Royal Caribbean gives you drink vouchers, Celebrity hands you an open bar for a couple hours, so which perk actually feels like the better deal once you're onboard?
Royal Caribbean Group offers some of the best loyalty perks in the cruise industry, and one of the most valuable benefits for top-tier members is complimentary drink vouchers. While both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises reward loyal guests with free beverages, each cruise line has its own approach to how those drinks are offered and used onboard.
After cruising extensively with both cruise lines, I’ve had the chance to experience their loyalty drink perks many times. With Royal Caribbean Group's status match program, I have Diamond Plus status with Royal Caribbean and Elite Plus status with Celebrity Cruises. While my status qualifies me for drink perks on both cruise lines, each one takes a different approach to how those benefits are offered, with its own pros and cons.
For instance, Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program offers a ton of flexibility with daily drink vouchers that can be used almost anywhere at any time. On the other hand, Celebrity Cruises hosts a nightly happy hour with unlimited drinks from a set menu during a two-hour window.
Depending on how you like to drink on a cruise, one loyalty program might work better for you than another.
I was reminded of these differences during my recent 14-night cruise with Celebrity Cruises aboard Celebrity Equinox across South America. During that sailing, I was able to experience the Elite Happy Hour each night of the cruise.
We ended up going to Ensemble Bar every evening before dinner. We had an excellent waiter who was extremely attentive night after night and provided fantastic service. It was something we looked forward to each evening as a family!
More importantly, I was able to see how Royal Caribbean and Celebrity’s drink perks differ, especially when it comes to how and where you can use them throughout your cruise. What’s included with each loyalty perk also varies significantly, which can make a big difference depending on your drinking preferences.
Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers are very flexible
Royal Caribbean currently provides drink vouchers to Crown & Anchor members at the Diamond level and above. One of the biggest perks of reaching Diamond status is receiving these daily drink vouchers that can be used throughout your cruise. Even kids receive the benefit, although they are limited to non-alcoholic drinks.
Once you reach Diamond status, you’ll receive 4 drinks per person, per day on every Royal Caribbean cruise you take. Similarly, Diamond Plus members receive 5 drinks per person, per day, while top-tier Pinnacle Club members receive 6 drinks per person, per day.
Royal Caribbean specifically states that Diamond members and above receive: “Complimentary daily drinks up to $14 in value ($13 on Singapore sailings, $15 on UK and Australia sailings — excludes Starbucks, Bionic Bar, and Desserted). Each drink voucher can also get you 40% off on wine bottles less than $100, and 20% off bottles more than $100.”
The vouchers are loaded directly onto your SeaPass account, so there are no paper coupons to carry around. When you order a drink, you simply tell the bartender or server that you would like to use one of your Diamond drinks.
The vouchers are good only for that day, so it is very much a use-it-or-lose-it system. Once you reach 6 a.m. the next day, the voucher total resets. You cannot save vouchers for another day or borrow them from future days.
One of the biggest advantages of Royal Caribbean’s system is where the drinks can be used. You can redeem your drink vouchers at pretty much any bar, restaurant, or lounge onboard. The drink vouchers even work at Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is a huge benefit. This flexibility is what makes the drink perk so useful, as you are not stuck in one venue or forced to wait until a certain time each evening.
Royal Caribbean used to offer a nightly happy hour instead, similar to Celebrity
If you’re newer to cruising with Royal Caribbean, you might not realize that the cruise line hasn’t always used the now-popular voucher system. The cruise line actually used to have a nightly happy hour for Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle members. This perk offered unlimited drinks in the Diamond Lounge each night from a more limited menu that included basic well drinks, wine, beer, and soda.
This was the system for a long time, and after my sister and I turned 21, we were frequent visitors in the Diamond Lounge with our parents! Going to the lounge each night was a highlight of the cruise.
After my husband inherited my Diamond Plus status when we got married, we also became big fans of the happy hour. The limited menu was not always our favorite, but it was better than paying higher prices for drinks.
(Enjoying Happy Hour in the Diamond Lounge during our honeymoon in 2018)
And as newlyweds with a smaller vacation budget, we definitely took advantage of the unlimited drinks during happy hour! Although the menu was limited, the drinks were unlimited. And if you found a good bartender working hard for a tip, you might even be able to get drinks that were not technically on the menu.
After the shutdown, Royal Caribbean revamped the perk. The cruise line wanted to deter people from crowding in the lounge every night for drinks, so it replaced the old happy hour with the drink voucher system. With the new system, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle members could get drinks from any bar up to $14. The drinks could be used at any time of day, which meant you no longer had to wait until happy hour every evening.
For most cruisers, the change was positive. The vouchers provided much more flexibility and allowed people to order from a wider range of drinks than the limited happy hour menu once allowed. And you can use the drinks ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay, which was not an option before with the lounge-only happy hour!
Of course, some people were disappointed about losing the unlimited aspect of the old system. The voucher setup created a hard daily cap that did not exist before. In some ways it became more flexible, while in other ways it became more limited. However, I think most people overall are very happy with the voucher system.
Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour allows unlimited drinks, but with more limitations
Comparatively, Celebrity Cruises has a nightly Elite Happy Hour for Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith members. This takes place in certain bars from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each night, and you can order unlimited drinks from a set menu. The menu includes a selection of basic cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, and some non-alcoholic drinks. Not all bars participate, although most onboard do.
This is where Celebrity’s system differs significantly from Royal Caribbean’s. You cannot order drinks elsewhere using the perk. Instead, you have to wait until happy hour each night and order from the designated menu at a participating bar.
For example, if you want to order a piña colada by the pool during the day, you will be paying out of pocket. And even if you wait until happy hour, you still wouldn’t be able to get a piña colada, as it is not on the Elite Happy Hour menu.
On the other hand, Celebrity’s happy hour does technically allow for unlimited drinks during that two-hour period. If quantity matters most to you, that is a huge advantage. You can theoretically drink as much as you want during happy hour. However, you have to be in a participating bar, which means you cannot use the perk on the pool deck or in a restaurant.
Most people would agree that any free drink is a good drink. But, if you prefer more elaborate cocktails or top-shelf liquor, you might be disappointed by the menu.
However, one nice advantage is that you can order bottled water and soda during happy hour. This doesn’t count against a daily threshold like it would on Royal Caribbean, as Celebrity isn’t tracking how much you order.
Celebrity’s embarkation day rule used to make the perk more frustrating
When I first started cruising with Celebrity in 2023, Elite Happy Hour was not available on embarkation day. You had to wait until the second night of the cruise to enjoy the perk. This felt unnecessarily restrictive, especially if you were only taking a short sailing.
For instance, my sister and I took a 4-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, so we could only enjoy the happy hour for three nights. Similarly, my parents took their first Celebrity cruise that same year, and they were disappointed when they went to the bar on the first night and found out they could not order a drink.
When they asked why the happy hour was not available on embarkation day, no one could really provide a good answer. Now, within the last year or two, Celebrity has extended the happy hour to include embarkation day. That was a very welcome change!
Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour menu is decent, but not expansive
One of the most important things to understand about Celebrity’s loyalty perk is that the drink options are more limited than the ship’s overall bar menus. You cannot order a Lychee Martini or an Old Fashioned, for example. The included menu is much more basic.
The menu features a mix of basic spirits like Absolut vodka, Bacardi rum, and Jim Beam, along with beers such as Heineken and Bud Light, plus wines and classic cocktails like a Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, or Mimosa. While there’s a range of standard options, it’s limited to simple drinks and select brands, meaning anything more premium or specialty would cost extra.
If you’re content with simple cocktails, beer, wine, or basic mixed drinks, the perk can be sufficient. However, if you prefer frozen beverages, more elevated cocktails, or premium spirits, the limited menu may feel somewhat underwhelming.
Royal Caribbean’s biggest advantage is versatility
Personally, I prefer Royal Caribbean’s drink voucher system compared to Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour. For instance, I don’t always want my free drinks during a two-hour window in a specific bar each night. Sometimes I want a cocktail by the pool in the afternoon! Other times, I might want a glass of wine with dinner or a beach drink while visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.
There’s so much flexibility with Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers, and it can save you hundreds of dollars if you’re someone who likes to drink daily.
Another major benefit is that the vouchers work more like a mini drink package. Since they can be used on a much broader range of beverages up to the price cap, you are not limited to one tiny loyalty menu. You can use them for cocktails, bottled water, premium coffee, soda, and more.
I love to have a drink or two each day of my cruise, but I rarely use all five of my Diamond Plus drinks each day of a cruise, especially on a longer itinerary. If I still have drinks left at the end of the evening, I usually stock up on bottled water for the next day.
Finally, it’s also a major perk that you can share your drink vouchers. When I have cruised with friends who do not have the same voucher perks, I have been happy to share my drink vouchers with them. When my parents have cruised with my aunt and uncle, they usually share their 10 combined drink vouchers each day so everyone can enjoy a drink or two.
However, one downside is that Royal Caribbean's vouchers are not unlimited
The biggest drawback of Royal Caribbean’s system is obvious. The drinks are flexible, but they are not unlimited.
For some people, the daily voucher amount is more than enough. For others, it might seem too restrictive. If you are someone who likes to drink throughout the day and into the evening, you may run out of vouchers and have to pay out of pocket.
The vouchers can either feel very generous or very restrictive depending on your habits. If you order a specialty coffee, soda, or bottled water, you aren’t using the full value of the vouchers. I’ve even asked for these to be charged to my account so I can save my vouchers for more expensive drinks throughout the day.
Celebrity’s happy hour offers unlimited drinks and a social atmosphere
If you care most about being able to order as many drinks as you want during those two hours, you might prefer Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour. You do not have to count drinks the way you do with Royal Caribbean’s vouchers, as you can technically order as much as you’d like during the two hours.
There is also a social element to Celebrity’s happy hour that a lot of people enjoy. Since the perk happens in the same bars at the same time every night, you tend to see the same people over and over. This creates more of a nightly ritual and lounge atmosphere. On my recent Celebrity Equinox cruise, going to Ensemble Bar each evening became part of our routine, and having the same attentive waiter each night really enhanced the experience.
I find that Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour can be underwhelming
The main problem with Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour is how restrictive it can feel compared to Royal Caribbean. You have to wait until happy hour each night to get your free drinks, and you have to visit a participating bar to order from a limited menu.
If you want a drink earlier in the day, you are paying out of pocket. And, if you want a more elaborate cocktail, you are paying out of pocket. If you are traveling with people who do not have loyalty status, you can't share your benefit with others. This can make Celebrity’s drink perk feel more limited, even though it is technically unlimited for those two hours.
In fact, I have seen recent discussion online where cruisers asked why Celebrity has not changed to drink vouchers. Personally, I have wondered the same thing!
But I was surprised by how many people said they prefer Celebrity’s happy hour over Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers. More than half of the comments said they liked the happy hour because it’s actually unlimited. Additionally, you can order soda and water without using one of a limited number of drinks.
Celebrity fans also liked the social aspect of seeing the same people every night. I saw multiple comments saying, “Celebrity is not Royal Caribbean, it doesn’t need to change, we like how it is.” I thought that was interesting, because I personally tend to prefer Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers.
Which loyalty drink perk is better?
I understand why some people prefer Celebrity’s Elite Happy Hour. If your top priority is unlimited drinks and you enjoy the social aspect of going to the same bar each evening, Celebrity can be a better option. There is also value in not having to count your drinks during those two hours.
But personally, I still prefer Royal Caribbean’s vouchers. I appreciate being able to order from almost anywhere, at any time, from a much wider drink selection. I also like that the vouchers work at Perfect Day at CocoCay, making the day feel even more inclusive. Finally, it’s great that you can use them for cocktails, bottled water, specialty coffee, soda, or whatever else makes the most sense that day.
Celebrity’s happy hour is still a good perk, and I enjoyed it on my recent Celebrity Equinox cruise. But it feels more restrictive to me. Royal Caribbean’s vouchers feel more practical, more flexible, and more in line with how I like to drink on a cruise.
If your priority is unlimited drinks during a set happy hour and you enjoy the built-in social atmosphere, Celebrity may be the better fit. If you value flexibility, broader drink selection, and the ability to use the perk on your own schedule, Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers are likely a better fit.
At the end of the day, both loyalty perks can save cruisers hundreds of dollars and reduce the need for an expensive drink package.
