Holland America Wine Packages, Wine List and Prices
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If you’re planning a Holland America cruise – and you enjoy a good glass of wine with dinner – their wine packages are worth a look.
We’re more into wine than cocktails. So on our latest HAL cruise aboard the Rotterdam, we skipped the all-inclusive drinks packages and bought a Sommelier Suite wine package instead.
These packages let you choose wines by the bottle, share them over dinner and save any leftovers for another evening. Holland America says you can save up to 25% compared with buying bottles individually.
But are they actually good value?
Here’s how the packages work, what they cost and what we discovered firsthand – along with Holland America’s wine lists and bottle prices.
Note: All prices shown below are in U.S. dollars.
Featured reader comments & questions
Holland America wine packages: At a glance
Holland America offers several ways to enjoy wine onboard, from discounted bottles to all-inclusive beverage packages.
Your wine options🍷
- SOMMELIER SUITE → Choose 4, 6 or 8 bottles from three wine collections at different price points.
- SIGNATURE PACKAGE → Enjoy wines by the glass (up to $12 each), along with cocktails and other drinks.
- ELITE PACKAGE → Get a wider choice of wines by the glass (up to $16 each), plus other premium drinks.
Mariner discounts
3-Star Mariners save 25% on Sommelier Suite wine packages, while 4- and 5-Star Mariners save 50%. Discounts don’t apply to Signature or Elite beverage packages.
Good to know
- GRATUITIES → A 20% beverage service charge applies to Sommelier Suite purchases.
- DRINK LIMITS → Signature and Elite packages limit alcoholic drinks to 15 per day.
Our experience
On our Rotterdam cruise, we chose Cellar No. 2. We shared the bottles and appreciated being able to save unfinished wine for another evening. A few wines on the list weren’t available, but we were offered good substitutes.
Contents: HAL wine packages, wine list and prices
How the 3 Cellar packages work
Can you bring wine on a Holland America cruise?
Is a HAL wine package worth it?
Pssst! Also see comments and questions from readers at the end of this post!
The three Cellar wine packages
Holland America’s Sommelier Suite program offers three wine collections:
- Cellar No. 1
- Cellar No. 2
- Cellar No. 3.
Each comes with a choice of 4, 6 or 8 bottles.
You generally choose your wines from the Cellar you’ve purchased or a lower-priced Cellar. So if you buy Cellar No. 2, you can also select wines from Cellar No. 1.
But you can’t normally choose from a higher Cellar, unless the sommelier offers a substitution.
Many of the Cellar wines aren’t found on the regular main dining room wine list or wine menus in Holland America’s specialty restaurants.
Cellar package prices
Prices have shifted a bit since our cruise. Cellar No. 1 has gone up slightly, while some of the Cellar No. 3 prices have actually come down a few dollars.
Here are the latest published Cellar package prices we’ve found. Rates may vary by sailing, so check your HAL booking for current prices.
Note: Gratuity is extra
A 20% service charge is added to the price of each package (increased from 18% on June 1, 2026).
1) Cellar No. 1
This is the least expensive package, with a selection of approachable, everyday wines.
If you’re happy with familiar reds and whites and aren’t particularly fussy about labels, Cellar No. 1 may be all you need.
- 4 bottles = $134
- 6 bottles = $188
- 8 bottles = $244
2) Cellar No. 2
This HAL wine package features premium wines.
- 4 bottles = $152
- 6 bottles = $224
- 8 bottles = $292
We went with the Cellar No. 2 wine package on our latest HAL cruise – largely because we’re fans of the Meiomi Pinot Noir.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t available one evening. Instead, we were offered a Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir.
A few other wines on the Sommelier Suite list were also missing. But the substitutes were solid – including a crisp, dry Gewurztraminer we enjoyed in place of the Ruffino Pinot Grigio from Italy.
So although the selection wasn’t quite what we’d expected, we weren’t disappointed.
3) Cellar No. 3
The third and most expensive of Holland America’s Sommelier Suite packages is aimed at those who appreciate a more interesting bottle.
Selections on our cruise included Boom Boom! Syrah from Washington State and California’s Chamisal “Stainless” Chardonnay.
Whether the extra cost is worthwhile depends on your wine preferences and what’s available on your particular sailing.
- 4 bottles = $179
- 6 bottles = $258
- 8 bottles = $334
Pssst! See our wine choices
You may want to see the wine labels offered in the three Cellar wine lists on our cruise.
Mariner Society discounts
Are you a repeat HAL cruiser?
As a member of HAL’s Mariner Society (their loyalty rewards program), you’ll enjoy a discount off the Sommelier Suite packages:
- 4-star and 5-star Mariners – Get 50% off
- 3-star Mariners – Get 25 % off
These discounts apply to the three Cellar packages (not the Signature or Elite beverage packages).
Keep in mind
The 20% beverage service charge is calculated on the original package price, before your Mariner discount.
How the wine packages work
Now for the practical stuff…
How do you order a bottle from your package?
It’s easy.
When you’re ready for a bottle, tell your waiter you’ve purchased a Sommelier Suite package and choose a bottle from your Cellar’s wine list.
Your waiter will ask for your stateroom key card, which is linked to your onboard account and wine package.
The bottle is then recorded against your package allowance.
Swapping out a wine or two
Want to switch a wine in your package for something else? Chat with the sommelier – HAL is usually quite accommodating.
Also, if your chosen wine isn’t available, you might even get a pleasant upgrade.
So if you’ve bought the Cellar No. 1 package, but they’re out of a certain variety, they may let you swap in a wine from Cellar No. 2 or 3 (or even from the main wine list).
Cheers to that!
Two bottles, twice the taste
Fancy a white wine with your starter and a red with your main course? No problem.
You can have two bottles open at a time – perfect for pairing with different courses.
Do you both have to buy a Sommelier wine package on Holland America?
No. On our Rotterdam cruise, we only bought one package for the two of us. Each night, we’d share a bottle of wine over dinner.
Now, we did think about buying a second package after we finished our first. But with only a couple of nights left, purchasing two individual bottles worked out cheaper.
Worth knowing
Unlike the Sommelier Suite packages, Signature and Elite beverage packages can’t be shared. If you buy a Signature or Elite package, your cabin companion also has to buy the same beverage package.
Can you enjoy your wine in your stateroom?
Absolutely! If you’d like to sip some of your Cellar wines on your balcony, ask any wine steward or the sommelier know and they’ll have it delivered to your stateroom.
What if you can’t finish a bottle at one sitting?
This was one of our favorite conveniences!
Simply ask your waiter to save it for you. They’ll label the bottle with your cabin number and store it for another evening.
You can even ask for your unfinished bottle of wine at a different restaurant on another evening (though there might be a short wait while it’s retrieved).
What if you don’t finish all the wines you buy?
You can take any unopened bottles home with you in your checked luggage (subject to customs and airline rules).
How do you buy HAL’s wine package?
You can purchase a wine package before your cruise or once onboard.
Before your cruise, you can:
- Buy online – Log into your Holland America account and look for beverage packages.
- Call Ship Services – Phone 1-800-541-1576.
- Email Ship Services – Contact HAL_Ship_Services@HollandAmerica.com.
Alternatively, ask about purchasing a package onboard.
About Holland America’s wine list
Holland America has collaborated with renowned wine critic James Suckling on their wine program, including their JS90+ selections.
A former senior editor and European bureau chief at Wine Spectator, Suckling is known for rating wines on a 100-point scale.
His JS90+ selections feature wines that have earned scores of at least 90 points – a mark generally associated with high-quality wines.
Beyond the Sommelier Suite collections, Holland America offers wines from around the world, including France, Italy, Spain, California, Washington State, Chile and New Zealand. It’s an extensive list, with more than 140 different wines by the bottle.
Holland America wines by the glass
Of course, you don’t have to buy a package to enjoy wine onboard – it’s also sold by the glass, as well as by the bottle.
Or, if you have one of HAL’s alcohol packages, you can opt for wines by the glass.
Here’s how the two main alcoholic beverage packages compare:
- Elite beverage package – Covers wines priced up to $16 a glass, with 15 alcoholic drinks daily plus unlimited eligible nonalcoholic drinks.
- Signature beverage package – Covers wines priced up to $12 a glass, with a combined limit of 15 alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks daily.
In both cases, if you pick a pricier wine by the glass, you just have to pay the difference.
We learned that some wines by the glass feature highly-rated James Suckling selections.
Holland America’s sparkling, white and rosé wines by the glass
Holland America’s red wines by the glass
Holland America’s white wines by the bottle
Most bottles in HAL’s white wine collection are priced between $44 and $60.
You can enjoy a Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand for $48, a Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay from California for $52 or a Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling from Germany for $54.
For a mini-splurge, there’s Napa Valley’s Cakebread Chardonnay at $105. Or pop the cork on some Champagne – from $72 for Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Brut to a whopping $415 for Louis Roederer Cristal.
See the full white wine list below. You’re sure to find something to suit you for both everyday sipping and special celebrations!
Holland America’s rosé and red wines by the bottle
Red wines outnumber whites on HAL’s wine menu, with everything from California Pinot Noirs to Italian Chiantis and bold Washington State Cabernets.
Prices start at $42 for a Chilean Anakena Nuna Reserva Malbec, while a Meiomi Pinot Noir costs $56.
At the high end, there’s the Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington at $145.
The only wine that’s more expensive is the Opus One from Napa Valley. We’ve tried it before – scrumptious! It goes for an eye-popping $524.
Don’t have a heart attack though! Most reds fall between $44 and $70 a bottle.
HAL’s full rosé and red wine menu, with prices, is shown below.
Can you bring wine on a Holland America cruise?
Yes, you can bring wine or champagne onboard. But you’ll have to pay to do so. For each bottle, you’ll be charged a $20 corkage fee.
However, Holland America’s wine policy doesn’t apply to wine you buy on a wine-focused shore excursion organized through the cruise ship.
In this case, you may bring one bottle p.p. back to the ship without having to pay the corkage fee on it.
Is a Sommelier Suite wine package worth buying?
For us, yes!
We liked being able to share a bottle over dinner, try different wines and save anything unfinished for another evening.
The selection wasn’t always perfect – a few wines we wanted weren’t available – but we were happy with the substitutes.
Our advice? Compare the Cellar package price with what you’d spend buying individual bottles. Factor in any Mariner Society discount too.
If you enjoy wine with dinner most evenings, a Sommelier Suite package could be a good fit.
And if you’ve tried one yourself, we’d love to hear what you thought in the Comments below! You can see questions and feedback from other readers too.
See our other Holland America cruise guides
Pin our Holland America cruise wine menus!
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About the authors
Hello!! Thanks for all the tips!!
Can I ask, please, if we have the wine pkg, can we ask for a glass in the bars? We don’t drink many cocktails. THANKS!!
Good question…
We believe that — “officially” — wines from your wine package aren’t supposed to be used at a bar (just in the restaurants and in your stateroom). But practically speaking, if you’re taking your opened bottle back from the dining room to your cabin, and you stop on the way at a bar and ask for a glass to sip there, we can’t imagine anyone saying “no.”
Could you go to a bar and ask for your wine to be delivered there to drink? Not really sure about this, sorry! But we’d certainly try :-). (Maybe another reader has an answer?)
Wow. You have answered all my questions! Thanks
Hi,
Just planning a cruise with HAL. The info you provided is awesome! Thank you!
My one question is: If you buy a wine package, can you have any of the bottles (leftover, or unopened) delivered to your room?
Thanks for any info!
Good question.
Frankly, we don’t know the “official” answer, but it would make sense that you could have the HAL purchased wine delivered to your cabin, since you can pay to bring wine onboard with you.
We’ll try to find out from HAL :-)
Can you buy a bottle of scotch or gin to be delivered to your stateroom?
No, you can’t bring alcohol onboard. The only exception is wine and champagne (a $20 USD corkage fee is applied – unless it’s wine bought during a HAL winery shore excursion, and then only one bottle p.p. is allowed). See HAL’s policy on this.
However, you can order a bottle of liquor from HAL for your cabin before you sail. While onboard, you can also order it from room service to be delivered to your room.
Hope this helps!
Hi,
l was wondering if you bring your own bottles of wine onboard and pay the $20 per bottle, can you take them to drink when dining in the restaurants? Also what is the surcharge on top?
Yes, you can take your own wine to the restaurant to drink there. And the fee of $20 per bottle is the corkage fee, so there’s no extra surcharge. See details of HAL’s policy on bringing wine (and alcohol) onboard.
We mainly drink wine and the odd beer, so we are considering buying a wine package on the Oosterdam [Holland America]. We travel in February.
Do you know how this works please? Do we both have to buy a package? If so, can they differ, and how do we access our bottles once purchased in the restaurant(s) and at the bars? And what if we don’t finish a bottle between us in one sitting, where will it be? Do we have to have two bottles on the go at the same time or can we share? I cannot find these details.
Also, is it possible and cheaper to pre-book your wine package?
Hi Pauline,
Thanks for asking these questions! You’ve prompted us to add the answers to your questions in the body of our post above!
(In a nutshell, though, you can buy one wine package and share it between the two of you, and your waiter can store any unfinished bottles for you, so you don’t have to drink a whole bottle in one sitting.)
Enjoy your cruise :-).
Loved your site!
We’re heading out on a 7-day Alaska cruise on the Zaandam from May 15 to 22nd. We love the cruise line. It will be our 4th time and prices for the cruise are great.
However, for the wine packages I’m trying to purchase, I can only find one for $265 for 6 bottles.
The choices you show for HAL are three different prices. So I have printed these and will try to buy one of them onboard.
Let us know what you find out onboard. We’d love to know if things have changed. Hopefully, you can find a wine package that suits you :-).
Have a wonderful Alaska cruise!
I was recently on a Eurodam cruise. I bought 8 bottles of St. Michelle Chardonnay. The bottles were NOT the standard 750 ML size. They were much smaller and only yielded 3 glasses each.
Is this true of all their wine selections?
Hmmm… We don’t know about this. When we bought wines by the bottle, they were the normal size.
Maybe someone else out there can add something useful?
We’re leaving on the Noordam soon and I wanted to know if there’s a different place to purchase the Sommelier packages, as they are $50+ more than you published.
Hi Tim,
You can only buy the wine packages through Holland America:-).
And remember there are different wine packages, with different prices. The cost might have gone up very recently (?). If you see different prices, please let us know!
Thank you for this great information.
We are about to go on a Holland America ship and want to purchase a wine package. We have done this with other cruise companies but not Holland.
Do we purchase this on the app? Or do we buy it from the waiter? Since we have “As You Wish” dining, how do the waiters keep track of our usage?
If you know the answers I would so appreciate your knowledge.
Yes, you can buy the package online before your cruise or when you board.
When you order drinks, you show your room key card to the waiter. It has all your booking information on it (like the package you’ve bought). It tracks your usage.
One other point which you might find helpful. If you don’t finish a bottle of wine one night, you can ask the waiter to put your cabin number on it and they’ll store it for you, so you can ask for the unfinished bottle the next night – even if you’re at a different restaurant.
Have a great cruise!