Are you thinking of booking a Norwegian cruise? Is Norwegian a good cruise line? Why Norwegian Cruise Line? Here are 10 reasons to book a Norwegian Cruise for your next cruise vacation.
If you have been following our blog for some time, it’s no surprise that we are fans of the Norwegian Cruise Line. We have sailed with them multiple times and, almost always have had a great experience.
From staying in the Haven on the Norwegian Getaway to our latest Bermuda cruise on the Norwegian Joy, they have all been fun and fabulous sailings with NCL. While we didn’t love our sail with Norwegian Epic, we didn’t let that stop us from booking another Norwegian cruise down the line.
From their Freestyle Cruising concept to their great entertainment options, Norwegian has a lot to offer cruisers. Plus they make it affordable to cruise without breaking the bank.
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Why Norwegian Cruise Line?
Yes! Norwegian Cruise Line is a great option for cruisers who are looking for a relaxed and comfortable cruise vacation. Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising concept allows guests to dine when they want, dress how they want, and enjoy their cruise vacation on their own terms.
Is Norwegian a good cruise line?
Yes! Norwegian is built with the modern cruiser in mind. They offer new ships with innovative features and plenty of activities and entertainment to keep guests of all ages happy.
What is the Norwegian Cruise Line famous for?
Norwegian Cruise Line is most famous for its Freestyle Cruising concept and its innovative ships. Most recently, they are known as the first cruise ship to offer a race track at sea with their new vessels, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy.
Why Norwegian Cruise Line
If you’re thinking of taking a cruise vacation with Norwegian Cruise Line may be the ideal option for you. Is Norwegian a good cruise line? Why Norwegian Cruise Line? Here are 10 reasons to book a Norwegian Cruise.
1. Freestyle Cruising
Why Norwegian Cruise Line? One of the top reasons to book a Norwegian cruise is their Freestyle Cruising concept. That reason alone drives us to book each and every time with them.
Norwegian Cruise Line is the pioneer of Freestyle Cruising. This means that there are no set dining times or required formal nights onboard their ships.
You can dine when you want and where you want. And, there are plenty of dining options to choose from.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed cruise vacation, Norwegian Cruise Line is the ideal choice.
2. Dress Code
The freestyle cruising includes the laidback dress code. You don’t have to pack formal wear for a Norwegian cruise.
On most nights, the dress code is casual. However, there is one night, usually, the first full day of cruising, when they have “Norwegian Night Out” which gives you the choice to dress up a little. However, it is not mandatory.
This is still pretty relaxed and you can definitely get away with wearing shorts for dinner.
So, if you don’t want to worry about packing formal wear, Norwegian is a great option. It’s so easy to pack when you go on a Norwegian cruise.
If you do plan to eat at a couple of their specialty restaurants, they will probably require long pants/jeans and no tank tops for men. Still, though, it is a laidback experience throughout the cruise.
3. Entertainment and Onboard Activities
Entertainment on NCL
The entertainment onboard Norwegian cruise ships is top-notch and it’s an integral part of the cruising experience. It’s one of the main reasons we always end up going back to cruising on Norwegian.
From actual Broadway shows, and comedians to acrobatic performances, there is something playing at the theater every night. And, the best part is that most of the entertainment is included in your cruise fare.
If you’re looking for a cruise line with great entertainment, Norwegian is the way to go.
Onboard Activities on NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line has a lot to offer when it comes to onboard activities. Not only are their ships packed with fun cruise activities like water slides, go-karts, arcade games, and laser tag, but they also have competitions, trivia, games like Deal or No Deal, and Bingo.
In almost every corner of their ship, there is something going on. The cruise director and his/her team are always hosting different activities throughout the day and night. That includes the themed parties that they have every night of the cruise.
So, if you’re looking for a cruise ship that has a lot to offer in terms of onboard activities, Norwegian is a great option.
4. Great Value for the Money
If you want a budget-friendly cruise without sacrificing quality, Norwegian Cruise Line is your best bet. While they aren’t the cheapest cruise line out there, they offer a lot of value for the price.
They are one of the mid-pricing cruise lines that offer a lot of inclusions, without being too expensive, yet giving you that resort-style feel.
Some other cruise lines may be cheaper, but you sacrifice quality. So, if you’re looking for an affordable cruise without sacrificing quality, Norwegian is a great option.
Plus, they often have sales and promotions going on that make their cruises even more affordable.
5. Accommodations
Norwegian Cruise Line has a great variety of accommodations to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a basic inside cabin or a luxurious suite, Norwegian has you covered.
They even have accommodations specifically designed for families and those with special needs. You can even find cabins for solo travelers.
And, what we love the most about the cruise cabins is there it’s modern and sleek designs. Unlike other cruise ships that keep their cabin designs uniformly blah, with its blanched wood features.
Although, newer ships are starting to follow Norwegian’s lead and thinking outside of the standard cabin plans to give it more of a resort feel.
Have you checked out the new Norwegian Prima cruise ship?
The Haven by Norwegian is a ship-within-a-ship concept that offers an exclusive and luxurious cruise experience. You do pay a pretty penny to enjoy those amenities offered in the Haven.
6. Great for Solo Travelers
Norwegian Cruise Line caters to solo travelers.
We’ve met a number of solo travelers throughout cruises, cruising on their own. They always say that NCL is the best cruise line for solo travelers.
Many Norwegian Ships have specifically designed studio cabins for solo travelers with their own common area within the ship. These are single occupancy cabins with no single supplement fee.
Norwegian also offers a great selection of events and activities for solo travelers where they can get together and meet other cruisers traveling solo.
We actually met an older couple on the Norwegian Joy that met years ago on a Norwegian Cruise traveling solo and staying in these solo cabins. Now they cruise and travel together.
If you’re a solo traveler, Norwegian Cruise Line should definitely be on your radar.
7. Variety of Dining Options
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a great variety of dining options.
One thing we love about cruising with NCL is that there are so many different types and styles available of dining available, including buffets or specialty restaurants- all at your leisure!
The only downside? You have to pay an extra charge for specialty restaurants. However, their specialties can definitely be worth it if you enjoy trying new things while on vacation.
Eating at their specialty restaurant Le Bistro is one of the many reasons we book a Norwegian Cruise sometimes. You may think we’re crazy, but we literally dream of their dessert – île Flottante.
122 Quick & Helpful Cruise Tips
We’ve gathered 122 of our top cruise tips and cruise hacks to help make your planning process smoother and your cruising experience even more fabulous. From cruise packing tips, and cruise hacks to what to do on the cruise ship and at the cruise ports, we have everything you need to know to make sure your cruise is unforgettable.
8. Norwegian’s Free-At-Sea Promotions
Norwegian Cruise Line is almost always running Free-at-Sea promotions.
For those of you who don’t know, their Free-At-Sea promotion is where they offer a certain number of free perks when you book a cruise with them. The number of free perks you get depends on the category of room you book and the cruise length.
Sometimes, they’ll include all the free-at-sea perks with your booking and it’s the best time to book.
The free perks can include things like a free beverage package, specialty dining (2 dinners) package, free shore excursions, a free spa credit, and more. Others really enjoy it when free gratuities are included.]
One of the biggest savers is when they have the 3rd and 4th guests free promotion.
If you’re looking to book a cruise and get the most bang for your buck, we recommend waiting for Norwegian to release their Free-At-Sea promotion. You can always find their current Free-At-Sea promotion on Norwegian’s website.
The downside is that you still have to pay gratuities/service fees for the “free” beverage package and specialty dining.
The specialty dining package comes out to a small service fee, which is worth the value.
For the beverage package, we recommend calculating the number of drinks you’ll have during your cruise and seeing if it will be of value to you. We don’t drink a ton of alcohol, so for us, we rather take the service fee and spend it on the cruise as we see fit. But it is still a great promotion for those that do love to have a few fruity cocktails.
9. Designed for Everyone
Having cruised on other cruise lines that seem to cater to certain demographics and types of travelers, we love that the Norwegian Cruise Line caters to everyone.
Their cruises are meant for families with or without kids, honeymooners looking for a romantic escape, solo travelers wanting to get away on their own, and vacationers looking to have a good time.
The way Norwegian is set up, you can have the vacation that you want. You can be as social or anti-social as you want and no one will judge you. You can enjoy their major ship’s activities or you can find solace in one of their quiet areas. Take advantage of their specialty restaurant or eat a the buffet every day.
The choice is yours. While that may hold true for most cruise lines, you can choose to do what you want, a lot of them aren’t built to accommodate everyone. For example, some don’t have waterslides and activities for kids, studio cabins for solo travelers, or multiple dining options.
There is no pretense on the Norwegian Cruise Line. Just good old fashion fun for everyone of all ages.
Norwegian has really stepped it up in the past few years to create a cruise experience that can be enjoyed by all.
We always say they are a good in-between compared to other major cruise lines.
10. Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a wide variety of itineraries to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or a long vacation, they have an itinerary for you.
One of their most popular reasons to book a Norwegian cruise is their Hawaii itinerary with the Pride of America cruise ship. The itinerary is a year-round cruise that covers the most popular Hawaiian islands in 7 days.
What makes it popular is the fact that the home port is Honolulu. You do not have to sail from the West Coast of the United States for 4-5 days before reaching your first port of call. In 7 days on the Pride of America, you get to visit: Oahu, Maui, Hilo, Kona, and Kauai.
NCL also has many other cruise itineraries that are popular like Bermuda, Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, and more.
The Biggest Downside of Cruising with Norwegian
Norwegian Cruise Line may be our cruise line of choice for now, but we are not blind to nickel and diming. They do charge you for a lot of extras throughout the ship certain foods, specialty coffee (Starbucks) activities, and even room service. When other cruise lines may just include it in the cost of the cruise fares.
Even the service fees on their “free-at-sea” promotions are a controversial topic. Is it really “free”. In reality, they should probably just roll it into the price of the cruise. But they do give cruisers the chance to save that money.
With that said, it really doesn’t deter us or others from booking a Norwegian Cruise. Most of it is stuff that is not something that breaks or makes our cruise experience.
Choosing a cruise line to cruise with is just as important as the itinerary. Hopefully, this post answers why Norwegian Cruise Line makes for a great cruise vacation. And it has given you some reasons to book a Norwegian Cruise the next time you are looking to cruise.
After reading this list, you may decide that NCL is not the cruise line for you. That’s okay, too. There are plenty of cruise lines out there that will fit what you’re looking for.
Have you cruised with NCL? Is Norwegian a good cruise Line? What do you love about cruising Norwegian? Let us know in the comments!
Wondering if it’s difficult to plan the cruise? Don’t worry, we have you covered there as well. You can check out how to prepare for a cruise next.
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