norwegian getaway cruise tips

Norwegian Getaway Tips and Tricks

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Last April we had the most awesome cruise adventure on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship, the Getaway! This was honestly our best trip yet, we all had so much fun and there was so much to do on this amazing ship. I am so excited to share my Norwegian Getaway Tips and Tricks and our NCL Getaway Review!

The Norwegian Getaway is one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s seventeen ships. It holds over 4000 passengers and in the spring of 2019 was cruising out right out of New York City. After our Easter sailing, the Getaway was repositioning to Europe.

LOOKING TO BOOK AN UPCOMING CRUISE ? I am a full-service travel planner , and cruises are one of my specialities. I actually have a PHD from Norwegian Cruise Line University (yes, that is a real thing!). Always use a travel agent to book a cruise , and reach out for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION Cruise quote.

In planning this trip, we chose the Getaway for its many amenities, we loved the itinerary, and cruising out of the NYC port was so convenient for us – we only live about an hour away! Its nice to have NCL sailing out of New York, along with Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas .

As a travel planner, I knew when to hit the best NCL promotions that gave us such a good value for what we paid. We love cruises for all they include, and Norwegian is the cruise line that tries to make your cruise fare as all-inclusive as possible. In fact, I am booked in 2023 on the NCL Prima , their newest ship, also to be sailing out of New York City in the spring of 2023!

Norwegian Getaway Staterooms

This was my seventh cruise, and our second as a family. This was the first time our family stayed in a balcony cabin. Our stateroom, 11130 was located on Deck 11.

The rooms were well furnished with a King bed, a sofa that converted to a twin bed and a pull-down twin for the fourth guest.

The bathrooms on the Norwegian Getaway were fairly large (for a cruise ship) although our room only had a shower, not a tub (Like in our Holland America ms Veendam or our Disney Wonder stateroom).

In our cabin was also a large closet, with a place to hang your clothes, and plenty of shelves for your stuff. One thing I found strange, there were no drawers in the room! I don’t know about you, but I find it strange to have socks and underwear on shelves?

The Norwegian Getaway staterooms also feature a television (no good channels through), and a desk area. There is also a mini-fridge stocked with drinks and snacks. It’s worth noting that those drinks are NOT complimentary with your Ultimate Beverage Package and you will be charged for beverages that you consume.

Our Norwegian Getaway balcony was equipped with two chairs and a small table. From Deck 11, you could look down and see the balconies in the LARGE BALCONY category. Those rooms have large balconies (duh!) which are outfitted with two LOUNGE chairs! Needless to say, that is going to be my category of choice going forward!

The Norwegian Getaway, like many of their ships, have MANY categories of rooms to choose from. From the exclusive Haven suites, to studio rooms for solo travelers, there is something for every family size and budget.

What is there to do on the Norwegian Getaway?

Okay friends, now where do I even begin? Honestly there was so much to do on the Getaway – yet I found our stay a great combination of relaxation and activity!

Norwegian Getaway Pool Deck

On Deck 15 you will find the pools. There is a kids’ pool (with lifeguard) and an adult only pool, which is surrounded by four hot tubs, and two bars. Since our sailing was over Easter break, and packed with families, I thought it strange that the larger pool was designated for adults only, but I guess that’s how they do it!

Adjacent to the kids’ pool was a splash park for younger kids and in that area, is where you will find the four waterslides. Even I went down the gentle slide and they were super fun! Two of the slides you have to be over 100 pounds to ride, and with a vertical drop, those looked pretty scary to me!

I loved that on sea days there was a live band or DJ playing music by the adult pool. Throughout the day there were several activities going on organized by the cruise director. We did think the “Miss NCL Getaway” competition got a little raunchy at the end (as women vied to be crowned the queen of the ship) so if you have smaller children, you might want to skip that one.

A few Norwegian Getaway pool area tips:

• When you arrive in your stateroom, there will be a pool towels for each guest. You can take these into the ports and up to the pool. You can trade them in for fresh towels up on the pool deck. We tried to do that each evening, so we could start the next day with clean towels.
• One thing I did not like about this ship is there is not a lot of seating right near the pool, and most of that limited seating is in the shade. There is however, plenty of seating up on decks 16, and 17 in the front of the ship. We really liked holing up on deck 17, forward. There was also a bar up there and a restroom, and it was a little quieter spot to read and relax.
• To get mid-ship chairs, you had to put your stuff down pretty early. We did see NCL attendants coming around to “sticker” chairs that were not being used, supposedly to check back within 30 minutes to then boot people if they were in fact not actually using the chairs.
• On deck 16, at the very back of the ship is the adults only area, called Spice H2O. Use of this area is complimentary, and back here you will find more seating, a bar and two hot tubs. I regret not spending more time back here.
• Haven guests have their own private pool area.
• Adults can also purchase a pass to the Vibe Beach Club, which gives you a private pool area.

Other Norwegian Getaway Activities

Activities on Deck 17 – Up on deck 17 you will find the mini-golf course, rock climbing wall, and ropes course. Our kids loved ALL this stuff! On embarkation day, and our first sea day, these activities were very crowded, but after the first 24 hours, the crowds seemed to thin. By the last day, were we able to play golf or climb whenever we wanted!

NCL Getaway Arcade – Not my thing, but our kids spent A LOT of time in the arcade. We pre-purchased an arcade package for them, so they had unlimited access to the green colored swipe games. For our sailing, the arcade package was $23 per day, and all of us could use the card. Only one package per family is needed. The only stipulation is that you could only swipe your card three times in three minutes. On the Getaway, the arcade is up on deck 16. There were also several games in O’Sheehan’s you could play using the card.

A few things on the Norwegian Getaway we did not end up doing:

• Ice Bar – The Ice Bar is located on deck 8 and advance reservations are recommended. For $20 per person, you can enter the Ice Bar, with two drinks included. The ship will provide you with large jackets to wear, and it is recommended you wear closed toed shoes, as it is in fact 17 degrees Fahrenheit in there!
• Escape Room – our friends did this and loved it.
• Bowling at O’Sheehan’s – Inside O’Sheehan’s pub there is a two-lane bowling alley. For some reason, we did not find time to play!

Norwegian Getaway Dining

First of all, we all enjoyed the food choices on the Getaway . We ate to our heart’s content and definitely liked the variety of options and quality of what we had. My only complaint is that there is not a place to get a poolside snack, other than running into the buffet, but in general there are a lot of dining choices on this ship!

Breakfast on the Norwegian Getaway

We ate breakfast each day in Margaritaville , which is an upcharge restaurant for lunch, but is open for a complimentary breakfast. The breakfast served is the same as in the buffet, but its nicer to eat outside and not many people realize Margaritaville serves a complimentary breakfast, so it is less crowded.

The buffet also serves breakfast, as well as the main dining room and O’Sheehan’s if you want a seated meal.

NORWEGIAN GETAWAY PRO-TIP : At O’Sheehan’s, the breakfast entrees are pretty small in size, so order two or three per person.

On the Getaway, you can order complimentary Continental breakfast through room service as another option.

Lunch on the Getaway

For lunch, most days we went to the buffet, but during two sea days we had lunch at O’Sheehan’s. The main dining room is open for lunch, as well as Margaritaville (prix fix menu for less than $20 per person).

Specialty Dining on the Getaway

We booked our cruise with the FREE AT SEA promotion, so we received 3 nights of specialty dining included with our cruise fare. This is for two adults in the stateroom. Children 12 and under can dine in specialty restaurants, for free, when ordering off the kids’ menu. However, our kids loved the kids’ club so much, they wanted to go right at 7pm when it opened. We fed them from the buffet, and then went out for a nice, leisurely, grown up meal each night.

The specialty restaurants on the Getaway include La Bistro (French), Teppanyaki (Hibachi), Moderno (Brazilian Churrascaria), La Cucina (Italian), Cagney’s (Steakhouse) and Ocean Blue (seafood).

You can make your specialty dining reservations up to 120 days prior to sailing. I highly recommend doing so as many of the specialty restaurants are small and will fill up. But on the flip side, if pre-cruise you get shut out of your favorite specialty dining restaurant, go to guest service on embarkation day to secure your reservation. They only release some of the reservations for pre-booking, so more will open up once you are on the ship.

For our three specialty dining nights, we chose La Cucina, Teppanyaki and Moderno. We loved all of them, especially the hibachi show!

Each specialty restaurant offered great food, specialty cocktails, good theming, and a variety of menu choices. This is a great FREE AT SEA perk which will really elevate your cruise experience.

Dinner in the Main Dining Room

Norwegian Cruise Line is famous for their “free-style cruising” part of which means you can dine where and when you want. That allows you to eat early one night, and late another – allowing you to plan around shore excursions, shows, etc. On nights when you do not have a specialty dining reservation, you can eat dinner at the buffet, O’Sheehan’s, or one of the three main dining rooms.

Since I like to plan, I made advance dinner reservations for each of the seven nights. For the main dining rooms, Savor, Taste and Tropicana, you can make reservations, or come as a stand-by. If you are stand-by, you may have to wait a few minutes to sit and they will give you a pager so you know when your table is ready.

The three main dining rooms offer the same menu each night, but one that rotates nightly. Meaning on night #1, you get the same menu at any of the dining rooms, but then on night #2 there is a different menu. There are a few menu staples that are offered each evening such as New York Strip, Pork Loin, Flounder Filet, Rotisserie Chicken or 3-Cheese Ziti (updated as of 2019).

Savor and Taste are pretty much the same restaurant. Located on deck 6 they are situated directly across from each other and are separated by the Mixx bar.

Tropicana is located on deck seven, AFT and is two stories with a ballroom dance floor in the middle. Some nights there are dancing shows, and at other times a cocktail/jazz band playing while you eat.

Again, we all very much enjoyed the food, including me as a vegetarian, and my picky children!

Norwegian Cruise Line Premium Beverage Package

As an agent, I would highly recommend you consider a balcony (or higher) level room taking advantage of all the FREE AT SEA amenities NCL offers. If for some reason you can only choose one or two perks (that’s if you book an interior or ocean view stateroom) you definitely get the most bang for your buck out of the NCL Premium Beverage Package .

NCL PRO-TIP : If one adult in the stateroom takes the UBP, all adults in the same stateroom must take or purchase it.

The Unlimited Beverage Package affords you, well unlimited beverages that retail for $15 or less. On our cruise, I’d say about 99% of the drinks we considered fell into this category. This was a great way to try different cocktails out by the pool or in the specialty bars! We loved starting our evening each night with a pre-dinner cocktail at the Mojito Bar!

NCL PRO-TIP : You can use your Unlimited Drink Package for drinks at Great Stirrup Cay !

On the Norwegian Getaway, even on a packed, Easter-week cruise, there were hardly any lines at the bars. With the UBP, you can order two drinks at a time (kids loved getting virgin Pina Coladas when mom and dad got the adult version). The mixed drinks were not that strong, but I saw several people asking for extra shots of liquor and that was not a problem!

Service on the NCL Getaway

Even with all the great ship amenities, a beautiful balcony room, great food and drinks, the thing that impressed me the most about sailing with Norwegian was the service. It was truly exceptional – every staff member went above and beyond to ensure all our needs were met!

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More Norwegian Getaway Tips and Tricks

• With most cruises, anything you can pre-order or pre-purchase will award you a little discount over purchasing on board. For example, the arcade package, Thermal Spa passes, Water Bottles, etc.
• Download the NCL app and PAY FOR THE CHAT FEATURE. This was a big regret of ours – we never enabled the chat feature and had trouble finding each other on the ship. The chat feature will work through the ship’s Wi-Fi and on our sailing, it was only $10 to add the chat.
• Speaking of Wi-Fi, if 250 Wi-Fi minutes are included with your FREE AT SEA package, know that if you don’t log out of the internet when you are done with your session, you will eat through all your minutes at once. Yeah, learned that the hard way!
• If you are sailing to Great Stirrup Cay, or another port that tenders, you can book your tender through the information kiosks located throughout the ship!

We loved our trip on the Norwegian Getaway and I love sharing my review with fellow cruise lovers, or future cruisers! Great service, good food, and a beautiful ship your whole family will  enjoy. Have you sailed on Norwegian? On the Getaway? Be sure to comment below or reach out if  you are interested in booking  a future cruise  or have any  questions about sailing on the Getaway!

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This looks like a fun cruise! I’ll keep it in mind; someday I’d like to try one.

we love to cruise!

Seriously dreaming about a cruise right now!

I have never been on a cruise but have been working on our next family vacation. Think we will go for it, looks like you all had so much fun!

I’m a big fan of cruising. This cruise was my family’s favorite of the three we have done together.

I have yet to go on a cruise, but it’s on my list. This looks like it was a blast and a lot of fun for kids too!

our kids have been on three and love cruises!

Are the cabins terribly small? My family is all 5’8″ and taller and I have seen some really “cozy” cabins.

I have yet to go on a cruise ship. Hopefully one day I’ll travel the high seas. This looks like fun!

Wow, this looks like a fantastic ship! I love going on cruises and can’t wait until my next one.

Oh man you’re killing me with this! Hard core cabin fever here in NYC, my travelust is out of control! Wonder when it’ll be ok to travel again, let alone cruise…

I know I wish I knew. And cruising will be towards the end I suspect, but it will be back!

This look amazing! Can’t wait to travel again!

me too! Cruising will take a while, but it will come back!

Such great tips! I love NCL. Would love to plan a cruise for later this year or next year 🙂 They’re too much fun

We’ve been talking about going on a cruise for a while now. As soon as we are able to, I’m going to take the whole family!

Someday we’ll cruise again! We’ve haven’t cruised with Norwegian yet, but it looks you had a wonderful time!

I hope so. Seems like it will take a while, but it will come back!

Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.

I haven’t been on a cruise in forever! This is the perfect get away after the chaos is done !

I’ll love to celebrate my 40th birthday on a cruise and your recommendation of Norwegian Getaway cruise is exactly what I needed to kick start my wanderlust dream. Thank you, lovely pictures by the way!

I did Italy for my 40th (back in 2017) travel is a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday!

Ok…WOW! The activities on this ship look absolutely amazing! And I love the bunk beds in the stateroom. It’s kind of a bummer that the drinks in the mini-fridge etc. are not included in the beverage package. That would be so tempting! Ha 🙂

The bunk beds are fun – of course on a 7 night cruise, two kids, one gets an extra night on the top!

Wow! This cruise looks amazing! I can’t wait to sail with them one day!

NCL is really great. Everyone loved it!

We love cruises but I’ve never been on a Norwegian cruise. Looks fabulous! I’m in the mood for any one of the dishes on that dinner menu lol

oh I’d love some cruise food right about now!

We sailed in October 2019 on the Getaway from Copenhagen to New Orleans, 19 nights. I didn’t like having to make a reservation for the theatre. It was supposed to be “Freestyle”. The theatre was so small they had no choice with 4000+ passengers. All the public areas were tiny; no social distancing. Syd Normans Pour House had maybe 50 chairs with 300 people crowded in. And you had better get in line an hour early. NCL has sacrificed public areas in order to have more cabins. Also they ran out of milk and tea and about 20 other items. We are platinum with NCL, but the older ships are far better.

yeah I think show reservations (post pandemic) are here to stay 🙁

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Norwegian Getaway Deck Plans & Reviews

Norwegian Getaway

Activities & entertainment

• Arts and Crafts Classes
• Kids Aqua Park
• Waterslides (2)
• Whirlpools (8)
• Poolside Games
• Deck Parties
• Getaway Casino *
• Gaming Lessons *
• Perspectives Photo Studio *
• Photo Gallery *
• Retail Shops *
• The Collection Art Gallery *
• Internet Cafe *
• Thermal Suite *
• Barber Shop *
• Basketball Court
• Sports Complex
• Ropes Course
• Jogging Track
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Dance Classes
• Late Night Dancing
• Vibe Beach Club *
• Bliss Ultra Lounge
• Wine Tasting *
• The Humidor Cigar Lounge
• Entourage Teen Lounge
• Splash Academy _ Kids Club
• Video Arcade *
• The Haven Lounge _ Suite Guests
• Medical Center
• Getaway Theater
• Illusionarium *
• Howl at the Moon
• Broadway Unplugged
• Headliners Comedy Club
• Levity Comedy
• Syd Normans Pour House
• Live Nightly Music
• The Tropicana Room - Main
• Taste Restaurant - Main
• Savor Restaurant - Main
• OSheehans Neighborhood Bar and Grill - Pub
• Garden Cafe - Buffet
• Shanghais Noodle Bar - Asian
• The Haven Restaurant - Suite Guests
• Cagneys Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• La Cucina Italian Restaurant - Italian *
• Moderno Churrascaria - Brazilian *
• Le Bistro French Restaurant - French *
• Ocean Blue - Seafood *
• The Raw Bar - Raw Bar *
• Wasabi - Sushi *
• American Diner - Diner *
• Teppanyaki - Japanese *
• Starbucks - Coffee Bar *
• Dolce Gelato - Gelato *
• The Bake Shop - Pastries *
• Bar 21 - Casino Bar *
• Mixx Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Prime Meridian Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Skyy Vodka Ice Bar - Ice Bar *
• Syd Normans Pour House - Beer Bar *
• Sugarcane Mojito Bar - Mojito Bar *
• Sunset Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Bar at the Atrium - Atrium Bar *
• Waves Pool Bar - Pool Bar *
• Room Service *
• Excellent 66
• Very Good 50
• Terrible 50
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Cruising Norwegian Getaway and Staying in the Haven

We’re cruising again! This time, we are cruising Norwegian Getaway.

Last summer (2016), despite vowing never to cruise again after a disastrous experience eight years prior, we surprisingly found ourselves booking another cruise. Influenced by my friend’s glowing cruise tales, we decided to see if the spark for cruising we once had was still alive. Opting for a fresh start, we chose the Norwegian Getaway from Miami, Florida, for its enticing Western Caribbean itinerary .

Initially drawn to a well-planned itinerary and the tempting array of onboard cuisine, I imagined a hassle-free escape once the booking was made. We would not have to worry about accommodations or hunting down the best eateries – everything would be at our fingertips. Little did I know, despite my initial vision of poolside relaxation and carefree port exploration, I couldn’t resist delving into reviews and online details about Norwegian Cruise Line’s Getaway.

Table of Contents

Cruising Norwegian Getaway Review

Knowledge is power. There is nothing wrong with being well-prepared. 

For example, if I hadn’t dedicated my time to learning every piece of intel I could gather about this ship, I would have never learned about the secluded, adults-only area called The Vibe. Your chances of getting a pass depend on how fast you can run to Headliners Comedy Club (deck 6) to grab one of the 70 passes at an extra cost (when we took this cruise).

Every review I read with Vibe passes made it sound like a slice of heaven, and it probably is. I almost convinced hubby we needed to be at the terminal early to score these passes, but then the Advance Upgrade Bid Program happened.

We also joined a cruise roll cal l , which helped us make the most of our experience back cruising.

Don’t Miss: How to Plan a Cr uise Vacation

Cruise Cabin Upgrades

Upsells seem to be popular on the Norwegian Cruise Line.

There used to be an 800 number to call to get a great deal on a suite – so I’ve read . Customers searching for a sweet deal would call this number and be quoted a fantastic discount for a higher category room than they originally booked.

After our final payment, Norwegian decided to try a new method by inviting customers to bid on these upsells. I took the knowledge I had gained, did some math, and submitted a bid I thought was fair. And guess what?

We won! 

With our bid, we originally booked a mid-ship mini-suite and were upgraded to a Haven Penthouse suite. We saved around $2,000 by taking a chance with a bid instead of booking the Haven directly. We were able to keep our Free at Sea Perks : Unlimited Beverage Package (UBP) and (3) specialty dining Program (SDP).

We would have been just as happy with the mini-suite if we hadn’t won. However, given the opportunity, the Haven is a treat we wouldn’t mind repeating.

Read more: 122 Quick & Helpful Cruise Tips

The Haven on the Norwegian Getaway

Let’s talk about The Haven . It did not disappoint. The priority access every time we embarked or disembarked was 100% worth what we bid alone.

Our room was spacious, with modern decor, a comfortable King bed, and ample storage space. The Lavazza coffee machine in our suite was a dream come true for Hubby.

[Update: The LAVAZZA machines were replaced by NESPRESSO machines. ]

The butler was on call when we needed him – not that we really used him . Every afternoon, we would return from port to find, and we’d find yummy snacks he’d leave in our room. 

Our steward kept the room clean and was on top of everything. The concierge was always available and helpful. The crew throughout the entire ship was friendly and wonderful. No complaints.

The exclusive pool, hot tubs, and courtyard for Haven guests are precisely what was needed to relax during sea days.

We did venture out of the Haven. We enjoyed the water slides, ate at the buffet many times for lunch, and sat at the waterfront with a couple of drinks while gazing at the sunset. The cruise ship had plenty to do , and we made a pretty good attempt not to miss out on anything. I do regret not trying out the rope course.

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Tasty Itinerary: Food on the Norwegian Getaway

The food, we thought, was great throughout.

• Buffet: I loved that they had scooped ice cream of different flavors and soft served. Fresh crepes for dessert at dinner time – YUM. As far as the rest of the food, what I did try, I remember enjoying. The best part of a buffet is there is something for everyone .
• O’Sheehan’s : This pub is open 24/7, where you can have a late-night burger and wings. Beer is optional.
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (a specialty restaurant): While it is not Peter Luger’s in New York City , it was still pretty good, and I recommend it if you are a carnivore.
• Teppanyaki (a specialty restaurant): The chef was highly entertaining, and there was plenty of food. Scratch that, an abundance. We booked this with our free specialty dining package, but if you decide to pay a la carte, you’ll get your money’s worth.d
• The Haven Restaurant (only available to Haven guests): This restaurant is superb! We were impressed and didn’t feel the need to try other specialty restaurants besides the ones already mentioned. We had breakfast there every morning. I had my favorite eggs, Benedict, and hubby got his fill of filet mignon and eggs.

Entertainment

I have to give props where they are due. The Norwegian Getaway was the first ship I’d been on in 8 years, but I remember the boredom and aggravation endured on our previous cruise. To say the entertainment on this one was above par would be an understatement.

We immersed ourselves in various ship activities, exploring the diverse entertainment options. H20 hosted a different dance party each night for those seeking a lively atmosphere. If dancing isn’t your cup of tea, the atrium offered a different musical experience with a band playing various genres. My husband’s favorite was Howl at the Moon, where he enjoyed singing along with the dueling pianos. The ship catered to a wide range of interests, ensuring something enjoyable for everyone on board.

The best show of the week was “Million Dollar Quartet.” Standing ovation! Hubby and I were astonished at the talent of this ensemble. The music, the acting, and the singing were unbelievable. I recommend you not miss this show while it still plays on NCL Getaway.

Bonus: You might be able to catch the cast members at Howl at the Moon, and if you’re lucky, they might even join in on the performance.

Norwegian won us over as customers . We even purchased two cruise next vouchers. We are looking forward to dividing our time between land vacations and cruising . I’m looking forward to sharing our experiences with you… the good, the amazing, and the ugly.

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

• Cruising the Norwegian Encore Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Joy Review
• Cruising the Celebrity Solstice Review
• Cruising the Celebrity Equinox Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Epic Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Pearl Review: Our Favorite Ship Yet

Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.

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the found sounds so much better with this one… thanks for a good review! so helpful.

This was a great ship and the experience was phenomenal staying in The Haven. Thanks for stopping by!

WE love the Haven. My husband and I stayed in a Haven Courtyard suite a few years ago, and are looking forward to staying in one on the Breakaway in October. Great review. We agree with everything you said. The service is impressive, and the Haven restaurant is amazing.

It was such a great experience. We would love to stay in the Haven again someday. Hopefully, we’ll get lucky again in the bidding process. Have fun on the Breakaway! Haven’t been on the ship yet but they say it’s similar to Getaway.

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Norwegian Getaway

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Norwegian Getaway combines the most magnificent amenities Norwegian has to offer with unforgettable destinations. Stroll The Waterfront , an innovative, industry-first open-air promenade designed to connect guests with the ocean like no other cruise line. Indulge in 20 dining options, experience the thrill of five water slides, and three levels of action-packed activities in the sports complex. The excitement and entertainment continues with Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet. Get ready to explore the white sand beaches and deep-blue waters on a Caribbean cruise , build a pink sandcastle in Bermuda , explore history up close in Europe , or just relax at sea on a Transatlantic cruise . Miami’s Ultimate Ship is your ultimate getaway.

• Ship 145,655 Gross Register Tonnage
• Guest 3,903 Guest Capacity double occupancy
• Length 326 m Overall Length
• Width 52 m Max Beam
• Year 2020 Refurbished Year Built 2014
• Crew 1,646 Ship Crew

Norwegian Getaway CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHTS

NEW! Fall 2021 Greek Isles & Italy Cruises

Sail aboard Norwegian Getaway as we get ready to break free this fall. As part of our first available sailings, experience a 7-day Greek Isles & Italy cruise from Rome to Croatia’s stunning coastline, Corfu’s secluded coves, Santorini’s famed blue-domed village, and Florence's centuries-old architecture. Live La Dolce Vita on a historic voyage through the Mediterranean.

NEW! Starlink High-Speed Internet

Starlink provides fast Internet service at sea and is now available on Norwegian Getaway. Using advanced low earth orbit satellites, SpaceX's Starlink delivers industry leading broadband internet connectivity, which will improve the capacity, speed, and reliability of Internet on board.

• The Waterfront

Connect with the sea on The Waterfront, our quarter-mile oceanfront promenade. Discover a new restaurant or bar each day and night! Step out into the breeze at Ocean Blue, a casual take-away with seaside eats. Dine oceanside at La Cucina and enjoy authentic Italian cuisine. Or simply enjoy a refreshing mojito with friends.

Renovations that Rock

Wake to spectacular ocean views in your redesigned stateroom and then kick off another day in paradise with a Caramel Macchiato from the new full-service Starbucks® . After exploring incredible destinations, savour a moonlit dinner at one of our deliciously enhanced restaurants. When night falls, jam out to famous rock hits at the new Syd Norman’s Pour House where live music and an interactive cast will have you toasting the rock-and-roll legends all night long. Rock the day and night away when you set sail on the newly enhanced Norwegian Getaway.

All-New Entertainment Experience

An onboard carnival takes an unusual turn when a magician puts a curse on everyone. In this ultimate combination of intellect and urgency, it’s up to you to solve the clues and break the spell before time runs out. Escape The Big Top is a not-to-be-missed activity for the whole family.

Illusionarium

When it comes to entertainment on board Norwegian Getaway, you won’t believe your eyes. Join us in Illusionarium, our mesmerizing dome venue, for a surreal magical experience with fine dining and special effects never before seen at sea.

678 Ocean Place

Located at the center of our newest ships is 678 Ocean Place where you’ll find three decks of non-stop action. Discover a new bar or lounge. Shop in a designer boutique. Try your luck in the casino. You’re at the center of it all – and loving every minute.

Norwegian Getaway Cruise Image Gallery

• 360 Virtual Tour
• Haven Courtyard
• Spa Thermal Suite
• Kid's Aqua Park

Discover Her Unique CRUISE DESTINATIONS

Bahamas Cruises

See famous theme parks, bustling straw markets, lounge in the sun or just take it easy.

Bermuda Cruises

From British-style high tea to teeing it up on the greens, experience your island escape.

Canada & New England Cruises

Feast on lobster rolls. Explore the craggy shores of Nova Scotia. Or count lighthouses.

Caribbean Cruises

Turquoise water and white sands shimmer in The Caribbean. Experience the sublime colourful architecture of these breezy, tropical ports.

Extraordinary Journeys

Set sail from one destination and end in another. It's the ultimate way to experience it all.

Greek Isles Cruises

Explore Greece as you stroll through sun-bleached, winding streets. Experience lively Santorini as you wander through its picturesque, winding streets.

Mediterranean Cruises

Travel through Italy whilst indulging in traditional flavours and admiring iconic landmarks. Discover Barcelona's unique Catalan identity whilst taking in its stunning architecture and delectable dining.

Transatlantic Cruises

Leisure days at sea, exciting moonlit nights, and nothing to distract from the journey ahead.

Weekend Cruises

Leave your worries behind and slip away. Enjoy dinner, dance and take in a show.

See Getaway STATEROOMS

• Club Balcony Suite

Hidden at the top of the ship, The Haven features our most luxurious, well-appointed accommodations as well as 24-hour butler service, concierge service and private sundeck.

Whether it's the two of you or your family, our Club Balcony Suites are accented with the finest touches. And enough room to make memories forever.

Soak in breathtaking views together or with the family. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to your own private balcony. Stylish and sophisticated appointments accent these modern rooms.

Experience comfort all around you. These stylish staterooms feature fine appointments, which are highlighted by nice touches and clear views of the ocean.

Relax in lively style and smart sophistication. Our modern inside staterooms are highlighted with appointments like a TV, sitting area and more.

Specifically designed and priced for solo travellers, our Studios feature a full-size bed, separate bath area and access to the private Studio Lounge - no single supplement required.

Experience WHAT’S ON BOARD

• Speciality Dining
• Bars & Lounges
• Entertainment
• Onboard Shopping

Serving a wide variety of culinary delights to please every palate, our complimentary dining options include three main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. Plus, our Main Dining Rooms offer a menu that changes daily, Chef's Signature Dishes and carefully selected wine recommendations, guaranteeing a different culinary adventure with every visit.

Enjoy a night of gastronomic proportions at one of our many speciality restaurants. Find your inner foodie at Ocean Blue featuring delicious seafood eats. Bring a hearty appetite to our Brazilian steakhouse, Moderno Churrascaria. And see shrimp fly at Teppanyaki. Whether you're dining inside or oceanside on The Waterfront, our speciality restaurants feature the tastes you'll crave.

With so many bars and lounges to discover, finding your favourite may take a few days. Feel the energy of the pumping music and pulsing walls as you dance till the wee hours at Bliss Ultra Lounge. Grab a burger and beer anytime you like at O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill. Or chill out, literally, in the only ice bar at sea. Whether you're looking to meet up with friends or make new ones, there's always an opportunity to mix it up.

When it comes to the entertainment on our newest ships, you won't believe your eyes or even your ears. Bask in the bright lights of Broadway with performances like Million Dollar Quartet. Or tickle your funny bone with hilarious comedic performances.

From top to bottom and from bow to stern, Norwegian Getaway has enough onboard activities to fill every minute of your cruise. Think you're brave? Splash around at Aqua Park with Free Fall - the fastest waterslides at sea. Or visit our multi-level Sports Complex and walk The Plank, which extends 8 feet over the side of the ship. Wanna get lucky? Bet it all at our award-winning Casinos at Sea®. With so much excitement, you'll have to come back for more.

When you want some "me" time, look no further than Mandara Spa®. Relax with a hot-stone massage, one of over 50 speciality treatments offered. At our onboard spas, treatments range from the classic to the luxurious. Let our pampering professionals soothe and rejuvenate you with facials, massages, acupuncture and a full menu of services.

Forget to pack something? No worries! Our gift shops onboard carry everything you'll need for fun in the sun. Shop from a variety of souvenirs, cosmetics, clothing, snacks and sundry items. Treat yourself at our duty-free shops full of fantastic savings on fine jewellery, accessories, perfume, liquor and tobacco.

Read THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

Electric on every level.

Live it up at the heart of Norwegian Getaway – 678 Ocean Place, connecting three decks of bars, dining, shopping and nonstop entertainment.

Dining On Board

From casual buffets to exquisite speciality restaurants, learn everything there is to know about dining on board.

The Language of Travel

From shopping to exploring, learn these simple phrases in French, Spanish and Dutch.

Cruise Norwegian App

Download the Cruise Norwegian app. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise holiday every step of the way.

If You Like Norwegian Getaway, You May Also Be Interested In:

REVIEW TRANSATLANTIC CRUISE ON NORWEGIAN GETAWAY

Jul 1, 2023 Cruises , Europe , North America , USA 4 comments

Choosing the right cruise line and ship is always tricky but especially so for a transatlantic cruise. With many sea days and so much time spent on board, finding the right fit is even more important. Hopefully this review of my recent 12-day Transatlantic Cruise on NCL’s Norwegian Getaway will give you a good idea of what to expect on this ship and on a Norwegian Cruise Line (transatlantic) cruise.

Like any review, this one is somewhat subjective but I will try to stay as objective as possible (or at least note if something is just a matter of taste).

Read on for lots of information and (hopefully) helpful tips and tricks if you decide on a (NCL) transatlantic cruise or just any trip on Norwegian Getaway!

Table of Contents

The Basics of this cruise: What, when and where

This was my first cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines. It was a 12-day Transatlantic Cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Lisbon, Portugal, on NCL’s Norwegian Getaway from June 3 to 15, 2023 .

The price of the cruise for a solo guarantee cabin in the oceanview category was EUR855.50. I added on NCL’s Free at Sea special for an additional EUR250 so that my final price was EUR1,105.50 – an excellent price!

Review of Ports on Norwegian Getaway’s Transatlantic

The cruise started in Port Canaveral, Florida, and ended in Lisbon Portugal. Here is the itinerary:

Like most transatlantic cruises this Norwegian Getaway cruise had only very few ports – most of the time was spent on board.

However, I was quite excited as two of the ports were completely new to me. So what were they like?

Embarcation Port: Port Canaveral, Florida, USA

Port Canaveral is of course a popular embarcation port for Caribbean cruises.

We have actually spent a week at a beach resort nearby a couple of years ago and had a great time but the number of sights right at Port Canaveral is limited (pretty much to the beach, the Ron Jon Surf Shop, and of course Cape Canaveral which definitely is worth a visit).

However, Port Canaveral is of course not far from Orlando. Orlando’s MCO airport offers very good connections worldwide and the transfer from airport to port is fairly easy. I used GoPort but Uber would also be a good option.

So given the comparative ease of getting to the port and all the fun to be had in Orlando, Port Canaveral is a convenient and fun port to start a cruise at.

First Port: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Great Stirrup Cay is NCL’s private island in the Bahamas and promises a great time in the sun!

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay is a tender port which means you will have to sign up for tender tickets a day ahead if you want to get off the ship early. This also means that getting on and off the ship is more cumbersome than if the ship is docked.

I was very much looking forward to a day at the beach (the weather in Germany had been rather grey so far this year and I was dreaming of sunshine). Unfortunately, the weather turned out to be lousy the day we were at the island: grey with drizzly rain all morning!

As it hadn’t even occured to me that the weather could be anything but perfect, I didn’t notice the rain until I stepped off the tender boat. I did try to make the best of it for a little bit but soon returned to the ship – there is limited shelter on the island.

Even though I managed to find a dry spot but staring out at the rain isn’t that much fun so I returned to the ship pretty early on. Soon after they also stopped tendering due to the bad weather.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t form a proper opinion on Great Stirrup Cay in the rain. I am sure it is great in sunshine but will refrain from giving it any kind of score.

Top Tips for visiting Great Stirrup Cay

Yes, even though I only spent less than an hour on the island I made several mistakes so can give some helpful tips for your hopefully sunnier adventure on NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay:

1. Get a tender ticket the day before if you want to get to the island early on

2. Check the weather before bording the tender! That way you can avoid wasting time tendering if the weather is so bad that you won’t want to stay there.

3. Make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and take a hat

4. Bring a towel from the ship. Unlike me, don’t just grab one of the white towels from your bathroom. You can get a proper blue beach/ pool towel up on the pool deck.

5. If it is or might rain and you decide to go to Great Stirrup Cay anyway bring some rain protection  or at least something to protect your phone from the rain

6. Bring/take your medication /arm bands (or whatever you are using) if you are prone to seasickness . The tender will likely be choppier than anything you will experience during the rest of your cruise.

7. If going in (potential) rain choose your shoes carefully . Walkways on Great Stirrup Cay get extremely slippery when wet !

Second Port: Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

Given their location way out in the Atlantic, the Azores are not the most common holiday destination. They are however a fairly common port on transatlantic cruises.

It was my first visit to these islands and I absolutely loved it. They are part of Portugal but geographically belong to Africa. Heavily volcanic, they offer a lush, green, and verdant landscape.

Shore Excursion: Island Views, Tastes and Horses

As I have often mentioned before, I am not the biggest fan of organized tours and prefer doing my own thing. However, when I researched the island of Sao Miguel, I soon had to accept that public transport on the island is sparse.

It may be possible to use public transport to explore the island if staying there overnight but with just a couple of connections per week to most destinations it seemed far too chancey on a cruise.

As the idea of driving myself is even worse than taking organized tours, I decided on the later. Generally, third-party tours will be cheaper than those sold by the cruise line but as part of the Free at Sea promotion I had a Euro 50 credit per day for tours.

Consequently, I decided on the shore excursion Island Views, Tastes and Horses which included several scenic view points, a visit to a thermal pool area and a small town, as well as a short tour of a horse ranch and a wine and cheese tasting.

At the reduced price of Euro 73 the cost was reasonable and I actually enjoyed the whole experience very much. If you would like to learn more you can read my complete review of this shore excursion on Sao Miguel.

Third Port: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

This was my second visit to the Portugese island of Madeira and I again loved it. Due to its “eternal spring” the island is especially known for its plants and botanical gardens.

The port is right next to the center of town. While it is a little bit of a walk (maybe 20 minutes) I do appreciate that no shuttle or tour is necessary to start exploring.

Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus

Due to the Free at Sea promotion the Hop-on-Hop-off-bus was free so I took advantage of it. Riding the full two hour circuit gives a good overview of the layout of Funchal and the surrounding area and is an excellent choice if you can’t walk far or just want a quick peek.

If you have a list of sights to see though it may not be the most efficient way to spend your time. The town is not very big and you can likely get where you are going much faster without the HoHo.

After riding the full circuit I got out at the furnicular station and made my way up to Monte. Like so often, everything took much longer than expected and I only managed to visit one of the two famous botanical gardens.

No matter, hopefully I can visit the second one sometime soon which will also give me a chance to try the famous toboggan ride back down the mountain.

All in all, Madeira is a great port with a number of easy options to explore on your own. There is definitely enough to do for four or five port stops!

Score: 4.5/5

Fourth (Disembarcation) Port: Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon as the capital of Portugal offers a large number of sights and is very well connected with the rest of the country by public transportation. The city reminds me very much of San Francisco – shaped by earthquakes, extremely hilly, on a bay with a large suspension bridge.

My cruise ended in Lisbon but I spent several more days in the area. You will soon be able to read all about my adventures in Portugal on this blog but for now let’s just say that yes, you definitely want Lisbon as a port on your cruise!

Norwegian Cruise Line’s App

Over the last couple of years I have seen/used the websites and apps of several cruise lines and unfortunately NCL’s was probably the worst.

Making reservations ahead of the cruise was a big pain. For some strange reason certain things worked only in the App while others could only be done on the website. Changes were basically impossible and there was a lot of confusion about Syd Norman’s, a free venue that consistently showed up with a fee.

The actual app once on board was better. It worked fine to look at a copy of the dailies, see menus, and what was going on. However, you couldn’t really do much on it so it wasn’t a great tool. On the other hand, in contrast to Royal Caribbean’s App this one wasn’t crucial to enjoy your vacation. There was no down-side to not having/using the app as all bookings could be made in person.

(Dis-)Embarcation on Norwegian Getaway’s transatlantic

Embarcation in port canaveral, check-in for transatlantic.

Embarcation in Port Canaveral was very easy and smooth . During online check-in prior to the trip I could only get a fairly late check-in time of 1 pm but as I am an anxious traveler I got to the port already around 11 am. This turned out to be no problem whatsoever. Noone ever mentioned anything about it and I just joined the check-in line.

The actual check-in was very fast (and no more waiting with bated breath while the COVID-test was run). Around 30 minutes after getting off the GoPort-Shuttle I was on board.

Once on board Norwegian Getaway

Once on board it is a good idea to take care of any urgent sign-ups or changes for dining or entertainment. In my case I needed to change one of my specialty dinner reservations. Unfortunately, the line to do this was quite long and it was a bit of a pain.

The worst part of embarcation on Norwegian Getaway was though that it took forever for the cabins to be ready . On my recent cruises the cabins were ready the moment you entered the ship but even before the pandemic I don’t remember ever waiting past 2:30 pm.

Unfortunately, on this cruise some cabins (i.e. mine) weren’t done until about 5 pm. They did provide the option to drop off luggage somewhere but there really is no good indoor space to relax in on the ship and the weather was fairly bad.

I will say more about this lack of space later on, but generally it wasn’t a huge problem as not everyone is trying to hang out there at the same time. But on this first day basically everywhere on the ship was very crowded and noisy – not a great start to the trip.

Disembarcation in Lisbon

For me, disembarkation in Lisbon was as easy as it could possibly be. In line with NCL’s Freestyle Cruising approach they did not assign a group for leaving the ship. You could choose it yourself up to the day by simply grabbing the correct luggage tag at guest services.

As I was travelling with only carry-on luggage I opted to just walk off with my suitcase on my own. Consequently, I did not have to worry about which group was being called but had a somewhat leisurely breakfast and then walked off once I was ready (rooms had to be vacated by 8:30 am).

The line for walking off the ship was a bit longer than usual (presumably because most people prefer a civilized 8 am to earlier times) but doable. Norwegian Getaway docked right in town so it was easy to get to a nearby Metro station and continue my trip.

Non-EU travelers beware

One big caveat for Non-EU travelers: There was no immigration/passport check when walking off the ship. Presumably, this was taken care off while at sea/before reaching Portugal’s Azores Islands.

While this made the process very painless, it seems that some non-EU passengers ran into problems on their way back home because they did not have a passport stamp/no way to show how they ever entered the EU.

For most this just meant a couple of unpleasant minutes at the airport until everything got straightened out. However, for some cruisers that stayed on the ship for the next cruise it turned into a major hassle. When they arrived in Gibraltar (UK) on a shore excursion they were not admitted because the paperwork was missing and had to return to the ship.

So if you are not an EU citizen and arriving in Europe on a transatlantic cruise it may be a good idea to check with the cruise line/ship on how this is being handled and on whether you can get a passport stamp from immigration .

Review of my Cabin on Norwegian Getaway

I booked again a guarantee oceanview cabin as there were no inside cabins available when I made my reservation.

When you book a “Guarantee” cabin you do not get to choose the actual cabin/location. Instead the cruise line will assign you whichever cabin they want within the category booked (or higher).

I did put in an upgrade bid to a spa cabin (you will receive an email after booking if you are eligible for bidding on an upgrade) but did not get it. Probably lucky as the upcharge was quite a bit and I was trying to stick to my budget.

Just a week or so after booking I received my cabin assignment, an oceanview cabin aft on deck 5 (the lowest public deck).

Review: Location of Cabin (5834)

Prior to my cruise I read some negative comments about cabins on deck 5 but I am not sure why – to me it was a great location!

The aft location was very convenient as I was close to stairs and elevators. And as I was so far aft, the restaurants were close – always a plus. I didn’t really have to use the elevators that often as many of the public areas are on decks 6 to 8 so not too far from 5.

Deck 5 was also convenient when leaving the ship in ports and when returning there was no need to wait for a crowded elevator when everyone wanted one after the tours.

Finally, the location on a lower deck also is an advantage in rough seas. Our cruise had the smoothest water ever so it didn’t make much of a difference but when up on the sun deck or in the Garden Cafe I did notice a bit of movement some days. Not so in the cabin! If you are sensitive to motion, I would definitely recommend a cabin on one of the lower decks.

Review: Cabin Layout and Amenities (5834)

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely loved this cabin!

When I first walked in I wasn’t so sure as it looked kind of bare but it grew on me and I was very happy with my choice.

I believe there are different layouts offered on Norwegian Getaway – Stateroom 5834 has the bed in front of the window. Great natural light and it makes it easy to “climb” into the window for a cozy view of the ocean.

I don’t think there would be a lot of privacy concerns with the location of the window (the only people who could look in would be on another ship or on the dock) but there definitely weren’t any on this transatlantic. With few ports and not a lot of ships around you could dance naked in front of the window and noone would see (I didn’t though).

The room’s furnishing were a bit bare. There was little in the way of decoration and I was suprised that there was no couch/love seat. Aside of a small stool the bed was the only place to sit (aside of the window I guess). This did keep the cabin from feeling too small/crowded though.

There was a pretty big closet and several other storage options. I travel with little luggage but even if you had more clothes along you wouldn’t have a problem to put them away. The suitcase easily fit under the bed.

Unfortunately the only table/desk was rather small and slanted in a weird way. Combined with the not very ergonomic stool it wasn’t the best set-up to do some work. However, it was better than nothing and if you were not planning to work you might not even notice.

As you can see on the picture above this stateroom had a connecting door to the next cabin. This didn’t bother me though.

The cabin was actually very quiet. I didn’t hear any noises from adjacent cabins or from above. The only noise I did hear was either from the hallway or when doors were opened or closed.

The bathroom was of average size for a cruise ship. The shower did have glass walls, better than the clingy curtains that you will find on some ships.

All in all I would give the cabin an average score. I really did love that window though!

Review: Room Attendant

This is a tricky point this time. I have always been very impressed with the room attendants on cruise ships. Not only do they clean your room but they also provide a turn-down service in the evening. More important, they always seem to be hanging out in the hallway, happy to help you.

In the past, I would see my room attendant several times a day and they would know my name by the second day at the latest. It is generally a very pampering experience – like having your very own servant.

Don’t get me wrong – I am not demanding at all and hardly ever need/ask for anything in addition to the regular cleaning service. But I do like knowing that if there is a problem someone is right there to help.

On this cruise, the experience was completely different. However, I don’t believe that had anything to do with my room attendant. I am sure he worked very hard and was quite busy.

Unfortunately, Norwegian Cruise Lines has made a change and now only provides cleaning once a day. Consequently, room attendants are assigned to more cabins and aren’t around as much.

It was fine – the room was cleaned promptly – but I did miss getting a towel animal in the evening. More importantly I did have some small issues/questions (for example I couldn’t get the TV to work properly) but it just seemed too much trouble to try to find the room attendant to get this fixed.

So my score below is not for my hard-working room attendant but for the new policy by NCL.

Food and Drinks on Norwegian Getaway

On this cruise I ate most of my meals (lunch and dinner) in one of the three main dining rooms of the ship: Savor, Taste, and Tropicana. I only went to the buffet in the Garden Cafe for some breakfasts and snacks.

As part of the Free at Sea promotion I had two specialty dinners included and opted for Ocean Blue (Seafood) and Cagney’s (Steakhouse).

I also had a small dinner at the included Shanghai’s Noodle Bar and ate several times at O’Sheehan’s Irish Pub, the only dining venue open around the clock.

For the most part, the food was fine but not great. A comparison with my other cruises since the pandemic is maybe a bit unfair as I had the Unlimited Dining Plan on Royal Caribbean (all specialty dining) and both Cunard and Celebrity are at a higher price point than Norwegian Cruise Lines.

As may be expected the food was a bit less inspiring than on these other cruises. My two specialty meals were good and almost everything else was acceptable but maybe not the stuff dreams are made of.

In general, pasta, chicken, and shrimp dishes were quite good and the plainer the dish the better it usually was. Beef unfortunately tended to be a bit overcooked and tough.

You can read my complete review for more info on the restaurants and all the dishes I tried.

Score: 3.5/5

I am not a big drinker so generally don’t get a beverage package. However, as part of the Free at Sea promotion unlimited drinks were included for a low price. 

I generally had a glass of wine with dinner, a couple of sodas, and usually one or two cocktails. With 8 sea days (and one of the port days so rainy that it wasn’t worth getting off) I was glad to have drinks included especially as Norwegian Cruise Lines does not let you bring any sodas on board. It was definitely nice to get a drink whenever without having to consider cost.

Prices for drinks were quite high but not sure it matters as almost everyone does have the unlimited drink package. It was very easy to get drinks at the bar (I sometimes struggle with that) and I hardly ever had to wait. Additionally, the cocktails were very tasty, much more to my taste than on some other recent cruises (my preference is for slushy, sweet or fruity concoctions though).

Ship in General

Like its sister ship, the Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway is one of the larger and newer ships in the NCL fleet but not one of the newest. With a capacity of around 4,000 passengers it is big but significantly smaller than for example Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas (you can read my complete review of the Harmony here ).

In line with this, the ship has more activities/venues to offer than many ships, but definitely less than for example the Harmony.

Are you going on a cruise on Norwegian Getaway? If so, my free photo scavenger hunt is a great way to explore the ship and have fun!

You can download the pdf for the completely free Norwegian Getaway Scavenger Hunt right here .

Somewhat unusually for transatlantic cruises, this June trip was completely sold out. However, I believe that was largely due to low prices, especially for solos as they waived the solo supplement.

Consequently, there were many, many solos on board and even though all the cabins were occupied I believe the overall number of passengers was significantly lower than the maximum/average.

This was great as it made it pretty easy to get a seat in restaurants or a place on the sun deck. In spite of this I did notice that there was a definite lack of public indoor spaces. This is definitely a ship better suited to warm climates!

I found the layout of Norwegian Getaway very easy to navigate. Basically, the only decks of interest to you (other than the one where your cabin is located of course) are 6-8 and 

Some people dislike large ships (which are more like swimming hotels than regular ships) while others love them. It is up to personal taste!

Personally, I prefer ships that are slightly smaller but do appreciate all the Oasis class has to offer.

Due to the pandemic, Harmony of the Seas on this trip was fairly empty so I never had an issue with it being crowded or there being too many people. I can imagine that during busy times it could be an issue though.

As far as the layout of Oasis class ships is concerned, it is actually fairly straightforward and easier to navigate than you might expect.

 You will likely spend most of your time on decks 3 to 6 (MDR, theater, Royal Promenade with bars and stores, Spa, Boardwalk with Aqua Theater, restaurants), deck 7 (Central Park with restaurants, stores, and bars), deck 15 (Solarium, pools, Sports), and 16 (flowrider and Windjammer buffet restaurant). Most of the rest is cabins.

The main thing to know about Harmony of the Seas (and all Oasis ships) is that it is set up as a series of neigborhoods . Once you realize that it is much easier to find your way around.

The main ones are:

On Deck 6 you will find two of the included main dining rooms , Taste and Savor . These are basically identical (and serve the same menu), the main difference is that on has blue as the main color and the other red.

Between these two restaurants you will find the Mixx Bar , a good place to get a pre-dinner cocktail. There are a couple of seats in front of the restaurants so if you have to wait to be seated (or you are so hungry that you show up before the opening time) you can relax.

Further along on this deck you will find two specialty restaurants (for an extra fee) – Teppanyaki and Le Bistro French Restaurant – as well as the Headliners Comedy Club . I didn’t visit any of these so unfortunately can’t give any special tips.

Next you will get to the Atrium . Now I want to be upfront and say that I very much disliked this multi-purpose space. Here you will find a stage with a large screen surrounded by various seating arrangements and around the edges guest services , the shore excursion desk , the internet cafe , a bar and Starbucks are arranged.

For some reason Norwegian uses this space for their trivia games/enrichment activities/gameshows. Now you could probably get a seat if you show up early enough but the atmosphere was just very noisy/chaotic and if you were further away the acoustics were not great.

Maybe it is just me, but I disliked this space so much that I didn’t really take part in any of the activities there (I did watch for a couple of minutes when walking through though).

It definitely was not a nice, relaxing area and was one of the things I liked the least about the Norwegian Getaway.

At the end of Deck 6 you will find the Theater (a fairly standard cruise ship theater) and the Illusionarium . This venue has a very cool circus/steam-punk vibe and was used for private functions (like Meet and Greets), some activities (like the Tabletop Escape Room), music, and some talks/shows. I liked this so much more than the Atrium though the seating isn’t tiered so it can be hard to see if you are in the back.

You can also find a small library/game room and several meeting rooms tucked away between Illusionarium and Atrium.

For me, Deck 7 had one big issue I didn’t expect – the smell of stale smoke. Now I have before read people complaining about the smell of smoke from the casino but have always ignored it as I thought they were just overly sensitive.

But on Norwegian Getaway it was just very noticeable – I don’t remember ever being bothered by cigarette smoke on another ship. Not sure if they have better ventilation, do not allow smoking, or if I was just more sensitive this time around.

Whatever the cause, the smell on deck 7 was distinctly unpleasant and made the entire floor less appealing to me.

At the Aft of deck 7 you will find the Tropicana Room . This is the third of the included main dining rooms and though the menu is once again identical to Savor/Taste it was my favorite.

Styled more like a New York Supper Club, it had a small dance floor and offered music at certain times during dinner. On one evening the cast of Burn the Floor even did a dance show!

Next you get to Shanghai’s Noodle Bar an included venue offering Asian dishes (no surprise there). Unfortunately, it is very small so that it was hard to get in without extended waiting times. As a solo diner I did manage to slip in without waiting late one evening. Loved the food but it did take significantly longer than I would have expected for basically just an appetizer.

Across from Shanghai’s Noodle Bar was Bliss Ultra Lounge . Not quite sure what is up with that. Every time I looked in it was either used for a private function or empty/closed. This is rather surprising given the severe lack of indoor spaces on the Getaway.

The entire middle of deck 7 was taken up by the (smelly) casino . An unfortunate waste of space to me, probably a great source of fun and entertainment for others.

As I didn’t play here I can not say anything about the games/pay-outs/services offered. On this transatlantic cruise the casino did not seem very busy to me though.

Next to the Casino finally a space I did indeed approve of: O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill . In addition to a pub/bar area (some seats have a view of the Atrium below so you can watch shows from up high if you prefer) it also has the only all day/night eating venue.

O’Sheehan’s offers a mix of bar/pub food (included in cruise fare) and I found it quite tasty! Which is good because after about 9:30 pm it is the only place to get a bite to eat (other than room service).

And finally the forwards area of deck 7 is again taken up by the Getaway Theater . Aside of two production shows (a dance show and a musical) they had two hypnosis shows as well as various musical performances here.

But my favorite part of deck 7 was definitely the outside deck area. The view was obstructed by life boats but the same life boats also served as a protection from the weather so the floor was much less slippery/wet than other outdoor spaces.

As there isn’t much aside of deck space here, it is the best place if you want to get in some exercise/steps while on board.

Deck 8 is the quietest of the three lower public decks and your best bet if you want to find a quiet spot to sit, enjoy a drink, have a quiet conversation, or read a book.

In the aft you will find two additional specialty restaurants: Cagney’s Steakhouse and Moderno Churrasceria as well as the Prime Meridian Bar.

A little further on is The Bake Shop which sells ice cream as well as macarons and other treats. I am not a fan of paying extra for food on a cruise so didn’t try anything there – it sure looked tasty though.

The next section of Deck 8 is is occupied by various shops (a boutique, the photo gallery and the duty free store).

The middle of deck 8 is open to the floor below and around the edges you will find the Humidor Cigar Lounge , specialty restaurants Wasabi , Raw Bar , and Ocean Blue , the Ice Bar , as well as the Sugarcane Mojito Bar .

This area, from the Sugarcane Mojito Bar onwards is probably your best bet to find a quiet place to relax inside. In the evening they did have performers playing the piano/singing at the Mojito Bar and this was quite popular.

If the bar is full you can often find a seat along the hallway to the Sunset Bar at the end of the ship. There La Cucina Italian Restaurant and Syd Norman’s Pour House are waiting for guests.

I regret that I never went to Syd Norman’s – just like the Comedy Club I had heard so many horror stories about long lines to get in that I didn’t even try. Maybe it wouldn’t even have been so bad? Lesson learned – check it out for yourself.

But undoubtedly the best part of Deck 8 is the The Waterfront . This outside promenade deck wraps all the way around the ship from La Cucina to Syd Normans – i.e. you can walk around the aft of the ship but will have to cross through the ship inside to complete a circle.

Not only can you stroll along and enjoy the ocean breeze, but there are also various comfortable seating groups (couches and chairs with tables) dotted along the way. These were pretty popular but you could usually snag a seat if you walked around for a bit (even faster if you asked to join another party). 

In addition, the specialty restaurants and bars on this deck have outdoor seating. All in all, it looks very nice and gives the Waterfront the feel of strolling along a Boardwalk or along a small town sidewalk.

One of the best features of the Norwegian Getaway!

Norwegian Getaway’s buffet restaurant, Garden Café , is located at the aft of deck 15. It is fairly big and I appreciated that even though it was busy it never was so crowded that I had a hard time finding a table. A big plus for me as I HATE hunting for a table with a full plate in my hand!

If you can’t find seating right away head towards the pool deck. There is additional open-air (but protected by a glass wall) seating available. In my opinion those were the best tables in the entire Garden Café but for some reason they were usually half-empty.

I ate almost all my meals in the main restaurants and mostly went to the buffet for breakfast and snacks so can’t say too much about the food. The presentation wasn’t astonishing – have definitely seen better but that was before the pandemic – but not bad either.

Selection was pretty good (looking at you Cunard here). There didn’t seem to be much in the way of salads but I had some great sandwiches one evening.

The desserts looked fairly lackluster but they generally had either some sort of fruit cobbler or bread pudding. I love both so the lack of desserts didn’t bother me (and they may have tasted better than they looked).

Walking through I noticed that they did have some higher quality dishes at dinner – I even so prime rib and shrimp. As far as taste is concerned, what I did try was fine – typical buffet food but not bad.

On the pool deck you will find water slides , a Kids Aqua Park , the Waves Pool Bar , and the main pool as well as four (I think) hot tubs.

I haven’t been in a pool on a cruise yet but this definitely wouldn’t have been the ship to start on. It looked fairly small and crowded – most ships I have been on had more than one pool.

The Sun Deck overall (including on the higher decks) were quite extensive. In spite of it being mostly sea days I never had a problem finding a space (but I am not particular as far as location is concerned). I believe it might have been a struggle to get a sun bed near the pool.

The front of deck 15 is the home of the Spa as well as the Fitness Center . Again, I didn’t visit either…

I was very tempted to get a Pass for the Spa Thermal Suite – everyone raves about it. But at around 350 Euro it wasn’t cheap and I was trying to keep cost down.

However, if I were to travel on Norwegian Getaway in bad weather/colder climate I would definitely splurge on this as it is hard to find a relaxing place inside.

Norwegian’s ultra-posh ship-in-ship area, the Haven , takes up the front of the ship on this deck. I wish I could report more in detail on the experience but unfortunately this is definitely out of my budget range…

In the center of deck 16 you have a sun deck and the jogging track as well as the water slides.

And in the aft you find the Teen Area , the Video Arcade (figures), and the American Diner for fee restaurant. More importantly (at least to me), behind these was Spice H2O . If you are specifically looking for it Spice H2O isn’t hard to find but you probably wouldn’t come across it by accident (unless you went by the teen club).

Spice H2O is an adult only sun deck with some water features and a bar. For some reason it felt a bit more exclusive and I usually spent an hour or so there every day.

Deck 17 is basically split in two. The forwards part is taken up by the Haven as well as the Vibe Beach Club . Vibe Beach Club similar to the Thermal Spa requires you to buy a pass for the length of the cruise to access.

It basically provides a more exclusive sun deck with comfy loungers as well as a bar. I know a lot of people swear by it and it usually sells out on the first day but personally I am not sure I would want to pay extra for it as the public areas were quite sufficient.

The aft section of deck 17 has the sports complex with the ropes course . This looked mega-mega-cool and was quite popular (and no extra cost). However, my knees started shaking just watching so I chickened out… Booh to me.

There is a small sun deck up here high on deck 18 and it was pretty deserted when I went so a good choice if you are having a hard time finding a sun lounger. It can get windy though so best on a sunny, calm day!

WIFI on Norwegian Getaway

Cost of wifi.

The Free at Sea promotion included 300 minutes of internet. As I was planning to do some work during the long sea days I upgraded to the Basic Unlimited WIFI plan. 

To save some money, I did not access those minutes at all until day 3 and bought the Unlimited WIFI only for the remaining ten days. Unlimited WIFI had a cost of 29.90 (so 299 USD for the ten days) but I got a credit of USD 145 for the 300 minutes included with Free at Sea so out-of-pocket cost was USD 159.

WIFI Performance

So far so good. However, the WIFI was horrendous. I did expect some outages/slower speeds while out on the Atlantic but it was significantly worse than expected.

We had maybe two days at the end (after Madeira) in which the internet kind of worked – very slow but at least you could access banks, book a hotel, or maybe work online. Presumably the internet was similar the first two days (Like I said I did not purchase it for those days).

But the eight days in between there was basically no WIFI. If you were lucky you could send an email and What’s App generally worked after a bit. Anything else – forget it!

Summary of WIFI on Norwegian Getaway

The WIFI situation was the main complaint I heard on the ship and the line at the internet manager’s desk was always long. I did get most of the additional I paid back but there was no compensation for the Free at Sea component (the internet minutes/credit was the main reason I decided to add it).

I believe NCL is going to add Starlink to the Norwegian Getaway soon and that may improve the WIFI. However, I would not recommend purchasing WIFI on any similar cruise unless you find more positive recent reviews/reports after the change.

Also, based on my experience do not expect to get any online work done while crossing the Atlantic. It may work but likely won’t. I would have prefered telling clients up front that I would not be reachable for the duration of the trip instead of constantly having to move deadlines and not sticking to my commitments.

Activities and Entertainment on Norwegian Getaway

As can be expected considering the size of the ship, Norwegian Getaway offered a decent number of activities but less than mega-ships like the Harmony of the Seas. Given the large number of sea days there were probably more activities offered than on a regular sailing.

Daytime Activities

The Ropes Course and Water Slides are definite draws (if you are a bit more daring than me). The Thermal Spa is supposed to be very nice but does come at an extra cost (I missed the Solarium as offered by Royal Caribbean).

There was a fairly steady stream of trivia/quizzes/game shows etc. in the Atrium. I didn’t take part in any of these and just watched for short amounts of time as I sincerely disliked the noisy Atrium with the poor acoustics but that might have been just me. I also prefered the more “serious”, competitive trivia on Cunard but again that is a matter of personal taste.

I missed any sort of lecture/educational show. The only “lectures” I noted were basically sales presentation (e.g. for watches, art, future cruises, spa services…). This is usual on mainstream lines that make a large percentage of their profit with selling add-ons but I did expect more non-sales talks.

Both on my prior transatlantic cruise on the Oasis and on my Canaries Cruise with Cunard (also several sea days) there were a number of talks about various subjects, ranging from Murder Mysteries to Historical Figures. This was completely absent on this cruise.

On the other hand I loved the chance to take part in the Tabletop Escape Room Adventure which is right up my alley. I did feel the groups were a bit too big and the game too hard but that may just have been because we sucked. It still was fun and a nice change from the usual cruise fare!

Evening Entertainment

There were two main shows (repeated twice on two days each) during this transatlantic cruise on Norwegian Getaway: Burn the Floor and Million-Dollar-Quartet. For both you should make reservations as soon as possible prior to the cruise, usually 21 days before.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Burn the Floor , a dance show with mostly Latin American flair, but that is probably just because I am not a big fan of dance shows. Everyone else seemed to love it so definitely see it if you get the chance.

On the other hand I enjoyed the musical Million-Dollar-Quartett a lot more than I expected. Although there isn’t much of a story and I didn’t get most of the inside jokes, I still had a great time and highly recommend attending.

I also had a great time at the Hypnosis Comedy Show with Brenda Kaye (yes, that is about my level of sophistication). It has been years since I have loved so hard!

Most other nights there was some sort of performance in the theater. There was also quite a bit of music and comedians in Headliners, Syd Normans and at the Illusionarium. 

In addition, they had someone playing the piano and singing at the Mojito Bar in the evenings and there was always quite a crowd.

Many of the venues are quite small and it can be difficult to get in. As I hate waiting for shows I may not even enjoy, I didn’t give this a try but wish I had gone to more.

All in all, the variety and number of evening entertainment was excellent!

Guests on Norwegian Getaway

For a transatlantic cruise, the average age of the guests was rather lower than I had expected. Though not overrun by children/teenagers, I did see more than I would have expected.

While there were quite a number of older guests, pretty much every age group was present. My guess would be that the average age was around mid-forties but with a wide spread.

There were surprisingly few fellow cruisers that I would consider elderly or that were using walkers. It definitely did not feel like a nursing home!

Nationality

Most of the passengers were definitely from the USA but there was a sprinkling of other nationalities, especially German, Canadian, British .

Given the casual atmosphere on Norwegian Getaway, the “party vibe”, and the complete lack of a dress code, I was surprised that the passengers were very similar to guests on Royal Caribbean or even Celebrity .

All fellow cruisers I talked to were educated, friendly, and appeared fairly well-off.

How was this cruise for Solo Cruisers?

This cruise was excellent for solo cruisers, probably the best I have ever been on. There were several reasons contributing to this:

1. NCL has a reputation for being “ solo friendly “

2. The waived single supplement made this cruise very affordable for single cruisers

3. Due to the many sea days there was more time to mingle and meet new people on the ship

4. Due to length/# of sea days, many meet-ups were organized – from Tarot readings to pub crawl

5. Passengers on Norwegian Getaway were extremely open, friendly , and willing to connect

All this combined to make it very easy to meet new people . And with so many solo passengers you never felt weird having dinner on your own (if you didn’t want to join other tables) as there were many other solo diners around you.

Highs and Lows of my Cruise

• It was very easy to meet people
• The atmosphere was great – everyone was looking to have fun
• Norwegian Getaway offers plenty of pleasant outdoor spaces
• I loved my cabin
• The price was great
• Free at Sea offered good value
• The cocktails/drinks were delicious
• The offered entertainment /shows was very good

The I-did-not-love-this-but-your-mileage-may-vary

• NCL’s smoking policy is rather lenient which leads to the entire deck 7 having an unpleasant stale cigarette smell
• Norwegian (like other mainstream lines) has cut back cabin service to once a day. Though that is enough to keep the stateroom clean, it does take away a lot of the luxury/pampering feel of the experience.
• NCL’s freestyle dining concept has a lot of fans and advantages, but I personally prefer a fixed time/table. With fixed dining your waiters get to know you and your preferences and service is generally much better.
• There are quite a lot of areas of the ship that require an extra payment – Vibe Beach Club, Thermal Spa, the Haven – so it is not surprising that the remaining indoor space is rather limited.
• WIFI was atrocious . I understand the difficulty of getting a connection out at sea but feel they should not even have sold internet plans. At the least the entire plan should have been reimbursed.
• Norwegian Getaway does not have enough comfortable indoor spaces in bad weather. It was fine on this cruise (or any of the regular Med/Caribbean cruises) but I would not for example recommend booking a transatlantic on this ship in the winter

Do I recommend a transatlantic on Norwegian Getaway?

Absolutely . This was a great cruise – relaxing and never boring! Though transatlantic cruises are not for everyone (read my post on transatlantic cruises to find out if a TA would be the right vacation for you), I loved my time on Norwegian Getaway.

Even though I was a bit critical of some aspects of the ship, the overal experience was outstanding.

The “Fun Factor” was very high – passengers were determined to have a great time and it was extremely easy to meet new people . I am very introverted and even I talked to so many people (but still had plenty of alone time )!

The price was great, drinks tasty , and the entertainment very good . It wasn’t the best cruise ship food I have ever had but perfectly acceptable.

The biggest complaints I had were related to WIFI (always a bit tricky when far out at sea), smoking, and the limited indoor spaces (luckily the weather was good on my trip so it didn’t really impact me).

If you are looking for an affordable, relaxing but fun, solo-friendly vacation it would be hard to find a better choice than a transatlantic cruise on Norwegian Getaway !

Hi, I am Kitty and I love to travel! Welcome to my blog, where I share all I have learned on my trips - good and bad - to help you have a better, cheaper, and more perfect vacation!

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Wow, that ship is beautiful! I especially love the giant chandelier and cool waterslide. You’re brave to have crossed the Atlantic all the way to Portugal. I don’t even like flying over the ocean!

I like transoceanic trips and love the crew’s creativity in the activities they come up with. I loved an escape room and learning to play the Ukelele on past voyages.

Thank you for sharing! It is always interesting to read reviews!

We do love transatlantic cruises and have been lucky to travel when the weather was good and we could really enjoy all the ship had to offer. It looks like your transatlantic trip on Norwegian Getaway went well. And I would have been excited for the port stop in Ponta Delgado in the Azores and in Madeira. Lots to keep you entertained on this cruise. And well fed too!

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Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work

Taking a trip on Norwegian Cruise Line? While you might have already paid for your vacation, there’s one more expense to consider: gratuities (or “service charges” as NCL calls them).

Cruise gratuities are simply a fact of cruising. The payments go toward staff members providing service, including your room steward and dining staff. While some see these tips as forced payments, others see them as a rightly deserved reward to hardworking crew.

Gratuities, however, aren’t always clear to those who are new to cruising. Some people just aren’t sure how they work, who gets the money, and how they are paid.

To help ease any confusion, we’ve explained in detail everything you need to know about gratuities on a Norwegian cruise. We have sailed the cruise line a number of times and know how it all works.

The first thing to know? While we refer to the charges as gratuities or tips below, Norwegian has taken to calling them “service charges.” In this case, all those references mean the same thing. 

Here’s more about what you need to know…

In This Article...

How much are gratuities/service charges on Norwegian?

Norwegian’s tip amounts vary depending the type of stateroom you book, ranging from $20-$25 per person, per day.

Notably, NCL raised their gratuity fees effective January 2023. Sail on the cruise line, and you’ll now pay $20.00 per person, per day if you are sailing in an interior, oceanview, balcony cabin or Club Balcony Suite . Other suites and The Haven see a charge of $25.00 per person, per day.

At the $20.00 rate that most passengers see, a couple traveling on a week cruise will see total gratuity charges of $280.

Notably, these rates are significantly higher than other lines. Carnival and Royal Caribbean, for example, charge $16 per person, per day, for most cabins.

Not sure how much your gratuities will cost? See our free calculator here .

Who is charged gratuities on Norwegian Cruise Lines?

When it comes to who is charged the daily fee, Norwegian is among the most generous lines. While some cruise lines charge every person who sails – no matter their age – Norwegian Cruise Line only charges passengers three years or older.

So if you are a couple traveling with a small child, you get a break on the cost of gratuities. Other than kids under three years old, everyone else will pay the daily gratuity charge.

How do I pay gratuities/service charges?

NCL offers passengers the option to prepay service charges up to 24 hours in advance of sailing. This means you can pay when you book your cruise and have the charge already budgeted into your vacation spending. You can also book your cruise and then prepay later, but before your trip departs.

By prepaying, you not only don’t have to worry about the charges at the end of your trip, but you also don’t have to worry if the gratuity amount increases before you sail. Those who have prepaid will usually have their rates “grandfathered” in.

Don’t want to pay before you receive service? That’s understandable. In that case the amount will be charged to your account while you sail. The cost will then be charged to the card on file at the end of your cruise.

Do I have to pay gratuities on my cruise? Can I change the amount?

Although technically gratuity fees/service charges are discretionary, in practice passengers must pay these fees; the only exceptions being reductions if you receive horrible service. Asking to have the fees waived just to save yourself money is unfair since gratuities pay hardworking staff members.

Norwegian’s website states that “Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. Should your concerns not be met with satisfaction you can adjust the charges.”

If you received bad service and want to deduct part of your gratuities fee, you can discuss the problem with the ship’s Guest Services before the end of your cruise to see about an adjustment.

What if I want to pay more?

There are many people who wish to tip more or simply want to recognize someone specific for their hard word during the cruise. You can do that if you like.

Norwegian’s website states “While you should not feel obligated to offer a gratuity, all of our staff are encouraged to ‘go the extra mile,’ so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities for exceptional or outstanding service if you care to offer them.”

Who is covered & not covered by gratuities/service charges?

According to NCL, “Staff members including complimentary restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and behind-the-scenes support staff are compensated by a combination of salary and incentive programs that your service charge supports.”

It’s not specifically laid out who gets how much of the gratuity charge. That said, you can cruise knowing that people like the cabin attendant and staff in the dining room are covered. 

Those offering a service to only some passengers, such as casino dealers, kids camp workers, and spa workers, are not usually included in auto-gratuities. In fact, you’ll find that places like the spa, bars, and specialty restaurants have gratuity charges that are separate from the service charges discussed here.

Furthermore, people who provide you with service on land, such as baggage handlers and shore excursion operators, are not affiliated with the cruise line. They should be tipped separately.

Do I have to pay other tips if I pay the automatic charges?

Most likely you will pay other gratuities in addition to the automatic service charges from the cruise line. Norwegian adds a 20% service charge to all beverage purchases and to specialty restaurant dining. Also, passengers pay an additional 20% spa service charge all spa and salon services.

For example, if you get a $10 drink from the bar, you’ll actually be charged $12 after the 20% tip that’s included.

You should also note that the 20% gratuity is added to Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” ” offer if you select the free beverage package. Even though the package itself is free, you’ll still have to pay 20% on its value, which comes out to about $20 per person, per day.

Finally, if you order room service it is customary to tip the person bringing the food $3-5 as a thank you. 

What else should I know about Norwegian gratuities/service charges?

As mentioned above, remember that if you select the drink package as part of Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” offer, you will still have to pay the 20% gratuity on its value.

Also keep in mind that the 20% gratuity is already added in when you sign the receipt for a drink at the bar. Even so, there will be a line for an additional tip. Feel free to tip more if you like, but know that you’ve already paid, and it’s not required.

If you’re wondering how much you’ll pay for gratuities based on details of your actual cruise (including type of cabin, length, and how many people you’ll be traveling with), then you can use Cruzely’s free gratuity calculator .

Have additional questions about Norwegian’s service charges? Let us know in the comments below.

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Why Norwegan makes their customers pay for their personnel? Shouldn’t be covered in the cruise cost?

So I’m paying near 3000 for a two person trip and the cruise line want to rip off me an additional $400? On top of that an additional 20% on in-cruise purchases?

A compulsory tip is not a tip. Is a rip off. Shame on Norwegian Cruise.

Wish they were more upfront about this charge I just came across the 20$ per day per guest up charge while looking over some things. If one of the 2 in room dont want free at sea can one cancel it and the other keep iy?

You forgot to mention on top of service charges the 20% tax and the 10% tax added to every drink alcoholic, soda and water purchased in Spanish French Italian waters with or without free at sea 😂 packages which you get billed for I just got billed at the end of 7days sailing an extra $249 that’s after already paying upfront gratuities and didn’t have that many drinks 😡😡😡

Please can you forward a op out of gratitude form thank you

Hi, going on Escape Haven in September. I have no problem with tipping,,yet,,not sure of how much for Butler and Concierge..Any advice would be helpful

So they should be taken care of with the automatic gratuity. However, if you’d like to add more, I think $10 per day would be generous.

Just for clarity and accuracy, the NCL Guest Ticket Contract states “The charge, which is automatically added to your onboard account and subject to adjustment at your discretion”. The charge can therefore be removed and is not “must pay” as you state.

What is the best way to book Shore excursions, and can they be full before we depart as interest to understand what is available and book early.

We are going on an upcoming NCL Cruise to Alaska. We have prepaid our gratuities. I love having my coffee in the morning without having to go out for it. That being said, I see on NCL Cruises there is a $9.95 “delivery fee” for stateroom service. Does this “delivery fee” have a tip built in? Cruising is soooooo different today! Tough to understand!

I don’t know for sure if it is built into the delivery charge. I will say that if I was paying $10 for a cup of coffee to be delivered, I’d feel fine not tipping. Especially since NCL already has some of the highest gratuity charges in the industry.

Tipping / Gratuities / Service charges have been a part of cruising on all cruise lines for at least the 20+ years I’ve been sailing. the cruise lines made it automatic instead of giving envelopes to the passengers because of so many people bailing out and not paying them.

The crew and staff work very, very hard. And, they are fairly compensated on an international level… far more than what they would make in their home countries. The tips are usually sent home to their families.

We are cruising with NCL soon and opted to prepay the service charge and the gratuities (for the free at sea package). We don’t drink much and suspect that our total gratuities charged will not actually reach the amount prepaid, what happens to the difference? If we prepaid $400, but the gratuities of 20% is only $300, for example?

There is no “difference.” The gratuity charged is the 20% on the regular cost of the drink package. It’s the same cost no matter if you drink one drink or ten drinks.

Are you shill for the cruise line. You are supporting corporate exploitation. Instead of paying their employees a fair wage from the start you are encouraging to them to pas the buck. Shame on you!!

100 agree. Customer exploitation. And you get aware after you paid your booking fee, which is not cheap.

A compulsory tip is not a tip. Is a steal. Shame on Norwegian Cruise.

I have just booked a cruise online through a third party which included the free at sea package within the overall cost as standard. Do I still pay gratuities on this? Also, is it actually frowned upon to cancel gratuities at the desk with the idea to tip the specific members of staff that we are served or assisted by?

If you got the drink package, you normally pay gratuities on the cost when you book. Not sure of the specifics of your booking, however.

As for cancelling gratuities, I’d recommend not. You’ll be serviced by crew at times that you may never see again. For example, eating in the buffet, the staff that serves you and busses dishes get a stake in the gratuities but it’s unlikely you’ll have the same person twice.

My suggestion would be keep the gratuities and then you can tip additionally for those that really offer standout service.

Leaving soon for 10-day Mediterranean cruise. We always tip (extra) in USD. As we will be in Euro-country, should we tip our room steward, bar and food service people in Euros or USD?

I’d suggest euros. Either will work of course, but euros will have the ability to be spent on shore if the person wants to do so.

I must say I’m very curious as to whether the 20% add-on to beverages actually goes to the servers. The phrasing from NCL is “gratuities and beverage service charge”. This says that the 20% is going to 2 different purposes. Gratuities go to servers. But the “beverage service charge” can mean almost anything and does not necessarily go to the servers. As well, they don’t clarify how much of the 20% goes to gratuities vs. service charges.

I’d really love to know the truth, because if most of that 20% doesn’t go to the servers, I’ll definitely switch to cash tipping.

Your not sure because the service members do NOT get the gratuity paid by passengers – I was told this directly by the Head of Hotels one day while standing in line and just decided to ask – his response was “ I really wish I could tell you yes – but the truth was a no they do not receive the tips – they are awarded by having extra days off / better food choices , etc – all the things they should be getting anyways – the cruise lines have become greedy ! I always have them removed and self tip with cash so the service providers actually get the cash. Do you truly think when you get a promo that indicates “Free Gratuities” the cruise lines puts that money into the fund for you …… that’s why Celebrity is amazing to go with “Always Included” promo –

what are the expected tips for persons on the Land portion of our cruise?I am referring to the trip to Denali

It can vary, but I would say that 10% of the cost of the excursion would be good.

can I just oay what I want as I go to staff and take gratuities off my bill

You can, but that’s not common. As well, you’ll be served by a number of people during the cruise, many of which you won’t notice (like the staff in the buffet that clears plates after you leave). Automatic gratuities are just simpler.

We have a ‘free at sea’ drinks package as part of our European Cruise. NCL website infers the 20% drinks gratuity & service charge is not applicable if the beverage package has been selected as part of the ‘free at sea’ deal. Hopefully this means we won’t have to pay 20% gratuity on every drink we have 🥴

Once on board can I cancel gratuities at the desk and at the end of my cruise hand in tips like it used to be or not anymore?

Yes, you can likely still do that. It’s simply easier to have them automated.

If I prepay gratuities before travel. I’m unclear are you still charged 20% at bar…

Prepaid gratuities apply to things like the dining staff and your room steward. If you buy drinks at the bar or get a massage in the spa (optional services that not everyone uses), there is a 20% gratuity tacked on to that purchase — in addition to your prepaid gratuities.

Not happy that YOU HAVE TO PAY THE GRATUITIES. On other cruise lines you NEVER have to pay the Gratuities, It is optional, and you can cancel them if you like. I think P & O do not charge gratuities any more.

My husband and I are seniors and have the promo drink package. We usually have a glass of wine with dinner, and maybe a cocktail at the show. When we got our invoice we noticed a charge of $138 per person for the service charge. Since we are not big drinkers, can we opt out of the drink promo and just pay for the drinks we order plus the 20% service charge, and retain the rest of promo offerings?

Yes, you can opt out of the promo drink package. Give the cruise line a call or if you haven’t booked yet, there is an option online to deselect it.

So you mentioned above that if you order a $10 drink it actually costs $12 with the automatic 20% added. With the free at sea drink package there is a cap of $15 on drinks, so would I be able to order a drink that costs $15 seeing I already paid the 20% or will it actually cost $18 and I will have to pay $3?

The cap refers to the menu price, NOT the price plus gratuity. So if the drink is $15 on the menu, you are order it with the package.

Sorry my mistake unable to type gratuities. Gratuities are paid for service, not before service. This never happened prior to most cruise lines being taken over but such as Carnival. RCCL and others. Nothing but pure greed. Prior to this take over all on goods bought on board ship especially all drinks were duty free but now its not the passengers who get the reward it is the greedy cruise lines.

I have the free at sea unlimited beverage/ speciality dining package which includes 20% gratuity already paid for in my fare. My question is I have the option on my account to also prepay service charges of $14.50/day. Do I need to prepay this charge (or will I eventually be charged this $14.50/day rate) if I already paid gratuity in the beverage package? Or does the 20% gratuity on that package also cover this automatic service charge (or are they separate charges)?

They are separate. You can prepay the daily gratuity, or it will be automatically charged to your account and paid at the end of your cruise.

I’ve taken the free beverage package and paid pre pay gratuitues but its so unclear as to whether you are still obliged to pay 20% every time you get a drink,,,, please Help

No. When you get the drink package, the 20% is then added onto the package price. In the case of the free beverage package, it will be added to your account each day (unless you simply pay in full ahead of time). When you get a drink, you won’t be charged for the drink or gratuity.

I see that the 20% is added to a drink, but if you have taken the premium beverage package & the prepaid service charge do you still have to pay the 20%

No. The 20% is added to the beverage package. You don’t have an additional 20% each time you get a drink at the bar.

What is the breakdown of the 15.00 p/p per day gratuities? How much goes to the waiter, assistant waiter, & the cabin steward?

Not sure of the exact amounts, but the room steward gets the biggest share.

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Norwegian Cruise Line food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board

Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to food.

Back in 2000, the company introduced the concept of Freestyle Cruising, and with it, the idea of Freestyle Dining. Guests no longer were assigned to traditional early or late dinner seatings in the main dining rooms on Norwegian Cruise Line's ships, but rather could decide when they wanted to eat and with whom.

The cruise line also began to roll out specialty restaurants — smaller, cuisine-specific dining venues such as the French-themed Le Bistro and Cagney's Steakhouse — that passengers could reserve for an additional cover charge.

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Today, passengers will find more than three dozen dining options, including 21 that require a cover charge or feature a la carte pricing, on board NCL's 17 ships. While the cruise fare covers a number of restaurants, specialty restaurants requiring an extra charge are popular, and new specialty restaurants are introduced with each class of ship.

The onboard restaurant lineup also varies by ship, with those in the Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes having a larger selection than the line's older, smaller ships.

How do you make sense of it all? We've compiled a rundown of all the Norwegian Cruise Line food options, from coffee and gelato shops to a la carte restaurants where the tab can easily top $150 for two. Here's what's included, what you'll pay extra for and the ships that feature each dining venue.

American Diner

Included; lunch and dinner

This 1950s-inspired diner featured on all six ships in NCL's Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes offers quintessential midcentury comfort foods — from cheeseburgers and meatloaf to chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs. Desserts include bread pudding and carrot walnut cake. The food is now all free (Norwegian made this change in early 2024), but if you want to wash it down with a milkshake, you'll need to pay up.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Atrium Cafe

A la carte; coffee and snacks

Atrium Cafe is a coffee and cocktail bar that serves hot and cold beverages along with a selection of cookies, pastries and other snacks. Alternately, some NCL ships feature Starbucks cafes.

Available on : Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun

Cadillac Diner

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

You'll have to head to Hawaii to enjoy the barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches and more served up retro-style in the Cadillac Diner. This venue, with its funky black-and-white checkered floor and vinyl booths wedged between two sections of a vintage red sedan, is found exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. It's open 24 hours a day, and everything is complimentary except for the milkshakes.

Available on : Pride of America

Cagney's Steakhouse

A la carte; dinner

One of NCL's most popular specialty restaurants, Cagney's features a classic steakhouse menu with plenty of options for seafood lovers as well. The stars are the cuts of aged certified Angus beef (rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse and New York strip) with a choice of sauces and side dishes such as truffle mashed potatoes and sauteed garlic mushrooms. Other options include cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Australian lamb chops. Save room for the OMG Caramel-Butterscotch Cheesecake.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Sky)

Related: The best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants

Chinese restaurant

Included; dinner, plus lunch on select days

If you're craving shrimp dumplings or a bowl of stir-fried noodles with beef, a number of older Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a complimentary Chinese restaurant where you can get your fix. Names vary by ship — you'll find Bamboo on Dawn, Shanghai's on Epic, Orchid Garden on Gem, Jasmine Garden on Jade, Chin Chin on Jewel, Lotus Garden on Pearl, Silk on Spirit, Ginza on Star and East Meets West on Pride of America — but the menus are similar.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit and Star

A la carte; snacks and treats

A cross between an ice cream parlor and a candy shop, Coco's features an array of treats — chocolates from around the world, milkshakes, crepes and more — to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss and Encore

Dolce Gelato

When it's midafternoon and the sun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean is blazing, you can head to this takeaway counter on Deck 8 for a cup or cone of irresistibly creamy gelato.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape and Getaway

Food Republic

A la carte; dinner and lunch on sea days

This globally inspired specialty restaurant with an Asian-Latin fusion theme remains popular almost a decade after its debut on Norwegian Escape. You'll want to order multiple dishes to share family-style from Food Republic 's menu sections: Sushi Bar (eight different rolls), Hand Helds (everything from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos), Sharing Is Caring (grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, salt and pepper calamari and more), Noodles/Rice/Soups (shrimp pad thai to Vietnamese Pho Tai) and Sugar Pump (desserts featuring green tea, chocolate and ginger caramel).

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva

Garden Cafe

Sometimes, the buffet is the answer. It's perfect when you get on board the first day and need to grab a quick bite before you explore the ship or when you arrive back after a daylong shore excursion and want to refuel right away without having to change clothes. Garden Cafe offers plenty of options, including carved meats or grilled fish with assorted side dishes, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, and desserts. Most items are precooked and kept warm under heat lamps, so it's not the freshest option, but it's usually packed at breakfast and lunch with guests who like the all-you-can-eat portions.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Prima and Viva)

Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime

Cover charge; dinner

This is a slightly more elevated version of NCL's Teppanyaki restaurant. You'll be seated with other guests around a grill, and as you dine on edamame, miso soup and seaweed salad, the chef will prepare your entree (a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with great flair. These fresh-from-the-grill proteins are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables, and the dessert that follows is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi.

Available on : Norwegian Prima and Viva

This circular, light-filled space debuted on Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a new main dining room option. It features the same daily rotating menu as the second main dining room, the Commodore Room, but what sets this venue apart is its bright-and-airy ambience, courtesy of 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows.

Indulge Food Hall

This new casual dining concept, also introduced on Norwegian Prima, quickly became a popular alternative to the Surfside Cafe buffet (see below) for both lunch and dinner; at breakfast, it serves a similar but more limited menu as Surfside. The appeal of Indulge Food Hall is the variety — there are more than four dozen menu items from seven vendors: Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie and Tamara — served in small-plate portions. You can enjoy chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered from your table via a tablet.

Related: 11 venues, 32 dishes, 4 days: I tested every eatery at Norwegian Cruise Line's new Indulge Food Hall so you don't have to

La Cucina was Norwegian's sole Italian specialty restaurant until the launch of Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Encore in 2018, and the two restaurants are quite different. La Cucina is the more traditional, featuring classic Italian favorites — caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore and osso buco alla Milanese — while Onda's menu focuses on more finessed modern Italian dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Joy, Pearl, Sky, Star and Sun

Like Cagney's, NCL's French fine-dining restaurant is a longtime favorite that's featured fleetwide (it's called Jefferson's Bistro on Pride of America). Popular with couples for special occasion dinners, Le Bistro features everything from steak tartare and escargot to braised lamb shank and roasted duck breast. With its a la carte pricing, this is among the richest (and costliest) dining experiences on board, especially if accompanied by a bottle of Champagne or other French wine. Le Bistro restaurants on Norwegian Prima and Viva are especially atmospheric, with dramatic large-scale chandeliers and elegant ivory-and-blue decor.

Available : Fleetwide

Vibrant decor and sophisticated Mexican cuisine that goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex fare make Los Lobos an appealing option if you're sailing on one of the six ships that feature it. The guacamole, made fresh tableside, is a must. Other menu options include Mexican-style shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, nopales (cactus) salad, chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil (slow-braised pork). Top it all off with a tres leches cake with coconut cream.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Dawn, Encore, Prima, Sun and Viva

Main dining room

Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature at least two main dining rooms, and sometimes even three. Names vary by ship — although the six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships all feature the Manhattan Room, plus Savor and Taste, and Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have the Commodore Room and Hudson's. Menus change daily throughout the cruise and feature a selection of American and international dishes.

Moderno Churrascaria

Carnivores can devour their fill of a variety of meats the traditional Brazilian way as gauchos carve and serve cuts of beef, lamb, pork, sausage and chicken right at the table. Those who prefer to limit their meat intake can fill up instead at the salad bar, which features 43 items. White rice, black beans, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca and Brazilian cheese bread are also served as side dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star and Sun

Nama Sushi & Sashimi

Another new restaurant to debut on Norwegian Prima, Nama Sushi & Sashimi doesn't veer too far from its name, serving six different sushi rolls (from yellowtail to rock shrimp), three sashimi options and a variety of appetizers, most of which feature raw fish. Even the dessert — pineapple carpaccio — is uncooked.

Ocean Blue is an elegant seafood restaurant featured on NCL's six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. (It's known as Bayamo by Ocean Blue on Norwegian Escape.) Guests can savor appetizers such as crabcakes, pan-seared scallops and an ahi tuna and avocado tower, followed by steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini or simply grilled fish (salmon, tuna, cod or sea bass) served with a choice of sauces. All Ocean Blue restaurants are located on Deck 8 and feature indoor and outdoor seating on The Waterfront.

Onda by Scarpetta

Modern Italian cuisine is the centerpiece of Onda by Scarpetta, another of NCL's elevated specialty dining options and the sister restaurant to land-based Scarpetta. Introduced in 2019 on Norwegian Encore and more recently rolled out on the line's newest ships (plus at least one older vessel), Onda by Scarpetta indulges with antipasti starters such as burrata, short ribs and braised octopus, a half dozen pasta options (including pappardelle Bolognese and Scarpetta's famous spaghetti with tomato and basil) and finally gets around to secondis such as veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The main question will be: Do you have room for dessert?

Available on : Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit and Viva

O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill

Included; 24-hour dining

This lively and social pub-style eatery overlooks the buzzing three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships and is also featured on seven older NCL ships. It's open 24 hours a day and serves comfort classics such as burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, beef chili and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Star

One of NCL's newest dining venues, Palomar celebrates the Mediterranean with a menu featuring lots of Greek influences. Seafood dishes outnumber meat options and include tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, le puy lentils, clams and pistachio pesto. Desserts include Greek yogurt sorbet with orange custard pie.

Pincho Tapas Bar

This unique Spanish-style tapas bar is found on only one ship in the Breakaway Class and fits in with the ship's overall Miami/Latin-influenced theme. Head to Pinchos if you're looking to enjoy small-plate dishes such as blue crab salad and bacon-wrapped dates, as well as chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops and more served a la plancha. Wash it all down with a Spanish red, a glass of sangria or a signature Matador cocktail.

Available on : Norwegian Escape

Included; casual lunch

Three Norwegian ships feature a pool grill (all with different names) that's open for lunch and late afternoon snacks. The venue serves casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs and french fries.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Gem and Pride of America

Q Texas Smokehouse

This barbecue eatery debuted on Norwegian Bliss in 2018, and its menu features smoked meats (pit classics like brisket, pulled pork and beef short ribs), as well as calorific sides (loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings and macaroni and cheese). You can also enjoy live country music and even sweat off the excess calories by dancing (before ordering pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert). A more limited menu is available for free as part of Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva — but you'll need to dance elsewhere.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy

Savor (and Taste)

These two restaurants on all six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships are essentially smaller-scale main dining rooms. They are located across from each other on Deck 6 and feature lunch and dinner menus that change daily.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar

This casual dining venue serves a selection of freshly prepared and wok-fried Asian noodle and rice dishes, from pork pot stickers and steamed vegetable dumplings to Singapore-style rice noodles and udon noodles in broth.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Epic and Getaway

Included; casual pub fare

While most NCL ships, with the exception of Pride of America, have a pub-style complimentary eatery — either O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill or The Local Bar & Grill — one older outlier has Sports Bar. Like the other eateries, this venue is free and features comfort classics such as Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings and fish and chips.

Available on : Norwegian Sun

A la carte; coffee, breakfast and snacks

NCL wasn't the first cruise line to feature the well-known coffee chain (that would be Royal Caribbean), but it now has the most Starbucks cafes on board its ships. Guests can purchase frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews and many of the other coffee, tea and breakfast and pastry items that are available on land.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky and Viva

Surfside Cafe & Grill

With the debut of Norwegian Prima, NCL evolved its buffet-style restaurant (known as Garden Cafe on most ships) to Surfside Cafe & Grill. The Deck 17 space is notably smaller, though, due to the fact that Prima Class ships also feature Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill as complimentary casual dining options. The reduced size does result in some overcrowding, especially at breakfast, with overflow guests directed to find seats in the adjacent Food Republic space.

All but three NCL ships feature Teppanyaki , a Benihana-style Japanese restaurant where the live-action preparation is integral to the experience. You'll be seated around a grill as your chef prepares your entree (either chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with dramatic flair. You'll start with miso soup and seaweed salad, and all entrees are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Dessert is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi. Hasuki replaces Teppanyaki on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Encore, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

The Bake Shop

A sugar rush is practically guaranteed at The Bake Shop, a Deck 8 confectionery selling assorted bonbons (with fillings from passion fruit to praline), cupcakes (more than a dozen options, including red velvet, chocolate-pistachio and lemon merengue) and French macarons in a dozen flavors.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore and Getaway

The Great Outdoors

Included; lunch

This outdoor casual buffet on seven Norwegian Cruise Line ships has a come-as-you-are dress code and serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other items for guests who want to enjoy some ocean scenery with their lunch.

Available on : Norwegian Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Sun

The Haven Restaurant

Included for guests booked in The Haven; breakfast, lunch and dinner

If you book a suite in The Haven, the exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave found on every new NCL ship since it was introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010, you'll enjoy access to The Haven Restaurant. Open only to Haven guests, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus here do not change, but there are generally enough options (a dozen appetizers and 10 entrees at dinner, for example) that you can dine here multiple times without repeating a dish or running out of interesting dishes to try.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy, Prima and Viva

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local Bar & Grill is a favored hangout for sports telecasts and trivia contests, as well as a go-to for guests when anytime-hunger strikes. Like its comfort food sibling O'Sheehans's Bar & Grill, its 24-hour menu features breakfast, all-day and late-night items that include omelets, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish and chips and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit and Viva

The Raw Bar

Located adjacent to Ocean Blue, this casual option with counter seating serves oysters, clams, shellfish and crudos (salmon tartare, black sea bass ceviche and more), as well as wines by the glass and a selection of desserts.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway

Topsiders Bar & Grill

Included; casual pool grill with varying hours

Five older NCL ships feature Topsiders Bar & Grill, a poolside venue serving burgers, hot dogs, french fries and other takeaway items.

Available on : Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Star

Wasabi (or Sushi)

This contemporary sushi bar — called either Wasabi or Sushi, depending on the ship — is the spot for cocktails, sake and Japanese specialties that include sesame seaweed salad, sushi and specialty rolls, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. On Prima Class ships, you'll find Nama Sushi & Sashimi with a different menu.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

FAQs about NCL dining

Is norwegian cruise line's food free.

You can dine for free during your cruise at any of the complimentary dining venues on board NCL ships. There are typically four to six included dining venues per ship, several of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Is there a main dining room?

Yes, all NCL ships feature a main dining room — some have as many as three — and Freestyle Dining means you can choose when to dine (within the specified breakfast, lunch and dinner hours).

Do I need to make reservations?

You do not need to make reservations for the main dining rooms or casual venues like O'Sheehan's or the buffet. However, you can make reservations for the main dining rooms if you'd prefer to eat at a specific time and wish to avoid long wait times during the most popular dinner hours.

Sit-down specialty restaurants always require a reservation. The sooner you can make one, the better. You can book specialty dining online via the cruise line's website or app or by calling Norwegian reservations. You can also reserve when you get on board, but you risk that the more popular eateries will already be fully booked, especially during the peak summer and holiday periods. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available, but you'll likely need to show up early or late to snag a table.

Does Norwegian offer room service?

Yes, NCL offers 24-hour room service, but you will be charged a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per delivery, with the exception of morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests staying in The Haven. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will also be added for noncomplimentary beverages and special occasion items delivered to your room.

How much does specialty dining cost?

It varies by restaurant. At venues with a la carte pricing, such as Cagney's, Ocean Blue, Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro, it's easy to rack up a bill of $80 per person, not including beverages. NCL's sushi restaurants are also a la carte, as is Food Republic. Two people with an average appetite can dine at both for around $50 to $60 per person, not including beverages. Other venues, such as Teppanyaki and Moderno Churrascaria, feature a set cover charge of $59 per person.

Does NCL offer specialty dining packages?

Yes and if you like a variety of cuisines and plan to dine at two or more extra-charge restaurants, purchasing a specialty dining package makes sense.

These range in price from $99 per person for a two-meal package to $469 per person for a 14-meal package. The price per meal gets lower the more meals you purchase — from $49.50 per dinner on a two-meal package to $33.50 per dinner for 14 meals. Even the four-meal package at $169 per person is a good deal at $42.25 per dinner, given the a la carte pricing greatly exceeds that (for three courses) at most specialty restaurants and eateries with cover charges are priced at $59 per person.

Also, a select number of specialty dining meals are typically included with NCL's Free at Sea booking promotion .

What about service charges?

A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will automatically be added to the cost of your specialty dining package when you purchase it or to your onboard dining charge if you pay a la carte or a flat cover charge.

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