Desire a extra inclusive expertise on a big cruise ship stuffed with eating selections and actions? In that case, Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Free at Sea promotion may be simply the ticket. This promo gives quite a lot of “free” perks to friends primarily based on the size of their cruise and the cabin class booked … however what does the fantastic print say? Are the perks actually free?
On this piece, we’re diving into all the pieces it’s essential to find out about Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion so there aren’t any surprises when it comes time to e-book your cruise.
Observe: NCL will now not provide Free at Sea perks on cruises departing in 2025 and past. The road is changing the promotion with a brand new Extra at Sea provide, with upgraded inclusions.
Overview of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea promotion
Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion presents friends a number of perks coated by the cruise fare, with the quantity typically dependent upon the size of the cruise and the cabin class chosen.
The selection of perks often adjustments, however Norwegian sometimes presents the next 5: a limiteless open bar, specialty eating credit, free shore excursions, free Wi-Fi, and free third and fourth friends in a cabin. Often, free airfare or a 50% air credit score for the second particular person in a cabin can also be a Free at Sea choice.
The Free at Sea promotion runs nearly always, with the precise inclusions various relying on which model of the promotion NCL is working on the time. At the moment, you’ll be able to e-book and obtain the entire Free at Sea perks, although you’ll be able to decline any you don’t want to obtain.
Beforehand, you could possibly select the variety of Free at Sea perks primarily based in your cabin class. For instance, if you happen to booked a studio or inside cabin, you could possibly solely select one perk. Passengers in ocean-view, balcony and minisuite cabins might choose just a few, whereas these in suites and in The Haven cabins obtained all perks. This model of the deal might come again, however we have been seeing it much less ceaselessly than we used to.
Observe that this promotion solely applies to voyages of three nights or longer, and all passengers sharing a cabin should select the identical presents (if there’s a selection). These reserving a “Sail Away” (assure) cabin are ineligible for the Free at Sea promotion. Constitution sailings are ineligible as properly.
What’s included in NCL’s Free at Sea promotion?
Let’s check out what every Free at Sea perk entails and dive into the fantastic print so you realize precisely what you’re (and are not) getting.
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Limitless Open Bar Package deal
The Limitless Open Bar Package deal is Norwegian Cruise Line’s base drink bundle. It sometimes prices $109 per particular person, per day, plus a 20% gratuity, so it’s by far the most well-liked perk chosen with the Free at Sea promotion (when a selection is obtainable).
The bundle consists of limitless soda and juice, beer and wine by the glass price beneath $15, and choose premium cocktails and spirits price beneath $15. A 20% low cost applies to bottles of wine and Champagne, wine and spirit experiences, tastings and flights bought on board.
Associated: Are cruise line drink packages price it?
The bundle doesn’t embody Starbucks, ice bars, room service, bottled water, beer buckets, designated “tremendous” premium manufacturers, minibar purchases, freshly squeezed juices, wine dispensers or vitality drinks.
This is what it’s essential to know earlier than you select a beverage bundle as one among your Free at Sea presents: It is probably not “free.”
You continue to need to pay the 20% gratuity on the total worth of the bundle. Which means that if you happen to’re 21 or older, you may need to pay $21.80 per particular person, per day for “free” drinks. (That is $152.60 for a seven-night crusing.) Should you’re the primary or second visitor in a cabin and beneath 21 (that means you will have the soda bundle), you could pay $1.59 per particular person, per day.
Should you drink alcohol and plan to take pleasure in it throughout your cruise, chances are high good that selecting this perk might be properly definitely worth the every day gratuity you are charged. Should you do not suppose you may drink $22 price of extra-fee drinks, alcoholic or not, per day, select one other perk or flat-out decline this Free at Sea provide. You may find yourself saving cash in the long term.
Wonderful print
The drink packages prolong to Norwegian Cruise Line’s personal island within the Bahamas, Nice Stirrup Cay. Nonetheless, they don’t prolong to the road’s personal vacation spot in Belize, Harvest Caye.
This Free at Sea perk is obtainable to the primary by means of eighth friends on a reservation who’re ages 21 and older. If the primary and/or second visitor in a cabin is beneath 21, they’ll obtain Norwegian Cruise Line’s Limitless Soda Package deal (valued at $9.95 per particular person, per day) as a substitution. If extra friends and past are beneath 21, they won’t obtain a substitution for this perk. Should you’re 21 or older however don’t drink, you can’t go for the soda bundle as a substitute.
Specialty eating credit
With the specialty eating credit which can be a part of the Free at Sea bundle, you may get an included eating bundle, which helps you to dine in a number of specialty eating places with out having to pay the per-person price and with out having to purchase the bundle individually.
By Free at Sea, the eating bundle applies to the primary and second friends on a reservation who have to be at the very least 2 years outdated. This is a breakdown of what number of specialty restaurant meals you get if you happen to select this perk, primarily based on the size of the cruise and the cabin class you will have.
You might be topic to a 20% gratuity (primarily based on NCL’s evaluation of the bundle’s worth), in order with the beverage bundle, the bundle is not technically “free.”
- Three- to six-night cruise, any cabin: One meal ($59 worth, $11.80 gratuity per bundle)
- Seven- to 11-night cruise, studio, inside or ocean-view cabin: One meal ($59 worth, $11.80 gratuity per bundle)
- Seven- to 11-night cruise, balcony cabin or above: Two meals ($99 worth, $19.80 gratuity per bundle)
- Twelve-night cruise or longer, studio, inside or ocean-view cabin: Two meals ($99 worth, $19.80 gratuity per bundle)
- Twelve-night cruise or longer, balcony cabin or above: Three meals ($139 worth, $27.80 gratuity per bundle)
You should use your specialty eating perk towards Cagney’s Steakhouse, La Cucina, Meals Republic, Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, Q Texas Smokehouse, Teppanyaki, Los Lobos, Ocean Blue, Bayamo and Onda by Scarpetta.
Wonderful print
At a la carte eating places, the eating bundle limits you to 1 appetizer, one soup or salad, one fundamental course, and one dessert. At Cagney’s and Le Bistro, you’re additionally restricted to 1 fundamental course per particular person (along with starters and desserts). Extra fundamental programs are charged on the a la carte menu value.
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Harvest Caye eating places, The Bake Store, the Ice Cream Bar, gelato, specialty objects within the Asian restaurant, Jazz Brunch, and Wine Lovers and Homicide Thriller lunches are usually not included as a part of the specialty eating packages.
Free shore excursions
Should you plan to e-book shore excursions by means of the cruise line, this perk will probably be properly price it.
You do not essentially get free excursions, although. As an alternative, you get a $50 shore tour credit score for the primary visitor on the cruise reservation in every port. In contrast to some Free at Sea presents, this perk doesn’t apply to the second visitor. If the tour prices lower than $50, no refund is issued. If it prices greater than $50, you could pay the distinction.
Wonderful print
The credit score doesn’t apply to Nice Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye gear leases. Precruise and postcruise land excursions, personal excursions, and customized shore excursions are usually not eligible for this promotion; nevertheless, group debarkation-day excursions are eligible. The primary visitor might redeem the $50 credit score on multiple shore tour per port however not tickets for them and a journey companion on the identical tour.
If a port name or shore tour is canceled, you may be refunded the quantity you paid. Which means that in case your shore tour prices greater than $50, you may solely be refunded the quantity you paid above $50; you will not be refunded for the credit score.
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Free Wi-Fi
The free Wi-Fi perk doesn’t offer you limitless web entry for the complete cruise. As an alternative, you get quite a lot of free minutes, relying on the size of your crusing.
For a voyage that is three to 6 nights lengthy, you get 75 minutes of web per particular person. Seven- to 11-night cruises embody 150 minutes of web per particular person, whereas 12-night or longer sailings embody 300 minutes of web per particular person. Selecting Wi-Fi as one among your Free at Sea presents is definitely free, because it consists of the activation payment.
This provide applies to the primary and second friends in a cabin. Two logins are supplied per cabin, and every bundle can be utilized on one system at a time. It doesn’t enable streaming.
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Should you suppose you may want extra web, you’ll be able to improve to Limitless Wi-Fi or Limitless Premium Wi-Fi (with streaming) for a reduced value as in comparison with the outright price of these web packages. This low cost is because of a “credit score” of the worth of the minutes which can be included in Free at Sea.
Free third and fourth passengers in a cabin
This perk will not be accessible on each crusing, so verify earlier than you e-book if you happen to want to make the most of this freebie. Voyages throughout widespread household cruise instances (resembling faculty breaks and summer time) won’t often have this perk as an choice.
The third and fourth friends staying in a cabin will both be free or pay $99 every, with the primary two friends paying the total fare. No deposit is required for the third and fourth friends, however they do need to pay taxes and port charges. The precise cost for these taxes and charges varies primarily based on the cruise size and itinerary however could be over $200 per particular person on some seven-day voyages.
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If 5 to eight passengers are on a reservation, these extra friends should pay the prevailing fares.
Can I decide out of Free at Sea?
In case your cruise reserving comes with extra Free at Sea perks than you need, you shouldn’t have to decide on the quantity you’re allotted; you’ll be able to decline all or any Free at Sea perks.
For instance, in case your reserving consists of all present Free at Sea presents, however you realize you will not drink sufficient soda, specialty drinks or alcohol to warrant the every day gratuity on the Limitless Open Bar bundle, you’ll be able to decline that perk altogether.
Should you select to say no perks, bear in mind you could’t switch them to anybody else and will not obtain any financial worth for giving them up.
Vacationers on a decent finances who do not feel the necessity to make the most of the Free at Sea perks can even take into account reserving a “Sail Away” (assure) cabin. Reserving a assure cabin means selecting a cabin class however not a particular cabin on the ship. Nearer to the sail date, the cruise line will assign you a cabin throughout the chosen class. Assure cabins are cheaper than reserving a particular cabin and are excluded from the Free at Sea promotion.
What’s Free at Sea Plus?
If you would like much more perks, you’ll be able to improve to Free at Sea Plus for $49 per particular person, per day. If the second visitor is a baby, their improve is $29 per day.
This is what you get with Free at Sea Plus:
- The Limitless Open Bar Package deal is upgraded to the Premium Plus Beverage Package deal. It consists of all top-shelf cocktails and spirits; all beer, Champagne and wine by the glass; limitless soda and juice; limitless nonetheless and glowing bottled water; all Starbucks espresso and specialty drinks; and vitality drinks. It additionally consists of choose premium bottles of wine and Champagne with dinner, in addition to 40% off all different bottles.
- Two extra specialty eating meals for the primary and second friends
- A shore tour credit score of $50 for the second visitor
- Limitless Wi-Fi (no streaming) for the primary and second friends
The third visitor on a reservation and past should buy the Premium Plus Beverage Package deal if the primary and second friends buy Free at Sea Plus. They obtain it at a lowered fee of $34.80 per particular person, per day, together with gratuity.
If the second visitor is a baby, they get the identical perks apart from the Premium Plus Beverage Package deal; they might nonetheless obtain the soda bundle.
Visitors who improve to Free at Sea Plus can improve their limitless Wi-Fi bundle to incorporate streaming for an extra $10 per particular person, per day (relevant to the primary and second friends solely).
Continuously requested questions on NCL’s Free at Sea
Nonetheless have a query about Free at Sea that hasn’t been coated but? We handle extra issues beneath.
Does Free at Sea embody every day gratuities?
Generally, free every day gratuities pop up as a Free at Sea perk choice, however not typically. More often than not, you may need to pay the every day service cost as regular.
It is $20 per particular person, per day for passengers in Membership Balcony Suite cabins and beneath, and $25 per particular person, per day for these staying in suites or The Haven. Infants and toddlers ages 2 and beneath are usually not topic to the every day service cost.
Does Free at Sea embody airfare?
Often, one of many Free at Sea perks is free airfare for the second visitor on a reservation when the primary visitor additionally books airfare by means of Norwegian Cruise Line. This provide applies to seven-night or longer voyages and gives economic system, round-trip flights from choose departure gateways.
Solo vacationers paying 200% of the voyage fare qualify totally free airfare when supplied. You aren’t eligible for the free air promotion if you happen to e-book on the final minute (reservations have to be made greater than 110 days previous to crusing to qualify) or if you happen to select a Sail Away (assure) cabin.
If contemplating this perk, remember that selecting it places your air journey preparations within the fingers of Norwegian Cruise Line. Whereas the flights it chooses could also be handy and what you’ll select your self, they may additionally contain less-than-ideal timing, routing and layovers that you could possibly keep away from by reserving your personal air journey.
Whereas it is a perk to think about if you need the cruise line to deal with as a lot of your trip as potential otherwise you’re seeking to save on flights, we do not suggest it.
Associated: Ought to I e-book my flight by means of my cruise line?
Do Satisfaction of America cruises provide the identical perks?
Hawaii voyages aboard NCL’s Honolulu-based ship, Satisfaction of America, provide the identical Free at Sea inclusions however have a beverage bundle perk that is a bit completely different from the standard Free at Sea Open Bar bundle.
The Hawaii Beverage Package deal perk applies to the primary by means of eighth friends on the reservation and consists of a wide range of drinks price as much as $15. Those that select this perk should pay the gratuities, that are $19.80 per particular person, per day. The retail worth of the Hawaii Beverage Package deal is $99 per particular person, per day.
The phrases and circumstances learn, “The acquisition of any alcoholic drinks throughout the Hawaii Beverage Package deal might, in sure particular person circumstances, be restricted in accordance with Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Legislation and relevant native guidelines and rules.”
Along with alcoholic drinks, the Hawaii bundle consists of fountain soda, recent juice, bottled water, nonalcoholic beer and specialty espresso ordered within the eating rooms solely. It would not embody specialty espresso outdoors the eating places, room service, minibar purchases or merchandising machine purchases.
The primary distinction between the Hawaii Beverage Package deal and NCL’s regular beverage bundle is that the Hawaii bundle consists of specialty espresso in the primary eating rooms, whereas the conventional one doesn’t.
What else should I find out about NCL’s Free at Sea promotion?
Listed here are some phrases and circumstances of the Free at Sea promotion:
- Free at Sea alternatives have to be chosen at the very least 24 hours previous to crusing and can’t be modified as soon as on board.
- For bookings made inside 24 hours of departure, Free at Sea perks are chosen on the time of reserving.
- Solo vacationers paying 200% of the per-person voyage fare qualify for Free at Sea.
- Free at Sea is a cruise-only provide — it doesn’t apply to the land portion of cruisetours.
Backside line
Should you e-book a particular cabin with Norwegian Cruise Line, your reservation nearly at all times consists of some type of the Free at Sea promotion.
Free at Sea is a superb worth if you happen to plan to completely make the most of every perk. If some inclusions give you the results you want however others don’t, fastidiously take into account whether or not the worth is price the price (i.e., gratuities). Do not be afraid to say no any perks you don’t need.
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