NCL Drink Prices & Bar Menus
Norwegian Cruise Line drink menus tend to be the same fleet-wide and are consistent across most ships. Changes in what is available in the bars are normally based on each ship’s venues and bars.
For example, there is a whiskey bar menu and a martini bar menu, but those venues aren’t on all ships. Additionally, ships with wine cellars or wine bars have an expanded menu.
- SEE : Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages – Are They Worth It?
What do drinks cost on Norwegian Cruise Line?
Most beer is $7, some wines are as inexpensive as $8/glass and cocktails range $10-$13. There are specialty drinks that are obviously more expensive, but in general, the costs for beverages are reasonable with NCL.
Bottled water and coke prices on NCL
For non-drinkers, the cost of a soda ranges from $3-$3.50 depending on which bar you order from and bottled water ranges from $4 for boxed water (500ml) to $6 for premium water like Aqua Panna.
Don’t forget the gratuities on drinks
If you’re NOT on a drink or beverage package, Norwegian Cruise Line charges an additional 20% gratuity on every drink purchase.
Now to the drink menus!
**NOTE** Some of the menus show Pepsi products, as these were taken during the last days that Pepsi was served (Jan 2023) – Pepsi has now been replaced by Coke on the ships.
A typical beverage menu for pool bars & Vibe club area on a Norwegian ship
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Whiskey Bar menu (i.e. Maltings Bar on NCL Epic)
NCL Martini Bar menu
Shipwide Beverage & Bar menu for all Norwegian Cruise Line ships
These menus are fleetwide and shipwide where you’ll find them in almost all of the lounges and bars.
The HAVEN Bar Menu
You’ll notice that most of the menu has prices of just a few dollars, this is presuming the passenger has the NCL premium beverage package and will only pay the difference in the drink prices.
Wine Menu across the whole NCL Fleet
Wine Menu on NCL Ships with a wine bar (i.e. Cellars or Mondavi)
Some ships have branded wine bars by Mondavi, and those menus rotate availability on occasion. Here are some examples of what you may see in a Modavi branded wine bar on Norwegian Cruise Line
Do you happen to know how much mocktails, like virgin daiquiris, cost? I’ve yet to find a menu with them included.
Great question! I’ve never seen a menu of mocktails on any NCL cruise, but I know they make anything you want without alcohol. I have a friend that I travel with that doesn’t drink and she orders them all the time, but has a beverage package and never gets charged. I can only presume you should expect to pay the price on the menu, alcohol or not. Just know that they would be covered in a drink package and that they can be made on request. Sadly, I think NCL is missing a huge opportunity by not offering specific non-alcoholic drinks.
Thank you for all the menu information.
Can you advise of the situation for a Cruise guest on a Free at Sea package,leaving from Marseille on 11 night package stopping at Barcelona, Palma,Naples,Rome,Livorno and Cannes,with regards additional taxes for drinks when in port or at sea?
Many blogged cruisers have posted conflicting information.
It’s understandable why there is a lot of confusion. Spain has made some changes recently and random ports in other countries have different regulations.
Expect you’ll be paying 10% VAT on the VALUE of the drink while in spanish waters (within 12 miles of the coast, I believe). In the past, it was only while docked, now it it seems that the VAT tax is charged even while in Spanish water. I’m unsure about Italy and France – but our last cruise recently did not have any taxes while on the Free at Sea because officially we weren’t “buying” anything. Spain is the first country to close that loophole I think. But these Tax rules are changing rapidly, so what you read today may likely change. So far, however, aside from Spain, most taxes are charged for PURCHASES while IN PORT, and not in EVERY port. Confusing, right? In the end, it only adds up to a few dollars – but can still be a surprise.
The biggest change that happened recently was Spain declared that any ship departing a Spanish port would have these taxes charged regardless of the other ports, for the whole cruise. This will definitely add a significant amount to a bill even for the Free at Sea people! Since they’ll be charging on the value of the drink served, even if it’s Free or Included in the Free at Sea promotion.
I’ve yet to speak to anyone that has encountered this first hand… I think the rule just started in the past week or so. I’ll update the article as I know for sure!
Thanks for your reply,as you say very confusing indeed,however as our cruise is leaving from Marseille I can only assume that the charges will not apply for the full duration of the cruise.
I think you are correct, but be prepared for changes and the unexpected, since European countries are making changes with these types of tourism taxes.
What draught beers are available on board Norwegian Epic?
I actually don’t recall seeing any! They were all bottles. I’ve been on the epic 4 times and I don’t think there have ever been taps come to think of it.
Hi Mick,
Thanks for sharing this! We’re planning on trip on the Norwegian Joy at New Years.
What was the Whisky bar like on the Joy?
Do you know if they’re changing the scotch/whisky options frequently?
Many thanks
Hi Nicole,
We haven’t done the Joy (YET), but planning on the transatlantic back after it’s Jan 2024 refurb. That said, the Maltings Bar on the Encore (sister ship) was quite lovely, as it is on Epic. The menus are shared in the Maltings bars across all ships from what I’ve experienced. The changes that stand out between some of the ships is the fact that Johnny Walker Blue wasn’t available all the time (or even on the menu) but it was on the Encore. Other than that, the menu has basically been the same since 2019. Enjoy the cruise!
Why don’t any of these blog entries state how much a soda costs? If I knew how much a soda costs, I can determine if the ~$10/day is worth it for me. Thank you!
Hi Ann, If you take a look at some of the menus, they show sodas, etc. Expect to pay $3 for a soda + 20% service charge. Other non-alcoholic items like energy drinks and bottles of water, expect to spend about $5 each. (plus the service charge / gratuity )