Holland America Drink Packages: Beverage Package Guide
Want to enjoy a drink but don’t want sticker shock at the end of your cruise? Then one of the Holland America Drink Packages might be right for you.
Getting a big bill at the end of your cruise can really put a damper on an otherwise great vacation. I’ve cruised a lot over the years (20+ cruises as a passenger, countless as crew). Of all of those cruises the ones where I had a drinks package not only was easier for budgeting purposes, but it also made my cruise feel so much more luxurious not having to worry about each chai latte, soda, or glass of red wine I ordered.
Like most cruise lines that aren’t already all-inclusive, Holland America has several drink and beverage package options available. These range from a just fountain soda option all the way up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day (up to $15 each) plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks.
Just like there is a big range in what’s offered on each package there is also a big range in prices, too. As the saying goes you get what you pay for and with these drink packages it is no different.
What does the drink package include on Holland America?
The Holland America Drink Packages are split into four options. There are two non-alcoholic choices and two options that include alcoholic beverages as well.
It should be noted that none of these options include the in-cabin mini-bar or ashore at Half Moon Cay, the companies private island.
Here’s a quick overview of the different drink package options:
| Holland America Drink Package | Main Inclusions | Maximum Drinks | Cost |
| Coca-Cola package | Unlimited fountain sodas | Unlimited | $8.00 per guest/per day |
| Quench package | Non-alcoholic drinks including specialty coffees, sodas, and mocktails | Up to 15 drinks per day | $17.95 per guest/per day |
| Signature beverage package | Everything from the Quench package plus beers, spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass up to $11 | Up to 15 drinks per day | $54.95 per guest/per day |
| Elite beverage package | Everything from the Signature package plus beers, spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass up to $15 | Up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks | $59.95 per guest/per day |
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Non-Alcoholic Beverage Packages
For the non-alcoholic drink package options there is the Coca-Cola Package and the Quench Package.
Coca-Cola package
These package includes, as you guessed it, soda. This includes unlimited fountain sodas and on the Pinnacle Class ships (Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Koningsdam) also includes the Freestyle soda machines.
Quench package
The Quench package is definitely a step up from the soda-only option as it includes things such as specialty coffees, mocktails, juices (although some juice is included at breakfast time), and yes, sodas. There is a maximum of 15 drinks per day on this beverage package.
Drink Packages Including Alcoholic Beverages
Holland America has two drink packages that include alcoholic beverages. These packages are only for guests who are 21 years and older at the time of sailing. Aside from one package being more expensive than the other there are two main differences – how expensive the drinks are you can get and how many non-alcoholic drinks you can get as part of the package.
It’s worth noting Holland America’s alcohol policy does allow on some voyages guests that are 18+ to consume alcoholic beverages.
Signature beverage package
The Signature beverage package is their starting beverage package that includes alcoholic beverages. With this package you can enjoy up to 15 drinks per day that are up to $11 each. This is a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The non-alcoholic drink options are those included with the Quench package.
If you were to order a drink that was more than $11 you would pay the difference in cost not the full cost of the drink.
Elite beverage package
The Elite beverage package includes pretty much all of the other packages and you can order drinks up to $15 each. Other than being able to order slightly more expensive drinks without it costing you more the other big advantage of this package is you can order 15 alcoholic drinks plus as many non-alcoholic drinks as you would like. Now, it would take a lot to go through 15 alcoholic drinks plus some specialty coffees and sodas, but no judgement here – go for it.
Pro Tip:
There is an off menu item called the Weng Weng. This is a Holland America tradition. Use caution though as this drink is strong!
How much does a Holland America Drink Package Cost?
A drink package with Holland America ranges in price from $8 per person, per day all the way up to $59.95 per person, per day. As you would guess the more expensive package has more included and the least expensive has less.
The least expensive do not include alcohol. These are the the Coca-Cola Package which costs $8 per person, per day and the Quench Package costs $17.95 per person, per day.
For the packages including alcohol, the Signature beverage package costs $54.95 per person, per day, where as the Elite beverage package costs $59.95 per person, per day.
It’s worth noting that on voyages 6 days or longer, you may have the option to purchase the Have It All package which starts at $55 a day and includes the Signature beverage package and also includes Wi-Fi, a shore excursion credit, and specialty dining credit.
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Other Drink Discounts
There are other drink discounts available. On Holland America you can typically find at least one happy hour per day. Which bar this is at and exactly what the discount is will depend a bit on the itinerary and ship that you are on, but it would provide a bit of a discount.
Another option would be the Sommelier suite wine package. This can be purchased once onboard and provides the option to enjoy several bottles of wine at a discounted price.
Additionally, if you are a part of the Holland America loyalty program, the Mariner Society and are at least at the 3 star level you are eligible for discounts on the Sommelier wine package. If you are four star and up you can receive a discount on the wine package plus enjoy complimentary wine tastings, and discounts on the in-cabin mini-bar.
How many drinks to make drink package worth it on a Holland America cruise?
Whether or not a drink package will be worth it for you depends on how much you plan to drink of course! If you were only going to have one or two drinks a day it wouldn’t be worth it – but let’s take a look at just how many it would take to be worth it.
A drink package can also be worth it, not because of a specific number of drinks but because it gives an all-inclusive feel to your cruise.
Coca-Cola Package
This package is $8 per person per day and Coca-Cola or soft drink is $2.95. If you planned to have just three soft drinks per day it would be worth it to have this drink package. $2.95 x 3 is $8.85, so you’d already have an 85 cent savings.
Quench Package
This package is $17.95 per person per day. With this package you can get specialty coffees, soft drinks, mocktails, and bottled water. If you were just to buy bottled water, either the Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino are $6 each so you would just need to buy 3 of these to make it worth it.
Signature Beverage Package
This package is $54.95 per person, per day and allows you to get spirits, wine by the glass, beer, cocktails, soft drinks, and more up to $11 each.
If you were a wine drinker you would need to drink 5 glasses of $11/glass wine to make this package worth it.
If you primarily drank beer, at $7.75 per drink you would need to drink 8 beers per day to make this worth it.
Elite Beverage Package
This package is $59.95 per person per day. For the Elite beverage package it would take 8 beers per day, but would only take 5 glasses of wine if you were to get the $14.50 wine.
What are Holland America beverage cards?
Maybe a full drink package isn’t for you but you want to feel free to spend some on drinks. A good way to budget for this is through beverage cards. These are kind of like gift cards but they can only be used for drinks.
How do I order beverage packages and cards?
You can order beverage packages and beverage cards onboard. Additionally, friends and family could buy a beverage package or card for you as a gift. This could be a great way to brighten up someones cruise or offer them a nice surprise onboard.
Another Holland America Drink Package Option (Most of the Time): The Have It All Package
This package might be the golden option for most that would be interested in a drink package.
The Have It All package is a package you can purchase that includes a Wi-Fi package, drinks package, shore excursion credit, and some specialty dining. This package is only available on voyages 6 days and longer, but if you are already considering a drink package this package, starting at $55 per person/per day can certainly be a good value or at least worth considering.
The regular Have It All package includes the Signature Beverage package; where as the Have It All Early Booking Bonus (when you book early you’re eligible for this option) includes the Elite Beverage package.
Review: Holland America Drink Packages
While $50 plus per person is a pretty price to pay and certainly adds to the overall cost of the cruise, it can be a good value if you are planning on having a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
However, if you are on a cruise for 6 days or longer and were planning on getting at least the Signature beverage package, you should honestly go for the Have It All package as you get more for your money at the same price point.
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☑️ Check pricing, availability, and search for deals here!
