If you’ve been wishing for a drink package on Carnival that covers more than soda but doesn’t include alcohol, you’re in luck. Carnival Cruise Line has announced its brand-new Cheers! Zero Proof package, which makes it more competitive with other cruise lines that have packages for more than just soda.
The new options rolls out on sailings starting September 15, 2025. It’s a big step up from the Bubbles soda program and offers plenty of variety for guests who want more options without paying for the full alcohol-inclusive Cheers! plan.
What Makes the Zero Proof Package Different
Unlike the long-standing Bottomless Bubbles package, which only covers sodas, the Zero Proof plan widens the list to include just about any non-alcoholic options sold at the bars and coffee shops. It’s designed for guests who want the convenience of a bundled package but don’t drink alcohol or simply prefer more variety in their beverages.
It’s significantly less expensive than the Cheers! program, but this is still a package that can provide a lot of value. Like every option every cruise line offers, this isn’t for everyone, but it does have appeal.
Is the Carnival Cheers! Zero Proof Worth it?
This is an individual question. It makes perfect sense for some cruisers and not for others.
Some people start their day at the coffee bar and go back multiple times a day. They drink soda with every meal, and enjoy a midday milkshake – or two. They don’t like the water from the dispenser and buy bottled water.
For those types of people, this will be a real money-saver. However, others drink water or other beverages from the dispensers and only every few days treat themselves with something that has an additional cost. Those people won’t get their money’s worth.
The fact that there is no limit and not everyone in your cabin needs to purchase it makes it far more attractive – though note that you cannot share your package with anyone. This new package puts Carnival on par with the offerings other cruise lines already have.
How Much Does It Cost?
The Cheers! Zero Proof package is priced at $29.99 per person, per day if purchased in advance online, with an automatic 18 percent gratuity added at checkout. If you wait until you’re onboard to buy, the price increases to $34.99 per person, per day, again with the service charge automatically added.
Like the original Cheers! package, Zero Proof must be purchased for the entire length of your cruise. You can’t just buy it for a couple of days, and you can’t share it.
Does the Entire Cabin Have to Purchase It?
Here’s where things get a little different. Not everyone in the cabin is required to purchase Cheers! Zero Proof.
If you buy the regular Cheers! package, everyone 21 and older in your cabin must also buy it. But with Cheers! Zero Proof, it’s optional for each person, so conceivable just one coffee-fiend could purchase it while the rest of the cabin sticks with the free offerings or buys items one-off.
Do You Have to Be 21 to Purchase Cheers! Zero Proof?
Absolutely not! Guests under 21 can buy the package if they’d like, but they won’t be able to order alcohol-free beer or sparkling wine. Everything else on the menu is available to them.
This is a viable option for kids if they enjoy virgin frozen drinks or milkshakes. Otherwise, the Bottomless Bubbles is a significantly less expensive option for them.
What’s Included?
This package is far more comprehensive than Bottomless Bubbles. With Cheers! Zero Proof, you’ll get access to:
- Sodas (Coca-Cola products)
- Juices (excluding pressed juices from the breakfast menu in the dining room)
- Still and sparkling bottled water
- Coconut and Yak water
- Premium coffees and teas (both from the coffee shop and the dining room)
- Zero-proof cocktails
- Alcohol-free beer
- Alcohol-free sparkling wine
- Non-alcoholic frozen drinks
- Smoothies and bottled protein shakes from the onboard coffee shop
- Milkshakes
- Energy drinks (currently only Red Bull)
Note that if you are under 21, the alcohol-free beer and alcohol-free sparkling wine are not included, as you have to be 21 to purchase those. The same holds true for premade non-alcholic mocktails.
What’s Not Included?
There are a few exceptions worth noting. The Zero Proof package does not cover:
- Any drinks with alcohol
- Souvenir glasses
- Drinks sold at the gangway
- Room service, mini bar, or in-stateroom beverage programs
- Drinks at Carnival’s private islands
- Beverages at private parties or events
- Other beverage programs or add-ons
- Any food items
- Zero-proof drinks that require you to be 21 for those under 21
Can You Share the Package?
Carnival is clear about one important rule: no sharing. Only the guest who purchased the package can order and drink the items included.
If you’re caught sharing, your package will be canceled with no refund. There’s also the possibility that Carnival will disembark you at the next port, and you can also face a lifetime ban from sailing with Carnival.
Will they do all this? Not in every case, but do you really want to risk that much potential cost and pain over such a (relatively) small amount of money?
What Is the Drink Limit?
On the plus side, unlike the traditional Cheers! package, which has a 15-drink-per-day cap, the Zero Proof version doesn’t have a daily limit. However, you can only order one drink every five minutes, which helps keep things manageable.
That said, if you’ve seen the line (already) for the coffee shop on many ships, this package may make it that much longer. The specialty coffees and milkshakes are definitely one of the reasons that would convince people to upgrade from Bottomless Bubbles, but they take time to make, which could frustrate cruisers, so be patient.
Bottomless Bubbles vs. Zero Proof
If you’re deciding between Carnival’s beverage packages, there are distinct differences, not the least of which is the cost. Not every package is perfect for every person, and many cruisers choose to not buy any packages and simply purchase one at a time.
Bottomless Bubbles costs $9.50 per day for adults and $6.95 per day for kids 17 and younger. It covers unlimited soda, but nothing else.
Cheers! Zero Proof costs $29.99 per day (pre-cruise) or $34.99 onboard, and it covers a much wider range of non-alcoholic beverages including non-alcoholic frozen drinks from the bar, coffee, smoothies, milkshakes, energy drinks, and bottled water.
The traditional Cheers! package costs $69.95 per person per day if you book in advance and $74.95 per person per day if you book on board. This is the only package that requires everyone in the cabin 21 and older purchase it. This package includes everything in the previous two packages as well as any spirit $20 or under on the menu.
For guests who only drink soda, Bottomless Bubbles may still be the better value. But if you’re planning to order premium coffees, smoothies, or mocktails daily, the Zero Proof plan will likely pay for itself.
And don’t forget, Carnival still allows guests to bring one 12-pack of soda or canned beverages per person onto the ship, so you may not need a package at all if soda is the only thing you’re after.
Where and When It’s Available
Cheers! Zero Proof will be available on all Carnival cruises departing September 15, 2025, and later. For now, Carnival has announced it as a test running through the end of 2025, but if it’s popular, there’s a strong chance it will become a permanent option.
Why This Package Matters
The new Cheers! Zero Proof reflects a growing demand for premium non-alcoholic beverages. Many travelers are skipping alcohol for health or lifestyle reasons but still want creative, high-quality drinks while on vacation.
Carnival is finally recognizing that not every guest is looking for alcohol, but most still want more than soda and water. The biggest complaint people have is that if someone in the cabin buys the Cheers! package, everyone has to purchase it, and this hasn’t changed.
Many want exceptions for those who have a spouse or traveling companion who doesn’t drink for medical or personal reasons, but there are no exceptions. Too many bad apples spoiled that one, and Carnival isn’t budging.
This offering mirrors global trends, as mocktails, specialty coffees, and alcohol-free craft drinks become more popular in restaurants and bars on land. Carnival’s move brings that same experience to the high seas.
This Is a Viable New Offering
The new Cheers! Zero Proof package is a welcome addition for Carnival cruisers. It bridges the gap between Bottomless Bubbles and the alcohol-inclusive Cheers! plan, offering more choice at a price that makes sense for those who enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic drinks.
Whether you’re sailing with kids, traveling with someone who doesn’t drink, or simply want endless lattes, sparkling water, and mocktails, Zero Proof could be the right fit. And since it launches in September 2025, you won’t have to wait long to try it out.
