In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. Enrollment required. All the major mass-market cruise lines offer flat-fee drinks packages that, in some cases, can save you money when cruising. Bottomless Bubbles Package | Drink Packages | Carnival Cruise Line Heres everything you need to know to help you decide if the drink package is worth it on a cruise. Limitations related to drink cost: None. A NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package, which includes 20% gratuities, is available for $138 per person per day. 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. Related: These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. This gratuity is added to the total cruise fare at the time of booking. Just kidding around, but that would be a hard thing to accomplish. Are You Confused by the Cruise Lines' Beverage Packages? After looking at this page you should have a good idea if the Norwegian Drink Package is good for you or not. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . Yes. Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! In many cases, no. Stay connected whilst at sea with an Internet Package you can use throughout the ship. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. NCL Drinks Packages: Worth It or Not? (2022) - Cruise Mummy This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). An upgrade beverage package is rarely needed if you sail with any of these cruise lines. This happens for every drink you have on the package. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $13. Book today and enjoy 50% Off all cruises! There is no sharing of the NCL drink package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. Welcome Aboard! Unlike drink packages on many other cruise lines, Norwegian's Free Open Bar doesn't include specialty coffees or bottled water. How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise, The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package, These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising, How to plan a cruise with points and miles. Note: Final prices will add a 20% gratuity to the cost of the package. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay. Although most cruise lines dont have a specified drink limit, bartenders will cut you off from ordering more drinks if youre intoxicated. 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). But once you are on board, the luxury of ordering drinks and restaurants without worrying about the final bar bill can be worth the price of the package. We've purchased the UBP on each NCL cruise we've been on, and we have never experienced an issue with limits. *Based on a 7-night cruise, balcony & above. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $18. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. If we had purchased the Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package out of pocket, it would have cost us $1663.20 total. 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. Its easy to go overboard if you are just trying to get your moneys worth from the drink package. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. The Premium Plus beverage package is currently priced at $128 per person, per day. Absolutely not! While marketed as a limited-time promotion, we often find the promotion available more often than not. Guests can purchase the Premier Beverage Package for $59.99 per person per day. You can not purchase just select days. The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package, priced at $65 per day, includes beer . Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. October 19, 2021: Log In Issues. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 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. Discover 9 Top Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love + 5 More For Kids! The package also covers soda and juices at all bars but no other non-alcoholic beverages. Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $12. Finally, cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, and Princess Cruises Princess Plus already include a beverage package with your cruise fare. There's never been a better time to book your dream cruise. Be the first to rate this post. Norwegian Cruise Line Drops a Drink Package Norwegian charges the most for its drink packages and those prices have actually recently gone up. However, passengers who are 18 to 20 years of age can purchase and consume beer or wine on other itineraries, too, when the ship is in international waters (does not apply to Alaska or Hawaii sailings). Though, it is not likely worth it to purchase out of pocket unless you plan on consuming a considerable number of alcoholic beverages a day. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. 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. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $15. But remember, you will have to purchase the package for every adult in the cabin, even if they dont plan on drinking. What it includes: All beverages by the glass (top-shelf spirits, cocktails, beer and wine) and select premium bottles of Champagne and wine. The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions. Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. 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. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. Virgin Voyages will top up the amount when guests pre-purchase the Bar Tab before sailing. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. At the time of writing, the cruise line is offering a $50 top-up when guests add $300 to their tab. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. Yes. Prices 6 litre Just Water Package $16.95 12-litre Just Water Package $29.95 24 litre Just Water Package $44.95 I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. There, no need to be a cheap drunk to make it worthwhile. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. Some cruise lines have private islands or resorts owned and/or operated by the cruise line. Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. There are also a number of other restrictions to bear in mind before diving in and booking that booze-inclusive package. Learn more. Typical drinks are much less than that. 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 still have to pay the 18% gratuities on the list price of the drink package in advance. Once on board, you will often purchase the drink package during the first two days of sailing. Norwegian's Free at Sea Cruise Deals: Free Open Bar & More You cant use the drink package in most ports. The cost of cruise line drinks packages varies widely by line. No matter what package you purchase, you can order two beverages per person, per transaction. Bartenders and bar servers receive a portion of your tips, so they want to make sure you're having a good time. By Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. And again, thats if you are drinking the more expensive drinks and cocktails. There is no service charge on the Australian package. 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. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. 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. I can assume an 18 year old single malt scotch is well over $15but by how much? Guest must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to qualify for the Ultimate Beverage Package. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. don't-use-real-name 6.1k February 4, 2010 Bloomington MN USA #7 Posted July 4, 2019 There is no. Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. First, guests must be at least 18 years old at the time of sailing to purchase this package. This brings us back to the original question, is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package a good value? The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. 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. But hurry, this limited-time offer won't last long. Norwegian offers guests the option pre-order water and have it delivered to their cabin. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Log in. The Plus package is included when passengers book suite accommodations. Do Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises Include Meals? - Included Food Guide Note that the pricing listed is per person, per day. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. There is no hard limit, but they can and may refuse to serve you if they feel you are excessively inebriated, regardless of number of drinks purchased. Below is a list of included beverages. Most drinks packages have a unit cost upper limit of $12-$15 per drink, depending on the cruise line's policy. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. When requesting sparkling water, I was offered tonic water or club soda. I've cruised with Carnival before and with their drink package, they have a 15 drink limit per day. 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. It seems by the article that the free at sea drink package would be good enough with no need to upgrade on NCL? Fine print: Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day. If you decide to purchase a drink package on your cruise, you will have to purchase it for every day of the vacation. 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). Both cruise lines have a 15-drink limit per 24 hours on alcoholic beverages. CC Help Jenn It costs $38 per day. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. 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. Heres Your Answer! - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community. Learn More Free Wi-Fi You don't need a drinks package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship. Package name: Premium Plus Beverage Package. Unlike some cruise lines, Norwegian doesn't currently have a limit on how many drinks you can have per day with any of their packages. Below, weve listed the cost of drink packages for some of the mainstream cruise lines to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay. A relatively newer offering, the Premium Plus beverage package is the most all-inclusive option of the NCL drink packages. 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. Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. If you are only drinking a few drinks per day, it is probably cheaper for you to not choose the free at sea promos. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. 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. Drop us an anchor below with your analysis of this beverage program. Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You cant purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise. Category Bottled Water (1 liter) Price $5.00 Total 0 Costs $0.00. The cruise was 14 days and the package was called their Silver Spirts package. Cost per day: $59, not including a 15% gratuity charge. Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. Plus, Feel Free to Take All with Premium Beverages, Free Speciality Dining & much more! What Does The Norwegian Drink Package Include Bottled Water Unlike most cruise lines, the price of Royal Caribbeans beverage package varies depending on the individual itinerary. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. 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. Do You Have to Purchase the Drink Package for the Entire Cruise? At least it IS better than Holland America, where any drink over $11 is excluded, and you get zero discount from the drink package. Unlike the majority of cruise lines, Virgin Voyages doesnt offer a traditional drink package. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. There's no daily limit to the number of drinks you can order on Norwegian Cruise Line. What You Need To Know About That "Free" NCL Drink Package Available on: All ships except those sailing in Europe or Australia. The Premium beverage package is currently priced at $99 per person, per day. Cheers to all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and soft drinks. CC Help Jenn Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. The package has limited options compared to the Premium package and only covers drinks served by the glass, up to $9 per drink. The drinks package included in Princess Plus is now called Plus Beverage Package. Even if you receive a drink package with the cruise lines Free at Sea promotion, you are still responsible to pay this 20% gratuity. There's a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. If you would spend more money purchasing individual drinks than the cost of the package, then the drink package is worth it for you. Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". Thats because the package price is $3 cheaper per person per day if purchased before embarkation day. I hope you order your liver transplant before you leave!! A wine bottle package also is available. Additionally, package holders receive a 40% discount on wines priced up to $100 and a 20% discount on wines priced above $100. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Though, it does come at a higher price point. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. 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. How much is a glass of wine on Norwegian cruise? Further, there are several other factors you should keep in mind when determining if you should buy a beverage package on a cruise. We dont think the limit will be a problem for most cruise passengers. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. Related: Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. we have been very satisfied with the regular package on most of our cruises. Ultimate Beverage Package - limits? If you plan on drinking lots of pop or alcohol, but your cabinmate is fine with tap water, youll be better off skipping the beverage package and buying drinks at the bar. There is a 5 minute wait between ordering drinks. This Is What You Need To Plan The Best Cruise With A Baby, How To Plan Awesome Family Cruise Shore Excursions Youll Love. The entire cruise must be purchased. The 24-hour period runs from 6 am-6 am. 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. The Legal Drinking Age And Alcohol Laws In Norway Basic tiers often just include sodas and bottled water. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Can a guest upgrade to the unlimited package? 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. Ultimate Beverage Package - limits? - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise CHEERS! For these passengers, the uncertainty of the running bar tab creates too much stress when you should be relaxing. 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. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights with the exception of South America sailings. They haven't updated it to say value up to $2048. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! 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? Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? Here are some of the risks. This includes all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the brands private island ofGreat Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. I plan on setting a record with most drinks consumed using the UBP! The price limit of $20 per drink is the highest among cruise lines. At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drinks package. Free At Sea Plus, the ultimate holiday upgrade in one package. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Related Post: Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise. Technically, you are not supposed to use your package to buy drinks for other people. Drink Packages Drink Packages F A Q s Drink Packages Bottomless Bubbles Enjoy ice-cold refreshments during meals, during shows, during, well. Cost per day: $59.99, including an 18% gratuity charge. Breakfast lunch and dinner are all included on cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. as long as the regular drink package is offered as the free at sea promotion,i find that this is sufficient for my wife and myself, by nature she is not a big drinker (although neither am I) but we will have a glass of champagne or mimosa at breakast and she will join me in a mojito during the afternoon. Would you pay $138 per day for a drinks package on a cruise ship? That What it includes: A large selection of beers including craft beers, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, Coca-Cola products, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. Carnival has a 15-drink limit on alcoholic beverages purchased between 6 am, and 6 am. 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 total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. You can choose from three different beverage options; Champagne & Bubbly, Premium Wine Selection, and Signature Cocktails. Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Beer and liquor is not allowed -- items will be secured until disembarkation day. When you pay-as-you-go, you will get the final bill at the end of your cruise. No actually it is what the UBP would cost for 16 days for two people (at the previous rate of $59/day). Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The 15% service charge is waived when pre-booking the package. Once youve done the calculation, its time to decide whether or not the drink package is worth the investment. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. If you pay outright for the, The gratuities for the free premium package are $13.80 per day. 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. It costs $54.95 per day. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Soda packages often are under $10 per person, per day. And if you are traveling with a group, dont even consider using your beverage package on friends in other cabins. Hawaii-based Pride of America has a single drinks package that costs $99 per day (effective Jan. 1, 2023, prices will increase to $109). The cost per day was over $57, which in my opinion isnt a great deal. With NCL Premium Beverage Packages, you can get a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for as little as $15.00. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. Most individual drink prices covered by the beverage package vary between $5 to $15 per day. 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). By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. If youre planning on purchasing the drink package, the Princess Plus fare is an excellent way to save money. But, that turned out not to be the case. Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. For a full list of included beverages, seehere. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package, normally $5.95-$7.95 per day. Do you think the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value? If you forgo the beverage package, you can simply pay for each drink.