Soda & coffee packages?

[dazadelaide]

Hi all,

Wife and I are going on our first RCI cruise.

We dont drink alcohol so we would like to know if RCL does soda packages or do you just pay as you go.

Also are there speciality coffee packages as when we are not drinking soda we are drinking coffee.

Thanks 

Daz

[gumshoe958]

Yes, there’s a soda package, a refreshment package (which includes all non-alcoholic drinks including mocktails, shakes, bottled water) and a coffee card.

 

Plus, if you’re on a ship with an on-board Starbucks you can use your Starbucks card. Only a few ships have one though.

[ah33919]

I would recommend the soda package (cheapest I've seen is $8.99)

Get the coffee card for $31 for specialty coffees instead of a package, you both can use the card

and you can buy another one if you need to and use any remaining balanced on future RC cruises.

[Biker19]

6 hours ago, dazadelaide said:

Also are there speciality coffee packages as when we are not drinking soda we are drinking coffee.

Wait to buy the coffee card on board (same price as in the planner) after you determine the kind of drink(s) you want - financially, the card mainly makes sense for single shot drinks.

[Mum2Mercury]

Yes, excluding alcohol, Royal has two drink package options + the coffee card: 

 

- Soda package -- gives you unlimited soda served from a Freestyle machine.  Each person must buy a package.  Add 18% mandatory gratuity to the price.   A single soda onboard will cost about $3.50 + 18% mandatory gratuity.  

- Refreshment package -- soda + mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, bottled water.  Each person must buy a package.   Add 18% mandatory gratuity to the price.  If you're purchasing individually, mocktails, smoothies and milkshakes run about $8 + 18% mandatory gratuity.  Bottled waters run about $3.  

- Coffee card -- Cruisers have reported mixed results with these cards; some bartenders take 1 punch /others take 2 punches for the same purchase.  This card is accepted at ship-based coffee spots /not Starbucks.  

 

To complicate the choices: 

 

- You're allowed to bring a 12-pack of soda (or other non-alcoholic beverage) onboard.  

- You can bring 1-2 sodas back on board after island stops.  They won't look twice at cans but will look at your screw-top bottles.  

- You can get basic coffee without cost ... hot or iced, whereas fancy coffees will cost about the same as Starbuck's or Duncan Doughnuts at home.  

- Water onboard is good /just pure as bottled water.  

- Instead of purchasing a package, some people choose to "create their own package" by figuring up what they're likely to spend on drinks and purchasing that amount in OBC (On Board Credit).  Some people find it easier to enjoy their cruise if things are all pre-paid.  

 

 

Edited March 8 by Mum2Mercury

[nonnie&dgd]

Maybe I missed it. Refreshment package also includes specialty coffees and fresh squeezed orange juice. I use it a lot for the coffee, soda and water. 

[toxicfairy]

The Refreshment package also includes fancy coffee. Just not from a stand alone starbucks.

[dazadelaide]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

We will be on quantum sailing out of Brisbane Australia for 15 nights.

So 3 coffees a day each = 45 coffees each, same with soda.

So if we go with a coffee card how many coffee can we get with a card?

Is a card valid for 10"punches" or do the cards come in various amount of "punches"

Also how does the freestyle soda machines work?

do you have a special cup you need to carry around with you all the time or do you have a card that you use at these machines?

Thanks 

Daz

 

[OCVTSGIRL]

2 hours ago, dazadelaide said:

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

We will be on quantum sailing out of Brisbane Australia for 15 nights.

So 3 coffees a day each = 45 coffees each, same with soda.

So if we go with a coffee card how many coffee can we get with a card?

Is a card valid for 10"punches" or do the cards come in various amount of "punches"

Also how does the freestyle soda machines work?

do you have a special cup you need to carry around with you all the time or do you have a card that you use at these machines?

Thanks 

Daz

 

I don't drink coffee but unless you have to have specialty coffee, you don't need to buy the card.  Coffee is available on the ship at no extra cost.  The soda package includes a special cup that you pick up at any of the bars once you get on board.  Its used for the Freestyle soda machines which are usually in the Windjammer (buffet) and outside of Sorrentos.  If you don't want to carry the cup around with you, you can get soda at any bar...just not all the choices that are available from the Freestyle machines.

[gerif]

8 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Yes, excluding alcohol, Royal has two drink package options + the coffee card: 

 

- Soda package -- gives you unlimited soda served from a Freestyle machine.  Each person must buy a package.  Add 18% mandatory gratuity to the price.   A single soda onboard will cost about $3.50 + 18% mandatory gratuity.  

- Refreshment package -- soda + mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, bottled water.  Each person must buy a package.   Add 18% mandatory gratuity to the price.  If you're purchasing individually, mocktails, smoothies and milkshakes run about $8 + 18% mandatory gratuity.  Bottled waters run about $3.  

- Coffee card -- Cruisers have reported mixed results with these cards; some bartenders take 1 punch /others take 2 punches for the same purchase.  This card is accepted at ship-based coffee spots /not Starbucks.  

 

To complicate the choices: 

 

- You're allowed to bring a 12-pack of soda (or other non-alcoholic beverage) onboard.  

- You can bring 1-2 sodas back on board after island stops.  They won't look twice at cans but will look at your screw-top bottles.  

- You can get basic coffee without cost ... hot or iced, whereas fancy coffees will cost about the same as Starbuck's or Duncan Doughnuts at home.  

- Water onboard is good /just pure as bottled water.  

- Instead of purchasing a package, some people choose to "create their own package" by figuring up what they're likely to spend on drinks and purchasing that amount in OBC (On Board Credit).  Some people find it easier to enjoy their cruise if things are all pre-paid.  

 

 

Since when does everyone have to purchase the soda package??? As far as I know, if one person purchases the alcohol package then everyone else in the cabin over 21 must also purchase it (or can call and purchase the refreshment package instead) but not everyone has to purchase the soda or refreshment packages. 

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, dazadelaide said:

So if we go with a coffee card how many coffee can we get with a card?

The coffee card has 15 punches which equals 15 shots of espresso. How many coffees you get out of those 15 shots depends on the kind of drink you get. 

[dazadelaide]

Thanks for the replies,

I have read on another post about a refreshment package that includes mocktails specialty coffees and sodas.

Is this available on Quantum and what does it actually contain in this package?

thanks

Daz

[gumshoe958]

23 minutes ago, dazadelaide said:

Thanks for the replies,

I have read on another post about a refreshment package that includes mocktails specialty coffees and sodas.

Is this available on Quantum and what does it actually contain in this package?

thanks

Daz

Yes, it’s called the Refreshment package and it’s available on all ships.

 

It basically includes all non-alcoholic drinks so yes - coffee, water, sodas, juices, mocktails, shakes.