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. Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Heres everything you need to know to help you decide if the drink package is worth it on a cruise. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. Does the Drink Package Include Gratuities? The drink value can be up to and including $15 USD. 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. There's no daily limit to the number of drinks you can order on Norwegian Cruise Line. Non-Refundable. Purchasing alcohol in ships' duty-free shop(s): Any alcohol purchased in the onboard shops will be stored until the cruise's conclusion. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Explore more of the shore with $50 USD Discount Per Port Shore Excursions. Soda 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). By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Technically, you are not supposed to use your package to buy drinks for other people. No actually it is what the UBP would cost for 16 days for two people (at the previous rate of $59/day). The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. And that would have to be 7 drinks actually consumed on the ship itself. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. 19 Secret Codes on Cruise Ships That You Need to Know, Virgin Voyages Partners with Sustainable Marine Fuel Providers, D23: Disney Treasure, Lighthouse Point, and Australia, Carnival Celebration Begins First Set of Sea Trials, Oceania Cruises New 180-Day World Cruise And Grand Voyages, Easy Package $38 per person per day with select drinks, Easy Plus $49 per person per day with a $9 per drink limit, Premium Extra $69 per person per day with a $15 per drink limit. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. This brings us back to the original question, is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package a good value? The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package, priced at $65 per day, includes beer, wines by the glass priced up to $15, soda and juices. Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. Visit our, The drink package promotion applies to the first two guests in the cabin. Some cruise lines have private islands or resorts owned and/or operated by the cruise line. This happens for every drink you have on the package. The Premium Plus beverage package is currently priced at $128 per person, per day. Cruise lines will often offer discounts if you buy the drink package before you sail. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Cost per day: $63 to $89, not including an 18% gratuity charge (pricing varies by ship and itinerary). In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. One of the most hotly debated cruise topics are drink packages. The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions. Elevate your cruise experience with our widest beverage selection onboard, more specialty dining, unlimited Wi-Fi and more shore excursion credits. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring alcohol on the cruise ship one or two bottles of wine or champagne. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. 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. An upgrade beverage package is rarely needed if you sail with any of these cruise lines. That said Norwegian Drink Lists are very good, and they offer a great variety of drinks for everyone to experience. Happy cruisingCheers! Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? 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). Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. The Classic Package has a value of $70.80 per person per day, including the service charge. Thats because while youre shopping or taking part in an exciting shore excursion, you wont be using the beverage package. But hurry, this limited-time offer won't last long. They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. Sharing is explicitly prohibited. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package is good almost everywhere. It costs $54.95 per day. In total, we drank 76 drinks that were included in theNorwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package. Further, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. Your email address will not be published. As a rough estimate, cocktails and wine cost about $10-12 each, beer costs approximately $6-8 each, and sodas, bottled water, energy drinks, and specialty coffees and teas are between $3-6 each. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Bartenders and bar servers receive a portion of your tips, so they want to make sure you're having a good time. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20. But for those who regularly order several alcoholic drinks a day when cruising, there's a way to save: a flat-fee drinks package. So you pay the gratuities upfront. Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Beer and liquor is not allowed -- items will be secured until disembarkation day. I am passionate about sharing my experience with readers. Available on: All ships except Pride of America. CC Help Jenn 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. To complete these analyses, we tracked all of our beverages consumed over a 7-day cruise. Your Cabin Mate Has Different Drinking Habits Than You. You cant purchase the drink package for individual days or portions of the cruise. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. A: If a guest wishes to upgrade to the Prestige Select package which includes unlimited premium spirits, champagne, wine and beer, they may do so once on board for an additional charge of $20 per person per day. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. People who want to drink without breaking the bank and enjoy a variety of drinks without . If you wait until youre on the ship to purchase the package, be prepared to pay full price. Share. New Holland America Line West Coast Cruises Just Released! 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. Cost per day: $84, not including a 20% automatic gratuity charge, for passengers who have purchased a cruise-only rate. The cruiseline has partnered with JUST Goods Water, replacing single-use plastic bottles with a plant-based carton. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. You guessed it, you have to pay 20% gratuity on the free soda packages as well. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. Carnivals CHEERS! While it is excellent for most people, wine connoisseurs wont be satisfied by the limited selection and beverages by the glass. 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 Adult Soda Package is $7.95 per day plus gratuity of $1.59 for a total of $9.54 per day. Even if you receive a drink package with the cruise lines Free at Sea promotion, you are still responsible to pay this 20% gratuity. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship bar, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service. It also includes fountain soda, juice, and non-alcoholic beer. 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. 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. The beverage package for Princess Plus used to be called Premier Beverage Package. includes nearly all of the beverages onboard Carnival cruise ships. Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. 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. Complimentary drinks are available at the Latitudes (past passenger) cocktail party. So as long as you don't share and behave yourself you can drink as much as you want. Plus Ups are excluded. However, drink packages do not work at Harvest Caye, Belize. There are also a number of other restrictions to bear in mind before diving in and booking that booze-inclusive package. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay. You can not purchase just select days. Starbucks does not have an active drink package. The 15% service charge is waived when pre-booking the package. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. 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. With the high price of the package and price restrictions on included beverages, youll need to purchase 6-8 alcoholic beverages every day to break even. Unlike theCarnival Cheers Programwhich limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCLs drink packages are truly unlimited. DOUBLE WALL VACUUM INSULATED TECHNOLOGY: This tumbler can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and keep hot for at least 6 hours. A wine bottle package also is available. Other packages: Celebrity also offers a less inclusive classic drinks package that now is included in the fare for its sailings as part of its new Always Included fare structure. 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. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. 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. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. Check here before booking an award fare. TPG values it at $1,600. These additional inclusions are freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee. At checkout, you will be charged gratuities on the drink package, usually between 15-20%. Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml. The limit is on the price of $15/drink, not on how many drinks one can have. Learn more. Read on for the answers in this ultimate guide to cruise line drinks packages. The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. What's included in a cruise line drinks package and how do they work? In fact, we would have actually lost $685.20 compared to just paying out of pocket for all our alcoholic beverages. That is the only reason I would think they would do that. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. How Much Do Drinks Cost on a Cruise Ship? This is a significant consideration for whether the beverage package is worth it. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. don't-use-real-name 6.1k February 4, 2010 Bloomington MN USA #7 Posted July 4, 2019 There is no. The main dining room and buffet are free on all ships in the fleet and there is usually another free option such as a bar/pub. Related Post: Guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package. The 24-hour period runs from 6 am-6 am. Absolutely not! Most cruise lines require all guests sharing a cabin to purchase the same beverage plan to prevent sharing between friends and family. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. The package does NOT work at Harvest Caye. The package also brings a 15% discount on wine bottles and premium beverages costing more than $15 that arent included in the package. Yes! I have bought a drink package on Viking River Cruises. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. Cruise line drinks packages generally are honored anywhere you can order a drink on a ship think bars, lounges and eateries. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? 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. Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. 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. To find out more, please. They haven't updated it to say value up to $2048. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Related: Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. . If you purchase the drink package, you will be charged for every day you are on vacation, even when you spend the day in port. 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. 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). Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. More expensive bottles come with a 20% discount. Heres Your Answer! Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package. Unlike drink packages on many other cruise lines, Norwegian's Free Open Bar doesn't include specialty coffees or bottled water. Is There a Limit to the Number of Drinks You Can Buy? I have been lucky enough to travel on multiple continents, as well as several cruise lines. Yes. LauraS The only limit is your own personal weakness and self doubt about having just one more beverage. No votes so far! 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. A 20% service charge is added to your purchase at checkout. Food & Drink Norwegian Cruise Line Drinks Packages Norwegian Joy NCL Drinks. drink package is one of the most inclusive packages on our list. 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. And if you are in a warm climate, such as the Mediterranean, Australia, or the Caribbean, you may want to bring water with you as you explore the ports of call. You still have to pay the 18% gratuities on the list price of the drink package in advance. 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*. It adds up and allows us to cruise more. 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. That's unlimited wine, soda, beer and cocktails priced under $15. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Learn more. When Should You Get The Drink Package On a Cruise? 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. 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. If we had purchased the Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package out of pocket, it would have cost us $1663.20 total. Yes. And some also offer wine-specific packages. Started June 21, 2021, By Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Two lines that notably don't have such a rule are Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises. For a simple estimation, figure out what drinks you will consume (beer, wine, soda, whiskey) and how many drinks you will consume daily. *Based on a 7-night cruise, balcony & above. 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. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. Only one beverage serving, per sticker, will be served at a time. Norwegian recently updated its beverage package selection and added a new package option. Some cruise lines offer a classic soda package or non-alcoholic drink package, which we wont cover in this article. All lattes and cappuccinos incurred a charge. Soda, bottled water and specialty coffees already are included in the fare on Oceania sailings. In this post, we complete an analysis to answer the question, Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?. The drinks package included in Princess Plus is now called Plus Beverage Package. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Fine print: Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day. Every time you book a cruise you have one very important decision to make: "Should I get the cruise drinks package or not?". I figured Carnival might put the limit so you don't buy a ton of drinks for friends who are not on the package. A relatively newer offering, the Premium Plus beverage package is the most all-inclusive option of the NCL drink packages. All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. 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. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! Drinks ordered through room service also arent included. 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. So six max-priced drinks would be $90, which is still less than the daily price of the premium package. Drop us an anchor below with your analysis of this beverage program. 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. Soda packages often are under $10 per person, per day. anytime you want with Bottomless Bubbles. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Alternatively, passengers can choose the Elevate cruise fare, which includes the Premium Beverage Package and a shore excursion credit for $20 per person per day. These have bubbles, but theyre not sparkling water. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Thats because most cruise ship ports are independent of the cruise line. I plan on setting a record with most drinks consumed using the UBP! She is a self-confessed thrill seeker, obsessive planner, and over-packer. Yes. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. It is a good idea to keep track of your spending because all those drinks can and will add up. Thats because the package price is $3 cheaper per person per day if purchased before embarkation day. Further, most drink packages have a price limit for drinks. Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! You would only start to see a price break once you consumed your 7th max-price drink of the 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. So, unless you and your cabin mate can consistently drink 11+ alcoholic beverages a day, then it would not be worth buying the Norwegian Cruise Line drink package. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases. CC Help Jenn Your analysis is not very useful without the list of brands excluded (or included), which seems to be permanently unavailable. I've cruised with Carnival before and with their drink package, they have a 15 drink limit per day. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! Carnival also has a time limit between drinks. Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. 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. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. Both cruise lines have a 15-drink limit per 24 hours on alcoholic beverages. And again, thats if you are drinking the more expensive drinks and cocktails. I hope you order your liver transplant before you leave!! Related Post: Best Cruise Lines for Families. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. 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. Once youve done the calculation, its time to decide whether or not the drink package is worth the investment. All qualifying individuals in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment must purchase one. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Enrollment required. 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. Subscribe to receive travel tips delivered straight to your inbox. What it includes: All beverages by the glass (top-shelf spirits, cocktails, beer and wine) and select premium bottles of Champagne and wine. This means less time on the ship to take advantage of that drink package. We dont think the limit will be a problem for most cruise passengers. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! 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. Also, any guests under the age of 21 must purchase a soda package as a substitute. Some cruise lines also let you use your packages when visiting their private islands. It costs $39.95 per day. The Premium beverage package is currently priced at $99 per person, per day. This unlimited soda program le. 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). There is no limit to the number of bottles passengers can bring onboard. The My Drinks package is included in the All Inclusive Rate and includes soft drinks, Draught Heineken, classic cocktails, soda, liquors, and spirits. 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. Below is a list of included beverages. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. Unlike most cruise lines, the price of Royal Caribbeans beverage package varies depending on the individual itinerary. But, that turned out not to be the case. 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. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. Although convenient, cruise line beverage packages are a significant investment for your vacation. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. 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.