Ahoy there cruisers.
Let's take a look at "NCL" or "Norwegian Cruise Line".
We're going to use our knowledge to try and help you make the right decision.
When booking a "Norwegian Cruise Line" cruise.
So let's go!
So, "Norwegian Cruise Line" was originally set up in 1966 as "Norwegian Caribbean Line".
It's an American-Bermudan company offer an American-style cruising.
It's most famous for its "Freestyle Cruising" concept.
Which basically means there's no set dining times, you can sit with who you want
and there's no formal dinners either.
It's a really modern and friendly cruise line.
Bringing cutting-edge features to cruising.
At the time of filming they have 16 ships in their fleet with 8 different class.
And each type of ship can offer you a different type of holiday.
So let's take a look at the first class of ship.
So let's start with the first class of ship which is the "Sun Class".
These were built in 1999 and 2000 and have all been refurbished in the past couple of years.
It consists of the "Norwegian Sun" and the "Norwegian Sky".
They are the second oldest class of ship.
The are both the smallest class of ship and hold around 2,000 passengers.
A little bit about the "Norwegian Sun"
It offers longer more exotic itineraries.
It's based in South America at the Panama Canal and the Caribbean.
It's really up-to-date with the recent refurb.
And has more families on board than the "Sky"
This ships great for younger couples to older couples looking for an adventure.
So a little bit about the "Norwegian Sky".
Based in Miami and offers sailings to the Bahamas and Cuba.
It is the only ship from "Norwegian Cruise Line" that sales to Cuba and offers an overnight stay in Havana.
The ship has an open bar policy.
Which means there's no paying for drinks.
It's the only ship in the "Norwegian Cruise Lines" fleet that offers this.
So think of this more as more of an all-inclusive resort.
There's 10 dining options on the ship alone.
And it offers you loads of bars and activities.
As you expect with an open bar, it gets a little bit lively.
Being older ships, both of these ships miss some of the newer features
that you'll see on the bigger and more modern Norwegian ships.
But there's still a perfect size with lots of atmosphere.
And these are perfect for shorter cruises.
So next up we have this "Spirit" class of ship.
This is the oldest class of ship from "Norwegian".
It was built in 1998 and it's really starting to show its age in some places.
So this ship also holds approximately 2,000 guests.
It was refurbished in 2014 to give it a little bit of an extra modern touch.
So it's missing some of the features of the newer ships.
But it's still a very intimate, relaxed but lively ship.
It has 17 dining options and 12 bars and lounges on board.
So there's a big selection for everybody.
So being a smaller ship, this ship is a really nice size and really easy to get around.
Being based in Europe most of the time you get a real mix of international passengers.
From Europe and from all around the world.
So the "Spirit" class is still a firm favorite with its passengers.
So who do we recommend this ship for?
Well it's great from toddlers to seniors.
It has a really good kids club on board as well as connecting staterooms.
So it's great for families.
Next up is the "Dawn" class.
These ships were built in 2001 and 2002.
They hold around 2,400 passengers.
Let's start with the "Norwegian Dawn".
It was refurbished in 2016 to bring it up to the newer ship standards.
But some passengers have complained that this gives it a confusing layout.
There's plenty of bars, dining and activities to keep everybody happy.
This ship sails to Bermuda, Canada, New England and the Caribbean.
The "Norwegian Star" was refurbished in 2015.
Again bringing it up to the newest standards of the Norwegian Ships.
The "Norwegian Star" mainly sails in Europe and the Caribbean.
But sometimes heads over to the west coast and Alaska.
There's plenty of dining options on this ship with 15 dining options and 11 bars to choose from.
Both these ships have a really fun and relaxed atmosphere.
On board you'll find a wide spectrum of passengers.
All looking for a great cruise at a reasonable price.
Next, we have the slightly bigger "Jewel" class.
These ships hold up to 2,400 guests.
Built in the mid-2000s we have the
"Norwegian Jade", "Norwegian Jewel" and "Norwegian Pearl" and "Norwegian Gem"
These ships have all been refurbished in the last few years.
Bringing them all up to date.
Nice and fresh.
They are still quite a small ship so they're really intimate and really easy to get around.
The Jewel class offers some of the largest suites found at sea.
But we do have to say that the standard cabins are smaller than some other ships.
But they're still very comfortable never less.
There's lots of bars and lounges on the ships
and this will have a real fun, lively atmosphere.
So you will find these ship sailing in; Alaska, New York, the Caribbean, Europe and Australia.
The "Norwegian Jewel" does look a little bit aged now and a little bit worn around the edges.
But the beautiful "Norwegian Jade". "Pearl" and "Gem"
had a recent refit which brings it up to really beautiful modern standards.
So who are these ships for?
Well we wouldn't say they are as family friendly as some of the newer modern ships.
But they are great for shorter cruises.
On the shorter cruises you do find a big mix of different people.
Including families.
Whilst the longer cruisers usually attract a more all to clientele.
We created a tour video of the "Norwegian Jade"
Take a look at it here to have a look at what's being done in the refurbishment.
Next let's take a look at the "Epic" class.
Built in 2010 it was recently refurbished in 2015.
This was one of the first mega ships from "Norwegian Cruise Line".
Holding an epic 4100 passengers.
It sells Europe in the summer and Caribbean in the winter.
It truly has something to offer for everybody.
From Broadway shows to climbing walls and an onboard aqua park.
This is a great ship for families and those are looking for some fun.
This is also the first ship from "Norwegian Cruise Line" to feature solo cabins.
These are fantastic for solo travelers.
Everything on this ship is done an epic and grand scale,
With over 20 dining options.
It can get a little congested due to its huge size.
Also this has a bit of a strange cabin layout.
With the bathroom and the toilet only separated by a glass door
and the sink in the main cabin.
Some passengers may not like the layout of this cabin.
But if you're traveling as a couple, like us, it may not bother you.
So who's this for?
It has a real fun atmosphere.
It is fantastic for singles, couples, families, groups, pretty much anybody.
As you expect during the summer holidays.
It can get over crowded with kids and families.
So the "Breakaway" class was built in 2013 and 2014.
It consists of two ships the "Norwegian Breakaway" and the "Norwegian Getaway".
These ship hold around 4,000 passengers.
They sail from New York, the Caribbean and Europe.
These are really fantastic fun-filled ships.
Featuring Broadway-style shows, aqua parks,
the Sports Complex includes a rock climbing wall and 9 hole mini-golf course.
As well as the largest ropes course at sea.
The ropes course also features the plank.
Which is a plank that goes over the side of the ship.
It is truly terrifying!
Take a look at our "Norwegian Getaway" videos to see all of this in action.
So the "Breakaway" class has an amazing wraparound deck which is called "The Waterfront".
It's an outdoor promenade area which extends into the bars and restaurants so you can dine alfresco.
It's really cool it actually extends a quarter of a mile around the ship.
There's a massive 25 dining options on this ship.
How incredible is that!
25 different places you can choose to eat.
So who's this ship for?
Well we think there is something for everybody on these ships.
They are really the pinnacle of NCL's motto of "Freestyle Cruising".
We think everybody will enjoy this cruise ship.
So for the "Breakaway" class of ship
Make sure you watch our "Norwegian Getaway" full tour and vlogs.
Where you can get a good idea of what these ships are really like.
So let's have a look at some of the big boys of the fleet.
This is the "Breakaway Plus" class.
These are extended versions of the "Breakaway" class and hold around 4,300 passengers.
The are being built in the last three years.
So they are are the newest ships from Norwegian.
Offering the newest facilities and the highest technology.
You'll find many of the features on here in the same as the "Breakaway" class.
Just a slightly bigger ship.
These ships really are the cutting edge of cruising.
The "Norwegian Bliss" and "Norwegian Joy" even have a motor racing track onboard.
They have the widest range of dining available as well as loads of bars and lounges.
So you'll always find something to suit you.
The "Norwegian Escape" is solely based in the Caribbean.
"Norwegian Joy" was designed with the Chinese market in mind
and the "Norwegian Bliss" is for the Caribbean and Alaska.
It has a beautiful Observation Lounge.
Meaning you can enjoy the facilities whatever the weather.
These ships are great for all the family.
Ok so finally we have the "NCL America".
There's only 1 ship.
Uniquely this ship was built in the USA.
It was built in 2005 he holds 2,200 passengers.
This ship only sails in Hawaii.
In the beautiful exotic Hawaiian Islands.
What's great about it is that there's no sea days.
So all of your time is spent on these beautiful islands.
This is the only ship in the world, at the moment, that uniquely sails just in Hawaii
So it's the perfect choice.
Some passenger say that the entertainment could be a little bit better.
But I guess with so many ports days it doesn't matter as much.
It's a real stylish and comfortable ship with an American theme.
So who's this ship for?
Well we think it's for passengers who want to see as much of Hawaii as possible.
So let's talk about destinations.
As you would expect with such a huge fleet there's a wide range of destinations available.
From the Caribbean to Asia, Alaska, the west coast, the Panama Canal, South America, the Mediterranean
and even Australia and New Zealand.
"Norwegian Cruise Line" sail all around the world and offer a cruise for every destination.
So my favorite bit, the dining onboard.
Well there's a massive choice on these ship as you've just heard.
All the main dining and some of the lounges and the buffet are all included in the price.
There's a huge buffet onboard with a massive selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There's even themed buffet nights with different foods from all around the world each night.
There's also "O'Sheehan's" which you can find on many of the ships.
It's the pub on board and offers food 24-hours a day.
It's really tasty pub-style food.
You can get nachos, chicken wings, fries, burgers, hot dogs all included in the price.
Room service is a bargain coming in at $8 for as much as you want to order in one order.
There's themed dining shows such as "Wine Lovers: The Musical" and "Cirque Dreams" at extra charge.
Most ships have a massive range of dining to suit everybody's palate.
So you're not going to go hungry whilst on these cruises.
Some of our favorites from these ships include "Cagney's Steakhouse", "Le Bistro" - the French restaurant
"La Cucina" - the Italian restaurant, "Teppanyaki" - the Japanese restaurant.
The great thing about dining with Norwegian Cruise Line is that there's no formal nights.
Because it's "Freestyle" you can choose
when you want to eat, where you want to eat and who you want to eat with.
You can book all of the speciality dining on-board, on the app or before you even get on the cruise.
Entertainments another place where Norwegian really shines.
They offer an outstanding range of entertainment and even offer full Broadway shows.
Such as "Legally Blonde", "Priscilla Queen of the desert", "Rock of Ages", "Jersey Boys" and other fantastic shows.
You will not believe some of the activities on these ships.
There's climbing walls, water parks, ropes courses, laser quest and even a motor racing track on these ships.
Plus organized activities and game shows.
You'll find live music all around the ships.
Throughout the day and into the evening.
There's always a night club on-board so you can dance the night away.
Plus the casino for the adults and the arcade for the little ones.
You can sip your favorite drink in one of the many themed bars onboard.
Outside you'll find multiple pools as well as hot tubs with plenty of space for catching a tan.
There's loads of outdoor spaces and spots on offer.
As well as brilliant kids clubs for kids age 3 plus.
So it's perfect for the family.
These ships really do cater for active cruisers.
It is really impossible to be bored of one of these cruise ships.
So let's talk about the cabins onboard "Norwegian Cruise Line" ships.
Let's start with the "Haven" cabins.
These are the suites on board.
You can get one bedroom suites, 2 bedroom suites.
These are usually located at the very front of the ship.
Hidden away.
Staying in the "Haven" area is truly like a ship within a ship experience.
With its own lounge and restaurant.
As well as its own private Sun Deck.
These cabins are much larger than normal cabins and also include multi bedroom cabins.
So staying in a "Haven" category suite.
You get your own concierge and 24-hour butler.
How posh is that!
Take a look at our "Norwegian Jade" video for more information about "The Haven".
Next, we have the normal style of cabins.
We have mini suites, balconies, outside cabins, interior cabins and solo cabins.
So there really is something to fit every sort of price point in every style of holiday.
These cabins feature flat-screen televisions with a great selection of programming.
As well as really comfortable beds.
Depending on the ship.
These cabins come in at all different shapes and sizes.
But they are pretty much what you would expect compared to other cruise lines.
So where can you find the solo cabins?
These are on some of the newer ships such as the Epic class. Breakaway and Breakaway Plus.
These rooms are great because you don't have to pay the extra occupancy fee that you normally would.
We got the chance to visit the solo lounge and it's a great place to meet other people who are traveling solo.
We have always been please with our cabins aboard NCL.
We found them to be really spacious and have all of the amenities that you really need.
For a good look at some of the cabins.
Take a look at our Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Jade videos.
Where we take a good look around the cabins.
So what's included in the cost of your cruise?
Well included is all your meals in the main dining room.
As well as the buffet onboard.
And even on some cruise ships they offer snacks at one of the bars for 24-hours a day.
So let's talk about the drinks package.
Drinks packages can be purchased before you sail or while you're on the cruise.
It's usually cheaper to buy them beforehand.
For travelers from the UK in Europe it's premium all-inclusive all the time.
So your drinks and gratuities are already included in the cost of your cruise.
The soda package cost $5.95 for children and $7.95 for adults per person per day.
Plus that 20% gratuity.
The next package is the "Cork's and Caps" package which is the wine and beer package.
It includes a wide selection of soft drinks, beers and wines by the glass.
This is $59 per person per day plus 20 percent gratuity.
At the time of filming.
The "Unlimited Drinks Package" is $89 per person pee day.
Plus 20% gratuity.
At the time of filming.
The package includes unlimited sodas, spirits, beers,
as well as wine by the glass and premium cocktails up to $15.
Plus you can also get a 20% discount on bottles of wine purchased.
None of these packages include bottled water.
So there's no charge for most of the facilities onboard.
This includes the kids clubs, aqua parks, water parks and most of the entertainment onboard.
Speciality dining costs anywhere from about $20 and upwards.
There are a few cover charge restaurants where you pay a set fee.
Such as "Moderno Churrascaria" brazilian restaurant and "Teppanyaki".
This is coming in at about $20 at the moment.
The rest of the speciality dining restaurants are actually à la carte pricing.
So you pay per course and this can get really expensive.
And go up $50 upwards depending on where you eat and how many courses you choose to have.
We really recommend buying a dining package before you get on the ship.
You can do this by booking through your travel agent or logging into "My NCL".
Where you can pick a variety of different dining packages to suit your needs.
You can really save some money on this.
Internet packages can be bought whilst on the ship or beforehand using the "My NCL"
or booking through your travel agent
These start off at about $15 is for the "Social Media Package"
and get much more expensive for different packages depending on your needs.
As with other mainstream cruise liners.
The port excursions are not included in the price.
So you would need to book these extra.
Gratuities at the time of filming.
For over 3 year olds for staying in a standard cabin are $13.99 per person, per day.
If you're staying in a suite category cabin they're going to be $16.99 per person, per day.
But remember. If you're from Europe or the United Kingdom
and you're booking the all-inclusive package
You don't have to pay any gratuities.
These are all included in the price.
Okay then. So should we say what we like and what we don't like about Norwegian?
Yeah let's start with what we don't like first.
Definitely let's get those bad points out of the way.
There isn't many of them to be honest.
What we really don't like is on the newer modern ships
you've got to make reservations for everything.
Yeah and if it's a particularly busy cruise.
This can be problematic.
Yeah it can be quite hard to fit in all of your dinner reservations, some show reservations
and get all the times that you really want.
But on a positive note they do make it really easy to do that.
They're really do.
Also it can end up being quite an expensive cruise because you have to pay for a lot of extras onboard.
This includes things such as speciality dining and shows.
So why you might have a low price while you're booked.
It doe add up if you pay for all these extra things while you're onboard.
So some things that we really do like.
I absolutely love the Freestyle way of cruising.
It's just so flexible.
It completely breaks all tradition with set time dining and being on the same table every night
with the same set of people
And we can choose what we want to wear when we're eating .
So we can go in shorts and t-shirt or we can go in a full tuxedo if we really want to
There is no formal nights on the ship.
So you choose if you want to dress up.
Next what we really like with "Norwegian Cruise Line" is the activities and entertainment on board.
There is just so much especially on the newer ships.
There is really something for everyone.
The other thing that we absolutely love as well is the cabins.
They are spacious.
They're modern and they're really clean as well.
There's also a big range of cabins so you can find the perfect cabin for you.
Including if you're a solo traveler.
Another big plus for Norwegian are the crew.
Every cruise we've done with Norwegian the crew have just been fantastic.
Being really friendly, talkative and just want to make your cruise a really fun time.
Who do we think that Norwegian Cruise Line is for?
Well it's not for the traditional style cruises.
If you want to stick with that.
This is a modern cruise line with new ways of cruising.
As we said you choose everything you want to do and when you want to do it.
It has a real fun and fast-paced atmosphere.
There's always something to do that you will enjoy and if you love formal nights this is probably not for you.
Because there's no formality on NCL at all.
But like we said earlier on.
People still do choose to dress up so don't be worried about that.
And that can be a bonus for you if you don't want formal nights.
This is the cruise line for you because you can wear whatever you want.
So what's like type of passengers do you see on Norwegian Cruise Line?
Well the newer more cutting-edge ships you usually find a lot more families and younger people.
Especially during the holiday season.
On the older ships and longer itineraries you see an older set of passengers.
With a mix of families and more families and kids during the holidays.
On some of the larger and newer ships you'll also find a lot of solo travelers>
This is because they perfectly cater for solo travelers.
So people who want to have a good night out with good entertainment and loads of choice
with a lid back vacation style.
This is the cruise line for you.
This is a fun cruise line and we think you're gonna really enjoy it if you are looking to have fun.
Okay so that's it for this time.
We hope you enjoyed our show.
Make sure you watch some of our Norwegian videos in our video library
to get a better idea about what it's all about
and come and follow us on Instagram.
We'll be posting pictures of cruise ships and destinations all the time.
You can find us @CruiseWith and you can see all the details in the description section below.
So that's it for this time.
Until next time.
Happy cruising.