This week I am continuing with my series on cruise beverage packages with Royal Caribbean Drink Packages.
If you have ever been on a cruise, you are probably well aware that there is no shortage of places to have a drink onboard. It seems like there is some sort of bar every time you turn a corner, so a beverage package will certainly come in handy if you want to indulge in the many bars available to you.
Similar to Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Holland America Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage packages. Where they differ, however, is that they use dynamic pricing. This means that the prices may vary depending on the cruise and destination. As with all cruise lines though, the best deals will be offered prior to sailing. So if you know you want a drink package, you should probably just go ahead and purchase it at the time of booking.
The drink packages offered by Royal Caribbean are listed below with approximate price ranges (calculated according to current cruise offerings including the drink package).
Table of Contents
Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Package
Simplicity seems to be theme with Royal Caribbean, as if you want a drink package that includes alcohol, the Deluxe Drink Package is it. This package is pretty much all-encompassing for drinks up to $14 US. The Deluxe Package includes the following:
- Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs and beer
- Wines by the glass
- Mocktails
- Bottled still and sparkling water
- Fresh squeezed orange juice
- Premium coffees and teas (excluding Starbucks)
- Fountain sodas (including Coca-Cola Freestyle machine)
- Milkshakes at Johnny Rockets
In addition, you will also be entitled to a 40% discount on bottles of wine up to $100, and a 20% discount on bottles over $100.
Approximate Pricing as of August 2023: $70 – $100 US per day
Royal Caribbean's Refreshment Package
The Refreshment Package mirrors the Deluxe Package, minus the alcohol. So just to lay it out for you, the Refreshment Package includes the following:
- Mocktails
- Bottled still and sparkling water
- Fresh squeezed orange juice
- Premium teas and coffees (excluding Starbucks)
- Fountain sodas (including Coca-Cola Freestyle machine)
- Milkshakes at Johnny Rockets
If you are not a big drinker, but prefer to have an assortment of non-alcoholic beverage options, this is your best choice.
Approximate Pricing as of August 2023: $30 US per day
Royal Caribbean's Classic Soda Package
I personally do not understand why anyone would want this package, but for those of you who only drink soda, there is the Classic Soda Package. This package includes the following:
- Unlimited fountain soda refills
- Yep, that’s it (not even the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine with this one)
Royal Caribbean's Water Package
If you don’t really have any interest in a beverage package, but want to make sure you stay hydrated with lots of bottled water, this package is a great option. The Water Package includes:
- 12-24 bottles of Evian water delivered to your stateroom
Royal Caribbean's Café Select Coffee Card
If you drink lots of coffee (and only coffee) and therefore are not interested in either the Deluxe or Refreshment Packages, you may want to consider purchasing the Café Select Coffee Card. This card includes:
- A total of 15 specialty espresso-based coffees, premium teas, and/or hot chocolate (excluding Starbucks)
Approximate Pricing as of August 2023: $30 US
To Buy or Not to Buy?
Now while purchasing a beverage package may be convenient, this doesn’t mean that they will necessarily save you money. This all depends on how much money you usually spend on drinks, and how much you intend to drink while onboard.
If you are like me, and prefer to have your vacation all paid for ahead of time so you don’t need to worry about a bill at the end (well, okay, except for all those purchases while exploring ports of call and in the shops onboard), there are beverage packages options that may be worth purchasing. I still prefer to get the most inclusive one offered so that I can enjoy whatever I want, and in the case of Royal Caribbean, this would be the deluxe beverage package.
As for the best deal, in my opinion that would be the coffee card. Where else can you get 15 specialty coffees for $30 US. Seems like a steal to me! It may not include Starbucks, but Starbucks is overrated anyway. So if you aren’t much of a drinker, but enjoy your coffee, I’d say it’s the Café Select Coffee Card for the win.
