Carnival Cruise Line offers three beverage packages in 2026 — one for drinkers, one premium non-alcoholic option, and a basic soda package. Whether you want cocktails, beer, wine, specialty coffee, or just unlimited soda, there's a package that fits.
Below is a full breakdown of each package — what's included, what it costs, and what's excluded. All packages are priced per person, per day, and must be purchased for the entire length of the cruise. Prices below include Carnival's automatic 20% service charge and are accurate as of 2026. Always confirm current pricing on Carnival's drink packages page before you sail.
Carnival Drink Packages at a Glance (2026)
| Package | Pre-Cruise Price (per person, per day, incl. 20% service) |
Onboard Price (per person, per day, incl. 20% service) |
Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheers! (alcohol + non-alcohol) |
$83.94 | $89.94 | Guests 21+ who drink 5+ alcoholic drinks per day |
| Cheers! Zero Proof (premium non-alcohol) |
$35.99 | $41.99 | Non-drinkers who want mocktails, specialty coffee, bottled water & more |
| Bottomless Bubbles (adult 18+) | $11.40 | $11.40 | Soda & juice drinkers who don't need coffee or bottled water |
| Bottomless Bubbles (child 17 & under) | $8.34 | $8.34 | Kids who want unlimited fountain soda & juice |
Note: Applicable state and local taxes may still be charged on top of package pricing when the ship is in U.S. waters.
The Cheers! Drink Package
Cheers! is Carnival's all-inclusive drink package for guests 21 and older. In 2026, it costs $69.95 per person, per day pre-cruise ($83.94 with the 20% service charge), or $74.95 per day onboard ($89.94 with service charge) — a $5/day savings if you book ahead.
The package covers:
- All spirits, cocktails, beer, and wine by the glass priced at $20 or less per serving
- Unlimited sodas (Coca-Cola products), juices, specialty coffee, hot tea, and energy drinks
- 500ml bottled water and packaged water in the main dining room and specialty restaurants
- Zero-proof frozen cocktails
- 25% discount on any spirit or wine by the glass priced above $20
- 25% discount on wine and champagne by the bottle
The 15-drink alcohol limit: Guests are capped at 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.). Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited and do not count toward this cap. Once you hit 15 alcoholic drinks, you can't buy more alcohol that day — not even out of pocket. Bartenders can also decline service before 15 drinks if a guest appears impaired.
The cabin mate rule: If one adult (21+) in a stateroom buys Cheers!, all other adults in that stateroom must buy it too. No exceptions.
What's NOT included in Cheers!
- Drinks in souvenir glasses
- Bottles of liquor, wine, or champagne (beer by the bottle is included)
- Welcome drinks served at the gangway
- Room service alcohol or mini-bar items
- Shareable drinks like buckets, pitchers, tubes, or fishbowls
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice in the Havana Bar
- Beverages purchased at private destinations (Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays)
Texas, New York & Norfolk departures: Due to state laws, Cheers! does not activate until 6:00 a.m. on Day 2 of your cruise from these ports. Drinks purchased on embarkation day are charged individually to your Sail & Sign card.
The Cheers! Zero Proof Package (New for 2025)
Launched in 2025, Cheers! Zero Proof is Carnival's premium non-alcoholic package — a middle ground between full Cheers! and the basic Bottomless Bubbles soda package. It costs $29.99 per person, per day pre-cruise ($35.99 with the 20% service charge), or $34.99 per day onboard ($41.99 with service charge).
Zero Proof includes:
- Sodas (Coca-Cola products) and standard juices
- 500ml bottled water — still, sparkling, and coconut water
- Premium coffees and teas
- Handcrafted zero-proof cocktails (21+)
- Alcohol-free beer (21+)
- Non-alcoholic sparkling wine (21+)
- Frozen drinks (non-alcoholic), smoothies, and bottled protein shakes
- Milkshakes and energy drinks
Important rule: If one adult in a stateroom buys the full Cheers! package, other adults in the same stateroom cannot buy Zero Proof instead — the cabin mate rule applies in reverse too.
Zero Proof breaks even at roughly 5 premium non-alcoholic drinks per day — things like a morning specialty coffee, a couple of bottled waters, a smoothie, and a mocktail or two.
The Bottomless Bubbles Soda Package
Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival's basic soda and juice package. Pricing is the same whether you buy it pre-cruise or onboard:
- Adults (18+): $9.50 per day ($11.40 with 20% service charge)
- Children (17 and under): $6.95 per day ($8.34 with 20% service charge)
What's included
Soda is served by the glass (16 oz) and juice by the glass (10 oz). Soft drink options include Coca-Cola products: Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Sprite, Sprite Zero, and other Coca-Cola brand sodas. Available juices include orange, cranberry, tomato, pineapple, and grapefruit. Selection may vary slightly depending on which bar or venue you order from — the self-serve fountain at the Lido buffet typically has a more limited selection than the main bars.
What's NOT included in Bottomless Bubbles
- Bottled water
- Specialty coffee or tea
- Any drinks sold in souvenir glasses
- Room service drinks
- Gangway drinks at debarkation
- Anything other than fountain sodas and juices
What's Already Free on Carnival
Before you buy any package, know that Carnival includes plenty of drinks in your base cruise fare. In the main dining room and the 24/7 Lido buffet, you get free:
- Non-bottled water
- Lemonade
- Unsweetened iced tea
- Hot chocolate
- Non-specialty coffee and tea
If you're a light drinker or not a soda person, you can easily enjoy your cruise without buying any package at all.
Bringing Your Own Drinks Onboard
Carnival has one of the more generous BYOB policies among mainstream cruise lines — but it still has strict limits.
Non-alcoholic drinks
Bottled drinks (water, soda, etc.) in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. On embarkation day only, each guest may carry on up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 oz or less — sparkling water, soda, juice, energy drinks, or milk. These must be in your carry-on bag, not checked luggage.
Wine & champagne
Guests 21+ may bring one 750ml sealed bottle of wine or champagne per person at embarkation, in carry-on luggage only. Beer and liquor are prohibited. Anything you buy in port or the onboard duty-free shops will be held by the ship and returned to you on the last night of your cruise.
Corkage fee
If you want to drink your wine or champagne in the main dining room, a steakhouse, or a bar, Carnival charges a $15 corkage fee per 750ml bottle. Drink it in your cabin (or pour a glass in your cabin before heading to dinner) and there's no fee at all.
Is a Carnival Drink Package Worth It?
The break-even math is simple:
- Cheers! pays off at roughly 5 alcoholic drinks per day, or 4 drinks plus a specialty coffee and bottled water. Cocktails average $10–14 with gratuity, so 5 drinks daily easily tops the $83.94 daily rate.
- Zero Proof pays off at around 5 premium non-alcoholic drinks per day (specialty coffee, mocktails, bottled water).
- Bottomless Bubbles pays off at roughly 3–4 sodas per day given individual soda prices around $3 each with gratuity.
If you're a light drinker, stick to free options from the main dining room and buffet. If you hit a bar 4+ times a day, Cheers! is almost always worth it — and the convenience of not signing for every drink is a bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Carnival drink package with someone else?
No. All Carnival drink packages are non-transferable and non-shareable. Only one drink can be ordered at a time per package holder, and sharing is strictly prohibited. Additionally, if one adult (21+) in your stateroom buys Cheers!, every other adult in the same stateroom must also buy it.
Can I buy a Carnival drink package for only part of my cruise?
No. All Carnival drink packages must be purchased for the full length of the cruise. You cannot buy just a few days or add a package mid-cruise on most sailings.
What happens if I order a drink over the $20 limit with Cheers!?
Any drink priced above $20 per serving is not covered by the package, but you'll get a 25% discount off the menu price. The balance is charged to your Sail & Sign card. The same 25% discount applies to full bottles of wine and champagne.
Does Cheers! work on Carnival's private islands?
No. Carnival drink packages — including Cheers!, Zero Proof, and Bottomless Bubbles — do not extend to any private destinations, including Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, or Princess Cays. The packages are designed for onboard use only.
Can I mix Cheers! and Zero Proof within the same cabin?
No. If one adult in a stateroom buys the full Cheers! package, other adults in the same stateroom cannot purchase Zero Proof as an alternative — they must also purchase full Cheers! Adults can, however, opt out of any package entirely as long as no one in the room has Cheers!.
How many alcoholic drinks can I have per day with Cheers!?
The Cheers! package includes up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.). Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. Once you've had 15 alcoholic drinks, you cannot purchase additional alcohol that day — not even out of pocket.
When does Cheers! activate on Texas, New York, and Norfolk sailings?
Due to state laws in Texas, New York, and Virginia, Cheers! does not activate until 6:00 a.m. on Day 2 of the cruise. Drinks purchased on embarkation day from these ports are charged individually to your Sail & Sign card.
Can I bring wine on a Carnival cruise?
Yes. Each guest 21 or older may bring one sealed 750ml bottle of wine or champagne onboard at embarkation, in carry-on luggage only. A $15 corkage fee applies if you consume it in the main dining room, steakhouse, or bar — but there's no fee if you drink it in your cabin.
Are Carnival drink packages refundable?
Pre-purchased drink packages are refundable up until 10:00 p.m. ET the evening before your cruise departs. After that, they are non-refundable and non-transferable.
