Norwegian tests 'all-you-can-drink' alcohol package

Add Norwegian Cruise Line to the list of major cruise operators testing "all-you-can-drink" alcohol packages.

The Miami-based company has begun offering what it is calling an all-inclusive drinks package on three of its 11 ships — the Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade — at $49 per person per day plus gratuity.

Norwegian is following in the footsteps of industry giant Carnival, which has been testing an unlimited drinks package on a handful of ships since August.

Carnival's new "My Awesome Bar Program" package costs $42.95 per person per day plus an automatic 15% gratuity of $6.44. It can be used to order all wines by the glass, beer and individual cocktails priced at $10 and less as well as sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks.

A spokesperson for Norwegian didn't respond to questions about limits on its new drinks package, but cruisers who have experienced it on ships have posted on cruise fan sites that it also is limited to drinks priced at $10 and less.

The new packages from Norwegian and Carnival come a year after rival Royal Caribbean rolled out similar alcohol packages on three ships based overseas. Celebrity Cruises added beverage packages that include alcoholic drinks fleetwide in 2010.