Norwegian Cruise Line's beverage packages explained
Norwegian's beverage package system is more complicated than some cruise lines, with multiple tiers and add-ons that can quickly become overwhelming. Understanding which package actually saves you money requires doing some math and knowing your drinking habits.
TravelHost's Come Cruise With Me Editor in Chief Daniel Kline and his travel agent partner, Postcard Travel Planning's Dennis Post, recently broke down Norwegian's beverage package options while enjoying premium whiskey at the Belvedere Bar aboard Norwegian Prima in the video below.
A full transcript follows.
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Transcript:
Dan Kline: Hey there cruisers. Dan and Dennis, your travel hosts. We are in the Belvedere Bar on Norwegian Prima and we are talking Norwegian beverage packages. It's a little bit confusing. So it is. Dennis and I first booked and I had like More at Sea or Free at Sea or Hurray for Sea or whatever they call it.
Dennis Post: Exactly!
Kline: And that gave me all my drinks for free.
But then I got something else. Explain what else I had to buy in order to get water and coffee and my gratuities included.
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Post: Yeah.
Kline: And dinner. Like it was a lot of money.
Post: Yeah. So depending on where you were and what you had, you had to go to the upgraded package which gave you Wi-Fi minutes or Wi-Fi. Unlimited Wi-Fi.
Kline: Unlimited Wi-Fi.
Post: It gave you the gratuities. If you wanted those too, then it paid for itself. But you got the upgraded liquor package where you're getting Macallan 12.
Kline: You're getting up to like $40 liquor.
Post: Yes, right.
Kline: On Royal Caribbean, on Celebrity, we cannot be drinking Glenlivet like we're drinking now.
Post: Yeah.
Kline: So we've actually gotten to try a bunch of liquor.
And when you actually do the math, the gratuities, especially if you're a couple of people, work out. It also will buy you, after March, drinks on their private island, which are not included so you have to pay extra for that.
Post: Yeah.
Kline: And it gives you Starbucks. So if you look and say a medium coffee at Starbucks every day is going to cost you eight bucks, that's, you know, $56.
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If you're someone who drinks a couple a day. For most people, it does grade out. But if you're someone who just wants a beer, who is not drinking a lot of coffee, you might want to think twice. And you can literally, like, not get a water package. You can not get the coffee.
Even though Norwegian is a very inclusive cruise line, it is a little bit confusing. So this is one where I'd really sit down with your travel agent and figure this one out. I just bought everything.
Post: One of the points that Dan was making about the drink package, the drink package gives you really good liquor on the regular one. You're getting Crown, you're getting Gray Goose. You're getting Tito's.
Kline: But on the upgraded, you are getting- there's a whiskey bar here that just has a thick menu with the story of every whiskey. You can have the Jack Daniels Frank Sinatra.
Post: Yeah.
Kline: You can try things that cost extra on other cruise ships. I am Dan, he is Dennis. Come cruise with us soon.
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Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
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This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 6:19 PM.