Alcoholic drinks on Royal Caribbean often run $8–$14 each before the automatic 18% service charge, with package pricing changing the total.
Bar spend is a wildcard. Royal Caribbean has bars all over the ship, so it’s easy to order more than you planned. Prices also move by ship, itinerary, and venue.
Use this page to set a range for pay-per-drink costs, then see when a drink package makes sense for your style—no surprises later.
What You’ll Pay For Drinks Onboard
Royal Caribbean sells alcohol two ways: pay per drink, or prepay a daily package. If you skip the package, your bar bill is menu price plus an automatic service charge, plus local tax in a few ports.
| Drink | Menu Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic beer (can or bottle) | $7.49–$7.99 | Bars, pool decks, sports pubs |
| Imported beer | $7.99–$8.99 | Often $1 more on newer ships |
| Hard cider | $7.25–$7.99 | Availability varies by sailing |
| House wine by the glass | $9–$16+ | Higher tiers can run far more |
| Standard cocktail | $10–$14 | Pool classics and staples |
| Drink of the day | $11 | Often discounted versus many menu cocktails |
| Spirit with mixer | $9–$11+ | Base spirit choice drives price |
| Signature cocktail or specialty bar drink | $14+ | Some items sit above the package cap |
| Wine bottle at dinner | $40–$120+ | Specialty dining lists can run higher |
How Much Do Alcoholic Drinks Cost On Royal Caribbean?
If you’re asking “how much do alcoholic drinks cost on royal caribbean?”, expect most single drinks to land in the high single digits to the mid-teens before the service charge. That includes beer, standard cocktails, and mid-tier wine by the glass.
Your total climbs when you choose higher-end spirits, signature cocktails, or higher-tier wine pours.
Service Charge And Local Tax
Royal Caribbean adds an 18% gratuity to beverages and beverage packages. You’ll see it as a line on receipts and in your SeaPass account. The policy is on Royal Caribbean’s onboard service gratuity page.
On some sailings, taxes apply while the ship is in port or within certain waters. Totals can dip once the ship reaches open sea.
Venue Pricing And Specialty Bars
Beer prices tend to stay steady across venues. Signature cocktails at themed bars tend to sit at the top of the range, since branded spirits and garnishes raise the base price.
If you love craft cocktails, plan for more $14 drinks than $10 drinks. If you mostly order beer and simple mixed drinks, your average can stay lower.
Daily Deals And Event Specials
Many sailings run a featured “drink of the day” price, and some ships add short promos tied to events. These offers change by sailing, so treat them as a bonus, not your whole plan.
Alcoholic Drink Costs On Royal Caribbean By Drink Type
Ranges make more sense when you match them to what you order. Here’s where the main categories tend to land.
Beer And Cider
Mainstream beers sit around $7.50–$9 on the menu. Imports and craft cans land higher.
Wine By The Glass And Bottle
Wine by the glass often starts around $9 and climbs with higher-tier lists. Bottle pricing swings the most: a casual bottle at dinner can land in the $40–$70 band, while specialty dining lists can push far above $100 for certain labels.
Cocktails And Spirit Pours
Standard cocktails and frozen drinks often show $10–$14 on menus. Brand choice moves the number. A well pour with mixer costs less than a branded pour, and a signature cocktail usually costs more than a simple rum and cola.
Drink Packages That Change The Total
Drink packages don’t change menu prices. They change what you pay at the moment you order. You swipe your SeaPass and the included drink has no per-drink charge.
Many sailings show the Deluxe Beverage Package from the $60s into the low $100s per person, per day before the 18% gratuity line.
What The Deluxe Beverage Package Includes
The Deluxe Beverage Package includes cocktails, beer, and wines by the glass, with a per-drink value cap. Royal Caribbean’s package brochure states that the package includes any single beverage item with a value up to $14, and it excludes drinks sold inside licensed Starbucks stores.
If one adult in a stateroom buys the alcoholic package, all adults of legal drinking age in that stateroom must buy it too. That rule matters for couples where one person drinks lightly.
When A Package Pays Off
Judge a package with per-day break-even math using the drinks you order most. Port-heavy itineraries can lower onboard drinking time. Sea-day itineraries can raise it.
How To Run Break-Even Math In Two Minutes
Grab the package price for your sailing, then add the 18% gratuity line per Royal Caribbean’s onboard service gratuity policy to get the real per-day cost. Next, pick the drink you order most and add 18% to that menu price too. Divide the package total by that final drink total. Round up. That’s the drink count you need each day for the package to win.
If you order a mix of drinks, do the same math with your average. A simple way is to price one cocktail, one beer, and one glass of wine, add the service charge to each, then average the three numbers.
Package Limits That Change The Value
The Deluxe Beverage Package is generous, yet it isn’t a blank check for each item that looks fun behind the bar. A few guardrails can change your personal value.
One more budget lever: on embarkation day, each guest of drinking age may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne, per Royal Caribbean’s guest alcohol policy.
- There’s a per-drink value cap on included items. Items priced above the cap sit outside the package.
- Licensed Starbucks venues and some branded add-on spots can sit outside all beverage packages.
- Mini-bar items, room service beverages, souvenir glassware, and some specialty beers can sit outside the package list.
- Packages can’t be shared and don’t move between guests.
- All adults of legal drinking age in the same stateroom must buy the same alcoholic package.
- Receipts can show extra tax in certain ports or itineraries.
These details don’t mean you should skip the package. They mean you should check the fine print in Cruise Planner, then budget a little cash for the few items you know you’ll still buy outside the package.
| Package Total Per Day (With 18%) | Cocktails Needed At $14 | Beers Needed At $8 |
|---|---|---|
| $75 | 6 | 10 |
| $85 | 7 | 11 |
| $95 | 7 | 12 |
| $105 | 8 | 14 |
| $115 | 9 | 15 |
| $125 | 9 | 16 |
| $135 | 10 | 17 |
How To Estimate Your Bar Spend Before You Sail
You can get close to your real total with four quick steps.
Step 1 Pick Your Drink Pattern
Write down what a normal cruise day looks like for you: a pool drink, wine with dinner, a show-time cocktail, a late lounge sip. Add the “waiting” drinks too, like the one you grab before your table is ready.
Skip drinks you know you won’t order. A budget only works if it matches your habits.
Step 2 Add The Service Charge
If you pay per drink, tack on the 18% line. A $14 cocktail becomes $16.52. An $8 beer becomes $9.44. That one add-on changes the total more than most people expect.
Step 3 Mark Port Days
On port days, you may drink less onboard for hours at a time. On sea days, it’s easy to keep ordering since the bar is always nearby. Mark each day on your itinerary, then adjust your drink count up or down.
Step 4 Use The Bring-On Wine Allowance
Royal Caribbean lets each guest of drinking age bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on embarkation day, per Royal Caribbean’s guest alcohol policy. If you enjoy wine with dinner, that bottle can cut your first-night spend.
If you open your bottle in a public venue, a corkage fee can apply. In your stateroom, you avoid that fee.
Ways To Keep Costs In Check
A few small choices can trim your tab without killing the vibe.
Pick One Splurge Per Day
Choose one “big” drink moment, then keep the rest simple. A top-shelf martini at the show lounge, then house wine with dinner. Or a signature cocktail at a themed bar, then beers by the pool.
Share Tastes And Slow The Rounds
Traveling as a couple? Order different drinks and trade a sip. You’ll still get variety, and you’ll buy fewer full rounds. Late-night rounds add up fast, so set a last call for yourself before you’re caught up in the party pace.
Quick Planning Checklist
- Use menu ranges to set a per-drink budget: $8–$14 per alcoholic drink before service charge.
- Add the 18% service charge to each per-drink estimate.
- Map your typical day and count drinks you’ll actually order.
- Price the Deluxe Beverage Package in Cruise Planner, then run break-even math.
- Use your embarkation wine bottle if it fits your habits.
If you still find yourself asking “how much do alcoholic drinks cost on royal caribbean?”, pick your usual drink, add 18%, then multiply by your honest drink count. That’s your baseline. From there, a package is a steady daily swap for fewer per-drink charges.