For these passengers, the uncertainty of the running bar tab creates too much stress when you should be relaxing. If each stateroom has the same package, the package must be . Remember that once you are on board, the price tends to be pretty expensive. 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. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! An upgrade beverage package is rarely needed if you sail with any of these cruise lines. As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. The limit is on the price of $15/drink, not on how many drinks one can have. The 20% service charge for a 7-day cruise will cost each guest $138.60 for the Premium Beverage package. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship bar. Cost per day: $59.99, including an 18% gratuity charge. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. 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. Click here for information on drink packages. If you decide to purchase a drink package on your cruise, you will have to purchase it for every day of the vacation. Through the promotion, guests can receive a free beverage package. 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruise Tour | Norwegian Cruise Line, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruise Tour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line, 20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line, 11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, View Cruises with 50% off and 300 Airfare Credit, Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15, 2 meals to enjoy at any of our specialty restaurants*. It's actually kind of easy. Available on: All ships including river and expeditions ships. Limitations related to drink cost: None. And if you wait until the second day, you will still be paying for the first two days of sailing, even though you didnt use the package. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. I have bought a drink package on Viking River Cruises. The package also covers soda and juices at all bars but no other non-alcoholic beverages. Of course, staff do have the right to refuse you bar service if you are intoxicated. That means you'll pay $19.80 per person per day or $138.60 per person for the 7-day Pride of America sailing. If you pay outright for the, The gratuities for the free premium package are $13.80 per day. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. 3-5 Day Cruises upgrade for 99 per person 6-8 Day Cruises upgrade for 149 per person9-11 Day Cruises upgrade for 199 per person 12-14 Day Cruises upgrade for 249 per person 15-17 Day Cruises upgrade for 299 per person 18+ Day Cruises upgrade for 349 per person. Essentially, you will need to decide if you will drink at least $29 a day per person of the additional inclusions. The cost of a cruise ship drink package does not include gratuities. Yes! Learn more. Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is their highest-tier beverage package. Only spending $978 on alcoholic drinks over the course of the week, we were a far cry from reaching the break even point. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. This unlimited soda program le. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. So if you feel like purchasing drinks off of the ship, you will have to pay for them. Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. It costs $38 per day. There is no limit to how much alcohol you can drink on the road, which is one of the strictest in the world. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Find the right card for you. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. I am passionate about sharing my experience with readers. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. How Much Do Drinks Cost on a Cruise Ship? All lattes and cappuccinos incurred a charge. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. In total, five drink packages are available for purchase. Unlike most other cruise lines drink packages, this alcoholic beverage package also does not include any premium non-alcoholic drinks. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. This website uses cookies. Absolutely not! Enrollment required. 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. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. At several of the biggest cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America, the main drinks packages that include all types of drinks cost about $60 per person, per day. At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. On Australia cruises, the package costs 113.99 Australian dollars ($76.03) per day. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. 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. If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Notably, this restriction does not apply to alcoholic beverages so, you could get bottles or cans of beer, but not sodas or water. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? I suspect if the system shows 30-35 drinks per person per day (for example) they may also take a closer look Ginnie, Did you ever max out the limit on your Carnival cruise? Some cruise lines will provide discounts on bottles of wine when you purchase a beverage package, but it is best to check with your cruise line as not every package provides discounts on bottles of wine. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? Although convenient, cruise line beverage packages are a significant investment for your vacation. 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. The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions. The drink value can be up to and including $15 USD. Soda Package. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. Norwegian offers guests the option pre-order water and have it delivered to their cabin. So as long as you don't share and behave yourself you can drink as much as you want. Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. There is no service charge on the Australian package. Drink Packages Drink Packages F A Q s Drink Packages Bottomless Bubbles Enjoy ice-cold refreshments during meals, during shows, during, well. Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. Happy cruisingCheers! Enrollment required. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. The package was renamed to Premium Beverage Package, while a second program, named Premium-Plus Package, also offered. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? Your beverage package will cover a glass of wine as long as it is below the maximum price per drink. If you decide to purchase the beverage package, booking online ahead of time is better. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. Cruise line drinks packages let you order as many drinks as you want while on a cruise for one flat fee. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, and flights, guests will receive a 40% discount. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. More elaborate (and expensive) tiers will add alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails, wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks. Book today and enjoy 50% Off all cruises! The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. If youre still not convinced. 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. This includes all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the brands private island ofGreat Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 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. After looking at this page you should have a good idea if the Norwegian Drink Package is good for you or not. The package also brings a 20% discount to wine-pairing dinners on Oceanias Marina and Riviera. This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? My husband did max out once on a sea day, but a couple of the drinks he had "bought" for one of the entertainment staff that we had made friends with [a couple beers while he was singing in the bar], and a couple drinks that had gone to waste when you take a couple sips and decide that it just didn't taste good. The price limit of $20 per drink is the highest among cruise lines. All NCL drink packages are priced as per person, per day. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Category Bottled Water (1 liter) Price $5.00 Total 0 Costs $0.00. This is the drinks package that many travelers get comped as part of Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion (though you still have to pay 20% of the package price for gratuities). In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Beer and liquor is not allowed -- items will be secured until disembarkation day. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. Please explain how that works when one receives the UDP as a Freestyle Choice perk. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. Yes. If the drink package costs more than the amount youd spend on individual drink purchases, then the drink package may cost you more. Yes that happens and then the bar staff gets questioned about if the guest is sharing drinks or drinking to much. This drink package includes everything in the Premium beverage package, along with other higher end offerings. More Norwegian Cruise Line Redeployments Announced, Norwegian Cruise Drink of the Day on Norwegian Escape, 31 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips Every Cruiser Needs to Know, Complete Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Celebrity Cruises (2023), Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Guide (2023), Everything You Need to Know About Norwegian's Free at Sea in 2023, The Complete Guide to Popular Cruise Ships With Pickleball Courts, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Carnival (2023). Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. And some also offer wine-specific packages. Related Post: Best Cruise Lines for Families. Weve even seen discounts of up to 40% off! All Norwegian Cruise Line beverage packages are priced per person, per day. The package is not valid on Holland Americas private island, Half Moon Cay. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Please note: We are looking at packages that include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Your email address will not be published. We save on the average of $800 when we choose a regular balcony over the free at sea balcony. But, that turned out not to be the case. Package name: Premium Plus Beverage Package. Non-Refundable. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. *Based on a 7-night cruise, balcony & above. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. You'll notice it doesn't mention a daily limit. Make sure you consider the reduced consumption during port days to estimate your drink expenses better. Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml. Alternatively, passengers can choose the Elevate cruise fare, which includes the Premium Beverage Package and a shore excursion credit for $20 per person per day. As with the other cruise lines on the list, you will usually get a better deal if you purchase the drink package before you set sail rather than on the ship. 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. The line's new Premium-Plus package is the "top beverage offering" of Norwegian and is designed for passengers who love top-shelf liquors. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. Drinks over $15 (you'll pay the difference) Boxed wine is not allowed. Premier Beverage Package - $59.99 The Premier Beverage Package on Princess includes unlimited premium beverages and snacks throughout the cruise. Cost per day: $59.95, including gratuities. If your second passenger is under 21 and only receiving a Soda Package, then you'll be charged $11.13 for that package. Once on board, you will often purchase the drink package during the first two days of sailing. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. Is There a Limit to the Number of Drinks You Can Buy? Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. The Adult Soda Package is $7.95 per day plus gratuity of $1.59 for a total of $9.54 per day. Every time you book a cruise you have one very important decision to make: "Should I get the cruise drinks package or not?". Below is a line-by-line look at available drinks packages at the major lines that offer them. They do have a limit of two drinks per person per order, which is helpful to know when there's a long line at the pool bar. So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. Your analysis is not very useful without the list of brands excluded (or included), which seems to be permanently unavailable. Virgin Voyages will top up the amount when guests pre-purchase the Bar Tab before sailing. It adds up and allows us to cruise more. 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. Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? If you are only drinking a few drinks per day, it is probably cheaper for you to not choose the free at sea promos. So get ready to drink to your hearts content just dont go overboard on the alcohol (pun intended). While some companies (such as Norwegian Cruise Line) apply a sticker to your key card at check-in to indicate that you've purchased a drink package, Carnival handles things slightly. Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. No votes so far! Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. Cost per day: $19.95, including gratuities. When considering this option, it is important to note that NCL offers cruisers the ability to purchase a 24-pack of 1L bottles of water for $44.95 on the online cruise planner. Related: Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? The best way to determine if a drink package is right for you is to calculate how much you would be spending on drinks. Luckily, the cruise line runs the Free at Sea promotion so frequently that we dont really ever have to worry about this scenario. Do you think the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value? Before deciding to purchase a drink package, we recommend doing a little math to find out if it will save money or be an unnecessary expense. The package covers nearly every beverage on the ship up to $13 per drink. We dont think the limit will be a problem for most cruise passengers. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Plus, Feel Free to Take All with Premium Beverages, Free Speciality Dining & much more! Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! Norwegian has no daily limit on the amount of alcohol in its drink packages. But remember, you will have to purchase the package for every adult in the cabin, even if they dont plan on drinking. 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. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Prepaid @ $7.95 USD per person per day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge. No, you cannot share the drink package on a cruise. Ultimately, you need to know your own drinking habits (and your cabin mates). The two major exceptions are Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. In addition to that, it consists of non-alcoholic beer, juice, and fountain soda and juice. Be the first to rate this post. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. And that would have to be 7 drinks actually consumed on the ship itself. You are charged 18% on the cost of the package when you buy it. Both cruise lines have a 15-drink limit per 24 hours on alcoholic beverages. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). 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. Even if you receive a drink package with the cruise lines Free at Sea promotion, you are still responsible to pay this 20% gratuity. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and most bottled water. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. Thats because while youre shopping or taking part in an exciting shore excursion, you wont be using the beverage package. Some cruise lines offer a classic soda package or non-alcoholic drink package, which we wont cover in this article. Fine print: If one person in a cabin purchases a package, all people in the same cabin or traveling group also must purchase a package (children in cabins will be charged for a less-expensive, nonalcoholic package). Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. In total, we drank 76 drinks that were included in theNorwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package. I would buy it again if I went again. While the $99 per person per day base charge will be waved, you'll still be paying the 20% gratuity and beverage service charge on the full retail price of the package. For a simple estimation, figure out what drinks you will consume (beer, wine, soda, whiskey) and how many drinks you will consume daily. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Deals. Your Cabin Mate Has Different Drinking Habits Than You. Norwegian assesses a gratuity charge of $19.80 per person per day for its basic Premium Beverage Package. After all, at $109 a day plus a 20 percent gratuity, the Norwegian Ultimate Beverage Package only covers drinks which come in at under $15 (as opposed to the $50 cap on Carnival), and does. 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). Cost per day: $59, not including a 15% gratuity charge. 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. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. It seems by the article that the free at sea drink package would be good enough with no need to upgrade on NCL? Note that the beverage packages can be used not just on Norwegian ships but at Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. CC Help Jenn This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package, priced at $65 per day, includes beer . With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. There's no daily limit to the number of drinks you can order on Norwegian Cruise Line. To complete these analyses, we tracked all of our beverages consumed over a 7-day cruise. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Some cruise lines also let you use your packages when visiting their private islands. 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. 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. All the major mass-market cruise lines offer flat-fee drinks packages that, in some cases, can save you money when cruising. 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. Whether you've been daydreaming of hiking to one of Alaska's pristine glaciers, touring ancient ruins in the Greek Isles or exploring one of our other top destinations, get more free when you cruise with NCL. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? The Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, priced at $99 per day, adds spirits and cocktails priced up to $15 (effective Jan. 1, 2023, pricing will go up to $109). You Want More than Just Water, Coffee, and Tea. Trust us; you dont want to spend all that money on a beverage package to have it taken away.