I was recently invited by Emerald Waterways to join them on my first river cruise. We cruised from Arles to Lyon onboard the Emerald Libertie and it was absolutely incredible. We had the premium drinks package. This post will explain what is included in each drinks package and how much each one costs.
The full menu is also listed below, prices are based on cruising in June 2019 and may change.
What Drinks Packages do Emerald Waterways have?
- Emerald Extended
- Emerald Premium
- Beer Package
- Champagne/Prosecco Package
- Wine Package
It is worth noting that you can either purchase a package for the entire cruise of you can ‘upgrade’ midway through your cruise. If you get to day 3 of a 7-day cruise and decide you want to buy the drinks package, you can buy it for the remainder of the cruise and only pay for the remaining days.
To buy the package you just talk to any member of staff in/around the bar.
What Drinks Are Included in Emerald Waterways River Cruises?
The standard cruise fare includes a number of drinks. If you don’t drink a lot it would be very easy to come away from the cruise with a very small bill.
While on board, a daily selection of complimentary wines, draft beet and soft drinks are available with lunch and dinner.
It is worth noting that these complimentary drinks aren’t only available in the main dining room. Emerald also offers a ‘lighter’ lunch option in the main lounge so you can enjoy a complimentary drink here too. When onboard I completed a daily diary which details everything we did, everywhere we went and also everything we had to drink. To learn more about the onboard experience click here: Emerald Waterways – Daily Diary 2019.
You’ll also find bottles of water around the ship for free. There are little bottles for excursions and bigger bottles in your cabin. All complimentary!
Emerald Extended Drinks Package
This package means that you can have the beer/wine and soft drinks usually offered at lunch/dinner all day.
Cost: €10.90 per person per day. (This is similar to the price of a soda package on an ocean cruise line!)
Emerald Premium Drinks Package
This is the package that we had. It is an ‘unlimited’ package which allows you to drink anything from the menu.
Cost: €22.90 per person per day. (An unlimited drinks package on an ocean ship could easily cost you €80 per day!)
Emerald Waterways Beer Package
This package isn’t really a package. It’s more like buying a coupon or discount. For €19 you can enjoy 6 bottles of beer to enjoy anytime. If you are somebody who likes a couple of beers in the evening this could be the package for you.
Cost: €19 per package. (Just over €3 per beer)
Champagne/Prosecco Package
I’m a big fan of champagne or prosecco but think I’d struggle to drink this one! I’m sure the idea is to share…
The package consists of three bottles of Laurent-Perrier Champagne or six bottles of Prosecco Spumante Fresco. You must either purchase champagne or prosecco, you can’t mix and match.
Cost: €149 per package.
Emerald Waterways Wine Package
The wine package is similar to the beer and champagne/prosecco packages above. You can buy 3, 5 or 7 bottles for a fixed price. There are two ‘tiers’ of wine meaning that you can buy bottles with a value up to €25 (silver package) or bottles with any value (gold package).
Silver package:
– 3 bottles – €70.
– 5 bottles – €110.
– 7 bottles – €140.
Gold package:
– 3 bottles – €120.
– 5 bottles – €170.
– 7 bottles – €210.
Drinks Package T&C’s
- All beverages are served by the glass. Whole bottles of wine cannot be served apart from if parts of the wine package.
- Packages are available to guests 18 and older.
- Champagne is only available in the champagne package.
- Packages are applicable throughout all the public areas.
- Soft drinks are available with breakfast.
- Alcohol is served from 11 am – 12 pm.
- Minibar drinks are excluded from all package
Emerald Waterways Menu
In order to work out if you should buy a drinks package, I would recommend adding together the cost of the drinks you’d expect to enjoy in a typical day. This should allow you to work out if you’ll save money by buying the package.
This menu is based off on a June 2019 sailing on the Emerald Liberte. The menus may vary and prices may change.
Cocktails:
Tequila Sunrise (Tequila, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice, Grenadine)
€6.70
Margarita (Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime Juice)
€7.30
Bloody Mary (Vodka, Tomato Juice, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco, Lemon Juice)
€7.30
Cosmopolitan (Vodka, Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice)
€7.40
White Russian (Vodka, Kahlua, Cream)
€7.70
Martini Dry Cocktail (Gin, Vermouth Dry)
€7.90
Manhattan, Sweet/Dry (Canadian Whisky, Vermouth Red, Angostura)
€7.90
Whisky/Amaretto/Aperol Sour (Bourbon, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Syrup)
€7.90
Alexander (Brandy, Creme de Cacao, Cream)
€8.40
Caipirinha (Cachaca limes, Brown Sugar)
€8.80
Pina Colada (Dark Rum, Coconut Cream, Pineapple Juice, Cream)
€8.90
Mai Tai (Dark Rum, White Rum, Apricot Brandy, Almond Syrup, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice)
€9.30
Long Island Iced Tea (Gin, Vodka, Rum, Triple Sec, Tequila, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice, Coke)
€9.30
Coffee Specialists
Irish Coffee (Coffee with Irish Whiskey and whipped cream)
€5.30
Baileys Coffee (Coffee with Baileys and whipped cream)
€5.30
Rudesheimer Coffee (Coffee with Asbach Uralt Brandy and whipped cream)
€5.70
Draft Beer
Alderbacher
0.25lt €3
0.4lt €4.50
Shandy
0.25lt €3
0.4lt €4.50
Strongbow Cider Original Dry
0.33lt €3.70
Bottled Beer 0.33lt
Heineken (€3.60)
Budweiser (€3.50)
Guinness (€3.80)
Gaffel Kolsch (€3.50)
Pilsner Urquell (€3.50)
Krombacher Non-Alcoholic (€3.60)
Bottled Beer 0.50lt
Hefeweizen (€5)
Kristallweizen (€5)
Weizen Non-Alcoholic (€5)
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Laurent-Perrier
0.75lt €62
0.37lt €36
Prosecco 0.75lt
€29.50
House Champagne (Glass)
€5.80
Sparkling House Wine (Glass)
€3.50
Prosecco (Glass)
€4.30
Kir Royal (Glass)
€4.70
Aperol Spritz (Glass)
€5.30
Bellini (Glass)
€5.30
Aperitifs
Martini Rosso, Bianco, Dry
€4
Sherry Dry
€4.60
Harveys Bristol Cream
€5.40
Sandeman (Medium Dry)
€4.60
Sandeman (Fine Ruby)
€4.60
Pernod
€4.80
Campari
€4.80
Vodka
Skyy €5.60
Stolichnaya €5.60
Absolut €5.60
Absolut Vanilla €5.90
Absolut Apeach €5.90
Absolut Raspberry €5.90
Belvedere €10.10
Gin
Gordon’s €5.50
Beefeater €5.50
Bombay Sapphire €6.30
Tanqueray €6.30
Hendricks €6.60
Rum
Bacardi White €5.60
Captain Morgan €6.30
Havana Club 3 Anos €5.60
Havana Club 7 Anos €6.90
Bunderberg Rum €12.60
Liqueur
Amaretto di Saronno €6
Cointreau €6
Kahlua €6
Frangelico €6
Grand Mariner €6
Drambuie €6
Baileys Irish Cream €5.70
Southern Comfort €5.50
Peppermint €5.60
Scotch
Ballantine’s €5.30
Black & White €5.70
J&B Rare €5.70
Glenfiddich Single Malt €8.20
Glenmorangie Single Malt €8.50
Johnnie Walker Red Label €5.70
Johnnie Walker Red Label €8.40
Chivas Regal €8.70
Irish Whiskey
Jameson €5.70
Rye
Canadian Club €6
Crown Royal €7.90
Bourbon
Jim Beam €5.40
Four Roses €5.70
Jack Daniel’s €7.90
Brandy & Cognac
Asbach Uralt €4.50
Osborne Veterano €4.50
Courvoisier Artisan Double Oak VS €5.70
Remy Martin VSOP €6.50
Otard XO €10.10
Bitters
Jagermeister €3.40
Underberg €3.80
Fernet Branca €3.80
Ramazzotti €3.80
Zwack Unicum €3.80
European Specialities
Jubilaums Aquavit €3.10
Genever €3.10
Korn €3
Raspberry Brandy €3.80
Cherry Brandy €4.50
Williams Brandy €3.80
Marillenschaps €4.20
Obstler €4.20
Grappa €3.80
Sambuca €4.20
Barack Palinka €4.20
Slivovka €3.40
Becherovka €4.20
Calvados €4.20
Long Drinks
Campari and Soda €6.10
Campari and Orange €6.60
Gin and Tonic €7.20
Vodka and Lemon/Tonic/Orange €7.20
Cuba Libre €7.30
Whisky and Coke €7.10
Non Alcoholic Drinks
Virgin Mary (Tomato Juice, Lemon Juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire Sauce)
€3.40
Boatman (Grapefruit Juice, Lemon Juice, Grenadine)
€5.10
Miami (Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, Mango Juice, Lemon Juice, Grenadine)
€5.50
Paradiso (Pineapple Juice, Maracuja Syrup, Strawberry Syrup, Cream)
€6
Sin Colada (Coconut Cream, Pineapple Juice, Cream)
€6.30
Non Alcoholic Beverages
Sparkling Mineral Water €2.60
Still Mineral Water €2.60
Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite €3.50
Diet Coke €3.50
Schweppes Ginger Ale €3
Schweppes Tonic Water €3
Schweppes Bitter Lemon €3
Apple Spritzer €2.30
Fruit Juice
Apple €2.30
Orange €2.30
Tomato €2.30
Pineapple €2.30
Cranberry Juice €2.80
Hot Beverages (Free)
Coffee
Espresso
Double Espresso
Cappuccino
Latte Macchiato
Selection of Teas
Hot Chocolate
Breakfast Tea
There is a tea and coffee machine in the main lounge which can be used at any time.
Now that you’ve got your drinks sorted, you may be wondering what to wear. Before my first river cruise, I was worried that the dress code may be too formal, however, I didn’t find it to be in any way formal or ‘stuffy’ as I had feared!
In this post we talk about day time dress, what to wear on excursions and what you wear around the ship: Emerald Waterways: Dress Code, What To Wear.
