Maybe one of the frequent questions we obtain is whether or not a drink bundle is price it. On the subject of buying Royal Caribbean Drink Packages in 2024, the cruise line has made some updates that would influence your choice.
So, for some, going with a drink bundle may very well be an entire waste of cash. For others, these choices shall be a terrific worth. As loyal to royal cruisers, we now have bought a number of of those packages over time. Thus, we can assist you establish which, if any, are proper to your subsequent Royal Caribbean cruise.
Desk of Contents
Traditionally, the Royal Caribbean Drink Packages have been a superb worth. Buying one pre-cruise has saved us cash throughout many cruises over time. Additionally, it’s all the time been a straightforward method to make our cruise extra problem free. Nonetheless, given current adjustments in pricing and advantages, we now have not bought a drink bundle on our current cruises as a result of the worth for us has been diminished.
In the end, you have to to weigh the professionals and cons and run the numbers to find out if one of many Royal Caribbean Drink Packages is best for you. Whether or not or not you can purchase one to your subsequent trip is a person choice that will depend on a number of components.
These components can embrace the value, your drink preferences, your cruise itinerary and if personal islands are included, and your loyalty standing with the model.
GUIDE TO ROYAL CARIBBEAN DRINK PACKAGES!
Final Information to Royal Caribbean Drink Packages (2024)
Royal Caribbean Drink Package deal Fundamentals
There are a number of completely different drink bundle choices out there throughout the Royal Caribbean fleet. Whereas what’s included in every bundle differs, there are a number of primary insurance policies that govern the entire drink packages. Realizing these fundamentals earlier than you even evaluation the plan choices would possibly make your choice to buy one simpler.
- Costs for all drink packages are per individual, per day.
- All drink packages should be bought for all the period of the cruise.
- There may be an extra 18% service cost added to the full worth on the time of buy.
- Beverage packages are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Beverage packages can be found on most 2+ day sailings no matter itinerary besides for two or 3-day sailings from Southampton, England.
- The packages cowl most drinks bought at onboard eating places, bars, and lounges.
- Presently, all Royal Caribbean drink packages are limitless.
- All packages cowl drinks on the cruise line’s two personal islands, Good Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti.
The Royal Caribbean Drink Packages
In 2024, Royal Caribbean is providing three drink packages. There may be the alcoholic drink bundle, often known as the Deluxe Beverage Package deal. There are additionally two non-alcoholic drink packages, the Royal Refreshment Drink Package deal and the Basic Soda Package deal.
For all of the espresso lovers, there may be additionally the Café Choose espresso card.
As well as, cruisers may pre-purchase instances of water. For many cruises, friends can order a 12 pack or 24 pack of 1 liter bottles of Evian.
The Price of Royal Caribbean Drink Packages in 2024
Royal Caribbean drink packages have dynamic pricing. Because of this the value will differ based mostly on ship, time of yr, and itinerary. Nonetheless, don’t be shocked if the marketed worth in your Royal Caribbean cruise planner is far greater than it was a number of years in the past.
The everyday beverage bundle worth ranges are as follows:
- Deluxe Beverage Package deal: $69.99-$125 per individual, per day
- Royal Refreshment Drink Package deal: $29-$38 per individual, per day
- Café Choose Espresso Card: $31 for 15 drinks
- Basic Soda Package deal: $12.99-$15 per individual, per day
Nonetheless, the cruise line usually runs pre-cruise gross sales and promotions. Typically, cruisers can get drink packages on sale from 10% to 40% off the retail worth. We’ve taken benefit of those reductions to get a greater deal on a number of cruises.
For example, the Deluxe Beverage Package deal for certainly one of our upcoming cruises is quoting a sale worth of $73.99 and an onboard worth of $115, or 35% off! On the identical journey, the Refreshment Package deal is $25.99 and the Soda Package deal is $9.99, for a reduction of 30%.
For those who see a deal, we advocate buying. Bear in mind, if the value goes down even additional previous to your sail date, it’s potential to cancel and rebook the bundle on the decrease price.
All the things Included in Royal Caribbean Drink Packages in 2024
Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package deal
Royal Caribbean presents just one alcoholic drink bundle, often called the Deluxe Drink Package deal.
So, many cruisers check with this because the limitless drink bundle, because it contains basically all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
For the reason that cruise restart, the value of the Deluxe Drink Package deal has skyrocketed. Whereas the cruise line implements dynamic pricing, the beginning worth for this bundle is far greater than it was a number of years in the past.
For our upcoming Utopia of the Seas cruise, the beginning worth for this bundle is $115 per individual, per day. That’s definitely numerous pina coladas and daiquiris to hit the break-even level!
This plan covers all alcoholic drinks, together with beer, wine by the glass, and cocktails as much as $14. This allotment covers mainly all 16 ouncesbeers and an honest number of pink and white wines on the onboard eating places and bars.
Additional, the bundle additionally contains most liquor and premium spirits. Manufacturers comparable to Gray Goose, Tito’s Vodka, Patron, Johnny Walker Black Label, and Dewar’s 12 scotch are all included, as are Premium and Basic cocktails.
If a drink prices greater than the utmost greenback quantity, friends will solely pay the distinction (+18% gratuity on the distinction).
Whereas this bundle does embrace quite a bit, some drinks are excluded.
Room service and minibar gadgets should not included. Drinks in memento glasses, specialty beers, and tremendous premium class drinks are additionally excluded. Additional, all drinks served inside licensed Starbucks shops should not included.
You’ll be able to view our Royal Caribbean bar menus from a current Icon of the Seas cruise to find out the pricing of your favourite drinks.
As well as, the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package deal contains a number of premium non-alcoholic drinks not included within the cruise fare. Amongst these are fountain soda, Coca-Cola freestyle machines (the place out there), nonetheless and glowing water, premium coffees and teas, and fresh-squeezed juices.
Plus, friends who buy the Deluxe drink bundle will obtain a 40% low cost on bottled wines priced as much as $100, and 20% low cost on wine costs above $100.
With present onboard pricing, it takes greater than 8 cocktails to hit the “break even” level for the Deluxe drink bundle.
Royal Caribbean Non-Alcoholic Drink Packages 2024
Royal Refreshment Drink Package deal
In order for you extra choices than simply soda in your Royal Caribbean non-alcoholic drink bundle, then the Royal Refreshment bundle could be best for you.
The cruise line advertises the Royal Refreshment bundle onboard worth as $38 per individual, per day on most cruises.
This plan provides cruisers limitless selection of premium coffees and teas, soda (together with the memento cup), bottled water (each glowing and nonetheless), freshly squeezed juices, smoothies at Vitality Cafe (on choose ships), and non-alcoholic frozen drinks.
Basically, you’ll be able to get pleasure from virtually any non-alcoholic beverage on this bundle, together with Johnny Rockets milkshakes. There are only some exclusions, comparable to Starbucks from licensed kiosks and Desserted milkshakes. Starbucks brewed espresso from different onboard areas ARE included.
Not too long ago, Royal Caribbean has launched a variety of new zero-proof cocktails. These alcohol-free choices are often round $7 and are included on this bundle. Amongst a few of our favorites embrace the Blueberry Nojito and All Aboard Spritz.
With present onboard pricing, it takes about 6-8 non-alcoholic drinks to hit the “break even” level for the Royal Refreshment drink bundle.
Basic Soda Package deal
The Basic Soda Package deal is a well-liked drink bundle selection for households. Present onboard pricing for this bundle is $15 per individual, per day.
This plan contains limitless soda from the bars and eating places onboard the ship and on the personal islands. Nonetheless, it doesn’t embrace cans of soda or soda ordered by way of room service.
Additional, friends who buy this bundle will get a memento cup. For those who occur to lose this cup, there’s a $9.95 substitute price.
Many Royal Caribbean ships have Coke Freestyle machines. These freestyle machines dispense over 100 completely different soda/taste combos. So, you can also make your individual loopy soda concoctions utilizing your memento cup.
Of word, friends who don’t buy a drink bundle will be unable to make use of the freestyle machines.
Soda is priced round $3.50, which means that you will want to drink about 4-5 sodas a day to recoup the prices of buying the Soda bundle.
Are Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Value it?
In the end, that may be a query that solely you’ll be able to reply based mostly by yourself consuming habits. Basically, the query must be whether or not you’ll eat sufficient to make the acquisition “worth it”.
Beneath are the common prices of the completely different drinks inside every class from a current Royal Caribbean drink menu.
Utilizing this chart, you are able to do the short math to see should you would typically hit the every day “break even” level for the above drink packages based mostly on the present pricing to your explicit crusing.
| Class | Value |
| Bottled Water (500 ml) | $3.50 |
| Soda | $3.50 |
| Power Drinks | $4.00 |
| Specialty Coffees | $4.50 |
| Smoothies/Squeezed Juices | $8.25 |
| Zero-Proof Cocktails | $7.00 |
| Beers | $7.50 |
| Wine | $11.00 |
| Blended Drinks | $11.00 |
| Specialty Cocktails | $14.00 |
When in comparison with competitor manufacturers, Royal Caribbean drink packages are on the upper finish of pricing, with Carnival being cheaper and NCL being dearer.
Nonetheless, in case you are on the lookout for comfort, a Royal Caribbean drink bundle ensures you by no means have to fret concerning the bar tab on the finish of the cruise!
One other caveat is that the revamped Crown and Anchor member drink perk does make the choice to buy a beverage bundle a bit harder for these Diamond standing and above.
With these new perks, C&A friends can use their drink vouchers for any drink as much as $14, any time of day. That is now not restricted to simply Blissful Hour within the Crown Lounge. Diamond cruisers obtain 4 drink vouchers, Diamond Plus 5 vouchers, and Pinnacle 6 vouchers.
Truthfully, that is the primary motive we’ve stopped buying a Royal Caribbean drink bundle. As a substitute, we buy a Cafe Choose espresso card and a case or two of water.
We Reply All of Your Royal Caribbean Drink Package deal Questions!
Complimentary drinks on Royal Caribbean embrace choose drinks like iced tea, lemonade, filtered water, some juices, scorching chocolate, espresso, and tea.
These free drinks can be found within the Windjammer buffet and whereas eating in the primary eating rooms.
Whereas this stuff are complimentary, soda, bottled water, specialty espresso, and alcoholic drinks will value more money.
You should buy the Royal Caribbean drink bundle pre-cruise utilizing the net Cruise Planner. Or, you should buy as soon as onboard throughout the first day (or two) of your cruise. Nonetheless, you’ll often get monetary savings by buying pre-cruise.
You should buy a drink bundle up till 72 hours previous to your sail date. You may also be capable to rating some financial savings by bundling a drink bundle with a WiFi bundle.
Of word, if you buy a Royal Caribbean drink bundle and subsequently discover a cheaper price, you’ll be able to all the time cancel and re-book previous to your crusing.
The Royal Caribbean Drink packages are “unlimited” all through the cruise, not like Carnival Cruise Line which limits friends to fifteen drinks.
Nonetheless, it’s worthwhile to eat responsibly as the corporate has the appropriate to disclaim service.
Additional, you’ll be able to solely order one drink at a time, whether or not it’s alcoholic or non-alcoholic. As well as, you will need to present your SeaPass card each time you order a beverage. There shall be a notation in your SeaPass card indicating that you’ve got bought the bundle.
In fact, it’s by no means obligatory to purchase a drink bundle. The Royal Caribbean drink packages are add-ons to your cruise trip. Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a sharing of the bundle or utilizing your bundle to order drinks for different cruisers.
So, if one visitor within the stateroom needs to buy the Royal Caribbean Deluxe drink bundle, then all friends of authorized consuming age within the stateroom do should buy this alcoholic drink bundle as nicely.
Sometimes, you should buy a drink bundle pre-cruise utilizing the net cruise planner for cheaper than onboard costs.
Infrequently, Royal Caribbean might run gross sales on drink packages. So, it’s all the time a good suggestion to regulate your Cruise Planner and your e mail for any such promotions. The low cost does differ by ship, itinerary, and time of yr.
Feedback
Have you ever bought one of many Royal Caribbean drink packages on a cruise? Do you assume Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe beverage bundle is an effective worth? Drop us an anchor under to share your experiences with drink packages on a cruise.
