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Norwegian Cruise Line just rolled out their new Free at Sea Plus package, and if you’re planning an NCL cruise, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth the extra money. Let’s break down exactly what you get and whether the math makes sense for your next sailing.
First, Let’s Talk About Free at Sea (The Base Package)
Before we dive into the Plus version, you need to understand what comes with regular Free at Sea. This is the package you can add when booking your Norwegian cruise instead of just paying the base cruise fare.
Here’s what’s included in Free at Sea:
Unlimited Open Bar – You’re getting the premium beverage package with brands like Grey Goose, Casamigos, and Woodford Reserve, plus over 100 cocktails to choose from. You’ll also get 20% off bottles of wine and champagne, and unlimited soft drinks and juices. The cost? $28.50 per person per day (or $12.50 per day for guests under 21 who get the non-alcoholic package). This applies to guests one and two in your cabin – guests three through eight have to add it on separately.
Specialty Dining – Norwegian pioneered specialty dining on cruise ships, and some of their newer ships have 10-12 specialty restaurants. The number of included meals depends on your cruise length:
- 2-4 night cruise: 1 specialty meal
- 5-6 night cruise: 2 specialty meals
- 7-8 night cruise: 3 specialty meals
- 9+ night cruise: 4 specialty meals
Gratuities for specialty dining are $20 per person per meal, so on a 7-night cruise, you’re looking at $60. This applies to the first two guests, and kids under 13 dine free.
150 Minutes of Wi-Fi – Yes, we’re still measuring Wi-Fi in minutes in 2025. It seems silly, but it’s included, so we’ll take it.
$50 Excursion Credit – You get $50 off every shore excursion you book. If you book multiple excursions at the same port (maybe one morning, one afternoon), you get $50 off each one.
Now, Let’s Talk About Free at Sea Plus
Free at Sea Plus is an upgrade that gives you everything from regular Free at Sea, plus a whole lot more. Here’s what the upgrade adds:
Enhanced Beverage Package – You’re getting top-shelf brands that aren’t included in the premium package, like Patrón Anejo and Macallan 12. There’s a full list on Norwegian’s website. You’ll also get premium wines and champagnes by the glass (over 50 new additions), and here’s a big one: 40% off wine and champagne bottles instead of 20%.
So if you’re the type who might splurge on a nice bottle of wine at dinner – let’s say an $80-100 bottle – you’re getting 40% off. That’s real savings if you actually buy bottles.
Starbucks Everything – All Starbucks coffees and specialty drinks from Starbucks locations and specialty dining restaurants are included. The only catch is you can only get one drink at a time (they don’t want you ordering three lattes for your friends). But really, that’s not a big limitation.
Energy Drinks and Fresh Juices – These fresh-squeezed juices and energy drinks are now included.
Drinks at Great Stirrup Cay – This is actually a big deal. Norwegian recently removed the drink package from working at Great Stirrup Cay (their private island in the Bahamas). If you have regular Free at Sea, you’re paying for drinks there. With Free at Sea Plus, it’s included. Is it silly that they took it away in the first place? Yes. But this fixes that problem.
Bottled Water – You get bottled water at the bar (not included in standard package) and premium bottled water (still and sparkling) in restaurants.
50% Off Additional Specialty Dining – Already used your included meals but want to go back to that amazing restaurant? You get 50% off the cover charge. So if you’re on Aqua or Luna and want to try Palomar at $60 per person, it drops to $30 per person.
Unlimited Streaming Wi-Fi – Forget those 150 minutes. You’re getting unlimited high-speed streaming Wi-Fi. One login per guest that can be used on one device at a time. If there are two of you in the cabin, you each get your own login.
All Daily Service Charges Included – This is huge for making your cruise feel more all-inclusive. Service charges (gratuities) are currently $20 per person per day on Norwegian. On a 7-night cruise, that’s $140 per person that’s now covered.
Let’s Do the Math
Free at Sea Plus costs $49.99 per person per day. On a 7-night cruise, that’s $349.93 per person.
Sounds like a lot, right? Let’s break it down:
- Daily service charges on a 7-night cruise: $140
- Streaming Wi-Fi: $29.57/day x 7 days = $207
Those two things alone total $347. You’ve basically paid for the entire package just with gratuities and Wi-Fi – two things you were probably going to pay for anyway. (Yes, you should pay your gratuities. We can debate whether they should be included in the cruise fare, but you should pay them.)
So what do you get for essentially “free” after covering those costs?
- Top-shelf liquor upgrades
- 40% off wine bottles (vs 20%)
- All Starbucks drinks
- Energy drinks and fresh juices
- Drinks at Great Stirrup Cay
- Bottled water everywhere
- 50% off additional specialty dining
Is It Worth It?
If you were planning to add streaming Wi-Fi to your cruise and you’re okay with paying your gratuities upfront, then yes, Free at Sea Plus is absolutely worth it. You’re getting all those extra perks for basically the same money you’d spend anyway.
It’s especially worth it if you:
- Love Starbucks and would otherwise pay out of pocket
- Plan to visit Great Stirrup Cay
- Might want to repeat a specialty restaurant
- Appreciate having premium liquor options
- Want that “all-inclusive” feeling where you’re not constantly pulling out your room key to pay for things
The Details
Free at Sea Plus is available for:
- Any sailings departing February 1, 2026 or later
- Two nights or more
- All ships fleet-wide
- Existing bookings or new bookings
Important note: You must already have Free at Sea (or More at Sea, the old version) to add Plus. You can’t just add Plus by itself – it’s an upgrade to an existing package.
Bottom Line
At $49.99 per person per day, Free at Sea Plus looks expensive at first glance. But when you break down the numbers, it’s actually a solid value if you were going to add Wi-Fi and pay gratuities anyway – which most people do. The fact that all the drink and dining upgrades come along for the ride makes it feel like a really good deal.
Is it necessary? No. Will your cruise be fine with just regular Free at Sea? Absolutely. But if you want that elevated experience and the convenience of having everything covered, the Plus upgrade makes a lot of sense.
If you have questions about Free at Sea Plus or need help booking your next Norwegian cruise, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to help you figure out what makes the most sense for your vacation.
Happy cruising!
