Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages

Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages: Worth the Splurge or a Sucker’s Bet?

Navigating Norwegian Cruise Line’s drink packages can feel like swimming through a sea of confusion, mixed with a hurricane of add-ons. Don’t worry, I’m here to be your cruise compass. Let’s dive into the swizzle stick of it all and see if paying upfront for endless daiquiris is really the savvy sailor’s choice.

Types of Packages and Pricing

So Norwegian’s got a menu of drink packages, much like their buffet. Let’s break it down to see what’s worth it and what’s just froth.

• Premium Beverage Package: For $109 per person, per day (plus an 20% gratuity, because of course), you get unlimited drinks up to $15 each, including cocktails, wine, beer, and soft drinks. The usual suspects, like specialty coffees and bottled water, are sadly not included.
• Premium Plus Beverage Package: At a steep $138 per person, per day, you might expect the fountain of youth. But what you really get is unlimited drinks without that $15 cap, including premium liquor, energy drinks, and specialty coffees. Still no bottled water though, because why would anyone need to hydrate on a cruise?
• Non-Alcoholic Package: For $9 a day, enjoy unlimited soda and juices. It sounds innocent enough until you realize that the entire bottle of water is still playing hard to get.

For a deeper dive, head over to the Norwegian Cruise Line Dossier.

What’s Included vs. Excluded

Here’s the deal: these packages sound like the golden ticket to drink-topia, but be mindful of what gets left at the dock:

• Included: Most cocktails, spirits, draft and bottled beer, wines by the glass, and soft drinks.
• Excluded: Bottled water (seriously), minibar items, room service beverages, and drinks in The Haven suites.

Remember those cute umbrella drinks or the specialty cocktails that call to you like sirens? Sometimes they’re priced over the limit unless you spring for the Premium Plus. Brace yourself for a little extra billing love if you cross that cap.

The Math: When Does It Pay for Itself?

Here’s where your high school math lessons come in handy. Let’s face it, if you’re not drinking at least 5-6 cocktails or beers a day, you’re better off paying à la carte. Let’s do some cocktail calculus:

• The Premium Package ($109 + $21.80 gratuity): Break-even point is around $15 per drink x 7 drinks = $105, close enough to the package price.
• The Premium Plus Package ($138 + $27.60 gratuity): You’ll need to be hitting up those premium liquor cocktails and specialty coffees hard to justify the price.

For the most frugal cruise-goers, check out our hidden costs guide.

Specialty Drink Markups

Here’s the rub: Norwegian knows you’ll never willingly look at a calculator while sipping on a piña colada. But you’d better, because those specialty drinks can sometimes coast over your package limit, leaving you with an unexpected bill. If that $20 craft cocktail is calling your name, expect a surcharge to follow it.

Non-Alcoholic Options

For those not imbibing the hard stuff, you’ve got the Non-Alcoholic Package. At $9 a day, it’s a decent deal if you plan to consume more than three soft drinks. But, oh yes, bottled water is still a la carte. Maybe you can bring your own canteen and pray for a friendly bartender?

Sharing Rules and No-No’s

Okay, here’s the part that turns into a no-good-very-bad situation if you get caught: Sharing is strictly forbidden. Forget about pulling a fast one by ordering a drink for your partner or buddy. The cruise staff are trained like hawks to spot these smart but sneaky moves, and they could revoke your package without a refund. Ouch.

Hacks and Tips

While you’re out here playing chess, Norwegian is playing 4D chess. But here are a few hacks to know:

• Consider getting one package and one à la carte for less enthusiastic drinkers. Just don’t even think about sharing.
• Take advantage of the coffee bar! More espresso martinis, anyone?
• Pace yourself with soda on the Non-Alcoholic Package to see if it’s worth it before committing the whole trip.

In summary, it’s worth running the numbers to see if you’re getting your money’s worth or just padding Norwegian’s bottom line. For more intel on Norwegian, click over to Norwegian Cruise Line Dossier. As always, happy cruising, and may your drinks be stronger than Norwegian’s marketing teams’ excuses.