Cruise line to offer free drinks on Miami-based ship

MIAMI (AP) - Norwegian Cruise Line is offering free booze to attract more customers on short cruises out of Miami.

The cruise line says it will include wine, beer, spirits and soda up to $11 in the cost of the fare on Norwegian Sky starting in January. The ship sails from Miami on three- and four-day cruises.

The Miami Herald reports the company slightly raised the base price of cruises on the 2,204-passenger ship for next year, but not as much as it would cost to buy a drinks package on other cruise lines. Those packages typically run about $50 a day per person.

Norwegian president and chief operating officer Andy Stuart says the company decided to offer free drinks to help boost demand rather than slash prices, which is the industry standard.