Just in time for the holidays, Norwegian Cruise Line launches Free at Sea Plus bundle for 2026. It’s a move longtime NCL cruisers have been asking for since the original package quietly disappeared with the launch of More at Sea. After briefly experimenting with a disastrous rebrand, Norwegian reversed course in late 2025 and reinstated Free at Sea as its core onboard inclusion package. At the time, the brand teased that a “plus” version would return at some point in the future.
If you’ve been missing top-shelf drinks, unlimited Starbucks, better Wi-Fi, and bundled service charges, Free at Sea Plus 2.0 is back and delivers in a big way.
In this article, we’re breaking down:
- What’s included in Free at Sea Plus
- What’s changed from previous versions
- How much it costs
- When it launches
- And whether it’s actually worth upgrading
What Is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea Plus Bundle?
Free at Sea Plus is an upgraded version of Norwegian’s standard Free at Sea package. It layers premium perks on top of the existing inclusions and bundles together some of the most commonly purchased onboard add-ons into a single daily price.
Norwegian is positioning Free at Sea Plus as a high-value option for cruisers who:
- Upgrade their Wi-Fi anyway
- Want top-shelf, premium beverages
- Enjoy their mocha frappe latte from Starbucks
- Prefer bundled gratuities
- Enjoy specialty dining
And at the current price point, the value proposition is hard to ignore.
We break down each component of the program below. Or, if you’d rather, you can check out our Free at Sea Plus video where we bring you through each component of the program and how to book.
Unlimited Open Bar: What’s Included with Free at Sea Plus?
Under the standard Free at Sea drink package, beverages are capped at a $15 value. Anything above that requires you to pay the difference. With Free at Sea Plus, that limitation is gone.
Top-Shelf Spirits Are Back
Norwegian confirms that spirits with a value up to $50 per drink are included under Free at Sea Plus. That means premium selections like:
- Patrón Añejo
- The Macallan 12 Year
- And other high-end liquors
No upcharge required.
Premium Wines & Champagne by the Glass
Free at Sea Plus also includes:
- Premium wines and champagnes by the glass
- Access to more than 50 labels from Norwegian’s signature wine collection
- 40% off all other wine bottles
Important Note:
Unlike the original Free at Sea Plus offered prior to 2025, bottles of wine and champagne are no longer included. Gone is the “Free at Sea Plus” wine list at dinner, now the only option is to enjoy your wine by the glass. We’ll survive.
Just like the original Free at Sea package that went away, the following are not included:
- Mini-bar beverages
- Room service drinks
- Buckets of beer
- Beverage carts
- Vending machines
Unlimited Starbucks (Yes, Really)
This might be the quiet flex of Free at Sea Plus. With the upgraded package, cruisers receive unlimited Starbucks beverages, with a limit of:
- One drink per visit
- One drink every 30 minutes
You can visit multiple times per day. It’s perfect for iced lattes, frappes, and caffeine-fueled sea days.
Also Included:
- Energy drinks
- Fresh juices
Bottled Water Finally Included
One of the biggest long-standing omissions from Norwegian drink packages has been bottled water. Free at Sea Plus finally fixes that.
Included with the package:
- Filtered bottled water from bars
- Still and Sparkling bottled water in the restaurants
Important Note:
Water placed in your mini-bar is still not included.
For cruisers who regularly order water to their stateroom, this is a huge perk.
Drinks at Great Stirrup Cay Are Included Again
Beginning March 1, 2026, Free at Sea Plus will include beverages at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island.
This change comes after Norwegian announced on October 8, 2025, that free drinks at Great Stirrup Cay would be eliminated and replaced with a purchasable package.
Free at Sea Plus 2.0 effectively restores that benefit, but only for guests who upgrade.
Specialty Dining Changes Under Free at Sea Plus
Under the standard Free at Sea package, cruisers receive:
- A set number of specialty dining meals based on cruise length
- A maximum of four meals
With Free at Sea Plus, cruisers can now:
- Purchase additional specialty dining meals at 50% off the published cover charge
If you enjoy dining in specialty restaurants multiple nights during your cruise, this discount alone could add up quickly.
Unlimited Streaming Wi-Fi (A Major Upgrade)
Wi-Fi is one of the most valuable upgrades included with Free at Sea Plus.
What’s Included:
- Unlimited streaming Wi-Fi
- One login per person
- One device at a time (easy device switching supported)
By comparison, the standard Free at Sea package only includes 150 minutes of Wi-Fi.
On an upcoming 7-day cruise, Norwegian’s standalone pricing for streaming Wi-Fi is $209.93 by itself (or $29.99/day). Ouch! It’s not hard to see the value this perk adds to Free at Sea Plus for those who typically upgrade their Wi-Fi on a cruise.
Wi-Fi coverage does not extend to:
- Great Stirrup Cay
- Harvest Caye
Unless you exclusively drink top-shelf beverages, Wi-Fi may be the most valuable single perk included in Free at Sea Plus.
Shore Excursion Credit: No Change
The $50 Shore Excursion Credit remains unchanged under Free at Sea Plus.
It’s the same offering as the standard package, which feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. Even a small increase would have allowed Norwegian to say they “plussed up” every part of Free at Sea.
Prepaid Service Charges Are Included
This is another big value-add in Free at Sea Plus.
With the upgrade, daily service charges (currently $20 per person, per day) are bundled into the package.
When you combine Unlimited Streaming Wi-Fi and Prepaid Service Charges, you’re already looking at $49.99 per day in value, and that’s before drinks, Starbucks, water, or dining discounts are even factored in!
How Much Does Free at Sea Plus Cost?
Norwegian is launching Free at Sea Plus at an aggressive price point: $49.99 per person, per day. And while Norwegian claims the package offers over $2,000 in value, your mileage may vary.
If you already:
- Upgrade to streaming Wi-Fi
- Purchase the Starbucks drinks package
- Enjoy premium drinks
Free at Sea Plus is essentially a no-brainer.
A Few Quirks to Be Aware Of
While the package is strong, there are a few odd details worth noting:
- If you’ve already prepaid your service charges when you made your booking, adding Free at Sea Plus only reduces the price by $15 per day, not the full $20
- The same $15 reduction applies if gratuities were included via a promotion
- Every guest in the stateroom must purchase Free at Sea Plus, just like the original version
When Can You Book Free at Sea Plus?
Launch Date: December 18, 2025
Applies To Sailings: Departing February 1, 2026 and beyond
Eligibility Requirement: Free at Sea Plus is only available to guests who have already booked More at Sea or Free at Sea as part of their cruise fare.
How To Book: You can add it to your reservation on NCL.com or reach out to Rocky to get booked/upgraded.
We’ll Be Testing Free at Sea Plus on Norwegian Aqua
We’ll be sailing on Norwegian Aqua beginning February 1, and we’ll be testing Free at Sea Plus firsthand to see if it truly lives up to the hype.
Stay tuned for our update once we’re onboard!
Final Thoughts: Is Free at Sea Plus Worth It?
For cruisers who:
- Want premium beverages
- Need reliable Wi-Fi
- Can’t live without their morning Starbucks
- Prefer bundled pricing
- Hate nickel-and-diming
Free at Sea Plus is one of the strongest value packages Norwegian has ever offered.
Will you be booking Free at Sea Plus? Do you have questions about the new program? Let us know in the comments below or reach out to Rocky directly to get booked!