The 4 Royal Caribbean Mistakes That Cost People the Most Money
These 4 Royal Caribbean mistakes don't feel like mistakes at all — a fare you never rechecked, a drink package discount, an "unlimited" dining pass, and a RoyalUp bid you didn't think through. Each one quietly adds hundreds to your cruise, and most people never notice. In this video, Matthew from Portholes & Pixie Dust breaks down the four Royal Caribbean-specific decisions that cost cruisers the most money — and exactly what to check before you pay for any of them: The fare mistake — Royal Caribbean's Best Price Guarantee lets qualifying guests request a fare adjustment if the same ship, sailing date, cabin category, and guest count drops in price before final payment. Most people book once and never check again. The drink package math — Royal Caribbean requires every guest of legal drinking age in the same stateroom to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package if one person buys it. The sale percentage isn't the number that matters — the final per-person, per-day cost (with gratuity, multiplied across every required adult) is. The dining access problem — The Unlimited Dining Package gets you access to participating specialty restaurants, not guaranteed reservations. Availability, exclusions, and surcharges vary by ship, and popular times can fill. The RoyalUp gamble — A RoyalUp bid is a commitment to buy the upgrade if Royal Caribbean accepts it, not a request to preview a better cabin. The displayed bid is usually per person, so a $300 bid can become a $600 charge — and Royal Caribbean doesn't guarantee your deck, location, or view within the new category. Check the full fare, the full package total, the dining access, and the upgrade risk. Those four checks can save more money than most cruise hacks combined. ❓ QUICK ANSWERS Does Royal Caribbean price-match after you book? Yes — before final payment, the Best Price Guarantee lets qualifying guests request a fare adjustment if the same ship, date, cabin category, and guest count is selling for less. Does everyone in a cabin have to buy the Royal Caribbean drink package? Yes. If one adult in a stateroom buys the Deluxe Beverage Package, every guest of legal drinking age in that same stateroom is required to buy it too. Does Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package guarantee a table? No. It provides access to participating specialty restaurants, but every reservation is still subject to availability, and some venues or menu items carry a surcharge. Can you cancel a RoyalUp bid after Royal Caribbean accepts it? No. Once accepted, your card is charged and the upgrade generally can't be reversed — and Royal Caribbean doesn't guarantee the exact deck, location, or view inside the new category. How is a RoyalUp bid actually charged? The bid shown on screen is typically priced per person based on two guests in the stateroom, so a $300 bid can become a $600 charge once both guests are billed. Additional footage courtesy of Ben & David, Royal Caribbean Blog, and @kuffaCruises Time stamps 0:00- Intro 0:35- Mistake 1 02:15- Mistake 2 03:15- Mistake 3 05:18- Mistake 4 07:08- Cruises It 07:58- Outro