How to snag FREE drinks on a cruise

Getting a free drink on a cruise ship is not as hard as you might think.  We often have great deals that include onboard spending credit — which you can use for whatever you want on the ship, including drinks.   But there are other ways to wet your whistle without having to take out your shipboard spending card.

Captain's party:  These events hosted by uniformed officers used to be more egalitarian, but these days you mostly need to be a past cruiser or VIP to get an invite.  Show up early and you can snag a couple of free drinks from trays proffered by waiters.

Champagne art auction:  Free champagne or sparkling wine is a bonus to get you into the art auction —but you are not required to buy.  You can attend the event, watch other people spend money and sip without paying a dime.

High rollers:  Cruise lines aren't as generous with drinks in the casino as land-based resorts, but reach a top level of Norwegian's Casinos at Sea Players Club and you'll get drinks on the house.  Same if you have VIP status in the Carnival Corp. brands' Ocean Players Club.

Take a luxury cruise:  Paul Gauguin, Regent Seven Seas, SeaDream, Seabourn, Silversea and Crystal are among luxury lines that include drinks and decent wine in your cruise fare.  Depending on the line you may receive other perks such as a complimentary mini-bar and welcome bottle of champagne.  Azamara Club Cruises also offers complimentary boutique wine, international beer and standard spirits.

Go with a small or adventure ship:  Cruising the Amazon with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic you can have as many free Peruvian pisco sours as you can handle (though you pay for other drinks).  Un-Cruise Adventures serves complimentary drinks and wine on its luxury yachts in Alaska (and elsewhere).  Drinks are free too on the Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos.

Cruise on a river:  Tauck recently launched an open bar policy, and Uniworld serves free drinks and wine too.  On Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways, complimentary wine or beer is available at lunch and dinner, while mimosas are offered at breakfast.  On Avalon Waterways, you can start your day with sparkling wine and enjoy beer or wine at dinner at no extra charge.  French wine flows freely on the barges of French Country Waterways.

Cruise frequently:  Repeat cruisers reap benefits based on how many days they've cruised.  For instance, members of Holland America's Mariner Society (open to any past guest) are invited to a champagne brunch, while top-tier members get such perks as a complimentary wine tasting.  Reach Elite status in Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle program and you get a free minibar setup in your stateroom.

Befriend a bartender:  With cruise ship bartenders jumping on the creative cocktail craze (and even competing in land-based cocktail competitions) you might want to ask your friendly bartender if he or she is working on anything special. You may be offered a sample. If you're not sure about what wine to order, there's no harm in asking for a taste there too.

Get a fancy suite:  Suites come with perks.  On Cunard ships, for example, passengers in Queens Grill Suites will find a stocked, en-suite bar.  On Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, book top flight accommodations and you can enjoy a complimentary nightly cocktail hour in the Concierge Lounge (Disney is also the only mainstream line with free soda for everyone.)  Stay in a suite on select Royal Caribbean ships and you can pour yourself a drink from the complimentary bar in the Concierge Club.

Happy Cruising!