Cost per day: $19.95, including gratuities. The even less pricey Easy package only includes a limited number of drinks and is not valid in extra-charge specialty restaurants. A: If a guest wishes to upgrade to the Prestige Select package which includes unlimited premium spirits, champagne, wine and beer, they may do so once on board for an additional charge of $20 per person per day. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. Check here before booking an award fare. A NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package, which includes 20% gratuities, is available for $138 per person per day. Also includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, soda, juices and energy drinks. Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? Cruise drinks packages can cost anywhere between 25 and 106 ($30 to $129) per day for all-inclusive alcoholic drinks. When considering this option, it is important to note that NCL offers cruisers the ability to purchase a 24-pack of 1L bottles of water for $44.95 on the online cruise planner. You will not be limited by the number of drinks you can consume with any of the Norwegian cruise line drink packages because there is no limit. 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. Basic tiers often just include sodas and bottled water. There are five different adult beverage packages available on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. You guessed it, you have to pay 20% gratuity on the free soda packages as well. Please note: We are looking at packages that include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Related Post: Best Cruise Lines for Families. A meager time, for sure, but regardless, NCL doesn't have a stated policy. Then there were days where we only had 2 drinks each for the entire day. Finally, cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, and Princess Cruises Princess Plus already include a beverage package with your cruise fare. More expensive bottles come with a 20% discount. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. 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. With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. We may receive compensation when you click on those links at no cost to you. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! If you are only drinking a few drinks per day, it is probably cheaper for you to not choose the free at sea promos. And The value of up to $1888 just refers to the price one would have to pay for the package if it were not free. Prices 6 litre Just Water Package $16.95 12-litre Just Water Package $29.95 24 litre Just Water Package $44.95 If you purchase the drink package, you will be charged for every day you are on vacation, even when you spend the day in port. Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1,500ml.. 2-IN-1 LID; Our unique 2-in-1 lid allows you to sip your drinks with the flip up Sip lid, and drink your cold drinks with the Integrated Straw lid, We took your two favorite ways of drinking, and built them into one awesome lid. Notably, wine lists onboard were developed in partnership with the Michael Mondavi Family. But remember, you will have to purchase the package for every adult in the cabin, even if they dont plan on drinking. You must purchase a Norwegian drink package for the entire length of the cruise. That would be a total of $27.60 per day for both people. As part of its drinks package price hike on Jan. 1, Norwegian will also raise the cost of a less-expensive drinks package it offers that has a $15 cap on the price level of drinks that can be ordered. Norwegian offers guests the option pre-order water and have it delivered to their cabin. For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, and flights, guests will receive a 40% discount. Fine print: Theres a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day. Remember that bartenders and servers will only serve you one drink at a time. Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. If you would spend more money purchasing individual drinks than the cost of the package, then the drink package is worth it for you. This unlimited soda program le. There's never been a better time to book your dream cruise. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. Cost per day: $59.99, including an 18% gratuity charge. It's easy to run up a monster bill ordering wine, beer and mixed drinks by the glass on a cruise ship. A relatively newer offering, the Premium Plus beverage package is the most all-inclusive option of the NCL drink packages. This beverage package is available as an upgrade to the Free at Sea Premium beverage package option. Norwegian has a few other drink package options including. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. LauraS CC Help Jenn It also does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, or Ice Bars. The beverage package for Princess Plus used to be called Premier Beverage Package. That means you'll pay $19.80 per person per day or $138.60 per person for the 7-day Pride of America sailing. The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass. The best way to determine if a drink package is right for you is to calculate how much you would be spending on drinks. Youll just have to pay the gratuities. It depends. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. I plan on setting a record with most drinks consumed using the UBP! The entire cruise must be purchased. $12 for a drink made with leftover banana peels? Learn more. Also, any guests under the age of 21 must purchase a soda package as a substitute. Soda, specialty coffees and other nonalcoholic beverages already are included in the fare on Windstar sailings. Most mixed drinks range between $10-$12. If you pay outright for the, The gratuities for the free premium package are $13.80 per day. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not the drink package is worth it on your cruise. - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community. If you decide to purchase the beverage package, booking online ahead of time is better. The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package was formerly known as the Ultimate Beverage Package. The Premium Plus beverage package is currently priced at $128 per person, per day. Here are some reasons why a beverage package might be a good idea: If you are new to cruising, you may think that the cruise ships food and drinks are all-inclusive. The 24-hour period runs from 6 am-6 am. 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. I can assume an 18 year old single malt scotch is well over $15but by how much? If you prefer to order a bottle of wine at dinner or want to choose from a selection of high-end wine, they arent included in your drink package. as long as the regular drink package is offered as the free at sea promotion,i find that this is sufficient for my wife and myself, by nature she is not a big drinker (although neither am I) but we will have a glass of champagne or mimosa at breakast and she will join me in a mojito during the afternoon. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. Make sure you consider the reduced consumption during port days to estimate your drink expenses better. When you choose the UDP, the 18 percent of the cost of the package is added to the cost of the cruise. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails (soda, beer and house wines by the glass ordered at lunch and dinner already are included in the fare at Viking; so are specialty coffees and teas at all hours). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I bought a drink package on RCCL, three years ago for around $400.. I have the free at sea promotion for a 10 day cruise in Iceland . 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. Be sure to check the fine print in your particular line's drinks package before placing an order for a drink to your room. Followers 10. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Then, we took the average prices for each drink category to determine how much we would have spent on drinks if we paid a la carte for each item. How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise, The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package, These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising, How to plan a cruise with points and miles. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. Notably, this restriction does not apply to alcoholic beverages so, you could get bottles or cans of beer, but not sodas or water. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package, Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package, Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages, Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package, Cruise Ship Anchors: Everything You Need to Know, Royal Caribbean RoyalUp (Guide to Upgrading Your Cabin). 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. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Carnival Cruise Line Australia Alcohol Policy, 10 Cruise Alcohol Hacks for Better Drinking on the Cheap. If you only have a few drinks or just soda each day do they still automatically charge you the full 18 percent gratuity as if you'd maxed out the value of the program? NCL has no drink limit per day with the drink package, whether purchased or as a perk. A 20% service charge is added to your purchase at checkout. Drinks served in souvenir glassware and specialty beers are not covered by the package, nor are beverages served inside licensed Starbucks stores on ships. Can a guest upgrade to the unlimited package? Happy cruisingCheers! The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. The alternate package is the "Premium Plus Beverage Package." Priced at $138 per day, this is Norwegian's most expensive and highest-end package. Cost per day: $59.95, including gratuities. It costs $38 per day. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. don't-use-real-name 6.1k February 4, 2010 Bloomington MN USA #7 Posted July 4, 2019 There is no. . This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Just kidding around, but that would be a hard thing to accomplish. Heres everything you need to know to help you decide if the drink package is worth it on a cruise. Your analysis is not very useful without the list of brands excluded (or included), which seems to be permanently unavailable. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Does it include everything that was in the previous package? The package is not available for Australia-based itineraries shorter than seven nights or voyages shorter than two nights in all other regions. Related Post: Everything You Should Book Before Your Cruise. The cost was around $300 and it was a very good deal as it worked out to just over $21 a day. 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 To complete these analyses, we tracked all of our beverages consumed over a 7-day cruise. So if you feel like purchasing drinks off of the ship, you will have to pay for them. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Celebrity Cruises offers its Classic and Premium Package. Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights with the exception of South America sailings. Thus, purchasing a case of water at $44.95 ($6.42 broken down per day) and 2 specialty beverages at $9-10 total, we would not reach the $29 per person, per day fee associated with upgrading. DOUBLE WALL VACUUM INSULATED TECHNOLOGY: This tumbler can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and keep hot for at least 6 hours. But for those who regularly order several alcoholic drinks a day when cruising, there's a way to save: a flat-fee drinks package. Based on this cost, if you and your cabin mate will drink on average at least 2 alcoholic drinks/day, then the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is worth getting as a free perk. Finally, many cruise lines have a rule that if one person purchases the drink package, everyone sharing the cabin must also buy the drink package. Variety of spirits and cocktails, wines. Cost per day: $59, not including a 15% gratuity charge. When doing the calculations, dont forget to factor in port days. As a bonus, guests can take advantage of the Princess Cruises Princess Plus fare, which includes the Premier Beverage Package, unlimited WiFi for one device, and daily gratuities. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. 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. Alternatively, passengers can choose the Elevate cruise fare, which includes the Premium Beverage Package and a shore excursion credit for $20 per person per day. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and most bottled water. Of course, the price may become more justifiable if you plan on drinking soda, juice, and bottled water throughout the day. The cost of alcoholic drinks on cruise vessels particularly cocktails can be pricey. Be the first to rate this post. When selecting this free perk, guests will still need to pay gratuity. I've maxed out once during a sea day. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free. 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. :D. You might take a minute to review the terms of the UBP before you sail. Here are some of the risks. Unlike theCarnival Cheers Programwhich limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCLs drink packages are truly unlimited. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time. Though, it does come at a higher price point. The premium package covers nearly every drink served by the glass for up to $15 per drink. It adds up and allows us to cruise more. Is the drink package worth it on a cruise? is one of the most common questions we receive. All major cruise lines will let you buy drinks on an a la carte basis when cruising. Theres a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. Note: Final prices will add a 20% gratuity to the cost of the package. As part of Celebritys Always Included fare, passengers receive the Classic Package with the standard cruise fare. Soda Package. CC Help Jenn That said Norwegian Drink Lists are very good, and they offer a great variety of drinks for everyone to experience. Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise. If so, you may be able to use your beverage package off of the ship. Several of the biggest cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America and MSC Cruises, have a rule that if one adult in a cabin orders a drinks package, all adults in the cabin must order the package. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. . She is a self-confessed thrill seeker, obsessive planner, and over-packer. Some people love knowing exactly how much they will spend with the package before stepping on board. In this post, we complete an analysis to answer the question, Is the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package Worth It?. Norwegian assesses a gratuity charge of $19.80 per person per day for its basic Premium Beverage Package. Another upgrade to this plan is the availability of select bottles of wine at dinner. Below is a line-by-line look at available drinks packages at the major lines that offer them. Cheers to all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and soft drinks. Find the right card for you. It costs $49 per day when sailing in North America (pricing will rise to $51 per day in October). It also includes fountain soda, juice, and non-alcoholic beer. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! Get expert advice, insider tips and more. You must order at least two drinks in order to be served. Note that both prices will have an 18% gratuity tacked on. That is a question that only you can answer based on your own drinking habits. The 15% service charge is waived when pre-booking the package. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegians Free at Sea promotion. Just wondering if Norwegian has a similar daily drink limit? Free Unlimited Open Bar Save up to $1,400 on all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice and soda Learn More Free Specialty Dining Save up to $180 and savor free meals at our Specialty Dining venues. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Other brands, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, charge as much as $138 per person, per day for a top-tier package. I hope you order your liver transplant before you leave!! Yes. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. But hurry, this limited-time offer won't last long. Cruise ship drink packages cover sodas, juice, and non-alcoholic beverages. In our experience, the drink package on a cruise ship is not worth it for most passengers. 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. Then again, we may have been having fun but never were out of control. Through the promotion, guests can receive a free beverage package. For a line-by-line guide to drinks package costs, inclusions, limitations and fine print, scroll to the second half of the guide. 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. Cost per day: $79.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge. 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. Further vending machine purchases and wine stations are not included. Your email address will not be published. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails. So, comparing $13.80 daily to $9.54 daily, the full-priced Adult Soda Package is $4.26 per day. I have a 14 day cruise booked and Iam sure I will get my monies worth. Below is a list of included beverages. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. There is no hard limit, but they can and may refuse to serve you if they feel you are excessively inebriated, regardless of number of drinks purchased. Learn More Free Wi-Fi No matter what package you purchase, you can order two beverages per person, per transaction. Also, all guests in the same cabin over 18 must purchase this package. Is Starbucks free on Norwegian? Dubbed the Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, this less-pricey package currently costs $99 per person per day. The beverage package includes a selection of hot drinks such as Vergnano coffee, cappuccino, herbal teas, and hot chocolate. Is There A Limit To How Many Drinks You Can Get Per Day With An Ncl Beverage Package Unlike some cruise lines, Norwegian doesnt currently have a limit on how many drinks you can have per day with any of their packages. I would buy it again if I went again. 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. 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. With the high price of the package and price restrictions on included beverages, youll need to purchase 6-8 alcoholic beverages every day to break even. Premium Beverage Package - Starting at the hefty price of $99 per day (plus 20% service charge), Norwegian 's Premium Beverage Package includes any wines, beers or cocktails priced at $15 or less per glass. drink package is one of the most inclusive packages on our list. 15 $ limit is nice for a free at sea. Some cruise lines also let you use your packages when visiting their private islands. The drinks package included in Princess Plus is now called Plus Beverage Package. 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. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. And some also offer wine-specific packages. While it is excellent for most people, wine connoisseurs wont be satisfied by the limited selection and beverages by the glass. Welcome Aboard! The package is not valid on Holland Americas private island, Half Moon Cay. Coffee shops are available onboard as well, and the drink package includes a variety of them. Your beverage package will cover a glass of wine as long as it is below the maximum price per drink. If you purchase a drink that costs more than the limit, most cruise lines will only have you pay the difference and the gratuity on the difference. Book today and enjoy 50% Off all cruises! If you wait until youre on the ship to purchase the package, be prepared to pay full price. For example,Royal Caribbeans CocoCay islandand MSCs Ocean Cay allow you to use your beverage package for drinks on land. Drink packages dont apply when youre running around port or on shore excursions. You wont be charged an additional gratuity when you use the beverage package at the bar or dining room because it is already paid for when you purchase your package. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. For a simple estimation, figure out what drinks you will consume (beer, wine, soda, whiskey) and how many drinks you will consume daily. As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. Have another, we won't tell.*. The cruise was 14 days and the package was called their Silver Spirts package. I got the drink package as a perk, for me it will be worth it as I do like to drink well on vacation. For the above reasons, we dont think drink package purchases make sense for most cruisers. includes nearly all of the beverages onboard Carnival cruise ships. 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). 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. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. On Australia cruises, the package costs 113.99 Australian dollars ($76.03) per day. Subscribe to receive travel tips delivered straight to your inbox. The package does not contain any specialty coffees or . Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or shipboard wine-dispensing machines. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service.