Royal Caribbean’s New Drink Package Policy: What You Need to Know Before You Cruise

If you’re planning a cruise on Royal Caribbean anytime after August 1, 2025, we need to talk about an important change that just took effect—especially if you’ve ever tried to get a drink package for just one adult in the cabin.

Short version? If one adult in your stateroom buys the Deluxe Beverage Package (the one with unlimited alcohol), then every other adult in the cabin now has to buy it too. No more exceptions.

What Changed?

Before August 1, here’s how it worked: if one person wanted the drink package but their cabin-mate didn’t drink—maybe for medical or religious reasons—you could call Royal Caribbean and request an exception. They’d often allow the second adult to buy a non-alcoholic Refreshment Package instead.

As of August 1, 2025, that’s gone.

Now, there are no exceptions. If one adult buys the Deluxe Package, then every adult in that room has to get it too. Even if the other person doesn’t drink. Even if they’re pregnant. Even if they’re a pastor. Even if they just don’t want it.

Why Did They Change It?

To put it simply: people were abusing the system.

Some guests were claiming to be non-drinkers just to get the cheaper package—and then sharing drinks with their spouse or roommate who bought the Deluxe. That’s always been against the rules, and Royal Caribbean decided enough is enough.

They’ve said the number of exception requests kept climbing and so did drink sharing. So they decided to make the rule hard and fast for everyone: no more workarounds.

How This Affects Your Cruise Budget

Let’s talk dollars, because this change isn’t just about policy—it’s about your wallet.

• The Deluxe Beverage Package now ranges between $50 to $115 per person, per day, depending on your cruise.

• The Refreshment Package (non-alcoholic) usually falls around $30 to $45 per day.

• The Classic Soda Package runs $10 to $20 per day.

So if you and your spouse are cruising and only one of you drinks, you’re now looking at both of you paying for the Deluxe Package—or skipping it altogether. That could mean hundreds of dollars added to your total cost.

Here’s a rough breakdown:

Option	Before (One Deluxe + One Refreshment)	After (Two Deluxe Packages)
7-Night Cruise Example	~$1,120 total	~$1,610 total

That’s almost a $500 difference—just for one person not drinking. Ouch.

What’s Still Included?

Here’s a quick refresher on what’s in each package:

• Deluxe Beverage Package: Unlimited cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, soda, specialty coffee, bottled water, juices, mocktails, and drinks at CocoCay and Labadee. Covers drinks up to $15.

• Refreshment Package: Everything above, minus alcohol.

• Classic Soda Package: Just sodas and Coca-Cola Freestyle machine access (plus souvenir cup).

Still not included? Starbucks (at licensed kiosks), souvenir cups, and some specialty shakes.

So, What Are Your Options Now?

This new policy stings if you’re a mixed-drinker couple. But here are some alternatives that might soften the blow:

• Skip the package. Buy drinks a la carte. If you’re not a heavy drinker, this might actually save you money.

• Bring your own wine. Each adult can bring one 750ml bottle of wine onboard at embarkation.

• Bring your own soda. One 12-pack of cans per stateroom is allowed.

• Watch for drink specials. Look out for daily drink-of-the-day promos or drink punch cards mid-cruise.

• Book during a sale. The Cruise Planner often has 30–50% off drink packages before you sail.

And hey, if you cruise often, Crown & Anchor loyalty perks may help too. Diamond members and above get a few free drinks daily without any package needed.

Final Thoughts from the Panda

Look, we’re not saying don’t buy the drink package. For some cruisers, it’s still a great deal—especially if you like to kick back with cocktails by the pool, sip wine at dinner, or grab a frozen drink on the beach.

But this new “everyone must buy” rule is something you’ll want to plan for—before you check out with that Cruise Planner. Because once you buy it, there are no refunds. And as your friendly cruise pros here at Cool Panda, we want to make sure you cruise smart.

If you have questions about your upcoming Royal Caribbean sailing or want help figuring out whether a drink package makes sense for your trip, just reach out to us. We’ll run the numbers with you and make sure you’re not overpaying—or getting surprised later.