Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean has confirmed that exemptions will no longer be granted for the “everyone must purchase” rule for the deluxe drink package.
- The change is largely due to increased package sharing, which violates of the deluxe drink package guidelines.
- The cruise line strengthened the policy and ceased personalized exemptions as of Friday, August 1, 2025.
It is always nice when cruisers can find a way to save a few dollars off onboard expenses, and saving on drinks is a great option. Royal Caribbean, however, has quietly firmed up a policy that used to save guests hundreds of dollars.
Recently, guests have noticed the change and social media rumors have been circulating as to whether or not it is official: no more personalized exceptions to the beverage package purchase rule.
The well-known “everyone must purchase” rule that has been in place for years. All guests of legal drinking age staying in the same stateroom are required to purchase the deluxe beverage package if one person buys it, regardless of individual drinking preferences.
Until now, however, there has been a personalized workaround for the purchasing requirement. Guests could call the cruise line’s customer service line and explain their situation, asking for an exemption.
Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Adds New Benefits to Popular Add-On Package
Doing so could permit one person to buy the deluxe package while another guest would purchase either the “Royal Refreshment” package or the soda package instead.
These unofficial exemptions were never guaranteed but were well known as a secret that wasn’t really a secret.
This could amount to significant savings depending on the length of the cruise. The deluxe beverage package can run from roughly $50-$115 per day, depending on the exact sailing and cruise length. The Refreshment package is $30-45 per day, while the soda package is $10-20 per person per day.
For a couple on a 7-night cruise, two deluxe packages could run up to $1,610 for the week. If one person were able to buy just the refreshment package, however, that cost could be slashed to $1,120, a savings of $490.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that this will no longer be an option. Cruise Hive reached out directly to the cruise line on Saturday evening for details and learned the change is a recent one.
“Beginning August 1, Royal Caribbean will no longer be able to grant exceptions to our policy that both guests in a stateroom must purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package,” Royal Caribbean stated.
“This change allows us to ensure guests are consuming their beverage package responsibly. Over time, requests for exceptions have increased, and sharing of packages has continued, which led us to implement this policy change.”
There you have it, a prime example of some people’s poor behavior spoiling it for everyone. The policy was in place to prevent package sharing, and did permit some flexibility for those who have different drink preferences or medical issues that prohibit alcohol consumption.
Now, instead, there will be no exemptions and the firm policy will stand.
How Can You Still Save on Drinks?
To be fair, it isn’t necessary to buy a drink package at all. Depending on one’s beverage preferences and the amount of liquid refreshment desired, just purchasing drinks as needed can be a great savings.
Alternatively, purchasing any of the drink packages pre-cruise can lead to significant savings, with some flash sales as much as 50% off the regular price.
Read Also: When Is the Best Time to Buy a Royal Caribbean Drink Package?
Furthermore, Royal Caribbean often features “drink of the day” specials and other savings options that don’t depend on packages.
“Guests are still able to purchase a la carte drinks and drink specials will still be widely available throughout the ship,” the cruise line said.
Plus, let’s not forget the free drinks. Basic coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are available, as well as different juices in the morning and lemonade, iced tea, and several fruit-infused waters throughout the day at onboard drink stations.
My favorite? The strawberry kiwi and the tropical mango tie for the top spot! No better drink on a sunny day at sea, without any cost at all.
