Considered the best cruise lines for families, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both keep family vacations and cruising with kids at the core of their businesses. But that doesn’t mean bars aren’t a big focus too.
Beverages represent a huge chunk of onboard revenue for any cruise line, and beverage programs are constantly evolving to keep passengers sipping. In recent years, there's been a big shift from piña coladas and umbrella drinks to more creative cocktails and premium offerings to boost beverage profits.
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With sober and sober-curious lifestyles rising in popularity, especially among younger generations, demand for non-alcoholic beverages is increasing. This trend has led cruise lines to further diversify their bar offerings, developing sophisticated mocktails to make sure sober cruisers aren’t left out.
Some cruise lines have also noted that trendy nonalcoholic drinks can also be an enticing option for teens who want to join their parents or older family members in sipping at a cruise ship bar during their vacation.
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Royal Caribbean designs family-friendly bars
Royal Caribbean's director of beverage operations, Ed Eiswirth, has said that the cruise line aims to make bars a family affair on board its new Icon Class mega-ships while delivering an elevated experience for passengers whether they’re drinking alcohol or not.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has more than 15 bars and nightlife venues with each bar offering a selection of zero-proof cocktails options like a zippy Shirley Ginger and a Tropical Crush drink made with Red Bull Yellow Edition.
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In the ship’s Surfside neighborhood, designed specifically for families with kids, The Lemon Post bar is a next-level lemonade stand. It offers an entire mixologist-developed menu of nonalcoholic drinks for kids, as well as a separate menu for grownups.
Royal Caribbean helps drive its drink sales among sober cruisers with an add-on beverage package that includes unlimited mocktails. The Refreshment Package includes all non-alcoholic cocktails along with soda, milkshakes, juices, bottled water, and premium coffees and teas.
An unlimited alcoholic beverage package, the Deluxe Beverage Package, is also available, as well as a less-expensive Classic Soda Package.
Disney Cruise Line embraces zero-proof cocktails too
While Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer alcoholic drink packages like Royal Caribbean and most other mainstream cruise lines, it doesn’t skimp on cocktails and mocktails, or the shipboard bars and lounges across its fleet. From adult-exclusive themed bars to enchanting nightclubs, Disney cruise ships become a playground for parents in the evenings.
Like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line has added zero-proof cocktails to its cruise ship bar, lounge, and restaurant menus, offering an array of alcohol-free libations like a No Way Frosé and a New In Fashion zero-proof old-fashioned made with Free Spirits non-alcoholic bourbon alternative.
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Most Disney cruise ship bars also feature at least one signature zero-proof cocktail unique to that venue.
Passengers on board the Disney Wish ship rave about the stellar mocktail options at the ship’s immersive Star Wars-themed Hyperspace Lounge. The bar’s popular Cloud City zero-proof cocktail is made with oat milk, blue raspberry, and galaxy ice cream. It also serves a Temple Twist mocktail made with apple, mint, pineapple, ginger beer, and kiwi.
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A new Haunted Mansion-themed bar will soon welcome foolish mortals when the Disney Treasure ship sets sail beginning in December, bringing new ghostly cocktails and mocktails for brave souls to try. With a new Sympathetic Libations zero-proof cocktail, passengers can sip on sour cherry and blood orange flavors in a specialty tiki mug.
The new Disney Treasure ship also features other bars inspired by classic Disney Parks attractions: the Periscope Pub themed to the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage, and Skipper Society, a Jungle Cruise-themed lounge. There’s also a piano bar inspired by the classic Disney film, "The Aristocats."
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