Are you expecting the answer, “It depends”? Well, that is true but I’m going to break it down for you so that you can easily decide for yourself. This question comes up a lot and there are price calculators, etc. floating around the internet. But, it can all get a little complicated. Here are my tips to determine if you should purchase the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package.
Currently, Royal Caribbean offers 3 distinct drink packages. First, the soda package is the least expensive and offers you unlimited….well, soda. The unlimited soda package does not vary much in price and can be purchased for around $10 per day.
The refreshment package is more expensive than the soda and additionally offers you specialty coffee, juices, and non-alcoholic drinks. You can have all of the virgin daiquiris and lattes you’d like. The refreshment package price varies a bit more but is usually sold for around $30 per day.
The most expensive and, therefore, the most purchase-pondering option is the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package. The price can range from a whopping $70-$100+ per day, per person, plus an 18% gratuity, so it does require some thought.
But never fear; we are in this together!
Initial Considerations – Do you like to drink?
First, let’s start with the obvious. Do you enjoy a variety of alcoholic beverages? Yes, great, that’s the most basic component. If you don’t drink alcohol, or rarely, the decision isn’t a difficult one. Spend your money on shore excursions and know that there is an endless supply of water, tea, regular coffee, and lemonade in your future at no additional charge.
But, if you are reading this post (Thank you!) I assume that you do drink alcohol, and wondering if it’s worth it to you to purchase the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package. So, go ahead and give yourself one check mark! 😉
Let’s go ahead and give you an extra check mark if you would normally purchase specialty coffees, freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, bottled water, etc., during your cruise.
Consider your roommate before buying the deluxe beverage package.
All mainstream cruise lines now require that if one person in a stateroom purchases the alcohol drink package, all cabin mates over the age of 21 years of age must also purchase the package. There are exceptions to this rule; however, if you are willing to call the cruise line directly to discuss. (See more details and restrictions on the Royal Caribbean site)
So, if your spouse could save money purchasing the drink package, but you don’t drink at all, it may not be a cost-effective purchase, considering the average cost for two over a 7-day cruise could exceed $1,000!
Count your sea days and private island destinations.
There are certain itineraries, specifically the Southern Caribbean and the Mediterranean, that are very port intensive. This means that you are off at a destination most days of your cruise. If you plan on exploring each of the ports, then you may not be onboard the ship enough waking hours to get your money’s worth from the deluxe drink package.
Conversely, if on a 7-day cruise, you have 2 sea days and a port of call at a cruise line private destination where your drink package is valid, that’s a completely different scenario.
If you are visiting, for example, Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Haiti, or Coco Caye in the Bahamas, your deluxe beverage packages go with you on land. So you can enjoy your Labadoozie’s all day at the beach at no additional charge. Having a cruise line private destination as part of your sailing itinerary should certainly factor into whether or not you purchase the deluxe drink package.
On a sea day, you can enjoy a specialty coffee or two in the morning. Relax by the pool with a beer, a couple of bottles of water, or even a smoothie. Then, you can grab a glass of wine for happy hour, another with dinner, and finish your evening off with a cocktail at the show.
A big check mark for multiple sea days and/or cruise line private destinations.
Check your loyalty status before buying the deluxe drink package.
Are you making your way up the Crown and Anchor loyalty program? You may have reached a loyalty level where you have earned a discounted bottle of wine. Many discounts, such as 1/2 price glass of wine or beer, etc., will be loaded to your sea pass. While these are limited to one or two uses per cruise, depending on your status, it helps!
Check your loyalty offerings in the app. From the home screen select the profile (person) icon, click on your displayed tier, and “more details”.
Vouchers – For cruisers who have achieved the loyalty status of Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle in the Royal Caribbean your drink vouchers await. Diamond members receive 4 drink vouchers each day, Diamond Plus – 5 and Pinnacle members receive 6 vouchers EACH day of their cruise. For many, this is a great motivator to be loyal to Royal.
Do you primarily drink wine?
You are allowed to bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne per adult in your carry-on luggage. If you are willing to carry it around for a short amount of time until your room is ready, this can save you some cash!
Royal Caribbean states that it can charge a corkage fee for opening the bottle for you in a restaurant or bar, but there seems to be quite a bit of discretion involved in that surcharge. We’ve always played it safe and just opened the bottle in our stateroom.
Check your purchase anxiety level.
For me, I like to know the dollars and cents before making a decision. I’m the worrier, so I’ll really try and plan and determine if we will break even in buying the package.
My husband, Brian, would prefer to set it and forget it. It’s not that he wants to drink from sun up until bedtime each day, but he wants to pay in advance and be done with it. This is his biggest checkmark. And he has a point (please don’t tell him I said that). There’s a great deal of relief to that and it gives your cruise vacation more of an all-inclusive feel.
When to purchase the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package
OK, if you have some check marks and you think a package is a good option for you, here is my biggest piece of advice. BUY IT IN THE PRE-CRUISE PLANNER!
In my 25+ cruises, the drink package price has NEVER been lower on board. So, if you are going to purchase the deluxe drink package, purchase it in the cruise planner!
The price varies by ship and even by sailing so there is no one set price. My current target price is around $75. If we decide to purchase it for a particular sailing, I monitor the sale prices and shoot for $75. Unfortunately, my pre-covid target price was $45. Things change quickly.
In addition to a lower price, another advantage of pre-purchasing things in the cruise planner (drink packages, shore excursions, etc.) is that up until the sailing, you can cancel those purchases for a full refund. If you purchase the drink package today for $87, then suddenly there’s a “sale” and the price drops to $79, cancel your purchase and re-buy at the new lower price!
Worrier’s Guide – Tips
- Do not look at the sales percentage. This is a marketing game that the cruise lines like to play. There will be times when you will get an alert that the percentage off is higher, yet somehow the daily rate is still the same or even higher. Always check the cost per day, and if you are unsure, add it to your cart to get the total amount, including the added 18% gratuity.
- If you cancel and re-purchase an item from the cruise planner, the refund can take a day or two to be credited to your credit card.
- Packing your allowed 2 bottles of wine (one per adult) in the luggage you send with the porters is a no-no. You must carry it on with you through check-in and security. More carry-on tips here.
What if you change your mind once onboard?
The price of the deluxe beverage package is always higher onboard. But don’t be discouraged. You may have some alternative options available to you. Occasionally, mid-cruise, the bars will start offering the 10-drink card at a good value. And, it’s shareable.
You can also choose to purchase the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package mid-week so that you are only paying the package price for a few days versus the full cruise. Remember that you cannot purchase the deluxe drink package for specific days, so at whatever time you purchase, it will be for the duration of your cruise vacation and at the higher (versus the pre-cruise planner) per day rate.
And there you have it. My tips for determining whether or not YOU should purchase the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package.
What will you do on your next sailing?
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