Royal Caribbean has reinstated its drink package exemption, and plenty of loyal cruisers couldn't be happier about it. The policy — which had been eliminated in 2025 — allowed adults sharing a cabin to opt out of the mandatory Deluxe Beverage Package if they had a valid reason for not drinking. Without the exemption, even guests who were sober, pregnant, or medically unable to consume alcohol were required to purchase the full alcohol package regardless.

The cruise line scrapped the original exemption after concluding that too many guests were exploiting it to share a single drink package between cabin mates, which violates Royal Caribbean's rules. Now that it's back, the reinstated policy is more structured. Royal Caribbean's new "Beverage Package Accommodation Request" lists just three qualifying reasons: medical condition, disability, and pregnancy. Requests are reviewed individually, and approval is not guaranteed. Guests who provide false information face serious consequences, including being billed retroactively for the full package cost, potential removal from the ship without a refund, a permanent ban from Royal Caribbean Group brands, and possible referral to law enforcement.

The process itself appears straightforward for those who qualify. One guest shared on Reddit that after calling Royal Caribbean's customer service line, she was sent a short online form, had the option to attach supporting documentation, and received approval within a single day. She was then able to purchase the less expensive Royal Refreshment Package for herself while her husband kept the Deluxe Beverage Package — exactly the kind of flexibility the original exemption was designed for.

The timing of the policy's return lines up with a broader shift happening across the cruise industry. A 2025 Gallup survey found that American adults are drinking less alcohol than at any point in the past 90 years, and Royal Caribbean has been expanding its non-alcoholic offerings accordingly. As of September 2026, the fleet's mocktail menu has grown from roughly 15 options to more than 50, with Royal Caribbean's Senior Director of Beverage Operations Ed Eiswirth noting that the new drinks were designed as standalone zero-proof creations rather than simply alcoholic recipes with the liquor removed.

Full details on the Beverage Package Accommodation Request process are available through Royal Caribbean Blog.