Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package on a transatlantic cruise typically runs $80/person/day pre-cruise (range: $56–$120/day), with an 18% gratuity surcharge added on top — making the real cost closer to $94/person/day at the typical rate.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Transatlantic crossings are 12–16 nights of open ocean, which means a lot of sea days — and a lot of bar bills. Before you assume a drink package is a no-brainer, you need to know exactly what Royal Caribbean charges, what the fine print looks like, and whether the math actually works on a long haul like this.
Royal Caribbean Drink Package Costs: The Real Numbers
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing — the same way airlines price seats. What you pay depends on your ship, sail date, and how close to departure you book. That said, here are the benchmarks for 2025–2026 sailings:
| Package | Pre-Cruise Typical | Price Range/Day | Alcoholic? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Beverage Package | $80/person/day | $56–$120 | ✅ Yes | Cocktails, beer, wine by glass, specialty coffee, sodas, bottled water. $14 drink price cap. |
| Royal Refreshment Package | $35/person/day | $29–$42 | ❌ No | Specialty coffees, juices, mocktails, smoothies, sodas. |
| Classic Soda Package | $13/person/day | $9.99–$18 | ❌ No | Sodas only. No Freestyle machine access as of March 2026. |
Critical fine print: Add 18% gratuity on top of every package price. At the typical $80/day Deluxe rate, that's an extra $14.40/day per person. Real all-in cost: ~$94/person/day.
For a 14-night transatlantic, that math looks like this:
| Package | Pre-Cruise Rate | + 18% Gratuity | 14-Night Total (1 person) | Couple (14 nights) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Beverage | $80/day | ~$14.40/day | $1,317 | $2,634 |
| Royal Refreshment | $35/day | ~$6.30/day | $576 | $1,153 |
| Classic Soda | $13/day | ~$2.34/day | $214 | $428 |
Those are big numbers. Before you swipe, do the break-even math below.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Drive Transatlantic Drink Package Value
Sea days change everything. A typical transatlantic has 7–10 consecutive sea days. You're not wandering ports — you're on the ship, at the pool bar, at dinner, at the theater bar. This is actually one of the strongest cases for a drink package anywhere in cruising. You'll use it.
The $14 drink cap is real and it bites. The Deluxe Beverage Package covers drinks up to $14. Premium cocktails, top-shelf spirits, and some wines can run $15–$20 before gratuity. Anything over $14 and you pay the difference plus 18% on the overage. Stick to cocktails under the cap and you're fine.
Break-even is 5–6 drinks per day (counting specialty coffees, waters, and juices at their individual prices). On a sea-day-heavy transatlantic, most moderate drinkers hit this without trying.
The cabin rule is non-negotiable. All adults sharing a cabin must purchase the same tier. No exceptions. One partner doing Deluxe, the other doing nothing — not allowed. Plan accordingly.
Not valid at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. If your transatlantic stops at Nassau and you're planning a Royal Beach Club day, your package doesn't cover drinks there. Budget separately.
Individual drink prices for reference: Cocktails run $11.50–$13.50 before 18% gratuity (so $13.60–$15.90 all-in). A domestic beer is $7.50 + 18% = ~$8.85. Specialty coffee runs $6 + 18% = ~$7.10. Three cocktails, two coffees, and a water daily and you've cleared break-even before dinner.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
How to Get the Lowest Price on a Royal Caribbean Drink Package
Book pre-cruise through your Cruise Planner — always. Onboard pricing runs 20–40% higher than the pre-cruise rate. There's no reason to wait.
Watch for flash sales. Royal Caribbean runs Cruise Planner sales that can drop the Deluxe package to $56–$65/day. These appear randomly, often around Black Friday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Set a calendar reminder and check monthly.
You can cancel and rebook. If you buy at $80/day and a sale drops it to $65/day, cancel the original purchase (fully refundable pre-cruise) and rebook at the lower rate. This is completely legitimate and works.
Consider the non-alcoholic option seriously. If you're a light or non-drinker, the Royal Refreshment Package at $35/day (~$41 all-in with gratuity) covers specialty coffees, juices, smoothies, and mocktails. On a 14-night crossing, that's $576/person vs. $1,317 for Deluxe. The gap has to justify your actual consumption.
Don't buy the Soda Package in 2025–2026. As of March 12, 2026, it no longer includes Freestyle machine access. At $13–$18/day, you can buy individual sodas (free at the buffet, ~$3.50 at bars) for far less. This package is almost never worth it now.
Transatlantic-Specific Recommendation
For a Royal Caribbean transatlantic with 8+ sea days, here's my honest take by traveler type:
| Traveler Type | Best Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Regular drinker (3+ cocktails/day) | Deluxe Beverage Package | Break-even is easy, sea days guarantee usage |
| Light drinker (1–2 drinks/day) | Pay as you go | Package math likely doesn't work |
| Non-drinker / coffee lover | Royal Refreshment | Specialty coffees alone justify it over 14 nights |
| Soda-only drinker | Neither | Get sodas free at the buffet; pay as needed at bars |
| Couple with mixed drinking habits | Tough call — both must buy the same | Run the numbers per person; consider who drives the bill |
Ships like Wonder of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas commonly run transatlantics, and all offer identical package structures. The ship doesn't change the pricing model — your sail date and demand do.
If you want to check live pricing for your specific sailing before committing, use CruiseMutiny to run the numbers side by side — or lock in your transatlantic fare through CruiseHub and watch the Cruise Planner for package flash sales after booking.