Soft drinks cost extra on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you can buy a soda package and enjoy unlimited Cokes, Sprites, and more.
This is actually the cheapest unlimited beverage package offered by Royal Caribbean, and it's quite popular with families.
Unlike the more expensive drink packages, the soda package includes just one type of beverage and that's it: sodas.
It's a straightforward option, but the most common question is if it's worth it.
Here's what you need to know about Royal Caribbean's soda package before you buy it.
What drinks are included?
A soda package includes as much fountain or canned sodas as you can drink, from any bar, restaurant or lounge.
This includes:
- Fountain sodas
- Souvenir Coca-Cola cup (16oz)
- Coca-Cola Freestyle machines and flavor options
- Sodas
- Sugar free sodas
- Minute Maid lemonades
- Powerade
- Vitaminwater
- Iced tea
- Fruit punch
- Still water
- Sparkling water
- Diet & caffeine-free sodas
- Sodas at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee
It does not, however, include bottled water of any kind.
Certain Royal Caribbean ships have Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, but not all of them.
- Icon of the Seas
- Star of the Seas
- Legend of the Seas
- Oasis of the Seas
- Allure of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
- Utopia of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Odyssey of the Seas
- Jewel of the Seas
- Freedom of the Seas
- Independence of the Seas
- Liberty of the Seas
- Adventure of the Seas
- Voyager of the Seas
- Explorer of the Seas
- Mariner of the Seas
- Navigator of the Seas
- Enchantment of the Seas
- Grandeur of the Seas
- Rhapsody of the Seas
Ships that do have a Freestyle machine can only be used if you have a drink package. This means you cannot purchase individual drinks at the machine without a package. Not only do the machines have fun flavor combinations, but they also often have additional soda flavors and brands that you cannot get elsewhere on the ship.
Soda package cost
There are two prices for the soda package: how much you can get it for on the ship and how much less it costs if you pre-purchase.
Royal Caribbean charges a daily cost, and you must buy it for every day of your cruise. You cannot "cherry pick" days to have it.
Depending on the sale, you can expect to pay between $9.99 to $18.00 per person per day, plus gratuity.
If you wait to buy it on the ship, the standard price is $18.00 per person, per day. Without a doubt, you should pre-purchase it on the Royal Caribbean app or website before the cruise begins to save money.
The exact cost will vary depending on your ship, sail date, and length of your cruise. Royal Caribbean typically charges more for drink packages short cruises and/or newer ships.
If you're wondering, the cost of a single soda if you were to buy it without a package is $3.50 before gratuity.
How the soda package works
Once you buy the soda package, your SeaPass card is ready to be scanned to order drinks. Any bartender or waiter can see you have the package by either scanning the card or seeing the soda package sticker on the front of it.
You can go to any bar, restaurant, or lounge and order a soda and you won't be charged anything for it. Usually there's not even a receipt to sign!
In my experience, you don't even have to tell the crew member you have a drink package. They'll know when they scan your card.
If your cruise ship has a Freestyle machine, you'll need to have your cup with you. The Coca-Cola cup is the only cup that will work with the machine.
Speaking of the cup, you only need to carry the cup to use the Freestyle machine. You do not need to carry the cup with you to get a soda at a bar or lounge.
Simply put the cup in the designated location and select from the drink options and dispense. You can mix and match at will.
There are a few limitations and important rules to know about the soda package.
First and foremost, you're not allowed to share the soda package benefit with anyone else. This means you cannot give friends or family sodas at all. Royal Caribbean will cancel your drink package without a refund if you're caught doing this.
The Freestyle machines also have a time limit between uses. It's usually just a few minutes, and this is designed to prevent abuse and waste.
Who I recommend the soda package for
Royal Caribbean's soda package is worth it if you'll drink enough every day to save money compared to paying $3.50 each for sodas.
Heavy soda drinkers are the ideal buyer, as these are people that like to have not just a few sodas with their meals but drinks inbetween.
Likewise, the soda package is very popular with kids and teens. On some ships, the teen club actually has a Freestyle machine inside of it.
You might also buy a soda package if having predictable onboard costs are important to you. Like any drink package, buy a soda package limits how much you'll spend on drinks, so the are no surprises later.
Skip the soda package if you only want a couple of sodas per day
If you think you'll drink just one or two sodas per day, then the soda package isn't worth it.
Light drinkers or someone that has a soda with dinner simply won't drink enough each day to make up for the cost.
To make the soda package worthwhile, you should be easily drinking 4-5 sodas each day. Otherwise, you'll spend less money overall by purchasing sodas individually.
Soda Package vs Refreshment Package
Many cruisers debate if they should buy a soda package or upgrade to the Refreshment Package.
| Feature | Soda Package | Refreshment Package |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks included | Unlimited fountain sodas | Unlimited non-alcoholic drinks (sodas, juices, coffee, tea, bottled water, energy drinks) |
| Fountain Soda Flavors | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee & Specialty Tea | ❌ Only iced tea at fountains | ✔ Included (espresso drinks, lattes, hot tea) |
| Energy Drinks | ❌ | ✔ Included |
| Milkshakes | ❌ | ✔ Included |
| Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine Access | ✔ | ✔ |
| Souvenir Cup | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cost Per Person | $9.99 to $18.00/day | $32 to $42/day |
| Best For | Soda lovers on a budget | Guests who drink a wide variety of beverages |
| Break-Even Drink Count | 4-5 sodas/day | 5–8 specialty drinks/day |
| Good Choice If You… | Mostly drink sodas | Want water, coffee, juices, and energy drinks too |
The Refreshment Package has a higher cost, but it also includes much more.
With the Refreshment Package, you get everything the soda package includes, plus premium coffees, teas, juices, bottled water, and more.
The soda package costs less, but it's just sodas.
Having bottled water, coffees, and juice is typically the determining factor in choosing one over the other, as well as if there's a particularly good discount offered.
Pros and Cons of the Royal Caribbean soda package
Here are the best reasons to buy a soda package (or to skip it):
Pros
- Unlimited sodas
- One fixed cost for easy budgeting
- Greater variety of flavors with the Freestyle machine
Cons
- Limited to soda (compared to other drink packages)
- Requires carrying the cup to use the Freestyle machines
- Daily cost, whether you drink or not
Without question, you should pre-purchase the drink package to get the lowest possible price. Never wait until you're on the ship to book it because you'll overpay.
The soda package works extremely well for someone that can easily drink 3-4 sodas every day, especially during meals.
I love that the soda package benefits also work at Royal Caribbean's private destinations too.
