Drinking on Board

Drinking on Board

It's difficult to avoid the ship's bars since they are social centers, but alcoholic drinks are not usually included in your cruise fare, and bar bills can add up quickly. Drinks at the captain's welcome-aboard cocktail party and at cocktail parties held specifically for repeat cruisers are usually free. But if you pick up that boldly colored welcome-aboard cocktail as your ship pulls away from the dock, you may well be asked to sign for it, and the cost will then be added to your shipboard account. You should expect to pay about the same for a drink on board a cruise ship as you would pay in a bar at home: $4 to $5 for a domestic beer, $5 to $9 for a cocktail, $6 to $9 for a glass of wine, $1.50 to $2 for a soft drink. On virtually all ships, an automatic 15% gratuity will be added to your tab. Also note that specialty coffees like cappuccino—even in the dining room after dinner—will add a $3 to $4 charge to your onboard account. To save money on your bar bill, you can follow a few simple strategies. In lounges, request the less-expensive bar brands or the reduced-price drink of the day. On some ships, discounted "beverage cards" for unlimited fountain soft drinks and/or a set number of mixed drinks are available.

In international waters there are, technically, no laws against teenage drinking, but almost all ships require passengers to be over 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages.