When traveling or cruising, if you get a drink package, they usually make both adults get one. I know—lame, right? But Royal Caribbean has been allowing exceptions. You had to get a soda package, but now that is over.

Expection

So, if you couldn’t drink alcohol, are a recovering alcoholic, allergic to alcohol, or don’t drink. You could ask for an exception as long as you got the soda package, which was great for those people who don’t drink.

It was nice of Royal to do that. But that came to an end.

Now

If one person gets the alcohol package, then both of you have to get the package. What? Now that sucks a bunch of horse poop. But that is a way to reduce their time sharing the package with others in your cabin. That is why they are ensuring they get their money for the drinks.

So if I go on a cruise with someone who drinks and I don’t, I will be forced to get a wasteful drink package. Well, I could get soda and mocktails. But why would I have to spend a bunch of money because my cabinmate wants to drink?

You could make your cabin mate buy each drink they want, but that wouldn’t be fair to them. However, Royal will be getting money per drink.

Sucks

Now, this sucks for the customers if they don’t drink and their cabin mate does. But it is good for the Royals’ bottom line and profitability. So, who is the winner here?

For Me

I don’t drink, and most of my friends don’t drink, so that wouldn’t affect me. So that is a plus for me. I won’t have to worry about spending money on a package I won’t use that often. I rarely drink soda, but I like a mocktail occasionally. I do, however, like my hot chocolate.

However

My wife likes to drink Diet Coke, and there is a lot of it. So if she gets the soda package, then that is fine. I don’t have to get that package, which is a plus. So you don’t have to obtain a soda package.

So, you will have to look at yourself and decide when you cruise with someone who drinks and you don’t.

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