Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or shipboard wine-dispensing machines. There's a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. Complimentary drinks are available at the Latitudes (past passenger) cocktail party. Available on: All ships except those in the Galapagos (where drinks are included in the fare). As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. Below is a line-by-line look at available drinks packages at the major lines that offer them. Soft drink is served by the glass (16 ounces); juice is served by the glass (10 ounces). 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. But for those who regularly order several alcoholic drinks a day when cruising, there's a way to save: a flat-fee drinks package. The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package, priced at $65 per day, includes beer . 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. Does Norwegian have a drink limit? 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. Unlike most cruise lines, the price of Royal Caribbeans beverage package varies depending on the individual itinerary. LauraS The package covers nearly every beverage on the ship up to $13 per drink. 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). How much is a glass of wine on Norwegian cruise? Your email address will not be published. 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. In addition to its inclusivity, CHEERS! I believe that your account is debited the cost of the drink; then it is debited the 18% and finally the cost of the drink is credited. The Premium Plus Beverage Package costs $128 per person, per day and $138 from January 1, 2023, and it covers all drinks by the glass, with no price cap; still and sparkling bottled water;. Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? Instead, guests can pre-purchase Virgin Voyages Bar Tab. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And that would have to be 7 drinks actually consumed on the ship itself. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. 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. 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). Hi All - I just booked my first cruise with NCL and am getting the UBP. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This is the standard alcohol package offered by Norwegian Cruise Line. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. 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. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. In retrospect, one possible way to address that would be to bring our own, Another option would be to decline the free package altogether (or make a different choice if there were other options available), and pay for the package that makes sense. First, guests must be at least 18 years old at the time of sailing to purchase this package. A few friends of mine have, and really liked the food and the overall cruise. Stay connected whilst at sea with an Internet Package you can use throughout the ship. Learn More Free Wi-Fi $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Cheers! It depends. Have another, we won't tell.*. 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. 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. TPG values it at $1,600. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Only spending $978 on alcoholic drinks over the course of the week, we were a far cry from reaching the break even point. The cost of alcoholic drinks on cruise vessels particularly cocktails can be pricey. Further, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. So six max-priced drinks would be $90, which is still less than the daily price of the premium package. 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. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. I can assume an 18 year old single malt scotch is well over $15but by how much? The package is not valid on Holland Americas private island, Half Moon Cay. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. Cost per day: $19.95, including gratuities. And unless you have premium tastes, your favorite liquors will be included. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! The package also brings a 30% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles costing up to $100. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Be the first to rate this post. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Technically, you are not supposed to use your package to buy drinks for other people. Weve even seen discounts of up to 40% off! NCL's Unlimited Open Bar Package (formerly known as the Premium Beverage Package or the Ultimate Beverage Package) costs $99.00 per day. This website uses cookies. This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). October 19, 2021: Log In Issues. 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. Only one beverage serving, per sticker, will be served at a time. Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. When calculating, dont forget to factor in port days, where you wont be on the cruise ship for the whole day. Bottles or cans of any non-alcoholic beverage. 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. I got the drink package as a perk, for me it will be worth it as I do like to drink well on vacation. Norwegian recently updated its beverage package selection and added a new package option. For one flat fee, these cruise ship drink packages offer cruisers the ability to make their cruise more inclusive. If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, and flights, guests will receive a 40% discount. That would be a total of $27.60 per day for both people. That's unlimited wine, soda, beer and cocktails priced under $15. The Norwegian beverage package is an excellent value for those who want to enjoy a lot of drinks for a low price. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. You cant purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Most drinks packages have a unit cost upper limit of $12-$15 per drink, depending on the cruise line's policy. Starbucks does not have an active drink 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. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. I enjoy an cocktail before dinner and good wine with, but withotu knowing what the extra cost might be, I have no way of knowing if the $40/day service charge would be worth it for one. The Plus package is included when passengers book suite accommodations. Even as a perk, the service charge for my wife and I require that we consume a minimum of 4-5 drinks per day to break evenand she doesnt drink at all. 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. Your beverage package will cover a glass of wine as long as it is below the maximum price per drink. 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. In this post, we complete an analysis to answer the question, Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?. 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). Other brands, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, charge as much as $138 per person, per day for a top-tier package. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. The cost of a cruise ship drink package does not include gratuities. Drinks ordered through room service also arent included. Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Food & Drink Norwegian Cruise Line Drinks Packages Norwegian Joy NCL Drinks. Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is their highest-tier beverage package. If we had purchased the Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package out of pocket, it would have cost us $1663.20 total. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. To determine if the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value, there are a few scenarios we will consider. Norwegian's Unlimited Starbucks Package has a few restrictions. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship bar. So as long as you don't share and behave yourself you can drink as much as you want. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. Some people love knowing exactly how much they will spend with the package before stepping on board. This gratuity is added to the total cruise fare at the time of booking. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line's Premium Beverage Package (formerly known as the Ultimate Beverage Package) includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer. Click here for information on drink packages. There is a 5 minute wait between ordering drinks. Also, all guests in the same cabin over 18 must purchase this package. Cheers to all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and soft drinks. A Norwegian law requires you to be at least 18 years old to purchase wine or beer. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. Knowing the total cost of the cruise vacation before you set sail is a smart budgeting trick so that you wont be surprised when you receive the bill at the end of your sailing. Further, most drink packages have a price limit for drinks. Is Starbucks free on Norwegian? No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. 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. I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. 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. 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. There, no need to be a cheap drunk to make it worthwhile. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. Yes. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. 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). 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. When doing the calculations, dont forget to factor in port days. So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. Heres Your Answer! includes nearly all of the beverages onboard Carnival cruise ships. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or those ordered through room service. 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. As a comparison, on our cruise, the featured cocktail of the day was $8.95. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Plus, Feel Free to Take All with Premium Beverages, Free Speciality Dining & much more! When electing to purchase a package, you have to pay for the entire length of the cruise. Just kidding around, but that would be a hard thing to accomplish. Unfortunately, Norwegians Harvest Caye, Carnivals Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays dont allow the use of your drink package in port. There's never been a better time to book your dream cruise. I have been lucky enough to travel on multiple continents, as well as several cruise lines. For a full list of included beverages, seehere. Book today and enjoy 50% Off all cruises! The Classic Package has a value of $70.80 per person per day, including the service charge. Ultimately, you need to know your own drinking habits (and your cabin mates). In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. Cruisers can upgrade by paying the difference in the retail package price ($29) in addition to associated service charges ($34.80 total per person, per day). How Do I Purchase A Drink Package For My Cruise? I've maxed out once during a sea day. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. DOUBLE WALL VACUUM INSULATED TECHNOLOGY: This tumbler can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and keep hot for at least 6 hours. 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. The Free Open Bar is likely the top pick for many from Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. Below is a list of included beverages. The 15% service charge is waived when pre-booking the package. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I bought a drink package on RCCL, three years ago for around $400.. This is also the package that guests receive as part of the Free at Sea promotion. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. Also includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, soda, juices and energy drinks. $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. Are you ready to embark on your journey to sea the world, one port at a time? This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Learn More Free Excursions Save $50 per Shore Excursion, Per Stateroom with Shore Excursion Credits. Free At Sea Plus, the ultimate holiday upgrade in one package. Notably, this restriction does not apply to alcoholic beverages so, you could get bottles or cans of beer, but not sodas or water. The maximum beverage price covered by the package is $15. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. The Premium beverage package is currently priced at $99 per person, per day. 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. As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. In that case you don't buy it so do you double benefit by getting the free UDP and not have to pay the 18% like everyone else? Soda, bottled water and specialty coffees already are included in the fare on Oceania sailings. If you plan to spend the day in port, you wont be consuming as many beverages as you would on sea days. You would only start to see a price break once you consumed your 7th max-price drink of the day. Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. Guest must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to qualify for the Ultimate Beverage Package. Unlimited Starbucks for $12.95/day + 20% gratuity. Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. Cost per day: $59.95, including gratuities. Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. 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. So get ready to drink to your hearts content just dont go overboard on the alcohol (pun intended). 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. These are: Premium Beverage Package (AKA Open Bar) - $99 per day Premium Plus Beverage Package - $128 per day Corks & Caps Wine and Beer Package - $65 per day Adult & Teen Soda Program - $7.95 per day Hawaii Beverage Packag e - $99 per day Carnivals CHEERS! It costs $38 per day. So, unless you and your cabin mate can consistently drink 11+ alcoholic beverages a day, then it would not be worth buying the Norwegian Cruise Line drink package. There is no limit to the number of bottles passengers can bring onboard. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. There are five different adult beverage packages available on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. And, the, Couldnt that person just get some type of soda package? The 20% service charge for a 7-day cruise will cost each guest $138.60 for the Premium Beverage package. And some also offer wine-specific packages. BIGGER & BETTER NEW HUGE 40oz BEAST has arrived! A relatively newer offering, the Premium Plus beverage package is the most all-inclusive option of the NCL drink packages. 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. The cost of cruise line drinks packages varies widely by line. By Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. If you would spend more money purchasing individual drinks than the cost of the package, then the drink package is worth it for you. Most cruise lines will not limit the drinks you can get when you have a drink package. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); High Seas Cruising was founded by couple Marcello and Victoria to share travel tips and insights from over two decades of cruise vacations. In total, five drink packages are available for purchase. You must purchase a Norwegian drink package for the entire length of the cruise. 15 $ limit is nice for a free at sea. At the time of writing, the cruise line is offering a $50 top-up when guests add $300 to their tab. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge).Analysis of the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package. Some cruise lines offer a classic soda package or non-alcoholic drink package, which we wont cover in this article. Note: Final prices will add a 20% gratuity to the cost of the package. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. Do you usually purchase beverage packages when you cruise? Prepaid @ $7.95 USD per person per day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge. we have been very satisfied with the regular package on most of our cruises. Happy cruisingCheers! In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. Check here before booking an award fare. Although annoying, it still seemed like we could make good value out of the packages even with the required fee. BTW, if you are on Breakaway class ship, the outdoor venues are a lot of fun. Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? The only limit is your own personal weakness and self doubt about having just one more beverage. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. With the high price of the package and price restrictions on included beverages, youll need to purchase 6-8 alcoholic beverages every day to break even.