Norwegian Cruise Line
Freestyle cruising with no fixed dinner time.
Norwegian invented Freestyle Cruising: no assigned dining times, no formal nights, lots of restaurants.
What Norwegian is like.
Norwegian Cruise Line changed the industry in 2000 when it dropped assigned dinner seatings and dress codes and called it Freestyle Cruising. Every mainstream line has copied some of it since, but Norwegian still does it most completely: eat when you want, where you want, in what you want. If the thought of a 6 p.m. table with strangers puts you off cruising, this is your line.
The fleet is modern and consistent. The Prima class (Norwegian Prima, Viva, Aqua, Luna) brought the first three-level go-kart tracks at sea, Ocean Boulevard wraparound promenade and Indulge Food Hall. The Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes (Bliss, Encore, Joy, Escape, Getaway, Breakaway) carry the Alaska and big Caribbean routes with racetracks, laser tag and Broadway shows. Norwegian is also the only line sailing Hawaii round trip from Honolulu, on Pride of America.
Two things set Norwegian apart for planning. First, the More at Sea (formerly Free at Sea) bundle folds an open bar, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and excursion credits into most fares. Second, The Haven: a keycard-access enclave of suites with its own pool, sundeck, restaurant, bar and butlers, widely considered the best suite experience on a mainstream ship.
Norwegian sails from Miami, Port Canaveral, New York, Boston, New Orleans, Galveston, Tampa, Los Angeles, Seattle and Honolulu, with Bermuda runs from the Northeast and a deep Alaska program. Great Stirrup Cay, the private island, has been upgraded with a new pier so ships dock instead of tendering.
Ship classes, and which one to pick.
Newer is not always better. The right ship depends on the itinerary, your group and what you want to do on a sea day.
Norwegian Prima, Viva, Aqua, Luna
Newest ships: Ocean Boulevard, Indulge Food Hall, three-level go-karts, Infinity Beach. More space per guest than the older mega-ships.
Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Escape
Race tracks, laser tag, Observation Lounge on Bliss and Joy built for Alaska scenery; Broadway shows like Six and Kinky Boots.
Norwegian Breakaway, Getaway
The Waterfront promenade dining, ropes course, big Caribbean and Bermuda runs from New York and New Orleans.
Jewel, Jade, Gem, Pearl, Dawn, Star; Pride of America
Smaller ships on Alaska, Panama Canal and longer itineraries. Pride of America is the Hawaii ship, no sea days.
Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas): a new pier means no tenders, plus a beach club, lagoon and adults-only Silver Cove villas. Harvest Caye in Belize is Norwegian's other private destination on Western Caribbean routes.
Where Norwegian goes, and what it typically costs.
Starting fares per person, double occupancy, before taxes, packages and flights. They move with season and demand; we price your exact dates.
| Itinerary | Nights | Sails from | Ports | Season | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay | 3 to 5 | Miami, Port Canaveral | Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay | Year round | from about $400 to $900 pp with More at Sea |
| Eastern or Western Caribbean | 7 | Miami, Port Canaveral, New Orleans, Galveston | Cozumel, Roatan, Harvest Caye or St. Thomas, Tortola, Great Stirrup Cay | Year round | from about $900 to $1,900 pp |
| Alaska Inside Passage | 7 | Seattle | Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Victoria, Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm | May to September | from about $1,100 to $2,500 pp |
| Bermuda | 5 to 7 | New York or Boston | Royal Naval Dockyard (2 to 3 days docked) | April to October | from about $900 to $1,800 pp |
| Hawaii round trip | 7 | Honolulu | Maui (overnight), Hilo, Kona, Kauai (overnight) | Year round | from about $1,800 to $3,200 pp |
Which cabin, and who should book it.
Compact solo cabins with access to the private Studio Lounge. No single supplement.
Solo travelers; Norwegian is the leader here.
Standard cabins; Prima-class interiors are noticeably roomier.
Budget travelers.
Club Balcony adds space, a bathtub on some ships and small perks; Spa cabins sit near the spa with thermal suite access included.
Couples; Club Balcony is often worth the small step up, Spa cabins if you would buy the thermal pass anyway.
Private courtyard pool, sundeck, restaurant, bar, butler and concierge; keycard access only.
Anyone who wants luxury with the big-ship playground downstairs.
- Two or three main dining rooms (Taste, Savor, the Manhattan Room)
- Garden Cafe buffet
- The Local or O'Sheehan's pub 24 hours
- Indulge Food Hall (Prima class)
- Observation Lounge snacks
- Cagney's Steakhouse
- Le Bistro French
- Los Lobos Mexican
- Onda by Scarpetta
- Teppanyaki
- Food Republic
- Hasuki, Nama sushi
- Ocean Blue seafood
What a sea day looks like.
What is in the fare, what is extra, and which packages pay off.
Names and inclusions change by sailing. We confirm the current terms before you buy anything.
- Main dining rooms and buffet
- Most shows and entertainment
- Pools, slides, sports court
- Splash Academy and Entourage kids programs
- Tea, coffee, water, juice at breakfast
- Drinks (or the More at Sea open bar, with gratuities on it)
- Specialty dining beyond your bundle meals
- Wi-Fi beyond bundled minutes
- Go-karts and laser tag on some ships
- Gratuities (~$20 to $25 per person per day; Haven higher)
- Vibe Beach Club, spa, casino
Bundled into most fares: open bar, a set of specialty dining meals, Wi-Fi minutes, excursion credits per port and reduced fares for third and fourth guests. Service charges on the bar and dining portions are billed separately.
Cocktails, wine, beer and spirits up to a price cap; the upgrade raises the cap and adds Starbucks and bottled water.
A set number of meals at Cagney's, Le Bistro, Los Lobos, Onda and others; more meals can be added.
Suites with a private pool, sundeck, restaurant, butler and concierge. Priority everything.
Adults-only sundeck with hot tubs, loungers and its own bar. Limited passes sell out on embarkation day.
Per-port credits from More at Sea plus the independent operators we book around them.
- Read the More at Sea fine print: the "free" open bar carries a service charge that can be $300+ per person on a week.
- Book specialty restaurants and shows in the app the moment your window opens; Cagney's on a Saturday is gone fast.
- Aft-facing balconies on Breakaway-class ships are the best-value view on the ship.
- Alaska: Bliss and Joy have the Observation Lounge; book a starboard cabin northbound for the glacier side.
- Hawaii: Pride of America overnights in Maui and Kauai, so plan a real dinner ashore.
Our take How we plan Norwegian.
Norwegian is our pick for couples and groups who want dinner when they feel like it and a real bar package built in. We read the More at Sea fine print for you, decide whether the Haven is worth it for your group, and, in Alaska, time a Ketchikan salmon charter around the ship.
Before you book Norwegian.
What does More at Sea actually include?
It changes by sailing, but typically an open bar, a few specialty meals, some Wi-Fi and an excursion credit per port, with the service charge on the bar and dining portions billed separately. We show you the real all-in number.
Is The Haven worth it?
For couples or families who want a quiet pool, a private restaurant and a butler on a ship with 4,000 guests, yes. For a three-night party cruise, usually not. We price both.
Does Norwegian sail Hawaii?
Yes. Pride of America is the only large ship doing seven-night Hawaii round trips from Honolulu with four islands, two overnights and no sea days.
Is Norwegian good for kids?
Good, not the very best. Splash Academy is solid and teens love the go-karts and laser tag. Families with kids under 6 may prefer Royal or Disney.
What is the dress code?
There is not one to speak of. Resort casual everywhere; a couple of restaurants ask for no shorts at dinner. Norwegian has never had formal nights.
How far ahead should we book?
Nine to twelve months for Haven suites and Alaska; three to six months for Caribbean balconies. Last-minute deals exist but rarely on the cabins families want.
Compare with the rest.
Ready to sail Norwegian?
Tell us who is going and when. A person who has sailed it replies with the right ship, cabin and ports. No fee to you.