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. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Dont make the mistake of thinking beverage packages are only for alcoholic drinks. However, passengers who are 18 to 20 years of age can purchase and consume beer or wine on other itineraries, too, when the ship is in international waters (does not apply to Alaska or Hawaii sailings). we have been very satisfied with the regular package on most of our cruises. Although packages and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, some of these packages can cost more than your actual cruise fare! It's actually kind of easy. Are you ready to embark on your journey to sea the world, one port at a time? Powered by Invision Community. Of course, convenience is one of the perks we like about having a beverage package. Another upgrade to this plan is the availability of select bottles of wine at dinner. Notably, this restriction does not apply to alcoholic beverages so, you could get bottles or cans of beer, but not sodas or water. What it includes: Drinks by the glass including draught, craft and bottled beer; a selection of wine and Champagne by the glass; premium-brand spirits, liqueurs and cordials; a variety of frozen and classic cocktails; soda; juices; nonalcoholic cocktails; energy drinks; hot chocolate drinks; specialty coffees; teas and bottled water. Make sure you consider the reduced consumption during port days to estimate your drink expenses better. 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. There is no limit to how much alcohol you can drink on the road, which is one of the strictest in the world. In that case you don't buy it so do you double benefit by getting the free UDP and not have to pay the 18% like everyone else? The total cost of all those drinks with service charge was $978.00 for the two of us. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Does the Drink Package Include Gratuities? Alcohol advertising is prohibited in Norway, as it is in the United States. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Passengers can receive the Premium Beverage Package for free through Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion. don't-use-real-name 6.1k February 4, 2010 Bloomington MN USA #7 Posted July 4, 2019 There is no. If your favorite tipple is a more expensive premium single malt Scotch, you will have to pay the difference in price. Available on: All ships except those in the Galapagos (where drinks are included in the fare). The Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, priced at $99 per day, adds spirits and cocktails priced up to $15 (effective Jan. 1, 2023, pricing will go up to $109). Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package is their top beverage package which covers a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. I found that it wasnt worth it because I didnt drink that much. 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. We save on the average of $800 when we choose a regular balcony over the free at sea balcony. 19 Secret Codes on Cruise Ships That You Need to Know, Virgin Voyages Partners with Sustainable Marine Fuel Providers, D23: Disney Treasure, Lighthouse Point, and Australia, Carnival Celebration Begins First Set of Sea Trials, Oceania Cruises New 180-Day World Cruise And Grand Voyages, Easy Package $38 per person per day with select drinks, Easy Plus $49 per person per day with a $9 per drink limit, Premium Extra $69 per person per day with a $15 per drink limit. A meager time, for sure, but regardless, NCL doesn't have a stated policy. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. To determine if the Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Package is a good value, there are a few scenarios we will consider. 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. More elaborate (and expensive) tiers will add alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails, wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks. Hawaii-based Pride of America has a single drinks package that costs $99 per day (effective Jan. 1, 2023, prices will increase to $109). Carnival also has a time limit between drinks. Thats the equivalent of 2-3 alcohol drinks per day for the couple depending on price. Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic water, Club Soda. Non-Refundable. A wine bottle package also is available. 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. My strange night out at Norwegian's new 'zero waste' cruise ship bar. The package has limited options compared to the Premium package and only covers drinks served by the glass, up to $9 per drink. All qualifying individuals in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment must purchase one. We dont think the limit will be a problem for most cruise passengers. is one of the lowest-priced drink packages of the mainstream cruise lines. Through the promotion, guests can receive a free beverage package. The cost of a cruise ship drink package does not include gratuities. So, for a 7 day cruise, you will be assessed a charge of $124.60 for each adult beverage package. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. And, perhaps more to the point, how much do cruise line drinks packages cost? Boxed wine is not allowed. Check your cruise itinerary to see if you are visiting any private islands or resorts. Now hold even more of your favorite beverage at the perfect temperature for longer. We usually find the package priced between $65 per person per day and $99 per person per day on most sailings. The drinks package included in Princess Plus is now called Plus Beverage Package. Plus you can order unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay. I have been lucky enough to travel on multiple continents, as well as several cruise lines. Soda, specialty coffees and other nonalcoholic beverages already are included in the fare on Windstar sailings. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Related Post: Best Cruise Lines for Families. For the above reasons, we dont think drink package purchases make sense for most cruisers. You must purchase a Norwegian drink package for the entire length of the cruise. Read More Starting at $6.95 / Child Per Day $9.50 / Adult Per Day Add to cart More Details Drink Packages CHEERS! Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or shipboard wine-dispensing machines. Passengers who purchase the drink package should be aware that there is a limit to the number of drinks you can order in a 24-hour time span. CHEERS! BTW, if you are on Breakaway class ship, the outdoor venues are a lot of fun. The cruise was 14 days and the package was called their Silver Spirts package. The package also brings a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases. Other packages: Celebrity also offers a less inclusive classic drinks package that now is included in the fare for its sailings as part of its new Always Included fare structure. First, guests must be at least 18 years old at the time of sailing to purchase this package. 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. At least it IS better than Holland America, where any drink over $11 is excluded, and you get zero discount from the drink package. What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits, mixed drinks, cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. Package, which covers nearly every beverage -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic -- on the ship, up to $20 per drink. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants, and Great Stirrup Cay. Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. 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. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. anytime you want with Bottomless Bubbles. If you forgo the beverage package, you can simply pay for each drink. Norwegian Cruise Line offers its Premium and Premium Plus beverage packages for $99 per person per day and $128 per person per day. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans. This Is What You Need To Plan The Best Cruise With A Baby, How To Plan Awesome Family Cruise Shore Excursions Youll Love. Planning a cruise? Then again, we may have been having fun but never were out of control. Cheers! The cost per day was over $57, which in my opinion isnt a great deal. The package also brings a 25% discount on wine and Champagne bottle purchases. Fine print: If one person in a cabin purchases a package, all people in the same cabin or traveling group also must purchase a package (children in cabins will be charged for a less-expensive, nonalcoholic package). Items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, and energy drinks are not included. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. On port intensive cruises, like the Mediterranean, you might find yourself spending long days ashore. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love, If you consistently drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day, then you will get a lot of value from the (almost) free, This post may contain affiliate links that could result in payment of a commission to this website (at no additional cost to you). There is a 5 minute wait between ordering drinks. The package also brings a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases. On the flipside, if you are visiting NCLs private island of Great Stirrup Cay on your cruise, this gives you more opportunity to use the package while enjoying some fun in the sun. Other packages: Norwegian has two less-inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage packages. Essentially, you will need to decide if you will drink at least $29 a day per person of the additional inclusions. 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. For a simple estimation, figure out what drinks you will consume (beer, wine, soda, whiskey) and how many drinks you will consume daily. Unlike theCarnival Cheers Programwhich limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCLs drink packages are truly unlimited. If the cost of the drink is more than the allowed value ($15 I think) it is a little more complicated. This is a significant consideration for whether the beverage package is worth it. 3-5 Day Cruises upgrade for 99 per person 6-8 Day Cruises upgrade for 149 per person9-11 Day Cruises upgrade for 199 per person 12-14 Day Cruises upgrade for 249 per person 15-17 Day Cruises upgrade for 299 per person 18+ Day Cruises upgrade for 349 per person. Then there were days where we only had 2 drinks each for the entire day. I hope you order your liver transplant before you leave!! The Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Drink Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to $15. A 20% service charge is added to your purchase at checkout. Every time you book a cruise you have one very important decision to make: "Should I get the cruise drinks package or not?". 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. Have another, we won't tell.*. Of course, this number of drinks varies slightly based on your drink preferences. Yes that happens and then the bar staff gets questioned about if the guest is sharing drinks or drinking to much. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Soda, bottled water and specialty coffees already are included in the fare on Oceania sailings. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. You are charged 18% on the cost of the package when you buy it. 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. Drink Packages Drink Packages F A Q s Drink Packages Bottomless Bubbles Enjoy ice-cold refreshments during meals, during shows, during, well. Youre on vacation, after all, and whats not to like about an all-inclusive beverage package? So six max-priced drinks would be $90, which is still less than the daily price of the premium package. All major cruise lines will let you buy drinks on an a la carte basis when cruising. As always, checking with your cruise line to understand what is included and excluded in their drink package is best. The cost of alcoholic drinks on cruise vessels particularly cocktails can be pricey. https://www.ncl.com/terms/ultimate-beverage-package, The Freestyle Choice information has the following:-, The first two guests can enjoy a drink (who are we kidding, drinks) for the whole cruise vacation for free. Costa Cruises offers two drink packages, My Drinks, and My Drinks Plus. Guests will receive a 20% discount to all bottles of wine purchased onboard with the Premium beverage package. It costs $49 per day when sailing in North America (pricing will rise to $51 per day in October). 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. The 24-hour period runs from 6 am-6 am. Soda packages often are under $10 per person, per day. And some also offer wine-specific packages. You Want More than Just Water, Coffee, and Tea. You can purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard the ship. Between your cruise fare, shore excursions, flights, hotel, and the drink package, it can be painful to spend thousands of dollars before stepping on the cruise ship. Book today and enjoy 50% Off all cruises! Related: Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? Note: Final prices will add a 15% gratuity to the cost of the package. So as long as you don't share and behave yourself you can drink as much as you want. I usually upgrade my package on Celebrity because I want all the free sparkling water and Celebrity has a great coffee bar. It also does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, or Ice Bars. This includes all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the brands private island ofGreat Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Find the right card for you. Your email address will not be published. Although you need to be aware of the limit, we dont think most passengers will reach it. Home / Cruise Tips / Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? Drink packages are entirely optional and usually not needed for most cruisers. An upgrade beverage package is rarely needed if you sail with any of these cruise lines. With the My Drinks Plus package, guests receive premium cocktails, mini bar purchases, prestigious liquor brands, and bottled Corona and Becks. It also includes fountain soda, juice, and non-alcoholic beer. Also for a limited time only, get up to 300 per person Airfare Credit on select Cruises. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Cruise ship drink packages cover sodas, juice, and non-alcoholic beverages. The two major exceptions are Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Norwegian has no daily limit on the amount of alcohol in its drink packages. There are five different adult beverage packages available on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises. Related: These 15 cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising. However, you usually can't use them when ordering room service to your room. These are: Premium Beverage Package (AKA Open Bar) - $99 per day Premium Plus Beverage Package - $128 per day Corks & Caps Wine and Beer Package - $65 per day Adult & Teen Soda Program - $7.95 per day Hawaii Beverage Packag e - $99 per day document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I bought a drink package on RCCL, three years ago for around $400.. Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Deals. That's not entirely true. The drink package is free but the gratuities on it are not included. This equates to a full retail price of $1,075.20 for a 7-day cruise (including 20% service charge). They also generally don't apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Many first-time cruisers are shocked to find that nearly every other beverage must be paid at an extra cost besides basic tea, coffee, and tap water. Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Take your tastebuds on a trip with free meals at our Speciality Dining venues. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! More Norwegian Cruise Line Redeployments Announced, Norwegian Cruise Drink of the Day on Norwegian Escape, 31 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips Every Cruiser Needs to Know, Complete Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Celebrity Cruises (2023), Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Guide (2023), Everything You Need to Know About Norwegian's Free at Sea in 2023, The Complete Guide to Popular Cruise Ships With Pickleball Courts, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Carnival (2023). I can assume an 18 year old single malt scotch is well over $15but by how much? The package includes spirits and cocktails along with a selection of soft drinks, juice, draft and bottled beer, and wine-by-the-glass. If you are only drinking a few drinks per day, it is probably cheaper for you to not choose the free at sea promos. Drinks ordered through room service also arent included. I figured Carnival might put the limit so you don't buy a ton of drinks for friends who are not on the package. All you are paying for each time is 18% of the cost the drink. 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. This unlimited soda program le. Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights with the exception of South America sailings. If youre looking to save money, its best to purchase the drink package before you set sail. Your Cabin Mate Has Different Drinking Habits Than You. 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). With NCL Premium Beverage Packages, you can get a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for as little as $15.00. The 20% service charge for a 7-day cruise will cost each guest $138.60 for the Premium Beverage package. Carnivals CHEERS! Depending on the cost of the package, you and your cabinmates will need to drink between 5-10 beverages per day each. Actually, the value "up to $1888" is (and I am assuming) what NCL estimates the package to be worth but the actual cost (at least in CDN on a 7 day cruise is $612.xx per person + 18% grats). If your second passenger is under 21 and only receiving a Soda Package, then you'll be charged $11.13 for that package. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is their highest-tier beverage package. Is the Drink Package Worth it on a Cruise? A relatively newer offering, the Premium Plus beverage package is the most all-inclusive option of the NCL drink packages. Some cruise lines will provide discounts on bottles of wine when you purchase a beverage package, but it is best to check with your cruise line as not every package provides discounts on bottles of wine.