Recently, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been under fire for controversial decisions that impact the onboard experience.
From extra fees for main dining room entrées to new drink package restrictions, many loyal NCL fans are arguing that the value and flexibility of "Freestyle Cruising" is disappearing.
Instead, there's growing frustration over cruisers feeling "nickel-and-dimed" — something NCL's "More at Sea" bundle initially seemed to eliminate with its unlimited drink package, additional specialty meals on weeklong cruises, and more.
Combined with complaints about cutbacks, extra fees, and iffy service, these changes have begun to tarnish NCL’s once-strong reputation as an affordable, family-friendly cruise line.
The recent Norwegian news has also raised questions about the company's financial status, as they're beginning to charge extra for things that have historically been included in the cruise fare.
"[They'd] better fix their act"
The recent downfall of NCL began when the news broke that extra entrées in the dining rooms would now incur a $5 service charge. Before that, you could order a second, third, or even fourth entrée for no additional charge.
Then, they made the decision to begin charging for no-shows in specialty restaurants, requiring guests to cancel no less than two hours before their reservation to avoid a $10 fee.
A few weeks later, guests noticed that NCL quietly updated its room service policy. Cruisers are now restricted to one hot and one cold dish per person, per breakfast order, rather than being allowed to order unlimited food. Similarly, guests can only order two items per person, per delivery from the all-day menu.
Finally, NCL's most controversial change of the year may be its new drink policy at Great Stirrup Cay. Starting March 1, 2026, Norwegian's drink packages will no longer be valid on the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas. They plan on releasing details about a new package specifically for use on the island later.
Naturally, these changes have sparked outrage among cruisers, as what was once marketed as a flexible, laid-back cruise experience now feels increasingly restrictive and profit-driven.
"[They'd] better fix their act or they’re not gonna have to worry about paying back the loans because nobody’s gonna be sailing with them. From what I’ve seen in recent comments, a lot of people are walking away from [NCL]," wrote one upset guest on Reddit.
"Everyone has been doing cuts but NCL has taken it to the next level...Just got off a RCL cruise and it’s night and day...I think we’re done with NCL until things change," added another.
Someone else said, "4th cruise with and they keep getting worse and worse...No more daily handouts to save paper yet [full-sized] spa, [jewelry], [and] excursions flyers delivered promptly every single day...Sorry NCL, friendly staff won't save your incompetent, [nickel-and-dime] organization."
Can NCL be saved?
On November 5, travel advisors began sharing that Norwegian is officially getting rid of "More at Sea" and bringing back "Free at Sea."
It's more of a rebranding effort than a complete overhaul of the cruise line's package program. However, they did make a few tweaks that could either excite or upset cruisers.
First, NCL isn't making any changes to the drink package (other than the unpopular decision to restrict its use on Great Stirrup Cay). Passengers will still have unlimited access to the included liquors and beverages.
However, the price for the drink package is changing. Rather than being determined by the number of sailing days, NCL's "Free at Sea" drink package will have a flat price of $28.50 per person, per day.
For some, especially those who like NCL's longer cruises, this will mean an increase in pricing. However, the change benefits most sailors who want to embark on a voyage that's 7 nights or fewer.
Moving on, all guests in the same stateroom will receive 150 minutes of Wi-Fi, regardless of their cruise's length. Previously, the number of minutes was based on the duration of the sailing, ranging from 75 to 300 minutes.
Finally, Norwegian's specialty dining perk has been changed. Instead of basing the number of included meals on both the cabin category and voyage duration, it's now solely based on the length of the cruise:
- 2-4 night cruises: 1 specialty meal
- 5-6 night cruises: 2 specialty meals
- 7-8 night cruises: 3 specialty meals
- 9+ night cruises: 4 specialty meals
Do these changes mean that Norwegian Cruise Line is saved? That's to be determined. They didn't make any sweeping improvements to reverse the core complaints cruisers have been voicing over steep price increases and declining value.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
