Is it cheaper?

[pudy68]

...to pre-purchase the soda cards? The RCI website is showing me $6 a day plus gratuity. Is it more expensive once you board?

[cb at sea]

Nope...not if you wait until you sail! While in port, there will be taxes....once you're off the coast and into int'l waters, there's no tax.

 

Aside from prepaying, there's no monetary advantage to booking in advance. They do NOT "run out" of packages!!!

[Merion_Mom]

...to pre-purchase the soda cards? The RCI website is showing me $6 a day plus gratuity. Is it more expensive once you board?

 

One advantage of purchasing before your cruise is that the icon will be printed on your SeaPass card. Then there is no chance of it "falling off." When you buy onboard, they put a sticker on your card, which can be lost and then you have to get it replaced.

[orange20854]

If having the Coca-Cola logo pre-printed on your SeaPass is your concern, then just have the Purser's Desk replace the card later on Day 1.

 

I, for one, love the printed logo, so I just de-magnetize and bring it to the desk. (Don't worry, I give the old one to RCCL so it can be recycled!)

[pudy68]

How do I know when the ship is far enough out to sea so as to avoid the taxes?

[MS52]

Another advantage (to me) in buying it ahead of time is it's another expense taken care of and it won't be on your account at the end of the cruise.

 

A second advantage is that you can use the soda card immediately instead of wasting a half a day until you get out to sea to avoid the tax.

[Pat.bz]

Years ago we switched from cards to buying several large bottles prior to boarding. Easy to buy more at various ports. Never had a problem bringing on board--saves a lot as we do very long cruises.