Having a cocktail on a cruise ship is one of the most stereotypical cruise activities, but the cocktail choices are evolving.

Royal Caribbean is always looking for opportunities to improve its offerings, and with a shifting demographic of younger cruisers going on ships, the menu choices are being altered too.

A 2023 survey by Drizly of consumer drinking trends found that Americans are opting more and more for non-alcoholic beverages, especially among Gen Z cruisers.

"The desire to try non-alcoholic (NA) beverages continues to climb with half of respondents having tried NA beer, wine or spirits. The NA category is sparking the most interest amongst Gen Z (23%) and millennials (24%) who have tried these drinks more frequently than other generations," the survey said in its findings.

The 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) revealed that passengers between the ages of 20 and 59 are now making up over 50% of passengers onboard cruise ships. 

This change in consumer preferences is something Royal Caribbean has already jumped on with its latest drink menu updates.

Jumping on the trend

Royal Caribbean Director of Beverage Operations, Ed Eiswirth, saw this trend emerging as early as 2020.

When cruises restarted in 2021, Royal Caribbean overhauled its fleetwide drink menu and introduced its first zero-proof drink menu.

His team found was Gen Z and Gen X are more interested in lower-ABV beverages than previous generations.

"I stumbled on a lot of research around sober-curious guests and especially around Gen Z being super curious. These are young people who still drink alcohol, but they consume a lot less. They’ll go out at night and buy one really nice, handcrafted cocktail and then switch to something that’s no-alcohol but that has just as much care taken and is really curated as well as a cocktail."

In addition, zero proof cocktails work for teens and tweens who want something beyond the usual assortment of beverages. As an example, you will see a Shirley Ginger on the menu, which is similar to a Shirley Temple, but made with ginger to give it more sophistication. 

Royal Caribbean event went as far as to add Gen Z programming on its cruise ships.  The "Hyperlink" events are daily events specifically for guests between the age of 18-25 years old.

Zero proof cocktails

With the launch of Icon of the Seas in 2024, Royal Caribbean went beyond the standard menu to craft a drink menu exclusively for drinks that had no alcohol in them.

Royal Caribbean actually built this menu to be more family friendly in its Surfside Neighborhood than for Gen Z, but it doubles for both purposes.

To be clear, these aren't virgin mocktails.  Royal Caribbean wanted its zero proof cocktails that work as standalone drinks.

"We really took the time to curate them as standalone drinks without alcohol and really look at blending flavors that work together versus a stock virgin daiquiri that is just an alcoholic drink we’ve taken the alcohol out of. We didn’t even consider putting alcohol in these as we put them together," Mr. Eisiwrth said.

The Lemon Post is a "family centric bar", where parents and their kids can enjoy a drink together.  

Alexandra Palmeri is Royal Caribbean's Corporate Manager of Beverage Operations, and she helped design 13 new bar menus just for Icon.

"When you start with alcohol and you start to deconstruct it, it becomes a lot more challenging to create a non-alcoholic mocktail. So we started from the mocktail perspective and then built it built it up that way," Alex explained.

Another bar on Icon, Rye & Bean, also has two mixologist-created zero-proof drinks that are unique to the venue.

Read more: 8 mocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

Drink sales are big business

Offering passengers more drink choices is more than just keeping guests happy. It also pads the cruise line's bottom line.

Onboard spending is the category of revenue Royal Caribbean makes when people buy individual drinks or the even more lucrative drink packages.

Mr. Eiswirth said over the course of a year 44 million alcoholic beverage transactions are conducted across the 26 ships in the fleet.

The Deluxe Beverage Package, which includes alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, ranges between $60 and $110 per person, per day.  The Royal Refreshment Package only includes non-alcoholic drinks, and costs $38 per person, per day. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean drink packages prices and guide

When Royal Caribbean Group reports its quarterly earnings to Wall Street, they often tout onboard spending by guests as one of the top reasons why profits are higher.

The amount of wine you can bring on a Royal Caribbean is changing somewhat.

Passengers are not allowed to bring beer or liquor on their cruise, but wine is permitted in small quantities.

Up until now, Royal Caribbean has allowed guests to bring up to 2 bottles (750 ml) of wine per stateroom on the first day of the cruise.

In an update to travel agents, the amount you can bring will depend on how many adults are in the cabin. The same policy was also updated on Royal Caribbean's website.

Starting on March 3rd, 2023, the new wine and champagne allowance for Royal Caribbean will be one (1) 750 mL bottle, per adult of drinking age, per sailing.

This change means staterooms with more than 2 adults in the cabin could now enjoy more wine than before, such as in a Royal Caribbean suite.

The potential downside to this change is someone cruising solo in a cabin, or booked with only kids in their room will now be limited to one bottle per sailing.

The cruise line still wants the wine to be brought via hand luggage/carry on and not in checked luggage. Moreover, Royal Caribbean recommends each guest bring their bottle in their respective carry-on bag for security purposes.

No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. Boxed wine and other containers are prohibited. Guests may only bring the wine onboard on embarkation day.

If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in our dining or bar venues, there will be a corkage fee applied.

While it's Royal Caribbean's policy to charge a corking fee when opening a bottle of wine a guest brought onboard, in practice it is rarely enforced.

Back-to-back cruise wine policy

For consecutive sailings, guests of drinking age are allowed to bring one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing.

Additional bottles will be stored by the ship and delivered, one bottle at a time, to the stateroom on the first day of each new voyage. Guests bringing more than one bottle at the start of the first sailing should have documentation for any consecutive sailings available to share with security.

Advantage of bringing your own wine

Being able to bring your own wine on a Royal Caribbean cruise has long been one of the best cruise tips for saving money on a cruise vacation.

Bringing wine onboard can be a great idea for those looking to cut costs while still enjoying all the good things that come with cruising. By bringing your own wine from home, you'll be able to choose from among a wide variety of wines, some of which may not be available in the ship’s bar or restaurant.

Plus, you can store it in your room, or take it anywhere else on board with you — perfect for sipping while watching the sunset!

But if you don’t finish the bottle in one night, what do you do?

The answer is simpler than you think: simply store it! Royal Caribbean offers wine storage services in order to allow passengers to save their unfinished bottles for later.

This makes it possible for guests to enjoy their favorite wines throughout the entire cruise without having the pressure of “using it or losing it”.

If you choose to enjoy dinner at a specialty restaurant or the main dining room instead of on your own stateroom, all you need to do is tell your new waiter that there's a bottle stored for you. Your waiter will ask for your stateroom number and within minutes your wine will appear at your table.

Cruise ship wine storage services are an excellent way for passengers to indulge in some extra luxury during their vacation without having to worry about finishing their bottles too quickly. 

Whether you want Royal Caribbean alcohol prices or Royal Caribbean drink prices, here is your complete list to know how much they will cost before they get onboard.

We present here our list of Royal Caribbean drink prices that are regularly updated to give you the best idea of how much enjoying a drink will cost you.

Keep in mind Royal Caribbean adds an 18% gratuity charge to each drink order.

This information last updated: April 3, 2024

This information is valid for Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas & Wonder of the Seas.

The price you will pay for a drink is made up of two components: the drink price and gratuity. Royal Caribbean charges an automatic 18% gratuity to drinks ordered, so there's no extra math for you to do. 

If you have a drink package, gratuity is included with your package price so there's nothing extra once you buy the beverage package.

If you are looking for ballpark Royal Caribbean drink prices, here is what you can reasonably expect (prices listed below are before gratuity)

The drink of the day is a cocktail that gets about a 25% discount from its normal price.

Every day there is a new drink of the day, which is advertised in the Cruise Compass daily newspaper, as well on signs at various bars. You can always ask the bartender at any bar what the drink of the day is.

You can expect the drink of the day to be a fruity, crowd pleasing cocktail that has wide appeal.

It is worth noting the drink prices across Royal Caribbean's fleet do vary to some degree. Specifically, drink prices on Oasis or Quantum Class ships are usually a bit more expensive (50 cents to one dollar more) than on other ships in the fleet.

Not to worry, an unlimited Royal Caribbean drink package still includes most drinks.

The prices for drinks are consistent, regardless of where your ship sails from. So the drink prices on your ship in the Caribbean will be the same as a ship sailing in Europe.

If you're paying for drinks without a drink package, you can order more than one drink at a time. If you have a drink package, expect to be able to order one drink per drink package at a time.

Royal Caribbean fleetwide drink menu

Taste of the Caribbean

Goombay Smash 
Malibu Coconut rum, Kraken Black Spiced rum, orange juice and pineapple juice $14 

Planter's Punch 
Myers's Original Dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice and grenadine $14

Papa Jac
Bacardi Superior rum, passion fruit syrup and lime juice $14

The Painkiller
Pusser's rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut syrup and a dash of nutmeg $14

Dark 'n Stormy
Gosling's Black Seal rum and Gosling's ginger beer $14

Rum Punch 
Captain Morgan Original Spiced rum, Bacardi Superior rum, guava and passion fruit syrups, pineapple juice, lime juice and a float of Kraken Black Spiced rum $14

Crisp & Refreshing

Pineapple Guava Sangria 
Danzante Pinot Grigio, guava and passion fruit syrups, pineapple juice and lime juice $14

Strawberry Blonde
Tito's Handmade vodka, St-Germain liqueur, strawberry, lemon juice and mint $14

Scarlett's Tropical Sangria
Castle Rock, Pinot Noir, guava and passion fruit syrups, pineapple juice and lime juice $14

Cozumel Sunrise 
Cuervo Gold tequila, mango, lime juice and grenadine $14

Thyme for Gin
Aviation gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and thyme topped with club soda $14

Mint Berry Delight
Absolut vodka, lemon juice, blueberry puree and mint topped with club soda $14

Caribbean Mule 
Absolut vodka, coconut syrup, lime juice and Gosling's ginger beer $14

Cool as a Cucumber
Bombay Sapphire gin, St-Germain liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and muddled cucumbers topped with club soda $13

Handcrafted Margarita 
Patron Silver tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, agave syrup and muddled limes and oranges with a salt rim.$13

Pretty n Pink
Beefeater Pink gin, lime juice, pineapple juice and guava syrup $13

Curacao Cosmo
Malibu Coconut rum, blue curacao and pineapple juice $14

Meet the Collins'

John Collins: Tito's vodka, club soda, lemon, powdered sugar: $14

Sandy Collins: Canadian Club whiskey, ginger, soda, lemon juice, maple syrup: $14

Pierre Collins: Remy Martin VSOP cognac and chamboard black, raspberry liqueur, lengthened with lime, cranberry juice and club soda $14

Pedro Collins: Bacardi reserva ocho, fresh mint and guava syrup mixed up with lime and club soda $14

Tom Collins: Gin - Bombay sapphire gin, club soda, lemon juice, lychee syrup $14

The Rum Also Rises

El Floridita: Bacardi 8 rum, lime juice, powdered sugar: $14

Papa Doble: Bacardi superior rum, lychee, grapefruit juice: $14

Lavender daiquiri: Bacardi superior rum, lavender syrup: $14

Spiced Daiquiri: Zacapa rum, angostura bitters, lime, soft brown sugar: $14

Habanero & Grapefruit Daiquiri: Miami Club rum, habanero, grapefruit syrup: $14

The Greats

Brandy Alexander: Remy Martin VSOP and creme de cocoa dark shaken hard with half-and-half and double-strained and dusted with fresh nutmeg: $14

Rol' and Rye: Bulleit Rye whiskey, aperol, lemon juice and simple syrup: $14

French 75: Hennessy cognac, domaine chandon, powdered sugar, lemon: $14

Champagne Cocktail: An Angostura-doused sugar cube topped with Domaine Chandon and garnished with an orange twist: $14

The Sidecar: The classic 8-2-1 recipe: Remy Martin VSOP, Grand Marnier and lemon juice: $14

Royal Caribbean rum prices

El Floridita: Where it all began: fresh lime juice, powdered sugar and Bacardi 8 rum: $14

Papa Doble: Bacardi Superior rum, maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice: $14

Lavender Daiquiri: Bacardi Superior rum with the addition of lavender syrup to give an elegant floral finish and a contemporary twist to this classic: $14

Spiced Daiquiri: Soft brown sugar drenched in Angostura bitters and lime, shaken hard with Zacapa rum double-strained and served up: $14

Habanero & Grapefruit Daiquiri: A spicy take on this Cuban classic when Bacardi Gold rum joined with a habanero and grapefruit syrup: $14

Old Fashioned

Classic Old Fashioned: Buffalo trace bourbon stirred with sugar syrup, Angostura and orange bitters, garnished with a fresh orange peel: $14

Hennessy Old Fashioned: Hennessy Fine Champagne cognac: $14

Pyrat Old Fashioned: Pyrat rum, amaro cherries, orange flesh, bitters, soft brown sugar: $14

Rum Old Fashioned: Bacardi reserva ocho rum, coconut syrup, angostura bitters: $14

New Fashioned: Southern Comfort whiskey, raspberries, pink grapefruit, orange bitters, soft brown sugar, grapefruit twist: $14

Royal Caribbean wine prices

Sparkling

Chandon, Brut, "Classic"

• Glass: $12
• Bottles: $58

Ruffino, Prosecco

• Glass: $11
• Bottles: $58

White/Rose

Beringer, White Zinfandel

• Glass: $9
• Bottles: $32

Chateau d'Esclans, Rose, "Whispering Angel"

• Glass: $15
• Bottles: $58

Kim Crawford, Marlborough, New Zealand

• Glass: $17
• Bottles: $64

Robert Mondavi, Private Selection, Sauvignon Blanc

• Glass: $12
• Bottles: $46

Danzante, Pinot Grigio, delle Venezie, Italy

• Glass: $11
• Bottles: $43

Penfolds, Chardonnary, "Koonunga Hill", South Australia

• Glass: $10
• Bottles: $38

Kendall-Jackson, "Vinter's Reserve", Riesling, California

• Glass: $12
• Bottles: $45

Chateu d'Ausseries, Chardonnay "Aussieres", Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France

• Glass: $10
• Bottles: $36

Clos du Bois, Chardonnay, North Coast, California

• Glass: $12
• Bottles: $45

Conundrum, California

• Glass: $16
• Bottles: $61

Red

Castle Rock, Central Coast, California

• Glass: $11
• Bottles: $42

Estancia, Pinot Noir, Monterey County, California

• Glass: $12
• Bottles: $47

Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

• Glass: $8
• Bottles: $35

Clos du Bois, Merlot, North Coast, California

• Glass: $12
• Bottles: $45

Castle Rock, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington

• Glass: $9
• Bottles: $33

Kendall-Jackson, Cabernet Sauvignon, "Vitner's Reserve", Sonoma County, California

• Glass: $11
• Bottles: $42

Torres, Ribera del Duero, "Celeste", Crianza, Castilla Y Leon, Spain

• Glass: $11
• Bottles: $42

Royal Caribbean beer prices

Beers

• Amstel Light $7.99
• Blue Moon Belgian White $7.99
• Bud Light $7.49
• Budweiser $7.49
• Coors Light $7.49
• Corona Extra $7.99
• Daura Damm (Gluten-free) $7.99
• Dos Equis $7.99
• Fosters Oil Can (750mL) $9.50
• Heineken $7.99
• Miller Lite $7.49
• Paulaner Weiss $7.99
• Red Stripe (473mL) $8.25
• Stella Artois $7.99 

Other

• Strongbow Hard Cider $7.99
• Truly Hard Seltzer $7.49
  • Wild Berry, Pineapple, Strawberry Lemonade
• White Claw Hard Seltzer $7.49
  • Mango 

Non-alcoholic $6.99

• Heineken 0.0

Spirits and Liquor prices

Vodka

• Absolut 10.99
• Absolut Citron 10.99
• Absolut Vanilia 10.99
• Belvedere 12.99
• Grey Goose 13.99
• New Amsterdam 9.99
• Stoli 10.99
• Stoli ElIt 12.99
• Tito's Handmade 10.99 

Rum

• Bacardi 10.99
• Bacardi Reserva Ocho 12.99
• Captain Morgan Original Spiced 11.99
• Goslings 11.99
• Kraken 9.99
• Leblon Cachaca 10.99 
• Malibu 9.99
• Myers's Original Dark 9.99
• Pusser's Navy 12.99
• Pyrat XO 13.99
• Ron Zacapa 12.99 

Gin

• Aviation 10.99
• Beefeater 10.99
• Beefeater Pink 10.99
• Bombay Sapphire 11.99
• The Botanist 11.99
• Hendrick's 12.99
• Tanqueray 10.99 

Tequila & Mezcal prices

• 1800 Resposado10.99
• Avion Silver 11.99
• Ilegal Joven 10.99
• Jose Cuervo Gold 9.99
• Jose Cuervo Silver 9.99
• Patron Anejo 13.99
• Patron Resposado 12.99
• Patron Silver 11.99
• Zignum Silver 11.99

Scotch

• Chivas Regal 12 10.99
• Dewar's White 9.99
• Glenfiddich 11.99
• The Glenlivet 12.99
• Johnnie Walker Black Label 10.99
• Johnnie Walker Double Black 11.99
• The Macallan Quest 12.99
• The Macallan Lumina 17.99
• The Macallan Terra 20.99
• The Macallan Enigma 39.99 

Whiskey & Bourbon

• Balcones Rye 13.99
• Balcones Straight 13.99
• Buffalo Race 10.99
• Bulleit 11.99
• Canadian Club 9.99
• Crown Royal 9.99 
• Fireball Cinnamon 9.99
• Gentleman Jack 12.99
• Jack Daniel's 10.99
• Jack Daniel's Rye 10.99
• Jameson 10.99
• Makers Mark 11.99
• Rittenhouse Rye 10.99
• Skrewball Peanut Butter 10.99
• Seagram's 7 9.99
• Templeton Rye 10.99
• Tincup 10.99
• Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch 10.99
• Woodford Reserve 10.99
• Yellow Rose 10.99 

Cognac

• Hennessy V.S 10.99
• Remy Martin VSOP 12.99 

Aperitif

• Aperol 10.99
• B&B 10.99
• Campari 10.99
• Fernet-Branca 10.99
• Jagermeister 10.99
• Pernod, 10.99
• Pimm's 10.99 

Liquers

• Baileys Irish cream 10.99
• Chambord Black Raspberry 10.99
• Cointreau 10.99 
• Disaronno Amaretto 10.99
• Drambuie 10.99
• Frangelico 10.99
• Grand Marnier 10.99
• Kahlua 10.99
• Midori Melon 10.99
• Sambuca 10.99
• Southern Comfort 10.99 

Complimentary drinks on Royal Caribbean

Guests who are Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club Crown and Anchor Society members also receive complimentary drinks on each day.

Royal Caribbean has revamped its offerings to allow at least 4 beverage vouchers for Diamond and higher guests in Crown and Anchor, which are good all day and at any bar (except Starbucks).

• Diamond: 4 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Diamond Plus: 5 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Pinnacle: 6 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)

Each cruise, Royal Caribbean will hold "welcome back" parties for its Crown and Anchor members.

At each event, complimentary alcoholic beverages are served and it can be a great way to enjoy free drinks while hearing about what is new and exciting about Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean beverage packages

One way to lock in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise is to purchase a drink package.

The unlimited alcohol package allows guests to enjoy as many beers, cocktails and other alcoholic drinks as they like for a fixed daily price.

Deluxe Package - $60 - $90 per guest, per day (plus 18% service charge)

Guests can choose between beer, wine by the glass (up to $14 value) , mixed cocktails, frozen cocktails along with premium coffee, premium tea, bottled water (sparkling and still) , fresh squeezed juice, fountain sodas with the Coca-Cola souvenir cup.

More about Royal Caribbean drink prices and packages

Here are some more helpful articles about Royal Caribbean drinks and the unlimited alcohol packages

• Should you buy the unlimited alcohol packages?
• Which Royal Caribbean drink package is right for you?
• How to purchase Royal Caribbean's unlimited alcohol packages

Cruises and cocktails go together like peanut butter and jelly. Trying new cocktails is a must on any Royal Caribbean cruise, but it can be tough to know what to order.

I engaged in some strenuous “research” on my recent cruises to taste some of the best cocktails Royal Caribbean has to offer. It’s tough work here at Royal Caribbean Blog, that’s for sure!

From a fruity daiquiri to a bitter old fashioned, here’s our list of the top 10 cocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Cucumber Martini at 150 Central Park

My experience with Royal Caribbean’s signature Cucumber Martini started with skepticism and ended with pure bliss. I was (slightly) nervous it would feel like I was eating a salad as opposed to drinking a cocktail with my dinner, and I didn’t want the cucumber flavor to be too overwhelming.

When my waiter rolled a cocktail-making cart over to our table, however, I realized this would be a beverage experience unlike any other onboard!

Cucumber Martinis at 150 Central Park—arguably Royal Caribbean’s most elegant specialty restaurant—are prepared tableside. Our waiter mixed Grey Goose Vodka with lemongrass syrup, sweet and sour, cucumber wheels, and basil leaves to create a drink unlike any I’ve tried before.

Related: 38 Royal Caribbean drink recipes perfect for any party

The Cucumber Martini is, to date, the most refreshing drink I’ve had yet on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The citrusy hint of lemongrass mixed with the cool, refreshing taste of cucumber was a unique, fresh flavor that impressed me like no other cocktail onboard.

I had heard excellent things about the Cucumber Martini before my cruise, and I can attest that it lived up to the hype. Outside of 150 Central Park, you can also find the Cucumber Martini at select bars in the fleet, most notably the champagne bars.

Espresso Martini

I’m not a night owl whatsoever. I always struggle to stay up late enough to take advantage of all the entertainment and activities offered in the evenings on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Enter the Espresso Martini, my favorite “hack” to endless energy on a cruise. Made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso, this cocktail is every bit classy as it is delicious.

Related: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons

If you’re sailing on an Oasis Class ship, be sure to order an Espresso Martini at Trellis Bar in Central Park. An evening spent sipping an Espresso Martini in the park with live music in the background? It doesn’t get much more perfect than that!

Margaritas from Sabor

What goes better with chips and guacamole than a margarita? You can find margaritas on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but the biggest variety of flavors can be found on ships with Sabor or Cantina Fresca, two of Royal Caribbean’s Mexican-themed bars.

Sabor, for example, highlights the following 3 margaritas on their menu:

• Handcrafted Margarita: Patron Silver tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, agave syrup, muddled limes and oranges with a salt rim
• Avocado Margarita: Patron Silver tequila, orange liqueur, avocado and lime juices, rimmed with Aleppo pepper and lime salt
• Jalapeño-Cucumber Margarita: Patron Silver tequila, Cointreau liqueur, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice

It’s hard to go wrong with a margarita, and don’t miss the opportunity to taste as many flavors as you can on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Mojito from Boleros

If you love Latin music, you’ll love spending time at Boleros on a Royal Caribbean cruise. This Latin-themed bar is found on most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and they make the best mojito found anywhere onboard.

This traditional Cuban cocktail is made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and fresh mint leaves. It hits the spot every time, and you can even try different variations like strawberry mojitos or frozen mojitos. 

Related: Royal Caribbean drink package - your top questions answered

One of my favorite things to do onboard is sip a mojito while listening to the live salsa, merengue, and bossa nova performed at Boleros. And you’ll have excellent people watching opportunities, too, as this venue almost always turns into a dance party.

Caribbean Mule

If you like Moscow Mules, you’ll love the Caribbean Mule found on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Made with Absolut vodka, coconut syrup, lime juice, and Gosling’s ginger beer, I find this drink to have the perfect balance of flavors.

I was originally nervous to order the Caribbean Mule because I thought the ginger flavor might be too strong, but it was just right. The ginger cuts down on some of the sweetness, so I much prefer this drink to an ultra-sweet drink like sangria.

Related: 8 mocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

This cocktail is available at most bars and lounges onboard as it is on Royal Caribbean's standard fleetwide drink menu.

Lavender Daiquiri

Lavender in a cocktail? It might sound a bit weird, but you should give the Lavender Daiquiri a shot on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Available at Schooner Bar, this cocktail is made with Bacardi Superior rum and lavender syrup. It’s not overly sweet yet offers a unique lavender flavor that doesn’t overpower the drink.

This is one of my go-to cocktails on any cruise, especially during a round of trivia at Schooner Bar.

Love Connection

Perhaps the prettiest drink on this list is the Love Connection. This drink has three layers of frozen, fruity flavors that are sure to be refreshing on a sunny pool day.

This drink combines layers of strawberry daiquiri, mango daiquiri, and piña colada for the ultimate tropical cocktail. You can order the Love Connection from any bar with a blender onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Related: Recipe: Love connection frozen drink

We ordered the Love Connection from Trellis Bar and it made for a fun drink to enjoy while relaxing in Central Park. While sweet, it’s certainly tasty, and is easily converted into a mocktail by omitting the rum!

The Lime & Coconut

Available on Royal Caribbean ships with The Lime and Coconut Bar is the bar’s namesake, the Lime & Coconut cocktail. Made with Malibu Coconut rum, coconut milk, coconut syrup, guava syrup, and lime juice, the Lime & Coconut will transport you directly to the tropics.

The Lime & Coconut is served over ice, although the coconut milk makes it slightly creamy. With the combination of guava and lime, the drink has a citrusy yet sweet flavor. The flavor profile of the drink, especially when adding coconut milk, is unlike any cocktail I’ve had before.

The Lime & Coconut is often served in a Malibu bucket, making for a fun way to enjoy the cocktail while on the pool deck. It’s a vacation cocktail at its finest, so be sure to order The Lime & Coconut if you’re sailing on a ship with The Lime and Coconut bar.

PB&J Old Fashioned

When Royal Caribbean debuted its first southern restaurant and bar, The Mason Jar, on Wonder of the Seas, they also debuted a cocktail menu with flavors and drinks not found elsewhere onboard. Everything from the Mississippi Moonlight—made with blackberry moonshine—to boozy milkshakes are available at The Mason Jar Bar.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

The bar’s most popular cocktail quickly became the PB&J Old Fashioned. This cocktail is made with Skrewball peanut butter whiskey and bourbon, strawberry jelly, and walnut bitters. To top it off, the drink is garnished with a mini PB&J sandwich.

I heard nothing but raves from this drink onboard Wonder of the Seas. While I’ll admit that the PB&J Old Fashioned was a bit too strong for my preference, if you love whiskey, you’ll love this inventive rendition of a classic old fashioned.

Banana Colada

My all-time favorite cocktail onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise is also the first drink I ever ordered on my very first cruise: the Banana Colada. I have fond memories of boarding my first cruise on Mariner of the Seas and immediately kicking off the cruise with a drink. Little did I know the Banana Colada would remain, to this day, my favorite Royal Caribbean cocktail!

Related: Check out the signature cocktails at The Bamboo Room

The Banana Colada combines rum with the flavors of banana, coconut milk, and cinnamon into a frozen drink served, fittingly, with a mini umbrella. This drink screams vacation and a classic piña colada pales drastically in comparison to the Banana Colada.

My favorite Banana Colada can be found at The Bamboo Room, available only on Mariner and Navigator of the Seas. However, you can also find a rendition of this cocktail at bars on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

The cost of a cocktail on your cruise will probably be a bit higher on your next sailing.

Guests sailing on a variety of ships are reporting seeing the average price of a signature cocktail up from $13 to $14 per drink, before gratuity.

The exact cost of a cocktail depends on a few factors, such as the type of liquor, but Royal Caribbean had priced many of its drinks on its menu at $13 per drink for a few years.

For years some ships had cocktails priced at $12, while others had them at $13. Since cruises restarted in 2021, the price stabilized across the fleet at $13.

Certain drink menus are now showing a $14 drink cost on sailings that have departed over the last few days. An automatic 18% gratuity will be added to that cost for drinks purchased a la carte.

In case you're wondering, the price of a beer is listed at $7.49 for domestic beers and $7.99 for imports. Red Stripe will cost you $8.25.

Many wines by the glass are still around $10-14 per glass.

While the individual Royal Caribbean drink prices have gone up by a dollar, your Royal Caribbean drink package benefits have also gone up to match it.

Guests who have gotten letters from Crown and Anchor Society with their Diamond benefits noted their vouchers now cover drinks in value up to $14.

Many cruisers opt to purchase an unlimited drink package to help control drink prices while onboard.  For a flat fee, you can enjoy all the beers, cocktails, juices, sodas, premium coffees and teas, and bottled water you want.

The cost of a Royal Caribbean drink package will vary from sailing to sailing, and ship to ship.

On average, the Deluxe Beverage Package (unlimited alcohol package) will cost somewhere between $65.00 - $90.00 per person, per day for a drink package when purchased onboard.

Read more: How much is the drink package on Royal Caribbean?

While the overall cost a drink package isn't necessarily cheap, a lot of people like the fact a drink package offers fixed costs and convenience of being able to order drinks anytime they see fit, without concern of running up a big bill or being stuck with a drink they do not like.

Still cheaper than a lot of places on land

If paying $14 for your next pina colada sounds like a lot, you may feel a little bit better knowing a cocktail on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is likely cheaper than a lot of other tourist destinations.

Walt Disney World charges anywhere from $17 - $20 for a margarita at its La Cava del Tequila bar in Epcot. A Star Wars-inspired specialty cocktail at Oga’s Cantina in Hollywood Studios will run you $17 or $18 (not counting the Yub Nub $45 cocktail).

If you visit the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, you'll pay $14.75 for a Classic Caribbean Mojito, and $15 for a Cosmopolitan. 

At the Super Bowl earlier this year, the signature cocktail, "Monday Morning Quarterback," cost $16.

How to save money on drinks during your cruise

While Royal Caribbean's drink packages are quite popular with guests, they do require a moderate amount of drinking every day of your cruise to make the investment worthwhile financially. For those that do not want to drink quite that much every day, there are a number of alternative strategies to the drink package that can still save you some money. 

Bring wine

Did you know that Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom on their Royal Caribbean cruise?

Each bottle of wine may be up to 750ml in size and should be brought on in your carry-on luggage. Do not put the wine in your checked luggage.

Wine lovers will be able to bring a couple of bottles of their favorite wine on their cruise at a savings compared to purchasing the wine onboard.  Moreover, bringing your own wine means you will save money on your total bar tab during your cruise.

My favorite aspect of bringing your own wine is if you do not finish the bottle of wine, Royal Caribbean can store the wine for you and deliver it another restaurant at that time.

Look for drink specials onboard

One of the best ways to get a deal on a cocktail is to order the drink of the day.  The drink of the day is a select cocktail that changes every day, which has about a 20% discount on it and is available from most bars onboard.  

You can just ask the bartender or waiter what the drink of the day is and take advantage of those savings.

To find drink specials, consult the Cruise Compass for some advertised deals, as well as walk around bars and look for posted signs.

Get free drinks

Free drinks on Royal Caribbean? Yes. Seriously!

Believe it or not, there are ways to get free drinks on your Royal Caribbean cruise.  Granted, there is no way to effectively drink all day like this, but any free drinks you can get are less drinks you have to buy!

One of the best ways to get free drinks is by being a Crown and Anchor Society member.  Diamond level and above members are eligible for free beverages each day.

All Crown and Anchor Society members will have special coupons pre-loaded on their SeaPass account that provide deals like Buy One, Get one beer, wine or soda by the glass.  In addition, Royal Caribbean holds Crown and Anchor Society events onboard for members, with complimentary cocktails served.

Free champagne can also be found at select events, including art auctions, Captain's Welcome and during holiday celebrations.

Drink in port

There is no question you will save money by drinking at the ports of call you visit compared to onboard.

Bars and restaurants at the ports your Royal Caribbean ship will visit regularly offer cheaper drink prices for beers and cocktails and that can mean big savings if you can wait to enjoy some drinks when on land, compared to on your ship.

Depending on your itinerary, this strategy may be more lucrative than others, but it is a good way to indulge in your favorite mixed drink or cerveza for a lower cost.

Drinking may be synonymous with any cruise vacation, but there are plenty of nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Nothing hits the spot like a tropical, fruity drink, whether you’re sun tanning on the pool deck or exploring one of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations.

I was curious as to what types of mocktails are available on a Royal Caribbean cruise, so I engaged in some fun “research” to taste a variety of drinks around the ship during my recent sailing. While there are endless combinations of juices, fruits, and syrups that can be turned into tasty mocktails, here are 8 of my favorite options for when you’re craving a nonalcoholic drink.

Mojito from Boleros

Boleros is the Latin-themed bar found on most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and it is undoubtedly the best place onboard to order a mojito.

While the drink’s exact birthplace is not entirely known, it’s said that the mojito originated in Havana, Cuba. Combining white rum, lime juice, fresh mint, white cane sugar, and soda water, a mojito is both light and refreshing.

To order a virgin mojito, simply order a mojito without rum. The result tastes like an extremely fresh mint lemonade, and it was my favorite mocktail I tried while onboard.

Piña Colada

Perhaps the most famous vacation cocktail in the world is a piña colada, a frozen drink combining rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice together. The piña colada originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico during the 1950s and has since become synonymous with a tropical vacation.

Most bars on any Royal Caribbean ship will be able to make a piña colada, although they are most commonly served on the pool deck. Ordering piña coladas without alcohol is very common and, due to the strong pineapple and coconut flavors, a virgin piña colada barely tastes any different than its alcoholic counterpart.

Not many drinks hit the spot on a warm Caribbean day like a piña colada does, and it is a must-have drink on any Royal Caribbean cruise.

Miami Vice

If you’re having a hard time choosing between a piña colada and a strawberry daiquiri… why not both? A Miami Vice is another delicious mocktail to try on a Royal Caribbean cruise, made with one side strawberry daiquiri and the other piña colada.

The combination of pineapple, strawberry, and coconut is sure to be the best of both worlds of any tropical mocktail.

Mai Tai

A Mai Tai is a classic drink to enjoy while at the beach or onboard a cruise ship. Made with Goslings Black Seal Rum, Myer’s Dark Rum, amaretto, orange juice, sweet & sour, lime juice, and grenadine, a Mai Tai brings an explosion of flavor to a tropical drink.

A Mai Tai can easily be made into a mocktail by removing the rum. I ordered a virgin Mai Tai at The Lime & Coconut bar onboard Freedom of the Seas and it was one of the best drinks I enjoyed all cruise long!

Lime & Coconut from The Lime & Coconut

If you’re sailing on a Royal Caribbean ship with The Lime & Coconut bar on the pool deck, be sure to order the signature Lime & Coconut drink without alcohol.

The Lime & Coconut is a creamy drink over ice that combines Malibu Coconut Rum, coconut milk, coconut syrup, Monin guava syrup, and lime juice for a unique fruity taste. I ordered the drink without rum to give the bar’s signature cocktail a try.

Initially I was not sure if I liked it due to flavor combinations of guava, lime, and coconut, but the drink grew on me. While I think I preferred the Mai Tai I ordered from The Lime & Coconut, both mocktails make a good choice for a sunny day on the pool deck.

Being able to order this drink is not totally guaranteed, however. When I asked the bartender on Oasis of the Seas if he could make it, he initially seemed confused but said he would try to make a virgin version (to which he did). On Freedom of the Seas, though, my bartender said he didn’t think it was possible to make it virgin and I was unable to order it.

It might be a good idea to just specify the drink order “without coconut rum” if the bartender seems confused whether or not they can make the drink without alcohol.

Coco Loco (or Labadoozie)

Royal Caribbean’s private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee each have the same signature cocktail, despite the name differing between the two destinations. The Coco Loco (CocoCay) or Labadoozie (Labadee) is a frozen drink made with orange juice, pineapple juice, papaya juice, coconut cream, dark rum, coconut rum, and grenadine.

As this drink is so popular while in port, there are usually pre-made blended drinks available, and bartenders simply scoop the drink into a cup. Fortunately, this pre-made blend is nonalcoholic as the alcohol is poured into the drink once it is in the cup, so it’s an extremely easy mocktail to order.

In fact, if you’re interested in making the Coco Loco at home, we have a full recipe available on the blog.

Smoothies from Vitality Cafe

If you’re sailing on an Oasis Class cruise ship, one of my go-to “mocktails” is a fresh smoothie from Vitality Cafe, located in the Vitality Spa. Not only is a fresh fruit smoothie healthier than a mocktail loaded with added sugar, but it is extremely refreshing as well.

Smoothies at Vitality Cafe are entirely customizable, from selecting which fruits you would like to the type of milk. My favorite smoothie to order has bananas, strawberries, and blueberries blended with almond milk. A bit of peanut butter makes for a great addition to the smoothie as well.

Smoothies are included in Royal Caribbean’s drink packages, although if you decide to add protein powder to your drink an extra charge will be added.

Specialty coffee drinks

While not technically a mocktail, I always enjoy having frozen or iced coffee whenever I don’t feel like drinking alcohol but still want to sip on a tasty drink. All Royal Caribbean ships have somewhere to order specialty coffees onboard, whether at Cafe Promenade, Park Cafe, Cafe Latte-tudes, Starbucks, or Cafe @ Two 70.

Select drinks will be on the cafe’s menu, from frozen caramel “frappuccinos” to iced hazelnut or vanilla lattes. A variety of flavored syrups are available, though, so it’s possible to customize a drink exactly how you would like. Frozen white chocolate coffee drinks and iced caramel lattes are two of my favorites.

What is your favorite mocktail (or cocktail) to enjoy on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Let us know in the comments!

One of the things Royal Caribbean worked on during the 15 month shutdown was revamping its fleetwide beverage menu.

Across Royal Caribbean's ships, the base menu for cocktails, mocktails, and low/no alcohol drinks has been updated.

Rest assured, all of your favorite, typical vacation cocktails are still available, such as piña coladas, daiquiris, and mojitos.  This new menu is an opportunity to bring new drink ideas to guests who might be interested in something different.

This new menu will be available at all bars and lounges which do not have a specialized menu of their own.  

You will be able to find this menu at locations like the Schooner Bar, Viking Crown Lounge, Boleros and more.

Off the bat, you can see the menu pays homage to the Caribbean islands, with not only the name of each drink, but the country where it was invented.

Colorful maps are included to provide context.

Something else you may notice is Royal Caribbean has licensed certain drinks, such as the Dark 'n Stormy and Pain killer.

For a bar to sell a drink with the official name, they need to serve the cocktail with the official liquor and ensure the pour is accurate, per the manufacturer's requirements.

Of course, Royal Caribbean has plenty of beers to pick from as well.

While you won't find as many beers on a cruise ship as on land, they stock some of the most popular types, both foreign and domestic.

If wine is your thing, you'll find a selection of wines by the glass or by the bottle.

Not all wines are available by the glass, but there are various brands from regions around the world.

If you purchase a bottle of wine, you can bring it to any bar, restaurant, or even back to your cabin to enjoy as you see fit.

A trend Royal Caribbean looked to capitalize on with its new drink menu are cocktails that aren't super sweet or "heavy" so that guests can enjoy the drinks with less guilt.

These sort of drinks are ideal for consuming outdoors in the warm Caribbean sun.

If you're looking for a shot or liquor served neat, there are a wide array of choices.

Not only are these liquors available to choose from, but most are included with a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Another trend Royal Caribbean is hopping on is the low-alcohol and no-alcohol drinks bandwagon.

Whether someone doesn't drink alcohol or simply wants to limit the amount they intake, these can be great alternatives.

The new menu is inspired by some of the signature Caribbean islands Royal Caribbean has traditionally visited, and as a way of honoring these destionations, a popular drink recipe was highlighted from each spot.

Linken D'​Souza, Global Vice President Culinary, Dining & Beverage, talked about the menu change as an opportunity to move the menu offerings forward.

He said his team worked on, "identifying drinks that are really signature drinks to those islands and bringing them onboard the ship."

"We've really leveraged that time to to focus on the program, fine-tune the experience, build these amazing cocktails."

"It's like bringing a port of call to your experience onboard the ship. And maybe you have the cocktail on board and you get off from the island and you say, hey, I got to get one of those here to see how close they are."

Some of the new signature cocktails that Royal Caribbean highlighted include:

• Goombay Smash (Bahamas)
• Planter's Punch (Jamaica)
• Papa Jac (Puerto Rico)
• The Painkiller (British Virgin Islands)
• Dark 'n Stormy (Bermuda)
• Rum Puinch (Barbados)

The new drink menus are available on all the cruise ships in the fleet.

A lot of people want to know what you are allowed to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially food or drinks.

Royal Caribbean includes a wide variety of complimentary dining options on your cruise, which means there is plenty to eat and drink.  Yet, some guests want to bring their own food for a variety of reasons.

You'll find plenty of drinks and snacks included with your Royal Caribbean cruise fare, but sometimes you want a specific brand or type of snack/beverage. 

Bringing your own snacks and drinks can save money versus purchasing them onboard or on shore.

Moreover, it can be quite helpful to have these items in your cabin, especially if you have kids.

The good news is you are allowed to bring some food and drink on your cruise, but there is a limit on how much and what sort you can bring.

Food

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring non-perishable prepackaged food in limited quantities on their ships. So bringing your kids favorite snacks and treats are allowed.

This includes foods such as cookies, crackers, chips, energy bars, etc. Pre-packed baby food is also allowed.

You do not need to declare that you have food, and it is generally fine to pack your prepackaged food in either your carry-on or your checked luggage.

Be sure not to bring any perishable food or meat products, as those are prohibited items.

There is no limit on how much food of these foods you can bring, so feel free to bring as much as you deem necessary.

Beverages

Royal Caribbean also allows a limited amount of non-alcoholic beverages with them on embarkation day. Specifically, you can bring up to 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom of your favorite non-alcoholic beverage (soda, bottled water, etc).

In addition, baby food and formula is allowed to be brought onboard.

If you are bringing milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use, there are no restrictions or limitations related to these items. If you need to bring special beverages, please complete a Special Needs form. Royal Caribbean requests you send this form at least 30 days before your sail date and they will inform you via e-mail of their decision.

While alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought on a Royal Caribbean cruise, there is an exception for up to one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult in each cabin, per sailing. This policy changed March 3, 2023.

There is no cost to enjoy wine in your room, but a corkage feel will be charged if you bring the bottle to a restaurant or bar.

You should pack any beverages you bring onboard in your carry-on luggage. Do not put it in your checked luggage for two reasons:

• It may break as your luggage is tossed around in transit.
• Royal Caribbean's X-Ray machine will see a bottle/can and not be able to tell if it is alcohol or not. They will then hold the bag and delay its arrival to your stateroom later.

If you buy alcohol in a port your ship visits, you can bring it onboard, although Royal Caribbean will confiscate it until the last night of the cruise, when it will be returned to you.

Can you bring water on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

You are allowed to bring some bottled water on your cruise, but not an unlimited amount.

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring no more than 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom.

Water brought onboard needs to be put in your carry-on luggage, not your checked luggage.

It doesn't matter how many people are in your room, the limit is per stateroom and per sailing.

Can you bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Some alcohol is allowed to be brought onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, but no beer or hard liquor.

Royal Caribbean will let passengers bring up to one bottle of wine per adult per stateroom.

The wine needs to be in your carry-on luggage to avoid your luggage being held by security for inspection later.

Royal Caribbean has offered guests for years the option to pre-book a select amount of water to be delivered to their cabin, and now the cruise line has changed that option from bottled water to canned water.

The cruise line's Cruise Planner site, which allows guests to pre-book select add-ons, lists the Dasani Water package that comes in environmentally-friendly cans that are easy to recycle and made of over 70% recycled aluminum. Aluminum is recycled more easily than plastic.

Guests can choose between a package of 12 or 24 Dasani 16-oz. (475 ml.) cans.

More eco-friendly options trend

Norwegian Cruise Line made headlines in 2019 when it announced the Norwegian Encore would offer no plastic bottles to guests onboard.

Instead, it carried a carton-based water product made by Just Water.

NCL's change was part of a cruise line goal to eliminate single-use plastics across the fleet by 2020.

Royal Caribbean took its first step in 2018 when it announced that beginning in 2019 plastic straws and stirrers would be replaced by Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper straws, wood stirrers and bamboo garnish pickers.

In the company's original announcement to eliminate single-use plastics across its fleet, it aimed to focus on other single-use plastics such as condiment packets, cups, and bags.  The overall plan to be completed in phases by 2020.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! While we cannot celebrate this festive holiday on a Royal Caribbean ship (or even at a bar near home), the next best thing is making the world famous Sabor margaritas at home!

The Grand Sabor Margarita is one of the premier beverages available at my favorite Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant, Sabor Modern Mexican.

Margaritas are a great drink to enjoy anytime of the year, but on Cinco de Mayo, it is a must-drink option. 

If you were at Sabor, you could choose between a variety of margaritas, like avocado or jalapeño-cucumber. 

Here is how to "plus" your Cinco de Mayo (and Taco Tuesday) festivities at home with the Grand Sabor Margarita recipe!

Grand Sabor Margarita Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Patron Reposado tequila
• 1 oz. Cedilla Acai Liqueur
• 1 oz. Grand Marnier
• 2 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup

Suggested music while preparing your Grand Sabor Margarita

• Tequila Song - The Champs

Grand Sabor Margarita Instructions

1. Over ice in a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cedilla Acai Liqueur, Grand Marnier, lime juice and simple syrup.
2. Shake well.
3. Double strain into a prepared glass with fresh ice and garnish.