Are we clinking glasses over Carnival’s CHEERS! Package?
What to Know Before You Buy
Let’s be honest — the CHEERS! beverage package is one of those things people either swear by or swear off. Carnival’s marketing makes it sound like a no-brainer: unlimited cocktails, coffee, sodas, and smoothies all wrapped up in a tidy daily rate. But like anything that looks easy on a cruise ship, there’s fine print, a few caveats, and some “wish-I-had-known” details worth unpacking before you click add to cart.
So here’s the straightforward truth about the CHEERS! package — what it covers, what it doesn’t, and why it’s not always the deal it appears to be.
What the CHEERS! Package Actually Includes
On paper, the CHEERS! package covers most of your onboard beverages:
Cocktails, beer, wine by the glass (up to $20 each)
Specialty coffees, sodas, milkshakes, energy drinks, mocktails, and smoothies
15 alcoholic drinks per day (that’s the limit — after that, you’re paying out of pocket)
Non-alcoholic beverages all day long
It’s available fleet-wide, but there’s a catch: you can’t just buy it for one or two days. You have to purchase it for the entire length of your cruise, and every adult in your stateroom must purchase it, too.
The cost floats depending on your sailing, but expect roughly $69.95 per person, per day if purchased in advance, or a few dollars more if you wait until you’re onboard. Carnival automatically adds a 18% gratuity.
Where and When You Can’t Use It
The big surprise for first-timers is that CHEERS! doesn’t work everywhere — in fact, it’s a ship-only perk.
Here’s where it does not apply:
Any port of call or island stop, including Carnival’s own destinations like Celebration Key
Room service orders
Bottles of wine, liquor, or buckets of beer
Mini-bar purchases
Yes, you can still hand over your Sail & Sign card for drinks at Celebration Key, but those charges hit your onboard account separately. They won’t count toward your CHEERS! allowance or your daily drink total.
A Word About Celebration Key
Celebration Key — Carnival’s highly anticipated private Bahamian playground — is designed to feel like an extension of the ship, but it’s not when it comes to CHEERS!.
Drinks there are all à la carte. Expect pricing roughly in this range (plus 18% gratuity and 10% Bahamian VAT):
Beer: $7–$9
Wine by the glass: $8–$11.50
Cocktails: $12.50–$16
Soft drinks: $3.50
Bottled water: $3
Energy drinks: $7.50
There’s also an upscale area called Pearl Cove Beach Club, which offers tiered upgrade packages:
Access only: $99.99
Access + Open Bar: $139.99 (roughly 10 included drinks)
All-Inclusive Food & Drinks: $179.99
If you plan to spend the day there sipping cocktails, one of those options might make sense. Otherwise, be prepared to budget a little extra for drinks on the island.
Is CHEERS! Worth It?
That depends entirely on your drinking habits. If you’re the type who enjoys a morning latte, a few poolside cocktails, wine at dinner, and maybe a nightcap, the math often works out in your favor.
But if you only have a couple of drinks a day or plan to spend most of your time off the ship — especially at ports where the package doesn’t apply — it might not.
For context:
Most cocktails onboard run $12–$14.
Beer averages $7–$9.
Specialty coffees and sodas add another $3–$6 each.
So if you typically order 5–6 drinks per day, CHEERS! may break even. More than that, you’ll likely save. Fewer than that, and you’re paying for convenience.
What to Know Before You Go (or Buy)
Buy Early – It’s cheaper to purchase before sailing. Prices onboard go up.
Everyone in the Cabin Must Buy It – No splitting or “sharing” allowed.
One Drink at a Time – You can’t double-fist or grab one for a friend.
Set Expectations – The limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day is firm.
Do the Math – Add up what you’d realistically drink per day and compare it to the daily rate.
The Bottom Line
CHEERS! can be a great way to pre-budget your bar tab and forget about money once you’re onboard. Just make sure you understand its limits — especially on days at Celebration Key or other ports, where you’ll be paying out of pocket.
If your cruise is heavy on sea days, you like to explore the cocktail menus, and you want to enjoy that “vacation mode” freedom without thinking about your bill, CHEERS! can be worth every penny.
If you’re more of a two-drink-and-call-it-a-night kind of traveler (or you’re planning a port-intensive itinerary), skip it and order à la carte. Either way, know before you go — and save yourself from sticker shock when you’re sipping that frozen margarita on the sand.
