One of the things Royal Caribbean worked on during the 15 month shutdown was revamping its fleetwide beverage menu.

Across Royal Caribbean's ships, the base menu for cocktails, mocktails, and low/no alcohol drinks has been updated.

Rest assured, all of your favorite, typical vacation cocktails are still available, such as piña coladas, daiquiris, and mojitos.  This new menu is an opportunity to bring new drink ideas to guests who might be interested in something different.

This new menu will be available at all bars and lounges which do not have a specialized menu of their own.  

You will be able to find this menu at locations like the Schooner Bar, Viking Crown Lounge, Boleros and more.

Off the bat, you can see the menu pays homage to the Caribbean islands, with not only the name of each drink, but the country where it was invented.

Colorful maps are included to provide context.

Something else you may notice is Royal Caribbean has licensed certain drinks, such as the Dark 'n Stormy and Pain killer.

For a bar to sell a drink with the official name, they need to serve the cocktail with the official liquor and ensure the pour is accurate, per the manufacturer's requirements.

Of course, Royal Caribbean has plenty of beers to pick from as well.

While you won't find as many beers on a cruise ship as on land, they stock some of the most popular types, both foreign and domestic.

If wine is your thing, you'll find a selection of wines by the glass or by the bottle.

Not all wines are available by the glass, but there are various brands from regions around the world.

If you purchase a bottle of wine, you can bring it to any bar, restaurant, or even back to your cabin to enjoy as you see fit.

A trend Royal Caribbean looked to capitalize on with its new drink menu are cocktails that aren't super sweet or "heavy" so that guests can enjoy the drinks with less guilt.

These sort of drinks are ideal for consuming outdoors in the warm Caribbean sun.

If you're looking for a shot or liquor served neat, there are a wide array of choices.

Not only are these liquors available to choose from, but most are included with a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Another trend Royal Caribbean is hopping on is the low-alcohol and no-alcohol drinks bandwagon.

Whether someone doesn't drink alcohol or simply wants to limit the amount they intake, these can be great alternatives.

The new menu is inspired by some of the signature Caribbean islands Royal Caribbean has traditionally visited, and as a way of honoring these destionations, a popular drink recipe was highlighted from each spot.

Linken D'​Souza, Global Vice President Culinary, Dining & Beverage, talked about the menu change as an opportunity to move the menu offerings forward.

He said his team worked on, "identifying drinks that are really signature drinks to those islands and bringing them onboard the ship."

"We've really leveraged that time to to focus on the program, fine-tune the experience, build these amazing cocktails."

"It's like bringing a port of call to your experience onboard the ship. And maybe you have the cocktail on board and you get off from the island and you say, hey, I got to get one of those here to see how close they are."

Some of the new signature cocktails that Royal Caribbean highlighted include:

• Goombay Smash (Bahamas)
• Planter's Punch (Jamaica)
• Papa Jac (Puerto Rico)
• The Painkiller (British Virgin Islands)
• Dark 'n Stormy (Bermuda)
• Rum Puinch (Barbados)

The new drink menus are available on all the cruise ships in the fleet.

A lot of people want to know what you are allowed to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially food or drinks.

Royal Caribbean includes a wide variety of complimentary dining options on your cruise, which means there is plenty to eat and drink. Yet, some guests want to bring their own food for a variety of reasons.

You'll find plenty of drinks and snacks included with your Royal Caribbean cruise fare, but sometimes you want a specific brand or type of snack/beverage. 

Bringing your own snacks and drinks can save money versus purchasing them onboard or on shore.

Moreover, it can be quite helpful to have these items in your cabin, especially if you have kids.

The good news is you are allowed to bring some food and drink on your cruise, but there is a limit on how much and what sort you can bring.

Food you can bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring non-perishable prepackaged food in limited quantities on their ships. So bringing your kids' favorite snacks and treats are allowed.

This includes foods such as cookies, crackers, chips, energy bars, etc. Pre-packed baby food is also allowed.

You do not need to declare that you have food, and it is generally fine to pack your prepackaged food in either your carry-on or your checked luggage.

There is no exact limit on how much of these foods you can bring, so feel free to bring as much as you deem necessary.

Be sure not to bring any perishable food or meat products, as those are prohibited items.

Beverages you can bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean also allows a limited amount of non-alcoholic beverages with them on embarkation day.

Specifically, you can bring up to 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons per stateroom of your favorite non-alcoholic beverage (soda, bottled water, etc).

In addition, baby food and formula are allowed to be brought onboard.

If you are bringing milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use, there are no restrictions or limitations related to these items. If you need to bring special beverages, please complete a Special Needs form. Royal Caribbean requests you send this form at least 30 days before your sail date and they will inform you via e-mail of their decision.

While alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought on a Royal Caribbean cruise, there is an exception for up to one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult in each cabin, per sailing. This policy changed in March 2023.

There is no cost to enjoy wine in your room, but a corkage fee will be charged if you bring the bottle to a restaurant or bar.

You should pack any beverages you bring onboard in your carry-on luggage. Do not put it in your checked luggage for two reasons:

• It may break as your luggage is tossed around in transit.
• Royal Caribbean's X-ray machine will see a bottle/can and not be able to tell if it is alcohol or not. They will then hold the bag and delay its arrival to your stateroom later.

If you buy alcohol in a port your ship visits, you can bring it onboard, although Royal Caribbean will confiscate it until the last night of the cruise, when it will be returned to you.

Can you bring water on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

You are allowed to bring some bottled water on your cruise, but not an unlimited amount.

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring no more than 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons per stateroom.

Water brought onboard needs to be put in your carry-on luggage, not your checked luggage.

It doesn't matter how many people are in your room, the limit is per stateroom and per sailing.

Can you bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Some alcohol is allowed to be brought onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, but no beer, seltzer, or hard liquor.

Royal Caribbean will let passengers bring up to one sealed bottle of wine or champagne per adult per stateroom. Boxed wine and other contains are prohibited.

The wine needs to be in your carry-on luggage to avoid your luggage being held by security for inspection later.

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Royal Caribbean has offered guests for years the option to pre-book a select amount of water to be delivered to their cabin, and now the cruise line has changed that option from bottled water to canned water.

The cruise line's Cruise Planner site, which allows guests to pre-book select add-ons, lists the Dasani Water package that comes in environmentally-friendly cans that are easy to recycle and made of over 70% recycled aluminum. Aluminum is recycled more easily than plastic.

Guests can choose between a package of 12 or 24 Dasani 16-oz. (475 ml.) cans.

More eco-friendly options trend

Norwegian Cruise Line made headlines in 2019 when it announced the Norwegian Encore would offer no plastic bottles to guests onboard.

Instead, it carried a carton-based water product made by Just Water.

NCL's change was part of a cruise line goal to eliminate single-use plastics across the fleet by 2020.

Royal Caribbean took its first step in 2018 when it announced that beginning in 2019 plastic straws and stirrers would be replaced by Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper straws, wood stirrers and bamboo garnish pickers.

In the company's original announcement to eliminate single-use plastics across its fleet, it aimed to focus on other single-use plastics such as condiment packets, cups, and bags.  The overall plan to be completed in phases by 2020.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! While we cannot celebrate this festive holiday on a Royal Caribbean ship (or even at a bar near home), the next best thing is making the world famous Sabor margaritas at home!

The Grand Sabor Margarita is one of the premier beverages available at my favorite Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant, Sabor Modern Mexican.

Margaritas are a great drink to enjoy anytime of the year, but on Cinco de Mayo, it is a must-drink option. 

If you were at Sabor, you could choose between a variety of margaritas, like avocado or jalapeño-cucumber. 

Here is how to "plus" your Cinco de Mayo (and Taco Tuesday) festivities at home with the Grand Sabor Margarita recipe!

Grand Sabor Margarita Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Patron Reposado tequila
• 1 oz. Cedilla Acai Liqueur
• 1 oz. Grand Marnier
• 2 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup

Suggested music while preparing your Grand Sabor Margarita

• Tequila Song - The Champs

Grand Sabor Margarita Instructions

1. Over ice in a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cedilla Acai Liqueur, Grand Marnier, lime juice and simple syrup.
2. Shake well.
3. Double strain into a prepared glass with fresh ice and garnish.

The days seem to be blending together to the point weekdays and weekends may not seem to differ all that much, but May is here, and that means warmer temperatures.  If the mercury is rising, then I have the perfect frozen drink to try.

The Love Connection is a blend of two favorite frozen concoctions in one.  It is one of those drinks that if you saw someone order at a bar on Royal Caribbean, you would probably ask the bartender to make one for you as well.

If you leave out the rum, this is also a fun drink for the kids!

Photo by Brian Robinson

If you are ready to welcome in summer, get your blender out and sip on the Love Connection.

Love Connection Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Bacardi Gold Rum
  • I would prefer Kraken Rum
• 1.5 oz Island Oasis Pina Colada mix [affiliate link, no extra cost to you but I get a finder's fee]
• 1.5 oz Island Oasis Strawberry mix [affiliate link, no extra cost to you but I get a finder's fee]
• 1.5 oz Island Oasis mango mix [affiliate link, no extra cost to you but I get a finder's fee]

Suggested music while preparing your Love Connection

• The Merrymen - Feeling Hot Hot Hot

Photo by Kris Leppien-Christensen

Love Connection Instructions

1. Blend 1/2 oz rum with each of the mixes and ice.
2. Layer each blend into a hurricane glass in the following order:
   1. Strawberry
   2. Pina Colada
   3. Mango
3. Serve with colorful straw

Usually I like to share classic Royal Caribbean cruise cocktail recipes that you can make at home, but with the weekend here, perhaps a treat for the kids is in order.

If your kids are anything like mine, they love to get colorful drinks that look as good as they taste, and the watermelon lemonade fits that bill.

So if you need a tasty distraction for the kids, whip up a pitcher of this for them and let them pretend they are on a cruise (virtual Adventure Ocean staff not included).

Watermelon Lemonade Ingredients

• 1 ounce kiwi syrup
• 1.5 ounces fresh lemonade
• 4 ounces fresh watermelon juice
• Fresh watermelon for garnish

Suggested music while preparing

• Baby Shark
• Jimmy Buffett - Grapefruit

Watermelon Lemonade Instructions

1. In a cocktail glass, add ice cubes
2. Add kiwi syrup
3. Add lemonade
4. Top with fresh watermelon juice
5. Garnish with a small wedge of fresh watermelon

If you want to get that private island feel back at home, you might consider putting on your sunglasses, turning up the reggae music and making yourself the official concoction of Perfect Day at CocoCay: The Coco Loco.

The Coco Loco is the kind of frozen concoction that is sure to put a smile on just about anyone's face, and ever since I had my very first one while visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, I was hooked.

While at home, it is easy enough to make a batch yourself so that you can feel like you are sitting on Chill Island.

Photo by Lori Barrett

Coco Loco Ingredients

Makes one cocktail

• 1/2 oz Orange Juice Concentrate
• 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice Concentrate
• 1/2 oz Papaya Juice Concentrate
• 1/2 oz Coconut Cream
• 3/4 oz Dark Rum (or make it a virgin Coco Loco without the rum)
• 3/4 oz Coconut Rum
• 1/4 oz Grenadine
• Crushed ice

Coco Loco Instructions

1. Toss all the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.
2. Pour the potion into a cocktail glass.
3. Dress it up with a fresh wedge of pineapple.

Suggested music while preparing

• Kenny Chesney - No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems

I am certain that if you close your eyes and start thinking of memories from past Royal Caribbean cruises, you may think of the Perfect Storm water slides, laughing with family during dinner in the dining room, or perhaps sipping on a frosty cocktail.

Ever since I had my first Lava Flow on a Royal Caribbean ship, I have been hooked!

The lava flow is essentially a pina colada with fruit syrup and mixed with a dark rum. If you ask me, it tastes significantly better when you opt for Kraken Rum (which is included with the Deluxe Beverage Package).

While at home, you can make this drink fairly easily and give yourself a bit of an escape back to the Lime & Coconut!

Lava flow Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. light rum
• 1 oz. Kraken rum
• 2 oz. coconut cream
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1 banana

Suggested music while preparing

• Boat Drinks by Jimmy Buffett

Lava flow Instructions

1. Mix strawberries and rum in blender and blend until well mixed.
2. Place contents at bottom of a tall glass.
3. Mix rest of the unused ingredients with crushed ice in a blender until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into glass. The strawberry and rum mixture will creep up the sides of the glass, giving the drink its name.
5. Serve with straw.

Royal Caribbean fans can now purchase a stainless steel tumbler that keeps their drinks hot or cold longer, with a Royal Caribbean look to it.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com reader Nick Vitani spotted these cups for sale onboard Navigator of the Seas on the Royal Promenade. The cups may or may not be available on other ships in the fleet yet.

The cups cost $44.99 each, unless you have the Deluxe Beverage Package, and then the cups cost $25 each. These cups are not replacements for the complimentary soda cup that comes with a drink package purchase, rather, they are new piece of merchandise to purchase.

If you purchase the cup without a drink package, it does include a complimentary beverage coupon (including alcohol).

Let us know in the comments what you think of this tumbler! Would you want to purchase one for your collection?

Royal Caribbean has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the cruise line's founding with drink cups, dessert, a special sailing, and now, its own flavor of soda.

Royal Caribbean ships with a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine are serving up the Royal Berry Blast in honor of Royal Caribbean's golden anniversary.

Thanks to CGTLH for providing these photos

The soda selection screen denotes the 50th Anniversary logo alongside the special Sprite flavor.

Royal Berry Blast is available with Sprite or Sprite Zero.

Like all drink flavors in the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, it requires a special cup to access it, which is only available if purchased with a drink package.

The following Royal Caribbean ships have Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines

• Adventure of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Majesty of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Rhapsody of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas (added in 2019)