Cruise lines have to protect their passengers and their bottom line.
The order in which they do this can be debated (they argue that they always put passenger safety before everything else), but those twin mandates drive many decisions on board.
When it comes to alcohol, those two problems often clash with each other. If you sell passengers as much alcohol as possible, you will earn more money. One could argue that selling alcohol to underage passengers and offering ninja swords for sale in the gift shop would also maximize profits.
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No cruise line, of course, does any of those things, and they all try to protect their passengers from being overserved with alcoholic beverages. Selling more drinks cannot be at the expense of a sick, belligerent or worse passenger.
Royal Caribbean does not impose a strict limit on alcohol consumption. In theory, a la carte payers, buyers of your Deluxe Beverage Package, and Prime or higher members of your casino loyalty program (who drink for free at the casino) can have as many drinks as they want.
However, from a practical standpoint, Royal Caribbean will cut off people who appear drunk or overserved. The staff will be polite at first, perhaps offering coffee or water, but will then call security if the situation requires it.
In addition to protecting passengers from excessive service, Royal Caribbean must also ensure that drinks are paid for. That means ensuring that people who bought the deluxe drink package and those who drink for free at the casino don't share their drinks.
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Royal Caribbean has new rules for drinks
In December, Royal Caribbean passengers began to notice that the rules for certain drinks had changed.
Many passengers order a beer, soft drink, or other canned or bottled beverage to take back to their rooms. That creates a couple of problems.
First, if the drinks are alcoholic, it is more difficult for the cruise line to keep passengers safe. Someone might get stuck at the bar, then return to their cabin where they've stored beer and get dangerously drunker.
Additionally, picking up sealed drinks from the casino or ordering them with the Deluxe Beverage Package and bringing them back to your cabin allows you to share them with someone who has not earned the casino benefit or purchased the beverage package. That is a major violation of Royal Caribbean rules.
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However, the new rules were unclear as some ships have opened up all drinks served to passengers, including water and soft drinks.
It also created confusion for Diamond members and above of the Crown & Anchor Society, who are entitled to 4, 5 or 6 free drinks worth up to $14 every day. Those drinks can be shared, and many people in that program who are not big drinkers would use their vouchers to bring sealed drinks to their rooms.
As is often the case when any cruise line implements a new policy, it was a time of confusion with mixed levels of enforcement.
Royal Caribbean clarifies its beverage rules
Royal Caribbean's public relations team acknowledged an email request for clarification but did not respond. However, several people on social media reached out to Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley and got the following response:
Thank you for contacting the Royal Caribbean International Executive Office. Mr. Bayley received your email and I am happy to respond.
Thank you for your loyalty to Royal. Please note that our beverage policies exist to ensure that all guests can enjoy their beverages safely and responsibly. We have recently updated this policy to include the following: Any canned or bottled alcoholic beverages ordered at our bars must be opened before leaving the premises.
Please note that this policy does not apply to non-alcoholic beverages, such as canned soft drinks and bottled water, unless ordered through a Deluxe Beverage Package. We regret any inconvenience this causes and appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and enjoyable time on board.
We value your sponsorship of Royal Caribbean International and look forward to welcoming you and your family back on board in the near future.
Sincerely,
Geno Bell-Floyd
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People may not like the rules, but at least they now fully understand them. In most cases, the new rule appears to have largely to do with passenger safety, while the Deluxe Beverage Package exception for opening non-alcoholic beverages appears to be more focused on the bottom line.
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