I don't drink coffee but unless you have to have specialty coffee, you don't need to buy the card. Coffee is available on the ship at no extra cost. The soda package includes a special cup that you pick up at any of the bars once you get on board. Its used for the Freestyle soda machines which are usually in the Windjammer (buffet) and outside of Sorrentos. If you don't want to carry the cup around with you, you can get soda at any bar...just not all the choices that are available from the Freestyle machines.