Disclaimer: I have never tried to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package and am in no way encouraging you to do it. It is debatable how much any drink should cost. But in most cases, it probably isnt. The price per night of the Deluxe Beverage package varies from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing. When you consider all of these, you might not see a need for a drink package at all. 1 Buy your drink package before the cruise. As the drink package offers an unlimited number of drinks per day, you might be considering this as an option. Having the drink package does help ease your mind about paying $14for that cucumber martini. If you prefer to keep some bottled water in the fridge in your room, you can order 6, 12 or 24 cans of water to be delivered to your stateroom. The drink packages can be redeemed at pretty much any restaurant or bar on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship or private destination. So, is there a way to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package and save some money Well, actually there are a few ways, Im not suggesting that you try any of these and Id hate for you to get into trouble. You can read more about those here: How to Sneak Alcohol on a Cruise Ship. Trying to "time" a lower price is a mistake because sometimes the price goes up and never goes back down. While there are a few ways you can do it, I wouldnt recommend that you try, as the consequences of doing so can be serious. This information is brill thanks. If you buy your drinks package in advance and then see that the price drops due to a promotion, you can cancel your drinks package, get a refund and then buy it again at the lower price. Royal Caribbeans Crown & Anchor Society awards loyalty points for every night that guests spend on-board Royal Caribbean ships. The Royal Caribbean drinks packages are structured to make a profit. We are travelling with Royal Caribbean for the first time and are considering purchasing the Deluxe drinks package. 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. This is because the drinks packages are not actually free, its just that the ticket price is adjusted to include drinks. Royal Caribbean guests wishing to purchase a drink package can do so either prior to their cruise via the Cruise Planner web site or once onboard their ship. In my former job managing cruise websites for a travel agent, I saw cruise line campaigns change regularly and prices fluctuate almost daily. All rights reserved. To save you the headache, Ive created a handy tool that does the maths for you. Do check out our Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review for more information! Royal Caribbean drink package - your top questions answered However, you can get all-inclusive cruise package deals that have drinks included. Some muster stations are outside, some are inside with seats. There are a lot of fun things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and the more money I can save, the more fun stuff I can afford. 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. One thing which I noticed is that the bigger the freebie, the higher the base price. You receive a 40% discount on bottled wines priced up to $100 and 20% discount on wine prices above $100. 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. Then, log into the Cruise Planner regularly to watch the price. Great blog. At worst, you are going to overpay for a drink package or for drinks on your own. Royal Caribbean does not require guests under the legal drinking age to buy any kind of drinks package. Beverage | Pre-cruise and Onboard Packages | Royal Caribbean Intl. Ill be cruising in November on Oasis of the Seas. If purchased during your cruise, guests will pay for the remaining nights of their cruise. We had a short four-night cruise to Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas. I have a general question I am booked on the Adventure of the Sea in February wondering if the muster station is done outside standing or inside able to sit down.. Hi Jill. To get the most value out of your drinks package, always take the opportunity to specify the top-quality liquor brands in your drinks. To decide whether a Royal Caribbean drink package offers good value for money or not, you need to consider three key questions: Once you know the answers to these, you can do the maths and work out Is the Royal Caribbean drinks package is worth it? It may be cheaper to pay for drinks individually on your cruise. Or is that extra? There are three of us going on the cruise May 22nd my self, my wife, and a cousin. There is a point to be made about pre-purchasing a drink package months before your cruise, paying it off then and then later going on your cruise and not dealing with a bill at the end of your cruise that makes you cringe (or worse). So, strictly speaking they would need their own. Tap water is always free of charge on Royal Caribbean cruises and there are lots of places you can get it on the ship. So not sure buying a drink package would be worth it. It is foolish to assume any drink package is a good or bad value without first considering how you cruise. Worth It? Complete Guide to Royal Caribbean's Drink Package Got it for 39 pppd day! The best way to save money on your Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy it a few days after booking your cruise. Im guessing it does not? Bottle of water - $3. Im Diamond and wondered what the upcharge might be since Ill be getting four free drink vouchers per day. Refreshment: $29 per person, per day. Budgeting - This is probably the most contentious point. If you want to drink your wine in public areas, you will need to pay a $15 corkage fee. However, if you stay in a suite then youll be able to help yourself to free drinks in the VIP lounge for several hours each day! It comes with fancy coffees, smoothies etc as well as alcohol. Log into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner for your sailing, and then click on your initials at the top right corner. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. Jenni. Jenni. 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. We can take on wine and sift drinks ??. By booking a drink package early you lock in the price and guard against a price increase, but can still take advantage of a price decrease. On top of what I already paid for the two unlimited packages? The Deluxe Beverage Package pricing varies by sailing, but is currently between $63 and $89 per person, per . The price per night of the Classic Soda Package is $12.99per guest(excluding gratuity). How to Cheat the Royal Caribbean Drink Package System However, prices seem to have increased recently, with an upcoming cruise quoting a sale price of $83.99 and an onboard price of $105! This costs $31 and gives you 15 specialty coffees throughout your cruise. Theres not a time limit between drinks with Royal Caribbean, but you can only order one drink per person at a time. Here is what is included during the sale: So you would need to let someone else be served and then order again. Whether you order from the bar, main dining room, or a specialty restaurant, soda will cost extra on Royal Caribbean. We tend to fall somewhere in the middle, disagreeing with both extremes. If you are someone that enjoys having many drinks every day, it can definitely save you money with a Royal Caribbean drink package. Most people say that the tap water on cruise ships tastes . Hi Jose. !I just cant afford that and i dont see how its justified. You can then compare this total with the exact price of the drinks package for your cruise (shown on your Royal Caribbean cruise planner) to easily work out whether the drinks package is worth it or not. Royal Caribbean drinks prices are on the high end when compared to other cruise lines. This is different from other cruise lines like MSC which make kids also get one. Cocktails are regularly priced at around $10-13 per drink, which means bar tabs can quickly get expensive. Otherwise, bar-tender will likely give you the cheaper or unknown house brands if you request generic drinks. Cruise lines rarely use the word free, instead they use included. They worked for about half a drink before they collapse. Example pool vs Bamboo. Yet with a drinks package, youre free to work your way down the menu, trying new things. Is the drink package worth it on Royal Caribbean? My two sons are coming on the cruise with me. Each card is good for 15 punches. Thank you so much for this insight definitely helps with planning. One significant recent change to the Deluxe Beverage package is all Royal Caribbean passengers 21 years of age and older (18 years in Australia and the U.K) are required to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one other person in their cabin has one. Hi, I have harmony of the seas booked for next may but when I have tried to book a drinks package there is no option for this. The discount is increased by up to 30% during promotional periods such as Black Friday. Thanks for this . In addition to the daily fee that's charged, there is an 18% gratuity that's also charged. Spirit and mixer - $9 to $11+. 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. Royal Caribbean no longer offers a wine package. It offers "the best of both worlds," with access to nearly the entire stock of beverages with or without liquor. So Im booked and considering the drinks package. While you are on land, you can purchase drinks at local bars and restaurants, which can be much cheaper than buying drinks onboard the ship. I rarely drink specialty coffee and prefer a cup of hot tea to end my meals. I had the drink package so I didnt get the answer to this. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. Sharing Royal Caribbean Drinks Package? ( Can You & What if Caught?) Im not sure actually. Im sure intentionally just over the 12.00 limit for the ultimate drink package. It is popular with older children and those that like having juices, coffee and teas. My husband and i are going on our first cruise later this spring and bought a deluxe package. One of the most popular ways to potentially cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is by bringing your own alcohol on board. There are three ways to order the drink package: Call Royal Caribbean to buy the drink package before you sail Purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package through your online account Wait until you board the ship and purchase the drink package from one of the signup tables. Instead, the other person will have to purchase the Royal Refreshment package for non-alcoholic drinks. Last time I cruised with Royal Caribbean in December 2019 you could do both options. None of the packagesinclude mini bar items, Evian water, canned sodas, bottled juice and souvenir glassware, specialty beers as listed on bar menus, or super premium category beverages. There is no flat "yes" or "no" answer to determining if a drink package makes sense for everyone, but hopefully the considerations in this post can help with your decision. So, could you order an orange juice for your kid and then go back to get your own drink 15 minutes later? Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. If you wish to drink it in public areas then youll have to pay a corkage fee of $15 per bottle. And they also make it very hard for anyone to actually do that. These days, with the new protocols, Im not sure what the rules will be on refilling our own bottles. Meanwhile at the Koningsdam's bars, that same Bombay gin and tonic comes to $8.34, after the 15% service fee. If drink package already purchased, can we take advantage of the lower priced one offered. It varies depending on the sailing, and prices also go up and down as the sailing date nears. It's not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks for the entire cruise. This may be a Kids Sail Free offer, free gratuities or buy one cruise fare get one half price. Free drink packages are rare. Enjoy! Note that if you live in the UK, youll see your drink packages prices in GBP on the Cruise Planner. 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. Good luck! Royal Caribbean Adults Only Cruises & Areas, Sharing Royal Caribbean Drinks Package? Not sure if Id risk it though! So its not surprising some guests discuss ways of getting more value for their money by sharing ways they cheat the Royal Caribbeans drinks package. Buying a drink package in advance is the best strategy to save money, because it will cost more onboard the ship. We just came back from a Cruise to Nowhere aboard the Quantum of the Seas as well. It would cost over $133 at the bar for 16 gin & tonics. Check your Cruise Compass (the ship's daily planner) to see what the drink of the day . Weve never bought a drink package, always paid per drinkbut are considering this trip. First, order drinks that are not included in the package. These include alcoholic beverages that are not part of the house brands, such as top-shelf liquor and wine by the bottle. This gratuity is compulsory and cannot be taken off. The easiest way is to purchase it via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. Soda - $3.50. In either case, you will still likely have a great vacation experience. Royal Caribbean's newest cruise planner sale kicks off today with up to 35% off pre-cruise add-ons. Drinks that are served in a souvenir cup/glass/mug and/or drinks served inside fruit (i.e. Thats right, each time you order a drink, and 18% gratuity is added on to your bill. 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! It's similar with the Royal Caribbean beverage package. What should I do to highlight this so as not to embarrass him on board. Royal Caribbean seems to employ a variable pricing model that considers time of year, ship class and other factors in offering the price of the drink package. From time to time, Royal Caribbean may offer a drink package discount. Does that include the 16.36% gratuity or will I be charged another 16.36% of 856, which would be another 140 approx ? Hi Rebecca. It is a fair point and among the most commonly cited reasons people love the drink packages. Your drinks package will include gratuity on all drinks. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! Today we dive into a controversial cruise line topic. Look for discounts up to 72 hours before you set sail. They scan your bags. You can buy a Royal Caribbean drinks package either before you sail via Royal Caribbeans Cruise Planner, or on board the ship on the first day of your cruise. Hello we r doing a three night cruise out of Brisbane in November. Order top-shelf liquor when you get drinks to make the most of your money. Matt Hochberg. Thank you. So do you have to buy a drink package for every day of your trip or can you buy for just 3 days of your trip. In addition, guests that are members of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society are eligible to receive discounted and complimentary drinks during the cruise.