If you prefer to order a bottle of wine at dinner or want to choose from a selection of high-end wine, they arent included in your drink package. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. Cheers! The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass. Instead, guests can pre-purchase Virgin Voyages Bar Tab. 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. Do you usually purchase beverage packages when you cruise? For most cruisers, the drink package is simply not worth the price. Soda Package. Another upgrade to this plan is the availability of select bottles of wine at dinner. Non-Refundable. One of the most hotly debated cruise topics are drink packages. I believe that your account is debited the cost of the drink; then it is debited the 18% and finally the cost of the drink is credited. 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. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. With the My Drinks Plus package, guests receive premium cocktails, mini bar purchases, prestigious liquor brands, and bottled Corona and Becks. 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. For a simple estimation, figure out what drinks you will consume (beer, wine, soda, whiskey) and how many drinks you will consume daily. 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. All the major mass-market cruise lines offer flat-fee drinks packages that, in some cases, can save you money when cruising. When Should You Skip The Drink Package On a Cruise? If you purchase a drink that costs more than the limit, most cruise lines will only have you pay the difference and the gratuity on the difference. You still have to pay the 18% gratuities on the list price of the drink package in advance. Your analysis is not very useful without the list of brands excluded (or included), which seems to be permanently unavailable. You cant use the drink package in most ports. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. Check here before booking an award fare. Is Starbucks free on Norwegian? Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. Below is a line-by-line look at available drinks packages at the major lines that offer them. Carnival also has a time limit between drinks. When you pay-as-you-go, you will get the final bill at the end of your cruise. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Cost per day: $59.99, including an 18% gratuity charge. 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. 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. Then again, we may have been having fun but never were out of control. The beverage package includes a selection of hot drinks such as Vergnano coffee, cappuccino, herbal teas, and hot chocolate. 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. All NCL drink packages are priced as per person, per day. Of course, if you plan to drink more non-alcoholic specialty drinks or like bottles of wine, then this upgrade might be worth it for you. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? Essentially, you will need to decide if you will drink at least $29 a day per person of the additional inclusions. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. Learn More Free Excursions Save $50 per Shore Excursion, Per Stateroom with Shore Excursion Credits. Once on board, you will often purchase the drink package during the first two days of sailing. The limit only applies to alcoholic beverages, so feel free to order unlimited soda, juice, and specialty coffee. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! Is There a Limit to the Number of Drinks You Can Buy? Q: The included beverage package is the House Select. If we had purchased the Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package out of pocket, it would have cost us $1663.20 total. To complete these analyses, we tracked all of our beverages consumed over a 7-day cruise. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Required fields are marked *. 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. Passengers who purchase the drink package should be aware that there is a limit to the number of drinks you can order in a 24-hour time span. Category Bottled Water (1 liter) Price $5.00 Total 0 Costs $0.00. Related Post: Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise. The package also brings a 20% discount to wine-pairing dinners on Oceanias Marina and Riviera. Learn more. At the time of writing, the cruise line is offering a $50 top-up when guests add $300 to their tab. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. 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*. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. So keep this in mind when you make your decision. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The package does not contain any specialty coffees or . Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Beer and liquor is not allowed -- items will be secured until disembarkation day. Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights with the exception of South America sailings. That said Norwegian Drink Lists are very good, and they offer a great variety of drinks for everyone to experience. This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drinks package. Your Cabin Mate Has Different Drinking Habits Than You. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. This happens for every drink you have on the package. These have bubbles, but theyre not sparkling water. I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . The package also covers soda and juices at all bars but no other non-alcoholic beverages. After looking at this page you should have a good idea if the Norwegian Drink Package is good for you or not. Limitations related to drink cost: None. I've cruised with Carnival before and with their drink package, they have a 15 drink limit per day. Most cruise lines require all guests sharing a cabin to purchase the same beverage plan to prevent sharing between friends and family. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Followers 10. The Plus package is included when passengers book suite accommodations. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay. Youll just have to pay the gratuities. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Of course, staff do have the right to refuse you bar service if you are intoxicated. It depends. Weve even seen discounts of up to 40% off! Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. Powered by Invision Community. 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;. Please explain how that works when one receives the UDP as a Freestyle Choice perk. Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. Premier Beverage Package - $59.99 The Premier Beverage Package on Princess includes unlimited premium beverages and snacks throughout the cruise. Log in. 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. Trust us; you dont want to spend all that money on a beverage package to have it taken away. Every time you book a cruise you have one very important decision to make: "Should I get the cruise drinks package or not?". The cruise was 14 days and the package was called their Silver Spirts package. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. It is a good idea to keep track of your spending because all those drinks can and will add up. There are also a number of other restrictions to bear in mind before diving in and booking that booze-inclusive package. I am passionate about sharing my experience with readers. Depending on the cost of the package, you and your cabinmates will need to drink between 5-10 beverages per day each. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. Virgin Voyages will top up the amount when guests pre-purchase the Bar Tab before sailing. Cruise line drinks packages let you order as many drinks as you want while on a cruise for one flat fee. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. Available on: All ships except Pride of America. A relatively newer offering, the Premium Plus beverage package is the most all-inclusive option of the NCL drink packages. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. Also, any guests under the age of 21 must purchase a soda package as a substitute. 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. A meager time, for sure, but regardless, NCL doesn't have a stated policy. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. Guests can purchase the Premier Beverage Package for $59.99 per person per day. Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package is their top beverage package which covers a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Bottles or cans of any non-alcoholic beverage. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? Norwegian assesses a gratuity charge of $19.80 per person per day for its basic Premium Beverage Package. Drinks served in souvenir glassware and specialty beers are not covered by the package, nor are beverages served inside licensed Starbucks stores on ships. There's a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package. Make sure you consider the reduced consumption during port days to estimate your drink expenses better. It costs $49 per day when sailing in North America (pricing will rise to $51 per day in October). For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, and flights, guests will receive a 40% discount. Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period. 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. Can a guest upgrade to the unlimited package? Norwegian Cruise Line Bahamas Cruise Deals. Home Cruise Norwegian Cruise Line Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? Yes. Are you ready to embark on your journey to sea the world, one port at a time? The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package was formerly known as the Ultimate Beverage Package. You don't need a drinks package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 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 package also brings a 30% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles costing up to $100. Especially if you do shots in between beers. There is no service charge on the Australian package. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. 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. The package covers nearly every beverage on the ship up to $13 per drink. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. If you get caught sneaking a drink to a travel companion, you will have your drink package privileges revoked. I have no way of knowing if my normal call brand of gin or bourbon is under $15 onboard, or excluded, or even available. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 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. More elaborate (and expensive) tiers will add alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails, wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks. And that would have to be 7 drinks actually consumed on the ship itself. Norwegian recently updated its beverage package selection and added a new package option. This drink package includes everything in the Premium beverage package, along with other higher end offerings. Guests who are 21 or over will receive a, Adult alcoholic beverages generally incur charges in the $8 to $10 arrange. NCL's Unlimited Open Bar Package (formerly known as the Premium Beverage Package or the Ultimate Beverage Package) costs $99.00 per day. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. They do have a limit of two drinks per person per order, which is helpful to know when there's a long line at the pool bar. 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? There is no hard limit, but they can and may refuse to serve you if they feel you are excessively inebriated, regardless of number of drinks purchased. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. I got the drink package as a perk, for me it will be worth it as I do like to drink well on vacation. To find out more, please. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. 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. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. New Holland America Line West Coast Cruises Just Released! Plus, Feel Free to Take All with Premium Beverages, Free Speciality Dining & much more! A 20% service charge is added to your purchase at checkout. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Coffee shops are available onboard as well, and the drink package includes a variety of them. Drinks over $15 (you'll pay the difference) 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. These additional inclusions are freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee. Additionally, package holders receive a 40% discount on wines priced up to $100 and a 20% discount on wines priced above $100. Although cruise line drink packages are expensive, there are some reasons you should consider purchasing one before your next cruise. You can not purchase just select days. Weve seen similar promotions offering a $100 top-up. Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or shipboard wine-dispensing machines. The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. 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). The cost per day was over $57, which in my opinion isnt a great deal. 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. 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. Do you think the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value? You can choose from three different beverage options; Champagne & Bubbly, Premium Wine Selection, and Signature Cocktails. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. Thats because most cruise ship ports are independent of the cruise line. NCL has no drink limit per day with the drink package, whether purchased or as a perk. With the drink package, you wont need to track your spending, and you wont be surprised by an unexpected bill at the end of your cruise. The majority of town beer shops are open before 8 p.m. or 6 p.m. on weekends. The Free Open Bar is likely the top pick for many from Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. However, drink packages do not work at Harvest Caye, Belize. includes nearly all of the beverages onboard Carnival cruise ships. Package name: Captains Exclusive Beverage Package. Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is their highest-tier beverage package. 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. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Includes: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20. The Premium beverage package does not include room service, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands, bottled wine or liquor, or mini bar purchases. I think they were on one of the newer ships, but not sure which. Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. 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 It adds up and allows us to cruise more. 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. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. Although most cruise lines dont have a specified drink limit, bartenders will cut you off from ordering more drinks if youre intoxicated. While the $99 per person per day base charge will be waved, you'll still be paying the 20% gratuity and beverage service charge on the full retail price of the package. Available on: All ships except those in the Galapagos (where drinks are included in the fare). I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. In our experience, the drink package on a cruise ship is not worth it for most passengers. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails. Read on for the answers in this ultimate guide to cruise line drinks packages. No votes so far! Breakfast lunch and dinner are all included on cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. So, given that it does not include many non-alcoholic items, the Premium beverage package is priced well above its competitors. A few friends of mine have, and really liked the food and the overall cruise. For the above reasons, we dont think drink package purchases make sense for most cruisers. Even if you receive a drink package with the cruise lines Free at Sea promotion, you are still responsible to pay this 20% gratuity. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $12. All lattes and cappuccinos incurred a charge. This is the standard alcohol package offered by Norwegian Cruise Line. 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. Thats because the package price is $3 cheaper per person per day if purchased before embarkation day. If you pay outright for the, The gratuities for the free premium package are $13.80 per day. 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. If you would spend more money purchasing individual drinks than the cost of the package, then the drink package is worth it for you. More Norwegian Cruise Line Redeployments Announced, Norwegian Cruise Drink of the Day on Norwegian Escape, 31 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips Every Cruiser Needs to Know, Complete Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Celebrity Cruises (2023), Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Guide (2023), Everything You Need to Know About Norwegian's Free at Sea in 2023, The Complete Guide to Popular Cruise Ships With Pickleball Courts, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Carnival (2023). The cruiseline has partnered with JUST Goods Water, replacing single-use plastic bottles with a plant-based carton. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases. If you wait until youre on the ship to purchase the package, be prepared to pay full price. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 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. Note: Final prices will add a 20% gratuity to the cost of the package. 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. They haven't updated it to say value up to $2048. Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". Some cruise lines offer a classic soda package or non-alcoholic drink package, which we wont cover in this article. Cost per day: $69, not including a 15% service charge when booked on board. In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! But remember, you will have to purchase the package for every adult in the cabin, even if they dont plan on drinking.