Norwegian Free at Sea Plus: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Free at Sea Plus builds on Norwegian's standard Free at Sea package with top-shelf drinks, Starbucks, bottled water, unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, dining discounts and prepaid service charges. The real question is whether you would use enough of those upgrades to justify the additional cost.
What Is Norwegian Free at Sea Plus?
Free at Sea Plus is Norwegian Cruise Line's paid upgrade to its standard Free at Sea package. It keeps the core Free at Sea benefits and adds a collection of premium beverage, internet, dining and service-charge benefits.
Norwegian currently prices Free at Sea Plus at $49.99 per adult, per day. That means the upgrade costs about $349.93 per adult on a seven-night cruise, before considering any applicable discount for guests who already have prepaid service charges.
For two adults on a seven-night sailing, the standard $49.99 daily price works out to about $699.86. At that point, this is not a minor add-on. It deserves a real value calculation.
The key question: Would you independently pay for premium drinks, Starbucks, bottled water, unlimited streaming Wi-Fi and daily service charges? If several of those are expenses you would incur anyway, Free at Sea Plus becomes much easier to justify.
What's Included With Free at Sea Plus?
Norwegian currently lists the following major additions to standard Free at Sea:
| Benefit | Standard Free at Sea | Free at Sea Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages | Unlimited open bar with eligible premium beverage brands and cocktails. | Adds top-shelf spirits, premium wines and Champagne by the glass, Starbucks, energy drinks, fresh juices and bottled water. |
| Specialty Dining | Included specialty dining meals based on sailing length and applicable offer. | Keeps the included meals and adds 50% off cover charges for additional specialty dining nights. |
| Wi-Fi | 150 minutes of high-speed Wi-Fi per eligible guest under the current offer. | Unlimited streaming high-speed Wi-Fi. |
| Shore Excursions | $50 shore excursion credit for Guest 1 under the applicable terms. | Same core shore excursion benefit. |
| Daily Service Charges | Not included as a standard Free at Sea Plus-style benefit. | Prepaid daily service charges are included. |
The Beverage Upgrade Is More Than Just Better Liquor
Standard Free at Sea already includes a substantial open bar benefit. That matters because travelers should not calculate the entire value of Free at Sea Plus as though they were starting with no beverage package at all.
The Plus upgrade is about the incremental benefits: Norwegian currently adds top-shelf spirits, premium wines and Champagne by the glass, Starbucks beverages, energy drinks, fresh juices and bottled water.
Our Free at Sea Drink Experience Was Already Excellent
On our recent Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise, we had standard Free at Sea and thought the drinks package was great — a fantastic value for us.
That actually makes our view of Free at Sea Plus more nuanced. Because we were already very happy with the standard beverage benefit, we would not upgrade solely because Plus offers more expensive liquor. For us, the additional Starbucks, bottled water and other benefits would need to contribute meaningfully to the calculation.
Your own drinking habits matter much more than an advertised package value. Use our Cruise Drink Package Calculator to estimate what you would realistically spend on beverages.
You can also read our Cruise Drink Package Guide and Cruise Drink Package Truth.
Unlimited Starbucks Can Matter More Than It Sounds
Free at Sea Plus currently includes Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks from participating Starbucks locations and restaurants, with one drink permitted per visit under Norwegian's terms.
For a passenger who normally buys a specialty coffee every morning — or more than once a day — that is a real expense being replaced by the package. For someone who is perfectly happy with complimentary coffee, its personal value may be close to zero.
This is a good example of why package math should be based on what you would actually purchase, not what Norwegian says the package contains.
Bottled Water, Energy Drinks and Fresh Juice Are Also Included
Norwegian currently includes bottled water at bars, premium still and sparkling bottled water in restaurants, energy drinks and fresh juices as part of Free at Sea Plus.
These are easy benefits to overlook when comparing the packages. Individually they may not justify an upgrade, but frequent purchases over a full cruise can add up.
Again, only count them as savings if you would otherwise have bought them.
Unlimited Streaming Wi-Fi Is a Major Upgrade on Paper
Standard Free at Sea currently provides 150 minutes of high-speed Wi-Fi for eligible guests. Free at Sea Plus replaces that limited allotment with unlimited streaming high-speed Wi-Fi.
For passengers who need to work, communicate regularly with home, upload photos and video or stream content, that can be one of the most significant differences between the packages.
But Our Norwegian Encore Wi-Fi Experience Makes Us Cautious
On our recent Norwegian Encore Alaska sailing, we found the Wi-Fi just about worthless. We had the standard Free at Sea internet benefit, and connectivity was easily the weakest part of the package for us.
We did not personally test Free at Sea Plus unlimited streaming Wi-Fi on that sailing, so we are not claiming that the upgraded service would have performed the same way. But our experience does make us reluctant to assign a large dollar value to an internet upgrade before knowing how well the connection performs on a particular sailing.
See our Cruise Ship Wi-Fi vs. Cell Service Guide for more about connectivity at sea.
Free at Sea Plus Includes Prepaid Daily Service Charges
This may be one of the easiest benefits to value because daily service charges are an expense many cruisers would otherwise pay separately.
Norwegian currently includes prepaid daily service charges with Free at Sea Plus. However, Norwegian specifically notes that this does not cover bar, beverage or specialty dining gratuities or other optional onboard service charges.
Norwegian also currently states that guests who have already prepaid their service charges, or received them through another promotion, receive a $15-per-day adult discount from the Free at Sea Plus package price.
For more on how cruise gratuities work, see our Cruise Gratuities Explained and Cruise Gratuity Calculator.
What Does the 50% Specialty Dining Discount Mean?
Free at Sea Plus does not simply provide unlimited specialty dining. You retain the specialty dining meals included with standard Free at Sea and receive a 50% discount on the cover charges for additional specialty dining nights under the current offer.
That can be valuable for travelers who want to eat in specialty restaurants repeatedly. If you plan to use only the meals already included with Free at Sea, however, this additional discount may have little practical value.
See our Cruise Dining Guide for more about onboard dining choices.
Free at Sea Plus Does Not Double the Shore Excursion Credit
The shore excursion benefit is essentially carried over from standard Free at Sea rather than substantially enhanced by Plus.
Norwegian's current Free at Sea benefit provides a $50 credit toward eligible Norwegian shore excursions for Guest 1. Upgrading to Plus does not mean you suddenly receive another $50 per port.
We Used Our Free at Sea Shore Excursion Credit
We used the shore excursion credit during our Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise, so we know that the standard benefit can provide genuine savings. But because Plus does not materially increase that core credit, we would not count it as additional value when deciding whether to upgrade.
For excursion planning, see our Shore Excursions Guide and Cruise Excursions on a Budget.
How Much Does Free at Sea Plus Cost?
Norwegian currently lists the adult price at $49.99 per person, per day. Rates and terms can change.
| Cruise Length | Approx. Cost Per Adult | Approx. Cost for Two Adults |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights | $149.97 | $299.94 |
| 5 nights | $249.95 | $499.90 |
| 7 nights | $349.93 | $699.86 |
| 10 nights | $499.90 | $999.80 |
| 14 nights | $699.86 | $1,399.72 |
If your daily service charges are already prepaid or included through another eligible promotion, Norwegian currently provides a $15-per-day adult discount. Check your actual reservation before relying on the examples above.
Who Is Most Likely to Get Good Value From Free at Sea Plus?
The upgrade becomes easier to justify when several of the following describe you:
- You regularly order top-shelf liquor or premium wine and Champagne.
- You buy Starbucks drinks every day.
- You frequently buy bottled water, energy drinks or fresh juice.
- You need unlimited internet rather than a limited number of Wi-Fi minutes.
- You plan to purchase additional specialty dining beyond the included meals.
- You would otherwise pay Norwegian's daily service charges separately.
The more of these you would independently purchase, the stronger the package becomes.
Who May Be Better Off Keeping Standard Free at Sea?
Standard Free at Sea may already be enough if:
- You are happy with the already-generous standard open bar selection.
- You rarely buy specialty coffee or bottled water.
- You need only occasional internet access.
- You do not plan additional specialty dining.
- The extra benefits would change your behavior simply because you already paid for them.
Our perspective: Standard Free at Sea already delivered excellent beverage value on our Norwegian Encore cruise. We would therefore need to see meaningful value from the other Plus benefits — particularly prepaid service charges, Starbucks and usable unlimited Wi-Fi — before spending hundreds more for the upgrade.
Our Verdict: Is Free at Sea Plus Worth It?
Free at Sea Plus can absolutely make financial sense, but it is not an automatic upgrade.
At $49.99 per adult per day, the package is expensive enough that we would calculate the value of each additional benefit rather than compare it with buying everything onboard from scratch.
That distinction is important because standard Free at Sea already gave us a drinks package we thought was fantastic. Plus has to improve upon something that was already working well for us.
For a heavy Starbucks user who values top-shelf beverages, buys bottled water, wants unlimited internet, expects additional specialty dining and would otherwise pay daily service charges, Plus could be compelling. For someone satisfied with standard drinks and dining who rarely uses Wi-Fi, the numbers may be much harder to justify.
More Norwegian Package Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Norwegian Free at Sea Plus?
Norwegian currently lists Free at Sea Plus at $49.99 per adult, per day. Guests who already have eligible prepaid service charges currently receive a $15-per-day adult discount. Prices and terms can change.
Does Free at Sea Plus include Starbucks?
Yes. Norwegian currently includes Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks under Free at Sea Plus, with one drink per visit under the package terms.
Does Free at Sea Plus include unlimited Wi-Fi?
Yes. Norwegian currently lists unlimited streaming high-speed Wi-Fi as a Free at Sea Plus benefit, compared with 150 minutes under standard Free at Sea.
Are gratuities included with Free at Sea Plus?
Norwegian currently includes prepaid daily service charges with Free at Sea Plus. Norwegian notes that this does not cover bar, beverage or specialty dining gratuities or other optional onboard service charges.
Does Free at Sea Plus include unlimited specialty dining?
No. You keep the specialty dining meals included with standard Free at Sea and currently receive 50% off the cover charges for additional specialty dining nights.
Is Free at Sea Plus worth it?
It depends on how many of the upgraded benefits you would otherwise buy. Travelers who value top-shelf drinks, Starbucks, bottled water, unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, additional specialty dining and prepaid service charges have the strongest case for upgrading.
When must Free at Sea Plus be added?
Under Norwegian's current promotional terms, Free at Sea Plus must be selected at least 72 hours before sailing and cannot be changed onboard. Always verify the terms attached to your reservation.
Norwegian Cruise Line package prices, benefits and promotional terms can change. Verify the current Free at Sea Plus terms and the charges shown on your specific reservation before purchasing.
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