Unlike a Disney Cruise, Royal Caribbean does not include soda in the base cruise fare. Even basic soft drinks cost extra unless you purchase a drink package, which is an important difference to understand when budgeting for your cruise.
The most basic option is the soda package. This typically costs around $10 to $15 per person, per day and includes unlimited fountain sodas and canned sodas. It also covers drinks from the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines found on many Royal Caribbean ships. If you are a regular soda drinker, this package can pay for itself quickly.
The next level up is the refreshment package. This package includes everything in the soda package plus premium non-alcoholic beverages. That means espresso-based coffees, specialty teas, mocktails, fresh juices, bottled water, and shakes where available. Pricing usually falls in the $25 to $35 per person, per day range. This is a popular option for guests who do not drink alcohol but still enjoy specialty drinks throughout the day.
At the top are Royal Caribbean’s alcohol packages. If you purchase drinks individually, expect to pay roughly $8 to $10 for a beer, $10 to $15 for a glass of wine, and $14 to $16 for a cocktail. To avoid those per-drink costs, many guests opt for the Deluxe Beverage Package. This is the closest thing Royal Caribbean offers to an unlimited drink package and covers nearly all alcoholic drinks up to $14 per drink, along with premium non-alcoholic beverages.
Pricing for the Deluxe Beverage Package is dynamic and varies by sailing and demand, but it commonly ranges from $70 to $110 per person, per day. One important rule to be aware of is that drink packages cannot be shared. Everyone of legal drinking age in the same stateroom is required to purchase the package if one adult does. This can significantly increase the total cost and is often the deciding factor for many cruisers.
Gratuities for drink packages are charged at the time of purchase, so there is no need to tip extra when ordering drinks onboard. This makes it easier to track costs and removes the mental math every time you order another round.
