Royal Caribbean Adds Limited Review Process for Drink-Package Exceptions
Guests seeking an exemption based on disability, a medical condition or pregnancy may submit an accommodation form for case-by-case consideration.
Royal Caribbean generally requires every adult booked in a stateroom to purchase its unlimited alcohol package when one adult in the cabin buys it. According to a report, the cruise line stopped granting exceptions under its previous process on Aug. 1, 2025.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson attributed the policy change to growth in exception requests and continued sharing of beverage packages. The company said the revised approach is intended to promote responsible package use.
However, the report found that guests may request an accommodation in limited circumstances. After an exception was sought for an upcoming cruise, a Royal Caribbean representative emailed a Beverage Package Accommodation Request form. The form lists disability, a medical condition and pregnancy as possible grounds for review, with each application considered individually and approval not guaranteed.
According to the form, supporting documents are optional and may be submitted voluntarily. Royal Caribbean says applicants should expect a response within 10 business days. If an exemption is approved, the affected guest must instead purchase a non-alcoholic beverage package.
The report says Royal Caribbean may apply the full alcohol-package price retroactively for the entire sailing if information in a request is determined to be false, misleading or fraudulent. The company also reserves the right to remove the applicant and everyone else in the cabin without a refund or compensation, at the guests’ expense, and may prohibit future sailings with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.