Norwegian Cruise Line

Although Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) isn't known for building the world's biggest cruise ships, I couldn't wait to sail on the line's first-ever Prima Plus Class vessel: Norwegian Aqua. 

The bones of the ship are similar to Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, but Norwegian Aqua features several enhancements that set it apart from its predecessors, such as new dining venues, original shows, and onboard thrills. 

A powerful nor'easter hammered New Jersey and New York over the weekend, causing multiple cruise ships to remain stuck in port. 

Passengers on Norwegian Getaway revealed they couldn't depart from New York City as scheduled on Sunday, October 12. 

"A Nor’easter is forecasted to impact the region beginning Sunday afternoon, bringing strong winds and rough seas," a last-minute notice given to embarking guests said.

Norwegian Cruise Line is investing $150 million to enhance its private island and take it to the next level. However, not all of the upgrades coming to Great Stirrup Cay have been well-received by guests.

Effective March 1, 2026, Norwegian's popular "More at Sea" drink package won't work on Great Stirrup Cay. Instead, the cruise line plans on releasing a new package specifically for use on the island for an additional cost. 

Harvest Caye is Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) private island retreat in Southern Belize. 

Surrounded by the lush greenery of Central America, guests are treated to a wide range of activities on the 75-acre oasis.

The island was developed in partnership with the Belizean government. As such, local inhabitants own the businesses and work onsite, contributing to the economy. 

Norwegian plans to keep Harvest Caye more low-key compared to its upcoming expansion of Great Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas. 

Norwegian Cruise Line canceled more than 55 cruises on four ships.

Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Dawn will swap homeports in 2026 due to redeployment efforts. 

Gem will sail Dawn's planned cruises from Jacksonville, Florida, while Dawn will offer Gem's previously scheduled itineraries from Tampa, Florida. 

In the last two and a half years, I have sailed on nine different Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries. From Europe to Alaska, the Caribbean, and more, I’ve had the joy of seeing much of what Norwegian has to offer its passengers.

With so many different sailings under my belt, you might wonder: which ones are my favorites? Which ships stand out? And which itineraries do I think are the best? 

Starting October 15, Norwegian Cruise Line's new loyalty status match program will let members of NCL, Regent, and Oceania's programs enjoy reciprocal status — regardless of which brand they sail with.

With more than 30 ships sailing to hundreds of destinations across the globe, shared loyalty status means that you can enjoy the perks and privileges equivalent to your tier status, no matter where your travels take you.

After sailing on 7 different cruise lines, I decided it was time to give Norwegian a try. 

My friend and I booked a 4-night cruise on Norwegian Aqua, the line's newest ship, out of New York City, to see what makes NCL a tried-and-true favorite for so many cruisers. 

Although Norwegian Aqua is NCL's newest ship, she isn't the largest. Still, there's a good variety of entertainment, dining, and amenities to please just about every type of traveler. 

A viral TikTok captured the scary moment that a cruise passenger got stuck in a water slide aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. 

@kaylamierzejewski posted the video on September 19, 2025. Since then, it's gotten over 6.9 million views and 238,000 likes.

Although the TikTok user didn't specifically reveal the ship the incident happened on, other videos indicate it happened aboard the Norwegian Escape on a modified cruise from New York City to The Bahamas during Hurricane Erin.