does norwegian drink package have a limit?

On port intensive cruises, like the Mediterranean, you might find yourself spending long days ashore. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. Of course, this number of drinks varies slightly based on your drink preferences. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. As with the other cruise lines on the list, you will usually get a better deal if you purchase the drink package before you set sail rather than on the ship. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. Rules vary among cruise lines, but generally, if one adult purchases the drink package, all adults sharing the cabin must also purchase the same beverage plan. Are You Confused by the Cruise Lines' Beverage Packages? Below is a list of included beverages. Drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks, such as soda packages, typically cost far less. Available on: All ships except Pride of America. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Further, most drink packages have a price limit for drinks. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Cruisers can upgrade by paying the difference in the retail package price ($29) in addition to associated service charges ($34.80 total per person, per day). Norwegian's Free at Sea Cruise Deals: Free Open Bar & More You could purchase the drink package through your travel agent, by calling the cruise line directly, or through your online account if you booked through the cruise lines website. That means you'll pay $19.80 per person per day or $138.60 per person for the 7-day Pride of America sailing. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Thats because most cruise ship ports are independent of the cruise line. Unlimited Open Bar?? - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community Related Post: Beginners Guide to Cruise Planning. When you order drinks from a US port, you will be charged an additional tax. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge. 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. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? Thats because the package price is $3 cheaper per person per day if purchased before embarkation day. So get ready to drink to your hearts content just dont go overboard on the alcohol (pun intended). So you would have to drink more than 10 of that price level drink, 30oz Blue Tumbler Stainless Steel Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Mug with Straw and Lid, Cleaning Brush for Cold and Hot Beverages, Hydrapeak Roadster 40oz Tumbler with Handle and 2-in-1 Straw Lid, Insulated Leak Proof Double Walled Stainless Steel Coffee Travel Mug - Keeps Cold for 34 Hours or Hot for 10 Hours (Ice), Beast 40 oz Tumbler Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Coffee Ice Cup Double Wall Travel Flask (Matte Black). And that would have to be 7 drinks actually consumed on the ship itself. Also includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, soda, juices and energy drinks. This equates to $831.60 per person for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); High Seas Cruising was founded by couple Marcello and Victoria to share travel tips and insights from over two decades of cruise vacations. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The premium package covers nearly every drink served by the glass for up to $15 per drink. 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. This unlimited soda program le. There's no daily limit to the number of drinks you can order on Norwegian Cruise Line. Our complete analysis will help you answer the question, "Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?". Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. NCL Standard Drinks Menu & Packages - Norwegian Cruise Line And if you wait until the second day, you will still be paying for the first two days of sailing, even though you didnt use the package. Norwegian assesses a gratuity charge of $19.80 per person per day for its basic Premium Beverage Package. The package was renamed to Premium Beverage Package, while a second program, named Premium-Plus Package, also offered. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. These Are The Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love! At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. The price limit of $20 per drink is the highest among cruise lines. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. Learn More Free Excursions Save $50 per Shore Excursion, Per Stateroom with Shore Excursion Credits. Although annoying, it still seemed like we could make good value out of the packages even with the required fee. That would be a total of $27.60 per day for both people. Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? Which Cruise Lines Offer Free Drink Packages This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). The My Drinks package is included in the All Inclusive Rate and includes soft drinks, Draught Heineken, classic cocktails, soda, liquors, and spirits. There is no sharing of the NCL drink package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. In 2021, MSC Cruises updated its drink package offerings, giving passengers a choice between 3 new packages. You must purchase a Norwegian drink package for the entire length of the cruise. Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package is their top beverage package which covers a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Prepaid @ $7.95 USD per person per day x Cruise Days plus 20% gratuity and beverage service charge. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service. Discover 9 Top Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love + 5 More For Kids! Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. The Adult Soda Package is $7.95 per day plus gratuity of $1.59 for a total of $9.54 per day. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay. Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? Norwegian Cruise Line Drops a Drink Package Norwegian charges the most for its drink packages and those prices have actually recently gone up. Bottomless Bubbles Package | Drink Packages | Carnival Cruise Line Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Depending on your ports of call and number of sea days, as well as your hours ashore, you may receive better savings (or less) on your voyage. Two lines that notably don't have such a rule are Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Related: These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising. I figured Carnival might put the limit so you don't buy a ton of drinks for friends who are not on the package. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. At several of the biggest cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America, the main drinks packages that include all types of drinks cost about $60 per person, per day. Enrollment required. If youre still not convinced. The line's new Premium-Plus package is the "top beverage offering" of Norwegian and is designed for passengers who love top-shelf liquors. Once on board, you will often purchase the drink package during the first two days of sailing. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship bar. I believe that your account is debited the cost of the drink; then it is debited the 18% and finally the cost of the drink is credited. Weve even seen discounts of up to 40% off! What Drinks Are Free On Norwegian Cruise Lines? - Elite Cruises 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*. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free. Of course, if you plan to drink more non-alcoholic specialty drinks or like bottles of wine, then this upgrade might be worth it for you. Obviously, you should be safe and drink responsibly! That's unlimited wine, soda, beer and cocktails priced under $15. While the $99 per person per day base charge will be waved, you'll still be paying the 20% gratuity and beverage service charge on the full retail price of the package. This includes all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the brands private island ofGreat Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. CC Help Jenn However, you usually can't use them when ordering room service to your room. For one flat fee, these cruise ship drink packages offer cruisers the ability to make their cruise more inclusive. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! Princess Cruises Drinks Packages Guide - Cruise The Waves The package does not contain any specialty coffees or . When Should You Skip The Drink Package On a Cruise? If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? The Plus package is included when passengers book suite accommodations. Thats because while youre shopping or taking part in an exciting shore excursion, you wont be using the beverage package. The package also brings a 15% discount on wine bottles and premium beverages costing more than $15 that arent included in the package. Some people love knowing exactly how much they will spend with the package before stepping on board. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Carnival Cruise Line Australia Alcohol Policy, 10 Cruise Alcohol Hacks for Better Drinking on the Cheap. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. No sharing is permitted and is non-transferable. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $13. While some companies (such as Norwegian Cruise Line) apply a sticker to your key card at check-in to indicate that you've purchased a drink package, Carnival handles things slightly. Enrollment required. So you pay the gratuities upfront. Guests can purchase the Premier Beverage Package for $59.99 per person per day. The Premium Beverage Package covers nearly every onboard drink up to $15 per drink, while the Premium Plus Beverage Package covers all drinks served by the glass, with no limit on the drink price. In cases where a line offers more than one drinks package, weve highlighted the most inclusive package in detail while also noting other packages cruisers can consider. Norwegian Introduces Unlimited Starbucks Package What's Not Included in the Unlimited Open Bar Package? :D. You might take a minute to review the terms of the UBP before you sail. Additionally, package holders receive a 40% discount on wines priced up to $100 and a 20% discount on wines priced above $100. Ultimate Beverage Package - limits? Yes. All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. This Is What You Need To Plan The Best Cruise With A Baby, How To Plan Awesome Family Cruise Shore Excursions Youll Love. Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Deals. Plus Ups are excluded. 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. Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It? Guests under 21 will receive the soda package, normally $5.95-$7.95 per day. 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. Share. For most cruisers, the drink package is simply not worth the price. Though, it does come at a higher price point. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Knowing the total cost of the cruise vacation before you set sail is a smart budgeting trick so that you wont be surprised when you receive the bill at the end of your sailing. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Before deciding to purchase a drink package, we recommend doing a little math to find out if it will save money or be an unnecessary expense. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. Your analysis is not very useful without the list of brands excluded (or included), which seems to be permanently unavailable. You would only start to see a price break once you consumed your 7th max-price drink of the day. Though, it is not likely worth it to purchase out of pocket unless you plan on consuming a considerable number of alcoholic beverages a day. Learn More Free Wi-Fi Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $18. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. As a rough estimate, cocktails and wine cost about $10-12 each, beer costs approximately $6-8 each, and sodas, bottled water, energy drinks, and specialty coffees and teas are between $3-6 each. Available on: All ships including river and expeditions ships. Now hold even more of your favorite beverage at the perfect temperature for longer. Be the first to rate this post. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. For a full list of included beverages, seehere. A NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package, which includes 20% gratuities, is available for $138 per person per day. Bartenders and bar servers receive a portion of your tips, so they want to make sure you're having a good time. Bottles or cans of any non-alcoholic beverage. I know Carnival has the Party reputation and I have never gone on Carnival, but I surely would. Limitations related to drink cost: None. The ultimate guide to taking a cruise now - Elliott Report It's actually kind of easy. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? Prices 6 litre Just Water Package $16.95 12-litre Just Water Package $29.95 24 litre Just Water Package $44.95 Depending on the cost of the package, you and your cabinmates will need to drink between 5-10 beverages per day each. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! This is also the package that guests receive as part of the Free at Sea promotion. Related Post: Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. Also for a limited time only, get up to 300 per person Airfare Credit on select Cruises. New Holland America Line West Coast Cruises Just Released! At first, glance, purchasing a drink package seems like a no-brainer. Your email address will not be published. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring alcohol on the cruise ship one or two bottles of wine or champagne. Here's what you get: Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15 USD (such as Patron Silver, Grey Goose and more) A variety of beer and wine by the glass under $15 USD 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine If you get caught sneaking a drink to a travel companion, you will have your drink package privileges revoked. And some also offer wine-specific packages. What Does The Norwegian Drink Package Include Bottled Water Note: Final prices will add a 15% gratuity to the cost of the package. The cost of alcoholic drinks on cruise vessels particularly cocktails can be pricey. Cruise ship drink packages cover sodas, juice, and non-alcoholic beverages. If you decide to purchase a drink package on your cruise, you will have to purchase it for every day of the vacation. Cost per day: $63 to $89, not including an 18% gratuity charge (pricing varies by ship and itinerary). As a simple rule, if you plan on having 6-8 drinks per day throughout your cruise, the package is worth considering. But, youll still be paying full price for the beverage package. Of course, staff do have the right to refuse you bar service if you are intoxicated. The two major exceptions are Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. We save on the average of $800 when we choose a regular balcony over the free at sea balcony. You are charged 18% on the cost of the package when you buy it. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. The alternate package is the "Premium Plus Beverage Package." Priced at $138 per day, this is Norwegian's most expensive and highest-end package. Check here before booking an award fare. Related Post: Guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package. Wine and Champagne are permitted, but you'll have to pay a corkage fee for any that is consumed onboard in staterooms, bars or restaurants. Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $12. If you plan on drinking lots of pop or alcohol, but your cabinmate is fine with tap water, youll be better off skipping the beverage package and buying drinks at the bar. For a line-by-line guide to drinks package costs, inclusions, limitations and fine print, scroll to the second half of the guide. Cruise line drinks packages generally are honored anywhere you can order a drink on a ship think bars, lounges and eateries. Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. If you are only drinking a few drinks per day, it is probably cheaper for you to not choose the free at sea promos. The majority of town beer shops are open before 8 p.m. or 6 p.m. on weekends. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. To complete these analyses, we tracked all of our beverages consumed over a 7-day cruise. Note: Final prices will add an 18% gratuity to the cost of the package. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. What it includes: A large selection of beers including craft beers, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, Coca-Cola products, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. Cruise lines will often offer discounts if you buy the drink package before you sail. There is no limit to how much alcohol you can drink on the road, which is one of the strictest in the world. 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. Most cruise lines require all guests sharing a cabin to purchase the same beverage plan to prevent sharing between friends and family. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. One of the most hotly debated cruise topics are drink packages. The maximum beverage price covered by the package is $15. How Norwegian Cruise Line's Drink Packages Work So, given that it does not include many non-alcoholic items, the Premium beverage package is priced well above its competitors. Everything You Need To Know About Carnival's Drink Package - Cruise Radio Cost per day: $64.95 when purchased on board, not including an 18% automatic gratuity charge; $59.95 plus the gratuity charge when purchased in advance of sailing. The cost of cruise line drinks packages varies widely by line. How much is a glass of wine on Norwegian cruise? We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. In addition to that, it consists of non-alcoholic beer, juice, and fountain soda and juice. If so, you may be able to use your beverage package off of the ship. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Also, any guests under the age of 21 must purchase a soda package as a substitute. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. Absolutely not! Especially if you do shots in between beers. How Much Does Gray Goose Vodka Cost On An NCL Cruise? I have no way of knowing if my normal call brand of gin or bourbon is under $15 onboard, or excluded, or even available. No actually it is what the UBP would cost for 16 days for two people (at the previous rate of $59/day). This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. You cant use the drink package in most ports. NCL Alcohol Policy, Drink Packages, Wine Prices | CruiseMapper Note that the pricing listed is per person, per day. Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? But no, as of right now theres no set limit. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. The bolding is mine but there is a limit quoted. Further, there is no sharing of the package or using your package to order drinks for other cruisers. anytime you want with Bottomless Bubbles. Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. 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. 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. No matter what package you purchase, you can order two beverages per person, per transaction. Package name: Prestige Select Beverage Package. In our experience, the drink package on a cruise ship is not worth it for most passengers. Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. At checkout, you will be charged gratuities on the drink package, usually between 15-20%. The beverage package includes a selection of hot drinks such as Vergnano coffee, cappuccino, herbal teas, and hot chocolate. Heres Your Answer! While you might be able to consume enough drinks on sea days to make the package worth the price, youll have to consider the days that you will spend in port. So if you feel like purchasing drinks off of the ship, you will have to pay for them. The package also brings a 25% discount on wine and Champagne bottle purchases. For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, and flights, guests will receive a 40% discount. Norwegian Non-Alcoholic Drinks and their specialty coffees. You don't need a drinks package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship.