What happens if you share a drink package?

The High Seas, High Stakes: Understanding Cruise Drink Package Sharing

Cruise lines offer drink packages as a tempting perk, promising carefree cocktails and frosty beers throughout your vacation. But what happens if you try to share that carefully curated collection of alcoholic beverages with your travel companion? The answer, bluntly put, is trouble.

Sharing a cruise drink package is strictly against the rules. While the cruise line might not have a dedicated “drink sharing police” patrolling the bars, their systems are designed to detect suspicious activity. The consequences for breaking this rule are far from negligible.

The Price of Sharing:

Unauthorized sharing of a drink package results in immediate and complete cancellation of the package. This means you lose the entire remaining value of the package, even if you’ve only used a small fraction of it. Furthermore, prepare to face hefty charges for every beverage consumed under the guise of the shared package. This isn’t a small fine; it can quickly add up to a significant amount, potentially exceeding the original cost of the package itself.

The Detection Game:

While a single, discreetly shared drink might slip under the radar, consistently ordering multiple drinks for different people – particularly diverse beverages that wouldn’t reflect a single person’s typical consumption pattern – significantly increases the likelihood of detection. Cruise lines use sophisticated systems to track purchases linked to your stateroom card. Frequent, varied orders from a single card, especially those significantly exceeding the average consumption rate of a single individual, are red flags.

Why the Strict Policy?

The cruise line’s strict stance on drink package sharing isn’t about being overly cautious; it’s a matter of revenue and fairness. They’ve priced the packages based on anticipated consumption per person. Allowing widespread sharing undermines their pricing model and potentially impacts the profitability of their beverage program. This, in turn, could impact future offerings and pricing for all passengers.

The Bottom Line:

Don’t risk it. If you want to ensure your friends and family enjoy drinks during your cruise, purchase individual packages for each person. It’s a far more cost-effective and less stressful solution than facing unexpected charges and the cancellation of your pre-paid perk. Enjoy your cruise, but do so within the established rules to avoid a sour end to your vacation.