The package has limited options compared to the Premium package and only covers drinks served by the glass, up to $9 per drink. The beverage package also covers bottled water, so you can grab a bottle on your way off the ship and not worry about finding a local convenience store. 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). I figured Carnival might put the limit so you don't buy a ton of drinks for friends who are not on the package. And if you are traveling with a group, dont even consider using your beverage package on friends in other cabins. 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. Also for a limited time only, get up to 300 per person Airfare Credit on select Cruises. Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. 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. 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. Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. Yes. 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. Prices 6 litre Just Water Package $16.95 12-litre Just Water Package $29.95 24 litre Just Water Package $44.95 Basic tiers often just include sodas and bottled water. Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Deals. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring alcohol on the cruise ship one or two bottles of wine or champagne. The 20% service charge for a 7-day cruise will cost each guest $138.60 for the Premium Beverage package. Remember that bartenders and servers will only serve you one drink at a time. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml. Drop us an anchor below with your analysis of this beverage program. Norwegian Drink Lists! Prices, Menus, and much more You are charged 18% on the cost of the package when you buy it. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Started June 21, 2021, By Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $13. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 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. How Do I Purchase A Drink Package For My Cruise? Unlike drink packages on many other cruise lines, Norwegian's Free Open Bar doesn't include specialty coffees or bottled water. Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. Do you usually purchase beverage packages when you cruise? Absolutely not! Another upgrade to this plan is the availability of select bottles of wine at dinner. How Much Do Drinks Cost on a Cruise Ship? Of course, staff do have the right to refuse you bar service if you are intoxicated. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. Your Cabin Mate Has Different Drinking Habits Than You. Related: $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? Learn More Free Wi-Fi Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. No, you cannot share the drink package on a cruise. In total, we drank 76 drinks that were included in theNorwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package. Just wondering if Norwegian has a similar daily drink limit? All NCL drink packages are priced as per person, per day. 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. I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. Can a guest upgrade to the unlimited package? Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package. The cost was around $300 and it was a very good deal as it worked out to just over $21 a day. The Premium Plus beverage package is currently priced at $128 per person, per day. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. 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. One of the most hotly debated cruise topics are drink packages. Unlike theCarnival Cheers Programwhich limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCLs drink packages are truly unlimited. Related Post: Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise. Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. Other packages: Oceania offers a less expensive House Select package that includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! While it is excellent for most people, wine connoisseurs wont be satisfied by the limited selection and beverages by the glass. The package covers nearly every beverage on the ship up to $13 per drink. With the My Drinks Plus package, guests receive premium cocktails, mini bar purchases, prestigious liquor brands, and bottled Corona and Becks. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! The Norwegian beverage package is an excellent value for those who want to enjoy a lot of drinks for a low price. Read on for the answers in this ultimate guide to cruise line drinks packages. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. 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. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Carnival has a 15-drink limit on alcoholic beverages purchased between 6 am, and 6 am. At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. Would you pay $138 per day for a drinks package on a cruise ship? That Related: Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? To complete these analyses, we tracked all of our beverages consumed over a 7-day cruise. The cruiseline has partnered with JUST Goods Water, replacing single-use plastic bottles with a plant-based carton. 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. Ultimate Beverage Package - limits? Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. This gratuity is added to the total cruise fare at the time of booking. New Holland America Line West Coast Cruises Just Released! 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. Princess Cruises Drinks Packages Guide - Cruise The Waves To find out more, please. A few friends of mine have, and really liked the food and the overall cruise. Luckily, the cruise line runs the Free at Sea promotion so frequently that we dont really ever have to worry about this scenario. Related: These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. But, that turned out not to be the case. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. Instead, guests can pre-purchase Virgin Voyages Bar Tab. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. When you order drinks from a US port, you will be charged an additional tax. This happens for every drink you have on the package. Only one beverage serving, per sticker, will be served at a time. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. What Drinks Are Free On Norwegian Cruise Lines? - Elite Cruises 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. Note: Final prices will add an 18% service charge to the cost of 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). See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. The ultimate guide to taking a cruise now - Elliott Report How Norwegian Cruise Line's Drink Packages Work 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. Below is a list of included beverages. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 15 $ limit is nice for a free at sea. . In fact, we would have actually lost $685.20 compared to just paying out of pocket for all our alcoholic beverages. Drinks ordered through room service also arent included. PDF OLife Choice - Things to Know - Oceania Cruises Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. If the drink package costs more than the amount youd spend on individual drink purchases, then the drink package may cost you more. Check here before booking an award fare. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? First, guests must be at least 18 years old at the time of sailing to purchase this package. 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. You will not be limited by the number of drinks you can consume with any of the Norwegian cruise line drink packages because there is no limit. You cant purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise. There, no need to be a cheap drunk to make it worthwhile. Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. If you decide to purchase a drink package on your cruise, you will have to purchase it for every day of the vacation. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. For these passengers, the uncertainty of the running bar tab creates too much stress when you should be relaxing. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails. Other brands, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, charge as much as $138 per person, per day for a top-tier package. Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. 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. At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. Drink Packages | Sodas, Beers, Spirits and More | Carnival Cruise Line Both cruise lines have a 15-drink limit per 24 hours on alcoholic beverages. BTW, if you are on Breakaway class ship, the outdoor venues are a lot of fun. Several of the biggest cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America and MSC Cruises, have a rule that if one adult in a cabin orders a drinks package, all adults in the cabin must order the package. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. 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). The package also brings a 30% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles costing up to $100. I have bought a drink package on Viking River Cruises. Virgin Voyages will top up the amount when guests pre-purchase the Bar Tab before sailing. 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. What's included in a cruise line drinks package and how do they work? It costs $39.95 per day. Followers 10. There are five different adult beverage packages available on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises. And unless you have premium tastes, your favorite liquors will be included. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. Plus Ups are excluded. Drinks served in souvenir glassware and specialty beers are not covered by the package, nor are beverages served inside licensed Starbucks stores on ships. Just kidding around, but that would be a hard thing to accomplish. She is always looking for the latest and greatest adventures onboard and ashore, enjoys researching top things to do in ports of call, and loves dressing up for formal nights. On Australia cruises, the package costs 113.99 Australian dollars ($76.03) per day. Costa Cruises offers two drink packages, My Drinks, and My Drinks Plus. The exclusions list will vary among cruise lines but typically doesnt include mini bar purchases, room service, bottles of wine or liquor, pitchers, buckets, sharable drinks, or drinks served in a souvenir cup. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. I am passionate about sharing my experience with readers. In this post, we complete an analysis to answer the question, Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $18. And, perhaps more to the point, how much do cruise line drinks packages cost? I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. By Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. Purchasing alcohol in ships' duty-free shop(s): Any alcohol purchased in the onboard shops will be stored until the cruise's conclusion. I got the drink package as a perk, for me it will be worth it as I do like to drink well on vacation. Your email address will not be published. No votes so far! 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. Heres Your Answer! And, the, Couldnt that person just get some type of soda package? Welcome Aboard! Note that the package is valid on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises private island in the Bahamas. I love to travel, see new places, and meet new people. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. In addition to that, it consists of non-alcoholic beer, juice, and fountain soda and juice. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. 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. For the above reasons, we dont think drink package purchases make sense for most cruisers. Cruise ship drink packages are not all-inclusive. All qualifying individuals in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment must purchase one. Further, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. Note that the pricing listed is per person, per day. Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or shipboard wine-dispensing machines. Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $12. 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. Make sure you consider the reduced consumption during port days to estimate your drink expenses better. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20. Note: Final prices will add a gratuity to the cost of the package. Typical drinks are much less than that. What You Need To Know About That "Free" NCL Drink Package has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. There are also a number of other restrictions to bear in mind before diving in and booking that booze-inclusive package. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. Those are not free a the rate is higher for the promo. You can not purchase just select days. Ultimately, you need to know your own drinking habits (and your cabin mates). If you would spend more money purchasing individual drinks than the cost of the package, then the drink package is worth it for you. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. 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. Most cruise lines require every adult in a cabin to purchase the same drink package. Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights with the exception of South America sailings. 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. NCL Drinks Packages: Worth It or Not? (2022) - Cruise Mummy *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. You'll notice it doesn't mention a daily limit. The Premium beverage package is currently priced at $99 per person, per day. Generally speaking, we each drink about 2 non-alcoholic specialty drinks a day plus bottled water. 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. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. In cases where a line offers more than one drinks package, weve highlighted the most inclusive package in detail while also noting other packages cruisers can consider. You Want More than Just Water, Coffee, and Tea. 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. Further, most drink packages have a price limit for drinks. All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. Youll just have to pay the gratuities. Soda packages often are under $10 per person, per day. Norwegian's Free at Sea: The Ultimate Guide - Should Be Cruising Package name: Premium Plus Beverage Package. 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. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. This means less time on the ship to take advantage of that drink package. Please note: We are looking at packages that include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Of course, this number of drinks varies slightly based on your drink preferences. It would seem effortless for two people to drink 2-3 adult beverages between the two of them. Unlike most cruise lines, the price of Royal Caribbeans beverage package varies depending on the individual itinerary. Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. 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. In 2021, MSC Cruises updated its drink package offerings, giving passengers a choice between 3 new packages. While there is indeed a version of an NCL drink package for purchase thats an. No actually it is what the UBP would cost for 16 days for two people (at the previous rate of $59/day). It costs $38 per day. Trust us; you dont want to spend all that money on a beverage package to have it taken away. These additional inclusions are freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee. That means you'll pay $19.80 per person per day or $138.60 per person for the 7-day Pride of America sailing. The cost of alcoholic drinks on cruise vessels particularly cocktails can be pricey. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. It costs $54.95 per day. The cruise was 14 days and the package was called their Silver Spirts package. Bottles or cans of any non-alcoholic beverage. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. 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). While marketed as a limited-time promotion, we often find the promotion available more often than not. Heres everything you need to know to help you decide if the drink package is worth it on a cruise. A Norwegian law requires you to be at least 18 years old to purchase wine or beer. Celebrity Cruises. You can not purchase just select days. 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. Included with the package, guests have access to wines by the glass, beer, spirits, cocktails, bottled water (500 ml only), fresh juices, fountain sodas, specialty coffees and teas, Red Bull energy drinks, and milkshakes up to $12 per drink. I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Weve even seen discounts of up to 40% off! The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. Breakfast lunch and dinner are all included on cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. So six max-priced drinks would be $90, which is still less than the daily price of the premium package. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship 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. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. Purchasing alcohol in port: Same rules as above apply for wine and Champagne; all other alcohol will be retained until the end of the cruise. More elaborate (and expensive) tiers will add alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails, wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks. 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. In many cases, no. 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. 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.