Royal Caribbean has reversed a policy it dropped roughly a year ago, once again allowing guests to call and request a non-alcoholic beverage package when another adult in the same cabin wants the Deluxe Beverage Package. The original exemption existed to avoid forcing non-drinkers to pay for an alcohol plan they could not use, and its removal had drawn consistent criticism from cruisers in online communities.
The reinstatement is not automatic. Guests must contact Royal Caribbean directly to apply, and the line has introduced a new approval process that did not exist under the previous version of the policy. Critically, the line has added what it describes as major penalties for anyone found sharing or misusing the package arrangement. Exact details of those penalties were not specified in public communications, but the stricter framework appears designed to address the abuse that reportedly contributed to the original policy being withdrawn.