Free at Sea vs. Free at Sea Plus: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Published: March 21, 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line ship at sea with passengers enjoying the pool deck

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Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is subject to change. Prices, package inclusions, and promotional terms vary by sailing and are subject to revision by Norwegian Cruise Line at any time. Always verify current package details, pricing, and terms directly with Norwegian Cruise Line or a travel agent before booking. This article is for informational purposes only.

What Is Free at Sea?

Free at Sea is Norwegian Cruise Line's standard promotional system. Rather than advertising a low base fare and charging separately for everything, NCL bundles a selection of perks into the booking price depending on cabin type and current promotions. On a typical sailing, guests can choose from a set number of "offers" — which might include a specialty dining package, a beverage package, a shore excursion credit, or Wi-Fi.

The specific offers available, the number you can select, and what each includes all vary by sailing. This is important to understand: Free at Sea is not a single fixed product. What you get on one Norwegian sailing may differ meaningfully from what you get on another. Always confirm exactly what is included for your specific sailing before booking.

Free at Sea Plus is a paid upgrade to that baseline — it enhances or expands the included perks for an additional charge typically listed at approximately $49.99 per person per day (subject to change).

What Does Free at Sea Plus Add?

The upgrade generally improves the value of the perks in two main ways:

Beverage package upgrade: The standard Free at Sea beverage package typically includes most alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks up to a per-drink price cap. Free at Sea Plus generally raises that cap or removes it entirely, allowing access to premium spirits, higher-end wines, and top-shelf cocktails that would otherwise require a surcharge.

Specialty dining upgrade: The standard package often includes a set number of specialty dining credits valid at most specialty restaurants. Free at Sea Plus typically adds more dining credits or expands access to venues that carry an additional cost under the standard tier (such as Teppanyaki, which charges a cover even with standard specialty dining credits on some sailings).

Wi-Fi: Depending on the sailing, Free at Sea Plus may also upgrade the Wi-Fi package — for example, from a slower basic tier to a faster streaming-capable connection, or from single-device to multi-device access.

The exact differences for your sailing are something you'll need to confirm directly with NCL. Promotional terms are updated regularly and vary significantly.

The Real Cost of Free at Sea Plus

Before deciding, get clear on the actual cost.

At approximately $49.99 per person per day (subject to change), a 7-night sailing for two guests adds roughly $700 to the fare. That's the cost to keep in mind as you evaluate whether the enhanced perks would cover that gap.

There's a second cost to factor in: beverage package gratuity. Norwegian automatically adds a service charge to the beverage package — typically around 20%, subject to change — which applies regardless of whether you have Free at Sea or Free at Sea Plus. This charge is typically added per-person per-day and is not optional. It adds meaningfully to the effective cost of either package tier.

So the full picture for a 7-night sailing for two looks approximately like:

  • Free at Sea Plus upgrade: ~$700 total
  • Beverage package gratuity (on top of whatever tier you have): an additional charge per person per day

Run these numbers against what you'd actually spend a la carte. That's the only honest way to evaluate the upgrade.

When the Upgrade Makes Sense

The upgrade is most likely to pay off if you match most of these:

You drink premium spirits. If your usual order is top-shelf whiskey, premium tequila, or reserve-tier wines, the standard beverage package's per-drink cap will hit frequently. The Plus tier removes or raises that friction. For guests who regularly hit the cap, the upgrade can realistically pay for itself in a week.

You want the Teppanyaki or specialty venues not covered under the standard tier. Teppanyaki on Norwegian ships often carries a cover charge even for guests with standard specialty dining credits. If Teppanyaki is a must-do, verify whether Plus covers it and factor the per-table cost into your math.

You need reliable Wi-Fi. Remote workers, bloggers, or travelers who need to stay connected will get meaningfully better performance from an upgraded Wi-Fi tier. If you'd be paying for the faster tier separately anyway, folding it into Plus may make the cost more defensible.

You're on a longer sailing (10+ days). The per-day cost of the upgrade remains constant, but the more days you sail, the more opportunities you have to use the enhanced perks. A 14-night transatlantic sailing provides significantly more value extraction from a premium spirits upgrade than a 5-night Bahamas run.

When to Skip It

You're a light or moderate drinker. If you're drinking two or three glasses of wine or beer a day, the standard beverage package covers you without hitting the cap very often. The premium spirits access you're paying for with Plus goes largely unused.

You don't care about specialty dining extras. If you're happy to eat in the main dining room most nights and use your standard specialty dining credits on one or two upscale dinners, the added dining perks in Plus don't change your sailing.

You won't use Wi-Fi. If you're genuinely going on vacation to disconnect, upgraded connectivity is irrelevant.

You're price-sensitive and found a good base fare. If you found a sailing priced at a strong per-night rate, adding $49.99/person/day to that fare changes the value equation significantly. The better the base fare you started with, the harder the upgrade needs to work to justify itself.

See current NCL deals ranked by price per night →

How to Decide

The simplest framework:

  1. Write down what you actually consume on a cruise day — drinks (and what kind), specialty restaurants visited, Wi-Fi use.
  2. Price out those items a la carte using Norwegian's current onboard pricing (call NCL or check your booking portal).
  3. Compare that total to the Plus upgrade cost for your sailing length and party size, including the beverage gratuity you'd pay either way.
  4. If the a la carte cost exceeds the upgrade cost, the math supports Plus. If it doesn't, standard Free at Sea serves you better.

The upgrade isn't a bad deal for the right guest — it's a bad deal when you buy it speculatively and then sail like a standard Free at Sea passenger.

If you're still shopping for a sailing and haven't found a strong base fare yet, CabinSaver tracks Norwegian Cruise Line deals daily and ranks sailings by price per night. Finding a strong base fare first gives you more room to decide whether any package upgrade is worth it.

Browse current NCL deals →

FAQ

What is the difference between Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus?

Free at Sea is Norwegian's standard promotional package bundled into your fare — typically a selection of perks such as a beverage package, specialty dining credits, shore excursion credits, or Wi-Fi. Free at Sea Plus is a paid upgrade (typically approximately $49.99/person/day, subject to change) that enhances those inclusions — primarily by upgrading the beverage package to cover premium spirits and adding dining access to venues or credits not covered at the standard tier. The exact differences vary by sailing; always verify with Norwegian before booking.

Is Free at Sea Plus worth the extra cost?

It depends entirely on your onboard habits. Heavy drinkers who regularly order top-shelf spirits, guests who want Teppanyaki covered, and travelers on longer sailings who need premium Wi-Fi are most likely to come out ahead. Light drinkers or guests who stick to the main dining room will generally find the standard package covers their needs without the added cost.

Can I add Free at Sea Plus after booking?

In many cases, yes — upgrades can typically be added after booking, subject to availability and pricing at the time of the request. Contact Norwegian directly or work with your travel agent. Promotional terms and upgrade availability are subject to change.

Does Free at Sea Plus include unlimited drinks?

The beverage package in Free at Sea promotions generally covers drinks up to a per-drink price limit, which varies by tier. Free at Sea Plus typically raises or removes that cap for most beverages. Exact terms, included brands, and any remaining restrictions should be confirmed directly with Norwegian for your specific sailing before booking.

Do gratuities on the beverage package change with Free at Sea Plus?

The automatic beverage package service charge (typically around 20%, subject to change) applies to both the standard and Plus beverage package tiers. The gratuity applies to the package regardless of which tier you're on. Factor this into your total cost calculation for either option.