Most cocktails on Norwegian Cruise Line cost $15, beer runs $10, wine by the glass starts at $12.50, and everything gets hit with an automatic 20% gratuity before it lands on your folio. If you’re on the Unlimited Open Bar package, the vast majority of that menu is already paid for. The catch is a small list of “premium” and “connoisseur” pours that sit above the package ceiling, and that’s where most people get an unexpected charge on the last night of the cruise.
That last part is the piece most menu roundups leave out. Below, you’ll get the real pricing, exactly what triggers an extra charge even with a drink package, and the venue-by-venue quirks that actually change what you pay.
What a Drink Actually Costs on NCL Bar Menu Right Now
Prices are fleet-wide standard, meaning a mojito costs the same on Norwegian Prima as it does on Norwegian Pearl. Here’s the quick-reference version before we get into the nuance.
| Drink Category | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cocktail | $15 | Covers most of the menu at every ncl bar menu |
| Beer / hard seltzer | $10 | Domestic and imported both fall here |
| Wine by the glass (standard list) | $12.50 | Premium list runs $25 |
| Well spirits / basic pours | $15 | Included in Unlimited Open ncl bar menu |
| Premium spirits (top-shelf) | $25 | Only included with Free at Sea Plus |
| Connoisseur spirits (rare bottles) | $35 to $50 | Never included in any package |
| Specialty coffee / matcha drinks | $3.85 to $7.95 | Starbucks locations onboard |
| Soda | $3.50 | Included in every open bar tier |
| Energy drinks | $6.25 to $6.50 | Red Bull sits at the higher end |
| Bottled water | $4.50 | Not included unless you have a package |
Every one of those numbers gets a 20% gratuity added automatically. A $15 cocktail is actually $18 on your bill. Nobody tells you to tip extra on top of that unless the service genuinely went above and beyond, and even then it’s optional, not expected.
Package Coverage: What’s Free and What Isn’t
This is the question that generates the most confusion onboard, and it’s the exact gap I noticed missing from other guides. NCL’s bar menu current promotion bundles an Unlimited Open Bar package into most sailings, but “unlimited” has a ceiling most people don’t realize until they order the wrong thing.
Covered under Unlimited Open Bar (standard package):
- Any cocktail, beer, or spirit priced at $15 or under
- Standard wine by the glass ($12.50 list)
- Soda, juice, and most non-alcoholic mixed drinks
- Bottled water and PURE energy drinks
Not covered, even with the standard package:
- Premium wine list pours ($25 and up), like the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio or La Crema Chardonnay
- Connoisseur spirits such as Don Julio 1942, Clase Azul, or Johnnie Walker Blue Label
- Red Bull (technically priced above the PURE energy drink line, so it’s an out-of-pocket item)
- The Skyy Vodka Ice Bar cover charge (currently $20, though it includes two drinks)
- Cocktail flights (Mojito Flight, Martini Flight) at $25, though package holders get a 20 to 40% discount depending on tier
Free at Sea Plus raises the ceiling to $25, which unlocks the premium wine list and a longer spirits shelf, but connoisseur pours are still excluded on every package tier. If you’re the type who orders a Macallan 12 or a Woodford Double Oaked “just to try it,” check the shelf tier before you order. Bartenders can tell you instantly whether a pour is inside your package or not, and asking first beats a surprise on your final bill.
A quick reality check from experience: I’ve watched more than one table get blindsided at checkout because someone ordered a “small upgrade” thinking it was a dollar or two more. The jump from a standard bourbon to a connoisseur pour isn’t incremental, it can be a $20 to $35 difference per drink. Always ask “is this covered by my package” before the bartender pours, not after.
Bar-by-Bar Pricing Quirks Worth Knowing
The base menu is consistent fleet-wide, but a handful of venues have pricing structures that don’t show up on a standard price list.
Maltings Whiskey Bar
runs a Johnnie Walker Blending Experience at $40 a la carte, but package holders get a 20% discount (Free at Sea) or 40% discount (Free at Sea Plus) automatically applied. It’s one of the few premium experiences where the package actually reduces an out-of-pocket cost instead of just covering standard drinks.
Sugarcane Mojito Bar
sells a Mojito Flight for $25, four 3-ounce pours so you can compare styles before committing to a full-size drink. Smart move if you’re undecided, since a full mojito and a flight cost roughly the same once you factor in package discounts.
Skyy Vodka Ice Bar
is the one venue that charges a flat cover regardless of drink package status. The $20 entry fee includes two specialty cocktails, and nothing from your open ncl bar menu package applies inside. Budget for it as a separate experience, not a bar stop.
Lotus Garden’s sake menu
has a quiet perk: package holders get up to a $15 discount on sake carafes, which most guests never think to ask about since sake rarely shows up on “drink package” explainers.
The District Brewhouse
has the deepest beer list on the ship, upward of 50 options between taps and bottles, all still priced at the standard $10 beer rate. If you’re a craft beer drinker, this is where your package dollar stretches furthest since you’re getting Dogfish Head or Stone IPA at the same price as a Bud Light elsewhere on the ship.
Is the Drink Package Actually Worth It?
Run the math before you assume yes. At $18 per cocktail after gratuity, you need roughly 4 to 5 drinks a day just to match what most current package pricing costs per person, per day, depending on your sailing length and current promo rate. Short cruises change that math fast.
On a 3-night sailing, hitting that per-day drink count is realistic if you’re actively vacationing. On a 7-night cruise where you might skip drinks on a shore excursion day or an early departure morning, the package can quietly lose value unless you’re a two-drinks-with-lunch-and-two-at-dinner type of traveler.
A practical way to check your own break-even:
- Add up your cruise’s current package cost per person, per day
- Divide by $18 (the real after-gratuity price of a standard cocktail)
- That’s your daily drink count to break even
If you’re realistically ordering fewer drinks than that number, paying per drink and skipping the package saves money. If you’re planning to actually use the pool ncl bar menu, a dinner wine, and a nightcap most days, the package wins comfortably.
Money-Saving Moves Most Guides Skip
- Order the standard pour, not the “featured” one. Menus often highlight a signature cocktail using premium spirits at the top of the page. It’s usually still $15, but double-check, since a handful of signature drinks quietly use a $25 tier spirit.
- Skip the specialty coffee package if you’re a plain black coffee drinker. Freshly brewed coffee at Starbucks locations runs about $3.85, while the flavored lattes and matcha drinks climb past $7. If you’re not a latte person, a coffee package isn’t worth adding.
- Ask about happy hour timing at the pool bar. It isn’t printed on the menu, but pool bars run rotating “bartender’s choice” specials by day of the week, and asking what’s featured that day sometimes gets you a drink not on the standard list at the same $15 price.
- Bring your own reusable cup for the take-home items. The Moscow Mule copper mug and tiki cups sold at pool bars are novelty purchases, not drink package inclusions, so factor them in separately if you want the souvenir.
- Check pricing through the app before boarding. NCL’s bar app reflects current fleet pricing closer to your sail date than most third-party menu roundups, since prices do shift throughout the year.
FAQ on NCL Bar Menu
Does NCL Bar charge gratuity on drink package purchases?
Yes. The 20% gratuity is built into your package cost upfront, so drinks covered by your package don’t get an additional charge at the ncl bar menu. Anything you pay for out of pocket still gets the 20% added at checkout.
Can I share my drink package with a cabin mate?
No. Everyone sharing a cabin on a More at Sea sailing must select the same package, and each package is tied to an individual guest, not transferable between people.
What happens if I order something above my package tier?
The difference gets charged to your onboard folio automatically. Most bartenders will mention it before pouring if you ask, but it’s worth confirming yourself if you’re unsure about a specific bottle.
Are mocktails included in the drink package?
Yes, non-alcoholic cocktails priced at $15 or under are covered the same as alcoholic drinks under Unlimited Open ncl Bar, which is useful for anyone cruising with a designated driver or simply cutting back that day.
Is the Skyy Ice Bar cover charge worth it?
If you enjoy a novelty experience and plan to order two drinks anyway, the $20 cover roughly matches what those two drinks would cost individually, so it’s close to a wash financially, and you get the ice bar setting included.
Do drink prices change mid-cruise?
Prices are set for the sailing and don’t fluctuate day to day, but NCL Bar menu does adjust fleet-wide pricing periodically throughout the year, which is why on-ship menus can differ slightly from older online guides.
Which Ncl Bar has the best value for craft beer drinkers?
The District Brewhouse, since its extensive tap list is priced the same as basic domestic beer elsewhere on the ship, meaning your dollar goes further if you prefer IPAs or imports over a standard lager.
Do I need to tip extra on top of the 20% gratuity?
No, it’s not expected. The automatic gratuity covers standard service. Extra tipping is a personal choice, not a requirement, and bartenders won’t hint otherwise.