Royal Caribbean is the latest to test all-you-can-drink alcohol packages onboard the Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. Passengers have the opportunity to purchase an unlimited drink plan.
The experiment is still in its early stages, pricing of this particular program is not yet available.
Royal Caribbean offered a similar package for three of its ships overseas a year ago, this is an extension of that program into the North American cruise market.
Sister line Celebrity Cruises began offering alcoholic beverage packages across its fleet in 2010. The plans are priced from $44 per person, per day, or from $54 for a premium plan, plus a 15% service charge.
Royal Caribbean follows in the footsteps of Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, which debuted similar programs earlier this fall.
The Carnival Spirit and Carnival Breeze have joined the Carnival Splendor and Carnival Victory in offering the "My Awesome Bar Program", a nearly $50 per day package. This provides guests with mostly unlimited wine, beer and spirits as well as sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails.
The "My Awesome Bar Program" costs $42.95 per person per day plus an automatic 15% gratuity and can be used to order all wines by the glass, beer and individual cocktails priced at $10 and lower. Full bottles of wine and champagne, as well as wines by the glass, beers and individual cocktails priced above $10, are available at a 25% discount.
Norwegian Cruise Line was next to test an all-you-can-drink alcohol package on 3 of its 11 ships the Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade at $49 per person per day plus gratuity.
It is not known how long the trail periods will run, or if they will remain permanent, at this time.
All-you-can-drink alcohol packages might not be the best value for everyone, but it allows passengers to budget for a cruise ahead of time and one other way to truly relax onboard.
