How I Enjoyed the Queen Elizabeth Without Breaking the Bank on Drinks

When I booked my seven-day transatlantic crossing on the Queen Elizabeth, I was honestly terrified about the drink prices. I'd heard the horror stories—fifteen-dollar cocktails, twelve-dollar sodas, the whole nine yards. My friend Sarah had warned me that her last cruise bill included more charges for beverages than for the cabin itself. So I went in with a strategy, determined not to feel like I was choosing between a mojito and groceries. The first thing I did before even stepping foot on the ship was research what Cunard Line actually offers in terms of beverage packages. The Queen Elizabeth has several options, and I'll be honest—my initial instinct was to skip the drink package entirely. But then I sat down with a calculator and really thought about my habits. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I do enjoy a cocktail by the pool, maybe some wine with dinner, and perhaps a nightcap while watching the ocean from the Promenade Deck. The math showed that a basic beverage package would actually save me money compared to purchasing drinks à la carte. I ended up going with Cunard's Classic beverage package, which covers most wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. Yes, it was an upfro…