About the HAL Drink Packages
Holland America offers a variety of drink packages that cater to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic preferences, providing convenience and value for cruise passengers. The packages range from $8 to $59.99 per day plus an 18% service charge. Notably, recent changes allow guests to pay the difference for drinks exceeding the package limit. The Elite Beverage Package and the Signature Beverage Package offer different levels of inclusions and price points. The Quench Non-Alcoholic Drink Package is a good option for non-drinkers or those who prefer soft beverages like coffee and soda.
Key Points:
- Holland America offers various drink packages catering to different preferences.
- Prices range from $8 to $59.99 per day plus an 18% service charge.
- Recent changes allow guests to pay the difference for drinks exceeding the package limit.
- The Elite Beverage Package and Signature Beverage Package offer different inclusions and price points. But most people are happy with the Signature package!
- The Quench Non-Alcoholic Drink Package is suitable for non-drinkers or those who prefer soft beverages.
Holland America drink package prices
Drink packages range from $54.95 – $59.99 per day and the non-alcoholic packages are $8 – $17.95 per day PLUS 18% GRATUITY / SERVICE CHARGE
| HAL Drink Package | Package Price |
|---|---|
| Elite Beverage Package | 59.99/day |
| Signature Beverage Package | $54.95/day |
| Soda Package | $8.00/day |
| Quench Non-Alcoholic Drink Package | $17.95/day |
Changes to the beverage packages for Holland America Line
Recently, HAL has made some positive changes to their beverage packages, most notably that when ordering a drink that is more expensive than the maximum amount allowed by the package, you only PAY THE DIFFERENCE. In the past, if you ordered a cocktail that was more expensive than your package allowed, you’d have to pay the full amount. Not anymore!
Holland America drink packages compared
There are currently 2 zero alcohol beverage packages and 2 alcoholic drink package options with Holland America Line.
Signature Beverage Package (aka Classic)
The Signature Package price is $54.95 per day per person + 18% Service Charge / Gratuity
For drinks up to $11
The Signature Package is the most basic drink package, but it’s pretty extensive and more generous than many other cruise lines! This package allows any drink including cocktails, wines by the glass, specialty drinks, and classic cocktails such as Martinis, up to $11 to be ordered.
What we love about the Signature package is the fact it includes bottled (or canned) water, juices, and specialty coffee. This level of inclusion at a basic drink package level is not common. Additionally, if you order a drink over the $11 limit with the Signature Beverage Package, you’re only charged the difference + an 18% service charge OF THE DIFFERENCE, not on the entire drink. This is new for Holland America, as the policy used to be that you’d have to pay for the entire drink + gratuity if it exceeded the beverage package limit.
Something to be aware of is this package only allows a limit of 15 drinks per day regardless of what they are. In reality, we found it difficult to reach 15 drinks in a day even though we had coffee in the morning, and soda in the afternoon, and didn’t hold back on drinks in the evening. If you think you will drink more than 15 drinks in a day, take a look at the Elite package.
Here’s what’s included in the Signature Beverage Package on Holland America
Everything included in the Alcohol-Free (Quench) package is also included in the signature beverage package.
Elite Beverage Package
The Elite Package price is $59.99 per person per day + 18% Service Charge / Gratuity
For drinks up to $15
The Elite Package is the top-tier drink package offered by Holland America. This cruise drink package has a price limit of $15 per drink and includes everything that the Quench package and Signature Package include. While the higher price threshold per drink is $15, that’s not the real value. The Elite package removes the limit of 15 drinks per day, but only for non-alcoholic drinks. Effectively, this keeps your non-alcoholic drinks from counting towards your alcoholic drink allowance. Elite packages still have a daily limit only applied to alcohol (15).
- NEW! Use our Holland America Drink Calculator to see if a Beverage Package is worth it on your next cruise!
Quench Non-Alcoholic Drink Package
The Quench drinks price is $17.95 per person per day + 18% Service Charge / Gratuity
The Quench Package is basically HAL’s non-alcoholic package for minors and non-drinking adults. This package includes soft drinks, mocktails, bottled water, and fresh juices. The package also includes specialty coffee-based drinks as well as espresso. It’s important to know that there is a daily drink limit of 15 beverages included in the Quench package, but still, a great value if you’re a coffee, tea, bottled water, or soda drinker. If you go over 15, you’ll pay the full price per drink for the rest of the day.
Included drinks in the Quench Beverage Package
The “Quench Package” is one of the better deals at sea considering it includes everything except alcohol. So for people who really enjoy coffee, smoothies, and bottled water, this is a great value at only $17.95/day.
Soda (Coke) Package
The unlimited soft drinks price is $8 per person per day + 18% Service Charge / Gratuity
If Unlimited Soda is your thing, then this package makes sense. For $8 per person per day, the Holland America Soda Package or “Coca-Cola” package allows for bottomless and unlimited fountain soda drinks. This is a great value for soda drinkers considering sodas are $2.75 each onboard.
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The Have it All Promotion includes a beverage package (NEW!)
But wait! There’s more! 🙂
Recently Holland America introduced the “HAVE IT ALL” package or HIA. This is by far the most valuable nearly all-inclusive package at sea. For an average of $50 per day, you receive wifi and specialty dining but most importantly it includes the Signature drink package! So you’re getting a lot of extras for less money. More on the Have it All Package.
Drink Prices on Holland America Line
Most cans of soda are $2.75, beer is $7.75 and there are plenty of wine options for under $13. Most classic cocktails are $11 or less and very few are more than $15
Holland America drink package gratuity?
Every drink you order will have a gratuity line item (18%), but the amount is included in your drink price if you’re using a package. For example, an $11 Martini would have an 18% gratuity in addition to the drink price if you purchase it separately, but that 18% is included in the cost of the drink when using your package.
Drink Package Prices Have Additional Gratuity Added
When seeing the advertised price of a drink package on Holland America, it does NOT include an addition 18% added to the package price.
A Few notes about the HAL Drink Packages
- Drinks in the mini bar (in the cabins) are not included in the drink package
- Just pay the difference of the drink price if your drink is more expensive than your package limit allows
- Drink packages are not valid on Half Moon Cay private island (bummer!)
- Everyone in the cabin has to purchase a drink package if one person chooses a package. They’ll need to be the same drink package (except for minors, which will be downgraded to a soda package)
- Bottled water is included in the Elite, Signature, and Quench packags.
- You don’t need a drink package for the included drinks which are: tap water, tea, and coffee in the buffet as well as some juices (from the machines).
Conclusion
Holland America Drink Packages Are Worth It!
Even though some packages have a daily limit, it’s very generous, and we had a hard time reaching 15 drinks. I know some people will undoubtedly get there when trying to break even… but for all practical purposes, the packages are definitely worth it, especially with the new policy where Holland America allows you to just pay the difference in more expensive drinks!
Do you have a comment?
Did we miss something? Have you had a different experience? Did we get it wrong?
Thanks for all the helpful info! I love the calculator but I don’t see mocktails listed on the Quench package to see if buying them would help me break even – am I missing how to calculate in mocktails? Thank you!!
Jo- Good point! I never thought about including mocktails. I will do that soon!
We have two rooms, non drinking wife with teen who enjoys coffee juice soda and smoothies. If I get the child the Quench package does my wife have to get the quench as well? Would the soda package for my wife suffice?
It’s my understanding that everyone in the room must book the same package, however I know exceptions can be made when booking on the phone with the cruise line. So it MIGHT be possible to avoid everyone getting the same package when adding this with an agent over the phone. I’d be interested to know what you experience!
Hi Phil!
Quick question: We’re a family of 4 and we got two inside rooms. My husband is rooming with our son and I’m rooming with our daughter (both under 18). My husband and I both plan to buy the Elite Package. Because our children are both minors, will the cruise line impose a mandatory non-alcoholic package for both of our children, because my husband and I are getting the Elite Package?
Hi Cherrel – I think you’ll be stuck having to buy the soda / non alcoholic package for the kids since they’ll be sharing a room with someone that has a beverage package. I know some people have gotten lucky and been able to CALL the cruise line and get exceptions for various reasons, but it’s not common. If the kids don’t drink much soda and can’t make the package add up from a value perspective, I’d definitely call and see if they’ll waive it. When I look at the travel agent portal for booking – selecting an adult beverage package with a traveling minor, it does add a required package for the second passenger. The agent on the phone will have ultimate discretion on the matter, so a little sweet talking never hurt 🙂
Enjoy your cruise!
Phil,
Thank you for your quick response. I am waiting to add the Elite Package once HAL pushes my reservation to the app. (Just booked about an hour ago.)
[BTW: I’m not sure why my phone autocorrected “rooming” to “running”, but again I appreciate you answering my question.]
Have you considered the Have It All Package? It includes a beverage package that you can upgrade on the ship (though we didn’t see the need since almost everything was covered). It would still end up with a Quench package for the kids but adds a lot more value! It’s worth doing the math for sure.
[ I’ve corrected your running 🙂 ]
Phil,
We have. We may do that since we will definitely be doing a specialty restaurant; however, I’ll have to check to see what excursions HAL may have. We generally book excursions “off ship”.
Many thanks!
Cherrel.
I just wanted to thank you and let you know how helpful this was to us!
Hi Phil
As a guest travelling by myself, would I be sharing a cabin with the same gender or a single cabin. Cos I am booking a twin share for a tour which includes the cruise.
Hey There! If you book a shared cabin with an outside company, they’ll be the one to contact. If you book solo with the cruise, you’re never going to be sharing. You either book a solo cabin or book a regular cabin and pay a supplement for traveling solo. I can’t imagine any tour booking people that don’t know eachother, so I can only guess that you’re actually booked alone but definitely confirm with them! There’s not enough room in these cabins to share with a stranger! 🙂
Thanks Phil 😊
Cruise sept 24
Looking at the Have it all as includes wifi…With 2 of us in the cabin you only need one wifi per cabin? But we both have to buy same package. Can one buy have it all and one buy the quencher?( and pay cash for the odd drink)
Hi Jenny – The Have it All is applied to everyone in the same cabin, I do not think it is possible to have just one person in the cabin with the package. When we booked, it was a “fare type” meaning, that everyone in the cabin was on the same fare which was the Have it All fare. I hope this helps!
I purchased two quench drink packages and two internet packages for an upcoming cruise. Since buying these Holland American now offers a have it all package that will offer more for a better price. Can I cancel the previously purchased packages and buy the have it all package? If so, how do I accomplish it? I do not see any instructions for such a situation.
Hi Nancy – you can cancel the package you’ve purchased. Adding the Have it All was not a problem after booking – but both have ti be done on the phone with Holland America unfortunately.
Thank you
Purchased the 2024 HA Have it All package but can’t figure out if smoothies are included. Please advise and thanks!
Nancy – Everything that is in the “Quench” package is also included in the Have it All Package including these smoothies: Banana Smoothie
Banana Strawberry
Cranberry Juice
Grapefruit Juice
Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider
Orange Juice
Orange Smoothie
Piña Colada Smoothie
Pineapple Berry
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple Passion
Pineapple Smoothie
Strawberry Smoothie
Yay! Thank you‼️‼️‼️
Hi,
One correction to the article above: if you order a drink more expensive than the threshold, HAL will charge the extra, plus 18% gratuity on the total.
e.g. you buy a $16 drink, they charge you $16 + 18%, and deduct the base $11
Hi Bert – Thanks for this comment. I was sure when I was on the Rotterdam a few weeks ago that when I bought something that was, for example, $12 that my ticket was for $1.18 (the $1 overage + 18% on that $1)
I’ll make sure your comment is posted, in case I’m wrong and I’ll correct after I go back and look at my receipts.
Thanks!
Hi Phil
We are cruising with HAL for the first time in March 2024.
We have the Have it all package with signature drinks included.
Do you know if it is possible to upgrade to elite package within the have it all deal?
Thanks
Jill
Hi Jill, good question! So I was told repeatedly that the upgrade was possible once on the ship. I saved all HAL Correspondence stating as such. However, on the first day when I tried to upgrade to the elite package, the staff all looked at me like I was a little crazy. No one could figure it out so it escalated to the food and beverage manager who confirmed that it’s NOT possible to upgrade on the ship. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do it but that there was no facility to enable such an upgrade in their systems. It was a bit of a bummer, but in the end, I just bought what I wanted along the way and after doing the math, I think we actually saved money by NOT upgrading. Almost every drink was covered within a dollar or two where we just paid the difference. In the end it worked out ok. Just know that it’s not possible to do the upgrade in case someone has told you it is. Here’s more on the Have it All package
Thanks for this Phil. I contacted our TA and he said it would be possible on board to upgrade or I could do it online within 3 months of sailing…….
I will check 3 months before.
I think he was just fobbing me off.
I will send him the info you have given me.
Thanks again
Jill
Sure thing! Keep in mind when the TA says you can upgrade, it’s probably because you USUALLY can. So if you’ve purchased the Signature package and want to upgrade to the Elite, that’s never a problem… it’s just the fact they bundle these things and they didn’t have a way to upgrade from the bundle.
Enjoy your cruise!
I’ve been told by different HAL associates that you can pay for an upgrade once onboard. However they could not give me the upgrade dollar amount. The Elite package is better for my husband and I he drinks an endless amount of water. While he drinks just as much. I would not water the water to go against his 15 drinks per day. Same for me I like fancy coffee and fresh juice. I just don’t want that to interfere with my 15 drinks.
Tanitta – You share the same concern I had, which was drinking soda, coffee, water, etc would “dip” into my other adult beverage limit. So in the Have it All included beverage package, it is in fact the 15 drinks of any variety per day. Just like you, I wanted to upgrade and I spoke extensively with customer service and even had a screen shot of a chat I had stating I could upgrade after I boarded. But unfortunately, I was unable to. It escalated all the way to the Food & Beverage manager that basically would have done the upgrade if possible, but there was no way to process an upgrade from the Have it All included beverage package. So as recently as a month ago, it was NOT possible to upgrade on the ship. I haven’t yet spoken to anyone that has been able to upgrade, so if anyone has, I’d love to hear about it!
-Phil
Are you able to use your beverage package for a bottle of wine with dinner or do you have to wait for a waiter to fill your glass?
regards
Paul
Hi Paul – The package includes wines by the glass not a bottle. However, I never had a problem getting a refill quickly! There are discounts on bottles of wine, but didn’t fine the value in that. I hope this helps! Enjoy your cruise!
Thanks Phil, I figured as much. All good!!