Cheers! Guests can purchase the Premier Beverage Package for $59.99 per person per day. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. Luckily, the cruise line runs the Free at Sea promotion so frequently that we dont really ever have to worry about this scenario. For these passengers, the uncertainty of the running bar tab creates too much stress when you should be relaxing. The package does NOT work at Harvest Caye. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. Explore more of the shore with $50 USD Discount Per Port Shore Excursions. Essentially, you will need to decide if you will drink at least $29 a day per person of the additional inclusions. That's unlimited wine, soda, beer and cocktails priced under $15. The Legal Drinking Age And Alcohol Laws In Norway This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). If youre looking to save money, its best to purchase the drink package before you set sail. This unlimited soda program le. The cruiseline has partnered with JUST Goods Water, replacing single-use plastic bottles with a plant-based carton. Find all the details you need here regarding Norwegian Cruise Line's alcohol policy: The drinking age on NCL's ships is 21 for most itineraries; it's 18 for sailings that operate round trip from European or Australian ports (though for beer and wine only). Related Post: Guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. Some cruise lines, such as Carnival, limit the number of alcoholic drinks that any one person can order using a drinks package to 15 in a day. Your beverage package will cover a glass of wine as long as it is below the maximum price per drink. Unlike drink packages on many other cruise lines, Norwegian's Free Open Bar doesn't include specialty coffees or bottled water. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? Norwegian offers guests the option pre-order water and have it delivered to their cabin. It is simple for many cruise . But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Other packages: Celebrity also offers a less inclusive classic drinks package that now is included in the fare for its sailings as part of its new Always Included fare structure. At least it IS better than Holland America, where any drink over $11 is excluded, and you get zero discount from the drink package. However, you usually can't use them when ordering room service to your room. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20. Norwegian Cruise Line Drops a Drink Package Norwegian charges the most for its drink packages and those prices have actually recently gone up. Prepaid @ $7.95 USD per person per day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge. 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. Notably, this restriction does not apply to alcoholic beverages so, you could get bottles or cans of beer, but not sodas or water. They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package, priced at $65 per day, includes beer . Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. The even less pricey Easy package only includes a limited number of drinks and is not valid in extra-charge specialty restaurants. How Norwegian Cruise Line's Drink Packages Work Note that the package is valid on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises private island in the Bahamas. No, you cannot share the drink package on a cruise. Most drinks packages have a unit cost upper limit of $12-$15 per drink, depending on the cruise line's policy. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The beverage package includes a selection of hot drinks such as Vergnano coffee, cappuccino, herbal teas, and hot chocolate. Just kidding around, but that would be a hard thing to accomplish. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There is no limit to how much alcohol you can drink on the road, which is one of the strictest in the world. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. If you pay outright for the, The gratuities for the free premium package are $13.80 per day. 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. And if you are in a warm climate, such as the Mediterranean, Australia, or the Caribbean, you may want to bring water with you as you explore the ports of call. Do you usually purchase beverage packages when you cruise? In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. So as long as you don't share and behave yourself you can drink as much as you want. With the drink package, you wont need to track your spending, and you wont be surprised by an unexpected bill at the end of your cruise. Specialty Coffee Not Included In Norwegian Ultimate Beverage Package You cant purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise. If you prefer to order a bottle of wine at dinner or want to choose from a selection of high-end wine, they arent included in your drink package. Some factors to consider are the price of the drink plan, your drinking habits, your cabinmates drinking habits, the cost of individual drinks, and what drinks the cruise fare includes. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. Norwegian Introduces Unlimited Starbucks Package I would buy it again if I went again. In many cases, no. How Much Do Drinks Cost On Norwegian Cruise Lines Then again, we may have been having fun but never were out of control. Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide includes nearly all of the beverages onboard Carnival cruise ships. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. Do you think the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value? There's no daily limit to the number of drinks you can order on Norwegian Cruise Line. This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. $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. Available on: All ships including river and expeditions ships. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. What it includes: All beverages by the glass (top-shelf spirits, cocktails, beer and wine) and select premium bottles of Champagne and wine. The Cost of Drinking on a Cruise - Cruisewatch We've purchased the UBP on each NCL cruise we've been on, and we have never experienced an issue with limits. Do Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises Include Meals? - Included Food Guide With Norwegian's Premium Plus Beverage Package, you'll get all the drinks included in the Premium Package, plus premium brand liqueurs and spirits, and wines by the glass. I love to travel, see new places, and meet new people. Drink Packages | Sodas, Beers, Spirits and More | Carnival Cruise Line Depending on your ports of call and number of sea days, as well as your hours ashore, you may receive better savings (or less) on your voyage. Most cruise lines will not limit the drinks you can get when you have a drink package. You cant use the drink package in most ports. I got the drink package as a perk, for me it will be worth it as I do like to drink well on vacation. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. In this post, we complete an analysis to answer the question, Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! When Should You Skip The Drink Package On a Cruise? The Premium beverage package does not include room service, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands, bottled wine or liquor, or mini bar purchases. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship bar, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Learn more. And some also offer wine-specific packages. The cost per day was over $57, which in my opinion isnt a great deal. And if you are traveling with a group, dont even consider using your beverage package on friends in other cabins. That's not entirely true. Read on for the answers in this ultimate guide to cruise line drinks packages. 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. 2023 Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. But no, as of right now theres no set limit. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Find the right card for you. You still have to pay the 18% gratuities on the list price of the drink package in advance. Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? What it includes: Drinks by the glass including draught, craft and bottled beer; a selection of wine and Champagne by the glass; premium-brand spirits, liqueurs and cordials; a variety of frozen and classic cocktails; soda; juices; nonalcoholic cocktails; energy drinks; hot chocolate drinks; specialty coffees; teas and bottled water. Be sure to check the fine print in your particular line's drinks package before placing an order for a drink to your room. There is no sharing of the NCL drink package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. The drink value can be up to and including $15 USD. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. Princess Cruises is the only cruise line we know of that doesnt require all passengers sharing a cabin to purchase the drink package. Note: Final prices will add a gratuity to the cost of the package. When doing the calculations, dont forget to factor in port days. Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. If you wait until youre on the ship to purchase the package, be prepared to pay full price. Then there were days where we only had 2 drinks each for the entire day. Although most cruise lines dont have a specified drink limit, bartenders will cut you off from ordering more drinks if youre intoxicated. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to $15. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. A selection of spirits and cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer with a value of up to $15 US per drink are included in the complimentary beverage package offered by Norwegian. The maximum beverage price covered by the package is $15. The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Drink Packages. No matter what package you purchase, you can order two beverages per person, per transaction. Drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks, such as soda packages, typically cost far less. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. Is There A Limit To How Many Drinks You Can Get Per Day With An Ncl Beverage Package Unlike some cruise lines, Norwegian doesnt currently have a limit on how many drinks you can have per day with any of their packages. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package, normally $5.95-$7.95 per day. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package. More expensive bottles come with a 20% discount. Your Cabin Mate Has Different Drinking Habits Than You. Norwegian Cruise Line Alcohol Policy First, guests must be at least 18 years old at the time of sailing to purchase this package. Norwegian Drops Drink Package Edge it Held Over Royal Caribbean At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. The limit is on the price of $15/drink, not on how many drinks one can have. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package is good almost everywhere. There are also a number of other restrictions to bear in mind before diving in and booking that booze-inclusive package. It also does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, or Ice Bars. Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. The Truth About Those Expensive Drink Packages Thats because while youre shopping or taking part in an exciting shore excursion, you wont be using the beverage package. If you purchase a drink that costs more than the limit, most cruise lines will only have you pay the difference and the gratuity on the difference. Welcome Aboard! No actually it is what the UBP would cost for 16 days for two people (at the previous rate of $59/day). Is Starbucks free on Norwegian? Cruise Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide - Cruise Mummy We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. 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. Please explain how that works when one receives the UDP as a Freestyle Choice perk. Princess Cruises Drinks Packages Guide - Cruise The Waves Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml. How Do I Purchase A Drink Package For My Cruise? 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. A Guide to Cruise Line Drink Packages - Cruises - Cruise Critic Required fields are marked *. While it is excellent for most people, wine connoisseurs wont be satisfied by the limited selection and beverages by the glass. Complimentary drinks are available at the Latitudes (past passenger) cocktail party. I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. 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. Through the promotion, guests can receive a free beverage package. Norwegian assesses a gratuity charge of $19.80 per person per day for its basic Premium Beverage Package. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. With NCL Premium Beverage Packages, you can get a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for as little as $15.00. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. 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. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. Premium Beverage Package - Starting at the hefty price of $99 per day (plus 20% service charge), Norwegian 's Premium Beverage Package includes any wines, beers or cocktails priced at $15 or less per glass. This beverage package is available as an upgrade to the Free at Sea Premium beverage package option. Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". DOUBLE WALL VACUUM INSULATED TECHNOLOGY: This tumbler can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and keep hot for at least 6 hours. Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. Yes. Guest must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to qualify for the Ultimate Beverage Package. Q: The included beverage package is the House Select. The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass. Cruise Beverage Packages | Bon Voyage Gifts | Norwegian Cruise Line By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. While marketed as a limited-time promotion, we often find the promotion available more often than not. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge).Analysis of the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. So keep this in mind when you make your decision. Though, given that many non-alcoholic drinks, like bottled water and specialty coffee, are not included in this package, it wouldnt make sense for us to purchase it out of pocket. In total, we drank 76 drinks that were included in theNorwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Thats because most cruise ship ports are independent of the cruise line. Learn More Free Wi-Fi 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. The package also covers soda and juices at all bars but no other non-alcoholic beverages. If you only have a few drinks or just soda each day do they still automatically charge you the full 18 percent gratuity as if you'd maxed out the value of the program? When calculating, dont forget to factor in port days, where you wont be on the cruise ship for the whole day. Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Deals. You must purchase a Norwegian drink package for the entire length of the cruise. Weve seen similar promotions offering a $100 top-up. What's included in a cruise line drinks package and how do they work? . It costs $49 per day when sailing in North America (pricing will rise to $51 per day in October). If you like a glass of fresh juice with your breakfast or a can of pop at lunchtime, you may benefit from buying the beverage packages. The main dining room and buffet are free on all ships in the fleet and there is usually another free option such as a bar/pub. You could purchase the drink package through your travel agent, by calling the cruise line directly, or through your online account if you booked through the cruise lines website. The Adult Soda Package is $7.95 per day plus gratuity of $1.59 for a total of $9.54 per day. Guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package, Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise, should buy a beverage package on a cruise, easy to go overboard if you are just trying to get your moneys worth, Celebrity Edge Will Be the First Cruise Ship to Sail from the U.S. in June. Cost per day: $64.95 when purchased on board, not including an 18% automatic gratuity charge; $59.95 plus the gratuity charge when purchased in advance of sailing. Norwegian recently updated its beverage package selection and added a new package option. Cost per day: $69, not including a 15% service charge when booked on board. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? It costs $38 per day. 15 $ limit is nice for a free at sea. Coffee shops are available onboard as well, and the drink package includes a variety of them. These have bubbles, but theyre not sparkling water. The Classic Package has a value of $70.80 per person per day, including the service charge. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Other packages: Oceania offers a less expensive House Select package that includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner. The Free Open Bar is likely the top pick for many from Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. You can choose from three different beverage options; Champagne & Bubbly, Premium Wine Selection, and Signature Cocktails. But, that turned out not to be the case. 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. Here's what you get: Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15 USD (such as Patron Silver, Grey Goose and more) A variety of beer and wine by the glass under $15 USD 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. CC Help Jenn Sharing is explicitly prohibited. *Based on a 7-night cruise, balcony & above. Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? Soda Package. Celebrity Cruises. Prices 6 litre Just Water Package $16.95 12-litre Just Water Package $29.95 24 litre Just Water Package $44.95 New Holland America Line West Coast Cruises Just Released! Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. Of course, if you plan to drink more non-alcoholic specialty drinks or like bottles of wine, then this upgrade might be worth it for you. Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. Further, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. Remember that once you are on board, the price tends to be pretty expensive. You guessed it, you have to pay 20% gratuity on the free soda packages as well. In addition to that, it consists of non-alcoholic beer, juice, and fountain soda and juice. The majority of town beer shops are open before 8 p.m. or 6 p.m. on weekends. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. As a rough estimate, cocktails and wine cost about $10-12 each, beer costs approximately $6-8 each, and sodas, bottled water, energy drinks, and specialty coffees and teas are between $3-6 each. The two major exceptions are Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Unfortunately, Norwegians Harvest Caye, Carnivals Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays dont allow the use of your drink package in port. If so, you may be able to use your beverage package off of the ship. We may receive compensation when you click on those links at no cost to you. This brings us back to the original question, is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package a good value? The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions.