Drink packages make a cruise more all-inclusive. If you opt to buy Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (DBP), you basically never have to think about ordering anything from bottled water and soda to top-shelf liquor.
There are some pricey glasses of wine and rare spirits that aren't included in the package which covers drinks up to $14 on the ship and at the cruise line's private islands. If you do order a drink that costs more than $14, Royal Caribbean simply charges you the difference.
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Buying the DBP, however, is not an easy decision, because it can literally cost more than the base fare for your cruise, Some passengers, of course, won't sail without it because they don't want to think about how much money they're spending while onboard.
For most passengers, however, going a la carte versus buying the package isn't an easy decision so it's important to know everything you can about the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package.
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1. Beware of Royal Caribbean's discounts
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic prices for the DBP. It often advertises "sales," on the beverage package using percentage off and sometimes it sells it onboard as buy-one-get-one 50% off.
When there's no set price, those percentages mean nothing. It's important to focus on the bottom line price you pay per day for the DBP. That can range from around $60 per day to over $100 (with an 18% gratuity added on to the total price).
The price also moves and people on the same sailing may end up paying very different prices. In a broad sense, to get a good price, you should start monitoring the cost of the DBP as soon as you book your cruise. If you see a price you're happy to pay, it's best to book.
If the price drops, you can cancel and repurchase although it can take around a week for the original purchase to be refunded.
2. All adults in a cabin must buy a drink package
Technically, Royal Caribbean requires that all adults over 21 booked in the same cabin must buy the DBP if one buys it. In reality, if you call the cruise line and ask, you will usually be allowed to buy a Refreshment Package, basically all-you-can-drink non-alcoholic beverages.
If you do that, however, it's very important to know that if you have the DBP, you cannot share any alcoholic beverages. Any passenger doing that runs the risk of having their beverage package canceled without a refund.
The cruise line takes this very seriously as it does not want one person buying the DBP and then sharing it with anyone else.
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3. Royal Caribbean's beverage package is often a value
Royal Caribbean offers water and basic coffee and tea in a few locations on its ships. It also has iced tea, lemonade, and flavored water at the Windjammer Buffet. It's a pretty limited selection and the DBP includes all drinks — bottled water, soda, smoothies, premium coffee beverages (except at dedicated Starbucks locations), milkshakes, fresh-squeezed juice, energy drinks, and more.
So, with most cocktails and glasses of wine costing $12-$14 and beer being around $8 — although there is some variance based on brands — even someone who has 3-4 alcoholic beverages a day might get value from the DBP. That can actually depend on their non-alcoholic beverage consumption.
Bottles of water cost $2.25 while cans of soda are $3.50 and specialty coffees are around $5. Milkshakes and smoothies cost even more than that so it's important to consider your total potential beverage consumption before making the decision on the DBP.
If the numbers are close, the peace of mind from not having to keep track may well make it worth it even if it ends up costing you slightly more.
