A Royal Caribbean honeymoon typically costs $200–$500+ per couple per day beyond your base fare once you add drinks, gratuities, specialty dining, excursions, and spa time. Planning these extras in advance through the Cruise Planner can save you 20–40% versus buying onboard.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Congratulations — a Royal Caribbean honeymoon is genuinely a great call. But the base fare is just the down payment. Most couples are blindsided by how fast the extras stack up, and on a honeymoon, you'll be tempted by all of them. Here's everything you need to budget and plan so the trip lives up to the occasion.
What a Royal Caribbean Honeymoon Actually Costs
The cruise fare gets you the room, main dining, and basic entertainment. Everything else — drinks, tips, specialty dinners, excursions, spa, photos — is a separate charge. Below is a realistic per-couple budget breakdown for a 7-night Caribbean sailing in 2025–2026.
| Category | Budget Couple | Mid-Range Couple | Splurge Couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gratuities (auto-added) | $252 ($18/pp/day) | $252 | $252 |
| Drink Package (Deluxe Beverage) | Skip ($0) | ~$1,050 (pre-cruise ~$75/pp/day) | ~$1,260+ (onboard rate) |
| Beer/cocktails à la carte | ~$200–$350 | — | — |
| Specialty Dining (2–3 dinners) | $0 (MDR only) | ~$160–$270/couple | ~$400+ (full package) |
| Wi-Fi (1 device per person) | $0 | ~$300–$350 (pre-cruise ~$25/pp/day) | ~$350–$400 |
| Shore Excursions (2–3 ports) | ~$150–$250 | ~$300–$500 | ~$600–$1,200+ |
| Spa | $0 | ~$200–$400 | ~$600–$1,000+ |
| Photos | $0 | ~$200 (digital package) | ~$300–$400 |
| Room Service / Snacks | ~$30–$50 | ~$50–$100 | ~$100–$200 |
| TOTAL ABOVE FARE | ~$630–$850 | ~$2,300–$3,100 | ~$4,000–$6,000+ |
Key pricing note: RC's Deluxe Beverage Package is dynamic — check your Cruise Planner for the exact price on your sailing. Pre-cruise rates are typically $65–$95/person/day; buying onboard runs 20–30% more. Drinks are capped at $14/drink with 18% gratuity already included in the package.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Factors That Drive Honeymoon Costs on RC
1. Ship and cabin category matter more than most people realize. Oasis-class and Icon-class ships (Icon of the Seas, Wonder, Symphony) have far more specialty restaurants, bars, and experiences — which means more temptation to spend. A smaller ship on a shorter itinerary naturally contains costs. That said, the bigger ships are genuinely spectacular for a honeymoon.
2. The drink package math on a honeymoon. You'll both need to buy it (RC requires all adults in the cabin to purchase). At ~$75/pp/day pre-cruise, you're paying roughly $1,050/couple for a 7-night trip. Break-even is about 5–6 drinks per day including specialty coffees and non-alcoholic beverages. On a honeymoon, where you're sipping cocktails at sunset and ordering wine at dinner, most couples hit that number easily. Buy it pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner — never pay the onboard walk-up rate.
3. Specialty dining is worth it — but you don't need a full package. MDR (Main Dining Room) food on RC is perfectly fine. But 2–3 specialty dinners across a 7-night honeymoon hit different. Chops Grille (RC's steakhouse) runs about $55–$65/person; Giovanni's and other venues are typically $35–$50/person. A 3-night specialty dining package pre-cruise usually runs $90–$130/person — that's 25–40% off individual cover prices.
4. Gratuities are non-negotiable. RC auto-charges $18/person/day for standard staterooms. That's $252/couple on a 7-night cruise. Suite guests pay more. Budget for this — it's not optional.
5. Excursions: the biggest wildcard. Do 1–2 RC-booked excursions and 1–2 independent ones to balance cost and convenience. RC shore excursions average $80–$150/person; independent operators in the same ports often run 30–50% less. On a honeymoon, private beach breaks, catamaran snorkeling, and sunset cruises are worth the premium — but book early, they sell out.
6. The 18% service charge on everything. Every bar charge, specialty dining bill, spa service, and room service order adds 18% gratuity automatically. That $13 cocktail at Playmakers? It's actually $15.34. Factor this into every drink estimate.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Practical Tips to Get the Most Out of Your RC Honeymoon
Register as honeymooners before you sail. Call RC or note it during booking. RC's Honeymoon Registry lets guests contribute to your cruise credit. You may get small perks — a cabin decoration, a complimentary dessert, sometimes a bottle of sparkling wine — but don't expect the moon. The real perks come from booking the right package.
Buy packages early through the Cruise Planner. RC's Cruise Planner (accessible via your booking) often runs flash sales — sometimes 30–40% off drink packages, dining packages, and Wi-Fi. Set a calendar reminder to check it once a month after booking. The best sales typically drop around Black Friday, New Year's, and random mid-week promos.
Book a balcony cabin — it's worth it for a honeymoon. You'll spend real time on that balcony. Sunrise coffee, sunset cocktails, watching ports approach. Interior rooms save money but kill the romance on a honeymoon. If a full balcony is out of budget, a Central Park or Boardwalk balcony on Oasis-class ships can be cheaper than ocean-view balconies while still giving you outdoor space.
Specialty dining hack: book night 1 or night 2. The first two nights are traditionally your best chance at discounted specialty dining — RC sometimes runs 20% off promos onboard for early bookers. The MDR is also slightly less crowded those first nights if you stick with it.
The spa: book port days, avoid sea days. Spa prices drop on port days when the ship is emptier. Sea day spa prices are peak. Also ask about the Thermal Suite pass — a flat daily rate for unlimited sauna, steam, heated tile loungers. Much better value than individual treatments if you're into that kind of relaxation.
Photo packages: worth it for a honeymoon. RC photographers will be everywhere on embarkation day, formal night, and at ports. A digital photo package (all photos from your cruise, downloadable) typically runs $200–$250 if bought before sailing. Individual printed photos onboard can run $25–$35 each. Buy the package pre-cruise.
Wi-Fi: one device per person or share strategically. RC's Surf + Stream package runs about $25–$30/device/day pre-cruise. If you both want connectivity, budget ~$350–$420 for the week. Alternatively, use port Wi-Fi for free at most Caribbean stops and go intentionally offline at sea — honestly not a bad honeymoon strategy.
Bring a small carry-on with essentials for embarkation day. Your checked luggage won't reach your cabin until mid-afternoon. Pack swimwear, sunscreen, your travel documents, and any medications in a carry-on. Don't let your honeymoon's first afternoon be spent waiting for a bag.
Best Royal Caribbean Ships for a Honeymoon (2025–2026)
| Ship | Best For | Honeymoon Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Icon of the Seas | Couples who want everything | Most bars, restaurants, and experiences of any ship afloat |
| Wonder of the Seas | Caribbean romance + big ship energy | Central Park neighborhood, excellent specialty dining |
| Harmony of the Seas | Value-conscious honeymooners | All Oasis-class perks at slightly lower price points |
| Explorer / Voyager class | Smaller ship, more intimate feel | Less overwhelming, great for port-heavy itineraries |
| Allure of the Seas (post-2024 refit) | Couples who want updated Oasis class | Freshly renovated, solid value vs. Icon pricing |
For a honeymoon specifically, Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas on a 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean itinerary is the sweet spot. You get the full RC experience, multiple dining and bar options, and enough sea days to actually decompress together.
Your honeymoon cruise is going to cost more than the base fare shows — that's just cruise reality. But if you go in with a real budget, buy your packages pre-cruise at Cruise Planner sale prices, and register as honeymooners, you'll maximize every dollar. Use CruiseMutiny to build your full cost estimate before you sail so there are zero surprises on the final bill.