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Royal Caribbean's Water Packages offer 12 or 24 packs of one-liter bottles of water, which are delivered to your cabin on embarkation day. For every brewed coffee you order, the barista will punch a hole in the card to note how many of the drinks you've ordered. About 50% of passengers end up buying a drink package for their cruise, making it one of the most popular add-ons. An all-inclusive beverage plan is attractive to many people, because it's an easy way to have unlimited access to drinks and not have to worry about running up a big bill by the end of the cruise. That leaves you with somewhere between $30 and $80 per day to spend on alcoholic drinks to break even. If one person in a stateroom buys this package, everyone of legal drinking age in the stateroom must buy the same package, according to cruise line policy.
Does a Royal Caribbean drink package include gratuity?
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas sees high demand, prices - USA TODAY
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas sees high demand, prices.
Posted: Wed, 08 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Passengers would travel on the Serenade of the Seas, which has 13 decks and a mini-golf course, an arcade, a rock-climbing wall, a pool, a theater, and a spa. The ship can accommodate almost 2,500 passengers and more than 800 crew members, Royal Caribbean said. In a press release on Wednesday, the cruise line said it was "the longest and most comprehensive world cruise out there."
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Whichever package you choose, your value may also depend on your itinerary and activities. On a Caribbean cruise that includes a sea day or two and a stop at CocoCay, you'll likely drink more – simply because you're relaxing more than touring, and the hot temperatures will make you thirsty. There are some limits on brands available with the package, but the list includes imported, domestic and craft beer, an extensive wine list and commonly ordered spirit brands on drinks up to $14. I then waited in a separate, suites-only waiting area until we could board the ship.
Cabin upgrades
Mistakes Made on First Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas - Business Insider
Mistakes Made on First Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.
Posted: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Booking through an independent company–while often cheaper–does not offer this sense of security. Cruise pricing is influenced by a number of factors, and knowing the trends of what makes one cruise more expensive than another can help you in the booking process. There are a host of extras you can add onto the cost of your cruise, and they're all discretionary based on your needs and preferences. If you are parking a car at the port, the price is probably going to be around $20-30 per day to park. You should also factor in the cost to get to the cruise port and then back home again. Ever since the cruise industry restarted in 2022, demand has skyrocketed.
Shore excursions
Lines are seeing unparalleled demand, and that kind of a hot market is a big reason why prices continue to climb. With the right information and some estimates, you can easily calculate the price to take a cruise. If you're a megaresort lover, you'll surely love the line's biggest ships, particularly the giant Oasis Class vessels. If you're more of a small boutique hotel sort of person or someone who just isn't happy around crowds, well … this might not be the line for you.
I did find that my cruise felt more all-inclusive since we could drink without limits. Since my friends also had the drink package, it was nice that we didn’t have to stress about blowing a budget or spending way more than anticipated. The convenience factor usually leads me to decide to get the package.
In addition to the gratuities listed earlier, there are opportunities to give crew members an additional tip for excellent service. Even crew members who receive an automatic gratuity can receive additional gratuities if you feel it is warranted. Once you have collected enough points, you can redeem them for room upgrades, onboard credit, companion fares or even a discounted sailing. Unless you live in the port city you're departing from, you'll want to plan for extra travel costs. First, consider whether you can drive to the port or if you'll need to fly. We looked at a sample of four-night cruises to the Caribbean across multiple cruise lines departing in March 2024.
For something quieter and more pampering, Royal Caribbean ships also all have spas. Some are enormous, with more than two dozen treatment rooms and thermal areas with hot stone chairs, rainforest shower areas, saunas and steam rooms. Many of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as big as you'll find on Broadway, with top-name Broadway shows. Symphony of the Seas has "Hairspray," for instance, and Oasis of the Seas has Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats."
There is no worrying about how much the drink costs and if you should get it or something cheaper. Heck, there is not even the concern about if you can afford to get a drink or not. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes drinks with liquor up to $14 in value. Mornings on a cruise ship–especially on port days–can be hectic as thousands of guests rush to eat before disembarking the ship. Just walking into the buffet each morning was chaotic, and seeking refuge at the suites-only breakfast in Chops Grille was a lifesaver. Alternatively, if you want beverages like alcohol, soda, fresh juices, mocktails, specialty coffee drinks, milkshakes, canned water, and Starbucks, you can purchase them for an additional cost during the cruise.
It can be helpful to have an idea of what is and is not included in your Royal Caribbean cruise to make your time at sea and in port stress-free. Here’s a breakdown of what is and is not included in your cruise fare. If you’re going on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you might be wondering what aspects of the cruise experience are included in the cruise fare. There are a lot of components to any cruise vacation and it can seem overwhelming to distinguish between what is and is not included in the base fare. Designed with acres of glass offering panoramic vistas of sea, sky and land, Serenade of the Seas® is the perfect ship for scenery-scoping.
It is important to keep in mind what your goal is when ordering a drink package. Are you going to be spending much of your time by the pool or are you someone that will be doing other activities where drinking may not always be an option. Without a drink package, I find myself hemming and hawing over if I really want a drink or not, and end up rationing them in order to save money.
Before my cruise, I heard from other cruisers that the suite concierge would be extremely helpful during my cruise. I rarely need any questions answered onboard, and I'm comfortable handling dining reservations and travel logistics on my own. The suite concierge can go above and beyond what a regular Guest Services crew member can do. They can book shore excursions, make dining reservations, handle billing discrepancies, and answer any questions you have. Wonder of the Seas has an entire Suite Neighborhood dedicated for suite guests with its own pool, bar, outdoor hangout area, lounge, and restaurant.
Plus, you'll find more bars, lounges and nightspots than you could think possible. First-time cruisers will hopefully find this post as a good jumping off point for further reading on the drink packages. The drink packages can make sense for some people and others no sense at all.
Either way, you'll find plenty of fun cocktails and mocktails, as well as your favorite wine and beer, to enhance your vacation at sea. Royal Caribbean offers fun and unique signature activities onboard its cruise ships, the majority of which are included in your cruise fare. If you watch any Royal Caribbean cruise commercial, you will inevitably see people tackling the FlowRider, rock climbing wall, skydiving simulator, and more. Included in your cruise fare is unlimited food from complimentary dining venues onboard. While the restaurants vary based on cruise ship, all Royal Caribbean vessels have a Main Dining Room and buffet. Of course, you’ll have to add on the cost of transportation, gratuities, and any discretional spending you do once onboard to the total cruise cost.
