For eligible adults under the current U.S. Free at Sea offer, beverage charges are $32 per person per day on 2–5-night sailings and $28.50 on 6+ nights, subject to booking terms. This 2026 guide also retains older Premium Beverage Package and Premium Plus references: the $109 and 20 percent examples are not current promotional quotes.
Current purchase terms and earlier reference figures are separated below. NCL’s U.S. onboard-purchase FAQ lists Unlimited Open Bar at $45 per person per day, plus 20% gratuity and taxes/fees, when purchased in the first two days of the cruise. Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus have separate promotional pricing and conditions; do not calculate those offers from the older retail-price examples.
The packages
Earlier package references at a glance
Earlier package framework, not current offer pricing. The earlier guide described two alcohol packages and a separate soda package. It described their prices as per person, per day, charged for the full sailing, and identified Premium as the package then associated with Free at Sea.
Earlier package description, not current Free at Sea pricing. Unlimited cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, soda and juice priced up to about $15 each. Bottled water is excluded from the base package. The earlier guide described it as included through Free at Sea, with only a 20 percent service charge instead of the retail daily rate; that is not the current promotional cost formula.
Original-guide package comparison; prices and inclusions below are retained references, not current quotes
| Package | What it covers | Original 2026 price/day reference | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Beverage Package | Unlimited cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, soda and juice priced up to about $15 each. Bottled water is excluded from the base package. | About $109 per person plus 20 percent, roughly $130 a day. Earlier guide described Free at Sea as charging only the 20 percent gratuity; not the current offer formula. | Adults who want a free package through Free at Sea and drink up to about $15 a glass. |
| Premium Plus Beverage Package | Everything in Premium with no price ceiling, plus top-shelf spirits, bottles of wine, specialty coffee, energy drinks, and bottled water from eligible onboard venues, excluding minibar and room-service purchases. | About $138 per person plus 20 percent, roughly $166 a day. Often available as a paid upgrade from the free Premium package. | Wine lovers and guests who order premium spirits or specialty coffee. |
| Soda Package | Unlimited fountain soda. No alcohol. Sold at an adult rate and a lower child rate, and the only package available to guests under 21. | About $12 per person per day plus 20 percent, roughly $14.50. | Soda drinkers, families, and anyone under 21. |
Earlier Premium in detail
Earlier Premium inclusion references; check current offer terms
Included
- + Cocktails, beer, and spirits priced up to about $15 each
- + Wine by the glass within the price ceiling
- + Fountain soda and juice
- + Non-alcoholic mixed drinks
- + Drinks at most bars, lounges, and restaurants onboard
Not included
- x Any single drink priced over about $15
- x Bottles of wine and bottle service
- x Bottled water
- x Specialty coffee and fresh-squeezed juice
- x Drinks at the Starbucks-style venues and room service
- x Drinks bought ashore at ports of call
Read this first
Is Free at Sea really free?
The upgrade
Cruise cabin gear
The small fixes that make an interior stateroom livable, every pick cruise-line compliant.
Premium Plus Beverage Package, what you gain
Earlier Premium Plus reference; current Free at Sea Plus is a separately priced promotional bundle. The earlier guide described paying an upgrade difference from Premium to Premium Plus. Its original 2026 reference listed Premium Plus at about $138 per person per day plus a 20 percent service charge, and described removal of the per-drink price ceiling.
What Premium Plus adds
- + Top-shelf and premium spirits with no price ceiling
- + Bottles of wine within a per-bottle cap
- + Specialty coffee and fresh-squeezed juice
- + Energy drinks and bottled water from eligible onboard venues, excluding minibar and room-service purchases
When it is worth the jump
- 1 You order wine by the bottle at dinner
- 2 You drink premium spirits that top the about $15 ceiling
- 3 You want a specialty coffee every morning
- x Skip it if you mostly drink beer and standard cocktails
The math
Is the Premium package worth it?
Retained original illustration, not validated current cost math. Use your actual quoted charge for break-even calculations. The earlier guide compared a 20 percent gratuity with paying per drink. It used about $130 a day in list value and estimated roughly $26 a day per person. That was the illustration’s break-even number, not a newly verified calculation. It assumed cocktails cost more than beer and therefore reached break-even sooner.
| If you mostly drink | Typical price with gratuity | Original drinks-per-day illustration |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktails and mixed drinks | About $13 to $16 each | Roughly 2 a day |
| A mix of beer, wine, and cocktails | About $11 to $14 each | Roughly 2 to 3 a day |
| Mostly beer | About $9 to $11 each | Roughly 3 a day |
A real example
Original week-cost illustration, not a current quote
Retained original budget illustration, not a current quote. The original 7-day illustration assumed two adults sharing a cabin took Premium through Free at Sea. It assumed neither paid the retail daily rate and each owed a 20 percent service charge, estimating about $150 to $185 per person, or roughly $300 to $370 for the two of them. Its retail-price comparison was well over $900 per person for the same week. The earlier guide used that hypothetical gap to describe the perk as a strong deal; these figures are not current quotes.
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For non-drinkers and minors
Earlier soda and non-alcoholic references
Earlier standalone-package reference; current promotional eligibility is explained separately below. The earlier guide said guests under 21 could not take Premium or Premium Plus alcohol packages and described a Soda Package with unlimited fountain drinks at a lower child rate. It suggested the same soda product for non-drinking adults. These standalone-product descriptions are retained references, not newly verified current offers.
- + Unlimited fountain soda at bars and restaurants, about $12 a day for adults plus 20 percent
- + A lower child rate, which is why families add it for kids
- + Premium Plus also covers all non-alcoholic drinks, including specialty coffee, for adults who upgrade
- x No alcohol, and the soda package is the only beverage package sold to guests under 21
Save money
Compare current costs with earlier savings assumptions
Earlier pricing assumptions are retained below; compare your actual current offer before acting on them. The earlier guide characterized both retail rates as high and favored obtaining Premium through Free at Sea. Its savings assumptions remain below for reference; use current booking terms before following them.
Comparison
How Norwegian compares to other lines
Earlier comparison claims, not a verified current price ranking. The earlier guide characterized Norwegian’s retail rate as unusually high and its Free at Sea cost as usually just the gratuity. It contrasted that with paying a full daily rate on Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Those rankings and promotional comparisons are retained historical claims, not a current price comparison. For the separate line guides, use the links below.
Cruise lines do not cover medical evacuation. EKTA travel insurance covers it from about 1 dollar a day.
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Questions guests ask first
Norwegian drink package FAQ
How much is the Norwegian drink package in 2026?
For eligible adults under the current U.S. Free at Sea offer, beverage charges are $32 per person per day on 2–5-night sailings and $28.50 on 6+ nights, subject to booking terms. Separate U.S. onboard Unlimited Open Bar purchases in the first two cruise days are listed at $45 per person per day plus 20% gratuity and taxes/fees. The earlier guide listed Premium at about $109 per person per day plus a 20 percent service charge, roughly $130 a day, and described Free at Sea as costing only a 20 percent gratuity, about $150 to $185 per person for a week. It listed Premium Plus at about $138 per person per day plus 20 percent. Those retained figures are not current promotional quotes.
Is Free at Sea really free?
Current Free at Sea uses its own promotional charges; do not calculate them from an older retail-price percentage. The earlier guide described a waived Premium daily rate and a 20 percent service charge on full package value, estimating roughly $150 to $185 per person for a 7-day sailing and saying it was charged before boarding. That is a retained earlier explanation, not a current quote.
What is the difference between Premium and Premium Plus?
The earlier guide described Premium as covering drinks up to about $15 each. It listed Premium Plus at about $138 a day plus 20 percent and described no price ceiling, with top-shelf spirits, wine bottles, specialty coffee, energy drinks and bottled water from eligible onboard venues, excluding minibar and room-service purchases. It judged the upgrade most useful for premium spirits or wine by the bottle. Those are earlier product references, not a current Free at Sea Plus quote or inclusion list.
Does everyone in the cabin have to buy the package?
Current U.S. Free at Sea beverage terms cover eligible guests 1–8 aged 21+. Guests 1–2 under 21 receive Soda; guests 3–8 under 21 receive no substitute. All cabin guests must choose the same offer. Booking and sailing-date restrictions apply; Pride of America has separate Hawaii terms.
Is the Premium package worth it?
Use your current quoted package charge and expected included drinks. The earlier guide treated the cost as only a 20 percent gratuity, roughly $26 a day, and judged two or three drinks daily enough to justify it. It suggested choosing a different Free at Sea perk for light drinkers. That retained illustration is not validated current cost math or a guarantee that benefits can be exchanged.
Can kids get a drink package?
The earlier guide said guests under 21 could not take the alcohol packages and described a Soda Package with unlimited fountain drinks at a lower child rate. Those standalone-product references are not newly verified current offers; current Free at Sea eligibility appears in the cabin FAQ above. Tap water, regular coffee and tea, iced tea, and lemonade are free for everyone in the buffet and dining rooms.
Is there a price limit on drinks?
The earlier guide described Premium as covering drinks up to about $15, with overage plus gratuity above that ceiling, and said Premium Plus removed the ceiling. These are retained earlier-package references; check the actual current offer’s included selections and exclusions before ordering.
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