The Royal Caribbean Soda Package is the cheapest of the cruise line’s three main drinks packages. It’s much more limited than the Refreshment Package or Deluxe Beverage Package, but it can still work well if you mainly drink soft drinks and want access to the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.
I used the Soda Package on my seven-night Liberty of the Seas cruise and paid separately for the alcoholic drinks I wanted. That gave me unlimited soft drinks without the much higher cost of Deluxe, and it worked particularly well because I only wanted one or two alcoholic drinks on selected days.
This guide explains what the Royal Caribbean Soda Package includes, how the Freestyle cup works, 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 Classic Soda Package?
The Classic Soda Package is Royal Caribbean’s most basic unlimited drinks package. It includes fountain soft drinks from participating bars, restaurants and other venues around the ship.
It also includes the activated Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup needed to use the self-service Freestyle machines on ships that have them. The package is linked to your SeaPass card, and the cup is activated for the duration of your sailing. It does not include bottled water, speciality coffee, mocktails, fresh juice or alcohol.
What Drinks Are Included in the Royal Caribbean Soda Package?
The package includes unlimited fountain soft drinks. On Liberty of the Seas, the standard soft-drink menu included Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Sprite, Fanta Orange, ginger ale and tonic. The exact selection can vary by ship and venue, but the main Coca-Cola products are widely available across the fleet.
You can order included fountain drinks from participating bars and restaurants by showing your SeaPass card. You can also use the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines with the activated cup supplied with the package.
How Does the Coca-Cola Freestyle Cup Work?
The Classic Soda Package includes a reusable souvenir cup with an activated chip in the base. That chip allows the Freestyle machines to recognise the cup and dispense drinks during your cruise.
You cannot use the machines with an ordinary glass, and a cup from a previous sailing will not normally work because the activation is tied to the current cruise.
The machines usually provide a much wider choice than the standard fountain drinks available at a bar. As well as regular Coca-Cola products, you may find different flavour combinations and low-sugar options. The exact selection varies by machine and sailing.
Where Are the Freestyle Machines on Liberty of the Seas?
Liberty of the Seas had four Coca-Cola Freestyle stations when I sailed. Two were near the Windjammer on Deck 11, which made them convenient when using the buffet or pool deck.
The other two were next to Sorrento’s on Deck 5 by the Royal Promenade. This meant I could usually refill the cup without needing to queue at a bar.
The machines were particularly useful during the day and later in the evening when I was around Sorrento’s or Café Promenade.
Do You Have to Carry the Freestyle Cup Everywhere?
You need the activated cup to use the self-service Freestyle machines. However, you do not always need to carry it when ordering a fountain soft drink from a participating bar or restaurant.
You can normally show your SeaPass card and order an included fountain drink in a standard glass. This gives you some flexibility, particularly at dinner or when you do not want to carry the cup around the ship. The cup is still useful because it gives you direct access to the machines and usually offers more choice.
What Is Not Included in the Soda Package?
The Soda Package only covers fountain soft drinks. It doesn’t include bottled water, sparkling water, speciality tea or coffee, freshly squeezed juice, smoothies, mocktails, non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic wine or alcoholic drinks.
Energy drinks such as Red Bull are also not included as standard fountain soda.
Standalone Starbucks purchases are charged separately.
If you regularly buy mocktails, bottled water or speciality coffee, the Refreshment Package may suit you better.
How Much Does the Royal Caribbean Soda Package Cost?
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, so the Soda Package does not have one fixed daily price across every cruise. The cost can change depending on the ship, sailing date, cruise length, demand and promotion.
It’s normally much cheaper than the Refreshment and Deluxe Packages, but the exact value still depends on how many soft drinks you would buy each day.
The advertised discount is less important than the real daily price shown in your Cruise Planner. Take a screenshot or make a note of the price whenever you check so you can compare it properly when another promotion appears.
When Should You Buy the Soda Package?
Once you see a daily price you are comfortable paying, it usually makes sense to book it and continue checking. If the price drops before your cruise, Royal Caribbean normally allows you to cancel the original purchase and buy it again at the lower price before the pre-cruise cut-off.
You may need to pay for the replacement package before the original refund reaches your account, although the total cost of the Soda Package is usually much lower than Deluxe.
Black Friday and other promotional periods can produce better prices, but waiting indefinitely for one particular sale can also mean missing a reasonable offer.
How Many Soft Drinks Do You Need to Break Even?
The break-even point depends on the daily price of the package and the cost of fountain drinks onboard. On the Liberty of the Seas, fountain soft drinks were $3.50.
If the Soda Package cost the equivalent of around four individual soft drinks per day, you would need to drink roughly that amount to break even. That might be realistic for someone who has a soft drink with lunch, another by the pool, one with dinner and one later in the evening.
For someone who only has one or two soft drinks per day, paying separately may be cheaper. The Freestyle machines can also add convenience and variety, although that doesn’t necessarily mean the package saves money.
What Drinks Are Already Included Without a Package?
Before buying the Soda 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. If those drinks suit you, you may not need a package at all.
The Soda Package is most useful for passengers who specifically want Coca-Cola products and would otherwise buy several of them each day.
Does Everyone in the Cabin Have to Buy the Soda Package?
No. The Classic Soda Package can be purchased individually. Other adults or children in the same cabin do not normally need to buy it. This makes it more flexible than the Deluxe Beverage Package. One passenger can have the Soda Package while another chooses Refreshment, or pays as they go.
Can You Share the Soda Package?
No. The package and activated cup are intended for the passenger they are assigned to. You shouldn’t use one package to provide drinks for other people. Royal Caribbean can monitor package use, and misuse may result in the package being cancelled.
Can Children Buy the Soda Package?
Yes. The Soda Package can be bought for children as well as adults. It can work well for families where a child regularly drinks soft drinks and wants access to the Freestyle machines. However, it is still worth comparing the cost with how many drinks they would realistically have each day.
Can You Buy the Soda Package for Only Part of the Cruise?
The package is normally sold for the full remaining duration of the cruise. You can’t choose to buy it only for sea days. That means port days still need to be included in your calculation. On a port-heavy itinerary, you may use the package less because you are away from the ship for much of the day.
Does the Itinerary Affect the Value?
Yes. The Soda Package is easier to use on cruises with several sea days because you are onboard for longer. On port days, you may only have a soft drink at breakfast, one after returning to the ship and another with dinner. That may not be enough to justify the daily cost.
A shorter social cruise can also make the package easier to use, particularly if you spend most of the day onboard. The best way to judge the value is to think about your normal habits on both sea days and port days.
The Hybrid Option I Used on Liberty of the Seas
For my seven-night Liberty of the Seas cruise, I chose the Classic Soda Package and paid separately for the alcoholic drinks I wanted. This gave me unlimited fountain soft drinks and access to the Freestyle machines without the much higher daily cost of Deluxe.
When I wanted a cocktail, I bought one. Across the full nine days of my back-to-back cruises, I spent less than £200 onboard. That total didn’t only include drinks. It also included a speciality dinner and several purchases from the shops. By comparison, Deluxe would have cost more than £500 across the two cruises at the lowest prices I saw.
I never felt as though I was missing out. The Soda Package covered what I drank regularly, and I paid separately for everything else. This approach can work particularly well for solo travellers, passengers on port-intensive itineraries and anyone who regularly drinks soft drinks but only occasionally wants alcohol.
Soda Package Versus Refreshment Package
The Refreshment Package includes everything from Soda plus a much wider range of non-alcoholic drinks. That can include mocktails, bottled water, speciality tea and coffee, fresh juice and smoothies from participating venues.
The Soda Package is better suited to someone who mainly wants fountain soft drinks. The Refreshment Package is more likely to work for passengers who regularly buy several different premium non-alcoholic drinks each day. The price difference can be significant, so there is little value in paying for Refreshment if you mainly drink Coke.
Soda Package Versus Deluxe Beverage Package
The Deluxe Beverage Package includes alcohol as well as most of the drinks covered by Refreshment. It’s much more expensive than the Soda Package.
Deluxe may suit passengers who regularly drink cocktails, beer, wine or spirits and also buy coffee, bottled water and soft drinks.
The Soda Package is more suitable if soft drinks are your main regular purchase and you only want occasional alcohol. This was the better option for me on Liberty of the Seas.
Soda Package Versus Paying As You Go
Paying as you go may be cheaper if you only have one or two soft drinks per day. The Soda Package becomes easier to justify when you regularly have several fountain drinks and want the convenience of the Freestyle machines.
At $3.50 per fountain drink on the Liberty menus, four drinks per day would cost $14 if bought separately. Compare that with the daily package price shown for your cruise. You should also consider whether you would genuinely drink that amount every day rather than only on sea days.
Who Is the Royal Caribbean Soda Package Best For?
The Soda Package is most likely to suit passengers who regularly drink Coca-Cola products and want unlimited fountain refills. It’s also useful for passengers who value the choice and convenience of the Freestyle machines. It can also work well for children, teenagers and adults who do not regularly buy coffee, bottled water, juice or mocktails. It’s less likely to offer good value if you mainly drink the complimentary water, lemonade, tea and coffee or spend most days ashore.
Is the Royal Caribbean Soda Package Worth It?
It can be worth it if you regularly drink several fountain soft drinks each day. It worked well for me on Liberty of the Seas because soft drinks were the one category I used consistently.
I didn’t need the coffee, bottled water, juice and mocktails included in Refreshment, and I did not drink enough alcohol to justify Deluxe. The package also gave me direct access to the Freestyle machines, which was one of the main reasons I bought it.
For someone who only wants one or two soft drinks a day, paying as you go will probably be cheaper. The best way to decide is to compare the daily package price with the cost of the drinks you would genuinely buy.
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 Refreshment Package guide covers the non-alcoholic package and compares it with Deluxe and Soda.
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 Soda Package FAQs
What is included in the Royal Caribbean Soda Package?
The package includes unlimited fountain soft drinks and the activated Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup on ships with Freestyle machines.
Does the Soda Package include bottled water?
No. Bottled water is not included.
Does the Soda Package include mocktails?
No. Mocktails and zero-proof cocktails are not included.
Does the Soda Package include coffee?
No. Speciality tea and coffee are not included.
Does the Soda Package include alcohol?
No. Alcoholic drinks must be purchased separately.
Does everyone in the cabin have to buy it?
No. The Soda Package can be purchased individually.
Can you share the Soda Package?
No. It can only be used by the passenger it is assigned to.
Does the Soda Package include the Freestyle cup?
Yes. The Classic Soda Package continues to include the activated Freestyle souvenir cup.
Can you use the package without carrying the cup?
You need the cup to use the Freestyle machines, but you can normally order included fountain drinks from participating bars and restaurants by showing your SeaPass card.
Is the Royal Caribbean Soda Package worth it?
It is most likely to be worthwhile if you regularly drink several fountain soft drinks each day and want access to the Freestyle machines.
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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Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the link, at no additional cost to you. I haven’t personally tested the Saily cruise eSIM yet, so check the current coverage, data allowance and compatibility with your phone before purchasing.