USA TODAY
12:02PM EST December 13. 2012 - It's official: Royal Caribbean is adding "all-you-can-drink" alcohol plans across its fleet.
The
22-ship line today unveiled two new drinks packages that give buyers
access to nearly unlimited wine, beer and in some cases
alcohol-containing cocktails while on board ships, as well as sodas and
non-alcoholic cocktails:
-- The Classic Beverage Package includes
beer and house wines by the glass, as well as all non-alcoholic
cocktails, fountain soda and juices. It costs $45 per person, per day,
including gratuities.
-- The Premium Beverage Package includes
beer, house wines by the glass, frozen alcoholic drinks and all
alcoholic cocktails including premium brands, as well as all
non-alcoholic cocktails, fountain soda and juices. It costs $55 per
person, per day, including gratuities.
RELATED: Carnival expands test of unlimited alcohol plan
PHOTO TOUR: Look inside a Royal Caribbean ship
The
packages will be available on all Royal Caribbean sailings of seven
nights or longer by early 2013. Passengers must be 21 years old or older
to buy one of the packages and must make the purchase on the first day
of a sailing.
A caveat: If one passenger in a cabin buys one of
the packages, each additional passenger age 21 years and over in the
same cabin also must buy the package -- a rule presumably enacted to
prevent cabin mates from sharing a package.
Royal Caribbean rolled out similar alcohol packages on three ships based overseas last year and has been testing the concept on more ships in recent weeks.
The line's latest move comes as rivals Carnival and Norwegian are in the midst of testing
all-you-can-drink packages on a number of ships. Celebrity Cruises
added beverage packages that include alcoholic drinks fleetwide in 2010.