*Based on a 7-night cruise, balcony & above. Non-Refundable. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $13. Note that some cruise lines discount drinks packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and some lines offer periodic sales on their drinks packages online. Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or shipboard wine-dispensing machines. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. Bartenders and bar servers receive a portion of your tips, so they want to make sure you're having a good time. Most individual drink prices covered by the beverage package vary between $5 to $15 per day. No matter what package you purchase, you can order two beverages per person, per transaction. Breakfast lunch and dinner are all included on cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. Ultimately, you need to know your own drinking habits (and your cabin mates). When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time. Would you pay $138 per day for a drinks package on a cruise ship? That It's actually kind of easy. Still, whether or not you should purchase one of these beverage packages is an individual choice that depends on several factors. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. But hurry, this limited-time offer won't last long. Of course, staff do have the right to refuse you bar service if you are intoxicated. It would seem effortless for two people to drink 2-3 adult beverages between the two of them. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free. The beverage package also covers bottled water, so you can grab a bottle on your way off the ship and not worry about finding a local convenience store. Available on: All ships except Pride of America. The cost of a cruise ship drink package does not include gratuities. I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? - High Seas Cruising Also includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, soda, juices and energy drinks. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Thats because while youre shopping or taking part in an exciting shore excursion, you wont be using the beverage package. Notably, wine lists onboard were developed in partnership with the Michael Mondavi Family. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I bought a drink package on RCCL, three years ago for around $400.. Norwegian Non-Alcoholic Drinks and their specialty coffees. The bar tab functions as a pre-paid onboard credit, which guests can use to purchase drinks on the ship or at the cruise lines private island Beach Club at Bimini. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Costa Cruises offers two drink packages, My Drinks, and My Drinks Plus. In addition, you'll enjoy specialty coffee, sparkling water, bottled water and energy drinks. Two lines that notably don't have such a rule are Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Q: The included beverage package is the House Select. When Should You Skip The Drink Package On a Cruise? Related: $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? Depending on the cost of the package, you and your cabinmates will need to drink between 5-10 beverages per day each. Click here for information on drink packages. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? This is a significant consideration for whether the beverage package is worth it. Norwegian assesses a gratuity charge of $19.80 per person per day for its basic Premium Beverage Package. Home Cruise Norwegian Cruise Line Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? Purchasing alcohol in port: Same rules as above apply for wine and Champagne; all other alcohol will be retained until the end of the cruise. If you plan to spend the day in port, you wont be consuming as many beverages as you would on sea days. As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. Other packages: Oceania offers a less expensive House Select package that includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner. The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. Norwegian Cruise Line Alcohol Policy Cost per day: $128, not including a 20% gratuity charge (effective Jan. 1, 2023, pricing will rise to $138). Unlimited Open Bar?? - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community For most cruisers, the drink package is simply not worth the price. CC Help Jenn If the Classic Beverage Package isnt enough, passengers can upgrade to the Premium Drinks Package at an additional cost of $12 per person per day. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. The Adult Soda Package is $7.95 per day plus gratuity of $1.59 for a total of $9.54 per day. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. I enjoy an cocktail before dinner and good wine with, but withotu knowing what the extra cost might be, I have no way of knowing if the $40/day service charge would be worth it for one. 15 $ limit is nice for a free at sea. The limit is on the price of $15/drink, not on how many drinks one can have. Just wondering if Norwegian has a similar daily drink limit? Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? It costs $39.95 per day. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. In those instances, a parent or legal guardian must be onboard the sailing with the minor and sign a waiver form at the front desk. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. Carnival also has a time limit between drinks. Below, weve listed the cost of drink packages for some of the mainstream cruise lines to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. . Your beverage package will cover a glass of wine as long as it is below the maximum price per drink. Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package: Ultimate Guide Norwegian Cruise Line Bahamas Cruise Deals. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. The beverage package for Princess Plus used to be called Premier Beverage Package. Cruise ship drinks packages: A line-by-line guide - The Points Guy By Does it include everything that was in the previous package? Be sure to check the fine print in your particular line's drinks package before placing an order for a drink to your room. The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package, priced at $65 per day, includes beer . Drinks over $15 (you'll pay the difference) Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. That said Norwegian Drink Lists are very good, and they offer a great variety of drinks for everyone to experience. 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruise Tour | Norwegian Cruise Line, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruise Tour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line, 20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line, 11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, View Cruises with 50% off and 300 Airfare Credit, Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15, 2 meals to enjoy at any of our specialty restaurants*. I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $12. 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. The Premium beverage package does not include room service, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands, bottled wine or liquor, or mini bar purchases. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. Hi All - I just booked my first cruise with NCL and am getting the UBP. Package name: Prestige Select Beverage Package. Happy cruisingCheers! - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community. Hawaii-based Pride of America has a single drinks package that costs $99 per day (effective Jan. 1, 2023, prices will increase to $109). Note that the package is valid on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises private island in the Bahamas. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". NCL Standard Drinks Menu & Packages - Norwegian Cruise Line In that case you don't buy it so do you double benefit by getting the free UDP and not have to pay the 18% like everyone else? Included with the package, guests have access to wines by the glass, beer, spirits, cocktails, bottled water (500 ml only), fresh juices, fountain sodas, specialty coffees and teas, Red Bull energy drinks, and milkshakes up to $12 per drink. Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. That said, many cruise lines will allow you to use the drink package on their private islands. Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages: What's Included and is it Unlike most other cruise lines drink packages, this alcoholic beverage package also does not include any premium non-alcoholic drinks. Unlimited Starbucks for $12.95/day + 20% gratuity. On port intensive cruises, like the Mediterranean, you might find yourself spending long days ashore. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. In addition to that, it consists of non-alcoholic beer, juice, and fountain soda and juice. With NCL Premium Beverage Packages, you can get a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for as little as $15.00. Your email address will not be published. Between your cruise fare, shore excursions, flights, hotel, and the drink package, it can be painful to spend thousands of dollars before stepping on the cruise ship. When Should You Get The Drink Package On a Cruise? It costs $38 per day. It is a good idea to keep track of your spending because all those drinks can and will add up. And unless you have premium tastes, your favorite liquors will be included. Subscribe to receive travel tips delivered straight to your inbox. All NCL drink packages are priced as per person, per day. Bring the whole family and pay only taxes for 3rd and 4th guests on select cruises. Even as a perk, the service charge for my wife and I require that we consume a minimum of 4-5 drinks per day to break evenand she doesnt drink at all. 3-5 Day Cruises upgrade for 99 per person 6-8 Day Cruises upgrade for 149 per person9-11 Day Cruises upgrade for 199 per person 12-14 Day Cruises upgrade for 249 per person 15-17 Day Cruises upgrade for 299 per person 18+ Day Cruises upgrade for 349 per person. On Australia cruises, the package costs 113.99 Australian dollars ($76.03) per day. NCL's Unlimited Open Bar Package (formerly known as the Premium Beverage Package or the Ultimate Beverage Package) costs $99.00 per day. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. The Free Open Bar is likely the top pick for many from Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. Cruise line drinks packages generally are honored anywhere you can order a drink on a ship think bars, lounges and eateries. Other packages: The less costly Topmast Discoveries Beer and Wine Package, at $49 per day, includes a choice of beers and premium wines but not spirits and cocktails. How Much Do Drinks Cost On Norwegian Cruise Lines Boxed wine is not allowed. With Norwegian's Premium Plus Beverage Package, you'll get all the drinks included in the Premium Package, plus premium brand liqueurs and spirits, and wines by the glass. Unlike theCarnival Cheers Programwhich limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCLs drink packages are truly unlimited. Cost per day: $59.95, including gratuities. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $15. And again, thats if you are drinking the more expensive drinks and cocktails. When requesting sparkling water, I was offered tonic water or club soda. is one of the lowest-priced drink packages of the mainstream cruise lines. Cruise Packages: - Princess Cruises NCL Drink Packages + Prices | 2023 | A Complete Guide! CruiseGear When electing to purchase a package, you have to pay for the entire length of the cruise. It depends. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package, normally $5.95-$7.95 per day. Guest must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to qualify for the Ultimate Beverage Package. You would only start to see a price break once you consumed your 7th max-price drink of the day. Purchasing alcohol in ships' duty-free shop(s): Any alcohol purchased in the onboard shops will be stored until the cruise's conclusion. Youll need to consume much more on sea days to compensate for the lack of drink purchases while at the port to break even. The entire cruise must be purchased. Other packages: The less expensive Easy Plus package only includes drinks costing up to $9. Further, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. It costs $49 per day when sailing in North America (pricing will rise to $51 per day in October). Also, all guests in the same cabin over 18 must purchase this package. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay. Premier Beverage Package - $59.99 The Premier Beverage Package on Princess includes unlimited premium beverages and snacks throughout the cruise. How Much Does Gray Goose Vodka Cost On An NCL Cruise?