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Norwegian Cruise Line

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

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

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

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

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

Pros & Cons

No fixed dress codes

Wide variety of onboard restaurants, entertainment and activities

Some ships offer stateroom options designed for solo travelers

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

Some onboard activities are not included in cruise rates

Meals at specialty restaurants cost extra

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

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

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

Explore Photos

Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

Norwegian Joy

Norwegian Jewel

Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Sky

Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Sun

Norwegian Spirit

Norwegian Viva

Pride of America

Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Star

Norwegian Epic

Before You Book

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

Before You Board

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

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

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Norwegian Cruise Line: The Complete Guide

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Table of Contents

About Norwegian Cruise Line sailings

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

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

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

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

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

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

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

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

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

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

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

Antarctica.

New Zealand.

Pacific Islands.

Panama Canal.

South America.

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

» Learn more: The pros and cons of cruises

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

Time of year.

Trip duration.

Destination.

Ship class.

Cabin type.

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

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

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

(Image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

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

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

What is the newest NCL ship?

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

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

On any NCL cruise, these benefits are always included:

Accommodations in the category you select at booking.

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

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

Fitness center access.

Shows and entertainment.

Pools and kids pool play area.

Onboard activities.

Government fees and port taxes.

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

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

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

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

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

Full Broadway theater productions.

Onboard internet cafe.

Bowling alley at sea.

Ice bar at sea.

Studio accommodations for solo travelers, with a private lounge.

Sustainability-focused onboard bar with zero waste.

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

Race track at sea.

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

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

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

Latitude Rewards levels

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

How to earn Latitudes Rewards points

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

How to redeem points

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

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

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

3x points on NCL sailings.

2x points on eligible airfare and hotel purchases.

1x point on everything else.

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

How to redeem WorldPoints

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

Stateroom upgrades.

Travel discounts.

Last-minute cruises.

Onboard credits.

Car rentals.

Hotel stays.

Gift cards.

» Learn more: The best cruise lines

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

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

There are several drink package options on NCL sailings:

Non-alcoholic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Top photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

How to maximize your rewards

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Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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

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

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

Norwegian Cruise Line Fleet

Norwegian cruise line ship fleet information. Cruisedeckplans.com shows the different classes of ships in the Norwegian fleet. On this page you can also compare features and dining options for each Norwegian ship. You will find daily service charge information, number of cabins, and gross tons for each ship. You can CLICK ON any ship to go to the ship page for that ship. Check out our unique stateroom capacity trend chart showing the changes in the size of the Norwegian cruise line ship fleet over the past few years. Check out our Master Ship List . You can filter and sort by cruise line or ship.

CLICK on a ship below to go to the ship decks and cabins page. Norwegian Cruise Line has 20 ships in the fleet. You can filter the Norwegian fleet by ship class using the box below. Typically Norwegian Cruise Line will build or buy several ships sharing similar features. They define the different types of ships as classes. Ships of the same class may be almost identical to each other.

Norwegian Aqua

CLASS: Prima Plus Tons 156k Built 2025 Cabins 1760

Norwegian Bliss

CLASS: Breakaway-Plus Tons 168k Built 2018 Cabins 2043

Norwegian Breakaway

CLASS: Breakaway Tons 147k Built 2013 Cabins 2008

Norwegian Dawn

CLASS: Dawn Tons 92k Built 2002 Cabins 1170

Norwegian Encore

CLASS: Breakaway-Plus Tons 168k Built 2019 Cabins 2043

Norwegian Epic

CLASS: Epic Tons 156k Built 2010 Cabins 2114

Norwegian Escape

CLASS: Breakaway-Plus Tons 165k Built 2015 Cabins 2174

Norwegian Gem

CLASS: Jewel Tons 94k Built 2007 Cabins 1197

Norwegian Getaway

CLASS: Breakaway Tons 146k Built 2014 Cabins 2008

Norwegian Jade

CLASS: Jewel Tons 94k Built 2006 Cabins 1201

Norwegian Jewel

CLASS: Jewel Tons 94k Built 2005 Cabins 1196

Norwegian Joy

CLASS: Breakaway-Plus Tons 165k Built 2017 Cabins 1926

Norwegian Pearl

CLASS: Jewel Tons 94k Built 2006 Cabins 1197

Norwegian Prima

CLASS: Prima Tons 143k Built 2022 Cabins 1646

Norwegian Sky

CLASS: Sun Tons 77k Built 1999 Cabins 1002

Norwegian Spirit

CLASS: Leo Tons 75k Built 1998 Cabins 1022

Norwegian Star

CLASS: Dawn Tons 92k Built 2001 Cabins 1172

Norwegian Sun

CLASS: Sun Tons 78k Built 2000 Cabins 968

Norwegian Viva

CLASS: Prima Tons 143k Built 2023 Cabins 1646

Pride of America

CLASS: America Tons 81k Built 2005 Cabins 1094

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Freestyle Cruising is all about flexibility and freedom. Freedom from stress. Freedom from schedules. Freedom to create your own vacation. On an NCL cruise, you can eat where you want, when you want, with whom you want. And with up to 13 different restaurants and dining rooms on board, you can certainly eat whatever you want. You can also dress the way you want and, at the end of your cruise, get off the ship whenever and however work best for you.

SELLING POINTS: Norwegian Cruise Line is a leader in offering a different cruise experience. Each ship is loaded with many dining options (some at additional cost) that give the cruiser a choice. You won't get bored on a Norwegian ship. The day and night is filled with activities. You will find bowling, rock climbing, water slides, rope courses, pools on many of the ships. You will find live music venues throughout the ship. Norwegian Cruise Line also offers one of the best Suite programs at sea. For those who can afford it, you will find Suite only pools, dining, and lounge areas. If you like crowds, lots of activities, shows, games, and dining then Norwegian Cruise Line is a great choice.

Stateroom Capacity Trend Chart

Watch growth and decline rates. Rapid growth may lead to quality and service issues.

The following is a listing of some of the features that Norwegian Cruise Line offers.

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

Norwegian Encore review: A guide to Norwegian Cruise Line's newest Breakaway Plus-class ship

Have you ever been to a Starbucks where every single customer belted out the lyrics to "Sweet Caroline" in unison, mid-latte? I have. Even more interestingly, it was on a cruise — Norwegian Encore, to be exact — where the ship's atrium singalong shenanigans spilled over into the nearby onboard coffee outpost.

That's just one example of how boisterous my voyage was. If you're looking for an enjoyable big-ship experience on your next sailing, the good news is that Norwegian Encore, one of Norwegian Cruise Line's Breakaway Plus-class ships , delivers fun in the form of adrenaline-pumping top-deck activities, state-of-the-art gaming, Broadway-caliber theater performances and plenty of social activities.

The bad news is that you'll pay extra for a lot of it. (Thankfully, the singalongs are free.)

If you're wondering whether you'd enjoy a sailing on Norwegian Encore or one of Norwegian 's other similar ships, keep reading. I'll share a rundown of what it was like to experience the vessel's cabins, restaurants, shore excursions, entertainment and more.

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

Overview of Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Encore can offer something for everyone due to its large size and impressive array of amenities. The ship can carry 4,544 passengers, and among them you'll find couples, friend groups and families.

The 169,116-ton mass-market vessel is generally bustling. It's great for joiners, offering games like bingo and Deal or No Deal, dance classes, parties and more, but it also has quiet spaces like a library and card room, a spa with a thermal suite and the Vibe Beach Club, which is for adults only.

Of particular note is 678 Ocean Place, a three-story promenade that rises from Deck 6 to Deck 8 and serves as the ship's central hub. There, you'll find several bars, lounges and shops, as well as the casino and the ship's comedy club, art gallery, photography studio and, not far away, the atrium, where the guest services desk is located.

Another shoutout-worthy space is the Galaxy Pavilion, a giant indoor space on Deck 17 that's packed with the latest virtual-reality experiences and video games, as well as a 4D cinema and an escape room . On the two outer decks directly above it, passengers will find laser tag and Speedway, the ship's go-kart track. All of those attractions cost extra.

What I loved about Norwegian Encore

Choir of man.

Although Norwegian has phased out many of its Broadway shows, it does still offer a couple of Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, including "Choir of Man," a West End favorite about a group of Irish men who converge at a local pub to feel less alone when dealing with life's obstacles. Audience interaction includes bringing some attendees up on stage for drinks, as well as singing and dancing in the aisles. It's free, but you'll need to make reservations if you don't want to miss out. It was offered a couple of times on our voyage.

Food Republic

My meal at Food Republic was easily the best extra-fee meal I had on my sailing. The venue features street food from various countries but leans heavily Asian. I was surprised to find plenty of open tables when I showed up for my reservation but assumed it was due to the restaurant's out-of-the-way location on Deck 8 forward and the fact that its description on the cruise line's app is vague.

If you have a dining package, save one of your meals for this place; if you don't, it's worth the splurge. Trust me: You won't be disappointed.

The live music

I don't normally seek out live music, but I found myself unexpectedly enjoying performances throughout the ship. Standouts were the daytime performers in The Atrium, who played Green Day, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, Incubus and other bands that took me straight back to my high school playlists. During my dinner at Q, the ship's barbecue restaurant, a band inexplicably played an entire set of ABBA tunes while we ate. It was an odd choice of genre for that venue, but it was fantastic nonetheless. Everyone was on their feet dancing by the end of the meal.

The escape room

Although it costs $15 per person, Norwegian Encore's escape room experience, "Bamboozled," is a terrific way to spend an hour of your day, especially at sea. Sign up in advance at the front desk in the Galaxy Pavilion on Deck 17 aft, and you'll be placed into a room where you'll have 45 minutes to complete a series of puzzles to save a sunken ship from its watery grave. (You will be grouped with other passengers if your party isn't large enough to fill the room.)

Note that the experience begins with a quick virtual-reality primer that gives you the backstory. If you're prone to motion sickness, opt out of that part. You can still listen to the story without the VR headset.

Tip: There are only six sets of VR goggles, so reservations are usually capped at six people per time slot. However, the room can hold up to 10 players. If you're having trouble making reservations, tell the person working the desk that you're happy to skip the VR part if they can squeeze you in.

What I didn't love about Norwegian Encore

The extra fees.

Make no mistake: Norwegian Cruise Line's ships are fun, with lots to see, do, eat and drink. But you're going to pay to access most of the best offerings, and at $20 per person, per day, for standard cabins, NCL's daily gratuities (which are automatically added to each person's onboard bill) are the highest in the industry.

So many things cost extra on Norwegian Encore, from top-deck laser tag and go-kart racing to the games at Galaxy Pavilion, as well as bottled water and coffee (even if you have the drink package that's included in most fares). The added fees could quickly amount to a lot of money — especially if you're traveling with kids.

Activity-related quirks

During my sailing, I saw a few things that made little sense. On the first night, my travel companion and I checked out the Levity Comedy show in the main theater. It was decent, but when we went to the Social Comedy Club a couple nights later to see the same two comedians perform, only one had new material to share.

Other activities were held in odd locations. For example, singalongs and gameshows like "Deal or No Deal" were held in the atrium. Although it's a central location, the space felt too small to accommodate everyone who wanted to join in or watch. Crowds often ballooned out to the sides, making it awkward for people just passing through.

The one experience that took the cake for the most absurd onboard rule was the water park. If you want to ride the water slides , you can't wear bathing suits with metal or plastic details. That includes women's suits with adjustable straps and men's trunks with metal eyelets or plastic ends to the drawstrings.

The latter prevented most people from riding, which was a shame. The crew member stationed at the ride's entrance asked men to pull down their waistbands so he could look for the plastic. Riders whose suits had it were banned, even if it was on the inside and covered by external material. Several people returned in their underwear, which seemed inappropriate.

The ship's Alaska particulars

Of the Norwegian ships sailing Alaska voyages , Norwegian Encore has one of the least desirable (and, therefore, most affordable) schedules, both in terms of when it arrives in port and where it docks.

My seven-day cruise traveled round trip from Seattle and visited Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan in Alaska and Victoria in Canada's British Columbia with a scenic Glacier Bay sea day thrown in. The ports themselves are great and absolutely on many cruisers' bucket lists. However, the scheduled arrival times and some of the related logistics had me scratching my head.

We didn't dock in Juneau until after 2 p.m., which meant anyone hoping to schedule a full day of salmon fishing — a popular excursion in Alaska — was out of luck. In Ketchikan, the ship docked seven miles outside of town, so because we didn't book an excursion, we spent 40 minutes on shuttle buses to get to the main area and back. We also waited 55 minutes in line to catch the return shuttle, so cumulatively, travel from and back to the ship wasted more than 90 minutes of the mere five hours we had in port. (The wait for the return was so bad that enterprising locals offered to drive passengers to the ship in their personal vehicles for $20 a person.)

Our call on Victoria — a technical requirement to satisfy the United States' Passenger Vessel Services Act — was only three hours, from 8 to 11 p.m., when most things in the city were already closed.

The port valet service

Ships that sail from Seattle can offer a port-facilitated luggage valet service to passengers flying home after they leave the ship. It allows cruisers with flights to leave their bags outside their cabin doors the night before disembarkation and pick them up again in their final destinations after their flights. The service costs nothing, but passengers must pay the associated checked bag fees levied by their airlines.

My companion — who receives free checked bags with his airline, thanks to a co-branded credit card — decided to try the service. On disembarkation morning, he noticed a $35 checked bag charge on his onboard bill, despite noting on the required paperwork that his bags should be free. (There's a section on the form to mention that and explain why, which he did.)

When he asked guest services to remove the charge, he was told he'd have to take it up with the port. He eventually got his money back, but it wasn't without several phone calls and emails that negated any convenience the service was supposed to provide.

Norwegian Encore cabins and suites

Norwegian Cruise Line offers an array of cabin types , ranging in size from 99-square-foot studios for one person to insides, outsides, balconies and 1,459-square-foot Owners Suites in The Haven — the line's exclusive suite enclave, which offers access to a private dining room, pool, sun deck, concierge service and more.

The ship also has a total of 43 wheelchair-accessible cabins across several categories, including inside, outside, balcony, suite and The Haven. Accessible rooms feature shower stools and toilet seat risers in the bathrooms, as well as extra square footage and wider doorways.

My room was a 214-square-foot standard balcony cabin with a 38-square-foot balcony. It was comfortable and elegantly appointed, and the only gripes I have are related to storage.

Although our specific cabin was designed to accommodate up to three people, we had trouble fitting all our clothes in the closet and drawers with just two of us. The bathroom had ample storage, but the shelving wasn't deep, forcing us to take everything out of our toiletry bags to store it there. The closet was also in a strange location next to the bed, and due to the sliding-door setup, only one side could be accessed at a time.

In addition to a queen-size bed that can convert into two twins, our room was outfitted with two nightstands and reading lamps, each with a USB port for charging; a sleeper sofa with drawer storage; a desk/vanity area with a mirror, three 110-volt North American-style outlets and one European 220-volt outlet, drawers and shelves and a minibar stocked with for-fee water in glass bottles and cartons; and a small block stool with a built-in removable lap tray for working or dining.

A wall-mounted TV offered NCL-produced programming, such as ship positioning, port information and shopping talks. It also offered for-fee on-demand movies, a small selection of live TV channels and interactive functions that allowed me to check my onboard bill.

The oddly placed closet, which ran the length of the wall on one side of the bed, offered two sides for storage — one with a bar to hang clothes and another with shelving for shoes, hats or items you'd like to fold. It also contained a code-operated safe for small valuables.

The hangers were the wooden kind that don't have hooks at the top — the ones with metal rods that lock into permanent mounting hardware so people can't steal them. I find that they always make hanging anything more cumbersome. The closet didn't have enough hangers for all our clothing, so I asked my cabin steward for a few extras. He brought me the cheap plastic kind, which left bumps in the shoulders of my shirts.

The bathroom offered a single sink with several narrow shelves, a toilet and a plexiglass shower with a removable showerhead. My cabin type also came with bathrobes and upgraded toiletries, which included Bulgari shampoo, conditioner, hand cream and aftershave balm, as well as L'Occitane bar soap. A hair dryer was available via a mount under the main cabin vanity, next to the block stool.

The balcony was tiny but sufficient for excellent sea views. It was furnished with a small drinks table and two chairs with adjustable backs.

Norwegian Encore restaurants and bars

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for pioneering "anytime dining" on cruise ships — eating whenever you want, wherever you want, with whomever you want. Passengers are not assigned set dining times, and you can eat in any of Norwegian Encore's main dining rooms or extra-fee restaurants by making a reservation or showing up when you're hungry. Other meal options include a complimentary buffet and 24-hour room service that comes with a delivery fee.

If you expect to dine at several added-fee alternative restaurants during your cruise, purchasing a dining package might save you some money. Norwegian's packages include a set number of meals at any of the extra-fee restaurants. The best tactic is to save your prepaid meals for the most expensive restaurants (Cagney's Steakhouse, Food Republic and Teppanyaki). All restaurants are priced a la carte if you don't have a dining package, except Teppanyaki (which has a $59 per person cover charge).

The line also has drink packages that are a good value if you consume a lot of soda or alcohol. A basic beverage package comes with most cruise fares but does not include specialty coffees or bottled water. (You'll need to upgrade for an additional fee for those to be included.)

Norwegian Encore restaurants

Free restaurants

Taste, Savor and The Manhattan Room are Norwegian Encore's three main dining rooms. The first two — located directly across from one another on Deck 6 — are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Manhattan, on Deck 7, is open for dinner only. Menus are the same across all three.

I was impressed with the food quality in the main dining rooms. The menus had a nice variety, and the food arrived freshly prepared and generally tasty with just the right amount of seasoning. For breakfast, I had a delicious omelet, hashbrowns and bacon. For lunch, my picks included a caprese salad and Baja fish tacos. For dinner, I enjoyed crab and cream cheese wontons, bruschetta and a veggie burrito.

Another gratis option is The Local Bar & Grill, a sports bar-style eatery that's open 24 hours a day and features pub grub like chicken wings, fish 'n' chips, Cobb salad, pasta carbonara, chili, BLTs, burgers and fries. It also serves amazing breakfast sandwiches in the mornings.

The Local is often crowded because it's free and the choice for anyone who wants a waiter-served meal not in one of the fancy dining rooms. It's also located just above the stage and screen area in the main atrium, so it draws crowds wanting to sit and watch what's happening below.

Other places for free fare include the Garden Cafe buffet, which has so many different cuisine stations it will make your head spin — in a good way. They include everything from cereal, pancakes and made-to-order omelets at breakfast to burgers, cold cuts, cheeses, Indian food and salads at lunch and carving stations and pasta at dinner. Fruit, soft-serve ice cream and other desserts are readily available, too.

A smaller buffet can be found in the Observation Lounge, which offers light bites throughout the day.

Free for and accessible only to passengers booked in Norwegian Encore's The Haven suite enclave, The Haven Restaurant is a serene escape from the usual bustle of restaurants elsewhere on board. I dined there one night, and the food quality was superior to the ship's other available dining options. The crabcakes and lobster tail were phenomenal, and the intimate setting and elevated decor gave the space an upscale ambience.

For-fee restaurants

While I was impressed with Norwegian Encore's included restaurants, I found the extra-fee venues to be less consistent. For example, I absolutely loved street food restaurant Food Republic but was underwhelmed by the Los Lobos Mexican eatery — and I adore Mexican food.

Let's start at the top. Food Republic, hidden away on Deck 8 forward, was my favorite alternative dining option on Norwegian Encore. A light and airy space, it offers a selection of street food from Korea, Mexico, China, Germany, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru and Japan. You might even find some Italian and Hawaiian influences. Absolutely do not miss the edamame, pork belly bao buns and chicken teriyaki.

If you have a dining package, you can select four items per person. You can pay per item if you'd like extra. Alcohol options include sake by the bottle or glass and a small selection of cider and beer. The Food Republic cocktail menu has only five drinks, but it was difficult to choose among them. I went with the Thai rum tonic and wasn't disappointed.

American Diner is an open-air eatery on Deck 17, near Galaxy Pavilion and up one flight of stairs from the Ocean Loops waterslide entrance. It was chilly on our Alaska sailing, but heat lamps kept us warm. I absolutely love the decor, which features a black-and-white checkered floor, booths that look like old Chevy cars and tabletops covered in a license plate print.

I ordered a burger with fries and a milkshake when I ate there for lunch, and it was the perfect bit of comfort food to hold me over until dinner. Although the American Diner's fare was tasty, you can order similar items (minus the milkshake) for no fee at The Local. Your dining package will cover a meal at American Diner, but milkshakes still cost extra.

Q Texas Smokehouse embraces all things barbecue. If the smell isn't enough to draw you in, let yourself be carried by the wonderful live music that accompanies the experience each night. For dinner, I started with tortilla soup and fried green tomatoes before moving on to pulled pork with cornbread, pickles, potato salad and coleslaw. It was just OK — not the best barbecue I've had, but also not the worst.

Los Lobos was my least favorite of the extra-fee venues I tried. I was extra sad because Mexican food is one of my favorite cuisines. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh guacamole, which our waiter prepared tableside, but the tortilla chips were too salty. The fish tacos I ordered for my main course were unappetizingly wet and soggy, which caused the soft shells to completely disintegrate, necessitating the use of a fork. The service was also hit-or-miss, with our waiter often disappearing for long stretches.

Other added-fee options include a teppanyaki venue called, unoriginally, Teppanyaki; Italian restaurant Onda by Scarpetta; seafood eatery Ocean Blue; Cagney's Steakhouse; and Le Bistro if you're hankering for French cuisine.

Reservations are recommended at all extra-fee restaurants, and if you don't make them before you board, you could be out of luck. I waited until the evening of the first day of my sailing, and I ended up with some horrendously late dining times.

If you're looking for coffee, ice cream or a between-meal snack, added-cost options include a full Starbucks, found just off the atrium, across from the guest services desk on Deck 6; Coco's for chocolates, mini-cakes and ice cream, including sundaes (try one of the gargantuan milkshakes for a true splurge); The Bake Shop, which offers cupcakes, chocolates and macarons; and Dolce Gelato, which is attached to The Bake Shop and serves up a few flavors of gelato.

You can order room service 24/7, but note that there is a $7.95 delivery charge attached. Room service breakfast, including Continental selections, comes with a $4.95 delivery fee. Both fees are per order, so you'll pay $7.95 (or $4.95) whether you order one item or several.

Norwegian Encore bars

If you're in search of a drink, the best variety is on Deck 8, where passengers will find dedicated wine, whiskey and mojito bars in proximity to several alternative eateries and lounges that are worth discovering.

The Cellars Wine Bar, which has a menu of more than 300 wines, is attached to Italian restaurant Onda by Scarpetta, making it easy for waiters to serve your favorite vintage with your pasta. Tastings are offered for a fee.

Across the hall, Maltings Whiskey Bar, which has a rich ambience and an impressive selection of whiskeys, is flanked by The Humidor Cigar Lounge, where passengers can smoke stogies while sipping cognac, and The Cavern Club, where you can order a cocktail while listening to live performances by a Beatles tribute band.

Two of my favorites, also found on Deck 8, are the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and The District Brew House. Sugarcane has an entire menu of interesting takes on the popular minty drink. My favorite was the Coco Mojito, which is a mix of coconut rum, simple syrup, mint bitters and coconut water. (An outdoor area offers eco-friendly drinks like the Pineapple Surplus and the Sustainable Spritz, which are made partially from kitchen leftovers like fruit peels and juices.)

The District Brew House — which is tucked away at the front of the ship, across from Food Republic — has two dozen beers on tap, as well as dozens more bottled choices. They include standards like Stella Artois, Heineken and Angry Orchard; local selections like Alaskan Amber and Alaskan Husky; and even NCL's own brew, 66 by Norwegian. (The line also has branded 66 spirits, found at select onboard bars.)

Other standard bars include the Atrium Bar, which is central to the ship's social hub; the Skyline Bar, which serves the Encore Casino; Mixx Bar, located between the Taste and Savor main dining rooms; and the A-List Bar, which is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink when you're dining at either Cagney's or Los Lobos.

Norwegian Encore entertainment

Entertainment on Norwegian Encore is well above average for a mainstream cruise line. In addition to an astounding number of daily activities like game shows, trivia and art classes, passengers can enjoy top-deck fun that ranges from laser tag to waterslides.

Evening shows include Broadway-caliber musicals, comedians, magicians and more. Here's a roundup of what you shouldn't miss.

Norwegian Encore activities

Although there are lots of activities on the daily schedule, complimentary stand-outs for me were trivia, balloon-twisting sessions, fruit- and vegetable-carving demonstrations and enrichment lectures about Alaska, including live narration from a National Park ranger on the day we sailed through Glacier Bay. There were also plenty of pay-to-play options, such as bingo and art classes.

Atrium activities like movie screenings (when the weather is too chilly for films to be shown on the outdoor screen), daily sudoku puzzles, singalongs and "Deal or No Deal" are also popular.

Water babies will enjoy the ship's two pools (Deck 16) and four hot tubs (Deck 17). Neither of the pools was too crowded on my Alaska sailing — even on sea days — due to the cooler temperatures, which hovered between the high 60s and low 70s. The ship offers accessible lifts for onboard pools but not hot tubs.

A water park area on decks 16 and 17 features four waterslides (two of which are for kids and are part of a children's splash area). The two larger slides have height requirements — 48 inches for Ocean Loops (which has ridiculous bathing suit requirements and weight minimums so riders don't get stuck on the uphill portion) and 40 inches for the Aqua Racer.

Two bars — Waves Bar and Surf Bar — serve the pool area.

The Haven also has its own private pool with a retractable roof and hot tub. There are also two hot tubs on the exclusive area's sun deck.

If you want an elevated experience without The Haven's price tag, pay for a spa thermal suite pass or a pass to the two-deck adults-only Vibe Beach Club sun deck. The former features its own hot tub and large thalassotherapy pool, as well as a variety of aromatherapy, salt and steam rooms, plus a sauna. Vibe is home to tons of loungers, a couple clamshells, a bar and two hot tubs. (You won't find a pool there, though.)

For those who are looking to work up a sweat while they're outside, there's a jogging track on Deck 17. For inside fitness options, visit the Pulse Fitness Center on Deck 16 aft. It's equipped with free weights, kettlebells, medicine balls, foam rollers, weight machines and cardio machines (ellipticals, rowers, treadmills, etc.). Instructors offers classes like TRX, spin and high-intensity interval training for a fee.

If a day of pampering is more your speed, treatments are available at the Mandara Spa, near the fitness center. You can book massages, facials and a slew of other treatments at prices that are higher than what you'd find on land. Separate salon and barber shop facilities are also available for haircuts, shaves, manicures, pedicures and other extra-cost services.

For the kids, check out the pay-to-play video arcade, just off of The Local. They'll also love the Galaxy Pavilion, which offers an impressive array of virtual-reality rides and video games, all for a fee. It's also where you'll find the aforementioned escape room, which is a fantastic way to spend an hour problem solving with your family (or testing the limits of your friend group's patience).

For a fun outdoor experience, try a game of laser tag, or pretend to unleash your inner speed demon on the Encore Speedway. (I say "pretend to unleash" because the go-karts' maximum speed isn't very fast. It's still fun to say you tried it, though.) Both of these cost extra, and you have to sign up in advance.

After a busy day of activities or exploring ashore, cruisers will find that the ship comes alive at night, too — especially for anyone who loves dancing — with activities like '50s and '60s sock hops, silent discos and even a glow party (formerly the White Hot Party but now with glow sticks). Some of the best onboard entertainment venues for night owls include the Social Comedy & Night Club, where you'll find comedic performances and themed parties, and The Cavern Club, which hosts an excellent Beatles tribute band.

Other onboard hangouts include the Studio Lounge, which is exclusive to travelers booked in the ship's solo accommodations and the Observation Lounge, where passengers gather to watch as the ship sails into Glacier Bay, complete with drinks, nibbles and National Park guide narration.

The atrium is where games are held, indoor movies are screened and passengers can find guest services, desks for restaurant and shore excursion reservations, the future cruise desk and the internet cafe. There's also an art gallery, photo studio, meeting rooms and a dual card room and library, where passengers can borrow books and board games.

The onboard shops, which are clustered on Deck 8, sell everything from snacks, toiletries and logo apparel to designer purses and duty-free jewelry, cigarettes and alcohol.

The medical center is located on Deck 13.

Norwegian Encore shows

Choir of Man is easily the main event in the Encore Theater on Norwegian Encore. Even if you're not a fan of musicals, I can almost guarantee you'll like what you see, which includes everything from singing, dancing and jokes to plenty of references to beer — perhaps with some free drinks thrown in if you're chosen for audience participation.

The show involves a group of Irishmen who gather at their local pub to reminisce and share their tribulations in the hopes of feeling better. The show is offered two nights on each weeklong cruise, with two times scheduled each night. You will definitely need reservations; make them early.

Comedy shows are offered several times throughout each voyage. At least one performance will be in the main theater, while the rest are held in The Social Comedy & Night Club on Deck 7. Of the two comedians I saw, one was impressive without being vulgar, which I appreciated, while the other was just so-so in terms of laugh factor. He also had no new material for his subsequent performances.

I couldn't attend the "Women of Soul" show, which featured singer Siobhan Walsh singing hits by Whitney Houston. It was offered one night of my voyage with an early and a late show scheduled, with a 3:30 p.m. matinee on a different day.

The other major theater performance consisted of magician Neil Croswell, who put on a show that felt similar to what NCL used to do during dinner theater performances in The Illusionarium on Norwegian Getaway — lots of table floating and some other "meh" tricks I had seen done before.

If needed, sign language interpreters are available at no additional charge when requested at least 90 days in advance.

Norwegian Encore itineraries and pricing

Norwegian Encore spends April through October homeporting in Seattle and conducting Alaska sailings before repositioning through the Panama Canal and taking up residence in Miami to offer Caribbean voyages during the winter and early spring months.

For the vessel's 2024 Alaska season, prices at the time of publication start from $111 per person, per night for a similar weekly itinerary.

Panama Canal repositioning sailings begin at $43 per person, per night, for an inside cabin on a 21-night voyage from Seattle to Miami in the fall of 2023.

The ship's seven-night Eastern Caribbean offerings round-trip from Miami will set you back $96 per person, per night, in the beginning of 2024.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen traveling on most sailings (including those to Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera) departing from and returning to U.S. home ports, you can board Norwegian Encore with your original birth certificate and a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license. Otherwise, a passport can be used. If you're sailing from a port outside of your country of citizenship, you must have a passport with at least six months' validity from the time your sailing ends.

Norwegian Encore levies automatic surcharges of $20 to $25 per person , per day, to final bills, depending on your cabin category. Based on the level of service received, cruisers can adjust the amount at the front desk before the final morning of the sailing. In addition, a 20% gratuity is added to extra-fee restaurant, bar and spa purchases.

Many NCL fares include basic ship Wi-Fi . However, passengers who don't have it included — or those who have the basic plan included but want to upgrade — can pay to connect. Prices vary, but they're generally pretty expensive, ranging from about $30 to $35 per person, per day, depending on whether or not you need streaming capabilities. The cost is slightly cheaper if you purchase in advance instead of waiting until you board.

Carry-on drinks policy

You can bring your own bottles of wine on Norwegian Encore, but you'll be charged a per-bottle fee of $15 to do so, regardless of where you plan to consume them.

Smoking policy

Passengers are only allowed to smoke — including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars — in designated areas on Norwegian Encore. Those areas include the casino, Humidor Cigar Lounge (cigars only) and a portion of the pool deck on Deck 16, starboard.

Norwegian Encore does not have self-service laundry facilities . Passengers wishing to have garments laundered or pressed can send them out to be cleaned or dry-cleaned for a fee. On my sailing, prices ranged from $1.95 to launder one undergarment to $19.95 to dry-clean (and press) a suit or evening gown.

When items are sent out by 9 a.m., they are guaranteed back by 6 p.m. the following day when using standard service. Same-day service is available for an additional 50% of the total cost.

Members of certain tiers of the line's Latitudes loyalty program receive free or discounted laundry services.

Electrical outlets

All cabins on Norwegian Encore are outfitted with a combination of North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets. In my cabin, there were three of the former and one of the latter located at the vanity. Reading lamps on either side of the bed each had one USB port.

The currency on Norwegian Encore is the U.S. dollar. ATMs are available for use on board, but there is a hefty surcharge to withdraw cash.

The ship operates on a cashless system where passengers use their room key cards to charge purchases to their onboard accounts.

Drinking age

The drinking age is 21. Cruisers between the ages of 18 and 20 can drink beer and wine in international waters with parental permission. Parents must be present on the sailing and sign a waiver.

Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the few cruise brands with no formal nights . The line pioneered "Freestyle" cruising, which means you can wear just about whatever you'd like whenever and wherever you'd like.

During the day, cruisers can often be found in T-shirts and shorts or jeans. For dinner, they might choose to put on khakis with collared shirts or sundresses, but generally most people keep it casual. Dressing up is strictly optional for those who enjoy cleaning up a bit.

Bottom line

Ultimately, Norwegian Encore offers a solid cruise product. The ship is large, so it's likely not the best choice if you enjoy smaller (or quieter) vessels. However, Encore's variety of activities appeals to travelers of all ages, making the ship ideal for multigenerational family groups. Just be aware that you'll likely incur a significant onboard bill if you want to try the latest and most adrenaline-pumping pursuits when you sail.

The ship's wide selection of both complimentary and for-fee cuisine is a boon to any group with picky eaters. Cabins are largely affordable, making a cruise on Norwegian Encore attainable for just about any budget, and the entertainment alone represents terrific value for the price paid.

Overall, you're likely to be pleased with a sailing on Norwegian Encore as long as you're prepared for some nickel-and-diming.

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• Banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships?
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
• What is the Jones Act, and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee, and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

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

Katie Seemann

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Basic Information

Departure ports, featured shore excursion, onboard activities, complimentary dining, specialty dining, bars and beverages, accommodations, latitudes rewards, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

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

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

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

Name: Norwegian Cruise Line

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

Number of Ships: 17

Destinations: 450+

Loyalty Program: Latitudes Rewards

Credit Card : Norwegian Cruise Line ® World Mastercard ®

Norwegian currently operates 17 cruise ships:

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

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

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

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

Private Ports/Islands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dining and Beverages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the highlights:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best norwegian cruise ship.

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

Where does Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to?

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

Is Norwegian Cruise Line all-inclusive?

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

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About Katie Seemann

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

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Your Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Information

Congratulations on your upcoming Norwegian Cruise Line cruise and thank you for selecting The Cruise Web! Here you will find important information to assist you in your preparations to your cruise vacations:

NOTICE : Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, vaccination requirements and regional travel restrictions are fast evolving, vary by cruise line, ship, destination and travel supplier, and are subject to change without notice. Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, itineraries, protocols and/or restrictions. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice.

Each traveler is responsible for ensuring their compliance with all passport, visa, vaccination and/or other entry/exit requirements and payment of any charges, fees, duties, taxes or assessments related to your travel.

To learn more about the latest travel requirements for Norwegian Cruise Line, CLICK HERE .

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We are available  7 days a week  to help with all of your cruise vacation planning , including with Future Cruise Credits .  CLICK HERE  to learn more about redeeming Future Cruise Credits , or call  1-800-377-9383 .

10% OFF SHORE EXCURSIONS!

See if you're eligible for our exclusive  10% SAVINGS  on shore excursions by calling  1-800-377-9383 .

Your Tickets:

Your E-tickets will be available online no later than 30 days prior to your sailing. Please pre-register online (please click the link below for online registration) and print out your Boarding Pass.

Pre-registration:

Due to increased security in ports worldwide, your embarkation will be much faster and easier if all of your pertinent information is already in the cruise line's check-in system. If you are pre-registering for multiple cabins, please note that each cabin needs a different username and password to pre-register. Please CLICK HERE to pre-register online .

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By booking with The Cruise Web, Passenger explicitly agrees to the terms of the Guest Ticket Contract ( https://www.ncl.com/fr/en/about-us/terms-conditions ). Please read all sections carefully as they affect the passenger's legal rights.

Identification, Passport & Visa Information:

Proof of citizenship and photo identification will be required for your vacation. A valid US passport and visa (for certain destinations only) may also be required for your travel . The United States Department of State has recently changed documentation requirements for travel outside of the United States, and continues to review these requirements. For example, when traveling to certain countries, your passport must be valid for several months beyond the date in which you expect to complete your travel and return home. Please visit the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov , for the official and most up to date documentation requirements, and also for instructions on how to renew or obtain a passport. You may also contact the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778.

NOTE : Effective May 3, 2023, travelers who elect to use a U.S. state-issued driver's license must ensure that it is   REAL ID-compliant , which should be indicated by the presence of a star located near the upper corner of the card.

Non-US citizens should check with their local consulate to determine the specific documents required for travel.

Shore Excursions:

Optional shore excursions are a great way to make the most of your cruise vacation, and we suggest booking yours with either The Cruise Web's third party excursion partner,  Shore Excursions Group , or directly with the cruise line.

Advantages of booking your excursions with Shore Excursions Group, our preferred partner, include up to 40% savings, a money-back guarantee, more tour options, guaranteed return to ship and 24/7 traveler support at 1-866-703-0606.

NOTE : Excursions booked through Shore Excursions Group are NOT operated by the cruise line, but rather are arranged by Shore Excursions Group.

Cruise Web Exclusive : SAVE 10% on Excursions. Call 1-800-377-9383 to see if you're eligible!

To browse shore excursions from Shore Excursions Group (The Cruise Web's 3rd party tour partner), please CLICK HERE .

To browse shore excursions directly with Norwegian Cruise Line, please CLICK HERE .

Either way, we recommend you book early for the best selection, as shore excursions and tours have limited capacity and fill up quickly!

Preferred Flights:

If your vacation package includes airfare, your airfare is subject to the carriers, dates, times, and routing selected by the cruise line or provider. You may also contact your Cruise Web cruise specialist to request Preferred Flights through Cruise Web's cruise line partners. Preferred Flights are strongly encouraged to accommodate your flight dates, times, routing, or airline choices. The cost of Preferred Flights is from $75 to $200 per person, depending on the cruise line, plus any difference in airfare.

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Travel insurance is available through our partner, Travel Guard Insurance. Please call your cruise consultant for pricing and full coverage details as soon as possible. Coverages may vary and not all coverage is available in all jurisdictions.  CLICK HERE for more information about travel protection offered through Travel Guard .

Travel Advisories and Vaccination Requirements:

For health advisories and vaccination requirements, visit the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov . For US State Department travel advisories, see www.travel.state.gov . To learn more about the latest travel requirements for Norwegian Cruise Line, CLICK HERE .

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Norwegian Cruise Line Celebrates Float Out of Newest Ship, Norwegian Aqua

N orwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, has reached a key construction milestone: It was floated out from its dry dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy today, touching water for the first time.

"We are excited to celebrate another milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are integral to the Prima Class journey and supporting us in evolving the amazing experience we design and deliver for our guests,” said David J. Herrera , president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Building upon the guest-favorite features of the award-winning vessels of this class, the 10 percent increase in space provides us with more flexibility to deliver more offerings and more beautifully designed venues for our guests to relax and explore on board Norwegian Aqua.”

The 3,571-passenger ship, which is scheduled to debut next April , will be the first in Norwegian’s larger Prima Plus Class of vessels. 

The 156,300-gross-ton ship will be 1,056 feet long and will feature a wide array of amenities, including the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, a digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor and a large 360-degree outdoor promenade. 

Guests will also be able to choose from several types of accommodations, including the line’s first three-bedroom suites.

“The Prima Class is a true evolution of the brand,” says Mark Kansley, senior vice president of hotel operations of Norwegian Cruise Line . “We hear from our guests following every cruise, and they appreciate the intimate nature and greater variety of elevated spaces throughout the ship for them to relax in or explore while on vacation. We are excited to soon deliver on this next chapter of our evolution—the Prima Plus Class—and bring our guests along on our journey.”

When finished, Norwegian Aqua will offer 7-day Caribbean cruises departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. Later in 2025, it will offer 5- and 7-day voyages to Bermuda departing from New York City. From October 2025 through April 2026, it will sail 5- and 7-day Eastern Caribbean voyages from Miami.

To celebrate the float out, crews welded two ceremonial coins onto the ship, which represent an offering to ancient gods and goddesses of the sea in exchange for good luck and safe passage. A local chaplain also said a blessing, and a bottle of Champagne was smashed across the hull.

“We are excited to mark this significant moment with Norwegian Cruise Line as we witness the float out of Norwegian Aqua, which represents a new chapter in our long-lasting partnership,” says Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division. “We are proud to be part of this transformative journey in which innovation, a cornerstone of our industrial plan, is one of our key points, as we strive to push boundaries and elevate industry standards."

'Bare-adise' adventure: This nude cruise is due to set sail from Miami in 2025

(CNN) —  What do you need to pack for a cruise? When it comes to this upcoming cruise from tour and travel company Bare Necessities, the answer appears to be very little.

The nudist cruise specialist is teaming up with Norwegian Cruise Line to launch an 11-day voyage from Miami to the Caribbean, scheduled to set sail onboard the 295-meter Norwegian Pearl in February 2025.

With destinations like The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten on the itinerary, “The Big Nude Boat”  promises a “once in a lifetime experience” for those who get on board.

'Once in a lifetime experience'

“As always, it’s our pleasure to provide you with the luxury of deciding what NOT to wear,” reads a message on the official website for Bare Necessities, which has previously chartered more than 75 full-ship nude cruises.

Cabin prices (based on double occupancy) start at around $2,000, rising to $33,155 for a three-bedroom villa. Norwegian Pearl has a passenger capacity of 2,300.

The ship’s specialty restaurants include “a large buffet area for nude outdoor dining,” while the range of amenities available onboard aim to “fit everyone’s style of bare cruising” according to the company.

However, “bare cruisers” shouldn’t expect an entirely clothes-free experience.

In fact, guests will be required to follow a number of rules, which include wearing clothes while inside the dining rooms onboard the ship, as well as ensuring that they put a towel down before sitting “in the stateroom, pool deck, and buffet area” when “bare bottomed or in a thong or G-string.”

Meanwhile, “fondling or inappropriate touching is prohibited,” along with “being nude in front of other ships in port.”

Bare Necessities has also banned lingerie, “fetish wear,” as well as taking photos or videos of other cruisers without their consent.

The “11-Day adventure back to Bare-adise” is scheduled to depart from Miami on February 3 and return on February 14.

“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,” say Bare Necessities.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Reports Strong First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Revenue up 20% year-over-year on strong demand

Company beat Q1 guidance across key metrics and raises full year guidance based on strong revenue

MIAMI, May 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (together with NCL Corporation Ltd., (“NCLC”), “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings”, “Norwegian”, “NCLH” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 and provided guidance for the second quarter and full year 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights:

• Generated total revenue of $2.2 billion, a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023 on 8% capacity growth, with GAAP net income of $17.4 million, or EPS of $0.04.
• Adjusted EBITDA nearly doubled over the prior year to $464.0 million, above guidance of $450 million. Achieved Adjusted EPS of $0.16, exceeding guidance of $0.12, compared to a loss of $(0.30) in the first quarter of 2023. Quarter performance was driven by strong revenue growth and continued focus on cost reductions and efficiencies. 1
• The Company’s ongoing margin enhancement initiative drove continued improvement in operating costs. Gross Cruise Costs per Capacity Day was approximately $300 for the quarter. Adjusted Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel per Capacity Day was approximately $165, or $164 in Constant Currency, in line with guidance, and flat year-over-year when the $5 Dry-dock impact is excluded.
• Occupancy was 104.6% for the quarter, in line with guidance, and total revenue per Passenger Cruise Day increased approximately 8%, compared to Q1 2023.
• Gross margin per Capacity Day was up 53% versus 2023 on an as reported and Constant Currency basis. Net Yield growth beat guidance increasing approximately 16.4%, or 16.2% versus 2023 on a Constant Currency basis.
• Total debt was $13.7 billion. Net Leverage declined a full turn from December 31, 2023, ending the quarter at 6.3x.

Recent Highlights

• Announced the most transformative newbuild program in the Company’s history—a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three award-winning brands—and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island destination in the Bahamas. 
• S&P Global Ratings (S&P) upgraded both NCLC’s issuer credit rating and issue-level ratings. NCLC’s issuer credit rating has been upgraded to B+, marking a notable improvement in the Company’s creditworthiness. In addition, S&P raised the issue-level ratings on NCLC’s existing secured and unsecured debt. The Company’s senior secured debt ratings were raised to BB/BB- and its unsecured debt rating was upgraded two notches to B.

___________________________

2024 Outlook

• Record bookings during the first quarter, drove a record booked position for the next twelve months.
• 2024 full year Net Yield guidance on a Constant Currency basis increased 100 basis points from the prior guidance to approximately 6.4% from 5.4%.
• 2024 full year Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased $50 million from the prior guidance to approximately $2.25 billion from $2.20 billion.
• Full year Adjusted Net Income guidance increased $45 million from prior guidance to $680 million from $635 million, and Adjusted EPS guidance increased $0.09 from prior guidance to $1.32 from $1.23.

“We kicked off 2024 with impressive momentum, with record bookings in the first quarter propelling us to continue our all-time high booked position and an unprecedented level of advance ticket sales. These achievements demonstrate the continued growing demand we are experiencing for our product and offerings,” remarked Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“Recently, we announced the most comprehensive newbuild program in our Company’s history- eight state-of-the-art vessels, each a new class for our three award-winning brands as well as the construction of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay. Later this month at our Investor Day, we will be unveiling our comprehensive multi-year strategic, operational and financial updates, which will underscore our focus on delivering experiences that our guests truly value. By enhancing our capacity and elevating our product to create the best, largest, and most efficient vessels in our fleet, we are honoring our 57-year history of innovation that has always driven our growth and continues to be at the forefront of what we do,” continued Sommer.

Business, Operations and Booking Environment Update

The Company continues to experience healthy consumer demand and thanks to a strong WAVE season, had record bookings during the first quarter leading to a continued record booked position for the next twelve months. Additionally, onboard revenue per Capacity Day remains robust, up 11% in the quarter compared to 2023, with broad-based strength across all revenue streams. The Company’s advance ticket sales balance, including the long-term portion, ended the first quarter of 2024 at an all-time record high of $3.8 billion, approximately 13% higher than the same period of 2023.

Occupancy was 104.6% for the first quarter of 2024, in line with guidance. Full year 2024 Occupancy is expected to average 105.1%, consistent with prior guidance. In addition, pricing growth in the first quarter was also strong with total revenue per Passenger Cruise Day up approximately 8%, with capacity growth of 8% compared to 2023. Gross margin per Capacity Day was approximately $102 in the quarter, up 53% versus 2023 on an as reported and Constant Currency basis. Net Yield growth was up approximately 16.4%, or 16.2% versus 2023 on a Constant Currency basis, above guidance.

The Company demonstrated continued progress on its ongoing margin enhancement initiative and efforts to maximize revenue opportunities and rightsize its cost base. Gross Cruise Costs per Capacity Day was approximately $300 in the first quarter, compared to $298 last year. Adjusted Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel per Capacity Day in the first quarter of 2024 was approximately $165, or $164 in Constant Currency, which included a $5 impact from increased Dry-dock days and related costs, in line with guidance and essentially flat year-over-year without the impact of these Dry-docks.

For the full year 2024, the Company increased its Net Yield guidance by 100 basis points from prior guidance to growth of approximately 6.4% from approximately 5.4% on a Constant Currency basis compared to 2023. The increase in guidance is driven by exceptional demand across all three brands which almost fully offsets the impact from the redeployed voyages related to the Middle East and Red Sea. Full year Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day guidance remained unchanged and is expected to be approximately $159, increasing approximately 3.4% in Constant Currency, which includes an approximate 300 basis point impact from Dry-dock days and related costs in the year. Excluding this impact, Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day would be essentially flat year-over-year. As a result, full year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased by $50 million to $2.25 billion from $2.20 billion and Adjusted EPS guidance was increased by $0.09 to approximately $1.32 from approximately $1.23.

Liquidity and Financial Position

The Company is committed to prioritizing efforts to optimize its balance sheet and reduce leverage. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had total debt of $13.7 billion and Net Debt of $13.2 billion and improved its Net Leverage by a full turn compared to December 31, 2023, ending the first quarter of 2024 with Net Leverage of 6.3x.

At quarter-end, liquidity was $2.4 billion. This consists of approximately $559.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, $1.2 billion of availability under our undrawn Revolving Loan Facility and a $650 million undrawn backstop commitment. In March 2024 we successfully refinanced our $650 million backstop commitment, replacing the secured commitment with an unsecured commitment. Additionally, as part of this refinancing, we repaid our $250 million 9.75% senior secured notes due 2028, our highest interest rate debt.

“We are pleased to report that we exceeded our guidance metrics for the first quarter of 2024. Thanks to robust consumer demand and continued success on our operational efficiency efforts, we are raising our 2024 full-year guidance for key metrics including Net Yield, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS,” said Mark A. Kempa, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Kempa continued, “the momentum we are experiencing allows us to make significant progress on our deleveraging efforts. During the first quarter of 2024 we reduced Net Leverage by a full turn from the end of 2023, ending the quarter at 6.3x. We plan to continue this trend and expect to reduce Net Leverage 1.5 turns during the year compared to 2023 year-end, marking an important milestone in improving our balance sheet.”

First Quarter 2024 Results

GAAP net income was $17.4 million or EPS of $0.04 compared to net loss of $(159.3) million or EPS of $(0.38) in the prior year. The Company reported Adjusted Net Income of $69.5 million or Adjusted EPS of $0.16 in the first quarter of 2024. This compares to Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EPS of $(127.7) million and $(0.30), respectively, in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter was approximately $464.0 million, better than guidance of $450 million, and almost doubled compared to 2023, driven primarily by solid revenue performance and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel that was essentially flat year-on-year excluding the impact of Dry-docks.

Gross Cruise Costs per Capacity Day was approximately $300 in the quarter. Adjusted Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel per Capacity Day was approximately $165, or $164 in Constant Currency, which includes $5 related to Dry-dock days, and would have been essentially flat year-over-year without these Dry-dock impacts, reflecting the benefits from the Company’s ongoing margin enhancement initiative.

The Company reported fuel expense of $198 million in the quarter. Fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges, decreased to $735 from $779 in 2023. Fuel consumption of 269,000 metric tons was slightly better than projections.

Interest expense, net was $218.2 million in 2024 compared to $171.3 million in 2023. The increase in interest expense reflects higher losses in 2024 from extinguishment of debt and debt modification costs, which were $29.0 million in 2024 compared to $2.4 million in 2023. Excluding these losses, the increase in interest expense was primarily a result of higher debt outstanding and higher rates.

Other income (expense), net was an income of $18.1 million in 2024 compared to an expense of $(9.0) million in 2023.

Outlook and Guidance

In addition to announcing the results for the first quarter 2024, the Company also provided guidance for the second quarter and full year 2024, along with accompanying sensitivities. The Company does not provide certain estimated future results on a GAAP basis because the Company is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future movement of foreign exchange rates or the future impact of certain gains and charges. These items are uncertain and will depend on several factors, including industry conditions, and could be material to the Company’s results computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company has not provided reconciliations between the Company’s 2024 guidance and the most directly comparable GAAP measures because it would be too difficult to prepare a reliable U.S. GAAP quantitative reconciliation without unreasonable effort.

The following reflects the foreign currency exchange rates the Company used in its second quarter and full year 2024 guidance.

The following reflects the Company’s expectations regarding fuel consumption and pricing, along with accompanying sensitivities.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had hedged approximately 55% and 22% of its total projected metric tons of fuel consumption for the remainder of 2024 and 2025, respectively. The following table provides amounts hedged and price per metric ton of heavy fuel oil (“HFO”) and marine gas oil (“MGO”).

Capital Expenditures

Non-newbuild capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2024 were $127 million. Anticipated non-newbuild capital expenditures for full year 2024 are expected to be approximately $575 million including approximately $140 million in the second quarter.

Newbuild-related capital expenditures, net of export credit financing, are expected to be approximately $0.3 billion, $0.6 billion and $0.9 billion for the full years ending December 31, 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively. Net newbuild-related capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2024 were approximately $60 million and are expected to be approximately $65 million for the second quarter of 2024.

Company Updates and Other Business Highlights:

Fleet and Brand Updates

• Oceania Cruises announced its 2026 Around the World voyage aboard Vista. Learn more here .
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises® announced its 2027 World Cruise will be hosted on board Seven Seas Splendor® for the first time. Learn more here .
• Oceania Cruises announced that celebrated Italian-American chef, author, restaurateur and Emmy award-winning food personality Giada De Laurentiis will be its new Brand and Culinary Ambassador. Learn more here .
• Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled all-new culinary experiences to debut aboard Norwegian Aqua, bringing three brand-new offerings: Sukhothai, NCL’s first-ever Thai restaurant, the new upscale Swirl Wine Bar, and Planterie, the brand’s first dedicated eatery offering a full plant-based menu. Learn more here .

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss first quarter results and provide a business update. A link to the live webcast along with a slide presentation can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.nclhltd.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 32 ships and approximately 66,500 berths, NCLH offers itineraries to approximately 700 destinations worldwide. NCLH expects to add 13 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add approximately 41,000 berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

Terminology

Adjusted EBITDA . EBITDA adjusted for other income (expense), net and other supplemental adjustments.

Adjusted EPS. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) divided by the number of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.

Adjusted Gross Margin. Gross margin adjusted for payroll and related, fuel, food, other and ship depreciation. Gross margin is calculated pursuant to GAAP as total revenue less total cruise operating expense and ship depreciation.

Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel . Net Cruise Cost less fuel expense adjusted for supplemental adjustments.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss).  Net income (loss), adjusted for the effect of dilutive securities and other supplemental adjustments.

Berths . Double occupancy capacity per cabin (single occupancy per studio cabin) even though many cabins can accommodate three or more passengers.

Capacity Days. Berths available for sale multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period for ships in service.

Constant Currency. A calculation whereby foreign currency-denominated revenues and expenses in a period are converted at the U.S. dollar exchange rate of a comparable period in order to eliminate the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations.

Dry-dock. A process whereby a ship is positioned in a large basin where all of the fresh/sea water is pumped out in order to carry out cleaning and repairs of those parts of a ship which are below the water line.

EBITDA. Earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

EPS. Diluted earnings (loss) per share.

GAAP. Generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

Gross Cruise Cost. The sum of total cruise operating expense and marketing, general and administrative expense.

Net Cruise Cost . Gross Cruise Cost less commissions, transportation and other expense and onboard and other expense.

Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel . Net Cruise Cost less fuel expense.

Net Debt . Long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents.

Net Leverage . Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA.

Net Per Diem. Adjusted Gross Margin divided by Passenger Cruise Days.

Net Yield. Adjusted Gross Margin per Capacity Day.

Occupancy, Occupancy Percentage or Load Factor. The ratio of Passenger Cruise Days to Capacity Days. A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

Passenger Cruise Days . The number of passengers carried for the period, multiplied by the number of days in their respective cruises.

Revolving Loan Facility . $1.2 billion senior secured revolving credit facility.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Yield, Net Cruise Cost, Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Leverage, Net Debt, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EPS, and Net Per Diem, to enable us to analyze our performance. See “Terminology” for the definitions of these and other non-GAAP financial measures. We utilize Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Yield, and Net Per Diem to manage our business on a day-to-day basis because they reflect revenue earned net of certain direct variable costs. We also utilize Net Cruise Cost and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel to manage our business on a day-to-day basis. In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income (loss), we believe changes in Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Yield, Net Cruise Cost and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel to be the most relevant indicators of our performance.

As our business includes the sourcing of passengers and deployment of vessels outside of the U.S., a portion of our revenue and expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, particularly British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro and Australian dollar which are subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates versus our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. In order to monitor results excluding these fluctuations, we calculate certain non-GAAP measures on a Constant Currency basis, whereby current period revenue and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates of the comparable period. We believe that presenting these non-GAAP measures on both a reported and Constant Currency basis is useful in providing a more comprehensive view of trends in our business.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate as a supplemental financial measure as it is used by management to assess operating performance. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure in determining our performance as it reflects certain operating drivers of our business, such as sales growth, operating costs, marketing, general and administrative expense and other operating income and expense. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure for our incentive compensation. Adjusted EBITDA is not a defined term under GAAP nor is it intended to be a measure of liquidity or cash flows from operations or a measure comparable to net income (loss), as it does not take into account certain requirements such as capital expenditures and related depreciation, principal and interest payments and tax payments and it includes other supplemental adjustments.

In addition, Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain amounts and are used to supplement GAAP net income (loss) and EPS. We use Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS as key performance measures of our earnings performance. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparison to our historical performance. In addition, management uses Adjusted EPS as a performance measure for our incentive compensation. The amounts excluded in the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures may vary from period to period; accordingly, our presentation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS may not be indicative of future adjustments or results.

Net Leverage and Net Debt are performance measures that we believe provide management and investors a more complete understanding of our leverage position and borrowing capacity after factoring in cash and cash equivalents.

You are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment used in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures and the reasons we consider our non-GAAP financial measures appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating our non-GAAP financial measures, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in our presentation. Our non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other companies. Please see a historical reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measure presented in our consolidated financial statements below.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained, or incorporated by reference, in this release, including, without limitation, our expectations regarding our future financial position, including our liquidity requirements and future capital expenditures, plans, prospects, actions taken or strategies being considered with respect to our liquidity position, including with respect to refinancing, amending the terms of, or extending the maturity of our indebtedness, our ability to comply with covenants under our debt agreements, expectations regarding our exchangeable notes, valuation and appraisals of our assets, expected fleet additions and cancellations, including expected timing thereof, our expectations regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions and recent global events, and expectations relating to our sustainability program and decarbonization efforts may be forward-looking statements. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “future” and similar words. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact of: adverse general economic factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels of interest rates, inflation, unemployment, underemployment and the volatility of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions of these conditions that decrease the level of disposable income of consumers or consumer confidence; implementing precautions in coordination with regulators and global public health authorities to protect the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities we visit and to comply with related regulatory restrictions; our indebtedness and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that require us to maintain minimum levels of liquidity and be in compliance with maintenance covenants and otherwise limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; our ability to work with lenders and others or otherwise pursue options to defer, renegotiate, refinance or restructure our existing debt profile, near-term debt amortization, newbuild related payments and other obligations and to work with credit card processors to satisfy current or potential future demands for collateral on cash advanced from customers relating to future cruises; our need for additional financing or financing to optimize our balance sheet, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, and our outstanding exchangeable notes and any future financing which may be dilutive to existing shareholders; the unavailability of ports of call; future increases in the price of, or major changes, disruptions or reduction in, commercial airline services; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate, including new regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the accuracy of any appraisals of our assets; our success in controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures; trends in, or changes to, future bookings and our ability to take future reservations and receive deposits related thereto; adverse events impacting the security of travel, or customer perceptions of the security of travel, such as terrorist acts, armed conflict, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas war, or threats thereof, acts of piracy, and other international events; public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises); adverse incidents involving cruise ships; our ability to maintain and strengthen our brand; breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology systems and other networks or our actual or perceived failure to comply with requirements regarding data privacy and protection; changes in fuel prices and the type of fuel we are permitted to use and/or other cruise operating costs; mechanical malfunctions and repairs, delays in our shipbuilding program, maintenance and refurbishments and the consolidation of qualified shipyard facilities; the risks and increased costs associated with operating internationally; our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or the loss of key personnel or employee relations issues; impacts related to climate change and our ability to achieve our climate-related or other sustainability goals; our inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; any further impairment of our trademarks, trade names or goodwill; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services for certain ships and certain other services; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our expansion into new markets and investments in new markets and land-based destination projects; overcapacity in key markets or globally; and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based, except as required by law.

Investor Relations & Media Contacts

Sarah Inmon (786) 812-3233 [email protected]

The following table sets forth selected statistical information:

Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Per Diem, and Net Yield were calculated as follows (in thousands, except Net Yield, Net Per Diem, Capacity Days, Passenger Cruise Days, per Passenger Cruise Day and Capacity Day data):

Gross Cruise Cost, Net Cruise Cost, Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel were calculated as follows (in thousands, except Capacity Days and per Capacity Day data):

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS were calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA were calculated as follows (in thousands):

Net Debt and Net Leverage were calculated as follows (in thousands):

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2024 - 2025 Mediterranean & Greek Isles Cruises

The All-New Norwegian Viva

Up to € 300 Free Airfare Credit

Aloha, Hawai’i

Bring out your Aloha spirit with this two-part journey through the Hawaiian Islands. Come along as we trek atop volcanos, surf infamous waves, indulge in authentic cuisine, snorkel through crystal-clear waters and immerse in the local culture.

The NCL Difference

No timetables. No stipulations. Just award-winning entertainment and diverse dining options from the only cruise line built for versatile holidaying.

Get More with Free At Sea

Enrich your cruise vacation with up to 5 Free Offers with Norwegian's Free At Sea promotion. Choose from Free Unlimited Open Bar, Free Specialty Dining, Free Shore Excursions, Free WiFi and Free 3rd & 4th Guests.

Enrich your cruise vacation with up to 5 Free Offers with NCL's Free At Sea promotion. Choose from Free Beverage Package, Free Specialty Dining Package, Free Shore Excursion Credits, and more.

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Enjoy the most inclusive cruise holiday with NCL's Free at Sea. Upgrade your cruise and choose from offers like Open Bar, and Speciality Dining, to customise your holiday to any destination, any time of year. Plus, enjoy Airfare Credits on select cruises.

Enjoy the most inclusive cruise holiday with NCL's Free at Sea. Upgrade your cruise and choose from offers, like Open Bar, and Speciality Dining, to customise your holiday to any destination, any time of year. Plus, enjoy Airfare Credits on select cruises.

Holiday Your Way

Our award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose whilst cruising to beautiful destinations around the world. Add a wide range of superb dining options and spectacular entertainment and you'll experience your best holiday ever.

Feel Like a Change of Scenery?

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment you will never forget whilst witnessing the icy-blue glaciers and unique wildlife of Alaska. Walk through Greece's enchanting, sun-bleached streets, or find your own paradise in a secret beach in The Caribbean. Our award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose whilst cruising to the most beautiful destinations around the world. No matter where your dream holiday takes you, feel free to cruise your way.

Feel Free to Let the Outside In

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Meet The Fleet Built for Freestyle Cruising

Setting the standard, breaking the mould, the newest ships at sea, choose your own adventure.

Dine, dance, laugh, and relax with onboard activities, premier entertainment, and unforgettable shore excursions.

Onboard Dining

Food for any taste. at any time..

Enjoy a four-course meal and a great bottle of wine. Or grab a burger hot off the grill. With no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating, you can follow your mood, not a timetable .

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Stranded cruise passengers from Utah race to catch up with their ship

ATLANTA — A month after eight Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded in Africa when their ship left without them because they were late getting back, a Utah couple – ages 84 and 81 – were also left behind by the cruise line in Spain. Salt Lake City couple Richard and Claudene Gordon were on a Mediterranean cruise aboard Norwegian Viva with family and friends and looking forward to celebrating Richard Gordon's 85th birthday later this week. While the ship was docked in Motril, Spain, on Monday, the pair went...

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