Free At Sea Plus on Norwegian Cruise Line: What We Learned After Asking NCL Cruisers

When we cruise just as a couple, Free at Sea Plus is harder for us to justify. We do not really need both of us to have streaming internet. We also do not normally need both of us to have unlimited Starbucks, bottled water, fresh juice, energy drinks, and upgraded drinks.

But this cruise is different.

We have two rooms and four people, and two of us need the internet. Adding Free at Sea Plus to the room with those two people felt like a reasonable middle ground.

If you are still trying to understand the difference between the regular Free at Sea promotion and the Plus upgrade, our article Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea: What It’s Actually Worth is a good place to start.

For us, the decision was not based on trying to “beat” the package. It was based on what we actually expect to use:

• We needed streaming internet.
• We were already factoring in service charges.
• Bottled water could be useful.
• Starbucks could be nice on an Alaska cruise.
• Premium drinks and fresh juice are bonuses we may enjoy because they are included.

That is enough for us to test it once and see how it works in real life.

As of our latest check, NCL lists Free at Sea Plus as including unlimited Starbucks, energy drinks and fresh juices, premium wines and spirits by the glass, bottled water at the bar, premium still and sparkling water in restaurants, unlimited streaming high-speed Wi-Fi, prepaid service charges, 50% off additional specialty dining cover charges, and Unlimited Open Bar at Great Stirrup Cay where applicable.

NCL currently lists the package at $49.99 per person, per day. Guests who already prepaid service charges, or received prepaid service charges as part of a promotional offer, may receive a discount off the Free at Sea Plus package price.

Some cruisers will look at that list and immediately see value. Others will look at it and realize they would barely use half of it.

That is why this is not a “yes, everyone should buy it” or “no, everyone should skip it” kind of package.

It depends on how you cruise.

We were not planning to share the package.

But it was a useful reminder that package sharing is a touchy subject in cruise groups, and for good reason.

Several people quickly warned that Free at Sea Plus is not meant to be shared with people who did not purchase it. Others jumped in to explain that everyone in the same cabin generally has to choose the same offer, and that the benefits apply to the guests who bought it.

That is an important point.

If you are deciding whether Free at Sea Plus is worth it, your math should not be based on stretching the benefits across people who do not have it.

The better questions are:

• Who is actually getting the package?
• What will those people personally use?
• Would those people have purchased streaming Wi-Fi anyway?
• Would those people use Starbucks, bottled water, premium drinks, or fresh juice?
• Are prepaid service charges already part of the value?
• Will the 50% specialty dining discount matter?

That keeps the decision clean.

For us, the package is for the two people who need the internet. The other benefits are extras for those two people, not a plan to turn two packages into four.

NCL currently lists Free at Sea Plus at $49.99 per person, per day, but that is not always the exact number someone may see in their reservation.

Guests who already prepaid service charges, or received prepaid service charges as part of a promotional offer, may receive a discount off the package price.

That means your price may not look the same as someone else’s.

Before upgrading, look at:

• Whether you already prepaid daily service charges.
• Whether service charges were included in your booking promotion.
• Whether your app is showing the full package price or a discounted version.
• Whether you would have purchased streaming Wi-Fi anyway.
• Whether you are calculating the price for the full cruise and all eligible guests in the room.

This is one of those cruise math situations where someone else’s example can help you think through the decision, but it should not replace your own numbers.

If you are also comparing the total cost of a cruise, including promotions, extras, and last-minute pricing, our article Norwegian Cruise Line’s Last-Minute Deals: How They Work may help you look at the bigger picture.

If you are buying Free at Sea Plus because you think it removes every extra charge onboard, slow down and read the details carefully.

The package can still be valuable. It just needs to be understood correctly.

In general, prepaid service charges are different from optional charges that may be added to bar service, beverage packages, specialty dining, spa services, casino services, or other onboard purchases.

This is where people can accidentally overvalue the package.

It is not that Free at Sea Plus is bad. It is that the math only works when you understand what is actually included.

Streaming Wi-Fi

This was one of the biggest reasons people said the package made sense. Some people needed it for work. Some wanted to stay in touch with family. Some wanted to message people onboard or use FaceTime, WhatsApp, social media, or streaming during downtime.

This is the biggest reason we are trying it. If we did not need streaming internet, the math would be much harder for us.

Prepaid Service Charges

A lot of people pointed out that once prepaid service charges are included, the remaining cost gap can shrink. That does not make the package automatically worth it, but if you were already going to pay them anyway, they should be part of the math.

Bottled Water

We underestimated this one. A lot of people said bottled water was one of their favorite parts of Free at Sea Plus. Some liked having cold bottled water without constantly refilling a bottle. Others liked bringing water back to the cabin, taking it to dinner, grabbing it before port days, or having premium water in restaurants.

Starbucks

Starbucks was more mixed. Some people said they got a lot of value from coffee, teas, matcha, refreshers, and specialty drinks. Others said they barely used it or would rather just pay as they go. We are not huge Starbucks people, but this is one benefit we may enjoy more on an Alaska cruise than we would on a warm-weather sailing.

Fresh Juice and Energy Drinks

Fresh juice and energy drinks came up more than we expected. This is the kind of benefit that may not drive the decision by itself, but it can add value once you already have the package.

Premium Drinks, Wine, and Champagne

Several people said the upgraded drink options were the reason they loved Free at Sea Plus. For people who care about premium tequila, bourbon, whiskey, champagne, upgraded wine, or better cocktails, this can be a real value driver.

For us, this is more of a “research purposes” benefit. We are not going onboard with a detailed premium drink strategy, but we do like trying things we might normally skip if we were paying one drink at a time.

Free at Sea Plus may not make sense if:

• You do not need streaming Wi-Fi.
• You are happy with the standard Free at Sea drink package.
• You do not drink Starbucks.
• You are fine refilling a water bottle.
• You do not care about premium liquor, wine, or champagne.
• You are not planning additional specialty dining.
• You would rather pay as you go.

One commenter said they do not even bother with the drink package because they simply order what they want and their final bill is still low.

That is a great reminder.

Not every cruiser needs a package.

If you only drink a little, do not care about upgraded Wi-Fi, and are happy with the included water and basic options, Free at Sea Plus could easily become something you paid for because it sounded convenient, not because you truly needed it.

That is where cruise math gets tricky. The package is not “free” just because the items are included once you buy it. You still paid for the bundle.

On a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise, Starbucks may not be a big deal to us. We might be more focused on beach time, pool time, and getting off the ship.

On an Alaska cruise, we can see the value a little differently.

• We may want hot drinks before going outside.
• We may want bottled water for port days.
• We may want streaming internet during downtime.
• We may appreciate better drinks or wine with dinner.
• We may use fresh juice in the morning.
• We may decide to add another specialty dining meal.

That does not mean Free at Sea Plus is automatically better for Alaska.

But it does mean the same package can feel different depending on the itinerary.

A benefit is only valuable when it fits the trip you are actually taking.

We mentioned in the Facebook thread that we may try Q Texas Smokehouse because we have not eaten there before. Since it is one of the less expensive specialty dining options, it may be a good place to use the 50% discount and save our regular specialty dining credits for places like Cagney’s or Le Bistro.

This is also where it helps to know which restaurants are worth using a credit on and which ones may make more sense as an add-on.

For example, we had a great experience at Food Republic, and our article Food Republic on Norwegian Bliss: Why This Specialty Dining Spot Surprised Us explains why that meal stood out to us.

The specialty dining discount alone probably would not make Free at Sea Plus worth it for us.

But if the Wi-Fi and service charges already make the package close, that dining discount can become one more useful piece of the puzzle.

Free at Sea Plus may be worth a closer look if:

• You need streaming Wi-Fi.
• You were already going to keep or prepay the daily service charges.
• You drink Starbucks or specialty coffee drinks.
• You like bottled water, premium water, fresh juice, or energy drinks.
• You care about upgraded wines, champagne, bourbon, tequila, whiskey, or cocktails.
• You plan to use the 50% discount on additional specialty dining.
• You like paying more upfront so you are not thinking about every small charge onboard.

That last point matters.

Some people value the package because it saves money. Others value it because it makes the cruise feel easier.

There is nothing wrong with either approach, as long as you know which one you are choosing.

You may want to skip Free at Sea Plus if:

• You do not need streaming internet.
• You only need light Wi-Fi access.
• You do not drink Starbucks.
• You prefer free water or refillable bottles.
• You are happy with the standard included drink options.
• You are not picky about wine or spirits.
• You do not plan to add specialty dining.
• You would rather keep the upfront cost lower.

This is especially true for cruisers who are not big drinkers, do not care about premium beverages, and are trying to keep the cruise budget tighter.

In that case, paying as you go may be the better value.

Some people said they will always buy Free at Sea Plus because they use the Wi-Fi, Starbucks, bottled water, premium drinks, and fresh juice.

Some said they would never buy it because the standard package gives them everything they need.

Some said it made sense as a solo cruiser. Some said it made sense because they needed Wi-Fi for work. Some said it was worth it because they did not want to think about every onboard charge.

Others said the old version was better for them, especially if they valued prior benefits differently.

That is the real takeaway.

Free at Sea Plus is not a universal yes or no. It is a fit question.

The better question is not, “Is Free at Sea Plus worth it?”

The better question is:

Is Free at Sea Plus worth it for this cruise, for these people, based on what they will actually use?

For our Alaska cruise, the answer was close enough that we decided to try it.

After the cruise, we will know whether that was the right call.