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What is a good price for drink package on Royal Caribbean?

Soda Package: $12.99 per person per day. Refreshment Package: $29 per person per day. Deluxe Beverage Package: $56 to $105 per person per day (depending on your ship and trip)



A "good" price for the Deluxe Beverage Package (unlimited alcohol) on Royal Caribbean in 2026 is anything between $65 and $75 per person, per day (plus 18% gratuity). The "onboard" price is often $95 or more, so the key is to watch the "Cruise Planner" in the months leading up to your sailing. Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, meaning the cost varies by ship, itinerary, and season. You will often see "Buy One Get One 50% Off" (BOGO50) or "30% Off" sales, which usually bring the daily rate into that $70 range. For the Refreshment Package (non-alcoholic), a good price is roughly $25 to $30 per day. To determine if it's worth it, remember that in 2026, a single cocktail on a ship like Icon of the Seas costs about $14 plus tip. If you plan to drink 5 to 6 cocktails (or high-end coffees and sodas) a day, the package pays for itself. If you find a price below $65 during a Black Friday or "Cyber Week" sale, you should book it immediately, as prices almost always trend upward as the departure date approaches.

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But, in nearly all cases, the price before your cruise will be cheaper than waiting until you are onboard. Drink packages cannot be shared, and in a road sense, all four cruise lines require that all adults 21 and over staying in the same room buy a package if one is going to.

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The absolute best way to determine if a drink package is best for you is to get out that calculator and tally up how much you would spend without the package. In general, if you think you're going to order five or so alcoholic drinks a day during your trip, a package is worth considering.

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At several of the biggest cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America, the main drinks packages that include all types of drinks cost about $60 per person per day. Other brands, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, charge as much as $138 per person per day for a top-tier package.

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No, all packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people. Our Deluxe Beverage Package Policy requires all guests wishing to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package or the Deluxe Beverage Package and Internet (Sip + Stream) to do so for ALL guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom.

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Cash is not accepted at the onboard shops. All purchases made at the Royal Shops must be made using your Seapass® card. Was this content helpful? Thank you for helping us improve our website!

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Please Note: All guests must comply with TSA guidelines for transporting liquids. On embarkation day, each guest of drinking age may bring one (1) sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. Boxed wine and other containers are prohibited.

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You may purchase a beverage package up to 72 hours before you sail, online at Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner. Or you may purchase it onboard, on the first day of your cruise. Ask at any bar for more information, or look out for a table setup promoting the packages once you board.

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Whether you order from the bar, main dining room, or a specialty restaurant, soda will cost extra on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Currently, the price for a can of soda is $3.50, before the 18% gratuity. Additionally, cruisers wanting juice from a bar or during other meals will also be charged $3.50.

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Are gratuities included in the Royal Caribbean beverage package cost? For most sailings, beverage package gratuities of 18% are added at final checkout and not included in the initial cost. If desired, guests may pay additional gratuities once onboard.

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Your SeaPass® will have either a sticker or a printed verification of your package. The bar staff will request to see your SeaPass for verification prior to service, so keep it handy.

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To the delight of many passengers (or to the chagrin of those watching their waistlines), cruises offer no shortage of nibbles at all hours of the day. Although cruise midnight buffets are nearly extinct, several lines still offer a spread of snacks that are available into the wee hours of the morning.

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Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.

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How much are drinks on a cruise? On most cruise lines' ships, alcoholic drinks cost extra and incur an automatic 15 to 20 percent service fee. Pricing will vary by line, but it's akin to restaurant and nicer bar prices -- about $12 per cocktail, $8 to $10 per glass of house wine, $14 to $25 for nicer wines.

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On most mainstream cruises, sodas are available for purchase (using your onboard account) in the ship's dining rooms and bars, and in stateroom mini-bars. As an alternative to paying separately for each soda you drink, cruise lines offer packages that can be purchased in advance online or onboard on embarkation day.

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Why Are Cruise Ships Cashless ? Cruise ships do not accept cash onboard because all onboard purchases are charged to passengers personal cruise accounts. Cruise accounts are usually connected to a credit or debit card which is much easier for the cruise lines to process.

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Cruise ship drinks packages cannot be shared. The drinks package must only be used by the person who bought it. Any guests found to be sharing the package may have their package cancelled without any refund.

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How to Hack (and Share) the Royal Caribbean Drink Package
  1. 1 Buy your drink package before the cruise.
  2. 2 Share the drink package with someone else.
  3. 3 Order top-shelf liquor at the bar.
  4. 4 Take advantage of the non-alcoholic drinks.
  5. 5 Take bottled water with you on excursions.


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