Margaritaville at Sea: What's Included and Is the Drink Package Worth It?
Quick Take
Margaritaville at Sea sells a beverage package called the Ultimate Beverage Chill, and it covers a generous list of cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. The catch is the price and a few notable exclusions like specialty coffee, so it is not an automatic yes for everyone. If you drink three or more cocktails a day and want to stop doing mental math at the bar, it usually pays off. If you sip a couple of beers by the pool and call it a night, you will likely come out ahead paying as you go.
Here is my take as a travel advisor and cruise YouTuber who has booked plenty of clients on this line. I will walk you through exactly what the package includes, what it leaves out, and the simple breakeven math that tells you whether to buy it. No fluff, just the stuff I would tell a friend.
What the Ultimate Beverage Chill Package Includes
The Ultimate Beverage Chill is the line's main all-you-can-drink option, and it is built to cover a real range of tastes. You get a wide selection of draft and bottled beer, wines by the glass, premium spirits, and the frozen cocktails the brand is famous for. Featured pours include names like Landshark, Corona, Michelob Ultra, Tito's, Grey Goose, and Patron Silver, so this is not a watered-down list of well liquor.
The package also folds in unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, which matters more than people expect. That means fountain soda, bottled water, mocktails, and specialty non-alcoholic beverages are all in. So even if you pace yourself, you are still getting value from the soda and water side of things.
One thing I appreciate is the daily drink count. The package covers up to fifteen alcoholic drinks per day, which is far more than any reasonable person should drink on a short cruise. For practical purposes, treat it as unlimited and pace yourself accordingly.
The frozen cocktails deserve their own mention, because they are the reason a lot of people sail this line in the first place. The signature margaritas and frozen blends are part of the brand's whole personality, and they pour them well. If those are your drink of choice, you will get plenty of value just leaning into what the line does best.
It is also worth knowing the package travels with you across the bars on board. You are not locked into one lounge or one menu, so you can move from the pool bar to an indoor lounge and keep ordering. That flexibility makes the unlimited feel unlimited rather than tied to one spot.
What It Does Not Include
Here is where I have to be straight with you, because the exclusions trip people up. The biggest one is specialty coffee, so your morning latte or espresso is not covered by this package. If you are a coffee person, that stings, and it is worth knowing before you buy.
The package also excludes liquor bottles, blender cups and their refills, in-room wine service, and anything from the in-room mini-bar. Bottled water larger than 500ml is out too, though the standard sizes are covered. None of these are dealbreakers for most people, but you should not assume the package means absolutely everything is free.
I always tell clients to read the exclusions once before they buy, not after they are surprised by a charge. The line is upfront about what is in and out, so a two-minute read saves you a frustrated moment at the bar. The point of a package is to stop thinking about money, and surprises undercut that whole purpose.
It also helps to think about how you actually start your mornings. If you are the type who needs a real espresso drink before you can function, that daily coffee cost adds up and lives entirely outside this package. Pair that reality with the package price and your total picture gets more accurate.
The Real Pricing
Pricing moves around with sales, but the Ultimate Beverage Chill typically lands around $65 per person, per day when you buy it ahead of your sailing. Remember that a 20 percent service charge applies, so factor that into your real cost. During promotions I have seen it drop closer to $52 per day, which changes the math in your favor quite a bit.
There is also a much cheaper option if you only want soft drinks. The Unlimited Soda Package runs about $10 per person, per day and comes with a souvenir cup and unlimited fountain refills. For families with kids or for non-drinkers, that little package is often the smarter buy.
The Breakeven Math
This is the part that actually decides it for you. Take the daily package price with the service charge included, then count how many drinks you would realistically order at full bar prices. Individual cocktails on board tend to run in the low double digits, so you generally need around four to six drinks a day to break even.
If you know you will be poolside with a frozen drink in hand most of the day, the package is an easy win and removes the sting of every bar tab. If you are a light drinker or you plan long port days off the ship, paying per drink almost always wins. Be honest with yourself about your habits rather than the version of you on vacation in your imagination.
Itinerary length matters here too, and people forget to factor it in. A short sailing gives you fewer full drinking days, so the per-day package has less time to pay off than it would on a longer trip. Map the package against the days you will actually be on board and drinking, not just the headline daily rate.
One more factor is your travel group. If you are sailing with someone who barely drinks, remember that the package is priced per person and policies often tie cabinmates together. That can quietly inflate the real cost, so price it for the whole cabin before you decide.
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How It Compares to Other Lines
If you have cruised the big lines, you know drink packages there often climb well past this one in daily price. Margaritaville's package sits in a friendlier range, especially when a sale is running. That value is part of why I do not dismiss it the way I sometimes do the pricier mainstream packages.
The flip side is that this is a shorter, more focused cruise experience, so you have less time to rack up drinks. On a longer big-ship sailing, a package has more days to pay for itself, which changes the calculus. Judge this package against this kind of trip, not against a week-long mega-ship voyage.
Tips to Get the Most From the Package
If you decide to buy, buy it before you sail rather than at the bar on day one. Pre-cruise pricing is usually better, and you lock it in instead of paying a higher onboard rate. Watch for holiday flash sales too, because those discounts can be the difference between a maybe and a clear yes.
Once you are on board, do not feel like you have to chase fifteen drinks to get value. Mix in mocktails, sodas, and bottled water, since those all count and keep you feeling decent the next morning. The goal is a relaxed trip, not a tab competition with yourself.
Try a few different bars and bartenders early in the cruise to find your spots. Once you know where your favorite frozen drink is poured best, you can settle into a rhythm for the rest of the trip. Little habits like that are how the package stops feeling like a purchase and starts feeling like part of the vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Margaritaville at Sea drink package?
The Ultimate Beverage Chill typically runs around $65 per person, per day before the 20 percent service charge, though sales can bring it closer to $52 per day. Buying it before you sail is almost always cheaper than buying it on board.
Does the package include coffee?
No, specialty coffee like lattes and espresso is not included in the Ultimate Beverage Chill. Standard drip coffee in the buffet areas is generally available, but your fancy barista drinks are an extra charge.
Do I have to buy a package for everyone in my cabin?
Lines like this generally require all adults in a cabin to buy the package if one adult does. Always confirm the current cabin policy before booking, because it can shift the total cost more than people expect.
Is there a cheaper option for non-drinkers?
Yes, the Unlimited Soda Package is about $10 per person, per day and includes a souvenir cup with unlimited fountain refills. It is a great pick for kids and for anyone who skips alcohol.
How many drinks do I need to break even?
Most people need roughly four to six drinks a day to make the full package pay off once the service charge is included. Count your daily habit, not your vacation fantasy, and the answer becomes clear.
Can I buy the package onboard if I change my mind?
You usually can, but the onboard price tends to be higher than the pre-cruise rate. If you think you might want it, locking it in early is the safer move for your wallet.
Final Thoughts
The Margaritaville at Sea drink package is a fair deal for the right cruiser and an easy skip for the wrong one. If you love frozen cocktails and want to relax without a running tab, the Ultimate Beverage Chill earns its keep. If you are a light drinker or a coffee person, the exclusions and price mean paying as you go usually makes more sense.
My advice is simple. Run the breakeven math, watch for a sale, and buy ahead of time if the numbers work. Do that and you will sip happy without any buyer's remorse.
More cruise reads:
- How Much Does a Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Cost?
- Margaritaville at Sea Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works
- Cruise Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works on Any Line
- How Much Does a Cruise Really Cost? A Full Breakdown
- Margaritaville at Sea Loyalty Program Explained
- Margaritaville at Sea Ships Explained by Size
