Royal Caribbean offers its Refreshment Package as a way to enjoy unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, but is it worth it?
With the Refreshment Package, you can order almost any non-alcoholic beverage at any bar and restaurant on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. This includes as much mocktails, sparkling water, premium coffee, and sodas on your cruise as you like.
This is a convenient way to budget how much you need to spend on drinks without worrying about a big bill later.
It's a popular extra add-on, but is the Refreshment Package worth it on Royal Caribbean?
What does the Refreshment package include?
Basically, any beverage on your Royal Caribbean cruise that doesn't have alcohol is included with the Refreshment package:
- Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine beverages including sodas, sugar free sodas, Minute Maid lemonades, Powerade, vitaminwater®, iced tea, fruit punch and more
- Can and fountain soda
- Bottled still water, sparkling water, and CocoLove coconut water
- Fresh-squeezed juices
- Smoothies and protein shakes
- Specialty coffees and teas
- Johnny Rockets® Shakes and Desserted Soda Floats
- Non-alcoholic spirits, wines and beers (only available to guests of legal drinking age)
- Frozen drinks (Non-alcoholic pina colada, etc.)
Guests who purchase the Royal Refreshment package will also receive a souvenir Coca-Cola cup, which can be used with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines on select Royal Caribbean ships.
The drink package works as well while at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee.
How much is the Refreshment package?
If you buy the Refreshment Package on your ship, it will cost $40 per person, per night (excluding gratuity).
However, you can save a lot of money if you pre-purchase it before the cruise begins.
Gratuity will be automatically added to the cost when you go to buy it, and is 18% of the daily cost.
Is there ever a discount offered on the Refreshment package?
Sale prices on the drink package can bring that price as low as $29 per person, per day.
It's why I always recommend pre-purchasing drink packages before the cruise begins to save money.
Royal Caribbean offers sales quite often through its Cruise Planner site and app. These sales apply to drink packages, WiFi, shore excursions, and more.
There is no risk in purchasing a drink package now and taking advantage of a price drop later. If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.
Does the Refreshment package include premium coffees too?
Royal Caribbean defines "premium coffees" as cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes. Thus, espresso based drinks are included with the Royal Refreshment package at any restaurant, bar, or cafe that serves espresso beverages.
This includes specialty coffees you can get at Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-tudes, or Cafe@Two70. At these locations, they serve Starbucks drinks and are included with a Refreshment Package.
However, the Refreshment Package does not work at Starbucks kiosks.
Why should you buy the Refreshment Package
If you're someone that wants to have more than three or four non-alcoholic drinks per day, I think the Refreshment Package makes a lot of sense.
It's also the right choice if you don't want alcoholic drinks. If you want cocktails, beer, or wine, you should upgrade to the Deluxe Beverage Package.
The Refreshment Package is very popular with teenagers and young people that cannot drink alcohol yet. They'll make it worth their while buy enjoy a lot of premium coffees, mocktails and sodas. A growing amount of adults are opting for this sort of a drink package too.
There's no question this beverage package can save you money compared to ordering the same amount of drinks individually onboard. As long as you can drink enough every day to make it worthwhile, this is the right buy.
How is this different from the soda package?
The soda package only includes soft drinks and a souvenir Coca-Cola cup, whereas the Refreshment package includes mocktails, coffees, juices, milk shakes and sodas.
So the difference is if you want just sodas or other beverages included with the package as well.
Is it worth it to buy a Refreshment package?
Ultimately the value is based on how much you'll actually drink on your cruise.
I think most people that buy it find it worthwhile for the convenience. One price and you don't have to worry about how much each drink costs.
You're on vacation, why be bothered with how much a drink costs.
Royal Caribbean positions the price so that it's more expensive than if you were a casual drinker that wanted one or two drinks per day, but it's a good value for those that truly enjoy a lot of beverages that aren't included in the cruise fare.
If you're someone that will probably have a couple drinks per day, every day of the sailing, then I think it's absolutely worth it. Factor in a latte in the morning, a couple of mocktails during the day, and bottled water here and there, and you'll be breaking even on the total cost.
The most important thing is to buy the drink package before the cruise begins to take advantage of a lower price. Waiting to book it onboard is a mistake.
