Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the most popular mainstream cruise lines, offering families a variety of ships sailing worldwide. However, nobody wants to plan a cruise vacation just to be hit with a bunch of additional fees.
Before booking your Norwegian cruise, you'll want to understand what is and isn't included. For example, certain beverages cost extra, as well as shore excursions in port.
While it might seem minimal at first, cruise add-ons can be costly, especially for a large family. If you don't budget properly, your vacation could be ruined.
Here's everything you MUST know about what's included in Norwegian's cruise fare.
Accommodations
At its core, your Norwegian cruise fare includes your accommodation. The price of the fare is largely determined by which stateroom category you book. For example, inside cabins are more affordable than balconies and suites.
The cruise fare can also fluctuate depending on how many passengers are staying in your stateroom. Sometimes, Norwegian offers deals where third and fourth guests sail for free or for a reduced amount.
Food and beverages
The food is one of the best parts of a Norwegian cruise! Thankfully, there are a lot of complimentary restaurants to choose from if you want to get your money's worth:
- Main Dining Rooms with daily rotating menus and a range of cuisines. Norwegian’s signature Freestyle Dining allows for flexible dining times, which allows cruisers to come when they please.
- A buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There's something for everyone!
- 24-hour joints such as O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, an Irish-style pub with great classics to satisfy late-night munchies.
- Shanghai's Noodle Bar treats guests to Asian cruising featuring freshly prepared noodles, delicious wok-fried dishes, authentic soups, and more.
- Main Pool Bar & Grill for quick bites and grilled favorites
- Coffee, teas, and pastries at select cafes
Guests may also enjoy a selection of complimentary drinking including tea and coffee, select juices, and water.
Activities and entertainment
Once guests have finished enjoying meals, there are plenty of amenities and activities to keep them busy that are included in their base fare. Norwegian is known for its rich entertainment options that include a variety of shows such as Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, Beetlejuice, Burn the Floor, and The Choir of Man.
- Live Music
- Theme parties
- Comedy Club
- Variety Shows
- Games
- Trivia
- Night Clubs
Amenities/Activities
- Pools and hot tubs
- Waterpark with slides
- Sports Complex
- Basketball
- Table tennis
- Fitness Centre
- Mini Golf
- Jogging track
- Ropes course
With its newer ships, Norwegian has added fun, thrill-seeking activities including a new improved race track, laser tag, interactive mini-golf, and Galaxy Pavilion virtual reality complex. Unfortunately, these have additional fees.
Kids programs
Kids clubs can be tons of fun for all ages, and Norwegian offers lots of complimentary options. Splash Academy for Kids is the cruise line’s complimentary age-based, kids' programs offering:
- Guppies for ages 6 months to 3, where kids enjoy sensory play, music, and activities focused on movement and colors. However, parents must accompany their child.
- Turtles for ages 3-5 offers arts & crafts, circus school, developmental activities, storytelling, parades, and treasure hunts.
- Seals for ages 6-8 offer circus skills such as scarf juggling, plate spinning, and rope spinning. Also included are theme nights, painting, sports, games, parades, treasure hunts, and video games.
- Dolphins for ages 10-12 have more advanced circus skills such as stilts, ball juggling, and devil sticks. Kids participate in scavenger hunts, themed nights (survivor/spy), sports, team-building activities, and video games.
- Entourage for Teens provides a dedicated hang-out, where teens get to play video games, watch movies, and enjoy arts, music and sports with people their own age away from their parents.
- Teens get to show off their creativity and personality with music jams, dancing, singing, and other fun activities such as creating balloon sculptures and graffiti masterpieces. More circus skills, dodgeball, soccer, basketball, and top it all off with a fun party every night.
Access to private islands
Although most excursions are extra, Norwegian offers the opportunity to visit their private islands in the Caribbean with select activities for free.
Harvest Caye
Off the southern coast of Belize lies Harvest Caye, Norwegian's private island retreat. Surrounded by the lush greenery of Central America, guests are treated to a wide range of activities on this 75-acre oasis.
Harvest Caye hosts an abundance of natural wildlife as well as access to a barrier reef, the second largest in the world. Cruisers can enjoy the stunning beach or snorkel at the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world. The 15,000-square-foot pool has a swim-up bar and a waterfall.
The resort-style area is complimentary and includes plenty of chairs and umbrellas. Food and beverages are extra, as the venues are run by local owners. So, if you choose to purchase a beverage package, don't expect it to work on the island.
Western Caribbean sailings often include a stop at Harvest Caye.
Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian’s other private destination is located in the Berry Islands, the northernmost islands in the Bahamas. A 268 acre island oasis, it is a lush paradise and guests can enjoy its vast beaches, great snorkeling as well as other activities. There are lots of great beaches, including the 1,500-foot-long main beach, with ample loungers and some natural shade.
There are a number of complimentary good options onshore including the Jumbey Beach Grill for some BBQ favorites, Abaco Taco Bard, and a new food truck Topic Like It’s Hot with some island flavors.
Unlike Harvest Caye, Norwegian drink packages work on Great Stirrup Cay (but note that they are an additional charge).
MORE AT SEA Program
Norwegian currently offers its MORE AT SEA program, which adds a number of perks to your cruise fare. Eligible cruises are listed on Norwegian’s website.
Some of the perks being offered:
- 50% off cruise fare
- Free open bar including spirits, cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice and soda
- Free excursion credits
- Specialty dining
- Free Wi-Fi minutes
What’s not included with the cruise fare?
As with most cruise lines, there are a number of add-on packages and activities that can be purchased. Cruisers will pay extra for:
- Gratuities and tips
- Excursions in ports (except select activities on private Islands)
- Specialty Restaurants
- Beverages – soda and bottled water
- Specialty coffees and teas
- Alcoholic beverages
- Babysitting
- Spa and wellness treatments
- Internet / Wi-Fi
- Laundry
- Select onboard activities, such as go-karts, interactive mini-golf, and virtual arcade
- Photos
- Medical Services
Whether you choose to pay for any additional services or not, we are sure you'll enjoy your Norwegian Cruise Line vacation!
Chantal McPhee
Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy
