A drink package is a popular add-on for cruisers who want to save money or are worried about an unexpectedly large bill at the end of their cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers its customers several options based on their preferences and habits.

Would be cruisers should consider the cost of the package versus buying drinks a la carte, along with some pro tips to help stretch those vacation dollars.

Here is what you need to know about buying drinks on a Norwegian cruise.

To start off, there are some drinks that are included with the standard cruise fare. Water, lemonade, fruit juices, coffee, tea, regular and chocolate milk are all complimentary. For those who want a broader selection, drinks can be purchased individually, or guests can buy drink packages.

Popular drink prices on Norwegian cruises:

Norwegian carries Pepsi products onboard. Guests can choose from Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water and Club Pop.

Premium Beverage Package - $99 per day/ person

Premium Plus Beverage Packages - $128 per day/ person

Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package – $65 per person/ day

Pop Package - $7.95 per person/ day

Norwegian offers guests the option pre-order water and have it delivered to their cabin. The cruiseline has partnered with JUST® Goods Water, replacing single-use plastic bottles with a plant-based carton.

Hawaii Beverage Package (all ages, Pride of America only)

That depends on how much you plan on drinking. Cruisers should consider how much they will consume in a typical day, taking into account how many days they will be in port. As noted, drink packages cannot be used at Harvest Caye, NCL’s private island in Belize but is included Great Stirrup Cay.

The break-even point depends on the package and the types of drinks consumed. Most people think about alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine, but pop and specialty coffees can add up.

Some guests like the peace of mind of purchasing a drink package ahead of time as no one wants a huge bill at the end of this cruise.

Beverage plans can be purchased online through Norwegian’s website. Once onboard, guests can only buy  the package the first day of embarkation. Currently they have a major promotion on drink packages.

“Free Open Bar” is a significant promotional campaign that touts a $1,400 savings for consumers, with free spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice and pop.

Casinos at Sea, Norwegian’s casino loyalty program, also has some beverage related benefits. For those guests who reach Ruby and above (35,000 points) tier, they will receive complimentary drinks while playing.

This program applies across all of their brands including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

To join the program, guests just need to visit the host in the casino, must be 18+ to join. Passengers earn points based on among spent on table games, slots and video poker.

Latitudes Rewards, Norwegian’s loyalty program, offers a few benefits to customers as it relates to complimentary drinks while onboard. Here is a list of benefits by tier, noting that each tier also received the lower level tier benefits.

Guests are automatically enrolled in the program after their first cruise. Members receive 1 point for each night they sail, two for suite class, and an additional point when booking a Latitudes Reward Inside Offer.

Bringing some wine or champagne onboard can help passengers save some money. Unfortunately, guests are not allowed to bring liquor, beer, water pop or juice, but Norwegian does allow 750 ml of wine or 1500ml magnum of champagne (no boxes of wine though).

Their policy does not specify how many bottles are allowed, so best to inquire if there is a limit for your sailing. The cruise line does apply a corkage fee of $15 for wine and $30 for champagne.

Since the cruise line does not sell bottled water (just cartons), it may be convenient and economical to bring your own reusable water bottle. This can also be a plus in port. Bottles from companies such as LARQ and Lifestraw will also clean the water, getting rid of E.coli and bacteria, which is helpful if you are unsure how safe the drinking water is while in port.

Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy