Norwegian Cruise Line — more commonly known as NCL — is a powerhouse in cruising. A fleet of roughly 20 ships takes cruisers everywhere from Hawaii to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, and more.
Never sailed it before? These days I’ve sailed it time and time again and I can tell you that there are definite things to know even if you’ve sailed other lines before. So what would I wish I knew before sailing NCL? I’ll share it all, right now…
The Big Difference Between New & Old Ships
Now I haven’t sailed every single NCL ship, but in my mind there are two major groups. There’s the “new” group, which are ships in the Breakaway and Prima class and then there’s the “old” group that includes the ships built before 2010.
Yes, there are differences between the ships within these two groups themselves as they contain multiple classes, but I’ve found the bigger difference is between the new and old groups themselves.
The older group? Well, they are cruise ships, similar to what you’d find elsewhere. Some passengers will really like them as they are smaller ships with fewer people. They are also kept up well.
But it’s the newer ships where NCL seems to have branched out and flexed their muscle. There’s a different character to these ships — and in my opinion more of a focus on higher-end design and atmosphere. There’s also a lot more packed onboard from restaurants to things to do and more.
So if you want to see what sets NCL apart from other lines, the newer ships are a better showcase.
A Higher-End Experience Than Other Lines
Along those lines, what is the difference between NCL and other mass-market lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean?
In my opinion you really see it most with newer ships, but NCL seems to be carving out a niche among the big lines as approachable luxury. Royal Caribbean focuses on big ships with lots to do. Carnival focuses on emphasizing fun on their ships. NCL aims for a higher-end experience while still being approachable.
Honestly, you see it the most with the newest ships. The design and decor just oozes modern style. To me they look much more like a modern and stylish resort hotel rather than a cruise ship.
Then there are spots like The Haven, which NCL pushes really hard. This is a “resort within a resort” with higher-end rooms and private areas like its own pool and lounges that feel more like a boutique hotel.
Will you feel out of place if you just want to hang out in shorts and a t-shirt? Absolutely not, but if you like things classed up a little, NCL is a good option.
Solo Cruisers Have a Home
There’s one niche of passengers that should absolutely love NCL because they offer something that’s extremely rare in cruising.
When you book a normal cruise cabin, you’re charged double occupancy, so the price you pay is twice the headline rate, even if sailing solo. In this way, solo cruisers really get hosed, but NCL is a bit different in that they cater to solo passengers.
Many ships have solo cabins that are smaller but don’t see the double occupancy charge, saving you money. And these are often set apart from the rest of the ship with a lounge and special events for those staying in this area.
This is something that most cruise lines simply don’t do, and it makes NCL stand out if you’re planning to sail alone.
Be Ready for Upcharges (And Some Higher Prices) Around the Ship
For you, a cruise is a vacation. For the cruise line, it’s a business. That’s why anyone that’s taken a cruise is familiar with all the upcharge opportunities on a cruise.
NCL seems to take this to heart. I find that upcharges around the ship seem to be everywhere, and often at higher prices than what’s seen on other lines. For instance, the daily gratuity is $20 per person for most rooms, higher than what you see with lines like Carnival or Royal Caribbean.
There are also upcharges for many activities such as the go-karts or the beach club on many ships. And entertainment options like Wheel of Fortune require you to buy a card to play along.
Now, I’m not saying they are alone in this. You’re seeing it everywhere across cruising. But to me, NCL is a leader in pushing prices around the ship.
Free at Sea Can Be a Great Deal
Now, I can’t say that I think Norwegian leads on charges around the ship without covering something it does to make budgeting easier… and that’s the cruise line’s Free at Sea offer that applies to all the cruises.
“Free at Sea” is a bit of a misnomer in my eyes, but it’s still a pretty good deal. With this offer, you buy the cruise and then get a bunch of perks included. This includes things like the drink package, specialty dining meals, wi-fi, shore excursion credit, and even free airfare for a second guest.
It’s a great way to get a lot included with the cruise, but don’t let the Free at Sea name confuse you. Some of the things like the shore excursion credit and the wi-fi are included with the fare at no extra cost.
But the drink package and specialty dining meals do see extra charges. Still, the rates are below what you’d expect on other lines. For instance, the open bar offer is $28.50 per person, per day. Specialty dining is $20 per meal.
For a couple sailing on a 7-day cruise, that Free at Sea drink package is actually upwards of $400. Still a good deal, but not exactly “free” in my thinking.
If you don’t want to pay, you can simply remove the offer for these extra items.
What to Know About Food & Restaurants
Let’s talk a bit about what you’ll wish you knew about food on NCL from someone that’s sailed the line many times.
First, like other lines, there are two tiers of food. There’s the included restaurants and then the specialty restaurants. Included restaurants are the buffet, the dining room, and there’s a 24-hour sit-down restaurant that’s sometimes called The Local and sometimes called O’Sheehans.
The food in these spots, it’s on par with what you’d find on other lines. So it’s pretty good, but nothing groundbreaking.
There’s a big emphasis on specialty dining and depending on the ship, you can have everything from Texas-style BBQ to Italian, Mexican, sushi, seafood, and more. These spots are fantastic every time I’ve dined and because of the free at sea, you likely get at least one or more meals included with your cruise. Take advantage.
Given that everyone has access, definitely reserve ahead of time as they seem to fill up. That said, I’ve gone down to eat without a reservation when the restaurant shows as full and found there to be plenty of space.
No Soda or Water Is Allowed in Luggage
One little quirk of NCL is something that’s no big deal to a lot of people but it could cost you some money.
No cruise line lets you bring on liquor or beer. Most let you bring on a bottle or two of wine or champagne, along with a 12-pack of non-alcoholic drinks.
Norwegian is different. First, they do let you bring on wine or champagne. But their rules state that any bottles brought on will be subject to a $15 corkage fee, even if you drink them only in the stateroom. Most lines aren’t so strict with the fee.
And when it comes to non-alcoholic beverages, NCL doesn’t allow passengers to bring them onboard at all. The only exception is purified water for baby formula or to used with a medical device like a CPAP.
But if you want to bring on a 12-pack of Coke, you’re out of luck.
A Common Complaint About the Newest Ships
A little earlier, I talked about the difference between the older part of the fleet and the newer part of the fleet. I want to focus a little on the newest ships, NCL’s Prima class.
Now, I want to be clear that I have yet to sail on these ships, but I was invited aboard for a tour. Frankly, I was blown away. To me, they were among the most stylish cruise ships I’ve seen. Both are a definite step above what you normally see on a mass-market cruise line.
One thing I noticed and liked was that Prima’s design made a lot of the areas feel more cozy instead of feeling like huge open spaces. For instance, the dining room curved around, hiding most others from your line of view instead of a massive dining room. To me, it made the ship feel more intimate.
However, I toured when there weren’t a ton of people on the ship. A common complaint seems to be that when the ship is full, the smaller spaces make it feel crowded and cramped. I can’t speak to that first hand, but it does seem possible. It wouldn’t scare me off these ships as they are beautiful, but just something to know before you sail.
The Hidden Directions in the Carpet
One of my favorite little things I’ve learned in sailing that you’ll wish you knew before you board has to do with getting around the ship.
If you walk down a cruise ship hallway, it’s a little like a funhouse in that it’s easy to get disoriented. It’s just door after door after door with no windows. Theoretically, you could walk for a while in the complete opposite direction of the way you want to go and not ever realize it.
NCL has a little tweak to help you, if you notice it. They like to put direction clues in the hallway carpets. On many ships it’s a school of fish. They all face forward, so if you walk the way they swim, then you’re going to the front of the ship.
We’ve also seen triangles in the carpet, with the points going forward like the photo above.
So the next time you’re wondering where you’re headed, just look down.
Outdoor Spaces See a Big Emphasis
Finally, there’s one big positive I see on NCL ships — especially newer ones — that sets them apart. Despite being on the ocean, it actually seems like many ships cut you off from the outdoors and the water. Sure, there’s always a pool deck, but most other areas with outdoor access seem like an afterthought.
On NCL, there’s a much bigger emphasis on the outdoors, especially closer to the water. The newer ships have waterfront promenades, which give you space to enjoy much closer to the actual water. And this isn’t just tossing a couple of deck chairs out and calling it a day. They are a main feature of the ship, complete with outdoor dining. In the case of newer ships, there are even art pieces installed here and pools to enjoy.
It’s a little hard to explain because it’s not like other lines completely ignore outdoor spaces near the water. But when you sail NCL, it’s just a feeling that there is more emphasis on this aspect of cruising.
More on Sailing NCL:
- Good Deal? Everything to Know About Norwegian’s “Free At Sea” Offer
- 20+ Norwegian Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Things to Know Before You Sail
