Be careful: When a cruise line bundles together items into a package, it doesn't automatically mean you'll be getting a deal.
Royal Caribbean offers the Classic Soda package, which is literally just soda, and the Refreshment Package, which includes soda, juice, water, premium coffee, milkshakes, mocktails and really anything that's not alcohol.
On the alcoholic side, it has sold the Deluxe Beverage Package, which is every drink on the menu up to $14.
Related: Update: Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas heads back to Spain
At various points Royal Caribbean has sold a package that bundles the Deluxe Beverage Package and a single-device internet connection. And on rare occasions for sale on board the cruise line has offered a 10-drink card that usually costs $10.
It also sometimes sells a 10-drink coffee card that can be used across multiple trips.
Prices for all of the cruise line's drink packages are dynamic, rising or falling as demand dictates. There's no set base price, and Royal Caribbean advertises them at percentage discounts. That's very confusing for passengers looking to book the best price.
In a broad sense, only the bottom line price per day matters. Anything under $75 per day is a good deal on a short sailing, while $70 and under would be high value on a seven-day or longer sailing.
Royal Caribbean does allow passengers to cancel the package and buy it again if the price drops, but refunds can take up to 10 days to process.
Now, in advance of Black Friday, Royal Caribean has rolled out a new sale, which includes three new bundled drink packages.
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Royal Caribbean adds new drink package for CocoCay trips
Without any fanfare Royal Caribean has created three new packages that bundle the Deluxe Beverage Package, Voom and an added-fee Perfect Day at CocoCay experience. They are:
- Thrill Big Package: This package includes three of our favorite vacation essentials: Deluxe Beverage Package, Voom Surf + Stream Internet – 1 Device, and Thrill Waterpark Full Day Pass. That package is listed at $114.99 per person per day plus an 18% gratuity.
- Chill Big Package: This package includes three of our favorite vacation essentials: Deluxe Beverage Package, Voom Surf + Stream Internet – 1 Device, and Coco Beach Club Day Pass. Relax at our exclusive private retreat, Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean lists that package at $123.99 per person per day plus an 18% gratuity.
- Party Big Package: This package includes three of our favorite vacation essentials: Deluxe Beverage Package, Voom Surf + Stream Internet – 1 Device, and Hideaway Beach Day Pass. That package is listed at $108.99 per person per day plus an 18% gratuity.
All these prices are based on a 4-day Allure of the Seas sailing in January. The same sailing shows the following prices for each package item on its own:
- Deluxe Beverage Package: $62.99
- Zoom Surf + Stream Internet: $20.99 per day
- Hideaway Beach: $48.99 per person
- CocoCay Beach Club: $103.99 per person
- Thrills Waterpark: $78.99
All services will also have an 18% gratuity added per day. Prices will vary by ship, passenger and day.
On the surface, all these individual prices are lower than what Royal Caribbean usually charges.
Are Royal Caribbeans's news packages a good deal?
In a broad sense, these packages seem like good deals. The problem is that, at least on this ship for this passenger at this time, the total cost of buying each item separately is less than the package cost.
Here's the math:
- Hideaway Beach: $96.22 per day (cheaper than the $108.99 Party Big Package).
- Thrill Waterpark: $103.72 per day (cheaper than the $114.99 Thrill Big Package)
- CocoCay Beach Club: $109.97 (cheaper than the $123.99 Chill Big Package.
Overall, the price for each item is lower than what you usually see, but the package deals are not worth their prices. You add the per-day price of the Deluxe Beverage Package and Voom, then 1/4 of the CocoCay experience price, to determine what you're paying per day when buying each item on its own.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
Important: While the packages are not a good deal on this sailing at this moment, it does not mean that bundles will never be good deals. You must do the math on your sailing to see what the best way to purchase these items is.
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