Noah Vinter
Royal Caribbean's alcohol policy has been a topic of discussion and debate among passengers and the media. While the cruise line has a reputation for offering world-class experiences, its alcohol regulations have recently undergone changes that some passengers find restrictive and upsetting. The new rules aim to prevent passengers from sharing drinks, especially those obtained through drink packages, and to promote responsible alcohol consumption. This has led to stricter enforcement, such as requiring bartenders to open beer cans before serving and limiting the amount and type of alcohol that can be brought onboard. Understanding these policies is crucial for passengers to ensure a seamless and enjoyable cruise experience while adhering to Royal Caribbean's guidelines and restrictions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol consumption limit | No strict limit on alcohol consumption. Staff will intervene politely when a guest appears drunk or overserved. |
| Drinking age | 21 years old for sailings departing from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. 18 years old for cruises departing from non-U.S. ports. |
| Bringing alcohol onboard | On embarkation day, each guest of drinking age can bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. Beer, hard liquor, and boxed wine are prohibited. |
| Alcohol packages | The Deluxe Beverage Package costs $65 to $110 per day. Alcohol purchased a la carte is also available. |
| Alcohol sharing | Alcohol sharing is prohibited. All canned or bottled alcoholic beverages must be opened before leaving the bar to prevent sharing with non-package holders. |
| Non-alcoholic drinks | Non-alcoholic drinks can be brought onboard unopened. |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol consumption limits
Royal Caribbean has specific alcohol consumption limits in place to promote responsible drinking and maintain a safe environment for all guests on board. While the company does not place a strict limit on alcohol consumption, it reserves the right to refuse service to any guest who shows signs of intoxication or fails to comply with its alcohol policy. Staff will be polite about cutting off alcohol service at first, perhaps offering coffee or water, but they will call security if the situation requires it.
The company has a bring-your-own alcohol policy, allowing guests of legal drinking age to bring a limited amount of alcohol on board. On embarkation day, each guest may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne, which must be in its original bottle as boxed wine and other containers are prohibited. Beer and hard liquor are not permitted to be brought on board for any reason. Guests who bring additional bottles or other types of alcohol will have their items safely stored by the ship and returned on the last day of the voyage.
Royal Caribbean offers various beverage packages, including the Deluxe Beverage Package, which provides unlimited alcoholic drinks for a fixed price, ranging from USD 65 to USD 110 per day. The company has a strict policy against sharing drinks with other passengers, even if they are non-alcoholic beverages included in the Deluxe Beverage Package. Any canned or bottled alcoholic drinks ordered at the bars must be opened before leaving the venue to ensure drinks are consumed by the person who ordered them. This rule has been enforced to prevent passengers from stockpiling drinks in their cabins and sharing them with those who haven't purchased a package.
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Bringing alcohol onboard
Bringing alcohol on board a Royal Caribbean cruise is allowed within certain limits. While other cruise lines have strict no-alcohol policies, Royal Caribbean allows passengers to bring certain alcoholic beverages on board. On embarkation day, each guest of legal drinking age can bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. It is important to note that beer, boxed wine, hard liquor, and other containers are prohibited. Any extra bottles, including those purchased in ports of call, will be stored on the ship and returned on the last day of the voyage.
For consecutive sailings, guests of drinking age are allowed to bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing. Additional bottles will be stored by the ship and delivered to the stateroom on the first day of each new voyage. Guests bringing more than one bottle at the start of the first sailing should provide documentation for any consecutive sailings to security. It is important to note that alcohol seized on embarkation day may not be returned, and security may inspect containers such as water bottles, soda bottles, and mouthwash.
Passengers who violate any alcohol policies, such as overconsumption, providing alcohol to minors, demonstrating irresponsible behaviour, or attempting to conceal alcoholic items at security or luggage check points, may be disembarked or not allowed to board at their own expense, in accordance with the Guest Conduct Policy. Royal Caribbean has recently stopped alcohol package exemptions due to passengers abusing the system by using their drink packages to obtain free drinks for fellow cruisers without packages.
To save money on alcoholic beverages, passengers can strategically book their cabins. For example, if two adults travel with two children in connecting rooms, booking one adult and one child in each room allows the group to purchase a single beverage package instead of two. Additionally, if a guest travels with a non-drinking adult, they can request that the non-drinking adult be switched to the Refreshment Package instead of the Deluxe Beverage Package.
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Drinking age
Royal Caribbean has established a minimum drinking age of 21 years old for all sailings departing from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. However, for cruises departing from non-U.S. ports, where the legal drinking age may be lower, the minimum age for consuming alcohol onboard is 18 years old.
On embarkation day, each guest of legal drinking age is allowed to bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. Boxed wine and other containers are prohibited. Guests who purchase additional alcohol bottles onboard, in a port of call, or bring more than the one permitted bottle on boarding day, will have their items safely stored by the ship and returned on the last day of the voyage. For consecutive sailings, guests of legal drinking age are allowed to bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing.
Royal Caribbean does not place a strict limit on alcohol consumption. In theory, people paying a la carte, purchasers of its Deluxe Beverage Package, and Prime or higher members of its casino loyalty program (who drink free in the casino) can have as many drinks as they want. However, Royal Caribbean will cut people off when they appear drunk or overserved. The staff will be polite about it at first, perhaps offering coffee or water, but they will call security if the situation requires it.
Royal Caribbean's Alcohol Policy is designed to promote responsible alcohol consumption and maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests. The cruise line also offers various non-alcoholic beverage options, including mocktails, smoothies, and specialty coffees, catering to guests who prefer non-alcoholic alternatives.
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Alcohol packages
Royal Caribbean offers several beverage packages for guests, which can be purchased up to 72 hours before sailing online or on the first day of the cruise. These include the Classic Soda Package, which offers unlimited fountain soda and Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages, and the Refreshment Package, which includes mocktails, premium coffees and teas, fresh-squeezed juices, and non-alcoholic cocktails in addition to the offerings of the Classic Soda Package.
The Deluxe Beverage Package is the most inclusive, offering unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits, as well as 40% off select bottled wines. This package is honoured at any bar, café, lounge, Windjammer café, Main Dining Room, Specialty Restaurant, Johnny Rockets, and on Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee during normal business hours. An 18% gratuity charge is automatically added to the purchase of any beverage package.
For guests who wish to consume alcohol but do not want to purchase a beverage package, there is the option to bring your own alcohol onboard. On embarkation day, guests of legal drinking age can bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. The alcohol must be in its original bottle, as boxed wine and other containers are prohibited. Any additional bottles will be stored by the ship and returned on the last day of the voyage. It is important to note that beer and hard liquor are not allowed to be brought onboard for any reason.
For families with a mix of drinkers and non-drinkers, strategic cabin booking can help optimise beverage package purchases. For example, booking one adult and one child in a room allows the group to purchase a single package instead of two. Additionally, non-drinking adults can request to be switched to the Refreshment Package instead of the Deluxe Beverage Package.
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Enforcement
Royal Caribbean has a strict alcohol policy in place to ensure that all guests consume their drinks safely and responsibly. The company has stated that the policy is designed to promote responsible alcohol consumption and maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests. While the company does not place a strict limit on alcohol consumption, it reserves the right to refuse service to any guest who shows signs of intoxication or fails to comply with the alcohol policy. Staff will be polite about cutting off guests, perhaps offering coffee or water first, but they will call security if the situation requires it.
The company has also implemented a rule that any canned or bottled alcoholic beverages ordered at the bars must be opened before leaving the venue. This rule aims to prevent guests from sharing drinks with other passengers, which is against the rules of the Deluxe Beverage Package. Previously, guests could ask for an unopened beer to take back to their stateroom, but now the beverage must be opened before leaving the bar to ensure the drink is consumed by the person who ordered it. This change has been made due to passengers abusing the system by using their drink packages to obtain free drinks for other cruisers who didn’t have packages.
Royal Caribbean also has limitations on its onboard alcohol policies regarding the amount of alcohol guests can bring on board. On embarkation day, each guest of drinking age may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. Boxed wine and other containers are prohibited. Any additional bottles or other types of alcohol will be confiscated and returned at the end of the cruise. Guests who purchase alcohol bottles onboard or in a port-of-call will have their items safely stored by the ship and returned on the last day of the voyage.
Overall, Royal Caribbean's alcohol policy is strictly enforced to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests on board. While the company gives passengers some flexibility, such as allowing them to bring a limited amount of alcohol on board, it also has strict guidelines in place to prevent abuse of the system and promote responsible drinking.
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Frequently asked questions
Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring a limited amount of wine or champagne on board. Each stateroom or suite is permitted to bring one sealed 750ml bottle of wine or champagne on embarkation day. Beer or hard liquor is not permitted.
Yes, non-alcoholic drinks can be brought on board as carry-on items. Non-alcoholic drinks may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom.
No, sharing drinks with other passengers is against the rules. Royal Caribbean has introduced stricter rules to prevent this, such as requiring bartenders to open beer cans before serving them.
Royal Caribbean enforces strict guidelines and passengers may be kicked off or banned from the ship if they do not comply with the alcohol policy.
