Complete Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages 2023! - Watch Before You Buy!

If you have a Norwegian Cruise Line trip coming up, consider a Norwegian Cruise Drink Package. To help you sift through all of the details of what's included in each, we have this complete breakdown of the Norwegian Drink Packages for 2023 up next.

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NCL DRINK PACKAGE
0:00 Introduction
1:13 Drinks Included on an NCL Cruise
1:42 NCL Drink Package Basics
3:10 Purchasing an NCL Drink Package
4:02 Using the NCL Drink Package
4:35 Premium Beverage Package Details
6:45 Premium Plus Beverage
8:43 NCL Soda Package
9:20 Unlimited Starbucks Package
10:03 Hawaii Beverage Package
11:04 NCL Drink Prices
12:02 Are NCL Drink Packages Worth it?

GUIDE TO NORWEGIAN DRINK PACKAGES
In 2023, @norwegiancruiseline has several beverage packages.

Regardless of the drink package you purchase, all packages are priced per person, per day. Norwegian Drink Packages must be purchased for the entire length of the cruise, and all qualifying individuals in a stateroom must purchase a package. All packages are subject to a 20% service charge.

Most cruisers who are interested in a cruise drink package with Norwegian Cruise Line are probably thinking of the Premium Beverage Package. This is NCL's alcoholic drink package. This is the drink package cruisers receive as part of the Free at Sea Promotion.

The premium beverage package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer up to $15. Having been on several NCL cruises lately, we will admit this allotment covers most drinks and many of the specialty cocktails. If there is a drink over $15, cruisers only need to pay the difference above this allotment.

The Norwegian Premium Drink Package includes fountain soda, juices at the bars and lounges, and beverages at the private island of Great Stirrup Cay but NOT Harvest Caye.

This package does not include bottled water, coffee at Starbucks, freshly squeezed juices, room service, energy drinks, or vending machines. While cruisers can get two drinks at a time, the package doesn’t work on promotions, like beer buckets.

For Pride of America sailings, Norwegian Cruise Line now offers a beverage package. This Hawaii Beverage package is very similar to the Premium Beverage Package. It has a $15 allotment and covers basically the same beverages.

NORWEGIAN PREMIUM PLUS BEVERAGE PACKAGE
For cruisers looking to upgrade, there is the Premium Plus Beverage Package. This package is the most inclusive beverage package. It includes all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks by the glass. Plus, the package includes select bottles of wine at dinner, as well as Starbucks beverages. This was huge for us as we are big coffee lovers.

Although, this package still has restrictions and does not apply to room service, wine dispensers, vending machines, or other experiences. Cruisers do get a 40% discount on non-included bottles of wine, wine and spirit experiences, flights, and tastings.

When it comes to deciding whether to upgrade the drink package, you have to decide if you will purchase enough drinks to make it a good value. Right now, the upgrade price, with a service charge is $34.80 per person, per day. For us, it makes sense as we drink a lot of bottled water, coffee, and cocktails and spirits.

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[Skiffdan]

In my opinion Norwegian has the best drink package and the food is awesome compared to others like carnival, mcs, RC, etc. you can order more than one drink at a time with no daily limit whereas on other lines it’s one at a time and some have a daily limit as well as a 20 minute rule between drinks. The dining choices are great as well. The noodle bar and O’Sheenans offer great food included at no charge. We always opt for the free at sea offer which includes the drinks, internet, $50 shore excursion credit and two specialty dining meals. Used to be three 😢. Don’t believe everything you watch or hear. Go see for yourself. Norwegian is also one of the few that have an indoor cigar lounge if you’re into that (I am). Out of the basic non luxury cruise lines Norwegian is my wife and my favorite line.

[sportsMike]

Free open bar promotion is the best deal of the cruise lines for the drink package in my opinion

[KrisseThe]

The premium drink package in the free at sea special is definitely worth it !!!

[lotsaringwear]

Bring packets of Kool Aid or Pedialyte powder for your kids. Mix with filtered water.

[JosephDickersonUX]

The Premium Plus package is WAY too expensive IMO... For example, for our upcoming 14 day cruise next year it is $2318 per person!! The better choice is either stick with the free Premium Package (if you can get it) or AFTER you get the "Free at Sea" package upgrading to the "Free at Sea Plus" package, which includes the Premium Plus drink package, an extra $50 off shore excursions, unlimited wi-fi and two additional specialty dining seatings. For a 14 day cruise it is $686 per person (basically $49 per person per day no matter what the cruise length). We did this our last cruise and it was AMAZING. When servers see that PP+ on your cruise card they will give you MUCH better service, because (I believe) they get a higher percentage of the service charge tips you pre-pay. And the bottles of wine we had for dinner were easily worth $30 to $50 had we paid for them out of pocket. Finally, you get access to top-shelf spirits, such as Scotch, and they almost always offer a double pour. So one drink is about $44 worth of Scotch!

[jcinewilliams]

well i already did! December can't get here soon enough!!! LOL

[lorettaue]

They raised the price of the Starbucks package. It’s now nearly $20/day, it raised when I was considering it.

[Hayabusa]

Interesting. I do a chartered cruise once to twice a yr. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. And I buy the non alcohol drink package every time. This past May Royal Caribbean tried to make if you had a room mate purchase the same drink packages. So if my room mate purchased an alcohol package, then I would have to purchase the same package. Which is stupid because I don't drink. Alcohol package was $700 to $800 while non alcohol was about $350 on our 7 day chartered ship. Soon as I got onto the ship I bought the non drink and my roommate bought the alcohol package with no problems. A few of us had concerns but Royal Caribbean did not enforce that policy. Same with pass chartered cruises. I don't drink but my roommates do. It's ridiculous to force both cabin mates to buy a alcohol package if one buys it. Not happening. Just sharing my experience on the completely "chartered cruises" that I go on..

[steviemulkey]

Gratuities are included. I know because I paid for it!

[salliestewart]

Other than water not on it I think this is the best drink package

[Revel]

We just got back from a one way 3 day cruise to the DR on the Sky out of Miami and it was just ok. They bend you over at every opportunity with extra fees and service charges, a waste of money to get the Priority boarding package. No one in line boarding and leaving in La Romana. The food was meh. Just bring a water bottle and get filtered water next to the bar on by the swimming pool. This will be our last cruise. Would rather spend the cash on 1st class nonstop flights and get to the Caribbean stress free and on the beach ASAP.

[macker]

We're going on an NCL Caribbean cruise in 2025 for 2 weeks and decided NOT to pay the $842 Cdn. they wanted to charge us. We booked an inside state room this time. On our previous 1 week NCL southern Caribbean (march this year), we paid for the drink pkg. and was $350 Cdn. Guess we'll see how it goes without it this time....or perhaps NCL will make us a better offer before we depart??

[avv]

NCL drink package is the best deal of all cruiseline drink packages. All the “negatives” you mention are the same on every other line.

[chrisfoxwell]

Is it just me or does all of this seem to be designed to confound and confuse to the point where you won't bother thinking about it and just pay whatever bill they hand you?.

[tcivfed]

Is it worth buying the bottle water for your rooms?

[Lord.Kiltridge]

Here are some basic things you need to know. I go months and months without a drink and then it's jest one to three. But I'm 6'2" and 240 pounds and while on vacation, especially a cruise vacation, I _can_ start at 9 am and go non stop to midnight for 10 days straight, never feeling of seeming intoxicated and never getting hungover. *_I need a drink package!_*

[It-Mit]

Wait can anyone let me know, im going on one with the Premium Beverage Package included and Pre-paid Gratuities Included so when I go to order a drink will I be paying anything at all?

[ticketyboo]

I only paid 300 for a 12 day Transatlantic when I booked my cruise that was for Open Bar

I got my moneys worth by far using the drink package and the only drink I got that was over $15 was a chocolate martini

[russellmancillas]

I just went on an Alaskian NCL cruise, and did not drink on board, i did drink in local ports.