Is the Holland America Drink Package Worth it?

We pretty much can put away 15 drinks a day , what's the difference between the elite package and the have it all fare?

I used to cruise exclusively on HAL until I sailed on Celebrity some six years ago and have never gone back to HAL, until this coming month (Dec 2022) and will sail on the Rotterdam. This past month I returned from a back to back on the Apex (Med and crossing)! Its an impressive ship and cruise line. I am none the less looking forward to my sailing on a 10 day southern Caribbean and returning to HAL. Based on your video, I don’t know if I will be impressed! Signing for your drink while having an all inclusive drink package seems like a waste of energy and time for staff and guest. If the serves deserves the extra tip I always have money to give them directly! Thus they are guaranteed receiving their tips directly! I have noticed they do like to charge XTRA for many other things! Not a good sign! Although the ship looks impressive I hope the service and food is equally impressive!

I just can't understand why anyone would pay for beverages when the included selection is great! We'll get a couple sodas, waters, and alcoholic drinks during the week, but otherwise it sounds like a complete waste of money to me that I'd rather put towards excursions... anything else. We just don't drink that much! Lol!

lol: that is a boat load of liver damage, and calories in the form of carbohydrates- prepare for diabetes! I'll pass on the packages enjoy water, ice tea, basic coffee and an adult beverage once or twice on the cruise.

also, there are 3 Pinnacle class ships. We're going on Baltic cruise w/ Rotterdam
Pinnacle Class Ships: Rotterdam (2021); Nieuw Statendam (2018); Koningsdam (2016)

I'm going on a 2-week cruise in the summer. This is good info to know! Thank you so much for posting:)

Thank you for this comprehensive breakdown 😊

Good info. The website is a little confusing. Under the elite package it says “unlimited non alcohol drinks”, but then when you go to book it, it said “any beverage $15 a day (up to 15 beverages a day) “. I called someone and they said non alcohol drinks count towards 15. Then I called again and got someone else and they said they don’t count. So glad to get clarification

Costco Travel - HAL cruises can't be purchased without drinks package.

Holland America now only charges the difference over the $11 allowable amount. Should you get a drink for $15, you pay $4 plus the 18% gratuity charge.

if you don't have a drink pacakge purchased does this mean you can't drink soda during your meals? like if we're eating at the main dining room, we can't get a soda?

But why do HA make a family of 4 ,2 girls aged 7 and 6 buy 4 packages..sorry no going to happen

We've just booked a 12 day Panama canal cruise for next year with Holland America. There are some good deals to be had with the "have it all" promotion if you book before 31 March 2023.

Do you have to sign a check each time you get a beverage?

I just go with the "Have It All" package, which isn't much more than the drink package. OBC, shore excursions, dining, internet, and drinks. We only have 6 drinks per day max, including coffees, teas, and sparkling water, so it has to be a better deal than $54 per day.

That's that experience

Thank you for this very informative video! We are headed on our first cruise next month, on the HAL Westerdam to Alaska. We have the Have It All package that we got at an additional discount/deal and I think it will be worth every penny. The only thing we didn't need from it is the internet package - I want to totally unplug and enjoy time with my spouse and family - but it's nice to have it if in a pinch we need it, especially as we have several sea days. I was nervous about owing 18% gratuity per drink on our 15 drink limit but it sounds like this was pre-paid with the Have It all (which did include gratuity), so that's awesome.

Question -- do they have fountain sodas and if so when and where? I am a big Diet Coke drinker but I really only prefer it from the fountain and not the can.

With my wife, a drink package is a must.

The elite plan is going to save me so much money. I live at high altitude and when I get to sea level, I find it very hard to tie one on.

For the price I paid for the drinks package, I will easily "save" money with what I would drink over a holiday period (that's not getting drunk, but I do like a few drinks in the evening)

Thank you for the info. We have a land based casino offer and are using it on Holland America for a November, '23 sailing to the Southern Caribbean. Because it's a comp cruise, we are not entitled to book the Have It All Package. We are a couple where one of us drinks alcohol, and the other can not because of medical reasons. We are still required to purchase the alcohol package for both of us or neither of us. Other lines allow us to have one purchase the package, and the other is required to purchase a non alcoholic package similar to Quench on Holland. Not real thrilled with this. Holland best blow us away on their other offerings (food, shows, excursions, etc) or it will most likely be a one and done.

My son, 20, is excited about the Coca Cola machine on our Nieuw Statendam cruise next month. He said you get a special cup to access the machine. Is that right? Is it fun making the special syrup blends yourself? He drinks gallons of fountain Coke, so I’m thinking the $8 a day would be worth it for us.

well we are about to hit the high seas to alaska , i believe we got the have it all package so i’m going to enjoy this our first cruise without the hassle !

Just back from Alaska, I took the elite drink package. For me , WELL worth the 10 dollar a day upgrade. Unlimited cappuccinos, espresso mocha coffees also unlimited fancy water and unlimited freshly squeezed orange juice and can't forget pineapple and champagne.. includes 15 alcohol beverages up to $15. One cherry bourbon beautifully done with small cherry smoke was awesome that cost me $1.80.. That drink was 16,80 . And my fridge was talked full with Perrier no charge.. I found without the elite package. The drinks were put in smaller glasses so every glass you're paying a tip on and paying more because there's not much in it that's where the elite package came in handy.

We added on a package for our 10 day Canada New England cruise. The cost was $100 total per day for the 2 of us. The offer included the drink package, wi fi for each of us, $200 shore excursion credit per person and 2 speciality dining experiences for each of us. Note that this was offered after we had booked but 30 days before we sail. Given that the least expensive alcoholic drink package was $55 per day, this was a money saver. You were basically getting the shore excursion credit, wi fi and the speciality dining for free.

Here's a trick Holland America pulls, as I've witnessed first hand. Holland America serves "pay for" and "drink package" soft drinks in two separate style beverage glasses. This allows the staff to see who is paying for (gratuities), and who has a drink package. Guess who gets better service. I purchased a soft drink package and after your first order good luck getting another; it's like you don't exist. Another member of our party was not a "drink package" participant, as we sat together at a table in the lounge, we both ordered cokes from the same waiter, and they were served in to separate style glasses. As long as we sat together we had great service. Once he left to go to his room, service was slow to nonexistent. I then noticed this was common practice in all the lounges. A drink package is worthless if they actively ignore you for better clientele.

My wife and I just got off of the Eurodam last week. We had the Coke package. Here's what they need to tell you. A drink is always put in a glass with ice and is about the equivalent of 1/3 of a can of Coke. A can of Coke cost $2.75. They will only leave a soda can if you have a quench package. The Coke package is a hassle for the server. They usually have to open a can and leave it behind the counter (unless you are at certain bars). In several cases, the bartender gave us the cans and just charged us $2.75 anyway (even when given the card). For our next HAL trip, we won't get any drink packages. For us, it's cheaper and less hassle to pay as we go.

Who can drink that much

If you are considering a drink package along with any other add-ons, like WiFi, consider the "Have It All" package. It includes the "Signature" drink package, Wifi, $100 or $200 per person shore excursion credits (depending on room and length of cruise) and two meals at two of the upscale dining options. You'll have to do the math to see if it's worth your while but with our 11day Caribbean cruise it most certainly was. The cost per day for WiFi (not ships WiFi but the real deal) makes the "Have It All" package a strong contender.

does anyone know if you can get any energy drinks on the cruise ??

Not if the cocktails have no buzz in them. Unfortunately, you have to buy a cruise to find out. By then it's too late. $14 Shirley Temples.

So we need to still tip everyone? Do you tip at the time of ordering? OR?

Does everyone in the same cabin have to get the package? I'm wanting to get the soda package, but I'm traveling with my mom and she's not interested in soft drinks. Neither one of us drink enough alcohol to make the other packages worthwhile.

Would you have drank that much if you didn’t have the package? That’s what I ask myself. That helps me determine if I shud buy the package. I have found I drink less when I don’t have the package. I drink more because I want to make sure I take full advantage of the package not because I want the drink. So for me, I pay as I go. I buy a drink because I want it not because I feel compelled to buy one. And I save lots more money that way.

So confusing 👎🏻

How many times did you have to say "Hollanamerica lines"?????You drove me crazy, I stopped watching!

I have been got to have it all package with Holland America since 2021 and I find that it's worth it. With specialty dining that comes with this package depends on the length of the cruise to get either 1 or 2 specialty dining restaurants. Same is for the shore excursions, could between 100 & 200 dollars towards an excursion

We cruised on Holland America in April of 2023 and had the Have-it-All (Signature Drink) Package. CONTRARY to what this video says, when I ordered a $15 Single Malt Scotch (Maclellan 12), I only paid the $4 difference between the Signature Drink Package max, and the cost of this drink. I was very pleased to find that a glass of Gran Mariner was less than the maximum with the Signature Drink Package.

My wife and I are planning our first HAL cruise to SE Asia in Jan 2026. They are currently offering the Early Bonus Booking Have it all that includes the elite drink package and crew gratuity for the price of the regular Have it all. Seems like a good deal since we both love our drinks. Does anyone know when the Early Booking Bonus offers end and the regular Have it all program begins?

Thanks

Question , we have the elite package . I am traveling with my adult son who has autism. I see the mini bar stuff in the room and am terrified. He will blow through it if I don’t hide it.
He just will want a drink or snack at night. Can we bring anything back to the room?
We are registered with guest accessibility already .
This is a once in a lifetime for both of us. His first time flying and cruising. He is 20. I just have to be right with him the entire time.
I’ve paid for everything up front . The all inclusive package where we get a shore excursion and onboard credits plus fine restaurant .
Just help with the mini bar situation!! He will just want water and diet soda.
Thank you experienced cruisers !!!

White Richard Martinez Karen Gonzalez Karen

Absolutely. We purchase have it all on all our cruises

The Elite plan seems like the best choice for me and my girlfriend, thanx for the educational video. ❤

Wrong: you only pay the difference if the prize is above the package limit. Not the whole drink

I usually purchase the drink package but I am really not happy with the exclusion of Half Moon Cay.

All this has put me off my cruise, looks like the companies are just out to fleece you

If you and your partner are chronic alcoholics, YES.

What are the price points of the Single Malt Whisky offerings?

Do you purchase a cruise ship drink package? Do you think they are a good value?