A Holland America Line cruise can include plenty of opportunities to enjoy coffee, soft drinks, cocktails, wine, beer, and other beverages. Because drinks purchased individually can add up during a cruise, many passengers wonder whether buying a drink package is actually worth the cost.
The answer depends mainly on how much you expect to drink, what types of beverages you prefer, how many days you are cruising, and whether you can use the package consistently.
Holland America Line currently offers several beverage options, including the Signature Beverage Package, Elite Beverage Package, and Quench Beverage Package. The line also offers its Have It All package, which combines the Signature Beverage Package with other cruise benefits.
This guide explains how the packages work, what they include, their daily limits, important restrictions, and how to decide whether a Holland America drink package makes sense for your cruise.
A drink package can be worthwhile for passengers who regularly purchase several included beverages throughout the day.
For example, if you enjoy specialty coffee in the morning, soft drinks or other beverages during the day, wine with dinner, and cocktails in the evening, a package may provide convenience and predictable spending.
On the other hand, passengers who mostly drink complimentary beverages and only occasionally purchase alcohol may spend less by paying for individual drinks.
The key is not simply asking, "Do I drink alcohol?"
Instead, ask:
These questions can give you a much more realistic answer.
Holland America Line currently lists four main beverage packages: Elite, Signature, Quench, and Coca-Cola. The most relevant choices for many adult passengers are Signature, Elite, and Quench.
The Signature Beverage Package is currently listed at US$55.95 per person, per day before the cruise.
It covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages priced at US$12 or less, with a maximum of 15 included beverages per day. Specialty coffees, sodas, cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, and other qualifying beverages can be included.
The Signature package is particularly relevant for passengers who want alcoholic drinks but do not regularly choose beverages above the package's price limit.
The Elite Beverage Package is currently listed at US$60.95 per person, per day before the cruise.
It covers beverages priced at US$16 or less. It has a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages, while qualifying non-alcoholic beverages are unlimited under the current terms.
The Elite option may be more relevant to passengers who prefer premium cocktails, spirits, wines, or other drinks that frequently cost more than the Signature package's US$12 threshold.
Quench is the non-alcoholic option.
It is currently listed at US$17.95 per person, per day before the cruise and provides up to 15 qualifying non-alcoholic beverages each day. Options include specialty coffee, juices, Coca-Cola products, mocktails, and other qualifying beverages.
This can be useful for passengers who do not drink alcohol but regularly purchase specialty beverages.
Current pre-cruise prices published by Holland America Line are:
Beverage PackageCurrent Listed Price Per Person, Per DayMain Coverage
SignatureUS$55.95Drinks up to US$12
EliteUS$60.95Drinks up to US$16
QuenchUS$17.95Non-alcoholic beverages
Have It AllUS$65Signature drinks plus other benefits
Prices are subject to change, so passengers should check their booking for the price applicable to their particular cruise. Holland America also notes that a 20% service charge applies to beverage purchases, while the published package terms state that service charges are included for covered beverages in the packages.
The daily limit is one of the most important things to understand before purchasing.
The Signature Beverage Package allows up to 15 alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages per day within its qualifying price limit.
Importantly, non-alcoholic beverages count toward the 15-drink daily limit on Signature.
Elite allows up to 15 alcoholic beverages per day within its qualifying price limit.
Qualifying zero-proof beverages are unlimited under the current rules.
Quench is limited to 15 non-alcoholic beverages per day.
The daily limits make it important to think about your normal drinking habits instead of assuming that a package means unlimited drinks.
The exact beverage selection can vary by ship and menu, but Holland America's current package information includes categories such as:
The price threshold matters. A Signature package covers qualifying beverages priced at US$12 or less, while Elite covers qualifying beverages priced at US$16 or less.
If you want a specific drink, check the onboard menu and package details rather than assuming every beverage is covered.
A drink above the package's price threshold does not necessarily mean you cannot order it.
For the Signature package, Holland America states that if you select a beverage priced above the US$12 threshold, you can pay the difference between the drink's menu price and the package threshold.
This can provide some flexibility for passengers who occasionally want something outside the standard package range.
One important rule is that beverage packages are not transferable and cannot be shared.
You cannot purchase one package and use it to provide drinks for another passenger.
Holland America also states that guests must order beverages one at a time.
This means you should calculate the package based on your own expected consumption rather than assuming two people can share one package.
This is an important consideration for couples and families.
Holland America Line states that all adults of legal drinking age for the itinerary who are booked in the same stateroom must also purchase the package.
For example, if two adults are sharing a stateroom and one person drinks regularly while the other rarely drinks alcohol, you should consider the cost for both people before deciding.
This rule can significantly change the overall calculation.
A drink package may make sense if you regularly purchase several qualifying beverages throughout the day.
It may be particularly attractive if you enjoy a combination of:
The more consistently you use the package, the easier it becomes to justify the daily cost.
However, "worth it" does not necessarily mean reaching the maximum of 15 drinks every day. You should compare the package cost with what you would realistically spend without it.
A package may not provide good value for passengers who drink very little or spend most of their cruise in ports.
You may want to think twice about purchasing one if:
The package is paid based on a daily rate, so unused days or unused drink capacity can reduce its practical value.
The easiest way to decide whether a drink package is worth buying is to estimate your normal daily beverage spending.
Start with the package's daily price.
For the current Signature Beverage Package:
Daily package cost = US$55.95 per person
Then estimate what you would normally spend on beverages each day.
For example, make a personal list:
Add those individual purchases together.
If your expected daily spending is consistently close to or above the package price, the package deserves serious consideration.
If your expected spending is substantially below the package price, buying individual drinks may make more financial sense.
Remember that actual menu prices can vary, so use the current menus for your specific ship when making the calculation.
Port days are easy to overlook when calculating the value of a cruise drink package.
Suppose you leave the ship early for an excursion and spend most of the day ashore. You may purchase fewer drinks onboard that day.
That does not automatically make the package a bad choice, but it should be part of your calculation.
Consider your itinerary:
Sea days can provide more opportunities to use a beverage package because you spend more time onboard.
If you spend most of the day exploring ashore, your onboard beverage consumption may be lower.
On a short cruise, the daily cost can add up quickly, so estimate your total spending carefully.
On longer voyages, consistent daily use becomes increasingly important when deciding whether the package fits your budget.
The packages have exclusions.
Current Holland America terms state that beverage packages do not cover certain purchases, including beverages from the minibar, in-room dining, and beverages purchased on Half Moon Cay. Other listed exclusions can also apply, including certain onboard venues and services.
You should therefore avoid assuming that every drink available on the ship automatically qualifies.
Always check the current terms and the menu at the venue where you are ordering.
For some passengers, the more relevant comparison is not "drink package versus no drink package."
It is drink package versus Have It All.
Holland America's Have It All package combines the Signature Beverage Package with other benefits, including shore excursion credit, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi.
For example, Holland America currently lists Have It All at US$65 per person per day for its standard current offering, although pricing and eligibility can vary by sailing and promotion.
That means a passenger who already planned to purchase Wi-Fi, specialty dining, excursions, and drinks should compare the combined costs rather than looking only at the beverage portion.
The difference between Signature and Elite is primarily the beverage price threshold and the treatment of non-alcoholic beverages.
Signature covers qualifying beverages up to US$12 and has a 15-beverage daily limit that includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Elite covers qualifying beverages up to US$16 and has a 15-alcoholic-drink daily limit with unlimited qualifying zero-proof beverages.
If most of your preferred drinks fall within Signature's price range, paying extra for Elite may not provide much additional value.
If you frequently select beverages above US$12 but within US$16, Elite may be more relevant.
Yes.
Holland America allows guests to purchase beverage packages through their booking. The current instructions say passengers can log into their account, open their cruise booking, and shop under Food & Beverage. Packages can also be ordered through Ship Services.
Checking the package price before sailing is useful because the available pricing or promotions can affect your calculation.
If you decide to purchase a Holland America drink package, these practical tips can help.
Do not buy a package simply because it sounds convenient. Estimate what you genuinely consume.
Look at the beverages you normally order and compare their prices with the package threshold.
Specialty coffee, soda, mocktails, and other qualifying drinks can matter when calculating the value.
A full day ashore may mean fewer onboard purchases.
Remember that applicable adults sharing the same stateroom may need to purchase the package.
If you also want Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursions, calculate the combined value of Have It All.
You do not need to consume 15 beverages simply because the package permits up to 15 per day. Your decision should be based on normal consumption and budget.
A Holland America Line drink package can be worth considering if you regularly purchase several qualifying beverages each day and want more predictable onboard spending.
The Signature package can suit passengers who enjoy a mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages within the US$12 price threshold. Elite may be more suitable for passengers who prefer higher-priced qualifying drinks. Quench provides an option for passengers focused on non-alcoholic beverages.
But there is no single answer for every traveler.
The best approach is to compare the package's current daily price with your expected daily beverage spending, account for port days, consider the same-stateroom purchasing rule, and compare Have It All if you also want other cruise benefits.
In short, buying a Holland America drink package makes the most sense when your normal beverage habits closely match what the package provides. If you only occasionally buy drinks, paying individually may be the simpler choice.
No. The packages have daily limits. Signature and Quench have limits of 15 beverages per day, while Elite allows up to 15 alcoholic beverages daily and unlimited qualifying zero-proof beverages under the current terms.
Holland America currently lists the Signature Beverage Package at US$55.95 per person, per day before the cruise. Prices can change.
No. Beverage packages are non-transferable and sharing is not permitted.
All adults of legal drinking age for the itinerary who are booked in the same stateroom must also purchase the package under Holland America's current terms.
Yes. The Signature and Elite packages include qualifying alcoholic beverages within their respective price limits. Signature covers qualifying drinks up to US$12, while Elite covers qualifying drinks up to US$16.
Holland America's current information explains how to purchase packages before sailing and notes that Have It All can also be added after the cruise begins, although some value may be missed. Availability and terms can vary, so check your booking or onboard options for your specific sailing.
No. Current Holland America terms exclude beverages purchased on Half Moon Cay from the beverage packages.
Deciding whether to buy a drink package on Holland America Line comes down to your personal drinking habits, itinerary, budget, and the type of beverages you enjoy.
Before purchasing, compare the current package price with the amount you realistically expect to spend on drinks each day. Then consider port days, package limits, exclusions, the same-stateroom rule, and whether Have It All provides additional value for your cruise.
Taking a few minutes to do this calculation before your trip can help you avoid paying for benefits you will not use and make a more informed cruise-budget decision.
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