On a Costa ship, the water served at the buffet and the juices at breakfast are included in the cruise price. As soon as you order a cappuccino at the bar, a glass of wine at dinner, or a cocktail by the pool, each drink is charged extra. Understanding the drink prices on board before boarding helps avoid unpleasant surprises on the credit card statement at the end of the trip.
Service charge on Costa drinks: the extra cost that few anticipate
Every drink ordered à la carte on a Costa ship is subject to a service charge of about 15%. This percentage is automatically added to the price displayed on the bar or restaurant menu.
You may also like : Everything You Need to Know About the Detailed ADMR Hourly Rate 2026: Guide and Simulator
In practical terms, a cocktail listed at a certain price on the menu actually costs that price plus 15%. On a week-long cruise, the bill can add up quickly if you consume several drinks a day.
This surcharge disappears if you have purchased a drink package. This is a point that many passengers discover afterward. By opting for a My Drinks or My Drinks Plus package, the 15% service charge is already included in the daily price of the package. To better compare the available options, check the drink prices on board a Costa cruise. The profitability calculation of a package changes completely once this extra cost is taken into account.
You may also like : Everything You Need to Know About the Key Features of Administrative Emphyteutic Lease
My Drinks and My Drinks Plus package: what changes between the two options
Costa offers two levels of drink packages. Their names are similar, but the contents differ on one specific point that justifies the price difference.
My Drinks: the standard package
This package covers standard drinks: wine by the glass during meals, beers, classic cocktails, sodas, fruit juices, coffees, and cappuccinos throughout the day. For the majority of passengers, this option is more than sufficient.
My Drinks Plus: the premium range
The Plus version includes the same drinks as My Drinks, with additional access to a selection of higher-end wines and spirits. Have you noticed that the bar menus on the ships always offer “premium” references separately? Those are the ones that My Drinks Plus unlocks.
Here’s what both packages share:
- Wine by the glass at every meal, continuous coffee, cappuccinos, and tea throughout the day
- Non-alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, and sodas for adults and children alike
- Cocktails and spirits available in all bars on the ship
My Drinks Plus is justified if you enjoy high-end spirits or better-quality wines. For others, the standard package covers all basic needs.
Daily alcohol limit: the recent limit to know
Costa presents its packages as “unlimited,” and this is true for non-alcoholic drinks (water, coffee, sodas). However, a limit of about 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day has been applied since recent seasons.
Beyond this limit, each additional drink is charged at the menu price. This limit applies to both My Drinks and My Drinks Plus.
For the vast majority of passengers, 15 alcoholic drinks in a day represent a sufficient volume. This limit is mainly aimed at curbing abuse, not restricting normal vacation consumption.
Buying the package online or on board: the price difference
You can purchase a Costa drink package in two ways: online before departure or directly at the ship’s reception after boarding. The price is not the same.
The online price is significantly lower than the onboard price. The difference can reach several euros per day per person. On a seven-night cruise, the cumulative savings become significant.
Another point to note: in a cabin shared by multiple passengers, all adult occupants must purchase the same package. It is not possible for one person to take My Drinks while the other does not. Costa strictly enforces this rule, and it often surprises couples where one consumes little alcohol.
Promo Free Drinks: the package sometimes offered
Costa regularly launches promotional offers called “Free Drinks” on certain dates or itineraries. The My Drinks package is then included in the cruise price, at no extra charge. These promotions often concern specific departures and do not cover all destinations.
Keeping an eye on these offers at the time of booking can save the total cost of the drink package for the entire trip.
Consuming without a package: what to expect on the bar menu
For light drinkers, the question arises: should you take a package or pay per drink? The answer depends on your habits.
Without a package, here are some benchmarks on the prices charged in Costa bars:
- A coffee or cappuccino costs a few euros, to be ordered several times a day if you are a fan
- A glass of wine at the restaurant is charged at a price comparable to that of a mid-range land-based restaurant
- Classic cocktails fall within a usual price range for a hotel bar
- A bottle of mineral water at the bar is chargeable, unlike the carafe water at the buffet
Each drink is subject to the 15% service charge. Two to three drinks a day are enough for the package to become profitable over a week-long cruise, especially if you count morning coffees and evening aperitifs.
Passengers who only drink a glass of wine at dinner and a coffee in the morning can manage at a lower cost without a package. Beyond this minimal consumption, the calculation systematically favors the package.
Booking the package online before departure remains the most cost-effective reflex, even for moderate consumers. The 15% surcharge on each individual drink shifts the equation faster than one might think.