Instead, they can order soft drinks and discreetly add their own alcohol directly to the drink. This gratuity is compulsory and cannot be taken off. Check your Cruise Compass (the ship's daily planner) to see what the drink of the day . To be eligible for free drinks at Casino Royale, you'll need to earn at least 2500 points. 4 Ways That People Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package; 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro; 8 Drinks That Are Free on . would i be charged the difference between a virgin pina colada and a pina colada with alcohol? Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Hello we r doing a three night cruise out of Brisbane in November. Cheating the Royal Caribbean Drink Package can be done with a few simple tricks. You have to call Royal and they will book it for you. Royal Caribbean's newest cruise planner sale kicks off today with up to 35% off pre-cruise add-ons. Plus, as we were sailing from the UK it was easy to bring our own wine and cans of pop on board so we didnt need to buy many drinks on the ship. You can see a full list of those here: List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises. I have another question. If you buy the drink package before you board you may be able to get it for cheaper as pre-cruise drink package prices fluctuate before the sailing date. Bottle of water - $3. It is important to note that you are not always forced into paying full prices for drinks. Heck, there is not even the concern about if you can afford to get a drink or not. For this reason, a drinks package may be better value on a cruise with lots of sea days, such as a transatlantic sailing. Royal Caribbean advertises that its drink packages can be purchased at any point in a cruise, provided there are at least four days left in the cruise. The drink package has an equal number of fans and critics. All I can see is my cruise planner prices which are $95+ per day!! Thank you. If all you want are lattes, espresso, or something stronger than regular coffee, then perhaps Royal Caribbean's Caf Select Coffee Card is the right choice for you. On the other hand, your local restaurants may serve up drinks for a fraction of the cost of what you will find at Boleros. If purchased prior to your cruise on the Cruise Planner site, the Deluxe Beverage package often costs between $48 - $79per guest, per night (excluding gratuity). Its hardly surprising people think about ways they can cheat the system in other ways. When the ship is docked at a port, guests are allowed to leave the ship and explore the local area. Today we dive into a controversial cruise line topic. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Hi we are new to cruising we have spoken to royal Caribbean about packages they have allowed us to book a deluxe drinks package and a soft drink package as there are 2 of us in the cabin question is could I drink some soft drinks from my wives package and can she have a couple of my alcoholic drinks I have ready about not sharing a single package There are some other ways you can sneak booze on boar too. The lowest prices can often be found during the Black Friday sale period. On most cruises, including cruises departing from the US, an automatic gratuity of 18% is added to the cost of each drink when you receive the bill. Each package provides guests with an unlimited allotment of servings of the specific beverages their package includes. You will also find some fountain-style drinks at the buffet. Once purchased, you must pay for the package for the duration of your cruise. For cruises that start in North America, the minimum drinking age is 21. The only way that you could make this work is if you have two staterooms. If you have a question that isnt listed here, you can add it in the comments section at the end. Likewise, shorter cruises have a tendency to have more of a party atmosphere than longer cruises. With that in mind, while convenience is important, we believe the cost savings still supersedes whatever convenience the drink package offers. Grab fruit and sugar from the buffet and some booze from the bar, and make your own in-cabin sangria for a happy hour on your balcony. Required fields are marked *. You should think about how much time you plan to spend on the ship. None of the packagesinclude mini bar items, Evian water, canned sodas, bottled juice and souvenir glassware, specialty beers as listed on bar menus, or super premium category beverages. Tap water is always free of charge on Royal Caribbean cruises and there are lots of places you can get it on the ship. It's not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks throughout your cruise. Only when both guests choose the drinks package will it allow you to pay. If you are uncomfortable standing, just let a staff member know and they will be sure to accommodate you. Jenni. If you have questions, ask them there, too. Does that include the 16.36% gratuity or will I be charged another 16.36% of 856, which would be another 140 approx ? You can read more about this here: The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package. On the Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships, the drinks package limit is $13 rather than $12 to account for these ships having slightly higher drinks prices. You can buy more wine at the ports of call to use this option multiple times to save a few dollars. Its possible, but youd have to be super discrete not to get caught. The best way to get a deal on a Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy one as early as you can and then re-price when there are price drops. Jenni, Hi Jose, Getting caught will get your drink package canceled or can result in. Hi Kristin. This saves you from having to buy bottled water when in ports.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruiseshiptraveller_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-115{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. To work out if a drinks package is worth it, you need to work out how many drinks you would need to drink each day to break even. Good luck! This means a drink package cannot be shared by more than one person. Just enter your email address below and youll receive a link to it in your inbox asap. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. As well as free drinks like flavoured water, tea, coffee and chocolate milk (see the full list of free drinks here) you can sometimes get alcoholic drinks for free at certain events. Typically, there's a pre-cruise sale every few weeks, although the total cost of the drink package may not actually change. Manage Settings While guests are not typically allowed to bring their own alcohol on board, this rule has a few exceptions. Royal Caribbean state: "cannot be shared by guests.". That is probably enough background on Royal Caribbean's drink packages. Having the drink package does help ease your mind about paying $14for that cucumber martini. Purchasing the Royal Caribbean drink package online is the most convenient way to find the best deal. Bringing Weed on a Cruise: Everything You Need to Know, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/refuse-pay-gratuities-on-cruise/. One of the benefits of a drinks package is that if you dont like a drink you dont have to drink it. Refreshment: $29 per person, per day. You can even request the brands to be used in making your cocktails. Hi Katie. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Yes, you can just cancel it and buy it again. For many, its also about getting around some of the drink package instructions, which limit to buying a certain amount of drinks. Although they still have to buy a package, its generally half the price. So buying the bottle set-up for your stateroom ultimately results in a massive $80 savings! Each drink package purchased is per guest, and may only be used by the person buying it. Should you purchase the drinks package on your next cruise? Thanks for the comprehensive review! There is a point to be made about pre-purchasing a drink package months before your cruise, paying it off then and then later going on your cruise and not dealing with a bill at the end of your cruise that makes you cringe (or worse). Soda - $3.50. This includes unlimited everything from non-alcoholic beverages to premium coffee and bottled water. Otherwise, bar-tender will likely give you the cheaper or unknown house brands if you request generic drinks. For example I drink a lot of water during the day so I will at least have 6 bottles of water. We can take on wine and sift drinks ??. You can use my free drinks package calculator to work out what your bar bill would be with no drink package. At least Ive got time to think about which package to buy. Some people feel aggrieved at having to pay for more than they need. These discounts are offered selectively and can vary in terms of how much the discount is and for which sailings they are eligible. The drinks prices vary slightly by ship, with around a $1 difference on some ships. Royal Caribbean guests wishing to purchase a drink package can do so either prior to their cruise via the Cruise Planner web site or once onboard their ship. You can use the coffee card atRoyal Caribbean coffee locations, such as Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes. These include alcoholic beverages that are not part of the house brands, such as top-shelf liquor and wine by the bottle. There are three ways to order the drink package: Call Royal Caribbean to buy the drink package before you sail Purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package through your online account Wait until you board the ship and purchase the drink package from one of the signup tables. List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Royal Caribbean offers just one unlimited alcohol package, the Deluxe Beverage package. These discounts have the potential to add to the potential value a guest can get from a drink package, but remember any discount does not necessarily make the value proposition a drink package offers a "slam dunk" deal. Im sure intentionally just over the 12.00 limit for the ultimate drink package. If you have the drink package you are better off ordering wine by the glass. There might be the most amazing drink on the menu, but you cannot bring yourself to spend $14 (or more) on it because that sounds too expensive for just one drink. No, you would have to buy it for every day of your cruise. It makes enjoying drinks simple, with no-fuss involved. What Happens if Caught Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise? When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, one very important question to consider is Should I get a drinks package or not?. With the acquisition of 80 points (equivalent to 80 nights at sea), guests become Diamond members. For a simple system, it can be surprisingly complex, do not feel bad if it takes some reading before you fully understand how the drink package works and whether it is a good for for your party. Im guessing it does not? In either case, you will still likely have a great vacation experience. In addition, guests that are members of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society are eligible to receive discounted and complimentary drinks during the cruise. But I have one question. Thanks for the great information. Royal Caribbean doesnt offer free drinks packages. What if you buy just the one alcoholic drinks package and use it to get drinks for everyone in your group? Another way that people cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is to sneak their own booze on board with them. If you order a drink that costs more than the package limit, you would be charged the difference. Some people don't care so much about "breaking even" on their purchase, because they just like the fact they pay one price and all their beers, cocktails and other beverages are included. This is extremely helpful. For example, guests are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or champagne per person on board during embarkation day. Currently, the price for a can of soda is $3.50, before the 18% gratuity. Royal Caribbeans rules state that each person must have the same package. Size of travel cots? Do Royal Caribbean offer drink packages on three night cruises? Royal Caribbean does not require guests under the legal drinking age to buy any kind of drinks package. What to think about before buying a Royal Caribbean drink package, Fountain sodas / Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages. While there are a few ways you can do it, I wouldnt recommend that you try, as the consequences of doing so can be serious. It is unlimited soda and quite popular with kids. While the package is generally offered for one person per stateroom, some ships allow multiple packages to be purchased for each person. One significant recent change to the Deluxe Beverage package is all Royal Caribbean passengers 21 years of age and older (18 years in Australia and the U.K) are required to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one other person in their cabin has one. Once purchased, you must pay for the package for the duration of your cruise. We are sailing on Anthem of the seas June for two weeks going for the de lux drinks package offered us 43 per day is that fair price or should I wait in case prices go down. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. We tend to fall somewhere in the middle, disagreeing with both extremes. Check your Cruise Planner and see if it comes up to purchase. There are also lots of other free dinks included on your Royal Caribbean cruise and in some instances even free alcohol. A cruise which ordinarily costs 699 might go up to 999 with drinks included. There is no limit on a Royal Caribbean drink package in terms of how many drinks a guest may consume in a day or throughout the cruise. Does the menu price already include the per drink gratuity? The newer Strawfish biodegradable straws are much better, but I would still recommend bringing your own metal straw, such as these collapsible straws that you can clip onto your bag or belt. If a drink is over 12 Dollars to I have the entire price or just the difference. Like what you see? Well, this goes against Royal Caribbeans rules. Complimentary is just regular coffee whereas premium includes cappuccino, latte, espresso etc. Wines are available to purchase by the bottle. However, quick word of warning before we continue: if you get caught cheating, although you wont be sent to the cruise jail, you will risk losing your drinks package without a refund, so continue at your own risk. Jenni. Theres not a time limit between drinks with Royal Caribbean, but you can only order one drink per person at a time. The key is to know how you like to cruise and which pros and cons of the drink package are more important to you. Read more:How to purchase Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages. However, you can get a drink every 15 minutes so it is possible to get the occasional drink for your child on the sly. Or is that extra? Just pop your email in the form and Ill send you a link to the calculator. Royal Caribbeans Crown & Anchor Society awards loyalty points for every night that guests spend on-board Royal Caribbean ships. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Prices for a beverage package are as follows (prices before gratuity or VAT): Deluxe: $63-70 per person, per day. !I just cant afford that and i dont see how its justified. Jenni. First-time cruisers will hopefully find this post as a good jumping off point for further reading on the drink packages. Thank you for answering all these questions! 1. For most people, this is limited to the occasional glass of free fizz at an art auction or similar event. Everyday some people want to cheat the package because they believe it is unfair because it forces you to buy it for every day of the cruise. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Ill be cruising in November on Oasis of the Seas. Thanks for this . Royal Caribbean usually prices the coffee card at $31 per card. You can then compare this total with the exact price of the drinks package for your cruise (shown on your Royal Caribbean cruise planner) to easily work out whether the drinks package is worth it or not. This is the same, no matter how many guests of drinking age stay in a cabin. One way guests sneak liquor on a Royal Caribbean cruise is to take advantage of the two bottles of wine per cabin policy but replace the wine with hard liquor. So no, you wouldnt have to pay any extra gratuities on drinks. If you want to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package, there are a few things you can do. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes drinks with liquor up to $14 in value. Yet with a drinks package, youre free to work your way down the menu, trying new things. Sure, it is nice to have, but far from essential. To begin with, the cruise line gave out paper straws which are sadly not fit for purpose when it comes to frozen cocktails. This is different from other cruise lines like MSC which make kids also get one. You can usually find other drink specials throughout your cruise. Thats right, each time you order a drink, and 18% gratuity is added on to your bill. You can buy the drink package at any time up to 48 hours before your ship sails. As the drink package offers an unlimited number of drinks per day, you might be considering this as an option. Thank you so much for such useful and great information. Drink is 15 Dollars so do i have to pay 3 Dollars or 15? The best way to save money on your Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy it a few days after booking your cruise. Ive been known to book two adjoining staterooms for our family of four as it actually worked out cheaper to do this when the four-berth inside rooms sold out. The tap water on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is perfectly safe to drink, List of Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises, 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service, The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package, 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/taking-a-baby-on-a-cruise-ship/, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/royal-caribbean-drinks-menus-with-prices/, Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/can-you-take-drinks-on-a-cruise-ship/, https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/how-to-sneak-alcohol-on-a-cruise-ship/. Earning free drinks in Royal Caribbean casinos. Its not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks throughout your cruise. If youre caught, youll lose your whole package with no refund. Can I please get the link to the calculator? And refuel for evening adventure with non-alcoholic cocktails. Convenience - Many guests swear by the convenience of Royal Caribbean's drink packages. Jenni. Here's the breakdown: $133 for 16 gin & tonics at the bar. Thanks! If you buy your drinks package in advance and then see that the price drops due to a promotion, you can cancel your drinks package, get a refund and then buy it again at the lower price. They worked for about half a drink before they collapse. You can buy a Royal Caribbean drinks package either before you sail via Royal Caribbeans Cruise Planner, or on board the ship on the first day of your cruise. ), I have just updated this post as the gratuity on Royal Caribbeans drinks packages is now 18% for 2021. Its a small 2.25 oz. ( Can You & What if Caught? Jenni. Are there ways to request a drink like a Bloody Mary but in a $12 or less version? Unfortunately, buying individual drinks from the bar can cost even more, as youll see from the Royal Caribbean drink menus. 4. In addition to being convenient, a lot of its fans advocate the unlimited drink packages help them stay on a budget and avoid thinking about money on a vacation. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. What about couples where one person drinks and the other person doesnt? Royal Caribbean offers a choice of three all-inclusive drinks packages: Royal Caribbeans alcohol drinks package includes: Royal Caribbeans non-alcoholic drinks package includes: The Classic Soda Packages comes with a refillable souvenir cup which you can use at self-service machines across the ship. I am going on my first cruise in February and found your information very helpful thank you. If you wish to recognise outstanding service by adding extra gratuities onboard the ship, you are welcome to do so. Instead, you get a physical card that will be punched every time you use the card. One other thing. Of course, you could always call Royal Caribbean and tell them that one person doesnt drink, but unless you have proof of a medical condition to back that up, they wont be able to help. Trying to "time" a lower price is a mistake because sometimes the price goes up and never goes back down. We were exploring ports almost every day. Making feeds? While theres a requirement for all adults in a stateroom to have the package, Royal Caribbean doesnt require kids to get any package at all. We are travelling with Royal Caribbean for the first time and are considering purchasing the Deluxe drinks package. The Royal Caribbean alcohol drinks package costs between $63 and $89 per person, per day and includes unlimited drinks worth up to $12 or $13 each (depending on the ship). On a recent Royal Caribbean cruise, I bought the drinks package and got my moneys worth. . Whilst it was nice to be able to fill up my drink from the machine, I didnt like that I had to carry the cup everywhere with me. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring wine onboard but charge a $15 corkage fee if you consume in public areas of the ship. All adults of legal drinking age in a stateroom must buy it, or nobody can have it. Does the deluxe drink package include adding items to your mini bar? Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Is this due to the situation at the moment or have they stopped selling drinks package online. Jenni. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! This information is brill thanks. We love the convenience of the drink package too, especially to have the freedom of trying new drinks without fear of ordering something we do not like and being "stuck" with it. You could always pour it from a cup into your own bottle I suppose. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My two sons are coming on the cruise with me. Enjoy virtually unlimited combinations on everything from cocktails with top-shelf spirits to premium teas and every beverage in between. Royal Caribbean allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on-board and theyre very strict about that. The Deluxe Beverage Package pricing varies by sailing, but is currently between $63 and $89 per person, per . I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. Enjoy! You can ask for a jug of iced water in any restaurant or get iced water by the glass for free at any bar. It is important to keep in mind what your goal is when ordering a drink package. Come have . Royal Caribbean states that the wine you bring onboard within your two bottles per stateroom limit must be consumed in your stateroom. Jenni. Do check out our Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review for more information! or would i be charged for the whole pina colada with alcohol? Nearly all discounts we have seen are offered prior to the cruise on the Cruise Planner web site. Jenni. I hope that helps! Can I buy unlimited beverage package for 2 days only in a four days cruise , or it has to be for all days ? Most people get the drinks package for the alcohol. See also Why Did Gyro Go into the Bakery? If you book a Star Class suite on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package is included for every guest in the room. Just like sneaking your own alcohol on board the ship, this isnt technically allowed, but people do it. If youre caught cheating the Royal Caribbean drink package by giving drinks to people who do not have a package, then you risk having your whole package removed without a refund. Im going on a cruise in October and would like the full drinks package for myself. Ive just used $USD in this guide to keep things consistent for most readers. However, in your stateroom will be a corkscrew, so you could simply open the bottle in your room, take your wine bottle and glass of wine out, and drink elsewhere onboard.