Braggins Adventures: Is the Carnival Cheers Package Worth It?

Hey everybody! I know why you’re here. You want to find out if the Cheers package on your next Carnival Cruise is worth it. We hope to help you answer that. Are you ready? LET’S GO!

If you have not watched our companion YouTube Video, check it out by clicking here!

In December of 2022, we did a similar video and until recently, it remained our highest viewed video of all time. Still, top two isn’t a bad place to be. We also did a Drinking without Cheers video in October 2023. We thought it best to take a look at the package for 2024 and beyond and really dive in from a drinkers standpoint as well as a non-drinkers standpoint.

There is so much more to Cheers! than that glass of wine with dinner and today, we are going to show you how to make the most of the package in the only Cheers! article you’ll ever have to read again! And when you’re done reading, you can check out the spreadsheet showing how we saved almost $2400 on beverages on our most recent 7 day cruise!

At the bottom of this post, we will post as many menus as possible for Carnival Bars.

Let’s start with the absolute basics and the cost.

THE COST

Cheers! must be purchased for every adult in the same stateroom of legal drinking age, that is, every person 21 and older staying in the same room MUST pay for the package.

The price of the package includes an 18% gratuity that is distributed among the bartenders for your cruise. So when they hand you the $0 receipt to sign for your beverage, you can technically leave the tip line blank since you tipped when you paid for the package. We still tip for great service. Usually $1 a drink but we have often thrown more at our favorite bartenders.

When in US ports, you will pay local taxes on the value of your drink. This is not prepayable but on a drink by drink basis WHILE the ship is in the port.

One other thing to note is that you’re paying per night of the cruise, not per day. Why is this an important distinction? Let’s say you booked what Carnival calls a 4 day cruise. What they mean is 4 nights and 5 days. In this example, you leave on a Monday and return on a Friday. That’s 4 nights and 5 days. You’re paying the per person, per day cost of the cheers package for 4 nights but your package is actually still good on day 5. Do you get off the ship fairly early on day 5? Yes. But, that doesn't mean you can’t have a Bloody Mary and specialty coffee with breakfast and a couple of bottles of water before getting off. Those are all 100% free with Cheers! because you did not pay for Friday. Your only cost will be the port tax and you should probably tip since these were not counted in the 18% gratuity.

Bars open on debarkation day include the Main Dining room, which offers full bar service, Java Blue Cafe, where you can get those spiked coffees, and one additional bar, depending on the ship. It could be the Red Frog Rum Bar or the Tuscan Lounge Bar.

OK, let’s get to the actual cost. There are technically 4 different prices.

If you buy onboard AND your cruise is 5 nights or less, the price per person, per day is $88.44.
If you buy onboard AND your cruise is 6 nights or more, the price per person, per day is $76.64.
If you buy online in advance AND your cruise is 5 nights or less, the price per person, per day is $82.54.
If you buy online in advance AND your cruise is 6 nights or more, the price per person, per day is $70.74.

As you can see there is a slight discount of 10% IF you purchase the package BEFORE you get onboard. You can do this simply by logging into your account at carnival.com and clicking on drink packages. For this post, we will refer to the pre-purchase price since we assume that because you’re researching about it, that you’re a planner and will be pre purchasing if you decide to go that route.

You probably also noticed that shorter cruises cost more per person per day. Why are shorter cruises more? Your guess is as good as mine but I am thinking Carnival assumes people are more willing to do liver damage on shorter cruises and are more likely to hit the daily drink limit.

Speaking of which, a couple quick safety tips before we move on.

The ship is not a safe space. There are many dangers but falling overboard is perhaps the scariest. You do not want to go viral for getting plastered and taking an unintentional and likely permanent swim.
Carnival takes guest behavior very seriously. You also don’t want to go viral getting filmed in a brawl or berating crewmembers. You will likely get kicked off at the next port and either arrested or made to find your own way home at your expense. Know your limit!
The trick to drinking the amounts we will discuss in this post is to hydrate with every beverage, take in food calories and take a break when needed. In addition to the hydrating beverages on the ship, we purchase these hydration packs and use a cruise line Cheers! bottle of water every single morning EACH to start our day!
If you or anybody you know has a problem with alcoholism, there is help available. Click here or call (800) 662-4357

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Don’t worry, we will get into pricing details in a bit but let’s start with just the general inclusions and exclusions.

Your Cheers! package includes up to 15 single serving alcoholic beverages valued at $20 or less per 24 hour period. Carnival defines that period as 6am to 6am.

A single serving alcoholic beverage is defined as a pint of beer, a glass of wine, or a mixed drink or specialty cocktail NOT served in a souvenir glass, via room service, or on the gangway.

Your Cheers! package also includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages including sodas, specialty coffees and teas, energy drinks, sparkling water, coconut water, bottled water, milk shakes, smoothies, mocktails or virgin cocktails, and sports drinks. This is on top of the water, juice, coffee, tea, and lemonade included with the cost of the cruise.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

What’s not included? Single serving drinks over $20, bottles of wine, and pairing classes and seminars, though you do get 25 % off these 3 items. Also not included are fresh pressed juices in the Main Dining Room, sharing beverages such as buckets of beer or fishbowls, bottles of liquor from the Fun Shops, and anything in a souvenir glass.

For additional information on what is and isn’t included, click either of the Carnival FAQ links:

Carnival Cheers! FAQ 1

Carnival Cheers! FAQ 2

DRINK PRICES

Carnival’s website lists average pricing but I find it mostly unhelpful and currently, at time of writing, inaccurate. According to their site, drink prices are as follows:

Beers start at $6.50
Wine starts at $9.50
Mixed drinks range from $7.50 to $20
Specialty cocktails start at $10.50
Soft drinks are listed at $2.75
Specialty coffees range from $2.50 to $4.25
Energy drinks come in at $4.95
Water goes from $1.50 to $5

Now if I only left you with those numbers, you would come up with a very skewed and inaccurate idea of whether the package is worth it for you.

Here are some more accurate pricing numbers based on the pricing onboard the Carnival Firenze on August 31st, 2024.

Craft and Import Beers are mostly $9.25 each
Domestic beers and seltzers like White Claw are $8.75 each
Glass of wine is going to average at $13.25 regardless of varietal
Mixed drinks are going to average $13 depending on brand of alcohol
Martinis are almost exclusively $13.50
Frozen and Specialty cocktails are $13.75
Spiked coffees are $9.25
Spiked Milkshakes and Floats are $11.75
Specialty bars like Amari and Alchemy will be serving $14-$15 drinks

Pepsi Products are $3.75
500 milliliter bottles of Crystal Geyser still water are $2.75
Coconut water and Gatorade are $4.50
San Benedetto Sparkling Water is $3.25
Bubbly flavored sparkling water is $4
Clamato and other mixers are $4
Specialty Hot Tea is $3.50
Specialty coffees are $5.25 plus $.50 for flavoring like caramel
Energy drinks are $5.50
Milkshakes and Floats are $9.25
Virgin specialty frozen drinks are $10.25
Virgin cocktails like tonic water and lime are $3.75

VALUE

Let me preface this by saying that NOBODY can answer for you if Cheers! is worth it EXCEPT for you. Hopefully this post helps you come to a conclusion. This part will define Drinkers as someone that is likely to hit at least 7 alcoholic drinks per day and non drinkers as someone unlikely to have more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day. We will break this part of the post into 4 sections.

Drinkers on a Sea Day
Non Drinkers on a Sea Day
Drinkers on a Port Day
Non Drinkers on a Port Day

DRINKERS ON A SEA DAY

OK my drinkers, this is the easiest day to get back your $70.74. You need 7 alcoholic drinks to break even but that’s boring. Of course, you can be like us and strive to hit that 15 drink limit every day plus throw in a specialty coffee, several hydrating beverages, and a mid afternoon soda to really get your value.

But let’s look at it realistically:

You can snag a Bloody Mary with breakfast for $13 plus a caramel latte for $5.75.
You’ll also want to hydrate with a couple of bottles of water before you get to lunch at $2.75 each.
You know what goes great with lunch? A couple of Carnival branded brews at $9.25 each plus a Gatorade at $4.50.
After lunch, enjoy many ship activities with a classic vacation cocktail or two at $13.75 each and snag a bottle of water with each one, valued at $2.75 each.
A glass of wine or two with dinner comes in at $13 each. No paid for water here because the MDR is going to serve you some for free!
A couple of mixed drinks at the show or piano bar after dinner will run you $13 each. And you cannot close out your day without two more bottles of water at $2.75 each.

If we do the math and we assume you drink but aren’t going for that all day buzz, you would have spent $142.27 on 9 alcoholic beverages and 8 non alcoholic drinks, more than double of your Cheers! package cost for that day. Keep in mind the package includes tips already whereas this cash amount does not, leading to even more value.

NON DRINKERS ON A SEA DAY

I get it. Not everybody imbibes and that’s fine. But let’s say your travel companion does. You both have to pay for Cheers! So how do you find value as a light drinker?

Let’s take a look!

You can enjoy a $7.25 blended frappe with breakfast.
You also need to stay hydrated so grab a coconut water or Gatorade at $4.50 to go with a couple of bottles of water at $2.75 each before heading out to lunch.
Perhaps a couple of $3.75 sodas at lunch will hit the spot and I am just gonna say you look thirsty so grab another $2.75 bottle of water.
After lunch,join your travel partner for the ship's activities with a classic virgin vacation cocktail or two at $10.25 each and snag a bottle of water with each one, valued at $2.75 each.
A glass of wine with dinner comes in at $13.
Have that night cap rum and cola at the show or piano bar after dinner for $13. And you cannot close out your day without two more bottles of water at $2.75 each.

Let’s check your math. For 2 alcoholic drinks and 13 non-alcoholic drinks, your value is $85 excluding the tips included in your $70.74 Cheers! package cost. Still a savings, however small. BUT, if you put your two packages together, your daily cost is $141.48 and your combined value is $227.27 leading to a combined savings of over $85!

DRINKERS ON A PORT DAY

Port Days for active port adventurers are going to be where some find it difficult to see the value but I will try to get you there. Just remember that you need to look at the total value over the length of the cruise. Your sea day value will generally more than make up for the port day value.

You can still snag a Bloody Mary with breakfast for $13 plus a caramel latte for $5.75.
You’ll also want to hydrate with a couple of bottles of water at $2.75 each which CAN be taken off as long as they’re sealed.
You likely won’t use the package during lunch/afternoon time if you get off the ship in a port. You’ll make up for it when you return because you realize how much drinking money you spent in port when you could have been drinking for free onboard.
A couple pre-dinner drinks hit the spot at $13 each plus two more bottles of $2.75 water.
A glass of wine with dinner comes in at $13.
A couple of mixed drinks at the lounge after dinner will run you $13 each. And you cannot close out the busy port day without two more bottles of water at $2.75 each.

Today, your value is $97.50 against the $70.74 package cost. Not too shabby.

NON DRINKERS ON A PORT DAY

I’m not going to lie, you’re going to possibly lose money today but the rest of the days make up for it.

You can still enjoy a $7.25 blended frappe with breakfast plus grab a $4.50 Gatorade and two bottles of water at $2.75 each before getting off the ship. Remember to keep any you take off sealed until after exiting the gangway.
You also won’t use the package in port but once you get back on, you find a virgin vacation cocktail or two at $10.25 each really refreshes you and you snag a bottle of water with each one, valued at $2.75 each.
A glass of wine with dinner comes in at $13.
Have that after dinner gin and tonic while cruising the promenade for $13. And you cannot close out your day without two more bottles of water at $2.75 each.

Looks like you’ll just squeak by at $74.75 against the $70.74 price you paid but remember, tips are already included in the package price.

So, is the Cheers! Package worth it?

For us the answer is an astounding yes! But we aim to make it valuable by striving to get our 15 in each day plus partaking in the specialty coffees and hydrating beverages. To see how we did it, click on our Cheers! 2024 7 Day Cruise spreadsheet.

Believe it or not, there are days we have hit the 15 early or we knew we would. How did we overcome that?

With Bonus drinks, of course! So, what are bonus drinks?

If you dine at certain specialty dining restaurants on the first night of the cruise, you get a complimentary bottle of wine that DOES NOT go against your 15. We enjoyed our bottle of white wine at Il Viaggio.
The kindness of strangers goes a long way! We had a lady in the Piano Bar 88 on night one buy me a bonus drink after I hit my 15. We also had another woman buy us a bonus drink on a sea day simply because we offered to help her with a small task.
You can purchase souvenir drinks and flights that don’t count against the 15 but do come at an extra charge. We really liked the Amari sampler at the Amari Bar
Bartender errors can work in your favor. They made a mistake on one of my receipts and needed to void the transaction. Due to the time this takes, sometimes not until end of shift, I showed as hitting my 15 super early. The bartender kindly poured me a bonus cocktail WHILE correcting the error resulting in 16 that day.
Joining a tour such as the Behind the Fun tour results in 2 complimentary mimosas post tour for each of us.
Planning ahead can also help. If you know you won’t hit 15 on a port day but will on a sea day, there are no current rules that say you can’t order a drink (say a whiskey neat) on the port day and take it back to your room, store it in your refrigerator and then consume it the next day.
Each adult, 21 and over, is also entitled to bring one 750ml bottle of wine on board during embarkation for in room consumption or dining room consumption, though the latter comes with a corkage fee.
Lastly, you can always prepurchase liquor for in room consumption on the Carnival website BEFORE your cruise. You are limited to one liter per adult 21 and over staying in the stateroom.

My one real complaint with the current Cheers! package has to do with VIFP perks. John Heald claims it has always been this way but since reaching Gold several cruises ago, I have always been able to get my 15 Cheers! drinks PLUS my single one time VIFP Gold complimentary drink on 5+ day cruises. I am not a huge fan of losing my earned VIFP perks with the cheers! package. Another example is that a Gold VIFP perk is a large bottle of water, but that's not really a perk for someone with a package because we get bottomless bottled water.

Any way, that’s my rant for this post. We hope this post and the accompanying video really do help you decide if the package is right for you.

As promised, here are as many menus as we can get ya! Click on an image to enlarge it.