Norwegian Cruise Line's Unlimited Open Bar package (the Premium Plus Beverage Package) costs between $89 and $139 per person, per day in 2025–2026, depending on when you book, your sailing, and whether it's included in a Free at Sea promotion.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Norwegian's drink packages look like a great deal on the surface — until you realize the price swings wildly depending on how and when you book. Here's exactly what you'll pay, and whether it's actually worth it.
What Norwegian's Unlimited Open Bar Package Actually Costs
Norwegian calls its top-tier drink option the Premium Plus Beverage Package (formerly and colloquially still called the "Unlimited Open Bar"). It covers spirits, cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages with no per-drink cap — as long as drinks are under $20 each.
2025–2026 pricing at a glance:
| Booking Method | Cost Per Person, Per Day |
|---|---|
| Pre-purchase online (early) | $89–$99/person/day |
| Pre-purchase online (closer to sail date) | $109–$119/person/day |
| Purchased onboard | $129–$139/person/day |
| Free at Sea promo ("free" add-on) | $0 upfront, but gratuities ~$21/person/day apply |
| Premium Plus upgrade from standard package | +$35–$45/person/day |
The Free at Sea trap: Norwegian frequently bundles a beverage package as one of its Free at Sea perks. The drinks themselves are "free" — but you're required to prepay gratuities on the package, which runs approximately $21 per person, per day. On a 7-night cruise, that's $147 per person just in service charges before you've sipped a single cocktail.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Drive the Price Up or Down
1. Ship and Itinerary Pricing isn't uniform across the fleet. Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva — NCL's newest ships — tend to price packages at the higher end of the range. Older ships on shorter Bahamas or Bermuda runs are slightly cheaper.
2. Booking Window This is the single biggest lever. Book the package 90+ days out and you'll routinely save $20–$30/person/day versus buying the same package onboard. NCL's onboard pricing is aggressively marked up.
3. Free at Sea vs. Paying Outright If you're a light-to-moderate drinker, paying outright for the lower-tier Beverage Package (~$59–$79/person/day) and skipping Free at Sea entirely can cost less than taking the "free" upgrade and paying gratuities on a Premium Plus package. Do the math for your specific sailing before assuming the promo is the winner.
4. Gratuities Are Always Extra Whether you buy outright or get it free, NCL charges an 18% service gratuity on beverage packages. On a $99/day package, that's another $17.82/day — bringing your real all-in cost to roughly $117/person/day.
5. Both Guests in a Cabin Must Buy the Same Tier NCL enforces a cabin-wide rule: if one adult in the stateroom purchases a beverage package, the other adult must purchase the same or higher package. No exceptions.
Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line
Budget, Mid-Range, and Splurge: Full Cost Breakdown for a 7-Night Cruise
| Scenario | Package Cost | Gratuities (18%) | Total Per Person (7 nights) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget: Basic Beverage Package, pre-booked | $59/day | $10.62/day | $490 |
| Mid-Range: Premium Plus, pre-booked early | $99/day | $17.82/day | $817 |
| Free at Sea: Premium Plus "free" + gratuity fee | $0/day | ~$21/day | $147 |
| Splurge/Onboard: Premium Plus bought onboard | $139/day | $25.02/day | $1,148 |
⚠️ Warning: Buying onboard is almost never worth it. You can save $280–$350 per person on a 7-night cruise by pre-purchasing the package before you sail.
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value
1. Book the package the moment you book your cruise. NCL's lowest package prices appear early. Prices creep up as the sail date approaches — sometimes weekly in the final 30 days.
2. Watch for NCL's "Free at Sea" promos vs. booking the package à la carte. Run both scenarios: take the gratuity cost of Free at Sea ($21/day × number of nights × 2 guests) and compare it against buying the package outright pre-cruise. If you're a couple and you drink moderately, paying $99/day with 18% gratuity each can actually cost less total than the "free" promo when you factor in what other Free at Sea perks you're giving up by not choosing a different perk (like specialty dining or excursion credits).
3. The break-even point is roughly 5–6 drinks per day. At an average of $14–$18 per cocktail onboard, you need to drink about 5 cocktails per person per day to make the Premium Plus package pay off at $99–$117/day (with gratuity). Be honest with yourself.
4. Shore days are your enemy with drink packages. On port days, you're off the ship for 6–8 hours. You're paying the full daily rate whether you're onboard or not. Factor this in when calculating value on itinerary-heavy sailings.
5. Sparkling water and specialty coffees count. The Premium Plus package covers San Pellegrino, Evian, specialty coffees, fresh-squeezed juices, and Red Bull. If you're a coffee or sparkling water drinker, factor those into your break-even math — it shifts the number in your favor.
Is Norwegian's Package Worth It Compared to Other Lines?
| Cruise Line | Top Drink Package (Per Person/Day) | Gratuity Included? |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian (Premium Plus) | $89–$139 | No (+18%) |
| Royal Caribbean (Deluxe) | $85–$110 | No (+18%) |
| Celebrity (Premium) | $89–$109 | Yes (included) |
| Virgin Voyages (Bar Tab) | $40–$60 add-on | Yes |
| MSC (Premium Extra) | $45–$65 | No (+18%) |
Celebrity and Virgin Voyages offer cleaner value with gratuity included or lower base pricing. Norwegian is competitive only if you catch the early-booking window and avoid the onboard markup trap.
For a real-time breakdown of what your specific Norwegian sailing's drink package will actually cost — including gratuities, both guests, and total cruise spend — run the numbers through CruiseMutiny before you book. It'll show you exactly when the package pays off and when you're better off drinking à la carte.