Should You Buy the Beverage Package? Here's What Actually Happens to Your Wallet
I've done 40+ cruises, and the drink package question never goes away. Every sailing, I watch passengers debate whether to pre-purchase, buy onboard, or just stick with water. The truth? It depends entirely on your drinking habits, your ship class, and what you're comparing against.
Let me walk you through the real numbers — not marketing math, but actual per-drink costs that help you decide if Royal Caribbean's beverage plans make sense for your vacation.
Royal Caribbean's 2026 Beverage Package Options
Royal Caribbean offers three main drink packages across the fleet:
- Deluxe Beverage Package — cocktails, premium spirits, beer, wine by the glass, coffee, soft drinks, and specialty coffees
- Refreshment Package — soft drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, and bottled water (the lightweight option)
- Unlimited Soda Package — self-explanatory, but useful if you have kids or teetotalers in your group
Prices vary by ship class and sailing length. On Oasis-class vessels like Wonder of the Seas or Icon of the Seas, expect to pay roughly $65–$75 per person per day for the Deluxe package when purchased onboard during a 7-day sailing in 2026. Pre-purchase (booked before your cruise) runs about 5–8% cheaper, which adds up on multi-week itineraries.
Vision-class and Voyager-class ships typically run $55–$65 per day for the same package. The Refresh package costs roughly 30% less — around $18–$22 per day — and the soda package sits at about $8–$10 daily.
The Per-Drink Cost Breakdown: When the Package Actually Wins
Here's the calculation most people get wrong. They think, "A cocktail costs $15, so if I drink three per day, the package pays for itself." That logic ignores what you'd actually order if you weren't on a package.
Let's do real math:
Scenario 1: The Moderate Drinker (2 cocktails + 1 beer per day)
Without package: 3 drinks × $15 average = $45 per day
Deluxe package cost: $70 per day
Result: You lose money going the package route. Stick with à la carte.
Scenario 2: The Social Cruiser (3 cocktails + 1 wine + 2 beers per day)
Without package: 6 drinks × $14 average = $84 per day
Deluxe package cost: $70 per day
Result: Package saves you ~$14 daily. Over 7 days, that's $98 in your pocket.
Scenario 3: The All-Day Drinker (2–3 drinks at lunch, 3–4 at dinner, 1–2 at pool bar)
Without package: 8 drinks × $14 average = $112 per day
Deluxe package cost: $70 per day
Result: You save $42 daily. On a 7-day cruise, that's nearly $300.
The honest truth: Most casual drinkers don't recoup the package cost. You need to be ordering consistently throughout the day, and you need to order the right drinks.
Hidden Factors That Change the Equation
Premium Alcohol Surcharges
Not all drinks cost the same onboard. A standard margarita? $15. A top-shelf aged rum cocktail? $18–$20. Here's the catch: some premium spirits carry an upcharge even with the package. I've seen specialty cocktails at the molecular mixology bar or premium spirits at the wine bar cost an extra $5–$8 even if you have Deluxe. Read the fine print in your onboard guide.
Specialty Coffee Behavior
If you hit the Café Promenade for a Starbucks-level coffee every morning and afternoon, that's two $6–$7 drinks daily. That's $84 per week. With Deluxe, it's unlimited. This alone can swing the value calculation.
Group Dynamics
Traveling with someone who barely drinks? Don't buy them a package. Let them order $2–$3 soft drinks à la carte. Traveling with your college roommate who orders three cocktails before dinner? They're a package candidate.
Beverage Package Exclusions
Here's what's not included in Deluxe, even though cruisers ask every time:
- Room service beverages (bottled water in your cabin costs extra)
- Bottles of wine from the dining room wine list (by-the-glass wine is included, but a bottle is full price)
- Champagne and specialty sparkling wines
- Certain premium brands at specialty venues
- Any drink at an upcharge venue
Pro tip: Ask your cabin steward about the complimentary water stations on Deck 5 (or your ship's designated deck). Fill a bottle daily — included, no questions.
Ship-Specific Drink Package Value
Different Royal Caribbean classes have different beverage cultures:
Icon of the Seas & Oasis-Class — More specialty bars, more premium venues, more reasons to hit the drink-heavy lounges. The package is more valuable here because you have more options to drink. These ships have molecular mixology bars, craft beer halls, and premium wine venues that make the package shine.
Wonder of the Seas — Similar story. You've got the Wonderland restaurant, the Schooner's Bar, and high-end cocktail spots. The package works well.
Voyager-Class — (Adventure, Explorer, Mariner of the Seas) — Fewer specialty venues, more traditional bar scene. Package is solid but slightly less valuable because you have fewer premium options.
Vision-Class — (Grandeur, Rhapsody, Vision of the Seas) — Oldest ships in the fleet, fewer bars, fewer drinking occasions. Package is less essential unless you're a heavy drinker.
The Real Game-Changer: Pre-Purchase vs. Onboard
Here's what I tell everyone: Buy the package before your cruise if you know you want it.
Onboard pricing is highest. Pre-purchasing saves 5–8%. For a family of four on a 7-day cruise:
- Onboard Deluxe: 4 × $70 × 7 = $1,960
- Pre-purchased Deluxe: 4 × $64 × 7 = $1,792
- Savings: $168
That's $168 you didn't have to spend in a sea day panic-purchase scenario.
When I book through the CruiseVoices trip planner, I always add beverage packages at pre-purchase rates. Our AI concierge helps you calculate the exact savings for your ship, sailing length, and group size — and you lock in the lower price immediately.
The Refreshment Package: Underrated or Waste of Money?
I see cruisers eyeing the Refreshment package and wondering if it makes sense. At $18–$22 per day, it feels cheap.
It's only worthwhile if:
- You don't drink alcohol at all
- You're traveling with non-drinkers (kids, designated drivers)
- You want unlimited bottled water, juice, and coffee beyond what's free
- You want one premium coffee per day without paying $7 each time
It's not worth it if:
- You'll have even one alcoholic drink per day (buy drinks à la carte instead)
- Your kids will stick to water and the free soda from dining venues
- You're fine with tap water from your cabin
I've rarely recommended Refreshment to friends unless they have specific no-alcohol reasons.
Calculating Your Break-Even Point
Here's the framework I use for every cruise:
Step 1: Estimate your daily alcohol drinks. Be honest. Three? Five? One? Write it down.
Step 2: Multiply that number by the average drink price ($14–$15).
Step 3: Compare that to the daily package cost ($70 for Deluxe on Oasis-class, $55 on Vision-class).
Step 4: If your estimated cost is higher than the package, buy it. If it's lower, skip it.
Example: I drink 4 drinks per day. 4 × $14 = $56. Deluxe package is $70. Package doesn't win. I buy à la carte.
But my friend Janet drinks 6 per day. 6 × $14 = $84. Deluxe at $70 wins. She buys the package.
One More Thing: The Psychological Angle
I'd be dishonest if I didn't mention this. Some people buy the beverage package and drink less because they feel locked in. Others buy it and drink way more because it feels free. Think about which person you are.
If you see "unlimited" and your hand reflexively reaches for another mojito, the package is a money move. If you see "unlimited" and feel guilty about not using it, skip it.
The best deal is the one that matches your actual behavior, not your cruise fantasy behavior.
2026 Pricing Reality Check
Drink prices aboard Royal Caribbean have climbed steadily. A cocktail that cost $12 in 2024 now runs $15–$16. This favors the package more than it used to. If you're a regular drinker, the package becomes more competitive every sailing season.
Soft drink prices remain roughly $4–$5 per glass if you don't have the soda package.
Bottled water is complimentary at the dining venues and cabin water stations, but special bottled water (like Voss or San Pellegrino) costs around $4–$6.
My Final Take
Buy the Deluxe Beverage Package if:
- You consistently drink 5+ beverages per day
- You enjoy premium cocktails and wines
- You're on a longer sailing (7+ days) where the per-day cost spreads better
- You're traveling with a group where most people drink regularly
- You want to eliminate the friction of asking for prices
Skip the package if:
- You drink 0–2 beverages per day
- You're fine with beer, house wine, and standard cocktails (no premium upsells)
- You're on a short sailing where the daily cost hurts
- You prefer to budget daily rather than pay upfront
- You're traveling with mostly non-drinkers
Get specific with the Royal Caribbean forums — post your drinking habits, your ship, and your sailing length, and let our community share real experiences from that exact ship.
Your trip planner can also help you pre-purchase at the best available rate the moment you book your cruise.
What's Your Drink Package Strategy?
Share your beverage package wins and regrets in the Royal Caribbean forums. Experienced cruisers love breaking down the real value for different ship classes and itineraries.