To determine if the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value, there are a few scenarios we will consider. 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. Unlike drink packages on many other cruise lines, Norwegian's Free Open Bar doesn't include specialty coffees or bottled water. The limit only applies to alcoholic beverages, so feel free to order unlimited soda, juice, and specialty coffee. The premium package covers nearly every drink served by the glass for up to $15 per drink. So, for a 7 day cruise, you will be assessed a charge of $124.60 for each adult beverage package. As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. 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. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. 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 The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). There is a 5 minute wait between ordering drinks. Youll just have to pay the gratuities. Cruise drinks packages can cost anywhere between 25 and 106 ($30 to $129) per day for all-inclusive alcoholic drinks. Although annoying, it still seemed like we could make good value out of the packages even with the required fee. 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. 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. A 20% service charge is added to your purchase at checkout. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. It adds up and allows us to cruise more. drink package is one of the most inclusive packages on our list. All lattes and cappuccinos incurred a charge. As part of Celebritys Always Included fare, passengers receive the Classic Package with the standard cruise fare. At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. 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. 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. 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. When requesting sparkling water, I was offered tonic water or club soda. When doing the calculations, dont forget to factor in port days. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. 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. 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. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg. Your beverage package will cover a glass of wine as long as it is below the maximum price per drink. Also, all guests in the same cabin over 18 must purchase this package. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. Celebrity Cruises. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? 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. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. As a comparison, on our cruise, the featured cocktail of the day was $8.95. Here are some of the risks. Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml.. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. LauraS Unlike the majority of cruise lines, Virgin Voyages doesnt offer a traditional drink package. 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. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. The cruise line offers the Unlimited. There are also a number of other restrictions to bear in mind before diving in and booking that booze-inclusive package. Package name: Premium Plus Beverage Package. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. Then again, we may have been having fun but never were out of control. Once youve done the calculation, its time to decide whether or not the drink package is worth the investment. If you forgo the beverage package, you can simply pay for each drink. How Do I Purchase A Drink Package For My Cruise? Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 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. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Some factors to consider are the price of the drink plan, your drinking habits, your cabinmates drinking habits, the cost of individual drinks, and what drinks the cruise fare includes. We've purchased the UBP on each NCL cruise we've been on, and we have never experienced an issue with limits. The average price for beer is around $7.50, and the average for a glass of wine is $9. 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. NCL has no drink limit per day with the drink package, whether purchased or as a perk. Knowing the total cost of the cruise vacation before you set sail is a smart budgeting trick so that you wont be surprised when you receive the bill at the end of your sailing. How much is a glass of wine on Norwegian cruise? Although convenient, cruise line beverage packages are a significant investment for your vacation. Be sure to check the fine print in your particular line's drinks package before placing an order for a drink to your room. 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. Notably, this restriction does not apply to alcoholic beverages so, you could get bottles or cans of beer, but not sodas or water. 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. Hi All - I just booked my first cruise with NCL and am getting the UBP. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community. Have another, we won't tell.*. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. You can not purchase just select days. Fine print: Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day. This beverage package is available as an upgrade to the Free at Sea Premium beverage package option. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. 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. Here are some reasons why a beverage package might be a good idea: If you are new to cruising, you may think that the cruise ships food and drinks are all-inclusive. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. In fact, we would have actually lost $685.20 compared to just paying out of pocket for all our alcoholic beverages. You can not purchase just select days. I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . If you plan to spend the day in port, you wont be consuming as many beverages as you would on sea days. If you decide to purchase the beverage package, booking online ahead of time is better. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. Norwegian Cruise Line do feature a lot of 'speciality dining' options onboard their ships but these have an extra cost. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package is good almost everywhere. People who want to drink without breaking the bank and enjoy a variety of drinks without . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 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. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. Are you ready to embark on your journey to sea the world, one port at a time? That is the only reason I would think they would do that. 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. Sharing is explicitly prohibited. Cheers! A wine bottle package also is available. You don't need a drinks package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship. You cant use the drink package in most ports. So if you feel like purchasing drinks off of the ship, you will have to pay for them. Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $18. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. Note that some cruise lines discount drinks packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and some lines offer periodic sales on their drinks packages online. Costa Cruises offers two drink packages, My Drinks, and My Drinks Plus. Your email address will not be published. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. On Australia cruises, the package costs 113.99 Australian dollars ($76.03) per day. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Basic tiers often just include sodas and bottled water. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! Remember that bartenders and servers will only serve you one drink at a time. So you would have to drink more than 10 of that price level drink, 30oz Blue Tumbler Stainless Steel Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Mug with Straw and Lid, Cleaning Brush for Cold and Hot Beverages, Hydrapeak Roadster 40oz Tumbler with Handle and 2-in-1 Straw Lid, Insulated Leak Proof Double Walled Stainless Steel Coffee Travel Mug - Keeps Cold for 34 Hours or Hot for 10 Hours (Ice), Beast 40 oz Tumbler Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Coffee Ice Cup Double Wall Travel Flask (Matte Black). Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. Can a guest upgrade to the unlimited package? Another upgrade to this plan is the availability of select bottles of wine at dinner. 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. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. Essentially, you will need to decide if you will drink at least $29 a day per person of the additional inclusions. Book today and enjoy 50% Off all cruises! Cruise line drinks packages generally are honored anywhere you can order a drink on a ship think bars, lounges and eateries. That would be a total of $27.60 per day for both people. Note: Final prices will add a 20% gratuity to the cost of the package. You would only start to see a price break once you consumed your 7th max-price drink of the day. . The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. Package name: Silver Spirits Beverage 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. Cruise lines will often offer discounts if you buy the drink package before you sail. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! If you get caught sneaking a drink to a travel companion, you will have your drink package privileges revoked. Below is a list of included beverages. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $15. Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. 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. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or those ordered through room service. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. As you can see from the different scenarios provided above, the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is likely worth it if you are receiving it as an included Free at Sea perk. Norwegian offers guests the option pre-order water and have it delivered to their cabin. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. But, that turned out not to be the case. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Enrollment required. Note: Final prices will add an 18% service charge to the cost of the package. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. Plus, Feel Free to Take All with Premium Beverages, Free Speciality Dining & much more! So as long as you don't share and behave yourself you can drink as much as you want. Yes. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. Depending on the cost of the package, you and your cabinmates will need to drink between 5-10 beverages per day each. If youre still not convinced. When Should You Skip The Drink Package On a Cruise? Also for a limited time only, get up to 300 per person Airfare Credit on select Cruises. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. It would seem effortless for two people to drink 2-3 adult beverages between the two of them. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. 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). Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! With NCL Premium Beverage Packages, you can get a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for as little as $15.00. The My Drinks package is included in the All Inclusive Rate and includes soft drinks, Draught Heineken, classic cocktails, soda, liquors, and spirits. This happens for every drink you have on the package. 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. 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. Unlike most cruise lines, the price of Royal Caribbeans beverage package varies depending on the individual itinerary. By Ginnie6, January 1, 2016 in Norwegian Cruise Line. Unlike some cruise lines, Norwegian doesn't currently have a limit on how many drinks you can have per day with any of their packages. The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass. No, you cannot share the drink package on a cruise. At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service. If the drink package costs more than the amount youd spend on individual drink purchases, then the drink package may cost you more. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. If each stateroom has the same package, the package must be . Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. The even less pricey Easy package only includes a limited number of drinks and is not valid in extra-charge specialty restaurants. It is simple for many cruise . How Much Do Drinks Cost on a Cruise Ship? First, guests must be at least 18 years old at the time of sailing to purchase this package. When calculating, dont forget to factor in port days, where you wont be on the cruise ship for the whole day. Please note: We are looking at packages that include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Powered by Invision Community. So, given that it does not include many non-alcoholic items, the Premium beverage package is priced well above its competitors. Do You Have to Purchase the Drink Package for the Entire Cruise? Especially if you do shots in between beers. If youre looking to save money, its best to purchase the drink package before you set sail. 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. Category Bottled Water (1 liter) Price $5.00 Total 0 Costs $0.00. The cruise was 14 days and the package was called their Silver Spirts package. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. There's a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. That said Norwegian Drink Lists are very good, and they offer a great variety of drinks for everyone to experience. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. These have bubbles, but theyre not sparkling water. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. If we had purchased the Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package out of pocket, it would have cost us $1663.20 total. Related: $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? Purchasing alcohol in ships' duty-free shop(s): Any alcohol purchased in the onboard shops will be stored until the cruise's conclusion. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. Started June 21, 2021, By Your email address will not be published. Happy cruisingCheers! Guests who are 21 or over will receive a, Adult alcoholic beverages generally incur charges in the $8 to $10 arrange. There is no limit to the number of bottles passengers can bring onboard. Absolutely not! 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. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. Cheers to all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and soft drinks. Learn More Free Wi-Fi The price limit of $20 per drink is the highest among cruise lines. An upgrade beverage package is rarely needed if you sail with any of these cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. The Premium Beverage Package covers nearly every onboard drink up to $15 per drink, while the Premium Plus Beverage Package covers all drinks served by the glass, with no limit on the drink price. When considering this option, it is important to note that NCL offers cruisers the ability to purchase a 24-pack of 1L bottles of water for $44.95 on the online cruise planner. In many cases, no. Guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package, Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise, should buy a beverage package on a cruise, easy to go overboard if you are just trying to get your moneys worth, Celebrity Edge Will Be the First Cruise Ship to Sail from the U.S. in June. If you are only drinking a few drinks per day, it is probably cheaper for you to not choose the free at sea promos. Finally, cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, and Princess Cruises Princess Plus already include a beverage package with your cruise fare. I've maxed out once during a sea day. 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.
does norwegian drink package have a limit?
