Royal Caribbean International will remove its Coca-Cola souvenir cups from selected onboard drink packages from 15th March 2026, restricting guest access to the popular Coca-Cola Freestyle machines across most of the fleet.
The change, which has not been formally announced by the cruise line, was first noticed by guests logging into their upcoming sailings to review beverage package pricing and inclusions. Discussions quickly emerged online after passengers spotted that the cups were no longer listed as part of the Deluxe Beverage Package and the Refreshment Package.
Under the revised terms, guests purchasing either package will no longer receive the Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup as standard. Without the cup, passengers cannot access the self-service Freestyle machines, which allow users to create more than 100 drink combinations using touchscreen dispensers.
The adjustment also applies to guests adding a Royal Beach Club Open Bar Day Pass to their package, with the cup similarly excluded.
Souvenir Cup Still Available At Extra Cost
While the cup is being removed as a complimentary inclusion, it has not disappeared entirely. Guests can still purchase the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup as an add-on for a one-off charge of $4.99. The fee is a single payment rather than a daily supplement.
It remains unclear how the change will affect guests who have already prepaid for beverage packages for sailings departing after 15th March 2026. However, it appears likely that sailings departing on or after that date will no longer include the cup as part of the standard package offering.
Importantly, canned and fountain sodas remain included within the applicable drink packages. The only exclusion relates specifically to the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. Guests without the souvenir cup will need to order soft drinks directly from a bar or through onboard servers rather than helping themselves at the machines.
The Classic Soda Package continues to include one Coca-Cola Freestyle cup per package. Should the cup be lost during the voyage, a replacement can be purchased for the same charge.
Mixed Reactions From Guests
Although Royal Caribbean has not publicly outlined the reasoning behind the decision, some regular cruisers believe misuse of the cups may have played a role.
One guest commented online: “Too many people handed the cup to their kid to use. Just another hack people used that ruined it for others.”
The cruise line has previously tightened drink package policies. In mid-2025, Royal Caribbean introduced stricter enforcement measures aimed at preventing guests from sharing alcoholic beverages covered under package deals.
However, other passengers questioned whether the move would significantly curb misuse, noting that those determined to share access could still pay the $4.99 for the cup and continue similar behaviour.
Some guests suggested the change could also reduce waste, as not all passengers made use of the souvenir cups even when they were included.
“I rarely used it. My kid and I had the soda package and 99.9% of the time we just went to the bar to get a soda. My wife and son had an alcohol package. They never used it,” one guest shared.
“At the end of the cruise we left them in the room because I don’t need another souvenir cup at home and they couldn’t be used on a future cruise.”
Others simply prefer canned soft drinks or find it more convenient to order from a nearby bar rather than seek out a Freestyle machine.
Freestyle Machines Available On Most Ships
Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are installed across the majority of the Royal Caribbean fleet, typically located in high-traffic areas such as the Windjammer Marketplace buffet, near Sorrento’s Pizza outlets, and sometimes along the Royal Promenade.
There are currently four ships without the machines: Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas.
In August 2025, the cruise line added Freestyle machines to Liberty of the Seas, signalling continued investment in the self-serve beverage concept. It remains possible that the remaining vessels could receive the machines in future refits.
The Freestyle dispensers offer a wide variety of Coca-Cola branded beverages, including flavoured sodas, iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch and still water. Availability can vary by ship and sailing depending on supply and demand.
For now, however, guests booking Deluxe and Refreshment packages for sailings departing from mid-March 2026 onwards will need to decide whether access to those expanded options is worth the additional $4.99 fee.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
Related Posts
- The Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices For 2026 – Here’s What You’ll Be Paying If You Don’t Get A Drinks Package
- Royal Caribbean’s New Drinks Package Rule That’s Catching Cruisers Out
- Discover the 9 Completely Free Drinks on Royal Caribbean Cruises
MSC Cruises Launches Charter Flight Operation To Repatriate Stranded Euribia Guests
MSC Cruises has arranged a series of charter and commercial flights to evacuate more than 1,500 guests stranded aboard MSC Euribia in Dubai, as the cruise line accelerates efforts to…
Disney Cruise Line Welcomes Disney Adventure With Spectacular Singapore Christening
Disney Cruise Line has officially christened Disney Adventure in Singapore, marking the arrival of its first ship to homeport in Southeast Asia and the largest vessel in the fleet to…
MSC Euribia Issues Emergency Guidance To Guests During Extended Dubai Stay
Passengers aboard MSC Euribia have been given detailed emergency instructions as the vessel continues to remain docked in Dubai after cruise operations in the Persian Gulf were cancelled amid regional…
Seven Seas Navigator Given Long-Term Charter For New Residential Brand
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has confirmed it will charter Seven Seas Navigator for nine years to a new luxury residential cruise venture, in a deal that will ultimately see the…
