I'd estimate I've purchased a Royal Caribbean unlimited drink package at least 30 times, so I've gotten a lot of practice in maximizing it all.
Cruise drink packages are expensive, but they offer a way budget easily for all the beers, cocktails, sodas, and bottled water onboard while adding significant convenience.
I also believe drink packages are among the most popular add-ons people buy for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Getting the lowest price and getting the most out of them are probably the most common questions I get from our readers.
When you consider buying the Deluxe Beverage Package for two people on a 7-day cruise can easily cost over $1,000, it should come as no surprise how quickly questions of "is it worth it?" pop up.
The key to understanding the value of a drink package is in how you use it, and unfortunately too many people overspend and misuse their beverage packages.
Here are some of the biggest mistakes people make when they buy a Royal Caribbean drink package.
Buying drink packages on the ship
If you wait to buy a drink package until you're on your ship, you're going to significantly overpay.
The absolute highest price for a drink package is when you buy it onboard because the onboard prices start high, and only offer a BOGO discount to help subsidize the second person's cost.
What you should be doing instead is pre-purchasing the drink package before the cruise begins.
No matter when you buy it before the sailing, the cost of a drink package will always be cheaper if you buy it prior to getting onboard. This is because Royal Caribbean runs a lot of pre-cruise sales that deeply discount the cost.
If you're skeptical why the price would be cheaper before you're on the ship, it's because Royal Caribbean executives want you buying things online. Every pre-cruise dollar spent will usually generate 50% more onboard revenue for that customer later. It's a psychology thing within marketing.
The bottom line is don't wait to buy a drink package on the ship, because it's going to cost you hundreds of dollars more.
Waiting too long for a sale to buy a drink package
Now that you know not to wait to buy a drink package on the ship, you also don't want to wait to lock in a price.
Even though some people know to pre-buy a drink package, they try to time a sale and this results in them spending more than they expected.
If you know you want to get a drink package, go ahead and pre-purchase now at whatever price you see. The mistake is waiting for a lower sale price later.
The reason this is a mistake is sometimes the price never comes down, and actually goes up.
I've seen a lot of people who read others got a lower price than them, so they wait to buy it. And then the price never goes down, but actually increases.
You can cancel and re-price anything before the cruise begins. Buying it now locks in your price, but allows you to take advantage of a price decrease later. You can cancel and rebook drink packages as many times as you like.
Ordering a drink without specifying the liquor
When you order your favorite cocktail on the ship, be sure to tell the bartender which liquor you want with it.
If you order a "martini", you're going to get well liquor. This is the cheapest and lowest quality vodka available, but your drink package includes much higher shelf options.
What you want to do is ask for name brand liquors with any drink you order.
Most new cruisers are surprised to know their drink package includes brands like Jose Cuervo, Grey Goose, Captain Morgan, or Gentleman Jack.
It's just the super top shelf liquors that aren't included, and the bartender will usually warn you if you're trying to order something not included with a package.
Not taking advantage of all the other drinks you get
If you buy a Refreshment Package or the Deluxe Beverage Package, it's easy to focus just on the mocktails or cocktails, but the best way to make a drink package worth it is to take advantage of other drinks too.
Both of these packages include premium coffees and teas from Cafe Promenade, Pearl Cafe, or Cafe Lattetudes. These are the Starbucks-style drinks that would otherwise cost $5-8 each.
Plus, you can get sodas, Evian bottled water, energy drinks, and milkshakes.
The booze is probably why most people buy the unlimited alcohol package, but there's a lot more that get with it. Not only can you get these other choices, but it makes it easier to break even on the daily cost.
Sharing drink package benefits with others
It's strictly forbidden to get someone a beverage who doesn't have a drink package with your package benefits.
The drink package benefits are only for the person that bought it, and sharing your drinks with someone else could result in having your drink package cancelled without a refund.
No matter how clever you think you are to cheat the drink package, the cruise line has seen it all before.
Not ordering bottled water with every drink order
My favorite inclusion with a drink package is bottled water, and I'll start stockpiling them in my stateroom for use later.
Even though the rules technically say you can only order one drink at a time with a beverage package, bartenders never seem to mind giving you a bottle of water along with your beer or cocktail. This is because they want you to stay hydrated and not get sick.
Rather than ordering a bottle of water one at a time, start asking for a bottle with any drink order you make. Bring those bottles back to your room, so you have them when you're thirsty in the middle of the night or want to take one off the ship for an excursion.
Missing out on the different drink menus around the ship
Did you know the drink menu is different depending on which bar you're at onboard?
While there is a fleetwide menu available on every ship, many specialty restaurants, lounges, and bars have their own special menu that has cocktails and mocktails you won't find anywhere else.
Royal Caribbean has undertaken a special mission of developing fun new drinks that go beyond the clichéd "boat drinks" people expect.
In addition to pina colada or daiquiri, some bars have toasted marshmallow old fashioned, painchiller, tequil-ya zombie, and much more.
Usually these cocktails are included with a drink package at no cost, so try them all!
A drink package includes gratuity, but I tip an extra dollar
It's not a mistake to rely purely on the included gratuity your drink package includes, but I've found you can get better service with a small tip each time you buy a drink.
Whenever I order a drink, I'll give the bartender an extra dollar bill. Why? Because I get better service with it.
This matters when you're at a crowded bar, because bartenders remember who tipped them and that translates to less waiting for a drink.
There's nothing wrong with not adopting my strategy, but I think it's a smart change to make.
