She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring wine onboard but charge a $15 corkage fee if you consume in public areas of the ship. How To Cheat Royal Caribbean Drink Package (7 Ways for 2023) 8 Ways to Hack the Royal Caribbean Drink Package - WikiHow Another way to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy drinks at port. Before even booking a drink package, you should determine roughly how many drinks per day you think you can and will drink over the course of your cruise. When the ship is docked at a port, guests are allowed to leave the ship and explore the local area. Your bottle of vino. Jenni. Last time I cruised with Royal Caribbean in December 2019 you could do both options. Royal Caribbean offers just one unlimited alcohol package, the Deluxe Beverage package. Expensive Cruises are expensive enough. If not, just leave blank, 2023 Royal Caribbean Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons, How to purchase Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages, Spotted: Deluxe Beverage and Ultimate Dining Package combo, Clarification on Royal Caribbean's drink package premium coffee benefit, Royal Caribbean offering free Royal Replenish package with any Ultimate Refreshment Package purchase, Pros and Cons of Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages. On top of what I already paid for the two unlimited packages? Then, log into the Cruise Planner regularly to watch the price. The discount is increased by up to 30% during promotional periods such as Black Friday. However, you can get a drink every 15 minutes so it is possible to get the occasional drink for your child on the sly. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Can I opt out of the gratuities scheme ?, we prefer to tip directly to people who give good service. Do Royal Caribbean offer drink packages on three night cruises? Unfortunately, buying individual drinks from the bar can cost even more, as youll see from the Royal Caribbean drink menus. Hi, I have harmony of the seas booked for next may but when I have tried to book a drinks package there is no option for this. Royal Caribbean allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on-board and theyre very strict about that. Does the deluxe drink package include adding items to your mini bar? 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. These are the average Royal Caribbean drinks prices in 2022: Beer - $8.25. Royal Caribbean launches new pre-cruise sale on drink packages, wifi 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. Likewise, shorter cruises have a tendency to have more of a party atmosphere than longer cruises. It makes enjoying drinks simple, with no-fuss involved. Jenni. The lowest prices can often be found during the Black Friday sale period. My two sons are coming on the cruise with me. If someone told me I could save more money by doing some simple math every day, you bet I would bring my calculator onboard. Suggested read: 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Purchasing the Royal Caribbean drink package online is the most convenient way to find the best deal. How strict are they on how much bottles you can bring on board? You can buy more wine at the ports of call to use this option multiple times to save a few dollars. Cheating the Royal Caribbean drinks package completely isnt really possible. If you want to drink your wine in public areas, you will need to pay a $15 corkage fee. Generally speaking, Royal Caribbean does not offer its drink packages for free, but it does regularly offer discounts on them. Can I please get the link to the calculator? So, strictly speaking they would need their own. With that in mind, while convenience is important, we believe the cost savings still supersedes whatever convenience the drink package offers. Sure, it is nice to have, but far from essential. This is different from other cruise lines like MSC which make kids also get one. These include alcoholic beverages that are not part of the house brands, such as top-shelf liquor and wine by the bottle. Buying a drink package in advance is the best strategy to save money, because it will cost more onboard the ship. 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). In fact, Royal Caribbean almost always has some kind of special offer to encourage people to book cruises. Usually, the Deluxe Beverage Package runs somewhere between $40 - $52 per person, per day when purchased in advance. I hope that helps, enjoy your cruise! Another advantage is that even when the bar is busier, you have a higher chance of getting served quicker. We can take on wine and sift drinks ??. If you are on a short cruise and are looking to have a good time, the drink package can make a lot more sense, since there are less days to use the package benefits. How To Cheat Royal Caribbean Drink Package? - Detailed Guide - AnswerCatch Its not like you can sneak a cocktail on board with you, is it? However, discretion is the games name, and worrying about being seen can make it more stressful than worthwhile. 2 bottles of wine and 12 cans of soft drinks per stateroom. Of course, this isnt much fun as having a drink package. However, its always cheaper to buy it before you board. 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. For most sailings, when you buy a drinks package online, an 18% gratuity charge is added at the checkout. Our tips and opinions are based on our first-hand experiences with the drink packages, and the current versions for this year. There are also lots of other free dinks included on your Royal Caribbean cruise and in some instances even free alcohol. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Cruise Alcohol Packages 2021 | How To Cheat The System That adds up. On the first day of your cruise, you may see signs offering Buy One Get One Free deals on drinks packages. Royal Caribbean usually prices the coffee card at $31 per card. Can You Bring Insulated Water Bottle on Royal Caribbean Cruise If you knew you would not be drinking enough every day of your cruise to break even, why would you over pay for a package? You can read more about this here: The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Hi Katie. Some people feel aggrieved at having to pay for more than they need. Instead, they can order soft drinks and discreetly add their own alcohol directly to the drink. Im going on a cruise in October and would like the full drinks package for myself. You will have to contact Royal Caribbean directly, as you cannot do this online. If multiple people are ordering a drink with a drink package, the bartender or waiter may take each guests' SeaPass card to place the order. Hi Carmen. 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. Here are some of the top ways to "cheat" Royal Caribbean drinking packages. And with so many tantalizing choices on each bar menu, the temptation to grab a drink is always present. No, you would have to buy it for every day of your cruise. (Of course Ill be waiting for a discount before booking it as you have advised! 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. There are a few ways to do it, but we don't advise you to because the results could be disastrous. If you are caught sharing your drinks with someone who doesnt have a package, you risk having your drink package cancelled without a refund. 25 Best Tips to Get Cheap Drinks & Free Alcohol on Cruises Royal Caribbean doesnt offer free drinks packages. Thank you for answering all these questions! So Im noticing all the cool mixed cocktail drinks are priced. Cocktails are regularly priced at around $10-13 per drink, which means bar tabs can quickly get expensive. Prices for a beverage package are as follows (prices before gratuity or VAT): Deluxe: $63-70 per person, per day. Hello we r doing a three night cruise out of Brisbane in November. Are the drink prices in US dollars or Australian while on an Australian run. It is important to keep in mind what your goal is when ordering a drink package. It is impossible to completely cheat the Royal Caribbean drinks package. Come have . I hope this helps. Note the wording used. Is there a limit in time how many drinks/baverages I can order. Hi Jose. It really boils down to your habits on a cruise and how much you think you might drink. Whichever package you choose, you must buy it for every adult passenger for every day of your cruise. On our latest Royal Caribbean Cruise, We discovered a little secret. Are you going to be spending much of your time by the pool or are you someone that will be doing other activities where drinking may not always be an option. 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. There's usually always a good sale for Black Friday, too. Is this due to the situation at the moment or have they stopped selling drinks package online. The price of Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is not fixed. Each card is good for 15 punches. 6 Royal Caribbean Cruise Hacks | Cruise Critic All adults of legal drinking age in a stateroom must buy it, or nobody can have it. These discounts are offered selectively and can vary in terms of how much the discount is and for which sailings they are eligible. So you wont have to pay any more for your drinks unless you order something really specialist. You should think about how much time you plan to spend on the ship. I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. 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. I had the drink package so I didnt get the answer to this. Im sure intentionally just over the 12.00 limit for the ultimate drink package. Per day? Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. The Classic Sodapackage is what was once called by many guests, "the soda card". So no, you wouldnt have to pay any extra gratuities on drinks. It's not like you can just stick the drink package sticker on your cruise card and get free drinks for the entire cruise. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. This may seem counterintuitive to waiting to spot a better deal. But, its still going to inflate the price of your cruise by several hundred dollars, maybe more. As the drink package offers an unlimited number of drinks per day, you might be considering this as an option. This drink package pretty much includes all beverages onboard that do not contain any booze. Therefore they know its less likely you will be able to consume the maximum amount, therefore more profitable, whether its a sea day or port day, you have to have drinks package all days or none. The Royal Caribbean drinks packages are structured to make a profit. Superb article, i am new to cruising and only used NCL which seems to have cheap drink package and this helps me no end, thanks a million, Im so pleased that you found this helpful Jenni. If you wish to recognise outstanding service by adding extra gratuities onboard the ship, you are welcome to do so. Or BYO seltzer, and make wine spritzers. Your email address will not be published. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. How much is the Royal Caribbean drink package? On a recent Royal Caribbean cruise, I bought the drinks package and got my moneys worth. I have a question Ive not seen answered. Thanks! ), Is Food Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruises (What and Where) 2023, Buy Early & Cancel if Discount Price Later Available, Make Friends with the Bar-tender / Waiters, Bottled waters (ideal for shore excursions). Or is that extra? However, you can get all-inclusive cruise package deals that have drinks included. Meanwhile at the Koningsdam's bars, that same Bombay gin and tonic comes to $8.34, after the 15% service fee. This is the same, no matter how many guests of drinking age stay in a cabin. I am on Voyagers of the seas in April on repositioning cruise. However, if you stay in a suite then youll be able to help yourself to free drinks in the VIP lounge for several hours each day! Although they still have to buy a package, its generally half the price. Royal Caribbean drinks packages are not officially allowed to be shared, but if you are discreet, you can get away with sharing some of your drinks package on a Royal Caribbean cruise. When you consider all of these, you might not see a need for a drink package at all. Unlike the other drink packages, the coffee card is not unlimited. When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, one very important question to consider is Should I get a drinks package or not?. Package Details: Royal Caribbean has one alcohol-inclusive beverage package on offer. You can also get cold coffee drinks at the coffee bars. Does anyone know what the difference is between the complimentary coffee and tea vs the premium coffee/tea you get when you buy the Refreshment Package? Keep in mind you'll not only be charged for the drink, but also the 18% gratuity automatically added. Its possible, but youd have to be super discrete not to get caught. Star Class staterooms are the highest . If you spot any further discounted offers, you can simply cancel your initial order penalty free and replace it by ordering the new cheaper offer price.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruiseshiptraveller_com-leader-2','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruiseshiptraveller_com-leader-2-0'); If you wait to purchase the drinks package until on the ship, you will generally have to pay a higher price and wait in a long queue for pleasure! Jenni. Cheating the Royal Caribbean drinks package completely isn't really possible. 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. Before purchasing any drink package, be sure to do your homework and do the math of how much you have to drink, every day of your cruise for it to make sense. 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. Ill be cruising in November on Oasis of the Seas. We are travelling with Royal Caribbean for the first time and are considering purchasing the Deluxe drinks package. I have a general question I am booked on the Adventure of the Sea in February wondering if the muster station is done outside standing or inside able to sit down.. Hi Jill. This will earn you Prime status (I'll explain all the tier levels of Casino Royale, as well as the other benefits you can earn later in this article). Great blog exactly the sort of information I was looking for to make in informed decision. Many times, travel agents will have access to special deals and discounts that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Weve never bought a drink package, always paid per drinkbut are considering this trip. 4 Ways That People Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package - Cruise Mummy Ive just used $USD in this guide to keep things consistent for most readers. It is popular with older children and those that like having juices, coffee and teas. If I purchase a bottle of wine for my table does that get calculated into the $89. Thank you in advance. Years ago, you could buy five bottles of wine for $165, 7 bottles for $220 and 10 bottles for $300. If you are caught sharing your Royal Caribbean Drinks package, it will be canceled, and you will not receive a refund. If I bought the premium beverage drink do I have to pay an additional gratuites? Could I buy only 4 of the 8 days of my trip, for example? Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! Jenni. With that said, prices for Royal Caribbean drinks have been on the rise over the last few years. 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. That seems pretty good to me. Hi Maria, would i be charged the difference between a virgin pina colada and a pina colada with alcohol? So, is there a way to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package and save some money Well, actually there are a few ways, Im not suggesting that you try any of these and Id hate for you to get into trouble. Like what you see? Order non-alcoholic drinks, like juice, coffee, and soda, throughout the day as part of your drinks package. This reduces the price of each coffee from around $4 to around $2. 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 . Just pop your email in the form and Ill send you a link to the calculator. I have some tips for you here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/taking-a-baby-on-a-cruise-ship/ Jenni, Many thanks, very useful. That said, if you pour a glass of wine in your stateroom and then take it to the restaurant with you, the waiters would have no idea that you didnt buy the wine in the bar before dinner. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! Enjoy reading all you write about cruising. All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same stateroom booking number are required to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package. Currently, the price for a can of soda is $3.50, before the 18% gratuity. Hi Karen. I have a question. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! Some people wonder if they can get the Deluxe Beverage Package for one person and a cheaper Refreshment Package or Soda Package for the other and then swap drinks sometimes. Cruise lines rarely use the word free, instead they use included. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes drinks with liquor up to $14 in value. And you also have to wash it yourself so be sure to bring dish soap and a sponge. After that, you can cancel it when you first embark on the ship, but no later. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. For example, guests are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or champagne per person on board during embarkation day. Im guessing they make it cheaper on a longer cruise compared to a 3- or 4-nighter so its really hard to compare with what Ive seen it for on my own cruises. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Royal Caribbean's drink packages are a fixed daily cost plan offered on all Royal Caribbean ships so guests can budget their beverage costs in advance and (potentially) save money. 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). There is no worrying about how much the drink costs and if you should get it or something cheaper. This includes the Windjammer, main dining room, and specialty restaurants. See also Why Did Gyro Go into the Bakery? Refreshment: $29 per person, per day. How much extra does Royal Caribbean charge for a double? This costs $31 and gives you 15 specialty coffees throughout your cruise. Were booked on the Liberty of the Seas cruise in November 2020. There are three of us going on the cruise May 22nd my self, my wife, and a cousin. For cruises that start elsewhere, its 18. Well, this goes against Royal Caribbeans rules. This includes unlimited everything from non-alcoholic beverages to premium coffee and bottled water. If it drops, cancel the package and re-buy it at the lower price. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. To get the most value out of your drinks package, always take the opportunity to specify the top-quality liquor brands in your drinks. Hi, I would Like to know something. Can I ask there is a limit of bringing drinks on board yourselves but how do they actually know if you have brought more than the allowance? And refuel for evening adventure with non-alcoholic cocktails. Today we dive into a controversial cruise line topic. Still, I wouldnt recommend cheating the drink package in this way. Royal Caribbean Drink Package loophole * NEW FOR 2020 Royal Caribbean drinks prices are on the high end when compared to other cruise lines. Royal Caribbean seems to employ a variable pricing model that considers time of year, ship class and other factors in offering the price of the drink package. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring wine onboard but charge a $15 corkage fee if you consume in public areas of the ship. If you wish to drink it in public areas then youll have to pay a corkage fee of $15 per bottle. Another way that people cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is to sneak their own booze on board with them. We are no spring chickens the three of us are just under 70. You might be wondering what you get with a drink package and if it's really worth it to spend all that money on one. You have to call Royal and they will book it for you. I have a guide that debates that question for you here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/refuse-pay-gratuities-on-cruise/. Whole Cabin everyone in the cabin has to buy it. Do you know the difference in the tea? Most people get the drinks package for the alcohol. Royal Caribbean Drink Package: Ultimate Guide - High Seas Cruising Example pool vs Bamboo. Any frozen drinks too without the alcohol. If youre caught, youll lose your whole package with no refund. Great observation, Michelle. 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. You may be better off opting to pay for drinks as you go as its hard to break even without drinking a lot of alcohol each day. From time to time, Royal Caribbean may offer a drink package discount. 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. Royal Caribbean no longer offers a wine package. You would need to buy it for the whole cruise. The drink package benefits are available on the guest's SeaPass card, which any waiter or bartender can verify they have the package. So Im booked and considering the drinks package. Whilst they dont call it a sale, the prices do go up and down. When you buy any drink package, you will see a line item charge for a "service charge." ), I have just updated this post as the gratuity on Royal Caribbeans drinks packages is now 18% for 2021. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We have two kids. The various plans provide guests with unlimited drinks that can be used at any bar or restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships (and private destinations). When using a drink package, I always struggle with the question of, "Am I ordering a drink because I want one or because I have a drink package?" What if you buy just the one alcoholic drinks package and use it to get drinks for everyone in your group? 1 Buy your drink package before the cruise. Of course, if its a special bottle of Champagne or something, then the corkage fee could be worth it. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. But by the glass its included. Fresh squeezed orange juice and sodas etc. The gratuity is added on at the final checkout so you will see the final price before you commit to buy it. Otherwise, bar-tender will likely give you the cheaper or unknown house brands if you request generic drinks. Thank you. If the other adult(s) in the same stateroom do not wish to purchase a Deluxe Beverage Package, you can call Royal Caribbean and ask for an exemption. "Guest agrees to not provide or share drinks with other guests;". The bar staff were always encouraging me to let them make up drinks rather than stick the menu, so Im sure they wouldnt mind you asking.