Instead, guests can pre-purchase Virgin Voyages Bar Tab. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. 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. Cruise line drinks packages generally are honored anywhere you can order a drink on a ship think bars, lounges and eateries. Below is a list of included beverages. The package covers nearly every beverage on the ship up to $13 per drink. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Ultimately, you need to know your own drinking habits (and your cabin mates). . Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". Package name: Silver Spirits Beverage Package. For a full list of included beverages, seehere. You cant purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise. Package name: Premium Drink Package. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Although you need to be aware of the limit, we dont think most passengers will reach it. Limitations related to drink cost: None. 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. Share. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. And if you wait until the second day, you will still be paying for the first two days of sailing, even though you didnt use the package. Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! Also, any guests under the age of 21 must purchase a soda package as a substitute. Norwegian's Free at Sea: The Ultimate Guide - Should Be Cruising It also does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, or Ice Bars. And some also offer wine-specific packages. If you forgo the beverage package, you can simply pay for each drink. The Free Open Bar is likely the top pick for many from Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. Here's what you get: Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15 USD (such as Patron Silver, Grey Goose and more) A variety of beer and wine by the glass under $15 USD 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine After all, at $109 a day plus a 20 percent gratuity, the Norwegian Ultimate Beverage Package only covers drinks which come in at under $15 (as opposed to the $50 cap on Carnival), and does. The package also brings a 30% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles costing up to $100. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. I've cruised with Carnival before and with their drink package, they have a 15 drink limit per day. Generally speaking, we each drink about 2 non-alcoholic specialty drinks a day plus bottled water. Related Post: Best Cruise Lines for Families. As part of Celebritys Always Included fare, passengers receive the Classic Package with the standard cruise fare. So, given that it does not include many non-alcoholic items, the Premium beverage package is priced well above its competitors. 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). Unlike drink packages on many other cruise lines, Norwegian's Free Open Bar doesn't include specialty coffees or bottled water. Drinks over $15 (you'll pay the difference) Package name: Prestige Select Beverage Package. Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. Soda, bottled water and specialty coffees already are included in the fare on Oceania sailings. Norwegian Non-Alcoholic Drinks and their specialty coffees. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. What You Need To Know About That "Free" NCL Drink Package I am passionate about sharing my experience with readers. You still have to pay the 18% gratuities on the list price of the drink package in advance. Essentially, you will need to decide if you will drink at least $29 a day per person of the additional inclusions. 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. If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Click here for information on drink packages. 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 Classic Package has a value of $70.80 per person per day, including the service charge. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. Everything You Need To Know About Carnival's Drink Package - Cruise Radio In addition to that, it consists of non-alcoholic beer, juice, and fountain soda and juice. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. Note: Final prices will add a 15% gratuity to the cost of the 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;. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. How much is a glass of wine on Norwegian cruise? - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community. You aren't charged for any gratuities when you actually get the drinks. Related: These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising. Princess Cruises is the only cruise line we know of that doesnt require all passengers sharing a cabin to purchase the drink package. All the major mass-market cruise lines offer flat-fee drinks packages that, in some cases, can save you money when cruising. 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. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. In total, five drink packages are available for purchase. Heres Your Answer! For most cruisers, the drink package is simply not worth the price. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. Plus Ups are excluded. Trust us; you dont want to spend all that money on a beverage package to have it taken away. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. You can purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard the ship. Norwegian's Ultimate Beverage Package is currently available as a FREE offer through its Free at Sea Promotion but it is not completely free as it comes with a gratuity charge of 20% which equals $19.80 per person per day, for a week it equals $138.60. 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). As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I bought a drink package on RCCL, three years ago for around $400.. It seems by the article that the free at sea drink package would be good enough with no need to upgrade on NCL? Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package is good almost everywhere. The Premium beverage package is currently priced at $99 per person, per day. Norwegian Cruise Line do feature a lot of 'speciality dining' options onboard their ships but these have an extra cost. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or those ordered through room service. Below is a line-by-line look at available drinks packages at the major lines that offer them. Carnival has a 15-drink limit on alcoholic beverages purchased between 6 am, and 6 am. Some cruise lines also let you use your packages when visiting their private islands. And if you are traveling with a group, dont even consider using your beverage package on friends in other cabins. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases. 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. Your email address will not be published. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. Do Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises Include Meals? - Included Food Guide 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. Especially if you do shots in between beers. Is There a Limit to the Number of Drinks You Can Buy? Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. We dont think the limit will be a problem for most cruise passengers. Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? CC Help Jenn 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Carnival Cruise Line Australia Alcohol Policy, 10 Cruise Alcohol Hacks for Better Drinking on the Cheap. Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. 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. Based on this cost, if you and your cabin mate will drink on average at least 2 alcoholic drinks/day, then the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is worth getting as a free perk. Your email address will not be published. Remember that bartenders and servers will only serve you one drink at a time. 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. The cost of alcoholic drinks on cruise vessels particularly cocktails can be pricey. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. Norwegian Drink Lists! Prices, Menus, and much more What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits, mixed drinks, cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. Cruise ship drinks packages: A line-by-line guide - The Points Guy Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. Discover 9 Top Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love + 5 More For Kids! Of course, staff do have the right to refuse you bar service if you are intoxicated. 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. 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. Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package. The average price for beer is around $7.50, and the average for a glass of wine is $9. Then, we took the average prices for each drink category to determine how much we would have spent on drinks if we paid a la carte for each item. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here are some of the risks. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails (soda, beer and house wines by the glass ordered at lunch and dinner already are included in the fare at Viking; so are specialty coffees and teas at all hours). No, you cannot share the drink package on a cruise. I would buy it again if I went again. What's included in a cruise line drinks package and how do they work? BIGGER & BETTER NEW HUGE 40oz BEAST has arrived! Breakfast lunch and dinner are all included on cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. Note: Final prices will add a 20% gratuity to the cost of the package. Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. But, there is one scenario where you may want to purchase a package even if you wont be saving money. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. When you pay-as-you-go, you will get the final bill at the end of your cruise. The alternate package is the "Premium Plus Beverage Package." Priced at $138 per day, this is Norwegian's most expensive and highest-end package. A Guide to Cruise Line Drink Packages - Cruises - Cruise Critic Please explain how that works when one receives the UDP as a Freestyle Choice perk. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. The line's new Premium-Plus package is the "top beverage offering" of Norwegian and is designed for passengers who love top-shelf liquors. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free. The Truth About Those Expensive Drink Packages Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $15. don't-use-real-name 6.1k February 4, 2010 Bloomington MN USA #7 Posted July 4, 2019 There is no. Explore The Wide Selection Of Beers On Norwegian Cruise Line Ships Drop us an anchor below with your analysis of this beverage program. Absolutely not! 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. The drinks package included in Princess Plus is now called Plus Beverage Package. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. drink package is one of the most inclusive packages on our list. This is a significant consideration for whether the beverage package is worth it. Bartenders and bar servers receive a portion of your tips, so they want to make sure you're having a good time. So if you feel like purchasing drinks off of the ship, you will have to pay for them. Soft drink is served by the glass (16 ounces); juice is served by the glass (10 ounces). NCL Drink Packages Complete Guide (2023) - EatSleepCruise.com 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. Drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks, such as soda packages, typically cost far less. NCL's Hawaii Beverage Package: A Complete Guide - Prof. Cruise But remember, you will have to purchase the package for every adult in the cabin, even if they dont plan on drinking. 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? Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. Planning a cruise? The two major exceptions are Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. You can not purchase just select days. Thats because while youre shopping or taking part in an exciting shore excursion, you wont be using the beverage package. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. 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. These additional inclusions are freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee. When you order drinks from a US port, you will be charged an additional tax. If you decide to purchase a drink package on your cruise, you will have to purchase it for every day of the vacation. When Should You Get The Drink Package On a Cruise? This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Once on board, you will often purchase the drink package during the first two days of sailing. The cost of a cruise ship drink package does not include gratuities. Take your tastebuds on a trip with free meals at our Speciality Dining venues. Unlike most other cruise lines drink packages, this alcoholic beverage package also does not include any premium non-alcoholic drinks. The drink value can be up to and including $15 USD. Yes. Note: Final prices will add an 18% service charge to the cost of the package. Guests who are 21 or over will receive a, Adult alcoholic beverages generally incur charges in the $8 to $10 arrange. Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. The package also covers soda and juices at all bars but no other non-alcoholic beverages. 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. For one flat fee, these cruise ship drink packages offer cruisers the ability to make their cruise more inclusive. To find out more, please. So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. Carnivals CHEERS! In our experience, the drink package on a cruise ship is not worth it for most passengers. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Then again, we may have been having fun but never were out of control. Would you pay $138 per day for a drinks package on a cruise ship? That If you wait until youre on the ship to purchase the package, be prepared to pay full price. Learn More Free Excursions Save $50 per Shore Excursion, Per Stateroom with Shore Excursion Credits. The package also brings a 20% discount to wine-pairing dinners on Oceanias Marina and Riviera. Ultimate Beverage Package - limits? - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise BTW, if you are on Breakaway class ship, the outdoor venues are a lot of fun. 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. 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. This is also the package that guests receive as part of the Free at Sea promotion. Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! Cost per day: $19.95, including gratuities. 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? Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. The package also brings a 25% discount on wine and Champagne bottle purchases. A selection of spirits and cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer with a value of up to $15 US per drink are included in the complimentary beverage package offered by Norwegian. The only limit is your own personal weakness and self doubt about having just one more beverage. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. 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 the drink package costs more than the amount youd spend on individual drink purchases, then the drink package may cost you more. Which Cruise Lines Offer Free Drink Packages This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You wont be charged an additional gratuity when you use the beverage package at the bar or dining room because it is already paid for when you purchase your package. It costs $54.95 per day. That is the only reason I would think they would do that. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package was formerly known as the Ultimate Beverage Package. Welcome Aboard! If youre looking to save money, its best to purchase the drink package before you set sail. In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. It is simple for many cruise . That's not entirely true. Do you usually purchase beverage packages when you cruise? 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. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. This website uses cookies. 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. An upgrade beverage package is rarely needed if you sail with any of these cruise lines. All qualifying individuals in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment must purchase one. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. However, you usually can't use them when ordering room service to your room. There is no sharing of the NCL drink package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. Some people love knowing exactly how much they will spend with the package before stepping on board. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. All NCL drink packages are priced as per person, per day. https://www.ncl.com/terms/ultimate-beverage-package, The Freestyle Choice information has the following:-, The first two guests can enjoy a drink (who are we kidding, drinks) for the whole cruise vacation for free. Have another, we won't tell.*. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. 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. These have bubbles, but theyre not sparkling water. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? I have bought a drink package on Viking River Cruises. 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. Cruise ship drink packages cover sodas, juice, and non-alcoholic beverages. I have no way of knowing if my normal call brand of gin or bourbon is under $15 onboard, or excluded, or even available. 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. Learn More Free Wi-Fi This drink package includes everything in the Premium beverage package, along with other higher end offerings. In total, we drank 76 drinks that were included in theNorwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package. 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. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including.