norwegian jade cruise ship capacity

Norwegian Cruise Line ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list

Are you looking for the most megaresort-like, activity-packed Norwegian Cruise Line ships at sea? If so, you'll want to get on one of the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are, almost by definition, the Norwegian Cruise Line ships with the most "stuff" — the most pools, waterslides and other deck-top attractions ( even go-kart tracks ), as well as the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms. They have the biggest spas and casinos among vessels in the Norwegian fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in suite and cabin types.

With room for 4,000 or more passengers, the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are among the most massive resorts you'll find at sea from any cruise line and are comparable to some of the biggest resorts on land, too. If you're in the "bigger is better" camp when it comes to a resort experience, these are the Norwegian Cruise Line ships for you.

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Still, Norwegian Cruise Line doesn't just operate giant vessels. The world's fourth-biggest cruise line also has quite a few relatively small cruise ships that carry just 2,000 or so people and provide a more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are just half the size of Norwegian Cruise Line's biggest ships. These are vessels that, notably, have fewer deck-top activities and interior venues than the biggest Norwegian cruise ships.

The smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are best for vacationers who like a less crowded, more intimate resort experience.

Related: The 9 classes of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, explained

To ensure you end up on the right Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you, it pays to understand which Norwegian Cruise Line ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.

Here, every Norwegian Cruise Line ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.

1. Norwegian Encore

Maiden voyage: 2019 Size: 169,116 gross tons Passenger capacity: 3,998

2. Norwegian Bliss

Maiden voyage: 2018 Size: 168,028 gross tons Passenger capacity: 4,004

3. Norwegian Joy

Maiden voyage: 2017 Size: 167,725 gross tons Passenger capacity: 3,804

4. Norwegian Escape

Maiden voyage: 2015 Size: 164,998 gross tons Passenger capacity: 4,266

5. Norwegian Epic

Maiden voyage: 2010 Size: 155,873 gross tons Passenger capacity: 4,100

6. (tied) Norwegian Getaway

Maiden voyage: 2014 Size: 145,655 gross tons Passenger capacity: 3,963

6. (tied) Norwegian Breakaway

Maiden voyage: 2013 Size: 145,655 gross tons Passenger capacity: 3,963

8. (tied) Norwegian Viva

Maiden voyage: 2023 Size: 143,535 gross tons Passenger capacity: 3,099

8. (tied) Norwegian Prima

Maiden voyage: 2022 Size: 143,535 gross tons Passenger capacity: 3,099

10. Norwegian Jade

Maiden voyage: 2006 Size: 93,558 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,402

11. (tied) Norwegian Gem

Maiden voyage: 2007 Size: 93,530 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,394

11. (tied) Norwegian Pearl

Maiden voyage: 2006 Size: 93,530 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,394

13. Norwegian Jewel

Maiden voyage: 2005 Size: 93,502 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,376

14. Norwegian Dawn

Maiden voyage: 2002 Size: 92,250 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,340

15. Norwegian Star

Maiden voyage: 2001 Size: 91,740 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,348

16. Pride of America

Maiden voyage: 2005 Size: 80,439 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,186

17. Norwegian Sun

Maiden voyage: 2001 Size: 78,309 gross tons Passenger capacity: 1,936

18. Norwegian Sky

Maiden voyage: 1999 Size: 77,104 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,004

19. Norwegian Spirit

Maiden voyage: 1998 Size: 75,904 gross tons Passenger capacity: 2,032

What is the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?

The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship is the 4-year-old Norwegian Encore . While not quite as big as the biggest ships from rival lines Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line , Norwegian Encore is still firmly in the pantheon of the world's cruising giants.

At 169,116 tons, Norwegian Encore is bigger than all but 21 other cruise ships in the world, 15 of which are operated by the three lines mentioned above. It regularly sails with more than 4,000 passengers on board.

The biggest of four vessels in Norwegian's Breakaway Plus class of ships, Norwegian Encore is the Norwegian ship most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions. It's home to one of the biggest go-kart tracks on a cruise ship, the biggest laser tag area on a Norwegian ship and an unusually large virtual reality zone called Galaxy Pavilion, to name a few of its biggest attractions. There's also plenty of room to spare for multiple pools, waterslides and a kiddie splash zone.

Additionally, Norwegian Encore offers big-name shows in big, state-of-the-art theaters; a sprawling spa; a casino that fills half a deck; a dedicated children's play zone; and more than 2,000 rooms.

What is the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?

The smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship is Norwegian Spirit. At 75,904 gross tons, Norwegian Spirit is less than half the size of Norwegian Encore, the line's biggest ship. It carries just 1,966 passengers — more than 2,000 fewer than Norwegian Encore.

Unveiled in 1998, Norwegian Spirit is not only the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship but also the oldest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. At 25 years old, it's likely to be phased out of the Norwegian fleet in the coming years.

Norwegian Spirit, notably, was not built for Norwegian Cruise Line but for Asia-based Star Cruises. Its original name was SuperStar Leo. It was transferred to Norwegian and renamed in 2004.

In part because of its smaller size, Norwegian Spirit offers fewer venues and attractions than newer Norwegian vessels, but it still offers a lot. In all, you'll find 13 food outlets on Norwegian Spirit, including two main restaurants, a casual buffet eatery, and versions of the line's signature Cagney's Steakhouse and French eatery Le Bistro. There are more than half a dozen bars and cafes.

Deck-top attractions on Norwegian Spirit include several pools, whirlpools, waterslides, a basketball court and a jogging track. The ship also has a casino, spa, nightclub and theater.

Are bigger Norwegian Cruise Line ships coming?

The answer isn't clear. Norwegian Cruise Line currently has four new cruise ships on order, and all were originally designed to be smaller than the biggest Norwegian ships currently at sea. However, Norwegian recently announced that some of the ships will be redesigned to be as much as 20% bigger .

Depending on how much bigger Norwegian makes these ships, they might become the biggest ships in the Norwegian fleet.

The four ships on order for Norwegian are all sister vessels to the recently unveiled Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, which are tied as Norwegian's eighth biggest ships. The first of the four additional ships on order, Norwegian Aqua , is scheduled to begin sailing in April 2025, with the three other new vessels arriving between 2026 and 2028.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

The four new ships are all part of what Norwegian is calling the Prima Class of ships. The first two ships in the series, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, measure 143,535 gross tons a piece, which is about 15% smaller than Norwegian Encore, Norwegian's biggest ship.

The last four ships in the series, as noted, are being redesigned to be bigger than the first two ships in the series.

Norwegian executives said the smaller size of the new Prima Class ships would give the line more options in designing itineraries, as the vessels would be able to access smaller ports around the world than some of the bigger Norwegian ships can.

What's the difference between bigger and smaller Norwegian Cruise Line ships?

To put it simply: The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships have room for more onboard venues and attractions than the line's older vessels.

On Norwegian's giant Breakaway Plus Class vessels (Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape), for instance, you'll find multiple pools, waterslides, a kiddie splash zone and — on most of the ships — a sprawling go-kart racing track. Each of the vessels also offers Broadway shows in giant theaters; sprawling spas; large casinos; expansive children's play zones; and more than 2,000 rooms.

Additionally, two of the biggest ships in the series, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy, have what may be the largest and coolest gaming and virtual reality zones at sea.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian ship

Norwegian's smaller ships, by contrast, lack many of the above features. Because of their smaller size, they have a much more intimate feel, at least when compared to the biggest cruise ships at Norwegian and other mass-market lines, and they hold far fewer people. While Breakaway Plus Class ships can hold around 4,000 passengers, based on double occupancy, the line's smallest vessels are only designed to carry about 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Norwegian's smallest ships are a good choice for vacationers who aren't eager to travel with the huge crowds that are common on the world's biggest cruise ships. They appeal to a subset of Norwegian fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.

Related: Don't miss out on these Norwegian loyalty perks

Additionally, because of their size, the smallest ships at Norwegian are able to operate itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Norwegian Encore.

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Norwegian Jade

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Norwegian Jade

with a cruise advisor

The 2,402-passenger Norwegian Jade was renovated in 2022. The updated ship is geared toward a diverse set of ages and traveler types. Plus, with 1,037 crew members, the service exceeded recent cruisers' expectations.

Aboard Jade, guests can choose from a spectrum of lodging options. While Inside cabins range from 138 to 278 square feet, the ship's Haven suites and villas measure between 440 and 4,719 square feet. These larger accommodations feature living and dining areas, balconies and private access to an exclusive courtyard.

Norwegian Jade features 13 restaurants (including seven specialty eateries) and a variety of bars, lounges and nightclubs. During the day, guests can take advantage of a wide array of activities, including a variety of sports, a spa and age-appropriate youth clubs. 

Norwegian Jade sails throughout ports in Tampa, Alaska, Europe and Caribbean.

Pros & Cons

Unique destinations in Africa and Europe

Over half of the ship's dining venues require an extra fee

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 3.8
• Health Rating » 4.6

Norwegian Jade ranks # 11 out of 19 Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 11 in Best Norwegian Cruise Line
• # 55 in Best Cruises for Couples
• # 59 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean

Norwegian Jade offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Norwegian Jade contains 12 decks. Find out which features are available on each Norwegian Jade deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1359 guests have reviewed Norwegian Jade , giving it a rating of 3.8 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

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 Ships by Size [2023] with Comparison Chart

Below you'll find a complete list of Norwegian Ships by Size . From their smallest, active ship (NCL Spirit) to the largest Norwegian cruise ship (and newest), the NCL Encore. You'll find a sizable difference between NCL's largest and the smallest ships in their fleet. In fact, the difference is over 2x the gross tonnage!

We've create a new post to see how these ships rank on a global scale. Norwegian has one ship that made the list of 20 Largest Cruise Ships in the World ! Click to find out which vessel made it and where it ranks. There we also analyze Norwegian's average ship size versus all other lines!

Often we're asked if size affects price. The cost of a Norwegian cruise isn't directly correlated with size. You won't find that the bigger the ship, the more the cost. Nor will you find the opposite. You won't necessarily pay less for the largest NCL ship vs the smallest. It will all depend on the specific itinerary. To get a sense of pricing, please use our widget below.

Now on to sizing. To find your specific NCL ship, feel free to use our menu below. Clicking on any will let you quickly jump to that ship's stats.

First, a little clarification is needed before viewing our sizing chart. We're measuring Norwegian ships size using the metric, "Gross Tonnage." This always causes a bit of confusion amongst our community members. It's not simply "weight" that determines this size measurement. The definition is technical and boring, but we'll provide it anyway.

Are you still awake? Good. So why do we use this measurement to determine Norwegian Ships Size? As noted above, it's used for safety rules and whatnot. As such, it's the standard across this cruise line and all others. Every passenger cruise ship will have this measurement . That makes it easy to compare ship size across ship, class, line and more.

Additionally, you'll find a number of other stats in our ship list. These include ship length, beam, draft, passenger count, and a few others.

Ok, we're done with today's maritime measurement course. Here's the good stuff.

Norwegian Ships by Size (Largest to Smallest)

Click above to  pin this Norwegian Cruise Ships by Size Infograph to your cruise planning board , so you can refer back to it when choosing your next ship!

That's every NCL Cruise Ship currently active in their fleet. You can see the vast difference in ship size. This is particularly dramatic when looking at Norwegian's newest ship, the NCL Encore, vs the smallest Norwegian ship ever built! Here's a visual representation showing the smallest in the fleet's history vs this new behemoth. !

The experience on these two ships will be completely different! On the newest Norwegian Escape, you'll be lucky to experience half of the venues on the ship. Whereas the smaller ships offer a more quaint and personal experience. In just a day or two, you'll have your bearings and likely a fixed routine on these ships. Which is better? That's all going to depend on personal preferences!

Here's a menu of all Norwegian Ships by Size. Click on any for quick access to ship stats for that vessel.

• 1) Norwegian Encore
• 2) Norwegian Bliss
• 3) Norwegian Joy
• 4) Norwegian Escape
• 5) Norwegian Epic
• 6) Norwegian Breakaway
• 7) Norwegian Getaway
• 8) Norwegian Prima
• 9) Norwegian Viva
• 10) Norwegian Jade
• 11) Norwegian Gem
• 12) Norwegian Pearl
• 13) Norwegian Jewel
• 14) Norwegian Dawn
• 15) Norwegian Star
• 16) Norwegian Pride of America
• 17) Norwegian Sun
• 18) Norwegian Sky
• 19) Norwegian Spirit

Below we've listed all Norwegian Ships by size, including a bit more info.

1) Norwegian Encore Size

The NCL Encore has a construction date of 2019 and a total size of 169,116 gross tons. The ship measures 1,094 feet (333 meters) in length and falls in line as number 1 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Encore holds 6,038 passengers. That includes 3,998 cruise vacationers and 1,735 staff members. The Norwegian Encore total number of staterooms is 2,040.

• Gross Tonnage : 169,116 GT
• Ship Length : 1,094 feet (333 meters)
• Beam : 136 feet (41 meters)
• Draft : 29 feet (9 meters)
• Max Speed : 26 mph (23 knots)
• Year Built : 2019
• Years Served : 2019-present
• Capacity : 3,998 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,735
• Total on Board : 6,038
• Total Staterooms : 2,040
• Flagged Country : Bahamas
• Ship Cost : $920 Million
• Status : active

2) Norwegian Bliss Size

The NCL Bliss has a construction date of 2018 and a total size of 168,028 gross tons. The ship measures 1,094 feet (333 meters) in length and falls in line as number 2 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Bliss holds 6,224 passengers. That includes 4,004 cruise vacationers and 1,716 staff members. The Norwegian Bliss total number of staterooms is 2,220.

• Gross Tonnage : 168,028 GT
• Year Built : 2018
• Years Served : 2018-present
• Capacity : 4,004 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,716
• Total on Board : 6,224
• Total Staterooms : 2,220

3) Norwegian Joy Size

The NCL Joy has a construction date of 2017 and a total size of 167,725 gross tons. The ship measures 1,094 feet (333 meters) in length and falls in line as number 3 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Joy holds 5,730 passengers. That includes 3,804 cruise vacationers and 1,821 staff members. The Norwegian Joy total number of staterooms is 1,926.

• Gross Tonnage : 167,725 GT
• Year Built : 2017
• Years Served : 2017-present
• Capacity : 3,804 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,821
• Total on Board : 5,730
• Total Staterooms : 1,926

4) Norwegian Escape Size

The NCL Escape has a construction date of 2015 and a total size of 167,725 gross tons. The ship measures 1,069 feet (326 meters) in length and falls in line as number 4 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Escape holds 6,358 passengers. That includes 4,266 cruise vacationers and 1,733 staff members. The Norwegian Escape total number of staterooms is 2,092.

• Ship Length : 1,069 feet (326 meters)
• Draft : 28 feet (9 meters)
• Year Built : 2015
• Years Served : 2015-present
• Capacity : 4,266 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,733
• Total on Board : 6,358
• Total Staterooms : 2,092

5) Norwegian Epic Size

The NCL Epic has a construction date of 2010 and a total size of 155,873 gross tons. The ship measures 1,081 feet (329 meters) in length and falls in line as number 5 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Epic Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Epic holds 6,222 passengers. That includes 4,100 cruise vacationers and 1,724 staff members. The Norwegian Epic total number of staterooms is 2,122.

• Gross Tonnage : 155,873 GT
• Ship Length : 1,081 feet (329 meters)
• Beam : 171 feet (52 meters)
• Max Speed : 25 mph (22 knots)
• Year Built : 2010
• Years Served : 2010-present
• Capacity : 4,100 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,724
• Total on Board : 6,222
• Total Staterooms : 2,122
• Ship Cost : $1,200 Million

6) Norwegian Breakaway Size

The NCL Breakaway has a construction date of 2013 and a total size of 145,655 gross tons. The ship measures 1,068 feet (326 meters) in length and falls in line as number 6 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Breakaway Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Breakaway holds 5,977 passengers. That includes 3,963 cruise vacationers and 1,657 staff members. The Norwegian Breakaway total number of staterooms is 2,014.

• Gross Tonnage : 145,655 GT
• Ship Length : 1,068 feet (326 meters)
• Beam : 170 feet (52 meters)
• Year Built : 2013
• Years Served : 2013-present
• Capacity : 3,963 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,657
• Total on Board : 5,977
• Total Staterooms : 2,014
• Ship Cost : $840 Million

7) Norwegian Getaway Size

The NCL Getaway has a construction date of 2014 and a total size of 145,655 gross tons. The ship measures 1,068 feet (326 meters) in length and falls in line as number 7 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Breakaway Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Getaway holds 5,971 passengers. That includes 3,963 cruise vacationers and 1,646 staff members. The Norwegian Getaway total number of staterooms is 2,008.

• Year Built : 2014
• Years Served : 2014-present
• Crew Members : 1,646
• Total on Board : 5,971
• Total Staterooms : 2,008
• Ship Cost : $780 Million

8) Norwegian Prima Size

The NCL Prima has a construction date of 2022 and a total size of 143,525 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 8 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Prima Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Prima holds 5,596 passengers. That includes 3,950 cruise vacationers and 1,388 staff members. The Norwegian Prima total number of staterooms is 1,646.

• Gross Tonnage : 143,525 GT
• Ship Length : 965 feet (294 meters)
• Beam : 135 feet (41 meters)
• Year Built : 2022
• Years Served : 2022 - present
• Capacity : 3,950 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,388
• Total on Board : 5,596
• Total Staterooms : 1,646
• Ship Cost : $850 Million

9) Norwegian Viva Size

The NCL Viva has a construction date of 2023 and a total size of 142,500 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 9 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Prima Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Viva holds 5,596 passengers. That includes 3,950 cruise vacationers and 1,388 staff members. The Norwegian Viva total number of staterooms is 1,646.

• Gross Tonnage : 142,500 GT
• Year Built : 2023
• Years Served : Future - 2023

10) Norwegian Jade Size

The NCL Jade has a construction date of 2006 and a total size of 93,558 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 10 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Jade holds 3,593 passengers. That includes 2,402 cruise vacationers and 1,037 staff members. The Norwegian Jade total number of staterooms is 1,191.

• Gross Tonnage : 93,558 GT
• Beam : 125 feet (38 meters)
• Draft : 27 feet (8 meters)
• Max Speed : 29 mph (25 knots)
• Year Built : 2006
• Years Served : 2006-present
• Capacity : 2,402 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,037
• Total on Board : 3,593
• Total Staterooms : 1,191
• Ship Cost : $390 Million

11) Norwegian Gem Size

The NCL Gem has a construction date of 2007 and a total size of 93,530 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 11 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Gem holds 3,591 passengers. That includes 2,394 cruise vacationers and 1,070 staff members. The Norwegian Gem total number of staterooms is 1,197.

• Gross Tonnage : 93,530 GT
• Year Built : 2007
• Years Served : 2007-present
• Capacity : 2,394 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,070
• Total on Board : 3,591
• Total Staterooms : 1,197

12) Norwegian Pearl Size

The NCL Pearl has a construction date of 2006 and a total size of 93,530 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 12 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Pearl holds 3,591 passengers. That includes 2,394 cruise vacationers and 1,072 staff members. The Norwegian Pearl total number of staterooms is 1,197.

• Crew Members : 1,072

13) Norwegian Jewel Size

The NCL Jewel has a construction date of 2005 and a total size of 93,502 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 13 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Jewel holds 3,573 passengers. That includes 2,376 cruise vacationers and 1,069 staff members. The Norwegian Jewel total number of staterooms is 1,197.

• Gross Tonnage : 93,502 GT
• Max Speed : 30 mph (26 knots)
• Year Built : 2005
• Years Served : 2005-present
• Capacity : 2,376 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,069
• Total on Board : 3,573

14) Norwegian Dawn Size

The NCL Dawn has a construction date of 2002 and a total size of 92,250 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 14 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Dawn Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Dawn holds 3,372 passengers. That includes 2,340 cruise vacationers and 1,032 staff members. The Norwegian Dawn total number of staterooms is 1,032.

• Gross Tonnage : 92,250 GT
• Draft : 38 feet (12 meters)
• Year Built : 2002
• Years Served : 2002-present
• Capacity : 2,340 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,032
• Total on Board : 3,372
• Total Staterooms : 1,032
• Ship Cost : $400 Million

15) Norwegian Star Size

The NCL Star has a construction date of 2001 and a total size of 91,740 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet (294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 15 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Dawn Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Star holds 3,524 passengers. That includes 2,348 cruise vacationers and 1,031 staff members. The Norwegian Star total number of staterooms is 1,176.

• Gross Tonnage : 91,740 GT
• Max Speed : 28 mph (24 knots)
• Year Built : 2001
• Years Served : 2001-present
• Capacity : 2,348 passengers
• Crew Members : 1,031
• Total on Board : 3,524
• Total Staterooms : 1,176

16) Norwegian Pride of America Size

The NCL Pride of America has a construction date of 2005 and a total size of 80,439 gross tons. The ship measures 920 feet (280 meters) in length and falls in line as number 16 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Pride of America Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Pride of America holds 3,280 passengers. That includes 2,186 cruise vacationers and 927 staff members. The Norwegian Pride of America total number of staterooms is 1,094.

• Gross Tonnage : 80,439 GT
• Ship Length : 920 feet (280 meters)
• Beam : 106 feet (32 meters)
• Draft : 26 feet (8 meters)
• Capacity : 2,186 passengers
• Crew Members : 927
• Total on Board : 3,280
• Total Staterooms : 1,094
• Flagged Country : Hawaii
• Ship Cost : $450 Million

17) Norwegian Sun Size

The NCL Sun has a construction date of 2001 and a total size of 78,309 gross tons. The ship measures 848 feet (258 meters) in length and falls in line as number 17 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Sun Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Sun holds 2,904 passengers. That includes 1,936 cruise vacationers and 906 staff members. The Norwegian Sun total number of staterooms is 968.

• Gross Tonnage : 78,309 GT
• Ship Length : 848 feet (258 meters)
• Beam : 123 feet (37 meters)
• Capacity : 1,936 passengers
• Crew Members : 906
• Total on Board : 2,904
• Total Staterooms : 968
• Ship Cost : $330 Million

18) Norwegian Sky Size

The NCL Sky has a construction date of 1999 and a total size of 77,104 gross tons. The ship measures 832 feet (254 meters) in length and falls in line as number 18 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Sun Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Sky holds 3,006 passengers. That includes 2,004 cruise vacationers and 899 staff members. The Norwegian Sky total number of staterooms is 1,002.

• Gross Tonnage : 77,104 GT
• Ship Length : 832 feet (254 meters)
• Year Built : 1999
• Years Served : 1999-2004 & 2008-present
• Capacity : 2,004 passengers
• Crew Members : 899
• Total on Board : 3,006
• Total Staterooms : 1,002

19) Norwegian Spirit Size

The NCL Spirit has a construction date of 1998 and a total size of 75,904 gross tons. The ship measures 880 feet (268 meters) in length and falls in line as number 19 among Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 active cruise ships. It’s included in NCL’s Spirit Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Spirit holds 3,026 passengers. That includes 2,018 cruise vacationers and 912 staff members. The Norwegian Spirit total number of staterooms is 1,008.

• Gross Tonnage : 75,904 GT
• Ship Length : 880 feet (268 meters)
• Beam : 121 feet (37 meters)
• Year Built : 1998
• Years Served : 2004-present
• Capacity : 2,018 passengers
• Crew Members : 912
• Total on Board : 3,026
• Total Staterooms : 1,008
• Ship Cost : $350 Million

Norwegian Cruise Ships by Size FAQ

We're constantly asked about NCL's ships and size statistics. Here are the most frequently asked questions for your convenience!

Which Norwegian cruise ship is the biggest? The NCL Encore is the largest of Norwegian's 19 cruise ships. It has a gross tonnage of 169,116 and spans 1,094 feet (333 meters) in length. It was built in 2019 and holds 6,038 passengers (including crew).

Which NCL cruise ship is the smallest? Norwegian's smallest, active cruise ship is the Spirit with a gross tonnage measuring 75,904. She's served with the fleet since 2004 and measures 880 feet (268 meters) in length.

How big is a Norwegian cruise ship? NCL's fleet varies in size as seen from our chart. The smallest, active ship holds 2,930 total passengers (including staff) and measures 880 feet in length. The newest NCL ship, the Encore, is significantly bigger. It holds 5,733 passengers and spans 1,094 feet in length. For reference, the Eiffel Tower is roughly 900 feet high! See our chart above for everything in the middle.

We hope that the above list of Norwegian Cruise Ships by size help you to find your ideal cruise.

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Norwegian Jade Ship Info

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On this page you will find Norwegian Jade features, history, sister ships, and useful facts provided by Cruisedeckplans.com. Look at the bottom of the page for the LIVE TRACKING position of Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Cruise Line

General information.

The Norwegian Jade started sailing in 2006. Former names: Pride of Hawaii. The Norwegian Jade is registered in Nassau, Bahamas. The Norwegian Jade has 1201 cabins. You can expect between 2402 to 2882 passengers on a typical sailing. This means that at the higher number (usually peak and holiday sailings) Norwegian Jade has a space ratio of 32.5. (A space ratio less than 33 means that you may find the ship crowded in areas. A space ratio greater than 39 means that there should be plenty of space for each passenger.) When this ship isn't sailing at capacity the space ratio can be as good as 39. The Norwegian Jade has 1100 crew members on board. There are 3 passengers for every crew member on board. There are no self serve laundromats on this cruise ship.

Sister Ships

The following ships share the same class as this ship. This means the basic design and layout of the ship is the same. For the most part the cabins will be identical among these ships, but may be decorated differently. 2005- Norwegian Jewel 2006- Norwegian Jade 2006- Norwegian Pearl 2007- Norwegian Gem

Accessibility

There are 29 special needs cabins on this ship. These cabins have been modified for accessibility purposes.

15 Decks

There are 15 on this ship. The highest deck number is 15. The number of decks with passenger cabins is 8.

45% Balconies

This is the percent of the staterooms on board have balconies.

Other Information

This is the second ship in the Jewel-class. Sister ships are Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, and Norwegian Pearl. The appearance of this ship on the outside is very similar to Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn. The inside appearance however, is a Jewel-class design. During March 2017 Drydock, Staterooms and other public areas received extensive updates. On deck 8 OSheehans replaced Blue Lagoon. On deck 7 Bliss Night Club replace Medusa. On deck 12 La Cucina replaced Papas Italian. On deck 13 Moderno replaced Star Bar. All restaurants aboard are open seating. They include: Alizar Restaurant- Main Dining Room, complimentary Grand Pacific Restaurant- complimentary Garden Cafe- Buffet, complimentary The Great Outdoors- Outdoor buffet, complimentary Topsiders Bar & Grill- poolside, complimentary Bali Hai Bar & Grill- complimentary fast food Moderno Churrascaria- Brazilian Steakhouse with outdoor seating, specialty with cover charge Le Bistro- French specialty with cover charge Jasmine Garden- Asian, complimentary Sushi Bar & Sake Bar- ala carte located in Jasmine Garden Teppanyaki- Japanese Hibachi specialty with cover charge Los Lobos Cantina- Mexican specialty with cover charge La Cucina- Italian Restaurant with outdoor seating, specialty with cover charge OSheehans Bar & Grill- complimentary Nightly entertainment can be found at the 2-level Stardust Theater, which offers 2 nightly shows. There is also a secondary showroom called Jades Spinnaker Lounge which offers passenger participation games, and a mixture of comedy, lounge music, and cabaret shows. Adults can also enjoy the many bars and lounges on board, including a wine and champagne bar, a whiskey bar, Martini bar, and Medusa Lounge & Nightclub. For a little relaxation, adults can enjoy the Ying & Yang Spa Complex with fitness center and pools. For guests in the Haven area, there is also an exclusive Fitness & spa complex area. Kids will enjoy the kids and teen lounges, video games arcade, rock-climbing wall, sports court, and kids pool.

Norwegian Jade Ship Stats

Norwegian jade features.

• 1 Indoor Pools

• 6 Whirlpools (hot tubs)
• No Rock Climbing Wall
• No Flow Rider
• No Ice Rink
• No Water Park
• No Ropes Course
• No Mini Golf
• Sports Court
• Jogging Track

• Cigar Lounge
• Video Arcade
• Show Lounge
• Fitness Center

• Bridge Viewing Area
• No Outdoor Movie Screen
• Teen Lounge
• Passenger Promenade Deck
• Sea Viewing Lounge on upper deck
• No Adult Only Outside Lounge Area
• Private pool for suite guests.

Live Cruise Ship Tracking - Norwegian Jade

Smoking policy.

• Smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipes is strictly prohibited in all staterooms and on balconies, in or near venues serving food, the jogging track, outdoor sporting venues, The Haven outdoor areas, and children's pool areas
• Smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipes is permitted only in designated indoor and outdoor public spaces to include designated smoking lounges and cigar bars, and in the casino for players only.
• On ships with "The Waterfront", smoking is permitted on the starboard side excluding any food service areas.

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Helping you find cruise ships you'll love

All about the Norwegian Jade

The Norwegian Jade was built in 2006. It was renovated in 2017. It's considered a small size ship. Coming in at 965 ft long and 125 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 11-story building.

Norwegian Jade Overview

• Ship and Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities

Cruise Costs

• Onboard Costs

Norwegian Jade Size and Passengers

The Jade can hold 2,402 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Jade has a space ratio of 39. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.

The Jade is one of four Jewel-class ships currently sailing with Norwegian. The Jade is very similar to its sister-ships; Jewel, Pearl and Gem, although each ship may have some differences.

Norwegian Jade Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Norwegian Jade. You have 13 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 6 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 7 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 46% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

Norwegian Jade Bars and Drinks

Norwegian Jade has 12 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Norwegian also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Jade

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Norwegian Jade has a total of 3 pools and 5 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools are adults only. 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Norwegian Jade Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Jade. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Norwegian is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Norwegian Jade Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a Free at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive free open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at their specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the Free at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

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Norwegian Cruise Line currently has 20 cruise ships. The company was established in 1966 and headquartered in Miami, FL; Norwegian Cruise Line has been an industry innovator. With its “First Fleet of the Caribbean” with four dedicated ships sailing in 1971.

Norwegian Cruise Ships: Biggest to Smallest

Below is a list of all Norwegian Cruise Line ships by size, ordered from largest to smallest.

Table of Contents

Ncl cruise ships by size.

Our list of Norwegian cruise ships by size shows gross tonnage (which is a measure of internal volume, not weight), the total guest capacity of each ship, Length in Feet, ship class, and the year the vessel entered service:

List of Norwegian Cruise Ships By Size

List of norwegian cruise ships by age with photos.

The cruise line is recently known for its beautiful hull artwork, multi-level go-cart race tracks at sea, and more. We hope you enjoy our comprehensive list of Norwegian cruise ships by age, from newest to oldest.

Norwegian Aqua – 2025

Norwegian Aqua is scheduled to become Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship in the fleet beginning in April 2025. She will be sailing Seven-Day Caribbean Voyages from Port Canaveral, Fla. She is the first ship in the brand new Prima Plus Class. She is 156,300 GRTs and carries 3,571 passengers (based on two per cabin).

Norwegian Aqua will premiere the first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster. Complete with exhilarating dual slides and a magnetic lift that propels adventurous guests through two different courses, this NCL-exclusive experience will feature three stories of exciting twists and turns around the ship’s funnel.

Norwegian Viva  –  2023

Norwegian Viva is Norwegian Cruise Line’s  newest ship  in the fleet, the second ship in the popular Prima Class, and sister to Norwegian Prima. She is 142,500 GRTs and carries 3,100 passengers (based on two per cabin).

Norwegian Prima   – 2022

Norwegian Prima is the first ship in the innovative and popular  Prima Class and sister to  Norwegian Viva . She is 142,500 GRTs and carries 3,100 passengers (based on two per cabin).

Norwegian Encore – 2019

Norwegian Encore is the largest Norwegian Cruise Line fleet ship at 169,116 GRTs. She carries 3,998 passengers (based on two per cabin) and is the last ship built the  Breakaway Plus Class .

Norwegian Bliss – 2018

Norwegian Bliss is the third ship in the  Breakaway Plus Class . She is 168,028 GRTs and carries 4,004 passengers (based on two per cabin).

Norwegian Joy – 2017

Norwegian Joy is the second ship in the  Breakaway Plus Class . She is 167,725 GRTs and carries 3,804 passengers (based on two per cabin).

Norwegian Escape – 2015

Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the  Breakaway Plus Class . She is 165,157 GRTs and carries 4,266 passengers (based on two per cabin). Renowned marine artist Guy Harvey completed the ship’s hull artwork.

Norwegian Getaway – 2014

Norwegian Getaway is the second ship in the  Breakaway Class . She is 145,655 GRTs and carries 3,963 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship’s mural on the hull was designed by David “LEBO” Le Batard. Known as Lebo in the art world, he is recognized for working in a wide spectrum of creative mediums, including murals, paintings & sculptures.

Norwegian Breakaway – 2013

Norwegian Breakaway is the first ship in the  Breakaway Class . She is 145,655 GRTs and carries 3,963 passengers (based on two per cabin). Acclaimed artist Peter Max completed the hull ships’ colorful artwork.

Norwegian Epic – 2010

Norwegian Epic is 155,873 GRTs and carries 4,100 passengers (based on two per cabin). Norwegian Epic was originally one of three ships to be ordered. A dispute ultimately resulted in delivering only one ship in the Epic Class. When built, Norwegian Epic was the third-largest cruise ship in the world in June of 2010.

Norwegian Gem – 2007

Norwegian Gem is the final ship in the  Jewel Class . She is 93,530 GRTs and carries 2,394 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on October 1, 2007, and received a major refurbishment in 2015.

Norwegian Pearl – 2006

Norwegian Pearl is the third ship in the  Jewel Class . She is 93,530 GRTs and carries 2,394 passengers (based on two per cabin). She began service in 2006 and received a major refurbishment in 2017.

Norwegian Jade – 2006

Norwegian Jade is the second ship in the  Jewel Class . She is 93,558 GRTs and carries 2,402 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was originally built as  Pride of Hawaii  for their NCL America division.  Norwegian Jade  was also used as a floating hotel during the  2014 Winter Olympics  in Sochi.

Norwegian Jewel – 2005

Norwegian Jewel is the first ship in the  Jewel Class . She is 93,502 GRTs and carries 2,376 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship’s Godmother is former First Lady Melania Trump. She launched in 2005 and received a major refurbishment in 2018.

Pride of America – 2005

Pride of America is the only ship in the  Pride of America Class . She is 80,439 GRTs and carries 2,186 passengers (based on two per cabin). The initial construction of the vessel began in 2000 in the United States as part of a plan for a US-built and US-flagged cruise ship under Project America. Still, the project failed, and she was eventually purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines and completed in Germany.

Pride of America  was inaugurated in 2005 and was the first new U.S. flagged, deep-water vessel cruise ship in nearly fifty years since the  SS  Argentina  of 1958. The Godmother is a former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Norwegian Dawn – 2002

Norwegian Dawn is the second ship in the  Dawn Class  and is the sister of  Norwegian Star.  She is 92,250 GRTs and carries 2,340 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was originally intended to operate with  Star Cruises  under the name  SuperStar Scorpio , but it was later decided that she would be delivered to  Star’s  then subsidiary,  Norwegian Cruise Line  as the  Norwegian Dawn  in December 2002. Her Godmother is actress Kim Cattrall.

Norwegian Star – 2001

Norwegian Star is the first ship in the  Dawn Class  and is the sister of  Norwegian Dawn.  She is 91,740 GRTs and carries 2,348 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship was originally ordered by and intended for  Star Cruises , and it was originally named  SuperStar Libra  before being transferred to Star’s then subsidiary, Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian Sun   – 2001

Norwegian Sun is the second ship in the  Sun Class  and is the sister of  Norwegian Sky.  She is 78,309 GRTs and carries 1,936 passengers (based on two per cabin).

Norwegian Sky – 1999

Norwegian Sky is the first ship in the  Sun Class  and is the sister of  Norwegian Sun.  She is 77,104 GRTs and carries 2,004 passengers (based on two per cabin).  She sailed from 2004 to 2008 as Pride of Aloha for NCL America.

Norwegian Spirit – 1998

Norwegian Spirit is the only ship in the  Leo Class . She is 75,904 GRTs and carries 2,018 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was built 1998 for Star Cruises as SuperStar Leo by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. In 2004, she was transferred to NCL and renamed  Norwegian Spirit.

List of Norwegian Cruise Ships Newest to Oldest

Ncl ship classes.

Norwegian Cruise Line has six different classes of cruise ships, with three others being their class. Each class of ship has a unique architectural design layout and features. Most ships in a particular class have an almost identical layout with some minor changes.

The table below shows the Norwegian Cruise Line ship classes .

Norwegian Cruise Line ship classes

Norwegian Cruise Line Ships FAQs

What are the different classes of norwegian cruise line ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line ships are categorized into Breakaway Plus Class, Jewel Class, Prima Class, Dawn Class, Sun Class, and Breakaway Class.

How many ships are in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet?

As of 2024, the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet consists of several ships, including new additions such as Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva and other existing vessels for 20 when you include the Norwegian Aqua (scheduled for April 2025).

What is the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?

The smallest NCL ship is the Norwegian Spirit, which is 75,904 GRT and carries 2,018 passengers (based on two per cabin).

What are the characteristics of the Breakaway Plus Class ships?

The Breakaway Plus Class ships are known for being the largest and most innovative ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, offering a wide range of amenities and entertainment options.

How does the size of Norwegian Cruise Line ships compare to other cruise lines?

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a variety of ship sizes, from the largest in the Breakaway Plus Class to smaller ships, providing options for different preferences within the cruise industry.

Are there any new additions to the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in 2024?

Yes, Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced new ships, such as Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, as part of their continuous expansion and growth in the cruise industry.

What are some notable features of Norwegian Cruise Line ships?

Norwegian Cruise Line ships are known for their innovative design, onboard activities such as laser tag, go-cart tracks, escape rooms, entertainment options like Broadway shows at sea, and dining experiences, offering passengers a unique and enjoyable cruise experience.

How many Breakaway Plus-class ships are currently in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet?

There are four Breakaway Plus-class ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, each offering distinct amenities and experiences for passengers.

What are some other cruise lines under Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings?

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also includes Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, offering various cruise experiences across its brands.

What sets Norwegian Cruise Line apart in the cruise industry?

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its various ship sizes, innovative features, and unique amenities, catering to a diverse range of preferences within the cruise industry.

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25 Night Repo - Panama Canal (Tpa/Wqf)

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered freestyle cruising with a variety of specialty dining restaurants, entertainment and onboard activities, including go-kart racing!

Experience the overwhelming sight of the Panama Canal and its surrounding attractions for your next cruise.

Whether it’s a trip to the historical streets of Ybor, a day in the Florida Aquarium or a nice Cuban-infused meal, your time in Tampa will make you consider a longer stay.

• Norwegian Jade - Passenger Capacity: 2,402 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2006 Last Refurbished: 2022

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Cruise Line

Cruise Ship

Norwegian Jade

Departing From

Tampa, Florida

Destination

Panama Canal

Ports of Call

Tampa, Florida , Cartagena, Colombia , Colon, Panama , Panama Canal, Panama , Puntarenas, Costa Rica , Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala , Acapulco, Mexico , Cabo San Lucas, Mexico , Los Angeles, California , San Francisco, California , Astoria, Oregon , Ketchikan, Alaska , Juneau, Alaska , Skagway, Alaska , Hubbard Glacier, Alaska , Whittier, Alaska

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Norwegian: FREE Pre-paid Gratuities*

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Norwegian Cruise Line: 70% OFF Guest 2 and FREE...

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Norwegian Cruise Line: up to $50 Onboard Credit*

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25 Night Repo - Panama Canal (Tpa/Wqf) sailing on the Norwegian Jade

Departure dates: apr 2025 - apr 2025.

From $2,049

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Sailing Map

*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Cruise fare rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government Taxes, Port Expenses & Fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

L ooking for a cruise where you can do what you want, whenever you want, without a lot of structure and rules? Norwegian Cruise Line could be your brand.

The Miami-based cruise line pioneered the idea of "freestyle cruising" — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — and it's still the go-to line for vacationers who want a floating resort experience with a casual, laissez-faire vibe.

Instead of a few big main restaurants with fixed seating times, Norwegian ships offer a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times — just make a reservation. When it's time for dinner, if you want to dress up, fine. There's no rule saying you must, though.

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

Norwegian vessels also offer lots of options for daytime fun but are particularly well known for evening entertainment. You'll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions.

Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, you'd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas.

Just to be clear, Norwegian is a big-ship line . Its largest vessels are among the biggest cruise ships at sea (they must be, to accommodate everything mentioned above). If you want an intimate cruise experience, Norwegian probably isn't a good choice.

That said, the line does offer some smaller ships that aren't quite as big and bustling as its giants.

Norwegian is also a mass-market brand, not a luxury cruise operator. Still, as we'll explain below, it offers a wide range of accommodations, some of which fall squarely in the luxury segment. In some cases, its ships have an exclusive area full of high-end cabins and suites called The Haven that comes with its own private pools, lounge areas and even restaurants.

In short, if you want to turn a Norwegian cruise into a luxury experience , you can do that, too. Norwegian really is the line where you make the trip what you want it to be.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you?

3 things TPG loves about Norwegian Cruise Line

• The do-what-you-want freestyle vibe
• The wide range of restaurants, bars and nightspots
• The stellar entertainment

What we could do without

• The sky-high extra charges

The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet

Norwegian is the world's fourth-largest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 19 ships that together offer 56,780 berths.

Smaller only than Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises , the brand has become increasingly known for having some of the biggest, most amenity-filled vessels at sea. The line doesn't just operate giant ships, though. More than half of its fleet is comprised of vessels that, by today's standards, are considered almost midsize.

Indeed, Norwegian is essentially two cruise lines in one. The line's nine newest ships are big, bustling floating megaresorts that can carry upwards of 3,000 to 4,000 passengers at double occupancy (and even more with every berth filled). At around 143,000 to nearly 170,000 tons, all eight currently rank among the 50 biggest cruise ships in the world (although their rankings will shift downward as more big ships debut).

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

However, Norwegian's 10 older ships are much more modest in size, measuring around 75,000 to 94,000 tons and carrying closer to 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Norwegian thus appeals both to cruisers who like a giant resort vibe and those who prefer something more modest. The key, depending on your tastes, is getting on the right ship in the fleet.

On the big-ship end of the spectrum, Norwegian's four relatively new Breakaway Plus-class vessels — Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape — are the line's premier offerings. While not quite as big as Royal Caribbean's giant, Oasis-class ships , they are firmly in the pantheon of the world's cruising giants. They are the Norwegian vessels most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions.

Unveiled in 2019, Norwegian Encore is, notably, the 23rd biggest cruise ship in the world as of this story's publishing (it will drop in the rankings over the coming years as additional megaships debut). At 169,116 tons, it's bigger than all but three Carnival ships. Only Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have significantly more bigger vessels.

One step down in size from the Breakaway Plus ships are the still-quite-large Breakaway-class ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — as well as the one-of-a-kind Norwegian Epic and the recently unveiled Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva .

Around 17% smaller than Norwegian's biggest vessels, Prima and Viva are the first tow of six sister ships that the line will roll out between now and 2027 that will significantly change the composition of its fleet. While not the biggest vessels in the Norwegian fleet, these ships will be notably packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and decktop attractions. They also mark a more upscale turn for the line, with more space per passenger than earlier Norwegian ships and lots of suites.

Related: I've been on nearly every Norwegian ship. Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian's 10 smaller vessels break down among five classes, but many are roughly the same size and offer similar amenities.

One notable outlier among the smaller ships is the 2,186-passenger Pride of America. Sporting a patriotic U.S. theme (you'll find venues named after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams), and a distinct array of lounges and entertainment, it's the only big cruise vessel based year-round in Hawaii.

Pride of America notably operates with a mostly U.S. crew, in keeping with regulations governing cruise itineraries that only include U.S. ports.

Related: Our take on the new Norwegian Encore

Destinations and itineraries

Norwegian sails almost everywhere in the world, but its heaviest presence is in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

In a typical summer, the line will deploy nearly half its ships to Europe while sending several more to the West Coast to sail to Alaska from Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska. It'll also operate trips to Bermuda from New York City and Boston, usually with two ships, and trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Miami.

During the winter, the line will move many of its vessels to North America to operate sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas. It also sends a few ships to Asia, Australia and South America, and it'll typically keep a single vessel in Europe, too.

As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round. It's the only cruise line to offer year-round voyages in Hawaii.

In North America, Norwegian ships sail out of Baltimore; Boston; Galveston, Texas; New York City; Miami; Tampa; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Seattle; Honolulu; Vancouver, British Columbia; Quebec City; and Seward, Alaska.

In Europe, Norwegian ships sail out of Amsterdam; Stockholm; Copenhagen; Oslo and Tromso, Norway; Southampton and Portsmouth, England; Le Havre, France; Reykjavik; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Trieste, Italy (near Venice); Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Istanbul.

Related: The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler

Who sails Norwegian Cruise Line?

Norwegian appeals to vacationers who want a big-resort experience at sea with lots of options for dining and entertainment. In that, it's similar to Royal Caribbean — perhaps its closest competitor.

However, unlike Royal Caribbean, Norwegian hasn't retained any of the trappings of old-style cruising. There are no formal nights, as you'll still find on Royal Caribbean ships, or dress codes. Norwegian has also thoroughly done away with the concept of big main restaurants with fixed seating.

Because of that, Norwegian is popular with people who are seeking flexibility — freedom to eat when they want, with whom they want and to dress however they want, for sure, but also more freedom in general to just set their own schedule day and night.

Norwegian cruises are very unstructured vacations, and that's by design.

Like Royal Caribbean ships, Norwegian vessels have an inordinate amount of teen- and tween-friendly attractions — everything from some of the largest waterslides at sea to the only go-kart tracks on the ocean . That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. Families are a big part of Norwegian's business.

It's not just families that flock to Norwegian, though. The line's ships are designed to offer a little something for everyone, and thus they appeal to a wide demographic, including couples of all ages and even solo travelers (the line has been a leader in adding solo cabins to ships in recent years). They also draw customers with a wide range of incomes.

At their core, Norwegian ships are mass-market ships, with entry-level cabins that are affordable to middle-class travelers. However, overlaid across most vessels are high-end suites and services that are at a luxury level, and the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers.

The exclusive, keycard-accessed suite complex called The Haven (found on 13 of Norwegian's 19 ships) comes with private lounges, pools and other tony features. It's essentially a small, luxury vessel that has been planted atop otherwise middle-class, mass-market megaships. These complexes appeal to well-heeled travelers who want a luxury cruising experience while also getting all the fun attractions, entertainment and dining venues only a mass-market megaship can offer.

Cabins and suites

Norwegian is known for offering a wide range of accommodations on its ships. You'll find everything from relatively low-cost, windowless inside cabins that measure as little as 135 square feet (perfect for the budget traveler) to massive, multi-room suites that are more than 50 times that size.

At the high end, the accommodations are aimed at affluent travelers who, for whatever reason, prefer the megaship experience to that of a luxury ship, and they truly are among the most spectacular accommodations at sea.

Some, such as the giant Garden Villas found on six Norwegian ships — Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star — sprawl over thousands of square feet and have as many as three bedrooms plus separate living rooms and dining rooms.

The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms.

Depending on the ship, top suites can come with perks such as private butlers and concierges who attend to your every need, access to a private restaurant, a private suite lounge and sun deck, reserved seating in entertainment venues and priority boarding and disembarkation.

On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of The Haven. Billed as an upscale "ship within a ship" and aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven is located at the very top of vessels and often comes with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and even restaurants.

Norwegian is also heralded for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships . In 2010, it debuted an entire zone of small studio cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, and it has since added them to seven more new ships.

The studio cabins are tiny at just 100 square feet. However, they're superbly designed to maximize storage space. On the ships that have them, they are clustered around an exclusive Studio Lounge where solo travelers can mingle at daily happy hour gatherings.

Related: What it takes to get concierge lounge access on a cruise ship

Restaurants and dining

Norwegian was an early pioneer of the idea of giving cruisers lots of choices when it comes to restaurants on ships, and even its smallest vessels offer a wide range of options.

On Norwegian's recently built Breakaway Plus-class ships, there are up to 20 places to grab a bite, ranging from high-end French restaurants and steakhouses to casual pubs.

Every vessel has two or three main restaurants and a casual buffet where meals are included in the fare — the latter is usually called the Garden Cafe.

Other included-in-the-fare venues found on some ships include O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, a casual pub; an outdoor bar and grill called Topsiders; and casual Asian restaurants that go by many names including Shanghai's Noodle Bar, Ginza and Bamboo.

Also, every ship has a least four and often many more extra-charge eateries. Two found across the entire fleet are Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, and Le Bistro, a fine French restaurant. Every ship also has an Italian restaurant, called Onda by Scarpetta or La Cucina. There also are churrascaria restaurants called Moderno on most Norwegian vessels.

On some ships, you'll also find Ocean Blue, a seafood restaurant; The District Brew House, a gastropub serving craft beers; and a Mexican spot called either Los Lobos or Los Lobos Cantina. Every vessel has some sort of sushi restaurant, often called Sushi or Wasabi, and there are hibachi-style teppanyaki restaurants on nearly every Norwegian vessel.

You might even find Starbucks stores on some ships (the one-year-old Norwegian Prima has two!) and there are Starbucks products on every Norwegian vessel. Also, some ships have private restaurants just for passengers staying in The Haven.

Some of the extra-charge restaurants come with a flat fee (the teppanyaki outlets are $59 per person, not including the cost of drinks). However, most are a la carte, with sometimes hefty pricing. One thing you need to know upfront about going on a Norwegian cruise is that there are a lot of extra charges — and sometimes quite high extra charges — on the line's ships, particularly for things like restaurants.

A surf-and-turf dish at Ocean Blue that combines an 8-ounce filet mignon with a lobster tail costs $55, for example. If you just order a whole lobster, you'll be out $49. The least expensive entree on the menu, a roasted cauliflower steak, is $22.

If you know you want to eat at several extra-charge restaurants during a single voyage, you can buy one of several dining packages that offer meals at a discount.

Related: The 7 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Few lines offer as broad a range of entertainment and activities on their ships as Norwegian. The line's biggest vessels offer multiple entertainment venues, from theaters to comedy clubs; a wide range of deck-top attractions; large casinos; full-service spas; and even virtual reality attractions. You'll also find a seemingly endless array of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Theaters and shows

Entertainment is one of the core areas where Norwegian excels, and if you're the kind of person who loves nights out with live music and lively performances on your vacations, you're going to love the line.

Many of Norwegian's biggest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as big as those you'd find on Broadway, with big-name productions to match. Norwegian Bliss, for instance, has the Tony Award-winning "Jersey Boys."

In some cases, the Broadway shows are cut down slightly from the original versions, and the casts aren't quite as seasoned as what you'll find on Broadway. However, these are quality productions. The best part is they are entirely free. Compare that with the hundreds of dollars you'd spend to take your family to a show in New York City.

Norwegian ships also are jam-packed with music venues. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Epic, for instance, have the Cavern Club, a reproduction of the British club that gave rise to the Beatles. It comes complete with a cover band that plays the group's greatest hits.

There are also Howl at the Moon dueling piano bars on some Norwegian ships, and there's the lively Q Texas Smokehouse found on Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy (a music-and-food concept that pairs live music with barbecue).

In addition, several Norwegian ships offer dinner theater venues with circus-type productions, and one vessel, Norwegian Getaway, features a magic-infused dinner theater show in a steampunk-inspired space called The Illusionarium.

Several ships also offer comedy club entertainment.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Norwegian ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night.

All but one Norwegian ship (Pride of America) has a casino, and on the line's bigger vessels, they are huge operations. The casino on Norwegian Encore has more than 300 slot machines and 26 table games (including blackjack, roulette, poker and craps), plus its own bar.

On the line's big Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class ships, the casino — along with a large proportion of all onboard restaurants, bars and clubs — sprawls across three central decks connected by an atrium-like space known as 678 Ocean Place (the name derives from the location of the decks, which on each ship are decks 6, 7 and 8). At night, these three-deck complexes become bustling places.

The Breakaway- and Breakaway Plus-class ships have innovative outdoor promenades called The Waterfront lined with seating for many restaurants and bars. The Waterfront is located on Deck 8 of each of the ships, which is one of the main decks for restaurants on them all.

Like the ships of the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes, the Prima Class ships have a lively zone that mixes casino space, bars, eateries and entertainment that sprawls across decks 6, 7 and 8. These vessels also have outdoor eating space in an area called Ocean Boulevard.

In addition, Norwegian two new Prima Class ships (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva), as well as another relatively new Norwegian vessels — Norwegian Encore — have innovative gaming and virtual reality zones called Galaxy Pavilion (a fourth Galaxy Pavilion area on Norwegian Joy is being removed during an overhaul in dry dock scheduled for early 2024).

There's nothing quite like Galaxy Pavilion in the cruise world. The venue has an amazing array of high-tech virtual reality experiences, including incredibly realistic race car simulators (on Norwegian Encore, there are eight in a row along one wall), hang gliding simulators, virtual mazes and a virtual reality "Jurassic Park" ride.

The Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Encore is the biggest of them all. Among added features, it includes a 45-minute escape room experience laced with special effects. Themed around a Spanish galleon, it's designed to be played by up to six people at a time.

Just be warned that you'll pay a hefty fee to play in the Galaxy Pavilion. A weeklong pass to the venue will set you back $199 per person. There also are hourlong passes available for $29 per person, or you can sample a single ride for $8 (except for the escape room, which is priced separately at $15 per person).

There's also a bowling alley on Norwegian Epic and duck pin bowling lanes on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway.

Norwegian ships also all have Mandara Spas, which can be quite big on the bigger vessels, and there are fitness centers on every ship.

Deck-top attractions

What you'll find on the top decks of Norwegian ships will vary quite a bit depending on the vessel. The line's smaller ships will have at least one or two pools, sunning areas and usually a sports court area — but not all that much else.

The big ships are a different story.

On the line's Breakaway-, Breakaway Plus- and Epic-class ships, you'll find giant waterslides and kiddie splash zones and, in some cases, even more over-the-top attractions such as go-kart tracks and laser tag arenas.

The go-kart tracks (now on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy) are quickly becoming Norwegian's signature can-you-believe-this-is-on-a-ship attraction, and they truly are impressive. The biggest two of them, on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks.

Note that this is some serious go-karting. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour. Three of the speedways, on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Encore, also feature middle-of-the-track observation areas where your family and friends can cheer you on to victory — and even shoot you with "lasers" that'll give you a boost of power.

The open-air laser tag arenas also are significant venues that are unlike anything you'll find atop the ships of other lines. The one on Norwegian Encore, which is the largest laser tag arena ever put on a ship, is themed around the lost city of Atlantis and spans the back of the vessel.

As is the case with the Galaxy Pavilion attractions mentioned above, the go-kart and laser tag experiences on Norwegian ships don't come cheap. You'll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap romp on the go-karts. Joining a five-minute laser shootout costs $10 per person. In both cases, you can buy a weeklong pass for $199.

The top decks of a few Norwegian ships — mostly the bigger ones — also have a ropes course, a climbing wall or both. Some vessels also have miniature golf courses.

You'll find an exclusive, extra-charge, adults-only VIP sunning area on seven Norwegian ships called Vibe Beach Club. The biggest of these areas is on Norwegian Encore, where Vibe Beach Club is an expansive private lounge with a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs designed to hold up to 270 people — far more than on other ships.

For those with money to burn (pricing on Norwegian Encore recently was $99 per person for a day pass), the Vibe Beach Clubs are lovely, secluded deck-top hideaways. However, there's a downside for everyone else on board the ships that have them, which is that they take away from the deck-top lounge space available to everybody else.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's programs

As is typical for big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian has an extensive children's program, with programs and activities for children as young as 6 months through the age of 17.

The heart of the program, called Splash Academy, brings free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 12. The line splits children here up into three age groups: Turtles (ages 3 to 5), Seals (ages 6 to 9) and Dolphins (ages 10 to 12), and they each have their own age-appropriate activities ranging from treasure hunts to video game competitions. On many ships, there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.

While the free programming ends at 10:30 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Splash Academy past 10:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., when it's billed as the Late Night Fun Zone.

Norwegian also has rooms on its ships for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. Called Guppies, the program offers parents a place to play with their youngest children, with occasional youth staff-led activities and games.

Norwegian also offers dedicated teen zones and programming on ships for children ages 13 to 17. Called Entourage, the teen zone is a place for teens to hang out, dance and play games, and it's supervised by counselors who plan activities and challenges.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all cruises leaving from a non-U.S. port and all Panama Canal sailings (regardless of departure port). If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for most sailings from U.S. ports (including sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera and Alaska).

Instead, you can travel with a state-certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months after your trip, and the name on your reservation must be exactly as it's printed on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Norwegian adds an automatic service charge of $20 to $25 per person, per day, to final bills, depending on your cabin category. Depending on the service you receive, you can adjust the amount up or down at the guest services desk before disembarking. In addition, a 20% gratuity is added to the bill at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

Norwegian has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in recent years, so you can now stream video on ships.

Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Norwegian vessels recently was priced at $39.99 per person per day, if you bought it in advance. Norwegian also offers a less expensive plan that doesn't allow video streaming for $29.99 per person per day if purchased in advance.

This pricing is quite a bit higher than what some other lines, such as Carnival or Princess, charge for Wi-Fi. Princess recently was charging just $14.99 per person per day for a WiFi package.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Norwegian allows you to bring bottles of your own wine or Champagne on board, but it will charge you a hefty corkage fee of $15 per bottle for the privilege — even if you plan to drink the bottle in your room. This is a more draconian policy than you'll find at most lines. Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, cigar lounges (for cigar smoking only) and casinos. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be fined $250 per occurrence.

Unlike many cruise vessels, Norwegian ships do not have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks for passenger use. Instead, the line offers extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All cabins on Norwegian vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets and European-style, 220-volt outlets. Some cabins also have USB ports.

The currency used on all Norwegian itineraries is U.S. dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a cruise card you can use to make charges. This same card also lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

The official drinking age on Norwegian ships is 21. That said, passengers who are 18 to 20 can purchase and consume beer or wine on ships in international waters with permission from parents or legal guardians. The parent or legal guardian must be on board and sign a waiver at guest services. The lower drinking age in international waters does not apply during sailings in Alaska and Hawaii.

Norwegian Cruise Line may be the most laid-back line out there when it comes to dress codes. You can basically wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

The line specifically says that casual wear (think: khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts for men; casual dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans and tops for women) is just fine anytime during the day, at the buffet and in most specialty restaurants.

The line just recommends a step up to "smart casual" outfits in its more formal dining rooms and upscale specialty restaurants. In keeping with Norwegian's laid-backness, this might still mean nothing more than a crisper pair of jeans, or maybe slacks with a collared shirt, for men. Definitely no need for a jacket. For women, slacks, jeans, dresses, skirts and tops will do fine.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line loyalty program

Norwegian has a point-based frequent cruiser program, Latitudes Rewards, that has seven tiers, ranging from Bronze (requiring 1 point) to Ambassador (700 points).

Members earn points for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. They get an additional point for every night they stay in a concierge room, a suite (not including stays in minisuites, or stays in suites resulting from an upgrade) or a room in The Haven. They also get an additional point for every night booked through a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer.

Hitting the first tier, Bronze, takes one cruise. Reaching the second tier, Silver (20 points), would take at the most three cruises if you're doing seven-night trips.

Related: Everything you need to know about the Norwegian loyalty program

Lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll get things like priority check-in and discounted spa treatments performed while ships are in port. However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

Platinum (75 points) brings free dinners at two extra-charge restaurants, a discount on an internet package, behind-the-scenes ship tours and concierge service.

The top Ambassador level brings a truly wonderful perk: a one-time complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick almost any sailing except trips around Christmas and the new year.

In contrast to airline frequent-flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. But it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A passenger staying in suites and booking through Latitudes Rewards Insider Offers could get to the Platinum level with just four seven-night cruises.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Norwegian cruise cost?

Norwegian designs its ships to appeal to a broad mix of people, in part by offering a wide range of cabin types at varying price points. On a typical sailing, you might find an entry-level cabin for around $100 a night while a high-end suite is five to 15 times that amount.

At the time of this story's posting, A The Haven two-bedroom family villa on Norwegian Jewel for a seven-night Alaska cruise in August 2024, for example, was going for $13,978 per person, based on double occupancy. That's more than 13 times the cost of the least expensive inside cabin (which was starting at $1,058 per person, based on double occupancy). Oceanview cabins on the same sailing started at $1,698 per person, based on double occupancy.

Note the "based on double occupancy" caveat in the above paragraph. As is typical for cruise lines, Norwegian charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer some cabins for solo travelers on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy.

In general, Norwegian's newer ships including Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and the Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class vessels will be more expensive than the line's older, smaller ships. However, there are many factors that go into pricing for any given cruise, including the popularity of the specific itinerary, the time of year when the cruise is taking place and changing demand trends.

As you might expect, pricing for all ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September and October.

The timing of when you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels, and many cruisers will tell you the best pricing for any given sailing often is available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance will also give you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Norwegian ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to ncl.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise (there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process — trust us) we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure Norwegian is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Norwegian's cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your purchase when paying for the cruise by using a card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit), or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

For big-ship lovers, Norwegian pretty much has it all. There's tons of great entertainment on Norwegian's vessels, plenty of venues for eating and drinking, and all sorts of deck-top diversions — at least on the line's newest ships. Throw in the brand's low starting prices, and it's an even more compelling package.

If we have a gripe with the line, it's about the "extra-charge creep" we've been seeing for attractions on Norwegian ships such as go-karts and laser tag in recent years, and the higher a la carte prices spreading across the line's onboard restaurants.

Then again, you get what you pay for, as the saying goes. If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of included-in-the-fare choices for dining and entertainment. If money is no object, you can follow a different "journey" through the ship, as Norwegian executives like to say, to a far more high-end vacation.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

• CruiseMapper

Norwegian Jade cabins and suites

Norwegian jade staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Norwegian Jade cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Norwegian Cruise Line en-suite amenities and services.

The Norwegian Jade cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

The Haven 3-Bedroom Garden Villa

Layout (floor plan), the haven deluxe owners suite, the haven owners suite, the haven 2-bedroom villa. family suite, the haven courtyard penthouse suite, penthouse suite, club balcony mini-suite.

In 2020, NCL recategorized fleetwide the Mini-Suite cabin category, renaming it to "Club Balcony Suite" and adding free perks. The change didn't affect the staterooms' deck locations or cabin numbers.

NCL's Club Balcony Suite's new (bonus) amenities include prebooking onboard dining and entertainment 125 days prior departure, room service (food-beverage delivery twice per cruise), free laundry service (1x bag) and pressing service (once per cruise), Welcome Aboard gift (1x bottle of sparkling wine).

On Norwegian Jade, the Club Balcony Suite category was introduced on November 20.

Balcony Cabin

Oceanview cabin, interior cabin, norwegian jade cabins review.

NCL Jade cabins for disabled passengers (wheelchair accessible rooms) are in the following categories (with deck location): Penthouse Suite (SF-deck 9), Mini-Suite (M1-deck 11), Balcony rooms (BB-deck 10, and BC-deck 9), Oceanview (OK-deck 8) and Interior/Inside cabins (IE-deck 4, I1-ID-decks 8, 10, 11).

Follows the review of Norwegian Jade staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services:

All Norwegian Jade cabins as amenities have sleeping area (bedside tables, 2 lower beds convertible to queen, plus additional/optional beds to accommodate more passengers), en-suite bathroom (WC, sink, shower stall, bath products, hairdryer), lounge/sitting area (wardrobe /ample closet space, vanity table, chair, flat TV, safe, refrigerator, direct-dial phone), individual air-conditioning.

All Suites and Balcony cabins feature floor-ceiling sliding doors opening to a private veranda with lounge furniture (1 round table with 2 chairs or sun loungers).

You can see all the furniture details on the NCL Jade cabin floor plans in the table above.

The list of bonus amenities / perks for Suite accommodations includes: butler service, priority services (check-in, debarkation, ports of call tendering, dining reservations, show-spa reservations), in-room dining (plus evening treats), special room service menu, private events special invitations, complimentary mini-bar, bottled water, luxury cotton robes, deluxe bedding (pillow-top mattresses, pillow menu, slippers, towels), walk-in closets, Cappuccino-Espresso coffee maker, complimentary specialty restaurant dining (breakfast, lunch), complimentary limo service (pier-airport).

NCL Jade’s The Haven cabins guests also enjoy exclusive access to The Haven Courtyard (private sun deck, pool and whirlpool /valet service, private fitness area).

The Haven Garden Villas have separate living and dining rooms, 3 bedrooms (1 with king bed, the other 2 have private bathrooms, rollaway beds, cribs), master bathroom (whirlpool bathtub, separate shower), media centre (with DVD/CD player).

The Haven Courtyard Penthouses have a master bedroom (queen bed), small bedroom (with private bathroom/shower), bathroom (whirlpool bathtub, shower), separate living-dining areas.

The Haven Owners Suite (aka Deluxe Owner Suite /deck 15 bow-ship location) has a bedroom (king bed), living and dining rooms (each with its own private balcony), bathroom (bathtub, shower), smaller bathroom (shower).

Balcony Family Suites (2 Bedroom Suites / aka Family Penthouses) have master bedroom (queen bed) and a smaller bedroom (private bathroom/shower), living room (dining area), bathroom (whirlpool bathtub, separate shower).

SE-SF Penthouse Suites have sitting-sleeping areas (queen bed), bathroom (bathtub, shower), minibars. Category SF-Penthouses are the aft-facing suites commonly known as “Romance Suites”. Category SE-Penthouse is for the forward-facing suites featuring large balconies with views of the ship’s bow. Veranda partitions are semi-private.

Mini Suites (Studio Suites) have 2 lower beds (convertible to queen), bathroom (bathtub, shower).

Balcony, Oceanview and Inside cabins have 2 lower beds (convertible), bathroom (shower).

Most categories Ocean-view cabins are with 1 Picture Window, except categories OF and OG (with Porthole Windows). Categories OK and OX are with fully or partially obstructed views (due to lifeboats).

IMPORTANT: Since May 2015, the Norwegian Cruise Line charges US$7,95 for room service dining. This is an extra service charge implemented fleetwide (including on the NCL Jade ship). Passengers exempted from the new (uncommon for the industry) room service fee are only the occupants of “The Haven” suites. Still, as an exception, all passengers can order (for free) their room-service morning coffee and Continental Breakfast. After implementing the new service charge, NCL upgraded the room service menu, adding more hot food items for Breakfast and a wider food & drinks selection (available for ordering 24 hours a day).

Norwegian Jade cabin and suite plans are property of Norwegian Cruise Line . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

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Norwegian Cruise Line to launch a nude cruise for 2025 – and these are the rules for passengers

The ‘big nude boat’ will take passengers around private islands and long-time tourist favourites such as the bahamas, article bookmarked.

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A specialist tour and travel company has partnered with Norwegian Cruise Line to launch a new nudist cruise to the Caribbean .

Bare Necessities, a nudist travel company that aims to “break down the barriers against social nudity and make clothing-optional vacationing a viable and acceptable option”, has teamed up with the well-known cruise operator to set up the 11-day trip, which leaves from Miami and takes in destinations including The Bahamas , St Lucia, Dominica and Puerto Rico.

The cruise, which will take place on Norwegian’s 295-foot 2,300-person capacity Norwegian Pearl , will set sail on 3 February 2025 and return on 14 February.

Prices start at $2,000 (£1,592) per person for a standard two-person cabin, rising to $33,155 (£26,400) for a three-person ‘garden villa’.

The trip is marketed as “an 11-Day adventure back to Bare-adise”, offering “a wide range of amenities to fit everyone’s style of bare cruising”. The Norwegian Pearl contains “loads of entertainment, lots of open deck space, and multiple dining options”, including 14 restaurants, 14 bars and “a large buffet area for nude outdoor dining”, in addition to a casino, spa and several “nightspots”.

“As always, it’s our pleasure to provide you with the luxury of deciding what NOT to wear”, reads a final message on the information page.

However, it isn’t an entirely clothing-free experience. Cruise rules require passengers to be clothed during the Captain’s reception and introduction, while docked in port, and at all times in the main and specialty dining rooms.

Other rules include putting a towel down before sitting “in the stateroom, pool deck, and buffet area”, as well as a ban on “being nude in front of other ships in port” and “fondling or inappropriate touching”. A message on the site urges passengers to “use common sense”, emphasising that proper cruise etiquette “is not any different from proper etiquette in any other social situation”.

In a statement to CNN , a Bare Necessities spokesperson said: “Our mission is to provide relaxing, entertaining and health-conscious vacation opportunities that offer non-threatening, natural environments where the appreciation, wonder and compatibility of nature and the unadorned human form can occur.”

The Independent has contacted Bare Necessities for comment.

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Norwegian Jade

• DESTINATIONS
• Panama Canal
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