When you’re sailing on one of the world’s most refined cruise lines, like Oceania Cruises, one of the questions that often comes up is — how many drinks can you actually have in a day with their drink package? Cruise vacations are all about relaxation, fine dining, and enjoying the freedom to sip your favorite cocktail while gazing at endless blue horizons. But knowing the limits, inclusions, and fine print of the Oceania Cruise drink packages can help you plan smarter and make the most of your voyage.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Oceania Cruise Line’s drink packages — from the number of drinks allowed per day, what types of beverages are included, and how to get the best value from your plan, to the differences between the House Select and Prestige Select packages.
Oceania Cruises has built its reputation around a “country club casual” luxury experience. Unlike large resort-style cruise lines where drink packages are marketed heavily, Oceania takes a more refined approach. Their focus is on gourmet cuisine, fine wines, and personal service. Drinks aren’t unlimited in the same sense as some mainstream cruise lines, but they are designed to offer an elegant, value-driven experience for travelers who appreciate quality over quantity.
Before diving into numbers, it’s important to understand that Oceania doesn’t use a “one-size-fits-all” drink package. Instead, guests can choose between two main beverage packages — House Select and Prestige Select — each tailored to different drinking preferences and budgets.
Oceania offers two main beverage packages:
House Select Beverage Package
Prestige Select Beverage Package
Each package includes specific types of beverages and has its own set of guidelines on consumption limits and serving times.
The House Select package is Oceania’s more moderate option. It’s perfect for guests who enjoy pairing wine or beer with lunch and dinner but don’t plan to spend the entire day drinking.
Key Features:
Includes unlimited wine (red and white selections) and beer by the glass during lunch and dinner.
Available in all restaurants and open dining venues during mealtimes.
Usually priced lower than the Prestige Select option.
Does not include spirits, cocktails, or soft drinks outside meal hours.
With this package, you can enjoy as many glasses of wine or beer as you want with your meals — there’s no strict per-day drink limit, but consumption is tied to mealtime service. So, if you have lunch and dinner on board daily, you could easily enjoy 4–6 glasses of wine or beer per day, depending on how much you choose to drink during those meals.
The Prestige Select package is Oceania’s top-tier option — the “all-day, anywhere” drinking experience. This is ideal for guests who want the flexibility to order drinks at any time, from morning mimosas to sunset cocktails and after-dinner liqueurs.
Key Features:
Includes unlimited premium spirits, cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, and soft drinks throughout the ship.
Available at any time of day and in any onboard bar, lounge, or restaurant.
Covers nearly all drinks on the standard bar menu (except ultra-premium brands).
Service is available from open to close of each venue.
With this package, Oceania does not explicitly cap the number of drinks you can have per day. However, “unlimited” is always subject to responsible service. Realistically, most guests consume 8–12 drinks per day, depending on personal habits and cruise length. Bartenders are trained to ensure responsible consumption, so you won’t be cut off unless intoxicated behavior becomes noticeable.
While Oceania’s terms describe the beverage packages as “unlimited,” there are still practical limits — both in how service is managed and what guests can reasonably consume. Let’s break it down:
No official drink count limit: Oceania does not list a daily cap like some cruise lines (for example, 15 drinks per day).
Bartender discretion applies: If you appear intoxicated, bartenders can legally refuse service, as per maritime and responsible service regulations.
Reasonable expectation: Most guests enjoy between 6–12 drinks daily, including cocktails, wines, beers, or non-alcoholic beverages. You could technically order more, but moderation is the norm.
One drink per transaction: You can order one beverage at a time, and you cannot share your drink package with another guest.
Sharing not allowed: Oceania strictly enforces non-sharing policies. If one guest in a cabin purchases the Prestige Select package, the other adult in the same cabin must also purchase it.
While prices can vary slightly based on the cruise itinerary and promotions, here’s a general idea of what you can expect:
House Select: Around $39.95 per person per day (plus 20% gratuity).
Prestige Select: Around $59.95 per person per day (plus 20% gratuity).
When you compare that to onboard drink prices (averaging $9–$15 per cocktail or glass of wine), you’ll find that consuming around 5–7 drinks per day already justifies the Prestige Select package value-wise.
Prestige Select Includes:
Spirits: Vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, brandy, and liqueurs.
Cocktails: Classic and premium options, such as martinis, mojitos, and margaritas.
Wines: A rotating selection of high-quality wines by the glass.
Beer: Imported and domestic choices.
Soft drinks: Sodas, juices, and non-alcoholic cocktails.
Specialty coffees and bottled water (varies by ship and venue).
House Select Includes:
Wines by the glass during lunch and dinner.
Beer (selected brands) during mealtimes.
No cocktails, spirits, or between-meal service.
For House Select:
Only during lunch and dinner hours (in all onboard restaurants).
Not valid in lounges, pool bars, or after-meal hours.
For Prestige Select:
Valid any time of day, from morning till night.
Accepted at bars, lounges, restaurants, pool decks, and private events.
You can order drinks in the Casino Bar, Horizons Lounge, Pool Bar, or Grand Dining Room without restriction.
To visualize how many drinks a day you might reasonably enjoy, here’s an example with the Prestige Select package:
Morning: 1 cappuccino, 1 mimosa or Bloody Mary (2 drinks)
Lunch: 1 beer, 1 glass of wine (2 drinks)
Afternoon: 1 frozen cocktail by the pool, 1 soda (2 drinks)
Dinner: 2 glasses of wine (2 drinks)
Evening: 1 digestif or cocktail in the lounge (1 drink)
That’s about 8–9 drinks per day — easily covered by the Prestige Select package. If you were paying à la carte, that would cost roughly $80–$100 per day, so the package offers significant savings if you drink moderately to heavily.
While Oceania Cruises is known for its relaxed and adult-oriented atmosphere, it still maintains a strict responsible service policy. Bartenders are trained to refuse service to guests who appear intoxicated or who attempt to order multiple drinks simultaneously.
A few key rules:
You cannot order two alcoholic drinks at the same time.
Drinks can’t be shared or carried off the ship.
The legal drinking age on Oceania Cruises is 21 years for U.S. itineraries and 18 years for international ones.
These policies ensure a safe, enjoyable environment for everyone aboard.
Yes — Oceania Cruises is more flexible than many other cruise lines regarding personal alcohol. Guests are allowed to bring a reasonable amount of wine or Champagne aboard at embarkation. However, there’s a $25 corkage fee per bottle if you drink it in a public venue. Consuming it in your stateroom, however, is free of charge.
This policy is especially appreciated by wine enthusiasts who want to enjoy a special bottle from home or from a port of call without breaking any rules.
If you don’t consume alcohol, you can still enjoy a wide variety of beverages onboard. Oceania offers:
Soft drinks and juices
Mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails)
Coffee and tea
Bottled water
Smoothies and specialty beverages in the Baristas Café
Non-alcoholic drinks are included in the Prestige Select package, but can also be purchased individually if you don’t have a package. For light drinkers, it might make more financial sense to skip the package and buy drinks à la carte.
Whether or not the Oceania Cruise drink package is worth it depends entirely on your drinking habits and daily routine at sea.
Choose the House Select package if:
You primarily drink wine or beer with meals.
You don’t consume alcohol outside lunch and dinner.
You’re seeking a lower-cost option that still enhances your dining experience.
Choose the Prestige Select package if:
You enjoy cocktails, spirits, and wines throughout the day.
You like the convenience of not signing checks for every drink.
You plan to relax at the bar, pool, or lounges regularly.
You prefer a premium all-inclusive experience.
On average, if you consume 5 or more alcoholic drinks daily, the Prestige Select package pays for itself. For lighter drinkers (2–3 glasses daily), the House Select is more economical.
Drink smartly throughout the day: Spread out your consumption — enjoy coffee and juice in the morning, beer or wine at lunch, and cocktails in the evening.
Use all available venues: Prestige Select allows drinks anywhere — make sure you enjoy a glass in each bar or lounge to experience their unique ambiance.
Try the daily specials: Bartenders often create special cocktails not on the printed menu — ask for recommendations.
Order premium selections wisely: Some ultra-premium spirits may not be included, so check before ordering top-shelf brands.
Attend tastings and events: Oceania frequently hosts wine tastings, mixology classes, and cocktail events — your drink package may cover some of these experiences.
Consider package promotions: Sometimes Oceania offers drink packages as part of their “OLife Choice” perks, making them even more cost-effective.
Imagine you’re sailing aboard the Marina or Riviera — two of Oceania’s luxurious ships. Your day might unfold like this:
Breakfast at the Terrace Café: Start with an orange juice and cappuccino.
Mid-Morning: Sip a refreshing mimosa while relaxing by the pool.
Lunch: Pair your seafood entrée with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc.
Afternoon: Enjoy a cold beer while listening to live music in the Waves Grill area.
Evening: Toast the sunset with a classic martini in the Horizons Lounge.
Dinner: Complement your steak with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Late Night: Wind down with a Bailey’s Irish Cream or cognac before bed.
That’s roughly 8–10 beverages in a comfortable, unhurried day — all easily covered by your Prestige Select drink package.
If you decide not to buy a drink package, Oceania’s à la carte pricing applies. Here’s what you can expect:
Beer: $6–$9
Wine by the glass: $9–$15
Cocktails: $10–$14
Soft drinks: $3–$4
Specialty coffee: $5–$7
So, if you enjoy just three or four alcoholic drinks daily, buying them individually may actually cost less than purchasing a package. However, if you like to indulge freely without thinking about the tab, the convenience and peace of mind of the drink package can be worth every dollar.
1. Is there a limit to how many drinks I can order per day with the Prestige Select package?
No official limit. You can enjoy as many drinks as you like, within reason and responsible service guidelines.
2. Can two people share one drink package?
No. Each adult in the same stateroom must purchase the same beverage package.
3. Can I upgrade from House Select to Prestige Select during the cruise?
Yes, upgrades are typically allowed, and you’ll pay the difference in daily rate.
4. Do I have to buy the package for the entire cruise?
Yes, Oceania requires you to purchase the beverage package for the full duration of the cruise, not by the day.
5. Are gratuities included in the drink package price?
A 20% gratuity is added to the cost of the beverage package at the time of purchase.
Oceania Cruises is synonymous with refined elegance, world-class cuisine, and thoughtful service — and their beverage packages reflect that philosophy perfectly. Whether you’re savoring a crisp Chardonnay at dinner or sipping a signature cocktail under the stars, the right drink package enhances your onboard experience effortlessly.
To summarize:
There’s no strict daily limit on drinks with Oceania’s beverage packages.
Realistically, you can enjoy 6–12 drinks per day depending on your habits.
The Prestige Select package offers all-day access to premium beverages, while the House Select plan focuses on mealtime wine and beer.
Choose based on your lifestyle, preferences, and how much you want to indulge.
Ultimately, the joy of sailing with Oceania Cruises lies not in counting your drinks — but in enjoying each sip, each sunset, and each moment of your journey across the seas.
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