norwegian cruise drink package

NCL drink packages: Should you take Norwegian Cruise Line’s free drinks offer?

For many cruisers, stepping aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship means it's time to let loose and have at least a few drinks each day of vacation. But those beers and cocktails can add up quickly if you're not paying attention.

Like many cruise lines, NCL takes the cost anxiety away by allowing passengers to pre-purchase beverage packages ahead of their cruise. This means that the per-day price has already been set, and passengers can order as many drinks as they want without worrying about their bills adding up.

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Here, we go over what's included in the various NCL drink packages, how much they cost and whether they're worth the price depending on your drinking habits.

What's included in Norwegian Cruise Line's drink packages?

Before we go over which drinks are included in Norwegian Cruise Line's beverage packages, you should first know which options are included in the cruise fare. Lemonade, iced tea, a limited selection of juices, chocolate and regular milk, tap water and standard coffee and tea are free of charge. You can get these complimentary beverages in onboard restaurants (including the buffet) and in some bars and lounges.

Alcohol, soda, specialty coffees and drinks and other premium beverages cost extra. Norwegian Cruise Line offers four drink packages that let passengers pay a flat daily fee and get an unlimited amount of the included beverages.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Here is what each NCL drink package includes:

Unlimited Soda Package

This package includes unlimited fountain soda throughout the cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line serves Coca-Cola products, so expect to find Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta. Ginger ale, tonic water and soda water are also included in this package. Soda packages are available to guests 3 years old and up.

Unlimited Starbucks Package

Norwegian's Starbucks package includes coffee and tea from Starbucks, as well as specialty beverages, Frappuccinos and Refreshers by the cup sold at the branded outlets on board select ships. Canned and bottled drinks, food and Starbucks merchandise are not included. To purchase the package, guests must be at least 18 years old. If one person purchases the package, all qualifying guests under the same method of payment for the cruise must also purchase it.

Unlimited Open Bar Package

The Unlimited Open Bar Package is the standard Norwegian drink package that includes alcohol. It covers cocktails and spirits priced under $15, beer and wine by the glass up to $15, a selection of premium juices and unlimited soda. It also gives guests 20% off all bottles of wine and Champagne. Passengers must be at least 21 years old to purchase this package. If one person purchases it, all other 21+ guests on the same reservation must buy it as well. Guests under 21 must purchase the soda package.

Premium Plus Beverage Package

If the Unlimited Open Bar does not cover your favorite drinks, Norwegian Cruise Line offers the Premium Plus beverage package. The line's most inclusive alcohol package covers everything the Unlimited Open Bar package includes, plus top-shelf cocktails and spirits; all beer, red wine, white wine and NCL's exclusive rose by the glass; unlimited still and sparkling bottled water; all Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks; energy drinks; and select premium bottles of wine and NCL's rose with dinner. The package also includes 40% off all other bottles of wine and Champagne.

The same rules apply for this package as they do for the Unlimited Open Bar package; all guests must be 21+ to purchase, and if one guest purchases the package, all other passengers on the same reservation must purchase it as well — with those under 21 required to buy the soda package.

Note: All of Norwegian Cruise Line's beverage packages extend to its private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. They do not include room service or the in-stateroom minibar.

Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise

How much do Norwegian's drink packages cost?

Norwegian Cruise Line's beverage packages are priced by the day but must be purchased for the duration of the sailing, either online before your sailing or on embarkation day. Unfortunately, you can't pick and choose the days you want the package; it's all or nothing. Here's the breakdown:

• Unlimited Soda Package: $9.95 per person, per day
• Unlimited Starbucks Package: $12.95 per person, per day
• Unlimited Open Bar Package: $109 per person, per day
• Premium Plus Beverage Package: $138 per person, per day

A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge is added to all packages at checkout.

What about NCL's Free at Sea program?

Unless you're booking a guarantee cabin (where you pay less to let NCL pick your specific cabin in your selected category), chances are your cruise booking comes with included Free at Sea perks . One of the inclusions is the Unlimited Open Bar package.

If you choose to keep the package as a perk (you can decline any perks you don't want), you will get a free beverage package — sort of. You won't have to pay the drink package's daily fee, but you will have to pay the package's automatic 20% gratuity charge ($21.80 per person, per day, at current prices).

This means that almost no one pays the $109 per day for the Unlimited Open Bar package. Even those who might have considered booking a guarantee cabin will likely choose to pay a bit for their room if they would have purchased any extras included in Free at Sea.

The bottom line is this: Most people who sail on NCL and plan to drink alcohol or other specialty beverages are going to end up with the Unlimited Open Bar package through Free at Sea.

Related: 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package (and 3 to avoid)

But what if you want top-shelf liquor and wines, Starbucks beverages or bottled water? Those are all included in the Premium Plus Beverage package, but not the Unlimited Open Bar package.

It turns out most people don't pay the full price for the Premium Plus package either. Instead, they take advantage of the Free at Sea Plus upgrade option. For $49 per person, per day, the standard Free at Sea package can be upgraded to include the Premium Plus Beverage Package. The extra money gets you additional upgrades as well, including more specialty dining meals, more shore excursion credit and unlimited Wi-Fi.

Is there a limit on how many drinks you can have per day on Norwegian Cruise Line?

Unlike some other cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line does not put a daily limit on the number of alcoholic drinks you can order when you have a drink package. Bartenders, however, are trained not to serve passengers who appear visibly intoxicated and have the right to cut anyone off who has over-indulged.

Still, don't try to order five drinks at once. To prevent people from sneaking drinks to friends who don't have the package or ordering more than they can drink, Norwegian puts a limit of two beverages per person, per transaction, for anyone signed up for its drink package. Guests with the Starbucks package are entitled to just one beverage per person, per transaction.

Are Norwegian Cruise Line's drink packages worth it?

To help determine if Norwegian Cruise Line's alcoholic beverage packages are worth the cost, we must first get an idea of what drinks cost. For beer, you can expect to pay around $7 a glass, while most glasses of wine range from $8 to $20. You'll find that most cocktails using non-premium spirits cost $11 to $13, and soda costs $3 to $3.50. Most specialty coffees at Starbucks are at least $5, and a large carton of water (NCL doesn't sell plastic bottled water) is $6.50.

With this being said, if $10 to $12 is the average cost you'll pay for a cocktail or glass of wine on board, you'd need to drink at least 10-11 drinks per day to break even on the Unlimited Open Bar package at face value ($109).

However, as mentioned above, most guests aren't going to be paying face value for Unlimited Open Bar. Keeping this perk as part of Free at Sea means you're only paying $22 in gratuities each day — to break even you'd need just two cocktails or one cocktail and three or four sodas.

If you plan to drink any alcohol beyond just one or two per day, keeping the Unlimited Open Bar as one of your Free at Sea perks is well worth it. However, remember that all guests in the same cabin must choose the same perks. If you and your partner are sailing but only one of you will be drinking beverages that aren't included in the cruise fare, your daily drink spend would have to top $44 per day (four or so cocktails) on average to be worth keeping the drinks package as one of your Free at Sea perks.

Related: Are cruise line drinks packages worth the price? What to know before you buy

You'll have similar considerations when assessing the value of the Premium Plus Beverage Package. Unless you plan on drinking lots of Starbucks or want all of your libations to include top-shelf liquor, the Premium Plus package isn't worth it at face value. However, the $49 extra per day for Free at Sea Plus — especially with its other upgrades — could easily be worth it depending on your preferences.

Our recommendation for the vast majority of guests is to keep Unlimited Open Bar as one of the Free at Sea perks and only upgrade to Free at Sea Plus if you see the value for you and your travel mates in all of the extras that come with it.

Now let's talk about the soda and Starbucks packages. If you're under 21 but sailing with someone who's 21+ that's getting the Unlimited Open Bar or Premium Plus beverage package as part of Free at Sea, you're going to automatically receive the soda package as part of your cruise fare, so there's not much to decide.

Otherwise, do the math. If you love soda, don't drink alcohol and aren't interested in zero-proof cocktails, you might want to decline the Free at Sea drinks package offer and get the soda package instead; at $12, including the mandatory gratuities, it's about half the cost. To break even with the soda package, you'd need to drink four sodas (at $3 to $3.50 each) per day.

With the Starbucks package, you'll come out even if you drink two to three specialty coffees per day. If you only plan on having one, the package won't be worth it at $15 per day including gratuities.

Bottom line

For most guests, Norwegian Cruise Line's standard alcohol package is well worth it through the Free at Sea program. The Premium Plus upgrade and the Starbucks and soda packages can also bring value, depending on the preferences and budget of you and your travel party. Do the math on how much you're likely to drink throughout the cruise, then determine from there if paying the daily amount for a Norwegian drink package makes sense for you.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

2024 Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: April 2, 2020  - Last updated: February 11, 2024

For many cruisers, your bar bill can end up being a significant portion of your vacation budget! If you’re cruising on Norwegian Cruise Line, having an NCL drink package lets you pre-plan your drink costs so you’re not hit with a huge bar tab at the end of your cruise .

Norwegian offers a variety of drink packages for all ages, at various price points. But is an NCL beverage package worth it? I’ll explain what each package currently includes and how much it will cost for your cruise, so you can decide if you should buy one and which drink package is right for you.

Norwegian Cruise Line raised prices and changed drink package selection in 2023

NCL overhauled its beverage package selection back in 2023, removing some fan favorites and adding a new tier. At the same time, Norwegian also raised all drink package prices.

Although Norwegian hasn’t announced any drink package increases for 2024, they have made a few changes to some programs since last year.

Even if you’ve cruised NCL with a beverage package in the past, you’ll want to read carefully to see what’s changed!

All beverage packages increased in price in 2023

Beginning in January 2023, NCL raised the price of all drink packages by $10 per day. Although post-shutdown price hikes are becoming the norm, Norwegian already charged among the highest per-day costs for beverage packages in the cruise industry.

Many NCL cruisers choose a free drink package as part of NCL’s ongoing Free At Sea promotion, but gratuities aren’t included—and that per-day charge just increased as well.

Norwegian removed two popular drink packages

As part of the beverage package overhaul, NCL removed two of the most budget-friendly beverage packages from its portfolio: Corks & Caps and the Children’s Soda Program .

Wine and beer lovers might remember Corks & Caps—for just $65 per day, you could enjoy unlimited draft and bottled beer, wine-by-the-glass, and fountain sodas. That package has been scrapped, and the cheapest option for unlimited wine and beer now costs double the price.

Norwegian also removed the Children’s Soda Program from its options. As late as 2022, parents of kids aged 12 and under could pay just $5.95 per day to let each kid have unlimited fountain sodas.

Currently, children and adults who want unlimited soft drinks have now been lumped into the same package, almost doubling the per-day price for kids!

NCL added a new drink package

All’s not gloomy on the Norwegian drink package front. The cruise line actually added a new tier that has been popular with specialty coffee drinkers— Unlimited Starbucks!

This new Norwegian beverage package includes all you can drink from the onboard coffeehouse, for the price of just a couple of venti lattes. Read on for all the details!

For all of Norwegian’s drink packages, you can order an unlimited amount of any included beverages at bars and restaurants on the ship, but drink selection can vary by venue.

NCL drink packages available for 2024

For 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line offers five beverage packages:

Unlimited Soda Package

Unlimited starbucks package, unlimited open bar package , premium plus beverage package , pride of america hawaii beverage package.

As a guide, I’ve included how much each drink package costs in total (including gratuity) for a seven-day cruise. Note that packages are only available for cruises that are three days or longer. Pride of America Hawaii cruises have their own special drink package (detailed below), and some packages aren’t available on that ship.

These are the current drink packages for 2024, with updated pricing. Note that NCL adds a 20% gratuity to the price of all drink packages.

Available for anyone age 3 and up, NCL’s Unlimited Soda Package costs $9.95 per day. Only fountain sodas are covered (including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, ginger ale, tonic water, and club soda). Cans of soda are charged at full menu prices.

For a 7-day cruise, this drink package would cost ($9.95 x 7 x 1.2) $83.58

NCL’s Unlimited Starbucks Package includes all your Starbucks favorites, from classic coffees and teas and Refreshers to Frappuccinos and other specialty coffee drinks.

The Starbucks drink package costs $12.95 per day, and cruisers must be at least 18 years of age to purchase.

For a 7-day cruise, this drink package would cost ($12.95 x 7 x 1.2) $108.78

NCL’s Unlimited Open Bar Package  (formerly known as the Premium Beverage Package or the Ultimate Beverage Package) costs $109.00 per day. The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass.

Any of these drinks with a menu price under $15 are included in the program. NCL has a list of brands included in the Unlimited Open Bar Package . However, not all ships carry all of the listed brands, and availability can vary by venue. Brands are subject to change.

The Unlimited Open Bar Package doesn’t include specialty coffee and tea drinks, bottled water, energy drinks, fresh-squeezed juices, and bottles of wine (although they’ll give you a 20% discount on certain bottles). Other exclusions are room service, mini-bar drinks, and drinks served in souvenir glasses.

If a drink costs $15 or more, you’ll be charged the difference plus a 20% gratuity on that amount.

For a 7-day cruise, this drink package would cost ($109.00 x 7 x 1.2) $915.60 . If you choose this package with Free at Sea, it costs ($109.00 x 7 x 0.2) $152.60 for gratuities.

NCL’s Premium Plus Beverage Package costs $138.00 per day. The package includes everything in the Unlimited Open Bar Package, but the $15 menu price cap is lifted.

In addition, specialty coffees and teas, energy drinks, fresh-squeezed juices, bottled water (still and sparkling), and select bottles of wine are covered in this package. Dining room wine lists have an asterisk next to bottles that are included in the package.

NCL also publishes a list of brands included with Premium Plus , so you can have an idea of which brands are complimentary with the package. Brands are subject to change.

If you have a free Unlimited Open Bar Package from the Free at Sea promotion, you’ll be able to upgrade to Premium Plus by paying the difference. Currently, you can upgrade for $29 per day plus the 20% gratuity charge.

For a 7-day cruise, this drink package would cost ($138.00 x 7 x 1.2) $1159.20 .

Sailing on NCL’s Pride of America in Hawaii? As recently as 2023, the ship offered only one drink package for adults, teens, and kids—the $109 per day Hawaii Beverage Package .

Thankfully, the cruise line has come to its senses and now offers a range of drink packages aboard Pride of America , including the soda and Starbucks packages.

If you’re interested in an adult beverage package, it’s included in your fare for the first two passengers in a stateroom—you just pay the 20% gratuity.

The Hawaii Beverage Package includes a variety of both adult and soft drinks. Wine-by-the-glass, beer, and liquor are included, up to $15 per drink. Other included options are fountain sodas, freshly-squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), non-alcoholic beer, and specialty coffees (in the dining rooms only).

For a 7-day cruise, this drink package (gratuities only) would cost ($109.00 x 7 x 0.2) $152.60

If you have more than two adults in your stateroom, guests 3 and 4 will need to buy the Hawaii Beverage Package at the full price of $109 per person, per day, plus gratuity.

For a 7-day cruise, this drink package would cost ($109.00 x 7 x 1.2) $915.60

Currently, Norwegian Cruise Line does not offer the Premium Plus Beverage Package aboard Pride of America .

NCL drink packages FAQ

If you’ve never cruised with Norwegian before, or it’s been a while since your last cruise, you probably have some general questions about how the drink packages work. I’ll answer the most common ones here. If you have a question that I haven’t answered, just leave it in the comments and I’ll answer it.

Do you need to tip for drinks purchased with an NCL beverage package?

All drink packages cost an extra 20% gratuity on top of the list price. You don’t need to tip your bartender or server each time you order a drink with your beverage package—you’ve already pre-paid your tips.

That said, you can always add an extra tip for your favorite bartenders, if you choose.

Do you need to pay tax on your drinks?

When you’re out at sea in international waters, you don’t need to worry about paying tax on any of your drinks. But when you’re in port, some local authorities require cruise lines to collect tax on the menu price of any beverages you buy. Taxes are charged to your onboard account if you’re buying drinks one by one or using a beverage package.

The tax percentage varies by port , but it’s never a huge amount – generally somewhere between 5-10% of the cost of each drink. If a jurisdiction charges tax, it will be charged on each drink when the ship is in port and in its territorial waters.

Do NCL drink packages work on their private islands?

If you’re stopping for the day at one of Norwegian’s private islands , drink packages are accepted at Great Stirrup Cay but not at Harvest Caye. Wondering why? NCL developed Harvest Caye in partnership with the government of Belize. Part of that deal specifies that visitors must pay for food and drinks ordered on the island.

How old do you have to be to buy an alcoholic beverage package on NCL?

Passengers need to be at least 21 to purchase an alcoholic beverage package on Norwegian cruises worldwide. Guests aged 18 to 20 can purchase alcohol by the drink on round-trip cruises in Europe and Australia. 18-to-20-year-olds can buy wine and beer on some cruises sailing from the US with the signed consent of an accompanying parent.

However, you still need to be 21 to have a drink package that includes alcohol, even if you’re old enough to drink on the cruise.

Can you share your NCL beverage package with another guest?

Norwegian, like many cruise lines, has been cracking down on passengers sharing their drink packages. Because of this issue, if one guest on a reservation buys a drink package, the other guests must as well. Passengers under 21 would be required to buy a soda package.

Exceptions can be made in certain circumstances. If you’re pregnant, have a medical condition, a history of substance abuse, or have religious beliefs that don’t allow you to drink any alcohol, contact NCL to ask for an exception.

How do you buy a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package?

Many Norwegian cruises offer their Free at Sea promotion , and the most popular perk for cruisers is the drink package. But if you don’t have Free at Sea (or you chose another perk), you can pre-purchase a drink package, starting 90 days before sailing, on your MyNCL account .

You can also buy a drink package on board the ship, but this option will usually only be available for the first couple of days of the cruise.

Can you buy a drink package for certain days of the cruise?

Although it would be nice to pick and choose which days you have a drink package (like sea days only, please!), once you buy a package you need to pay for each remaining day of your cruise. Take this into consideration if you have a lot of longer shore excursions when you won’t be on the ship to use the package.

NCL drink prices for 2024: how much are drinks on a Norwegian cruise if you buy them individually?

Based on recent menu prices, specialty coffees on ships with a Starbucks are in the $3-6 range. Fountain sodas are about $3.

Many wines-by-the-glass are in the $8-9 range, up to about $27-31 for higher-end selections. Beer is about $7-9 per glass. Cocktails from the bar menus are generally $9-15 (but ultra-premium liquor can cost significantly more).

Is there a limit to how many drinks you can get per day with an NCL beverage package?

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. Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! But as of right now there’s no set limit. 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.

Is it worth it to get a drink package on NCL?

Honestly, it all depends on how much you think you’ll be drinking. Norwegian’s alcoholic drink packages are among the most expensive in the cruise industry, so the expense can be significant if you’re paying out-of-pocket. If you’re sure you’ll only have a couple of drinks each day, it’s a far better deal to just pay as you go.

When you choose the Unlimited Open Bar Package as a Free at Sea perk, you’ll only be paying the gratuity (about $22 per day). Drinking just one soda with lunch, an afternoon cocktail by the pool, and a glass of wine with dinner, you’ve had your money’s worth for the day.

If you’re a soda drinker, the soda package can be a money-saver. Know you’ll want to order at least two or three soft drinks each day? Then it really makes sense to buy this package.

Want to learn more about cruise line beverage packages? Read my article Are Cruise Drink Packages Worth It? to learn more.

Don’t forget to check out these resources before your Norwegian cruise:

• 25 Norwegian Cruise Tips You Need to Know
• Norwegian’s Free at Sea: The Ultimate Guide
• How to Get Onboard Credit for Owning Norwegian Cruise Line Stock
• Ultimate Guide to NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay

Have you bought a drink package on a Norwegian cruise? Did you think it was worth it? Let me know in the comments below!

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Saturday 15th of July 2023

Does the menu changes everyday at the freestyle restaurants ? Also is it the same menu at every complimentary restaurant ?

Sunday 16th of July 2023

Hi again Jazz! The first half of the dinner menu in the complimentary main dining rooms will change each evening, but there will always be a selection of classic entrées that remain the same. For breakfast and lunch in the MDR, you'll often see a similar menu each day with just a couple of daily features that change. The menu at one main dining room won't differ from another at any given time.

You'll also find complimentary restaurants on board (like O'Sheehan's or the Local) that don't change their menus from day to day. Hope this helps!

How strict is Norwegian about sharing alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks with someone who didn’t purchase the package ? I mean do they really keep an eye on you even if you are sitting far away.

Hi Jazz, thanks for the question! NCL, like most cruise lines, strongly discourages "sharing" drinks packages. Will bartenders or other crew members be watching you like hawks to see if you share a drink or two? Probably not, but it could happen. If you're caught, the cruise line can cancel your drink package (with no refund!) for the rest of the cruise. If you're concerned about the cost, consider booking during one of NCL's Free At Sea promotions. They run these very frequently, and you can choose a drink package as one of the free perks.

Tuesday 14th of February 2023

We're sailing on the NCL Bliss, and have purchased the unlimited open bar package with free at sea. I'm not much of an excursion person, and was curious to know if my drink package still allows me to take advantage of the open bar while we're docked in ports. Everything i've read so far on the free at sea is that the drinks are only "free" while sailing, and not while docked. Thanks!

Wednesday 15th of February 2023

Hi Julia, the drinks with Free At Sea's open bar are definitely free aboard the ship regardless of whether she's sailing or docked in port. However, you'll need to pay tax on the menu price of each drink when you're not in international waters (like when you're in port). But the tax charges, which vary by jurisdiction, are usually very minimal. Happy cruising!

Susan Weule

Friday 27th of January 2023

Hi going on NCL Pride of America in March 2023. As we are in port everyday at a different Hawaiian island. Do we have to pay extra tax if we have purchased the drink package? If we happen to stay on board. Just so you know we also received free gratitudes in the deal. So wondering if there’s any hidden costs so I can budget. Thank you.

Sunday 29th of January 2023

Hi Susan, excellent questions! If you've already purchased the Hawaii beverage package, you'll have already paid the gratuities for the package at checkout. (The free gratuities you received as part of your package are crew gratuities, not drinks gratuities - you can read more about that in my post What You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities)

As for taxes on your drinks, you won't need to pay anything extra when you're sailing in international waters. But whenever you order a drink while you're in territorial waters (like if you stay on the ship as you mentioned, or whenever you're within about 12 nautical miles from land), local taxes on the menu price of each drink you order will be charged to your onboard account.

My rule of thumb to figure out when you're sailing in international waters is if the onboard shops and/or casino are open, you're all set and won't be charged tax on your drinks :) Hope this helps, and have an amazing time on your cruise!

Judy Plummer

Sunday 14th of August 2022

What is included in the adult beverage package that is included as a perk on NCL Escape?

Tuesday 16th of August 2022

Hi Judy, when you choose the drink package as part of your Free At Sea perks on any NCL ship, you'll get the Premium Beverage Package (scroll up to read my complete description of the package). In a nutshell, the package includes any drink $15 and under, with some exclusions like boxed water, specialty coffees, and fresh juices.

NCL Drink Packages & Beverage Package Guide

About norwegian drink & beverage packages.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers straightforward and generous beverage package options, including the NCL Unlimited Open Bar package and Premium Beverage Package. The Premium drink package allows ordering drinks up to $15 and includes wine, beer, basic spirits, and frozen drinks. The Premium Plus Beverage Package is an upgraded option that includes premium bottled water, specialty coffees, and energy drinks with no price limit on drinks (with a few exceptions)

• Norwegian Cruise Line offers various drink packages including the NCL Unlimited Open Bar and Premium Beverage Package.
• The Premium Package allows ordering drinks up to $15, while the Premium Plus Beverage Package includes premium bottled water and specialty coffees.
• Just pay the difference (plus gratuity) if your drink isn’t covered in the $15 allowed by the open bar package.
• NCL drink packages are truly unlimited. They do not put a limit on how many beverages you can order during your cruise or per day like other cruise lines do. The only real limit is a guest can order only 2 drinks at a time (Or a Double).
• The Premium Plus package offers a wider selection of premium alcohol options, wines, and other beverages for an additional cost.
• Non-alcoholic packages are also available for non-drinkers or children traveling on the cruise.

There are two alcohol beverage packages offered by Norwegian Cruise Line – the NCL Unlimited Open Bar package which is also called the Premium Beverage Package and is still commonly referred to as the Premium Package by cruisers and travel professionals. Additionally, there is the upgraded Premium Plus Beverage Package .

There are coffee and soda packages available for non-drinkers.

NCL Drink Package Prices

Package prices listed on the Norwegian website do not show the required 20% gratuity, keep that in mind while booking.

Upgrading from the NCL Unlimited Open Bar is simple and can be done online or while onboard. Just pay the difference in the Premium and Premium Plus package + gratuities.

NCL Premium Beverage Package / Unlimited Open Bar

The Premium Beverage Package on NCL (aka Unlimited Open Bar) allows you to order any drink up to $15. The Unlimited Open Bar includes wine, beer, most basic spirits, and frozen drinks like Margaritas, Mudslides, Pina Coladas, and Daiquiris!

Unfortunately, what is NOT included with the Premium Beverage Package is bottled water and specialty (Starbucks) coffee drinks. These are included in the Premium Plus Beverage Package (or in a package for just soda and coffee, as explained below). Souvenir cups sold with drinks are also excluded.

Other items NOT included in the NCL Premium Beverage Package include room service, the mini-bar, and wine from the vending machines throughout the ship.

Other advantages of the Premium Drink package are small perks like 20% off of bottles of wine, discounts on tasting experiences, and discounted flights.

NCL Premium Beverage Package Cost

The Premium Package is “nearly free” when selected as a perk from the Free At Sea promotion, but there’s a catch! (Nothing is really free in life, right?) 🙂

This package is an amazing value as it is normally included in the “Free at Sea” promotion offered when booking. For travelers who book the “Free at Sea” promotion which includes the Unlimited Open Bar / Premium Beverage Package, the cost is nearly free . If for some reason the package is not included in a promotion, it’s an eyewatering $109 / day PLUS Gratuity of 20% making the package about $131 / day.

So why wouldn’t someone choose the Unlimited Open Bar as a promotion? Because while the package is “free” with the promotion, you still pay the 20% gratuity on the VALUE of the drink package. This means that the package still costs each passenger $21.80 per day. So if you only like an occasional beer or a glass of wine with dinner, then you’ll not even get value for the $21.80 gratuities per day that you will be required to pay.

It’s worth noting, however, that even for soda drinkers, the promotion may be worth it!

So this is why we say this drink package is “nearly free” because, for a typical 7-day cruise, each passenger will still be charged more than $150 for the required gratuities.

• See our Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Calculator! See if a drink package is worth it or not!

Norwegian Premium Beverage Package List

Most drinks you’ll find on any Norwegian Cruise Line ship will be included with the Premium Beverage Package (Unlimited Open Bar) with the exception of a few higher-end spirits and wines.

What Does the NCL Premium Beverage Package include?

Gin & Vodka lovers, you’ll be pleased with the selection included with the Premium Beverage Package on Norwegian! Some relatively “top shelf” options are included in the Premium Beverage drink package including:

• Belvedere Vodka • Grey Goose Vodka • Good Boy Vodka • Ketel One Vodka • Prairie Organic Vodka • Wheatley Craft Distilled Vodka

• Bombay Dry Gin • Beefeater London Dry Gin • Bombay Sapphire Gin • Tanqueray Special Gin • Tito’s Handmade Vodka • Avorza Ultra Premium Organic Vodka • Absolut Vodka

Whiskey and Brandy aficionados will appreciate the selection on NCL ships, but those with really discerning preferences will likely be happier with the Premium Plus package. Otherwise, the basics are all easy to find for the Unlimited Open Bar. Here’s the whiskey, scotch, and brandy included in the Premium Beverage drink package:

• Bulleit Frontier Bourbon • Wild Turkey 101 • Jack Daniel’s Black • Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack • Jack Daniel’s Rye • 1792 Small Batch Bourbon • St Remy VSOP French Brandy • Grappa Botegga Sandro • Hidalgo Reserva 12-Year-Old Spanish brandy • Pisco Tabernero • Godet VS Cognac

• House of Steward Scotch
• Chivas Regal
• Glenmorangie
• Johnnie Walker Black Label
• Dewar’s 12 The Ancestor Blended Scotch
• Canadian Mist
• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Fireball Cinnamon
• Ten High Bourbon
• Seagrams 83 American
• Irish Jameson’s
• Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whiskey

Rum and Tequila drinkers will have plenty to choose from on the Unlimited Open Bar menu, but there are a few seriously good rums on the next package. Here’s the rum that’s included in the Premium Beverage drink package:

• Bacardi Superior Rum
• Bacardi 8 Rum
• Brugal Añejo Rum
• Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
• Cachaça 51 Rum
• Flor de Caña 4 Years Old
• Flor de Caña 12 Years Old
• Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
• Malibu Coconut Rum
• Los Corrales Silver 100% Agave Tequila
• 1800 Reposado Tequila
• JAJA “HaHa” Blanco Tequila
• Patrón Silver Tequila

Other Liqueurs and Cordials included in the Premium Beverage / Unlimited Open Bar Package include:

• Amarula Cream • Aperol Apéritif • Averna • Campari • Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur • Disaronno Amaretto • Drambuie • Fernet-Branca • Frangelico

• Jagermeister • Kahlúa • Limoncello Bottega • Licor 43 • Maloney’s Irish Cream • Pernod • Pimm’s No. 1 • Southern Comfort • Sambuca Di Romana

Beer and Wine included in the Premium Beverage Package / Unlimited Open Bar package includes relatively basic wines, but generally, there is something for everyone. People who really enjoy wine or champagne should consider the next package (Premium Plus). For beer lovers, it’ll be good to know that everything is included in the Premium Beverage Package!

• Angry Orchard Cider
• Budweiser Light and Regular
• Coors Light
• Corona Extra
• Brok Premium
• Heineken & Heineken 0.0
• Pilsner Urquell
• Stella Artois
• Truly Hard Seltzer

On ships with a beer bar or pub like the NCL Encore , there will be quite a few more craft beer choices!

NCL says the following about the wine included in the Unlimited Open Bar

A large selection of wines by the glass from around the world, including the most recognized grape varieties such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, cabernet, pinot noir, merlot, shiraz, tempranillo, port, non-alcohol wine by the glass, etc. Norwegian Cruise Line

The reality with the wine selections is that they’re mediocre, but there are the basics and usually something for everyone. Real wine lovers will appreciate the choices on the Premium Plus Package

What if a drink costs more than $15 with the Premium Beverage Package?

What’s even better about how Norwegian does their drink packages is that for any drink ordered over the $15 limit, you just pay the difference + 20% gratuity ON THE DIFFERENCE. An example: A glass of wine that costs $17 will be covered up to $15 on the base beverage package. The guest will be charged the $3 difference + 20% of $3, making the total out-of-pocket $3.60.

Non-alcoholic drinks are included in the Unlimited Open Bar / Premium Beverage Package

Sodas, Tonics, Juices (from the bar soda gun, not freshly squeezed), and coffee/tea from the Buffet.

It’s important to reiterate that specialty coffees and bottled water are NOT included in this package .

• See : NCL Bar Menus & Drink Prices

NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package

For an additional $29/day + 20% gratuity, you can get nearly everything by the glass shown on the menus and even some bottles of wine (Except Louis XIII).

What makes the NCL Premium Plus Drink Package worth it for many passengers is the fact that it includes premium bottled water, specialty coffee, energy drinks & freshly squeezed juices!

What is the cost of the Premium Plus Beverage Package on NCL?

The package without any promotion is $138 per person per day plus 20% gratuities (YIKES!). That’s $165 per day PER PERSON to essentially get any beverage you want with some included bottles of wine.

But the REAL deal is when the Unlimited Open Bar is included as a promotion, you can upgrade to the Premium Plus Beverage Package for only $29 per day +20% gratuities making it about $35/day… a much more reasonable cost especially if you love champagne! A single glass can cost $30 or more, so you can see how having the beverage package can quickly pay for itself for a guest who really enjoys Champagne and a few of the finer spirits available.

Good To Know

Many drinks and wines are just slightly above the $15 drink limit for the Unlimited Open Bar package, and rather than upgrading to the Premium Plus package, it’s less expensive to just pay the difference on the occasion you order a more expensive drink.

Norwegian Premium Plus Beverage Package List

In addition to the included alcohol in the Premium Beverage package, here’s a list of the alcohol included in the Premium Plus Package

Nearly everything on the ship by the glass!

Gin & Vodka

• Hendrick’s Gin
• Monkey 47 Gin
• ‘66 by Norwegian Gin
• Absolut Elyx Vodka
• Chopin Potato Vodka

Rum & Tequila

• Patron Añejo Tequila
• Avión Silver Tequila
• Cazadores Añejo Tequila
• Gracias A Dios ESPADIN Mezcal
• Flor de Caña Eco 15 Year Rum
• Zacapa 23 Rum

Liqueurs & Cordials

• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Benedictine D.O.M.
• Grand Marnier

For the cruisers who love their Whiskey, Brandy & Scotch – there are quite a few nice options with the Premium Plus Beverage Package!

• Talisker 10 Scotch
• The Glenlivet Founders Reserve Scotch
• Galveston 12-Year-Old Spanish Single Malt
• Paul John Brilliance Indian Single Malt
• The Macallan “Quest” Single Malt Whiskey
• The Macallan “Enigma” Single Malt Scotch Whiskey◆
• Johnnie Walker Blue Label◆◆
• Old Forester 1910◆
• Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style◆
• Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon◆
• Skrewball Peanut Whiskey
• Irish Jameson Caskmates
• Blanton’s Small Batch Single Barrel Whiskey
• EH Taylor Small Batch◆
• Woodford Reserve
• Whistle Pig Rye
• 1792 Full Proof Bourbon◆
• Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon◆
• Hennessy XO
• Hennessy VS
• Remy Martin VSOP

◆◆ In Haven Bars only ◆ In Select Whiskey Bars (Varies by ship)

For wine & Champagne lovers, the Premium Plus Beverage Package starts to make sense ! For example, for guests who enjoy nice champagne by the glass (i.e. Moet or Veuve), it doesn’t take much to make the cost of the package worth it.

• Champagne: Pommery Rose and Veuve Clicquot “Yellow Label”. (Veuve is only available in some specialty restaurants now)
• White Wines: Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen “Eroica” Riesling, Il Borro by Salvatore Ferragamo Chardonnay, La Crema Chardonnay, Terrazas de los Andes “Reserva” Chardonnay

+Non-Alcohol Wine by the Bottle

• Red Wines: Argyle Pinot Noir, Louis Jadot Pinot Noir, Doglioti Barolo, Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Terrazas de los Andes “Reserva” Malbec, Buglioni Il Bugiardo Ripasso Valpolicella, Cellier Des Princes Ch Du Pape, Leonardo Davinci Brunello di Montalcino, Il Borro by Salvatore Ferragamo Pian Di Nova, Celeste Crianza Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo, Silverado Vineyards, Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, and Dow’s “Quinta do Bomfim”Porto

What makes the Premium Plus package even better is the fact it includes bottled water (Aqua Panna, Evian, Pellegrino, etc) and specialty coffee (Starbucks), Fresh Juices, and all the Red Bull you can fit in your body.

Other perks of the Premium Plus Beverage Package with NCL are a 40% discount on wine & spirit experiences, tastings, and flights, Connoisseur Collection beverages, and all other wines by the bottle.

Included wines by the bottle at meals with the NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package

For a wine lover, this is a great benefit to this package, until you realize that it includes a limited selection of wines. The wines will also vary greatly based on which ship you’re on, as ships that lack a real wine bar will have a more limited selection. For Example, on the Norwegian Dawn, where there is a Mondavi wine cellar, there were more options for Premium Plus Beverage Package customers to choose from whereas, on a ship like the NCL Sun or Epic , the choices were limited due to lack of a wine bar on the ship.

Is every drink included with the Premium Plus Beverage Package?

With the Premium Plus Beverage Package, everything sold by the glass on the entire ship is included (with the exception of the Louis XIII. Just order away, and you get what you want! Some bottles of wine are included at meal times (See the menu on this page)

Here is an example of a wine list where included bottles are marked by PREMIUM PLUS . Those wines are available WITH MEALS as a part of the drink package.

Please wait while flipbook is loading. For more related info, FAQs and issues please refer to DearFlip WordPress Flipbook Plugin Help documentation.

** Prices can vary slightly by ship or itinerary. This is representative of a wine list from the Norwegian Dawn which included a Mondavi wine cellar (2023)

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Nonalcoholic packages are available

Norwegian has a few other drink package options including:

Unlimited Starbucks for $12.95/day + 20% gratuity 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.

If you purchase the Premium Plus beverage package, all of this is included, so these packages only make sense for non-drinkers and children.

These are PER PERSON prices and every person must have a package when staying in the same cabin.

Do you have an experience with NCL Beverage Packages?

Did we miss something? Did we get something wrong? Please let us know! We’ll correct it right away.

NCL Premium Beverage Package vs Premium Plus

NCL maintains a page regarding their beverage packages (and other packages) with up-to-date information. It’s always best to confirm what drinks are included and the prices of the drink packages .

The most notable difference in the two drink packages is that the Premium Plus Beverage Package on NCL includes all alcohol types available in addition to premium coffees (unlimited Starbucks), bottled water, and fresh squeezed juices.

With this current list, you can compare what’s included with the Premium Beverage Package vs Premium Plus package :

NCL Premium Beverage Package 2023 PDF

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Are mimosas and champagne included in the drink packages

Hi Laurie, Prosecco is included (and mimosas made with it). If you want actual champagne, it’s in the Premium Plus drink package. But to be fair, while I’m not a fan of Prosecco, it’s actually pretty good on NCL (whichever brand they are using)

Thank you so much for breaking this down. For some reason customer service at NCL did not feel able to do so, lol 😉

I thought no more Veuve under the Premium Plus.

That’s actually correct (but it is served at Le Bistro for Premium Plus people). I’ve updated the article to mention that, thanks!

I think it’s probably all my fault about the Veuve. Our last NCL Dawn cruise , we had Premium plus (Only for the Veuve) … and I think we consumed nearly 30 bottles (NO SHAME!) 🙂

One difference worth noting is that European passenger beverage packages when purchased in advance online, include all service charges. (However I can’t recall whether this price is equal to the US passenger price + service.

Separately, I recall at one point confusion over whether the premium plus inclusion of speciality coffee was restricted to getting it in restaurants as opposed to at the Starbucks/other coffee areas?

Regards Stephen

Hi Stephen! Thanks for taking the time to comment. It’s definitely a huge selling point for European customers to have everything included for the flat fee (99-199 Euro depending on length of cruise). It’s much less expensive than US passengers pay, as they pay the required gratuity on the “value” of the Free at Sea. As an American living in Europe, I price shop the rates for both US and EU bookings every time I sail with NCL and it’s almost always less expensive to buy a Euro fare!

Regarding the coffee – when we tried the Premium Plus Beverage Package, we had no issues ordering a Cappuccino or something similar in the restaurants, however, the wait sometimes wasn’t worth it 🙁

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Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide

If you’re about to sail on a Norwegian cruise, then it’s likely that you’ve already seen mentions of the drink packages for sale — or included in the “Free at Sea” offer . You might be wondering how they work and if they are worth the cost.

Put simply, the packages make it easy to enjoy drinks on the cruise ship without worrying about a bill. You sign up for the package and pay one set daily amount. Then you can drink almost anything on the ship — and as much as you want — without having to keep track of your tab.

But while the idea behind the drink packages on NCL is simple, there is a bit of fine print that comes along with purchasing. Meanwhile, there are no doubt other questions that come up for many passengers.

To help you figure out if the drink package is worth it — and if you want to buy it for your cruise — we’ve answered some of the most common questions.

What Drink Packages Does Norwegian Cruise Line Offer?

If you’re sailing on Norwegian and want an alcoholic drink package, then you have a few options.

The first package is the “Unlimited Open Bar Package.” This is your classic drink package that every cruise line offers. For $109 per day (or included if chosen as part of the “ Free at Sea ” offer), you get a wide variety of drinks aboard the ship.

This includes beers, wines, cocktails, and sodas plus juices. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that’s priced less than $15 per glass. And unless you have premium tastes, your favorite liquors will be included.

The alternate package is the “Premium Plus Beverage Package.”  Priced at $138 per day, this is Norwegian’s more expensive and higher-end package. It includes everything in previous package, but also high-end spirits like The Macallan Quest and Veuve Clicquot champagne . You can also get a number of different bottles of wine with dinner, instead of just by the glass.

How Much Do The Drink Packages Cost?

Whichever drink package you choose on Norwegian, you should expect to spend some cash.

The Unlimited Open Bar Package runs $109 per person, per day. In addition there is a 20% gratuity that’s tacked on to that cost. That comes out to $130.80 per day . So for a 7-day cruise, you will spend $915.60 for a single person for the Premium package.

The Premium Plus Beverage Package costs $138 per person, per day. There is also the same 20% gratuity that is automatically added. For this package, you’ll spend $165.60 each day when the gratuity is added, for a total of $1,159.20 for a week-long cruise.

However, with the Free at Sea offer (covered below) and other discounts, many people don’t end up paying this amount. 

Members of NCL’s Latitudes Rewards program also receive an instant 30%-50% discount on the price of the Unlimited Open Bar Package. So if you’ve sailed as little as one night with the cruise line, you’ll pay significantly less for the offer.

What’s the Difference Between the Drink Packages?

While the drink packages are similar, they are not the same. Let’s start with the Unlimited Open Bar Package , which is going to be the most popular on the ship.

This package provides drinks ranging from sodas to beers to cocktails to glasses of wine. What it doesn’t include are the highest-end spirits as drinks over $15 per glass. Also notably absent is bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices (other juices are included), and premium coffees like Starbucks that are served on the ship. However, if you’re wanting the package to drink beers, have some glasses of wine with dinner, or a margarita by the pool, then you’ll be covered.

For those who want pretty much anything on the ship, then you might be interested in stepping up to the Premium Plus Beverage Package . Here, you get everything included in the lower-tier package, but also higher-end spirits included (no per glass limits are mentioned), as well as juices, bottled water, Starbucks drinks, energy drinks, and even some bottles of wine when dining. 

What’s Not Included in the Drink Package?

As explained above, different packages will have different exclusions. Where you’ll find the most surprising exclusions is that the Unlimited Open Bar Package doesn’t include things like Starbucks coffee, bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, or energy drinks. These are included on the Premium Plus Beverage Package.

Also, neither package includes anything in the mini-bar or room service beverages.

What if My Drink Is More Than $15 Per Glass?

The Unlimited Open Bar Package has a limit of up to $15 per drink (menu price, before gratuity). If you purchase a drink that’s more than $15 on the menu, you’ll be charged the excess over $15.

So an $18 drink would cost you $3, plus the 20% gratuity on the extra amount. Fortunately, this includes only some drinks on the cruise.

Is Gratuity Included in the Cost?

Gratuity is not included in the headline price. On Norwegian, the drink packages carry a hefty 20% gratuity charge in addition to the base price. So for a $109 a day drink package, you’ll actually pay $130.80 per person. For the $138 drink package, you’ll pay $165.60 each day.

When you order your drink, however, the gratuity is already taken care of. There’s no need to tip additionally unless you simply want to show some more appreciation of the bar staff.

What If I Get the Drink Package Through the Free at Sea Offer? Do I Pay Anything?

Norwegian’s Free at Sea offer has proven popular, and the cruise line has continued to offer it for quite some time now. Put simply, the Free at Sea program gives you your choice of free perks, ranging from a free drink package to free Internet to free/discounted airfare.

If you get the drink package for free, just know that you will have to pay the gratuity on the package, despite the cost being free. In this case, the $109 Unlimited Open Bar Package charge is waived, but the daily gratuity of $21.80 per person, per day (20% of the advertised price) still applies.

So on a week-long cruise your “free” drink package would actually run $152.60.

Does Everyone in the Cabin Have to Purchase the Package If One Person Does?

Yes. Obviously you don’t have to purchase a drink package at all. But if one person in the cabin does, then everyone will have to as well.

Likely as a way to limit the sharing that would otherwise go on, Norwegian requires all adults in the cabin to purchase the beverage package if one does. 

If you have a situation where one person wants the package and the other person doesn’t, then we suggest giving the cruise line a call to explain the situation. They may not be able to help, but we have heard stories on some cruise lines of being able to offer leniency on buying the package if you explain your situation.

We would especially think a health situation (such as one person being pregnant) would help your case on not having to buy two drink packages.

Also, if someone is under 21 years old on your cruise, then they must purchase the soda package if the adults buy an alcoholic package.

How Do I Buy the Package?

Buying the package is easy. Before your trip you can purchase the package online through your account. Don’t want to do that? You can also call the cruise line and get the package ordered so that you can enjoy it once you step on the ship. Finally, you can order the package on the ship once you arrive.

Can I Share Drinks?

No. It’s tempting to think that one person will simply buy the expensive package and then slip their partner drinks when they want them. This is against the rules.

How will the cruise line be able to tell if you are sharing? Truth is that it can be hard for them to catch unless you are simply extremely obvious. This is likely why Norwegian Cruise Line makes all people in a cruise cabin buy the package if one person does. It minimizes the problem of sharing between people.

Do I Have to Buy the Package for the Entire Cruise?

Yes. It would be nice if you could simply buy the drink package on the days you wanted it. For instance, maybe you want to take a break from drinking for a day or plan on being in port and away from the ship. We wish you could not have to pay for the package on days like these.

Instead, you must purchase the drink package for the entire cruise — not just select days. 

How Many Drinks Can I Buy a Day?

Some cruise lines put limits on the number of drinks you can purchase in a day with the drink package (notably Carnival limits passengers to 15 alcoholic drinks in a 24-hour period). We’ve heard of no such limit for Norwegian. Searching through the terms shows no mention. However, if you are obviously inebriated, don’t be surprised if the bartender refuses to serve you.

This unlimited rule applies to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. So you can also buy as many non-alcoholic beverages as you want. 

How Many Drinks Can I Buy at One Time?

Norwegian allows those with the drink package to order two drinks at the same time. Want a beer and a margarita? Or just simply want to try a couple of glasses of wine? Or maybe you just don’t want to have to get up to get another beer after you finish the first one? No matter, you can get two drinks in one transaction .

Does the Package Work on Harvest Caye and Great Stirrup Cay?

Norwegian Cruise Line has two private islands that it visits — Harvest Caye and Great Stirrup Cay .

On Harvest Caye there are a number of bars and restaurants, but even though the island is run by Norwegian, the drink package will not work here . You have to purchase any beverages out of pocket. Of course, you could always head back to the ship while docked and get a drink, but that’s a long walk.

That said, the package does work on Great Stirrup Cay . Like Harvest Caye, the island has a number of bars for you to enjoy, and it’s a nice perk that the package extends to the island. This is a great way to help you get your money’s worth even if you aren’t on the ship.

Is Norwegian’s Drink Package Worth It?

Of course the big question is whether or not the NCL drink package is worth it. The answer to that depends a lot on your personal habits when you’re on vacation.

Here’s some general details on whether you’ll find the package worth it for you…

First, consider how you drink when you are on a vacation . For example, some people don’t feel like they are on vacation unless they have a drink in their hand. Others may drink heavily here and there, but like to take breaks on some days. The thing to remember is that you pay for the drink package each day of the cruise. So if you like to drink but also take breaks on some days, then you might not get your money’s worth.

Second, you want to factor in whether or not the second person in the cabin will have to buy the package and if they will use it . Say a husband wants the package but has a wife who barely drinks. In this case, you may not get your money’s worth as it is essentially paying twice for one drink package.

Finally, you want to run the possible math on how much you’d spend with the drink package versus without the package .

At $109 ($130.80 with gratuity) per person, per day for the basic package, Norwegian has one of the most expensive packages around. But many people get the package for free with the Free at Sea offer. And then there is a sharp discount for members of NCL’s loyalty program should you buy the package a la carte. No matter what you pay, it’s important to have a handle on what you’d spend and compare it to the drink package price.

On the ship, beers run $6-8. Wine runs $10-15 a glass, and cocktails run $12-15 each. If you’re paying full price for the drink package, you can see that you have to drink a considerable amount each day to breakeven.

If you want some help in estimating what you’d spend, see our Cruise Drink Package Calculator here . It will give you an idea of how much you’d spend on everything from water to soda to beer to cocktails and compare it to the package price.

Have more questions about the drink package? Let us know in the comments below.

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is there a list of alcohol sales for the different NCL ports ?

Question: With the room service on NCL-Bliss do I tip separately or is it included? Also is there a “room service fee” added besides the tip? Thanks! I at least like to have my coffee in the morning without having to get dressed to go & get it! That’s what vacations are all about!

Per NCL’s website:

Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced an enhanced room service menu. The new menu offers an expanded selection for breakfast, in addition to a wider variety of options available 24 hours. Individual items on the menu remain available on a complimentary basis and a convenience charge of up to $9.95 USD will be added to each order placed (Morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests sailing in The Haven will not attract a charge)*. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added for non-complimentary beverages and special occasion items.

If you’re ordering complimentary and not charged anything, a few bucks to the person that brings it would be a nice gesture!

What about those who only drink soft drinks? Is there a package price or what is the individual price ?

Yes, there is a soda package for $10 per day.

Do the drinks packages include non alcoholic beers?

Yes, those should be covered. However, not sure how many options you would have. On our last cruise on NCL this summer, we noticed only Heineken 0.0.

I am Just finishing my NCL cruise and the premium plus package should be better . You need to be quite specific about wanting premium drinks . There is no rose champagne in the ship and last night I could not get a glass of champagne at all as they said they had none (when they did it was Moët not verve ). I asked for a glass of champagne at the champagne bar and they tried to give me a bad cava or Prosecco and again said they only had champagne in the restaurants , and the French restaurant had none . It was also difficult to get a bottle of wine , but may be easier with a bigger party. If they bring a glass you need to ask to see them pour as one night I was served something that wasn’t the Louis Jadot I asked for but a cheap Chardonnay . I don’t want to sound a snob but I like quality not quantity and I don’t think NCL staff are catering for this as well as quantity . If you like whisky and other spirits there are some nice ones on the plus package . But I am cruising friends next year on their first cruise. They love champagne and I will be really embarrassed if I encourage them to do plus package and they ship runs out of champagne .

Overall I feel Service standards have declined in the speciality restaurants post lockdown .

Hey, just wondering if you can help, I’m trying to plot my first cruise. I want to have everything paid for before embarking, so have chosen the free at sea drink package and to prepay my service charge. But am now confused. Will the 20 percent gratuity for the free drink package be added on on the ship? Or is it included upfront when I book? I tried deseleting the drink package and comparing prices but my total was the same, with or without the package. Thanks!

If sailing from the United States, then the gratuity for the free package (about $20 per day) is added onto the cost of the cruise when you book.

My cruise came with Free Premium drink package/Open Bar, but I do not drink. Will I still be charge the gratuities for drinking water? I always use drink flavors (Liquid IV) whenever I want something outside of plain water, so I have no need for anything else.

On cruises from the United States, you are charged gratuity. You can “deselect” the drink package when booking to avoid the charge. If you are unsure, it doesn’t hurt to call the cruise line to make an adjustment.

If you get the “Free at Sea” Premium Drink package, can you UP-grade it to the Premium PLUS package on-board? i.e., pay the difference from $99/day to $128/day or do you have to “start over”?

We just called the cruise line. You can book the Free at Sea and then once on board you can arrange to upgrade to the Premium Plus and pay the difference between the two (plus gratuity).

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Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages Guide

Whether or not to purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package when you don’t have the Free at Sea promo, is really a math project. How much can you actually drink in one week? 

Is Norwegian’s beverage package really worth the cost? Let’s break it all down to basics.

To help your decision, I’ve also included the Unlimited Open Bar Package and the upgraded Premium Plus beverage package menus.

Why Buy a Norwegian All-Inclusive Drink Package?

Mostly, because you’re on vacation! With any one of Norwegian’s beverage packages , you won’t have to reach for your wallet or mentally tally how much you’ve spent on booze. There’s not a much worse way to end a cruise than to get the final bill and go into shock for what you’ve spent on drinks.

But, if you don’t think you can drink enough to break even, it’s not worth it. Basically, with the least expensive Premium Beverage Package, you’d have to put away close to six to ten drinks a day.

While this doesn’t include certain Lavazza specialty coffees, bottled water or fresh juices, you can get your drinks at any bar or restaurant onboard plus it’s good at Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.

Norwegian offers five drink packages. They range from just about every ultra-premium brand an adult could request down to two kids’ unlimited soda programs.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages Details

Unlimited open bar premium beverage package.

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. The drink value can be up to and including $15 USD. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay.

If you want to purchase a bottle of wine, a 20% discount will be applied.

The Unlimited Open Bar Package is included with your reservation if you booked through Free at Sea.

What the Premium Beverage Package Does Not Include

The Premium Beverage Package does not include room service, package sales, daily cocktail specials  or buckets of beer. Also not included are the designated Super Premium brands (subject to change), bottled wine, mini bar purchases, bottled water and fresh squeezed juices.

Lavazza coffee beverages, energy drinks and drinks from vending machines are also not part of the package.

Guests are allowed to buy two (2) beverages per person per transaction.

The good news is that you can take advantage of this package at all restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay.

If you buy an item over $15 USD, the overage plus 20% gratuity and service charge will be applied to your onboard account.

COST:  $109.00 per person per day plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge.

Package cost for a seven-day cruise: $831.60 per person out the door.

View the Premium Beverage Package Menu

Premium plus beverage package – add-on to premium package.

If you only buy top shelf alcohol, this is the package for you. The Premium Plus Beverage Package includes beverages by the glass for Veuve Clicquot, Patrón Añejo, Hendrick’s Gin and more.

Also included in your by-the-glass package are unlimited soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, wines and select bottles of wine with dinner. In addition, still and sparkling water, energy drinks, and specialty coffees are included.

An interesting option about the Premium Plus package is that if you purchase the Premium Beverage Package, you can ask to upgrade to the Premium Plus when you are onboard.

COST:  $138 per person per day plus 20% gratuity service charge.

Total cost for a seven-day cruise:  $1159.20 per person. 

Norwegian Premium-Plus-Beverag e-Package-Menu

Soda packages (ages 3 and up).

If you just gotta have that soda, here’s the drink package for you. Fill up as much as you like on Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mt. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda.

You must purchase this for the entire cruise and it’s non-refundable.

COST:  $9.00 per person per day plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge.

Read Next: How to pack for a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise

Remember, if your cruise promotion includes the basic Unlimited Open Bar package, you can upgrade to the Premium Plus.

It’s pretty easy to add a beverage package to your cruise. Once you’ve booked your cruise, simply head over to ncl.com. Then up in the right-hand corner, log in to myNCL.com with your username and password. That takes you to Explore & Plan.

From there, in the left-hand column, choose Beverage Packages. Simply choose your package and pay for it. It will be automatically added to your account.

Unlimited Starbucks Package

Coffee lovers can rejoice with this Unlimited Starbucks package. The package includes all the classic coffees and teas plus Starbucks trademarked Frappuccino choice and other specialty beverages. 

How much does it cost? $12.95 per person per day. plus the 20% gratuity. You must be 18 years or older at time of sailing to purchase this package.

Do the Hawai’i Cruises Have Beverage Packages?

If you’re lucky enough to take Norwegian’s Pride of America Hawai’i cruise, you should know that there are special beverage packages just for these cruises.

Called the Hawai’i Beverage Package, it’s priced at $109 per person per day, with a wide variety of beverages that cost up to $15.00. If your drink costs more than $15, the overage will be applied to your onboard account. As always, there’s a 20% gratuity charge.

The package is available to guests 1 and 2 on the reservation and you can request up to two beverages per person per order. 

The Hawai’i Beverage package also includes sodas, freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), non-alcoholic beer, and specialty coffee (only in the dining rooms).

This does not include specialty coffee outside of restaurants, room service, any mini-bar purchases, or vending machines. 

Hawai’i Coffee Packages

Starbuck’s coffee packages, including Frappuccinos and Teas are $12.95 per per per day plus 20% gratuity.

Hawai’i Soda Packages

Serving Coca-Cola products, you can add a soda package with unlimited refills for anyone ages 3 and older for $9.95 per person per day. And yes, there’s the 20% gratuity added. 

Water Packages Aboard Pride of America Hawai’i Cruises

Norwegian has three water packages. You can purchase six one-liter bottles for $19.95, 12 one-liter bottle for $34.95 and 24 one-lite bottles for $49.95. As always, there’s the 20% gratuity fee to add.

What are Norwegian Drink Package Rules?

As you can imagine, the cruise line has its list of rules about their drink packages. Before you decide to purchase one of these, read over the rules so there are no surprises once you’re onboard.

• You must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to purchase any alcoholic package and to consume alcohol.
• Packages must be purchased by all qualifying individuals residing in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment for the entire length of the cruise.
• Packages may not be shared and are non-transferable and non-refundable.
• Eligible guests are entitled to two beverages per person per transaction.
• Includes all beverages by the glass. Beverage selection is subject to change onboard.
• Only Premium Plus includes fountain soda, freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, wine dispensers, and specialty coffee.
• For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), “Wine and Spirit Experiences”, tastings, and flights, guest will receive a 40% discount when purchased on board.
• Does not include: Room service, mini bar purchases, vending machines
• Guest’s check may reflect applicable VAT and/or taxes for certain ports or itineraries.
• Package can be used in onboard restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay.
• Offer is not applicable on Harvest Caye, nor sailings that are two (2) days or less.
• A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added to all package purchases.
• No substitute for package if guest cannot consume all beverages included.
• Package price is subject to change.
• Other terms and conditions may apply.

Conclusion: To Buy or Not to Buy

Personally, I’ve never purchased a beverage package…other than a water package. But with individual drink prices on the rise, with Norwegian as well as other cruise lines, buying a beverage package might make more sense. Especially if you do the math.

Yes, even with the almost-yearly increases in the cost of drink packages, if you like more expensive wine, or simply drink a whole lot of beer, you’re probably better off with an all-inclusive drink package.

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17 comments.

Hi and thank you for your questions. These questions are best answered by your travel agent, on NCL.com or directly through the cruise line reservations. Please contact either of the three for the latest information. Thank you again and have a terrific cruise!

What does the free at sea program include and is it available on all Norwegian ships or is it certain ones

Hi Brian, Thank you for your question. The Teen Package only includes sodas. If a teen is in the same room as an adult(s) that purchases a Premium Beverage package, the teen must purchase the soda package. The explanation given by Norwegian on their site is, in my opinion, really confusing. Since an adult with the Premium Beverage Package is allowed to order two drinks at the same time, the fine print does not say whether or not those two drinks have to be the same. Meaning, can the adult ask for an alcoholic cocktail and also a non-alcoholic cocktail with the intention of giving the non-alcoholic drink to the teen? Nevertheless, the teen package does not include mocktails…only soda. Sorry. Thank you for reading my article and taking the time to comment. Happy Cruising!

Cheryl wondering if in the teens package do they include. MocCocktails or is only in the higher priced packages

In my experience, NCL is getting CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP! Cheaper by the day… I take one cruise a year under normal circumstances, and I get the soda package on all of my cruises. …on my last NCL they were pouring the soda from a can into a plastic airline sized cup at drink stations. That is the “fountain”. So, if I ordered a Sierra Mist, they would pour half the can into my cup with ice and then wait for the next person who orders a Sierra Mist to use what’s left of that same sitting opened can. Oh, theres only enough left in the can to make half the person’s drink? Then they will open a fresh can, and mix the flat soda with the new one for this person. It’s total cheapness and the quality of beverage is diminished. In addition, you used to get a commemorative complimentary tumbler (which looked Dollar Tree anyway on NCL) when you ordered the soft drink package. Now you don’t on NCL. …Of course, if you’re at a bar and order, they’ll give you the soda from the tap gun. RCCL still gives a commemorative cup, and its coded on the bottom so you can use their freestyle machines.

NCL has me concerned with all of their cuts the last few years. They just switched their water that is sold on the ship to “just water” which comes in cardboard. Pay $30 for 6 LITERS of water? You can get 3-4 times as much Evian or Fiji for that price on land. NCL is claiming “better for the environment” with all their wokeness but really it’s clearly to save money from offering bottles. All these trends are concerning. Let’s not offer straws anymore, but still use plastic lids that use just as much plastic! NCL was also first to start charging fees for room service meals too.

Hi James, I’m sorry you couldn’t find an answer to your question in my article. Please call Norwegian and they can help. In the meantime, this is the link on their site, though you probably already found it: https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/beverage-packages and for rules, there’s this: https://www.ncl.com/terms/premium-beverage-package – Generally, I think that the phrase “Adult Beverage Package” refers to the Premium Beverage Package, Premium Plus Beverage Package and Corks and Caps. Thank you for taking the time to read the article.

Your article Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages Guide posted January 2, 2020 does not address the Norwegian promotion drink package called “Adult Beverage Package” which was a promo provided to cruisers. I can not find detail information on what the rules are associated with this package.

Hi Dana, Thank you for reading the article. Usually, your waiter will keep the bottle corked until your next dinner. I’ve seen people carry their half-used bottles back to their stateroom, so I would think it’s still possible. As far as what brands of sparkling water NCL uses, I have no clue except for the usual Perrier. When cruising resumes, policies and products could change. Your best bet would be to call the cruise line when it’s closer to your sailing date. Sherry

If you have the premium plus package and get one of the included bottles of wine/champagne at dinner, can you take the (partially consumed) bottle back to your stateroom after dinner or will they let you? What kind of sparkling water do they have available?

Hi Mimi, Thank you for your question. Whether or not Norwegian will serve Miller Lite when they resume cruising remains to be seen. If it was there on your past cruises, most likely it will still be there. Sherry

I have been on a couple Norwegian Cruises. And I always drank Miller Lite. Do you still serve Miller Lite on your cruises?

Hi Toni, Thank you for your question. If I were you, I would simply ask the bartender. The least they could do is to put a maraschino cherry into a Sprite! As far as blended mocktails, no, I’m fairly positive that isn’t included in the teen soda package. But you could probably order a virgin Pina Colada or something like that on your beverage package and when no one is looking, your teen could enjoy it. Just a suggestion. Have a wonderful cruise! Sherry

Hello, We purchased 2 adult drink packages on NCL and 2 Teen drink packages for our 15/16yr olds. I’ve seen on other ships like carnival they include mocktails in the soda packages. I’ve read all the fine print on NCL, looks like just soda or tonic water. Do you know if they do allow mocktails for the teen packages and maybe just don’t advertise it, ? Or even something like Sprite with a little cherry in it? Thanks.

Hi David, Thank you for taking the time to write. I checked the list of beverages for the Premium Drink Package but all I can deduce is that maybe sparkling like a prosecco might be available. Otherwise, like you mentioned, you would need to upgrade to the Premium Plus in order to have real Champagne. I tried to get through to Norwegian but the hold times are long right now. My thoughts are that since Champagne is not listed on the Premium Package, it’s not offered. Have a wonderful cruise and thank you again for reading the article and taking the time to write. Sherry

Hi Sherry! We just booked an NCL cruise to Northern Europe and got the Premium Drink Package as part of their current promotion. My question is are there any sparkling wines included with that package or do I need to upgrade to the Premium Plus Package? We like champagne. In 2017 we went with NCL through the Panama Canal and got the (then) Ultimate Package with did include champagne. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Cheryl, Thank you for your question. I understand what you mean…but unfortunately, not everyone operates on the honor system. Here’s direct from NCL website: “Packages must be purchased by all qualifying individuals residing in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment for the entire length of the cruise. Packages may not be shared and are non-transferable and non-refundable.” Maybe if the two people sharing the stateroom used different methods of payment for the cruise (two credit cards), then maybe that would be a work-around for the drinker to avoid paying what amounts to double. You might want to contact your travel agent who booked your cruise or reach out to Norwegian and see what happens. Thank you again for taking the time to write. Have a terrific cruise! Sherry

What if no one else in your cabin drinks alcohol but you. Why would they have to purchase an alcohol drink package if they don’t drink?

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How Norwegian Cruise Line’s Drink Packages Work

For new or inexperienced cruisers, understanding how drink packages work, and if they’re worth it, is a big challenge. Cruisers on Norwegian Cruise Lines have the added challenge that these cruises are marketed as having “Open bar at sea” Or “Unlimited Drink Package Included.” But is it really free? And what are the limits? We take a look at Norwegian Cruise Line’s four basic drink packages to help you better understand the differences and costs.

• Unlimited Open Bar Package
• Premium Plus Beverage Package
• Soda Package
• Unlimited Starbucks Package

You’ll find a full breakdown of the details below, but we also created this handy chart to quickly help you see the difference between the packages.

Norwegian Unlimited Open Bar Package

The Unlimited Open Bar Package, previously called the “Premium Beverage Package” is Norwegian’s most popular drink package. This is their base unlimited drink package that you get when you select the Unlimited Drink Package as part of a “Free at Sea” offer. It gives you access to a large selection of cocktails, wine, and beer at most venues on the cruise ship. Just be aware, Norwegian offers some “sail away” cabins for lower prices, but they will not include any “Free at Sea” offers. So be sure to read the forms carefully when booking. For people who don’t drink, the “sail away” rates are a great way to save some cash.

What’s Included in Norwegian’s Unlimited Open Bar Package?

Norwegian’s Unlimited Open Bar Package includes a variety of spirits and cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer up to $15. It also includes fountain soda, juice, and non-alcoholic beer. Below is a list of included beverages.

What’s Not Included in the Unlimited Open Bar Package?

• Drinks over $15 (you’ll pay the difference)
• Bottles of water
• Flights, tastings, or liquor experiences*
• Room service
• Bottled wine*
• Mini bar purchases
• Fresh squeezed juices
• Wine dispenser
• Energy drinks
• Vending machines
• Specialty coffee

*A 20% discount will be given on bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or Flights purchased on board.

See full terms and conditions

What Does Norwegian’s Unlimited Open Bar Package Cost?

The cost of the package is typically $109 per person per day plus 20% gratuity. The price increased from $99 per day for all sailings after January 1, 2023. If you choose this perk as part of your cruise fare, you’ll still have to pay the gratuities or $21.80 per person per day. You are able to opt out of this “free” offer when booking if you’re not a big drinker.

Is Norwegian’s Unlimited Open Bar Package Worth It?

If you’re getting the Unlimited Open Bar Package as part of a “Free at Sea” promotion, each guest in the cabin would need roughly 2 – 3 alcoholic drinks a day to break even. However, if you’re paying full price for the drink package, it’s closer to 8 – 14 drinks a day per person to get your money’s worth. Our Drink Package Calculator will run the numbers for you based on what and how much you drink. 

Premium Plus Beverage Package

The Premium Plus Beverage Package is an upgraded version of Norwegian’s unlimited drink package. It includes everything in the standard package, plus a few extras. The most notable differences with this package are the inclusion of bottled water, specialty coffees, bottles of wine, and higher-end liquor.

What’s Included in the Premium Plus Beverage Package

This package includes everything above plus the following:

• Freshly squeezed juices
• Bottled water
• Wine dispensers
• Specialty coffee (including Starbucks)
• Select bottles of wine*
• *Non-select bottles of wine, flights, tastings, and liquor experiences will receive 40% discount

What’s Not Included in the Premium Plus Beverage Package

What Does Norwegian’s Premium Plus Beverage Package Cost?

The cost of the package is typically $138 per person per day (plus 20% gratuity). If you already have the standard Unlimited e already as part of a “Free at Sea” promotion, you can upgrade to the Premium Plus package for $29 per person per day (plus 20% gratuity).

Is Norwegian’s Premium Plus Beverage Package Worth It?

If you’re a big fan of specialty coffees, bottles of water, energy drinks, or bottles of wine, this upgrade may be worth it for you. That being said, if you’re just doing it for the non-alcoholic benefits, it still may be cheaper to pay per drink. It’d take about 4 – 5 of these extra drinks per day per person to break even. If you’re going for bottles of wine and high-end liquor, though, it pays for itself much more quickly. 

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Soda Package

For guests who don’t drink alcohol or guests under the age of 21, Norwegian has a soda package available. With this package, guests can have unlimited sodas around the ship. These used to be two different packages (one for adults and one for children), but in mid-2022 Norwegian combined them into one package.

What does Norwegian’s Soda Package Cover?

In September 2022, Norwegian announced it is switching to Coke products from Pepsi. The transition will be completed by the end of 2022. The soda package will include Cola, Diet Cola, Lemon Lime Soda, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water, Orange Soda & Soda Water.

What doesn’t Norwegian’s Soda Package Cover?

The package excludes basically everything but soda. This will not include juices, milkshakes, bottles of water, etc. 

What Does the Norwegian’s Soda Package Cost?

Guests who get the package will pay $9.95 per person per day plus 20% gratuity.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Unlimited Starbucks Package

Norwegian’s Unlimited Starbucks package was introduced in mid-2022 and was specially made for coffee lovers.

What doesn’t Norwegian’s Unlimited Starbucks Package Cover?

The Unlimited Starbucks Package includes all the made-to-order drinks you can get from a Starbucks, including classic coffees, teas, and Frappuccinos.

What Does the Norwegian’s Unlimited Starbucks Package Cost?

The Unlimited Starbucks Package costs $12.95 per person per day (plus 20% gratuity). The Unlimited Starbucks Package does not include canned or bottled drinks, food, and merchandise. This package works at any Starbucks on a Norwegian ship as well as on Great Stirrup Cay.

Restrictions on Norwegian’s Drink Packages

All of the packages above have similar restrictions. The biggest restriction is that the package must be purchased for all guests staying within the same stateroom. That means if it’s two adults in a cabin, both will need the package. Likewise, if you’re going to be getting the soda package for children, all the children in the cabin must get the package.

Sharing of the packages with other guests is prohibited. That being said, guests are allowed to get two beverages per person per transaction. 

Where Can the Norwegian Drink Packages Be Used?

The Norwegian drink packages can be used in the ship based restaurants, bars, and lounges. They can also be used while on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island. However, they cannot be used at Harvest Caye bars, restaurants, or venues.

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Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 19 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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