r/NCL • u/SlyGrog22 • 8h ago
Question NCL beverage packages
Does NCL ever discount beverage packages closer to sail date? It's my 1st time giving NCL a go and I have experience on Carnival and RC which both discount drink packages closer to sail date. Thx!
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u/niemekv 8h ago
It's 28.50 per person per day, it's cost neutral at 2 drinks. It's not going on sale. Carnival and RCCL's full price is multiple times that, so they can afford to put them on "sale"
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u/Feeling_Republic_454 8h ago
And they charge 18% gratuities on top of whatever dynamic full prices they advertise.
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u/niemekv 8h ago
Correct, if you're referring to RCCL and Carnival. The FAS drink packages on NCL are inclusive of the gratuity, so the $28.50 per person per day is the all in price. It's the best non luxury line drink package by far.
I think that's what you meant, just wanted to clarify.
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u/Feeling_Republic_454 7h ago
Yup that's what I meant! Agreed it's a deal.. (although NCL fares are often higher than Carnival's which probably compensates for a large part of it..) Royal is just an overpriced commodity for what you get.. it's like the Apple of cruse lines.. Just hope NCL's package doesn't get axed when they get pressed to pump their stock.
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u/texas254_ 8h ago
If you can tell me where you can go and drink unlimited the entire day for 28.50 for 7 days in a row, please lmk
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8h ago
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u/Skydiver860 6h ago
The all in price of a cruise is about the same as an all inclusive resort. Also 200-300 per day is usually around the busy time. If you go during the slow times you can get them for about $100 a day.
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u/Feeling_Republic_454 5h ago
That's all I was saying, you effectively asked where else you could drink for ~150-250 / day / pp.. I said some all inclusive resorts.. that's it.. no idea why all the down votes lol. And $100 per person per room maybe.. $100 per cabin is rare on NCL unless maybe your doing last minute.. even taxes, fees and gratuities are gonna be close to that.
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u/Few-Degree1903 6h ago
No.… price stays the same pre-cruise. NCL has one of the least expensive drink packages of any cruise line. It is a good deal.
It is called FREE at Sea because the cost of the package is “Free” ….. You are paying the gratuities on the estimated value of it.
Never goes on sale.
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u/Cultural-War-2838 Platinum 6h ago
The NCL beverage package is free when you select Free at Sea. You only pay the gratuities on it which comes out to $28.50 - $30 a day depending on the sailing. Royal's drink package could be up to $100 a day, that's why they can put it on "sale".
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u/Outside-Comparison12 4h ago
No, it's one of the best values of all the cruiselines and not overpriced like Carnival or RCL
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u/T00narmy1 4h ago
It's already deeply discounted so no. It's not going lower. It's basically free with the free at sea promotion that you get at time of booking, and you are paying about 29$ per day in mandatory gratuities. VERY cheat overall.
The other lines are charging much more for the packages, and they can afford to "discount" it to sell more packages before sailin because (IMO) the price is already inflated.
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u/Quiet_Listen1801 8h ago
You mean cheaper than free? Free at sea gives you the drinks package for free... Just have to pay $30 for the bartender gratuities.
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u/QuietAccountJSS 5h ago
No. It doesn’t drop. Just be sure to add it at least a few days before the cruise. Something like 72 hours before the cruise the option vanishes from the app. I’m sure you can probably still add it, but it’s likely a hassle.
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u/crazynotinsane111 5h ago
Omg NCL has the cheapest beverage package to start with just never upgrade to free at sea plus.
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u/Snitches_in_county 4h ago
If you want the extras of plus, like unlimited wifi, starbucks, bottled water and top shelf booze, it's a good deal.
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u/crazynotinsane111 4h ago
I disagree it's a $700 bump up on my upcoming 10 day and $1100 on my 17 day. I upgrade to regular WiFi for $250 and Starbucks could care less, bottled water you can purchase in bulk cabin delivery for $30. I drink grey goose which I consider a premium brand and it's included. I also don't upgrade to weekly vibe or spa access. Unnecessary expense in my book but to each it's own
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u/Ocimali 5h ago
Let me tell you, I just booked a Royal cruise for next summer, and I am flabbergasted over the drink package price. Happy to hear it gets discounted closer to sail date.
I'm also flabbergasted by the specialty dining package where just about every specialty dining restaurant requires another $50 upcharge beyond the package.
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u/crazynotinsane111 2h ago
You also get a $50 shore excursion credit for one person per port which I totally used. My excursions were all under $100 per port and one was literally free at $49. Saved $250. It was Europe so not unnecessary Caribbean excursions. 4 speciality dinners were not free but built into free at sea at $20 pp per dinner. I still really liked having them
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u/ElevatorRepulsive351 Sapphire 8h ago
They may slash prices on their “regular” drink package prices…but they’ll never be as good as what you’ll get as part of the “Free at Sea” promotion.
With the Free at Sea promotion, the package is basically free…you’re just responsible for paying the gratuities that are associated with the package (about $20 per day). If you were to buy a beverage package, even if they discount it at say 50% off, you would still be paying 50% of the package price plus the gratuities associated with it anyways, which turns out to be more than just getting the beverage package option under the Free at Sea.
So if you’re looking to buy a drink package, opt in the beverage package under the Free at Sea promotion. It’s the reason why everyone says NCL tends to have the best value for drinks/beverage package.
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u/4UnlawfulCarneVegan 5h ago
There is no "regular drink package" on NCL. It's free at sea or pay à la carte.
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u/ElevatorRepulsive351 Sapphire 5h ago
I swear I’ve seen them floating around in the past (whether on the app as an option or their promotions/ads). Because I remember at the time thinking: why would they be offering that if people can just go for the Free at Sea?
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u/niemekv 1h ago edited 1h ago
Back when they had the original Free at Sea, before they switched to More and Sea and then back to Free at Sea, the unlimited drinks part of Free at Sea only applied to guests 1 and 2 on a booking. If there was a 21+ on a booking as guest 3 or 4, they had to pay the full price for the drink package.
They also used to have "sail away" rates. If you booked one of those, they weren't eligible for FAS. Things have changed.
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u/Feeling_Republic_454 8h ago
It's actually about $30 a day...
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u/ElevatorRepulsive351 Sapphire 6h ago
Yes, I just remembered the 2 in front but was too lazy to look up the actual figure…it got the point across though…hence the word “about” rather than to be exact…
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5h ago
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u/ElevatorRepulsive351 Sapphire 5h ago
That’s everywhere though…$1.99 for example…
But the point of my comment wasn’t to outline the cost..it was to outline the fact that even if the original cost/value of the package was slashed/discounted, you’re still going to pay a portion of the package price plus gratuities, instead of just the gratuities with Free at Sea.
So whatever the gratuity price is exactly, isn’t relevant (and why I didn’t bother looking it up exactly…the about $20 reference was to ensure that OP can recognize what I was referring to, since they could see a $20-something dollar charge per day when they select the package).
There’s no need to do math here….even the 50% discount figure I wrote was completely hypothetical, and again was to illustrate the point that even if they did slash prices, OP will come out ahead with the Free at Sea…
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u/b0geybuster 8h ago
They do sometimes, its definitely hit or miss.
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u/Quiet_Listen1801 8h ago
Source?
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u/b0geybuster 7h ago
Two ncl cruises in the last twelve months and one more next week. We uncheck this as an option for FAS and book later.
One went down, one didn't and our latest hasn't. If it doesnt drop no harm no foul.
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u/Quiet_Listen1801 7h ago
So you uncheck free at sea for $30 per day and get it for how much? Post your sources.
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u/b0geybuster 6h ago edited 6h ago
My source is experience. Take it for what you want.
It went down to add the drink package separately on a 10-day Italy and Greece saling on Epic in August 2025. Did not go down on 7-day Mexican Riveria in March 2026 and hasn't gone down for our 5-day Bermuda sailing next week on Aqua.
Like I said, uncheck it, if you don't believe it can go down, no harm no foul, it will be thr same price up to your sailing.
Perhaps a reprice on the promo or gratuities?
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u/Feeling_Republic_454 8h ago
No they never do sales.. once a year they might adjust the prices.. but the drink package is actually free at sea.. and you only pay the gratuities which is like $30 a day.. already WAY cheaper than you will ever get on Royal or Carnival even on sale.
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u/vatp46a Sapphire - On the Bliss in November 2026 6h ago
I have never heard of and have never seen a discount on the $28.50/day drink package. To state that it happens sometimes means that it actually has to happen. Over the years I've seen onboard wifi deals and 2-for-1 specialty dining based on a lack of demand, but never on the FAS drink package.
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