Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea Perks Explained

Table Of Content

• Everything You Need To Know About NCL Free At Sea Package
• Final Thoughts: Is Norwegian Free at Sea Worth It?
• Is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea Good for All Itineraries?
• Is there a service fee for the NCL Free at Sea Specialty Dining?
• How much is the gratuity charge on Norwegian’s free beverage package perk?

The gratuity on the free specialty dining package perk is 20% of the total cost of the meal package. Norwegian Cruise Line has become known for their Free At Sea perks which include an open bar package when booking select staterooms. The package you receive will be the Premium Beverage Package, and you will have the option to upgrade to the Premium Plus Beverage Package. While the package is labeled as “free,” a service fee/gratuity is attached, depending on the selected offers. If you opt for the “free” Open Bar or the “free” Dining Package, a 20% gratuity/service fee, calculated based on the package value, is added to your cruise fare. We ordered all the Starbucks we wanted to drink and multiple pellegrinos throughout the day, and I ordered top-shelf drinks and even enjoyed $30 glasses of champagne at Le Bistro.

Everything You Need To Know About NCL Free At Sea Package

For example, if you booked a studio or interior cabin, you could only choose one perk. Oceanviews, balconies and minisuites could pick a few, while suites and The Haven staterooms received all perks. This version of the deal could come back, but we've been seeing it less frequently than we used to.

Final Thoughts: Is Norwegian Free at Sea Worth It?

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One of the many fantastic perks of taking advantage of the Free at Sea promotions is the $50 shore excursion credit. So if you’re visiting 5 ports during your cruise, you’ll get 5x $50 per cabin. Plus, it was still a great deal because the unlimited drink package usually costs over $100 per person per day. For example, I booked an ocean-view stateroom for my sailing, which entitled me and my husband to one complimentary meal in the specialty dining restaurant of our choice.

Is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea Good for All Itineraries?

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea offers incredible value for passengers. The perks provide incredible value, and I’m always happy to take advantage of the savings. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea Plus offers even more perks for $49 per person or $29 per child per day. In making your selection, weigh your personal preferences and potential savings of each perk.

The actual value of some of the perks will depend on the length of your cruise and cabin type. Recently, Norwegian Cruise Line has updated their free offers and promotions. In this post I share what perks are included with Norwegian Free at Sea, if some of the perks are actually “free” and if they are worth it. I’ll also answer some common questions many people have about NCL’s popular free perks. Freestyle Travelers is the ultimate resource for cruisers seeking to explore the seas. As the leader in all things related to cruising, our travel blog provides expert guidance and valuable information to enhance the cruising experience.

OFF 2ND GUEST + FREE AT SEA

When this promo is offered, cruise fares are waived for two kids (age 17 and under) sailing in a stateroom along with two or more adult guests. If you’re able to find low-priced shore excursions that you like in every port, this could be a fantastic option for you. Before you make your Free at Sea selection, check NCL’s Shore Excursion Search to see what shore excursions are offered in each port. Choosing Free Specialty Dining from Free at Sea will usually only credit the first two passengers in a stateroom with a free dining package.

It wasn’t too outrageously priced for the few five-minute FaceTime calls I needed to make, and the connection was reasonably fast. Some of Norwegian’s Free at Sea options are really, totally free. Others aren’t truly free, because you need to pay a mandatory charge to take advantage of the free part of the promotion. Explore more of the shore with US$ 50 Shore Excursion Discounts per tour. We can arrange flights that arrive or depart one or two days before or after your cruise.

This brings the shore excursion credit to $100 per stateroom per tour ($50 per guest 1 & 2). Consider it a discount for shore excursions at all ports of call in your itinerary (excluding pre/post-cruise tours). If you discover a shore excursion priced at $50 or less, it could be a “free” excursion for one person. Want additional specialty dining meals without upgrading to the Free at Sea Plus? Upgrade for $69 per person, plus 20% gratuity for an additional 2 Meal Dining Package. With the NCL Free at Sea Plus, your beverage package will be upgraded to the Premium Plus Beverage Package, which includes Starbucks, all bottled water, high-end spirits, and more.

Remember, if you don’t think you will break even on the gratuity aspect of the drink package or don’t want the dining package, you can opt out and still get the remaining perks. If you are planning to book shore excursions in multiple ports, the shore excursions perk might be a good value. However, if you plan to stay on the ship at some ports or have a lot of sea days in your itinerary, this might not be the best option. In terms of the free shore excursions, the $50 credit per stateroom will not cover much. So, you will likely need to pay extra to cover the costs of shore excursions. NCL’s Free at Sea free shore excursions offer qualifies the first guest only on the reservation for a credit of $50 per port.

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Even the free sailing perk for the third and fourth guests has hidden costs. Although the base fare is free when using the extra, you’re required to pay the taxes, fees, and port expenses for the third and fourth guests. Similarly, if you’re cruising with a larger party, choosing the “3rd & 4th guests sail free” perk is an obvious choice. Though the retail value varies, this perk can save you hundreds of dollars on your cruise fare. The Free Open Bar includes unlimited soda, juice, beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, and spirits up to $15 per drink.

So with the deal you can pay one price and then get drinks for the duration of your trip, wi-fi, shore excursions, and more. The free shore excursion credit provides $50 at each port of call. There aren’t any strings attached, but you’ll have a hard time finding a tour for less than $50. That means you’ll often pay a portion of every shore excursion. The first two guests pay the full cruise fare, while the third and fourth guests sail free. Sometimes, the perk is modified, where the third and fourth guests pay $99 per person.

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It all starts with you – finding out what you like and just as important, what you don’t like. Coupled with our cruise know-how, we’ll suggest the perfect first time cruise for you. If it’s your first time cruising, it can all seem overwhelming and confusing. That’s why we offer a First Time Cruise Help Service at Rock the Boat Travel Agency. As such, we allowed him to order off the adult menu while dining with us at the ship's Italian eatery, Onda by Scarpetta, which cost us an additional $44.35. Ultimately, my family of three enjoyed the benefits this offering provided during our 10-night sailing on the Norwegian Prima.

If you order an item over $15, you simply pay the difference between the price of the beverage and $15. If given 2 free perks, we always pick the drink package and dining package. But since it has become the norm for NCL to offer all five perks to pretty much all stateroom categories, chances are high that you won’t even have to choose. Of course, if you planned on booking shore excursions anyway, this is free money. Although, if you are booking them just to utilize the credit, it will likely cost you extra. Another one of Norwegian’s Free at Sea perks is free WiFi and again, the value of this perk is based on the length of the cruise.