Key Aspects:
- Carnival-owned P&O Cruises is increasing the prices of its pre-paid drink package options.
- The most expensive, all-inclusive Deluxe package is actually decreasing in price by a small amount.
- This change comes just after sister company Carnival Cruise Line increased internet package prices.
P&O Cruises, part of the Carnival Corporation & plc family, is quietly raising drink package prices. The new prices are effective from late October 2025, after pricing was significantly lower earlier in the year.
No direct notification of the price increase has been sent to booked guests, but travelers have discovered the change on the cruise line’s website. Cruise Hive has reached out to P&O Cruises for a statement on the change, but has not yet heard back as of this writing.
P&O Cruises offers four package options as follows:
- Refresh – On-tap fountain soft drinks and juice only
- Alcohol-Free – On-tap fountain soft drinks plus select coffee and tea options, bottled water, bottled juices, and non-alcoholic cocktails
- Classic – All soft drinks and alcoholic beverages but excluding the full range of coffees as well as certain high-end cocktails, wines, and craft beers
- Deluxe – All soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with no exclusions
The new per person, per day pricing for the packages is £16 ($21 USD) for the Refresh option, £29 ($38) for the Alcohol-Free package, £50 ($66) for the Classic package, and £60 ($79) for the Deluxe option.
Previously, the packages were £14.45 ($19), £26.95 ($36), £48.85 ($64), and £60.50 ($80), respectively.
To be clear, the three lower package options have all increased in price. The Refresh package is up 10%, the Alcohol-Free package is up almost 8%, and the Classic package is up by just over 2%.
The most all-inclusive Deluxe option, however, has actually decreased slightly, by almost 1%. While this does not seem significant (and to the budget, it probably isn’t), it does signal that the “extra” inclusions for the Deluxe package are either stable in price or else there may not be as much guest interest in that package.
Furthermore, the Deluxe package price decrease firmly cements the idea that the all-inclusive package is the best value for guests who will take advantage of its extensive options.
Package pricing can change at any time and can vary based on the ship, length of sailing, or sailing date. Shorter sailings typically have slightly higher per-day prices, while holiday sailings or more popular itineraries may have slightly higher prices.
Pre-booking the packages can be up to 20% cheaper than booking onboard and is a great way for interested cruisers to save if they are sure the package is a good deal for their beverage preferences.
If guests have already purchased and paid for a drink package that has not yet set sail, no worries! There will be no extra charge or increase in the package pricing, as it is already fully paid no matter when the sailing date may be.
Are More Price Increases on the Way?
This is the second quiet price increase noticed for Carnival-owned cruise brands in just days. In addition to the drink package pricing increase on P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line has quietly increased its internet plan pricing.
It is possible that additional price changes may be coming soon not only on P&O Cruises or Carnival Cruise Line, but for other brands in the family as well. This includes Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Holland America Line, and more.
More From Cruise Hive
While each cruise line operates independently, it is not uncommon for such price changes to come in waves as overall corporate revenue is reviewed. Cruise lines also consider guest feedback, package popularity, supply prices, and profitability when determining any price changes.
To secure the best deals, guests on any cruise line should book package options early if they know they want to take advantage of better savings. This will generally lock in current rates before any possible price changes take effect.
