Is NCL Free at Sea Plus Worth It? Complete Guide, Costs, Inclusions, and Review

Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea Plus is an optional upgrade that builds on the standard Free at Sea package by adding top shelf beverages, unlimited streaming WiFi, Starbucks coffee, bottled water, prepaid daily service charges, and additional specialty dining savings. For many cruisers, it is the closest thing Norwegian offers to a truly all inclusive cruise experience.

The question most travelers ask is simple: Is Free at Sea Plus worth it?

The answer depends less on how much alcohol you drink and more on how often you use WiFi, order specialty coffee, grab bottled water, and whether your daily service charges are already prepaid. While the premium liquor selection receives most of the attention, we have found the biggest value often comes from the everyday perks that many guests use repeatedly throughout their cruise.

In this guide, we break down exactly what is included with NCL Free at Sea Plus, how much it costs, how it compares to standard Free at Sea, and who is most likely to get their money's worth from the upgrade.

What Is Free at Sea Plus?

Free at Sea Plus is an optional package that upgrades several of the benefits already included with Norwegian's standard Free at Sea promotion. It is available on eligible reservations that already include Free at Sea or More at Sea beverage and dining benefits.

The package currently costs $49.99 per person, per day. Guests who already have prepaid daily service charges included through a promotion or prior payment receive a $15 per day discount, bringing the cost down to $34.99 per person, per day.

Free at Sea vs Free at Sea Plus

The standard Free at Sea package already includes unlimited beverages from the existing free at sea beverage inclusion list, specialty dining credits, shore excursion credits, and 150 minutes of Starlink powered WiFi per guest.

Free at Sea Plus adds:

• Top shelf spirits and premium liquor brands

• Premium wines and champagne by the glass

• Unlimited Starbucks beverages

• Name brand energy drinks and freshly squeezed juices

• Bottled water at bars and premium bottled water in restaurants

• Unlimited streaming high speed WiFi powered by Starlink

• Prepaid daily service charges

• Fifty percent off additional specialty dining cover charges beyond your included meals

These extra benefits are what distinguish Free at Sea Plus from the standard Free at Sea package and ultimately determine whether the upgrade makes sense for your cruise.

How the Pricing and Rules Work

Free at Sea Plus must be added before sailing and cannot be purchased onboard. Norwegian currently requires the package to be selected at least 72 hours before departure. Reservations booked within 72 hours of sailing are not eligible.

For all bookings, if one eligible adult guest upgrades, the second eligible adult in the stateroom must also purchase the package.

If you are new to Norwegian's promotional packages, we also recommend reading our complete guide to NCL Free at Sea before deciding whether the upgrade makes sense for your cruise.

What's Included With Free at Sea Plus?

Premium Beverages and Top Shelf Liquor

The biggest headline feature is the upgraded beverage package.

While standard Free at Sea already covers many cocktails, spirits, beers, and wines, Free at Sea Plus expands the selection to include premium brands and top shelf liquor that would otherwise require an upcharge.

Current upgraded offerings that are only included under Free at Sea Plus include the following listed spirits below:

Free at Sea Plus Inclusions © Norwegian Cruise Line

The package also includes premium wines and champagne by the glass from Norwegian's signature collection and increases bottle discounts from 20 percent to 40 percent on qualifying wines and champagne.

To view the full difference in included beverages, check out our complete guide to Free at Sea here.

Starbucks, Bottled Water, and Energy Drinks

This is where many cruisers find the real value.

Free at Sea Plus includes all Starbucks beverages purchased at Starbucks locations onboard as well as specialty coffee drinks available in restaurants. The package covers one drink per visit. Guests also receive bottled water at bars and premium still or sparkling bottled water in restaurants. Branded energy drinks and fresh juices are included as well.

In our experience, these benefits are often used far more frequently than premium liquor. Many guests will start every morning with coffee, grab bottled water before heading ashore, and pick up additional waters throughout the day. These small purchases can add up quickly on a weeklong cruise.

Unlimited Streaming WiFi

The WiFi upgrade is the most significant difference between Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus.

Standard Free at Sea includes 150 minutes of basic Starlink powered internet access per guest. Free at Sea Plus upgrades that benefit to unlimited streaming high speed WiFi. Each guest receives one login that can be used on one device at a time, which you are free to switch between multiple devices.

For travelers who work remotely, stream video, upload content, stay active on social media, or simply want continuous connectivity, this benefit alone can substantially change the onboard experience.

Specialty Dining Savings

Cagney’s Steakhouse © Norwegian Cruise Line

Free at Sea Plus does not add more included specialty dining meals. Instead, it provides a 50 percent discount on cover charges for additional specialty dining visits beyond your included Free at Sea dining credits.

This can be valuable for guests who enjoy dining at multiple specialty restaurants throughout their cruise and want to go beyond their included meals.

Prepaid Daily Service Charges

One of the most overlooked benefits is the inclusion of prepaid daily service charges.

These charges are already built into the Free at Sea Plus package price, eliminating a major expense that many guests would otherwise pay separately. Norwegian also provides a reduced package price for guests whose service charges are already prepaid through another offer.

Does the Math Actually Work?

A Typical Daily Value Example

Many travelers focus entirely on alcohol when evaluating Free at Sea Plus, but that often misses where the package creates value.

Consider a guest who uses:

• Unlimited streaming WiFi

• Included prepaid daily service charges

• One Starbucks drink each day

• Two bottled waters throughout the day

• Two beverages using premium spirits or wine in the evening

Guests who would already purchase unlimited WiFi and prepay daily service charges may find that Free at Sea Plus largely pays for itself before factoring in the upgraded beverage package, Starbucks, bottled water, and other added benefits.

The Real Value Drivers

After multiple Norwegian cruises, we generally find that the biggest value drivers are not necessarily the top shelf spirits.

Instead, the perks that get used repeatedly throughout the day often create the most value:

• Unlimited streaming WiFi

• Unlimited Starbucks coffee

• Bottled water for excursions and stateroom use

• Included daily service charges

The premium liquor selection is certainly a benefit, but many guests reach the package's value threshold per day before even ordering their first cocktail.

If you are planning several specialty dining meals, our NCL Specialty Dining Menus can help you determine whether the additional dining discounts could add even more value.

Our Experience With Free at Sea Plus

What We Liked

The biggest advantage of Free at Sea Plus is the convenience. Once onboard, there is very little need to think about internet limits, premium drink upcharges, bottled water purchases, or specialty coffee charges since they are all included in the package.

For us, the unlimited streaming WiFi is often the feature that justifies the upgrade on its own. We value staying connected at sea and frequently purchase an internet upgrade on cruises where we expect to spend more time onboard. On less port intensive itineraries, the cost of upgrading to unlimited WiFi before you cruise can be surprisingly close to the cost of upgrading to Free at Sea Plus, making the additional benefits much easier to justify.

We also make regular use of the Starbucks benefit. While Starbucks Rewards stars do not apply onboard, guests can order one beverage every fifteen minutes, effectively providing unlimited specialty coffee, refreshers, teas, and other drinks throughout the cruise. One of our favorite combinations is ordering a Starbucks refresher and pairing it with a premium spirit included in the package, such as tequila or gin, which creates a custom cocktail that would otherwise come with two additional additional charges.

Bottled water is another benefit that we find especially valuable. Unlike many cruise lines, Norwegian does not include bottled water with its standard beverage package. Having access to bottled water throughout the cruise is convenient, particularly on Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, and other warm weather sailings where you may want to take a few bottles ashore before heading out on an excursion or spending the day exploring a port.

Potential Drawbacks

The biggest drawback is the additional cost. On a seven night cruise, Free at Sea Plus can add several hundred dollars to the overall vacation cost, particularly since eligible adults in the same stateroom are generally required to purchase the package.

It is also important to remember that Free at Sea Plus must be purchased before the cruise and cannot be added once you are onboard. That means you need to decide whether the package makes sense for your travel style before sailing rather than waiting to see how much you use the included benefits.

We also tend to find less value in Free at Sea Plus on heavily port intensive itineraries. On a recent cruise with nine port days and only one sea day, we chose not to purchase the package because we knew we would spend most of our time exploring destinations rather than using onboard amenities. Since we were off the ship for much of each day, the unlimited WiFi benefit was not nearly as compelling, and we never felt like we missed having it.

While we certainly missed being able to grab a Starbucks coffee each morning, that particular itinerary offered a different experience. Instead of stopping at Starbucks onboard, we found ourselves enjoying coffee at local cafes throughout Europe, which became part of the trip itself. For travelers spending long days ashore, especially on destination focused itineraries, it can be harder to extract enough value from Free at Sea Plus to justify the additional cost.

Guests who are satisfied with the beverages already included in the standard Free at Sea package, do not regularly use WiFi, or have little interest in bottled water and specialty coffee may also find that the upgrade provides more benefits than they realistically need.

Is Free at Sea Plus Worth It?

Who Should Consider Free at Sea Plus?

Free at Sea Plus is often a strong value for:

• Guests who regularly drink Starbucks coffee

• Travelers who want unlimited streaming WiFi

• Cruisers who prefer top shelf spirits and premium wines

• Anyone who buys bottled water throughout the cruise

• Guests who prefer paying upfront rather than managing onboard charges

• Remote workers and content creators who need reliable internet access

Who Can Probably Skip It?

The package may be harder to justify for:

• Guests who rarely use internet

• Travelers who are happy with the beverages included in standard Free at Sea

• Cruisers who do not drink coffee or bottled water

• Port intensive travelers who spend most of their day ashore

• Budget conscious guests focused on minimizing upfront costs

Final Thoughts

Starbucks Onboard © Norwegian Cruise Line

Free at Sea Plus is one of the most comprehensive cruise package upgrades offered by Norwegian Cruise Line. It combines premium beverages, unlimited streaming WiFi, Starbucks coffee, bottled water, dining discounts, and prepaid daily service charges into a single package priced at $49.99 per person, per day. Guests with prepaid service charges already included can receive a reduced rate.

For some travelers, especially those who value connectivity, specialty coffee, bottled water, and premium beverages, the package can deliver meaningful value and create a more seamless onboard experience. For others who are comfortable with the standard Free at Sea inclusions, the upgrade may not be necessary.

Ultimately, whether NCL Free at Sea Plus is worth it comes down to how you cruise, what perks you actually use, and whether those benefits exceed the daily cost of the upgrade. Based on our experience, the strongest value often comes from the everyday conveniences rather than the premium liquor selection that gets most of the attention.

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