Cruises are often seen as one big booze fest at sea, and for good reason. As soon as you step on board, friendly servers make the rounds with trays teeming with rum punches and glasses of Champagne to celebrate the beginning of your vacation. That party vibe often continues throughout your time on the ship.
However, many cruisers don’t imbibe for various reasons. They might be in recovery, pregnant, taking medication that can’t interact with alcohol or abstaining from alcohol as part of their healthy lifestyle. The sober-curious movement is growing, and cruise lines are responding.
Sober cruises are often organized by vendors specializing in them (more on that below) and are available on various major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess Cruises and others. These cruises offer a bevy of cruise activities and entertainment you’d find on a traditional cruise. The difference is these sailings don’t involve alcohol.
You don’t need to book a specific alcohol-free sailing, though. Several cruise lines are joining the mocktail movement. Passengers have many more nonalcoholic options — from separate zero-proof menus to a few nonalcoholic concoctions on the regular beverage menu.
If you’re looking for a completely alcohol-free experience at sea or just want to sample more zero-proof cocktails during your cruise vacation, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about sober cruises and which cruise lines offer the best alcohol-free drink options.
Related: More than a trend: How airlines and hotels are catering to sober travelers
Cruise lines with the best nonalcoholic cocktails
Planning a sober cruise or simply want to mix up your drinking with some alcohol-free cocktails? A few cruise lines stand out as providing fantastic zero-proof beverages for nondrinkers. While some lines offer a separate mocktail menu, others provide a nice list of nonalcoholic drinks on standard bar menus.
Carnival Cruise Line
You don’t have to drink alcohol to enjoy your time on a Fun Ship, thanks to Carnival’s partnership with Lyre’s, the world’s most awarded line of nonalcoholic spirits.
Passengers can order spirit-free versions of seven classic cocktails in the line’s Alchemy Bar. This popular venue is on 19 ships in Carnival’s 27-vessel fleet. Options include the refreshing Martini Seduction, made with Lyre’s White Cane, red passion fruit nectar, freshly squeezed lime juice and a smidgen of orange. The Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini showcases Lyre’s Agave Blanco, handcrafted chipotle pineapple syrup, pineapple juice and mint leaves. Nonalcoholic versions of Restorative Basil Drop, The Remedy, The Perfect Storm, Hearts of Fire and Cucumber Sunrise cocktails are also available. Nonalcoholic cocktails at Alchemy Bar cost $10.
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Carnival’s main dining rooms also serve Lyre’s alcohol-free prosecco.
Mocktails and zero-proof frozen drinks are covered under the line’s Cheers drink package. Purchase your package online before you sail for a discounted price.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises incorporates nonalcoholic options within its regular cocktail menus. Zero-proof cocktails include Sparkling Mint Lemonade (fresh lemon juice, mint, agave nectar and soda water) and the Watermelon Tropic (watermelon syrup, pineapple juice and fresh lime juice). You can also order O’Doul’s nonalcoholic beer on board.
Additionally, the line has a nonalcoholic drink package for zero-proof beverages. Water and sodas are included in the package and not offered as a separate package as some cruise lines do.
Every Celebrity drink package includes mocktails, premium coffees and teas. However, the nonalcoholic drink package also includes Vitamin Water, Red Bull and premium waters like Evian and San Pellegrino, as well as fresh juices and smoothies from The Spa Cafe. If you drink few, if any, alcoholic drinks but need your daily morning latte, this package is for you. Plus, you can splurge on smoothies and virgin frozen drinks.
Holland America
Passengers on Holland America cruises will find a selection of nonalcoholic drinks and mocktails throughout the ship’s drinking and dining venues. While the cruise line does not offer separate zero-proof menus, mocktails are listed on the Lido, Seaview and Cabana bar menus. Choose from the Ginger Mango Splash (made with mango puree and ginger), the Melon Mint No’jito (with fresh mint, melon and Sprite) and a bevy of virgin frozen drinks (pineapple, pina colada, banana, etc.)
The cost for alcohol-free drinks (including frozen beverages) is $7.50. If you don’t see something you like on the menu, bartenders can create a specialty mocktail to your liking, according to the line.
Two nonalcoholic beverage packages are available for Holland America cruisers: the Quench Package and the Coca-Cola package. Mocktails are included in the Quench Package, along with unlimited premium coffees (espresso and cappuccino), juices, Coca-Cola products, Red Bull and bottled water. As the name implies, the Coca-Cola package includes unlimited fountain sodas but not mocktails.
MSC Cruises
If you’re scaling back alcohol consumption on an MSC Cruises sailing, you’ll have a good selection. The line features a separate premium mocktails menu with seven creative zero-proof drinks. Among them are the Fair Lady, made with honey and apricot marmalade, lemongrass syrup, fresh lemon juice and egg white; the Cucumber Mojito, with fresh lime juice, mint leaves, brown sugar, club soda, cucumber and lime slices; and the Paloma Fizz, a blend of fresh grapefruit and lemon juices, rose syrup, tonic water and rosemary).
MSC’s alcohol-free drink package includes nonalcoholic cocktails, fresh fruit and protein smoothies, energy drinks, sodas, flavored and bottled mineral water, and a variety of hot beverages. The line’s Easy Package offers both alcoholic and nonalcoholic options. Choose this option if not everyone in your cruise group imbibes; MSC requires that everyone sharing a cabin purchases the drink package if one person does. The package includes cocktails, spirits, beer, fountain drinks, specialty coffees, nonalcoholic cocktails and mixed drinks.
Beverage package pricing is based on the length of your cruise, with longer voyages having a lower price per day. If you purchase the package before your cruise, you can save at least 15% on the price you will pay once you board. Note that gratuities are already baked into the price of the drink packages.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian’s mocktail game is strong. In 2023, the line earned an award for Best Adult Alcohol-Free Program at the Vibe Vista Awards, which distinguishes outstanding beverage programs across the travel industry.
Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva feature the most extensive nonalcoholic beverage menus. However, ships with a Vibe Beach Club also have nonalcoholic beverage options. Vibe Beach Club is an exclusive adults-only sundeck on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. Zero-free options include the Espresso Notini, made with a nonalcoholic amaretto liqueur, and the Smoky Water, created with a nonalcoholic red vermouth.
Additionally, the line features a couple of mocktail options on regular bar menus.
The mocktails are included in the Unlimited Open Bar drink package. Take advantage of the line’s Free at Sea promotion to get this package for free (though you’ll still need to pay a 20% gratuity, based on the package’s list price).
Oceania Cruises
Those sailing with Oceania Cruises have a nice selection of nonalcoholic cocktails featured on many of the line’s standard bar menus, as well as a separate mocktail menu available at Aquamar Kitchen. Standouts include the Pure Amalfi Spritz, made with Lyre’s Italian Spritz, nonalcoholic sparkling wine and club soda; the NO-Groni, a blend of Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, Lyre’s Italian Orange and Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso; and Orchard Fizz, Lyre’s Amaretto, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, apple juice, tonic water and rosemary. The cost of mocktails is $12.
Passengers can choose between two beverage packages, both of which include nonalcoholic drinks. The House Select package comes with premium Champagnes and wines, beers, still and sparkling water, premium coffees and teas, freshly squeezed juices, cocktails and spirits. However, it can only be used during meals or room service and not at onboard bars or lounges. The cost for the House Select package is $39.95 per guest, per day. It is included in the line’s SimplyMore program.
You can upgrade your House Select package to the Prestige Select package, which provides unlimited beverages anywhere on the ship, for an additional $30 per guest, per day.
Royal Caribbean
Cruisers on Royal Caribbean sailings will have a great selection of nonalcoholic drinks. The line first added a zero-proof menu to its fleet in 2021 and has since curated a creative menu of specialty mocktails and added it to each bar’s drinks menu. Among the available beverages are the All Aboard Spritz, with lime juice, cranberry juice, desert pear syrup and club soda; the Blueberry Nojito, with blueberry puree, lime juice, simple syrup and fresh mint; and the Tropical Crush, a blend of pineapple juice, mango and Red Bull Yellow Edition. Zero-proof cocktails are priced at $7.
The line’s Refreshment Package and Deluxe Beverage Package include mocktails (along with premium coffees and teas, freshly squeezed juices, bottled water and milkshakes from Johnny Rockets). Purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package online in advance of sailing for the best prices.
Seabourn
In 2024, Seabourn rolled out a robust new zero-proof mixology program called Zero @ Sea. The program debuted an impressive selection of creative alcohol-free versions of popular cocktails.
The menu features the Amalfi Spritz, made with nonalcoholic rose wine and Lyre’s Italian Orange; a Ginny ‘n Tonic, with Optimist Bright (a botanical forward alcohol-free spirit), grapefruit and elderflower; and Ginger Blossom, with Seedlip Groove 42 (a citrus-flavored nonalcoholic spirit), elderflower and ginger ale, among other mocktails.
Zero @ Sea cocktails are available fleetwide in all bars and lounges aboard the ships. Additionally, Seabourn upgraded its selection of nonalcoholic wines, sparkling wines and beers, providing more options for passengers who don’t drink alcohol. Seabourn’s cruise fares include premium wines and spirits, including Zero @ Sea cocktails.
Silversea Cruises
Known for its SALT (Sea and Land Taste) culinary program, luxury line Silversea Cruises puts as much attention into what passengers drink as to what they eat. That ethos flows into its creative mocktail offerings.
Dubbed “Zero Degrees but equally as delicious,” the line’s designated alcohol-free menu lists refreshing signature drinks made with nonalcoholic distilled spirits like Seedlip and Martini Vibrante. Options include Latitude, a botanical-forward and smoky beverage made with Seedlip Garden 108, Seedlip Grove 42, pink grapefruit, honey, lime and Amalfi lime tonic, and Equatorial, a citrusy, fizzy mocktail that blends Martini Vibrante, orange and pink citrus tonic.
Each of the line’s bar menus features a selection of zero-proof cocktails on the last page.
Silversea’s all-inclusive model means passengers can enjoy complimentary beverages, including zero-proof cocktails, anywhere on the ship without purchasing a separate drink package to do so.
Virgin Voyages
It might be surprising that an adults-only cruise line that offers the ability to get a bottle of Champagne with a simple shake of your phone would have such robust mocktail offerings. However, many of the 20-plus dining venues on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady offer separate drink menus that feature handcrafted mocktails. You can also order spirit-free versions of classic favorites like pina coladas, bloody marys and Moscow mules throughout the ships.
The line’s Test Kitchen features an extensive mocktail menu curated by mixologist Julia Momosé, James Beard Award-winning author and the brainchild behind Kumiko, Chicago’s acclaimed Japanese dining bar. Guests can also enjoy nonalcoholic options during the afternoon high tea service in the Sip Lounge.
The line doesn’t sell traditional drink packages. However, cruisers can prepurchase a Bar Tab (you can’t buy it once you’re on the ship) to use for themselves or buy a round for fellow passengers. You can purchase the tab in increments of $100, $200 or $300 and use it to buy fresh-pressed juices, barista-crafted specialty coffees and mocktails.
Sober cruises and Friends of Bill W.
If you’re in recovery and planning to take a cruise, look for “Friends of Bill W.” gatherings in your cruise line’s daily activities newsletter.
Bill W. refers to Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. “Friends of Bill W.” is code for AA meetings, providing recovering alcoholics support during their sailings, especially if they find it challenging to be around others drinking alcohol. Most sailings offer these meetups on board.
While booking a traditional cruise might be ideal for some, others might wish to join a group of like-minded travelers. If that’s you, consider booking your cruise through a travel company that specializes in sober cruising packages. These itineraries go beyond onboard Friends of Bill W. meetings and feature additional programming like special recovery speakers, workshops and events that support an alcohol-free lifestyle.
Sober Celebrations, Travel Sober, One Day at a Time Cruises, Sober Vacations International and Hooked are a few companies worth checking out. Through them, you’ll find itineraries on cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, AmaWaterways, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises to various destinations. Itineraries include Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Christmas market river cruises are also available.
Bottom line
The alcohol-free vacation trend has gained momentum over the last few years. As a result, cruise lines have upgraded their zero-proof offerings with designated mocktail menus and nonalcoholic cocktails included on traditional drink menus.
If you don’t want to feel like all of the activity on board revolves around drinking, seek out destination-intensive itineraries or cruises that offer lots of activities. Ships that provide lots of top-deck attractions, culinary classes, trivia games, shows or onboard workshops mean you have more ways to spend your time. Or, consider a sober cruise so you can cruise with a group of nondrinkers who will join you in alcohol-free fun.
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