However, theres a chip inside it which means that it will only work with the machine for a certain period of time. Im going on a cruise in October and would like the full drinks package for myself. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. Cheers. On top of what I already paid for the two unlimited packages? We had a short four-night cruise to Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas. What if you buy just the one alcoholic drinks package and use it to get drinks for everyone in your group? How To Cheat Royal Caribbean Drink Package? 10 Simple Tips One of the benefits of a drinks package is that if you dont like a drink you dont have to drink it. Superb article, i am new to cruising and only used NCL which seems to have cheap drink package and this helps me no end, thanks a million, Im so pleased that you found this helpful Jenni. Whether you order from the bar, main dining room, or a specialty restaurant, soda will cost extra on Royal Caribbean. Jenni. You can usually find other drink specials throughout your cruise. What to think about before buying a Royal Caribbean drink package, Fountain sodas / Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages. It is foolish to assume any drink package is a good or bad value without first considering how you cruise. Example pool vs Bamboo. Before purchasing any drink package, be sure to do your homework and do the math of how much you have to drink, every day of your cruise for it to make sense. 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. Cruise Alcohol Packages 2021 | How To Cheat The System However, you will often get the best prices on the pre-cruise package. We tend to fall somewhere in the middle, disagreeing with both extremes. There are two ways to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package: Royal Caribbean drink package sharing is not allowed. One other thing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Id suggest asking Royal Caribbean, theyre usually very quick to reply on Facebook. Im sure intentionally just over the 12.00 limit for the ultimate drink package. I was drinking a Rusty Nail on my last cruise and thats a drink small enough where the bartender poured me doubles to keep me from coming back so much. 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. For every brewed coffee you order, the barista willpunch a hole in the card to note how many of the drinks you've ordered. I had it on a 4-night cruise. So do you have to buy a drink package for every day of your trip or can you buy for just 3 days of your trip. 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. Well, this goes against Royal Caribbeans rules. You can even request the brands to be used in making your cocktails. With that said, prices for Royal Caribbean drinks have been on the rise over the last few years. Free drink packages are rare. Hi, I would Like to know something. Start your morning off with a cup of premium coffee or tea and freshly-squeezed juice. But in most cases, it probably isnt. 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. From time to time, Royal Caribbean may offer a drink package discount. Read more:How to purchase Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages. Or is that extra? No, you would have to buy it for every day of your cruise. I had the drink package so I didnt get the answer to this. Here's the breakdown: $133 for 16 gin & tonics at the bar. Most people say that the tap water on cruise ships tastes . Making feeds? But, heres what some people have been known to do. Do we need separate soft drinks packages for the kids or can they share ours? 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. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? The lowest prices can often be found during the Black Friday sale period. You have to call Royal and they will book it for you. My two sons are coming on the cruise with me. You can use my free drinks package calculator to work out what your bar bill would be with no drink package. Required fields are marked *. There are a few other drink package rules that you should be aware of as well. Will these sales save you money? Just like sneaking your own alcohol on board the ship, this isnt technically allowed, but people do it. How To Cheat Royal Caribbean Drink Package - Answerim ? Jenni. Enjoy reading all you write about cruising. My husband and i are going on our first cruise later this spring and bought a deluxe package. Hi Sue. Disclaimer: I have never tried to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package and am in no way encouraging you to do it. How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean - And More When you log into the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner, it wont actually let you buy the Deluxe Beverage Package for just one adult. 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. Today we dive into a controversial cruise line topic. For example, guests are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or champagne per person on board during embarkation day. !I just cant afford that and i dont see how its justified. It comes with fancy coffees, smoothies etc as well as alcohol. Its not always about getting more drinks than you are entitled to. Royal Caribbean Adults Only Cruises & Areas, Sharing Royal Caribbean Drinks Package? 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. Royal Caribbean seems to employ a variable pricing model that considers time of year, ship class and other factors in offering the price of the drink package. 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. When the ship is docked at a port, guests are allowed to leave the ship and explore the local area. Overdrinking The system encourages overdrinking because some people want to ensure they get their moneys worth daily. 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. Royal Caribbean Rules for Deluxe Drinks Package. Therefore they know its less likely you will be able to consume the maximum amount, therefore more profitable, whether its a sea day or port day, you have to have drinks package all days or none. ), Is Food Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruises (What and Where) 2023, Buy Early & Cancel if Discount Price Later Available, Make Friends with the Bar-tender / Waiters, Bottled waters (ideal for shore excursions). would i be charged the difference between a virgin pina colada and a pina colada with alcohol? Look for discounts up to 72 hours before you set sail. Can I put them into the fridge and save vor excursions? Under certain circumstances, you may be able to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package for one guest and the Refreshment Package for another guest. What should I do to highlight this so as not to embarrass him on board. Just enter your email address below and youll receive a link to it in your inbox asap. Only when both guests choose the drinks package will it allow you to pay. If I purchase a bottle of wine for my table does that get calculated into the $89. Thank you so much for such useful and great information. Sterilisers? We have decided to use your tip and buy the soda package with the intention of buying shots on board. You have to wait 15 minutes between each drink, so it is technically possible to get drinks for the kids then 15 minutes later, go and get drinks for yourselves. Here are the average Royal Caribbean drinks prices: If youd like to know exactly which drinks are available on Royal Caribbean cruise ships and how much they cost, I have taken photos of the bar menus on board Mariner of the Seas. There is no worrying about how much the drink costs and if you should get it or something cheaper. On Royal Caribbean cruises it costs $29 for 24 16-oz cans of water to be delivered to your stateroom, although this price will usually be discounted if you book this service before your cruise. That adds up. The best way to get a deal on a Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy one as early as you can and then re-price when there are price drops. Due to the varying prices across the fleet, we hesitate to publish any kind of pricing here. If it doesnt, then Im sorry I dont know about that particular drink. It is important to keep in mind what your goal is when ordering a drink package. Coffee - $4. Wines are available to purchase by the bottle. Be the first to rate this post. To get the most value out of your drinks package, always take the opportunity to specify the top-quality liquor brands in your drinks. So, strictly speaking they would need their own. If you book a Star Class suite on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package is included for every guest in the room. If the other adult(s) in the same stateroom do not wish to purchase a Deluxe Beverage Package, you can call Royal Caribbean and ask for an exemption. Theres not a time limit between drinks with Royal Caribbean, but you can only order one drink per person at a time. The thing is, the number one reason to buy a drink package is to save money, otherwise why would it exist. These discounts have the potential to add to the potential value a guest can get from a drink package, but remember any discount does not necessarily make the value proposition a drink package offers a "slam dunk" deal. Royal Caribbean drink packages go on sale in the Cruise Planner every few weeks with advertised discounts of between 10% and 30%. All I can see is my cruise planner prices which are $95+ per day!! I am going on my first cruise in February and found your information very helpful thank you. 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. There's no question that a Royal Caribbean drink package can save you money if you can drink enough to make it worthwhile. If I am having a soda can i order another right after 10 minutes or to I have to wait a certain time. Spirit and mixer - $9 to $11+. 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. Simpler to have one cost that covers everything, than worry about "going over.". All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same stateroom booking number are required to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package. I have another question. This includes the gratuities for any beverages you order. But, the cup doesnt seal so you have to keep it upright. The discount is increased by up to 30% during promotional periods such as Black Friday. We think the drink packagehas its pros and its cons, so let us take a look at some of them! Could please do insurance recommendations. Hi Anthony. sharing the Royal Caribbean drinks packages, best time to buy a Royal Caribbean drinks package, free dinks included on your Royal Caribbean, Is Food Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruise (and Where) 2022. Could I buy only 4 of the 8 days of my trip, for example? Can I buy unlimited beverage package for 2 days only in a four days cruise , or it has to be for all days ? If you are caught sharing your Royal Caribbean Drinks package, it will be canceled, and you will not receive a refund. Im not sure actually. But, its still going to inflate the price of your cruise by several hundred dollars, maybe more. And with so many tantalizing choices on each bar menu, the temptation to grab a drink is always present. This gratuity is compulsory and cannot be taken off. For each guests that purchases this package, it includes. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! One of the most popular ways to potentially cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is by bringing your own alcohol on board. To be eligible for free drinks at Casino Royale, you'll need to earn at least 2500 points. However, the cruise line no longer offers these discounts. Your bottle of vino. 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. Hi, I have harmony of the seas booked for next may but when I have tried to book a drinks package there is no option for this. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Is it true that each individual drink purchased an additional 18% is added? On the other hand, your local restaurants may serve up drinks for a fraction of the cost of what you will find at Boleros. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 6 Royal Caribbean Cruise Hacks | Cruise Critic However, if you stay in a suite then youll be able to help yourself to free drinks in the VIP lounge for several hours each day! In the case of Royal Caribbean, their terms are quite harsh and threaten not to let you on the ship. If the price does drop, you can always call Royal Carribbean to cancel it and book it again at the lower price. Jenni. However, you can get all-inclusive cruise package deals that have drinks included. Your drinks package will include gratuity on all drinks. pineapples) arenotincluded with the drink package, however a portion of the drink price is subsidized by the beverage package. 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. So, instead of buying a drink package, you would just drink your own booze instead. 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. Matt Hochberg. 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. List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Here are some of the top ways to "cheat" Royal Caribbean drinking packages. Keep in mind that you can always purchase a drink package even after your cruise begins, if you find yourself drinking more than you thought. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I have some photos of the drink menus here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/royal-caribbean-drinks-menus-with-prices/ This may help you to find the answer to your question. Be the first to rate this post. In either scenario, it goes to making your total cost more predictable. Royal Caribbean offers a choice of three all-inclusive drinks packages: Royal Caribbeans alcohol drinks package includes: Royal Caribbeans non-alcoholic drinks package includes: The Classic Soda Packages comes with a refillable souvenir cup which you can use at self-service machines across the ship. Hi Karen. Instead, Id recommend that you buy your drink package at the best time to take advantage of any sales or special offers that can make it a bit more affordable for you. You can read more about those here: How to Sneak Alcohol on a Cruise Ship. However, prices seem to have increased recently, with an upcoming cruise quoting a sale price of $83.99 and an onboard price of $105! Heck, there is not even the concern about if you can afford to get a drink or not. 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. You can then compare this total with the exact price of the drinks package for your cruise (shown on your Royal Caribbean cruise planner) to easily work out whether the drinks package is worth it or not. Is the drink package worth it on Royal Caribbean? For example I drink a lot of water during the day so I will at least have 6 bottles of water. Hi Kristin. (Of course Ill be waiting for a discount before booking it as you have advised! At worst, you are going to overpay for a drink package or for drinks on your own. Last time I cruised with Royal Caribbean in December 2019 you could do both options. I was wondering. With the acquisition of 80 points (equivalent to 80 nights at sea), guests become Diamond members. Jenni. Budgeting - This is probably the most contentious point. Thanks for the great information. The Classic Sodapackage is what was once called by many guests, "the soda card". Diamond and above members get complimentary drinks every evening, which can be a big money saver. ), I have just updated this post as the gratuity on Royal Caribbeans drinks packages is now 18% for 2021. Royal Caribbean states that the wine you bring onboard within your two bottles per stateroom limit must be consumed in your stateroom. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Can I opt out of the gratuities scheme ?, we prefer to tip directly to people who give good service. In this section, Ill answer the most commonly-asked questions about Royal Caribbean drink packages. The price of Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is not fixed. We have two kids. Getting caught will get your drink package canceled or can result in. When you log into Royal Caribbeans cruise planner, look out for special offers like this one. Get your Moneys worth when you purchase Royal Caribbeans Drink Package. I have a question Ive not seen answered. A Royal Caribbean Drink Package: What's The Smart Money Really Say? Another way to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy drinks at port. Im Diamond and wondered what the upcharge might be since Ill be getting four free drink vouchers per day. Drink is 15 Dollars so do i have to pay 3 Dollars or 15? For cruises that start elsewhere, its 18. A loophole as to. 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. The only places you cannot use your drink package are withroom service, minibar or Starbucks. Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. Order top-shelf liquor when you get drinks to make the most of your money. 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. This saves you from having to buy bottled water when in ports.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-115{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. 10 Cruise Alcohol Hacks for Better Drinking on the Cheap These discounts are offered selectively and can vary in terms of how much the discount is and for which sailings they are eligible. Before we get to the dollars and cents, let us cover some basics. Royal Caribbean would not roll out something that offers no savings and expect people to pay for it, right? Any frozen drinks too without the alcohol. Enjoy virtually unlimited combinations on everything from cocktails with top-shelf spirits to premium teas and every beverage in between. The only way that you could make this work is if you have two staterooms. This means if you are a couple and only one of you wants to buy the drinks package, it simply wont wont you complete the purchase. The whole notion of not having to worry about receipts, gratuity or how much a drink costs holds less water for us. You can see a price comparison of drinks across all cruise lines here. Before you go ahead and buy the Coffee Card, here are some things youll want to consider: The tap water on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is perfectly safe to drink and tastes okay, although it may not always be very cold, depending on the weather. In fact, Royal Caribbean almost always has some kind of special offer to encourage people to book cruises. The drinks prices vary slightly by ship, with around a $1 difference on some ships. The bar staff were always encouraging me to let them make up drinks rather than stick the menu, so Im sure they wouldnt mind you asking. Royal Caribbean offers a discount when you pre-book your drinks package on the cruise planner before you sail. Hi Natalie. 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. Thank you. Refreshment: $29 per person, per day. Royal Refreshment Drink Package: $29-38 per person, per day. Royal Caribbean does not require guests under the legal drinking age to buy any kind of drinks package. Great blog. The key is to know how you like to cruise and which pros and cons of the drink package are more important to you. Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide (With Calculator) - Cruise Mummy Thats just one of the ways that people try to cheat. Hi Jose. Royal Caribbean offers just one unlimited alcohol package, the Deluxe Beverage package. It offers "the best of both worlds," with access to nearly the entire stock of beverages with or without liquor. You can use the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner to cancel your drink package online up to two days before your cruise and receive a full refund. 1. There is no question a drink package has an excellent value proposition associated with it, but you need to be able to drink enough to "break even" on the package versus buying the drinks on your own. No votes so far! 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. No, it doesnt. Instead, the other person will have to purchase the Royal Refreshment package for non-alcoholic drinks. You would most likely just lose your alcohol. And they also make it very hard for anyone to actually do that. Then, log into the Cruise Planner regularly to watch the price. Just pop your email in the form and Ill send you a link to the calculator. Im guessing it does not? Keep in mind you'll not only be charged for the drink, but also the 18% gratuity automatically added. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I did wonder whether you could keep the cup and use it on your next cruise. Yet with a drinks package, youre free to work your way down the menu, trying new things. This is the same, no matter how many guests of drinking age stay in a cabin. I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. Thank you so much for this insight definitely helps with planning. You can use the coffee card atRoyal Caribbean coffee locations, such as Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes. Good luck! But you would still have your standard daily gratuity to pay which covers all other staff members. Buy Drinks at Port. In addition, guests that are members of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society are eligible to receive discounted and complimentary drinks during the cruise. This may be a Kids Sail Free offer, free gratuities or buy one cruise fare get one half price. There are three of us going on the cruise May 22nd my self, my wife, and a cousin. Cruise lines rarely use the word free, instead they use included. The various plans provide guests with unlimited drinks that can be used at any bar or restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships (and private destinations). Some people don't care so much about "breaking even" on their purchase, because they just like the fact they pay one price and all their beers, cocktails and other beverages are included. ? Royal Caribbean's website listed the Deluxe Beverage Package for $18 per day, per person on select 2020 sailings that got a lot of people's attention. 25 Best Tips to Get Cheap Drinks & Free Alcohol on Cruises Is is possible to buy the package for less days than those of your cruise? Cocktails are regularly priced at around $10-13 per drink, which means bar tabs can quickly get expensive. One significant recent change to the Deluxe Beverage package is all Royal Caribbean passengers 21 years of age and older (18 years in Australia and the U.K) are required to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one other person in their cabin has one. Soda - $3.50. On most cruises, including cruises departing from the US, an automatic gratuity of 18% is added to the cost of each drink when you receive the bill. 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. It was quite good to fill up and take off the ship with me. There are some other ways you can sneak booze on boar too. The only limit on a drink package is that you may only order one drink per order, per drink package. It's not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks for the entire cruise. Do you know the difference in the tea? If a drink is over 12 Dollars to I have the entire price or just the difference. Royal Caribbean doesnt offer free drinks packages. If all you want are lattes, espresso, or something stronger than regular coffee, then perhaps Royal Caribbean's Caf Select Coffee Card is the right choice for you. Bottle of water - $3. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. What Happens if Caught Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise? Lets say the drinks package costs an average of $75 per day. Sure, just pop your email in the box and it will come straight to you. So Im noticing all the cool mixed cocktail drinks are priced. At least Ive got time to think about which package to buy. Jenni, Hi Jose, You can buy the drink package at any time up to 48 hours before your ship sails. To account for this, the drink package limit is matched to it. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Royal Caribbean know that guests will want to share their drinks package. Still, I wouldnt recommend cheating the drink package in this way. The Royal Caribbean alcohol drinks package costs between $63 and $89 per person, per day and includes unlimited drinks worth up to $12 or $13 each (depending on the ship). Also, bear in mind what happens if you are caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise. One thing which I noticed is that the bigger the freebie, the higher the base price. Per day? The Royal Caribbean alcohol drinks package costs between $63 and $89 per person, per day and includes unlimited drinks worth up to $12 or $13 each (depending on the ship). Can You Bring Insulated Water Bottle on Royal Caribbean Cruise The gratuity is added on at the final checkout so you will see the final price before you commit to buy it. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Are you able to advise how much shots were roughly? For the best price, you should always book your drinks package in advance before your cruise and not wait until you get on board the ship. If youre caught, youll lose your whole package with no refund. For many, its also about getting around some of the drink package instructions, which limit to buying a certain amount of drinks. Jenni. For cruises that start in North America, the minimum drinking age is 21. These include alcoholic beverages that are not part of the house brands, such as top-shelf liquor and wine by the bottle. Royal Caribbean drinks prices are on the high end when compared to other cruise lines. Cancel Drink Package | Refund Policy | Royal Caribbean Intl. Ive just used $USD in this guide to keep things consistent for most readers. If purchased during your cruise, guests will pay for the remaining nights of their cruise. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. With that in mind, while convenience is important, we believe the cost savings still supersedes whatever convenience the drink package offers.