Virgin Voyages does not sell a traditional cruise drink package. Instead, the adults-only line includes basic drinks in every fare — water, sodas, drip coffee, tea, and juices — and lets you prepay an optional Bar Tab with bonus credit (a $200 Bar Tab currently gets a $25 bonus, and $1,000 gets $250). Here is exactly how it works, what is free, and whether the Bar Tab beats a classic drink package.
By Steve Griswold — certified travel advisor, founder of Pixie Vacations, and a Virgin Voyages First Mate agency team that has sailed the Lady Ships. Last updated: August 2026.
Does Virgin Voyages have a drink package?
No — and that is on purpose. According to Virgin Voyages’ official drinks page, the line decided to “raise a glass to no drink packages.” Rather than charging every adult in the cabin $60–$115 per person, per day (the going rate for unlimited packages on most mainstream lines, before gratuities), Virgin prices drinks individually, includes the tip in every listed price, and lets you prepay only what you expect to drink.
Two things make this feel very different from other cruise lines. First, there is no 18–20% auto-gratuity added at the register — a $14 cocktail costs exactly $14. Second, nobody in your cabin is forced to buy anything: on many lines, if one adult buys the drink package, every adult in the cabin must buy it too. On Virgin, a cocktail lover can sail with a teetotaler and neither subsidizes the other.
What drinks are already free on Virgin Voyages?
More than most first-time Sailors expect. Included in every fare, at every bar and restaurant:
- Still and sparkling water (bottled water refill stations, no charge)
- Sodas and soft drinks
- Drip coffee and a solid tea selection
- Non-pressed juices
That means a non-drinker can genuinely sail without spending another dollar on beverages — one of the reasons we call Virgin the closest thing to an all-inclusive cruise line. What costs extra: alcohol, fresh-pressed juices, specialty coffees, and premium bottled water brands.
The Bar Tab: Virgin’s answer to the drink package
The Bar Tab is prepaid drink credit, not an unlimited pass. You load it before you sail (or on board), and Virgin adds bonus credit on top when you buy in advance:
| You pay | Bonus credit | You get |
|---|---|---|
| $200 | +$25 | $225 to spend |
| $300 | +$50 (typical promo tier) | $350 to spend |
| $1,000 | +$250 | $1,250 to spend |
Bonus tiers change with promotions — Virgin’s 2026 wave offers have included up to $400 in bonus or promotional Bar Tab on select sailings — so it pays to check the current offer before you pay full freight. Every drink you order is simply deducted from the balance, and both Sailors in a cabin can share one Tab.
One rule to know before you overload it: unused Bar Tab credit is not refundable and does not carry over to a future voyage. Per Virgin Voyages’ Bar Tab FAQ, whatever is left at the end of the sailing — purchased or bonus — expires. That is why we recommend starting smaller; you can always top up mid-cruise in the app.
For the full mechanics — sharing rules, topping up, using it at the Beach Club — read our complete Virgin Voyages Bar Tab guide.
Bar Tab vs. a traditional drink package
| Virgin Voyages Bar Tab | Typical drink package (other lines) | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Prepaid credit, pay per drink | Unlimited drinks, flat daily rate |
| Cost | Optional; from $200 (with bonus credit added) | Roughly $60–$115 per person per day, typically before 18–20% gratuity |
| Gratuities | Included in every listed drink price | Usually added on top |
| Cabin rule | No requirement — one Tab can be shared | Often every adult in the cabin must purchase |
| Unused value | Expires at voyage end (so size it sensibly) | No leftover value — you pay the same whether you drink 2 or 10 |
| Best for | Light-to-moderate drinkers, couples who split, budget control | Heavy drinkers who will reliably hit 6+ drinks daily |
The math favors Virgin’s system for most people. With cocktails running $14–$18, beers $8–$10, and wine by the glass $12–$16 (tips included), a two-drink-a-day Sailor spends about $30–$35 daily — less than half of what an unlimited package costs on other lines, whether they use it or not.
How much Bar Tab should you buy?
Quick rules of thumb from our agents (and yes — with a last name like Griswold, we have field-tested this on more family voyages than we care to admit):
- 1–2 drinks a day: skip the Bar Tab or start at $200 — the bonus is nice, but expiring credit isn’t.
- 3–4 drinks a day (or two people sharing): $300–$500 hits the sweet spot on a 5-night sailing.
- Celebration mode: $600–$1,000 shared across a couple on a 7-night — the $250 bonus at the top tier is the best percentage return.
Or skip the guessing: plug your sailing length and drinking habits into our free Bar Tab Calculator and it does the math for you.
Also worth knowing: Sailors 21+ may bring up to two sealed 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per cabin in carry-on bags on embarkation day, plus up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks per person.
Get free Sailor Loot when you book with us
Here is the part most first-timers miss: booking through a Virgin Voyages First Mate (that’s us) costs exactly the same as booking direct — but you can get extra onboard credit (Sailor Loot), help stacking current promos, and a real human who answers when plans change. Our team explains how it works in our First Mate guide.
Ready to sail? Browse live Virgin Voyages fares and book online with Pixie Vacations, request a free quote, or call us at 678-815-1584. Planning help is always free.
Virgin Voyages drink package FAQ
Does Virgin Voyages have an unlimited drink package?
No. Virgin Voyages does not offer any unlimited alcohol package. The only drink-spending product is the prepaid Bar Tab, which works like a gift card: drinks are deducted individually until the credit runs out.
What drinks are free on Virgin Voyages?
Still and sparkling water, sodas, drip coffee, teas, and non-pressed juices are included in every fare, everywhere on the ship. Alcohol, specialty coffee, and fresh-pressed juice cost extra.
How much bonus do you get on a Virgin Voyages Bar Tab?
As of August 2026, a $200 Bar Tab earns a $25 bonus and a $1,000 Bar Tab earns a $250 bonus, with promotional tiers (like +$50 on $300) appearing throughout the year on select sailings.
Do you tip for drinks on Virgin Voyages?
No. Gratuities are built into every listed price on board — the menu price is the final price, for drinks and everything else.
Is the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab worth it?
If you average two or more paid drinks a day, yes — the advance-purchase bonus is effectively a 12–25% discount. If you drink less than that, pay as you go, because unused credit expires at the end of the voyage.
Can you bring your own alcohol on a Virgin Voyages cruise?
Each cabin may bring up to two sealed 750ml bottles of wine or champagne aboard on embarkation day (Sailors 21+, carry-on only). Liquor and beer are not permitted.
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