by Elizabeth Schaaf
Unlike other cruise lines, Disney does not offer all inclusive beverages packages. So we travel advisors are often asked, what is the best deal on adult beverages? How do we save money? How much are the drinks? Here’s our best tips – just remember any prices are subject to change!
Bring your own. If you plan to drink in your state room or on your balcony, you can save a substantial amount of money by having each adult over the age of 21 bring two bottles of wine or champagne with them in their carry-on bags. You can also bring this wine to meals, but you will not be allowed to drink this in public areas. Passengers who are 21 and older can bring up to two bottles of unopened champagne or wine (no larger than 750 ml) or six beers (up to 12 ounces) on the ship at the start of the voyage as well at each port of call. All alcohol must be packed in carry-on bags, not in your checked luggage. Any alcohol packed in your luggage will be removed and stored until the end of the cruise. If you want to drink wine or champagne in one of the dining rooms, you’ll be charged a corking fee of $26 per bottle.
Order the drink of the day. You may have to ask, but every day there is a drink of the day that is served on the Disney Cruise that is much cheaper than the other drinks. There may also be unadvertised specials, but the drink of the day is consistent. With gratuity, the cost of the drink of the day is about $6.25.
Here are some of the drink of the day adult beverages that are served:
- Bahama Mama
- Bay Breeze
- Caribbean Dream
- Castaway Cay Breeze
- Cool Breeze
- High Tide
- Key Lime Margarita
- Mai Tai
- Malibu Bay Breeze
- Orange Cruiser
- Oran-gita
- Paradise Cocktail
- Paradise Punch
- Pineapple Mojito
- Rum Runner
- Stinger
- Stingray
- Sunken Treasure
- Yellow Bird
Get a wine package. Wine onboard is priced at restaurant prices, not grocery store prices, so wine onboard is expensive. However, before your cruise, you can purchase a wine package on multi-bottles, and the savings averages about 25 percent. There is a gratuity charged on the package at time of purchase. The wine package works out great if you’re expecting to consume multiple bottles of wine during your trip. Ask your Straight Away Travel advisor on how to add a wine package to your next sailing!
Get the Beer Mug. For $16.95 you can buy a 22 oz. Disney Cruise Line, glass beer mug with the beer of your choice. For the remainder of your cruise, you can have it refilled for the price of a 16 oz! The bars will exchange the mug for a beer mug token when you are finished to take the weight and responsibility of the glass mug off your hands until you are ready for a refill. It is also nice at the end of your cruise to exchange for a clean mug to pack in your luggage.
Before you know it, you’ll be sitting poolside, the ocean breeze flowing through your hair, with a cold cocktail in hand. And you’ll be smiling knowing you planned ahead and knew how to save a few dollars onboard! And that just means more dollars for spending on souvenirs at Mickey’s Mainsail.
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