Over the last two years, I have sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line seven times. From my first NCL experience to my most recent, there is always something new to discover on my sailings, which keeps me wanting to come back time and time again.
Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the leading brands in the cruising industry, with 19 operating vessels in the fleet and more on the way! With the debut of new and exciting itineraries, Norwegian is one of the go-to cruise names prospective guests look at when considering a cruise vacation.
Over the last two years, I have learned quite a few tips and tricks on making the most of your Norwegian cruise, as well as why I think everyone should consider an NCL cruise!
There's a ship for everyone
Something that I think is a major pro of Norwegian Cruise Line is that there is a ship for nearly every style and budget.
Whether you enjoy smaller, quieter ships with a relaxed atmosphere or bigger, newer ships with all the latest bells and whistles, Norwegian has a ship for everyone.
Picking a ship is arguably the most important part of planning any cruise vacation, right after selecting an itinerary. Because of this, I highly recommend perusing Norwegian's website and familiarizing yourself with all the different classes of ships that Norwegian offers.
Not all of Norwegian's ships are the same. In fact, ships of different classes are typically very different from one another, featuring different amenities, activities, and dining options.
If you are someone looking for a brand new ship with all the latest and greatest technology and offerings, I recommend checking out the new Prima Class. There are currently two ships in the Prima Class: Norwegian Prima and the Norwegian Viva. Norwegian Aqua is joining the fleet in 2025 as the third Prima Class ship.
If you are looking for a smaller ship with a relaxed atmosphere, I highly recommend checking out Norwegian Star. While one of the oldest ships in the fleet, the vessel has a ton of amenities that can make for a great cruise vacation. A major plus is that NCL Star typically offers some unique itineraries!
So far, I have sailed on NCL's Breakaway Plus, Breakaway, Sun, Dawn, Prima, and Epic Class. All of these classes feature different amenities for guests to explore and enjoy. What ship becomes someone’s favorite is all about personal style and taste. Out of all the ships I've sailed on, my favorites are Norwegian Encore, Star, and Viva!
Read: 60 best Norwegian Cruise Line tips and tricks to know before your cruise
Itineraries from tropical to glacial
Something that has kept me coming back to Norwegian Cruise Line is their available itineraries, as they have some of the most unique offerings for a large-scale cruise line.
From regions such as Africa, the South Pacific, Northern Europe, Alaska, Transatlantic sailings, and Asia, there is a cruise itinerary for everyone! This is something that really surprised me when I first began cruising with Norwegian.
For those looking for an adventurous cruise sailing without paying for an upscale expedition line, Norwegian is definitely worth checking out. For instance, I was able to sail around the British Isles on a 10-day cruise with stops in stops in Ireland, England, and Scotland for $1,500. This price also included roundtrip airfare through Norwegian.
Norwegian has so many dream itineraries to discover. For this reason, I always recommend considering an older ship for your cruise vacation. Never rule out an older vessel simply because of its age, as Norwegian will often utilize their oldest vessels to conduct their coolest itineraries!
Read: I crossed the Atlantic on a 12-night cruise. Here’s what it's like to spend 11 days at sea
Food selections and variety
You might not know it, but Norwegian offers some great food selections onboard. Before my first cruise with Norwegian, I had partially expected the food to be mostly standard American fare, such as hamburgers and hot dogs. I did not really know what to expect!
However, I was surprised and excited to find that guests can sample all sorts of foods and cuisines onboard. Some of my best food experiences with Norwegian have been onboard their Breakaway Plus Class and Prima Class ships.
The buffet onboard Norwegian Cruise Line, especially the newer ships, is often top-notch. Passengers will be able to find all sorts of choices that fit their dietary needs and desires. One of my favorite areas of the buffet onboard the Breakaway Plus Class ships is the Indian Cuisine area. Make sure to try the butter chicken masala; you will not be disappointed!
I have many friends and family members who have specific dietary needs and restrictions. Before my first NCL sailing, I was curious to see exactly what it would be like for those with food allergies or dietary parameters to cruise with Norwegian. I am pleased to report they do a great job of catering to those with specific food requests or dietary needs.
Each night at the main dining rooms, guests will be asked if they have any allergies or dietary needs that the staff should be aware of. Additionally, the crew members at the buffets are always helpful and friendly and are more than happy to point guests to food options that work for them.
Read: Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle Dining, Explained
The NCL app is a must-have
In today’s age of ever-evolving technology, it can be imperative to have the necessary apps when traveling. Norwegian Cruise Line is no different. The NCL app is a very helpful tool that allows guests to see their reservation, monitor the ship’s schedule and itinerary, book onboard add-ons, check accounts and billing, and much more.
I highly recommend downloading the NCL app as soon as you book a sailing. Familiarizing yourself with the app will help decrease any frustrations that may arise later, as well as help guests become familiar with the deck plans of their ship and exactly what amenities are onboard.
Passengers can use the app free of charge, even if they have not purchased a Wi-Fi package. The only exception to this is the messaging feature, which costs a $10 one-time fee.
Read: 12 reasons I liked this poorly rated Norwegian Cruise Line ship
Reservations may be needed
No two cruises with Norwegian are the same. This also applies to how important reservations are on a particular sailing or not. Some sailings will be more busy than others and at a higher capacity, while some have far fewer people onboard.
On my recent voyage onboard Norwegian Epic, I discovered how important it can be to have reservations onboard when the ship is near capacity, as my cruise was at full capacity, meaning there were long lines and wait times for nearly everything. From dinner time to shows, passengers were often waiting for popular amenities.
However, onboard other Norwegian ships and sailings I have been on, I never experienced lines or long wait times. Sometimes, it just depends on the ship, time of year, and itinerary!
Luckily Norwegian offers reservations for many of the complimentary amenities onboard, including the main dining restaurants and shows. While these amenities are completely complimentary, reserving a spot will help ensure there's space for you and your travel party.
Reservations for things such as dining, both complimentary and specialty, shows, and more can be made in the Norwegian Cruise Line app, at Guest Services, or at the restaurants themselves, as well as the Box Office outside the main theater.
Additionally, if your itinerary has tender ports, it can be very important to reserve your tender tickets and tender group. Usually, the earlier a tender group you get the better, as it ensures more time ashore! Each Norwegian ship conducts its tender process slightly differently.
Make sure to ask Guest Services early on your first day about when and where you need to book your tender tickets. Tender tickets are complimentary; however, the specific time is given out on a first come, first serve basis.
Crew members
Crew members always make a big difference in any cruise experience, and the crew members onboard Norwegian Cruise Line tend to go above and beyond to ensure a great cruise experience for all the passengers.
Cruise ship crew members often work very hard and have extended contracts that last for several months. These contracts mean that they are working every day and have limited time off. Even so, all of the crew members strive to make every sailing as memorable and great as possible.
I have always had positive experiences with all of the crew members I have interacted with onboard. If you treat crew members nicely and with respect, they are sure to do the same for you.
On my first sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line, I was surprised just how friendly the staff was onboard. They genuinely care about the passengers onboard and if they are having a good vacation.
I recommend chatting with some of the crew members onboard, as you will often learn interesting things about them, the ship, and the cruise industry! You may even make a friend and see them again on a future cruise!
If a specific crew member goes above and beyond for you during your cruise vacation, make sure to give them a shout-out on the 'Vacation Hero' cards. These feedback cards are very important for crew members, and positive feedback helps them to promote, earn more days off, and much more. They can be picked up at the Guest Services desk.
Promotions and deals
Looking for a good cruise deal? Norwegian Cruise Line has so many deals and promotions, so prospective guests are sure to find a cruise within their budget! From discounted cruise fares to savings on items such as shore excursions, drink packages, specialty dining packages, and more, there is almost always some sort of deal being run by Norwegian.
Norwegian’s most popular deals and promotions are called "Free At Sea." These deals range in their savings and are based on the type of cruise and or stateroom that you book.
In addition to the Free At Sea deals, Norwegian also offers exclusive discounts for group cruises and military members and their families. For example, all military members and their immediate family members can receive a 10% discount off of every cruise!
Norwegian is almost always running a promotion of some kind. For this reason, I recommend checking out the ‘Cruise Deals’ page on their website to see if any of the available offers apply to you and the cruise you have your eye on. You never know, you might find an awesome last-minute deal at a great price.
Airfare through Norwegian
Something that I was completely unaware of before my first sailings with Norwegian is that guests can book airfare through the cruise line for their cruise vacation.
If you are considering a cruise that embarks from Europe, Australia, Asia, etc., chances are you may need to book airfare at least one way, if not roundtrip, for your vacation.
Airfare can be a significant cost when planning any cruise vacation. Occasionally, Norwegian will offer deals and promotions for guests who choose to book their airfare through them.
I have used Norwegian to book my airfare to and from a cruise several times now and have had great experiences! In addition to having the logistics handled by Norwegian, the cost of the airfare is often much cheaper than if I had booked the flights on my own.
Guests can also ask for an extension, meaning that they can fly in a day or more early to their cruise embarkation port at no extra charge. Booking airfare through Norwegian also means that if your flights are delayed or canceled for any reason, it is the responsibility of the cruise line to fix your flights or pay any additional costs.
If you are someone who needs to fly to their cruise embarkation port or fly home from their cruise vacation, I highly recommend checking out Norwegian Cruise Line’s air promotions and offerings.
Read: Why you should consider booking airfare through your cruise line
Exceptional Entertainment
Something that I did not expect before my first cruise with Norwegian is how great the entertainment can be. From full-scale Broadway performances to impressive variety acts, Norwegian has so much onboard when it comes to entertainment. Passengers are guaranteed to never be bored!
Some of my favorite entertainment onboard has been the Broadway shows. From the girl power pop hit "Six" to the engaging "Jersey Boys" and the spooky "Beetlejuice," Norwegian offers a wide range of theater-style shows for guests to enjoy. Curious about what shows will be playing onboard your cruise? Take a look at Norwegian's website for a full list!
In addition to the theater shows, some of my favorite entertainment onboard is the variety acts. If you are someone who enjoys magic acts, Norwegian often brings world-renowned magicians on board to perform. In fact, the most impressive magic act that I've seen onboard a ship was on Norwegian Star!
Guests can take a look at either the physical printed copy of the ship's schedule, the Freestyle Daily, that is delivered to their stateroom each night for a comprehensive list of entertainment onboard, or they can check the NCL app.
Freestyle means ultimate flexibility
Norwegian Cruise Line prides itself on what they call the Freestyle Cruise Experience. Unlike many other cruise lines, guests will never be required to dine at a specific restaurant each night or select a specific dining time.
Dining onboard Norwegian ships means that guests can show up at the main restaurants whenever they choose. This gives passengers the ultimate flexibility to explore the ship during a sea day or not have to rush to dinner after a long day ashore.
Norwegian encourages guests to create the exact cruise experience they want. With no specific schedules or dining times, passengers are free to make the most out of their vacation exactly the way they want to.
Now that I have sailed with Norwegian quite a few times, and they are one of my go-to cruise lines. When I do sail with another cruise line, I am taken aback by the rigorous dining schedules. I much prefer Norwegian’s approach to flexibility onboard! It makes for a more relaxing day and experience when planning out each day of a cruise vacation.
Final thoughts
Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the biggest names in the cruise line industry and has quickly become my favorite large-scale cruise line. Throughout my seven sailings, I have learned a lot about Norwegian and have had the opportunity to explore ships from many different classes across the fleet.
It is my belief that sailing with Norwegian is a worthwhile experience. While not every cruise ship, itinerary, or line may be the right fit for everyone, I think Norwegian’s pros far outweigh the cons.
Of course, there will always be things onboard that some guests do not like that others love, but that is the beauty and advantage of cruising. There is a ship, line, and itinerary out there for everyone!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
