NCL’s Hawaii Beverage Package: A Complete Guide

Since posting my “35 Tips For Your Cruise To Hawaii On NCL’s Pride Of America” and my review and ship tour of the Pride of America, I’ve received a lot of follow-up questions, like “how did you get your hair to look that great in a tropical climate?”  Okay, I’ve never been asked that, but would it kill you to flatter me for once?  (The answer, BTW, is that I had it tied back in a makeshift bun, cemented into place by sweat, from embarkation to debarkation). 

In reality, most of the questions I’ve been asked have been about the Hawaii Beverage Package, which differs from the standard Premium Beverage Package (formerly called the “Ultimate Beverage Package”) available on most other NCL ships.  So I’ve prepared this guide to help you understand the Hawaii Beverage Package. I’ll answer all the specific questions I’ve received, discuss whether it’s a good deal for you, and offer tips on how to fully take advantage of it. I’ll even throw in some bar menus and drink pics.

How Much Does The Hawaii Beverage Package Cost?

The retail price of the Hawaii Beverage Package is $99 per person per day plus a 20% gratuity and beverage service charge that will be paid at the time of purchase.  So the Hawaii Beverage Package on the 7-day Pride of America sailing will cost you:

 $693 (base cost) + $138.60 (gratuity/service charge)= $831.60 total per person.

But if you’ve actually ever paid retail for an NCL beverage package, I have a $300 Prof. Cruise branded hat I’d like to sell you. 

Instead, most people who want the Hawaii Beverage Package opt to receive it as a “Free at Sea” promotion. 

What Do I Need To Know About Receiving The Hawaii Beverage Package As Part Of The “Free At Sea” Promotion?

Well the first thing you need to know is that it’s not “free.”  While the $99 per person per day base charge will be waved, you’ll still be paying the 20% gratuity and beverage service charge on the full retail price of the package.  That means you’ll pay $19.80 per person per day or $138.60 per person for the 7-day Pride of America sailing.

Second, if you opt for the “Free At Sea” promotion, you may pay more for your stateroom.  If you’re looking to save money on your cruise, you can do so by booking a “sail away” rate which means you will not receive most of the “Free At Sea” promotions and you won’t be able to select your stateroom (one in the category you chose or higher will be assigned to you), but your cruise fare will be less.  Here’s a mock booking for an inside cabin on the Pride of America just so you can get a sense of the price difference:

In the above case, you’d save $154 by booking a “sail away” inside cabin without the “free” promotions.

Is The Hawaii Beverage Package Worth The Cost?

The best way to determine this is to estimate the number of drinks you’ll consume per day, add them up, and see if the cost à la carte comes out to be more than the cost of the package (either outright or with the Free at Sea promotion). You can use the menus I’ll be posting below to give you an idea of the cost for the kinds of drinks you like. Here are a few additional things to consider when determining value:

• You’ll be spending most of your time off the ship in port. Unlike most cruises that include at least a few sea days, the Pride of America travels from island to island at night and spends the days (and even a few overnights) in port. This greatly limits the time you’ll have to drink on the ship.
• You’re likely to drink more if you get the drink package. I’ve found that I drink about 90% more when I have a drink package. Ask yourself, “do I really want to drink that much?” You might be just as happy with a few drinks a day and you’ll end up saving money by not getting the drink package.

Does The Hawaii Beverage Package Include Alcohol?

Before we get into everything the Hawaii Beverage Package includes, I want to clear something up that I get asked about a lot.  Yes, the Hawaii Beverage Package DOES include alcohol.  But it didn’t always include alcohol and that’s why there’s so much confusion around this. 

If you’d sailed on the Pride of America and purchased a beverage package prior to 2019, your vacation would have been as dry as California’s underbrush in August and you’d be just as likely to ignite: “What do you mean my package doesn’t include alcohol?!?”  Why, you ask?  Because (and this next part is speculation, but I think it’s probably true) the lawyers at NCL believed it would violate Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Law.   So what changed?  I don’t know for sure, but I do know that the law in Hawaii didn’t change.  So I suspect NCL’s lawyers were able to figure out a way to remain in compliance and still offer a package that includes alcohol. 

NCL did add this verbiage to their fine print: The purchase of any alcoholic drinks within the Hawaii Beverage Package may, in certain individual circumstances, be restricted in accordance with Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Law and applicable local rules and regulations.      

For practical purposes, that just means don’t get sloppy drunk and go bungee jumping off your balcony, wheeeeee, putting NCL at risk for a wrongful death lawsuit.

What Does The Hawaii Beverage Package Include?

Whether you purchase the Hawaii Beverage Package at retail price or through the “Free at Sea” promotion, here’s what it includes:

• Alcoholic beverages up to $15
• Fountain soda
• Juice
• Bottled water (both flat and sparkling)
• Non-alcoholic beer
• A limited selection of specialty coffee if ordered in the dining rooms

What Does The Hawaii Beverage Package NOT Include?

• The extra cost for alcoholic beverages above $15.  In other words, you can order a drink priced above $15, but you will have to pay the difference for any amount over $15. 
• Specialty coffee at the John Adam’s Café or anywhere outside of the dining rooms.  I have a trick for this though, which I’ll share later.
• Any drink with an extra charge ordered through room service
• Drinks from the mini-bar in your cabin
• Vending machine drinks
• State and local taxes while at port in Hawaii

I want to spend a minute on that last one, because it’s a larger issue on the Pride of America Hawaiian cruise than it is on other sailings. Why, you ask? Because you’ll spend most of the time you’d be drinking docked at port. That means that for the vast majority of drinks you order, you’ll be charged state and local taxes. Here’s a sample receipt from my last sailing on the Pride of America in February 2020 just to give you a sense of how much you’ll pay:

So I paid $1.37 in taxes on $33 in drink charges. That’s just a bit over 4%. While it’s not a significant amount per transaction, it adds up over time, so be sure to save a bit of room in the budget to cover it.

How Does The Hawaii Beverage Package Differ From The Premium Beverage Package

On all other NCL ships, the beverage package is called the “Premium Beverage Package.” For practical purposes the only difference is that you can order from a limited menu of specialty coffees in the main dining rooms with the Hawaii Beverage Package. Specialty coffee in the main dining rooms is not included in the Premium Beverage Package.

Is There A Limit To The Number Of Alcoholic Drinks I Can Order Per Day With The Hawaii Beverage Package?

No. There is no stated limit on the number of drinks you can order per day as long as NCL is in compliance with Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Law and you’re drinking just enough to enjoy your vacation AND get your money’s worth, but not so much that you die, get arrested, or accidentally bid on a piece of art (sold to Prof. Cruise for $5000 above the previous high bid after she tried every martini on the menu at Pink’s).

How Many Alcoholic Drinks Can I Order At Once With The Hawaii Beverage Package?

Double fist it (in other words, two per transaction)! Unless you’re Prof. Cruise. I can barely carry one drink at a time on a moving ship. Or a stationary ship. Or on dry land stone cold sober.

What Bars Are On The Pride Of America?

There are nine bars on the Pride of America: Aloha Lanai Bar, Gold Rush Saloon, John Adams Coffee Bar, Key West Bar and Grill, Waikiki Bar, Pink’s Champagne Bar, Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge, Napa Wine Bar, and Ocean Drive Bar. See below for a brief description of each bar, a menu if I have one (we were on one of the last sailings before cruising was halted due to Covid and no menus were out as a health precaution – however, I asked and was able to photograph most of them).

Aloha Lanai Bar

The Aloha Lanai Bar is located on deck 11 aft and offers a full bar with wine, beer, and cocktails.

Gold Rush Saloon

The Gold Rush Saloon is located on deck 11 midship and offers a number of beers on tap as well as wine and cocktails. This is the place to go if you want to catch a live sporting event on TV.

John Adams Cafe (coffee bar)

Located on deck 5 midship, the John Adams Cafe is where to get specialty coffee and tea (but note that they will not be covered by a drink package). There’s also a full bar. Here’s the coffee menu:

Key West Bar and Grill

The Key West Bar and Grill is located on deck 12 forward and specializes in all your tropical favorites! Here’s the menu followed by some pics of my recommended cocktails (this was one of my favorite spots).

Waikiki Bar

Located on deck 13 aft, the Waikiki Bar is a full bar offering wine, beer, and cocktails. Here’s the menu followed by my two favorite drinks:

Pink’s Champagne Bar

Located on deck 6 midship, Pink’s Champagne Bar was inspired by Hawaii’s Royal Palace Hotel on Waikiki Beach and specializes in champagne and martinis. This was my favorite bar – I’m a martini gal because they make me feel sophisticated when I’m not spilling them into my lap and telling random passengers “this isn’t pee” as I return to my cabin to change for the 3rd time. Here’s the menu and a few of the 1,000+ photos I took before I was cut off due to Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Law.

Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge

Located on deck 6 forward, this lounge features a full bar and nightly entertainment.

Napa Wine Bar

A woman approached me on the Pride of America holding this travel mug and before she could part her lips to speak, I said “deck 6 midship.” “How did you know I was going to ask for directions to the wine bar?” she asked. “Just a hunch,” I replied.

Anyway, here’s the menu for the Napa Wine Bar:

Ocean Drive Bar

This full bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails is located on deck 11 midship and overlooks the South Beach Pool.

Tips For Getting The Most Use Out Of Your Hawaii Beverage Package

Now that we’ve covered which bars are available on the Pride of America, let’s move on to my extra credit pro tips on how to get the most out of the the Hawaii Beverage Package. I want to start with a few tips on how to use the Hawaii Beverage Package in the main dining rooms (MDR) and then I’ll offer some general tips:

MDR Tip: Order A Specialty Coffee In The Main Dining Room

A limited number of specialty coffees are available in the main dining rooms and are covered by your Hawaii Beverage package. These include: espressos, double espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos. Order for breakfast, with lunch and dinner, or with dessert.

MDR Tip: Order A Breakfast Cocktail In The Main Dining Room

My favorites are mimosas, screwdrivers, bloody marys, greyhounds, and coffee with a shot of Baileys.

MDR Tip: Order A Smoothie

We had our 8 year-old son with us on our last Pride of America Sailing and one of our lovely waiters suggested he order a fruit smoothie (which she said would be covered under our HBP). There’s no reason adults can’t order them too, though. Especially after a hot day at port in Hawaii!

MDR Tip: Order Wine, Beer, Or Cocktails With Lunch And Dinner

Here are the drink menus for the MDR’s followed by some pics:

MDR Tip: Order “Off-Menu” Cocktails

You’re not limited to the cocktails on the menu. Feel free to request something “off-menu.” While the MDR doesn’t have all the ingredients necessary to make every drink, they will be able to accommodate most requests (that holds true for the other bars on the ship too).

Tip: Don’t Panic When You See Your Drink Bill

Unlike on other NCL ships where you’ll get a receipt after each transaction that shows a $0 cost for drinks covered under your beverage package, on the Pride of America, your receipt will include the full retail price of your drinks, the gratuity/service charge, and tax. Rest assured though, everything but the tax will be removed before you receive your final bill for onboard purchases. On the receipt above, we only had to pay the $1.37 in tax.

Tip: But DO Double Check Your Final Bill For Onboard Spending

We found a mistake on our final bill – we were charged for several drinks that should have been included in the Hawaii Beverage Package. No biggie, I called guest services and they refunded our credit card. But double check your own bill for errors. It actually pays to do this every few days (you can view it on the TV in your cabin) or even daily as lines and waits for guest services can be longer toward the end of the cruise.

Tip: Go To The Waikiki Bar If You Want To Drink And Smoke

If you want a cigarette with your drink, head to the Waikiki Bar on deck 13 aft. Note that this is the only designated smoking area on the ship.

Tip: Avoid The Waikiki Bar If You Don’t Like Smoke

If you don’t like smoke, I’d avoid the Waikiki bar like you would Prof. Cruise in an elevator after Mexican day at the buffet: “I’ll catch the next one!”

Tip: Grab Boxed Water For Your Port Days

Boxed water is included with the Hawaii Beverage package and can be very handy to keep you hydrated while you’re exploring the islands. Grab a few boxes at the small bar within the buffet as you’re heading out to port in the morning. It’s sealed and can be safely taken off the ship.

Tips: Order Irish Coffee With Baileys

Do you love fancy spiked coffee drinks? Me too! Unfortunately there aren’t any included in the Hawaii Beverage Package. But there are a few hacks you can use to get one. I’ve already mentioned ordering a specialty coffee in the MDR with a shot of Baileys. But you can also order an Irish Coffee with Baileys at the John Adams Coffee Bar and it will be covered under your beverage package. I had many of these on the Pride of America and every time I did, several people asked me what it was. So you’ll get a delicious drink AND make some friends!

Tip: Ask For A To-Go Cup For Your Martini

You can avoid an awkward overshare with strangers regarding the wet spot on your shorts if you ask for your martinis in a “to-go” cup. After six days of multiple wardrobe changes, the bartender at Pink’s finally took pity on me and suggested this. I was being stingy on my extra tips on this cruise, otherwise he probably would have mentioned it on day one. Which brings me to my final tip:

Tip: Tip For Better Service

Here’s a tip, tip. A dollar or two in cash goes a long way in securing excellent service at your bar of choice. You’ve already paid gratuities with your package, so this isn’t required, but it’s appreciated by hard working bartenders and will almost guarantee great service.

Final Thoughts On The Pride Of America’s Hawaii Beverage Package

While I enjoyed having the Hawaii Beverage Package on my first sailing aboard the Pride of America, I probably wouldn’t opt for it again if I could save money on my cruise fare without it. This Hawaii itinerary is all about the ports. I’d rather spend my time and money exploring the beautiful, culturally rich Hawaiian islands.

Either way, I hope you have a wonderful time onboard the Pride of America and in Hawaii! Feel free to ask any questions you may still have in the comments and check out my “35 Tips For Your Cruise To Hawaii On NCL’s Pride Of America” and my Review And Ship Tour Of The Pride Of America.

And if you do decide to get the drink package, don’t forget to pack this:

Class Dismissed.

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