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If you're planning a cruise with Royal Caribbean International, you may be wondering, “How much is the Royal Caribbean drink package?” The answer depends on your sailing, the package you choose, and the price offered through your Cruise Planner.
Royal Caribbean does not use one fixed price for every cruise. Beverage package prices can vary by ship, itinerary, sailing date, and promotional offer. The cruise line recommends checking your specific reservation for the current price.
Royal Caribbean currently offers three main beverage package choices: the Classic Soda Package, Refreshment Package, and Deluxe Beverage Package. The Deluxe package is the option that includes alcoholic drinks.
Because Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, the exact amount shown in your Cruise Planner can be different from another sailing.
| Package | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Classic Soda Package | Fountain soft drinks and refills |
| Refreshment Package | Non-alcoholic drinks, specialty coffee, juices, bottled water and mocktails |
| Deluxe Beverage Package | Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, subject to package limits |
| Water Package | Bottled water in selected quantities |
The Deluxe Beverage Package includes drinks up to a value of $14 per individual beverage under the current terms. It also provides discounts on qualifying bottled wine purchases.
The Deluxe Beverage Package is Royal Caribbean's main alcohol-inclusive drink package.
There isn't a single published fleetwide price that applies to every sailing. Royal Caribbean states that pricing varies by cruise, so you should check your specific sailing in My Royal Cruise/Cruise Planner before purchasing.
The package generally includes:
Individual beverages are covered up to the package's current $14 per-drink value.
Royal Caribbean says an 18% gratuity is automatically added to beverage-package purchases, except where prohibited by law.
This is important when comparing the advertised package price with your final checkout total.
For example, if your package were advertised at $80 per person per day, an 18% gratuity would bring the package portion to $94.40 per person per day before any applicable taxes or other charges.
The actual package price, however, must be checked against your specific cruise because Royal Caribbean's pricing changes by sailing.
The Refreshment Package is designed for passengers who don't need alcohol but want more choices than basic soda.
It includes:
This package can make sense for someone who drinks specialty coffee in the morning, bottled water throughout the day, fresh juice, and mocktails but doesn't want to pay for alcohol.
The Classic Soda Package is the simplest and generally most budget-focused beverage package.
It includes:
It is particularly useful for passengers who drink several soft drinks every day.
Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean changed how Freestyle cups work in 2026. The Classic Soda Package continues to include the Freestyle cup, while the Deluxe and Refreshment packages no longer automatically include one.
As of March 15, 2026, Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package and Refreshment Package no longer include a Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup.
Guests who want to use Coca-Cola Freestyle machines with either of those packages can purchase a Freestyle Cup onboard for $4.99. Replacement cups are also $4.99, and cups are valid only during the sailing on which they are issued.
The Classic Soda Package still includes its Coca-Cola Freestyle cup.
No.
This is one of the most important things to understand when comparing Royal Caribbean drink package prices.
Royal Caribbean explains that beverage-package pricing varies by cruise. Your price can therefore differ from the price another passenger sees for a different ship or sailing.
Factors can include:
Because of this variable pricing, online articles quoting one universal “Royal Caribbean drink package price” should not be treated as a guaranteed price for your cruise.
For drinks covered by your selected package, Royal Caribbean describes the beverage packages as providing unlimited drinks.
However, unlimited does not mean every beverage on the ship is included.
For example, the Deluxe Beverage Package has a per-drink value limit, and certain beverages and locations are excluded.
The package also cannot be shared between passengers.
Some items are excluded from Royal Caribbean beverage packages.
Depending on the package and current terms, exclusions can include:
Royal Caribbean's current beverage-package documentation specifically states that Starbucks beverages are excluded from its beverage packages.
Always check the terms attached to your sailing because Royal Caribbean can update package rules.
No.
Royal Caribbean beverage packages are intended for the individual guest who purchased the package and cannot be shared with other passengers.
There is also an important rule for alcoholic packages.
Guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same stateroom booking number are generally required to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package.
This prevents one passenger from purchasing an alcohol package and sharing drinks with another adult in the same cabin.
Yes. Royal Caribbean says beverage packages can be used at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee during normal business hours.
This can make the package more valuable for passengers who plan to spend substantial time at Royal Caribbean's private destinations.
However, availability of particular drinks and venues can vary.
You can purchase beverage packages before your cruise through Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner or purchase them onboard, subject to availability and applicable rules.
Buying before the cruise can be useful because Royal Caribbean frequently offers Cruise Planner promotions. The important point is to compare the final price shown for your sailing, rather than assuming a fixed discount.
Royal Caribbean says beverage packages can generally be purchased online through My Royal Cruise up to 72 hours before departure.
The easiest way to find your actual price is:
This is more reliable than using a generic price quoted for someone else's cruise.
Whether the package is worth the money depends heavily on what you drink.
A package may be worthwhile if you regularly consume:
It may not be worthwhile if you mainly drink complimentary water, basic coffee, tea, and other beverages already available without a package.
Suppose your total package cost after gratuity is $90 per day.
You could estimate your break-even point by adding up what you would otherwise spend on individual drinks.
For example:
That would be about $63 in individual drinks based on hypothetical prices.
In that example, a $90 daily package would not necessarily provide financial savings.
The calculation becomes more attractive if you regularly order additional alcoholic drinks throughout the day.
The key is to calculate based on your actual drinking habits, not on the maximum number of drinks the package permits.
There is no universal number because both package pricing and individual drink prices vary.
A better approach is:
Daily package cost ÷ average price of the drinks you would otherwise buy = approximate break-even drinks per day.
For example, if your effective package cost is $90 per day and your average covered drink costs $12:
$90 ÷ $12 = 7.5 drinks
You would need roughly eight $12 drinks per day to match that cost.
But this calculation should include all drinks you would genuinely purchase, including coffee, bottled water, soda, juice and other covered beverages.
Generally, Royal Caribbean beverage packages are sold on a per-person, per-day basis and apply for the duration of the cruise once purchased.
This means the cost can become significant on longer sailings.
For example, a seven-night cruise can multiply a seemingly reasonable daily price into a substantial total.
Before buying, calculate:
Then add applicable gratuities and taxes.
This is one of the biggest reasons some passengers decide against the Deluxe Beverage Package.
If you drink heavily on sea days but rarely drink alcohol on port days, the package may not provide good value.
Remember that the package cost continues according to its per-day structure rather than being reduced because you skipped alcohol on a particular day.
A passenger who expects to drink only one cocktail with dinner may be better off paying for individual drinks.
Royal Caribbean has a specific cancellation policy for beverage packages.
The cruise line states that beverage packages purchased through the Cruise Planner can be cancelled subject to its applicable rules, and refund requests for beverage packages must generally be submitted within 48 hours of purchase to be considered.
Because cancellation terms can depend on how and when the package was purchased, check the terms shown with your booking before completing the purchase.
Royal Caribbean offers different prices and promotions depending on the sailing. Check your Cruise Planner rather than assuming the first price you see is the lowest available.
Estimate what you actually drink during a normal cruise day.
Don't buy an unlimited package simply because it sounds convenient.
If you spend most of a port day ashore, you may have fewer opportunities to use the package.
Compare the final price, not just the advertised base price. Royal Caribbean states that an 18% gratuity is automatically added to beverage-package purchases except where prohibited by law.
Your cruise fare already provides access to certain complimentary beverages. If those meet most of your needs, an expensive package may not be necessary.
Paying individually is often better for light drinkers.
A beverage package can be more convenient for passengers who want predictable spending and expect to order several covered drinks every day.
There is no single price for every Royal Caribbean cruise. Package prices vary by sailing, itinerary and other factors, so check the Cruise Planner for your specific reservation.
Royal Caribbean does not publish one universal fleetwide price. The price shown for the Deluxe Beverage Package can vary by sailing. The package includes qualifying alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, with individual beverages covered up to $14 under the current terms.
An 18% gratuity is automatically added to beverage-package purchases except where prohibited by law.
Yes. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes qualifying cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, beer and wine by the glass, along with numerous non-alcoholic beverages.
Yes. Royal Caribbean says beverage packages can be purchased onboard as well as before the cruise, subject to applicable availability and terms.
No. Beverage packages are for individual guest use and cannot be shared.
Royal Caribbean generally requires guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same booking number to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package.
No. Royal Caribbean's beverage-package terms exclude beverages served inside licensed Starbucks stores and cafés.
Yes. Royal Caribbean says beverage packages are honored at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee during normal business hours.
No. The Refreshment Package is a non-alcoholic package. It includes items such as premium coffee and tea, bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, mocktails, fountain soda and other qualifying non-alcoholic drinks.
It depends on your drinking habits and the price offered for your cruise. The package is more likely to provide value for passengers who consume several qualifying drinks every day. Light drinkers may save money by paying individually.
So, how much is the Royal Caribbean drink package? There is no single price that applies to every cruise. Royal Caribbean uses sailing-specific pricing, so the most accurate price is the one displayed in your Cruise Planner.
The Deluxe Beverage Package is the choice for alcoholic drinks and also includes many non-alcoholic beverages. The Refreshment Package is suited to passengers who want premium non-alcoholic options, while the Classic Soda Package focuses on fountain soft drinks.
Before purchasing, compare the package's complete cost—including the applicable gratuity—with what you realistically expect to spend on individual drinks. That simple calculation can help you decide whether unlimited beverages are a genuine saving or simply a convenient upgrade.
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