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Cruising with American Cruise Lines is a special kind of travel experience. Unlike the mega-ships sailing the Caribbean or Mediterranean, American Cruise Lines operates a fleet of small, elegant riverboats and coastal vessels that focus on comfort, personalized service, and immersion in American destinations. From the Mississippi River to New England’s coastlines, from the Pacific Northwest to the Intracoastal Waterway, passengers board these ships for an experience that feels more like a floating boutique hotel than a crowded resort.
Among the many aspects of the onboard lifestyle, dining and beverages play an especially important role. For many guests, sipping a glass of wine as the riverbanks roll past, enjoying a craft cocktail on deck at sunset, or having a freshly brewed coffee in the morning lounge are as much a part of the experience as shore excursions or nightly entertainment. To meet these expectations, American Cruise Lines has developed a beverage package program that is designed to be both convenient and good value for passengers.
This article will take you through every detail of the beverage package on American Cruise Lines—what it includes, how much it costs, who it is best suited for, and how it integrates into the broader cruise experience. We’ll also look at examples of typical beverages, how packages compare to pay-as-you-go pricing, and why this particular cruise line’s approach differs from the large international operators. By the end, you’ll have a complete understanding of what to expect when considering the beverage package, and whether it is the right choice for your style of cruising.
Beverages onboard a cruise ship are more than just refreshments—they are an extension of hospitality. On American Cruise Lines, the emphasis is on comfort, relaxation, and casual elegance, and the beverage program reflects that. Rather than overwhelming passengers with endless add-ons and a la carte charges, the cruise line has streamlined its offerings into a system that balances inclusions with optional upgrades.
Most itineraries already include a selection of drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, and even complimentary beer and wine served with lunch and dinner. For many guests, this level of inclusion is sufficient, particularly if they are light drinkers or simply prefer a glass of wine with meals and perhaps a soda in the afternoon. However, for those who want more flexibility and a broader range of beverages throughout the day, American Cruise Lines provides a beverage package that extends the range of availability.
The beverage package on American Cruise Lines is an optional upgrade that allows guests to enjoy unlimited access to a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout their cruise. Instead of paying for individual drinks at the bar or during lounge service, passengers who purchase the package have the convenience of knowing everything is covered upfront.
The package is designed to be simple and transparent. On many cruise lines, beverage programs can feel confusing, with multiple tiers, restrictions on brands, limits on daily drinks, and fine print about where or when you can order. American Cruise Lines takes a more straightforward approach. The package generally includes cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, and soft drinks ordered at any time of day. It is intended to complement the included wine and beer service at lunch and dinner by expanding availability.
The cost of the beverage package on American Cruise Lines is generally around forty dollars per person, per day. This price may vary slightly depending on the itinerary, ship, or season, but it is widely consistent across the fleet. For a seven-night cruise, the cost would total approximately two hundred eighty dollars per person.
Compared to the packages offered on large international cruise ships, this rate is considered reasonable. Many larger cruise operators charge sixty to ninety dollars per day for beverage packages, often excluding premium brands or specialty coffees. American Cruise Lines has kept its package at a level that is accessible and appealing, particularly considering the overall inclusive nature of its cruises.
It is also important to note that since American Cruise Lines operates entirely within the United States, passengers do not need to worry about additional foreign currency charges or unexpected taxes on their bills. Everything is handled in US dollars and included in the upfront cruise fare or beverage package fee.
The beverage package covers a wide spectrum of drinks, ensuring that nearly any guest will find their favorites. The categories typically include:
Wine by the Glass – Guests can choose from house red, white, and rosé wines. The selection may include regional specialties that complement the destinations being visited, such as California chardonnay on a West Coast itinerary or New York State riesling when sailing in New England.
Beer – Both domestic and regional craft beers are usually available. Expect to find well-known American brands as well as smaller local brews sourced from ports along the itinerary.
Spirits and Cocktails – Standard cocktails made with vodka, gin, rum, tequila, or whiskey are included, along with mixers. Guests can enjoy classics like martinis, mojitos, old fashioneds, or margaritas without worrying about per-drink charges.
Soft Drinks – Cola, lemon-lime soda, root beer, ginger ale, and other familiar favorites.
Juices – Orange, cranberry, apple, and grapefruit juice are typically offered.
Coffee and Tea – Specialty coffees such as cappuccinos and lattes may be included, in addition to regular brewed coffee and a range of teas.
Bottled Water – Still and sparkling water are covered by the package.
The goal is to create an atmosphere where guests can order what they like without second-guessing whether it will appear as a charge on their final bill.
There are several reasons passengers may decide to add the beverage package:
Convenience – Never needing to sign for drinks or keep track of individual charges.
Value – For guests who plan to order at least a few cocktails, beers, or glasses of wine each day, the package quickly pays for itself.
Relaxation – A sense of freedom comes from knowing you can order what you want, when you want it, without thinking about the cost.
Social Atmosphere – Many guests enjoy meeting new people in the lounges or on deck, and drinks often play a role in these social interactions. The package makes participation easy.
The package is most valuable for guests who:
Enjoy a cocktail before dinner as well as wine with meals.
Like to sample local craft beers along the way.
Drink soda, sparkling water, or specialty coffee throughout the day.
Appreciate the simplicity of an all-inclusive experience.
On the other hand, travelers who only occasionally drink—say one glass of wine with dinner—may find the complimentary inclusions sufficient, and therefore may not need to purchase the package.
Without the beverage package, drinks are charged individually. A glass of wine might cost eight to ten dollars, a beer six to eight, and cocktails ten to twelve. Specialty coffees may be priced around four to five dollars. Over the course of a week-long cruise, a guest who enjoys two glasses of wine per day plus a cocktail or soda could easily spend the equivalent of the package price.
The package therefore functions as a predictable, flat-rate solution that prevents any surprises on the final bill. Many guests prefer the peace of mind, even if they do not always “drink their money’s worth” every single day.
The beverage service on American Cruise Lines emphasizes hospitality. Because the ships are smaller, with typically fewer than two hundred passengers, bartenders and servers often know guests by name after only a day or two. This creates a club-like feel where ordering drinks becomes part of the personal connection between staff and guests.
With the beverage package, this sense of familiarity is heightened, since staff know that guests can order freely. The emphasis is never on pushing drinks but rather on creating a comfortable, relaxed environment. For many passengers, this is a refreshing difference from larger cruise lines where drink sales can feel transactional or overly promoted.
Meals are an important highlight of an American Cruise Lines voyage, and beverages are integrated seamlessly into the dining experience. At both lunch and dinner, wine and beer are already complimentary, regardless of whether a guest has purchased the beverage package. However, with the package, passengers can expand their options—for example, ordering a cocktail before the meal, enjoying sparkling water alongside lunch, or finishing dinner with a specialty coffee.
Breakfast also becomes more flexible, as juices, cappuccinos, or even a morning mimosa can be ordered without additional charge.
Minimum Age – Guests must be twenty-one years old to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages onboard.
Duration – The package must typically be purchased for the full duration of the cruise, not on a day-by-day basis.
Sharing – Packages are individual; sharing with other passengers is not permitted.
Premium Brands – While the package includes a wide variety of drinks, some ultra-premium wines or spirits may not be covered. Guests can always ask for clarification if they are interested in a particular label.
To understand the value of the American Cruise Lines beverage package, it is helpful to compare it to industry standards. Many large international cruise lines charge significantly more per day, often in the sixty to ninety dollar range, and may also add automatic gratuities on top of each drink order. By contrast, the American Cruise Lines package at around forty dollars per day is simpler and less expensive.
Furthermore, since many drinks are already included at meals even without the package, some passengers find that the base offering is more generous than competitors. This balance allows travelers to decide whether they want to upgrade without feeling pressured.
Passengers often comment that the beverage package enhances the sense of relaxation. Reviews frequently highlight how enjoyable it is to sit on the sun deck with a cocktail in hand, knowing that everything is covered. Others note that the package encourages them to try drinks they might not have otherwise sampled, such as a regional craft beer or a specialty cocktail suggested by the bartender.
Because the ships are small and the service attentive, drinks are rarely delayed, and lounges seldom feel crowded. The entire atmosphere supports a leisurely style of travel.
To give a clearer picture of how the package might be used, consider a typical day:
Morning – Cappuccino with breakfast.
Late Morning – Glass of orange juice or sparkling water while attending a lecture.
Afternoon – Beer or soda while relaxing on deck.
Pre-Dinner – Cocktail in the lounge before the meal.
Dinner – Complimentary wine is already included, but with the package, a guest could request a different varietal or enjoy an after-dinner liqueur.
In this example, the guest has consumed five or six beverages throughout the day. Purchased individually, these drinks could easily exceed the daily package price.
When considering cost, convenience, and inclusions, the beverage package on American Cruise Lines represents strong value for passengers who enjoy a variety of beverages throughout the day. The upfront cost of around forty dollars per day is balanced against the peace of mind of not having to track expenses.
More importantly, the package enhances the atmosphere of the cruise by allowing guests to order freely and focus on enjoying their voyage. The small-ship setting, attentive staff, and American-inspired hospitality all contribute to making the beverage program feel like a natural extension of the cruise experience rather than a commercial upsell.
Your ultimate guide to cruise adventures. Discover amazing destinations, find the perfect cruise, and create unforgettable memories on the high seas.
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