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Beverage packages are available on all Royal Caribbean ships, however some sailings may not offer packages. All packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people. You can use your beverage package at any of the bars or lounges, Windjammer Café, Main Dining Room and private island destinations, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee. A couple places where the beverage packages are not included is room service and from the minibar.
Let's review what's included in each of the beverage packages:
Classic Soda Package
The Classic Soda Package includes unlimited fountain soda and Coca-Cola® Freestyle beverages. Your complimentary Coca-Cola® souvenir cup can be used at bars and lounges onboard, or while dining at the Windjammer Café or in the Main Dining Room. Pricing for the Classic Soda Package varies depending on sailing and when you purchase, but this package is the least expensive option. For reference, for an upcoming 7-Night cruise, the cost for this package is currently $9.99 per guest, per day, with a pre-cruise savings of 30% off or $15 onboard.
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| Coca-Cola® souvenir cup |
Refreshment Package
If you're looking for a little more than sodas, the Refreshment Package might be the perfect option for you. This package includes the fountain sodas and refills from the Classic Soda Package plus mocktails, premium coffees and teas, bottled still and sparkling water, as well as fresh-squeezed juices. This package includes Shakes from Johnny Rockets and a Coca-Cola® souvenir cup. As with the Classic Soda Package, pricing varies by sailing but for reference, the cost for this package is currently $29.99 per guest, per day, with a pre-cruise savings of 20% off or $38 onboard, for an upcoming 7-Night cruise.
Deluxe Beverage Package
If you really want to go all out on beverages, look no further than the Deluxe Beverage Package! The Deluxe Beverage Package includes all the sodas (can and fountain) and premium coffees from the other packages plus you get unlimited alcoholic beverages! This includes beers, wine by the glass, spiked seltzers, and mixed drinks. This package also includes 40% off select bottled wine on top of everything else that's included. As previously indicated, pricing varies by sailing but for reference, current pricing on a 7-Night cruise is $74.99 per guest, per day, with a Buy One, Get One 50% off discount or $100 onboard.
You can purchase one of the beverage packages before you board through the Manage My Cruise section of the Royal Caribbean website or the Royal Caribbean app. There are usually discounts available if you pre-book the beverage packages before you board so I highly recommend purchasing when a discount is available. If you purchase a beverage package and then a discount is released later, you can cancel your current order and re-book to take advantage of the discounted rate. It takes some effort to monitor the discounts but it's worth it if you can save some money.
If you didn't pre-purchase a beverage package before setting sail, you can still purchase one of the all-inclusive packages onboard throughout the voyage with at least 4 days remaining. The beverage package must be purchased for the duration of the cruise but will be prorated based on date of purchase if you purchase the package onboard.
It's important to mention that any guest wishing to purchase an alcoholic beverage package must do so for all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom. So, if one adult in a stateroom wants the Deluxe Beverage Package, then all adults over the legal drinking age of 21 in that stateroom must also purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package. There are some exceptions to this rule so if you have a medical reason that prevents you from consuming alcohol, you can call Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to waive this policy.
The big question you may be asking is, are the beverage packages worth it? That's a great question with a not so definitive answer! The truth is, whether or not the beverage package is worth the cost depends on your drinking habits. If you don't drink soda, then obviously the Classic Soda Package would not be a good value. However, if you drink soda and love a good cocktail, the Deluxe Beverage Package might be a great value depending on how many sodas and cocktails you drink in a day.
The current price for a can of soda is $3.50, bottled water is $3.25, beer is around $7, and specialty cocktails are around $14, plus an additional 18% gratuity. You can do some math to determine if it would make more sense for you to pay for your beverages out of pocket or if a beverage package might be the better option. I did some math on my recent 7-Night cruise and determined that the Deluxe Beverage Package actually was a great value for me but it wasn't the best value for my husband. Luckily, I drank enough sodas and cocktails for the cost of both of our Deluxe Beverage Packages so it was fine. (Hey, don't judge me... I was on vacation!)
Planning a Royal Caribbean Cruise? We are here to help! Contact your Kingdom Konsultant travel professional or email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today. Make sure to check out our Cruise Lines & All Inclusives page for more posts.
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Do you purchase a beverage package when you sail on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.
Ashley is ready to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation for your family. You can email Ashley at ashley@kingdomkonsultant.com.
Great read and very helpful.
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