Have an upcoming cruise on NCL? You’re no doubt excited, but might have some questions on what exactly to expect and maybe some tips to help your trip go more smoothly.
Above all, you should know that you’re about to have a great time. Norwegian is a popular cruise line and one of our personal favorites.
But if you’ve never been on the cruise line, there things to know that can make your trip better.
Overview: What It’s Like to Sail Aboard Norwegian
Before we get into the things to know, you might be wondering what it’s like to sail aboard Norwegian Cruise Line… and how it is different from other cruise lines. For that, we have an entire guide to sailing NCL here.
In general all those things that you love about taking a cruise on any line apply to Norwegian. If you’ve sailed other lines, you will likely find the experience to be similar overall.
For instance, the ships are almost works of art (especially newer ones) and an engineering marvel. There’s a big focus on things to do on the ship, and it starts with your time around the pool, often with large pool decks, plenty of chairs, as well as things like putt-putt, sport courts, and more to keep everyone occupied. There’s also a big focus on food and drink; there’s no way that you will go hungry or thirsty on your cruise.
But while Norwegian Cruise Line might offer an experience that cruisers know and love, there are some touches that set the cruise line apart from others.
A Focus on Outdoors: While any cruise ship will have outdoor space, Norwegian seems to be on a trend toward opening up the outdoors to the indoors. For instance, some newer ships have observation lounges with tall multi-story windows with 180-degree views. Ships also focus a lot on outdoor dining, and promenades that offer sea views around the entire ship. NCL also likes to put open promenades down closer to the ocean, putting you nearer to the sea.
The Haven: If you’re a cruise passenger with a higher budget, then Norwegian offers The Haven, which is unique to their ships. Instead of just offering a suite, The Haven is essentially a “resort within a resort.” In addition to luxurious (and large) rooms, the area has private entry, its own pool, restaurant, and bar. It offers the small ship experience with larger ship amenities. Other lines are catching on with this trend (such as Celebrity’s The Retreat), but it’s arguably NCL where you’ll see it most.
Cruise Line Size: We like to think of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian as the “Big Three” cruise lines. They dominate the market. But when it comes to size, Norwegian is the smallest of these three. What does that mean for you? Once on the ship, it means very little. But when planning, Norwegian sails from fewer ports and has fewer total sailings than its bigger rivals, so you don’t have as many options.
Free at Sea: It’s common for cruise lines to offer a base fare and then anything extra — from wi-fi to drinks — costs extra. Norwegian does that too, but it also offers the Free at Sea offer. With this, you buy your cruise fare and then you can get a number of perks included with your cruise. It’s a convenient way to have a more all-inclusive experience that not all lines offer.
Tips & Things to Know About Sailing Norwegian Cruise Lines
Now that you have an idea of what you can expect on board, below we’ve pulled together some of our favorite tips and things to know for sailing on a Norwegian cruise. Use these ideas to make your trip as much fun as possible, but also potentially save money, time, and have a better vacation.
Sail on the Newer Ships When Possible (There’s a Big Difference!)
Over the last few years Norwegian has made big headlines by introducing some of the most extravagant ships at sea. Ships like the Norwegian Joy, Bliss, Encore, Prima, and Viva take cruising to another level with the public areas, restaurants, and things to do on the ship. For instance, you can even ride go-karts or dabble in virtual reality — all on a ship that’s built with a luxury feel (especially the new Prima-class vessels).
While older ships are typically cheaper to sail, we’ve found them smaller and with fewer things to do on board. Unless you only want to sit by the pool and relax (and many people do!), newer ships offer so much more to passengers, and the design and atmosphere is second-to-none.
So if you have the means, we recommend sailing on the newer ships.
Download the NCL App (It’s Free)
Everyone has an app these days, including cruise lines. The big difference? Instead of doing something silly like showing how you will look when you’re older, the cruise line apps — including the NCL app — are extremely useful.
Download it for free and you can use it for tons of things on the ship. It includes deck plans (so you don’t get lost), an overview of your onboard spending, the daily schedules, and you can even book reservations and excursions. Best of all, you don’t have to purchase wi-fi on the ship to use the app.
Make Reservations Early (As Early As You Can)
These days there is a lot to do on new ships from specialty restaurants to activities onboard. The thing is that with thousands of people on the ship and only a certain amount of open spots, the restaurants and things to do can fill up quickly. That’s why Norwegian has implemented a reservation system.
One piece of advice — sign up as early as you know you want to do something. Space is at a premium given that many people have specialty restaurant meals included with Free at Sea. You can do so through the app, through your online account, via phone, or once you are on the ship. No matter how you do it, just make sure you try and reserve a spot early so that you don’t miss out.
The “Free at Sea” Offer Can Still Cost Money
One of the big draws to Norwegian has been their “Free at Sea” offer. You book a cabin and you can get the regular bare-bones fare, or you can get a number of perks included for a slightly fare. The perks include everything from shore excursion credit to alcohol packages to wi-fi.
You can choose whether or not to take advantage of the deal and even which perks you would like.
One thing to watch out for is there are still charges here on some times. If you select an option that typically has gratuity — like the alcoholic drink package — then you still have to pay. For instance, the drink package costs $28.50 per person, per day. A couple on a weeklong cruise would pay a total of about $399 with the “free” drink offer.
Keep this in mind. You’re still getting a good deal as far as a drink package for $28.50, but it might be an added expense you didn’t realize you’d have to pay. It’s similar with specialty dining meals that are included, where there is a $20 per meal fee.
If you don’t want to pay these amounts, you can choose to deselect them and forego the charge. Other items like wi-fi and shore excursion credits will still be included.
Norwegian Casinos Are a Great Place to Learn Games
Lots of people that go on cruises love the casino. It’s a fun way to spend some time at sea whether you’re a serious gambler or just like to bet a few bucks.
Always wanted to try a new casino game but been too intimidated? That’s understandable. It’s scary to saddle up next to a bunch of pros at a blackjack table or when rolling dice in a craps game.
On Norwegian, the casino offers daily classes on games. Here, newbies can take their turn learning the rules and playing practice rounds without risking cash.
Even without the classes, cruise ship casinos are a great place to get your feet wet with new games. Limits are low, making it less intimidating for beginners.
Want to Cruise Hawaii? Norwegian Is Your Best Bet (Here’s Why)
Is Hawaii on your bucket list? Then check out cruises aboard NCL’s Pride of America. Through U.S. law, foreign-flagged vessels can’t pick up passengers from an American port and take to to another American port without having a stop in a foreign country. The vast majority of cruise ships are flagged under a foreign nation. That means to go to Hawaii, they have to put in a visit to another country along the way.
That’s why most cruise lines leave a port like Los Angeles, sail to Hawaii, and then return for a quick visit to Mexico before heading home. Given the distance, however, it ends up to be a lot of time at sea.
NCL, operates Pride of America — the only major cruise ship we know of that’s flagged under the United States. That means it can sail all around the Hawaiian Islands, instead of spending days traveling to another country to comply with the law. So instead of spending days at sea, you spend more time exploring Hawaii and simply fly back and forth from the mainland.
Dine Outside for Fantastic Views
For some reason cruise ships seem to keep getting bigger and better but continue to bring you more inside to the shops and the restaurants. One thing that Norwegian does really well is give passengers places to connect with the ocean. One example is their outside dining.
Now, you might think that sitting outside to eat during a cruise is pretty simple. Truth is, there’s a lot to take into consideration, including the sun, rain, and the constant wind as the ship is underway.
Norwegian, however, takes all this into account with covered spots to eat that are also out of the wind. The result? A number of great places where you can sit outside, sip a drink, and enjoy a meal without having to worry about a sunburn or the wind carrying your napkin away.
The Fish (Or Other Designs) Face Forward to Tell You Where You’re Headed
A quick and easy tip to help you get your bearings on the ship — the fish face forward. Let us explain…
In the halls of the ship where there aren’t any windows, it’s easy to get turned around. All the cabin doors look the same and the hallways are long. You could walk for hundreds of feet before realizing you’re going in the wrong direction. In this case, just look down.
Some Norwegian ships have carpets with a design with lots of small fish. On other ships it’s a design with random triangles. As an aid to passengers, all the of these face forward. So you are walking in the direction of the fish or the triangles on the carpet, you’re going forward. Walking the opposite direction? Then you’re headed aft.
This can save you a lot of time, frustration, and wasted steps as you leave the cabin and head to go have fun. Look down, and the fish will tell you where to go.
Get Your Spot at the Pool Early on Harvest Caye
One of the favorite stops by Norwegian ships is Harvest Caye. The private island in the southwest Caribbean is a beach-lover’s paradise. There’s ample space to lay out by the beach, a huge freshwater pool, restaurants, bars, shops, ziplines and more. And because it’s only for Norwegian cruise ships, it’s like your own personal paradise.
One tip is to head to the pool first thing on the island and stake out a spot. Even visiting on a smaller ship, we’ve found that the chairs around the pool fill up quickly. It’s by far the most popular spot on the island.
If you head over in the late morning or early afternoon, there might not be a single open chair. During our visit we didn’t hit the pool until the peak time and had to just set our stuff on the ground. Crowds are much thinner in the early morning or late afternoon when many have headed back to the ship already.
Now, we’re not saying to be a chair hog. So don’t just set your stuff down and leave. But if you know you want some pool time, try to do it early.
Head to the 24-Hour Restaurant for Fresher Food
While cruise ship buffets are on every ship, not everyone is a fan of them. Want something fresher that’s made special for you? Head to the 24-hour restaurant on the ship.
Each Norwegian ship will have a restaurant (O’Sheehans on some, The Local on others) that serves around the clock. Have a seat, get whatever you want on the menu, and you don’t have to pay anything. The nice part is that there is a variety of things to eat, and it’s prepared for you instead of being intended to feed the masses.
Are You an Investor? You Could Get Up to $250 Onboard Credit
Most of the major cruise lines are actually part of larger public companies, including NCL. That means you can actually own a stake in the ship that you sail. Shares of the company trade under the ticker “NCLH”. And for those owning at least 100 shares at the time of sailing, then you are eligible for a shareholder benefit.
The amount of the benefit depends on the length of your cruise, and is currently set as follows:
- $250 onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 15 days or more
- $100 onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 14 days
- $50 onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or fewer
You’ll need to submit some documentation before you sail. If you want to take advantage, then you can read more about the benefit here.
No Reservation? There Might Still Be Space Available
Miss out on making a reservation before a specialty restaurant was booked up? Head down anyway. Reservations are important, but there is still a chance you can get a seat.
Often times people make reservations and then don’t show. Or other times there is still a space, even if the reservation list is full.
The best bet is to show up early or late in the dining time — not during the peak when most people want to eat. In fact, we’ve personally showed up to a restaurant that had a full reservation list and found it largely empty when it first opened, allowing us to grab dinner with no problem.
NCL Has the Youngest (Major) Fleet in the Industry
There’s no arguing that the salt and sun take a toll on anything near the coast — especially ships. At the same time, the pace of development on cruise ships is breathtaking. A ship built 20 years ago barely even compares to a ship built today.
That’s why it’s noteworthy that NCL features the youngest fleet of any of the major cruise lines. In fact, its oldest ship was built in 1998, but many more ships have been built recently. A total of 10 have been built in the past 15 years. And with the addition of its Prima class — where one new ship is slated to join in 2026, 2027, and 2028 — that fleet should continue to stay fresh.
Solo Cruisers Have a Home on NCL
Solo cruising seems to be growing in popularity and there’s no line that’s better for it than NCL.
Any cruise line lets you sail alone, but typically passengers are charged double occupancy. So a $500 fare ends up being $1,000 whether you sail with two people or just by yourself.
With NCL, they offer solo cabins across ships, which don’t see this double occupancy charge. And in many cases the solo cabins are actually in their own part of the ship, complete with a solo lounge where you can grab a snack and hang out with solo cruisers if you like.
Steakhouse Offerings for a Fraction of the Cost
The steakhouse on the ship — Cagney’s — is an extra charge and it can be significant. If you want to eat steakhouse quality for cheaper, hit the main dining room.
The food in the dining room is included with the meal but there’s also a “paid” section with entrees from the steakhouse. This includes ribeye steaks, filet mignon, and lobster.
What you pay here is significantly less expensive than paying to dine at Cagney’s, but for the same quality. As a bonus, you don’t have to to worry about reservations or getting too dressed up.
Be Prepared For Higher Prices
As mentioned above, Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” offering is popular… and for good reason. For just a little more, you can get a lot of extras included with your cruise. This can be everything from wi-fi minutes to drink packages to shore excursion credit.
One thing to note, however, is that if you don’t opt for this — and even if you do — you should be prepared for higher prices than what you see on many other lines. We find they seem to charge more for extras on the ship compared to other lines.
For example, gratuities cost $20 per person, per day for most cabins (and $25 for higher-end rooms). Then there are charges for things like the go-karts and the Galaxy Pavilion (a high-end video gaming experience) on newer ships.
Bottom line, it seems that NCL prices many things at a premium. Don’t have sticker shock.
Great Stirrup Cay Is Getting a BIG Makeover
Great Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas is a must-see. It features beautiful beaches, activities, food, and more, and it’s all for the exclusive use of NCL passengers.
It’s literally right next to Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay but it’s been by far the less developed of the two with it comes to things to do. That’s changing.
The island in undergoing the addition of a number of features from a new pier (so no more tendering back and forth from the ship) to a huge pool and a wild waterpark that’s coming soon. If you’ve visited before but it’s been awhile, it promises to offer a lot more to see and do than just a few years ago.
Sugarcane Mojito Bar Can’t Miss
Every cruise line has their own unique bars like Carnival’s Alchemy Bar or Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar. One of the special ones on NCL is the Sugarcane Mojito Bar.
This spot features an intimate setting that’s filled with comfy leather seats and dark wood panels that give you a Cuban vibe. But what’s special is the menu. It’s all focused on mojitos.
You can try a jalapeno cucumber mojito, or a pineapple coconut style. One that we thought sounded most interesting is the Floridita, made with Bacardi, grapefruit juice, maraschino liqueur, and lime.
Even if you’re not a huge mojito fan, the vibe and atmosphere is something you’ll want to stop and enjoy.
Bring White (or Neon) Clothing for the Party
One tip is if you are sailing the Caribbean, you’ll want to bring some white or neon clothing with you. On trips to this area, the cruise line often puts on white — or now moving to “glow” — parties on the pool deck. So you’ll head out to poolside at night, listen to some music, dance, and generally have a great time while all glammed up in either white or neon.
And after the main party, there is likely an afterparty located in the ship’s nightclub.
Wi-Fi Package Prices Fall Through the Trip
There’s no arguing that NCL likes to push prices higher. In fact, cruise line executives have said as much. That can lead to some pricey items on the ship. For example, the highest-tier of wi-fi service runs a staggering $40 per day if bought onboard, and you buy service for a whole cruise.
But there is a way you can save some money. We’ve noticed that after each day you can still buy the internet package, but the total cost reduces day by day. So if you buy the $40 service on the first day of a 7-day cruise, you’ll pay about $280 for the trip. Wait until the next day, and the price drops to around $240, and so on.
So if you can go without for a couple of days at the start of the cruise, you should be able to save some considerable money.
Boarding Early Means Waiting on a Cabin
We all want to get on the ship early and start our vacation. What we’ve noticed, however, is that boarding early (before 1-2 p.m.) usually means having to wait for your cabin to be ready. So you’ll board the ship and find that the doorways to the cabin hallways will be closed off.
You can still enjoy the ship, but you’ll either have to drop off your luggage as you board and come back later to pick it up (there is a location where they will hold bags until rooms are ready), or explore the ship with your bag in tow.
Or you can just wait to board later and be able to go right to your room as you get on the ship.
Souvenir Glasses Make Cool Keepsakes
Souvenir glasses for drinks aren’t anything new in cruising. But often they are honestly pretty tacky or gaudy. They may be fun on the cruise ship, but they are nothing you’d really use at home.
On Norwegian Cruise Line, it’s a bit different. They offer souvenir glasses you can take home, but they offer cool styles. For instance, there is a porcelain tiki glass that would be perfect for sipping something in the summer back home. Or maybe you’d rather a porcelain pineapple mug?
The point is, instead of being junky plastic cups that get tossed after a few months, these glasses are things that you’ll actually want to use again.
Norwegian Doesn’t Allow Drinks Onboard
Something to know for those soda drinkers who might have a favorite brand — NCL as a whole serves Coca-Cola products. You won’t find Pepsi or other products from that company on the ship.
As well, Norwegian also doesn’t let you bring on beverages (other than a bottle of wine/champagne) when you board, unlike other cruise lines. So you can’t just bring on your preferred beverage for your trip.
So if you have a drink that you just can’t live without, then you’re going to have to wait until you reach a port of call.
More on Sailing NCL:
- Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide
- Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work
- Good Deal? Everything to Know About Norwegian’s “Free At Sea” Sale
