Wines above $100 will receive a 20% discount. Royal Caribbean drink packages are considered quite expensive compared to similar cruise lines. How to Cheat Royal Caribbean Drink Package? Once purchased, you must pay for the package for the duration of your cruise. It is popular with older children and those that like having juices, coffee and teas. Thinking about using it? The drink package benefits will save the most money for folks that drink a lot during the day and spread their drinking out throughout the course of their day and night. If I bought the premium beverage drink do I have to pay an additional gratuites? I hope this helps. If you elect not to buy a drink package, then any beverages that cost extra will be charged to your SeaPass account on an a la carte basis. Making feeds? Royal Caribbean features a "drink of the day," and it costs roughly $2 to $4 less than the average cocktail. Cheating the Royal Caribbean drinks package completely isn't really possible. Its not always about getting more drinks than you are entitled to. We have decided to use your tip and buy the soda package with the intention of buying shots on board. If you prefer to keep some bottled water in the fridge in your room, you can order 6, 12 or 24 cans of water to be delivered to your stateroom. I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. Since 2019, Royal Caribbean has been cutting down on single-use plastics onboard its ships. 40% discount on wines under $100. There are three of us going on the cruise May 22nd my self, my wife, and a cousin. With that said, prices for Royal Caribbean drinks have been on the rise over the last few years. One of the benefits of a drinks package is that if you dont like a drink you dont have to drink it. The onboard prices are inflated, and its still always cheaper to buy your package before your cruise. Of course, you could always call Royal Caribbean and tell them that one person doesnt drink, but unless you have proof of a medical condition to back that up, they wont be able to help. But, the cup doesnt seal so you have to keep it upright. Only when both guests choose the drinks package will it allow you to pay. Royal Caribbean state: "cannot be shared by guests.". I am considering the deluxe drink package for us both but I am a little concerned that most fun drinks on the menus cost $13 and the limit is $12. Royal Caribbean complimentary drinks covered by your cruise fare include milk, some juices (not fresh-squeezed), hot chocolate, and regular coffee and tea (i.e, not specialty beverages like lattes, cappuccinos, or chai). It is debatable how much any drink should cost. So you wont have to pay any more for your drinks unless you order something really specialist. Jenni. Disclaimer: I have never tried to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package and am in no way encouraging you to do it. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In addition to the daily fee that's charged, there is an 18% gratuity that's also charged. Thats right, each time you order a drink, and 18% gratuity is added on to your bill. Thank you so much for such useful and great information. Thank you. Did you know you can take your free water bottles off the ship on excursion days? Jenni, Hi Jose, Complimentary is just regular coffee whereas premium includes cappuccino, latte, espresso etc. No votes so far! Also, bear in mind what happens if you are caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise. Drinks that are served in a souvenir cup/glass/mug and/or drinks served inside fruit (i.e. Cruise lines rarely use the word free, instead they use included. But by the glass its included. Refreshment: $29 per person, per day. We think the drink packagehas its pros and its cons, so let us take a look at some of them! Matt Hochberg. Royal Caribbean drink packages go on sale in the Cruise Planner every few weeks with advertised discounts of between 10% and 30%. Otherwise, bar-tender will likely give you the cheaper or unknown house brands if you request generic drinks. How strict are they on how much bottles you can bring on board? Tip them a bit extra from the start of the cruise in the hope they will let some restrictions, such as the refill time limit, go unnoticed. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Cheating the Royal Caribbean Drink Package can be done with a few simple tricks. If you want to drink your wine in public areas, you will need to pay a $15 corkage fee. If it doesnt, then Im sorry I dont know about that particular drink. Why wouldnt they have the limit at $13 or do I have incorrect info? Of course, if its a special bottle of Champagne or something, then the corkage fee could be worth it. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. So, if you want to save a few dollars on wine, this is the way to do it. There are a lot of fun things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and the more money I can save, the more fun stuff I can afford. Example pool vs Bamboo. The tap water on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is perfectly safe to drink, List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises, 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service, The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package, 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/taking-a-baby-on-a-cruise-ship/, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/royal-caribbean-drinks-menus-with-prices/, Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/can-you-take-drinks-on-a-cruise-ship/, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/how-to-sneak-alcohol-on-a-cruise-ship/. You may be better off opting to pay for drinks as you go as its hard to break even without drinking a lot of alcohol each day. Overdrinking The system encourages overdrinking because some people want to ensure they get their moneys worth daily. If you spot any further discounted offers, you can simply cancel your initial order penalty free and replace it by ordering the new cheaper offer price.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruiseshiptraveller_com-leader-2','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruiseshiptraveller_com-leader-2-0'); If you wait to purchase the drinks package until on the ship, you will generally have to pay a higher price and wait in a long queue for pleasure! Meanwhile at the Koningsdam's bars, that same Bombay gin and tonic comes to $8.34, after the 15% service fee. I would love to hear your thoughts about a Royal Caribbean beverage package, and how it works (or does not work) for you, in the comments! I am on Voyagers of the seas in April on repositioning cruise. Thanks for the great information. There is a point to be made about pre-purchasing a drink package months before your cruise, paying it off then and then later going on your cruise and not dealing with a bill at the end of your cruise that makes you cringe (or worse). You have to call Royal and they will book it for you. However, you can get a drink every 15 minutes so it is possible to get the occasional drink for your child on the sly. Although they still have to buy a package, its generally half the price. Hi Rebecca. Hi, I would Like to know something. Earning free drinks in Royal Caribbean casinos. It was quite good to fill up and take off the ship with me. If you want to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package, there are a few things you can do. Well, this goes against Royal Caribbeans rules. My hubby-to-be is a non-drinker and he would only want the refreshment package. Hi Jeff. Does the menu price already include the per drink gratuity? Jenni. On the first day of your cruise, you may see signs offering Buy One Get One Free deals on drinks packages. pineapples) arenotincluded with the drink package, however a portion of the drink price is subsidized by the beverage package. Find your drink package and click View Details, followed by Cancel. If someone told me I could save more money by doing some simple math every day, you bet I would bring my calculator onboard. When using a drink package, I always struggle with the question of, "Am I ordering a drink because I want one or because I have a drink package?" All of this contributes to bringing down the cost of drinks on a cruise, especially if you forgo a drink package and pay a la carte for your drinks. Instead, the other person will have to purchase the Royal Refreshment package for non-alcoholic drinks. Each package provides guests with an unlimited allotment of servings of the specific beverages their package includes. First-time cruisers will hopefully find this post as a good jumping off point for further reading on the drink packages. Yet with a drinks package, youre free to work your way down the menu, trying new things. The drink package has an equal number of fans and critics. I did wonder whether you could keep the cup and use it on your next cruise. If you have a package, gratuities are already included in that, you wont pay any more per drink. This includes the gratuities for any beverages you order. In addition to being convenient, a lot of its fans advocate the unlimited drink packages help them stay on a budget and avoid thinking about money on a vacation. Fountain soda and refills at any venue Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages* However, quick word of warning before we continue: if you get caught cheating, although you wont be sent to the cruise jail, you will risk losing your drinks package without a refund, so continue at your own risk. Is this due to the situation at the moment or have they stopped selling drinks package online. However, in your stateroom will be a corkscrew, so you could simply open the bottle in your room, take your wine bottle and glass of wine out, and drink elsewhere onboard. For those who drink mostly coffee, Royal Caribbean offers a Cafe Select Coffee Card. With the acquisition of 80 points (equivalent to 80 nights at sea), guests become Diamond members. List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Go to a concert or theme park, and you will find prices for drinks that make Royal Caribbean's pricing strategy look pedestrian. Each time I try to untick one adult, it would untick us both. Tea and coffee are always available for free and you can get sweeteners as well. This requires anyone that buys the package to be willing and able to enjoy a good half-dozen drinks every day of their cruise. Everyday some people want to cheat the package because they believe it is unfair because it forces you to buy it for every day of the cruise. The various plans provide guests with unlimited drinks that can be used at any bar or restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships (and private destinations). The slight problem we have is my cousin has stability problems, his hands are very shaky , and he is unstable on his feet , dont get me wrong he gets about on his, but he could not serve himself for coffee or breakfast and the like. Royal Caribbean allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on-board and theyre very strict about that. Star Class staterooms are the highest . Royal Caribbean offers a fewdrink packages to consider. It's not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks throughout your cruise. The most popular method of sneaking booze on a cruise ship is with a flask that looks like a shampoo bottle. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! Yes, thats correct. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Usually, the Deluxe Beverage Package runs somewhere between $40 - $52 per person, per day when purchased in advance. For some folks, 5-6 drinks per day is easy, while others may think that isa lot every day of a cruise. The drinks package is active on the island as well as the ship and we spent a lot of time on-board drinking cocktails in the hot tub. Drink is 15 Dollars so do i have to pay 3 Dollars or 15? Dont ask you dont get! If youre caught cheating the Royal Caribbean drink package by giving drinks to people who do not have a package, then you risk having your whole package removed without a refund. Another way that people cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is to sneak their own booze on board with them. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. Whilst you could easily drink five cocktails by the pool and then a couple of glasses of wine in the evening on a sea day, how much would you drink if you were off the ship from 9 am until 6 pm most days? I leave from Miami and happy to pop to a Walmart beforehand to pick up some things to save money on board. The price goes up and down before your cruise and you may be able to snag a deal if you buy it at the right time. Jenni. Royal Caribbean offer discounts to people who buy their drinks packages online in advance of their cruise. Some people feel aggrieved at having to pay for more than they need. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. These include alcoholic beverages that are not part of the house brands, such as top-shelf liquor and wine by the bottle. While you are on land, you can purchase drinks at local bars and restaurants, which can be much cheaper than buying drinks onboard the ship. Drinks-wise you are both covered, and although less alcohol between you, you have the opportunity to share some. I have a guide that debates that question for you here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/refuse-pay-gratuities-on-cruise/. In either case, you will still likely have a great vacation experience. Due to the varying prices across the fleet, we hesitate to publish any kind of pricing here. I just purchased the Deluxe Beverage package, for myself, and the refreshement package for my wife. Package includes: Fountain soda and refills at any venue Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages* Coca-Cola souvenir cup Non-alcoholic cocktails (mockta. Can I buy unlimited beverage package for 2 days only in a four days cruise , or it has to be for all days ? Just pop your email in the form and Ill send you a link to the calculator. They scan your bags. If you buy the drink package before you board you may be able to get it for cheaper as pre-cruise drink package prices fluctuate before the sailing date. When you log into Royal Caribbeans cruise planner, look out for special offers like this one. Or is that extra? None of the packagesinclude mini bar items, Evian water, canned sodas, bottled juice and souvenir glassware, specialty beers as listed on bar menus, or super premium category beverages. Contact Royal Caribbean in advance and explain that only one person wants the Deluxe Beverage package, but the other person does not drink or has a medical condition and cant drink. Do check out our Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review for more information! When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, one very important question to consider is Should I get a drinks package or not?. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. And you also have to wash it yourself so be sure to bring dish soap and a sponge. Grab fruit and sugar from the buffet and some booze from the bar, and make your own in-cabin sangria for a happy hour on your balcony. You can buy more wine at the ports of call to use this option multiple times to save a few dollars. The drink package benefits are available on the guest's SeaPass card, which any waiter or bartender can verify they have the package. It is a fair point and among the most commonly cited reasons people love the drink packages. Cheating the Royal Caribbean drinks package completely isnt really possible. Regardless, it's possible for there to be a price drop and in that case, you can cancel and rebook the drink package with no penalty via the Cruise Planner website. When you buy any drink package, you will see a line item charge for a "service charge." While there are a few ways you can do it, I wouldnt recommend that you try, as the consequences of doing so can be serious. Great blog. Great observation, Michelle. If you are caught sharing your Royal Caribbean Drinks package, it will be canceled, and you will not receive a refund. You cant pick and choose what days to have the package, you have to have it every day. Buy Drinks at Port. Hi Carmen. Could please do insurance recommendations. This drink package pretty much includes all beverages onboard that do not contain any booze. ), I have just updated this post as the gratuity on Royal Caribbeans drinks packages is now 18% for 2021. If it drops, cancel the package and re-buy it at the lower price. Ill be cruising in November on Oasis of the Seas. You can see a full list of those here: List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Are you going to be spending much of your time by the pool or are you someone that will be doing other activities where drinking may not always be an option. In the case of Royal Caribbean, their terms are quite harsh and threaten not to let you on the ship. Savings - You can save money with a drink package (versus paying for each drink a la carte), but you have to be a certain kind of drinker and not waste the daily package benefits. But, heres what some people have been known to do. You will then have to purchase drinks individually for the remainder of your days on the cruise. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Royal Caribbean's drink packages are a fixed daily cost plan offered on all Royal Caribbean ships so guests can budget their beverage costs in advance and (potentially) save money. On the Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships, the drinks package limit is $13 rather than $12 to account for these ships having slightly higher drinks prices. Jenni. You definitely dont need a drinks package. Bottled water can be purchased at most bars for $3.25. Order top-shelf liquor when you get drinks to make the most of your money. If Im a simple coffee and tea drinker. I have a general question I am booked on the Adventure of the Sea in February wondering if the muster station is done outside standing or inside able to sit down.. Hi Jill. Here are the others: 4 Ways That People Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package. Royal Caribbean guests wishing to purchasea drink package can do so either prior to their cruise via the Cruise Planner web site or once onboard their ship. And refuel for evening adventure with non-alcoholic cocktails. Jenni. If you are on a short cruise and are looking to have a good time, the drink package can make a lot more sense, since there are less days to use the package benefits. Just enter your email address below and youll receive a link to it in your inbox asap. There are also lots of other free dinks included on your Royal Caribbean cruise and in some instances even free alcohol. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to two 750ml bottles of wine per stateroom with them. I hope that helps! Alternatively, guests from the U.S. or Canada can buy the drink package by calling(800) 398-9819. We know the drink package is expensive and people are searching for this information and are simply providing it. Amount of Drinks- One common regretwe hear about drink packages is a phenomenon known as "drink fatigue," where guests drink more than they really would ordinarily order and they end up ordering drinks for the sake of ordering drinks. 1 Buy your drink package before the cruise. Hi Jose. Royal Caribbeans rules state that each person must have the same package. Jenni. We are travelling with Royal Caribbean for the first time and are considering purchasing the Deluxe drinks package. All adults of legal drinking age in a stateroom must buy it, or nobody can have it. A Royal Caribbean drink package offers the choice to enjoy an unlimited amount of drinks for a fixed daily price. Nearly all discounts we have seen are offered prior to the cruise on the Cruise Planner web site. I have cruised many times before and I always order the royal caribbean premium drink package. These have to be in your carry on luggage to make it easy for port staff to check that your booze is within the limits. Each drink package purchased is per guest, and may only be used by the person buying it. On Royal 10 day late September. We love the convenience of the drink package too, especially to have the freedom of trying new drinks without fear of ordering something we do not like and being "stuck" with it. Package Details: Royal Caribbean has one alcohol-inclusive beverage package on offer. Log into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner for your sailing, and then click on your initials at the top right corner. To account for this, the drink package limit is matched to it. It varies depending on the sailing, and prices also go up and down as the sailing date nears. You will also find some fountain-style drinks at the buffet. Royal Caribbeans Crown & Anchor Society awards loyalty points for every night that guests spend on-board Royal Caribbean ships. Its hardly surprising people think about ways they can cheat the system in other ways. Plus, as we were sailing from the UK it was easy to bring our own wine and cans of pop on board so we didnt need to buy many drinks on the ship. So you would need to let someone else be served and then order again. Instead, you get a physical card that will be punched every time you use the card. However, it is worth highlighting, especially for days when you feel like drinking a little less alcohol if youve been overdoing it, that there are many other quality non-alcoholic drinks you can get on the drinks package, including: Another tip is some non-alcoholic drinks, such as energy drinks, count towards your drinks package, so if you want to order a vodka and energy drink, ask for the energy drink on the side, so you get 2 drinks. For each guests that purchases this package, it incudes. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Hi Michael. Do you plan to buy a drinks package on your next cruise? To work out if a drinks package is worth it, you need to work out how many drinks you would need to drink each day to break even. To get the most value out of your drinks package, always take the opportunity to specify the top-quality liquor brands in your drinks. Jenni. Once purchased, you must pay for the package for the duration of your cruise. Royal Caribbean no longer offers a wine package. One way guests sneak liquor on a Royal Caribbean cruise is to take advantage of the two bottles of wine per cabin policy but replace the wine with hard liquor. Generally speaking, Royal Caribbean does not offer its drink packages for free, but it does regularly offer discounts on them. If a drink is over 12 Dollars to I have the entire price or just the difference. I was wondering. The Deluxe Beverage Package pricing varies by sailing, but is currently between $63 and $89 per person, per . No, it doesnt. How do I purchase a drink package for 1 and a soft drinks package for 1 because of a medical condition, Hi Jill, Im considering booking a drinks package with Royal Caribbean. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Before we get to the dollars and cents, let us cover some basics. So no, you wouldnt have to pay any extra gratuities on drinks. The price per night of the Deluxe Beverage package varies from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing. However, if you appear to be too intoxicated, the staff wont serve you any more drinks. You can use the coffee card atRoyal Caribbean coffee locations, such as Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package for one guest and the Refreshment Package for another guest. Depending on your vacation, you can purchase the drink package for as little as $63 per person, per day. Does anyone know what the difference is between the complimentary coffee and tea vs the premium coffee/tea you get when you buy the Refreshment Package? Then click Order History. You can buy the drink package at any time up to 48 hours before your ship sails. Like what you see? On my last Royal Caribbean cruise on Anthem of the Seas, it was a seven-night cruise from Southampton so I didnt get a drinks package. This will earn you Prime status (I'll explain all the tier levels of Casino Royale, as well as the other benefits you can earn later in this article). Any bar, restaurant, or lounge will accept your drink package benefits. The only places you cannot use your drink package are withroom service, minibar or Starbucks. If you order a drink that cost more than $12, youll just pay the difference. We just came back from a Cruise to Nowhere aboard the Quantum of the Seas as well. Is there a limit in time how many drinks/baverages I can order. Hi Karen. Royal Caribbean's newest cruise planner sale kicks off today with up to 35% off pre-cruise add-ons. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Before even booking a drink package, you should determine roughly how many drinks per day you think you can and will drink over the course of your cruise. Continue with Recommended Cookies. You can see a price comparison of drinks across all cruise lines here. Come have . Some muster stations are outside, some are inside with seats. If you have a question that isnt listed here, you can add it in the comments section at the end. Here is what is included during the sale: In either scenario, it goes to making your total cost more predictable. Likewise, shorter cruises have a tendency to have more of a party atmosphere than longer cruises. Sure, it is nice to have, but far from essential. Im sure intentionally just over the 12.00 limit for the ultimate drink package. If you buy your drinks package in advance and then see that the price drops due to a promotion, you can cancel your drinks package, get a refund and then buy it again at the lower price. Your email address will not be published. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. There might be the most amazing drink on the menu, but you cannot bring yourself to spend $14 (or more) on it because that sounds too expensive for just one drink. Can I put them into the fridge and save vor excursions? However, you will often get the best prices on the pre-cruise package. For most sailings, when you buy a drinks package online, an 18% gratuity charge is added at the checkout. You should think about how much time you plan to spend on the ship. This depends on your muster station. Its a small 2.25 oz. It encourages overconsumption. You could always pour it from a cup into your own bottle I suppose. It's not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks for the entire cruise. The cocktails in the Bamboo Lounge are a little different to the poolside cocktails, the have fancier glasses and the ingredients may be different too. Your bottle of vino. Note that if you live in the UK, youll see your drink packages prices in GBP on the Cruise Planner. And they also make it very hard for anyone to actually do that. All I can see is my cruise planner prices which are $95+ per day!! Keep in mind you'll not only be charged for the drink, but also the 18% gratuity automatically added. I rarely drink specialty coffee and prefer a cup of hot tea to end my meals. As well as free drinks like flavoured water, tea, coffee and chocolate milk (see the full list of free drinks here) you can sometimes get alcoholic drinks for free at certain events. Cocktails are regularly priced at around $10-13 per drink, which means bar tabs can quickly get expensive. Bottle of water - $3. See also Why Did Gyro Go into the Bakery? Free drink packages are rare. Sterilisers? Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. Royal Caribbean usually prices the coffee card at $31 per card. Ive been known to book two adjoining staterooms for our family of four as it actually worked out cheaper to do this when the four-berth inside rooms sold out. Im guessing it does not? Just like sneaking your own alcohol on board the ship, this isnt technically allowed, but people do it. We are sailing on Anthem of the seas June for two weeks going for the de lux drinks package offered us 43 per day is that fair price or should I wait in case prices go down. Most people get the drinks package for the alcohol. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? As the drink package offers an unlimited number of drinks per day, you might be considering this as an option.