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A glass of wine with dinner, a speciality coffee in the morning or a cocktail before the evening's entertainment - drinks are all part of the Cunard experience.
But if you're planning a Cunard cruise, you may be wondering whether to pay for drinks as you go or choose one of the Cunard drinks packages.
There are several options to choose from, including alcohol-free packages, alcoholic drinks packages and Cunard's newer Signature Packages, which combine drinks with Wi-Fi and dining credit.
Here's what you need to know before choosing.
Cunard’s Signature Package gives you a convenient way to enjoy a wider selection of drinks and added onboard benefits throughout your cruise.
Upgrade to the Signature Package from £60pp per day and receive:
The Signature Package combines drinks with other onboard extras, making it an option for guests who want to add more to their cruise experience.
Package pricing and inclusions can vary by sailing, so always check the specific offer available for your cruise before booking.
The Beverage Collection is Cunard's everyday alcoholic drinks package.
It covers alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks priced up to US$13.50 per serving. If you choose a drink above that amount, you can pay the difference.
The package also includes the benefits of the Premium Alcohol-Free Collection and gives you 15% off Wine and Bar Academy activities and bottled wine.
It's likely to suit guests who enjoy a mixture of drinks during their cruise without necessarily choosing the most premium options.
The Premium Beverage Collection gives you a higher drinks allowance, covering alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks priced up to US$20 per serving.
It includes options such as fine wines, champagne and craft cocktails, with the option to pay the difference on drinks above the US$20 limit.
You'll also receive 25% off Wine and Bar Academy activities and bottled wine, alongside the benefits of the Beverage Collection.
If you particularly enjoy wine, champagne or cocktails, this is the package to compare with your expected spending.
Cunard has two alcohol-free options, so you don't need to pay for an alcoholic package to enjoy a drinks package.
The Alcohol-Free Collection includes unlimited fountain soda alongside selected soft drinks, juices and hot drinks priced up to US$4.50.
The Premium Alcohol-Free Collection increases the choice, including selected alcohol-free cocktails, bottled mineral water, freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, milkshakes and speciality hot drinks up to US$12.
For anyone who enjoys speciality coffee, mocktails or fresh juices throughout the day, the premium alcohol-free option could be worth considering.
Yes. While the packages offer a wide selection of included drinks, Cunard's terms and conditions include limits and restrictions on their use.
For alcoholic beverages, there is a maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per guest during a 24-hour period. The limit resets at midnight.
The package is also intended for the individual guest who purchased it and cannot simply be used to buy drinks for other passengers.
This is an important point to check before you buy.
Cunard's drinks package terms state that eligible guests sharing a stateroom generally need to purchase the same World of Drinks Collection, subject to Cunard's specific rules and exceptions.
That means you should calculate the cost for each eligible guest, rather than assuming one package can cover everyone in the cabin.
If you're travelling with children or guests who don't drink alcohol, check the terms that apply to your particular booking before purchasing.
Yes, although booking in advance can offer better value.
Cunard currently states that its drinks collections can be purchased through My Cunard, with pre-cruise prices offering a 10% saving compared with the equivalent onboard price.
If you already know you'll want a package, it's worth checking your booking before you sail rather than waiting until you're onboard.
No – and this is where Cunard's current offering gets particularly interesting.
The newer Cunard Signature Packages bundle several onboard extras together rather than providing drinks alone.
There are two options:
The Signature Package includes:
For a 10 - 14 night voyage, for example, the package currently costs £60 per person, per day and includes US$50 dining credit.
The Premium option includes:
For a 10 - 14 night voyage, the current price is £70 per person, per day, including US$80 dining credit.
The amount of dining credit and the daily price vary according to the length of the voyage.
Cunard says Signature Packages can save guests up to 30% compared with purchasing the included elements separately, although availability is limited to eligible voyages.
Rather than automatically choosing the most expensive option, think about how you'll actually spend your time onboard.
The Alcohol-Free Collection could suit you if you mainly want soft drinks, juices and hot drinks.
The Premium Alcohol-Free Collection is worth considering if speciality coffees, mocktails, smoothies and bottled water are more important to you.
The Beverage Collection could be a good middle ground if you enjoy wine, beer, spirits or cocktails but don't regularly choose premium drinks.
The Premium Beverage Collection makes more sense if champagne, fine wines and craft cocktails are likely to feature heavily in your cruise.
A Signature Package could be particularly interesting if you already planned to buy Wi-Fi and dine in alternative restaurants, as you're combining all three into one package.
That depends entirely on what you drink.
If you're likely to have several included drinks throughout the day, a package can make budgeting easier and means you don't have to think about the price every time you order.
However, if you only have the occasional glass of wine or cocktail, paying individually could work out better.
The best way to decide is to consider a typical sea day. Think about your morning coffee, drinks at lunch, afternoon refreshments, pre-dinner drinks and anything you might have in the evening.
Then compare what you realistically expect to spend with the price of the package.
Don't forget that the Beverage and Premium Beverage Collections also allow you to pay the difference when ordering drinks above the applicable price limit.
If you're primarily interested in wine rather than having a full drinks package, Cunard also offers wine collections.
These can be worth considering if you enjoy having wine with meals but don't expect to drink enough throughout the day to make a broader drinks package worthwhile.
It's another reason not to automatically choose a drinks package without first considering how you'll actually use it.
Cunard gives guests plenty of choice, from straightforward alcohol-free options to premium drinks packages covering wines, champagne and cocktails.
The key is choosing based on your drinking habits, rather than assuming a package is automatically the best-value option.
And with Cunard's new Signature Packages combining drinks, Wi-Fi and dining credit, there is now another option for guests who want to bundle their onboard extras.
If you're booking a Cunard cruise, compare the packages available for your sailing before you travel and look at the overall value rather than simply the daily drinks allowance.
Q - How much is a Cunard drinks package?
A - Prices currently start from US$18 per person, per day for the Alcohol-Free Collection and vary depending on the package and length of your cruise.
Q - What is the most expensive Cunard drinks package?
A - The Premium Beverage Collection is the highest-priced standalone drinks collection, currently starting from US$63 per person, per day for longer voyages and rising to US$108 per person, per day for shorter voyages.
Q - Can I buy a Cunard drinks package before sailing?
A - Yes. Drinks collections can be purchased through My Cunard, and booking in advance currently gives a 10% saving compared with the equivalent onboard price.
Q - Can I choose an alcohol-free package?
A - Yes. Cunard offers both Alcohol-Free and Premium Alcohol-Free Collections.
Q - What is the difference between a drinks package and a Signature Package?
A - A standalone drinks package covers beverages, while a Signature Package combines drinks with Wi-Fi and dining credit.
Q - Are Cunard Signature Packages available on every cruise?
A - No. They are subject to availability and only apply to eligible voyages.
