norwegian cruise line flight reviews

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Norwegian Cruise Line Review – Ships, Destinations, Dining, and More

Katie Seemann

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Table of Contents

Basic information, departure ports, private ports/islands, onboard activities, dining and beverages, accommodations, latitudes rewards, final thoughts.

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Norwegian Cruise Line has been around since 1966. Since that time, it’s grown to be one of the largest cruise lines in the world. It has been an innovator in the cruise industry by being the first cruise line to eliminate set dining times with their Freestyle Cruising program.

A Norwegian ship is easy to spot since each one’s hull is adorned with bright artwork, some of which have been done by world-famous artists like Peter Max, Guy Harvey, and David “Lebo” Le Batard.

With 17 ships sailing to over 450 destinations across the world, there’s a Norwegian cruise to suit every traveler’s dreams!

Name: Norwegian Cruise Line

Parent Company: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (which also owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

Number of Ships: 17

Destinations: 450+

Loyalty Program: Latitudes Rewards

Credit Card : Norwegian Cruise Line ® World Mastercard ®

Norwegian currently operates 17 cruise ships:

• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Pride of America

Norwegian Encore, built in 2019, is the newest ship in the NCL fleet. In 2022, the new Leonardo class of ships will be introduced.

Hot Tip: Think you can’t use miles and points to book a cruise? Think again. Check out our ultimate guide to booking a cruise using miles and points.

Norwegian sails to over 450 destinations from 17 departure ports across Europe and North America.

Norwegian Cruise Line has 1 private island in the Bahamas called Great Stirrup Cay. Activities offered on the island include snorkeling, kayaking, zip-lining, paddle boarding, and more!

If luxury is what you’re after, you can rent a private villa at Silver Cove. Each villa comes with a private bathroom, a TV with on-demand movies, air conditioning, a retractable glass wall, and access to the upscale Silver Cove buffet.

You won’t go hungry during your day at Great Stirrup Cay. You can make your own tacos at Abaco Taco, grab a quick bite at the food truck, Tropic Like It’s Hot, or enjoy lunch at the Jumbey Beach Grill. You’ll also find 3 bars on the island — Bacardi Bar, Bertram’s Bar, and Patron Bar.

Featured Shore Excursion

If you’d prefer to explore beyond Great Stirrup Cay, you can book the exclusive shore excursion at this port to visit the famous swimming pigs! Your excursion includes round-trip transportation to Treasure Island to interact with these playful piggies.

Hot Tip: Want to make sure you’re getting the best price on your cruise? Check out our list of the  best websites to book your cruise  at the lowest price to get started.

There is so much to do on a Norwegian cruise! In addition to cruise ship staples like pools, a casino, art auctions, Broadway-style shows, and a spa, Norwegian also offers lots of unique and thrilling activities including:

• Kids’ Aqua Park
• Ropes course
• Virtual reality
• The Waterfront oceanfront promenade
• Waterslides: Ocean Loops, Free Fall, The Epic Plunge, The Whip

Note that some of these activities may come with additional fees, and not every activity is available on every ship.

Hot Tip: When booking your cruise, make sure you’re using the right credit card to maximize your benefits. See our guide to the  best credit cards to book cruises  for some guidance.

Norwegian Cruise Line was a pioneer with its Freestyle Dining program. There are no set dining times or assigned seats, as is customary with “traditional” dining on many cruise lines. You can dine whenever and where ever you wish. Plus, there is never a formal night requirement.

Complimentary Dining

• Main dining rooms (up to 3 per ship)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill
• Asian Fusion
• 24-hour room service

Specialty Dining

Norwegian offers a selection of specialty dining restaurants that come with an additional cost (some offer à la carte pricing while others come with a flat per person charge). Not all of these locations are available on every ship.

• Bayamo by Ocean Blue
• Cagney’s Steakhouse
• Food Republic
• Margaritaville
• Moderno Churrascaria
• Pincho Tapas Bar

Hot Tip: You can purchase specialty dining packages ahead of time so you can enjoy these restaurants without having to worry about payment. Packages start at 3 specialty meals for $99.

Bars and Beverages

A Norwegian ship can feature up to 22 different bars and lounges including:

• 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar
• Bliss Ultra Lounge
• Great Outdoors
• The Humidor Cigar Lounge
• Magnum’s Champagne and Wine Bar
• Maltings Beer and Whisky Bar
• O’Sheehan’s Bar and Grill
• Shaker’s Martini Bar
• Skyy Vodka Ice Bar
• Sugarcane Mojito Bar
• Vibe Beach Club
• Waves Pool Bar

As typical with many cruise lines, some beverages aren’t included in the cost. If you would prefer to pay for your drinks upfront, you can purchase a beverage package:

• The Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package includes soft drinks plus beers and wines by the glass. The cost is $65 per person per day.
• The Premium Beverage Package includes soft drinks, select spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled or draft beer up to and including $15 each. The cost is $99 per person per day. 
• The Premium Plus Beverage Package includes soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and select bottles of wine with dinner, plus sparkling water, energy drinks, and specialty coffees. The cost is $128 per person per day.

For the 3 packages above, you must be 21 years old or older to purchase. If 1 person purchases a package, everyone (over 21 years old) residing in the same stateroom or additional staterooms that were under the same form of payment is required to purchase it. Anyone under 21 years of age on the same reservation will be required to purchase the Soda Program.

• The Soda Program provides endless fountain soda throughout your cruise. The cost is $5.95 per person per day for ages 12 and under. For anyone over the age of 12, the cost is $7.95 per person per day.

Bottom Line: Beverage packages must be purchased for the entire length of the cruise . A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added to all beverage package purchases.

Norwegian offers many different types of staterooms to accommodate all kinds of travelers. Whether you’re traveling solo or with the whole family, on a budget or looking to splurge, you’ll find a stateroom that will suit your needs.

Here are some of the highlights:

If you’re traveling by yourself, check out the Studios on Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, and Pride of America. These 1 person accommodations are designed for the solo traveler — and priced accordingly.

At approximately 100 sq. ft., these mini rooms have just the essentials, but you’ll also get access to the Studio Complex and Lounge, a shared space where you can relax, order room service, watch TV, and meet your neighbors.

A Family Balcony Stateroom comes with a location that’s near the kid-friendly action, including the youth program and pool deck, and it sleeps up to 4 passengers.

If a spa experience is what you’re after, consider booking a Spa Suite, Mini-Suite, or Balcony Stateroom . These relaxing rooms are located close to the Mandara Spa and include access to the Thermal Spa Suites, sauna, hydrotherapy pools, steam room, and heated loungers.

For the ultimate in luxury at sea, try out The Haven by Norwegian . The Haven collection features the most luxurious staterooms located at the top of the ship. You’ll have access to a concierge and 24-hour butler, plus the private sundeck (complete with pool and hot tub) reserved just for Haven guests. Select ships also offer a private Haven bar and restaurant.

Hot Tip: Make sure you don’t forget anything — check out our  printable cruise vacation packing list!

Latitudes Rewards is Norwegian Cruise Line’s loyalty program. Each tier is determined by the number of points you have earned.

• You’ll earn 1 point for each cruise night (for example, you would earn 7 points for a 7-night cruise)
• Earn an additional 1 point per night when you book a Concierge, Suite, or Haven stateroom
• Earn an additional 1 point per night if you book a Latitude Rewards Insider Offer

Latitudes Rewards perks vary by tier — here are some of the highlights (each level of status includes all benefits offered by lower tiers):

• Bronze: Priority check-in at the pier, a bottle of sparkling wine in your stateroom, free artwork for attending the art auctions
• Silver: Exclusive onboard cocktail party, discounts on shore excursions, photos, and spa treatments while in port
• Gold: Priority tender tickets, discounted laundry service, priority disembarkation
• Platinum: Priority embarkation, dinner for 2 and a bottle of wine at Cagney’s or Le Bistro, free internet minutes
• Platinum Plus: Dinner with ship officers, priority restaurant and entertainment seating.
• Ambassador: Complimentary 7-day cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line has been a cruise industry leader since the 1960s. Whether you want to sail the Caribbean, explore Europe, or journey through exotic destinations in Asia, Norwegian has you covered.

It was the first cruise line to eliminate the traditional set dining times when it introduced Freestyle Dining, allowing guests to eat at any time at up to 28 different locations on each ship.

Plus, if you sail with Norwegian multiple times, you’ll be able to take advantage of their loyalty program, Latitude Rewards, which offers benefits like priority check-in, discounts on shore excursions, priority tender tickets, and even a free cruise!

Whether you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing room for 1, or are living it up with a big group, you’ll find lots of different staterooms to choose from on a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian is among the world’s largest cruise lines and offers everything from simple, budget-friendly vacations to all-out luxury sailing. The choice is yours!

Interested in other cruise lines? Check out of fact sheets of Carnival , and Princess Cruise Lines to see what other options are awaiting you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best norwegian cruise ship.

The idea of the “best” ship is subjective, but the biggest and newest ship is Norwegian Encore, which debuted in 2019. Norwegian will be introducing the new Leonardo class of ships in 2022.

Where does Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to?

Norwegian Cruise line sails to over 450 destinations across the world in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Is Norwegian Cruise Line all-inclusive?

Norwegian Cruise Line isn’t totally all-inclusive, but it’s close. Each ship will have numerous restaurants to eat at that are included in your fare. However, many beverages require an additional charge, and there are always restaurants available that come with either à la carte pricing or incur a per person charge. A majority of the activities on board are included, so you are definitely able to have a great vacation without paying anything extra on board.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Included Airfare - how does it work?

By seraphim24 , November 19, 2023 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Hello! We are new to NCL and booking air fare through the cruise line. There's a special for the cruise we want that includes airfare. How much flexibility is there for us to choose dates and times? We'd like to explore the port for a few days before we embark so we're hoping to be able  to choose that.

Thanks for your help!

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14 minutes ago, seraphim24 said: Hello! We are new to NCL and booking air fare through the cruise line. There's a special for the cruise we want that includes airfare. How much flexibility is there for us to choose dates and times? We'd like to explore the port for a few days before we embark so we're hoping to be able  to choose that. Thanks for your help!

The BOGO airfare can be a good deal, but you get zero control over the flights.  The flights could be great, and they could be horrible.  You will not get your flight info until 30-60 days before the sailing.  There’s a lot of discussion in these boards about it.    

You can make a deviation in dates.  I believe it’s up to two days on either end.  If you want the air package you also have to book at least 110 days before sailing.  

schmoopie17

How does it work?

Most people will tell you it doesn't work. However, every once in a while, people will report success stories with the BOGO...but they are few and far between. It's a gamble, that's for sure. Getting acceptable flights, acceptable seats, etc., is a challenge. The bad thing is, you don't know your flights until a short time before your cruise. Ar that time it's too late to cancel them.

Search the board and you can entertain yourself until the end of the year reading BOGO threads.

It is a gamble, but the two of us were able to travel last month R/T Florida to Rome for less than $900.  Flights were 1 stop each way and we had 2 day deviations on each end of the trip.  We had no control over the flight other than to pick our departure airport.  Close to trip time, we were able to pick (& upgrade) our seats, and we had to pay for luggage.  I originally moaned about the long layover times in Frankfurt and Toronto, but because of FL weather delays and dual (Canadian & US) passport controls, it ended up working out.  Some people lucked out and got direct flights.  

RaiderFaninNM

Hit and miss, I have some time to remove it, if need be, will be looking at airfare and see how it turns out as I really dislike not control over our ability to pick and change times...

We have used it many times, always good flights and the occasional time we get premium seats as part of the deal.  

One other thing, they will include a charge for transfers, though you can have them removed. Also, transfers are only from the airport even if you have a one or two day deviation.

For instance, we sailed this summer from Southampton flying into Heathrow. Even with our one day deviation, the only place they transferred from was the airport. It did not really affect us as we did not intend to schlep our luggage from the airport to London, so we intended anyway to stay at a hotel by the airport.

Note, not sure but I believe if you book a hotel through them, the above does not apply.

3 hours ago, ontheweb said: One other thing, they will include a charge for transfers, though you can have them removed. Also, transfers are only from the airport even if you have a one or two day deviation.   For instance, we sailed this summer from Southampton flying into Heathrow. Even with our one day deviation, the only place they transferred from was the airport. It did not really affect us as we did not intend to schlep our luggage from the airport to London, so we intended anyway to stay at a hotel by the airport.   Note, not sure but I believe if you book a hotel through them, the above does not apply.

Ahhh, thanks for clearing that up as we fly in 2 days before to enjoy the city beforehand and the ease of knowing we are already there...

Is the cost minimal??

Just wondering as we plan on using them at the end of the cruise....

Also curious on what airline NCL uses or is it random??

18 hours ago, schmoopie17 said: How does it work?   Most people will tell you it doesn't work. However, every once in a while, people will report success stories with the BOGO...but they are few and far between. It's a gamble, that's for sure. Getting acceptable flights, acceptable seats, etc., is a challenge. The bad thing is, you don't know your flights until a short time before your cruise. Ar that time it's too late to cancel them.   Search the board and you can entertain yourself until the end of the year reading BOGO threads.  

I guarantee that the success stories are the majority but its the failures that are the loudest.  

We used it on our recent cruise and everything went smoothly. We gave our cruise consultant the day we wanted to arrive and the day we wanted to depart. This way, we had time in the embarkation and debarkation cities. You don’t get to choose your specific flights. They pick and notify you of the itinerary.   

You will fly economy the whole way, unless you want to pay the airlines directly for an upgrade. You will also have to pay the airlines for assigned seats if you want to have any control over that.   

The flights selected by NCL were scheduled well enough, with enough time to switch flights on layovers, but not too much time. Overall I consider it a win. 

2 hours ago, RaiderFaninNM said: Ahhh, thanks for clearing that up as we fly in 2 days before to enjoy the city beforehand and the ease of knowing we are already there... Is the cost minimal??   Just wondering as we plan on using them at the end of the cruise....   Also curious on what airline NCL uses or is it random??

On our cruise transfers were $75. I don't know if they are always the same for every port. Our embarkation port was a transfer from Heathrow to Southampton. Our disembarkation was from the port in Reykjavik to the airport in Reykjavik.

DW decided we were going to spend too much time in the airport before our flights home, so she bought for us an excursion with a stop on the way to the airport. We asked and were told the charge for our BOGO transfers to the airport would automatically come off when we bought the excursion, but they did not. We had to go to guest services to have that done. (Luckily, I kept checking our account on the television.) And then our flight home was delayed, so we did spend too much time at the airport, though not as much as we would have.

2 hours ago, Liljo22 said: I guarantee that the success stories are the majority but its the failures that are the loudest.  

You are correct.  People who are unhappy are more apt to complain than someone who had a successful experience. And also factor in the number of "failures" that have nothing to do with NCL in the first place. NCL has no control over flight schedules, cancellations, delays, etc.

The BOGO promo isn't for everyone and it is important to manage your expectations if you are using it.  I usually travel solo, so many of the complaints I see wouldn't affect me - if you're a family, there are other considerations. It may save you money, it might not - that depends on your location and destination.

And it pays to know your options/rights if things go south - I've had a few close calls making connecting flights - because of the airlines, not NCL.  Getting home has been more of an issue than getting to my cruise, I've rarely gotten home when planned!  An overnight hotel stay in Reykjavik, overnight hotel stay in Capetown (which could have been 6 days, fully paid, If I wanted) +$200 airline credit, overnight stay in Seattle (no hotel, ugh) but $750 rebate.  And SW gave me a $100 credit for a delayed flight, even though I still made my connection. So if things do go wrong, make sure you work with the airline ASAP to make it right. Ask for vouchers for food/hotels and have the airline rebook your flight if at all possible.  If you ask for a refund, I believe that goes back to NCL and you'll never see it.

Look at flights from your airport to your destination for about that time of year and decide if the cheapest flights would work for you. Some people have reported a two day deviation hoping to have a full two days in the arrival city, only to arrive well into the evening hours and really only getting one day to explore. Or on the return flight being stuck in the city til the evening for a red eye return flight resulting in an extra day off work. Decide how flexible you're willing to be and if you're okay with less than ideal flights.

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Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its fun, laid-back ambiance and inventive "freestyle cruising" concept, which features no enforced dress codes, no fixed dining times, and a plethora of onboard entertainment and family-friendly activities. Norwegian's 19-ship fleet sails all over the world, with itineraries lasting anywhere from three to 21 days. The cruise line is also planning to add longer sailings, fewer sea days and more days in port in the winter 2024 and 2025 seasons and in the summer of 2025. Norwegian’s destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and more.

During your voyage, you can catch live shows like "The Choir of Man," the award-winning musical “Six”  and “Beetlejuice: The Musical” on the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva.  Meanwhile, youngsters and teens can spend time at onboard aqua parks, race tracks, and kids clubs, and play virtual reality games at Galaxy Pavilion.

When it comes to dining, Norwegian's options are varied. The cruise line's Freestyle Dining program allows you to nosh in globally inspired eateries, such as a French-style bistro, a Brazilian Steakhouse and a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. You can also choose to have your meals at a traditional cruise buffet or dine in a formal dining room. Notably, the main dining rooms don't feature fixed dining times or assigned seating. Guests on board the new Prima class ships, Norwegian Prima and Viva, will also find Indulge Food Hall. The complimentary internationally inspired venue features dishes from India, Italy and Latin America along with comfort food like hearty Texas barbeque.

Norwegian Cruise Line's ships are large mass-market ships, carrying between 1,936 and 4,266 passengers, but they also offer an element of luxury, especially in The Haven, the line’s ship-within-a-ship concept. While Norwegian's vessels can feel crowded in certain venues, such as the main pool deck and at the buffet restaurant, they maintain a ratio of approximately one staff member per every two or three passengers – even when ships are filled at double occupancy.

U.S. News Insider Tip: For time away from the kids and the crowds, look for adults-only or mostly adult venues (these vary by ship) like Vibe Beach Club, Spice H2O, Infinity Beach (Prima class ships) and Mandara Spa. If you book accommodations in The Haven (the line’s ship-within-a-ship concept), the Haven Sundeck is reserved for guests 16 and older. – Gwen Pratesi, Contributor

Pros & Cons

No fixed dress codes

Wide variety of onboard restaurants, entertainment and activities

Some ships offer stateroom options designed for solo travelers

Long lines may occur at dining venues and venues for evening entertainment

Some onboard activities are not included in cruise rates

Meals at specialty restaurants cost extra

• Expert Rating » 3.9
• Traveler Rating » 3.8
• Health Rating » 4.6

Norwegian Cruise Line has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 4 in Best Cruise Lines for Families
• # 8 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• # 8 in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
• # 9 in Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

Explore Photos

Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

Norwegian Joy

Norwegian Jewel

Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Sky

Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Sun

Norwegian Spirit

Norwegian Viva

Pride of America

Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Star

Norwegian Epic

Before You Book

• Deposits for Norwegian cruises vary by cruise length and cabin category. Final payments for all cruises must be made 120 days prior to sailing.
• Cancellation policies vary greatly by room type, cruise length and timing. All requests for refunds must be made in writing to Norwegian Cruise Line. For more information about cancellation policies, visit  ncl.com . 
• Passengers with medical issues or special needs should notify Norwegian between 90 days (for those who need an interpreter) and 45 days prior to departure. Those with service dogs must notify the cruise line at least two weeks in advance. You can call 1-866-584-9756 or email [email protected] for more information.

Before You Board

• You must provide all necessary travel documents depending on the itinerary, including a passport valid for six months after the completion of your cruise or a government-issued photo ID coupled with a birth certificate, an original certificate of naturalization or an original U.S. citizenship certificate if you are visiting non-U.S. ports of call. If your port of call requires a visa, it is your responsibility to secure it beforehand. It’s important to know that even on a close-looped cruise (a cruise sailing roundtrip from a U.S. port) if you had to depart unexpectedly from a foreign port, you would need to have a passport. Refer to NCL’s website to make sure you have the proper documentation before booking your cruise.
• You must complete your online check-in at least three days prior to sailing to view and print your eDocs. The documents will no longer be available within 72 hours of your sailing. Vaccinations may be required for travel to certain international destinations. For updated information on required immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  and  World Health Organization . 
• You should arrive no earlier than one hour before your scheduled embarkation time and should board the ship at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure time (both times will be noted in your eDocs). You can complete your online check-in and reserve your port arrival time as early as 21 days prior to your sail date. Keep in mind that check-in must be completed prior to arriving at the terminal.
• Norwegian allows cruisers to bring up to two pieces of luggage on board. Suitcases may not exceed 50 pounds each. Be sure to have luggage tags attached that are clearly marked with your name, address and contact information.
• You can pre-request shore excursions up to six months in advance of your scheduled sail date on Norwegian Cruise Line's website or by calling 1-866-625-1167.
• You can make reservations at specialty restaurants on Norwegian's website starting 90 days before you board.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Viva Deck Plans & Reviews

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Viva

Activities & entertainment

• Penrose Atrium
• Shops & Boutiques *
• Ocean Boulevard
• Infinity Beach
• Indulge Outdoor Lounge
• Viva Speedway
• The Rush - Dueling Slides
• The Drop - Free-Fall Slide
• Vibe Beach Club *
• Mandara Spa & Salon *
• Thermal Suite *
• Pulse Fitness Center
• Observation Lounge
• Galaxy Pavilion *
• The Bull's Eye
• Kids' Aqua Park
• Splash Academy - Kids Club
• Entourage - Teens Club
• Production Shows
• Penrose Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Hudson's - Main
• The Commodore Room - Main
• Indulge Food Hall - Food Hall
• Surfside Cafe - Buffet
• Surfside Grill - Pool Grill
• The Local - Pub
• Starbucks - Coffee Bar *
• Onda by Scarpetta - Italian *
• Los Lobos - Mexican *
• Palomar - Seafood *
• Hasuki - Japanese *
• Le Bistro - French *
• Belvedere Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Viva Speedway Bar - Scenic Bar *
• Metropolitan Bar - Sustainable Bar *
• Whiskey Bar - Whiskey Bar *
• Waves Pool Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Haven Restaurant - The Haven Guests
• The Haven Lounge & Bar - The Haven Guests *
• Excellent 7
• Very Good 8
• Terrible 10
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Think twice before NCL Encore

I was not impressed with NCL Encore or her crew. Bar staff was rude and it took forever to get drinks. Food at the buffet was ok at best. Food was better at some of the restaurants. Nester at Guest Services was HORRIBLE. Found out that the Encore is usually an Alaska ship, WHY would you use it for a Caribbean cruise. There was ONE pool (and a kids pool) for everyone. Guest shops onboard are a joke. EVERYTHING is an added fee. I did not find the ship to be "user-friendly" in gettting around.

Date of experience : March 03, 2024

Tax fraud NCL

Returned from a recent cruise 25th Sep Norwegian Epic. Bought a free at sea package to include drinks but charged 10 % and an additional 20% vat on drinks which wernt purchased on board! Charging tax illegy Long ques at guest services NCL head office dont care Breaking UK travel laws Not following their own terms and conditions! No communication given about extra charges Embarkation time bought forward at two ports with no communication or explination Firat and last cruise with them

Date of experience : September 25, 2023

We boarded and by 2:00pm our rooms were…

We boarded and by 2:00pm our rooms were not ready. Seriously you would think they could get that done but instead it's go eat there, go sit there etc. Etc. Instead of your room is ready. Watch what you pack on, you will be carrying it around with you.

Date of experience : April 29, 2024

Dawn is a dump of a Tug Boat Ship

Dawn is a dump of a Tug Boat Ship. Stinking smelly suite/room with a revolting bathroom. Old raggedy bed clothing. Served RAW food yes I said Raw Food. A supervisor confirmed to us the cooks do not know how to cook some of the food they serve Saudi Arabia port cancelled with no explanation or alternative port. To be crude there is taking the P!!! But this is beyond that.

Date of experience : December 19, 2023

Returned today from an ncl cruise

Returned today from an ncl cruise. What a dreadful experience. I would recommend never booking with this company ever. Changed itinerary, 7 sea days out of 12 day cruise. Complete lack of communication and lack of care from staff. I could write reams but will go to my agent and head office to get a refund. I cannot believe how this company get away with how they treat the paying customer. Avoid, Avoid at all costs.

Date of experience : February 02, 2024

DONT BOOK WITH NORWEGIAN! …

I agree with the recent posts about them not helping at all with concerns, especially with flights. We have been looking forward to our cruise for so long and also asked to travel as a family. They originally booked us on the same flights, but then randomly rebooked my kids on a flight pattern six hours apart from ours. My son has anxiety when traveling which I have explained multiple times. They don’t seem to care and no one will help me. All I want is for them to put my kids back on their original flight. There was no reason to change them and I had already reserved seats for us to sit together. This is ruining our vacation when all they need to do to make it right is simply move them back. They were happy to take my money and seem to sadistically enjoy the fact that they have the power to ruin our experience. It’s easier to do the right thing NCL!

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Steer clear of NCL Dawn. This ship is so tired. The food was a disgrace, they ran out of alcohol and mixers. The entertainment was sub standard. They are skimping and saving. The staff were helpful.

Lifts don't work. Food not edable Entertainment poor Shortage of alcohol and mixers. Made no attempt to stop at Luderitz on our way back. Over priced and a very tired ship indeed. Would certainly not recommend this ship to any1. The staff however were good on the whole. But that didn't compensate for the disappointment of cruise.

Date of experience : February 01, 2024

Another update and final of my review…

Another update and final of my review on 24/1/24. Have had a reply to my latest submission and as usual it is all the customers fault (though said very nicely) I have said still not happy but can't be bothered anymore and will not be going with them again. Good luck to everyone else.

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

Just returned from Norwegian Dawn…

Just returned from Norwegian Dawn Mauritius to Cape Town S.Africa cruise. I could go on forever but simply DO NOT BOOK a cruise with NCL they are appalling.STAY WELL CLEAR. I have put a formal complaint forward asking for a review of their competence to run a cruise company.

Date of experience : January 20, 2024

NCL DAWN - AVOID AT ALL COST!

Just got back from 12 nights on norweigan dawn to South Africa and Namibia. Can honestly say the worst cruise I've ever been on. Embarkation/ disembarkation was absolute chaos and took hours. Ship toilets stank, cabin cleaning awful, Staff appeared like they couldn't care less bar a couple of exceptions. Food was average at best, often repetetive and tasteless. They ran out of certain drinks, certain food ( including cereals, bread, potatoes!), People having to pay for water despite paying for premium drinks packages. If you were not on the drinhs package a double vodka and coke was £33.60!!! The communication on ship was poor - toilets not working for two hours due to 'maintenence but nobody informed. The ship is so worn out and drab looking. Entertainmemt boring and repetitive. Even the quizzes were atrocious and no fun. The cruise director had an awful fake put on voice which was irritating to say the least. Most boring cruise I've ever had the misfortune to be on...the itenerary was the saving grace. Never again!

My wife and I went from Mauritius to…

My wife and I went from Mauritius to Cape Town on the Norwegian Dawn. It was chaotic to say the least. 3 hours to board under the hot sun in Mauritius. Richards Bay was a working coal port and passengers ended up covered in coal dust. The senior officers were absent at all times and I am presently awaiting a response from a second email I have sent to them. I would be very wary about using this cruise line again.

False advertising

False advertising for ports they have no intention of stopping in at Greenland. Booked for July 2024 cruise that was supposed to have 3 stops in Greenland (Nuuk, Paamiut, and Qaqortoq). Was hesitant to book after I read they changed itineraries and cancelled Greenland stops on 2023 cruises. Thought maybe due to fluke in weather and it was new route, surely they’d have it figured out a year later so we took our chances. First issue was seeing itinerary change for the June cruise, still kept hoping, but got email yesterday of change-now only 2 stops in Greenland,(not Nuuk). Hopefully no more changes. What is really suspect is that it seems they don’t announce these changes until right after date of final payment and no real reason given. Surely not weather this far in advance. I suspect they had no intention of making these stops and it’s a bait and switch. What’s worse is the is still advertising old itinerary. It appears they have been consistently pulling this bait and switch on a number of destinations. There should really be some way to address this as it is too often to be for legitimate, emergent reasons and is basically a way to scam customers. Greenland was the only reason I took this cruise. Trust has been broken before I’ve even stepped on the ship.

Date of experience : April 02, 2024

I love NCL!

I have had two fantastic vacations with NCL, one to Greece and one a Carribean cruise. I have been very happy with their service, promises kept, rooms, food and available entertainment. Both cruises have exceeded my expectations. Many people that you meet on board have cruised with NCL many times and say that they would never sail with any other cruise line. Try them, you won't be disappointed!

Date of experience : December 29, 2023

Many bad experiences from NCL cruise!

This cruise has just been a comedy of errors and lousy service. Besides the bad stuff on the ship, rude passengers and being over booked making it a joke crowd wise. Get to airport after tour of LA, have 6 hrs before our flight so we can't check out bags for two more hours! No place to sit at the airport at Southwest check in, what a joke! I will never cruise with NCL again, them giving me such a late flight out of here. If I wouldn't have taken the tour I would have spent 5 hrs sitting on the airport floor!

Date of experience : March 10, 2024

Never ever give your credit card info…

Never ever give your credit card info to these fraudulent company!!! They will lie to you that you gonna be charged extra if pay everything by cash - DONT BELIEVE! THEY ARE JUST TRYING TI GET YOUR CARD DETAILS TO LATER CHARGE YOU EXTRA NONRELATED CHARGES!!! BE AWARE!! EVEN THOUGH YOU FILL YHE SERVICE CHARGE ADJUSTMENT PAPER THEY WILL LIE YOU THAT THEY DONT HAVE THE DOC IN THEIR RECORDS!!! STAY AWAY!

Date of experience : December 16, 2023

Norweigan Dawn truly horrible experience

Just returned from Norwegian Dawn cruise. Expensive, traumatic and upsetting experience. The itinerary looked amazing including Mozambique and Madagascar before several stops in South Africa ending in Cape Town. Everything went wrong. Embarkation took four hours. Left in the burning sun and my wife was sick multiple times and had constant diarrhoea. Only 4 portable toilets for women. No staff member checked on her welfare or the welfare of others. Once on the ship the quality of food was very poor and equally the so called entertainment was pretty woeful. Docking at the largest coal port in Africa really summed things up and more clothes were ruined by the coal dust and my wife suffers from asthma. Two very good shore excursions Table Mountain and visit to Elephant park. Others awful and couldn't book a Richard's Bay one. Staff didn't care. Paid for premium unlimited WiFi but it was awful and horrendously expensive. I will never ever use NCL again. I feel cheated and upset.

Horrible!!! Wouldn’t recommend this god awful cruise line for anything but especially transatlantic crossings. Food is horrible. Pizza at buffet would be at best a 3/10. Dinners are horrible except the bread. Activities are dismal, extremely boring. Wasn’t allowed to bring the pizza I bought off the ship back on board. Horrible rockiness of the ship, I actually fell off my bed. Terrible wifi. Worst cruise ever!

Date of experience : November 06, 2023

Just returned from a cruise on…

Just returned from a cruise on Norwegian Dawn. Mauritius to Cape Town. I will never use NCL again. It took 3 hours to get on board, they did not take our luggage off us so hundreds of passengers stood in 40+ temperatures in the hot sun waiting to board. Many passengers fainted and affected by the sun. Stops were cancelled, ports of call poor. Richard’s Bay for instance we stopped in a coal yard. On disembarking in Cape Town all our luggage was dumped on the dock and we had to drag them 4 or 500 yard and load them on to buses. The whole cruise was a massive disappointment, will never use NCL again.

Will Not Honor their Written Promise

The itinerary was changed due to the Middle East conflict. That was totally acceptable and understandable. However, they promised refunds up to $300 per person for flight changes, which they would not honor. I had to change my flight from departing Tel Aviv to departing Athens. They have chosen to reject my claim with no explanation. That is beyond unprofessional. It is cheap, and shows a total disregard for their customers.

Date of experience : November 08, 2023

Very disappointed with this company for…

Very disappointed with this company for the first time. Put together a group trip and fought for Norwegian but all I'm getting now is we can't do this and, we can't guaranty that. When I ask for an explanation, all I get is 'well that's our policy'. We got plenty of I'm sorry but nothing else. We are booking our flights through them. They have a department for flight modifications but....we are doing a Land & Sea tour through Norwegian. It appears we can make modifications if we were only going on the cruise but no modifications since we are doing a Land & Sea. We were asked if we wanted to cancel our land so we could modify our flight...DOES THAT MAKE SINCE? Then as a Family we booked jointing rooms. We were told that since it is two reservations we might not be on the same flight out and when we asked if they could at least put a note on our reservations Family Traveling Together they said no. They were very happy to take our money but no so much to accommodate our needs. Very disappointed so far with this experience.

Date of experience : April 01, 2024

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Norwegian Cruise Line has a rating of 1.3 stars from 249 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Norwegian Cruise Line most frequently mention cruise line, customer service, and next day problems. Norwegian Cruise Line ranks 44th among Cruises sites.

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“No insurance for cruise that was leaving in 3days”

Our NCL trip was leaving 3 days after we made the final payment. Therefore we did not purchase insurance we were going to get on the cruise no matter what. We did use a travel agency which I will not name just yet, unfortunately the airline contacted us by email 3 hours prior to departure to let us know they canceled our flights. They had almost 20 something hours to still get us to our destination, but we're unable to do this. This meant we had no way to get to the ship. Now I know Airlines delay or change flight Etc but I did not know they could completely cancel 3 hours prior and not get you on another flight. Therefore over $6,000 just on the cruise is completely gone Norwegian will not credit or help us with another Cruise, my agent claims they have spoken to them I also have tried myself but with no luck. The money was saved by family which took a lot of hard work and saving and now the kid and grandkids will not be able to have that experience. Unfortunately without Norwegian Cruise Line offering some type of credit or a similar Cruise the children will not get this opportunity and unfortunately financially it would be many many years from now if that chance becomes available again. Therefore I am just saying please do not go with Norwegian Cruise Lines this has been a devastating blow to the family and it would be horrendous for this to happen to someone else. I am only hoping that my review can help someone avoid this. I will include photos unfortunately Norwegian will not send me the current email with the price of the cruise just the fact that I had a cruise set and I will send this along with this review. Thank you Lisa H

“Wants at least credit for another trip”

I think it's crazy that due to weather the airlines cancelled our flights, there was no other way to make the ship. Close to $5000 dollars worth, and we can't even get a credit. I would love it if management would do something about this, cause time is to hard to lose all that money. Left a bad taste in my mouth, We're looking forward for this trip Res#53157951

Reviews (249)

Reviews that mention popular keywords

• Follow Jenna S.

I've been going back and forth with this cruise line for months via email for a refund I made on the cruise for an excursion that was never attended because their was bad weather and are cruise was cut short. I spent $600 for a dolphin excursion that was never attended, however they refuse to refund me. The cruise $#*! itself was over crowded / this was one pool for the entire ship so you couldn't even swim. The rocky ship was so bad to the point where you felt you were drunk and going to vomit. I am so disappointed, I will NEVER book with this cruise line again.

• Follow Nigar M.

Never ever give your credit card info to these fraudulent company! They will lie to you that you gonna be charged extra if pay everything by cash - DONT BELIEVE! THEY ARE JUST TRYING TI GET YOUR CARD DETAILS TO LATER CHARGE YOU EXTRA NONRELATED CHARGES! BE AWARE! EVEN THOUGH YOU FILL YHE SERVICE CHARGE ADJUSTMENT PAPER THEY WILL LIE YOU THAT THEY DONT HAVE THE DOC IN THEIR RECORDS! STAY AWAY!

• Follow Steve A.

Food not good and lukewarm at best. Service is terrible have traveled other cruise lines and everything was much better.

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Norwegian Cruise Line operates cruise boats throughout the world. The company was started in 1968 and is based in Miami, FL and controls about 8% of the world wide cruise market, as of 2010.

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Should I book my flight through my cruise line?

Editor's Note

If you choose a cruise deal with airfare included or book an air-cruise package, your cruise purchase can really be one-stop shopping. You always get transportation, food and lodging all at one price with a cruise; so if you also book your airfare through your cruise line, you'll take care of the majority of your travel plans in one transaction.

Should you book your flights through your cruise line, though? Doing so can offer various benefits, but you will want to consider whether the pros outweigh any cons. The answer will depend on your particular travel situation. It'll also depend on whether you're contemplating a cruise with flights included in the deal or simply paying for flights through your cruise line.

Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of cruise and flight packages to determine whether it's a smart move to book your flights via your cruise line.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

5 reasons why you should book your flight through your cruise line

The airfare can be a good deal.

Some high-end cruise lines include flights as a booking perk. Oceania Cruises offers economy airfare with its Simply More program, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises lures travelers with free business-class flights to Europe. It's hard to find a better deal than free, even if you might not have as much control over your booking as you'd like.

Even cruise lines selling flights claim to have low rates. Royal Caribbean claims that its airfares are so competitive that it will refund you 110% of the difference in onboard credit if you can find a cheaper flight. It makes sense that cruise lines' in-house travel agencies can get access to the lowest rates or bulk fares not available to the general public.

You'll still earn points and miles

Buying a cruise line air package is similar to purchasing flights through a travel agent. You can add your frequent flyer number to the reservation to earn miles and access your elite perks — but watch out for extremely discounted fares that might not qualify. Plus, if you pay with a rewards-earning credit card, you'll also get points or miles for your purchase.

TPG pro tip: Look for credit cards that earn extra points on travel purchases , so your cruise-and-flight purchase can earn you free travel faster. Among our top-rated credit cards for travel are the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees ), which gives you 3 points per dollar spent on air travel purchases; the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which gives you 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel purchases; and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which offers 3 points per dollar on travel.

Related: These are the credit cards to use to maximize your next cruise vacation

The cruise line will assist you with travel disruptions

The cruise line's travel department has the backs of all cruisers who purchased flights through them. If your flight is delayed due to weather or a mechanical problem, agents will assist you with rebooking. Should the flight issues make you miss your ship, the line will make arrangements to get you to the next port of call.

The same is true if your cruise ends unexpectedly early due to weather, mechanical issues or an illness outbreak. The cruise line's air department will rebook cruise passengers who booked their flights through the cruise line. Independent travelers will be left to fend for themselves.

You can book now and pay later

Are you a planner and book your cruise a year in advance? Some airlines still impose change fees, so you might not want to pay for airfare months in advance, in case your plans change. Some cruise lines' air-cruise packages — such as Carnival Cruise Line 's Fly2Fun Air Program and Holland America 's Flight Ease — allow you to pay for your flights when your final cruise payment is due (typically about 90 days prior to sailing) rather than at the time of booking if you choose a "flexible fares" option.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

Cruise lines don't charge booking fees

Cruise lines will not charge you service or convenience fees to book your flights through their air departments. You only have to pay the airfare and the applicable airline taxes and fees.

5 reasons not to book your flight through your cruise line

You can't pay with miles.

If you'd love to book your flights with credit card points or airline miles, you'll need to do that through the airline, not the cruise line.

You might also want to watch out if you hope to pay for economy airfare through your cruise line and then upgrade with miles. As cruise lines often negotiate special low rates with the airlines, these fare classes are often ineligible for mileage or elite upgrades.

Cruise lines charge deviation fees for custom itineraries

Some cruise line air bookings come with restrictions around when you can fly. Should you wish to arrive several days early or spend a week in the area after your cruise, perhaps even flying home from a nearby city, you might need to pay the cruise line a deviation fee.

A deviation fee lets you choose your airline and flights prior to making your final payment. The nonrefundable fee can cost anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars (per passenger).

Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts — and what you can do about them

You can't always pick your airline, schedule or flight routing

Many cruise lines now offer choice and flexibility with airline arrangements, letting you pick your airline, travel time and routing. However, some cheaper, more restrictive options leave the booking exclusively to the cruise line's air department. This gives you no say in your flight route — unless you pay the aforementioned deviation fee or pay more for a flexible booking option.

For example, with Viking , you'd need to upgrade from its base Inclusive Air option to the pricier Viking Air Plus fares in order to choose your specific flights through Viking Air.

Free airfare isn't free

Remember that free airfare perk? It's not actually free. The cruise lines increase the base cruise fare to cover the extra perks. Decline the airfare, and they will reimburse you with an air credit or charge you a cruise-only rate. If you can find fares cheaper than the credit, you'll save money by not booking your flights through your cruise line.

This advice especially applies to travelers flying from smaller airports that aren't among the major ones covered by the free airfare deal. Most cruise line airfare fine print states that passengers flying out of other airports will pay an additional fee. If you can book flights that are cheaper than the fee plus the air credit, you should do that and skip the not-actually-free airfare.

The cruise lines can charge service fees for changes

Cruise lines can add their own fees and surcharges on top of the typical airline charges. Some lines, such as Carnival, charge a flat fee for flight changes in addition to the fees and fines imposed by airlines. If saving money is the most important consideration, you might want to book independently to avoid any extra surcharges.

Can you use points to upgrade when you book air through your cruise airline?

Maybe — it will likely depend on which cruise line you book with.

For instance, you can use frequent flyer miles to upgrade your seat from bookings through Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program. However, the line cautions that its airline partners determine the flight categories that qualify for mileage upgrades and warns that you must "contact your preferred carrier for the specific flight category information prior to confirming your reservation with us."

Additionally, Viking passengers who book through Viking Air can contact the airline after their flights have been ticketed to see if they are able to upgrade with miles. While Viking can't guarantee your success, many guests "were able to do so previously," according to a Viking representative.

Bottom line

Sometimes booking your cruise with airfare included makes sense. It's convenient and essentially takes care of most of your travel plans with one transaction.

While one-stop shopping is attractive, you should weigh the pros and cons of booking your flights through your cruise line. Once you do, you can determine whether it's best to let your cruise line do the legwork or make your own flight arrangements for your cruise vacation.

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Norwegian Cruise Line: The Complete Guide

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Table of Contents

About Norwegian Cruise Line sailings

Norwegian cruise line destinations, norwegian cruise line cruise prices, what is the best norwegian cruise line ship, what’s included on ncl cruises, ncl firsts in the industry: what is norwegian known for, ncl loyalty program: latitude rewards, norwegian cruise line credit card, what is ncl known for.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is one of the top players in large-ship cruising, and its fleet is seeing one of its biggest refits in decades with its new Prima fleet of ships. Norwegian Cruise Line ships are also known for their colorful hull art that makes them stand out in ports around the world.

The company dates back to 1966 when it got its start as a Norwegian shipping company. Today, it has become one of the more popular mainstream cruise brands and is part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also includes the Regent Seven Seas and Oceania brands.

If you’re scrolling through endless Norwegian Cruise Line reviews, let this complete guide to the cruise company give you the larger overview of what sets this brand apart from the rest. There are some interesting innovations from Norwegian that other cruise lines have since adopted, but they started here.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

NCL sails around the world with numerous routes from the U.S. to Caribbean destinations as well as around the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

Its loyalty program, onboard amenities and variety of cabin types offer something for every type of traveler.

Cabin types: You can expect a range of different cabin sizes and layouts ranging from solo-traveler interior studios and inside cabins for as many as four people to ocean view and balcony cabins. A wide range of suites are also available. The Prima class of ships feature the largest suites, some of which have private whirlpools on the balcony and as many as three bedrooms. 

Main U.S. routes: NCL has plenty of North America sailings from U.S. ports to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada and New England. There are also sailings to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and the Panama Canal, among others. 

Loyalty program: NCL's Latitudes Rewards loyalty program, which issues one point for every night sailed as well as bonus points for booking suites or participating in certain promotions. At each elite tier, members earn onboard benefits like discounts, laundry service and special event access. The more you travel with NCL, the more benefits you can earn. 

NCL spans the globe with sailings to every continent (even Antarctica) on a wide range of ships. They leave from both U.S. coasts as well as from Hawaii — where NCL has operated inter-island Hawaiian sailing for almost two decades.

Antarctica.

New Zealand.

Pacific Islands.

Panama Canal.

South America.

Depending on how long you want to sail and where you're going, you can find cruises as brief as two nights and as long as 21 days or more.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of cruises

You'll find lots of good deals on Norwegian, but cruise fares will fluctuate based on the destination, time of year and other variables. You’ll want to keep these factors in mind when booking a cruise, as they'll affect the price of the trip:

Time of year.

Trip duration.

Destination.

Ship class.

Cabin type.

You can find cruise bargains for as low as $350 on four-night cruises, but if you want to splurge and do a longer cruise, expect to pay as much as $4,600 or more (especially if you book a suite or a Haven category room).

Of course, the fare will always vary depending on which cabin type you book.

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

(Image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

When it comes to which NCL ship is best, that depends on what you're looking for in a cruise. If you're traveling with a family, for example, water slides, amusement park-style games and multi-bedroom suites may be important. This means you may prefer one of the line’s newest Prima Class ships: Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Viva.

If you're looking for a romantic vacation, perhaps you'll want a smaller ship or a cabin in The Haven, which is a hotel-within-a-hotel concept with more personalized service. The Haven is only available on select Norwegian ships, including Encore, Viva and Prima.

What is the newest NCL ship?

Norwegian Viva launched in the summer of 2023, making it the newest ship for NCL. It has special features like a three-tier race track, the fastest slides at sea, a food hall with 11 complimentary eateries and a sustainable cocktail bar.

» Learn more: Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise?

On any NCL cruise, these benefits are always included:

Accommodations in the category you select at booking.

All meals in snack and buffet restaurants, main dining rooms and, when available, the food hall. 

Free non-bottled water, juice, hot chocolate, and some coffees and teas.

Fitness center access.

Shows and entertainment.

Pools and kids pool play area.

Onboard activities.

Government fees and port taxes.

If you want to partake in specialty dining reservations, Wi-Fi, Norwegian cruise excursions or upgraded beverage packages, you'll have to pay fees (sometimes bundled for greater savings).

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered many features aboard its ships, some of which other cruise lines have imitated. These are some of the special features you'll find aboard some or all of the ships in NCL’s fleet.

Freestyle dining: open-seating in restaurants with extended hours and no reservations. 

Private island: Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas is a private island for cruise passengers. NCL was the first cruise company to offer access to a private island, and it spurred a growing trend in the industry.

Full Broadway theater productions.

Onboard internet cafe.

Bowling alley at sea.

Ice bar at sea.

Studio accommodations for solo travelers, with a private lounge.

Sustainability-focused onboard bar with zero waste.

Collection of NFTs from a cruise company, available for sale.

Race track at sea.

Latitude Rewards awards members with points based on each night they sail, and they can earn bonus nights when booking certain categories of suites.

Occasional promotions also offer double-night credit. You will only earn cruise points on eligible sailings where you are paying a traditional fare; promotional sailings with a heavy discount might not be eligible, although you would still receive the benefits at your tier. Also, sailings on sister lines do not qualify for Latitude Rewards cruise points.

As you accrue nights, you earn elite status that delivers onboard benefits that grow with each status tier.

Latitude Rewards levels

The loyalty program has seven levels, from Bronze to Ambassador. The full roster of onboard amenities can be found on the Norwegian Cruise Line website . There are some extra perks that come with certain tiers.

How to earn Latitudes Rewards points

Earn one point for every night you spend on a sailing and double points in suites or The Haven category accommodations.

How to redeem points

This program does not offer any points to redeem. Instead, you would earn benefits on future cruises related to your particular elite tier. Ambassador members (700+ points) earn a free 7-night cruise.

Spending on the Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® won’t earn you Latitude Rewards points (the only way to do that is by sailing with NCL), but it will earn you WorldPoints. This currency can be redeemed for onboard credits on future sailings, Norwegian Cruise Line shore excursions and other travel experiences. The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for world travelers.

With the Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard, you earn WorldPoints as follows:

3x points on NCL sailings.

2x points on eligible airfare and hotel purchases.

1x point on everything else.

Earn 20,000 WorldPoints, which is good for a $200 onboard credit or discount toward a future cruise, if you spend $1,000 or more in the first 90 days the account is open.

How to redeem WorldPoints

Each WorldPoints point is equivalent to one cent, which you can then redeem for things such as:

Stateroom upgrades.

Travel discounts.

Last-minute cruises.

Onboard credits.

Car rentals.

Hotel stays.

Gift cards.

» Learn more: The best cruise lines

No, but you can pay for a Wi-Fi package, which starts at $29.99 per day per device.

No, but all sailings do include accommodations, activities, food and beverages, and entertainment. There is the ability to purchase extra benefits on each ship.

There are several drink package options on NCL sailings:

Non-alcoholic

The Unlimited Soda package includes all fountain soda drinks for $9.95 per person per day.

The Unlimited Starbucks package includes all Starbucks drinks for $12.95 per person per day.

An adult over the age of 21 could opt for a non-alcoholic drink package, but that means everyone else on their reservation must also get non-alcoholic drink packages.

Premium offers most drinks that cost $15 and under. You can pay the difference if you choose a more expensive drink. This unlimited package costs $109 per person per day.

Premium Plus offers even more drink options, mostly premium and top-shelf category labels, bottled water, Starbucks drinks and energy drinks for a flat price of $138 per person per day.

Keep in mind that alcoholic drink packages must be purchased for all people above the age of 21 in the same reservation, and those under 21 must pay for the soda package. The policy is intended to prevent people over the age of 21 from getting alcoholic drinks for other members of their party that did not pay for the alcoholic drink package.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers sailings at different price points to a global range of destinations. It is also known for its beautiful hull art, pioneering Freestyle Dining and adding buzzworthy amenities like ice bars and race tracks to its ships. NCL cruises are fun for all types of travelers, and its loyalty program can provide added perks along the way.

(Top photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Bank of America's website

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

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• News for Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line: Volume And Pricing Trends Look Encouraging, Says Bullish Analyst

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) received a rating upgrade from Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes.

The analyst upgraded the rating for Norwegian Cruise from Hold to Buy. The price target was raised from $20 to $21.

The Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Thesis: Industry checks indicate an acceleration in booking volumes in April and early May, "following an already strong January-March Wave season," Scholes said.

The upgrade came on the heels of another rating upgrade courtesy of Mizuho Securities analyst Ben Chaiken.

Industry checks suggest encouraging trends in cruise bookings and pricing.

Check out other analyst stock ratings.

This increase in booking volumes does not coincide with any "material" decline in pricing, Scholes wrote.

Scholes remains “positive on the cruise sector.” He expects modest earnings upside from continued pricing growth “on the remaining cabins left to sell for 2024.”

Although demand and pricing trends have improved, Norwegian Cruise Line's shares have lost around 20% since last July, compared to gains of around 20% by the S&P 500 during the same period, Scholes stated.

"Besides a strong revenue growth environment, we really like the potential/optionality the company has with further monetizing Great Stirrup Cay, something we believe management is more than aware of as well," he further added.

NCLH Price Action: Norwegian Cruise shares declined by 1.69% to $16.28 at the time of publication on Wednesday.

Now Read: Analyzing Norwegian Cruise Line’s Short Interest

Image: Pixabay

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