Hi everyone, I’ve booked my first cruise with Royal Caribbean for March! It’ll be me, my girlfriend, and our kid. We’re super excited about it.
I have some questions about what’s included and the add-ons. We don’t drink alcohol, but I noticed the ‘refreshment package,’ which includes soda, premium coffee, fresh-squeezed juice, and mocktails. It would cost around $500 total for us. Is it worth it? What drinks are already included for free? I feel like I might get nickel-and-dimed.
So far, the only extra thing I’ve purchased is water park tickets for $68 per person, which seems okay.
Here’s the original post from the person who started this thread:
Hi everyone, I’ve booked my first cruise with Royal Caribbean for March! It’ll be me, my girlfriend, and our kid. We’re super excited about it.
I have some questions about what’s included and the add-ons. We don’t drink alcohol, but I noticed the ‘refreshment package,’ which includes soda, premium coffee, fresh-squeezed juice, and mocktails. It would cost around $500 total for us. Is it worth it? What drinks are already included for free? I feel like I might get nickel-and-dimed.
So far, the only extra thing I’ve purchased is water park tickets for $68 per person, which seems okay.
Roy’s Caribbean… haha, that made me laugh. I’m going to call it that now!
Jokes aside, I always skip the ‘refreshment package’ and use the money on excursions instead. I don’t drink alcohol either, and the free juices at the buffet work for me. Also, bring a refillable water bottle and use the fountains at the gym—it’s super convenient.
I think you can bring soda cans onboard. When you’re back from excursions, you can restock too. If you like flavored drinks, consider bringing Mio or other additives to mix with water. You could even ask a bartender for some carbonated water and mix it yourself!
Think about what you normally drink. If you’re not someone who goes to coffee shops a lot, the refreshment package might not be worth it.
I only drink diet soda and don’t care about coffee, so I just bring a 12-pack of soda onboard. If I need more, I grab some in port. It’s much cheaper than buying soda on the ship, which can be over $3 per can.
Here’s a tip: You’re allowed to bring 12 cans or bottles of non-alcoholic drinks per stateroom when you board. You can also restock with unopened beverages from ports you visit.
Another cost to consider is internet. Check if your mobile carrier offers any deals before buying the ship’s package. The cruise Wi-Fi is often limited and pricey. For example, Verizon’s cruise pass is $30/day for just 500MB of data. But their international plan might cover places like Mexico and Caribbean islands for $10/day. Also, many bars and restaurants in port offer free Wi-Fi—just don’t do anything sensitive like banking while connected to public networks.
We’re skipping the drink packages too. Instead, we’re bringing the allowed two 750ml bottles of wine, a 12-pack of Coke, and a couple of coffee punch cards. I might bring my Aeropress and some nice coffee grounds too. Altogether, it’s way cheaper than paying $500 for the package.
Zora said: @Cameron
I love this idea! Where do you get the coffee punch cards? Also, I’m the same way about my coffee—freshly ground French press every morning!
You can get them through the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean’s website. It’s under the ‘Beverages’ section.
I always buy the packages because I like knowing the total cost upfront. Haven’t paid for an individual drink in over 15 years. I usually sail with lines like NCL or Celebrity, where packages cover almost everything.
There are a lot of extras you can pay for, like specialty restaurants, room service, laundry, childcare, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, and fitness classes. They also charge for activities like arcade games, the ‘North Star,’ and the escape room. Even things like priority boarding with ‘The Key’ cost extra.
But you can stick to the basics and spend little to nothing onboard. It’s all about deciding what’s worth it for you.
@Dara
Wow, sounds like it can add up fast! I’ve seen mixed opinions online—some say there’s plenty of free stuff, others say everything costs extra. I don’t want to spend more than I planned for.