The Bar Tab Explained: What's Free, What's Not, and How to Maximize It

If there's one thing that generates more confusion than anything else about Virgin Voyages, it's the drink situation. People hear "all-inclusive" and assume that means unlimited cocktails. Then other people hear "the drinks aren't included" and assume they'll be paying $15 every time they want a glass of water.

Neither is true. The reality is somewhere in between, and once you understand the system, it's actually pretty straightforward.

The drinks aren't "all-inclusive," but they're not a scam either. The system is simple once you know how it works.

Let me break it down.

What's Actually Free

✅ What's included: VV includes more beverages than most people realize. Here's what you can drink without touching your onboard account:

Water. Still and sparkling, everywhere on the ship. Your cabin, every restaurant, every bar. Always free. Never pay for water on this ship.
Juice. Standard juices at meals. Orange juice, apple juice, the basics.
Soda. Coca-Cola products at most beverage stations and restaurants.
Non-specialty teas. The standard tea selection is included.
Drip coffee. Regular brewed coffee is free everywhere. The Grounds Club, restaurants, the coffee stations around the ship. All free.
Basic lemonade and similar. The standard non-alcoholic drinks are included.

So if you're someone who doesn't drink alcohol or drinks very little, you're already getting incredible value from your fare. The included dining, the wifi, the gratuities, the entertainment, the fitness classes. The beverage situation is a bonus, not a gap.

What Costs Extra

Here's where the charges start:

Alcohol. Cocktails, wine, beer, spirits. All of it. This is the big one.
Specialty coffee. Lattes, cappuccinos, espresso drinks, anything that involves a barista doing more than pouring from a pot. The ship has a specialty coffee bar (think Starbucks-level drinks) and those cost extra.
Fresh-pressed juices. The juice bar does custom fresh juices and smoothies. These are charged.
Premium non-alcoholic drinks. Some of the fancier mocktails or specialty non-alcoholic beverages may have a charge.

How The Bar Tab Works

Everything on VV gets charged to The Band, your wristband that serves as your room key, your payment method, and your general everything-device. You tap your Band when you order a drink, the charge goes to your onboard account, and you settle up at the end of the voyage.

It's seamless. You don't carry cash, you don't sign receipts (unless you want to check the charge), you just tap and drink. The danger, obviously, is that it's too seamless. It's very easy to lose track of what you're spending when you don't physically see money leaving your wallet.

💡 Pro tip: Check your account balance on the app every evening. Just a quick glance. It keeps you honest and prevents the end-of-cruise "how did I spend HOW MUCH?" shock.

What Do Drinks Actually Cost?

Let me be real with you about the pricing, because it's one of the most-asked questions I get.

Cocktails: $12-16 for most mixed drinks. Specialty cocktails at some bars run a little higher.
Beer: $7-10 depending on the brand. Draft options vary by bar.
Wine by the glass: $10-18 for most options. The by-the-glass selection is solid.
Wine by the bottle: Varies widely. You can find decent bottles for $40-50 or go much higher.
Specialty coffee: $4-6 for lattes and similar.

These are cruise ship prices, which means they're roughly comparable to what you'd pay at a nice bar in a major city. Not cheap, but not shocking either. And there's no additional gratuity on drinks. The 18% service charge is already included in the listed price.

📌 Good to know: Those prices already include the 18% service charge. No mental math required.

The Drink Package Question

VV offers a pre-paid drink package (sometimes called the "bar tab") that you can purchase before your sailing or on board. The details and pricing change, so I won't quote exact numbers here, but the general concept is: you pay a flat amount and get a credit toward drinks during your voyage.

The math question: is it worth it?

Here's how I think about it. If you're someone who will comfortably drink 4-5 alcoholic drinks per day for the duration of the cruise, the package probably saves you money. That's the break-even point, roughly speaking.

If you're someone who has 2-3 drinks at dinner and maybe a cocktail at a bar, pay-as-you-go is almost certainly cheaper.

If you're someone who goes hard at the pool during the day and then hits The Manor until 2am, the package will save you real money and also remove the mental friction of thinking about cost every time you order.

My honest take: Most people I work with don't drink enough to make the package financially worthwhile. But some people buy it for the psychological freedom. Not having to think about the cost of each drink changes how you experience the bars. That has value even if the math doesn't strictly add up.

It's a personal call. Neither option is wrong.

Maximizing Your Drink Value

Some practical tips:

💰 Budget tip: Several bars on the ship have happy hour specials at various times. The VV app will list them. The savings aren't dramatic, but if you're in the right place at the right time, why not?

💰 Budget tip: Here's a money-saving move that most people miss. Regular drip coffee is free everywhere. The Grounds Club brews good coffee all day. If you're a "I just need caffeine in the morning" person, you don't need to pay for a latte. But if you're a "I need a perfect oat milk latte to start my day" person, that specialty coffee charge is just part of your budget. No judgment.

Water at the bars. If you're alternating alcoholic drinks with water (which you should, especially in the Caribbean sun), that water is always free. Stay hydrated. Your future self will thank you.

🎯 The move: Order a bottle at dinner and split it with your table. It's often better value per glass than ordering individually. If you're dining with friends, a bottle is the play.

💰 Budget tip: VV's policy allows you to bring a limited amount of alcohol on board (the specifics change, so check the current policy before you sail). A bottle of wine or some pre-mixed drinks for your cabin can save you from the per-drink charge when you're just relaxing on the balcony.

For Sailors Who Don't Drink Much

I want to address this directly because it comes up a lot. Some people look at the drink pricing and think, "I don't really drink. Am I losing out on value?"

Absolutely not. Let me remind you what IS included in your fare:

Every restaurant on the ship. All of them. No upcharges. Multi-course meals that would cost $100+ on land.
Unlimited wifi that actually works.
Gratuities. Already covered. No envelope of cash on the last day.
Fitness classes, including cycling, yoga, HIIT.
Entertainment, shows, DJs, events.
Basic beverages (everything I listed above).

The value you're getting from the included fare is enormous regardless of how much you spend at the bar. Alcohol is the one significant extra, and if you don't drink much, your overall trip cost is actually lower than most people's. You're getting the better deal.

The Bottom Line

🎯 Bottom line: VV's drink pricing isn't "all-inclusive" in the unlimited-alcohol sense, and that's worth knowing before you board. But the system is simple, the pricing is fair (for a cruise ship), and the included beverages cover more than people think.

My practical advice: budget $50-100 per person per day for drinks if you drink moderately. Budget more if you're planning to go hard. Budget less if you're mostly sticking to the free stuff. And check your app balance daily so nothing sneaks up on you.

The drinks are good. The bars are gorgeous. The bartenders remember your name by day two. Whatever your budget, you're going to enjoy yourself.

If you're still planning your first VV trip and want help figuring out the full budget picture, take the quiz or reach out. I'm happy to walk through the costs with you so there are no surprises.