Comprehensive Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Package Guide (2024)

Guests sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) have a variety of choices as to their beverage packages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. To help answer your questions, we put together a Norwegian Cruise Line beverage package guide.

We have sailed many times with NCL and have used both the Unlimited Open Bar Package and the Premium Plus Beverage Package. The one time we splurged on the Premium Plus package with Free at Sea Plus to check it out was fun but pricey.

Check Out Our New Calculators

Our new NCL beverage package calculators are included in the following posts:

Is NCL’s Unlimited Open Bar Worth It?

Is NCL’s Premium Plus Beverage Package Worth It?

These beverage packages may be purchased with your booking or anytime before the cruise, either online or by calling NCL. If you choose not to include the Free at Sea offer with your booking but change your mind and would like a beverage package later, they are available for sale at the Atrium Bar for the first 48 hours of the sailing.

Note that all of these packages and prices are subject to change, and brand availability may change. All adults 21 and over on the same reservation must purchase the same beverage package, and those under 21 must purchase the soda package. Guests are eligible for two beverages per person per transaction. Packages may not be shared and are non-refundable.

There is no limit to the number of beverages you purchase daily, but you are expected to drink responsibly.

Two groups of beverage packages are offered: those for cruises on Pride of America, and those for all other cruises. We’ll start with the most common packages offered for all other cruises.

Beverage Packages For All Ships Except Pride of America

Unlimited Open Bar Package

This popular beverage package is included with NCL’s Free at Sea offer you can choose while booking. This package is available for use onboard for sailings of three days or more, as well as on Great Stirrup Cay, but not on Harvest Caye.

• What It Includes: Selected cocktails and spirits, wines by the glass, and beers under $15 USD, plus all sodas and juices
• What It Doesn’t Include: Bottled water (still or sparkling), room service, mini bar purchases, and pre-cruise wine bottle purchases, Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, or energy drinks
• Ages: 21 years of age and older
• Discounts Included: 20% discount on wine and spirit experiences, tastings, flights, Connoisseur Collection beverages, and all wines by the bottle.
• Price Per Day: $109 per person per day
• Taxes and gratuities: 20% gratuities will be added, as well as VAT tax for certain ports and itineraries

Unlimited Starbucks Package

For Starbucks lovers, NCL offers a Starbucks package that includes coffees, specialty coffees, teas, and refreshers.

• What It Includes: Coffees, espressos, specialty coffees, teas, and refreshers
• What It Doesn’t Include: Starbucks food
• Ages: 18 years of age and older
• Price Per Day: $12.95 per person per day
• Taxes and gratuities: 20% gratuities will be added, as well as VAT tax for certain ports and itineraries

Water Packages

If you would like to have bottled water for your stateroom, it is available for purchase as follows (water brand may vary):

• 6 one-liter bottles: $19.95
• 12 one-liter bottles: $34.95
• 24 one-liter bottles: $49.95

Hawaii Water Package

If you would like to have bottled water for your stateroom, it is available for purchase as follows (water brand may vary):

• 6 one-liter bottles: $19.95
• 12 one-liter bottles: $34.95
• 24 one-liter bottles: $49.95

Free Drinks in the Casino with Casinos At Sea

NCL’s casino loyalty program, Casinos At Sea, rewards loyal players with drinks while playing in the casino. There are five tier levels: Jade, Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, and Elite. Complimentary drinks while playing in the casino are as follows by tier:

• Jade – No complimentary drinks
• Pearl – Complimentary house drinks
• Sapphire – Complimentary premium drinks
• Ruby – Complimentary ultra drinks
• Elite – Complimentary ultra drinks

We are members of Casinos at Sea and always stop at the casino bar at the end of the night to pick up a few free bottles of water to take back to our stateroom.

For more information about how to become a member of Casinos at Sea, stop by the casino and ask.

Related Posts

Bring Your Own Wine or Champagne Onboard

NCL allows you to bring wine or champagne onboard with certain caveats. Wine brought onboard on Embarkation Day is subject to a corkage fee as seen below, with no exceptions. No matter where you consume the wine you bring onboard, whether in a lounge, a restaurant, or your stateroom, the corkage fee applies.

• 750 ml bottle: $15.00 USD
• 1,500 ml magnum: $30.00 USD

Any alcohol you purchase at a port will be held for you until the end of the cruise.

NCL Drink Prices

For reference, below are the price ranges for various beverages onboard NCL ships. Beverage prices can vary from bar to bar, plus 20% gratuities will be added to the prices that follow.

• Cocktails – $10 to $14 and up
• Beer – $7 and up
• Wine by the glass – $8 and up
• Fountain soda – $3 to $3.50
• Canned soda – $3 to $3.50
• Energy drinks – $6 to $7
• Bottled premium water – $6
• Bottled water – $4
• Martini flight – $20
• Starbucks coffees – $3 to $7

Is The Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package Worth It?

The answer to that question will be different for everyone. The easiest way to answer that for yourself is to divide the daily cost of the package by the highest drink price, then ask yourself if you normally drink that many cocktails, beers, glasses of wine, fountain sodas, and juices per day.

Note that I have not included the gratuities in the equation because they would be added either way.

Doing the math for the Unlimited Open Bar Package ($109 ÷ $15 = 7.3) shows that if you consume more than seven of the drinks covered in that package per day, then the package is worth it.

Doing the math for the Premium Plus Package ($138 ÷ $15 = 9.2) shows that if you consume more than nine of the drinks covered in that package per day, then the package is worth it. If you like premium spirits, bottled water, and Starbucks and drink them often, then the package is worth it.

If you don’t want to do the math, check out our new beverage package calculators included in these posts:

Is NCL’s Unlimited Open Bar Worth It?

Is NCL’s Premium Plus Beverage Package Worth It?

Also, you need to take into consideration if you have a port-intensive cruise. If you do, you won’t be on board as much to enjoy your beverage package.

Beverage Package Flyers

Would you like a flyer about the beverage packages to take on the cruise with you? NCL has made the following available to you, and they are so helpful. Not sure what you want to drink next? Just check the flyer for ideas.