What Is the Norwegian Cruise Alcohol Policy?

The Norwegian Cruise alcohol policy explains the drinking age, what drinks you can bring onboard, and how alcohol purchases are handled during your trip. Somewhere between choosing the cabin and packing your bags, a realization about the alcohol policy is something that hits you. And it starts with one thought, but then the snowball effect kicks in, and one question quickly rolls into three more:

Can I bring my own drink?
What is the drinking age on my specific sailing?
What happens to the drink I bought at the port?

This guide answers all three, plus everything else tied to Norwegian cruise alcohol policy and rules.
So put the other tabs to rest, silence the group chat debate, and read this once. Because that is genuinely all it takes. One read. Every answer. Be ready.

Norwegian Cruise Line Drinking Age: Rules by Sailing Region

Most people assume the Norwegian Cruise Line drinking rules follow one universal age. In reality, the minimum drinking age on a Norwegian cruise varies depending entirely on your sailing region. Here's a clear guide so you're sure of your position before getting on board.

Can You Bring Alcohol on a Norwegian Cruise?

This question is so frightening that it makes half the travelers run to Google to search for it and read multiple articles about it. The Norwegian alcohol policy is stricter than many guests expect. Here is exactly what you can and cannot bring:

Bringing Wine or Champagne on a Norwegian Cruise: Rules and Corkage Fees

Norwegian allows only factory-sealed wine or champagne bottles as personal carry-on items. NCL charges a corkage fee each time you open a bottle, whether in your stateroom, at a restaurant, or at any bar on the ship.

A few things worth knowing:

• Wine or champagne sent to the ship by a travel agent, friend, or outside retailer is subject to the exact same corkage fees.
• Boxed wine is prohibited without exception, regardless of brand or size.
• If you choose not to pay the corkage fee at embarkation, the bottle will be stored and returned to you at the end of the cruise.
• Guests with an active beverage package have the corkage fee automatically waived.

Can You Bring Water or Soda on a Norwegian Cruise?

No drinks that do not contain alcohol can be carried on or checked into luggage when flying with NCL. This includes all types of water in bottles or other liquid containers, soda canned or bottled, juice boxes or containers, energy drinks, etc., as they will all be considered non-alcoholic beverages and are prohibited from carrying onboard.

• Factory-sealed purified or distilled water for medical devices
• Factory-sealed water for reconstituting infant formula

Norwegian Cruise Port of Call Alcohol Rules: What Happens to Your Purchase

At every port of call, guests commonly step off the ship and purchase local spirits or wine. What happens next surprises a lot of people, and understanding this part of the Norwegian cruise liquor policy ahead of time will save you real frustration.

• Alcohol purchased at a port of call: When you buy Alcohol through the port of call, Norwegian Cruise Line crew members will get it for you at the gangway. Besides keeping it safe, they will give it back to you either on the last night of the cruise or in the morning of disembarkation.
• Alcohol purchased in NCL's onboard duty-free shops: Same process. It goes into storage and comes back to you at the end of the voyage. You cannot take it directly to your stateroom.
• Wine or champagne purchased in port: Sealed bottles are subject to the standard wine policy. They can come on board, subject to the corkage fee. Everything else gets stored.

Pro Tip: Leave space in your luggage before disembarkation day. Your stored port purchases will be waiting at a designated pickup area, and you will want to pack them without a last-minute juggling act.

What Does the NCL Unlimited Open Bar Package Include

Choosing a beverage package on a cruise ship is the single easiest way to sidestep most of NCL alcohol policy. With an active package, the corkage fee is waived, and individual drink costs disappear. Here is what NCL currently offers:

What Is Inside the Unlimited Open Bar Package?

This package will provide you with a broad variety of drinks throughout the entire ship. Some of the drinks that are included are:

• Premium cocktails made with Grey Goose, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Casamigos Blanco, Woodford Reserve, Bulleit Bourbon, and over 100 signature cocktails
• Beer, hard seltzer, and cider featuring Heineken, Corona, Modelo, White Claw, Angry Orchard, and many more
• Wine by the glass from the rotating wine selection of wines found in bars throughout the ship
• Fountain sodas, juices, and non-alcoholic beers
• $15 discount on premium drinks in Connoisseur Collection featuring Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Clase Azul Tequila

What the Beverage Package Does Not Cover

• Starbucks drinks
• Specialty bottled waters
• Orders from the minibar or room service

Guests who are 21 or older may buy alcoholic drinks. Guests under 21 may get free soda in individual packages only for their personal use and may not share or transfer the packages to anyone else.

Norwegian Drink Package: Two-Drink Rule and Daily Limits

When taking advantage of the Drinks Plan, you may only use two drink tickets at once. However, there is no limit on how many drinks you can consume while on board; however, Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to terminate your drinks plan if they believe that you are overindulging.

Free Drinks on Norwegian Cruises: The Latitudes Rewards Cocktail Party

If you are an NCL Cruiser and you are a Latitudes Rewards Member, you can be invited to an onboard cocktail party where drinks are complimentary and where a good opportunity to meet your fellow cruisers can be had. Look up your daily program in order to know the date/time of the event.

Consequences of Violating Alcohol Policy

Norwegian Cruise Line enforces its alcohol policy strictly, and violations carry real consequences. You could be removed from the ship at the first port if you embody the following behaviors:

1. Underage Drinking Violations:  A minor consuming alcohol will have the guest/family parent removed from the ship at the next port, along with the minor.

2. Irresponsible Alcohol Use: NCL has the right to revoke, either permanently or temporarily, the drinking privileges of any guest who breaks the Guest Code of Conduct or who, by their actions, endangers themselves or others. 

3. Attempting to smuggle alcohol: The bottles found during security inspection are either locked up or taken away. Repeated or aggressive attempts can result in further disciplinary action from the NCL crew.

Final Thoughts 

Now, you came to the point of realization and that is the Norwegian cruise alcohol policy is not designed to ruin your fun. It is designed to ensure everyone on board is safe, responsible, and having a good time on equal footing. Now that you know the drinking ages for every itinerary, exactly what you can and cannot pack, what happens to your port shopping finds, and how beverage packages can make the whole experience seamless, there is genuinely nothing left to look up. You came here with a question. You are leaving with every answer.

More on Norwegian Cruise:

• Norwegian Cruise Dress Code: What to Wear Onboard
• Norwegian Cruise Average Age for Families, Couples & Seniors
• Norwegian Cruise Line Military Discount: Complete Guide
• Norwegian Cruise Line Loyalty Program: Earn Rewards & Perks
• Norwegian Cruise Line Manage Booking