This is a common question for those considering booking a booze cruise. The short answer is that it depends on the cruise line and specific cruise package purchased. Most booze cruises offer inclusive drinks as part of the ticket price, but there are sometimes limitations or options to pay more for a premium open bar.
What is a booze cruise?
A booze cruise, also known as a party cruise, is a themed cruise meant for drinking and partying. Booze cruises offer inclusive drinks, entertainment like DJs and dancing, and often operate at night. They depart from major port cities and can range from 2 hours to overnight.
Some popular booze cruise locations include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, Seattle, Boston, and Honolulu. Booze cruises are popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, corporate events, and general recreational partying. They offer a unique way to drink, party, and sightsee.
Do booze cruises include free drinks?
Most booze cruises will offer a drinks package as part of the ticket price. However, “free drinks” comes with some caveats.
Many booze cruises will offer a standard open bar as part of the base ticket price, which includes beer, wine, and basic well liquor drinks. This allows unlimited drinking for the duration of the cruise at no additional cost.
However, there may be limitations to the “free” drinks. For example:
- Limits on number of drinks served at one time
- Lower-quality alcohol brands
- Server discretion to cut off very intoxicated guests
- Excludes shots, bottled beer, and top-shelf liquor
- Only valid during certain hours, not the full cruise
Some cruises charge extra for premium packages with top-shelf liquors, brand-name beers, champagne, and no limitations.
Examples of booze cruise drink packages
Here are some examples of popular booze cruise companies and their drink packages:
New York
- Rocks Off – Includes 2 free drinks per hour
- Circle Line – Unlimited beer, wine, and select spirits
- Hornblower Infinity – Unlimited drinks for 2-5 hours
New Orleans
- Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise – Unlimited standard drinks
- Creole Queen Jazz Cruise – Unlimited standard drinks
Los Angeles
- Hornblower Sunday Brunch Cruise – 2 free drinks with brunch
- Marina del Rey Dinner Cruise – Unlimited beer, wine, and basic cocktails
Miami
- Island Queen Cruise – Unlimited beer, wine, and frozen drinks
- Lady in Red Cruise – Open premium bar for 3 hours
As you can see, most basic packages will offer beer, wine, and rail liquor drinks for free, with options to upgrade. Premium and unlimited top-shelf liquor packages almost always cost extra.
Why booze cruises limit “free” drinks
Booze cruise companies need to limit the “free” drinks to stay profitable and prevent excessive overdrinking. Reasons drinks may be limited include:
- Control costs – Top-shelf liquor is expensive
- Discourage overconsumption – Can lead to liability issues if a guest gets injured while intoxicated
- Maintain orderly environment – Prevent unruly behavior from severely drunk guests
- Adhere to local laws – Some places limit number of drinks served at one time
- Allow more guests to be served – Prevent one guest from monopolizing bartender’s time
For these reasons, unlimited premium liquor packages will cost extra on a booze cruise, even if basic drinks are “free” with the ticket price.
How much do drinks packages cost?
Drink package pricing can vary greatly depending on the cruise line, cruise length, brands offered, and city. Some typical price examples:
New York City
- Rocks Off – Open bar package $20 extra per person
- Hornblower Infinity Brunch Cruise – Bloody Mary/Mimosa package $30 per person
New Orleans
- Steamboat Natchez – Premium liquor package $15 extra per person
- Creole Queen – Hurricanes package with extra shots $10 per person
Miami
- Island Queen Premium Open Bar – $35 per person
- Lady in Red Cocktail Package – $50 per person
Factors like cruise length, group size, and included brands influence cost. Prices range from $10 for basic upgrades to over $100 per person on high-end overnight cruises. Expect to pay extra if you want unlimited top-shelf liquor.
Ways to drink free on a booze cruise
If you’re looking to maximize your free drinks on a booze cruise, here are some tips:
- Book an afternoon cruise – They may offer free drinks for 1-2 hours
- Stick to beer and wine – These are usually free on basic packages
- Get the well drinks – Lowest quality but still free
- Space out orders – Don’t order 4 drinks at once, order 1 at a time
- Go on discounted nights – Weeknights and off-peak times may offer promotions
- Buy tickets as a group – Look for group ticket discounts
- Book by certain dates – Early booking deals may include free drinks
At the end of the day, nothing beats truly unlimited top-shelf liquor if you want to drink for free. Be prepared to spend extra if you want to overindulge.
Should you pre-pay for drinks?
Pre-paying for a drinks package depends on factors like:
- What’s included in the base price – Is the standard open bar sufficient?
- Your drinking habits – Will you actually consume a lot?
- Your budget – Is the package worth the extra cost for you?
- Type of occasion – More drinking expected at a bachelor party than a corporate event
If you’ll drink 6+ beers or basics drinks, a package can be worth it. Packages also provide convenience by not having to pay individually. But for light drinkers, or short events, stick to the basics.
Conclusion
Most booze cruises include “free” drinks in the ticket price, typically beer, wine, and rail liquor. But unlimited premium liquor costs extra. Read the fine print to see what’s covered under a “standard open bar”. While restrictions may apply, booze cruise drink packages offer a great value for hours of inclusive drinks compared to land-based bars. Just budget a bit extra if you want top-shelf spirits.