Royal Caribbean is famous for its luxurious family cruises, which come along with some pricey packages.
The unlimited beverage package is one of the most popular add-ons to a Royal Caribbean cruise.
The idea of unlimited drinks on your cruise is an attractive one. Getting a beverage package promises endless drinks without you ever needing to look at a bill or receipt.
Royal Caribbean’s drink packages are popular because they allow guests to enjoy beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails, specialty coffee, and soft drinks for one fixed price.
However, these packages come at a high price.
The increased demand for drink packages has set prices even higher, leading many cruisers to look for ways to hack the system.
Is there a way to only pay for one package?
Can you share your drink package with someone else?
Before you try to skip the high prices and share a beverage package with another guest, here’s everything you need to know.
Read more: 9 Ways That People Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package
Understanding the drink package
Royal Caribbean offers three drink packages: the soda package, the Royal Refreshment package, and the deluxe beverage package.
Because the deluxe package includes drinks with alcohol, it is one of the most popular options for a cruise.
The deluxe package offers:
- Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs
- Beer
- Wine (by the glass)
- Mocktails
- Premium coffees & teas
- Fountain sodas / Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages
- Coca-Cola souvenir cup included
- Bottled still and sparkling water
- Fresh squeezed juices
- 40% discount on bottles of wines under $100. Bottles of wine above $100 will receive a 20% discount.
- Discounts on drinks served in a souvenir container or inside fruit
The deluxe drink package ranges from $55 to $105 per person, per day.
Only adults 21 years of age and older (or 18 years of age in Australia and the U.K.) may purchase this package, ensuring that they are of the legal drinking age.
Every adult must buy a drink package
Per Royal Caribbean’s policy, each package is a personal package for one guest.
If one adult purchases a drink package, Royal Caribbean requires all adults staying in the same stateroom to buy one.
“All packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people,” their website states.
“Any guest wishing to purchase an alcoholic beverage package must do so for all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom.”
This means that each adult must purchase a drink package, not allowing you to share one package among multiple people.
If some adults in your group do not wish to purchase a drink package, there are a couple ways to avoid this.
First, you can call Royal Caribbean and ask for an exemption. Usually, the line will permit the guest to purchase a less-expensive drink package, like the Royal Refreshment package.
If they have a health condition that prevents them from drinking or are pregnant, customer service representatives will work to make sure they are given an exemption.
Another way to avoid buying multiple packages is to book each adult in separate rooms.
If you are traveling with children and staying in multiple staterooms, you can book each adult separately.
You don’t necessarily have to sleep in those separate rooms, but if you are booked in different cabins one guest won’t be required to buy a package.
Read more: Avoid these Royal Caribbean drink package mistakes
You are not allowed to share with someone
Royal Caribbean does not permit guests to share alcohol with someone else.
The cruise line is looking to make money on each drink sold individually.
They also have no way of confirming if the person you’re sharing a drink with is legally allowed to drink.
To prevent any sharing, bartenders only serve drinks to guests who present their own SeaPass cards. This verification is required so that no one tries to buy a drink using someone else’s card or package.
Drink package benefits are reserved only for the person who purchased them, but some people still try to cheat the system by sharing with someone else.
However, the risk far outweighs the reward.
If you get caught sharing drinks with someone who doesn’t have the same drink package, the cruise line can cancel the drink package without a refund, and even charge you the price of all the drinks you previously ordered.
A former bartender shared on Reddit the story of one man who thought he could outsmart the crew members.
But he didn’t get away with it. At the end of the cruise, Royal Caribbean revoked the guest’s drink package and charged him for every single drink consumed during the cruise.
With the normal, full-price charge, he ended up paying $3,000 just for those drinks.
Bartenders are pros at spotting people trying to share their package.
They will usually limit you to one drink every 5-15 minutes. Staff watch for this behavior, and if they see you walking away and handing off a drink to someone else, you will certainly get in trouble.
Additionally, don’t forget that there are cameras in nearly every corner of the ship!
The likelihood that you would get caught is very high.
If you are found sharing your drink package, the cruise line reserves the right to cancel your drink package and charge you for all drinks purchased.
Royal Caribbean Drink Package Tips
To help you maximize your beverage package and have the best experience possible, we have some extra tips for you.
Know the rules: Make sure that you familiarize yourself with all the terms and conditions governing your package.
This way, you will know how to maximize its benefits and also prevent yourself from inadvertently breaking any rules.
Take advantage of all the beverages onboard: enjoy the wide selection of unlimited drinks you can enjoy, from specialty cocktails to wine to soda.
Pace yourself: Don’t forget to drink responsibly! Avoid overindulging, and ensure that you have a safe and healthy experience.
Guests who are found to be out of control in their drinking can also have their drink package revoked, or at least be refused service until sobriety returns.
