If you’re planning a cruise with P&O Cruises, one of the biggest decisions before you sail is whether the P&O Drinks Package is worth it?
The P&O Drinks Package is one of the most searched cruise questions for a reason. It looks simple at first, you pay a daily price and your drinks are covered. But once you look at the numbers, your itinerary, and how you’ll actually use it day to day, the answer isn’t always straightforward.
This guide breaks it down properly. Not just what’s included, but how it works onboard, what drinks really cost in 2026, and when the package actually makes sense.
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What Drinks Packages Are Available on P&O Cruises?
There are four drinks packages on P&O Cruises, and understanding how each one works is the first step in deciding whether the P&O Drinks Package is worth the cost.
Refresh Package
The Refresh package is the most basic option and focuses purely on soft drinks. It includes drinks like Pepsi, lemonade, and juices, but it does not include coffee, mocktails, or any premium soft drinks. For most people, this feels quite limited.
Alcohol-Free package
The Alcohol-Free package is a step up and is often overlooked. It includes everything in the Refresh package, but also adds Costa coffee, Teapigs tea, hot chocolate, alcohol-free beers and wines, and mocktails. If you do not drink alcohol but still want variety throughout the day, this is often the most practical choice.
Classic Drinks Package
The Classic drinks package is the one most people consider. It includes beers, ciders, single measures of spirits, prosecco, cocktails up to £8.50, and wine by the glass in 175ml servings. It also gives you a 20 percent discount on drinks that fall outside the package.
Deluxe Drinks Package
The Deluxe package builds on this by including premium cocktails up to £9.50, larger wine servings at 250ml, double measures of spirits, craft beers, and what P&O describe as “perfect serve” drinks. The difference between Classic and Deluxe is not huge on paper, but it becomes more noticeable depending on what you actually drink.
When Should You Buy the P&O Drinks Package?
Timing can make a noticeable difference to the price you pay, and this is one area where many people miss an easy saving.
If you add the drinks package at the time you book your cruise, you will usually receive a ten percent discount and you can spread the cost as part of your overall cruise balance. This is the simplest option if you already know you want it.
You can also add the package later through the P&O Cruises website, up to a few days before you sail. You will still receive the ten percent discount, but you will need to pay for it at the time of booking rather than spreading the cost.
Where it becomes more interesting is with promotions. P&O regularly run offers around key times of year, including Bank Holidays, Black Friday, and other seasonal events. These promotions can sometimes be combined with your pre-cruise discount and your Peninsular Club loyalty discount, which means the total saving can be quite significant if you time it well.
If you wait until you are onboard, you can still buy the drinks package within the first couple of days. However, you will pay full price with no discounts applied. The only time this really makes sense is if you have a large amount of onboard credit and want to use it that way.
Do All Adults Have to Buy the P&O Drinks Package?
One of the most important rules to understand is that all adults sharing a cabin must buy the same drinks package.
You cannot have one person on a package and another person paying as they go, and you cannot mix different packages within the same cabin. This rule applies to all adults aged eighteen and over, but children are not included.
This can have a big impact on whether the package works financially. If one person drinks significantly less than the other, it can quickly make the overall cost harder to justify.
How Many Drinks Can You Have in the P&O Drinks Package?
There is a daily limit on alcoholic drinks, although in practice it is higher than most people would realistically reach.
You can order up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, with one drink at a time and a 15-minute gap between orders. Non-alcoholic drinks are not limited. For most cruise passengers, this limit is not restrictive. It is there more as a safeguard than something that will affect normal usage.
How Do You Use the P&O Drinks Package?
Once you are onboard, using the drinks package is straightforward and requires no additional setup.
Your cruise card will show that you have adrinks package, and every time you order a drink you simply hand over your card. The drink is then included automatically, with no need to sign receipts or track your usage.
If you buy the package onboard, this is added to your card immediately, and the process works in exactly the same way.
What’s Included in the P&O Drinks Package ? Understanding the Menu Codes
The easiest way to understand what is included is to look at the drinks menu itself. On P&O menus, each drink has a small letter next to it that shows which package it belongs to.
A “C” means the drink is included in the Classic package, while a “D” means it is only included in the Deluxe package.
For example, most standard cocktails priced at £8.50 are included in the Classic package, while premium cocktails priced at £9.50 are reserved for Deluxe. Wine follows a similar pattern, with smaller 175ml glasses included in Classic and larger 250ml servings included in Deluxe.
This is why it is worth checking the P&O drinks menu before your cruise. Seeing the actual menu gives you a much clearer understanding of what you will realistically be ordering.
Want to check exactly what’s included before you sail?
If you want to see the exact drink prices, including cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks, you can view P&O Drinks Menu 2026 here.
How to Save Money Without a Drinks Package
The P&O drinks package is not the only way to manage your spending onboard, and in some cases it is not the most cost-effective option.
You can order bottles of spirits directly to your cabin through room service. If you are happy to mix your own drinks, this can work out significantly cheaper than buying individual drinks at the bar.
You are also allowed to bring one litre of wine or champagne per adult, along with unlimited soft drinks. Many people take advantage of this by bringing cans or mixers to keep in their cabin fridge.
This approach works particularly well if you tend to drink in the evening rather than throughout the day, or if you prefer to keep your spending more controlled.
Break-Even: What Do Drinks Actually Cost on P&O in 2026?
To work out whether the P&O drinks package is worth it, you need to understand the actual cost of drinks onboard.
Cocktails are typically priced at £8.50, while premium cocktails are around £9.50. A small glass of wine usually falls between £7.50 and £7.95, and a larger glass ranges from £9.50 to £10.75. Costa coffee is around £3.55, and beers are generally in the range of £5.50 to £6.
Based on these prices, the Classic package usually requires around five to six drinks per day to break even. This might look like a couple of cocktails in the afternoon, a glass or two of wine with dinner, and a coffee earlier in the day.
The Deluxe package requires slightly more, typically around six to seven drinks per day, depending on what you are ordering.
The key point is that it is not just about how much you drink, but when you drink and how often you are onboard to use the package.
Does the Ship or Itinerary Matter when buying a P&O Drinks Package ?
Yes — and this makes a big difference.
One of the biggest factors in whether the P&O drinks package is worth it is something many people overlook, the type of ship and the itinerary.
On quieter ships like P&O Arcadia where the atmosphere is more relaxed, people generally drink less. On larger and more lively ships like P&O Arvia or P&O Britannia , especially in warmer destinations, it becomes much easier to use the package fully.
The itinerary often has an even bigger impact. On cruises with multiple sea days, you are onboard for most of the day, which naturally leads to more opportunities to use the package. On port-heavy itineraries, particularly in destinations like the Mediterranean, you will spend much of your day ashore, reducing how much you use it.
Families and Short Cruises
The value of the drinks package changes quite significantly when you factor in families and shorter sailings.
For families, there is a clear benefit. When adults purchase the Classic or Deluxe package, children receive the Refresh package free. This means unlimited soft drinks are effectively included, which can add real value over the course of a cruise.
Short cruises are a different situation. On shorter sailings, typically two or three nights, drinks packages are often not available at all. Even when they are, there is less time to use them, which makes it harder to justify the cost.
Peace of Mind vs Real Value
For many people, the decision is not purely about whether they will break even.
The drinks package offers a level of simplicity. You know what you have paid upfront, you do not need to track your spending, and you can order drinks without thinking about the cost each time.
However, if you are only having one or two drinks per day, paying as you go will almost always work out cheaper.
How Does the P&O Drinks Package Compare to Other Cruise Lines?
When you compare P&O to other cruise lines, the pricing structure is slightly different.
Compared to Royal Caribbean drinks packages are typically more expensive, often reaching higher daily rates. Princess Cruises also bundle drinks into packages that include WiFi and gratuities, which changes how the value is calculated.
On P&O, individual drink prices are relatively reasonable. This means paying as you go is often a realistic option, and it is why many passengers choose not to buy a drinks package at all.
Key Takeaways
You will typically need around five to seven drinks per day to make the P&O Drinks package worthwhile. Sea days increase the value significantly, while port-heavy itineraries reduce it. Families often get better value due to the inclusion of soft drinks for children, while lighter drinkers are usually better off paying as they go.
Related Guides
P&O Drinks Menu 2026 – Full Price List + Downloadable Menu (Cocktails, Wine, Beer & More)
P&O Arvia Dining Options (2026 Guide) – Included Restaurants, Menus & What’s Worth Paying Extra. A full breakdown of included and specialty restaurants, menus, and what’s actually worth paying extra for.
What I Wish I’d Known Before a P&O Arvia Cruise – Practical tips that first-time cruisers often miss, including onboard costs, booking strategy, and common mistakes.
P&O Cruises: Avoid These Common Mistakes – The biggest errors passengers make, from drinks spending to shore planning, and how to avoid them.
P&O vs Princess Cruises: Which Should You Choose? – A direct comparison of pricing, drinks packages, ships, and onboard experience.
FAQs
Is the P&O Drinks Package worth it?
It depends on how much you drink. Most people need around 5 to 7 drinks per day to make it worthwhile.
Can you share a P&O Drinks Package?
No. All adults in the same cabin must buy the same package.
Are coffees included in the P&O Drinks Package?
Only in the Alcohol-Free, Classic, and Deluxe packages.
Can you bring your own alcohol onboard?
Yes, one litre of wine or champagne per adult.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise on P&O Arvia more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.
I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Staying Connected at Sea
If you don’t want to rely entirely on the ship’s Wi-Fi, another option is a cruise eSIM.
Saily has recently launched cruise eSIM plans that provide mobile data both at sea and in supported ports. Depending on your itinerary and how you use your phone, this could be a convenient alternative for messaging, maps and general internet browsing.
You can check the latest plans and coverage here: Saily Cruise Esim
Use code SOLOTRAVEL10 to receive 10% off your purchase.
Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I haven’t personally tested Saily’s cruise eSIM yet, so please check the latest coverage, data allowances and device compatibility before purchasing.