These are two of the questions I get asked most by cruisers, so let’s break both of them down.
Specialty dining
Most cruise ships have anywhere from 5 to 10 extra restaurants that come with an upcharge to reserve. It varies by ship and cruise line, but you’ll typically find a mix like steakhouses, Italian, sushi or Asian, French, and BBQ or Mexican style casual spots.
It’s worth it if:
- You’re celebrating something
- You want a quieter, more intimate meal
- You consider yourself a foodie
- You just want to splurge on one really nice dinner during your trip
Skip it if:
- Rotating between the main dining room and the buffet works fine for you
- You’re watching your budget
Pro tip: some specialty restaurants offer a cheaper, or even free, lunch menu. If you want to try the experience without the full dinner price tag, that’s the move.
Drink packages
Buy it if:
- You drink 4 to 5 or more alcoholic beverages a day
- You want specialty coffee daily
- You’d rather not think about prices while on vacation
- The math actually works out in your favor (more on that below)
Skip it if:
- You’re a light drinker
- You don’t drink alcohol
- It’s a short cruise
- You’ll be off the ship exploring ports most days
The math
Individual drinks typically run about $10 to $18 each. Drink packages usually run about $45 to $80 per day. That puts your break even point around 6 to 8 drinks (alcohol plus coffee combined) per day to make the package worth it.
If gratuities and Wi-Fi are bundled into the package, that changes the value equation and can make it worth it even if you’re closer to the break even number instead of well above it.
One reminder: most cruise lines require both adults in a cabin to buy the package if either one does. You can’t split it.
My recommendation
Whether it’s worth it really comes down to the specific price and inclusions on your sailing. My general take: for Princess, I recommend the Plus package 100% of the time. For Royal Caribbean, I’d sit out the beverage package unless you catch a great Black Friday deal on it.
Be sure to check out my blog post on what’s included and what isn’t when cruising.