It adds up and allows us to cruise more. The Cost of Drinking on a Cruise - Cruisewatch In those instances, a parent or legal guardian must be onboard the sailing with the minor and sign a waiver form at the front desk. Available on: All ships except those in the Galapagos (where drinks are included in the fare). A NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package, which includes 20% gratuities, is available for $138 per person per day. 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. Most cruise lines require all guests sharing a cabin to purchase the same beverage plan to prevent sharing between friends and family. The 20% service charge for a 7-day cruise will cost each guest $138.60 for the Premium Beverage package. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. If you wait until youre on the ship to purchase the package, be prepared to pay full price. You can not purchase just select days. drink package is one of the most inclusive packages on our list. Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. All major cruise lines will let you buy drinks on an a la carte basis when cruising. Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages: What's Included and is it 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. When you pay-as-you-go, you will get the final bill at the end of your cruise. 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. It is simple for many cruise . What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. 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. And if you are traveling with a group, dont even consider using your beverage package on friends in other cabins. 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. Rules vary among cruise lines, but generally, if one adult purchases the drink package, all adults sharing the cabin must also purchase the same beverage plan. $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. Related Post: Guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. The best way to determine if a drink package is right for you is to calculate how much you would be spending on drinks. Cost per day: $69, not including a 15% service charge when booked on board. Drop us an anchor below with your analysis of this beverage program. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? Soda packages often are under $10 per person, per day. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love, If you consistently drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day, then you will get a lot of value from the (almost) free, This post may contain affiliate links that could result in payment of a commission to this website (at no additional cost to you). What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass. 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. Related Post: Best Cruise Lines for Families. Here are some of the risks. This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drinks package. The 15% service charge is waived when pre-booking the package. 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). If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Also, all guests in the same cabin over 18 must purchase this package. Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. There is a 5 minute wait between ordering drinks. What's Not Included in the Unlimited Open Bar Package? Cost per day: $128, not including a 20% gratuity charge (effective Jan. 1, 2023, pricing will rise to $138). All lattes and cappuccinos incurred a charge. Learn more. NCL Drinks Packages: Worth It or Not? (2022) - Cruise Mummy Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. You can choose from three different beverage options; Champagne & Bubbly, Premium Wine Selection, and Signature Cocktails. If the Classic Beverage Package isnt enough, passengers can upgrade to the Premium Drinks Package at an additional cost of $12 per person per day. Through the promotion, guests can receive a free beverage package. Basic tiers often just include sodas and bottled water. 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. 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. Food & Drink Norwegian Cruise Line Drinks Packages Norwegian Joy NCL Drinks. Unlimited Starbucks for $12.95/day + 20% gratuity. Below is a list of included beverages. 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*. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. The Free Open Bar is likely the top pick for many from Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. I've maxed out once during a sea day. Soda Package. Fine print: If one passenger in a cabin purchases a package, everyone in the same cabin as well as other cabins tied to the same method of payment must purchase the package, too. It would seem effortless for two people to drink 2-3 adult beverages between the two of them. Note: Final prices will add a 15% gratuity to the cost of the package. It's actually kind of easy. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Every time you book a cruise you have one very important decision to make: "Should I get the cruise drinks package or not?". 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. If so, you may be able to use your beverage package off of the ship. Free At Sea Plus, the ultimate holiday upgrade in one package. Do you think the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value? Premier Beverage Package - $59.99 The Premier Beverage Package on Princess includes unlimited premium beverages and snacks throughout the cruise. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Norwegian Introduces Unlimited Starbucks Package Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? You can purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard the ship. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions. The cost per day was over $57, which in my opinion isnt a great deal. 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. Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. 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. A wine bottle package also is available. 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. Most cruise lines require every adult in a cabin to purchase the same drink package. They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. As a comparison, on our cruise, the featured cocktail of the day was $8.95. 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. The premium package covers nearly every drink served by the glass for up to $15 per drink. It costs $54.95 per day. Happy cruisingCheers! Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. Although you need to be aware of the limit, we dont think most passengers will reach it. Cruise ship drink packages are not all-inclusive. The beverage package includes a selection of hot drinks such as Vergnano coffee, cappuccino, herbal teas, and hot chocolate. Yes. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. In many cases, no. 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. 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). Absolutely not! For the above reasons, we dont think drink package purchases make sense for most cruisers. And, the, Couldnt that person just get some type of soda package? Learn more. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. As a bonus, guests can take advantage of the Princess Cruises Princess Plus fare, which includes the Premier Beverage Package, unlimited WiFi for one device, and daily gratuities. Those are not free a the rate is higher for the promo. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I bought a drink package on RCCL, three years ago for around $400.. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. This beverage package is available as an upgrade to the Free at Sea Premium beverage package option. Cost per day: $59.95, including gratuities. 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. 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. Premium Beverage Package - Starting at the hefty price of $99 per day (plus 20% service charge), Norwegian 's Premium Beverage Package includes any wines, beers or cocktails priced at $15 or less per glass. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Youll just have to pay the gratuities. Just kidding around, but that would be a hard thing to accomplish. Which Cruise Lines Offer Free Drink Packages 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. Does Norwegian have a drink limit? 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. The Premium beverage package is currently priced at $99 per person, per day. There, no need to be a cheap drunk to make it worthwhile. Stay connected whilst at sea with an Internet Package you can use throughout the ship. 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. There is no sharing of the NCL drink package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. If you plan to spend the day in port, you wont be consuming as many beverages as you would on sea days. Free Unlimited Open Bar Save up to $1,400 on all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice and soda Learn More Free Specialty Dining Save up to $180 and savor free meals at our Specialty Dining venues. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. This drink package includes everything in the Premium beverage package, along with other higher end offerings. Virgin Voyages will top up the amount when guests pre-purchase the Bar Tab before sailing. And again, thats if you are drinking the more expensive drinks and cocktails. Other packages: The less costly Topmast Discoveries Beer and Wine Package, at $49 per day, includes a choice of beers and premium wines but not spirits and cocktails. Heres Your Answer! Most individual drink prices covered by the beverage package vary between $5 to $15 per day. NCL's Hawaii Beverage Package: A Complete Guide - Prof. Cruise So you pay the gratuities upfront. I hope you order your liver transplant before you leave!! Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20. I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. Click here for information on drink packages. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. Carnivals CHEERS! The Legal Drinking Age And Alcohol Laws In Norway Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. Your email address will not be published. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic 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. Soda, bottled water and specialty coffees already are included in the fare on Oceania sailings. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Although most cruise lines dont have a specified drink limit, bartenders will cut you off from ordering more drinks if youre intoxicated. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. Note that the package is valid on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises private island in the Bahamas. 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. Even if you receive a drink package with the cruise lines Free at Sea promotion, you are still responsible to pay this 20% gratuity. How Much Do Drinks Cost on a Cruise Ship? There's never been a better time to book your dream cruise. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. Package name: Premium Drink Package. But remember, you will have to purchase the package for every adult in the cabin, even if they dont plan on drinking. 15 $ limit is nice for a free at sea. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package was formerly known as the Ultimate Beverage Package. Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Beer and liquor is not allowed -- items will be secured until disembarkation day. Its easy to go overboard if you are just trying to get your moneys worth from the drink package. No matter what package you purchase, you can order two beverages per person, per transaction. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. Drinks over $15 (you'll pay the difference) So six max-priced drinks would be $90, which is still less than the daily price of the premium package. At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. This Is What You Need To Plan The Best Cruise With A Baby, How To Plan Awesome Family Cruise Shore Excursions Youll Love. 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. Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. In addition to its inclusivity, CHEERS! I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. On port intensive cruises, like the Mediterranean, you might find yourself spending long days ashore. Yes! This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. This happens for every drink you have on the package. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free. We save on the average of $800 when we choose a regular balcony over the free at sea balcony. Celebrity Cruises. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Available on: All ships except those sailing in Europe or Australia. The package is not valid on Holland Americas private island, Half Moon Cay. When Should You Get The Drink Package On a Cruise? NCL Standard Drinks Menu & Packages - Norwegian Cruise Line 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? If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. Additionally, package holders receive a 40% discount on wines priced up to $100 and a 20% discount on wines priced above $100. You must purchase a Norwegian drink package for the entire length of the cruise. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. It costs $49 per day when sailing in North America (pricing will rise to $51 per day in October). All NCL drink packages are priced as per person, per day. Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package, Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package, Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages, Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package, Cruise Ship Anchors: Everything You Need to Know, Royal Caribbean RoyalUp (Guide to Upgrading Your Cabin). This website uses cookies. Unlike most other cruise lines drink packages, this alcoholic beverage package also does not include any premium non-alcoholic drinks. That said, many cruise lines will allow you to use the drink package on their private islands. Sharing is explicitly prohibited. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. Offering unprecedented capacity. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package, normally $5.95-$7.95 per day. The alternate package is the "Premium Plus Beverage Package." Priced at $138 per day, this is Norwegian's most expensive and highest-end package. Q: The included beverage package is the House Select. Are You Confused by the Cruise Lines' Beverage Packages? Breakfast lunch and dinner are all included on cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. Luckily, the cruise line runs the Free at Sea promotion so frequently that we dont really ever have to worry about this scenario. The stated prices do not include the additional 20% service charge which is added when purchasing the package. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Explore The Wide Selection Of Beers On Norwegian Cruise Line Ships I got the drink package as a perk, for me it will be worth it as I do like to drink well on vacation. 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. When calculating, dont forget to factor in port days, where you wont be on the cruise ship for the whole day. includes nearly all of the beverages onboard Carnival cruise ships. 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. Please note: We are looking at packages that include both alcoholic and 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. Check here before booking an award fare. Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. To find out more, please. NCL Drink Packages Complete Guide (2023) - EatSleepCruise.com This brings us back to the original question, is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package a good value? Cost per day: $19.95, including gratuities. Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . 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. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Norwegian Cruise Line do feature a lot of 'speciality dining' options onboard their ships but these have an extra cost. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. One of the most hotly debated cruise topics are drink packages. But for those who regularly order several alcoholic drinks a day when cruising, there's a way to save: a flat-fee drinks package. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 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. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. They haven't updated it to say value up to $2048. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml. While there is indeed a version of an NCL drink package for purchase thats an. Remember that once you are on board, the price tends to be pretty expensive. Some cruise lines have private islands or resorts owned and/or operated by the cruise line. Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package. It also does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, or Ice Bars. That is the only reason I would think they would do that. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line Drops a Drink Package Norwegian charges the most for its drink packages and those prices have actually recently gone up. Weve seen similar promotions offering a $100 top-up. Heres everything you need to know to help you decide if the drink package is worth it on a cruise. Welcome Aboard! No votes so far! 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. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. In fact, we would have actually lost $685.20 compared to just paying out of pocket for all our alcoholic beverages. 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? The package also brings a 15% discount on wine bottles and premium beverages costing more than $15 that arent included in the package. The cost was around $300 and it was a very good deal as it worked out to just over $21 a day. Now hold even more of your favorite beverage at the perfect temperature for longer. Be the first to rate this post. Norwegian has no daily limit on the amount of alcohol in its drink packages. 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. 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).