Is the Royal Caribbean drink package worth it in 2026?
Royal Caribbean's Drink Package Math Is Worse Than It Looks
How much does the package actually cost?
Royal Caribbean prices the Deluxe Beverage Package dynamically. The range across the fleet in 2026 runs from about $57 a day at the cheap end to $120 at the expensive end, with a median near $84. Royal Caribbean then adds 18% gratuity on the package price itself.
What is the break-even?
Drinks on board run to about $14 for a cocktail. At the fleet median of roughly $84 a day plus gratuity, you need about six to seven drinks a day before the package pays for itself. On a cheap sailing that drops to four or five.
When it is not worth it
If you drink two or three a day, pay as you go. If you hold Diamond or above, your complimentary drinks already cover a moderate day, and the math on that sits in our Crown & Anchor breakdown.
Related guides
Questions
- How much is the Royal Caribbean drink package in 2026?
- Roughly $57 to $120 per person per day, priced dynamically by ship and sail date. The fleet median sits near $84 a day, before the 18% gratuity charged on the package price.
- Do Diamond members still need the drink package?
- Diamond includes four complimentary drinks a day worth up to $14 each. At median package pricing those vouchers fall short of the package's value, so heavy drinkers may still want it and moderate drinkers will not.
Sources
Tier 1 = the cruise line’s own published material · Tier 2 = an established cruise-news outlet- TIER 2Deluxe Beverage Package pricing, $57 to $120 per day, fleet median about $84
2026 pricing guides, checked 29 Aug 2026 - TIER 118% gratuity charged on the package price
Royal Caribbean published terms, checked 29 Aug 2026
Prices and policies move. This page was last checked on Aug 27, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.