in which case I have questions).

Cruise lines that do sell stand-alone coffee packages (or nonalcoholic drink packages that include coffee) are:

• Celebrity Cruises (Non-Alcoholic Drink Package — from $45 per person, per day)
• Holland America (Quench — from $17.95 per person, per day)
• MSC Cruises (Alcohol-Free Package — from $28 per person, per day; excludes coffee from Venchi and Jean Philippe specialty coffee bars)
• Norwegian Cruise Line (Unlimited Starbucks Package — from $16.50 per person, per day)
• Princess Cruises (Coffee & Soda Package — from $19.99 per person, per day)

Prices listed above were valid at the time of publication but are subject to change. They are also starting prices and might be higher on shorter sailings or if not booked in advance. Some packages have a limit of 15 drinks per day and will incur extra fees for auto-gratuities.

You can’t substitute coffee packages for alcohol

Of the five cruise lines that offer coffee packages, NCL is the only one that includes discounted alcohol packages for passengers with their cruise fares. Three others — Celebrity, Holland America and Princess — allow passengers to purchase a set of upgrades that includes an alcohol package.

Of these four, Celebrity, Holland America and Princess include coffee beverages in their alcohol packages. With the other amenities (such as Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and specialty dining) included, the extra amount you’d pay for an alcohol package you don’t necessarily need is likely outweighed by the other benefits you receive for the overall upgrade price.

However, coffee lovers sailing with Norwegian might find themselves frustrated, as the line’s alcohol package doesn’t include specialty coffee at all. NCL doesn’t allow passengers to downgrade to coffee packages. So, even though Norwegian includes discounted alcohol packages in its base fares, passengers wanting unlimited specialty coffees will still end up paying extra for a coffee package or a la carte coffee drinks.

Some lines offer punch cards or drink tabs

One interesting alternative to coffee packages is punch cards, which allow travelers to earn free coffee when they pay for each caffeinated beverage individually.

Both Carnival and Disney Cruise Line offer this option. Carnival’s JavaBlue punch card gives cruisers their seventh coffee drink for free after they buy six, and Disney’s Cove Fanatic Card allows for a free sixth cuppa after a passenger buys five coffee beverages.

Be sure to ask for a punch card during your first visit to the onboard cafe on either of those lines, and remember to bring it with you to present each time you return. You’ll be well on your way to earning free pick-me-ups in no time.

Additionally, one odd hybrid between a coffee package and a punch card that’s worth mentioning is Royal Caribbean‘s Cafe Select Card. For a flat one-time fee of $31, cruisers can purchase a 15-punch card. Each time a specialty coffee is ordered, a crew member will deduct either one or two punches, depending on the drink type and size. (Note that the card cannot be used for Starbucks coffee.)

Virgin Voyages is another anomaly in that it doesn’t offer drink packages. Instead, it operates on a prepaid bar tab system, in which passengers put up a set amount of money ahead of time to be used as a credit for drinks. That credit can be redeemed for fancy coffee beverages. The draw? The line frequently offers promotions where it will give you additional drink funds if you prepurchase a set amount. (Passengers can also buy drinks a la carte.)

Although you sometimes have to spend a couple hundred dollars to earn extra bar tab money, the line allows passengers to share bar tabs with their friends and family. That means you could set up one bar tab, earn free money to spend on drinks and use that one tab for everyone in your travel party.

You can earn free or discounted coffee as a loyalty perk

Another tip for saving money on coffee beverages is to check your cruise line loyalty perks. Some cruise lines offer free drink coupons to passengers who have reached a certain status within their loyalty programs.

Virgin has, by far, the most valuable “free drinks” offering of all the mainstream loyalty programs. As a member of the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club, after just three cruises, you’ll earn one free coffee beverage per day on each subsequent sailing. After five cruises, that increases to two free coffees per day. And, after five sailings, you’ll also receive a complimentary $100 credit to your bar tab, which can be used for specialty coffees.

Another example is Royal Caribbean, which provides anywhere from four to six free drink coupons per day to cruisers who have reached at least Diamond level within the line’s Crown & Anchor Society program. The coupons can be redeemed for specialty coffees, and they can be shared with others in your party.

The easiest program in which to earn a free specialty coffee is Holland America’s Mariner Society. After just one cruise, you’ll earn one free drink coupon per voyage, which can be redeemed for a frou-frou cup of joe if you’d prefer that to a cocktail, beer or glass of wine.

Carnival’s VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program also awards one free drink on cruises of five days or longer to passengers who reach Gold level. When they hit Platinum, they receive one free beverage on cruises of any length. Note that the free drink is applied to the first beverage purchase made after boarding, so if you want to redeem it for a specialty coffee, kick off your sailing with some caffeine.

Although Celebrity doesn’t offer free drink coupons with loyalty status, it does offer discounts on alcohol packages, which include specialty coffees. Within its Captain’s Club program, you’ll save 10% at the Classic and Select levels, 15% at the Elite level and 20% at Elite Plus. At Zenith, a premium drink package is free.

Bottom line

I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I’m tired of cruise lines assuming everyone wants an alcohol package and overlooking those of us who prefer zero-proof options — especially ones that feature coffee.

If all you want is a noncarbonated java jolt or two to enhance your vacation days at sea, these tips should help you stay appropriately caffeinated for less when you cruise.

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