How much will Royal Caribbean drink packages cost in 2026? In short, expect to pay somewhere between the price of a fancy coffee and a steakhouse meal per person each day. The exact amount depends on the package you choose, your ship, and when you make your purchase.
Having the sun warm your shoulders, a steel drum band plays nearby, and a frozen piña colada melts onto your fingers. You hand over your SeaPass card without a second thought. That’s the dream!
But when the final morning bill arrives, the dream fades. Now it’s just a number.
I went through the latest Cruise Planner prices, read the fine print, and kept up with this month’s gratuity changes so you don’t have to. Below, you’ll see the real costs, the 2026 rule changes most guides don’t mention, and some simple math that could save you hundreds!
Quick Answer
How Much Is Royal Caribbean Drink Package in 2026? The Quick Answer
These are per person, per day, before the 18% gratuity, based on Cruise Planner prices for 557 upcoming sailings:
- Deluxe Beverage Package (alcohol): $54.99 to $115, usually about $79.99
- Refreshment Package (no alcohol): $26.99 to $44, usually about $32.99
- Classic Soda Package: $10.99 to $18, usually about $12.99
Short answer: In 2026, the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package usually costs about $80 per person, per day before gratuity, or about $94 a day after the 18% is added.
What You’ll Really Pay Once the Gratuity Is Added
Royal Caribbean adds the 18% when you check out, whether you buy before your cruise or on board. Here’s a typical 7-night sailing for one person:
- Deluxe: about $94.39 a day, or about $661 for the week
- Refreshment: about $38.93 a day, or about $273 for the week
- Classic Soda: about $15.33 a day, or about $107 for the week
A couple on Deluxe? That’s roughly $1,321 for the week. That’s a flight home. So let’s make sure it’s worth it.
Why Your Price Doesn’t Match Your Friend’s
Royal Caribbean sets drink package prices much like airlines set seat prices. Things like demand, where you’re going, your sail date, and promotions all affect the cost. The Deluxe package changes the most.
The “Sale” That Never Ends
Most people don’t know this, but on October 28, 2026, 554 out of 557 tracked sailings had the Deluxe package listed as “on sale.”
So if you spot a big “40% off” sign, pause for a moment. When nearly every sailing is on sale, that sale price is really just the regular price dressed up to look special.
Bigger Ships Usually Cost More
Newer, larger ships usually have higher prices. Here are some recent daily Deluxe package price ranges on popular ships, before gratuity:
- Icon of the Seas: $73.99 to $91.99
- Star of the Seas: $79.99 to $91.99
- Utopia of the Seas: $71.99 to $95.99
- Wonder of the Seas: $71.99 to $115
- Symphony of the Seas: $79.99 to $95.99
- Oasis of the Seas: $62.99 to $89.99
- Ovation of the Seas: $56.99 to $83.99
- Vision and Enchantment of the Seas: from $54.99
Just a heads-up, you can’t buy Deluxe on 2- to 4-night sailings from Australia, unfortunately.
What Each Royal Caribbean Drink Package Includes
Deluxe Beverage Package: Your All-Inclusive Option
This is the only package that includes alcohol. Here’s what’s covered:
- Cocktails, frozen drinks, spirits and liqueurs
- Beer and wine by the glass
- Premium coffee and tea
- Bottled still and sparkling water
- Fresh-squeezed juice and mocktails
- Fountain soda and Johnny Rockets milkshakes
Each drink is included up to $14. If you choose a more expensive drink, you just pay the extra amount, plus 18% on that difference.
Wine lovers also get a bonus: 40% off bottles up to $100, and 20% off bottles over $100.
Refreshment Package: More Than Just a Soda Upgrade
It’s like the Deluxe package, but without alcohol. It includes lattes, fresh juice, bottled water, mocktails, soda, and Johnny Rockets shakes.
There’s a new bonus for 2026 that many guides don’t even mention. Royal Caribbean expanded its mocktail menu from about 15 drinks to over 50 across the fleet. If you don’t drink alcohol, this package is now much more exciting!
Classic Soda Package: Simple and Affordable
You get unlimited fountain and canned soda, plus a Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup! That’s all—no bottled water or lattes included.
Other Smaller Add-ons To Consider
- Café Select Coffee Card: 15 specialty espresso drinks for one price
- Evian water delivery: choose 12 or 24 one-liter bottles, delivered to your cabin
What the Drink Packages Don’t Cover
Even though it’s called “unlimited,” there are some things your package doesn’t include:
- Anything ordered inside a licensed Starbucks
- Milkshake bars that serve desserts
- Room service and minibar drinks
- Souvenir glassware
- Full bottles of wine (just the discount)
- Drinks that cost more than $14, except for the price difference you pay out of pocket
2026 Changes That Older Guides Don’t Mention
The Freestyle Cup Now Has An Extra Charge
Starting March 15, 2026, the Deluxe and Refreshment packages no longer come with the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup. If you want to use the touchscreen soda machines, you’ll need to pay $4.99 for the cup.
You can still get soda from bartenders and servers. Interestingly, the Classic Soda package, which is the cheapest, is now the only one that still includes the cup.
The Gratuity Update From October 2026
Some posts claimed that drink tips increased to 20%, but that’s not correct. Royal Caribbean said it was an FAQ error and confirmed the rate remains at 18%.
The updated policy says these gratuities are optional and can be changed or removed at Guest Relations. You have until the morning you leave the ship to do this. My suggestion is to budget for the full 18%, since the bar crew works hard for it.
The Cabin Rule Has Become a Bit More Flexible
If one adult in your cabin buys the Deluxe package, then every adult of drinking age in that cabin must also buy it.
Royal Caribbean removed all exceptions in August 2025. In September 2026, they introduced a stricter policy called the “Beverage Package Accommodation Request.” This covers three reasons: medical condition, disability, or pregnancy. Each request is reviewed individually, and anyone who abuses the policy can face serious penalties.
For example, let’s say you enjoy poolside margaritas, but your wife is pregnant. Your wife can now request an exception and buy the Refreshment package instead. However, if she simply “doesn’t drink much,” the rule still applies.
This rule only applies to the Deluxe package. Anyone can still buy the Refreshment or Soda packages individually.
Is the Royal Caribbean Drink Package Worth It?
The drink package is worth it if the drinks you would normally buy cost more than the package itself. Don’t count drinks you’d only order just to get your money’s worth.
Typical Onboard Drink Prices
- Cocktails: about $11 to $14
- Domestic beer: $7.49 to $7.99
- Wine by the glass: $8 to $24
- Specialty coffee: $3.50 to $7
- Soda: about $3.50
The Break-Even Trick Most People Get Wrong
A common mistake is comparing the package price with tip to drink prices without tip. Every drink you buy separately also has an 18% tip, so the tip is included either way.
So, compare the package price before tips to the drink prices before tips:
$79.99 package ÷ $14 cocktail = about 5.7 drinks a day
On a premium-priced ship, that can climb closer to 8 or more.
Do The Whole-Cabin Math
This is where couples often lose out. For example, if two Deluxe packages cost $160 a day, but one person would usually spend $100 on drinks and the other only $25, the total is less than the package cost.
That’s $125 compared to $160. Over a week, including tips, paying as you go could save you about $289. Just because one person gets their money’s worth doesn’t mean the whole cabin does.
Compare Deluxe to Refreshment, Not to Nothing
If you would already buy the Refreshment package for $35, upgrading to Deluxe at $80 only costs $45 more. You only need to drink enough cocktails to cover that extra $45, not the full $80.
Be Honest About Port Days
If you’re out snorkeling in Cozumel all day, you’re paying for a package you hardly use. The package is most valuable on sea days or when you’re at CocoCay.
As a quick check, if you usually have only two or three drinks a day, it’s better to pay as you go.
Drink Prices
Popular Royal Caribbean Drinks and Their Prices
Before you buy a drink package, it helps to know what you’d pay one drink at a time. Prices are the same at every bar on the ship, and an 18% gratuity is added to each drink.
| Drink | Examples | Menu Price | With 18% Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature cocktail | Painkiller, Handcrafted Margarita, Goombay Smash, Caribbean Mule | $14.00 | $16.52 |
| Drink of the Day | Rotating cocktail special | About $11.00 | About $12.98 |
| Spirit pour | Tito’s, Jack Daniel’s, Jameson | From $10.99 | From $12.97 |
| Domestic beer | Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite | $7.49–$8.25 | $8.84–$9.74 |
| Imported beer | Corona, Heineken, Stella Artois | $7.99–$8.25 | $9.43–$9.74 |
| Hard seltzer | White Claw, Truly | $7.49 | $8.84 |
| Wine by the glass | Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Prosecco | $8–$16 | $9.44–$18.88 |
| Mocktail | Watermelon Mint Lemonade, Blueberry Nojito | $7–$10 | $8.26–$11.80 |
| Specialty coffee | Latte, cappuccino | From $4.25 | From $5.02 |
| Red Bull | Regular, sugar-free | $4.00 | $4.72 |
| Soda | Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite | $3.50 | $4.13 |
| Bottled water | 500 ml bottle | About $3.25 | About $3.84 |
Good to know: The Deluxe package covers any drink up to $14. If you order something pricier, you pay the difference.
A typical sea day: A latte, two bottled waters, a Painkiller, a Corona, a glass of wine, and a margarita come to about $58 before tips, or about $69 with the 18% added.
Prices can change by ship and sailing. Check the bar menus in the Royal Caribbean app before you go.
Smart Ways to Save on Royal Caribbean Drink Packages
1. Buy your drink package before you sail. You can purchase it online up to 72 hours before your trip, and prices are usually lower if you buy ahead of time.
2. Keep an eye on prices even after you buy. If the price drops, you can cancel up to 2 days before your cruise for a full refund, then purchase again at the lower price.
3. Don’t wait for an automatic refund. Royal Caribbean won’t refund a price drop on its own. You have to cancel and rebook yourself.
4. Check the math on BOGO deals. When you see “buy one, get one 50% off” for two equal packages, it actually means you’re getting 25% off each.
5. Consider choosing an older ship. Drink packages on these ships often cost $10 to $20 less per day.
6. You can bring your own wine. Each adult is allowed one sealed 750 ml bottle on boarding day. If you drink it in your cabin, you’ll avoid the $15 corkage fee.
But you can’t bring beer, liquor, seltzers, or boxed wine. Security will hold those until your cruise ends.
Does the Drink Package Work at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club?
Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee
Yes, your drink package works at the island bars and at Coco Beach Club. You can’t buy a package once you’re on the island, so make sure to arrange it before you arrive.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island
This often surprises guests. Everyone needs a day pass to get drinks at Royal Beach Club, and your ship’s drink package doesn’t cover it. If you plan to visit both beach spots, check out Royal Caribbean’s combo bundles.
FAQs
Royal Caribbean Drink Package FAQs
Toast Smart, Not Hard
So, what do Royal Caribbean drink packages actually cost? In 2026, most people will pay around $94 a day for Deluxe, $39 for Refreshment, and $15 for Soda, with gratuity included. Prices can change depending on your ship and sail date.
Here’s what I suggest: count how many drinks you’ll actually have, consider your port days, and add up the total for everyone in your cabin. Buy your package early, keep an eye on prices, and rebook if you see a better deal.
If you do this, your final bill won’t catch you off guard. You’ll be able to order that sunset piña colada without worrying about the math. Cheers!
