Black Friday drink packages

[Duck143]

Hi All,

The Deluxe drink package is 40% off today with a Black Friday preview. Do you think the package can go down further in price? I was hoping to get it at 50% off (my travel agent said cyber week deals)
Let me know what you think!

Thanks

 

[Disnsyncey]

Go ahead and buy, unless it has changed, you can always cancel and rebook, no?

 

[hardcorestitch]

This is why I will never use Royal. They charge for drinks-even non alcoholic ones! Disney all the way.

 

[sam_gordon]

Hi All,

The Deluxe drink package is 40% off today with a Black Friday preview. Do you think the package can go down further in price? I was hoping to get it at 50% off (my travel agent said cyber week deals)
Let me know what you think!

Thanks

IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!
IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!
IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!

Look at total price. PERIOD. Royal (along with many companies) will do "funny math" and change the base price.
40% off $100 (for example) = $60 cost.
50% off $120 = $60 cost.

Which is better?

If you paid at the listed price right now, would you be upset? Or you'd only be upset if the price happens to drop? Royal also allows you to cancel and rebook later if the price drops.

This is why I will never use Royal. They charge for drinks-even non alcoholic ones! Disney all the way.

Except look at the base cost of the cruise.

7 Night Caribbean Cruise June 13-20, 2026

Disney:


Royal (one day later):


$800 difference will pay for a crap ton of drinks.

ETA: Corrected math because I didn't notice Disney pricing was for two.

 

[pjacobi]

This is why I will never use Royal. They charge for drinks-even non alcoholic ones! Disney all the way.

RCCL fare includes plain coffee, ice tea, lemonade, fruit juice and fruit punch. That's good enough for me! I don't need soda to be happy.


-Paul

 

[Lesverts]

I just bought my drink package for about 47$ per day with the gratuity. I am on a long repositioning cruise so that is why the price went so low. My brother just paid about 78$ a day with the gratuity for an 8 night Caribbean.

 

[ucf_knight]

This is why I will never use Royal. They charge for drinks-even non alcoholic ones! Disney all the way.

Disney charges for alcoholic drinks and since they don't offer drink packages will probably be even more expensive than royal (depending on how much you drink). Free soda isn't my barometer of which cruise line I go on.

 

[ucf_knight]

IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!
IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!
IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!

Look at total price. PERIOD. Royal (along with many companies) will do "funny math" and change the base price.
40% off $100 (for example) = $60 cost.
50% off $120 = $60 cost.

Which is better?

If you paid at the listed price right now, would you be upset? Or you'd only be upset if the price happens to drop? Royal also allows you to cancel and rebook later if the price drops.

Except look at the base cost of the cruise.

7 Night Caribbean Cruise June 13-20, 2026

Disney:
View attachment 993107

Royal (one day later):
View attachment 993108

$800 difference will pay for a crap ton of drinks.

ETA: Corrected math because I didn't notice Disney pricing was for two.

Which ships were these?

 

[hardcorestitch]

Disney charges for alcoholic drinks and since they don't offer drink packages will probably be even more expensive than royal (depending on how much you drink). Free soda isn't my barometer of which cruise line I go on.

I’m not an alcohol drinker. I do recall Royal charging for soda though, even if in fountains.

 

[sam_gordon]

Which ships were these?

I don't remember. I was trying to compare dates and length of cruise.

 

[CapnCrunch]

Which ships were these?

I don't remember. I was trying to compare dates and length of cruise.

Disney = Treasure, Royal = Star.
Keep in mind Royal's "best rate" is contingent on a non-refundable deposit so you'll get hit with a $100 per person change/cancellation fee if you have to make a change to your reservation.
On the flipside, travel agents on Royal can access group rates which include a refundable deposit plus other perks (OBC, specialty dining, etc.) that can oftentimes be lower than the publicly available price.
In any case, Royal's cost differential on their newer ships versus Disney is shrinking.

 

[pjacobi]

I’m not an alcohol drinker. I do recall Royal charging for soda though, even if in fountains.

Yes, RCCL requires a drink package for soda. It is dispensed into a special souvenir cup with an RFID tag to enable the soda fountain. My wife prefers the soda package, but I am just fine with the included non-carbonated beverages.


-Paul

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I use this website to be notified any time the package price drops:

https://royalpricetracker.com/

You can cancel and rebook any time the price drops. I've already done it twice and went from $74 to $52 per day

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, RCCL requires a drink package for soda. It is dispensed into a special souvenir cup with an RFID tag to enable the soda fountain. My wife prefers the soda package, but I am just fine with the included non-carbonated beverages.


-Paul

Pretty sure you can buy soda by the glass/can, drink package not required.