NCL reverts to Free At Sea
Norwegian Cruise Line has officially walked back its short-lived “More at Sea” structure and is returning to a revised version of Free at Sea beginning November 5, 2025. The company is pitching the change as a simplification, but it’s also a clear signal that More at Sea didn’t land the way NCL hoped. Passengers found the bundled system confusing, expensive, and less flexible, and the line is now trying to restore something closer to the benefits people actually recognized.
The updated Free at Sea still offers the familiar mix of perks, but the details have shifted. For a standard seven-night sailing, the package now includes unlimited open bar with premium spirits and a discount on bottles of wine and Champagne, three specialty dining meals for the first and second guests, 150 minutes of high-speed internet per person, and a fifty-dollar shore excursion credit for the first guest. Unlike More at Sea, the program is optional again. Travelers can decline the beverage or dining components if they don’t want them. The Wi-Fi minutes and excursion credit are automatic for everyone.
These updates highlight how sharply NCL is steering away from the fully bundled model they introduced with More at Sea. That program forced guests into bigger packages, bigger service charges, and fewer choices. People who didn’t drink, didn’t use specialty dining, or preferred their own excursions were still paying for things they didn’t value. Returning to Free at Sea gives back some control, although the perks are now standardized and not as variable or customizable as they used to be. The internet is no longer “unlimited,” the excursion credit is flat, and the specialty dining is capped.
NCL’s public explanation focuses on making the offer effortless and consistent. Behind that language is the reality that the old bundle created more confusion than clarity, especially for new cruisers comparing value across brands. Going back to Free at Sea brings the program closer to what people recognized, but it’s not an exact reversion. The structure is tighter, the inclusions are slimmer, and the service charges will still add up.
Anyone who booked under More at Sea before November 5 is grandfathered into that older package, which means two systems will run side by side for a while. Travelers comparing fares during this transition should read the inclusions carefully, because the value calculation is different depending on which program your sailing falls under.
Overall, the return of Free at Sea feels like NCL acknowledging that simplicity sells better than forced bundling. The new version may not be as generous as the pre-2024 era, but it gives guests clearer expectations and more choice than More at Sea ever did.
