How many drinks can you get a day with a Marella Cruises drink package?

When booking a cruise holiday, one of the most common questions is: “How many drinks are included in the drinks package?”

For many cruise lines, drinks packages come with complicated restrictions, daily caps, and strict rules about sharing. With Marella Cruises, however, things are refreshingly simple. Marella offers an all-inclusive model as standard, meaning drinks are already part of your cruise fare. Guests then have the option to upgrade to a Premium Drinks Package for access to a wider variety of beverages.

So, how many drinks can you actually get each day with Marella Cruises? The short answer: there’s no fixed daily limit—but there are rules around responsible drinking.

This detailed guide will explain everything you need to know about drink allowances on Marella Cruises, including inclusions, responsible service policies, real passenger experiences, and how it compares to other cruise lines.

Marella Cruises’ All-Inclusive Model

Marella Cruises stands out in the cruise industry because every sailing includes an all-inclusive drinks package in the fare. This means you won’t find yourself facing large bar bills unless you choose to upgrade or order something very specific outside the package.

Standard Drinks Package (Included) Covers:

House wines (red, white, rosé)
Draught beers and ciders
House spirits (vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, etc.)
Selected cocktails
Soft drinks and juices
Hot drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate)

For most casual cruisers, this already provides everything needed for a carefree holiday.

The Premium Drinks Package Upgrade

For those who want more choice, Marella offers the Premium Drinks Package.

Price: Around £80–£100 per person, per week (≈ £11–£14 per day).
Inclusions:
- Branded and top-shelf spirits
- Premium bottled beers and ciders
- Expanded cocktail menu
- Premium wines by the glass
- Bottled water (in bars and restaurants)
- Specialty coffees (cappuccino, latte, iced coffee)

This upgrade is optional, but for cocktail lovers, spirit enthusiasts, or coffee fans, it can be excellent value.

How Many Drinks Can You Have Per Day?

Here’s where things get interesting:

No official cap on number of drinks. Marella Cruises does not limit you to a set number of drinks per day.
Unlimited access. Whether you’re on the standard or premium package, you can order as many drinks as you like.
Responsible service applies. The only restriction is that staff are trained to serve responsibly. If a guest appears intoxicated, service may be slowed or refused.

This means that in theory, you could order 10–20 drinks a day if you wanted to—but most passengers enjoy a reasonable number that matches their holiday pace.

Responsible Drinking Policy

Even though there’s no set daily cap, Marella enforces a responsible drinking policy to ensure safety and comfort for all guests.

Bar staff are trained to refuse service to overly intoxicated passengers.
Drinks are served one per person at a time (no ordering multiple for sharing).
Alcohol service may be limited for under-18s (who receive soft drinks only).
Guests must adhere to UK alcohol laws, as Marella is a British cruise line.

This approach allows freedom while still ensuring a safe environment on board.

How Many Drinks Do Passengers Typically Have?

From passenger reports and cruise forums, the average number of drinks consumed per day on Marella Cruises varies:

Casual drinkers: 4–6 drinks per day (mix of wine, cocktails, and coffee).
Moderate drinkers: 6–10 drinks per day.
Heavy drinkers: 12+ drinks per day.

Because there’s no daily cap, the value of the package depends on your personal drinking habits.

Comparing Value: Standard vs Premium Package

Let’s compare with real-world numbers.

Example: Premium Cocktails & Coffees

Cocktail (premium): £6.50
Branded gin & tonic: £6
Specialty coffee: £3.50
Bottled water: £2

If you drink:

2 cocktails + 2 branded G&Ts + 1 coffee + 1 bottled water = £30/day.
Premium package costs ≈ £12/day.

In this scenario, the package more than pays for itself.

How Does Marella Compare with Other Cruise Lines?

Unlike Marella, many cruise lines have stricter rules:

Royal Caribbean: Daily drinks cap at 15 alcoholic drinks per person.
Carnival Cruise Line: 15 alcoholic drinks per day maximum.
MSC Cruises: No official daily cap, but stricter responsible service.
P&O Cruises: No cap, but service is monitored closely.

Marella aligns more with P&O and MSC, allowing freedom but with responsible service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there a maximum number of drinks per day on Marella Cruises?

No. There’s no official cap, but drinks are served responsibly.

2. Can I order two drinks at once?

Typically, no. Drinks are served one per person at a time to prevent sharing.

3. Can under-18s use the drink package?

Yes, but only for soft drinks, juices, mocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages.

4. What happens if I get too drunk?

Bar staff may refuse further service if you appear intoxicated.

5. Is bottled water included?

Yes, but only in the Premium Drinks Package.

6. Do gratuities apply to drinks?

No. Marella has a no-tipping policy, so no extra service charges are added.

Tips to Maximize Your Drinks Package

Try a variety. Don’t just stick to the same drink—sample different cocktails, wines, and coffees.
Stay hydrated. Use bottled water included in premium upgrades.
Use specialty coffees daily. They can add up to £25–£30 per week in savings.
Mix alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Pace yourself with mocktails and smoothies.
Upgrade early. Pre-booking the premium package is cheaper than buying onboard.

Real Passenger Experiences

Passengers on cruise forums often highlight:

No drink limits—some enjoyed “10 cocktails a day” without issue.
Fast service—bars are well-staffed, and drinks come quickly.
Premium upgrade value—coffee drinkers, especially, find it worthwhile.
Responsible checks—staff politely cut off service if someone overindulges.

how many drinks can you get a day with a Marella Cruises drink package?

There is no official limit—you can order as many as you like.
The only restrictions are responsible service and one drink per person at a time.
For most passengers, this means you can enjoy unlimited cocktails, wines, beers, spirits, soft drinks, and coffees throughout your cruise.
Whether you stick to the standard package or upgrade to premium, Marella offers one of the most generous and hassle-free drinks policies in the cruise industry.

Bottom line: With Marella Cruises, you won’t be counting drinks—you’ll be enjoying your holiday.