One of the most tempting options a person may come across when planning a cruise with Royal Caribbean is the drink packages. The promise is broad unlimited beverages for a fixed amount per day, and for those who tend to enjoy a fair amount of drinks on board, it can be appealing; just about anything seems to be possible to drink with no worry about racking up costs. Still, whether it is more affordable to buy a drink package or not depends largely on drinking habits and what package is chosen. As part of this comprehensive tutorial, let’s look further into how much we know about Royal Caribbean drink packages, break down cost distinctions, and learn whether they are worth investing in for your cruise.
General Information on Royal Caribbean Drink Packages
Royal Caribbean offers various drink packages, each targeted at specific tastes and budgets. Each has its merits, pricing, and terms. Understanding the different options will help you make the right choice.
1. Deluxe Beverage Package
The Deluxe Beverage Package is the most comprehensive of all. It is suited for those guests who will want to enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages throughout their cruise.
Price: The price depends upon the itinerary for the cruise, its length, and demand, but normally ranges between $56 and $115 for each person per day.
Included:
- Cocktails and mixed drinks
- Spirits and liqueurs
- Beer: draught and bottled
- Wine by the glass (premium included)
- Mocktails
- Premium coffees and teas
- Fountain sodas
- Bottled water
- Fresh-squeezed juices
Discounts: Guests get 40 percent off on bottles of wine that cost less than $100 and 20 percent off on bottles above $100.
Limitations: Drinks served in souvenir cups or those above $14 are not considered in the package. Guests can order drinks as much as they want but have to wait at least five minutes between orders.
2. Royal Refreshment Package
The Royal Refreshment Package caters to the beverage preferences of those who may not want to indulge in alcohol but still want a choice of drinks.
Cost: This typically runs from $29 to $38 per person per day.
What’s included:
- Fountain drinks
- Mocktails
- Specialty coffee drinks (lattes and cappuccinos)
- Bottled water
Great For: Great for families with kids or adults who may not want to drink alcohol but love the feel of enjoying coolers onboard.
3. Classic Soda Package
The Classic Soda Package is the most basic package offered for those who consume more soda than other drinks.
Price: Around $12.99 for each person, each day
Package includes:
- Unlimited fountain soda
- Coca-Cola Freestyle drinks
This type of package is perfect for those who love soft drinks but never need to access any other type of beverage.
Cost Analysis: Cheaper?
To determine if purchasing a drink package is cheaper, you need to consider several factors that influence your overall spending in terms of beverages when you are on your cruise.
Drink Prices Onboard
Knowing what drinks will cost can help you determine whether a drink package is worth purchasing. Here are some average drink prices:
- Cocktails: $10 to $14
- Beer: Generally in the $7 to $9, though some premiums will be higher
- Wine by the Glass: 8 to 15 dollars by the glass, dependent on selection.
- Other Items: These include soft drinks that mostly fall in the price range of $3.50 and $5.
- Bottled Water: Its price ranges approximately from $3.50 to $5.
Daily Intake Estimates
To determine whether a drink package represents good value, consider how many drinks you drink in a day when traveling:
Sample Cases
1. Frequent Drinkers
- If you like to drink two premium coffees ($10), three cocktails ($36), two beers ($16), and two bottles of water ($10), your sum would come out at about $72 for that day.
- Here you would likely spend the extra cash to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package for about $70 with a gratuity since you would be breakeven after only a couple of drinks.
2. Casual drinkers
- With one cocktail at $12, one beer at $8, and one soft drink at $4 your total would be around $24.
- Here it might be cheaper to buy drinks à la carte rather than in a package unless you want some more later in the evening.
3. Light Drinkers
If you are only going to want one cocktail ($12) for dinner and perhaps one soft drink ($4), your total would be just $16.
In this scenario, buying one drink at a time is cheaper than any kind of drink deal.
Special Considerations
Dynamic Pricing: The drink packages by Royal Caribbean are on dynamic pricing relative to demand and sailing dates. Thus, prices may vary substantially from one cruise to another. Booking early will, therefore, be advisable given the lower prices. Also, look out for any promotions or discounts that might be applied during your booking process.
Gratuities Included: All drink packages include gratuities in the pricing, so you don’t have any surprises popping up. This alone provides better budgeting for guests who do not have to worry each time they order a drink that there will be extra charges.
More Things to Keep in Mind
While budget is certainly a big decision about whether to buy a drink package, some other things may help make your decision:
How Long Will You Be On Your Cruise?
The duration of your cruise can also play a pretty significant role in deciding if a drink package is a good value:
- With a 3- to 4-day cruise, a drink package may be more feasible since guests might drink more throughout their relatively shorter period on board.
- With cruises lasting 7 days or longer, guests may be able to cut back a bit during their trip, and individual buys become a better deal if they do not plan to drink a lot every day.
Onboard activities and events
Take any special activities or events you want that make your cruise different and might impact your consumption habits:
- Cocktail parties or other events could make you imbibe cocktails or other specialty drinks.
- Special restaurant experiences make you consume more wine or cocktails while still dining.
Traveling Companions
Your traveling companions can make a big difference to your consumption patterns:
- You will likely drink more if traveling with friends or family who drink socially
- With teetotalers or light drinkers, you are unlikely to be interested in buying a package that stimulates drinking higher volumes.
Health Concerns
If you’re monitoring your drinking for health reasons or just a personal preference, compare how that plays into your choice:
- If you want to stop drinking or don’t drink at all, you might like the Royal Refreshment Package better than the Deluxe Beverage Package.
- If you are not going to drink or if you’re a designated driver, the Classic Soft Drinks Package will be fine.
Tips to Maximize the Drink Package
When you decide that a drink package is the way forward for you, here’s how you can maximize your experience:
Plan Ahead: On the day of departure, calculate the number of drinks you expect to consume each day as you narrow down your itinerary and activities. With this estimation, you’ll know if the package suits you.
Try New Beverages: Leverage the all-you-can-have facets of these deals to indulge in various house specialty drinks or cocktails that you rarely, if ever, opt for. This could be exciting for you to come aboard with new tastes and fun experiences.
Order Intelligently: Drink at bars or restaurants onboard by ordering multiples at one time – within five minutes if counting – in anticipation of enjoying them during an event or over a meal.
Share with Friends: If you are traveling with friends or family members who also purchased a drink package, you may share large-format cocktails or pitchers if available. This will allow everyone to sample all their flavors while still having a good social time together.
Conclusion
Whether purchasing a drink package on a Royal Caribbean cruise turns out to be cheap or expensive depends on your drinking culture, preferences, travel companions, and overall tour plans. For those who spend most of their days trying out different types of drinks, especially alcoholic ones, the Deluxe Beverage Package will indeed save much money and give you peace of mind. However, casual drinkers will find that buying drinks individually will turn out to be cheap for them.
Ultimately, it will be understood how you use your consumption so that you can make proper judgments about whether a drink package fits well into your goal from vacation. With all the considerations onboard pricing and structures above, guests can now enjoy their unforgettable cruise held in safety within their budget!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you like to save money on Royal Caribbean drink packages, you might do better booking them ahead of your cruise through the Cruise Planner. When booked in advance, the cost of the drink packages is oftentimes lower than when purchasing onboard the ship. Look for promotions or discounts from Royal Caribbean and also compare the price of the drink package to your estimated beverage consumption to determine if it is worth it for your cruise.
Yes, the Royal Caribbean drink package, that is the Deluxe Beverage Package, comes out to be genuinely unlimited for a fixed price each day. This enables guests to order as many – in fact, all of their favorite drinks – at no extra cost from a wide variety of bars and restaurants throughout the cruise.
Drink packages bought through a cruise are usually not cheaper closer to the sailing date; in fact, prices may vary according to demand. To not pay top dollar, it’s a good idea to purchase it well in advance through the Cruise Planner.
Royal Caribbean is pretty strict about sharing drink packages. Every package is intended for individual use only, which means one drink may be ordered at a time per guest with a drink package. In addition, if any person in a stateroom buys a Deluxe Beverage Package, all adults of legal drinking age in that stateroom must also purchase the same package.