NCL Free At Sea (2.0) Explained: What’s Included and How It Works
Norwegian Cruise Line has made another change. More at Sea is out, and Free at Sea is back.
I’m calling this updated version Free at Sea 2.0 because it isn’t quite the same Free at Sea NCL offered before More at Sea. That’s my name for it, not NCL’s. The familiar perks are still here, including drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and the $50 shore excursion credit, but some of the pricing and rules have changed.
If you booked your cruise under More at Sea, those terms still apply to your reservation. You may be able to reprice under the current Free at Sea offer, but compare the full cost and promotions before making any changes.
NCL also offers a paid Free at Sea Plus upgrade with extras like Starbucks, bottled water, premium drinks, unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, and prepaid daily service charges. I break that down later in this guide.
So, what exactly is included with NCL Free at Sea now? Let’s get into it.
What is Norwegian’s Free at Sea?
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea bundles several popular cruise perks into your booking at a lower cost than purchasing them separately onboard.
The name can be a little misleading because not everything is actually free. You’ll still pay for the beverage and specialty dining packages, while perks like Wi-Fi minutes and the shore excursion credit are included.
Free at Sea currently includes:
- Unlimited Open Bar
- Hawaii Beverage Package
- Specialty Dining Meals
- Shore Excursion Credits
- Free Wi-Fi-Minutes
- Free or Discounted 3rd & 4th Guests
On Pride of America, you’ll get the Hawaii Beverage Package instead of the regular Unlimited Open Bar.
NCL also offers a paid Free at Sea Plus upgrade with extras like premium drinks, Starbucks, bottled water, unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, and prepaid daily service charges. I break down everything included with Plus and whether it’s worth upgrading later in this guide.
Important Things to Know About NCL’s Free at Sea Program
Before you add Free at Sea to your booking, there are a few rules and restrictions worth knowing.
Free at Sea Unlimited Open Bar
The Unlimited Open Bar Package is the drink package included with NCL’s Free at Sea. It covers most cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, soda, juice, and non-alcoholic beer. Bottled water, Starbucks, specialty coffee, and some premium drinks are not included.
With Free at Sea, the package currently costs $32 per person, per day on cruises of 2 to 5 nights and $28.50 per person, per day on cruises of 6 nights or longer.
One thing I didn’t realize until updating this guide is that you can still buy the Unlimited Open Bar if you skip Free at Sea. NCL currently lets you purchase it during the first two days onboard for $45 per person, per day, plus 20% gratuity, taxes, and fees.
So, if you don’t add Free at Sea before your cruise, you’re not completely out of luck. You can buy the drink package onboard, but it will cost more.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Who gets the drink package: Eligible Guests 1–8 in the stateroom receive the Unlimited Open Bar for the entire cruise. Guests 1–2 must be 21 or older. If either is under 21, they’ll receive the Soda Package instead. Guests 3–8 under 21 do not receive a substitute beverage package.
- What’s included: Cocktails, wine by the glass, bottled and draft beer, fountain soda, juice, and non-alcoholic beer. Your favorite NCL cocktail is probably already included.
- What’s not included: Bottled water, Starbucks, specialty coffee, fresh-squeezed juice, minibar purchases, room service, and drinks from the Connoisseur’s Collection.
- Two drinks at a time: You can order up to two drinks per person, per transaction. If you upgrade to Free at Sea Plus, Starbucks is limited to one drink per person, per visit.
- Discounts on premium drinks: You’ll get $15 off drinks from the Connoisseur’s Collection and Signature Selection, plus 20% off bottles of wine and champagne and select wine and spirit tastings.
- Great Stirrup Cay: Your Free at Sea drink package remains valid and works at bars, restaurants, and venues on the island.
- Harvest Caye: The drink package does not work here.
- Taxes may still apply: Depending on where you’re sailing, you may still be charged local drink taxes or VAT.
- It covers the entire cruise: You can’t share, transfer, or get a refund once the package applies to your sailing.
Is there a service fee for the Free at Sea Unlimited Open Bar?
If you get the Unlimited Open Bar through Free at Sea, the package price already includes gratuity. If you skip Free at Sea and buy it onboard for $45 per person, per day, NCL adds a 20% gratuity, plus any applicable taxes and fees.
NCL’s regular daily service charge is separate from both.
Is the Free at Sea Unlimited Open Bar worth it?
If you know you want a drink package, Free at Sea is cheaper than buying it onboard. On cruises of 6 nights or longer, you’re paying $28.50 per day with Free at Sea compared with $45 per day plus 20% gratuity onboard.
But if you only have one or two drinks a day, you may be better off paying as you go. Most cocktails, beers, and wines by the glass run around $9 to $15, so I’d base it on what you realistically drink on a cruise.
To see if it’s worth it for you:
- If your estimated daily drink total is more than the daily cost of the package, it can be a good value.
- If it’s about the same, you may still like the convenience of having it included.
- If you drink much less, paying per drink may make more sense.
- If you don’t drink alcohol, the Soda Package is available separately at a lower cost.
- If you know you want an unlimited drink package, getting it through Free at Sea costs less than waiting to buy it onboard.
Want to see if the Unlimited Open Bar is worth it for you? Try this quick math:
Average drink price × number of drinks per day = estimated daily drink cost
Estimated daily drink cost × number of cruise days = estimated total for your cruise
Or, skip the math and use my Cruise Drink Package Calculator.
Hawaii Beverage Package (Pride of America)
If you’re sailing on Pride of America, you’ll get NCL’s Hawaii Beverage Package instead of the regular Unlimited Open Bar Package. It costs $28.50 per person, per day, and applies to Guests 1–8 in the stateroom.
The package includes cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, fountain soda, fresh-squeezed juice, non-alcoholic beer, Vero water, and specialty coffee in the dining rooms. You can also use the Vero water dispensers around the ship with your keycard. Because this package follows Hawaii’s alcohol laws, alcohol service may be restricted.
If Guests 1 or 2 are under 21, they’ll receive the Hawaii Soda Package instead. Guests 3–8 under 21 do not receive a substitute soda package.
Not included: Specialty coffee outside the dining rooms, room service, minibar purchases, and vending machines.
Specialty Dining Meals
As part of Free at Sea, specialty dining meals are included based on the length of your cruise. Guests can enjoy a set number of meals at NCL’s specialty restaurants and pay separately for any additional specialty dining.
- Applies to Guests 1–8: Under NCL’s current terms, the Specialty Dining Package can apply to Guests 1–8 in the stateroom. The package is available to guests ages 2 and older.
- Children’s dining: If Guest 2 is between ages 2 and 12, they won’t be charged for the dining package and can order from the complimentary kids’ menu. If they want to order from the specialty dining menu instead, the applicable dining package fee will be charged onboard.
- What’s included with each meal: At most specialty restaurants, you can order up to three appetizers, one main course, and up to three desserts per meal.
- Four-item limit at some restaurants: At Sushi, Wasabi, Nama, Food Republic, Pincho Tapas Bar, and Raw Bar, you can order up to four menu items per meal instead.
- Number of meals included: This depends on the length of your cruise, not your stateroom category. See the table below for the breakdown.
- Using your meals: You can use more than one specialty dining meal in the same day. Each one will count toward the total number of meals included with your package.
- Additional dining: Once you’ve used your included meals, you can still dine at specialty restaurants by paying the applicable cover charge.
Cruise Length | Meals Included | Free-at-Sea Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2-4 Nights | 1 Meal | $20 per person |
| 5-6 Nights | 2 Meals | $40 per person |
| 7–8 Nights | 3 meals | $60 per person |
| 9 + Nights | 4 Meals | $80 per person |
Pro Tip: Specialty dining reservations open 130 days before sailing for Haven guests, 125 days for Club Balcony Suites, and 120 days for other staterooms. Some Latitudes members can also book earlier based on their status.
Shore Excursion Credit
The $50 Shore Excursion Credit is one of the easier Free at Sea perks to use. Think of it as a small discount on eligible NCL shore excursions. In some cases, you might even find an excursion inexpensive enough that it covers the full cost for one person.
- $50 credit per port: Guest 1 gets one $50 shore excursion credit at each port. This used to apply to each eligible excursion, but NCL now limits it to one $50 credit per port. If you book more than one eligible excursion in the same port, the $50 can be split between them as long as the excursions don’t overlap.
- Must be booked through NCL: The credit only applies to eligible excursions booked directly through Norwegian Cruise Line. Independent and third-party tours do not qualify.
- Some activities are excluded: Transfers, shuttles, hop-on-hop-off buses, attraction tickets, and similar options don’t qualify for the credit.
- Use it or lose it: If you don’t use the full $50 in that port, the leftover amount doesn’t carry over to another port or sailing.
Is the Shore Excursion Credit Worth It?
Since the $50 Shore Excursion Credit is included at no extra cost, it can be a nice perk if you plan to book NCL’s tours. If you prefer cruise-sponsored excursions at every port, it adds up to a decent savings—but remember, cruise line excursions are usually priced higher than independent options.
Sometimes, you might find an excursion inexpensive enough that the $50 credit covers most or even all of the cost for Guest 1. If you prefer exploring on your own or booking with local operators, as we often do, this perk may not add much value.
Free Wi-Fi Minutes
All guests in the stateroom receive 150 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi through Free at Sea. Each guest gets their own login and can connect one device at a time. The plan covers basic browsing, email, and social media, but does not include streaming.
The 150 minutes may be enough if you only plan to check in here and there, but they can be used up quickly on a longer cruise. If you want to stay connected more often or need streaming, you’ll probably want to upgrade to an unlimited Wi-Fi plan. Wi-Fi is not available on Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye.
NCL Free 3rd & 4th Guests
Also known as Kids Sail Free, this promotion isn’t just for kids. It applies to Guests 3 and 4 sharing a stateroom with Guests 1 and 2. Depending on the sailing and promotion, Guests 3 and 4 may sail free or at a discounted fare.
- Who qualifies: Guests 3 and 4 must share a stateroom with Guests 1 and 2, who pay the regular fare.
- Select sailings only: This offer isn’t available on every cruise, so always check your sailing to see if it’s included.
- Guests 5–8: If your stateroom holds more than four people, Guests 5–8 pay the regular fare.
- No deposit required: When the Free 3rd & 4th Guest offer applies, NCL does not require a deposit for Guests 3 and 4.
- Solo cabins are excluded: The offer does not apply to NCL’s Studio or Solo stateroom categories.
NCL Free Airfare Offer
NCL has offered a Buy Airfare for Guest 1, Guest 2 Flies Free promotion on select cruises, but this airfare offer is being phased out of newer promotions. If you already booked a cruise with promotional airfare, NCL should still honor your existing offer.
Here’s what to know if you already have NCL airfare with your booking:
- How it works: Guest 1 pays the promotional airfare, while Guest 2 may fly free or receive a discount, depending on the offer you booked.
- Select sailings and airports: The promotion only applies to certain cruises and departure airports, so the exact terms can vary.
- Arrive a day early: NCL schedules guests using its air program to arrive at least one day before embarkation. You’re responsible for your pre-cruise hotel unless one is included with your booking.
- Less control over your flights: NCL chooses the airline, routing, and flight schedule. Connections are possible, and you may not receive your flight details until closer to your cruise.
- Be careful making changes: If you already have promotional airfare, check with NCL or your travel advisor before making changes so you don’t accidentally lose the offer you booked.
NCL airfare can save you money, especially on more expensive routes, but you give up some control over your flights. Because of that, I usually don’t recommend it unless the savings are significant. I prefer booking our flights myself so I can choose the schedule and airline.
How Does NCL’s Free at Sea Save You Money?
Free at Sea can still save you money compared to buying these perks separately, but how much you save really depends on what you’ll use. I’ve broken down some of the numbers below.
Unlimited Open Bar Savings
If you’ve cruised NCL for a while, you may remember the Unlimited Open Bar costing $109 per person, per day. That used to be the actual standalone price, and NCL still refers to $109 as the package’s retail value in some of its terms.
But that’s not what you would pay to buy the package onboard today. If you skip Free at Sea, NCL currently lets you purchase the Unlimited Open Bar during the first two days of the cruise for $45 per person, per day plus 20% gratuity, taxes, and fees.
So for the savings below, I’m comparing Free at Sea with what you’d actually pay onboard now.
| Cruise Length | Free at Sea Rate | Current Onboard Cost* | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–5 nights | $32 | $54 | $22 |
| 6+ nights | $28.50 | $54 | $25.50 |
If you know you want the drink package, Free at Sea still saves you money. If you only have a couple of drinks a day, I’d compare the Free at Sea rate with what you’d realistically spend paying per drink.
Specialty Dining Savings
With Free at Sea, specialty dining works out to $20 per included meal. NCL currently lists the onboard Specialty Dining Package at $72 per meal, so the savings are pretty easy to see.
The number of meals you get depends on the length of your cruise, but the cost still comes out to $20 per meal. If you already plan to eat at places like Cagney’s or Le Bistro, this perk can save you quite a bit compared to paying for the dining package onboard.
Shore Excursion Credit
Guest 1 gets one $50 shore excursion credit at each port when booking eligible excursions through Norwegian Cruise Line. If you usually book NCL-sponsored tours, it’s an easy way to save a little at each stop.
Just keep in mind that this is now $50 per port, not $50 per excursion like it used to be.
3rd & 4th Guests Free or Discounted
Depending on the sailing and promotion, Guests 3 and 4 sharing a stateroom with Guests 1 and 2 may sail free or at a discounted fare. For families or groups traveling together, this can make a big difference in the total cruise fare.
Example Savings with Free at Sea
I’ve done some math for you…
If you’re booking a 7-day cruise for two guests, here’s what Free at Sea could save you compared to paying for these packages separately.
1️⃣ Unlimited Open Bar
- Without Free at Sea: $45 per person, per day + 20% gratuity → $756 total for two guests
- With Free at Sea: $28.50 per person, per day → $399 total for two guests
- Savings: $357
2️⃣ Specialty Dining (3 meals per guest)
- Without Free at Sea: NCL currently lists the 3-meal Specialty Dining Package at $216 per person → $432 total for two guests
- With Free at Sea: $60 per person → $120 total for two guests
- Savings: $312
3️⃣ Shore Excursion Credit
- Guest 1 gets one $50 shore excursion credit per port
- On a 7-day cruise with three or four ports, that could mean $150–$200 in savings if you book an eligible NCL excursion at each port.
💰 Total Potential Savings: around $820 to $870, depending on how many ports you use the shore excursion credit.
When Free at Sea Might NOT Save You Money
Free at Sea can offer good value, but it doesn’t make sense for everyone. You may be better off skipping some of the perks if:
- You don’t drink much and wouldn’t normally buy a beverage package.
- You’re happy eating at the complimentary restaurants and don’t plan to dine at specialty restaurants.
- You prefer booking independent excursions instead of NCL-sponsored tours.
- You don’t think you’ll use enough of the included perks to make the added cost worthwhile.
For us, the drink and specialty dining perks usually make Free at Sea worth it. But it really comes down to how you cruise and what you’ll actually use.
Free at Sea Plus: The Optional Upgrade Explained
Free at Sea Plus is optional. You do not need it to use the regular Free at Sea perks.
Think of it as an upgrade for cruisers who know they’ll spend extra on things like Starbucks, bottled water, better drinks, Wi-Fi, and daily service charges anyway.
The current price is $49.99 per adult, per day. You must add it at least 72 hours before sailing, and everyone in the stateroom must choose the same Free at Sea Plus offer. Younger guests follow different pricing and age rules.
What Do You Get with Free at Sea Plus?
Here’s what that extra $49.99 per day gets you:
- Premium drinks: More wines, champagne, and liquors by the glass, including select drinks up to $25.
- Starbucks and specialty coffee: Starbucks drinks and specialty coffee are included, with one drink per visit.
- Bottled water: Includes filtered bottled water from the bars, plus still and sparkling water in restaurants.
- More non-alcoholic drinks: Red Bull, fresh-squeezed juice, Vitamin Water, Bodyarmor, and other upgraded non-alcoholic drinks are included.
- Unlimited streaming Wi-Fi: Your 150 Free at Sea minutes are upgraded to unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, with one device connected at a time.
- 50% off extra specialty dining: You don’t get more included meals, but you get 50% off the cover charge if you want to add more specialty dining.
- Daily service charges included: Your regular daily service charges are prepaid as part of the package.
You still keep the regular Free at Sea perks, including the $50 shore excursion credit for Guest 1.
Is Free at Sea Plus Worth It?
This is where I’d do the math based on what you’ll actually use.
Free at Sea Plus may make sense if you:
- Get Starbucks or specialty coffee every day.
- Buy bottled water throughout the cruise.
- Prefer premium wines and cocktails.
- Want unlimited Wi-Fi.
- Plan to eat at more specialty restaurants than Free at Sea includes.
- Like having the daily service charges included upfront
If you’re fine with the drinks already included with Free at Sea, don’t need unlimited Wi-Fi, and aren’t going to buy Starbucks or bottled water every day, you may be better off skipping the upgrade.
For me, the easiest way to decide is to add up what you’d normally spend on those extras. If you’re getting close to $49.99 per person, per day, Plus may be worth it. If not, standard Free at Sea is probably enough.
One More Thing to Know
If you already prepaid your daily service charges, do the math before adding Free at Sea Plus.
On our last cruise, I had already added the Haven service charge of $25 per person, per day to our reservation. But NCL only discounts Free at Sea Plus by $15 per adult, per day when those charges are already prepaid.
That meant I was better off removing the prepaid service charges first and then adding Free at Sea Plus, since Plus already includes them. I only caught it because I compared both totals before making the change.
Reader Questions About Free at Sea
Free at Sea Is Offered Regularly, but the Promotion Can Change
Free at Sea is NCL’s main perks promotion, but what’s included in the overall offer can change. The core perks are the beverage package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and the $50 shore excursion credit. Select sailings may also offer Free or Discounted 3rd & 4th Guests.
Always check your specific sailing before booking since NCL changes its promotions pretty often.
Free at Sea Can Be Worth It If You’ll Use the Perks
For us, Free at Sea is usually worth it because we use the drink package and specialty dining. But that doesn’t mean it makes sense for everyone.
If you don’t drink much, don’t care about specialty dining, or prefer booking your own excursions, do the math first. It really comes down to which perks you’ll actually use.
Free at Sea Gratuities Are Included, but the Daily Service Charge Is Separate
The gratuities or service charges tied to the Free at Sea packages are already included in what you pay for those perks. However, NCL’s daily service charge is separate with standard Free at Sea.
If you upgrade to Free at Sea Plus, your daily service charges are included as part of the Plus package.
You May Be Able to Reprice a More at Sea Booking to Free at Sea
If you booked under More at Sea, contact NCL or your travel advisor to see whether you can reprice your cruise under the current Free at Sea offer.
Remember, repricing means looking at your reservation under the current cruise fare and promotions. You could end up with a higher fare or lose another offer you already have, so compare the entire booking before switching.
Starbucks Is Not Included with Standard Free at Sea
Starbucks is not included with standard Free at Sea. You can pay for it separately or get Starbucks and specialty coffee as part of the Free at Sea Plus upgrade.
BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:
- NCL Drink Package List Explained
- Norwegian Cruise Drinks Cruisers Love
- What’s Changed on Norwegian Cruise Line
- 10 Highlights of Norwegian Cruise Line
- Getting Ready for Your Cruise: 11 Tips
Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
This was very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Appreciate your comment. Happy to hear it helped.