If you love having an espresso, latte, or any other brewed coffee every day on your Royal Caribbean cruise, then perhaps a coffee card package is right for you.

Royal Caribbean offers a number of drink packages that include premium coffees, but it also has a coffee card that includes a select amount of coffee drinks.

Will the coffee package save you money and is it worth it to buy?

Here's a breakdown of Royal Caribbean's Cafe Select Coffee Card and what you should know.

What does the coffee card include?

The Cafe Select Coffee Card is the name of what many people call the "coffee package" and it is essentially a punch card of drinks.

Royal Caribbean says the card includes 15 specialty espresso-based coffees that you can use during your cruise. The coffee card issued to you will have 15 punches to use.

This means for every premium coffee you order, the barista will punch a hole in the card to note how many of the drinks you've ordered.

According to Royal Caribbean, the coffee card can save up to 50% on individually purchased coffees.

The coffee card does not include coffees from Starbucks kiosks.  Instead, you can use the card at Royal Caribbean coffee locations, such as Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes.

You can also use the card at any location onboard that serves espresso-based drinks.

You cannot use the card for any coffee drinks that include alcohol.

Punch per drink or per shot?

One inconsistency with Royal Caribbean has been how the coffee cards are punched.

Some passengers report getting one hole punch per drink ordered, while others have reported getting a hole punch per espresso shot in the drink.

On the Royal Caribbean website, there's no mention of getting a hole punch per espresso shot, but you should be aware on some ships they make that distinction.

Can you share the coffee card?

Yes, unlike Royal Caribbean's other drink packages, the coffee card is not restricted to one person.

You are allowed to purchase a coffee card and allow your friends and family to utilize the card benefits. Because the card is not unlimited, Royal Caribbean doesn't care who utilizes the benefits.

How much does the coffee package cost?

The coffee card price is usually at $31 per card.

A gratuity charge is added onto the cost of the card, which covers the gratuity for all the drinks you order while onboard. This means no additional tip is required.

With gratuity, the total cost comes out to $36.58.

Keep in mind Royal Caribbean may change the price of the coffee package at any time, so prices are subject to change.

If you're wondering, a premium coffee purchased individually will run about $2.50 to $5 per drink.

Can you use the same card on different sailings if you don’t use it all at once?

Yes! Royal Caribbean clarified its policy to allow unused punches to be used on another sailing.

Is the coffee card worth it?

Without a doubt, the coffee card will save you money on the equivalent amount of coffee purchased onboard, assuming you order all 15 coffees.

You should be aware that your Royal Caribbean cruise fare includes regular brewed coffee and tea. This card is for espresso-based beverages.

The first reason you might not want the coffee card is if you wont order enough coffees to use up all your hole punches. Since you can share the coffee card with others, it's easier to get your money's worth than with a regular drink package.

Speaking of drink packages, the question of if a coffee card is worth it may lead into the question of should you get a coffee card or another drink package.

Both the Deluxe Beverage Package and the Royal Refreshment Package include premium coffees and have no limit to how many premium coffees you can order. Moreover, they include other beverages such as alcohol, juices, sodas, and more.

Of course, one of the other drink packages will cost you significantly more than a coffee card. The deluxe beverage package can run between $50 - $90 per person, per day. You won't be able to break even on that investment on coffees alone.

If you aren't much of an alcohol drinker, then the Royal Refreshment package might be a good alternative. It includes unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, such as bottled water, coffees, teas, soda, and mocktails. 

The average cost of a Royal Refreshment package is between $29 - $38 per person, per day.

Just like the alcohol package, it still requires you to drink a fair amount of non-alcoholic drinks per day to make it worthwhile.

Ultimately, if you consider the coffee package, you should also look at the other drink packages to ensure your money is well-spent.

If you don't drink a lot of alcohol and sodas or bottled water doesn't do it for you either, then the coffee card is a good choice for those that purely want premium coffees.

Another consideration is your Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society status. Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members get complimentary drink vouchers every day of their cruise, which can be used for premium coffees.

If your cruise ship has a Starbucks kiosk onboard, you might prefer those coffees. Since Starbucks beverages from a Starbucks kiosk is not included with the coffee card, you could alternatively order your drinks there and pay as you go.

As you can see, the determination of if a coffee card is worth it really comes down to the individual person. Here's a summary of the key considerations:

• How many coffees will you drink each day of your cruise?
• How many alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks will you likely have every day of your cruise?
• Does your ship have a Starbucks kiosk?
• Would sharing coffee card benefits with another person make the investment easier?

The good news is the Royal Caribbean Cafe Select Coffee Card has the potential to save money compared to buying the same amount of drinks without the card. The question is really if you should spend the money on the coffee card or get a different drink package to better take advantage of your drinking habits.

Royal Caribbean has a number of important rules you should know about before you buy a drink package.

Beverage packages have the potential to save money compared to buying the same amount of drinks without a package, but it is important to be aware and understand the restrictions of how these beverage packages work.

The rules are not complicated, but there are a few important guidelines that anyone that purchases an unlimited drink package should be aware of first.

Sharing the package

Let us be perfectly clear: it is absolutely forbidden to share the Royal Caribbean drink package benefits with anyone else. Period.

Royal Caribbean warns that guests who share a drink with someone who does not have a drink package can risk having their drink package benefits revoked with no refund.  

The package is intended for only the guest who buys the package.  If you want to buy a drink for someone else, you can do so and pay for it individually along side your drink package transaction.

Drink limits

There is no limit to how many drinks a guest may consume on any day, or during the cruise. 

However, you can only order one drink per transaction.  Which means if you want to get a beer and another drink, you need to order each individually. 

If your group all have the drink package, you can take their SeaPass cards and place a group order.  You just need to provide proof that the amount of drinks ordered match the number of drink packages.

When you can buy the drink package

Royal Caribbean provides the ability to pre-purchase the drink package on its Cruise Planner website.  There is often a discount associated with pre-purchase, which can save money compared to waiting to purchase it onboard.

If your cruise is too far in advance, the drink package option may not be available yet.  There is no set rule when drink packages become available for sale, so keep checking back later.

If you decide to wait to buy a drink package on the ship, you can do so from any bar or lounge. On embarkation day, there are often tables set up around the ship to take just unlimited beverage package purchases.  

You do not have to purchase a drink package on the first day of your cruise.  Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages are available on all two-night or longer sailings, but as long as there are at least 4 days left in the cruise, you can purchase the package at a pro-rated amount.

Where the drink package works

Royal Caribbean's drink package covers beverages purchased at onboard restaurants, bars, and lounges.

It also works on the cruise line’s private destinations of CocoCay and Labadee.

Friends and family have to buy the package too

As of October 2017, Royal Caribbean has changed its policy and is requiring all adults in a stateroom to purchase an unlimited alcohol package if an adult purchases the package.

Gratuity

When you purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package, gratuity (18%) will be assessed on your purchase at that time, which covers all of your subsequent drink orders.

When you order a drink later on, you will not owe any gratuity.  There will be, however, an optional gratuity on your receipt where you can recognize outstanding service.

Refunds and exchanges

Once onboard the ship, beverage packages are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Before a cruise, beverage package purchases can be cancelled and/or re-purchased via the Cruise Planner. 

A Royal Caribbean drink package offers unlimited drinks for a fixed price, which makes it a very attractive offer for many guests.

Should you spend the money to get a drink package, or is it better to pay for drinks as you go? This is a debate many cruise fans have time and time again.

While the decision to get a drink package or not is going to vary from person to person, here are the top reasons you might want to get a drink package on your cruise.

Convenience

The best part of having an unlimited drink package on your cruise is you can order a drink whenever and where you feel like onboard.

This means not having to compromise on when you feel like getting a drink, and it is great when traveling with friends or family.  There is no worrying about how much a drink costs, or if you will like a new cocktail.

With a drink package, there is no risk in trying new drinks and then being "stuck" with something you do not like.

Fixed cost

By pre-paying the cost of drinks on a cruise, having a drink package means an easier means of staying within your vacation budget.

For a lot of guests, not having to think about money on a vacation is a major relief.

Moreover, if you pre-purchase your drink package before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's website, there are often significant discounts that bring the daily cost down compared to waiting to buy it onboard.

There is no need to be concerned with receipts, gratuity, or how much one drink costs over another.

Not just alcohol

While the unlimited alcohol package gets a lot of attention for all the various beers, cocktails and wine included, there is way more included than just booze.

The Deluxe Beverage Package also includes a lot of non-alcoholic beverages that can greatly sway the value proposition for any guest.

It also includes bottled water, sparkling water, sodas, juices, and premium coffee or tea. 

Considering how so many of us rely on a morning espresso, as well as having bottled water available to bring on shore excursions or while in the gym, the fact these are included with the Deluxe Beverage package is a major benefit.

It can (potentially) save you a lot of money

If you can drink enough every day of your cruise, the drink packages will absolutely save you money compared to ordering the same amount of drinks individually.

When you calculate how many drinks per day you would need to drink to "break even" on a drink package, it often sounds a bit much to new cruisers. However, those that have bought the drink package in the past will tell you it is not as bad as it looks.

When you consider a beer will set you back around $8, a cocktail between $10-12, soda around $3 and a latte around $5, breaking even on a drink package investment is not that difficult to achieve.

When you spread your drink consumption out throughout the day and evening, the result tends to be a good value. Especially if your cruise visits a Royal Caribbean private destination where your drink package benefits also work.

Read more

• How much is the drink package on Royal Caribbean?
• Top signs a Royal Caribbean drink package will probably save you money
• How to avoid the most common cruise drink package mistakes

Royal Caribbean is offering half off its popular unlimited alcohol packages on select sailings of Navigator of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

The new offer runs between August 26-27, 2020 and is applicable to just Navigator of the Seas & Symphony of the Seas sailings  from January 1, 2021 - August 30, 2021.

The cruise line says it will offer up to 50% off onboard prices of the Deluxe Beverage Package, and it "has limited inventory and is available on a first come first serve basis."

This is a new type of offer, as usually drink package discounts (and Cruise Planner sales in general) are usually offered for the entire fleet, but rarely with this deep of a discount.

It's our best selling Deluxe Beverage Package - but at half off onboard prices - making this our best deal ever. There's a limited quantity available for your clients' sailing at this special price, so book theirs today!

As of this posting, one RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader reported seeing a $44 per person, per day cost to the Deluxe Beverage Package for a January 2021 Symphony of the Seas sailing.

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Are you debating if an unlimited drink package on your Royal Caribbean cruise makes sense to buy? 

Drink packages have a high up-front cost, but promise savings compared to paying for drinks individually, so how do you know if a beverage package is worth buying?

The decision will be different for everyone, but here are some tell-tale signs that may signify it is a smart purchase for you.

You prefer name brand liquors

When you order drinks at home, do you specify the liquor brand to be used? If so, a drink package purchase might make sense.

Royal Caribbean's drink packages include many brand name liquors, such as Patron, Grey Goose, Bacardi and more. Not only are name brand liquors smoother, they cost more than the house brands.

If you know you will want a name brand liquor with your martini, margarita, or rum and coke, the Deluxe Beverage package includes that.

You will be cruising with a group

The more friends or family you are cruising with, the more likely a drink package will save you money in the long run.

Large groups on a cruise tend to congregate and spend time enjoying each other's company, and inevitably having a drink or two happens.

Whether you all enjoy cocktails with dinner, or beers by the pool, keeping up with the family is a lot more affordable with a drink package.

Spreading out your vacation cost is important

One of my favorite reasons to buy a drink package is to spread out the total cost of the cruise vacation.

When you buy a drink package before the cruise, you pay for it at the time of purchase. This means I can pay off the drink package on a different billing cycle than I did for my cruise deposit, final payment for the cruise, and onboard charges after the cruise.

The ability to budget better is a very compelling reason to buy a beverage package for the flexibility it provides.

You are a social drinker

My mom used to remind me in college that I do not have to drink to have a good time, and while sage advice, having a drink or two is not a bad thing either.

Going on a cruise is about spending time relaxing, being entertained at shows and performances, as well as spending time with friends and family.

If having a drink in your hand while you chit chat or see a show is something that you tend to do, a drink package makes this a heck of a lot more affordable habit.

Your cruise is visiting a private island

There is a good argument to make for buying a drink package if your Royal Caribbean cruise visits a private island because the drink package benefits work there too.

Royal Caribbean private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee are amazing places to spend the day, and the fact Royal Caribbean extends drink package benefits to these locations adds a significant amount of value to the drink package equation.

Considering you will probably spend at least 8 hours at one of these ports, it is like having a bonus sea day worth of time to take advantage of what the drink package has to offer. Moreover, Royal Caribbean's beverages are the "only game in town", so that means you will have to pay Royal Caribbean for a coke, cocktail or beer.

You drink espresso-based coffee

While black coffee works well-enough for some people, there are many others who love a good espresso.

Lattes, macchiatos, or even just espresso shots are very popular, and included with the Deluxe and Refreshment packages.

If you might have one, two or more of these premium coffees every day of the cruise, investing in a drink package might make a lot of financial sense.

Getting a drink package on a Royal Caribbean cruise is a very popular choice, and if you are among the many who choose to purchase one, be sure to avoid these costly mistakes.

Buying a drink package for your cruise means a fixed daily cost that can add up to a substantial bill. Even with that high package cost, you can easily break even on your investment, but there are also some strategies for maximizing your drink package so that you get much more out of it.

Here are the top cruise drink package mistakes, and how to avoid them!

Not specifying a liquor

When you order a drink, it is very easy to simply order the name of the drink without telling the waiter or bartender which liquor to use.

More often than not, the drink will be served with a lower quality liquor, but you could get a higher quality alcohol that is included in your drink package.

Instead of ordering "a pina colada", order "a pina colada with Kraken rum" or "a martini with Grey Goose."

By specifying the liquor, not only do you get your preferred brand of alcohol served, but you can take advantage of higher quality booze included at no extra cost.

Paying for the drink package on the ship

The most costly mistake you can make with a drink package is waiting to buy it on your cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean charges the highest price for its drink packages on its ships, whereas it offers discounts regularly to guests who purchase their drink package before the cruise.

In the months leading up to your cruise, just log onto Royal Caribbean's website and purchase the drink package there.  

If timed during a sale, you could save 30-45% off the onboard price of that drink package. Those savings can add up quickly!

Sharing the drink package benefits

Royal Caribbean is quite clear that sharing the drink package benefits with someone else is against the rules.  

This means you cannot (and should not) order a drink for a friend or family member who does not have the drink package.

Not only is sharing a drink package frowned upon, if you are caught, you could lose your drink package benefits entirely without a refund.

Forgetting all the beverages that come with a drink package

When you hear "cruise drink package," the first thing most people think about are soda or alcoholic beverages, but Royal Caribbean includes plenty of other drinks with their drink packages.

The Deluxe Beverage Package or the Refreshment Package both include soft drinks, espresso specialty coffees, premium teas, bottled water, sparkling water and juice with their drink package.

This means you can break even on your drink package cost without just drinking booze.

It also means you can enjoy a latte in the morning, shake at the gym, milkshake at Johnny Rockets, and afternoon tea without spending anything extra.

Not stocking up on bottled water

Bottled water is included with a drink package, and you should always order a water bottle to bring back to your room periodically to stock up on.

Not only will having bottled water in your room make for a convenient option when you need a drink in the morning, but you can also take these bottles off the ship with you when you go on an excursion.

While you certainly could just stop at a bar and get a bottle of water before heading off the ship, having a little stockpile makes getting ready for a fun day on shore easier. Plus, the crew are usually happy to give you an extra bottle or two if you ask.

Not using a drink package at restaurants

Did you know your drink package benefits work at Royal Caribbean's restaurants, including the specialty restaurants?

Some Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants have a special cocktail menu with drinks not available elsewhere on the ship.

If the restaurant has a special cocktail, usually it is on the drink menu that also includes the wines and other beverages available.

Specialty restaurants with particularly good drinks of their own include Sabor, Jamie's Italian, 150 Central Park and Wonderland.

Assume you need a drink package

While this article is about how to maximize a drink package, it is worth noting everyone does not absolutely need one.

Getting a drink package means you have a fixed cost to your drinking onboard, as well a great deal of convenience. But if you will not drink enough during the cruise, then a drink package is not necessary.

Your cruise fare includes some basic beverages, including water, coffee, milk and tea. For a lot people, this is more than enough.

In addition, a drink package has a high upfront cost that is difficult for some to pay, even if it means a lower bill later.

Drink packages are a nice to have splurge, but far from a necessity, so have an honest conversation with yourself to determine if it makes sense to get one.

Save this blog on Pinterest

Many people with an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise often wonder if there is a way to get a free Royal Caribbean drink package for their vacation.

Can you really get a Royal Caribbean unlimited drink package for free? And if so, what's the catch?

Free drink packages are rare

Generally speaking, Royal Caribbean does not offer its drink packages for free, but it does regularly offer discounts on them.

If you book a Star Class suite on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package is included for every guest in the room. Star Class staterooms are the highest category of suites available on any Royal Caribbean ship, and usually come at a high cost.

The cruise line used to include a complimentary soda package if you booked a Boardwalk Balcony stateroom on its Oasis Class ships, but discontinued that program on January 1, 2020.

In select countries (i.e. United Kingdom), occasionally a new promotion will offer an "all-inclusive package", where the drink package cost is included with the cruise fare cost. Whether or not the drink package is free, or simply paid for as part of the cruise fare, is debatable.

Another way to get a free deluxe beverage package is if you reach a high enough tier of the Casino Royale program, which rewards guests who gamble a lot on Royal Caribbean.

As previously stated, a free drink package is nearly non-existent, and when it is "included" for free, you are usually paying for it in the grand scheme of things.

How to get a discount

If you want to know how to get a get a discount on a Royal Caribbean drink package, there are far more options available to you.

Every few weeks or so, Royal Caribbean runs a sale on pre-cruise purchases made on its Cruise Planner site.

These discounts regularly offer money off the cost of an unlimited drink package, primarily the unlimited alcohol package. The exact discount will vary, but the price offered online is always cheaper than the price onboard the ship.

If you know you want to buy a drink package, your best option is to pre-purchase and lock in the lower price.

In addition, Royal Caribbean will offer Crown and Anchor Society members a discount if they purchase the drink package onboard the ship.

Typically, the onboard discount for a Crown and Anchor Society member is 20% off for Diamond, 30% off for Diamond Plus, and 40% off for Pinnacle. 

This discount can be a better option if you are cruising solo, as the pre-cruise discounts typically offer the best deal if you are buying two packages.

Royal Caribbean has unveiled a new design for its unlimited drink package soda cups on a few different ships across the fleet.

The new cup design comes in at least two colors (blue or green) and features a large Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor logo with plenty of bubbles around it.

Photo by Chris Bowers on Liberty of the Seas

Pink design. Photo by Chris Spears

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Michael Pastore shared photos of the new cup design while on Adventure of the Seas this week.

These souvenir cups are compatible with the self-serve soda machines on the pool deck as well as the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. The Coca-Cola souvenir cup has a special chip in it which activates the machine.

Do you like the design of these souvenir Coca-Cola cups? Tell us in the comments below!

The decision to buy a Royal Caribbean beverage package is something a lot of cruisers wrestle with, because the benefits of having a fixed cost for unlimited drinks has to be weighed against the question of "need" and overall cost.

There are three different drink packages you can buy either before the cruise or once onboard.

Many cruisers are curious if a drink package makes sense to buy, so here are the top reasons to know that you need to buy a drink package on your next cruise.

You like having a fixed cost for all your drinks

The most compelling reason to get any drink package is for the flat fee to enjoy unlimited drinks on your cruise.

Budgeting for a vacation involves a lot of costs, and the last thing anyone wants is a surprise bill at the end of the cruise that is much higher than expected.  Investing in a cruise drink package assures that soda, booze or coffees will not run up your bill.

If you pre-purchase a drink package prior to the start of the cruise, not only will you save money, you will spread out the total cost of the cruise vacation.

Of course, you could always wait until the first day of the cruise to see how your drink consumption is going and elect to buy a drink package once onboard.

You are cruising with a lot of friends or family

I believe people cruise differently when they are sailing with just their family, versus a larger group. To that point, having a drink package might make a lot of financial sense if you are going to be socializing a lot on your cruise.

Going on a cruise with extended family and friends is a fantastic way to catch up and make new memories that you will be laughing about for years to come.  In my experience, hanging out with people for extended periods of time leads to wanting to have a drink.  Whether you all decided to do a few rounds of beers at the pool or want to enjoy a few glasses of wine with dinner, a drink package will make the decision to join in a heck of a lot easier.

When you do not have a drink package, you begin to question if you want to get another drink to be a part of the crowd, or be fiscally responsible and skip this round.  No good stories include, "...and then I decided to save some money and not order a drink."

Convenience is important to you

There is no doubt that having a drink package means not worrying about your bar bill.  With beers, cocktails, coffees and more included, the notion of racking up a giant bill is eliminated.

In fact, having a drink package makes it super simple when you are at any bar, restaurant, lounge or theater to simply take your SeaPass card out and grab a drink.  Gratuity is included with the drink package, so there is no math to calculate and no bill at the conclusion of the sailing to rectify.

For many people, a drink package is a very liberating experience.

Bottled water, soda or premium coffee is something you drink a lot

Royal Caribbean includes some drinks with the cruise fare, but if you are used to having a soft drink with meals, wine with dinner or a latte every morning, buying a beverage package might be right up your alley.

While buying a Diet Coke here, or bottled water there is not going to cost you a fortune, these drink package purchases do add up, especially if it is a habit.  Bottled water is one area that a lot of guests tend to buy because they need them for tours in the ports of call the ship visits.

If you have a drink package, the convenience of being able to grab a bottle of water or have a second shot of espresso is far less worrisome.

You want to try drinks

One of the best advantages of having a beverage package is being able to sample drinks without worrying you are wasting money if you do not like it.

You may have heard about all the amazing cocktails you can have on a cruise, like a Lavaflow, Miami Vice or Strawberry Daiquiri. Ordinarily, you might shy away from buying one because you do not want to spend money on a drink you may not finish.  With a drink package, there is no risk involved.

In fact, Royal Caribbean offers a wide variety of beers, cocktails and liquors with its drink packages and you may find trying a few drinks during the cruise to be a fun pursuit.

You are going to Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labdee

My mom used to always remind me that you do not need to drink to have a good time, and while accurate, having a few drinks at the beach or pool is still fun!

If your ship visits either of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, you can only buy beers or cocktails from the cruise line and that makes a drink package purchase far more compelling.

These private islands are all about enjoying the natural beauty surrounding you, and having a few drinks along the way seems to be a common pastime. Just like a sea day on the ship, drink package benefits work on these private islands and extend the value they provide.

What do you think?

If you have cruised before, is a drink package worth it?  If you are new to cruising, what concerns do you have? Share your comments and questions in the comments!

Royal Caribbean's drink packages are big hit with guests, because it provides unlimited beverages to enjoy during the cruise for a fixed price.

There are three drink packages available to purchase: Deluxe Beverage Package, Refreshment Package, and the Classic Soda Package.

If you elect to buy a drink package, here are a few ways to take full advantage of your investment.

Specify the liquor brand when ordering

When you order any alcoholic drink, be sure to specify the liquor.

Instead of ordering "a bloody mary", say "a bloody mary with Grey Goose". Your unlimited alcohol package includes quite a variety of liquor, so do not settle for the first bottle available to the bartender.

By specifying the higher quality brand of liquor, you can get more value out of your package, as well as enjoy the finer spirits included with your drink package.

Pre-purchase to save money

Royal Caribbean rewards guests who buy their drink package before the cruise with a discounted price, compared to purchasing it on the ship.The exact discount will vary from sailing to sailing, but in general, the savings of booking a drink package online before a cruise can be as much as over $10 per person, per day compared to booking it onboard. Over the course of a 7-night cruise, those savings add up quickly!

What you want to do is log onto the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's website and purchase the drink package of your choice online.  If you are concerned about the drink package price dropping, take solace in the fact you can always cancel and rebook with no penalty!

Not only will buying your drink packages online save you money, it will also save you time because typically there can be lines to purchase the drink packages onboard the ship. Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package.

How to save money if your spouse does not drink (a lot of) alcohol

You may or may not be aware that all Royal Caribbean passengers 21 years of age and older (18 years in Australia and the U.K) are now required to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one other person in their cabin has one.

That is fine if each adult in the room wants the alcohol package, but what if someone does not want it or cannot consume alcohol? 

Before the cruise, call Royal Caribbean and explain that you would like to purchase the deluxe beverage package, but someone else in your room does not want it. While not an official policy, in every instance we have tried, the cruise line will allow you to purchase the Royal Refreshment (non-alcoholic) drink package instead for that person. This helps save money on what would have otherwise been a drink package that the other person would not have been able to fully utilize.

Don't overlook coffee, bottled water and juice

When talking about the Deluxe Beverage Package, inevitably we all focus on the cocktails, beer or wine included, however, it includes so much more than just alcohol.

Lattes, premium bottled water, sparkling water, fresh squeezed juices and more come with your drink package purchase.  These sort of beverages are a major component to the drink package, and are a way to enhance the value of your package investment because the savings can rack up quickly.

Use your drink packages outside the bar

While it may be obvious you can use your drink packages at any bar or lounge, your benefits extend to any restaurant on the ship.

Royal Caribbean's specialty restaurants have their share of signature cocktails, as well as a full array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Just like at a bar, your drink package works at these locations too.

In addition, Royal Caribbean's drink package benefits work at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee.  Your drink package value will dramatically increase if your cruise visits one of these spots.

You don't need the soda cup to get a drink

One of the benefits of any drink package is you will get a souvenir Coca-Cola cup to use during the sailing. While it is a handy means of getting soda (and the only way to get soda out of the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines), you do not need to always use the cup to get a soft drink.

In addition to the cup, any bar, restaurant or lounge can provide you a cup or can of soda whenever you like. This is helpful when you are Labadee or Perfect Day at CocoCay and do not feel like bringing the cup with you, or anytime when the cup is not with you.