The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package has its own Facebook fan group, where people share everything from their favorite drinks to questions about exactly how the package works.
At its core, the package is simple. The passenger pays Royal Caribbean (RCL) a set fee for each day of their cruise in exchange for unlimited beverages costing up to $14 each.
The deal is generally worth it for anyone who will have five to six alcoholic beverages each day. along with bottled water, coffee, soda, and all the other options the cruise line includes as part of the package.
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The problem is that the deluxe drink package isn't cheap. In fact, it can sometimes cost more than you paid for your cabin.
That means passengers need to do their homework, not only to get the most out of the drink package but also to ensure they buy it for the best possible price.
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1. The Deluxe Beverage Package Price Fluctuates
The most confusing thing about the deluxe package is that its price varies. That's not the norm for the cruise industry: Royal Caribbean's key rivals, Carnival Cruise Line (CCL), MSC and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH), all have set prices for their comparable offerings.
Royal Caribbean uses a variable pricing system where the deluxe beverage package can cost roughly anywhere from $60 per day, per adult in the same cabin to around (and maybe more than) $100. All packages are also charged an 18% gratuity.
There's no rhyme or reason as to how Royal Caribbean sets the price for each cruise, and prices move a lot. So passengers must be vigilant.
A good rule of thumb is you should book the deluxe beverage package if you see it below $80 a day. That, however, is only the beginning of the process.
Royal Caribbean lets you cancel the package and reorder it if you see it at a better price. You don't want to do that if you save only a few dollars a day since you have to wait for your original purchase to be refunded on your credit card. But if the price drops more than that, it makes sense to cancel and repurchase.
Broadly, the best time to buy the package is during a holiday sale. Even then, there might be a great deal on one ship but not on others. In general, it's almost always better to make the purchase before you sail and not on board.
2. Not Every Adult Has to Buy RCL's Deluxe Package
If you attempt to purchase the deluxe beverage package through Royal Caribbean's app or website, it will require you to buy it for every person in your cabin ages 21-and-over. That's the cruise line's policy, but you can get exceptions made if you call the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean does not appear to have an official policy on waiving the every-adult rule, but if you call and give a reason (usually something medical) the cruise line will allow the other adult(s) to purchase a cheaper, non-alcoholic "Refreshment" package.
If the person on the phone says "no," simply hang up and call back. A sad fact of Royal Caribbean customer service is that sometimes you must make multiple calls to get the answer you want.
Very important: The deluxe beverage package is not shareable. You can't order a drink and then give some of it to someone who does not have the package.
If you get caught doing that -- and the cruise line has little tolerance for people who break that particular rule -- your package can be revoked and you won't get your money back.
3. Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package Is Truly Unlimited
This question comes up a lot because Carnival's unlimited beverage package caps alcoholic drinks at 15. Passengers on that cruise line will be shut off when they hit that number and can't even purchase more alcoholic beverages.
Royal Caribbean's deluxe beverage package has no limit, but there are rules. You can buy only one drink at a time (although you can generally order a double or a mixed drink with a floater). Technically, you're supposed to wait five minutes between drinks, but that rule rarely comes into play as bartenders are busy.
People who buy the deluxe package can drink as much as they want, with one major exception: The cruise line will cut you off if you are visibly intoxicated. This can be handled in two ways.
First, if you are slurring your words or otherwise appear drunk, a bartender may simply slow you down by offering a bottle of water, a coffee, or a soda. If you accept that and take a break, you can grab another drink once some time has passed and you have sobered up a little.
If, however, you are belligerent to a bartender, security will quickly get involved. That could mean you being walked back to your room for the night or, if you put up a fight, you could end up sleeping it off in the ship's jail (and perhaps being kicked off the ship in the next port).
