What you should know before booking your beverage package with Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is widely regarded for having the best dining experience at sea. Guests who sail Oceania will be lavished with delectable culinary offerings from Michelin Awarded Chef’s at over 9 restaurants onboard. With fine dining, as the centerpiece of Oceania’s considerable onboard experience, guests may consider adding a beverage package to enhance their experience. If you are a seasoned Oceania Cruiser, this question has most likely already been answered, but guests booking for the first time will inevitably ask themselves “should I buy a beverage package?” To answer, you will need to know what your options are, what each package includes, and one simple strategy.

Options and Inclusions

Oceania offers two traditional beverage packages and one bottled wine package. All beverage packages have certain premium labels and vintages that are not included. Guests with beverage packages will receive a 20% discount on exclusive wine pairing events at specialty dining venues like La Reserve on the Marina and Riviera.  Each package is priced differently, leaving it to guests to decide which package fits their budget and needs. 

The House Select package will be $39.95 per guest per night. This selection includes unlimited champagne, wine, and beer with lunch and dinner. Guests may take advantage of this plan while dining in the main dining room or in their accommodation.

This is the most basic plan available and is included as an optional O-Life amenity that guests can select when the promotion is available. The convenience of being able to enjoy a glass of wine at dinner without worrying about additional fees is enticing, and as an O-Life Amenity, it is the 2nd highest value available (behind Shore Excursions). Samples from this package include but are not limited to:

1. Montaudon Brut, Reims, France - Champagne

2. Pazo de Villarei Abadia do Seixo Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain - Red Wine

3. Solar Viejo Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain - White Wine

4. American Domestic and selected import beer

5. And more

If you are a light drinker or do not plan to enjoy spirits onboard, this is the package for you. At the price point of an Oceania Cruise, even if you do not have O-Life, the $40 per day per guest, is an excellent value.

The Prestige Select package includes unlimited wine, champagne, beer, and spirits at any time onboard. This would be comparable to many of the traditional beverage offerings in cruising. Guests purchasing this package will enjoy unlimited beverages from any bar or restaurant onboard. Guests who already have the House Select package can upgrade to the prestige select plan by paying the difference between the two plans. The Prestige Select package is $59.95 at the time of this publication. Again if you intend to enjoy cocktails regularly onboard this is an excellent value. In addition to the beverages in the House Select package, the Premium Select gives guests access to spirits such as these: 

1. Macallan Makers Edition - Whisky 

2. Hendrick’s Gin

3. Remy Martin XO

4. Bacardi Rums

5. Grey Goose Vodkas

6. And more

The Wine by the Bottle package allows guests to choose from Oceania’s wide selection of vintages. Guests can choose their favorites or enjoy options hand-selected by the Sommelier. The wine by the bottle package requires guests to purchase a minimum of 7 bottles at around $50 per bottle. The minimum total would be $332.50.  Guests are not allowed to return any unfinished bottles but are allowed to take them home upon disembarkation. A sample of these bottles is as follows: 

1. Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Epernay, France

2. Val D’Oca Prosecco, Veneto, Italy

3. Tanunda Gran Barossa Riesling, Barossa Valley, Australia

4. Caliterra Tributo Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Valley, Chile

5. Domaine Lignères La Baronne Alaric, Languedoc-Rousillon, France 

6. And more

Strategy

The simplest way to decide whether or not you will benefit from the purchase of a package is to simply estimate how many drinks you think you will have per day. You can then do the math to see if you will be spending over $50 per day on beverages per person. It would be wise to factor in that at the time of this article’s publication, drinks onboard are between $10 and $12 per drink plus an 18% gratuity. Gratuities are included with your beverage package.

Keep in mind, while you calculate that you will have fewer opportunities to enjoy beverages onboard during your port days. You will want to consider your options carefully if you are not going to be on the ship very often during your cruise. Long sea days are the perfect time to get your money’s worth out of your beverage package. 

Deciding whether or not to buy a beverage package simply comes down to whether you prefer the convenience of simply not having to worry about paying extra for drinks if you plan to drink at all onboard. In the end, it is a personal decision how you allocate your budget while on vacation. If wine and spirits are integral to your enjoyment of all that your Oceania Cruise has to offer, then you would be well served to ask your travel agent or concierge to help you select the best package for you. If not, by all means, spend the money you will save on services or experiences that will enrich your cruise.