A Royal Caribbean cruise is one of the best vacations you can take. However, there are a lot of interesting (and sometimes frustrating) policies that can catch both new and experienced sailors off guard.
For example, tips are not included in your cruise fare. Although this may seem like common sense, many cruise ship passengers are surprised when they see a daily service fee automatically added to their SeaPass account.
And this is just the beginning.
From strict drink package rules to restrictive cabin categories and sneaky loyalty benefit redemption policies, here are the biggest restrictions you should know about Royal Caribbean.
Unlimited dining packages are not completely unlimited
The unlimited dining package is undoubtedly the best way to explore the exquisite dining experiences on board, including Chops Grille, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Izumi Sushi.
However, the $20 daily credit is non-refundable and can only be used once per day. This means guests can only visit one a la carte specialty restaurant per day during the cruise. These include Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, Portside BBQ and Fish & Ships.
In other words, you can't have fried shrimp and hand-cut fries at Fish & Ships for lunch and gooey campfire cookies for late-night dessert at Playmakers. You have to choose one of the two and leave the other for another day.
Even if a dining package is included, some premium experiences are available for an additional fee
In addition to a daily limit of one a la carte specialty restaurant, Royal Caribbean's specialty dining packages do not include some high-end experiences.
If you want to dine at Izumi Hibachi, Izumi Omakase, The Chef's Table, Royal Railway Restaurant or the upscale supper club, you must pay an additional fee – even if you have the unlimited dining package:
Brazier: $15
Chef Quan’s offer: $60
Royal Railway: $50 for adults/$25 for children
Chef's Table: $50
Empire Supper Club/Lincoln Supper Club: $130
The same applies to upgrades at included specialty restaurants, e.g. Rib Grill Fine Cut Menua separate surcharge applies.
Freestyle soda cups are no longer included in two of the most expensive drink packages
As of March 15, 2026, Royal Caribbean Coca-Cola Freestyle soda cup No longer included in the Royal Tea and Deluxe Beverage Packages – they are only included in the Classic Sparkling Water Package.
While passengers can still order unlimited sodas from bars, lounges and restaurants, passengers who want to use the Freestyle machines must purchase a souvenir cup on board for $4.99.
One thing to note is that Royal Caribbean soda glasses are programmed for your specific cruise, so you cannot reuse them on future cruises.
Drink packages cannot be shared
When it comes to drink packages, Royal Caribbean strictly prohibits sharing among passengers. To prevent this from happening, they require all passengers over the drinking age to purchase their own package if there is one person in the cabin who receives a deluxe beverage package.
if you are caught Shared drink packagethe cruise line can cancel the package immediately without refund. They can also charge you for every drink you drink.
While shared drink packages may seem like an easy way to save hundreds of dollars during a cruise, the risks far outweigh the rewards.
Crown & Anchor discounts cannot be redeemed prior to sailing
Royal Caribbean has the best loyalty program at sea. period. As your rankings continue to climb crown and anchor associationyou will receive daily free drinks, free Wi-Fi, BOGO special dining and other benefits.
However, there's an important catch: these benefits can't be applied to any pre-cruise sales before you board the ship. In other words, if you're eligible for a free day of VOOM Wi-Fi, you'll have to wait until you board the ship to redeem it.
This essentially means you cannot combine your Crown & Anchor benefits with pre-cruise sales through Cruise Planner. You can purchase additional services in advance, or wait until you are on board to reserve a BOGO special meal or activate a discounted Internet package.
Cabins have strict capacity limits
Renting a private cabana is a great way to spice up your perfect day ashore at Paradise Island Royal Beach Club or CocoCay. That said, cabins have strict capacity limits, so only a certain number of guests can use them at one time.
Some cabins also include admission to additional fee areas such as Royal Beach Club, adults-only Hideaway Beach, upscale Cocoa Beach Club or Thrill Waterpark. Capacity limits help ensure these spaces do not become overcrowded or compromise the sense of exclusivity their design provides.
For example, cabins at Thrill Waterpark start at about $850 and sleep up to six guests. Likewise, Cocoa Beach Club’s overwater bungalows can accommodate up to eight guests per day.
Read more: I rented a $1,400 cabin on Royal Caribbean's private island
Booking a guaranteed cabin means you completely lose the ability to choose your cabin location
Booking Guaranteed (GTY) cabin is an easy way to save money on your cruise. Instead of selecting a specific cabin, you let Royal Caribbean do it for you at a lower price.
While you are guaranteed a room of your choice on board (such as an interior room, neighborhood balcony, or suite), you are not guaranteed a specific cabin or location.
This means you may be randomly assigned to connecting cabins or placed in a cabin near a noisy crew entry point.
Royal Genie service does not work on Perfect Day at CocoCay
One of the best perks of Royal Caribbean's Star Suites is the Royal Genie, a member of the crew who serves as a personal concierge, butler and magician.
They'll help you with everything from booking specialty dining to booking excursions and even your personal escort on and off the ship – except on CocoCay.
This is because there are no star benefits on the island itself. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t help you plan an unforgettable day ashore before disembarking.
Casinos allow cash advances, but they can be canceled
In recent years, many experienced cruise players, myself included, will tell you that an easy way to get cash on board while avoiding annoying ATM fees is to withdraw money from the casino.
However, Royal Caribbean has begun to crack down on this. Casino cash perks now come with gambling requirements – and a $3 convenience fee. If you do not use the majority of your funds to gamble, you may not be able to continue charging your SeaPass account at the casino.
“We just went on a tour; [we] $200 was invested, but the slot machine was so tight that we stopped playing for $180. When we returned later on the cruise, we were not allowed to use our room account,” alpha eric Share on the Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum.
