The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package costs $75–$120/person/day. It pays off if you drink 5+ beverages daily — but most cruisers break even or lose money on it.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package is one of the most debated purchases in cruising. Here's the honest math.
What it costs
- Pre-cruise price: $75–$95 per person per day (varies by sailing and how far in advance)
- Onboard price: $105–$120 per person per day
- 7-night for 2 people (pre-cruise): approximately $1,050–$1,330 total
The package covers cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffee, bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, and sodas up to $14–$17 per drink.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The break-even math
Individual drink prices on Royal Caribbean:
| Drink | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Cocktail | $13–$15 |
| Beer (domestic) | $8–$10 |
| Glass of wine | $11–$14 |
| Specialty coffee | $6–$8 |
| Bottled water (large) | $4–$6 |
At $85/day (mid-range pre-cruise price), you need to consume roughly $85 in drinks to break even. That's about 6 alcoholic drinks per day.
Who it makes sense for
Buy the package if:
- You drink 5–7+ beverages daily (mix of alcohol, specialty coffee, water, juice)
- You're on a sea-heavy itinerary (more time on the ship = more drinking opportunities)
- You hate the mental math of watching a tab add up
- You're sailing on a longer voyage (10+ nights — the math gets better)
Skip it if:
- You're a light drinker (1–3 drinks/day)
- You're on a port-intensive itinerary (you'll be off the ship most of the day)
- You have kids and will be spending most of your time at activities, not the pool bar
- You can get a deal through Crown & Anchor that discounts individual drinks
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The "both adults must buy it" rule
Royal Caribbean requires both adults in the same cabin to purchase the package. You can't buy it for just one person. This is the biggest gotcha for couples where one partner drinks heavily and the other doesn't.
When to buy it
Always buy pre-cruise, never onboard. Prices jump 20–30% once you're sailing. Watch for Royal Caribbean's promotional sales — they occasionally offer the package at 30–40% off during Wave Season (Jan–March) or Black Friday.
The honest verdict
Most cruisers break even or slightly lose on the drink package. The people who clearly win are enthusiastic drinkers on sea-day-heavy itineraries. The people who clearly lose are light drinkers or those on port-intensive trips.
If you're unsure, track your drinks on a shorter vacation first and see where you land. Most people overestimate how much they drink when they think "I'll be on vacation."
Want a full cruise cost breakdown with and without the package? Try CruiseMutiny.
Watch: Is the Royal Caribbean drink package worth it?
Published
Video Transcript
So you're thinking about dropping $75 to $120 a day per person on Royal Caribbean's drink package. Let me show you the math so you don't waste money.
A cocktail on the ship costs about $15. A beer is $8. A coffee is $6. The deluxe package sounds unlimited... until you do the actual math.
You need to drink five beverages a day just to break even. Five. Every single day.
Most people? They drink three, maybe four. You're paying more than you'd spend if you just ordered drinks as you go.
Here's what actually happens: You buy the package. You feel obligated to get your money's worth. You drink more than you normally would. You feel bloated and regret it by day three.
Now, there ARE people it makes sense for. If you're the type who has a cocktail with breakfast, a beer at lunch, another at dinner, plus coffee and a nightcap... then yeah, the math works. But be honest with yourself about your habits.
One thing Royal Caribbean won't tell you: You can buy it for just certain days of your cruise. Not the whole week. So if you're only a big drinker on sea days, skip it for port days. That's how you actually save money.
The other move? Hit the bar. Pre-order bottles of rum or vodka before you board. Lock in the price. Pour your own drinks in your cabin. Costs way less.
Bottom line: Don't buy the package to feel like you're getting a deal. Buy it only if you genuinely drink five-plus drinks daily. Otherwise, you're funding Royal Caribbean's profit margin.
Full cost breakdowns at travelmutiny.com — link in bio.