You can purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard the ship. Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. 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. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. The bar tab functions as a pre-paid onboard credit, which guests can use to purchase drinks on the ship or at the cruise lines private island Beach Club at Bimini. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. For the above reasons, we dont think drink package purchases make sense for most cruisers. 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. Powered by Invision Community. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. Passengers who purchase the drink package should be aware that there is a limit to the number of drinks you can order in a 24-hour time span. Share. 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. This includes all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the brands private island ofGreat Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. When electing to purchase a package, you have to pay for the entire length of the cruise. 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). Cruise ship drink packages are not all-inclusive. Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. Although annoying, it still seemed like we could make good value out of the packages even with the required fee. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. While there is indeed a version of an NCL drink package for purchase thats an. To determine if the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value, there are a few scenarios we will consider. The price is $59.95 per person, per day if bought prior to your cruise or $64.95 per person, per day if bought on the ship. Only spending $978 on alcoholic drinks over the course of the week, we were a far cry from reaching the break even point. anytime you want with Bottomless Bubbles. This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Learn More Free Wi-Fi Do you think the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value? The maximum beverage price covered by the package is $15. Also includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, soda, juices and energy drinks. Yes that happens and then the bar staff gets questioned about if the guest is sharing drinks or drinking to much. 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. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $15. They haven't updated it to say value up to $2048. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. NCL's Unlimited Open Bar Package (formerly known as the Premium Beverage Package or the Ultimate Beverage Package) costs $99.00 per day. 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. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. She is a self-confessed thrill seeker, obsessive planner, and over-packer. For a line-by-line guide to drinks package costs, inclusions, limitations and fine print, scroll to the second half of the guide. Visit our, The drink package promotion applies to the first two guests in the cabin. This drink package includes everything in the Premium beverage package, along with other higher end offerings. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. But no, as of right now theres no set limit. NCL has no drink limit per day with the drink package, whether purchased or as a perk. These have bubbles, but theyre not sparkling water. Just wondering if Norwegian has a similar daily drink limit? Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? These additional inclusions are freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee. Do you usually purchase beverage packages when you cruise? Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. 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. Cost per day: $69, not including a 15% service charge when booked on board. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? There is no service charge on the Australian package. I figured Carnival might put the limit so you don't buy a ton of drinks for friends who are not on the package. It seems by the article that the free at sea drink package would be good enough with no need to upgrade on NCL? Learn More Free Excursions Save $50 per Shore Excursion, Per Stateroom with Shore Excursion Credits. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Celebrity Cruises. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). How Much Do Drinks Cost on a Cruise Ship? So six max-priced drinks would be $90, which is still less than the daily price of the premium package. Guest must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to qualify for the Ultimate Beverage Package. we have been very satisfied with the regular package on most of our cruises. One of the most hotly debated cruise topics are drink packages. Soda packages often are under $10 per person, per day. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Also, all guests in the same cabin over 18 must purchase this package. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. 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. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. It would seem effortless for two people to drink 2-3 adult beverages between the two of them. 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. Once youve done the calculation, its time to decide whether or not the drink package is worth the investment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With the My Drinks Plus package, guests receive premium cocktails, mini bar purchases, prestigious liquor brands, and bottled Corona and Becks. Most drinks packages have a unit cost upper limit of $12-$15 per drink, depending on the cruise line's policy. Those are not free a the rate is higher for the promo. As part of its drinks package price hike on Jan. 1, Norwegian will also raise the cost of a less-expensive drinks package it offers that has a $15 cap on the price level of drinks that can be ordered. Required fields are marked *. Home Cruise Norwegian Cruise Line Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. The package also covers soda and juices at all bars but no other non-alcoholic beverages. When requesting sparkling water, I was offered tonic water or club soda. Carnival also has a time limit between drinks. Drink Packages Drink Packages F A Q s Drink Packages Bottomless Bubbles Enjoy ice-cold refreshments during meals, during shows, during, well. Norwegian Cruise Line do feature a lot of 'speciality dining' options onboard their ships but these have an extra cost. 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? There is no sharing of the NCL drink package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. So, given that it does not include many non-alcoholic items, the Premium beverage package is priced well above its competitors. 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. That means you'll pay $19.80 per person per day or $138.60 per person for the 7-day Pride of America sailing. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. You are charged 18% on the cost of the package when you buy it. 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. The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions. Available on: All ships except those in the Galapagos (where drinks are included in the fare). In addition to its inclusivity, CHEERS! 2-IN-1 LID; Our unique 2-in-1 lid allows you to sip your drinks with the flip up Sip lid, and drink your cold drinks with the Integrated Straw lid, We took your two favorite ways of drinking, and built them into one awesome lid. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. When calculating, dont forget to factor in port days, where you wont be on the cruise ship for the whole day. 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. 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. The best way to determine if a drink package is right for you is to calculate how much you would be spending on drinks. While it is excellent for most people, wine connoisseurs wont be satisfied by the limited selection and beverages by the glass. $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. Some cruise lines have private islands or resorts owned and/or operated by the cruise line. Can a guest upgrade to the unlimited package? Princess Cruises is the only cruise line we know of that doesnt require all passengers sharing a cabin to purchase the drink package. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. For a simple estimation, figure out what drinks you will consume (beer, wine, soda, whiskey) and how many drinks you will consume daily. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. That said Norwegian Drink Lists are very good, and they offer a great variety of drinks for everyone to experience. 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. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. The cost of cruise line drinks packages varies widely by line. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 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. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! 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). Package name: Premium Plus Beverage Package. 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. 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. Purchasing alcohol in ships' duty-free shop(s): Any alcohol purchased in the onboard shops will be stored until the cruise's conclusion. You don't need a drinks package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship. Your email address will not be published. Soda, specialty coffees and other nonalcoholic beverages already are included in the fare on Windstar sailings. Another upgrade to this plan is the availability of select bottles of wine at dinner. This is the standard alcohol package offered by Norwegian Cruise Line. Through the promotion, guests can receive a free beverage package. There are five different adult beverage packages available on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises. It costs $54.95 per day. Be the first to rate this post. Plus Ups are excluded. Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $13. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time. You can not purchase just select days. 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. And, the, Couldnt that person just get some type of soda package? Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. If youre looking to save money, its best to purchase the drink package before you set sail. Most cruise lines will not limit the drinks you can get when you have a drink package. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. 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. 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. I have been lucky enough to travel on multiple continents, as well as several cruise lines. 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. Planning a cruise? It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. Thus, purchasing a case of water at $44.95 ($6.42 broken down per day) and 2 specialty beverages at $9-10 total, we would not reach the $29 per person, per day fee associated with upgrading. Please note: We are looking at packages that include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The limit only applies to alcoholic beverages, so feel free to order unlimited soda, juice, and specialty coffee. Carnivals CHEERS! Does the Drink Package Include Gratuities? Happy cruisingCheers! If youre planning on purchasing the drink package, the Princess Plus fare is an excellent way to save money. Here are some of the risks. 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. 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 Click here for information on drink packages. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. The limit is on the price of $15/drink, not on how many drinks one can have. BIGGER & BETTER NEW HUGE 40oz BEAST has arrived! This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drinks package. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. Cheers to all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and soft drinks. Unfortunately, Norwegians Harvest Caye, Carnivals Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays dont allow the use of your drink package in port. That is the only reason I would think they would do that. If you forgo the beverage package, you can simply pay for each drink. 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. Also for a limited time only, get up to 300 per person Airfare Credit on select Cruises. The package has limited options compared to the Premium package and only covers drinks served by the glass, up to $9 per drink. Complimentary drinks are available at the Latitudes (past passenger) cocktail party. Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package. 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;. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. Although you need to be aware of the limit, we dont think most passengers will reach it. Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. I have bought a drink package on Viking River Cruises. *Based on a 7-night cruise, balcony & above. By Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. Started August 27, 2021, By So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. Then there were days where we only had 2 drinks each for the entire day. Once on board, you will often purchase the drink package during the first two days of sailing. Weve seen similar promotions offering a $100 top-up. DOUBLE WALL VACUUM INSULATED TECHNOLOGY: This tumbler can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and keep hot for at least 6 hours. Category Bottled Water (1 liter) Price $5.00 Total 0 Costs $0.00. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? That is, of course, an enormous number more than most people will ever want to order. And again, thats if you are drinking the more expensive drinks and cocktails. Norwegian has no daily limit on the amount of alcohol in its drink packages. The 15% service charge is waived when pre-booking the package. Coffee shops are available onboard as well, and the drink package includes a variety of them.