The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package costs $89–$109 per person, per day when purchased in advance online, and $99–$120 per person, per day if you wait and buy it onboard in 2025. All guests in the same stateroom aged 21+ must purchase it together.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package is the cruise industry's most popular drink add-on — and one of its most misunderstood. The price swings by $20–$30/day depending on when you buy it, and a single household rule can force your wallet open in ways you didn't plan for.
What the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Actually Costs in 2025
Royal Caribbean prices the Deluxe Beverage Package dynamically, meaning the price changes based on your sail date, ship, and how far out you book. That said, here are the realistic ranges you'll encounter in 2025:
| Purchase Timing | Price Per Person, Per Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online pre-cruise (early sale) | $79–$89/pp/day | Best price, grab it during a sale |
| Online pre-cruise (standard) | $89–$99/pp/day | Typical advance purchase price |
| Onboard (Day 1) | $99–$109/pp/day | Standard onboard rate |
| Onboard (after Day 1) | $109–$120/pp/day | Highest possible price |
For a 7-night cruise with two adults, buying at the standard pre-cruise rate of $94/day each puts your total package cost at roughly $1,316. At the onboard Day 1 rate of $104/day, that same package jumps to $1,456. The math makes the advance purchase an easy win.
The package covers: Cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits up to $14 per drink, fountain soda, premium coffees, bottled water, freshly squeezed juices, and non-alcoholic specialty drinks. The $14 ceiling catches people off guard — many top-shelf cocktails and premium pours run $15–$18, meaning you'll pay the difference per drink.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Drive the Final Price
Sail date and ship matter more than people think. Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas sailings tend to price the package at the higher end of the range. Shorter 3- and 4-night Bahamas runs often come in cheaper per day because Royal Caribbean knows the math doesn't favor heavy drinkers on a short trip.
The stateroom rule is non-negotiable. Every guest aged 21 and older sharing your cabin must purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if anyone wants it. One drinker and one non-drinker? You're both buying it, or neither of you is. This single policy is why the package fails the value test for many couples.
Sales happen — and they're real. Royal Caribbean runs Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and random mid-year promotions that can knock 20–30% off the pre-cruise price. Historically, you can find it dip as low as $59–$69/day during aggressive sale windows. Set a price alert and pounce.
The Refreshment Package is the non-drinker's alternative at roughly $29–$39/person/day, covering mocktails, specialty coffees, juices, and sodas — no alcohol. If one person in your cabin isn't drinking, they buy the Refreshment Package while you buy the Deluxe. That's the workaround to the stateroom rule.
| Package | Price/Day (Pre-Cruise) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Refreshment Package | $29–$39/pp/day | Non-drinkers, coffee lovers |
| Deluxe Beverage Package | $89–$99/pp/day | 4–5+ alcoholic drinks/day drinkers |
| Classic Soda Package | $12–$15/pp/day | Soda-only drinkers |
| No package (pay-as-you-go) | Cocktails $13–$18 each | Light drinkers (fewer than 3/day) |
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
How to Decide If It's Worth It
The break-even math is simple: at $94/day, you need to consume roughly 6–7 drinks per day (at the average $14 cocktail price) to come out ahead. That's before accounting for the coffees and waters that technically add value but rarely tip the scales.
The package makes sense if you:
- Drink 5+ alcoholic beverages daily
- Also drink specialty coffees, fresh juices, and bottled water regularly
- Are sailing on a 7+ night itinerary where daily consumption stays consistent
- Can get it during a promotional sale under $75/day
Skip it and pay as you go if you:
- Drink fewer than 4 alcoholic drinks per day
- Have a non-drinking cabin partner who must also buy in
- Are on a 3–4 night sailing where you'll naturally drink less
- Are hitting a lot of ports (you'll be off the ship, not at the bar)
Practical Tips to Get the Best Price
1. Book it the moment you book your cruise. Prices only go up as the sail date approaches. Lock it in at the lowest available price, then cancel and rebook if a better sale comes along — Royal Caribbean allows this as long as you're still pre-cruise.
2. Check the Cruise Planner obsessively. Log into your Royal Caribbean account, go to Cruise Planner, and check the Deluxe Beverage Package price every few weeks. It fluctuates without announcement, and you can cancel and re-purchase at the lower price without penalty.
3. Never buy it on the ship. Unless you forgot entirely, there's no scenario where the onboard price beats the pre-cruise price. Even the standard pre-cruise price saves you $10–$25/day per person.
4. Stack it with a booking promotion. Royal Caribbean frequently offers "drink package included" promotions on certain sailings — particularly on repositioning cruises and off-peak sailings. If a free drink package is on the table, compare that deal against a lower base fare without the package before assuming it's the better offer.
5. Consider CruiseHub for the base booking. If you haven't booked yet, comparing Royal Caribbean fares through CruiseHub can surface promotional rates that already bundle the beverage package — or at least leave more budget room for buying it separately.
Budget vs. Splurge: Total Drink Costs on a 7-Night Cruise for Two Adults
| Approach | Total Cost (7 nights, 2 adults) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go (light drinkers) | $400–$700 | Couples drinking 2–3 drinks/day each |
| Refreshment Package x2 | $406–$546 | Non-drinkers or soda/coffee people |
| Deluxe Package (sale price, $74/day) | $1,036 | Savvy deal hunters who planned ahead |
| Deluxe Package (standard pre-cruise) | $1,246–$1,386 | Typical advance purchase scenario |
| Deluxe Package (onboard rate) | $1,386–$1,680 | Didn't plan — paying the penalty |
The bottom line: the Deluxe Beverage Package is worth it for the right traveler at the right price — and a terrible value for everyone else forced into it by the stateroom policy. Know your drinking habits, buy early, and check the Cruise Planner for price drops before your sail date.
Want to run the exact numbers for your sailing? Use CruiseMutiny to calculate whether the Deluxe Beverage Package breaks even for your specific trip length, drink habits, and pre-cruise pricing.