The Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package is the main non-alcoholic drinks package and sits between the Classic Soda Package and the more expensive Deluxe Beverage Package. It includes far more than soft drinks, with mocktails, speciality coffee, bottled water, fresh juice and other premium non-alcoholic options covered at participating venues.
That can make it a good choice for passengers who do not drink alcohol but still want more variety than the drinks already included in the cruise fare. It can also work as a middle ground for someone who regularly buys coffee, juice and mocktails but only wants the occasional alcoholic drink.
This guide explains what the Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package includes, what is excluded, how it compares with the other packages and how to decide whether it is worth buying for your cruise.
Watch My Royal Caribbean Drinks Package Guide
What Is the Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package?
The Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package is the cruise line’s most comprehensive non-alcoholic drinks package. It includes eligible mocktails, fountain soft drinks, bottled water, speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues, freshly squeezed juices and other selected non-alcoholic drinks. It does not include alcohol.
The package is linked to your SeaPass card, and you use it by presenting your card when ordering an eligible drink. Unlike the Deluxe Beverage Package, the Refreshment Package can be purchased individually. Other adults in your cabin do not normally need to buy it as well.
What Drinks Are Included in the Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package?
The Refreshment Package covers most of the non-alcoholic drinks included in the Deluxe Beverage Package. That includes mocktails, zero-proof cocktails, fountain soft drinks, bottled still and sparkling water, freshly squeezed juice and speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues. It may also include fresh smoothies and juices from selected venues, depending on the ship.
On Liberty of the Seas, the Vitality Café located at the Solarium Bar menu listed fresh juices and smoothies at $10 and stated that they were included in both the Refreshment and Deluxe Packages. The exact venues and drinks available can vary by ship, so it is worth checking what is offered on your sailing before buying.
Are Mocktails Included in the Refreshment Package?
Yes. Eligible mocktails and zero-proof drinks are one of the main benefits of the Refreshment Package. On the Liberty of the Seas menus I photographed, standard zero-proof drinks were usually priced at $8. These included drinks such as Berry Press, Passion Starlight, Coconut Lime Refresher, Crave the Wave, Tropical Crush and All Aboard Spritz. There were also more premium spirit-free cocktails made with Seedlip, which were priced at $12.
If you regularly order mocktails, the Refreshment Package can become easier to justify because these drinks are not especially cheap when bought individually. Two or three mocktails during the day, along with coffee, bottled water or juice, can add up quickly.
Does the Refreshment Package Include Coffee?
Speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues are included. This may include drinks from venues such as Café Promenade, depending on the ship. However, standalone Starbucks locations are not included.
Liberty of the Seas gained a new standalone Starbucks during the refit, and drinks purchased there were charged separately even for passengers with the Refreshment or Deluxe Package. This distinction is important because many passengers assume that all speciality coffee is included. A latte or cappuccino at Starbucks on Liberty was $6.25, while several other drinks ranged from around $5.25 to $7.25. Those purchases would still be added to your onboard account.
Does the Refreshment Package Include Fresh Juice and Smoothies?
Eligible freshly squeezed juices and smoothies are included at participating Royal Caribbean venues. On Liberty of the Seas, the Vitality Café at the Solarium Bar sold fresh juices and smoothies for $10. Options included Apple Mint, FruitOasis, Caliente Carrot and several build-your-own combinations.
The menu stated that these drinks were included in the Refreshment and Deluxe Packages. This can add significant value if you regularly buy fresh juice or smoothies, although not every ship has the same venues or menu.
Does the Refreshment Package Include Bottled Water?
Yes. Standard bottled water is included. This can be useful if you regularly drink bottled water around the ship, collect bottles before going ashore or take them back to your cabin. However, it is still important to be realistic when working out whether the package is worth it. You should only include the bottled water you would genuinely buy without the package rather than adding several bottles to the calculation simply because they are available.
Are Soft Drinks Included?
Yes. Fountain soft drinks are included in the Refreshment Package. You can order them from participating bars and restaurants throughout the ship. However, the rules around the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines changed in March 2026. The activated Freestyle souvenir cup is no longer automatically included with the Refreshment Package. Passengers who want to use the self-service Freestyle machines need to buy the cup onboard for an additional $4.99.
Without the activated cup, you can still order 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 soft drinks from a bar, but the machines are more convenient and usually offer a much wider selection of flavours.
Does the Refreshment Package Include Non-Alcoholic Beer and Wine?
Yes. The Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package includes selected non-alcoholic beer and wine by the glass, alongside mocktails, premium coffees and teas, bottled water, juices and soft drinks. On Liberty of the Seas, alcohol-free beers were generally priced between $6.99 and $7.75. Non-alcoholic wine was listed at $12 per glass, so these drinks can add value if you plan to order them regularly. The specific brands available can vary by ship and sailing. Bottles of wine are not included in Royal Caribbean drinks packages, so only individual eligible servings are covered.
What Is Not Included in the Refreshment Package?
The Refreshment Package does not include alcoholic drinks. Any cocktail, beer, wine or spirit containing alcohol must be paid for separately.
Standalone Starbucks purchases are also excluded. Room service drinks and minibar items are not normally included. Full bottles of non-alcoholic wine or other products sold as bottles may also fall outside the package, even where individual drinks are included.
The package covers drinks for the person it is assigned to and cannot be shared with another passenger.
How Much Does the Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package Cost?
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, so there is no single fixed price for the Refreshment Package. The daily cost can vary depending on the ship, cruise length, sailing date, demand and promotion.
This means the advertised discount is not always the most useful figure. A sale showing a larger percentage reduction can still produce a higher final price if Royal Caribbean has changed the underlying cost. The number worth tracking is the actual price per person, per day.
Take a screenshot or note the daily price whenever you check your Cruise Planner. That gives you something meaningful to compare when another promotion appears.
When Should You Buy the Refreshment Package?
The safest approach is to buy once the daily price reaches a level you would be comfortable paying. You can then continue checking the Cruise Planner before your cruise.
If the price falls, Royal Caribbean normally allows you to cancel the original purchase and buy it 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.
Black Friday can produce good offers, along with other promotions throughout the year, but waiting indefinitely for one particular sale can backfire if the price rises.
How Many Drinks Do You Need to Break Even?
The break-even point depends on the daily package price and what you would normally buy. Using the Liberty of the Seas menus as an example, standard mocktails were generally $8, premium spirit-free cocktails were $12, Starbucks drinks commonly ranged from $5.25 to $7.25 and fresh juices or smoothies were $10.
Standalone Starbucks was not included, but speciality coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues was covered. A typical day might include a speciality coffee in the morning, a fresh juice, bottled water, two mocktails and several soft drinks.That could make the package worthwhile if the daily price is low enough.
However, if you mainly drink the complimentary water, tea and coffee and only buy one soft drink or occasional mocktail, paying as you go will probably cost less.
What Drinks Are Already Included Without a Package?
Before buying the Refreshment Package, remember that several drinks are already included in your cruise fare. On Liberty of the Seas, water, lemonade, iced tea, standard tea and coffee were available in the Windjammer.
Standard tea and coffee were also available from Café Promenade and Sorrento’s. The exact selection varies by ship and venue, but these included drinks may be enough for some passengers. If you are happy with the complimentary options, you may only need to pay separately for occasional coffee, juice or mocktails.
Does the Itinerary Affect the Value?
Yes. The itinerary can make a noticeable difference. Sea days make it easier to use the Refreshment Package because you are onboard for longer and have more opportunities to buy coffee, bottled water, juice, soft drinks and mocktails.
On a port-intensive cruise, you may leave the ship in the morning and return shortly before dinner. That reduces the amount of time available to use a package you have paid for all day. A lower daily price can still become expensive when multiplied over a seven, ten or fourteen-night cruise. The best way to decide is to calculate what you would realistically buy on both sea days and port days.
Can Bar Queues Affect the Value?
They can, although this matters less with the Refreshment Package than it does with Deluxe because some drinks are available from cafés, restaurants and self-service areas.
On my Independence and Liberty of the Seas Short cruises, the bars were particularly busy on embarkation day. Some waits on Liberty were around half an hour.
If you mainly want mocktails from busy bars, long queues can reduce how much practical use you get from the package. Speciality coffee, bottled water and soft drinks may be easier to obtain from other participating venues.
Can You Share the Refreshment Package?
No. The package is intended for the passenger it is assigned to. You cannot use one Refreshment Package to order drinks for another person. Royal Caribbean can monitor how packages are used, and misuse may lead to the package being cancelled.
Does Everyone in the Cabin Have to Buy It?
No. The Refreshment Package can be bought individually. Other adults in the same cabin do not normally need to buy the same package.
This is one of its main advantages over the Deluxe Beverage Package. It can work well when one passenger regularly buys premium non-alcoholic drinks but another passenger is happy paying as they go.
Can You Buy the Refreshment Package for Only Part of the Cruise?
The package is normally sold for the full remaining duration of the cruise. You cannot buy it only for sea days or selected days. This is why it is important to factor in your itinerary before purchasing.
Refreshment Package Versus Deluxe Beverage Package
The main difference is alcohol. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes eligible alcoholic drinks as well as most of the non-alcoholic options found in Refreshment.
The Refreshment Package is much better suited to passengers who do not drink alcohol or who only want occasional alcoholic drinks. You can buy the Refreshment Package for your regular coffee, juice, water and mocktails, then pay separately when you want a cocktail, beer or glass of wine. It also avoids the Deluxe cabin rule, where every adult of legal drinking age in the cabin will usually need to buy Deluxe if one person purchases it.
Refreshment Package Versus Classic Soda Package
The Classic Soda Package is much more limited. It covers fountain soft drinks and includes the activated Coca-Cola Freestyle cup.
The Refreshment Package adds mocktails, bottled water, speciality tea and coffee, fresh juice and other premium non-alcoholic drinks. The better option depends on what you actually drink.
If you mainly want Coke and other fountain drinks, the Soda Package is likely to be enough. If you regularly buy coffee, mocktails, juice and bottled water, Refreshment may offer better value despite the higher daily price.
Refreshment Package Versus Paying As You Go
Paying as you go may be cheaper if you are happy with the complimentary drinks and only buy the occasional speciality coffee or mocktail. The Refreshment Package becomes easier to justify when you regularly order several premium non-alcoholic drinks every day. A morning coffee, fresh juice, bottled water, two mocktails and several soft drinks can quickly add up. But if you would only buy one coffee and one soft drink, you may spend far less by paying separately.
Who Is the Refreshment Package Best For?
The Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package is most likely to suit passengers who do not drink alcohol but regularly buy mocktails, speciality coffee, bottled water, fresh juice and soft drinks. It can also work for someone who only drinks alcohol occasionally and would prefer to pay separately for those drinks.
It may appeal to passengers who want the convenience of paying in advance without buying the much more expensive Deluxe Beverage Package. It’s less likely to provide good value if you mainly drink water, standard tea and coffee or spend most days ashore.
Is the Royal Caribbean Refreshment Package Worth It?
It can be, particularly if you regularly buy several different premium non-alcoholic drinks each day. The best value usually comes from combining mocktails, speciality coffee, bottled water, fresh juice and soft drinks rather than relying on only one category.
For passengers who mainly want fountain soft drinks, the Classic Soda Package will probably be cheaper. For passengers who are happy using the complimentary drinks and only want occasional extras, paying as you go may still be the better option. The best way to decide is to check the daily price in your Cruise Planner and compare it with what you would genuinely order.
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 Deluxe Beverage Package guide explains the alcoholic package in more detail, including its inclusions, exclusions and cabin rules.
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 Refreshment Package FAQs
Does the Refreshment Package include alcohol?
No. It is a non-alcoholic package.
Are mocktails included?
Yes. Eligible mocktails and zero-proof drinks are included.
Is Starbucks included?
No. Standalone Starbucks purchases are charged separately.
Does the Refreshment Package include coffee?
Yes. Speciality tea and coffee from participating Royal Caribbean venues are included.
Are fresh juices and smoothies included?
Eligible fresh juices and smoothies are included at participating venues.
Is bottled water included?
Yes. Standard bottled water is included.
Does the Refreshment Package include the Freestyle cup?
From March 2026, the activated Coca-Cola Freestyle cup is no longer automatically included. Passengers who want to use the machines need to buy the cup separately for $4.99.
Does everyone in the cabin have to buy it?
No. The Refreshment Package can be purchased individually.
Can you share the package?
No. It can only be used by the passenger it is assigned to.
Is the Refreshment Package worth it?
It is most likely to be worthwhile if you regularly buy mocktails, speciality coffee, bottled water, fresh juice and soft drinks throughout the day.
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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