NCL DRINK Packages With Prices Is It Worth It? Complete Guide! Cruise Gear

Table Of Content

• Final Thoughts on Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages
• What drink packages can be bought when sailing around Hawaii onboard Pride of America?
• Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide
• More Spacious Norwegian Cruise Line Solo Cabins Added Fleetwide
• What’s Included in Norwegian’s Unlimited Open Bar Package?
• Quick Cost Breakdown Of The Norwegian 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. 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.

Final Thoughts on Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages

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Are you traveling with three or four people in your stateroom? If one person gets a drink package, then everyone else in the same cabin must get one, too. For instance, let's say that one parent is interested in the Unlimited Open Bar Package. You don't want to invest in a drink package if you aren't going to break even and get your money's worth. Note that you'll have to pay an extra 20% gratuity when you purchase your package. On average, frozen cocktails and drinks on Norwegian cost about $9-13 a glass.

What drink packages can be bought when sailing around Hawaii onboard Pride of America?

As for taxes on your drinks, you won't need to pay anything extra when you're sailing in international waters. 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.

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

NCL drink packages can be purchased online through your cruise planner or onboard the ship. To break even with the soda package, you'd need to drink four sodas (at $3 to $3.50 each) per day. They range from just about every ultra-premium brand an adult could request down to two kids’ unlimited soda programs. 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.

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. For those seeking a more upscale experience, the Premium Plus Beverage Package offers an upgraded variety of beverages. This package includes all the benefits of the NCL Unlimited Open Bar package, along with premium bottled water, specialty coffee, energy drinks, and freshly squeezed juices. Guests can also indulge in a wider selection of top-shelf spirits, wines, and champagne with this upgraded package. The Premium Plus Beverage Package is perfect for those who appreciate finer spirits and a touch of luxury during their cruise.

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Those seeking a more inclusive experience will want to consider the Premium Plus Beverage Package. While more expensive, it includes everything that the Unlimited Open Bar Package does and more! You'll get access to more premium offerings, such as Grey Goose Vodka, Patron Añejo Tequila, and even Absinthe. When it comes to wine, you will have a larger list of options, too. Plus, you will also have a large selection of wines by the glass from around the world, including  Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and more. If you want to enjoy a full bottle, you'll get a 20% discount.

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

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. 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.

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). 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. 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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Quick Cost Breakdown Of The Norwegian Drink Package

The NCL Premium Beverage Package, also known as the Unlimited Open Bar, offers an extensive range of drinks to ensure guests have a memorable and enjoyable cruise experience. With this package, guests can indulge in a variety of beverages up to $15 per drink. This includes a selection of wine, beer, basic spirits, and frozen drinks like Margaritas and Pina Coladas. When it comes to drink packages, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) stands out with its simplified and generous options. NCL has streamlined its offerings over the years, now offering two alcohol beverage packages that cater to guests’ needs. The NCL Unlimited Open Bar package, also known as the Premium Beverage Package, and the Premium Plus Beverage Package provide guests with unlimited beverage options throughout their cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers four drink packages that let passengers pay a flat daily fee and get an unlimited amount of the included beverages. 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. This package provides drinks ranging from sodas to beers to cocktails to glasses of wine.

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. 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. 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. This package covers a wide variety of beverages from spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, bottled or draft beer, to sodas and juices.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a separate coffee package that you can buy on a Norwegian Cruise. If you do want to have specialty coffee included, consider the Premium Plus package, which includes premium liqueurs and wine, unlimited soda, and Lavazza coffee. In this post, I’ll share the details of the most popular beverage packages on Norwegian and answer some frequently asked questions. We’ll look at which packages offer the best value, and which drink packages will be “worth it” for you. I’ve sailed with NCL both with a beverage package, and without, and I definitely have an opinion.

If you are a heavy drinker or know you will be drinking the $15 drinks exclusively, then the package may be a good fit for you. Plus you still have to buy bottles of wine (although you get 40% off). Okay, so you have classy taste and want to pay the additional $29 per day to have top-shelf liquors and wines.

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No matter where your dream vacation takes you, feel free to cruise your way. You need to consider how many alcoholic drinks you plan on having each day. But I find they still have a great selection of wines and cocktails around $9-$12. If you decide last minute you do actually want to add the drink package, you can purchase it during the first 48 hours of the cruise. For example, a 3-day cruise (3 days x $21.80) would only cost $65.40 per person in gratuity.