The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package is the most expensive of the cruise line’s three drinks packages, and it is the only one that includes alcohol. It can add hundreds of pounds to the cost of a cruise, so it is worth understanding exactly what is included before buying it.
The price changes regularly, the package usually has to be purchased by every adult of legal drinking age in the same cabin, and the value can look very different on a short cruise compared with a longer port-intensive itinerary.
I have used the Deluxe Beverage Package on Independence of the Seas. On my later back-to-back Liberty of the Seas cruises, I decided not to buy it and chose the Classic Soda Package instead. Both choices worked for different reasons.
This guide explains how the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package works, what it includes, what is excluded and how to decide whether it is worth buying for your cruise.
Watch My Royal Caribbean Drinks Package Guide
What Is the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package?
The Deluxe Beverage Package is Royal Caribbean’s unlimited drinks package that includes alcohol. It covers eligible cocktails, beer, spirits and wine by the glass, as well as most of the drinks included in the Refreshment and Classic Soda Packages.
That means it can also include mocktails, soft drinks, bottled water, freshly squeezed juices and speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues.
The package is linked to your SeaPass card. When you order an eligible drink, you present your card and the drink is included automatically. You can use the package throughout the cruise rather than only on selected days.
What Drinks Are Included in the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package?
The Deluxe Beverage Package covers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Eligible alcoholic drinks include cocktails, spirits, beer and wine by the glass up to the package’s individual drink limit.
The package also includes standard fountain soft drinks, bottled water, mocktails, freshly squeezed juice and speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues.
On the Liberty of the Seas menus I photographed, most standard cocktails were priced at around $15, beer was generally $8.25 and many standard spirits were between $10.50 and $13.
Wine by the glass commonly ranged from $9 to $17, depending on the wine and venue.
The exact drink limit and package terms can vary by sailing, so it is worth checking the details shown in your Cruise Planner before buying.
Are Premium Cocktails and Spirits Included?
Many of Royal Caribbean’s standard cocktails and spirits fall within the Deluxe Beverage Package limit. However, some premium spirits and wines cost more than the permitted amount per drink.
When this happens, you normally pay the difference between the package limit and the full menu price rather than paying for the entire drink again. This is particularly relevant for premium tequila, whisky, champagne and higher-priced wines.
For example, the Liberty of the Seas menus included tequila ranging from $10.50 for Jose Cuervo Gold to $38 for Komos Añejo Reserva.
Standard options were more likely to fall within the package limit, while premium choices could attract an additional charge.
Does the Deluxe Beverage Package Include Wine?
Wine by the glass is included up to the package limit. Royal Caribbean offers a broad range, with many glasses priced between $9 and $15. Some more premium choices were $17 or higher on the menus I photographed.
The package also gives you a discount on full bottles of wine. Royal Caribbean commonly offers 40 percent off bottles priced below $100 and 20 percent off bottles costing more than $100. This can be useful if you prefer ordering a bottle with dinner rather than individual glasses, although the bottle itself is not fully included.
Does the Deluxe Beverage Package Include Mocktails?
Yes. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes eligible mocktails and zero-proof drinks. On Liberty of the Seas, standard zero-proof drinks were usually $8. These included drinks such as Passion Starlight, Berry Press, Coconut Lime Refresher and Crave the Wave. There were also more premium Seedlip-based spirit-free cocktails priced at $12.
These non-alcoholic drinks contribute to the value of Deluxe, particularly if you would normally buy mocktails between alcoholic drinks.
Does the Deluxe Beverage Package Include Coffee?
Speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues are included. This can include coffee from places such as Café Promenade, depending on the ship.
Standalone Starbucks locations are different. The new Starbucks on Liberty of the Seas was not included in the Deluxe Beverage Package. Drinks bought there were charged separately. This is an important distinction if Starbucks is where you expect to buy most of your coffee.
A latte or cappuccino at the standalone Starbucks on Liberty cost $6.25, while several other drinks were between $5.25 and $7.25. Those purchases would not help you break even on the Deluxe Package because you would still pay separately.
Does the Deluxe Beverage Package Include Fresh Juice and Smoothies?
Eligible freshly squeezed juices and smoothies are included at participating Royal Caribbean venues. At the Solarium Bar on Liberty of the Seas, fresh juices and smoothies were priced at $10. The menu stated that they were included in the Deluxe and Refreshment Packages. Availability can vary between ships, particularly because not every Royal Caribbean ship has the same venues.
Are Soft Drinks Included?
Yes. Fountain soft drinks are included in the Deluxe Beverage Package. However, Royal Caribbean changed the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup arrangement in March 2026.
The Freestyle souvenir cup is no longer automatically included with Deluxe. Passengers who want to use the self-service Freestyle machines need to pay an additional $4.99 for the activated cup. Without the cup, you can still order included fountain soft drinks from bars and restaurants.
The Classic Soda Package continues to include the Freestyle cup. This may not matter if you are happy ordering drinks from a bar, but the machines can be more convenient and offer a much wider range of flavours.
Is Bottled Water Included?
Yes. Standard bottled water is included in the Deluxe Beverage Package. This can add value if you regularly collect water before going ashore, drink it throughout the day or take bottles back to your cabin. However, it is important to count only the bottled water you would genuinely buy.
Adding multiple bottles to a break-even calculation purely because they are included can make the package appear better value than it really is.
What Is Not Included in the Deluxe Beverage Package?
The package does not cover everything sold onboard. Standalone Starbucks purchases are excluded, even though speciality coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues is included.
Room service drinks and minibar items are also normally excluded.
Full bottles of wine are not included, although the package provides a discount. Premium drinks above the package limit will cost extra, with the difference normally added to your account.
Souvenir glasses and some speciality products can also fall outside the package. The exact exclusions can change, so the terms shown for your sailing should be treated as the final source.
Does Every Adult in the Cabin Have to Buy Deluxe?
If one adult of legal drinking age buys the Deluxe Beverage Package, Royal Caribbean usually requires every other adult of legal drinking age in the same cabin to buy it too. This is one of the most important rules to consider before purchasing. If one person drinks considerably less, the combined cost for the cabin may be difficult to justify.
Royal Caribbean may consider exceptions in limited circumstances, including some medical reasons, but you should contact the cruise line before purchasing and should not assume that a request will be accepted. The cabin rule applies to Deluxe rather than the Refreshment or Classic Soda Packages, which can be bought individually.
How Much Does the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Cost?
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, so there is no single fixed price for every ship or sailing. The daily price can change depending on the cruise, its length, demand and the promotion being shown at the time.
On my Liberty of the Seas back-to-back cruises, the lowest price I saw for Deluxe was around £75 per person, per day on the two-night sailing. On the following seven-night cruise aboard the same ship, the lowest price was closer to £54 per person, per day. That is a significant difference for the same package on consecutive sailings.
The percentage discount can be misleading because Royal Caribbean may change the underlying price. The figure worth comparing is the final cost per person, per day.
When Is the Best Time to Buy the Deluxe Beverage Package?
The safest approach is to buy the package once the daily price reaches a level you would be comfortable paying. You can then continue checking your Cruise Planner.
If the price drops, Royal Caribbean normally allows you to cancel the original purchase and buy the package again at the lower price before the pre-cruise cut-off. I have repriced purchases this way, and the refund returned quickly. However, you may need to pay for the replacement booking before the first refund reaches your account. That is worth remembering because the total cost of Deluxe can be substantial.
Black Friday and other sales can produce lower prices, but waiting for one specific promotion can backfire if the price rises. Record the actual daily cost whenever you check rather than relying on the advertised discount.
How Many Drinks Do You Need to Break Even?
You will often hear that you need around five or six alcoholic drinks per day for Deluxe to be worthwhile. That can be a reasonable starting point, but it does not apply to every sailing. Your break-even point depends on the daily package price and what you would genuinely buy.
Using the Liberty of the Seas menus as an example, cocktails were usually around $15, beer was around $8.25 and many glasses of wine were between $10 and $15.
A typical day might include a speciality coffee, bottled water, two cocktails and two glasses of wine. That could come close to or exceed the daily package price, depending on the deal you bought.
But if you normally have only one or two alcoholic drinks, you may struggle to break even even after adding coffee, water and soft drinks.
Does the Itinerary Affect the Value?
Yes. The itinerary can make a substantial difference. A short cruise with plenty of time onboard may make the package easier to use. I bought Deluxe on a short Independence of the Seas cruise with my sister. We spent most of the cruise onboard and had soft drinks and several cocktails, so the package worked reasonably well for us.
My Liberty of the Seas cruises were different. I was travelling solo and only wanted one or two alcoholic drinks on selected days. The seven-night sailing also included several port days. Although the daily Deluxe price was lower on the longer cruise, the total package cost was much higher and I would not have used it enough every day. A package that works on a sunny sea day may offer far less value when you spend most of the day ashore.
Can Bar Queues Affect the Value?
They can. On my short Independence and Liberty cruises, the bars were particularly busy on embarkation day.Some waits on Liberty were around half an hour. This will not happen on every cruise, but it is still worth considering, particularly on a busy short sailing. An unlimited package offers less value if you are regularly waiting a long time to order.
Does the Package Work at CocoCay and Labadee?
Royal Caribbean drinks packages generally work at participating venues on Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee. However, exclusions and individual drink limits still apply.
Room service, minibars and independently operated venues are not included simply because they are connected with the cruise. Check the current terms for your particular itinerary, especially if a private destination is a major reason you are considering Deluxe.
Can You Share the Deluxe Beverage Package?
No. Drinks packages are intended for the person named on the package. You cannot use one package to order drinks for another passenger. Royal Caribbean can monitor how packages are used, and misuse can result in the package being cancelled without a refund.
Can You Buy Deluxe for Only Part of the Cruise?
The package is normally sold for the full remaining length of the cruise rather than individual days. You cannot usually choose to have it only on sea days and pay as you go on port days. That is why the itinerary matters so much. You are paying for every day, including days when you may spend most of your time ashore.
What Drinks Are Already Included Without a Package?
You do not need a drinks package to have something to drink onboard. On Liberty of the Seas, water, lemonade, iced tea and standard tea and coffee were available in the Windjammer.
Standard tea and coffee were also available from venues such as Café Promenade and Sorrento’s. If these included options suit you, you may only need to pay separately for occasional alcoholic drinks or speciality coffee.
Can You Bring Drinks Onboard?
Royal Caribbean allows passengers to bring a limited number of drinks onboard on embarkation day. Each guest of legal drinking age may bring one sealed 750ml bottle of wine or champagne. You can also bring up to 12 non-alcoholic drinks in cans, bottles or cartons, with each container no larger than 500ml. The wine allowance is per eligible guest, while the non-alcoholic allowance is per stateroom. These drinks must be carried onboard rather than packed in checked luggage.Beer and spirits are not included in the allowance. Royal Caribbean may charge corkage if you drink your own wine in a public venue.
Deluxe Versus the Refreshment Package
The Refreshment Package covers many of the non-alcoholic drinks included with Deluxe. That includes eligible mocktails, bottled water, speciality tea and coffee, fresh juice and soft drinks. It can be a better choice if you enjoy premium non-alcoholic drinks but only want occasional alcohol.
You can then buy individual cocktails, beer or wine separately. The Refreshment Package can also be bought individually, so other adults in the cabin do not usually need to purchase it.
Deluxe Versus the Classic Soda Package
The Classic Soda Package is much more limited. It includes fountain soft drinks and the activated Coca-Cola Freestyle cup, but it does not include bottled water, mocktails, speciality coffee or alcohol.
I used the Soda Package on Liberty of the Seas and paid separately for the alcoholic drinks I wanted. That worked because I regularly drank soft drinks but only wanted occasional cocktails. It gave me some of the convenience of a package without paying the much higher Deluxe price.
Deluxe Versus Paying As You Go
Paying as you go can be better value if you drink lightly, spend several days ashore or are happy using the drinks already included in your fare.
Across my nine days on Liberty of the Seas, my onboard spending was under £200. That total included more than drinks. It also included a speciality dinner and purchases from the shops. By comparison, Deluxe would have cost more than £500 across the two cruises at the lowest prices I saw. I still bought the drinks I wanted, but I did not feel pressure to order more simply to justify a package.
Who Is the Deluxe Beverage Package Best For?
The Deluxe Beverage Package is most likely to work for someone who drinks several alcoholic drinks every day and also buys bottled water, speciality coffee, soft drinks or mocktails. It can work well on shorter, more social cruises where you spend most of your time onboard. It may also appeal to passengers who value paying in advance and do not want to think about the cost of each drink.
It is harder to justify when one adult in the cabin drinks significantly less, the cruise has several long port days or you would need to drink more than you want to break even.
Is the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Worth It?
It can be, but it is not automatically the best option simply because drinks are expensive onboard. Deluxe worked reasonably well for me on a short Independence of the Seas cruise where I spent most of the time onboard and was travelling with someone who drank in a similar way.
It would not have worked on my Liberty of the Seas cruises. I was travelling solo, wanted fewer alcoholic drinks and had a port-heavy itinerary. The Soda Package plus individually purchased alcohol gave me much better value.
The best way to decide is to ignore the advertised discount and compare the real daily price with what you would normally order. Use the Royal Caribbean drinks menu to calculate your likely spending, include every port day and work out the total cost for the cabin.
Related Guides
My Royal Caribbean Drinks Menu and Prices guide shows the onboard cost of cocktails, beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and coffee, along with downloadable menu PDFs.
My Royal Caribbean Drinks Package Guide 2026 is a full comparison of the Deluxe Beverage Package, Refreshment Package and Classic Soda Package, including pricing tips and the main package rules.
The Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package guide covers the non-alcoholic package and compares it with Deluxe and Soda.
The Royal Caribbean Classic Soda Package guide explains how the fountain drinks and Coca-Cola Freestyle cup work.
My Royal Caribbean Drinks Package Worth It or Pay As You Go guide uses realistic examples to compare the cost of each option.
You can also read my Liberty of the Seas Bars Guide for a full look at the bars, lounges, coffee venues and Freestyle machine locations onboard.
Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package FAQs
Does the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package include alcohol?
Yes. It is Royal Caribbean’s only unlimited package that includes eligible cocktails, beer, spirits and wine by the glass.
Does Deluxe include mocktails?
Yes. Eligible zero-proof drinks and mocktails are included.
Is Starbucks included in the Deluxe Beverage Package?
Standalone Starbucks purchases are not included. Speciality coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues is covered.
Does the Deluxe Beverage Package include bottled water?
Yes. Standard bottled water is included.
Does the Deluxe Package include the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup?
From March 2026, the cup is no longer automatically included with Deluxe. Passengers who want to use the machines need to buy the activated cup separately for $4.99.
Does everyone in the cabin have to buy Deluxe?
Every adult of legal drinking age in the same cabin usually has to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if one adult buys it.
Can you share the Deluxe Beverage Package?
No. The package can only be used by the person it is assigned to.
Can you buy Deluxe for sea days only?
No. It is normally purchased for the full remaining duration of the cruise.
How many drinks do you need for Deluxe to be worth it?
There is no single number for every cruise, but passengers often need several alcoholic drinks each day alongside other included drinks to reach the break-even point.
Can you cancel and rebook the package if the price drops?
Royal Caribbean normally allows you to cancel and repurchase before the pre-cruise cut-off, subject to the terms shown for your sailing.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
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