In recent years, US cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has offered the Free at Sea package, which allowed passengers to upgrade included basic services with additional extras (e.g. free alcoholic drinks and dinners in specialty restaurants). Depending on the length of the trip, the regular price-tag for that package was between €149 and €449 per person, with occasional discounts during promotions.
This offer will be replaced by a new product called More at Sea for new bookings made after October 1, 2024, and trips starting January 1, 2025. The changes include additional visits to specialty restaurants, alterations to the included drinks, and even a downgrade: namely new limitations to internet access on longer journeys. The price per night is notably higher in almost any case.
We give you an overview of what has changed by comparing prices and included services of the old and new offering:
Table of Contents
Price Comparison: Free at Sea vs. More at Sea
The following prices apply to booking More at Sea compared to the previous Free at Sea package. As you can see, the new offer is up to 60% more expensive, depending on the length of the cruise. Only cruises of exactly three nights are not affected by the change.
| Cruise Duration | Free at Sea (until Sep.) | More at Sea (from Oct.) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights | €149 per person | €149 per person | – |
| 4 nights | €149 per person | €199 per person | +34% |
| 5 nights | €149 per person | €249 per person | +67% |
| 6 nights | €199 per person | €249 per person | +25% |
| 7 nights | €199 per person | €279 per person | +40% |
| 8 nights | €199 per person | €279 per person | +40% |
| 9 nights | €249 per person | €349 per person | +40% |
| 10 nights | €249 per person | €349 per person | +40% |
| 11 nights | €249 per person | €399 per person | +60% |
| 12 nights | €299 per person | €399 per person | +33% |
| 13 nights | €299 per person | €449 per person | +50% |
| 14 nights | €299 per person | €449 per person | +50% |
| 15 nights | €349 per person | €499 per person | +43% |
| 16 nights | €349 per person | €499 per person | +43% |
| 17 nights | €349 per person | €549 per person | +57% |
| 18 nights | €399 per person | €549 per person | +38% |
| 19 nights | €399 per person | €599 per person | +50% |
| 20 nights | €399 per person | €599 per person | +50% |
| 21+ nights | €449 per person | €649 per person | +45% |
Changes to Inclusive Services
As you can see above, the prices for the new package have increased significantly in most cases. For example, adding the package to a one-week cruise now costs €279 per person instead of €199. Those who are cruising for 11 nights even pay 60% more per person, shelling out €399 instead of €249.
This naturally raises the legitimate question of whether passengers are also getting more in return. A closer look at the included services for the More at Sea reveals: Not everything has gotten better. In some cases, the new package is even worse than the old one.
Beverage Package
One of the most important advantages of the Free at Sea package has always been the included beverage package. This essentially remains the same, including non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. However, the beverage selection changes slightly:
- More at Sea: A selection of spirits, cocktails, wine by the glass and draft or bottled beer, plus soft drinks and juices.
- Free at Sea: The beverage package applied to all products with a value of up to $15 on the bar menu. NCL no longer mentions this benchmark in the booking terms and conditions. It is therefore possible that the selection of included drinks has been reduced as a result, or increased.
Specialty Restaurants
This is where the most significant changes took places. Depending on the length of the cruise, the new More at Sea package includes up to 2 additional visits to specialty restaurants. How often you can dine there for free also depends on the cabin category.
Below is a comparison of the old and new inclusive services:
Interior or Exterior Cabins
Free at Sea:
- 1 restaurant visit (3 – 11 nights)
- 2 restaurant visits (12+ nights)
More at Sea:
- 1 restaurant visit (3 – 7 nights)
- 2 restaurant visits (8 – 11 nights)
- 3 restaurant visits (12+ nights)
Balcony Cabin or Higher
Free at Sea:
- 1 restaurant visit (3 – 6 nights)
- 2 restaurant visits (7 – 11 nights)
- 3 restaurant visits (12+ nights)
More at Sea:
- 1 restaurant visit (3 nights)
- 2 restaurant visits (4 – 6 nights)
- 3 restaurant visits (7 nights)
- 4 restaurant visits (8 – 11 nights)
- 5 restaurant visits (12+ nights)
What’s new for all cabin categories is that one visit now officially includes up to three appetizers, one main course and up to the desserts. Previously, only one appetizer, one salad or soup, one main course and one dessert were officially allowed for each visit.
Internet Access
Guests are unfortunately still not granted unlimited internet access, but only a certain number of free minutes. There is even a significant downgrade here. For trips of 12 nights or more, there are now only 150 free minutes instead of the previous 300.
Free at Sea:
- 75 minutes (3 – 6 nights)
- 150 minutes (7 – 11 nights)
- 300 minutes (12+ nights)
More at Sea:
- 75 minutes (3 – 6 nights)
- 150 minutes (7+ nights)
Excursions
Nothing changes here. As before, there is a $50 USD discount on shore excursions per port when you book the package. However, this is always only for the 1st guest in the cabin.
Conclusion
The freshly introduced More at Sea offer means a price increase in almost all cases compared to the previous Free at Sea product. The increased number of included meals in specialty restaurants in many constellations is a positive change. However, downgrading of the internet package on longer cruises somewhat evens that out.
Whether the new product is worthwhile for your next NCL cruise mainly depends on your preferences when it comes to specialty restaurants. If you are content with the included meals in the main and buffet restaurants – and also don’t drink much alcohol – it is almost certainly cheaper to book the corresponding services individually on board.
If you prefer a carefree, all expenses paid experience: Prices are not as good as they used to be, but the More at Sea still gives you decent value-for-money for an (almost) all-inclusive experience.
Cover Picture: © Norwegian Cruise Line
Comments (3)
Done with NCL now unfortunately.
they have taken away the dining options on my upcoming sail though I have Free at Sea. I would have to pay the menu price plus 20% in Specialty restaurants because I booked so far ahead. My price is so cheap that they want another $960 to get the More at Sea. RIP off artists. Last cruise I do with them.
It’s amazing, with Starlink being rolled out to airlines which are offering free WiFi, that a cruise company in 2024 thinks that’s an acceptable offering when people can be a sea for weeks.