Royal Caribbean Quietly Removes Popular Drink Package Perk

Royal Caribbean has quietly made a notable change to one of its most popular onboard perks — and it affects thousands of cruisers who purchase beverage packages.

Beginning March 15, 2026, the cruise line will no longer automatically include the Coca-Cola® souvenir cup or access to Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines with its Deluxe Beverage Package or Royal Refreshment Package. Instead, guests who want to use the Freestyle machines will need to purchase the souvenir cup separately for a one-time fee of $4.99.

While soda itself is still included in both packages, the change limits how guests can access it — and it’s already sparking debate among loyal cruisers.

What Exactly Is Changing?

Previously, guests who purchased either the Deluxe Beverage Package or the Royal Refreshment Package could pick up a Coca-Cola® souvenir cup on embarkation day. That cup granted unlimited access to Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines throughout the sailing, allowing cruisers to mix and customize drinks from more than 100 flavor combinations.

Now, that cup is no longer included.

Starting March 15:

• The souvenir cup becomes an optional add-on for $4.99 (one-time fee).
• Without the cup, guests must order soda at bars, lounges, or dining venues.
• Access to Freestyle machines will require purchasing the cup separately.

For families, that cost can add up. A family of five who previously received cups included in their packages would now need to spend nearly $25 extra to maintain the same access.

Which Packages Are Affected?

The policy change applies to:

• Deluxe Beverage Package (typically $32–$115 per person, per day)
• Royal Refreshment Package

The Classic Soda Package, however, will still include the Coca-Cola® souvenir cup and Freestyle machine access.

That package generally costs between $9.99 and $18 per person, per day — and is often discounted pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner.

Only one cup is included per soda package, and if it’s lost during the voyage, guests must pay $4.99 for a replacement.

Are Any Ships Exempt?

Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines are available across most of the fleet, but they are not currently installed on:

• Brilliance of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas

Machines are typically located in the Windjammer buffet, near Sorrento’s Pizza, and sometimes along the Royal Promenade.

What About Guests Who Already Purchased Packages?

There is good news for some cruisers.

Guests who purchase a Deluxe or Refreshment Package on or before March 15, 2026, will be grandfathered in. According to a Royal Caribbean spokesperson, those guests can still request a complimentary souvenir cup and receive full Freestyle access.

After that date, the add-on fee applies fleetwide.

What’s Still Included in the Drink Packages?

Aside from the cup removal, no other changes have been made to the beverage packages.

The Deluxe Beverage Package still includes:

• Cocktails, liquor, beer, and wine (up to $14 per drink)
• Domestic, imported, and craft beers
• Wine and sparkling wine by the glass
• Canned and fountain soda
• Fresh juices and bottled juices
• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Specialty coffee and teas (excluding licensed Starbucks® locations)
• Bottled and sparkling water
• Red Bull and Powerade
• Johnny Rockets® shakes
• Mocktails, non-alcoholic spirits, beers, and wines

The Royal Refreshment Package includes:

• Canned and fountain soda
• Bottled water and sparkling water
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Specialty coffees and teas (excluding licensed Starbucks®)
• Non-alcoholic frozen drinks
• Non-alcoholic spirits, wines, and beers (for guests of legal drinking age)

Both packages also remain valid at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, meaning guests can still use them ashore at Royal Caribbean’s private destinations.

Why the Change?

Royal Caribbean has not publicly provided a detailed explanation.

However, some cruisers speculate the move may be tied to drink package misuse. In online discussions, guests pointed out that some travelers would hand off their Freestyle cups to others — particularly children — as a workaround to share drink benefits.

Others believe it may be part of a broader effort to reduce waste, as many guests reportedly leave the cups behind at the end of the cruise or rarely use the machines at all.

In mid-2025, Royal Caribbean also tightened certain drink package restrictions, signaling a broader effort to address “package cheating.”

Guest Reactions Are Mixed

Reaction from loyal cruisers has been swift — and divided.

Some see the move as another example of cruise lines quietly trimming perks while keeping package prices high. Critics argue it feels like “nickel-and-diming,” especially considering the higher cost of the Deluxe and Refreshment packages.

Others say they rarely used the Freestyle machines anyway, preferring canned soda from the bar or not wanting to hunt down a machine. Some admitted they already had multiple unused souvenir cups at home from previous sailings.

For guests who value the variety of 100+ flavor combinations, however, the $4.99 add-on may feel like an unnecessary extra charge on top of an already expensive package.

The Bottom Line

Royal Caribbean hasn’t raised drink package prices — but it has quietly reduced one of the small perks that many cruisers had come to expect.

Starting March 15, 2026, access to Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines will no longer be automatic for Deluxe and Refreshment package holders. Guests who want the flexibility of customizable soda options will need to decide if the extra $4.99 cup is worth it.

For some, it’s a minor adjustment.

For others, it’s one more example of cruise value slowly shifting — one small perk at a time.