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Norwegian Cruise Line: The Complete Guide

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About Norwegian Cruise Line sailings

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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.

Bar entirely made out of ice, called the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar .

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 its frigid yet delightful Skyy Vodka Ice Bar, which ranks among the best cruise line bars anywhere.

Plus, with activities like race tracks, 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

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Bank of America's website

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.

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Yahoo Finance

Is norwegian cruise line holdings ltd. (nclh) the worst cruise stock to buy now according to short sellers.

We recently published a list of  10 Worst Cruise Stocks to Buy Now According to Short Sellers. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) stands against other worst cruise stocks according to short sellers.

The cruise industry accelerated after taking a significant hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), ~35.7 million passengers are anticipated to set sail in 2024. This translates to 6% growth as compared to 2019. JP Morgan Research highlighted that major cruise lines enjoyed a successful 2024 wave season between January and March when operators provided the best deals. CLIA highlighted that, in 2023, the passenger volume touched a record 31.7 million, exhibiting a rise of 7% over 2019 levels.

Wall Street experts believe that travel exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are well-placed to soar on the back of a resurgence in consumer demand for travel-related activities, supported by post-pandemic recovery and changing consumer behaviors. Amidst some short-term challenges, the long-term outlook for the travel sector is positive as a result of demographic shifts and an increased preference for experiential spending.

Positive Demographic Shifts Should Be a Primary Growth Enabler

Earlier, Baby Boomers used to make up the core consumer base for the broader cruise industry. Today, however, an increased number of younger travelers continue to come on board. As per CLIA, ~73% of Millennials and Gen X travelers mentioned that they would consider a cruise vacation. Also, a renowned cruise company has recently mentioned that half of its cruise customers are Millennials or younger. This is because of rising affluence. Moreover, according to the bank’s research, the spending capacity of Millennial customers has seen an increase of ~49% since 2019. Today, the average net worth of an individual aged 40 or under sits at ~$259K.

The cruises continue to attract more first-time passengers. The cruise companies are seeing “new-to-cruise” in their 2025 bookings, with this customer category rising by more than 30% versus a year ago.

The bank believes that cruise operators are improving and modernizing their offerings to make them appealing and highlighted that key operators continue to invest in new hardware, notably mega-ships and private destinations. This has been driving more eyeballs to the broader cruise and tourism industry, accelerating new-to-cruise acquisition. CLIA recently highlighted that the cruise industry has been deploying billions in new ships and engines which give flexibility to use low to zero-GHG fuels with little to no engine modification.

Cruises Over Land-based Activities

According to a survey by the bank’s research division held in April, only ~29% of respondents have excess savings. Notably, ~45% of the respondents are expected to spend less in discretionary categories over the upcoming 12 months. This implies an increased cautious behavior even in the environment of moderating inflation.

This scenario is placing cruise voyages, that are cheaper than land-based vacations, in a strong position. Consumers are focused on value within discretionary categories. The value spread between cruises and land-based alternatives stood at 25%-30% today as compared to 10%-15% pre-pandemic. Despite higher inflation, cruise lines continue to focus on improved experiences, without compromising quality or service. This should further enhance their value.

Despite a tough consumer spending environment, both ticket and onboard prices increased over the past few months. This means that the demand backdrop is strong for the overall cruise industry. The bank’s research shows that more than 85% of tickets have been booked for 2024, with a focus now turning to 2025 and bookings already exceeding historical levels. Moreover, the industry should grow revenues by high-single digits over the upcoming 5 years, tapping ~3.8% of the global vacation market by 2028.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points ( see more details here ).

A luxurious cruise ship overlooking a stunning horizon, highlighting the variety of its itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH )

Short % of Float (As of 15 August): 8.09%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) operates a fleet of passenger cruise ships. It offers an array of cruise itineraries and theme cruises and markets its services via various distribution channels.

Short sellers believe that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) continues to struggle with low margins, increased costs, and elevated weighted cost of capital in comparison to returns on invested capital. In 2Q 2024, the company’s total cruise operating expense came in at $1.45 billion as compared to $1.38 billion in 2Q 2023. The short sellers believe that margins for the company would be negatively impacted in 2H 2024 as costs continue to increase at a faster pace than total revenue.  Also, the Red Sea sailings cancellation has impacted luxury brand performance, which has weighed upon 4Q 2024 expectations. Short sellers believe that increased oil prices and unfavorable foreign exchange might elevate costs in the remaining half of 2024.

However, Wall Street analysts believe that the strong demand for European, Caribbean, and Alaskan sailings should help it offset the short-term challenges. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH)’s optimal book position saw an improvement as a result of better analytics and revenue management tools. Market experts opine that attractive itineraries, together with tactical revenue management, and data-driven marketing should continue to fuel sales growth.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) continues to focus on right-sizing its cost base and improving margins to strengthen the foundation for profitable growth. Its young average fleet and solid liquidity position should continue to provide competitive advantages.

The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on the shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) from $19.00 to $21.00, giving it a “Neutral” rating on 28 th  May. As per Insider Monkey’s 2Q 2024 database, 31 hedge funds reported holding stakes in the company.

Ariel Investments , an investment management company, released its 3Q 2023 investor letter and mentioned Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH).  Here  is what the fund said:

“Lastly, Cruise ship operator,  Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.  (NYSE:NCLH) traded lower in the quarter. The stocks strong price appreciation ̶up 34.64% year-to-date ̶ drove profit taking following an underwhelming outlook relative to Royal Caribbean Group’s upward guidance revision. Notably, NCLH continues to deliver record cumulative bookings as well as increased occupancy capacity at higher prices. The company remains focused on right sizing its cost base and improving margins to strengthen its foundation for sustainable and profitable growth. Meanwhile, the company executed on its leadership succession plan, with 15-year veteran, Harry J. Sommer’s recent appointment to CEO. With an experienced management team at its helm, a young average fleet and solid liquidity position, we remain enthusiastic about the name.”

Overall, NCLH ranks 6th on our list of 10 worst cruise stocks according to short sellers. While we acknowledge the potential of NCLH as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than the ones mentioned on our list but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock .

READ NEXT:   $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley  and  Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA ‘Has Become A Wasteland’

Disclosure:  None. This article is originally published at  Insider Monkey .

The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

Looking for a cruise where you can do what you want, whenever you want, without a lot of structure and rules? Norwegian Cruise Line could be your brand.

The Miami-based cruise line pioneered the idea of "freestyle cruising" — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — and it's still the go-to line for vacationers who want a floating resort experience with a casual, laissez-faire vibe.

Instead of a few big main restaurants with fixed seating times, Norwegian ships offer a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times — just make a reservation. When it's time for dinner, if you want to dress up, fine. There's no rule saying you must, though.

Norwegian vessels also offer lots of options for daytime fun but are particularly well known for evening entertainment. You'll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions.

Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, you'd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas.

Just to be clear, Norwegian is a big-ship line . Its largest vessels are among the biggest cruise ships at sea (they must be, to accommodate everything mentioned above). If you want an intimate cruise experience, Norwegian probably isn't a good choice.

That said, the line does offer some smaller ships that aren't quite as big and bustling as its giants.

Norwegian is also a mass-market brand, not a luxury cruise operator. Still, as we'll explain below, it offers a wide range of accommodations, some of which fall squarely in the luxury segment. In some cases, its ships have an exclusive area full of high-end cabins and suites called The Haven that comes with its own private pools, lounge areas and even restaurants.

In short, if you want to turn a Norwegian cruise into a luxury experience , you can do that, too. Norwegian really is the line where you make the trip what you want it to be.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you?

3 things TPG loves about Norwegian Cruise Line

• The do-what-you-want freestyle vibe
• The wide range of restaurants, bars and nightspots
• The stellar entertainment

What we could do without

• The sky-high extra charges

The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet

Norwegian is the world's fourth-largest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 19 ships that together offer 56,780 berths.

Smaller only than Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises , the brand has become increasingly known for having some of the biggest, most amenity-filled vessels at sea. The line doesn't just operate giant ships, though. More than half of its fleet is comprised of vessels that, by today's standards, are considered almost midsize.

Indeed, Norwegian is essentially two cruise lines in one. The line's nine newest ships are big, bustling floating megaresorts that can carry upwards of 3,000 to 4,000 passengers at double occupancy (and even more with every berth filled). At around 143,000 to nearly 170,000 tons, all eight currently rank among the 50 biggest cruise ships in the world (although their rankings will shift downward as more big ships debut).

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

However, Norwegian's 10 older ships are much more modest in size, measuring around 75,000 to 94,000 tons and carrying closer to 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Norwegian thus appeals both to cruisers who like a giant resort vibe and those who prefer something more modest. The key, depending on your tastes, is getting on the right ship in the fleet.

On the big-ship end of the spectrum, Norwegian's four relatively new Breakaway Plus-class vessels — Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape — are the line's premier offerings. While not quite as big as Royal Caribbean's giant, Oasis-class ships , they are firmly in the pantheon of the world's cruising giants. They are the Norwegian vessels most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions.

Unveiled in 2019, Norwegian Encore is, notably, the 23rd biggest cruise ship in the world as of this story's publishing (it will drop in the rankings over the coming years as additional megaships debut). At 169,116 tons, it's bigger than all but three Carnival ships. Only Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have significantly more bigger vessels.

One step down in size from the Breakaway Plus ships are the still-quite-large Breakaway-class ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — as well as the one-of-a-kind Norwegian Epic and the recently unveiled Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva .

Around 17% smaller than Norwegian's biggest vessels, Prima and Viva are the first tow of six sister ships that the line will roll out between now and 2027 that will significantly change the composition of its fleet. While not the biggest vessels in the Norwegian fleet, these ships will be notably packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and decktop attractions. They also mark a more upscale turn for the line, with more space per passenger than earlier Norwegian ships and lots of suites.

Related: I've been on nearly every Norwegian ship. Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian's 10 smaller vessels break down among five classes, but many are roughly the same size and offer similar amenities.

One notable outlier among the smaller ships is the 2,186-passenger Pride of America. Sporting a patriotic U.S. theme (you'll find venues named after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams), and a distinct array of lounges and entertainment, it's the only big cruise vessel based year-round in Hawaii.

Pride of America notably operates with a mostly U.S. crew, in keeping with regulations governing cruise itineraries that only include U.S. ports.

Related: Our take on the new Norwegian Encore

Destinations and itineraries

Norwegian sails almost everywhere in the world, but its heaviest presence is in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

In a typical summer, the line will deploy nearly half its ships to Europe while sending several more to the West Coast to sail to Alaska from Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska. It'll also operate trips to Bermuda from New York City and Boston, usually with two ships, and trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Miami.

During the winter, the line will move many of its vessels to North America to operate sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas. It also sends a few ships to Asia, Australia and South America, and it'll typically keep a single vessel in Europe, too.

As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round. It's the only cruise line to offer year-round voyages in Hawaii.

In North America, Norwegian ships sail out of Baltimore; Boston; Galveston, Texas; New York City; Miami; Tampa; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Seattle; Honolulu; Vancouver, British Columbia; Quebec City; and Seward, Alaska.

In Europe, Norwegian ships sail out of Amsterdam; Stockholm; Copenhagen; Oslo and Tromso, Norway; Southampton and Portsmouth, England; Le Havre, France; Reykjavik; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Trieste, Italy (near Venice); Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Istanbul.

Related: The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler

Who sails Norwegian Cruise Line?

Norwegian appeals to vacationers who want a big-resort experience at sea with lots of options for dining and entertainment. In that, it's similar to Royal Caribbean — perhaps its closest competitor.

However, unlike Royal Caribbean, Norwegian hasn't retained any of the trappings of old-style cruising. There are no formal nights, as you'll still find on Royal Caribbean ships, or dress codes. Norwegian has also thoroughly done away with the concept of big main restaurants with fixed seating.

Because of that, Norwegian is popular with people who are seeking flexibility — freedom to eat when they want, with whom they want and to dress however they want, for sure, but also more freedom in general to just set their own schedule day and night.

Norwegian cruises are very unstructured vacations, and that's by design.

Like Royal Caribbean ships, Norwegian vessels have an inordinate amount of teen- and tween-friendly attractions — everything from some of the largest waterslides at sea to the only go-kart tracks on the ocean . That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. Families are a big part of Norwegian's business.

It's not just families that flock to Norwegian, though. The line's ships are designed to offer a little something for everyone, and thus they appeal to a wide demographic, including couples of all ages and even solo travelers (the line has been a leader in adding solo cabins to ships in recent years). They also draw customers with a wide range of incomes.

At their core, Norwegian ships are mass-market ships, with entry-level cabins that are affordable to middle-class travelers. However, overlaid across most vessels are high-end suites and services that are at a luxury level, and the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers.

The exclusive, keycard-accessed suite complex called The Haven (found on 13 of Norwegian's 19 ships) comes with private lounges, pools and other tony features. It's essentially a small, luxury vessel that has been planted atop otherwise middle-class, mass-market megaships. These complexes appeal to well-heeled travelers who want a luxury cruising experience while also getting all the fun attractions, entertainment and dining venues only a mass-market megaship can offer.

Cabins and suites

Norwegian is known for offering a wide range of accommodations on its ships. You'll find everything from relatively low-cost, windowless inside cabins that measure as little as 135 square feet (perfect for the budget traveler) to massive, multi-room suites that are more than 50 times that size.

At the high end, the accommodations are aimed at affluent travelers who, for whatever reason, prefer the megaship experience to that of a luxury ship, and they truly are among the most spectacular accommodations at sea.

Some, such as the giant Garden Villas found on six Norwegian ships — Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star — sprawl over thousands of square feet and have as many as three bedrooms plus separate living rooms and dining rooms.

The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms.

Depending on the ship, top suites can come with perks such as private butlers and concierges who attend to your every need, access to a private restaurant, a private suite lounge and sun deck, reserved seating in entertainment venues and priority boarding and disembarkation.

On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of The Haven. Billed as an upscale "ship within a ship" and aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven is located at the very top of vessels and often comes with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and even restaurants.

Norwegian is also heralded for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships . In 2010, it debuted an entire zone of small studio cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, and it has since added them to seven more new ships.

The studio cabins are tiny at just 100 square feet. However, they're superbly designed to maximize storage space. On the ships that have them, they are clustered around an exclusive Studio Lounge where solo travelers can mingle at daily happy hour gatherings.

Related: What it takes to get concierge lounge access on a cruise ship

Restaurants and dining

Norwegian was an early pioneer of the idea of giving cruisers lots of choices when it comes to restaurants on ships, and even its smallest vessels offer a wide range of options.

On Norwegian's recently built Breakaway Plus-class ships, there are up to 20 places to grab a bite, ranging from high-end French restaurants and steakhouses to casual pubs.

Every vessel has two or three main restaurants and a casual buffet where meals are included in the fare — the latter is usually called the Garden Cafe.

Other included-in-the-fare venues found on some ships include O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, a casual pub; an outdoor bar and grill called Topsiders; and casual Asian restaurants that go by many names including Shanghai's Noodle Bar, Ginza and Bamboo.

Also, every ship has a least four and often many more extra-charge eateries. Two found across the entire fleet are Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, and Le Bistro, a fine French restaurant. Every ship also has an Italian restaurant, called Onda by Scarpetta or La Cucina. There also are churrascaria restaurants called Moderno on most Norwegian vessels.

On some ships, you'll also find Ocean Blue, a seafood restaurant; The District Brew House, a gastropub serving craft beers; and a Mexican spot called either Los Lobos or Los Lobos Cantina. Every vessel has some sort of sushi restaurant, often called Sushi or Wasabi, and there are hibachi-style teppanyaki restaurants on nearly every Norwegian vessel.

You might even find Starbucks stores on some ships (the one-year-old Norwegian Prima has two!) and there are Starbucks products on every Norwegian vessel. Also, some ships have private restaurants just for passengers staying in The Haven.

Some of the extra-charge restaurants come with a flat fee (the teppanyaki outlets are $59 per person, not including the cost of drinks). However, most are a la carte, with sometimes hefty pricing. One thing you need to know upfront about going on a Norwegian cruise is that there are a lot of extra charges — and sometimes quite high extra charges — on the line's ships, particularly for things like restaurants.

A surf-and-turf dish at Ocean Blue that combines an 8-ounce filet mignon with a lobster tail costs $55, for example. If you just order a whole lobster, you'll be out $49. The least expensive entree on the menu, a roasted cauliflower steak, is $22.

If you know you want to eat at several extra-charge restaurants during a single voyage, you can buy one of several dining packages that offer meals at a discount.

Related: The 7 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Few lines offer as broad a range of entertainment and activities on their ships as Norwegian. The line's biggest vessels offer multiple entertainment venues, from theaters to comedy clubs; a wide range of deck-top attractions; large casinos; full-service spas; and even virtual reality attractions. You'll also find a seemingly endless array of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Theaters and shows

Entertainment is one of the core areas where Norwegian excels, and if you're the kind of person who loves nights out with live music and lively performances on your vacations, you're going to love the line.

Many of Norwegian's biggest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as big as those you'd find on Broadway, with big-name productions to match. Norwegian Bliss, for instance, has the Tony Award-winning "Jersey Boys."

In some cases, the Broadway shows are cut down slightly from the original versions, and the casts aren't quite as seasoned as what you'll find on Broadway. However, these are quality productions. The best part is they are entirely free. Compare that with the hundreds of dollars you'd spend to take your family to a show in New York City.

Norwegian ships also are jam-packed with music venues. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Epic, for instance, have the Cavern Club, a reproduction of the British club that gave rise to the Beatles. It comes complete with a cover band that plays the group's greatest hits.

There are also Howl at the Moon dueling piano bars on some Norwegian ships, and there's the lively Q Texas Smokehouse found on Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy (a music-and-food concept that pairs live music with barbecue).

In addition, several Norwegian ships offer dinner theater venues with circus-type productions, and one vessel, Norwegian Getaway, features a magic-infused dinner theater show in a steampunk-inspired space called The Illusionarium.

Several ships also offer comedy club entertainment.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Norwegian ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night.

All but one Norwegian ship (Pride of America) has a casino, and on the line's bigger vessels, they are huge operations. The casino on Norwegian Encore has more than 300 slot machines and 26 table games (including blackjack, roulette, poker and craps), plus its own bar.

On the line's big Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class ships, the casino — along with a large proportion of all onboard restaurants, bars and clubs — sprawls across three central decks connected by an atrium-like space known as 678 Ocean Place (the name derives from the location of the decks, which on each ship are decks 6, 7 and 8). At night, these three-deck complexes become bustling places.

The Breakaway- and Breakaway Plus-class ships have innovative outdoor promenades called The Waterfront lined with seating for many restaurants and bars. The Waterfront is located on Deck 8 of each of the ships, which is one of the main decks for restaurants on them all.

Like the ships of the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes, the Prima Class ships have a lively zone that mixes casino space, bars, eateries and entertainment that sprawls across decks 6, 7 and 8. These vessels also have outdoor eating space in an area called Ocean Boulevard.

In addition, Norwegian two new Prima Class ships (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva), as well as another relatively new Norwegian vessels — Norwegian Encore — have innovative gaming and virtual reality zones called Galaxy Pavilion (a fourth Galaxy Pavilion area on Norwegian Joy is being removed during an overhaul in dry dock scheduled for early 2024).

There's nothing quite like Galaxy Pavilion in the cruise world. The venue has an amazing array of high-tech virtual reality experiences, including incredibly realistic race car simulators (on Norwegian Encore, there are eight in a row along one wall), hang gliding simulators, virtual mazes and a virtual reality "Jurassic Park" ride.

The Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Encore is the biggest of them all. Among added features, it includes a 45-minute escape room experience laced with special effects. Themed around a Spanish galleon, it's designed to be played by up to six people at a time.

Just be warned that you'll pay a hefty fee to play in the Galaxy Pavilion. A weeklong pass to the venue will set you back $199 per person. There also are hourlong passes available for $29 per person, or you can sample a single ride for $8 (except for the escape room, which is priced separately at $15 per person).

There's also a bowling alley on Norwegian Epic and duck pin bowling lanes on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway.

Norwegian ships also all have Mandara Spas, which can be quite big on the bigger vessels, and there are fitness centers on every ship.

Deck-top attractions

What you'll find on the top decks of Norwegian ships will vary quite a bit depending on the vessel. The line's smaller ships will have at least one or two pools, sunning areas and usually a sports court area — but not all that much else.

The big ships are a different story.

On the line's Breakaway-, Breakaway Plus- and Epic-class ships, you'll find giant waterslides and kiddie splash zones and, in some cases, even more over-the-top attractions such as go-kart tracks and laser tag arenas.

The go-kart tracks (now on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy) are quickly becoming Norwegian's signature can-you-believe-this-is-on-a-ship attraction, and they truly are impressive. The biggest two of them, on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks.

Note that this is some serious go-karting. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour. Three of the speedways, on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Encore, also feature middle-of-the-track observation areas where your family and friends can cheer you on to victory — and even shoot you with "lasers" that'll give you a boost of power.

The open-air laser tag arenas also are significant venues that are unlike anything you'll find atop the ships of other lines. The one on Norwegian Encore, which is the largest laser tag arena ever put on a ship, is themed around the lost city of Atlantis and spans the back of the vessel.

As is the case with the Galaxy Pavilion attractions mentioned above, the go-kart and laser tag experiences on Norwegian ships don't come cheap. You'll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap romp on the go-karts. Joining a five-minute laser shootout costs $10 per person. In both cases, you can buy a weeklong pass for $199.

The top decks of a few Norwegian ships — mostly the bigger ones — also have a ropes course, a climbing wall or both. Some vessels also have miniature golf courses.

You'll find an exclusive, extra-charge, adults-only VIP sunning area on seven Norwegian ships called Vibe Beach Club. The biggest of these areas is on Norwegian Encore, where Vibe Beach Club is an expansive private lounge with a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs designed to hold up to 270 people — far more than on other ships.

For those with money to burn (pricing on Norwegian Encore recently was $99 per person for a day pass), the Vibe Beach Clubs are lovely, secluded deck-top hideaways. However, there's a downside for everyone else on board the ships that have them, which is that they take away from the deck-top lounge space available to everybody else.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's programs

As is typical for big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian has an extensive children's program, with programs and activities for children as young as 6 months through the age of 17.

The heart of the program, called Splash Academy, brings free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 12. The line splits children here up into three age groups: Turtles (ages 3 to 5), Seals (ages 6 to 9) and Dolphins (ages 10 to 12), and they each have their own age-appropriate activities ranging from treasure hunts to video game competitions. On many ships, there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.

While the free programming ends at 10:30 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Splash Academy past 10:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., when it's billed as the Late Night Fun Zone.

Norwegian also has rooms on its ships for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. Called Guppies, the program offers parents a place to play with their youngest children, with occasional youth staff-led activities and games.

Norwegian also offers dedicated teen zones and programming on ships for children ages 13 to 17. Called Entourage, the teen zone is a place for teens to hang out, dance and play games, and it's supervised by counselors who plan activities and challenges.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all cruises leaving from a non-U.S. port and all Panama Canal sailings (regardless of departure port). If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for most sailings from U.S. ports (including sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera and Alaska).

Instead, you can travel with a state-certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months after your trip, and the name on your reservation must be exactly as it's printed on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Norwegian adds an automatic service charge of $20 to $25 per person, per day, to final bills, depending on your cabin category. Depending on the service you receive, you can adjust the amount up or down at the guest services desk before disembarking. In addition, a 20% gratuity is added to the bill at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

Norwegian has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in recent years, so you can now stream video on ships.

Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Norwegian vessels recently was priced at $39.99 per person per day, if you bought it in advance. Norwegian also offers a less expensive plan that doesn't allow video streaming for $29.99 per person per day if purchased in advance.

This pricing is quite a bit higher than what some other lines, such as Carnival or Princess, charge for Wi-Fi. Princess recently was charging just $14.99 per person per day for a WiFi package.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Norwegian allows you to bring bottles of your own wine or Champagne on board, but it will charge you a hefty corkage fee of $15 per bottle for the privilege — even if you plan to drink the bottle in your room. This is a more draconian policy than you'll find at most lines. Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, cigar lounges (for cigar smoking only) and casinos. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be fined $250 per occurrence.

Unlike many cruise vessels, Norwegian ships do not have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks for passenger use. Instead, the line offers extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All cabins on Norwegian vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets and European-style, 220-volt outlets. Some cabins also have USB ports.

The currency used on all Norwegian itineraries is U.S. dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a cruise card you can use to make charges. This same card also lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

The official drinking age on Norwegian ships is 21. That said, passengers who are 18 to 20 can purchase and consume beer or wine on ships in international waters with permission from parents or legal guardians. The parent or legal guardian must be on board and sign a waiver at guest services. The lower drinking age in international waters does not apply during sailings in Alaska and Hawaii.

Norwegian Cruise Line may be the most laid-back line out there when it comes to dress codes. You can basically wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

The line specifically says that casual wear (think: khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts for men; casual dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans and tops for women) is just fine anytime during the day, at the buffet and in most specialty restaurants.

The line just recommends a step up to "smart casual" outfits in its more formal dining rooms and upscale specialty restaurants. In keeping with Norwegian's laid-backness, this might still mean nothing more than a crisper pair of jeans, or maybe slacks with a collared shirt, for men. Definitely no need for a jacket. For women, slacks, jeans, dresses, skirts and tops will do fine.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line loyalty program

Norwegian has a point-based frequent cruiser program, Latitudes Rewards, that has seven tiers, ranging from Bronze (requiring 1 point) to Ambassador (700 points).

Members earn points for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. They get an additional point for every night they stay in a concierge room, a suite (not including stays in minisuites, or stays in suites resulting from an upgrade) or a room in The Haven. They also get an additional point for every night booked through a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer.

Hitting the first tier, Bronze, takes one cruise. Reaching the second tier, Silver (20 points), would take at the most three cruises if you're doing seven-night trips.

Related: Everything you need to know about the Norwegian loyalty program

Lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll get things like priority check-in and discounted spa treatments performed while ships are in port. However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

Platinum (75 points) brings free dinners at two extra-charge restaurants, a discount on an internet package, behind-the-scenes ship tours and concierge service.

The top Ambassador level brings a truly wonderful perk: a one-time complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick almost any sailing except trips around Christmas and the new year.

In contrast to airline frequent-flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. But it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A passenger staying in suites and booking through Latitudes Rewards Insider Offers could get to the Platinum level with just four seven-night cruises.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Norwegian cruise cost?

Norwegian designs its ships to appeal to a broad mix of people, in part by offering a wide range of cabin types at varying price points. On a typical sailing, you might find an entry-level cabin for around $100 a night while a high-end suite is five to 15 times that amount.

At the time of this story's posting, A The Haven two-bedroom family villa on Norwegian Jewel for a seven-night Alaska cruise in August 2024, for example, was going for $13,978 per person, based on double occupancy. That's more than 13 times the cost of the least expensive inside cabin (which was starting at $1,058 per person, based on double occupancy). Oceanview cabins on the same sailing started at $1,698 per person, based on double occupancy.

Note the "based on double occupancy" caveat in the above paragraph. As is typical for cruise lines, Norwegian charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer some cabins for solo travelers on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy.

In general, Norwegian's newer ships including Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and the Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class vessels will be more expensive than the line's older, smaller ships. However, there are many factors that go into pricing for any given cruise, including the popularity of the specific itinerary, the time of year when the cruise is taking place and changing demand trends.

As you might expect, pricing for all ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September and October.

The timing of when you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels, and many cruisers will tell you the best pricing for any given sailing often is available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance will also give you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Norwegian ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to ncl.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise (there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process — trust us) we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure Norwegian is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Norwegian's cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your purchase when paying for the cruise by using a card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit), or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

For big-ship lovers, Norwegian pretty much has it all. There's tons of great entertainment on Norwegian's vessels, plenty of venues for eating and drinking, and all sorts of deck-top diversions — at least on the line's newest ships. Throw in the brand's low starting prices, and it's an even more compelling package.

If we have a gripe with the line, it's about the "extra-charge creep" we've been seeing for attractions on Norwegian ships such as go-karts and laser tag in recent years, and the higher a la carte prices spreading across the line's onboard restaurants.

Then again, you get what you pay for, as the saying goes. If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of included-in-the-fare choices for dining and entertainment. If money is no object, you can follow a different "journey" through the ship, as Norwegian executives like to say, to a far more high-end vacation.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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NCL Drink Prices & Bar Menus

Norwegian Cruise Line drink menus tend to be the same fleet-wide and are consistent across most ships. Changes in what is available in the bars are normally based on each ship’s venues and bars.

For example, there is a whiskey bar menu and a martini bar menu, but those venues aren’t on all ships. Additionally, ships with wine cellars or wine bars have an expanded menu.

• SEE : Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages – Are They Worth It?

What do drinks cost on Norwegian Cruise Line?

Most beer is $7 , some wines are as inexpensive as $9-$13/glass and cocktails range $10-$15. There are specialty drinks that are obviously more expensive, but in general, the costs for beverages are reasonable with NCL.

Don’t forget the gratuities on drinks

If you’re NOT on a drink or beverage package, Norwegian Cruise Line charges an additional 20% gratuity on every drink purchase .

Bottled water and coke prices on NCL

For non-drinkers, the cost of a soda ranges from $3-$3.50 depending on which bar you order from and bottled water ranges from $4 for boxed water (500ml) to $6 for premium water like Aqua Panna.

**NOTE** Some of the menus show Pepsi products, as these were taken during the last days that Pepsi was served (Jan 2023) – Pepsi has now been replaced by Coke on the ships.

Now to the drink menus!

A typical beverage menu for pool bars and vibe club area on a Norwegian ship

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Whiskey Bar menu (i.e. Maltings Bar on NCL Epic)

For american whiskey lovers on ncl (updated 2024).

Norwegian Cruise Line has a relatively impressive Whiskey menu. Below are the standard options across the ships for American whiskey (with prices). This can vary a bit.

NCL Martini Bar menu

Shipwide beverage & bar menu for all norwegian cruise line ships.

These menus are fleetwide and shipwide where you’ll find them in almost all of the lounges and bars.

The HAVEN Bar Menu

You’ll notice that most of the menu has prices of just a few dollars, this is presuming the passenger has the NCL premium beverage package and will only pay the difference in the drink prices.

Wine Menu across the whole NCL Fleet

Wine menu on ncl ships with a wine bar (i.e. cellars or mondavi).

Some ships have branded wine bars by Mondavi, and those menus rotate availability on occasion. Here are some examples of what you may see in a Modavi branded wine bar on Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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34 Comments

Hi Phil…First time on NCL so I’m not used to how things are. Sailing the Epic in October. We have the regular Free at Sea package, not P+. Not a huge drinker, but when I do drink its got to be Grey Goose. From the menus you have posted now it looks like its right at the $15 mark so I should be good…right? Is bottled water included in the drink package? or do I have to upgrade to P+ for that?

Hi Tina, You should be good with the Grey Goose (assuming they don’t change prices!) But even if they do, you just pay the difference. So if they change it to $16, then you just pay $1. Unforutnately they do not include bottled water or specialty coffee in the regular free at sea package :(. — I’d say it’s no worth upgrading just for the water. They sell the cartons of water, and a lot of people don’t like it because it has a cardboard residual flavor (some people think). SO many people will bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up at a station somehere on the ship. Enjoy your cruise!

Norwegian used to have a lovely cocktail called a something monkey? It had cassis in it and some other gin or vodka base. It was served in a glass with a white something drizzled down the inside and was often added to their martini taster flight. Do you remember it and what it was called and is there a chance we could get them to bring it back! It was my favourite 🥰

Hi Heather, I think your’e talking about the “Monkey Business” cocktail! I don’t recall seeing it on the menu lately. I think you can make it at home with this recipe (here )!

First timer on NCL and we have a drink package covering $1400.0 each, it’s a 5 day Bahama’s cruise on the Sky, in your experience, is the $1400 “enough”? Thanks

Hello! I think you’re referring to the value of the “Free at Sea” or basic drink package. It’s basically unlimited drinks up to $15/each for that price, so I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be enough!

Hi Phil – first time NCL cruiser. With regards to martinis on board. If I order a Ketel One martini will that put me over the $15 free at sea limit for one drink since it has two shots in it plus the vermouth?

Hi Todd, The drinks are priced per cocktail not by how many shots there are in the actual drink (thankfully!) 🙂 – So if you order a martini or any other multi-shot drink, it’ll be the price on the menu regardless of the amount of alcohol. I think that’s what you’re asking. Enjoy your cruise!

I hope there is lots of Drambuie on board the Viva in June!!!! th 5 adults in our family always drink Port and Drambuie after dinner, and on some cruises the ship has run out of Drambuie. Fingers crossed!

There is PLENTY! 🙂 I can personally confirm that (without shame). Enjoy!

What about beers? You show everything that is avalable but I didn’t see any beers! I guess that they have classic big breweries but what about craft beers? They must have some.

Hi Sylvain – I’m actually updating all of the menus this week! After your comment, I made an effort to get all of the beer offerings on my latest cruise (NCL Joy Transatlantic)… I’ll post that here shortly.

Phil: Love there is an Irish Bar on EPIC!! I think you have Guinness…….do you also have Smithwicks and Harp? I still don’t see a beer list with pricing. Thanks. Bob G.

Hi Bob! I don’t recall seeing Harp or Smithwicks unfortunately 🙁 – I’m about to upload all new menus this coming week. We just did a cruise and got all new menus scanned.

Hi Phil. The wine list for ships with a wine cellar bar eg Mondavi, has “Premium Plus” against certain wines / champagnes. Does that mean that these glasses are available only to holders of Premium Plus? But are those holders also entitled to all wines which are served by the glass regardless of price? I understand that champagne on NCL for Premium Plus holders may now be restricted to its own Rose Champagne – but there are so many conflicting comments, who knows!?! Many thanks.

Hi Colin, With premium plus, you can order those specific bottles of wine at meals. The bottle is included in the package. If you have the basic beverage package, the price you see is what you’d pay for that bottle.

With premium plus, if it’s sold by the glass, it’s included always! **a few exceptions to this like Louis XIII which I think is $200 per oz – not surprising it’s not included 🙂

A good example is, where Veuve Clicquot use to be available everywhere on the ship by the glass (and included in Premium Plus), it’s now only in Le Bistro – and is still included with Premium Plus. So if it’s on the menu by the glass, order as much as you want!

So if you find a champagne sold by the glass somewhere, you’ll get it with the P+

A nifty unknown thing though, is some of the Specialty restaurants have a bar within the restaurant and you can go to that bar and order things that might not be available around the ship (like the above Veuve Clicquot)

I hope this helps – if not, let me know!

Wow! Thanks Phil. Not only one of the fastest responses to any on-line query I have made – but more information and facts than even NCL Customer Service could provide! Many thanks

Glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your cruise, and — break even on that package! 🙂

Any frozen cocktails lists?

Hi Nello – Yes! The very first menu has the most common frozen cocktails served (Primarily at the pool bars). They also do some unique drinks that aren’t on the menus.

These are super helpful!! Can’t wait to cruise – drink list prepared – on Sunday!

Glad this could help! Enjoy your cruise!

Do you happen to know how much mocktails, like virgin daiquiris, cost? I’ve yet to find a menu with them included.

Great question! I’ve never seen a menu of mocktails on any NCL cruise, but I know they make anything you want without alcohol. I have a friend that I travel with that doesn’t drink and she orders them all the time, but has a beverage package and never gets charged. I can only presume you should expect to pay the price on the menu, alcohol or not. Just know that they would be covered in a drink package and that they can be made on request. Sadly, I think NCL is missing a huge opportunity by not offering specific non-alcoholic drinks.

Thank you for all the menu information. Can you advise of the situation for a Cruise guest on a Free at Sea package,leaving from Marseille on 11 night package stopping at Barcelona, Palma,Naples,Rome,Livorno and Cannes,with regards additional taxes for drinks when in port or at sea? Many blogged cruisers have posted conflicting information.

It’s understandable why there is a lot of confusion. Spain has made some changes recently and random ports in other countries have different regulations.

Expect you’ll be paying 10% VAT on the VALUE of the drink while in spanish waters (within 12 miles of the coast, I believe). In the past, it was only while docked, now it it seems that the VAT tax is charged even while in Spanish water. I’m unsure about Italy and France – but our last cruise recently did not have any taxes while on the Free at Sea because officially we weren’t “buying” anything. Spain is the first country to close that loophole I think. But these Tax rules are changing rapidly, so what you read today may likely change. So far, however, aside from Spain, most taxes are charged for PURCHASES while IN PORT, and not in EVERY port. Confusing, right? In the end, it only adds up to a few dollars – but can still be a surprise.

The biggest change that happened recently was Spain declared that any ship departing a Spanish port would have these taxes charged regardless of the other ports, for the whole cruise. This will definitely add a significant amount to a bill even for the Free at Sea people! Since they’ll be charging on the value of the drink served, even if it’s Free or Included in the Free at Sea promotion.

I’ve yet to speak to anyone that has encountered this first hand… I think the rule just started in the past week or so. I’ll update the article as I know for sure!

Thanks for your reply,as you say very confusing indeed,however as our cruise is leaving from Marseille I can only assume that the charges will not apply for the full duration of the cruise.

I think you are correct, but be prepared for changes and the unexpected, since European countries are making changes with these types of tourism taxes.

What draught beers are available on board Norwegian Epic?

I actually don’t recall seeing any! They were all bottles. I’ve been on the epic 4 times and I don’t think there have ever been taps come to think of it.

Hi Mick, Thanks for sharing this! We’re planning on trip on the Norwegian Joy at New Years. What was the Whisky bar like on the Joy? Do you know if they’re changing the scotch/whisky options frequently?

Many thanks

Hi Nicole, We haven’t done the Joy (YET), but planning on the transatlantic back after it’s Jan 2024 refurb. That said, the Maltings Bar on the Encore (sister ship) was quite lovely, as it is on Epic. The menus are shared in the Maltings bars across all ships from what I’ve experienced. The changes that stand out between some of the ships is the fact that Johnny Walker Blue wasn’t available all the time (or even on the menu) but it was on the Encore. Other than that, the menu has basically been the same since 2019. Enjoy the cruise!

Why don’t any of these blog entries state how much a soda costs? If I knew how much a soda costs, I can determine if the ~$10/day is worth it for me. Thank you!

Hi Ann, If you take a look at some of the menus, they show sodas, etc. Expect to pay $3 for a soda + 20% service charge. Other non-alcoholic items like energy drinks and bottles of water, expect to spend about $5 each. (plus the service charge / gratuity )

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Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Menus and Pricing

Last Updated on August 9, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line has a fairly diverse selection of drinks. While they don’t have as many themed bars as other cruise lines, they’ve really stepped up their cocktail game on their newer ships. You’ll find bars that specialize in mojitos, whiskey, martinis, and craft beer. Many of their new menus have focused on pre-mixed cocktails such as cocktails on tap or bottled cocktails that are premade in the morning. They’ve partnered with companies like The Liquid Kitchen to make delicious cocktail that can be served quickly.

See a new menu on your ship? Email it to us so we can share with everyone, [email protected]

If you’ve ever been on a Norwegian cruise, you’ve noticed that the bars can be really busy. That’s because many passengers get the “free” Ultimate Beverage Package Package that’s often part of the “Free at Sea” promotion they’re almost always running. With this package, you can enjoy almost any alcoholic (and non-alcoholic beverage) up to $15.

You can learn more about Norwegian’s drink packages and what they include here.

While it’s positioned as free, you still have to pay gratuities, which can be $139 per person for a 7-day cruise. On top of that, fares that include the Free At Sea package are usually more expensive than a base price cabin. We’re not saying it’s not a good deal, especially if you enjoy alcoholic beverages, but do the math both ways if you want to save.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2024 Bar Menus and Pricing

Below you’ll find the menus from some of the bars in the Norwegian fleet.

The A-List Bar Menu

Belvedere bar, the cellars wine bar menu, district brewhouse bar menu.

• Galveston TX Menu

Haven Bar Menu

• Ice Bar Menu

The Local Bar Menu

Luna bar / soleil bar, maltings whiskey bar menu, metropolitan bar, norwegian prima wine list.

• O’sheehan’s Bar Menu
• Penrose Bar

Proof Whiskey Bar

Speedway bar, standard bar menu, standard wine menu.

• Sugarcane Mojito Bar Menu
• Vibe Beach Club bar Menu

If you’re locking for trendy atmosphere and some classy cocktails, this is the place to stop. The A-List Bar can be found on Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Encore , and Norwegian Joy .

Try some custom cocktails at the Belvedere Bar located on the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva .

Menu is from June 2024.

If you’re a fan of wine, this is the bar for you. Buy by the bottle or by the glass. The Cellars Wine Bar is on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Escape , and Norwegian Joy .

Here you’ll find some great craft beer choices. There are only a couple on tap but you’ll find up to 70 different varieties of craft canned beers. District Brewhouse can be found on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Escape , and Norwegian Joy .

Galveston Texas Menu

Because Texas has odd liquor laws, if you’re sailing out of Galveston, you won’t have access to the full bar menu until you’re out in international waters. These are the cocktails you’d be able order while waiting to set sail.

The Haven Bar is exclusively for guests saying in the Haven area of the ship. The Haven suite area is available in the Breakaway, Breakaway Plus, and Prima class ships.

The Local is one of Norwegian’s 24/7 restaurants where you can grab a drink or a bite to eat almost any time of the day.

Menu is from Norwegian Viva June 2024.

The Luna and Soleil bar are located in the Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Viva. The Luna is inside portion of the bar while the Soleil is the exterior.

This bar specializes in whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails. You can find it on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Breakaway , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Epic , Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Jade , Norwegian Jewel , and Norwegian Pearl .

The Metropolitan Bar is located on Deck 7 of the Norwegian Prima and Viva. The focus here is on sustainable cocktails with many ingredients coming from food waste from the ship.

Since it’s the newest ship, the Norwegian Prima has a slightly different menu than the rest of the fleet. The menu below was found in the Hudson’s main dining room in mid-September.

O’Sheehan’s Bar Menu

O’Sheehan’s is an Irish-style pub that’s open nearly 24/7. Stop by to grab a drink or a bite to eat at almost any time of day.

Penrose Bar Menu

Penrose Bar is located on the first floor of the beautiful Penrose Atrium (Deck 6). It’s both the bar for the main atrium area and the casino with slot machines built it. It can get very busy at night.

Proof Whiskey Bar is located on the 3rd floor (Deck 8) of the Penrose Atrium. This large, circular bar offers beautiful views during the day, and is a lively spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks.

The Speedway Bar is a new addition to the Prima (it has been removed from the Viva). The bar can be hard to find, it’s behind the entrance to the Speedway, but offers good views of the race track as well as the water.

All Norwegian cruise ships now serve Starbucks coffee. Some ships have dedicated Starbucks shops/kiosks, others just serve it at their other bars and restaurants. The menu will vary on each ship and seasonal specialties (ie pumpkin spice) may be available certain times of year.

Starbucks drinks are NOT included in the Standard Open Bar package that comes as part of the Free at Sea promo. You can either upgrade to the Premium Plus beverage package or buy the designated Starbucks package. See all of Norwegian’s drink packages here.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar

Mojitos are a cruise favorite, and you can find a variety of specialty ones at Sugarcane Mojito Bar. You can find it on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Dawn , Norwegian Escape , Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Jade , Norwegian Jewel , and Norwegian Pearl , and Norwegian Star .

If an indoor bar doesn’t have it dedicated menu, it’ll likely use a variation of the menu seen below. You’ll find this menu at Atrium bars and other bars around the ship that aren’t specialty (ie. not a mojito or champagne bar).

Vibe Beach Club Bar Menu

The Vibe Bar is in the Vibe Beach Club. This adults-only area is available exclusively to those who purchase a Vibe Beach Pass (typically over $200 per person for the whole cruise).

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• Norwegian Viva Mediterranean Cruise Blog – Day 5 – Mykonos

Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 20 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Snapshot

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Stock Analysis

• United States
• Hospitality

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.'s (NYSE:NCLH) Shares Climb 25% But Its Business Is Yet to Catch Up

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ( NYSE:NCLH ) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 25% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Looking further back, the 12% rise over the last twelve months isn't too bad notwithstanding the strength over the last 30 days.

Even after such a large jump in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.9x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Hospitality industry in the United States, where the median P/S ratio is around 1.4x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

See our latest analysis for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

How Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Has Been Performing

With revenue growth that's superior to most other companies of late, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been doing relatively well. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is moderate because investors think this strong revenue performance might be about to tail off. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the industry.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 27% gain to the company's top line. The latest three year period has also seen an incredible overall rise in revenue, aided by its incredible short-term performance. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a tremendous job of growing revenue over that time.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 9.1% per annum over the next three years. With the industry predicted to deliver 11% growth per year, the company is positioned for a weaker revenue result.

With this in mind, we find it intriguing that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' P/S is closely matching its industry peers. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited growth expectations and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. These shareholders may be setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the growth outlook.

What We Can Learn From Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' P/S?

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings appears to be back in favour with a solid price jump bringing its P/S back in line with other companies in the industry Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-sales ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.

Given that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' revenue growth projections are relatively subdued in comparison to the wider industry, it comes as a surprise to see it trading at its current P/S ratio. At present, we aren't confident in the P/S as the predicted future revenues aren't likely to support a more positive sentiment for long. Circumstances like this present a risk to current and prospective investors who may see share prices fall if the low revenue growth impacts the sentiment.

Having said that, be aware Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is a bit unpleasant.

If strong companies turning a profit tickle your fancy, then you'll want to check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.

Discover if Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

About NYSE:NCLH

Norwegian cruise line holdings.

Operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally.

Reasonable growth potential with acceptable track record.

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Nasdaqgs:mar, marriott international, hilton worldwide holdings, market insights.

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