A Guide to Windstar Cruises’ Drinks Packages
What’s Included in Windstar Cruises’ Drinks Packages?
If you’re thinking about embarking on an adventure to the Caribbean or Mediterranean with Windstar Cruises, a drinks package is a fantastic way of enhancing your experience onboard and ensuring you’re making the most of your getaway. While soft drinks and bottled water are included in your fare, whichever one of Windstar Cruises’ ships you’re sailing on, alcoholic beverages aren’t included in a standard fare and will require an additional charge.
But, that’s where Windstar Cruises’ drinks packages come in. With any one of the drinks packages available, you can enjoy unlimited drinks (of varying kinds) for one price – charged per passenger, per day. Not only is this a fantastic financial decision if you’re thinking about enjoying a crisp beer with your brunch, or a nice glass of wine while lounging on the deck after a long day, but picking up a drinks package can also give you peace of mind; you won’t need to worry about the stacking prices of individual drinks during your holiday, affording you more attention to enjoy them – and all the stunning destinations you’ll be sailing to and through.
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Well, in this guide, we’re going to run through all the Windstar Cruises drinks packages available, Windstar Cruises’ prices for these packages, what they include and exclude, and any other important information you need to know. If you’re on the fence about adding one to your Windstar Cruises fare, this will help you make an informed decision.
Keep reading to find out more!
Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package
Windstar Cruises’ most affordable drinks package, the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package is a fantastic option for anyone embarking on an adventure on one of Windstar Cruises’ intimately-sized yacht-style ships.
Price: $55 per person, per day
In this package, as the name suggests, you’ll be able to enjoy the following:
- Unlimited beer, domestic and imported
- Unlimited wine by the glass, over 30 varieties available
- 30% discount on all bottles of wine with a retail value of up to $100
However, this particular package won’t include the following drinks options:
- Full bottles of wine
- Sparkling wine by the glass
- Cocktails
- Cordials, liqueurs, and aperitifs
- Champagne, by glass or by bottle
- Mini bar items
How to book a Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package
Once you’ve booked your holiday with Windstar Cruises, you’ll have the option to purchase the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package. You will need to purchase this for the full duration of your cruise getaway, and you can do so through your cruise consultant, via My Windstar on the official Windstar Cruises website, or by submitting the Onboard Guest Packages, Gifts & Services form to a Windstar Cruises Vacation Planner.
You can also purchase the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package while onboard, but you can only do this for the first two days of your sailing. In this case, you will also need to purchase the drinks package for the entire duration of your cruise.
Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package
The premium drinks package available with Windstar Cruises is the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package, an upgrade that will cost an additional $10 per person, per day, when compared to the aforementioned Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package.
Price: $65 per person, per day
With this drinks package, you’ll not only get everything available with the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package – including the 30% discount on full bottles of wine up to a retail value of $100 – but, you’ll also get unlimited cocktails, champagne by the glass, and more. Good value for money, this package is ideal for guests wanting a greater selection of drinks during their Windstar Cruises getaway.
With the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package, you’ll get the following drinks included:
- Unlimited beer, domestic and imported
- Unlimited wine by the glass, sparkling included, with over 30 varieties available
- Unlimited champagne by the glass
- Unlimited cordials, liqueurs, and aperitifs
- Unlimited cocktails, based on house cocktails and select brands
- Mini bar items
- 30% discount on all bottles of wine with a retail value of up to $100
However, despite this being the most comprehensive drinks package available with Windstar Cruises, you’ll still need to pay extra for the following:
- Full bottles of sparkling wine and wine
- Full bottles of champagne
How to book a Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package
Much like the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package, you’ll have the option to purchase the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package once you’ve booked your getaway with Windstar Cruises. You’ll need to purchase this for the full duration of your cruise, which can be done through your cruise consultant, via My Windstar on the official Windstar Cruises website, or by submitting the Onboard Guest Packages, Gifts & Services form to a Windstar Cruises Vacation Planner.
You’ll also be able to purchase this drinks package while onboard, but you must do so within the first two days of your cruise. In a similar fashion to pre-purchasing this drinks package, you’ll need to purchase the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package for the full duration of your cruise while onboard.
Windstar’s All-In Package
For those of you who want to elevate your Windstar Cruises experience and enjoy an all-inclusive excursion aboard one of this cruise line’s intimately-sized yacht-style ships, Windstar’s All-In Package is a fantastic option.
Price: $89 per person, per day (when purchased up to seven days prior to your cruise, otherwise $99 per person, per day when purchased onboard)
Not only does this package contain everything both the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package and Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package offer, but it also covers the cost of Wi-Fi for the duration of your getaway and includes any additional gratuities.
If you’re considering purchasing a Wi-Fi internet package while sailing with Windstar Cruises alongside a drinks package, bundling both together with Windstar’s All-In Package is a no-brainer. Though, you should still read up on all the other extra charges on a cruise ship you need to know about – they're not all covered by Windstar's all-inclusive package.
However, Windstar’s All-In Package comes with the following:
- Unlimited beer, domestic and imported
- Unlimited wine by the glass, sparkling included, with over 30 varieties available
- Unlimited champagne by the glass
- Unlimited cordials, liqueurs, and aperitifs
- Unlimited cocktails, based on house cocktails and select brands
- Mini bar items
- 30% discount on all bottles of wine with a retail value of up to $100
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- All gratuities, including the 18% beverage service charge
It’s also important to note that this package still doesn’t include the following:
- Full bottles of sparkling wine and wine
- Full bottles of champagne
How to book Windstar’s All-In Package
To book Windstar’s All-In Package, you need to follow the same steps as booking one of the other drinks packages. So, once you’ve booked your Windstar Cruises cruise, you’ll have the option to purchase Windstar’s All-In Package at an additional cost – that being $89 per passenger, per day when done no more than seven days in advance.
You must purchase this for the duration of your cruise, which can be done through your cruise consultant, via My Windstar on the official Windstar Cruises website, or by submitting the Onboard Guest Packages, Gifts & Services form to a Windstar Cruise Vacation Planner.
You can also purchase this once you’re onboard, within the first two days of your cruise getaway, but it will then cost $99 per person, per day. You will also need to purchase this for the full duration of your cruise, much like the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package or the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package.
Windstar Cruises’ Drinks Packages FAQs
How many drinks can you have with a drinks package on a cruise?
While this is something that varies from cruise line to cruise line, and drinks package to drinks package, all Windstar Cruises drinks packages are unlimited – meaning, you can have as many beers and wines as you like with the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine package, and as many drinks as you want of any kind with the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package and Windstar’s All-In Package.
One thing that’s worth keeping in mind, though, is that Windstar Cruises still reserves the right to limit alcohol service to guests to avoid intoxication and irresponsible alcohol use. So, while unlimited in theory, the packages available are more ‘unlimited within reason’.
What beverages are included on Windstar Cruises?
Without a drinks package, all soft drinks and bottled water is complimentary on a Windstar Cruises cruise. So, thanks to the fact that you get free soft drinks on Windstar Cruises’ ships, you won’t need to worry about going thirsty if you’re not planning on purchasing one.
How much are drinks on Windstar Cruises?
While the prices of individual drinks varies depending on the drink itself, the average price of a beer aboard Windstar Cruises’ ships is roughly $7. Meanwhile, the average price of a glass of wine is around $10. The cocktails available vary in price from around $9 to $13 and every individual drink purchase also comes with an 18% service charge.
This service charge is not included in the Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package or the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package; however, it does come included in Windstar’s All-In Package.
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Windstar Cruises’ Top Drinks Package Terms & Conditions
If you’re thinking of booking a Windstar Cruises’ getaway with one of the above drinks packages, or Windstar’s All-In Package, there are some drinks-specific terms and conditions you may want to be aware of. They are as follows:
- Changes or additions to your cruise packages (including drinks packages) cannot be made within seven days of departure and should be requested once you’re onboard.
- Passengers are allowed to bring aboard two bottles of wine or champagne (up to 750ml) per cabin for a seven-day cruise, or three bottles for a cruise eight days or longer. You may consume these permitted outside beverages in public areas on the ship, but a small corkage fee (approx. $15 and 15% gratuity) will be applied to the passenger’s onboard account.
- Additional outside alcohol, including alcohol purchased at ports of call along the cruise route, will be kept by the ship’s purser and delivered to the passenger’s cabin on the last evening of the voyage.
- Minimum drinking age aboard Windstar Cruises is 21 years old.
*terms and conditions accurate as of July 2024