When people think about cruise ship drink packages, they typically envision morning mimosas, afternoon cocktails by the pool, and fine wine during dinner. Of course, this luxury on a cruise comes at a price, usually at least $60 per day—if not more.
On my recent cruise to Bermuda, I opted to skip purchasing an alcoholic beverage package. Not only was I trying to keep my onboard expenses to a minimum, but as a Diamond member within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, I get four complimentary drinks per day. Additionally, my travel companion isn't a huge drinker, so the Deluxe Beverage Package wasn't practical. And neither of us cares much about mocktails, sodas, or energy drinks, effectively eliminating the Refreshment Package as well.
Instead, we split the Cafe Select Coffee Card, which allowed us to enjoy specialty coffee beverages for a fraction of what they'd cost individually or as part of an unlimited drink package.
For just $36.58, we sipped on fifteen espresso-based drinks during the 5-night cruise from Baltimore, Maryland—a figure that breaks down to approximately $2.43 per drink. This meant we visited Cafe Latte-Tudes more than once every day, typically before breakfast and for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Combined with my Diamond perks, the Cafe Select Coffee Card was a great investment, making the cruise more inclusive without spending hundreds of dollars on top of the base cruise fare. Though I'll drink the included coffee, something about an iced vanilla latte at sea hits differently!
Because we split the coffee card, we each paid a little over $18, which seemed like a steal considering my go-to order at Starbucks is around $7.
Read more: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Tips
While not unlimited, I found the Cafe Select Coffee Card to be the perfect intermediary, especially for a 5-night cruise when traveling with another coffee fanatic!
Having purchased the Deluxe Beverage Package in the past, I forgot about the coffee card
Despite having been on over 20 cruises, I had never considered purchasing the Cafe Select Coffee Card. In fact, it slipped my mind so much that I forgot it existed until I saw an advertisement for it at Cafe Latte-Tudes on the first evening of our cruise.
I immediately messaged my friend, who was enjoying a discounted embarkation day spa treatment, as she had expressed disappointment in the complimentary coffee onboard. Earlier this year, she purchased an espresso machine at home and had strayed from drinking drip coffee. In short, it was a no-brainer: 15 espresso-based drinks for just $36.58, or about $2.43 each. Yes, please!
Of course, as with anything that seems like a good deal, there was a caveat. A tall coffee, espresso shot, or chai latte counted as one drink, while a grande or venti counted as two. In other words, if you exclusively ordered grande beverages, you'd only get seven drinks with the Cafe Select Coffee Card, with a remaining "punch" to redeem for a tall coffee.
On our sailing, there was only one size for iced beverages, so an iced latte counted as just one drink, meaning we got to enjoy fifteen iced espresso beverages on our cruise!
I stuck with my tried-and-true iced vanilla latte with almond milk. It was nice that syrups and non-dairy milk were included, as they're an upcharge if you buy each drink individually.
Though the card comes with fifteen beverages, we actually got sixteen. After returning from a rainy day in Bermuda, we realized that our card was lost. Thankfully, the barista was willing to take our word on how many drinks we had left; however, they DO NOT have to replace lost cards, so you must keep it in a safe place throughout the cruise.
The card can be used on future sailings, and it can be shared among cruisers
Taking a 3-night cruise and worried you won't finish all 15 drinks during one cruise? No worries! The card reads, "Card is also transferrable to any other Royal Caribbean ship and sail date."
In other words, if we didn't redeem all the espresso-based beverages, I could have safely tucked the card away until my next Royal Caribbean cruise; it doesn't expire on disembarkation day like the Royal Refreshment and Deluxe Beverage Packages!
However, let's say you're on a weekend cruise with two of your closest friends or your husband and teenage daughter. Between three people, it's easy to maximize the value of the coffee card. It's one set price, regardless of how many people utilize the benefits onboard. Before gratuity, the Cafe Select Coffee Card costs $31; however, there's no way to avoid the automatic gratuity, meaning the actual price is $36.58.
There's no set number to how many cards you can purchase on a sailing, either. If you run out halfway through your 7-night cruise, simply visit the barista and ask for another! Even if you purchase two cards, the overall price is still cheaper than a Refreshment Package!
Read more: Cruise Line Alcohol Drink Packages Guide
It's a great option for light drinkers who don't care about premium cocktails or most non-alcoholic drinks
Cocktails on Royal Caribbean cruises aren't cheap. After gratuity, they can run over $16 each, which is why so many passengers opt for the Deluxe Beverage Package, rather than keeping track of their onboard spending. Plus, nothing beats the convenience of ordering what you want, when you want. You're on vacation, after all!
Still, cruises have more to offer than drinking. Between the multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room to original production shows, exciting ports of call, and more, poolside cocktails are just one of the ways to spend your time onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
If you enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage but want to kickstart your day with an espresso-based coffee, I'd highly recommend the Cafe Select Coffee Card. While you cannot hit up the coffee shop an unlimited number of times during your voyage, you'll save 20% or more with the card.
I still can't believe my friend and I paid just $18 each for our specialty lattes! I've had to cut back on the number of times I visit Dunkin and Starbucks weekly, so the excitement of visiting a "coffee shop" daily further justified the minimal cost of the coffee package.
Of course, the Cafe Select Coffee Card isn't for everyone! Without my Diamond drinks, I'd be more inclined to splurge on the Deluxe Beverage Package, especially if I was traveling with someone who enjoys sipping on cocktails throughout the day.
However, for this specific trip, it was the perfect compromise, and I'd definitely consider purchasing it again on another sailing when a Deluxe Beverage Package wasn't practical. In short, the Cafe Select Coffee Card shows you don't have to go all out on every cruise. There are affordable ways to make each sailing special, even if you're cruising on a budget!
Read more: Royal Caribbean Diamond Status Info
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
