Short answer: Virgin Voyages doesn't sell drink packages. Instead, every Sailor can pre-load a Bar Tab before sailing (or buys one onboard) and pays per drink at à la carte prices — typically $10–$14 for cocktails, $7–$9 for beer, $11–$14 for wine by the glass, and $4–$6 for specialty coffee. Soft drinks, gourmet drip coffee, basic teas, fresh-pressed juices, and still and sparkling water are all included free. This guide breaks down every drink price you'll see onboard in 2026, what's actually included, and how much Bar Tab to pre-load so you don't overpay.
We've sailed Virgin Voyages multiple times, and the drinks question is the single most common one we get from clients booking their first VV cruise. The line's "no drink packages" model genuinely throws people used to Carnival, Royal, or Celebrity. The good news: once you understand Bar Tab, you'll almost always come out ahead — and you'll never feel pressured to "drink your money's worth" the way unlimited packages tempt you.
Does Virgin Voyages Have a Drink Package?
No — Virgin Voyages does not offer a traditional all-you-can-drink beverage package. Richard Branson's pitch when the line launched was that drink packages encourage overdrinking and create awkward "is this included?" moments at every bar. Instead, every Sailor pays per drink, and Virgin Voyages offers a pre-paid Bar Tab system with bonus credit when you load money in advance.
Here's how it works in plain English:
- You load a Bar Tab ($300, $500, $700, or larger) before you sail or once you're on the ship.
- Virgin Voyages adds a bonus — typically 10% to 25% extra credit, depending on how much you load and what's currently on offer.
- Each drink you order is deducted from your tab balance. No 18% gratuity gets tacked on at checkout — gratuities are already baked into the menu price.
- Use it or lose it. Unused Bar Tab is not refunded at the end of the cruise and doesn't carry over to a future voyage, so load what you'll realistically drink. (This is the part people most often get wrong.)
If you want a deeper walkthrough of Bar Tab math and current bonus tiers, our complete Virgin Voyages Bar Tab guide has every bonus level and a sample budget.
Virgin Voyages Drink Prices in 2026 (Full Menu)
Drink pricing is set fleet-wide, so what you pay on Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady is essentially identical. Prices below reflect 2026 onboard menus and include gratuity (no extra 18% at signing).
Cocktails & Mixed Drinks
- Signature cocktails (Sip menu, On the Rocks, The Manor): $10–$14
- Top-shelf and reserve cocktails: $14–$18
- Espresso martinis & specialty espresso cocktails: $11–$14
- Frozen and blended drinks (poolside): $11–$13
- Mocktails / zero-proof cocktails: $7–$9
Beer
- Domestic and imported lagers (Heineken, Stella, Modelo, etc.): $7–$8
- Craft and IPA pours: $8–$9
- Hard seltzers: $7–$8
Wine
- House wines by the glass: $11–$13
- Premium wines by the glass: $14–$18
- Bottles (entry tier): $40–$60
- Bottles (mid-tier): $60–$120
- Bottles (premium / reserve): $130 and up
- Sparkling wine / Champagne by the glass: $12–$22 (Veuve and Dom run higher by the bottle)
Spirits Neat or On the Rocks
- Standard pours (call brands): $9–$11
- Premium pours (Macallan 12, Hendrick's, Casamigos, etc.): $13–$17
- Ultra-premium / aged whiskies and tequilas: $20+
Specialty Coffee & Espresso Drinks
- Espresso, macchiato: $4
- Cappuccino, latte, flat white: $5–$6
- Specialty / flavored lattes (Grounds Club menu): $6–$7
- Iced and cold-brew coffee: $5–$6
What Drinks Are Included Free on Virgin Voyages?
This is the part that surprises people coming from Royal or Carnival — Virgin Voyages includes a real, useful list of drinks at no extra charge, beyond just water at dinner. As covered in our Is Virgin Voyages all-inclusive guide, the line is closer to "premium-included" than fully all-inclusive. Free drinks include:
- Still and sparkling water — bottled in restaurants, tap throughout the ship, available 24/7 in cabin and at bars
- Sodas and soft drinks — Coke products, ginger ale, tonic, lemonade, iced tea
- Drip coffee and basic hot teas — at The Galley, restaurants, and in your cabin
- Fresh-pressed juices — orange, grapefruit, and the daily fresh juice (typically watermelon, pineapple, or beet-and-ginger) at The Galley breakfast
- Smoothies at The Dock and The Galley when made with the included juice base
- Cabin minibar essentials — bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks (alcohol in the minibar is à la carte)
What's not included free: anything with alcohol, anything from the espresso machine, energy drinks, fresh young coconuts at the Beach Club, and anything from a specialty bar's signature menu.
How Much Bar Tab Should You Load?
Because Virgin adds bonus credit when you pre-load, the smart play is to load close to what you'll actually drink — you still get the bonus, but any unused balance is lost when the voyage ends, so it's better to aim a little low and pay as you go for anything extra. Full sample budget at our How much Bar Tab should you load? guide. Quick benchmarks per couple, per voyage:
- Light drinkers (1–2 cocktails per day, plus coffee): $200–$300 for a 5-night voyage
- Moderate drinkers (3–4 cocktails or wine glasses per day): $400–$600 for a 5-night voyage
- Heavy drinkers / wine bottles at dinner: $700–$1,000+ for a 5-night voyage
- Solo Sailors: Cut the above numbers in half — Virgin doesn't charge a single supplement on Bar Tab
Keep in mind that Bar Tab is for drinks only — it can't be spent on spa treatments, shore excursions, or Wi-Fi — and whatever is left on the last night stays with the ship. If you have Sailor Loot too, spend down your Bar Tab on drinks first.
Free Bar Tab Promotions Worth Knowing
Virgin Voyages runs near-constant promotions that bake free Bar Tab into the cruise fare itself. As of 2026, the most common offers we see — and that we book clients into through our agency every week — include:
- Seriously Suite — RockStar and Mega RockStar Suites include $300–$1,000+ free Bar Tab depending on suite tier
- Sailor Loot — flash promos that drop $300 free Bar Tab on certain sailings
- Group cruises through travel agencies — qualifying groups can earn additional Bar Tab amenities
- Virgin Red points redemptions — frequent Virgin loyalty members can redeem points for Bar Tab