Many Royal Caribbean passengers buy the Deluxe Beverage Package (DBP) for peace of mind, They’re not paying between $60 and $110 per day, per adult passenger in the cabin (plus taxes and an 18% gratuity) so they can max out their drinking.

In a lot of cases, it’s more about being able to order what you want and not having to keep track of your spending. The DBP makes the beverage part of your cruise unlimited.

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That allows you to try different drinks and if you don’t like something, you can order something else without any penalty. Passengers with the DBP can also have all the water, soda, fresh-squeezed juice, and specialty coffee they want from the second they board the ship.

It’s a freeing thing to buy given that those $3 waters, $8 beers, and $14 cocktails can quickly add up to more than the daily cost of the package. Even when they don’t, most passengers who buy the DBP, enjoy being able to order whatever they want whenever they want to.

Except, there is a major exception that DBP buyers need to know.

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The “Far From Manhattan” can be found at the Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

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The Deluxe Beverage Package is different in Texas and New York

Royal Caribbean has multiple ships that have Galveston, Texas as their homeport. When a ship leaves from Texas it’s bound by local law until it reaches international waters (12 miles from shore). 

That means that Royal Caribbean faces some limitations in what liquor it can sell or serve during the first part of cruises leaving from Galveston. That’s because the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has rules that are not present in most home ports.

“What this means is Royal Caribbean has to buy their liquor from a Texas distributor to be able to serve it on the ship while in Texas waters. Any liquor served has to be served from a bottle that has the Texas tax paid and it carries a sticker to prove that Texas tax has been paid,” according to the Royal Caribbean Blog.

That means that people who buy the DBP (and those ordering drinks a la carte) will have a limited selection until the ship clears international waters. Essentially, Royal Caribbean ships sailing from Texas have two liquor cabinets in order to make sure that they only sell from bottles with the TABC sticker while still legally in Texas.

Royal Caribbean is actually doing its DBP passengers a favor. Its rival, Carnival Cruise Line, has taken a very different approach to compliance.

“Due to state laws, we cannot sell Cheers! until the second day of the cruise (starting at 6 a.m.) for voyages departing from our Texas and New York home ports. Drinks purchased on the first day of the cruise will be charged to the guest’s Sail & Sign card in the usual manner. When purchased on the second day of the cruise, guests are charged for the remaining days only (cruise duration less one day),” the cruise line shared on its website.

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Carnival is still bound by state rules, so it also only sells from a limited menu of Texas or New York-procured alcohol on cruises leaving from Galveston or New York City.

Royal Caribbean’s “New York” sailings actually leave from Bayonne, New Jersey so they are not subject to New York state laws.

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