Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

ncl cruise line

The cruise line has had several incidents in recent years, including a fire on one of its ships in 2019 and a mechanical issue on another ship in 2018. The company has faced criticism for its handling of these incidents. While no cruise line is completely immune from problems, there are several that have never experienced a major incident and that invest heavily in safety training and technology. We wouldn't say Norwegian is unsafe, per se, but it's one area where some of its rivals outpace its track record. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation.

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Norwegian Ships

Some of the extra-charge restaurants come with a flat fee (the teppanyaki outlets are $59 per person, not including the cost of drinks). One thing you need to know upfront about going on a Norwegian cruise is that there are a lot of extra charges — and sometimes quite high extra charges — on the line's ships, particularly for things like restaurants. Norwegian is also heralded for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships. In 2010, it debuted an entire zone of small studio cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, and it has since added them to seven more new ships. With 20 ships to choose from, the global programme expands to more than 450 destinations. The wide range of port-rich itineraries include many late evening stays or overnight calls, allowing a more leisurely way to explore the local culture and attractions.

Northern Europe

Extra suite categories are just the start of what makes Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva the best Norwegian cruise ships for luxury lovers. As of August 2023[update], Norwegian Cruise Line operates 19 cruise ships, with four on order. All its ships are flagged to the Bahamas, except for the Pride of America, which operates cruises within the United States and is flagged and registered in the US, as well as being owned by a US-registered subsidiary, NCL America. The first two Breakaway-class ships entered service in 2013 and 2014 as Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. On October 17, 2012, Meyer Werft and Norwegian reached a second agreement for the construction of two new vessels,[36] slated for delivery in October 2015 and 2017, respectively. The project was under the code name "Breakaway Plus Class", with the vessels expected to be 163,000 gross tons and hold 4,200 passengers.

Cruise Norwegian – NCL

It comes complete with a cover band that plays the group's greatest hits. This is the ultimate inter-island adventure, from famous surf beaches to breathtaking landscapes and shore excursions exploring the local culture. Guests can also learn about Hawaiian life through the eyes of native ambassadors on board the ship. As the only cruise line that visits four islands in seven days, NCL's Hawaiian itinerary is unmatched. The US-flagged, 2,186-passenger Pride of America conveniently departs year-round from Honolulu every Saturday.

Inside, the overall color palate successfully melds bright purples and turquoises with more muted browns and gleaming silvers. As well, there are charges for many things to do on the ships (such as Galaxy Pavilion and go-karts), which we’d like to see reduced or eliminated altogether. What we’d like to see improved is pricing of things on the ship. Norwegian seems to price at a premium, which means the costs you see can be higher than what you’d find on rival lines, especially with drink packages.

Children's programs

There's tons of great entertainment on Norwegian's vessels, plenty of venues for eating and drinking, and all sorts of deck-top diversions — at least on the line's newest ships. Throw in the brand's low starting prices, and it's an even more compelling package. Members earn points for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. They get an additional point for every night they stay in a concierge room, a suite (not including stays in minisuites, or stays in suites resulting from an upgrade) or a room in The Haven. They also get an additional point for every night booked through a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer. All vessels operate on a cashless system with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account.

Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels

Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge. The go-kart tracks (now on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy) are quickly becoming Norwegian's signature can-you-believe-this-is-on-a-ship attraction, and they truly are impressive. The biggest two of them, on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks. Many of Norwegian's biggest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as big as those you'd find on Broadway, with big-name productions to match. Norwegian Bliss, for instance, has the Tony Award-winning "Jersey Boys."

ncl cruise line

Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

There is no giant water park on its top deck or a go-kart track to keep the kids busy all day, so it's not the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for families. Once on board a Norwegian ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment.

South Pacific Cruises

The area is packed with activities, which also means it's packed with people. The Norwegian Getaway casino encircles the area on Deck 7, and smoke drifts to restaurants and clubs on the decks above and below. It also leads to some bottlenecking as passengers make their way through. Adding to the chaos is Norwegian's Freestyle dining concept which, while much adored on the line's smaller ships, can seem onerous on Norwegian Getaway, which has a total capacity of 3,963 passengers.

The dozens of restaurants and bars onboard serve carefully crafted drinks and an extensive wine list. Or step up your evening entertainment with award-winning shows, live music and comedy performances. The 20 contemporary ships allow travellers to choose the best one to match their preferences, while also enjoying fleetwide features of innovative design, stylish comfort, and cutting-edge technology. The spacious suites and balconies on Pride of America are ideal for whale-watching or witnessing Kilauea Volcano. The spacious accommodation also stands apart, with stylish studios for solo travellers, club balcony suites, spa suites, and The Haven by Norwegian, the luxurious ship-within-a-ship area with exclusive spaces and amenities. Norwegian offers many different types of staterooms to accommodate all kinds of travelers.

A look inside Norwegian Cruise Line's exclusive ship within a ship - Stuff

A look inside Norwegian Cruise Line's exclusive ship within a ship.

Posted: Sun, 21 Apr 2024 02:12:37 GMT [source]

For example, a five-day cruise on the Sky to Key West and the Bahamas ran $599 per person for an interior room in a recent search. It is also making an effort to offer more exclusive service and a smaller ship atmosphere with “The Haven” on many vessels. Founded in the 1960s, NCL is the smallest of the big three cruise lines — but it is no slouch. However, in recent years it has made a big push with a lineup of huge new ships. In total, the line has seven new ships in the past decade, with another newbuild on order each year through 2027. You'll find plenty of young families onboard Norwegian ships, especially during holidays and school breaks.

Plus, with Norwegian's Free At Sea offer, every cruise fare includes a choice of things like free Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks or excursions. One of two ships in the line's Sun class that date to the turn of the millennium, Norwegian Sky is far from the snazziest ship in the Norwegian fleet. At 77,104 tons and carrying 1,944 passengers, it's just half the size of Norwegian's biggest ships and has far fewer venues, from bars and restaurants to entertainment spaces.

ncl cruise line

In a typical summer, the line will deploy nearly half its ships to Europe while sending several more to the West Coast to sail to Alaska from Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska. It'll also operate trips to Bermuda from New York City and Boston, usually with two ships, and trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Miami. Norwegian thus appeals both to cruisers who like a giant resort vibe and those who prefer something more modest.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences.

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