Are you planning to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise but don’t want to spend a fortune on drinks? If you believe the cost of the drink package is expensive you’re not alone.
Many people are looking for methods on how to cheat Royal Caribbean drink package to save money. While it may not be ethical, it is possible to cheat the system and enjoy some “free” drinks without having to purchase the drink package.
Let’s look at the various Royal Caribbean booze packages in detail first and then look at the various ways to cheat that people have tried.
Drinks Package Hacks and Sneaky Tricks
What Royal Caribbean Drink Packages are Available?
Royal Caribbean’s packages are prepaid beverage plans that allow you to enjoy unlimited drinks during your cruise. These packages are priced per person per day and also include the gratuities that you would normally pay per drink.
Types of Royal Caribbean Drink Packages
Royal Caribbean offers four different packages, each with its own price and inclusions. Here are some of the most popular packages:
The Deluxe Beverage Package
This deluxe drink package includes unlimited alcoholic drinks with a value of up to $14 per serving, as well as premium coffees, teas, and bottled water. Bottled wines and souvenir glasses are excluded from the deluxe package.
The Refreshment Package
This package includes unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, such as juices, fountain sodas, and mocktails.
The Classic Soda Package
This package includes unlimited fountain sodas and Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages.
Water Package
This package includes a set number of bottled waters for a discounted price.
When you purchase a package, it’s important to consider whether it’s worth the cost. If you plan to drink several alcoholic beverages per day, a package could save you money. However, if you only want a few drinks or prefer non-alcoholic beverages, it may not be worth the expense.
What further complicates things is that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line does not have a set price for their packages. The price varies depending on lots of factors, including ship, sailing date, itinerary and any seasonal promotions.
Tips for Saving Money on Drink Packages That Won’t Get You Into Trouble
If you do decide to purchase a booze package, there are a couple of ways to save money:
- Buy early: Royal Caribbean often offers discounts on the packages before your cruise begins. So the best time to buy a drink package is always before your cruise.
- Make the most of the Package: To get the best bang for your buck, order top-shelf and premium brands, cocktails and wines by the glass. All drinks up to $14 are included, so why select a $5 drink – go big and enjoy the package by squeezing every dollar of value out of it.
- Use a Travel Agent: Travel agents can often get you a better deal on your drink package than you would get by booking directly with Royal Caribbean. They may have access to exclusive promotions or be able to negotiate a better price on your behalf
- Take Advantage of Special Offers: Royal Caribbean occasionally offers special promotions that include a free drink package or a discounted price on a drink package. Keep an eye out for these offers and take advantage of them when they’re available.
- Bring Your Own Water Bottles: Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring their own water bottles on board. This can save you money on bottled water, which can be expensive on the ship. Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up with tap water.
- Opt for Non-Alcoholic Beverages: If you’re not a big drinker, consider opting for a non-alcoholic drink package. These packages include unlimited soda, juice, and other non-alcoholic beverages. They’re often much cheaper than the alcoholic drink packages, and you can still enjoy unlimited drinks throughout your cruise.
How to Get the Best Discount off Drink Package on Royal Caribbean
The easiest way to get the best discount is to buy the package as soon as you book your cruise. Now at this point, the price may not actually be at the lowest discount. BUT…if it does drop in price, you can cancel your order and then buy it again at the lower discount.
How To Take Advantage of The Free Drinks Available on the Cruise
If you don’t buy any of the booze packages, remember that you can still access some free drinks on the cruise. During dinner service and in the Windjammer Marketplace, some coffee and soft drinks are available free of charge. You can also ask for tap water in the bar, which is safe to drink.
What Alcohol on Non-Alcoholic Drink Beverages Am I Allowed to Bring On Board?
Another way to save money if you don’t buy the package is to bring your own alcohol on board. Don’t get too excited though as you are only allowed one standard bottle of wine or champagne per person, with a maximum of two bottles of wine per cabin.
If you do bring wine onboard to save money, remember that you are meant to drink the wine in your stateroom. If you bring it to the main dining room, they will charge you a corkage fee. You also can’t drink you own wine in public areas.
You can also bring 12 bottles of water or cans of soda.
Ways to Cheat the Royal Caribbean Drink Package
Okay. You’ve decided you want to live dangerously. You’re looking to save some money and cheat the system. Well at Cruise Nonstop we cannot condone that behavior as ultimately it is a form of theft. However, there are a few ways to get around the Royal Caribbean Drink Package. Be aware though that they could have some consequences if you are caught.
Here are the most popular methods:
Royal Caribbean Drink Package Hack – Sharing Drinks
One of the most obvious ways to cheat is by sharing a drink package with your friends or family. If you have a group of people traveling with you, you can split the cost of the package and share the drinks between you. This way, you’ll all have access to unlimited drinks without having to pay for multiple packages.
Now this is easier said than done. You see, if one adult in a cabin buys a booze package, then Royal Caribbean insists ALL the adults in the cabin have to buy it as well.
Royal Caribbean Drink Package Sharing – Getting Around the “All Adults In the Cabin” Rule
This is probably the most common gripe with the booze packages. Royal insist that all adults of legal drinking age must buy a package if they share a stateroom with any other person who is buying it.
Well, there are ways around that particular rule. Simply call Royal Caribbean customer service team a call and explain the reasons why only one of you in the cabin wants to purchase. For example, your partner may have a medical condition or medical issues that mean that they can’t have any alcohol. Royal don’t ask for any proof of this status. They will however ask that the cabin member in question buys the Refreshment package instead. A lot of cruise guests have reported success doing this.
Sharing Drinks Isn’t Easy
Sharing drinks isn’t easy though. When ordering drinks you can only ever buy one drink at a time, and there are time limits to how often quickly you can order your next drink. The bar staff watch for this practice and will know the time you order a drink. There is also CCTV everywhere on a cruise ship, so you can easily get caught if you are not super cautious. Trying to get away with sharing your deluxe beverage package can be a lot harder than you think!
How To Sneak Alcohol On A Royal Caribbean Cruise
Another way is to sneak your own alcohol on board. While this is strictly prohibited, some people still try to do it.
Again Royal Caribbean are well switched on to this particular trick. ALL luggage, both carry-on and dropped-off goes through X-ray machines. Any bottles are easily spotted and you will get caught.
You can try and use a flask or other container to bring your own alcohol rather than the normal retail bottle they are in. Common tricks are alcohol in a mouthwash bottle. I’ve even heard of people trying to sneak alcohol in their baby’s milk bottles!
X-Ray Proof Bags for Alcohol
As usual, the entrepreneurs that sell on Amazon are always looking for ways to help people, so you can find “x-ray proof” containers to put your alcohol in on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Cruise Liquor Flask Kit for Travel. Concealable and reusable plastic liquor bags for sneaking drinks. 10 Bags in each set. 4 x 32 oz + 3 x 16 oz + 3 x 8 oz + 1 funnel.
Disguised Containers for Alcohol
You can even find disguised containers on Amazon as well. These are pretty sophisticated and even come with “factory-sealed” kits.
Using these kits you can sneak alcohol on board, and then put them in a common container, like an insulated water bottle. Then order non-alcoholic drinks as a mixer and pour in your shot of liquor.
Fake Shampoo Conditioner Flask Kit For hiding hidden liquor to sneak booze on your cruise. Comes with 4 TSA Travel-sized plastic drinking flask bottles and seals
Keep in mind that if you get caught, you could face consequences such as having your alcohol confiscated or more drastically this could result in you being kicked off the ship. I’ve never actually heard of someone being kicked off, but the cruise contract states that they can, so you never know.
Are You a Diamond Crown and Anchor Member or Higher? You Get Free Drinks!
It’s amazing how many Crown and Anchor members don’t know about Royal’s policy of providing drink vouchers to Diamond and above, loyalty members. Each Diamond members get 4 vouchers per day and Diamond Plus and Higher get 5 per day. This policy was introduced after Covid and seems to be permanent now. But the free drinks are not handed out – you have to ASK the Bar staff to use your voucher.
The four free drinks can actually make the decision on whether to buy the booze pack or not a much easier decision.
Is it Worth It to Cheat the Royal Caribbean Drink Deals?
If you’re considering cheating you may be wondering if it’s worth the risk. After all, you could save a lot of money by sneaking your own booze on board or sharing a package with a friend. But is it really worth it?
First, let’s consider the price of the package. The cost varies depending on the ship and itinerary, but it typically ranges from $50 to $90 per day. This may seem like a lot, but it includes all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including juices, coffee, and soda. If you’re a heavy drinker, the package can definitely save you money in the long run.
However, if you’re not a big drinker, the package may not be worth it. You could end up paying for drinks you don’t even want. In this case, it may be better to purchase a soda package or just pay for drinks as you go.
The Consequences of Being Caught Cheating on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
Now, let’s consider the risks of cheating the booze package. If you’re caught, you could face consequences such as being kicked off the ship and/or losing all that alcohol you paid for. These consequences could end up costing you more than the drink package itself.
If you decide to share your package and get caught, your drinks privileges are instantly withdrawn and you will not get a refund. So it can cost you a lot of money!
Additionally, if you’re caught cheating, it could ruin your vacation. You may feel guilty or anxious about getting caught, or you’ll get it in the neck from a partner that “told you so”. This could take away from your overall enjoyment especially if it’s a special trip.
While cheating may seem like a good way to save money, it’s just not worth the risk. Instead, consider purchasing a package that fits your drinking habits or just paying for drinks as you go. This way, you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about getting caught.
The Bottom Line – Should You Try To Cheat The Royal Caribbean Package – NO!
Trying to cheat and save money might seem like a good idea, but it’s important to consider the consequences before making any decisions. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- It’s not worth getting caught: Royal Caribbean takes cheating their drink package seriously. If you’re caught, you could be kicked off the ship or even banned from sailing with them in the future. Is it really worth the risk?
- It’s not fair to other passengers: Cheating the drink package means you’re not paying your fair share. Other passengers who have paid for the package might end up subsidizing your drinks, which isn’t fair to them.
- It’s not fair to the Bar Staff: You are doing the hard-working staff out of their gratuities
- There are other ways to save money: If you’re looking to save money on drinks, there are other ways to do it. For example, you could bring your own wine or champagne onboard (subject to a corkage fee), or stick to the free drinks like water, tea, and coffee. Get the most back for your buck by drinking top-shelf and premium brands if you do purchase the package.
- The drink package might not be worth it for you: If you’re not a big drinker, the drink package might not be worth the cost. Instead, you could buy drinks a la carte or opt for a cheaper package like the classic soda package.
In the end, the decision is up to you. I can understand how people want to cheat Royal Caribbean’s rules. However, it’s important to remember that there are other ways to save money on drinks and get your money’s worth. Trying to cheat the drink package might not be the best idea you’ve had.
Want to learn more about the Royal Caribbean Drink Package? You can find out everything you need to know here.
