Here’s What You Need to Know About Norwegian’s Free at Sea in 2025

Free at Sea is back! On November 5, 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it has ditched More at Sea (which it introduced in October 2024) and has gone back to its popular Free at Sea promotion. Here, we’re going over what’s currently included in Free at Sea and helping you decide whether you should opt into this inclusive cruise package.

Note: Free at Sea only applies to guests who book a cruise on or after November 5, 2025. The previous More at Sea promotion will be honored for sailings booked prior to November 5th.

Key Takeaways

• Norwegian has reverted back to its Free at Sea package after introducing a different version called More at Sea in 2024
• Free at Sea is a series of perks that guests can opt into receiving for their cruise at the time of booking
• Free at Sea perks include an Unlimited Open Bar Package, a Specialty Dining Package, free wifi minutes, a shore excursion credit, and free cruise fare for the 3rd and 4th guests in a stateroom
• The Free at Sea program does not include daily gratuities; those are an additional charge
• While the Free at Sea perks are considered free, there are additional gratuities automatically charged if you opt to receive the Unlimited Open Bar Package and the Specialty Dining Package
• For the vast majority of passengers, Free at Sea is a great deal and is well worth it

What is NCL’s Free at Sea?

Norwegian Cruise Line offers an inclusive package with its cruise fare that guests can opt into called Free at Sea. Previously just a promotion that the line would run from time to time, Free at Sea is a permanent option for guests booking an NCL cruise. It entitles guests to free perks including a drink package, specialty dining, WiFi, kids sail free (or 3rd & 4th guests sail free), and a shore excursion credit.

Guests can choose up to all five perks no matter what stateroom category they’ve booked. Occasionally, there may be up to six perks if airfare is part of the current promotion.

This promotion offers guests a more all-inclusive experience, where they will pay the majority of their cruise costs upfront and not have to worry about the bill at the end of the voyage.

It is important to read the fine print at the time of your booking as the terms of the promotion can change. And while Free at Sea is applicable for just about all NCL cruises, it generally doesn’t apply to charter cruises or Sail Away (guaranteed) cabins.

All perks included in this offer have no monetary value. Thus, if you opt to decline any of the entitled perks (which you can), you will not receive a refund nor can you gift it to someone else.

Further, it can vary as to how many guests in the stateroom receive each perk. For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea provides drink packages to all guests, but dining packages only to the first two guests on the reservation.

This promotion can be combined with other offers being run by the cruise line, such as 2 for 1 deposits. It can also be combined with travel agent offers, like extra perks or onboard credit. This is one of the easiest ways to save money when booking a cruise.

See below for further clarifications on each NCL Free at Sea perk.

NCL’s Free at Sea Terms and Conditions:

• Valid on 2+ night sailings
• Free at Sea choice(s) must be selected at least 24 hours prior to sailing and cannot be changed on board
• Offer is capacity controlled and can be withdrawn at any time
•  All guests in stateroom must choose same offers
• Not applicable to chartered dates
• This promotion is not applicable on the land portion of Cruisetours
• Components included in this offer have no monetary value, and are non-refundable and non-transferrable
• Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to cancel or withdraw this offer at any time

What are the Norwegian’s Free at Sea Perks?

Free Unlimited Open Bar Package

The most popular of Norwegian’s Free at Sea perks is the Unlimited Open Bar Package. This perk entitles guests 1-8 on the reservation a Norwegian Cruise Line Premium beverage package. Note that a $28.50 gratuity per person, per day is added to this beverage package.

Guests under 21 years of age will get a soda package as a substitution, but only if they are the first or second guest on the reservation. That costs $12.50 per person, per day. If guests 3-8 are under 21 years of age, a soda package will not be given as a substitution.

What does the Free at Sea beverage package include?

The NCL free drink package, which is provided as part of the NCL Free at Sea promotion, includes the following beverages:

• Select premium cocktails & spirits under $15 USD
• A variety of beers and wines by the glass under $15 USD
• 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine
• Unlimited soft drinks and juices

The Unlimited Open Bar package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer up to $15. Further, this package includes unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, and restaurants. It does not apply to bars on NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Cay or its private destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.

Any items over $15 will receive a $15 discount; you will then need to pay only the difference. Further, eligible guests are entitled to two beverages per person, per transaction.

The Unlimited Open Bar package does not include room service, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands, bottled wine or liquor, or mini bar purchases. It also does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, Ice Bars, and wine stations.

Unlike most other cruise lines, premium non-alcoholic drinks are not part of this beverage package either. Guests will still need to pay extra for items like bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, specialty coffee beverages, and energy drinks. However, guests will receive a 20 percent discount on bottles of wine, Wine and Spirit Experiences, and tastings or flights purchased onboard the ship.

Free Specialty Dining

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its Freestyle approach to dining. This means no set dinner times or table arrangements. Instead, the cruise line offers a variety of dining options.

While there are several complimentary options, such as the main dining rooms and buffet, many dining venues do charge an additional fee. 

Luckily, there is the Norwegian Cruise Line Specialty Dining Package, which is included in Free at Sea.

However, there is a gratuity attached to this perk which is $20 per person, per meal. The specialty dining package perk is only applicable to the first two guests on the reservation who are at least 2 years old. If the second guest is between two and 12 years old, they will not be charged the gratuity and will be able to order for free off the kids’ menu. If they want to order off the adult menu, the Free at Sea specialty dining gratuity will be charged.

Specialty Dining Package meals include up to three appetizers, one main course, and up to three desserts per person. This applies to all specialty restaurants except the following: Sushi, Wasabi, Nama, Food Republic, Pincho Tapas Bar, and Raw Bar. At those venues, the package includes up to four menu items per person.

Starbucks, The Bake Shop, Coco’s, Dolce Gelato, specialty items in the Asian restaurant, Jazz Brunch, special occasion/holiday menus, and Wine Lovers and Murder Mystery lunches are not part of the specialty dining package. Beverages are also not included.

Additionally, cruisers can use a specialty dining meal credit for entertainment-based restaurants for an additional surcharge. However, if you wish to use a SDP meal credit, you will need to wait until you are onboard the ship to book.

How many meals are in Norwegian’s Free at Sea?

The number of meals received is based on the length of the cruise.

Guests receive the following per person:

• 2-4 night cruise: 1 meal
• 5-6 night cruise: 2 meals
• 7-8 night cruise: 3 meals
• 9+ night cruise: 4 meals

Cruisers can use Norwegian Cruise Line Specialty Dining Packages at most specialty venues. These include Cagney’s Steakhouse, Food Republic, La Cucina, Onda by Scarpetta, Le Bistro, Los Lobos, Moderno Churrascaria, Ocean Blue, Bayamo, Pincho Tapas Bar, Q Texas Smokehouse, The Raw Bar, and Teppanyaki (among others).

Free Shore Excursions

Another common perk of Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion is free shore excursions. If you are new to cruising, you may not know the lingo. The term “shore excursion” can refer to any number of different activities that occur at each port of call. Cruise shore excursions occur off of the ship and are completed during the hours you are docked at the port.

Shore excursions give cruisers the opportunity to maximize their time ashore while eliminating some of the leg work of planning (tickets, transportation, etc.) for a DIY tour. These tours are usually designed to highlight the best attractions that the area has to offer.

NCL’s Free at Sea free shore excursions offer qualifies the first guest only on the reservation for a credit of $50 per excursion. This applies even if you book multiple excursions at the same port. That means if you book two excursions that cost at least $50 or more in one port, you’ll receive $100 off total.

Guests can use this credit to purchase any tour offered by the cruise line. If the tour is less than $50, no refund will be issued. If the tour is more than $50, the guest will be responsible to pay the difference.

Latitude member discounts are combinable with this perk. Though, the $50 shore excursion credit does not apply to equipment rentals in Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye ports of call. Pre-cruise and post-cruise land tours are not eligible for this promotion.

The retail value of this perk is based on the number of ports of call scheduled for your itinerary.

Free WiFi

Another one of Norwegian’s Free at Sea perks is free WiFi. While Norwegian Cruise Line does offer an unlimited internet package, guests will only receive a certain number of minutes with this free perk.

NCL’s Free at Sea WiFi perk provides each guest in a stateroom with 150 minutes of high-speed wifi powered by Starlink, regardless of the length of the cruise.

Of note, internet packages are not available on Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye. Further, these minutes can only be used on one device at a time. If you want to switch devices, you can log out of one and onto another.

It is important to know that while cruise ship internet is the fastest it’s ever been, it likely still won’t be as reliable as your internet back home. Cruise ship internet depends on satellite connections and geographical location. The ship’s distance offshore as well as interference from landscapes and weather can all cause variable cruise ship internet speeds.

Thus, you should be able to use these internet minutes for basic tasks like checking email, surfing the web, and posting on social media. Streaming is not permitted through the wifi minutes included with Free at Sea.

Like the previous perks, you can always upgrade your WiFi package. Cruisers often receive promotions to upgrade at discounted rates prior to their cruise.

Free 3rd and 4th Guest (Kids Sail Free)

This Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea perk is exactly what it sounds like. This promotion is also sometimes called Kids Sail Free. Basically, this offer is valid for guests 3-4 sharing a stateroom with guests 1-2 paying the full fare.

This offer is only applicable on select sailings. Thus, popular times of the year like school breaks and holidays are not usually part of the promotion.

If there are guests 5-8 in a reservation, those guests will pay prevailing fares.

Free Airfare for 2nd Guest

This offer is valid on select 7+ night sailings only, and is not always available/offered. With this perk, the second guest on the reservation flies for free when buying airfare for the first guest. Offer is not applicable to guests 3-8 on the reservation.

Generally, guests must make the reservation more than 80 days prior to sailing to qualify. Further, this air offer applies to economy, round-trip flights from select departure gateways only.

Solo traveling guests will receive 50% off Norwegian Cruise Line’s promotional airfare pricing each way.

Airline-imposed personal charges such as baggage fees are not included and are paid directly to the airline.

For Domestic flights, airfare will include a maximum of one connection when possible; air schedules permitting. For International flights, airfare will include a maximum of two connections when possible; air schedules permitting.

Does Norwegian’s Free at Sea include gratuities?

NCL’s Free at Sea promotion does not include gratuities as one of its perks.

The current rates for NCL cruise gratuities are as follows:

• $25 for guests staying in the Haven and Suites
• $20 for all other staterooms, Club Balcony Suites and below

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

Generally speaking, NCL’s Free at Sea is applicable to all sailings of 2 nights or greater. Chartered sailings and land portions of Cruisetours are the exceptions.

Hawaii sailings offer a slightly modified Free at Sea promotion.

The Hawaii Beverage Package is applicable to Pride of America sailings only, for guests 1-8 on the reservation. This package includes a variety of beverages up to $15. It also includes fountain soda, freshly squeezed juice, bottled water (flat and sparkling), non-alcoholic beer, and specialty coffee in the dining room only. The package does not include specialty coffee outside of the restaurants, room service, mini bar purchases, or vending machines.

NCL’s Disclaimer: “The purchase of any alcoholic drinks within the Hawaii Beverage Package may, in certain individual circumstances, be restricted in accordance with Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Law and applicable local rules and regulations.”

The retail value of the Hawaii Beverage Package is $109 per person, per day. Like the traditional Free Open Bar perk, guests sailing in Hawaii need to pay the $28.50 gratuity per day on this “free perk.”

Is Norwegian’s Free at Sea Really Free?

Some of Norwegian’s Free at Sea perks are truly “free” while some are not.

In terms of the Unlimited Open Bar, guests will still need to pay gratuity on this “free” perk. For a seven-day cruise, the $28.50 daily gratuity will cost $199.50. This gratuity is added to the total cruise fare at the time of booking.

While this is a great value, it is still a considerable amount to pay for a “free” perk. Thus, you can choose to opt out of the drink package. Further, if you enjoy Starbucks beverages or want bottled water, you’ll have to either buy the Starbucks or water package or purchase them a la carte.

Similarly, there is a flat fee for the “free” specialty dining at $20 per person per meal. This means that for a seven-day cruise, you’ll be paying $60 per person total. This does not include any additional tips you might want to provide to your waitstaff. It’s still a great deal for what it is, but it’s something to keep in mind.

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.

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.

Should I take all the perks from Norwegian’s Free at Sea?

For many cruisers, it’s a no-brainer to take all five Free at Sea perks and pay the associated gratuities for them without a second thought. However, for some it might be best to leave some perks on the table. For example, if you don’t drink alcohol and won’t be drinking many/any juices or soda throughout the cruise, you’ll want to skip the Unlimited Open Bar Package. You’ll save almost $30 per person, per day, which can add up quickly depending on the length of the cruise.

If you have no interest in specialty dining on board and will be perfectly happy with the included restaurants, you might want to save the $20 per person, per meal for the specialty dining package.

If you’re sailing as a couple or with one friend or family member, obviously the third and fourth guests sail free perk won’t apply to you.

Other than these types of exceptions, we highly recommend keeping all of the Free at Sea perks that are available to you.

Is Free at Sea worth it?

As we touched on above, the answer to this question should be based on your own personal habits and preferences. For most cruisers, Free at Sea is more than worth the small up-charges attached to it.

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 don’t care about alcoholic drinks, specialty dining, or your room location, you can certainly save money with a Sail Away (guarantee) rate as well.

Comments

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