Understanding Royal Caribbean's Beverage Package Structure
Royal Caribbean offers several ways to purchase beverages during your cruise. The cruise line provides both included beverages and paid options, allowing passengers to choose what works best for their travel plans and budget. Understanding these different structures helps you make informed decisions before boarding.
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The most basic beverage option includes what comes with your cruise fare. These complimentary beverages typically consist of water, iced tea, regular coffee, and select juices available at designated venues throughout the ship. These are available during regular dining hours and at the main dining room, buffet areas, and poolside venues. Room service also provides complimentary beverages upon request during normal hours.
Royal Caribbean also sells beverage packages that passengers can purchase before the cruise or onboard during the first few days of travel. These packages add additional drink options beyond what's included in your base fare. The packages vary in what they cover, with different price points reflecting different beverage selections.
Passengers can also purchase individual drinks without a package. This means ordering drinks one at a time and paying per beverage, which may be useful if you drink alcohol or specialty beverages only occasionally during your cruise.
Understanding these three approaches—included beverages, packages, and à la carte purchases—allows you to calculate which option provides the best value for your drinking habits. Some passengers find that beverages included in their base fare plus occasional individual purchases work perfectly for their needs, while others prefer the predictability of a package that covers most of what they'll drink.
Practical Takeaway: Before your cruise, think about your typical beverage consumption. Do you drink alcohol daily? Do you prefer specialty coffee drinks? Will you mostly drink water and juice? Your answer determines whether a package saves money or whether purchasing individual beverages works better.
What's Included in Your Base Cruise Fare
When you purchase a Royal Caribbean cruise ticket, certain beverages come included in your fare at no additional cost. Knowing exactly what these are helps you understand what you might want to add and what's already covered during your vacation.
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Complimentary beverages included with every cruise fare are: filtered water (at bars and dining venues), regular and decaffeinated coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade, fruit juices (typically including orange, apple, cranberry, and tomato juice), milk, and soft drinks at select locations. These beverages are available during meal times in the main dining room and at the buffet restaurants. Many of these items are also available at the poolside beverage stations during daytime hours.
The main dining room provides complimentary beverages with lunch and dinner service. This includes water, coffee, tea, juices, and soft drinks. When you dine at specialty restaurants that require an additional fee, beverages are generally not included unless you have a beverage package.
Room service also provides these included beverages. You can call your cabin and request complimentary coffee, tea, water, or juice to be delivered to your room. This service operates during standard hours, typically from early morning until late evening.
Some venues do not include complimentary beverages. Specialty coffee shops that serve premium espresso drinks (like cappuccino or lattes), juice bars with blended smoothies, and bars serving alcohol are not part of the included beverages. These venues require either a beverage package or individual payment.
Royal Caribbean ships also feature water fountains and ice stations in various locations, making it simple to refill your own bottles with water throughout the day at no cost.
Practical Takeaway: If you primarily drink water, coffee, tea, juice, and soft drinks, your base cruise fare covers these expenses. You only need to consider a beverage package or additional purchases if you want alcoholic beverages, specialty coffee drinks, or other premium options not listed above.
Beverage Package Options and Coverage Details
Royal Caribbean sells several beverage package tiers, each covering different types of drinks and offering varying price points. Understanding what each package includes helps you determine which option, if any, matches your vacation plans.
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The Deluxe Beverage Package typically covers most alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails. It also includes specialty coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, smoothies, and premium juices. This package does not usually cover bottles of wine purchased by the bottle for your cabin or premium spirits kept as inventory in your room. The Deluxe package covers beverages ordered at bars, lounges, and specialty venues throughout the ship during operating hours.
The Refreshment Package focuses on non-alcoholic beverages. It covers specialty coffee drinks, bottled water, energy drinks, juices beyond the complimentary basic juices, smoothies, and other premium non-alcoholic options. This package appeals to passengers who want more beverage variety but don't drink alcohol.
Some Royal Caribbean itineraries or promotions offer specialty packages. These may include champagne packages for celebrations, or packages focused on specific beverage types. Availability varies based on your sailing date and ship.
Beverage packages typically apply to all eligible passengers on your booking, though you have the option to purchase packages for only some travelers in your group. Prices vary based on cruise length, with longer cruises having higher package costs. Royal Caribbean often offers package discounts when purchased before your cruise rather than onboard.
Packages generally operate on the honor system. You order beverages at bars and venues, and the server applies the package to your account automatically. You don't need to present a card or voucher for each drink.
Practical Takeaway: Calculate your expected beverage spending to determine package value. If you plan to order 3-4 alcoholic drinks daily on a 7-day cruise, the Deluxe package likely costs less than purchasing individual drinks. If you want specialty coffee but rarely drink alcohol, the Refreshment Package may provide better value.
Purchasing Beverages and Payment Methods Onboard
Royal Caribbean cruise ships operate on a cashless system for most purchases, which means you don't use traditional money for buying beverages or other items onboard. Instead, charges connect to your onboard account, typically linked to your room key card.
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When you board the ship, you'll receive a room key card that serves as your payment method for all onboard purchases. This includes beverages, dining at specialty restaurants, casino activities, spa services, and retail shopping. The card connects to a payment method you provide—usually a credit card, but some passengers set up cash accounts at the front desk.
If you purchase a beverage package before your cruise, the package fee is typically charged to your primary payment method during the booking process. Once onboard, no additional charges occur for covered beverages; they're simply added to your shipboard account as included.
Individual beverage purchases made without a package are charged per drink to your onboard account. Prices vary by drink type and venue. A beer or soft drink may cost one amount, while a cocktail or specialty coffee might cost more. Premium or imported beverages typically cost more than standard options.
At the end of your cruise, your total onboard account—including any beverage charges, specialty dining, and other purchases—is settled when you leave the ship. You pay any balance owed using your credit card or other payment method on file.
Some bars and lounges offer special promotions or happy hour pricing during specific times of day. These reduced prices apply whether you're using a beverage package or purchasing individual drinks.
Practical Takeaway: Bring a credit card onboard to link to your room key for beverage purchases. This eliminates the need to carry cash throughout the ship. Keep track of your onboard spending during your cruise so you understand your total charges before final settlement.
Special Venues and Beverage Considerations
Royal Caribbean ships feature many different venues where beverages are sold or served, and each has slightly different rules about what's included, what's available, and how prices work. Understanding these differences helps you plan your beverage strategy throughout your cruise.
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The main dining room serves beverages with dinner service. Complimentary options include water, coffee, tea, and soft drinks. If you have a Deluxe Beverage Package, wine and alcoholic beverages are also included with meals. Without the package, you can purchase wine or alcohol separately at standard onboard prices.
Specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean ships charge