If you feel like you’ve heard this one before, you’re not wrong. A little over a year after rolling out its “More at Sea” program, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has decided to bring back a familiar name… Free at Sea.
And this time, it’s here with a few notable tweaks and a sprinkle of nostalgia for loyal cruisers.
Back by popular demand
NCL says the move comes after feedback from guests and travel partners who preferred the simplicity (and recognition) of Free at Sea. It’s available on all sailings starting today and, according to the cruise line, offers over $2,000 in value per stateroom on a typical seven-night cruise. That includes many of the perks guests have come to expect: the unlimited open bar, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursion credits.
So what’s new?
While much of the concept remains familiar, there are a few key changes compared to More at Sea, some subtle, others quite welcome.
1. Drinks simplified
Under More at Sea, beverage costs varied depending on the length of the cruise – from $30 per person per day on shorter voyages to $23 on the longest ones. With Free at Sea, NCL has opted for consistency: a flat $28.50 per person, per day, which the cruise line notes simply covers gratuities for guests aged 21 and over.
There’s also a separate Unlimited Soda Package priced at $12.50 per person, per day, ideal for younger cruisers or anyone skipping the stronger stuff.
2. Specialty dining gets a uniform structure
Previously, the number of specialty meals depended on both cabin category and voyage length. Now, it’s much simpler – all guests receive the same number of meals, depending solely on how long the cruise lasts:
- 1 specialty meal for 2–4 nights
- 2 meals for 5–6 nights
- 3 meals for 7–8 nights
- 4 meals for 9 nights or longer
This makes it a lot easier to understand what’s included without diving into fine print (something More at Sea was occasionally guilty of).
3. Wi-Fi minutes streamlined
Wi-Fi access now sits at a standard 150 minutes per cabin, regardless of how long your sailing lasts. The old version scaled this from 75 minutes for short cruises up to 300 for longer ones — so while some may see this as a reduction, it’s arguably fairer for guests on shorter itineraries.
4. Shore excursion credits remain
NCL has kept the $50 shore excursion credit, which was one of the better perks of the previous package — perfect for a quick tuk-tuk ride in Cozumel or a scenic catamaran in Santorini.
Free at Sea – Familiar name, familiar value
All in all, Free at Sea feels like a move back to the roots of what made NCL’s promotions so appealing in the first place: simplicity. While More at Sea introduced a few flexible options, the return to a single, easy-to-understand package seems like a win for travellers who just want to know what they’re getting without doing the maths.
It’s a smart bit of brand housekeeping – and a reminder that sometimes, the classics really do work best.
Although, I do personally hate the name. Nothing is “free”.
Want to read some more NCL related blogs?
A Full Review: 9-Night Greek Isles Cruise with NCL
NCL Now Charging $5 for Extra Entrees in the Dining Room – Here’s the Scoop
