When it comes to the major cruise lines, there's what I consider the big three -- Carnival,
Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. There's a lot of similarities between those three,
but if I'm being honest, NCL stands out as an outlier from the other two.
The cruise line has a lot of things going on that I didn't realize until I sailed multiple
times across different ships... and they could have an impact on your trip. To help you prepare,
I'll share some of what I wish I'd known before I cruised Norwegian.
If there is one thing that I think anyone should know before sailing NCL,
it's just how big a difference there is between old and new ships with the cruise line. Now,
overall, NCL has one of the youngest fleets. But I've sailed older ships
like Jade and Sky, and also been on newer ships like Encore and Prima.
It's not just the size that's different, although that is a big factor. The new NCL
ships have a completely different atmosphere and number of things to do. Prima is like a
floating high-end hotel. It's literally the most posh cruise ship I've ever been
on. And then the new ships all have tons of features from more restaurants to literal
go-kart tracks that make the experience different. It's just completely different.
So if you've sailed an older ship in the fleet,
then I think it's really hard to say that you've had the full NCL experience just yet.
So part of that different feel on new ships isn't just because they are newer and larger.
There's been a legit change in strategy for the cruise line that makes them stand out from rivals.
The past few years -- and especially with the newest Prima class ships -- NCL is steering
the line from being just another mass market line to something more upscale. You definitely
see it with ships like Bliss, Joy, and Encore. They just seem to be more modern and higher-end
than not only other NCL ships but other ships from Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
But it's taken to another level with Prima and presumably the rest of the ships in that
class. The interior design and upscale vibe is just on a whole other level. You can see,
I'm not a fancy guy, so I felt a little out of place at first,
but don't worry, it's not stuffy and you quickly get used to it.
If you're sailing from Miami on NCL, then there is a good chance that you'll have a
stop scheduled at Great Stirrup Cay. The island is fantastic. It's literally right
next to Royal Caribbean's CocoCay, has beautiful beaches, great water,
plenty to do... but it's more subdued than the theme park that CocoCay has become.
But, what I had to learn the hard way is that the threshold for porting here is much higher. That's
because CocoCay has a dock while NCL ships anchor offshore and then tender into port.
My last trip on NCL, the weather was beautiful, but a little breezy on the
day the ship was calling on Great Stirrup Cay. I thought it was great weather. But then the
captain comes on the intercom to announce that it was too windy to tender to port just yet,
and we were going to wait it out. So for hours we hang just offshore... all the
time we can literally see the Royal Caribbean ship docked at its island.
Eventually the captain comes on later in the day and says "sorry, the wind is still
too much, so we're skipping the port" and the ship starts making its way to the next port.
What I didn't realize before I sailed Norwegian? Unlike most other cruise lines, they don't allow
passengers to bring on soda or water. I'm not talking you can only bring cans or cartons or only
a limited amount. They just flat out don't allow you to bring anything, which I think is a bummer.
Buy something in port and they will hold it until the end of the trip.
But if you bring on a 12-pack of Coke or water,
then NCL says you'll have to return it to your vehicle... or if you don't have a car,
it will be disposed of. So you are stuck buying drinks on the ship, which can quickly add up.
I mentioned the higher-end feel that sets NCL apart. But there's something
else about the cruise line that's different as well and I had no idea before I sailed.
You'd think that the ocean would be a big part of any cruise, but honestly on many
ships it's not. Sure you can get views from your balcony or on the pool deck,
but that's about it. NCL puts a much greater emphasis on connecting with the sea.
Newer ships typically have large outdoor promenades on lower decks,
getting you closer to the ocean. All ships, however, seem to have a focus on outdoor
spaces when it comes to dining. You might think that's as simple as putting out some chairs,
but with the wind and sun, it takes some real thought to make eating outdoors on a cruise ship
enjoyable. Other cruise lines now do this a lot more, but NCL seems to have been a trendsetter.
We all want to get to the ship and get the cruise started, but with Norwegian, I've learned that
it's the one cruise line where you really don't want to show up to the port early in boarding.
On a couple of cruises I've sailed with Norwegian, my flights got in early on embarkation day,
leaving me with not enough time to go do anything other than just head to the port. So I get there
right when boarding starts. One time that meant getting checked in and then having
to sit for 45 minutes in a packed room in the terminal until the ship opened to passengers.
Another time I was able to board, but the room wasn't ready so I had to wheel
my suitcase around with me for an hour and a half as there was nowhere I could drop it off.
For that reason, it's smarter just to board later in the day.
One thing you need to be prepared for when sailing NCL is extra costs... and
prices that are typically higher than what you see elsewhere.
I think at this point most of us are used to many things costing extra on a cruise ship,
but NCL really takes it to another level. Take the drink package -- I'll get to the
Free at Sea offer that includes the package in a moment -- but if you just buy the drink package,
it's $109 per day, plus a 20% gratuity. Carnival charges $60 plus gratuity.
The daily service charge for the staff is now $20 per person,
per day -- about 25% higher than what you see on other lines. Just about all
the restaurants outside of the buffet, dining room, and the 24-hour spot are
an extra charge. And then things like the go-karts on newer ships are also extra fees.
Now, you can save on those extra charges is with NCL's Free at Sea
offer. This can be a fantastic deal, but I think what might be lost on some
people is that free seems to have a different definition with Norwegian.
With this offer, you can get a ton of extras like wi-fi, specialty dining, and drink package
included with your cruise. But while they are called free, you actually pay more for the
cabin than the bare-bones "sail away" price. So you're getting a deal, but yes, you are shelling
out more money. Definitely do the math before you buy as it could be well worth it anyway.
One other thing you should know before booking and sailing is that at least in the U.S.,
you still have to pay gratuities on the package prices for specialty dining and
drinks. So for the free drink package, you're paying 20% of $109 per day -- or about $22 per
day. For a couple on a 7-day cruise, that adds up to more than $300 for those "free" drinks.
One thing that is unique with Norwegian is that the cruise line gives some special
focus to solo cruisers. I know this is a niche group, but I do a number of solo
trips. And on most cruise lines, it can feel like you're getting robbed. You sail alone,
but have to pay for two people in the cabin anyway. That just feels wrong.
But with NCL's newer ships, they have studio cabins available. No doubt,
these are the smallest cruise cabins you've ever seen, but for one person? They are great.
There's usually also a small lounge for solo cruisers to meet others traveling by themselves.
But best of all, these rooms avoid the double charge for a regular cabin,
allowing you to sail for less than you could otherwise.