Norwegian Cruise Line

Before booking a cruise, it's important that you research the line to know all the ins and outs that can make your sailing more enjoyable. All have their quirks that make them unique from competitors. Norwegian Cruise Line, for instance, differentiates itself from the rest of the cruise line industry in their approach to onboard dining. 

Norwegian markets itself as a cruise line that gives its guests the ultimate freedom to create their ideal vacation onboard. One of the ways they do this is through their Freestyle Dining approach. 

After spending 12 nights onboard Norwegian Epic sailing from Florida to Italy, I was able to explore every nook and cranny of the ship. 

The Norwegian Epic is one of its kind, and I was interested to see how this unique ship compares to others that I've been on. Because I was able to take a lengthy voyage onboard, I had plenty of time to pick out some things I liked and some things I disliked about the Norwegian Epic.

Few travel experiences come close to the excitement of stepping foot on a brand-new cruise ship. Similar to driving a brand-new car with all the bells and whistles, the experience of cruising on a newly built cruise ship is unmatched. It’s undoubtedly exciting to see the latest and greatest that a cruise line has to offer.

During a 12-night transatlantic voyage from Orlando, Florida to Rome, Italy, I found perhaps the best-kept secret onboard Norwegian Epic: the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar. 

While devout NCL fans are probably aware of this relatively hidden feature, it's easy to miss if you're new to the brand! In my personal opinion, this venue is a must-see when sailing onboard Norwegian Epic! 

I recently embarked on a 12-night Transatlantic cruise onboard Norwegian Epic and was able to try out one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s famous Studio Staterooms, which are unique cabins designed with one person in mind.

Norwegian Cruise Line has begun planning for the future, announcing four new ships scheduled to enter service between 2030 and 2036, as well as the construction of a multi-ship pier at their private island in The Bahamas. 

The new ships, which are part of a new and unnamed class, will be the largest, most efficient, and innovative within NCL's fleet. They'll be built in partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, who was responsible for the construction of Norwegian Prima and Viva. 

In January, I set sail onboard Norwegian Dawn for one of the weirdest itineraries offered by a mainstream cruise line. Far from the likes of Nassau and Cozumel, my cruise departed from a tiny African island in the Indian Ocean. Most had never even heard of the island of Mauritius before booking this cruise.

Sailing to countless destinations all over the world and boasting a fleet of 19, soon to be 20 ships with the introduction of the new Norwegian Aqua in 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the biggest cruise lines in the industry. 

I have had the privilege of sailing with Norwegian six times now and currently have three more NCL cruises scheduled for 2024. With these cruise experiences, I have gained some insight and knowledge into how to dress when sailing with Norwegian. 

Over the past two years, I have been lucky enough to sail with Norwegian Cruise Line six different times. Each of these cruises was unique, exciting, and taught me new lessons about the brand as a whole. 

My first ever sailing with Norwegian was in August 2022 onboard Norwegian Getaway that cruised to the Caribbean. This experience was a ton of fun and really showed me some of the best offerings in the NCL fleet.