Drink Prices on Royal Caribbean Ships

Royal Caribbean charges for most drinks beyond water, coffee, and tea. A beer runs $6 to $8, a mixed cocktail $8 to $12, and wine by the glass $7 to $13, depending on the ship and the drink. Specialty drinks—frozen cocktails, craft mixes, drinks made with premium liquor—cost $12 to $16. Soft drinks like soda and juice are $3 to $4 per bottle. These prices are the same whether you order at a bar, by the pool, or at a restaurant.

You are not required to buy drinks. The ship provides free water, coffee, tea, and lemonade at multiple locations throughout the day. Many guests bring their own bottled water and refill it at water fountains. If you want alcohol or specialty beverages but want to control costs, Royal Caribbean offers drink packages that let you prepay at a lower per-drink rate.

Key Takeaways

  • Beer, cocktails, and wine cost between $6 and $13 per drink depending on the type and where you order it.
  • Water, coffee, tea, and lemonade are free throughout the ship, so you can stay hydrated without paying.
  • Drink packages let you prepay for a set number of drinks at a discount, which saves money if you plan to drink daily.
  • Specialty drinks, premium liquor, and drinks ordered at certain venues cost more than standard bar prices.
  • Gratuity (tip) is automatically added to all drink charges, typically 18 percent, unless you adjust it at the end of your cruise.

How Drink Packages Work and What They Cost

Royal Caribbean sells three main drink packages. The Beverage Package covers beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, and specialty drinks. The Refreshment Package covers only non-alcoholic drinks and smoothies. The Deluxe Beverage Package adds premium liquor and drinks at specialty bars. Prices vary by cruise length and ship, but a 7-day Beverage Package typically costs $65 to $85 per person per day when bought before your cruise, or $75 to $95 per person per day if bought onboard.

A package makes financial sense if you plan to drink more than three to four drinks per day. If you drink one or two drinks daily, paying as you go is usually cheaper. Packages are per-person, so if only one person in your cabin drinks, you do not need to buy a package for everyone. You can also buy a package for part of your cruise—some guests buy it for sea days but not port days.

Packages do not cover drinks at specialty restaurants (like the steakhouse or Italian restaurant), drinks ordered through room service, or bottles of wine you bring to dinner. They also do not cover alcohol you purchase at the duty-free shop and drink in your cabin.

What Is Included and What Costs Extra

A standard Beverage Package includes unlimited beer (draft and bottled), house wine, well liquor (the basic spirits behind the bar), soft drinks, coffee, tea, juice, and water. It also covers most frozen drinks and cocktails made with standard ingredients. You can order as many drinks as you want per day with no limit.

Drinks that cost extra even with a package include premium wines (anything beyond house selections), top-shelf liquor (Patron, Grey Goose, Macallan), energy drinks, bottled water beyond what the ship provides free, and drinks ordered at specialty coffee shops like the Café Promenade. Some ships have a Solarium bar that charges extra for certain drinks even if you have a package. Check your cruise documents or ask at the bar when you board to confirm what your specific package covers.

Comparing Package Cost to Paying Per Drink

Whether a package saves you money depends on how many drinks you order each day. A light drinker who orders one or two drinks daily will spend $42 to $112 over seven days paying per drink, while a 7-day package costs $455 to $595—making the package more expensive. A moderate drinker ordering three to four drinks daily will spend $126 to $224 over seven days without a package, so the package saves $231 to $469. A heavy drinker ordering five or more drinks daily will spend $280 or more without a package, making the package roughly equal or slightly cheaper.

These numbers assume an average drink price of $9 and include the 18 percent gratuity automatically added to all bar charges. Prices shift based on what you order—beer is cheaper than cocktails, and specialty drinks push the average higher. If you mostly drink beer or house wine, the per-drink cost is lower and a package becomes less valuable. If you drink premium cocktails or top-shelf spirits, the package saves more money.

How Gratuity Works on Drink Charges

Royal Caribbean automatically adds an 18 percent gratuity to every drink you order, whether you pay per drink or have a package. This tip goes to the bartender and bar staff. The gratuity appears on your onboard account (the card you use to charge drinks) and is included in your final bill at the end of the cruise.

You can adjust the gratuity amount at the end of your cruise if you visit Guest Services. You can increase it, decrease it, or remove it entirely, though most guests leave it as set. If you have a Beverage Package, the gratuity is still charged on top of the package price—you do not pay it per drink, but you do pay it overall. This is one reason why the package cost can feel high: the 18 percent tip is built in.

Drinks at Specialty Venues and Restaurants

Most bars and pool deck drink stations honor your Beverage Package, but some venues charge extra. The Solarium (adults-only pool area) on some ships charges $2 to $4 extra per drink even if you have a package. Specialty coffee shops like Café Promenade charge $5 to $8 for specialty coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, which are not covered by the standard package. The main dining room and buffet serve free wine and beer at dinner, so you do not need a package to drink there.

If you dine at specialty restaurants (the steakhouse, Italian trattoria, or other à la carte venues), drinks are not included in any package. You pay separately for wine, beer, and cocktails at those restaurants, and the 18 percent gratuity is added to that charge as well. Some guests budget an extra $15 to $30 per specialty dinner for drinks. Bring your own wine to dinner: Royal Caribbean allows one bottle per person per stateroom, though they charge a $15 corkage fee to open it.

Tips for Managing Drink Costs

If you do not buy a package, order beer or house wine instead of cocktails—they cost less and the gratuity is lower. Soft drinks are expensive at $3 to $4 per bottle, so refill a water bottle at the ship's water fountains and drink free lemonade at lunch. Many guests bring empty bottles onboard and fill them at water stations throughout the day.

If you are on the fence about a package, buy it for sea days only (days at sea when you are more likely to drink) and pay per drink on port days. Some guests also wait to buy a package onboard if the ship offers a discount on the second or third day—Royal Caribbean sometimes reduces package prices mid-cruise to encourage purchases. Ask at Guest Services when you board whether any onboard discounts are available.

Keep track of what you order if you pay per drink. Charges add up quickly, and it is straightforward to lose count over a week-long cruise. Your onboard account statement is available anytime at Guest Services or through the Royal Caribbean app, so you can check your balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my own alcohol onboard?

You can bring one bottle of wine or champagne per person per stateroom in your checked luggage. You cannot bring beer, liquor, or other alcohol. If you bring wine to dinner, Royal Caribbean charges a $15 corkage fee to open and serve it. Alcohol purchased at ports can be stored in your cabin but cannot be consumed in public areas of the ship.

Do kids' drinks cost money?

Soft drinks for children cost the same as for adults—$3 to $4 per bottle. Juice and water are free. If you have a Beverage Package, it covers soft drinks for anyone in your cabin, including children, so kids can order soda at no extra charge.

What happens if I do not finish my Beverage Package drinks?

Unused drinks do not roll over or refund. If you buy a package and do not use all the drinks, you lose the money. This is another reason to calculate your expected daily drink count before buying a package.

Are there drink specials or happy hour prices?

Royal Caribbean does not advertise official happy hours with discounted drink prices. Some bars may offer promotions during specific times (like a free appetizer with a drink purchase), but standard drink prices remain the same throughout the day. If you have a Beverage Package, there are no time-based variations—all included drinks cost the same whether ordered at noon or midnight.

Do I have to pay gratuity on drinks if I already paid gratuity upfront?

Yes. The gratuity on drinks is separate from the gratuity you may have prepaid for dining and cabin service. Drink gratuity is charged automatically at 18 percent on every beverage order and is not waived by other gratuities you have already paid.