Norwegian to Stop Honouring Drink Packages on Great Stirrup Cay

Norwegian to Stop Honouring Drink Packages on Great Stirrup Cay

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that shipboard beverage packages will no longer be honoured for drinks on its private island of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas starting next March.

According to a statement sent to travel agents, the change is part of a major enhancement project for the destination announced earlier this year.

“As we look to transform the on-island experience, we have evaluated our policies and made the decision that shipboard beverage packages will no longer be applicable for drinks on Great Stirrup Cay beginning March 1, 2026,” Norwegian stated.

The company noted that complimentary beverages, including water, iced teas and juices, will continue to be readily available on the island.

For alcoholic beverages, guests will be able to purchase a new beverage package created exclusively for Great Stirrup Cay.

While further details will be released at a later date, the company noted that the change aims to provide guests with “the flexibility to curate how they experience” the destination.

“Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to providing the best vacation experiences, both onboard our ships and at the destinations we visit,” the statement added.

The company noted that Great Stirrup Cay is undergoing a major upgrade with the debut of a new pier, an expansive pool area featuring complimentary lounges, and a splash pad area for children.

In 2026, the destination will also be home to a large waterpark featuring 19 waterslides and a nearly 800-foot dynamic river.

A similar policy was introduced by Carnival Cruise Line earlier this year, which does not honour shipboard beverage packages at its new private destination of Celebration Key.

Instead, guests are asked to buy alcoholic and other beverages on an à la carte basis using either their shipboard cards or their regular credit cards.

In related news, Norwegian recently introduced charges for additional entrees at its main dining rooms, as well as no-show fees for speciality dining reservations.

The company also recently cancelled 55 cruises that were scheduled to take place on board four ships in 2026-27.

Royal Caribbean hikes price for drink packages

Royal Caribbean hikes price for drink packages

The cost of quenching your thirst on Royal Caribbean International is going up in 2019, at least if you buy a bundled package of beverages in one of three plans.

The Deluxe Beverage Package, which includes alcoholic drinks as well as most types of nonalcoholic beverages, is rising to $63-70 a day, up from the 2018 rate of $57-63. The cost varies from ship to ship and sailing to sailing.

The Premium Refreshment Package charge will be $29 a day, up from $26-29 currently. The packages include premium coffees and teas, bottled still and sparkling water, fresh squeezed orange juice, non-alcoholic cocktails and fountain sodas, as well as Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages.

The Soda Package will cost $12.99 a day, up from $8.50-9.50.

Raising the prices amounts to an 11% increase on average for the Deluxe package, an 11.5% maximum increase for the Premium package and a 44% increase on average for the Soda Package.

Inflation in the overall economy in September was reported at an annual rate of 2.3%.

Carnival raises price of beverage package

Carnival Cruise Line has increased the cost of its Cheers! beverage package effective Jan. 1.

The pre-cruise purchase cost will go from $49.95 per person, per day to $51.95, a 4% increase.

On the ship, the package will sell for $56.95, up from $54.95. The prices do not include the 15% gratuity.

The package includes spirits, beer, and wine and champagne by the glass with a menu price of $50 and below, plus speciality coffees, sodas, juices, non-alcoholic cocktails, milkshakes, energy drinks and bottled water.

Norwegian add-on package bundles several extras

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line will offer an add-on package that can be pre-purchased and includes a kitchen sink of items that cost extra on a cruise.

The package, priced at $899 per passenger for a seven-day cruise, bundles Norwegian’s prepaid dining and beverage packages with a $200-per-person shore excursion credit, 250 minutes of Internet access, prepaid gratuities, 20 photos of any size, a bottle of wine, six bottles of water, one bingo session and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Apart from service charges and gratuities, the package is fully commissionable to travel agents at the agent’s contracted rate, a Norwegian spokeswoman said.

Norwegian’s dining package offers complimentary access to a speciality restaurant each night of the cruise; its beverage package includes cocktails, beer and wine up to $10 a glass and unlimited fountain sodas and juices.

The package is for sale Aug. 4 to 29 and applies to all 2015 cruises of three to 14 days, except those on Pride of America. Pricing is by length of cruise. Shore excursion credits on shorter cruises are $100 per person instead of $200. 

Norwegian said adding the package to select cruises will reduce the fare by 10%. 

Norwegian said the package is the first of its kind in the cruise industry. 

Celebrity Cruises raises drinks package prices

By Tom Stieghorst

Celebrity Cruises has changed its drinks package, raising the price if the plan is not purchased in advance of the cruise.

The new two-tier price system means that the Classic Package that costs $44 per person, per day in advance costs $49 on the ship. The Classic Package includes beers up to $5 and mixed drinks and wine up to $8, as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Pricing spreads of $2 to $4 per person, per day apply to other packages including non-alcoholic beverages. On the Premium Package that includes alcoholic drinks priced up to $12, the price spread is $5 per person, per day.

The new pricing became effective Sept. 20. The prices prevailing at that time became the pre-purchase prices, with the onboard prices going up, Celebrity said. 

Celebrity Cruises raises drinks package prices

Premium & Classic Beverage Packages

From bottled water to wine by the glass, relax in the freedom and convenience of having all your cruise beverages included for one price.

*Starting from: 9.24 GBP Per NIGHT

Taste of the Vineyards Wine Packages

Offers a variety of international wines by the bottle that will meet your preferences. Choose 3, 5, or 7 bottle packages and make your specific wine selection on board.

*Starting from:65.34 GBP Per PACKAGE

Soda Package

Enjoy refreshing Coca-Cola® beverages throughout your cruise. Available as fountain drinks or canned drinks.

*Starting from: 4.62 GBP Per NIGHT

Premium Bottled Water Package

Refresh your thirst from our selection of both still and sparkling bottled water, including Evian® , Pellegrino® and Perrier®.

*Starting from: 7.92 GBP Per NIGHT

Stateroom Bar Setup

Enjoy your favorite bottle of spirits, with an assortment of mixers and ice bucket, in the comfort of your stateroom. Choices include Classic and Premium brands. Simply indicate the spirit of your choice and let Celebrity take care of the rest.

*Starting from:52.80 GBP Per PACKAGE

Riedel Comparative Wine Crystal Workshop

Attend Riedel's Wine Glass Comparative Workshop onboard Celebrity. In this unique workshop, you'll taste different varieties and learn how the shape of a glass affects the experience of every sip.

*Starting from:54.12 GBP Per PACKAGE

Carnival puts 15-drink daily cap on alcohol package

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines has incorporated a daily limit of 15 drinks into its single-price drinks package.
The package, which is now being offered on 13 Carnival ships, lets passengers pay for all beverages on a cruise in a single payment.

A Carnival spokesman said the cruise line recently "formalized" the limit on how many alcoholic drinks guests will be served within a 24-hour period running from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. the following day.

He stressed that the program is still in a trial period. It started on one ship last summer and has since been expanded to about half of Carnival's fleet.

Sodas and most other non-alcoholic beverages remain unlimited and are not counted toward the 15 drink ceiling, he said. 

Drink packages now available on 13 Royal Caribbean ships

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean has begun offering all-inclusive drink packages on 13 ships and plans to make them available on all of its vessels sailing voyages of at least seven nights by early next year.

Passengers can now purchase "Classic" or "Premium" packages. Royal Caribbean has been testing the idea on several ships this year.

The Classic package includes beer and house wines, plus non-alcoholic beverages, for $45 a day. Premium, for $55 a day, adds frozen drinks and cocktails, including premium brands, to the Classic lineup.

Packages must be bought on or before the first day of the cruise and cover every day of the cruise. Also, if one passenger in a cabin buys the package, everyone over 21 in the same cabin must also buy one.

Carnival Cruise Lines began testing a similar package this summer and has it available on a half-dozen ships, while Norwegian Cruise Line has said it is evaluating such a package.

Fans of the idea say it helps them manage their bar bills; opponents say it facilitates excessive drinking. 

Norwegian offers drinks plan on three ships

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line is testing a beverage package on three of its ships, similar to plans being evaluated by other lines, to see if it is worth offering fleet-wide in the future.

The package, currently offered on the Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade, includes unlimited alcoholic drinks for $49 per person, per day, a spokeswoman said.

"We're being very cautious about it," said Norwegian President Kevin Sheehan. "But if the market is moving in this direction, we don't want to be left behind."

Carnival in August offered a drinks package on the Carnival Victory at $42.95 per person per day, for beer, wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks priced under $10 a day. It has since expanded the test program to four of its ships. 

Other lines including Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have similar programs on at least some of their ships.