October 19, 2021: Log In Issues. A few friends of mine have, and really liked the food and the overall cruise. Discover 9 Top Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love + 5 More For Kids! Q: The included beverage package is the House Select. On port intensive cruises, like the Mediterranean, you might find yourself spending long days ashore. Specialty bars on Norwegian vary by ship, but include top spots like the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar, specializing in margaritas; Shaker's Martini Bar; the Svedka & Inniskillin Ice Bar; Magnum's Champagne & Wine Bar; Maltings Beer and Whisky Bar; and Sugarcane Mojito Bar. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Share. You can not purchase just select days. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. These additional inclusions are freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee. So you would have to drink more than 10 of that price level drink, 30oz Blue Tumbler Stainless Steel Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Mug with Straw and Lid, Cleaning Brush for Cold and Hot Beverages, Hydrapeak Roadster 40oz Tumbler with Handle and 2-in-1 Straw Lid, Insulated Leak Proof Double Walled Stainless Steel Coffee Travel Mug - Keeps Cold for 34 Hours or Hot for 10 Hours (Ice), Beast 40 oz Tumbler Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Coffee Ice Cup Double Wall Travel Flask (Matte Black). A meager time, for sure, but regardless, NCL doesn't have a stated policy. Absolutely not! Actually, the value "up to $1888" is (and I am assuming) what NCL estimates the package to be worth but the actual cost (at least in CDN on a 7 day cruise is $612.xx per person + 18% grats). The 20% service charge for a 7-day cruise will cost each guest $138.60 for the Premium Beverage package. The beverage package also covers bottled water, so you can grab a bottle on your way off the ship and not worry about finding a local convenience store. While you might be able to consume enough drinks on sea days to make the package worth the price, youll have to consider the days that you will spend in port. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. Most cruise lines require all guests sharing a cabin to purchase the same beverage plan to prevent sharing between friends and family. 2023 Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $18. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not the drink package is worth it on your cruise. anytime you want with Bottomless Bubbles. If you forgo the beverage package, you can simply pay for each drink. Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. The Premium Beverage Package covers nearly every onboard drink up to $15 per drink, while the Premium Plus Beverage Package covers all drinks served by the glass, with no limit on the drink price. The latter offers a wider range of covered drinks but is not available as a free perk. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. Unlimited Soda / soft drink package for $9.95 per day + 20% gratuity (FYI, NCL now serves COKE branded products) Water Package which ranges from $19.95 to $49.95 for 6 liters to 24 liters of water. CHEERS! We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Although you need to be aware of the limit, we dont think most passengers will reach it. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases. Boxed wine is not allowed. On the flipside, if you are visiting NCLs private island of Great Stirrup Cay on your cruise, this gives you more opportunity to use the package while enjoying some fun in the sun. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. Note that some cruise lines discount drinks packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and some lines offer periodic sales on their drinks packages online. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits, mixed drinks, cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. We may receive compensation when you click on those links at no cost to you. Read on for the answers in this ultimate guide to cruise line drinks packages. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. How Do I Purchase A Drink Package For My Cruise? Purchasing alcohol in ships' duty-free shop(s): Any alcohol purchased in the onboard shops will be stored until the cruise's conclusion. Free At Sea Plus, the ultimate holiday upgrade in one package. Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! Between your cruise fare, shore excursions, flights, hotel, and the drink package, it can be painful to spend thousands of dollars before stepping on the cruise ship. If you plan to spend the day in port, you wont be consuming as many beverages as you would on sea days. Most individual drink prices covered by the beverage package vary between $5 to $15 per day. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! Wine and Champagne are permitted, but you'll have to pay a corkage fee for any that is consumed onboard in staterooms, bars or restaurants. Cruise Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide - Cruise Mummy Norwegian's Free at Sea: The Ultimate Guide - Should Be Cruising Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. Cost per day: $84, not including a 20% automatic gratuity charge, for passengers who have purchased a cruise-only rate. Yes that happens and then the bar staff gets questioned about if the guest is sharing drinks or drinking to much. Related Post: Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise. CC Help Jenn As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $12. Are You Confused by the Cruise Lines' Beverage Packages? Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. The package also brings a 25% discount on wine and Champagne bottle purchases. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. The exclusions list will vary among cruise lines but typically doesnt include mini bar purchases, room service, bottles of wine or liquor, pitchers, buckets, sharable drinks, or drinks served in a souvenir cup. In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. This happens for every drink you have on the package. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love, If you consistently drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day, then you will get a lot of value from the (almost) free, This post may contain affiliate links that could result in payment of a commission to this website (at no additional cost to you). Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Deals. The cost was around $300 and it was a very good deal as it worked out to just over $21 a day. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $13. Cheers to all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and soft drinks. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. Some lines also offer coffee cards that let you get a fixed number of fancy coffee drinks at a shipboard coffee bar for a discounted price. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Related: $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? We dont think the limit will be a problem for most cruise passengers. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. If youre looking to save money, its best to purchase the drink package before you set sail. If so, you may be able to use your beverage package off of the ship. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. That said, many cruise lines will allow you to use the drink package on their private islands. Fine print: If one adult of legal drinking age in a cabin or traveling under the same booking number purchases a package, all adults of legal drinking age in the same cabin also must purchase it. This is a significant consideration for whether the beverage package is worth it. While marketed as a limited-time promotion, we often find the promotion available more often than not. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. If you would spend more money purchasing individual drinks than the cost of the package, then the drink package is worth it for you. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. More expensive bottles come with a 20% discount. Using our numbers, we saved $700.80 total on alcoholic beverages during our 7-day cruise by timing the booking of our cruise with the frequently run Free at Sea promotion. Norwegian's Unlimited Open Bar Package includes a variety of spirits and cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer up to $15. Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. But hurry, this limited-time offer won't last long. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Those are not free a the rate is higher for the promo. Find the right card for you. Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package, Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package, Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages, Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package, Cruise Ship Anchors: Everything You Need to Know, Royal Caribbean RoyalUp (Guide to Upgrading Your Cabin). Coffee shops are available onboard as well, and the drink package includes a variety of them. But, that turned out not to be the case. You cant use the drink package in most ports. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or those ordered through room service. The only limit is your own personal weakness and self doubt about having just one more beverage. Finally, many cruise lines have a rule that if one person purchases the drink package, everyone sharing the cabin must also buy the drink package. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. In 2021, MSC Cruises updated its drink package offerings, giving passengers a choice between 3 new packages. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. It adds up and allows us to cruise more. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails. If you decide to purchase the beverage package, booking online ahead of time is better. The beverage package includes a selection of hot drinks such as Vergnano coffee, cappuccino, herbal teas, and hot chocolate. On Australia cruises, the package costs 113.99 Australian dollars ($76.03) per day. Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages Guide - Cruise Maven Yes! $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. If youre still not convinced. You can purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard the ship. It would seem effortless for two people to drink 2-3 adult beverages between the two of them. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. In fact, we would have actually lost $685.20 compared to just paying out of pocket for all our alcoholic beverages. Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights with the exception of South America sailings. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. No votes so far! It seems by the article that the free at sea drink package would be good enough with no need to upgrade on NCL? She is always looking for the latest and greatest adventures onboard and ashore, enjoys researching top things to do in ports of call, and loves dressing up for formal nights. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. is one of the lowest-priced drink packages of the mainstream cruise lines. NCL Drinks Packages: Worth It or Not? (2022) - Cruise Mummy I have been lucky enough to travel on multiple continents, as well as several cruise lines. Ultimately, you need to know your own drinking habits (and your cabin mates). Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. Note: Final prices will add an 18% service charge to the cost of the package. Followers 10. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring alcohol on the cruise ship one or two bottles of wine or champagne. If the drink package costs more than the amount youd spend on individual drink purchases, then the drink package may cost you more. The entire cruise must be purchased. Here are some of the risks. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. And The value of up to $1888 just refers to the price one would have to pay for the package if it were not free. We save on the average of $800 when we choose a regular balcony over the free at sea balcony. Some cruise lines also let you use your packages when visiting their private islands. Just wondering if Norwegian has a similar daily drink limit? I love to travel, see new places, and meet new people. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Beer and liquor is not allowed -- items will be secured until disembarkation day.