Royal Caribbean has quietly cut a drink package perk that many cruisers care about.
Starting March 15, 2026, guests with the Deluxe Beverage Package and Royal Refreshment Package will no longer automatically get the Coca-Cola souvenir cup for Freestyle machine access. If they want that access, they’ll need to pay a one-time $4.99 for the cup onboard.
Why This Feels Bigger Than Five Dollars
The real issue is not that soda disappeared. It didn’t.
Guests with the Deluxe and Refreshment packages will still get canned soda and fountain soda from bars and dining venues. What they lose is easy self-serve access to the Freestyle machines and the wider selection those machines offer.
Freestyle machines offer more than standard soda service, including different soda flavors, sugar-free options, and other Coca-Cola products like lemonade, fruit punch, iced tea, and water options (with availability varying by ship).
Starting March 15, guests with those two packages who want Freestyle access will need to pay $4.99 for a souvenir cup.
Without the cup, guests will still have soda included, but they’ll need to get it from bars and dining venues rather than using the self-serve machines.
The One Package That Still Includes It
Here is where it gets a little ironic.
The Classic Soda Package still includes the souvenir cup and Freestyle machine access. So the lower-tier soda package keeps the perk, while the two more expensive packages lose it unless guests pay extra.
That’s a big reason some cruisers are frustrated. The Royal Refreshment Package is often around $30 to $40 per person, per day (plus gratuity), while the Deluxe Beverage Package is often around $80 to $90 per person, per day (plus gratuity), and sometimes more depending on the sailing.
On its own, $4.99 may not seem like much. But for a family of four or five, it can quickly become another $20 to $25+ just to keep Freestyle access.
Read more: Big Drink Package Mistakes to Avoid on Your Cruise
The Deadline That Matters Most
If you already have a future cruise booked, this is the part you actually need to pay attention to.
Royal Caribbean confirmed that guests who buy the Deluxe or Refreshment package pre-cruise on or before March 15, 2026, can still request a souvenir cup onboard at no extra charge, even if their sailing happens after that date.
So if you were already planning to buy one of those packages and you know your group likes the Freestyle machines, the smart move is to purchase before that deadline. It is a simple decision, but it can preserve the old benefit.
Who Will Actually Feel This Change
Not every cruiser will care equally.
Some guests say they barely use the Freestyle machines. They prefer canned soda, usually order drinks at bars, or simply do not want another plastic cup to take home. For them, this change may feel reasonable, especially if it helps reduce waste onboard.
Others see it very differently. If you cruise with kids, like more flavor options, or spend time near areas where Freestyle machines are convenient (such as buffet areas and busy public spaces), losing that access without the cup may feel like a real downgrade.
There is also a ship-specific factor: Freestyle machines are available on most Royal Caribbean ships, but not all. They are not currently available on Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. If you are sailing one of those ships, this change may matter less because the perk was already limited.
One more detail many first-timers miss: the souvenir cup is tied to one sailing only. You cannot bring a cup from a previous cruise and reuse it for unlimited refills on a future trip. If you lose your cup during the cruise, a replacement costs the same $4.99.
Why This Small Change Hit A Nerve
Cruisers didn’t treat this like a tiny fine-print update. The reaction was quick, and a lot of it was practical. One cruiser asked, “What if you already booked it for a future cruise past the March date?” while another asked, “What if you already have a cup?”
A lot of the conversation then shifted to how Royal Caribbean could have handled it better. Some people were fine with the extra fee, but wanted a better system, with one commenter saying “They should allow you to bring a past cup and just have it activated.”
Others pushed for a simpler setup altogether: “Why not just scrap the freestyle cup altogether, and tap your seapass at the machine?” There was also speculation that cup-sharing may have played a role in the change.
At the same time, plenty of cruisers said they barely used the cup anyway. Comments like “Am I the only one that never used the cup??……” and “Most of the time we just left our cup in the room” show why some guests are not especially upset. For them, this feels less like a major cut and more like Royal removing a perk they were already skipping.
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