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How to Find Free Drinks on Cruises

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Drinking can be cheaper on a Cruise--if you follow these tips!

Everyone enjoys a few drinks before or after dinner when they are cruising. But, the cruise ships have a captive audience. You are miles from civilization and you are stuck with what is available on the ship. Here are a few tips, to learn how to get free drinks as you are cruising.

Free Drinks on Cruises

Party hardy!

Almost every ship has some party that serves free liquor. Some cruises have several of these parties. The Captain's Cocktail Party has free drinks. Past passengers almost always are invited to a party. On Holland America, suite guests are invited to a luncheon or a cocktail Party. Just check out the daily log and you can usually find free booze. Other parties with free drinks includes parties arranged by travel agencies, special interest groups, and past passenger parties.

Free Drinks on Cruises

Find a Good Bartender

Cruise ShipsThe very first day of the cruise, peruse the different bars and find a bartender that you like. Tip generously, ask them what bars they will be working and follow them around. They will reciprocate your generosity with strong pours and free drinks. This tip works everytime!

Photo by Gayle McLaughlin
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Find Free Drinks on Cruises

Art Auctions

Attend every Art Auction you can! Whether you bid on an art piece, buy a picture, or pass, the drinks are always free. These auctions are fun, entertaining, sometimes educational and always have free drinks.

Whether you are an art-lover or a novice to art, you will enjoy these auctions and usually learn a lot also. Try one the next time you cruise.

Free Drinks on Cruises

Find 2-1 deals

My husband and I were paying full price for drinks until our friends discovered Happy Hour. On Holland America everyday there were 2-1 deals at different bars around the ship. We always bought at least two drinks and then we saved them for later.

More Cruise Tips

Cruise Secrets of Seasoned Cruisers

Cruise Secrets of Seasoned Cruisers

by: Lillian Carpenter, Reginald Carpenter

Amazon Price: (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This book has all you need to know about cruising in one place!

Find Free Drinks on Cruises

Attend Every Class or tastings

Another good tip is to attend every tasting or classes held in bars. Usually several glasses of amazing wines are passed around. In some classes, you pay a nominal fee and are rewarded with more than equal return for your money in drinks. You meed interesting people, learn something new and get free drinks. It is a win-win situation for all.

A word of caution--many people onboard cruise ships are arrogant and demanding. Being nice, polite and civil will go along way. Don't go expecting these things, just enjoy it when it happens.

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One Way of getting Free Drinks

Rum Runner Cruise Kit

Rum Runner Cruise Kit

Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

If you are into smuggling your drinks on the ship!

More Ways to Get Free Drinks

Buy Yourself a Gift!

Most cruise lines offer "Bon Voage" gift that you can pre-order before the cruise. The liquor is delivered to your room before sailing and often comes with a free set of glasses to be used on the cruise. The prices on one liter bottles of Absolut ($40), Beefeater ($40), Jim Beam ($38) and Jamison ($55). At home, you could get better prices --but not aboard a cruise ship. This is a savings that will pay off over the extent of the cruise.

Tell me any tips you have about getting free drinks

  • flipflopju Feb 16, 2012 @ 7:49 pm | delete
    Great tips! I can't wait to try them on my cruise.
  • ThatsYourPeople Jan 22, 2012 @ 10:49 pm | delete
    This is my kind of lens! Great tips.
  • poddys Jan 19, 2012 @ 2:02 pm | delete
    Good tips. I haven't really been on a cruise that was more than 5 hours long, except a Cross Channel Ferry to France, but I'm not a bit drinker either. Getting drunk and then seasick isn't something that I enjoy - been there done that :(
  • Afteretc Jan 18, 2012 @ 4:00 pm | delete
    sneaky sneaky! haha! good tips!
  • John_Michael Jan 15, 2012 @ 7:43 pm | delete
    No... I've never thought about it.
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Gayle at a Glance

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by

GayleMcLaughlin

I have taken only two cruises--but I pride myself on trying to be frugal even when I am spending thousands of dollars on a cruise. Hope you like my cruise... more »

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