Update (11/5/2025): Norwegian Cruise Line has officially confirmed that Free at Sea will be returning. More details about the announcement and changers can be found here.
Original Article:
Rumors are swirling online about a major change coming to Norwegian Cruise Line, with many speculating that NCL will soon bring back its Free at Sea program. This would replace the current More at Sea package, which itself was a rebranded version of NCL’s original Free at Sea program.
The rumor first surfaced on Cruise Critic, where one user claimed that a travel agent’s leaked video announcing Free at Sea’s return was quickly taken down.
That post has created widespread discussion online, with many pointing to information published on CruiseDirect about the upcoming package changes.
As Candid Cruise and Travel previously reported, a significant update to Norwegian Cruise Line’s pricing program is rumored to take effect on November 5, 2025. While numerous travel agents have cited this date online, most have shared only limited details. It’s important to note that Norwegian Cruise Line has not yet made any public announcement confirming these changes.
What’s rumored to change under the new Free at Sea program
While Norwegian has not officially announced anything, information posted on CruiseDirect provides a detailed look at what could be coming.
In addition to these details, one user on CruiseCritic shared a chart of the upcoming changes. The shared chart aligns with CruiseDirect’s information about the More at Sea changes.
The site confirms that NCL’s Free at Sea program will return and apply to all new bookings made on or after November 5, 2025, for sailings departing the same day and beyond.
According to CruiseDirect, the new program will function as an all-inclusive perks bundle and offer more than $2,000 in total value per stateroom. Free at Sea will continue combining unlimited beverages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credits for a fixed daily fee.
These leaked details confirm many of the rumors circulating in forums: Free at Sea will simplify pricing, but the biggest changes will affect guests sailing longer than seven nights. Under the new program, NCL cruisers on longer itineraries will lose bonus dining credits, additional Wi-Fi minutes, and the previous discount on drink upgrades.
Here’s how the new Free at Sea structure looks
Gratuities
One of the biggest rumored changes is the inclusion of gratuities in the pricing. Daily service charges (DSC) and gratuities would be automatically included in the cruise fare, and passengers could not be able to opt out.
Unlimited Open Bar
Guests 21 and older receive unlimited premium-brand drinks every day of the cruise, covering cocktails up to $15 each. A $15 discount applies to higher-end drinks, with 20% off bottles of wine and no corkage fee for wine brought onboard.
Norwegian Cruise Line will charge $28.50 per person, per day in gratuities, which must be prepaid.
Guests under 21 get the unlimited soda package for $12.50 per person, per day. There are no à la carte alcohol or dining packages outside Free at Sea, though Starbucks and bottled-water packages remain available.
Specialty Dining
Applies to the first two guests in each stateroom, and allocated dining credits are based solely on cruise length.
Each meal includes up to three appetizers, one entrée, and three desserts. Once used, guests may continue to dine at specialty venues by paying the cover charge ($40–$60 depending on restaurant). Haven restaurant dining remains complimentary for suite guests.
Here’s what the breakdown looks like:
| Itinerary Length | Number of Specialty Dining Meals |
|---|---|
| 2–4 nights | 1 meal |
| 5–6 nights | 2 meals |
| 7–8 nights | 3 meals |
| 9+ nights | 4 meals |
Internet Minutes
Every guest in the stateroom receives 150 minutes of internet, regardless of cruise length.
Optional upgrades are available, including the Voyage Wi-Fi Pass ($29.99/day) and Streaming Voyage Wi-Fi Pass ($39.99/day).
Shore Excursion Credit
The first guest on each reservation receives a $50 credit per port toward excursions, which can be combined with Latitudes loyalty discounts.
Terms and Conditions
According to the terms shared by CruiseDirect, this would apply to new bookings made in all stateroom categories on or after November 5, 2025, for sailings departing the same day or later. The new pricing is available for all stateroom categories, including IX, OX, BX, and MX sail-away cabins.
Existing More at Sea reservations will remain unchanged unless repriced or upgraded after November 5, 2025. Guests can add Free at Sea up to 24 hours before sailing via MyNCL or by calling the cruise line.
CruiseDirect’s site notes that these new terms will take effect on November 5, 2025, while More at Sea remains valid for bookings through November 4, 2025.
How NCL cruisers are responding to the rumors
On Cruise Critic, reactions are mixed. Some are excited to see Free at Sea return, along with the potential of the Free at Sea Plus upgrade option returning.
However, others are frustrated by what they see as another round of cutbacks after a string of recent disappointing changes. For instance, some see NCL’s switchback to “Free at Sea” as reminiscent of HBO Max’s brief rebrand to “Max,” only to revert to “HBO Max” shortly afterward.
Many longtime NCL cruisers say the rumored changes feel more like a rebranding than a rollback, since the new structure simplifies the math while reducing some of the inclusions for longer voyages.
Frequent cruisers note that Wi-Fi minutes are being reduced and the top-tier dining allotment drops from five to four meals. Interestingly, cruisers were specifically hoping that NCL would provide unlimited internet access with their packaging. However, minutes are seemingly getting reduced for longer voyages.
The inclusion of daily service charges (DSC) in the fare is one of the most substantial changes. This change aligns with competitor Virgin Voyages, which includes prepaid gratuities in the cruise fare.
However, guests note that you lose the option to remove gratuities with this new pricing structure. Some welcomed the change, saying it ends the tipping debate, while others disliked losing flexibility.
Many users believe NCL is responding to backlash from More at Sea, which was widely viewed as confusing and overly complicated when it launched last year. Others argue that the rebrand is simply a marketing adjustment designed to streamline pricing while maintaining profitability.
Norwegian Cruise Line hasn’t officially announced changes to the public
As of now, NCL has made no official announcement about a change to its onboard promotions. Several sources online have confirmed that travel agents were told to hold details until the official reveal on November 5, suggesting an embargo is in place.
Until then, it’s all speculation, but between CruiseDirect’s published details and the widely shared Facebook chart, many cruisers are treating the news as all but confirmed.
If the rumors are true, NCL’s upcoming change marks a return to familiar branding and simpler perks, but with fewer benefits for those sailing longer itineraries.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on rumors and discussions shared online from various public sources. While we strive for accuracy, none of these details have been officially confirmed by the cruise line at the time of publication. Readers should treat this information as speculative until an announcement is made.
