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A drinks package can make budgeting for a cruise easier, but it is not automatically good value for every passenger. The right choice depends on what you normally drink, how often you expect to order drinks, the length of your cruise, and whether you will actually use the package throughout the day.
P&O Cruises currently offers several drinks packages, including Refresh, Alcohol-free, Classic and Deluxe. For cruises of five nights or more, the listed prices range from £16 per person per day for Refresh to £65 per person per day for the Deluxe package on cruises of five to 14 nights. Longer cruises of 15 nights or more have lower daily rates for the Classic and Deluxe packages.
The important question is therefore not simply whether the p and o drinks package is worth buying. It is whether the amount you are likely to spend on drinks individually is higher than the package cost.
P&O Cruises has different packages designed for different drinking habits. You do not necessarily need an alcoholic package to get value from a drinks plan.
The Refresh package is designed mainly for soft drinks and everyday refreshments.
It currently costs £16 per person per day for cruises of five nights or more. P&O also advertises a lower pre-cruise price when purchased through My P&O Cruises.
It can be useful if you regularly drink:
Pepsi and other selected soft drinks
Lemonade
Fruit juices
Other included non-alcoholic refreshments
For someone who mainly drinks soft drinks during the day, this can be easier to justify than an alcoholic package.
The Alcohol-free package is currently priced at £29 per person per day.
It includes the Refresh package options along with items such as selected Costa Coffee, hot chocolate, Heineken 0%, small still or sparkling water and non-alcoholic cocktails.
This can suit passengers who do not drink alcohol but still want more variety than ordinary soft drinks.
The Classic package currently costs £55 per person per day for cruises of five to 14 nights and £50 per day for cruises of 15 nights or more.
It includes options from the lower-level packages plus a broader selection of alcoholic drinks, including selected cocktails, beers and spirits.
The Deluxe package is the highest standard drinks package currently listed by P&O Cruises.
The price is £65 per person per day for cruises of five to 14 nights and £60 per day for cruises of 15 nights or more. P&O states that the package includes an expanded selection of cocktails, wines and spirits, craft beers, Prosecco, Costa Coffee and other drinks.
The Deluxe package also includes a 20% discount on certain excluded drinks.
Current advertised prices give you a useful starting point when calculating whether a package makes financial sense.
PackageCurrent price per person per day
Refresh£16
Alcohol-free£29
Classic, 5–14 nights£55
Classic, 15+ nights£50
Deluxe, 5–14 nights£65
Deluxe, 15+ nights£60
These are advertised package prices and can change. P&O also offers a 10% discount on drinks packages purchased before sailing through My P&O Cruises, subject to its stated booking deadline.
This means you should check the actual price attached to your booking rather than assuming the advertised price will always be the amount you pay.
A drinks package can make sense if you expect to order enough included drinks every day to justify the fixed daily cost.
For example, someone buying the Deluxe package at £65 per day would need to get roughly £65 worth of included drinks each day to break even.
That does not necessarily mean drinking alcohol all day. The value can come from a mixture of:
Morning coffee
Soft drinks
Bottled or included water options
Wine with lunch
Cocktails
Beer
Drinks before dinner
Wine with dinner
Evening drinks
The key is consistency. If you only drink a couple of alcoholic drinks in the evening, a package may be difficult to justify at the higher price.
P&O Cruises allows passengers to buy drinks individually rather than purchasing a package.
Pay-as-you-go can make more sense if you:
Drink very little alcohol
Usually drink water or complimentary beverages
Spend a lot of time ashore
Have several port days
Do not drink enough included products to reach the package cost
Prefer not to feel pressured to consume drinks because you have already paid for them
This last point is particularly important.
A drinks package is a fixed cost. Once you have purchased it, you may feel that you need to order more drinks to "get your money's worth." That can lead to spending more than you otherwise would.
One of the biggest factors people overlook is how much time they will actually spend on the ship.
Imagine a seven-night cruise with several long port days.
If you leave the ship after breakfast, spend most of the day exploring ashore and return shortly before dinner, you may have considerably fewer opportunities to use a drinks package than someone spending most of the day onboard.
On a sea day, however, you could use the package from morning until late evening.
Therefore, the same package can represent very different value for two passengers on different itineraries.
Sea days generally give you more opportunities to use onboard facilities.
A passenger might have:
Coffee in the morning
Soft drinks during the afternoon
A cocktail around the pool
Wine with dinner
Another drink during evening entertainment
Someone with several sea days may therefore use an all-day drinks package much more heavily than a passenger spending most days exploring ports.
Do not calculate the package in isolation.
For example, suppose two adults are considering a Deluxe package at £65 per person per day.
For a seven-night cruise, that would be:
£65 × 7 = £455 per person
For two adults:
£455 × 2 = £910
That is a substantial additional expense, so it is worth comparing it with what both passengers would realistically spend if they paid for drinks individually.
If you would normally spend only £30–£40 per person per day on drinks, paying £65 for a package would not make financial sense based purely on drinks consumption.
This is an important consideration for couples and families.
P&O's current terms state that each adult sharing a cabin must purchase the same drinks package individually. Children aged 17 and under receive a complimentary Refresh package when qualifying adults in the same cabin purchase a Classic or Deluxe package through My P&O Cruises.
This means one adult generally cannot simply buy a Classic or Deluxe package while another adult in the same cabin chooses to have no package.
As a result, the calculation should be done for all applicable adults in the cabin, rather than just the person who drinks the most.
Buying a drinks package does not mean unlimited alcoholic drinks.
P&O's terms specify a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per guest in a 24-hour period, with the period starting at 6am. Non-alcoholic drinks included in the package are not subject to the same alcoholic-drink limit.
There are also ordering and responsible-service restrictions.
For example, package drinks cannot simply be shared with another passenger. P&O also reserves the right to refuse alcohol service in accordance with its responsible-service policy.
The 15-drink limit is unlikely to matter to most moderate drinkers, but it is still important to understand before buying a package.
No.
A drinks package is intended for the passenger who purchased it and cannot be transferred or shared.
This matters when calculating value for couples or groups. You cannot buy one package and use it to provide covered drinks for everyone travelling with you.
If you are travelling with another adult in the same cabin, the applicable package rules mean you should calculate the combined cost before making your decision.
If you have already decided that a drinks package suits your drinking habits, buying it before sailing can be worth considering.
P&O currently states that drinks packages purchased before sailing are 10% cheaper than the onboard price, provided they are purchased within the applicable pre-cruise period.
P&O's current pages also state that packages can be purchased onboard during the first two days of the cruise.
This gives passengers an opportunity to compare their expected spending before committing, although package availability and applicable terms should always be checked against the specific booking.
Before buying a p and o drinks package, make an estimate of what you normally drink.
Consider a normal cruise day.
For example:
1 morning coffee
2 soft drinks
1 beer at lunch
1 glass of wine with dinner
1 cocktail in the evening
Then check the current onboard menu prices for those specific drinks.
Add the individual prices together.
If your estimated daily spending is consistently below the package price, paying individually may be more economical.
If your normal spending is close to or above the package price, the package becomes more attractive.
Do not use only your sea-day spending.
If you have a port-heavy itinerary, reduce your estimated onboard drinks accordingly.
Remember that the package rules can require qualifying adults sharing a cabin to purchase the same package.
This can dramatically change the overall calculation.
P&O also offers broader all-inclusive options that combine a drinks package with other benefits.
The current Classic all-inclusive package includes the Classic drinks package, Essential Wi-Fi and a dining credit, while the Deluxe all-inclusive package includes the Deluxe drinks package, Ultimate Wi-Fi and a dining credit.
This creates a different calculation.
If you were already planning to purchase Wi-Fi and use speciality dining, comparing an all-inclusive option against buying each element separately may be worthwhile.
However, you should compare the actual price offered for your particular cruise rather than assuming that an all-inclusive package will automatically provide better value.
A drinks package is more likely to fit your spending pattern if you:
Drink several included beverages every day
Enjoy cocktails, wine or beer regularly
Spend plenty of time onboard
Have several sea days
Like knowing your drinks budget in advance
Will use non-alcoholic drinks and coffee as well as alcohol
Are travelling on a cruise where the package price fits your expected consumption
The package can also be convenient because you are not constantly thinking about the price of every included drink.
Paying individually may be more appropriate if you:
Drink only occasionally
Prefer free or low-cost beverages
Spend most days exploring ashore
Are travelling on a port-intensive itinerary
Do not drink alcohol
Do not drink coffee or other package beverages frequently
Would otherwise spend significantly less than the daily package price
For these passengers, purchasing individual drinks can provide more flexibility.
Do not rely on an old cruise blog or previous passenger's price.
P&O's prices and package terms can change, so check the amount attached to your own booking.
A package is only useful when it covers drinks you would genuinely order.
Do not choose a more expensive package simply because it has a longer list of options.
Look at the number of sea days and how long you expect to be ashore on port days.
P&O currently offers a 10% pre-cruise saving on drinks packages compared with the onboard price, subject to the applicable purchase deadline.
If you normally drink two or three beverages a day, you do not need to increase your consumption simply because you bought a package.
Calculate the value before purchasing.
For couples, the answer depends heavily on both people's drinking habits.
If one person drinks regularly but the other rarely drinks, the requirement for qualifying adults in the same cabin to purchase the same package can make the calculation less straightforward.
For example, a couple should not ask:
"Will I personally drink enough to justify it?"
Instead, ask:
"Will our combined spending on included drinks be comparable to the combined package cost?"
That is a much more useful calculation.
There is no single answer that applies to every P&O passenger.
A drinks package can provide good value for someone who regularly drinks several included beverages throughout the day, particularly when there are plenty of sea days. It can also make budgeting easier because much of the drinks spending is fixed in advance.
On the other hand, passengers who drink lightly, spend long periods ashore or mainly choose drinks that are inexpensive may find that paying individually costs less.
The best approach is to estimate your realistic daily drinks spending, multiply it by the number of cruise days, and compare that figure with the actual package price offered for your sailing.
A P&O drinks package can be worthwhile, but it should be treated as a budgeting decision rather than an automatic cruise upgrade.
The best way to decide is to look at your actual drinking habits. If you regularly enjoy several included drinks every day and spend a lot of time onboard, a package may provide convenience and potentially good value. If you drink occasionally or spend most of your cruise exploring ports, paying for drinks individually may be more suitable.
Before purchasing, compare the p and o drinks package price for your specific sailing, check the drinks included, consider the cabin rules and account for the number of days you will actually spend onboard. That calculation will give you a much clearer answer than simply assuming a drinks package is either always worth it or never worth it.
Can you buy a drinks package on a P&O cruise?
Yes. P&O allows eligible passengers to purchase drinks packages before sailing through My P&O Cruises or onboard during the applicable early part of the cruise.
How much is a P&O drinks package?
Current advertised prices range from £16 per person per day for the Refresh package to £65 per person per day for the Deluxe package on cruises of five to 14 nights. Prices vary by package and cruise duration.
Is the P&O Deluxe drinks package worth it?
It depends on your individual consumption. It is more likely to make sense for passengers who regularly order cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, coffee and other included drinks throughout the day.
Can you share a P&O drinks package?
No. Drinks packages are for the individual passenger and cannot be shared or transferred.
Is there a limit on alcoholic drinks?
Yes. P&O currently limits alcoholic drinks included in the package to 15 per guest during a 24-hour period starting at 6am.
Do both adults in a cabin need a drinks package?
P&O's current information states that each adult sharing a cabin must purchase the same drinks package individually when applicable.
Can you buy drinks without a package on P&O Cruises?
Yes. P&O allows passengers to purchase drinks individually and charge them to their onboard account.
Is it cheaper to buy the drinks package before the cruise?
P&O currently states that drinks packages purchased before sailing are 10% cheaper than the onboard price, subject to the applicable deadline.
Can children have a P&O drinks package?
P&O's current terms state that guests aged 17 and under receive a complimentary Refresh package when qualifying adults in the same cabin purchase a Classic or Deluxe package through My P&O Cruises.
Can you decide not to buy a drinks package?
Yes. There is no requirement to purchase a drinks package. You can pay for individual drinks instead.
Does a drinks package include every drink onboard?
No. Packages have specific inclusions and exclusions. Some drinks may receive a discount rather than being fully included, so passengers should check the current package details before purchasing.
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