A drink package can make a cruise feel more convenient. Instead of thinking about the price of every cocktail, beer, glass of wine, soft drink, or specialty beverage, you can pay for a package and enjoy eligible drinks according to its terms.
But that does not automatically mean a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package is a good deal for every passenger.
The answer depends on your drinking habits, cruise length, itinerary, package price, included benefits, and how much time you expect to spend onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line offers several beverage options, and package prices and inclusions can change. Its current terms also state that a 20% gratuity and beverage service charge can apply to package purchases.
So, is it worth buying a drink package on Norwegian Cruise? For passengers who regularly order alcoholic or premium beverages, it can be worthwhile. For light drinkers, passengers who mostly drink complimentary beverages, or people who spend substantial time ashore, paying separately may be better.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers different beverage packages depending on the sailing and promotion.
The options can include packages for alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, Starbucks beverages, and premium drinks. Norwegian also offers beverage benefits through its Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus promotions on qualifying bookings. Current promotional terms show that Free at Sea Plus can include upgrades such as an Unlimited Open Bar benefit, an Unlimited Starbucks Package, premium wines and liquors by the glass, and selected bottled or specialty waters and energy drinks.
Because Norwegian can change package prices, availability, brands, and terms, check the package attached to your specific reservation before calculating whether it is a good value.
The exact inclusions depend on the package you purchase.
For example, Norwegian's current Premium Plus Beverage Package terms state that it can include beverages covered by the Unlimited Open Bar Package plus additional premium spirits, cocktails, beer and wine by the glass, selected bottles of wine and champagne, Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, energy drinks, and certain sports drinks.
Some packages can also include:
However, not every beverage is automatically included. Brand availability can vary by ship and season, and certain premium or specialty products may be excluded.
A beverage package is more likely to make financial sense if you regularly order several eligible drinks throughout the day.
For example, someone who enjoys a morning specialty coffee, drinks by the pool, wine with dinner, and cocktails in the evening may get substantially more value from a package than someone who has only one alcoholic drink at dinner.
The key is not simply how many drinks you can consume. It is how many eligible drinks you would realistically purchase anyway.
If you normally drink one alcoholic beverage a day, a package may not provide enough value.
The same applies if you mainly drink water, regular coffee, tea, or other beverages that are already available without purchasing a premium package.
A package should reduce your overall beverage spending or provide enough convenience and benefits to justify its cost. If you have to change your normal drinking habits just to make the package worthwhile, it may not be the right choice.
Your itinerary matters.
On a sea day, you may spend most of the day onboard and have more opportunities to use the package. On a port day, you could spend several hours exploring ashore, which means fewer opportunities to order drinks from the ship.
If your cruise has many port-intensive days, calculate the package based on your realistic onboard time rather than assuming you will use it continuously.
One of the simplest ways to determine whether a drink package is worthwhile is to calculate your approximate daily beverage spending.
Use this basic formula:
Daily break-even cost = Total package cost ÷ Number of cruise days
Then estimate what you would normally spend on drinks each day.
For example, suppose your package costs $X per person per day after applicable charges. If you would normally spend only $Y per day on eligible beverages, buying the package may not make financial sense.
But if your normal spending is consistently higher than the effective daily package cost, the package could offer better value.
Remember that Norwegian says package prices are subject to change and that a 20% gratuity and beverage service charge may be added to package purchases.
One of the biggest mistakes passengers make when comparing a drink package with individual drink prices is looking only at the advertised package rate.
Norwegian's current terms state that a 20% gratuity and beverage service charge is added to package purchases. Taxes or VAT may also apply depending on the itinerary and port.
Therefore, calculate the total amount you will actually pay rather than comparing the base advertised price with onboard drink prices.
This is an important point to check before purchasing.
Norwegian's beverage-package rules can specify which guests on a reservation are required or eligible to receive a particular package. For example, the current Premium Plus terms state that the package applies to guests 1 through 8 on the reservation for the entire cruise, subject to the stated eligibility requirements.
The rules can differ by package and promotion, so do not assume that one passenger can simply purchase an alcoholic package while another adult in the same reservation purchases nothing.
Review the terms attached to your specific booking before making a decision.
A drink package may be worth considering if you:
For these passengers, convenience can be nearly as important as the financial calculation.
You may be better off paying for drinks individually if you:
The package is not a requirement for enjoying a Norwegian cruise.
Understanding exclusions is just as important as knowing what is included.
Norwegian's current Premium Plus terms say the package does not cover certain purchases such as room service, minibar purchases, vending machines, and some specialty or limited-availability beverages. The terms also exclude certain Connoisseur Collection beverages and other specified products.
Depending on the package, exclusions may include:
Always read the terms for the exact package on your sailing because exclusions can vary.
If your cruise qualifies for a Norwegian promotion, compare the beverage benefits before purchasing a separate drink package.
Norwegian's current Free at Sea Plus promotion lists a $49.99 USD per-person-per-day upgrade for adults in the United States, with benefits that can include beverage upgrades, Starbucks, premium wines and liquors, selected water and energy drinks, Wi-Fi, dining benefits, and prepaid service charges. The promotion's eligibility and pricing are subject to its terms.
This can change the calculation considerably.
Instead of asking only, "Should I buy a drink package?", ask:
"What beverage benefits are already included with my booking, and what would an upgrade actually cost me?"
That is often the more useful comparison.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Norwegian's terms state that beverage packages are non-transferable and cannot be shared, and there is no substitute or compensation for unused package value.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Imagine two passengers taking the same seven-night cruise.
Passenger A drinks:
Passenger A has many opportunities to use an eligible beverage package.
Passenger B drinks:
Passenger B may have a much harder time getting enough value from the same package.
The lesson is simple: your personal consumption pattern matters more than the number of nights on the cruise.
A short cruise requires particularly careful calculation.
A three- or four-night sailing may give you fewer days to use the package, but that does not automatically make the package good or bad value. What matters is the effective daily cost and how much you expect to consume.
Also check the package's eligibility requirements. Some Norwegian beverage packages have restrictions for very short sailings. For example, the current Premium Plus terms state that the package is not available on sailings of two days or less.
If you decide to purchase a package, use it based on your normal preferences rather than trying to drink more than you normally would.
Look at your reservation to see whether a beverage benefit is already included.
Include the package price, gratuity, service charges, and any applicable taxes or fees.
Do not assume your favorite brand or drink is included. Norwegian says beverage selections and brand availability can vary.
A cruise with many long port visits may provide fewer opportunities to use an onboard package.
Unlimited access sounds attractive, but the package only creates value if you would actually purchase enough eligible beverages to justify its cost.
It can be worth it for passengers who regularly consume several eligible beverages each day. It may not be worthwhile for light drinkers or passengers who spend much of their cruise ashore.
There is no single price that applies to every cruise and package. Norwegian states that package prices are subject to change. Current promotional and package prices also vary by offering and sailing.
Yes. Norwegian's current beverage-package terms state that a 20% gratuity and beverage service charge is added to package purchases. Applicable taxes or VAT may also appear depending on the itinerary.
No. Norwegian's current terms state that beverage packages are non-transferable and may not be shared.
Some beverage packages include bottled water, but the exact type and conditions depend on the package. Norwegian's Premium Plus terms, for example, include certain bottled water options.
It depends on the package. Norwegian's Premium Plus package includes Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks under its stated terms, while Norwegian also offers a separate Unlimited Starbucks Package and Starbucks benefits through certain promotions.
No. Norwegian's package terms contain exclusions and price or product limitations. Certain super-premium, specialty, or limited-availability beverages may not be included. Brand availability can also vary by ship and season.
So, is it worth buying a drink package on Norwegian Cruise? There is no universal answer.
The package is most likely to make sense for passengers who regularly drink cocktails, beer, wine, specialty coffee, bottled water, or other eligible beverages throughout their cruise. It can also make budgeting easier because you know much of your beverage spending in advance.
For light drinkers, passengers who mainly consume complimentary beverages, or travelers who spend many hours in port, buying drinks individually may be the better financial choice.
Before purchasing, check the package offered on your exact sailing, calculate the full cost including the applicable 20% gratuity and service charge, review the exclusions, and compare it with your realistic daily beverage spending.
The best drink package is not necessarily the one with the most beverages. It is the one that matches how you actually drink on vacation.
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