Worth It or Not? (2024)

Norwegian Cruise Line’s drink packages are some of the most confusing of all the cruise lines! It can be really tricky to work out if a drink package will offer good value or not.

The drinks packages are also some of the most expensive at sea – They can cost upwards of $160 per person, per day!

Even if you get the option of a ‘free’ Norwegian Cruise Line drink package with the Free at Sea promotion, you should know that this will increase the overall cost of your cruise – so you might actually be better off declining the deal.

To help you work out whether you should get an NCL drink package, and which one, I’ve written this detailed guide. Here, you can discover what drinks are included in the packages, which drinks aren’t, and which drinks are always free.

I’ll also explain the drink gratuities and other hidden charges that you need to be aware of when you decide to buy an NCL drinks package…

NCL Drink Package List

There are five different adult beverage packages available on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises. These are:

Wherever you live in the world, you will always pay for your NCL beverage package in US dollars. Read on to see what’s included in each package…

NCL Premium Beverage Package

Formerly known as the Ultimate Beverage Package, NCL’s main drinks package is now called the Premium Beverage Package.

The Premium Beverage Package entitles guests to a wide selection of beers, wines by the glass, cocktails, spirits and soft drinks up to $15 value.

This is what you’ll get as the NCL Free at Sea drink package if you use that promotion – more on that below.

Cost: $109 per person, per day.

NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package

Next up is the Premium Plus Package. For those who enjoy specific drinks that aren’t included in the standard drinks package, an upgraded drinks package is available for an extra $29 per person per day compared to the Premium Package.

Cost: $138 per person, per day.

NCL Soda Package

The soda package is great for kids or people who choose to avoid alcohol. It offers unlimited fountain soda.

Cost: $9.95 per day.

NCL Hawaii Beverage Package

For those cruising to Hawaii onboard the Pride of America cruise ship, the drinks package is slightly different. Similar to the Premium Beverage Package, it includes a wide selection of drinks priced up to $15 each.

Costs: $109 per person, per day.

Unlimited Starbucks Package

Love your Starbucks coffee? You can get an unlimited fix if you choose this package, including all the speciality beverages served at the on-board coffee shop. It doesn’t include snacks, unfortunately!

Cost: $12.95 per day.

NCL Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package Removed

There used to be another drinks package available with NCL, known as “Corks and Caps”. The package cost $65 per person, per day and included beers, wines and soft drinks. It was removed in late 2022.

NCL Beverage Service Charge

When considering the price of the NCL drink packages, it’s important to also think about the service charge or gratuity that’s added.

Norwegian Cruise Line automatically adds a 20% service charge to each drink package at the checkout.

NCL Drink Package Prices Including Service Charge:

• Premium = $109 + 20% = $130.80
• Premium Plus = $128 + 20% = $165.60
• Soda = $9.95 + 20% = $11.94
• Hawaii = $109 + 20% = $130.80
• Unlimited Starbucks = £12.95 + 20% = $15.54

On the face of it, Norwegian Cruise Line drinks packages seem pretty expensive. For two people on a seven-night cruise, if you purchase the Premium Plus package you can expect to pay $2,318.

You can’t deny that’s expensive, especially as it doesn’t include things like your minibar or room service.

However, the reality is that most people DO NOT buy an NCL drink package. They get it for free with a special offer. Read on for more info on that…

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea promotion gives guests access to up to between two and five free offers, depending on the stateroom category that they book.

1. Premium Drinks Package
2. Speciality Dining Package
3. Internet Package
4. Shore Excursion Credit
5. Free or $99 Kids Places

Depending on the current promotion available, the Free at Sea may be included in your booking at no cost, or you may have to pay an extra fee of around $149 to access it.

The number of Free at Sea inclusions also varies. Sometimes you may only get to choose two of the five with an inside cabin, at other times you may get access to all five perks.

There’s also a Free at Sea Plus package that gives you even more.

Why the Free at Sea Promotion Isn’t Really Free…

If you live in the United States and choose the free drink package as part of the NCL Free at Sea promo, you will get the package for free but you will still be charged for the gratuity. The cost of that is $21.80 per person, per day.

So, for two adults on a seven-night cruise, you will pay $305.20 for your ‘free’ drinks.

If you’re cruising with kids and they get the Soda Package as part of the Free at Sea promotion, you’ll be charged $1.99 per child, per day for the soda.

The same logic applies if you go for the free speciality dining package. You’ll be charged between $8.99 and $25.80 per person, depending on the length of the cruise.

If you live in the United Kingdom and you get the Free at Sea promo, you will not be charged the 20% gratuity.

So Why the Difference Between the US and the UK?

In the UK, we’re usually asked to pay around £149 per person for the Free at Sea (based on a 7-night cruise), but in the US it’s usually free.

This actually works out at around the same. You’d pay $137 in gratuities in the US or £149 as an ‘upgrade’ in the UK. The cost is close.

The difference is purely for marketing purposes. Most Brits get turned off by the idea of gratuities as we’re not used to paying them. We’re generally happy if the amount is called an ‘upgrade’ as we feel like we’re getting something for our money.

So Is the Free at Sea Promotion a Good Deal?

When considering whether the open bar that you get with the Free at Sea promo is worth it, you’ll need to consider how much drinks would cost without the open bar.

Then, you can work out whether you would spend more with or without the package.

• Premium Drink Package = $130.80 per person, per day (including gratuity)
• Premium Drink Package with Free at Sea = $21.80 per person, per day

The price of the Premium Drink Package without Free at Sea is kind of irrelevant as barely anybody buys it. The Free at Sea promo is almost always on.

What it comes down to is, if you would spend more than $21 per person, per day on drinks, then the Free at Sea Open Bar is worth it.

So, that leads us on to the question of how much are drinks on Norwegian Cruise Line. And importantly, which drinks are free, even with no drink package.

NCL Drink Prices

Here’s a rough breakdown of the prices you can expect to pay for your drinks on an NCL cruise:

• Cocktail: $11 – $14
• Glass of wine: $9 – $10
• Pint of beer: $9
• Bottle of beer: $6 – $7
• Liquor: $10 – $17
• Soft drink: $3.50
• Energy drink: $6.50
• Coffee: $3 – $4
• Large water: $6

So, as you can see, it’s really easy to spend $20 per day on drinks if you purchase them individually. Even one glass of wine, one beer and a couple of soft drinks per day would be enough to make choosing the free drinks on the Free at Sea offer worthwhile.

However, you must remember that most coffees and bottled water are not included in the package. You’d need to pay for those separately.

Next, let’s take a look at what drinks you can get free of charge on Norwegian Cruise Line ships, whether you have a package or not…

What Drinks Are Free on Norwegian Cruise Line?

The following drinks are available free of charge on NCL ships:

• Tea and coffee
• Lemonade
• Iced tea
• Water and flavoured water by the glass
• Fresh fruit juices (at breakfast)

It’s important to note that these free drinks are only available in the buffet and restaurants. You won’t be able to get any free drinks at the bars aside from tap water.

NCL Drinks Package Calculator

Working out whether the NCL drinks package or Free at Sea deal is worth it can be tricky.

To help you out, I’ve built a cruise drinks package calculator that will work out how much your Norwegian Cruise Line bar bill would be without the drinks package. Then, you can see if the drinks package is worth it.

Just enter your email address in this form and the calculator will be sent straight to your inbox…

Norwegian Cruise Line Drinks FAQs

If you still have any questions in your mind about drinks on NCL cruises, then I have answered lots of them below for you…

Can 18-Year-Olds Drink on Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises?

Being an American cruise line, the Norwegian Cruise Line drinking age policy states that the minimum age for drinking alcohol is 21 years. However, when the ship is at least 3 miles from the coast, guests aged 18 and over can consume beer or wine.

International waters

Guests who are 18 to 20 years of age can purchase and consume beer or wine when the ship is in international waters (3 miles from land). The parent or legal guardian must be on board the sailing with the young adult and present themselves at the Front Desk so they can sign the form allowing the consumption of beer and wine only.

Please note, that this only applies to beer and wine and that temporary guardianship for the purposes of sailing isn’t allowed; only a permanent legal guardian can sign the form.

Mediterranean cruises

On NCL cruises embarking in a country where the legal drinking age is lower than 21, those aged 18, 19 or 20 are generally not permitted to consume alcohol. However, there may be exceptions to this rule.

It all depends on the laws of each country and the agreements in place with the cruise line. Specific information for each cruise can be obtained from Norwegian Cruise Line.

Suggested read: How old do you have to be to drink on a cruise?

Can You Bring Your Own Alcohol on NCL Cruises?

Norwegian Cruise Line permits guests to bring unlimited bottles of wine onboard. This is subject to a corkage fee of $15. You may drink your wine wherever you like on the ship. No other drinks are permitted to be brought on board, with the exception of purified water for medical use.

Suggested read: Can you take drinks on a cruise ship?

Are NCL Drinks Packages Available on Short Cruises?

Norwegian Cruise Line drinks packages are only available on cruises of three days or more.

Can We Share a Drinks Package?

NCL does not allow sharing of drink packages. If one person has a drinks package, all adults in the stateroom must have the same package and children must have a soda package.

If one guest cannot drink alcohol for any reason such as pregnancy, health or addiction, you should contact NCL to ask if the

Is Water Safe To Drink on Norwegian Cruise Line?

The tap water on NCL ships is perfectly safe to drink and tastes fine. The only real downside of drinking the water from the tap in your room is that it’s not cold. You can get iced water for free from any bar or restaurant on the ship.

Is Bottled Water Included in the NCL Drink Package?

Bottled water is included in NCL’s Premium Plus Beverage Package, but not in the Premium Beverage Package. Water by the glass is always available free of charge.

Is coffee included in the NCL drink package?

NCL doesn’t have a separate coffee package and coffee is not included in the standard drink package, only included in the Premium Plus Beverage package (the most expensive package). You can get coffee free of charge in the buffet and on many ships, there’s a coffee machine in your stateroom.

Is Starbucks Included in the NCL Drink Package?

All food and drinks from Starbucks in chargeable on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises, unless you buy the Unlimited Starbucks Package.

Is There a Limit on the NCL Drink Package?

The NCL drink package does not have a daily limit on the number of drinks that can be ordered, although guests who are visibly intoxicated may not be served. The maximum value per drink is $15 and each person can order two drinks in each transaction.

What Happens if I Order a Drink That Costs More Than $15?

With The NCL Premium Beverage Package, if you order a drink that costs over $15 you will be charged the difference. So if your drink costs $16, you will be charged $1 to your onboard account.

Where Can You Use the Drinks Package?

You can use your drinks package in all bars, lounges, restaurants and on one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s private islands, Great Stirrup Cay, but not on the other island, Harvest Caye.

Can I Get Bottles of Wine With the Drinks Package?

Bottles of wine are included in the NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package, but not in the Premium Beverage Package.

The Premium Beverage Package gives a 20% discount on all bottles of wine purchased on board. But honestly, you’d be better just to ask for it by the glass.

Can You Take Drinks in the Pools and Hot Tubs?

On NCL cruise ships you are generally allowed to take drinks into the swimming pools and hot tubs as long as they’re in plastic glasses.

Final Thoughts

Individual drinks and drinks packages are pretty expensive on Norwegian Cruise Line.

However, this is mostly irrelevant, as the Free at Sea programme allows you to get a free drinks package (plus other benefits like dining or free kids’ places) at a slightly lower cost, when you consider everything included.

If you don’t drink much alcohol and prefer bottled water, tea, coffee and lemonade, you may be better off declining the drink package or open bar that comes with the Free At Sea promotion.

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