Key Elements:
- Royal Caribbean has confirmed that exemptions will now not be granted for the “everybody should buy” rule for the deluxe drink bundle.
- The change is essentially as a consequence of elevated bundle sharing, which violates of the deluxe drink bundle tips.
- The cruise line strengthened the coverage and ceased personalised exemptions as of Friday, August 1, 2025.
It’s at all times good when cruisers can discover a approach to save just a few {dollars} off onboard bills, and saving on drinks is a good choice. Royal Caribbean, nonetheless, has quietly firmed up a coverage that used to avoid wasting company lots of of {dollars}.
Lately, company have seen the change and social media rumors have been circulating as as to if or not it’s official: no extra personalised exceptions to the beverage bundle buy rule.
The well-known “everybody should buy” rule that has been in place for years. All company of authorized ingesting age staying in the identical stateroom are required to buy the deluxe beverage bundle if one individual buys it, no matter particular person ingesting preferences.
Till now, nonetheless, there was a customized workaround for the buying requirement. Visitors might name the cruise line’s customer support line and clarify their scenario, asking for an exemption.
Doing so might allow one individual to purchase the deluxe bundle whereas one other visitor would buy both the “Royal Refreshment” bundle or the soda bundle as a substitute.
These unofficial exemptions have been by no means assured however have been properly referred to as a secret that wasn’t actually a secret.
This might quantity to important financial savings relying on the size of the cruise. The deluxe beverage bundle can run from roughly $50-$115 per day, relying on the precise crusing and cruise size. The Refreshment bundle is $30-45 per day, whereas the soda bundle is $10-20 per individual per day.
For a pair on a 7-night cruise, two deluxe packages might run as much as $1,610 for the week. If one individual have been capable of purchase simply the refreshment bundle, nonetheless, that value may very well be slashed to $1,120, a financial savings of $490.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that this can now not be an choice. Cruise Hive reached out on to the cruise line on Saturday night for particulars and discovered the change is a current one.
“Starting August 1, Royal Caribbean will now not be capable of grant exceptions to our coverage that each company in a stateroom should buy the Deluxe Beverage Bundle,” Royal Caribbean acknowledged.
“This alteration permits us to make sure company are consuming their beverage bundle responsibly. Over time, requests for exceptions have elevated, and sharing of packages has continued, which led us to implement this coverage change.”
There you have got it, a main instance of some folks’s poor habits spoiling it for everybody. The coverage was in place to stop bundle sharing, and did allow some flexibility for individuals who have completely different drink preferences or medical points that prohibit alcohol consumption.
Now, as a substitute, there can be no exemptions and the agency coverage will stand.
How Can You Nonetheless Save on Drinks?
To be truthful, it isn’t vital to purchase a drink bundle in any respect. Relying on one’s beverage preferences and the quantity of liquid refreshment desired, simply buying drinks as wanted generally is a nice financial savings.
Alternatively, buying any of the drink packages pre-cruise can result in important financial savings, with some flash gross sales as a lot as 50% off the common worth.
Learn Additionally: When Is the Finest Time to Purchase a Royal Caribbean Drink Bundle?
Moreover, Royal Caribbean typically options “drink of the day” specials and different financial savings choices that don’t rely on packages.
“Visitors are nonetheless capable of buy a la carte drinks and drink specials will nonetheless be extensively accessible all through the ship,” the cruise line mentioned.
Plus, let’s not neglect the free drinks. Fundamental espresso, tea, and scorching cocoa can be found, in addition to completely different juices within the morning and lemonade, iced tea, and several other fruit-infused waters all through the day at onboard drink stations.
My favourite? The strawberry kiwi and the tropical mango tie for the highest spot! No higher drink on a sunny day at sea, with none value in any respect.
Royal Caribbean Tightens Coverage on Drink Bundle
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