Cruise Inspired Cocktails
Cocktails From Around the World to Make at Home
“Well - I don’t know about you but I could definitely do with a drink! Cheers,”
Staying in is the New Going Out!
The sun is over the yardarm somewhere in the world, so why not check out these cruise-inspired cocktails; and imagine you are back on your favourite ship. Leave your own recipe in the comments (and on which ship you sampled them) ! I’ll try to add them here or in a new post.
Favourite River Cruise-inspired Cocktails
Now it’s getting colder outside, I don’t know about you but I’d rather cosy up at home and watch some cruise videos whilst enjoying a tipple. So here are a few new recipes to try out in your home bar. Take a happy hour trip to Holy Island and the Douro and Rhine rivers, and let your tastebuds take you on a journey with these signature cocktails:
Close to home - Holy Island’s Hibiscus Gin Sour
Holy Island Gin
Method:
60ml Holy Island Gin
25ml freshly squeezed lemon
25ml homemade hibiscus and lemon syrup
1 egg white
Garnish with twist of lemon
About Holy Island:
Sitting one mile off the North East Coast of England, located mid-way between Newcastle and Edinburgh, lies the historic and beautiful island of Lindisfarne.
Cut off by the sea twice a day, the island is home to 200 people and several thriving businesses, including successful boutique gin distillery The Holy Island Gin Company (HIG). HIG launched a new nationwide gin delivery package from the island straight to your door.
The Original signature dry gin is crafted to capture the spirit of the high tide using both the most traditional distilling methods and the vapour infusion to deliver a flavour profile beloved by locals and visitors of the sea-borne settlement. Carefully selected botanicals such as sweet orange peel and nutmeg have delicately been infused to create the perfect balance of sweet and spiced without losing the distinctive presence of juniper
Island local and Holy Island Gin Founder, Andrew Cowan continues to create and distil up to 200 bottles of gin a week delivering the taste of island life to gin lovers across the country.
For more information and to purchase visit: https://www.holyislandgin.co.uk/
Portugal’s Port Passion
Portugal’s Port Passion from Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours
Method:
Equal parts Port Wine (white), passionfruit juice and cherry juice
Serve over ice in a tall glass
About Scenic/Porto:
Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours has long been sailing the Douro river, offering all-inclusive, luxury river cruises. With Cruise Director’s who boast many years of experience in the region, Scenic’s cruises offer guests local insight on wine, culture, geography and history. The local drink of the Douro region is well-known the world-over, however Scenic offer the above Portuguese-inspired cocktail as part of the brand’s all-inclusive drinks package on their Douro river itineraries which offers a more high-end cocktail utilising the local Port Wine.
For more information and to book, visit www.scenic.co.uk.
Dutch Negroni
Dutch Negroni from Emerald Waterways
Method:
1 and half parts of Bols Genever
1 part Compari
1 part Sweet vermouth
Orange zest
Ice
The Dutch twist on an old classic, this cocktail sees the Negroni gin replaced with Bols Genever, a juniper-flavoured liquor from the Netherlands, commonly known as Dutch gin, and, is the drink from which London dry gin evolved. Get into the spirit of Emerald Waterways’ eight-day Jewels of the Rhine river cruise from home by enjoying a taste of lively Amsterdam, one of the cities included in the itinerary.
Other Cruise-Inspired Cocktails
If those have whetted your appetite, take a look at some of my other cocktail posts:
Delicious Pornstar Martini (my absolute favourite) - although you may need to check the cruise bar menus to find something similar as the name isn’t particularly family-friendly.
A Sapphire Princess cocktail is the speciality cocktail on its namesake, courtesy of Princess Cruises - the blue reminds me so much of the sea (and obviously reflects the name of the ship.
Scarlet Lady which is dedicated to Virgin Voyages ship of the same name (or you may prefer a Frosé (frozen rosé granita)- served up on the wonderful Scarlet Night!
A new one to me was a Mudslide which I had on Marella Voyager. I haven’t t got a particularly sweet tooth, but this was much welcomed in the heat of the day in the Med. It is made with coffee-flavoured liqueur, vodka, Baileys Original Liqueur, double cream and lots of crushed ice. The Marella version was more like a very alcoholic ice cream milkshake and was utterly delicious.
Cruise Line Favourite Cocktails
Here are some more cocktails created by some of your favourite cruise lines:
Here’s a list of specialty cocktails designed for various cruise ships and lines, each offering unique drinks tailored to their themes and destinations:
Carnival Cruise Line
Kiss on the Lips – A fruity frozen cocktail with peach schnapps, mango puree, and grenadine.
RedFrog Rum Punch – A tropical mix of rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine from the RedFrog Pub.
ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat – Carnival’s exclusive craft beer-inspired cocktail.
Royal Caribbean
The Kraken Colada – A twist on the classic piña colada with Kraken spiced rum.
The Ultimate Abyss – A colorful layered cocktail named after the ship’s famous slide, featuring rum and tropical juices.
Cucumber Martini – A refreshing cucumber-infused vodka cocktail served at the R Bar.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Mandarin Mango Fusion – A mix of mango puree, vodka, and citrus, inspired by tropical destinations.
Bushwhacker – A creamy cocktail with rum, coconut cream, coffee liqueur, and chocolate syrup.
Rebellious Fish – A sparkling drink featuring vodka, Aperol, and sparkling wine.
Disney Cruise Line
Pirate’s Punch – A family-friendly tropical cocktail (with an adult version featuring rum) served on Pirate Night.
Blue Glowtini – A glowing cocktail with vodka, peach schnapps, and blue curaçao.
Sunken Treasure – A layered cocktail featuring tropical fruit juices and rum.
Princess Cruises
The Seawitch – A signature drink inspired by the Princess logo, featuring vodka and elderflower.
Chocolate Banana Martini – A rich dessert cocktail combining banana liqueur, chocolate, and vodka.
Caribbean Cooler – A rum-based cocktail with pineapple juice and coconut cream.
Celebrity Cruises
Eden Martini – A green tea and vodka blend served in the luxurious Eden Lounge.
Sunset Serenity – A refreshing cocktail with tequila, passionfruit, and lime.
Pear Martini – A sophisticated drink with pear-infused vodka and a hint of citrus.
Holland America Line
The HAL Mule – A twist on the Moscow Mule with ginger beer and citrus.
Java Mint Mojito – A coffee-inspired mojito featuring rum, mint, and cold brew.
Ocean Blues – A blueberry-infused gin cocktail.
MSC Cruises
MSC Seaside Sunrise – A layered cocktail featuring prosecco, orange juice, and grenadine.
Bellissimo Spritz – A Mediterranean-inspired spritz with limoncello and sparkling wine.
The Divina Delight – A blend of vodka, passionfruit, and sparkling soda.
Virgin Voyages
Scarlet Lady Sangria – A modern sangria with fresh fruits and rose wine.
Seafoam Margarita – A unique margarita with a sea salt foam topping.
Pink Agave Paloma – A tequila-based cocktail with grapefruit soda and lime.
These drinks often reflect the cruise line’s destinations, themes, or ship-specific experiences, making them memorable for travellers.
Writing this has given me inspiration to host a cruise-themed cocktail party to remind me of those long sunny days at sea.
What is your go-to cocktail? Share in the comments below and I’ll add to my repertoire.
🥂🍸Cheers!