Answering every single question about a Royal Caribbean drink package

I know you've got questions about a Royal Caribbean drink package. Can I get someone else drinks? Can I choose the days to buy it? Is gratuity included? I've got all the answers in today's video!

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[Volcomsd]

Two helpful money saving tips. First, if you’re in the same cabin one person can order the refreshment package and one can order the deluxe drink plan. Calling customer service can make that happen. Second. If you don’t drink a lot, order the refreshment package, then order a mock tail and when you want an occasional drink, order the mock tail with a shot on the side. It’s cheaper than ordering the original drink. For example, redbull is free under refreshment plan, shot of vodka was $8 onboard. Regular redbull vodka was $13, saving you $5 for ordering just the shot. 😊

[ericjdahl]

The drink package is totally worth it! A few tips to maximize value:

1. Before your cruise, understand the full scope of your package, because it's more than just alcohol. Every morning, we would get freshly squeezed orange juice and premium drinks like lattes and cappuccinos from the barista. The soda machines w/ souvenir cup are included. Johnny Rocket's milkshakes are included (both virgin and spiked). Lastly, an underrated inclusion is unlimited water bottles, which you can easily take back to your room and off ship on port days.

2. Go to specialty restaurants! Most of the specialty restaurants have special cocktails that you can't get anywhere else on the ship, and they were the best drinks we could find. To avoid a big bill at specialty restaurants, we would grab only an appetizer, order 3-4 drinks each and have dinner at the main dining hall an hour later.

3. Make friends with bartenders all around the ship! Our first day, we met an amazing bartender at the pool bar, who also worked the main dining room bar at night. He knew we had the drink package, and he memorized our room number and dining table, so he would send us special drinks to go with our dinner without us even asking. Every night, there was a picture-worthy layered shot to complement our meals, and when we met him at the pool bar during the day he would make us amazing, obscure cocktails we had never heard of.

[RetiredSignDude]

It's not a question of "Can you drink enough to justify the cost". It's a question of "Do you WANT to drink enough EVERY DAY to justify the cost?" I can drink enough every day, but don't want the pressure of having to drink unhealthily just to justify the cost.

[AronRoss]

Super thorough and very informative Matt thanks for this post! My girlfriend and I go back-and-forth each time asking ourselves if it’s worth it, and it’s not. We just don’t drink enough.

[blairsgarden]

We didn’t buy the drink package before our December 2021 sailing of Freedom of the Seas. The first day deal with Buy One/Get One 50% off. Once we saw how expensive a drink was with required gratuity, we jumped on the package. Plus it saves you from being asked if you have the drink package every single time you order a drink. Lowest price we saw pre-cruise was on Cyber Monday at 50% off.

[YTBR.]

Just got back went with my wife and 3 young adult kids all under 21 on Oasis and lemme tell you RC took a hit huge dent on that drink package 😆 BUY IT! Pre cruise! Trust me the last thing we worried about was ordering a drink while in party mode. I had 2 bartenders who I tipped a little extra and it’s well worth it. These guys work hard nonstop. They WANT you to enjoy! No regrets. Do it!! 🥃🍺🥂🍻🍹🍹🍷🎉🎉🎉

[deebee_]

Purchased the drink package for the first time on my last cruise on Wonder, totally worth it! I definitely got my money's worth especially when you include the coffee and bottled water. Great informative video

[lorrainep]

In my opinion, Starbucks should be included in the drink package. Our last cruise in January, it was included at no additional charge.

[DonLekei]

So many first-time cruisers watch videos like this and think they NEED a drink package because you never point out how much is complimentary. We typically spend $100-$150 per week on drinks on a cruise (on top of our 2 bottles of wine and 12 sodas). Coffee (usually dark, decaf and sometimes light), teas, water, iced tea, flavored drinks, chocolate, apple and orange juice, milk, ice and ice cream (plus you can mix it up for mocha, iced coffee, etc.) are all no-charge. The water on the ship is filtered the same or better than bottled water without the karma.

[enewm]

I am a social and moderate drinker. My girlfriend is the same and a lightweight. That said, also accounting for 3 different port days, we both would need to drink at least 7 beers a day on the ship to make it worth the purchase. There is no way my girlfriend would have 7 beers. I could definitely have 7 beers in a day but not 7 days in a row, it's just too much. Obviously, water and other drinks are also included but that is a lot of intake including food. I don't see us reaching that or even coming close. Maybe a day or two where we are on the ship all day long but even then, neither one of us want to be drunk or buzzing all day walking around. I believe the drink package is definitely for heavier set folks who want to drink all day long. It is convenient as well, not having to sign something every time you purchase a drink. But at the cost of another 7 day cruise ticket? Unless you simply don't care about the cost, it just doesn't seem worth it at. I'll update this after our cruise in Oct. '23. Sidenote: Royal Caribbean should offer moderate drink packages, or a package that separates hard liquor from beer in my opinion.

[madimurphy]

We just saw the drink package go on sale for buy one get one 50%. We were hesitant because some of your pointers in other videos and saw the pre sale price was higher than the pre sale price before and the gratuity was still 15%. However the total price after everything is still somehow cheaper by like $30 and gratuity only changed by a $3 decrease. I think we are going to buy it.

[kappatvating]

I got it for my first RCL cruise and it was totally worth it mimosa and cappuccino in the morning. Also was able to get Powerade energy drinks in addition to soda and cocktails.

[markcrowell]

As a Diamond member, I can tell you that you don't need to buy the drink package. We got off the Independence OTS this weekend, and we each had four free drinks each day plus the free drinks in the Diamond Lounge each afternoon. We then got additional discounts on a few more drinks.

[BrianAlt]

FINALLY a video about the drink package!

[yeniffergarth]

Love the convenience of having one less thing to worry about and we definitely drink enough to justify the price. I remember on our first cruise ever, these packages weren't a thing yet and we got stick shock when half way through the cruise looked at how much we had spent on drinks alone. Luckily we made some of it back in the Casino!! 😉
Thanks for the video Matt. Already got our drink package for our next cruise leaving next week. So excited!!!

[maringrachart]

You’re very good in explaining about what’s and what to expect if you cruise in Royal cruising.❤️it!😁

[suzannerobson]

I have used the drink package with the alcohol previously on both Royal Carribean and NCL and wouldn't cruise without one, if you drink alcohol and sodas it's very worth it

[alexanderdavis]

You don't actually need to buy it for all people over the age of 21 in a room if you just call and book with customer service. My wife dose not drink enough to justify it so I just get it for myself. Have done this on 2 prior cruise and just booked one for next year.

[jaredolivarez]

I'm convinced that this is the Khan Academy of cruiseship blogs

[kndvds]

These packages are nearly $100 per day per person and the best discount you can hope for is 20% which is taken up by the gratuities.