Free at Sea Beverage package

[RichL]

I understand that the covered bar beverages are $15 and lower. Is there a current beverage list listing what alcohol is covered?  I’ve seen recent posts where Grey Goose, Bailey’s, and Grand Manier are no longer included, but are included with the upgrade package. 

[RoundGuy2771]

 

BEV_Package_Flyer.pdf

[BirdTravels]

The package is not only $15 and lower. The package covers the first $15. You cover any amount over $15. A buck or two for a drink you want is not an issue. 
 

[Liljo22]

14 hours ago, RichL said:

I understand that the covered bar beverages are $15 and lower. Is there a current beverage list listing what alcohol is covered?  I’ve seen recent posts where Grey Goose, Bailey’s, and Grand Manier are no longer included, but are included with the upgrade package. 

Its not that those liquors are not included.  You can still get those drinks with the basic package, you will just be charged anything above $15.  If you order a Grey Goose and tonic for $17, you will be charged $2.40.  

 

To upgrade, its about $35 per person per day.  You would have to order 15 grey goose drinks a day each to make the upgrade worth it.  If you are picky about whiskeys and scotches, thats a different story.  The difference for the upper level whiskeys can be $20 extra per drink.  

Edited June 23, 2023 by Liljo22

[DCGuy64]

38 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

Its not that those liquors are not included.  You can still get those drinks with the basic package, you will just be charged anything above $15.  If you order a Grey Goose and tonic for $17, you will be charged $2.40.  

 

To upgrade, its about $35 per person per day.  You would have to order 15 grey goose drinks a day each to make the upgrade worth it.  If you are picky about whiskeys and scotches, thats a different story.  The difference for the upper level whiskeys can be $20 extra per drink.  

Well said! Even if I got a fancy champagne every single day (and some days I don't), my additional charge would be $12 per day (Pommery Rosé is $25/glass, so 25-15 = 10 + 20% tip). Over the course of our upcoming 10-day cruise, that would be an extra $120. The Premium+ would cost me $348, so I'd 'lose' $228 (assuming I had no other upcharges). But it's worse, because my wife ALSO has to upgrade, so it's another $348 (and she drinks sparsely and isn't fussy about the fancy stuff). So to break even, I'd have to spend $696, aka almost $70/day. Nope, ain't happening! I realize others might do better in terms of the cost, but not us.

[omahabob]

I upgraded specifically for the premium bottled water, because that scores points with the wife, and you can't put a price on that.

[Dorhead1230]

23 minutes ago, omahabob said:

I upgraded specifically for the premium bottled water, because that scores points with the wife, and you can't put a price on that.

Did you know that you can order just cartons of water for way cheaper than a beverage package upgrade? There are no bottles of water on the ships; they are cartons of what NCL calls Flow water. You can get 6, 12, or 24 delivered to your cabin for $23.94, $41.94, or $59.94, respectively. If you really aren’t going to drink any other pricey stuff that’s included on the premium plus, you may make out much better with a water-only purchase.

[omahabob]

Yep. Knew that.

[reeinaz]

1 hour ago, Dorhead1230 said:

Did you know that you can order just cartons of water for way cheaper than a beverage package upgrade? There are no bottles of water on the ships; they are cartons of what NCL calls Flow water. You can get 6, 12, or 24 delivered to your cabin for $23.94, $41.94, or $59.94, respectively. If you really aren’t going to drink any other pricey stuff that’s included on the premium plus, you may make out much better with a water-only purchase.

Bottles of Acqua Panna and Pellegrino are available to buy onboard and are included in the premium plus plan

[Dorhead1230]

1 hour ago, reeinaz said:

Bottles of Acqua Panna and Pellegrino are available to buy onboard and are included in the premium plus plan

Out of curiosity, is that at specific restaurants/bars, or anywhere on the ship? I enjoy Pellegrino (not that I really think I’ll pay the extra for it), and I can’t specifically recall seeing people drinking it onboard (and I’ve done 10 NCL cruises so this is a real lack of observation skills lol).

[omahabob]

Probably specific places. NCL used to carry Aquafina on a somewhat widespread basis, but then switched to a generic, in house brand, which is likely what you'd find on a widespread basis.

 

 

That's for flat water. Sparkling would more likely be something like San Pellegrino. You don't need bottled water from a filtration standpoint. Due to sanitary regulations on cruise ships, the water in your cabin's bathroom is bettered filtered than most bottled water out there. The only real reason for bottled water would be taste, which is what matters to my wife.

Edited June 23, 2023 by omahabob

[Grimix]

2 hours ago, Dorhead1230 said:

I enjoy Pellegrino (not that I really think I’ll pay the extra for it), and I can’t specifically recall seeing people drinking it onboard (and I’ve done 10 NCL cruises so this is a real lack of observation skills lol).

Aboard the Bliss last October my wife had a Pellegrino at every specialty restaurant we went to (with the Beverage+ package). We were in the haven so only walked through the buffet, and never ate in the main dining room, but would be surprised if it wasn't served there.

[Pitzel]

On the Prima, we got the P+ package and ordered bottles of Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino for lunch and dinner most days.

 

In several of the specialty restaurants, the waiters would bring us extra bottles (unopened) to take back to our cabin at the end of the meal.

Edited June 24, 2023 by Pitzel

[JandC_Cruising]

7 minutes ago, Pitzel said:

In several of the specialty restaurants, the waiters would bring us extra bottles (unopened) to take back to our cabin at the end of the meal.

We do this EVERY night.  Our waiters will bring us a new bottle toward the end of dinner and we bring it back to our cabin.  On a 7 day cruise we must drink about 25 bottles of Aqua Pana. 

[Dorhead1230]

Good to know the Pellegrino is widely available if I’m really in the mood! Not at all worth it for us to upgrade to Premium Plus (sometimes I question whether we really get our money’s worth from the regular beverage package), but I guess I never paid attention to other water options because we always sail through Casinos at Sea and stock up on the regular bottled (now boxed) water for our cabin from the casino bar where it’s free for us.

[koreakruiser]

Obviously ship dependent.  Just of the Pride of America Hawaii cruise a couple of weeks ago.  The only Scotch in the basic package was Dewar's White Lable at $10.  No Johnnie Walker of any color aboard the ship. 😤😬

Premium package only included Chivas Regal 12 Yrs Old and Glenmorange Original Single Malt at $20 and Glenfiddich Select at $25.

[cruiseny4life]

On 6/23/2023 at 6:12 PM, omahabob said:

Probably specific places. NCL used to carry Aquafina on a somewhat widespread basis, but then switched to a generic, in house brand, which is likely what you'd find on a widespread basis.

 

 

That's for flat water. Sparkling would more likely be something like San Pellegrino. You don't need bottled water from a filtration standpoint. Due to sanitary regulations on cruise ships, the water in your cabin's bathroom is bettered filtered than most bottled water out there. The only real reason for bottled water would be taste, which is what matters to my wife.

Just to clear up confusion about water......

 

There is no plastic bottled water. The replacement for this water is Flow Water. A few months back there was a rumor it is being replaced. I haven't seen evidence of this yet. 

 

Source: https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/bottled-water-packages

 

For fancy still water, NCL provides Acqua Panna.And for sparkling water, San Pelligrino. My source isn't the most reliable (is any poster on Cruise Critic that reliable), but it's the best I could find. You can purchase it through your mini bar (if available) or with Premium Plus, it's included. 

 

Source, post 37: