Cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines

All cruises are great, I am sure all cruise-lovers agree with that. But not all cruise lines are the same.
I wouldn’t consider myself a massively experienced cruiser, having only been on 10 (although 99% of these were two-week cruises, so plenty of actual cruise hours logged!)
Everyone has their own favourite cruise line and cruising with Norwegian Cruise lines (NCL) is my number one choice, with MSC coming in a close second.

What’s different about cruising with Norwegian cruise lines?

So what’s different about NCL, compared to other cruise lines. In this post I will try to explain the ins and outs of cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines, to help you make the choice whether this is the cruise line for you.
Some of the items included in this post are general and apply to most cruse lines but hopefully it will provide a good basis of info for new cruisers.

Freestyle cruising

Freestyle Cruising – NCL pioneered the idea of more relaxed and laid back cruising. The main points of Freestyle Crusing are:

No set dining times – eat when you want, where you want and with whom you want. No allocated tables and no sharing with strangers (unless you really want to).

Formal dressing not compulsory (again unless you want to), feel free to dress in whatever you feel comfortable but if you want to dress up, go ahead, it’s all about Freestyle Cruising.
(Please note, some restaurants require gents to wear long trousers and closed in shoes and no bikinis/swimsuits uncovered in the dining rooms)

Another point of the Freestyle brand is the choice of ‘offers’ or ‘add-ons’ at the time of booking.
The NCL ‘Free at Sea’ offer, gives you an option to choose two ‘perks’ from a list.

Free at sea

Premium Beverage Package – with alcoholic and non-alcoholic branded drinks served in all bars, lounges and restaurants throughout your cruise.
Shore Excursion Package – shore excursion credit per stateroom per port of call. (Note, if you pre-book your excursions online prior to the cruise, you won’t receive the $50 credit until after the excursion when it will appear on your onboard account.)
Speciality Dining Package – dining opportunities in selected speciality restaurants (number based on length of cruise)
WiFi package (number of minutes based on length of cruise)
Family and Friends Offer – where guests three and four in the stateroom pay only the applicable tax for their cruise

If you book a higher category cruise including, concierge staterooms, suites or Haven Suites you will receive all five offers.

The Premium Beverage Package includes unlimited drinks, each up to a value of $15. There is an option to upgrade to Premium Plus which gives you access to top brand alcoholic beverages but in my opinion the Premium Package is perfectly adequate.

Dining options when cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Most NCL ships have a number of ‘free’ dining options which usually include:
Two main dining rooms – Similar menus which regularly rotate, one of the main dining rooms is usually slightly more formal with a dress-code.
Asian restaurant – Oriental cuisine
A pub-style restaurant/bar – Pub grub, usually open 24 hrs.
Garden Cafe/Great Outdoors – NCL’s famous buffet with indoor and outdoor seating, different sections open most of the day until 11pm. Some cruises will include themed nights at the buffet.
Food in all of the ‘free’ restaurants is excellent and the main dining rooms rotate the menus, allowing plenty of choice.
Room service (continental breakfast) is also included, with an option to pay $9.95 for in-room dining at other times of the day, with an extensive menu choice. The $9.95 is also applicable if you wish to have hot breakfast items.

You do not need to make reservations at the main dining rooms but be aware of peak times which will vary depending on the nationality of guests. Many North American guests will eat slightly earlier than European guests. Also the timing of the theatre shows can affect how busy restaurants are, as some people prefer to eat before the show.

Speciality dining

The speciality dining restaurants on NCL are excellent and the choice varies from ship to ship. Most ships will feature the following:
Le Bistro – A French themed restaurant with an exquisite menu.
Cagney’s – A steakhouse with a range of tender cuts of meat or seafood.
Moderno – A Brazilian Churrasceria, a meat-lovers delight.
Teppanyaki – Japanese style grilled meat, seafood and rice, with the talented private chefs the stars of the show at your table.

Some ships will feature one or more of the following speciality restaurants:
Margaritaville – Singer, Jimmy Buffetts famous, casual dining experience.
Los Lobos – Mexican food with signature ‘table’ prepared’ guacamole.
Pincho – A Spanish-style tapas bar
Food Republic – Contemporary dishes from around the world.

The Haven restaurant – For Haven guests only, a quiet intimate venue with delectable dishes.

Most ships will also include a sushi bar and bakery/coffee shop.

If you do not select the dining package you can still enjoy the experiences on a a-la-carte basis.

Reservations can be made for the speciality restaurants online before you cruise, don’t worry, these can usually be changed once you are onboard but be aware certain times can get booked up quickly.

Bars

Cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines is all about the party! NCL ships have a variety of bars and cool places to hang out, whether you want to enjoy fun and games, presentations, karaoke, dancing, piano music, comedy or Broadway-style shows. Not to mention the choice of outdoor pool bars, open during the day and in the evening. Here are a few to try:

Piano Bar or Martini/Champagne Bar – These go by different names on different ships but expect a chilled ambience and some great music.
Howl at the Moon – NCL’s signature duelling pianos, a couple of dollars on top of the piano will usually guarantee your choice of song, played in comedy unison by two talented pianists.
Atrium Bar – The home of game shows, movies and special indoor events.
Comedy Club – Does what it says on the tin! Lots of laughs and also home to the fantastic NCL house bands and singers.
Spice H2O – Adults only, outdoor bar on the larger ships and the perfect venue for night time themed events.
Pool Bar – Open day and night, cool off with a delicious cocktail and enjoy the fun and games hosted by the entertainment team.
Bimini Bar – An additional pool bar, not on all ships, but a smaller place to hang out and observe from a distance!
Casino Bar – Try your hand at the tables.
5’O clock somewhere – Attached to Margaritaville
Maltings – A smaller bar usually featuring live low-key music.
Michael Mondavi wine bar – Sophistication with a stunning wine choice.
Skyy® Vodka Ice Bar – A real chill-out experience!
Bliss Lounge – Home to late night parties and karaoke, dance the night away.
Sugarcane Mojito bar – A mind-blowingly delicious selection of flavoured Mojitos.
Vibe or Posh Beach club – An extra weekly fee is applicable to enjoy these exclusive adult-only bars. (Note on NCL Epic, Posh bar deck is included for Haven guests)
O’Sheehan’s or The Local – a Pub-style sports bar showing all types of sporting events on numerous screens.
The Haven lounge/bar – For Haven guests only, a sophisticated way to start your evening.
Theatre Bar – Enjoy a drink while you take in a fabulous show.

Keeping fit

Enjoy keeping fit when on a cruise? It’s easy when you’re cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines. All NCL ships have fitness centres with excellent equipment and facilities. Classes are often offered, some have an additional fee so ask about the weekly ‘class pass‘ which gives you access to unlimited classes.

Free classes include, fab abs, morning stretch and ‘walk a mile’ with your cruise team on the outdoor jogging track.

Fee paid classes include – Norwegian Fight Club – a boxercise style class, TRX suspension training, Yoga and Spin Classes.

The gym is free to use and open from early in the morning to late in the evening.

Relaxing in the spa

Aside from the endless party, cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines is also about relaxation and some pampering.

Mandara Spa is NCL’s luxurious spa facility, passes require an extra fee and can be limited so book early.
Enjoy the most relaxing experience at sea, with jacuzzi pools, ice rooms, saunas, steam rooms, ceramic heated beds looking straight out to sea.
An extensive massage and therapies menu is available (extra fee), look out for port day specials and other offers during the cruise.
The Mandara Spa also boasts a salon with a range of hair and body treatments available. (extra fee)

One tip when booking a therapy treatment – the staff make up a large part of their salary with commissions on sale of products so brace yourself for a bit of hard selling (not ideal after a relaxing treatment!)
I give you this tip as the person who always falls for the ‘sell’ and has a bathroom full of expensive (but really wonderful) Elemis beauty products collected from numerous NCL cruises!

Theme nights

Although Freestyle Cruising means no strict dress code, it’s worth pointing out that most cruises will have a number of theme nights.
The main ones are the ‘Norwegian’s Night Out‘, usually takes place on the second night and is billed as a ‘dress up or not’ night, this is your chance to meet with the senior officers and an opportunity to have a special photo taken with the ship’s captain. Most people usually make a special effort on this night, and photographers will be all round the ship, capturing you in your favourite outfits.
The other main theme night is the Glow/White Hot party, usually taking place towards the end of the cruise, it’s a high-energy event where everyone wears neon or white and parties into the early hours.
Many cruises will also include other lower-key themed nights such as, Country-Western, Disco, 80s or Latin nights.
The music around the ship usually reflects the theme and often the food in the buffet will be themed.

Freestyle daily

The Freestyle Daily newsletter, is delivered to your stateroom every night and gives you all the information on what is happening the next day.
This will include, entertainment, special events, weather forecast, important info such as time changes and on port days it will include, destination info, arrival time, ‘all aboard’ and departure time.
Toward the end of the cruise it will also include disembarkation info and what to do with your luggage on the final night.

Embarkation day

Embarkation day is my favourite day of the cruise! On some cruises you will be asked to choose (or you will sometimes be allocated) an embarkation time. To be honest these are fairly flexible.
Haven and Concierge guests, along with Platinum Lattitudes and above will not be allocated a time and can arrive as early or as late (don’t miss the ship!) as you wish.
NCL has been trialling a priority embarkation scheme which costs from $99 depending on length of cruise and includes:

• Priority Check-In and Boarding
• Tender Priority When Applicable (Off the Ship)
• Priority Debarkation (Homeport)
• Daily Complimentary Standard Room Service Breakfast
• $50 Spa Discount per person (Port Days Only)
• Complimentary Canapés (Second Day of Cruise)

E-docs and paperwork

Remember to print off your cruise ‘E-docs’ and baggage labels before you leave home (guests living in the US will sometimes be sent baggage tags in the mail).
If you are a non-US passenger, travelling on a Transatlantic cruise, you will also be required to show a hard copy of your ESTA visa waiver confirmation.
You will need your passport at check in and a credit card which will be swiped for your onboard account (this can also be done online prior to the cruise to save time).
(Please note on some cruises, US passengers do not require a passport, I am not going to get into this as it is a hotter topic on cruise forums than the topic of gratuities which you will read later… all I will say is check with your travel agent or with NCL direct)
At check in your photograph will be taken for security purposes and you will be issued with your cruise card.

Cruise card

The cruise card is used for everything from, attending a theatre show, getting on and off the ship at ports, accessing your room, onboard purchases, playing in the casino, turning the lights on in your room (newer ships) obtaining drinks and accessing most restaurants.
Don’t lose it, keep it with you at all times.
Many people prefer not to carry a bag or purse with them onboard so a lanyard is handy for keeping your cruise card handy,
I find the lanyards with the plastic pouch a bit of a faff, having to slide the card in and out, so I prefer to go to Guest Services and get a hole punched in the corner to hang it freely on the lanyard.
(Note that on some newer ships the cruise card has a special chip so this should not have a hole punched in it). Some newer ships will also issue a wrist band which does the same as the cruise card.

Explore your home from home

Embarkation day is your first opportunity to explore your ‘home from home’ for the next however many days.
Lunch will be available at the buffet and one of the main dining rooms and most of the bard will be open.
(Note in some ports sales tax on drinks may be applicable while in port)
The cruise staff will be milling around offering you a chance to book shows, speciality restaurants, purchase or upgrade drinks packages, purchase water packages and to give you a warm welcome onboard.
On the first day, the lines at Guest Services can be incredibly long and the same at the Internet Manager’s desk and Excursion Desk.
Your stateroom will usually be ready by 2pm and your luggage will be delivered any time from then until up to 8pm, so remember to have any important items in your carry-on bag.

Muster drill

The muster drill is the safety meeting which EVERY passenger has to attend, if you embark after the muster drill or for some reason miss it, you will be required to attend an individual one.
Some cruise lines require you to bring your lifejackets from your staterooms to the drill, NCL DO NOT, don’t be the one who stands out like a sore thumb proudly sporting your lifejacket!
Please be courteous to the staff during the meeting, turn off your phones and don’t chatter! The drill lasts less than half an hour.
Please note, elevators are usually shut off just before and during the drill, so arrive in good time if you can’t use the stairs.

Post pandemic an increasing number of cruise lines are using a video-muster system when you are obliged to watch the drill on your tv and then check in at your muster station. This is much easier and gives you more time to get ready for sailaway! In fact on my recent NCL cruise I had to watch the muster video before I could complete online check-in.

Let’s talk about tips

Tips or gratuities are always a hot topic on every cruise forum I have visited. Some people argue that they prefer to tip individual staff members and not be ‘forced’ to pay a set fee. At the time of writing this article, the daily per person fee is $15 for all staterooms up to mini-suite and $18 for concierge and Haven suites.
The other side of the argument is that the set fees are shared to all staff members including those you may never see, such as engineering staff, laundry staff, kitchen staff etc.
Personally I also tip certain staff members throughout the cruise, including stateroom steward, butler and certain bar tenders or waiters who I feel have made the cruise extra special.
I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that I am British and yes British people do tip, as do other Europeans, despite what many North Americans may think. OK, I got that off my chest!
A number of people I have cruised with have requested that the gratuities/service charge is removed from their account at the end of the cruise. NCL do allow this most of the time but I am personally on the fence on this.

The Haven

I couldn’t write an article about NCL without including a section on The Haven.
This luxurious product is known as a ‘ship within a ship’. Usually located toward the front of the ship, The Haven on the larger ships boasts a number of oppulent luxury suites, varying from ‘penthouses’ to three-bed ‘garden villas’ to deluxe ‘Owners Suites’.
The emphasis in The Haven is pure luxury. Each suite enjoys the services of a butler, who is on hand to fulfil your every need. A concierge is on hand to book dining times, make show reservations and escort you off the ship ahead of the crowds on port days.

Haven facilities

The Haven has its own pool and sundeck, spa area and small gym.
The fabulous Haven bar is the perfect place to start your evening with its dedicated bar manager who is guaranteed to remember your name and your favourite tipple, right from day one.
The Haven restaurant is a serene location where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner without have to leave this idyllic sanctuary.
Haven guests are first to board on embarkations day and of course have priority access to tender boats and priority disembarkation.
The Haven cocktail party is a chance to dress up and mingle with the ship’s officers at the Haven bar.

Haven suites

The suites themselves are opulently styled, with sumptuous fabrics, Bulgari bathroom products, daily delivery of canapés and snacks of your choice, quality coffee machine, sun loungers on the spacious terrace and fluffy bathrobes and slippers.
Some suites have floor to ceiling windows in the bathroom where you can shower or bathe with the ocean as your view. (Note, you may not want to do this on a port day!)
On some ships, the spa suites boast an indoor jacuzzi tub with window to the ocean, while the garden suites enjoy their own private upper-level sundeck with hot tub.
Some deluxe owners suites have the luxury of a grand piano, so get your lessons in before you sail.
So, how much does this all cost? Price vary depending on ship and itinerary but for a ballpark idea, the lead-in price on a Haven suite is usually around double the price of the top-price balcony suite.
Is it worth it? Hell yeah it is. They say once you go Haven, there’s no going back and unfortunately for my bank balance we got hooked the first time! This is certainly my favourite way of cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Bidding process

On many sailings with NCL, as it gets closer to the departure date, if certain categories still have availability, NCL offers clients a chance to ‘bid’ for an upgrade. You will usually receive an email inviting you to bid, if you don’t receive one, keep an eye on your ‘My NCL’ account online and it will also show there.
You will be given an idea of the lower bid amount and a slide-wheel to gauge whether your bid is good or not so good. It is entirely up to you how much or how little you are prepared to bid and there is no hard and fast rule on what a successful bid may be. Much of it depends on what category you are bidding for. (Please not you are usually only offered an opportunity to bid with two categories higher than what you originally booked. So if you booked an inside cabin, it is unlikely you will offered to bid on a Haven suite.)

Also note, you can not bid for a specific cabin or location, so if you are somewhat OCD and, like me, spend hours deciding where you want to be located, this may not be a good idea for you.
If your bid is successful you will be charged immediately and automatically have your cabin changed and there is no going back. Good luck!

Overall vibe on NCL

NCL cruises tend to have a more informal and ‘fun’ vibe, with upbeat entertainment with less emphasis on ‘lectures, talks and presentations’ that you get with more traditional lines such as Cunard.
The larger ships have endless attractions including climbing walls, water slides, karting tracks and laser games. The smaller, older NCL ships tend not to have these attractions.
NCL passengers come from all walks of life and are of many different nationalities but there is very much a North American or Caribbean feel, even when cruising NCL in Europe. This applies also to entertainment and dining.

Guests with special requirements

Cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines is for everyone and NCL is renowned for looking after guests with special requirements. Most of the ships allow full access to all areas for wheelchair and scooter users, with designated tables in all restaurants and the buffet with extra space around them.
In the theatre there are also designated areas for guests with mobility restrictions.
All NCL ships have ‘accessible staterooms’ in most categories which offer plenty of space for wheelchairs, scooters and other equipment and the friendly crew are always on hand to assist.

Users of CPAP machines will be provided with distilled water onboard which should be requested prior to sailing and oxygen bottles/concentrators are permitted onboard.

Guest with special dietary needs, such as gluten-free are well provided for, again it is a good idea to mention this prior to embarkation day.

Assistance dogs are also welcomed on NCL ships and I have frequently sailed with a variety of cute dogs wearing their special notification jackets.

Over to you

So, there you have it, if you have never cruised NCL before hopefully this will give you an insight of what to expect and you can now decide if cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines is for you.
Now all you have to do is pick a ship, choose and itinerary and start cruising like a Norwegian!

All prices correct at time of publication June 2020

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