The Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package (non-alcoholic) runs roughly $28–$35/person/day pre-cruise, while the Deluxe Beverage Package averages $65–$95/person/day. If you drink 5+ alcoholic beverages a day, the Deluxe pays off — otherwise, the Refreshment Package or nothing at all is the smarter buy.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Most Royal Caribbean cruisers assume they need the Deluxe Beverage Package. They don't. The real question is whether your daily drinking habits actually justify spending up to $95/person/day — and for a lot of people, the answer is a hard no. Here's how to figure out which package (if any) makes sense for your sailing.
The Packages, the Prices, and What You Actually Get
Royal Caribbean sells two main drink bundles that confuse people:
- Refreshment Package (non-alcoholic): Covers mocktails, sodas, specialty coffees (including café on-ship brands, but not Starbucks), juices, bottled water, and virgin drinks. Pre-cruise price typically runs $28–$35/person/day.
- Deluxe Beverage Package (alcoholic): Covers cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks — up to the $14/drink cap per item. Pre-cruise price typically runs $65–$95/person/day.
Important: Royal Caribbean enforces a $14-per-drink cap on the Deluxe package. Premium cocktails and top-shelf spirits above $14 will cost you the difference. Order a Clase Azul margarita and you're paying an upcharge.
| Package | Typical Pre-Cruise Price | Covers Alcohol | Drink Cap | Covers Specialty Coffee | Covers Starbucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refreshment Package | $28–$35/person/day | ❌ No | N/A | ✅ Yes (ship brand) | ❌ No |
| Deluxe Beverage Package | $65–$95/person/day | ✅ Yes | $14/drink | ✅ Yes (ship brand) | ❌ No |
| Nothing (pay as you go) | $0 upfront | Pay per drink | N/A | Pay per drink | Pay per drink |
All prices are pre-cruise via the Cruise Planner — the rate you'll see onboard is higher. Lock your package in before you sail. Check your specific sailing's Cruise Planner for the exact figure since Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
What Actually Drives the Cost Decision
Your daily drink count is everything. Here's the math at typical 2025–2026 onboard prices (before Royal Caribbean's 18–20% gratuity):
| Drink Type | Typical Onboard Price (before gratuity) | With 18% Gratuity |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic beer | $7.50 | ~$8.85 |
| Well cocktail | $11.50 | ~$13.57 |
| Signature cocktail | $13.50 | ~$15.93 |
| Wine by the glass | $11.00 | ~$12.98 |
| Specialty coffee | $6.00 | ~$7.08 |
| Bottled water | $4.00 | ~$4.72 |
To break even on the Deluxe Beverage Package at $75/day (mid-range pre-cruise price): you need roughly 5–6 drinks per day including specialty coffees and waters. That's realistic on a sea-heavy Caribbean sailing. It's less realistic on a port-intensive Mediterranean itinerary where you're off the ship eating and drinking ashore half the day.
The Refreshment Package breaks even fast if you're a coffee and water person. Two specialty coffees ($7.08 × 2 = $14.16) plus two bottled waters ($4.72 × 2 = $9.44) already gets you to $23.60/day — close to the package price before you've had a single mocktail or soda.
Key factors that shift the decision:
- Sea days vs. port days: More sea days = more onboard drinking = packages make more sense
- Your group's drinking habits: RC requires the package for all adults in the same cabin. One light drinker can kill the math.
- Itinerary length: Longer sailings give you more days to spread the fixed package cost
- Sale timing: RC runs Cruise Planner sales regularly. Packages sometimes drop 20–30% during Black Friday or summer promotions. Watch for these.
- The $14 cap risk: If your go-to drink is a premium pour above $14, you'll be paying upcharges constantly — factor that in.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
How to Decide (and Save Money Either Way)
Do the math for your specific trip before you buy anything. Here's a simple framework:
- Estimate your honest daily drink count (be realistic — not your vacation fantasy count)
- Multiply by the average per-drink price including gratuity (~$13–$16 for cocktails)
- If that number beats the pre-cruise Deluxe Package price, buy the package
- If you're a non-drinker or 1–2 drinks/day person, check whether the Refreshment Package covers your coffee and water habit
- If you drink 1–2 beers a night and nothing else, pay as you go — you'll almost certainly come out ahead
Practical money-saving moves:
- Book early in the Cruise Planner and monitor for price drops — RC will honor the lower rate if you cancel and rebook
- Watch for Black Friday and holiday sales — drink package prices can drop significantly
- The Crown & Anchor combo deals (Refreshment Package + other add-ons) sometimes offer better value than buying separately — compare your Cruise Planner options
- Don't buy the package at the pier or onboard. Onboard pricing is almost always higher than pre-cruise rates
- Bring an allowed bottle of wine — Royal Caribbean permits one bottle of wine per adult at embarkation. That's your first night taken care of for free.
Which Package Is Right for Which Traveler
| Traveler Type | Best Choice | |---|---|---| | Heavy drinker (5+ drinks/day), sea-heavy itinerary | Deluxe Beverage Package — it pays | | Moderate drinker (2–4 drinks/day) | Run the math; often pay-as-you-go wins | | Non-drinker who loves specialty coffee + water | Refreshment Package likely breaks even or saves | | One drinker, one non-drinker sharing a cabin | Painful — RC requires both adults to buy the same tier. Consider pay-as-you-go for both. | | Port-heavy itinerary (Mediterranean, etc.) | Lean toward pay-as-you-go or Refreshment Package only | | Family with kids | Kids have their own package pricing — don't forget to factor those in |
The Deluxe Beverage Package is a genuinely good deal for the right traveler on the right itinerary. But Royal Caribbean is counting on you to buy it out of convenience anxiety — the fear that you'll "miss out" if you don't. Don't let that drive the decision. Run your numbers, check the current pricing on your Cruise Planner, and buy only what you'll actually drink.
Use CruiseMutiny to model the full cost of your Royal Caribbean sailing — drink packages, gratuities, specialty dining, and all the other add-ons — before you book a single thing.