Of course, if its a special bottle of Champagne or something, then the corkage fee could be worth it. We are travelling with Royal Caribbean for the first time and are considering purchasing the Deluxe drinks package. My two sons are coming on the cruise with me. It is debatable how much any drink should cost. Keep in mind that you can always purchase a drink package even after your cruise begins, if you find yourself drinking more than you thought. I have cruised many times before and I always order the royal caribbean premium drink package. Jenni. Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide (With Calculator) - Cruise Mummy One thing which I noticed is that the bigger the freebie, the higher the base price. Frequent users of Royal Caribbean's drink packages become pretty adept at getting more bang for their buck on the packages, but with some advance planning, first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers can also make the most of the packages. With that said, prices for Royal Caribbean drinks have been on the rise over the last few years. Here's the breakdown: $133 for 16 gin & tonics at the bar. Whichever package you choose, you must buy it for every adult passenger for every day of your cruise. It is popular with older children and those that like having juices, coffee and teas. I leave from Miami and happy to pop to a Walmart beforehand to pick up some things to save money on board. So Im booked and considering the drinks package. Purchasing the Royal Caribbean drink package online is the most convenient way to find the best deal. The drink packagescanmake sense for some people and others no sense at all. Jenni. If you paid $13 for a cocktail and didnt like it, youd be pretty annoyed at yourself for choosing it. Jenni, Hi Jose, The lowest prices can often be found during the Black Friday sale period. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Ive just contacted RCI via messenger and asked them why the price on my cruise planner is a lot more than what Ive seen offered for new cruise bookings, and asked if I can have it at the same price. Royal Caribbean offer discounts to people who buy their drinks packages online in advance of their cruise. Another way that people cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is to sneak their own booze on board with them. Free drink packages are rare. What should I do to highlight this so as not to embarrass him on board. Just Updated! All the Royal Caribbean Drink Prices for 2023! I hope that helps, enjoy your cruise! This drink package pretty much includes all beverages onboard that do not contain any booze. My husband and i are going on our first cruise later this spring and bought a deluxe package. Jenni. As a person who rarely drinks and had to buy a package for myself so that my husband could have one, does this mean Im paying an extra dollar or two if I decide Id like to try one of these drinks. So, instead of buying a drink package, you would just drink your own booze instead. Is the drink package worth it on Royal Caribbean? It comes with fancy coffees, smoothies etc as well as alcohol. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. This includes unlimited everything from non-alcoholic beverages to premium coffee and bottled water. The first trick is to purchase multiple packages for one person. I hope this helps. Bottle of water - $3. Just dont be ordering drinks and blatantly passing them to someone else in front of the bartender or waiter. Cheers. Thanks! Bottled water can be purchased at most bars for $3.25. The drink package has an equal number of fans and critics. Before purchasing any drink package, be sure to do your homework and do the math of how much you have to drink, every day of your cruise for it to make sense. If you wish to drink it in public areas then youll have to pay a corkage fee of $15 per bottle. Royal Caribbean features a "drink of the day," and it costs roughly $2 to $4 less than the average cocktail. At worst, you are going to overpay for a drink package or for drinks on your own. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Usually, Royal Caribbean will allow the other adult(s) to purchase a less-expensive drink package, such as the Refreshment Package. At least Ive got time to think about which package to buy. That adds up. Required fields are marked *. Heck, there is not even the concern about if you can afford to get a drink or not. But I have one question. There are two ways to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package: Royal Caribbean drink package sharing is not allowed. 8 Ways to Hack the Royal Caribbean Drink Package - WikiHow The only places you cannot use your drink package are withroom service, minibar or Starbucks. Wines are available to purchase by the bottle. Hi Jeff. Wines above $100 will receive a 20% discount. Use a travel agent: One way to get a discount on your Royal Caribbean drink package is to book your cruise through a travel agent. Yes, you can just cancel it and buy it again. The whole notion of not having to worry about receipts, gratuity or how much a drink costs holds less water for us. or would i be charged for the whole pina colada with alcohol? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. This requires anyone that buys the package to be willing and able to enjoy a good half-dozen drinks every day of their cruise. If you have a question that isnt listed here, you can add it in the comments section at the end. Today we dive into a controversial cruise line topic. If it doesnt, then Im sorry I dont know about that particular drink. You can buy more wine at the ports of call to use this option multiple times to save a few dollars. Whilst it was nice to be able to fill up my drink from the machine, I didnt like that I had to carry the cup everywhere with me. The slight problem we have is my cousin has stability problems, his hands are very shaky , and he is unstable on his feet , dont get me wrong he gets about on his, but he could not serve himself for coffee or breakfast and the like. But by the glass its included. How to Cheat the Royal Caribbean Drink Package System Let me know in the comments below. For example I drink a lot of water during the day so I will at least have 6 bottles of water. Ive just used $USD in this guide to keep things consistent for most readers. If you have a package, gratuities are already included in that, you wont pay any more per drink. The tap water on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is perfectly safe to drink, List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises, 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service, The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package, 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/taking-a-baby-on-a-cruise-ship/, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/royal-caribbean-drinks-menus-with-prices/, Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/can-you-take-drinks-on-a-cruise-ship/, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/how-to-sneak-alcohol-on-a-cruise-ship/. And you also have to wash it yourself so be sure to bring dish soap and a sponge. Every day there will be a "drink of the day," where one drink is discounted about 20%. There are only two places a drink package cannot be used: room service and stateroom mini-bars. Is it worth it to by a drink package? Hello we r doing a three night cruise out of Brisbane in November. I will take the deluxe beverage package. All of this contributes to bringing down the cost of drinks on a cruise, especially if you forgo a drink package and pay a la carte for your drinks. I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Drinks that are served in a souvenir cup/glass/mug and/or drinks served inside fruit (i.e. To begin with, the cruise line gave out paper straws which are sadly not fit for purpose when it comes to frozen cocktails. 2 bottles of wine and 12 cans of soft drinks per stateroom. If you are uncomfortable standing, just let a staff member know and they will be sure to accommodate you. Enjoy reading all you write about cruising. Yet with a drinks package, youre free to work your way down the menu, trying new things. This is the same, no matter how many guests of drinking age stay in a cabin. You may be better off opting to pay for drinks as you go as its hard to break even without drinking a lot of alcohol each day. We were exploring ports almost every day. Making feeds? But, the cup doesnt seal so you have to keep it upright. Matt Hochberg. For some folks, 5-6 drinks per day is easy, while others may think that isa lot every day of a cruise. Another advantage is that even when the bar is busier, you have a higher chance of getting served quicker. Great observation, Michelle. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. I have a guide that debates that question for you here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/refuse-pay-gratuities-on-cruise/. I was wondering. So if your drink package is $70 per day, you'll actually be charged $82.60. The Refreshment Package allows guests to enjoy unlimited non-alcoholic beverages throughout their cruise. All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same stateroom booking number are required to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package. No votes so far! We can take on wine and sift drinks ??. And they also make it very hard for anyone to actually do that. You would most likely just lose your alcohol. Thanks for all the great info. The pre-cruise sale is valid on purchases made between March 17 - 23, 2022 on sailings departing between March 21, 2022 - December 31, 2022. Are you going to be spending much of your time by the pool or are you someone that will be doing other activities where drinking may not always be an option. This is because the drinks packages are not actually free, its just that the ticket price is adjusted to include drinks. Drink package help - Royal Caribbean Discussion - Royal Caribbean Blog There are a few ways to do it, but we don't advise you to because the results could be disastrous. Also, bear in mind what happens if you are caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise. What is your experience with Royal Caribbean's beverage package? Royal Caribbean offers a choice of three all-inclusive drinks packages: Royal Caribbeans alcohol drinks package includes: Royal Caribbeans non-alcoholic drinks package includes: The Classic Soda Packages comes with a refillable souvenir cup which you can use at self-service machines across the ship. Id suggest asking Royal Caribbean, theyre usually very quick to reply on Facebook. Cocktails are regularly priced at around $10-13 per drink, which means bar tabs can quickly get expensive. However, you can order a bottle of water at the bar and put it in your mini bar fridge for later if you like. Whilst you could easily drink five cocktails by the pool and then a couple of glasses of wine in the evening on a sea day, how much would you drink if you were off the ship from 9 am until 6 pm most days? Start your morning off with a cup of premium coffee or tea and freshly-squeezed juice. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Thanks for the comprehensive review! I rarely drink specialty coffee and prefer a cup of hot tea to end my meals. A drink package costing $90 would total $106.20. Unfortunately, buying individual drinks from the bar can cost even more, as youll see from the Royal Caribbean drink menus. You can also get cold coffee drinks at the coffee bars. Due to the varying prices across the fleet, we hesitate to publish any kind of pricing here. Its not always about getting more drinks than you are entitled to. Royal Caribbean guests wishing to purchasea drink package can do so either prior to their cruise via the Cruise Planner web site or once onboard their ship. On top of what I already paid for the two unlimited packages? However, prices seem to have increased recently, with an upcoming cruise quoting a sale price of $83.99 and an onboard price of $105! You can use the coffee card atRoyal Caribbean coffee locations, such as Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes. However, in your stateroom will be a corkscrew, so you could simply open the bottle in your room, take your wine bottle and glass of wine out, and drink elsewhere onboard. If it drops, cancel the package and re-buy it at the lower price. For cruises that start elsewhere, its 18. So, strictly speaking they would need their own. Hi, I would Like to know something. How do you get free drink packages on Royal Caribbean? Lets say the drinks package costs an average of $75 per day. Although that is listed together with more serious infringements. Many times, travel agents will have access to special deals and discounts that you won't be able to find anywhere else. It reminds us of cell phone plans and why so many people prefer unlimited data plans rather than fixed-data plans. The Royal Caribbean drinks packages are structured to make a profit. Each drink package purchased is per guest, and may only be used by the person buying it. Some people feel aggrieved at having to pay for more than they need. When you log into the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner, it wont actually let you buy the Deluxe Beverage Package for just one adult. Well, this goes against Royal Caribbeans rules. I would love to hear your thoughts about a Royal Caribbean beverage package, and how it works (or does not work) for you, in the comments! Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. Expensive Cruises are expensive enough. The only way that you could make this work is if you have two staterooms. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Royal Caribbean's drink packages are a fixed daily cost plan offered on all Royal Caribbean ships so guests can budget their beverage costs in advance and (potentially) save money. Regardless, it's possible for there to be a price drop and in that case, you can cancel and rebook the drink package with no penalty via the Cruise Planner website. The drinks prices vary slightly by ship, with around a $1 difference on some ships. If you wish to recognise outstanding service by adding extra gratuities onboard the ship, you are welcome to do so. Note that if you live in the UK, youll see your drink packages prices in GBP on the Cruise Planner. What Happens if Caught Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise? Taking on board their favorite typically strong liquor saves them even having to buy the drinks package in the first place. Lets get more into the nitty-gritty of the 2023 Royal Caribbean drink package. A Royal Caribbean drink package offers the choice to enjoy an unlimited amount of drinks for a fixed daily price. While there are a few ways you can do it, I wouldn't recommend that you try, as the consequences of doing so can be serious. There are some other ways you can sneak booze on boar too. One way guests sneak liquor on a Royal Caribbean cruise is to take advantage of the two bottles of wine per cabin policy but replace the wine with hard liquor. Fresh squeezed orange juice and sodas etc. would i be charged the difference between a virgin pina colada and a pina colada with alcohol? Still, I wouldnt recommend cheating the drink package in this way. Here are the average Royal Caribbean drinks prices: If youd like to know exactly which drinks are available on Royal Caribbean cruise ships and how much they cost, I have taken photos of the bar menus on board Mariner of the Seas. I believe so, yes. Example pool vs Bamboo. Classic Soda Package: $12.99-$15 per person, per day. On the first day of your cruise, you may see signs offering Buy One Get One Free deals on drinks packages. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises - Cruise Mummy It varies depending on the sailing, and prices also go up and down as the sailing date nears. If you book a Star Class suite on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package is included for every guest in the room. We love the convenience of the drink package too, especially to have the freedom of trying new drinks without fear of ordering something we do not like and being "stuck" with it. I am going on my first cruise in February and found your information very helpful thank you. Just enter your email address below and youll receive a link to it in your inbox asap. Thank you so much for such useful and great information. Be the first to rate this post. However, discretion is the games name, and worrying about being seen can make it more stressful than worthwhile. So you wont have to pay any more for your drinks unless you order something really specialist. It makes enjoying drinks simple, with no-fuss involved. The Deluxe Beverage Package pricing varies by sailing, but is currently between $63 and $89 per person, per . There are also lots of free drinks available including flavoured water, water and milk as well as fruit juices at breakfast time. This includes the gratuities for any beverages you order. Convenience - Many guests swear by the convenience of Royal Caribbean's drink packages. The price of Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is not fixed. ( Can You & What if Caught? Thank you for answering all these questions! Disclaimer: I have never tried to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package and am in no way encouraging you to do it. Stay hydrated for onboard thrills with water or favorite fountain sodas to fill your Coca-Cola souvenir cup. Does that include the 16.36% gratuity or will I be charged another 16.36% of 856, which would be another 140 approx ? To be eligible for free drinks at Casino Royale, you'll need to earn at least 2500 points. The drink packages can be redeemed at pretty much any restaurant or bar on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship or private destination. Plus, as we were sailing from the UK it was easy to bring our own wine and cans of pop on board so we didnt need to buy many drinks on the ship. Royal Caribbean state: "cannot be shared by guests.". Suggested read: 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service. There is no question a drink package has an excellent value proposition associated with it, but you need to be able to drink enough to "break even" on the package versus buying the drinks on your own. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. This means if you are a couple and only one of you wants to buy the drinks package, it simply wont wont you complete the purchase. Overdrinking The system encourages overdrinking because some people want to ensure they get their moneys worth daily. Tap water is always free of charge on Royal Caribbean cruises and there are lots of places you can get it on the ship. Some people don't care so much about "breaking even" on their purchase, because they just like the fact they pay one price and all their beers, cocktails and other beverages are included. With the acquisition of 80 points (equivalent to 80 nights at sea), guests become Diamond members.