Norwegian Cruise Line offers two ways to customize your all-inclusive vacation. While the standard package covers the essentials, the Plus upgrade is designed for a completely seamless experience with no out of pocket costs.

Package Cost: Included in your fare

The standard Free at Sea package is a great foundational choice for casual cruisers. It includes:

• Premium Beverages: Enjoy an open bar with over 100 cocktail choices and premium brands like Grey Goose vodka and Casamigos tequila.
• Specialty Dining: Experience a set number of gourmet meals at NCL’s specialty restaurants. Please note that a service charge of $20 per person, per meal applies to these reservations for the first two guests.
• Traveling with Children: Guests under age 13 dine for free when ordering from the kid’s menu. If they choose to order from the specialty dining menu, a $20 cover charge will apply.
• Staying Connected: Includes a basic Wi-Fi allotment of 150 minutes per person.
• Shore Excursions: Receive a fifty dollar shore excursion credit per port for the first guest on the reservation.

Package Cost: $49.99 per person, per day

The Plus upgrade is the best option for guests who want a truly all-inclusive vacation with zero surprise costs. It includes everything in the standard package, plus:

• Prepaid Service Charges: The most significant benefit of this upgrade is that your daily service charges (crew tips) are fully covered. Your gratuities are paid in full before you even board the ship.
• Top Shelf Selections: Gain access to an even higher tier of spirits including Patrón Añejo and The Macallan 12 YO, plus premium wines and champagne by the glass.
• Starbucks and Premium Hydration: Enjoy unlimited Starbucks specialty coffees and fresh juices. You also receive premium bottled water, including Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino, in all onboard restaurants.
• Unlimited Streaming Wi-Fi: Your connectivity is upgraded to unlimited high-speed streaming with no minute limits.
• Enhanced Excursion Credits: Your shore excursion credit doubles to one hundred dollars per port for the first guest.

When you look at the "Free at Sea" package, there is a hidden detail most travelers miss: Daily Service Charges. Even with the standard "Free" package, Norwegian adds a mandatory service charge (crew tips) to your onboard account every day. For a couple in a Club Balcony Suite or below, this is $20 per person, per day. In a Haven Suite, it is $25 per person, per day. This means a couple on a 7-day cruise will face a $280 to $350 bill on their final morning just for gratuities.

My Professional Advice: By choosing the Free at Sea Plus upgrade, those daily service charges are fully covered. When you subtract that mandatory $20–$25 daily tip from the $49.99 upgrade cost, you are effectively paying only $25 to $30 a day for:

1. Unlimited Starbucks (normally $7–$9 per drink)
2. Unlimited Streaming Wi-Fi (normally $25+ per day)
3. Unlimited Bottled Water in restaurants (normally $8 per bottle)
4. Top-Shelf Spirits and $100 Port Credits

If you enjoy a morning latte, like to stay connected on social media, or prefer bottled water with dinner, the Plus upgrade pays for itself almost instantly. Most importantly, it allows you to leave your wallet in the safe and enjoy a "zero balance" bill on your final morning.

Important Pricing Note: The Plus package is mandatory for guests 1 and 2 if the upgrade is selected.