Key Aspects:
- In the website description for the new CHEERS! Zero-Proof Drink package in Australia, Carnival incorrectly stated that specialty coffees and teas are included for Australian cruises.
- Carnival has notified guests who booked the package of the mistake and sent directions on how to get refunds if this is unsatisfactory.
- Specialty coffees and teas must be purchased a la carte or are included in the original CHEERS! Drink package.
Carnival Cruise Line may have been too eager to allow guests to start booking the new Zero-Proof drink package, and some guests may have been too eager to do just that.
When the brand new CHEERS! Zero-Proof Drink Package went live on Carnival’s website on September 5, 2025, the description incorrectly stated that premium coffees and teas were included in the package for Australian cruisers.
While a variety of non-alcoholic beverages are included in this drink package, these specialty beverages definitely are not for Carnival sailings in Australia.
“You were part of a small group of guests who booked the package shortly after it went live on our website on Friday, 5 September,” Carnival wrote to early bookers.
“Unfortunately, for a brief period, the website contained an error, incorrectly listing premium coffee and teas as part of the package and the website has been updated accordingly.”
Adding to the confusion for some, premium coffees and teas are included in the new alcohol-free package for Carnival cruises outside of Australia and are still listed in the description on the website when you access it from the US.
If this information makes the new package undesirable, guests can refund their drink package, which currently runs at $29.99 per person, per day.
“We’re sorry about our error. If you decide you no longer want the CHEERS! Zero Proof non-alcoholic beverage package, you can get a refund for the package via the Cruise Manager tab on the website,” Carnival continued.
Typically, Carnival drink packages can be cancelled and refunded until 10 p.m. EST on the night before embarkation day.
Where to Find Specialty Coffees & Teas Onboard
Trust me, I understand how important it is to satisfy the need for caffeine.
Just because the specialty coffees and teas aren’t included in the Zero-Proof drink package in Australia doesn’t mean that these beverages can’t be found onboard.
On all Carnival cruise ships, regardless of sailing region, premium coffees and teas refer to specialty espresso-based drinks, gourmet teas, and other cafe-style beverages, akin to what you would likely find at your local coffee shop at home.
These can be purchased a la carte from the coffee bars onboard, such as the popular JavaBlue Café.
Additionally, Carnival has added the ability to order coffees to go from the Hub App at designated bars on select ships in an attempt to shorten the lines at hot spots like the aforementioned JavaBlue Café.
In addition to purchasing drinks a la carte, coffee and specialty teas are included in the original CHEERS! Drink Package, which starts at $69.95 per person, per day (which is just over double the cost of the new Zero-Proof package).
But for guests on a budget, the free coffee and tea that is provided 24/7 at the Lido Deck Marketplace Buffet and beverage stations might be good enough as a complement to the Zero-Proof drink package.
Standard coffees and teas are also complimentary in the main dining rooms.
Through the Zero-Proof package, guests can still save on sodas, juices, bottled waters, frozen drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, bottled protein shakes, and energy drinks.
Non-alcoholic versions of beer, sparkling wine, and cocktails are also included – and I speak from experience when I say that Carnival crew members make a mean virgin strawberry daiquiri.
