Which cruise ships have the best cocktail bars?

For many, cocktail bars are a big part of the cruise experience, with many ships now offering dedicated venues that go beyond the standard drinks menu. From classic martinis served in elegant lounges to more inventive, mixology-led creations, there’s a wide range of options depending on the ship and cruise line. With World Cocktail Day taking place on 13th May, there’s no better time to explore some of the standout cocktail bars currently found at sea. Whether you’re looking for a refined pre-dinner drink, a lively bar with a social atmosphere, or something more unusual, a number of cruise ships stand out for their cocktail offering. Here’s where to find some of the best cocktail bars at sea. 

From elegant lounges serving classic martinis to more contemporary bars focused on mixology and presentation, cruise ships offer a wide variety of cocktail experiences. The following cruise lines and ships stand out for the quality, variety and uniqueness of their cocktail bars. 

Cunard is known for its classic approach to cocktails, with bars that focus on well-made drinks and exceptional, traditional service. Across the fleet, you’ll find a mix of long-established venues and newer spaces, largely centred around familiar classics, with the occasional more modern or signature drink. Some of the most notable cocktail bars can be found on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne. 

Queen Mary 2

• Commodore Club - One of Cunard’s best-known bars, the Commodore Club offers panoramic ocean views, regular live music, and an impressive drinks menu. You’ll find a wide selection of cocktails, from much-loved classics to bespoke options inspired by Cunard’s history. It is particularly well known for its extensive martini selection, making it a popular place to visit for a pre-dinner drink. 
• Chart Room - Inspired by the stars that light up the night sky, the Chart Room serves a range of classic and creative cocktails, with an added celestial twist. The menu includes 12 Zodiac-inspired drinks, each linked to a different constellation, giving the bar a distinctive edge, while live music adds to the overall experience. 

Queen Anne 

• Bright Lights Society - Bright Lights Society brings an energetic feel to Cunard’s cocktail scene, with a lively setting and a menu that leans into bold, visually striking drinks. Cocktails are designed to stand out in both flavour and presentation, with a mix of unexpected ingredients and more theatrical serves. On some occasions, specially crafted drinks are created to align with the live performances, adding an extra layer to the experience. 
• The Pavilion - Located beneath a striking glass dome, The Pavilion offers a more open and contemporary setting for enjoying cocktails throughout the day. The menu features a mix of classic drinks alongside lighter, more refreshing options, making it a good choice on warmer days. It works particularly well for an afternoon drink by the pool or an early evening aperitif. 

Celebrity Cruises has several cocktail bars that place a strong emphasis on ingredients, presentation, and technique. Across the fleet, you’ll find everything from more refined cocktail spaces to open-air venues designed for relaxed evening drinks. Some of the standout cocktail experiences can be found on board Celebrity Ascent. 

Celebrity Ascent

• World Class Bar - Cocktail lovers aboard Celebrity Ascent often find themselves drawn to the World Class Bar. Available on other Celebrity Cruises ships too, this venue places a strong emphasis on technique and ingredients. Drinks are crafted with fresh ingredients, house-made infusions, and carefully selected spirits, resulting in a menu that goes beyond the standard classics. Described by Celebrity as a ‘fine drinking’ experience, the focus is as much on how cocktails are made as it is on the finished drink. 
• Sunset Bar - Located at the aft of the ship, Sunset Bar is one of the best spots on board for a cocktail with a view. Redesigned on Celebrity Ascent, the space benefits from an open, terrace-style layout, making it particularly popular in the early evening. The menu leans towards lighter cocktails, spritzes, and refreshing drinks that suit the setting. It’s a great place to sit back with a drink and watch the sky transform as the sun sets over the ocean.  

P&O Cruises offers a relaxed and familiar approach to cocktail bars at sea, with venues that focus on serving classic drinks in sociable settings. Whether you’re looking for a quieter pre-dinner cocktail or somewhere more lively in the centre of the ship, there’s a good mix of options on board Iona. 

Iona 

• Anderson’s Bar - Anderson’s Bar is a refined cocktail space on board Iona, with an extensive drinks menu that focuses on classic cocktails and a strong gin selection. You’ll find everything from well-known favourites such as martinis and negronis to more carefully balanced serves, alongside a wide range of premium gins. It’s a great place to enjoy a pre-dinner drink if you’re looking for something a little more relaxed and considered. This venue is also available on some other P&O Cruises ships. 
• Emerald Bar - Nestled in the heart of the ship, Emerald Bar is one of the most central and lively bars on board. It serves a wide selection of cocktails, from classic favourites to lighter options such as spritzes and fruit-led drinks, as well as a full range of spirits, wines, and beers. Its open, artium setting makes it a natural meeting point, whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink during the day or settling in as the evening begins.

Cocktail bars aboard Silversea ships lean into a refined and unhurried style of drinking, with an emphasis on premium spirits, personalised service, and elegant surroundings. Across various ships, including Silver Nova, Silver Cloud, Silver Ray, Silver Muse, Silver Dawn, Silver Spirit, Silver Moon, and Silver Wind, you’ll find the hugely popular Dolce Vita, which is a much-loved cocktail bar. 

Silver Nova, Silver Cloud, Silver Ray, Silver Muse, Silver Dawn, Silver Spirit, Silver Moon, and Silver Wind

• Dolce Vita - Inspired by Italian elegance, Dolce Vita is a stylish venue where the art of apertivio takes pride of place. You’ll find everything from spritzes to other well-known classics, all made using premium spirits. The team of bartenders are happy to adjust each cocktail to your preference, making it an easy and relaxed space to return to throughout the day and into the evening. 

Princess Cruises offers a varied cocktail scene, with bars ranging from more traditional lounges to venues focused on destination-inspired drinks and interactive experiences. On ships such as Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess, you’ll find a mix of classic cocktails, modern creations, and live cocktail demonstrations. 

Sky Princess 

• Good Spirits At Sea - Good Spirits At Sea stands out for its destination-inspired cocktails, with a menu shaped by flavours and ingredients from around the world. The menu features a mix of classic cocktails and more unusual creations, often using regional ingredients and flavour combinations. You’ll find everything from citrus-led serves to more spirit-forward drinks, with live demonstrations adding an extra element as bartenders talk through how each cocktail is made. 

Enchanted Princess

• Crooners Bar - Best known for its extensive martini menu, Crooners Bar serves a wide range of classic cocktails in a more traditional setting. You’ll find everything from old-fashioneds to manhattans, all prepared with expertise and flair. It’s a popular spot for an evening drink, particularly if you’re looking for something familiar yet delicious. 

Norwegian Cruise Line takes a more contemporary and energetic approach to cocktail bars, with venues that focus on flavour, creativity, and variety. Across ships such as Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Prima, you’ll find everything from dedicated mojito bars to modern cocktail spaces with sustainability at their core. 

Norwegian Encore

• Sugarcane Mojito Bar - Sugarcane Mojito Bar is a vibrant cocktail spot dedicated entirely to mojitos, with a menu that goes far beyond the classic version. You’ll find a wide range of variations here, from traditional lime and mint to fruit-led options such as passionfruit and raspberry, all made using fresh ingredients. 

Norwegian Prima

• Metropolitan Bar - Expect a more modern take on cocktail drinking at Metropolitan Bar, with a menu that focuses on both flavour and sustainability. Drinks are made using repurposed ingredients such as citrus peels and herb stems, alongside premium spirits, resulting in cocktails that feel a little more considered. You’ll find a mix of classic serves and more contemporary creations, making it a good place to try something you might not usually go for. 

Azamara’s cocktail offering is shaped by the destinations its ships visit, with bars that focus on regional flavours, more unusual ingredients, and carefully crafted drinks. On board Azamara Onward, the Atlas Bar stands out for its inventive cocktails and distinctive preparation techniques. 

Azamara Onward

• Atlas Bar - Atlas Bar is a stylish cocktail venue inspired by destinations visited by Azamara ships. The menu features a mix of classic cocktails and more unusual creations, often incorporating regional flavours and ingredients. Bartenders use more distinctive, one-of-a-kind techniques when preparing drinks, adding an extra level of detail to each serve. You’ll find everything from smoked cocktails to lighter, spritz-style options, offering something for every mood. 

Beyond the bars themselves, many cruise ships offer a range of experiences that allow you to explore cocktails in more depth, from learning how they’re made to trying drinks inspired by destinations around the world. 

Many cruise lines offer mixology classes and tasting sessions, giving you the chance to learn more about how cocktails are made. These sessions often cover techniques such as shaking, stirring, and balancing flavours, with bartenders guiding you through each step. 

Some cruise lines have developed more structured experiences. Cunard, for example, offers Martini Mixology classes where guests can learn to craft signature cocktails, while Holland America Line runs sessions such as Mixology 101 at Sea and Martini masterclasses. Oceania Cruises also offers immersive mixology experiences, though these vary by ship and itinerary. 

You may also find tastings focused on specific spirits, including gin, whisky, and rum, where you can sample different styles and learn more about how they are produced. These sessions tend to be more relaxed and informal, making them easy to join, whether you’re a beginner or already have an interest in cocktails. Cruise lines such as P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises offer a range of tastings, including wine, gin, whisky, and rum experiences, again depending on the ship and itinerary. 

Some cruise ships take a more unusual approach to cocktail bars, introducing new concepts and technology. Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar is one of the best-known examples, where robotic arms prepare cocktails in front of you. On Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series ships, the Magic Carpet also serves drinks as it moves between decks, offering different views depending on its position. While these venues are as much about the concept as the drinks themselves, they offer something a little different from more traditional cocktail bars. 

A growing number of cruise lines are incorporating destination-inspired cocktails into their menus. These drinks are often influenced by the regions the ship is visiting, using local ingredients or flavour combinations that reflect the area. You might find Mediterranean-style aperitifs, tropical fruit-based cocktails in the Caribbean, or more botanical, spirit-led drinks in Northern Europe. This approach adds an extra layer to the experience, linking what you’re drinking on board to the destinations you’re exploring. 

Yes, many cruise ships offer cocktail-making classes, often led by experienced bartenders. These sessions usually cover techniques such as shaking, stirring, and balancing flavours, and may include the chance to make your own drinks. Some cruise lines also offer more structured experiences, such as martini or gin masterclasses. 

On most cruise lines, cocktails are not included in the standard fare and are purchased individually or as part of a drinks package. However, on some luxury cruise lines, such as Silversea, a wide selection of cocktails and other beverages is included in the overall price. 

Cruise lines such as Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Silversea are known for their cocktail bars, each offering a slightly different approach. Cunard focuses on classic cocktails, Celebrity Cruises leans towards more modern mixology, while Princess Cruises and Silversea offer a mix of traditional and more refined options. 

Yes, many cruise lines offer signature cocktails, often created specifically for that ship or venue. These drinks may be inspired by the cruise line’s heritage, the destinations visited, or the style of the bar itself. 

Yes, some cruise ships feature themed cocktail bars, ranging from classic martini bars to more concept-driven venues. These may focus on a particular type of drink, such as mojitos or gin, or incorporate elements such as live music, design, or destination-inspired menus.